Author's Notes:

Sorry for the long wait! Work has been super hectic, but I can promise that the last one-shot for the time being will be released tomorrow, a bit of a feelstrip with Celestia and Sunset down Canterlot Way. After that, Happenings at Everfree will launch next week~! ^^

Sunset hummed happily as she strode through Canterlot Castle, nodding and smiling at the guards as she passed by, even pausing to talk to a few she recognized and apologizing deeply to one that she remembered injuring when she made her escape years ago.

“Sunset Shimmer.”

The guard Sunset was talking with suddenly stood up straight, a hoof arching up in attention, causing her to look back around at where the voice was coming from.

“Princess Luna!” Sunset immediately prostrated herself before the lunar sister, eyes closed as her muzzle rubbing against the floor momentarily.

“You may leave us.” She heard Luna say, the halls echoing with the steps of the retreating Royal Guard. “No need to bow, Sunset Shimmer.” Luna said as Sunset felt her head slowly being raised. “We do not need someone that is family to treat Us any different.”

Sunset gulped as she was face to face with Princess Luna, taking in the-

“Ah, We guess that you have taken notice of something.” The lunar monarch said with a small grin.

“Y-your eyes!” Sunset said with a gasp, before realizing how insensitive she appeared. “I-I-I mean! My apologies!” Sunset tired to bow once more, only to be stopped by one of Luna’s silver shod hooves.

“Do not worry, Sunset.” Luna chuckled, Sunset smiling goofily at how different the Princess of the Night was acting. “We are here to deliver a message on behave of Celly.”

“C-Celly?” Sunset was perplexed, who was… Celly was it?

“Yes, our dear sister would like to apologize, she is tied up with a royal matter and does not wish for you to be bored while she is forced to deal with the bigots that form a majority of the nobility of Canterlot.” Luna said with a small frown, chuckling internally at the pure shock Sunset wore across her muzzle. “She asked if We could instead look after you, as the two of us have not had much time to the two of us.”

“O-oh! Sure, I think that’s awesome!” Sunset stammered, looking up once more at the slitted- wait, they weren’t slitted anymore?”

“Your just saying that…” Luna said quietly as she looked away with a sad smile. “We understand.” She said softly as she started to trot away.

“W-wait! Princess Luna!” Sunset said as she rushed after the sullen sister, only to stop when the Princess whipped around and outstretched a hoof.

“Boop!” Luna smiled as Sunset ran muzzle first into the cold shoe on her hoof, breaking out in giggles as Sunset blushed deeply. “Oh, Celly was right! You do turn the most adorable shade of red!”

Sunset stood still in shock. She expected this kind of behaviour from Celestia, not from Luna! Whenever she saw Luna in her past visits the younger sister had been so quiet and reserved, so stoic. Yet here she was laughing at pulling the same kind of trick that Celestia had done to Sunset so many times. Slowly she started to join in the mirth, laughing and blushing as she rubbed the back of her head.

“Our apologies, Sunset.” Luna said after finally calming down. “Sister insisted that you receive ‘The Boop’, as she calls it. We, um…” Luna quieted as she looked down at the hoof she was idly kicking. “We hope that We did not offend.”

“Boop.”

Luna looked at the amber hoof that rested on her nose, looking up at the smiling features of Sunset, taking in the aquamarine irises that dispelled any worry.

“So I think the first thing I’d like to do is find out why your eyes change looks at random.” Sunset asked as she smiled at the princess, though it caused Luna to stiffen up. “Ah… wrong question I take it?”

“N-no!” Luna blurted out. “It’s just…” She started looking around before beckoning Sunset close. “Follow me.”

The pair made a winding path through the castle, entering parts that had been barred to Sunset in her youth, before ending up in front of a set of doors that seemed to sparkle with an iridescent glow.

“In here.” Luna motioned, prying the threshold apart with her magic. Sunset followed the jittery pony in, feeling silly about how nervous Luna was, before stopping to look at the room. It must have been Luna’s bedroom, evident by the massive four post bed with hanging frills and glowing bits. The ceiling sparkled with stars and constellations, mirroring the ethereal mane of the rooms owner, while basic furniture littered the room.

“We must ask you to make Us a vow.” Luna said, not turning back to look at Sunset. “You must vow that you shan't tell a soul about what you are about to witness.”

“U-um… sure?” Sunset said offhandedly. “Look, Luna, if you don't feel comfortable about this don’t worry about it.”

“No.” Came the response, Sunset taking a half step back before stepping closer. “You are family, and thusly, you must know.”

Sunset couldn’t even give a yelp of surprise before a shell of magic whirled around Luna, blocking the Princess from Sunset’s vision.

“Princess Luna!” She called out in fear, rushing forward towards the vortex of magic just in time for it to die out, leaving Luna standing there. “What was that for, Princess?”

Slowly Luna turned around, gazing hesitant at Sunset and allowing the amber mare to look upon the princess in full.

“Wooow…” Sunset gaped in awe as she studied Luna. Her pupil was back to being a slit, although the rest of her eyes remained the same, the cyan orbs quivering as Luna peered back at Sunset. Her mouth opened a slight, slowing Sunset vision of the small fangs the pony now possessed. Cute… She thought as her eyes went back to the wings resting on Luna’s back. They were feathered from scapula to alula, but became membranous, much like a bat.

Silence filled the room, Sunset still studied Luna while the Princess stood still, looking uneasy.

