I stared at Twilight Sparkle from behind the pair of dark sunglasses perched on my muzzle. My face was shaded by a large white sun hat that begged to be pulled down even more. The younger mare sat across from me and was sipping a strawberry lemonade with a cheery smile on her face, a few shiny maneclips in various colors aided in sweeping her mane to the side as she scanned the menu with her eyes. We were both at a street-side table in one of the many cafés near Canterlot's markets. She had told me that this was one of her favorites and that they had the best sandwiches on this side of Equestria.

I didn't doubt that. I didn't say anything, I simply watched as sunlight shone through Twilight's drink, making the ice cubes sparkle. I tried to focus on the music in the background, a happy, bouncy song and while it wasn't my cup of tea it was pleasant enough to be catchy.

It was easy to pay attention to everything but Twilight Sparkle when she wasn't talking since she had been browsing the menu for at least five minutes even though I'm sure she already picked out what she wanted. Hadn't she?

I leaned back in the chair a bit, hoping to catch a glimpse of something distracting. Anything that would draw ponies' eyes somewhere else. The street wasn't very busy this afternoon but it still felt like somepony was watching me, just waiting for me to make another mistake. I know it's just an effect of my mind. I know that this is just a side effect of staying in the castle for a week after the Tantabus was revealed to my sister. I told her, and I think it helped. I don't feel like I'm at the breaking point anymore. Staying inside helped. I'm fine. Nothing's wrong, at least not today. Everything is sunny and there's even a cool breeze which feels so nice and-

"Luna?"

Nothing will go wrong today. It's just my mind. Nopony's watching me.

"Luna, are you spacing out on me again?"

I. Am. Safe.

"I'm sorry, that joke was terrible."

I know I don't want to be here, but I already am. Wait... Twilight's talking."Yes, Twilight?"

"I was going to ask you what you wanted."

"Uh... maybe a salad?"

"This place only serves sandwiches."

"Yes, one of those."

Twilight smiles a bit more. "So do you want me to pick one?"

"Yes."

"Are you feeling okay?"

"Definitely, I'm not sick."

"Are you sure? It doesn't seem like it. This is the most you've said since you arrived and that doesn't make it seem like you're okay."

"Twilight Sparkle, I am not feeling ill."

"You know, you can just call me 'Twi'."

"Yes."

"Is it too warm? I mean, I do admit that it is pretty warm but-"

I look over to the menu she's holding. Since she's paying attention to the veil of this that obscures me from everything else, the menu has almost slipped from her hooves and I can see all the brightly colored options and try to ignore the growling in my stomach from forgetting breakfast.

With the glasses on, Twilight can't see that I'm nearly looking through the laminated surface. My ears prick and catch the waiter's presence before Twilight does. She turns and tells him what he'll be having before looking back at the veil's surface again, where I squirm below.

"Do you know what you'll be having?"

My hoof finds the glossy image of one of the sandwich options, and I'm able to make it look natural instead of forced. "That one, please."

Twilight puts in my order and turns away again while I relish in this moment, finally having some room to breathe. Once the waiter leaves I find Twilight looking at me with a rather unnerving expression.

"Agoraphobia!"

Behind my glasses, I blink. "What about agoraphobia? Is that not the fear of... markets?"

"Public places!" Twilight corrects cheerily, "You have agoraphobia don't you?"

"No..."

"Oh, so it's just one of those days, huh?"

"Maybe."

I watch as Twilight take a large slurp of her drink before setting it down with an almost too-loud thunk. "I know what will cheer you up!"

"Mhm?"

"A story! You won't believe what happened last week, it was so crazy I didn't even have time to write a letter about it although maybe I should get to that..."

Twilight goes on and on rambling about two or three mildly curious events until our food is brought out. While I eat my grilled cheese sandwich, I thank myself for picking something unsuspicious and enjoy the taste. I'll give Twilight credit for picking a place with nice food even if she's still going on about something that isn't exactly 'crazy' at all but just a very bizarre account of a fight with her and Miss Rarity who, as I take it, is her on-again-off-again marefriend, as I hear they are called. Since she's absolutely lost in this tale of hers, Twilight doesn't notice when I sit, still facing her of course, and cease listening as my thoughts drift to this morning.

Celestia's hoofsteps are heard by me before she even arrives on the balcony where I stood looking out over Canterlot, but it wasn't the city I was looking at. Instead, my eyes were on Canterhorn Mountain. The weather looked like it would be nice today, perhaps a bit too sunny but I think I heard that it might rain later which would be nice. I love when it rains on the mountain, so perhaps I could go hiking later. There was nopony on the mountain, after all.

"Luna, is that you out here?"

When around I see my sister in the doorway to the balcony. Her mane is a mess, and she clearly has only just woken up. Tia was never one for waking up early and her crown is missing.

"Is it time for me to raise the sun yet?" She asks with a yawn.

"No, it's only two in the morning."

