The moon was waning, beginning its descent into that thin crescent shape Luna loved so much. She stared up at it while flying low through the fields of grass and wheat toward Ponyville. She used a levitation spell to carry her box of artifacts along with her, giving her hooves time to heal from their horrific burns from the previous night. She had bandaged them with some scavenged leaves and reeds, together with a bit of magic, but they still hurt immensely. It was worth it though, she said to herself. I am now going to have to get used to having some injury or another most of the time anyway.

Her thoughts became slow and meandering like a steady stream. Each one blurred into the next peacefully, and her cares were forgotten. Maybe this was the right path for me to take after all. Whatever happened in Ponyville, the quirky houses of which were now becoming visible, would go a long way toward answering that question.

Princess Luna carefully flew her way over to the library, trying not to attract any attention. It was late enough that she could blend into the sky easily, even with her cargo. She came to a landing on one of the pegasus doors there and peered inside.

Twilight Sparkle was still awake, composing something on parchment by the light of a single candle. Spike was asleep, but her other assistant, the owl, was wide awake. His head twisted around to look at Luna, who gazed pointedly at Owloysius. The member of the night's symphony hooted at her. Twilight did not notice. She also did not notice when her pet landed on her head. Sighing, Luna decided she would have to intervene directly. She eased open the door very quietly, and then -

“Twilight Sparkle!” Her voice thundered into the room. Spike and Twilight cried out and jumped several feet into the air, and the unicorn began casting defensive spells on both of them before she even fully realized she was doing so. She is learning well. “It is I,” she said in a much quieter voice as she strode to the edge of the candle's range. She stood erect in the shadows, her face illuminated and cast in sharp but ever-changing angles by the soft glow of the stars in her mane and the flickering fire of Twilight's candle.

“Princess Luna...?” Twilight ventured cautiously, composing herself and bowing down. Spike, meanwhile, did the same, but from the safety of his blankets. Owloysius flew up to perch on Luna's shoulder, hooting his salutations.

“Yes,” she replied, giggling at the fright she had caused. “I am sorry for disturbing thee in such a manner, but it was too droll to resist.”

“It's no problem,” said Twilight, laughing nervously before rising to look up toward the second story window where the Princess had entered. “I was actually waiting for you. I just expected, you know, the front door. But it's fine either way! I'm putting the finishing touches on my lecture for tonight.”

“You prepared a lecture,” Luna said as more of a statement of dread than a question.

“Yes! Do you want to come down and have some tea and food Spike made before we get into it?”

“I made tea and food?” A muffled question came from the small bed. Twilight glared, but Luna saved the day yet again.

“I require neither,” she said. “I am - eager to participate in thy lecture, but I must borrow a book first. Dost thou have 'The Adventures of Dona Zapeta'?”

“Hmm,” Twilight's brow furrowed. “Is that one of those old myths about fighting and such? I mean, I probably do have it here somewhere, but...”

“Section 18, under Z.” Spike's voice was clearer now as he peaked his head out from under his covers. Both ponies gave him a quizzical glance, while the dragon looked at the ground and scratched his head. “I, uh, read a couple of those, sometimes. I think they're kind of cool.”

“Truly?” Luna's mouth curved up slightly at the edge. “Excellent taste. Please get it for me.” While Spike went off, rubbing his eyes and mumbling, to find her request, she turned back to Twilight. “I also need to speak to thee in private. It is extremely important. Please come up here.”

“Should I bring my notes?” Twilight asked with a gleam in her eyes.

“Certainly,” said Princess Luna, unwilling to dash the earnest young scholar's hopes.

Spike came running up with a copy of “The Adventures of Dona Zapeta,” a book with yellowed, torn pages that had been rebound many times. Luna lifted it out of his hands with her magic, thanked him politely, and walked back onto the balcony, bidding Owloysius to go back to his wooden perch. Spike grumbled, but Twilight gave him a gentle pat on the head and a kind word before she followed Luna. It helped a little, so he curled back up into bed.