“I’m hideous… Aren’t I?” Luna asked, a tear starting to well.

“If by hideous, you actually mean freaking amazing, then yes!” Sunset replied rushing forward and making circles around the princess, much to Luna’s shock. “Oh man, you are so cool! I mean, look at these wings!” Sunset’s magic flared to life and gently coaxed the wing out, an amber hoof gently caressing the membrane. “You look a little like a… Oh, what is it that the humans call it again? Gah! I knew I should have read more Hoofy Potter!”

Luna started to smile slightly as Sunset sat down on her haunches and raised a hoof to her mouth in contemplation. This was a pleasant surprise.

“I’ve got it!”

Luna reared back, stunned by the vigor Sunset was displaying.

“A Thestral! That’s what they called it!” Sunset said as she smiled back at Luna. “It’s kind of like a dead pony, er, kinda? You can see it’s bones through the skin and it has no fur, no feathers, but giant, membranous wings kinda like yours. They look really cool!” Sunset continued to babble on about things, only to stop when Luna started to shake. “Princess? What’s wrong? Have I gone too far?” Worry started to wash over the Unicorn.

“Nay, Sunset Shimmer,” Luna said, tears of happiness running down her face. “We are so pleased that you view Us not as a monster, as others have.”

“Why would they do that!?” Sunset asked in a soft voice, trotting forward and sitting beside Luna.

“It was after the Nightmare Moon incident, when Twilight Sparkle and her friends saved me with the Elements of Harmony…” Luna looked up at the starry roof. “Not long after I started to recover from the… How to describe it…”

“Cleansing.” Sunset offered, resting a hoof on the back of Luna who had since taken a seat of her own. “I know what that’s like first hand- er, hoof, sorry.”

Luna giggled in response. “Fret not, We understand that you would be used to using different words that would seem alien to Us. But yes, cleansing seems right. After Our magic started to come back We started to change…” Luna teared up again, though Sunset could tell it wasn’t in happiness. “We were forever changed by Nightmare Moon, and even though We had been cleansed, We were left with a reminder of Our failure. Of Our hubris.”

“I’m so sorry to hear that.” Sunset was trying her best to comfort the ancient Alicorn. She knew what it was like to lose herself to darker powers. “And to show you just how much I understand…” Sunset slowly got up and moved away. “Um… I haven’t tried this sort of thing before, so maybe be ready to put out any fires, okay?” She gave Luna a worried grin before she she closed her eyes, concentrating and pulling vast amounts of magic into herself.

“Sunset Shimmer?” Luna called out as she stood up, only to take a step back when a swirl of multicoloured flame erupted around Sunset, encasing the Unicorn in a cocoon of flame. The princess brought a hoof up to shield her face, doing her best to study the room and make sure nothing caught fire. Thought for the sheer fury of the flame, the room did not heat up. She took a hesitant step towards the conflagration, only to have a sudden explosion rock the room, flinging her against the far wall.

“Oof!”

The Alicorn got to her feet, looking around her room in fear of damage being caused, letting out a sigh of relief when she found nothing to be damaged. Wait…

“Sunset Shimmer!”

Luna raced to the prone figure laying on the floor as… smoke? Was that smoke billowing around her?

“I guess a full body transformation is a lot harder than just wings, huh?” Sunset muttered before waving a hoof before her face, coughing as she tried to clear the smoke around her. “Sorry, Luna. I hope I haven’t damaged anything!” She slowly got up and looked around. “Huh, everything seems so… small?”

“It is you that is large, Sunset Shimmer.” Luna commented as she looked up at the taller figure. “What… are you?”

“Oh!” Sunset pulled a red hoof before her face. “Right, I was trying to show you something. Um…” Sunset whipped her head around behind her and took in her wings, unfurling the bat like extremities and grinning, before looking back at the Princess. Make that down at the Princess. “So I kinda had my own Nightmare Moon situation over on the other side of the moon, as you know, but I figured I should show you what I became. Well, the Pony version of it at least.” She grinned sheepishly. “Er… Luna? Why are you smiling like that?”

Celestia let out a sigh as she pushed the inkwell away. Why did she have to be the responsible sister? At least Luna and Sunset got to have some together time, which was nice, though Celestia wished that she could have some time with her daughter. Maybe tomorrow? The two of them could go shopping, visit around Canterlot and have some personal time together.

“Yes, I think that would be nice.” She said as she sat up and turned around, only to freeze.

“Boo!” Came two cruel sounding voices, one from Nightmare Moon, and the other from… Sunset? The elder sister let out a shrill cry and stumbled back, back landing on the table and flipping the inkwell up into the air, only to have it land down on her muzzle.

“Oh man! That was genius, Auntie!” Celestia heard Sunset shout out amongst laughter from the two figures standing in front of her. “Looks like I owe you… something? I can’t remember the bet.”

“What are you two- wait, Sunset? Why do you look like that!?” Celestia was wearing a look of shock as she removed the inkwell from resting on her muzzle, the black fluid vanishing with a trace of magic.

“So-sorry, mom!” Sunset said amongst more howls of laughter. “I wanted to show Luna my own cursed form, and she wanted to play a trick on you because of it.”

“Really now, dear Lulu?” Celestia said as she raised an eyebrow, looking down at her younger sister that reverted back to her now natural form.

“We regret nothing.” Luna said as she refurled her membranous wings.