Celestia's too tired to be shocked at the times I choose to get up and doesn't even bother to rub the sleep from her eyes.

"What day is it?"

"Wednesday?"

"No Luna, the date."

I tell her and watch all the exhaustion in her face fade in an instant. "Really? No... I thought we had at least a few days to prepare for this..."

"Prepare for what? I do not remember there being any important meetings-"

"No, not that. Luna, did you hear anything about Twilight Sparkle recently?"

"Err... should I have?" Celestia would have told me about something this important, wouldn't she? It doesn't seem like it was anything bad, was it...?

"She broke up with Rarity again and she's not taking it that well..."

I nod since there isn't much I can add to this.

"What do you think of Twilight, Luna?"

"Didn't you ask me that a few days ago...?"

"And what did you say?"

"I told you that I thought she seemed like a nice pony and a good student, before she became-"

Celestia smiled. "Exactly, would you want to see her?"

"Oh! She's coming for a visit? That sounds nice."

"Sort of, she wanted to see you."

Me?! What interest would Twilight Sparkle have in me? "So you want me to talk to her then? I'm not sure I have much advice I could give."

"Think of it more like a date."

No... she wouldn't have. I conceal my reaction easily. Maybe I could explain things to Twilight, it's just Tia trying to do her a favor all I have to do is-

Celestia places a hoof on my wither, and her tone is warm. "It isn't healthy for you to be alone so much and Twilight is, like you said, a very nice pony. I'm sure you'll find a way to help each other."

"But-!" My hiking plans! It's not like that! I like being alone!

"Luna, I'm worried more than ever about your health and spending time with somepony will be good for you."

It won't.

"She's going to be at a sandwich shop... you know the one near Canterbury Road? She'll be there at one of the tables outside. Just be there by ten even if it's to offer a 'hello'."

You're guilt tripping me into this! I don't want to make Twilight feel bad, but I never wanted to go on a date with her.

"It's all perfectly arranged, you have nothing to worry about."

Twilight is waiting for me to respond. I barely heard a thing she said. I swear to the stars somepony is watching me...

I need to answer. Something honest, of course, it always has to be something honest. I can't just tell her I was pressured into going on my first date. When I arrived at ten I could see she had been crying and while she had only a modest pile of tissues to prove this, it does not change that she was still in distress. She's been enjoying my company, but it isn't a mutual feeling. I've felt uncomfortable ever since my arrival to this little eatery. I don't feel lonely like Celestia thinks, or at least not when I'm actually alone. I'm only lonely when around ponies like this...

Twilight's looking confused. Now suspicious. No... she looks hurt.

I need to tell her something honest, and quickly. But I can't hurt her feelings, she's already sad.

I think somepony is watching me...

I don't want to do this anymore. I let go, I lose focus, and for a moment I'm scared before that too disappears and I hear the sound of a table flipping and me shouting something a little too loudly before leaving as quickly as possible. At least I didn't loose my sun hat as I turned a few streets, it helped hide the look on my face. Although, I unfortunately did bump into another pony. All I saw through the glasses' tint were a few basic features: a unicorn stallion with a white coat, green eyes, and three aces for a cutie mark. His eyes almost looked terrified when I accidentally collided with him, but I didn't stay around to see before I added a quick apology and decided to teleport instead.

There's a knock on my door, I know who it is and I don't want to answer it. I will be staying buried under all these pillows and blankets for quite a while. At least I'm safe here, there's room to breathe when I'm alone, I simply prefer it this way.

"Are you okay?"

I do not think so.

"Twilight told me what happened and-" My sister's voice is silenced by the sound of a pillow being flung at the door.

"Why did you run away?"

Please go away, I just want to calm down.

"Luna, you need to talk to me-"

"No."

"No? Do I need to mention just how panicked Twilight was because of what you did today? She wants to talk to you."

"We do not wish to talk to anypony, just let us be."

"This is exactly what I mean, I know that you spend so much time alone and that you're lonely but you can't lock yourself away like this."

"We are not lonely."

"I think you need to be honest with yourself-"

"We are being honest! How are we to explain that We are not lonely to somepony who craves company?"

There was a brief pause outside the door. "Company is good, Luna. You need it."

"We do not."

"We'll talk later."

"We will not."

There was a sigh before her hoofsteps could be heard going back the way they came. "Okay Luna," Celestia added sadly.

I sank back into peace, and wondering just how one would explain something like that to Celestia who spoke of charity, company, and friendship above all. How could I get her to understand that? There was nopony I was interested in befriending or anypony I wanted to consort with unless it was required of me. I liked spending my time away from duties alone, I picked the less social tasks that had to be completed if I could. If I wanted a friend, I would go make one.

It was my nature to be pleased with solitude.

Author's Notes:

In terms of 'verse continuity this is set somewhere after the events of 神の一手 as well as the episode 'Do Princesses Dream of Magic Sheep?'.