“So what's this about, Your Highness?” Twilight asked.

“One moment.” Luna's horn sparked briefly, and a thin, clear sphere of magic surrounded them. “There. To all the rest of the world, we are having a normal, pleasant conversation about “you”s and contractions. But we shall actually be speaking of something else. I expect thou wilt try to copy this spell at some point—do not deny it—so let me offer the warning that I have never been able to make it last longer than five minutes, and that it takes me hours of rest between castings. I am sure that, given time, a pony of your talent could do much better. I simply want thee to be careful. In any case, this is why I am here.”

Twilight started to burst with questions as Luna pushed the trunk she had carried with her over. She rested one front hoof on it, and used the other to signal Twilight to stop asking why she couldn't find this spell in Canterlot.

“Inside this chest are objects from my distant past,” Luna spoke with a gravity that made Twilight Sparkle hush instantly. “They are, unfortunately, broken. Some can be repaired more easily than others. Even more unfortunately, the most valuable of them is beyond my knowledge and power to restore. Moreover, it should not have even needed such a restoration to begin with, due to its enchantments. What I request is for thou to uncover the cause of the decay and, if possible, to fix it.”

“I would be honored!” Twilight Sparkle exclaimed. She started to say more, but Luna silenced her again.

“Do not speak so hastily. If thou wishest to undertake this task, it must be done in the utmost secrecy. No one, pony or otherwise, can know of it. Above all else, Celestia must not know I have this under any circumstances.”

After taking a few moments for that to sink in, Twilight began to shift from hoof to hoof and scrutinize the ground intensely. “Um...”

“I understand thy hesitation. The reason for such secrecy is that the artifact I speak of greatly aids in the arts of scrying. She and I both had one long ago. At first it was merely a useful tool that we did not turn much thought toward. But as the centuries wore on, and she saw some of the - things I began to do with it, she destroyed hers and replaced it with a worthless gem, and she would have destroyed mine if I had not hidden it. But that was before, when I had already started to become twisted and transformed. Thou hast made me whole, and thou hast seen my spirit in the process. I know it, because I have seen thine. Surely thou canst tell that I would not use such a thing for any ill purpose now. I have undertaken a journey to help all ponies, nay, all creatures, in need of aid. With thy help, this journey could be made much easier by allowing me to find threats, instead of merely reacting to them. I can explain further, but first I need thee to swear...” Luna stopped speaking as a powerful urge to cast her oath spell welled up from deep inside her. The image of Thin Mint's eyes enveloped tightly with ugly black vines stuck in her vision.

“I know who you are,” Twilight said suddenly. “You're the Mare in the Moon. Nightmare Moon.”

“W-What?” Luna backed away until she hit the edge of the balcony, and then tried to back away farther. “No I am not!”

“Huh?” Twilight tilted her head. “I just asked what you needed me to swear. It sounded really important.”

Just then, the image of her dead student was replaced with Twilight Sparkle staring at her, and then that magnificent, familiar spark in the unicorn's eyes. Luna stared back, her heart stopped pounding, and she moved away from the railing.

“We shall have to speak of this later,” Luna said, unfolding her wings. “Please, keep that safe fro - for me. I shall return next evening.” Without waiting for a reply, she took off, leaving her large blue and black box and the book she had asked for behind with Twilight.

Soon after, Princess Luna landed in one of the perfect green fields outside of the village. She paced back and forth, lost in thought. Twilight's accusation hadn't come from her mouth, but from that place inside where Luna had first heard the voice of the Nightmare. Are the Elements of Harmony still working their magic on me? Was it something Twilight did? Is the stress getting to me and driving me insane? Was I already insane?

