Not so far away, in the Royal Palace...

In the kitchen somewhere in the huge complex, the Night Princess finished her coffee along with two aspirin pills for her head.
She couldn't get any sleep during the day, being not the only time It happened since the new weapons got released along with the training schedules.

The pills didn't take long to make effect and she sighed in relief, but the relaxing moment didn't last long, when all the lights in the kitchen went off. She grabbed her dagger from under the dress and analyzed the place with her natural night vision and noticed a familiar silhouette by the door.

"Again, really? You think that surprises me?" She grumbled.

"I'm running out of tricks, for what I see..."

"Enough jokes Mane, turn the lights back on..."

The stallion obeyed and the light revealed him stading by the door in a relaxed way with a smile, and he noticed Luna was not in a good mood.

"Did I arrived in a bad time?" He asked innocently.

"Yes! Yes you did! I can't get enough sleep since those things were created!"

"Sounds like a problem..." He giggled.

"Mane... please, just... just go to my room, we can talk there."

Mane again, obeyed in silence and walked quietly to Luna's chamber and sat on her bed, and waited while enjoying the decorations of the place. Most of the color was dark blue from the walls, and the shiny touch of the sapphires, adorned with silver.
The princess arrived with a cup of hot coffee in her hands, and still didn't look so happy.

"Get out of my bed..." She asked in a rude way.

"Easy there, Princess... I don't mean any offense." He stated while getting up as fast as he could. He once saw Luna upset, and one time was enough, while he could feel a certain energy coming from her.

"I know that Mane... don't take me seriously. I'm not a good shape in these last weeks. Since those geeks created those loud things to the army, and Shining decided to make the training schedules EVERY-fucking-DAY!"

"I understand. You should see Pinkamena when she goes berserk from time to time for no reason. I must barricade my room and I can't get out..."

Luna pulled a small table with her magic, and a chair for Mane, which he accepted and sat on It while crossing his legs. She positioned the table between the bed and him, where she rested the cup and slowly relaxed on her bed, making Mane sweat a bit for her alluring figure to die for.

"So, why are you here..?" Asked Luna in a tired voice.

"I want to ask you a favor."

"Hmm... You never asked a lot from me, so I think I can do It. What is It?"

"I want your help to sneak me and Pinkamena into the Crystal Empire. The faster, the better."

She remained silent for a moment trying to make sense of the request.

"Why..?" She dared to ask.

"There's something going on there, and I want to solve It."

"Uh... I never though YOU would want to go back there. Doesn't that trouble you?"

"Not at all, I'm over the memories. But can you please help?"

"Only if you tell me the reasons. I don't want anything to happen to you."

"Alright... so we both know of these new weapons. The thing is, inquiries from my associates say the production of these things got out of hand, and the are being exported around the perimeter of Canterlot and Ponyville. And according to more info, most of them got stolen specifically in the Crystal Empire."

"So..?" Asked Luna with a raised eyebrow.

"So, that gives away some crime group or worse are getting access in military equipment! Imagine what can happen!"

"Shh! Don't yell!" She censored with her hands on the head. "My poor head..."

"Sorry..." He whispered.

Taking a sip of coffee, the princess started to think and nodded to Mane, showing approval she would help them. The unicorn thanked, and noise outside caught his attention.

"Sister? How are you?" The voice sounded like the last character Mane would want to meet in that place.

"Quick! In the wardrobe." Luna ordered.

Mane rushed to the piece of furniture, hiding between the dresses and casual clothing, with Luna closing the door with a lock.
"Come on in Celestia." She answered.

The ruler of Equestria entered and looked around, finding her sister by the wardrobe in a strange mood, while wearing what looked like a pair of black sport shorts and a black t-shirt. Scanning up and down, she knew something was wrong.

"Is everything okay?" Asked Celestia.

"Oh um... Not at all, in fact!"

"Why so?"

"Since Shining ordered the troops to train everyday, I barely get any sleep, and so, how am I supposed to rule the night in this state! I'm tired of taking pills for my head!"

"I see... I'll talk with him later today, at the rise of dawn."

"Thank you! Please do!"

Celestia noticed the key for the wardrobe in her hands, which she quickly hid behind her back.

"What were you doing..?"

"Wha-what do you mean?"

"Is there something I shouldn't know of..?" Asked Celestia in a parental tone.

"No! Haha... No! Nothing at all! I'm just being paranoid!"

The older sister didn't look like she bought the excuse, by Luna's obvious reaction.

"Is there what I think It is?"

"No no! You see! All those aspirins! They are doing a number on me!"

"Don't worry... I know how It feels, this royal life... I guess we could share some secrets on day..." Said Celestia in a low voice, with a wink.

"Um... yeah... I guess..." Answered Luna, with her face red from blushing.

"I'll leave you then. Just don't scream too loud. We don't want the guards to spread certain rumors, do we?"

"NO! Certainly not!"

The Sun Princess left the room with a giggle, and closed the doors behind her. The young sister sighed in relief and unlocked the wardrobe.
And from inside, Mane fell stopping the fall with his hands, and covered in t-shirts, shorts, and the most noticeable, a pair of panties in his face.

"Oh for the love of..." She grumbled, while taking the piece of underwear from the stallions face, who was blushing in a lewd expression.

"I didn't know you were D si-" Is mouth was shut with a huge slap from Luna, leaving a hand mark in his cheek.

"Did you hear what I went through? Just get out of here!" She yelled at him.

Looking at her irritated face, Mane quickly stood up from the crystal floor and headed to the balcony. Before jumping into the trees of one of the gardens, he looked at Luna by the shoulder.

"Sexy and powerful. That's how I like!" He dropped.

With a jar flying at his direction at full speed, missing his head but making him lose balance, he fell on top of a cherry blossom tree with some tiny branches stabbing his back. The cracking sound of the jar in the garden made a patrol run into It's direction, making Mane hurry up and head to the nearest alternative exit from the Royal Palace.

While heading out, he stopped for a moment and took his right hand to his pockets.
And from inside, he pulled a pair of dark blue knickers, which he contemplated with a smile.

With a small giggle, he kept running.