"Tia, I know this is something you feel you need to do...but why do I need to be the one to help you do it?" Luna asked.

The high Goddess smiled to her younger sister. "Because there are few that I trust in this world more than you, sister. Because it takes place during the night, and you're the Goddess of...well...you know. And most importantly..." She placed one hand upon her hip. "What else were you doing tonight?"

Luna grumbled. "Normally I'd be having my fight with Tantabus. But apparently she wants a break tonight so...guess my night's free."

Celestia smiled. "Excellent. Now, if you'll excuse me..." She turned, with Luna close behind, and the sisters took only a few steps away from where they had been before reaching their destination. It was a magnificent boat-like structure, upon which was a very comfortable-looking bed. Celestia, pressing down on it with her hand, took on a look of satisfaction. "Yes, very nice." Taking a moment to get herself in a good position on it, she rested her head upon its pillow, smiling as she closed her eyes. "I wish you luck, sister."

Luna rolled her eyes. "I assure you, Tia, I don't need luck." With those final words, the boat started to lift, and the two were carried along with it. Night had fallen, and so Luna's eyes were sharper than ever as she peered through the darkness. On and on they floated, heading for what appeared to be the peak of a mountaintop. With a loud snap of her fingers, Luna conjured forth a door in said peak, which opened with a distinct creaking sound. With the gateway now open, the golden boat entered, and the aforementioned gates, naturally, closed behind them, prompting a quick shake of the head by Luna. "Always so dramatic." She chuckled shortly afterwards. "Then again, drama is the name of the game tonight." Looking ahead, she could see a bright red glow, which was soon revealed to be, of all things, a group of fire-breathing snakes. Several on either side of them. Smiling, Luna gave a quick wave to the first of them. "Morning, Tony."

The snake in question ceased its fire-breathing to wave back to her with the tip of his tail. "And to you, Lulu."

Luna grimaced slightly. "Oh, Celestia just had to tell people my nickname, didn't she?" But she had no time to dwell on that, as their boat soon came upon a massive gate, far larger than the one they'd entered through before, and atop its vast walls were yet further snakes, though ones that would dwarf those they'd encountered already. Luna, however, was unconcerned, stepping forward and giving a slight bow of her head. "A pleasant night to you all. May we pass?"

The snakes glanced to one another before bowing simultaneously to the Lady of the Night. "You may, missssssssstresssssss."

Luna held back a snicker. "And there's the drawn out S's. Knew they were coming eventually." But she remembered her courtesies, giving a second thankful bow to the gate's protectors. Like every other opening she'd been through tonight, there was a loud creak as it allowed her entry, and as the boat passed on through she quickly noticed the many people on the other side. They were all regally dressed, clearly people of power, and as they lined the path, they were concerned not with Luna but with talking to one another. But then, this suited Luna just fine, as she kept her gaze forward, hoping that she wouldn't have to converse with any of therm.

Alas, this was not to be, as one of them cheerily waved to her. "Yoohoo!"

Luna grimaced, then forced a smile as she looked to the caller. "King Jacob. Always a pleasure."

The deceased monarch grinned widely. "Did I ever tell you the time my kingdom rivalled and outgrew every other nation around it?"

Luna nodded. "Yes...yes you did...a thousand times now, if I recall."

Jacob began to speak again, only to be kept from doing so by another fallen King, who clamped his mouth shut before giving a knowing nod to the visiting Goddess. "Safe journeys, my lady. We'll keep him quiet."

Luna gave a smile, and a genuine one this time. "Thanks to thee, Michael." She travelled onwards, casting an annoyed glance back to her still-slumbering sibling, before again focusing on what was ahead. Another gate came along, and like all before it the thing opened for her, letting them both pass into the next stage of their journey. Here, things became somewhat bleaker, as she was now in none other than the underworld itself, along its grey and murky river to be exact. She could hear the wails of those mortal souls who were only just arriving and realising their situation, but instead of focusing on that Luna instead looked ahead to those more familiar to her. "Lord Sombra. Lady Radiant."

The rulers of the Underworld looked to her, smiling. "Ah, Luna. Another night like all the others?" Radiant asked.

Luna sighed. "Indeed. Hopefully this trip won't be quite as taxing for me as the last time."

Sombra chuckled. "Luna, friend, we both know you're not that lucky."

As before, Luna grimaced. "Thank you, Sombra. Your cheerful optimism is always welcome in these dark days."

The Lord gave a bow. "Just doing my job."

Luna, who could still hear the godly couple snickering behind her, kept her eyes on the gateway ahead, and as she and he boat entered it she looked down and past the boat itself to what should have been the river. However, in this latest stage there was no water to speak of, and instead she looked at the scales of, of all things, another snake. Though this was one far larger and more imposing than anything the mortal world had to offer. Luna, being a Goddess, naturally had no issue with this gargantuan reptile that now served as their highway, and took a moment to sit upon the boat's edge as she slowly hummed to herself to pass the time. Time passed and she watched as place after place after place went by. A lake where a giant falcon plummeted especially bad souls into it, a domain where yet another giant snake came along to try and swallow them, only to be battered away effortlessly by Luna, it was quite a ride.

"Baa!" The sound of the creatures nearby stirred Luna from her complacency, and she glanced sideways to see a small group of rams walking alongside their boat as it moved.

She smiled to them, even reaching out to pet one, before sighing to herself. "Never anything dull or ordinary for us divines, eh?" But her smile vanished as she began to enter a particularly quiet domain. Her eyes drifted upwards, and she saw the stern gaze of a number of people lining high places above her. They never spoke or even moved, they just watched her, alongside the imposing figure of a giant lion that stood beside them. Nobody said a word, and Luna contented herself with simply passing along without incident. Thankfully, this happened fairly swiftly, and she found herself and the boat in their next location. And, much to Luna's delight, the next place, while also possessing people to look to them, actually waved and cheered and greeted her far more positively, to which she regained her earlier smile. "Now this is far more pleasant," she said to herself.

Sadly, she was soon to be shaken out of her contentment by the sudden and loud riffing of a guitar, which was soon followed by a great many other guitars. It was quite a noise, and even the Goddess of the Moon had to cover her ears over it. She looked around, seeing several massive women breathing fire, who looked down ominously to the unfortunate souls who had found themselves in this place. Even though these giantesses did indeed see Luna a couple of times, they ignored her, preferring instead to make things as wretched as possible for the mortals down here. Luna, though clearly disturbed by being here, and who could blame her, got back to her focus to look ahead and watch out for danger.

However, it was lucky for her that this was where her and Celestia's journey now came to a head. For after passing through a long period of darkness, there was a literal light at the end of the tunnel, and before long both Goddesses and their boat were once more in the domain of the living. The vessel carried on down gentle and serene waters for a time, until it finally slowed to a halt, giving Luna a chance to sigh with relief now that the whole ordeal was over. But then her sense of grumpiness returned to her as she walked over to where Celestia had been sleeping this whole time, before poking her in the cheek. "Okay, time to get up."

And get up she did, opening one eye followed by the other. Letting out a long yawn, the high Goddess sat upright, glanced around to the calm surroundings she now had, before smiling to her younger sister. "What did I tell you? Sleeping on a journey through the under-realms really does wonders for backache."

Luna shook her head, turning around to walk away. "Next time, just get a chiropractor like the rest of us."

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