While the questions she pondered were definitely troublesome, Luna's face grew placid, and her pacing gradually became slower until she stood perfectly still. A warm breeze washed over her body, sending the tangled mess of her mane flapping in all directions. She closed her eyes and rocked back and forth with each gust. “A different kind of spark. I felt it the very moment I realized how happy I was to hear you, to see you, how much I cared about you." Twilight Sparkle's voice again, right in the spot where she had been so often tempted and tested an age ago. In her trance-like state, Luna let the words flow over her just like the wind.

Before she realized it, dawn had come. She hastily lowered the moon, tucked all her stars away, and hid herself underneath some tall stalks of grass.

Performing her waking stretches was much less painful than the night before, so Luna decided to get in some light exercise as well. She watched the light of dusk slowly fade while doing a couple sets of pushups, wing pushups, and situps. She practiced a few basic elemental manipulation spells, such as directing airflow with subtle movements of her feathers, and spinning small sections of the earth with precise twists of her hooves, until the sun set, then she finally brought out the moon. Nothing special tonight. Luna was too busy thinking of what to say to Twilight when she returned.

She crept back into town and found the library lit brightly with many candles. She was not in much of a mood for fun, so she simply knocked on the door with three heavy stomps. The door opened slowly, and a sheepishly-smiling Twilight Sparkle beckoned her to enter. Twilight's eyes widened when the extra candlelight gave her a good look at all the damage that had been done to Luna's body, but she said nothing. The floor was littered with books, most of them very old. There were even a few scrolls among the carnage. Tucked safely into a corner was the chest Luna had brought with her.

"It's just you and me here," said Twilight. "I gave Spike a vacation with my pet owl at Sweet Apple Acres. The whole town is having a big hoedown there tonight, so I'm sure they're having lots of fun. Not as much fun as I've been having though! I've found references to something called a 'crown jewel,' which sounds an awful lot like what you were talking about last night. I-"

"Twilight Sparkle," Luna interrupted quietly. "I want to speak of something else first. To be clear, thou didst not attempt to cast any spells upon me last night, correct?"

"Of course not! I would never, Princess!"

"I did not think so. When I asked thee to swear something to me, I heard thy voice speak, but the words did not come from thee. Rather, they came from inside me. Not like a thought, but like another presence. Hast thou ever experienced anything similar?"

"I don't know," Twilight said. "I don't think so. Can you tell me more about it? Maybe you're just stressed out. I know weird things start happening to me when I get stressed. Have you been sleeping okay?"

"I am grateful for the concern," Luna said with a forced smile, "but I do not feel as if I can say much more. I simply wanted to rule out a couple of possible explanations. Let us not dwell on it. Wilt thou accept my apologies for my rude exit last night?"

“It's nothing,” said Twilight, emphatically shaking her head, “really. I wouldn't even call that rude compared to what I've had to put up with from my friends in the past. Anyway, I realize now that it isn't the reason you came here at all, but do you want to practice your speech while we talk? It's totally fine if not. I can just give you my lecture notes later on if you want them too.”

“That is acceptable,” Luna pronounced. “Or fine. Whichever. My time on the road will be long, and I am sure I will need the knowledge at some point.”

“That reminds me,” Twilight said as she began to sort through her organized mess, looking for the right reference to start with. “How long are you going to be gone? Doesn't Celestia need your help governing?”

“I will be gone until I - I'm no longer needed,” Luna said, shifting into a stilted but still much-improved version of her earlier attempts at modern speech. “I'm not sure how else to put it. She will be fine without me though. I'm going to write her regularly as well.”

“That's great!” Twilight levitated an old scroll onto her lectern and began to study it with a magnifying glass. “I know how much she loves getting letters. Just imagining the look on her face when I send her one of my reports makes me happy. But you probably already knew that. Sorry.”

“Don't be sorry,” Princess Luna reassured her and stepped forward to peer at the scroll as well. “Knowing that she has you as a friend will make the separation easier for both me and Celestia.”

Twilight had the appearance of a puppy who had been given a particularly delicious treat, but she swallowed it and changed the subject. “So, is this picture more or less like the scrying thing you mentioned?” She pointed at a drawing of an oval, exactly the size of Luna's gem, with very similar veins drawn through it.

