The party seemed going well. The two sisters stood on the stairs observing.
Princess Celestia happily looking around, appreciating the enjoyment of the guests, while Princess Luna seemed bored, even if the name of It was "Midnight Gala".
Her sister noticed her mood, and with a slight bump, getting her attention, she expanded her smile, but no effect on Luna.

"Something wrong, my sister?"

"Uhm... no... I'm fine..." - she whispered.

"Having those memories again? It's been ages since that. You can't live in the past!"

"It's not that! I'm just not feeling well..."

In a slip second, Captain Shining Armor approached, stopped and with a curtsy, he began to speak.

"No reports of any kind, everything is going well around the castle, Princess..."

"Thank you, Shining... you can take a break then. But keep your soldiers on the watch. Did you announced their shifts? I don't want them to just watch, but also enjoy the gala."

"Every group has their own shifts, I organized the schedule myself with Lieutenant Silver Shield's help. There are enough soldiers, making each group have half hour of break every two hours."

"And this is why I selected you to Captain..." - Said Celestia with a kind smile - "The organization, leadership and care for your soldiers..."

"T-Thank you, my Princess..." - He said blushing from the noble compliment.

Something caught her attention in the far distance, and smiled at the soldier.

"Tell me, Captain, is that Princess Cadence arriving to the gala right now..?" - She teased, while pointing at the entrance of the event room.

He quickly looked over his shoulder, and there she was. No denying Shining always had a soft spot on Celestia's adopted niece. The princesses always knew from his reactions and how his behavior used to change at her presence, and It used to be a matter gossip among them and the guards.

"Erm... Pardon me, our highness!" - And he rushed down the steps towards his love.

Not even that scene made Luna giggle. The Sun Princess looked at her, and starting to walk slowly down the steps, she turns to her sister.

"Do whatever you want. Maybe go take a rest, It will make you feel better later. Just don't miss the gala. I'm gonna join the guests..."

"Sure, whatever..." - As she turned around, up the stairs, walking alone on the halls towards her room.

She enters and closes the door, letting a loud sigh escape.
The princess turns on the lights with her magic, and looking into her bedroom, then the window showing her spacial entity, along with the stars. Silence...
All she was wishing for. Silence, and finally found It, more used to the loneliness, unlike her older sister.
Heading to her bed, opening her wings wide and yawing.

"These galas are a bore, uh..?"

"A bore indee-..." - She stopped in her tracks. - "Who is this?! Where are you?!"

Silence. The voice had no source. She looked around confused.
With her horn glowing, she gets possession of her trusty Half-Moon Sickle, the weapon she once used in a certain battle. Big, powerful, and well decorated, with sapphires and aquamarine jewels. Too decorated to be used as a weapon.

"Come on... I know my voice changed in these years, but you may know me..."

"I don't know what are you talking about..."

The lights went out. Only the moon illuminating the room. Luna started to turning around, with her weapon crossed in front of her. Ready for a battle if It was needed. And looking back to the window, the figure stood there waiting.
She quickly jumped to the light switch, and the lights quickly went back on. The princess turned around and dropped her weapon, while her eyes contracted, starting to form tears.

"It's been a while, I know... but you were not planning to attack me with the same weapon you battled my uncle, do you..?" - Finishing is sentence, his green eyes started to cry.

"Mane... you're alive..."

"And even more, from seeing you..."

The stallion runs to her, while she opened her arms, grabbing him in a huge warming hug, closing her wings around him. Both were smiling more than ever. Sharing tears of joy, relieving how much they missed each other.
Nine years since last time.

"Mane! Wha- What are you doing here!? Did somepony saw you?"

"Don't worry, like a ghost..."

"It's been so long... Look at you! You grew up so much! And strong! I can sense your magic level is way up than last time! Close to Twilight Sparkle!"

"Well, thank you." - He replied, while ending the hug of his long lost friend.

"What are you doing here? If my sister catches you here, you will be sent to the catacombs!"