“Yes,” Luna said. “That is a crown jewel. I'm amazed by how quickly you found this.”

“It took a while,” Twilight said humbly, though with the puppy-look returning to her features. “There wasn't a whole lot else I was able to find, but this”--she swept the scroll to the side and set an ancient book in its place--”talks about where they might have come from. The author speculates that they were made by dragons.”

“They were not,” said Luna, “but a dragon's talents could possibly be enough to repair them.”

“Yikes. Well, hopefully I can dig up something else. The only other pieces I could find that seem to relate describe – some really terrible things...”

“Like what?” Luna had to prod, in spite of Twilight's horrified and depressed tone.

“Like Nightmare Moon using her crown to spy on a banquet full of powerful unicorns, then casting some type of destructive spell through it...”

“Nightmare Moon never had a crown jewel,” the Princess said very carefully. “I had sealed it away at that point.”

“Wait, then that means...” Twilight looked ill, and her eyes teared up.

“I didn't become corrupt overnight. The things I chose to do led me down that path. I paved my own way right to the Nightmare's doorstep, and the whole time I thought I was just doing what was necessary to fight evils like her. I was wrong and I regret all of it, but I make no other excuses. I did what I did. Celestia is afraid I'll do the same things again, and you probably are too. You're both right to fear. I can't say what the future will hold, but I have to do this. Please understand.”

“I do understand,” Twilight responded, holding back her tears. “Like you said, we somehow connected when I used the Elements of Harmony. I know who you really are, and I believe in you, Princess.”

Luna immediately turned away from the lectern and wrapped her neck around Twilight's shoulders, squeezing her gently. The stunned unicorn managed to return the hug for a moment before Luna pulled away.

“I don't think stress is my greatest problem now,” Luna said, “but it still is one. I should do something about that. What time does that spa in town open?”

The water in the tub Luna reclined in was nearly solid red for the second time. Even she had been surprised by how much blood she had caked in her hair, to say nothing of the surprise of Twilight and the two spa employees tending to them. Aloe and Lotus Blossom were doing their best to be calm and professional. They had never tended to a Princess before, and they rarely saw this much blood and gunk on anypony. They opted for the minimal approach, speaking only when spoken to and pretending not to listen to Luna read an old book to Twilight Sparkle. It was getting harder though, because Luna was getting more and more animated during the reading, splashing a lot of bloody water around and nearly sending their utensils flying out of their grasp.

“'Zapeta swore by the code of her calling to guide the pilgrims to the Lost Mountain.'” Luna placed a hoof over her heart. “'They gave the greatest thanks they could, being but poor peasants. But for a flower of chivalry such as the great Dona de Alicante, the gratitude of the poor was one of the greatest gifts of all. They trekked up the sacred path with cloths wrapped around their faces to protect from the dragon smoke. Even then the air was too thick, and the coughing loud. It grew to such a din that Zapeta's surpassing-sharp ears would have closed up, had they not picked up a distant rumble from overhead.'” Luna sprang half-way out of the tub suddenly, her wings wide open, spraying water and sending Aloe reeling backwards. “'An avalanche! She shouted to the pilgrims, then gathered all four of the foals in her mighty teeth and sprang to action. Her legs kicked aside rocks even bigger than she was, and she was regarded as large even by other horses,, and she—ouch--!” A brush had gotten stuck in her mane. Luna turned to glare at the timid spa pony, but she stopped herself from saying anything harsh. “It is well. Please continue thy brushing, madam.”

Aloe nodded and took the brush back in her teeth. Across the room, Lotus Blossom was having a much easier time with Twilight, who was only giggling or gasping occasionally as the action of the story required. Her bath water had also not needed to be changed yet. Plus, her mane was not magical, and so it didn't occasionally spark and flash when being touched.