"I'm here to ask your help! I really need your help, like... URGENT!" - he begged

"What is It about? Tell me!"

"Wait then... I must check something..."

He stepped back, and he whispers "Clairvoyance", making his eyes bright in white.
Pinkamena was still talking to Fancy Pants, while being surrounded by more and more guests, observing her dress and listening to their conversation. It was perfect. She couldn't kill him like that, buying lots of time.

"Mane, is something wrong?" - Asked the princess in a hurry of worry.

"It's a long story, trust me. I think we only have some hours before something bad happens!"

"I'll listen to you, but also be quick! Guards may come, or even my sister!"

Non stop story telling.
From what he done since the day he got kicked out of Canterlot, jumping most of the story, to tell the fight he had with Pinkamena Diane Pie herself, how he changed her, and now, to what It was about to happen.

Casting the clairvoyance spell again, Pinkamena was now alone and nervous, observing the target which was surrounded by guests, talking non stop of various topics. There was still time. Tons of It.
The dark blue princess remained in her bed amazed by the story. He gone through a lot for a living, risking his life across the region, facing death at different levels, and attending he converted the infamous "Cupcake Killer", which was now his friend.

Mane looked into the clock.
1:21AM.

"Well... I'm done..." - He looks back at his powerful friend.

She stayed there looking at him.
It all came to sense now to her. The strange reports of criminals inside bloody bags at the doors of many Royal Guard outposts in random days, to criminal status decreasing, from Apple Loosa to Baltimare.
It was all his work, even if he jumped great part of his story, It was enough to the warrior princess.

"Luna, I know I did the wrong thing, I shouldn't be going aro-"

He got interrupted with a huge hug from her. A really strong one who started to hurt his back. Followed by a kiss in his cheek, making him blush like never before. Beyond unexpected...

"Finally! - She shouted happily. - "Somepony understands my sense of justice! They don't deserve any mercy for their crimes... sending them to jail only leads them live more, enjoying what they have done. And most times, they manage to escape and stay even more hidden and thirsty for blood..."

Luna released him from the hold. His back hurt. No wonder she was also knew for "Warrior Princess", her strength speaks for It.
She started to feel strange, going back to the bed, she calls Mane, who looks at her.

"I appreciate what you did for Equestria..."

"Eh... It's how I roll now... Concerning the fame of my family..."

Her expression changed, with a smile and eyes fixed on his, she rolls on her back without taking her gaze out of him.
Mane started to feel weird.

"You've gone through a lot..." - She said in a relaxed way - "You could use a rest..."

"Um... Luna?"

"Mane, my dear... remember those years, when you were twelve years old..?"

"How could I forget those years..." - He muttered angrily, with his memories flashing through his head. Mostly bad ones...

"Don't you remember something good..?"

"No!"

"Neither when you used to peek at me during my bath..?"

Panic. He looks at her, nervous like when he fought Pinkamena. She knew It...
Luna knew he had a soft spot on her at such young age. For him, she was the mother he never had, but more than that, the only one who cared about him back in those years, and now there he was, hearing what was supposed to be only his memory.

"Come on, Mane... you're not the only one who knows the clairvoyance spell..."

"I-uhm... err... I... I think s-so..." - He missed his words.

The princess giggled at his situation.
"Come on... you did a lot for Equestria... come rest, my hero..."

He tried to resist. No way he would be having It with Princess Luna herself. No way in the world.
But his brain went back in THOSE memories... the water washing her blue slim athletic body after training, smoothing her mane, while blushing to the temperature of the water.

He started to step forward. There was nothing to miss, and she was right.
He gone through a lot and he never had or asked for a reward, and that one was the grand prize.
The princess rolled on her back, while tapping the spot next to her on the bed.
He gets on It slowly, while the beautiful alicorn pets his hair, taking her hoof to his chin, scratching It slowly and sensually.
She rolls in her back, and he gets on top of her. Approaching his head, while she closes her eyes, ready to receive the platonic kiss.

Author's Notes:

Oh Shit...