Luna continued her animated reading of the adventure of the Lost Mountain, but tried for the third, but not last, time that morning to keep herself relatively still in order to make her caretaker's work easier. The locks of Luna's mane, which had started out a dark but unmoving blue and purple due to being spaced apart and split, gradually coalesced into their natural scintillating pattern as the combs brought them together. Both of the attendants and Twilight stared as the nebulous river came to life, but the Princess herself did not notice, lost in telling her tale.

“'The first two groups had made it across the chasm in safety,'” she went on, “'but the bridge of stone they had used in their crossing collapsed! With a cascade of boulders baring down, Dona Zapeta's mind raced to come up with a way to save the four ponies who remained on this side with her. There was only one way. She bent down and commanded them to climb onto her back, quickly! Even on her broad shoulders there was barely enough room for them, but she hoisted the burden with the strength and determination of a farmer hoisting a sack of grain for her family. Taking ten steps back, she grit her teeth and charged straight toward the gap! The ponies screamed as she leaped into the air - !'” At this, Luna tossed the book out of harm's way, then launched herself completely out of her bathtub, landing with a huge splash in Twilight's. The entire room was drenched with pinkish water and filled with the laughter of the Princess and Twilight Sparkle.

The drenching included a gaping pair of ponies that had just entered the shop. Luna instantly and happily recognized one as Fluttershy, the pony who had started to coax her out of the habit of using the Royal Canterlot Voice all the time. The other, Rarity, she had met only in passing, but she had heard much about her from Celestia, Twilight, and various nobles in Canterlot. Both of the newcomers were mortified, though for different reasons. Fluttershy remained more than a little terrified of Luna, whereas Rarity was about to feint from the embarrassment of being seen in this state by royalty. Twilight greeted them in between fits of laughter, while Luna exited the bath to stand in front of them. Both went onto their knees as low as possible, one to hide her fear, and the other to hide her untidiness.

“You are my friends,” said Luna. “Do not bow so low. Rise and join us.”

“Excuse us,” Lotus Blossom said pleasantly. “We are going to need to get more water for the baths. It will be a few minutes. We are so sorry for the delay.”

Everypony assured them it was alright, and then they scampered out of the room quickly.

“I also apologize for getting you soaked,” Luna said after they left, “dear Fluttershy and miss Rarity.”

“What about me?” Twilight asked in mock-offense.

“Thou wert already wet.”

“Not with whatever all this ick is!”

Twilight and Luna laughed, Fluttershy mumbled an apology of her own for having disturbed them, and Rarity cleared her throat over it.

“Well,” she said, striking as dignified a pose as she could manage under the circumstances, “I can see moving our spa dates to the early mornings was a good idea, Fluttershy. Why, now we have the honor of spending the time with Princess Luna herself!”

“Yes,” Fluttershy squeaked. “I'm sure it will be very – nice.”

“Please,” Luna entreated, “tell me everything you have been doing. It has been too long.”

Aloe and Lotus had returned, bringing with them four extra ponies. The small establishment's entire staff, in fact. They had set to work immediately, cleaning all four ponies thoroughly filing horns, giving hooficures, brushing coats, steaming manes, offering all the best to their famous guests. Luna was much better behaved now that she was doing more listening than talking.

Rarity was telling the group how well her gem-studded costumes for Sapphire Shores had been received. “The Canterlot Round Table even mentioned my boutique in their latest edition! Can you imagine? Being an Element of Harmony is all well and good, but I truly feel like I've made it now.”

“That's wonderful Rarity,” Fluttershy said amid similar compliments by the others. “I think you've always made it though. Um, that doesn't really make sense, does it? Sorry...”

“No, I know exactly what you mean! Thank you! Now, why don't you tell the Princess what you've been doing, my dear?”

“Oh,” Fluttershy spoke up a little louder after Rarity's encouragement. “Okay. Angel and I have been counting bird eggs. There are going to be a lot of new ones this year, especially robins! Isn't that exciting? I've also been doing a lot of exercise with Rainbow Dash. She's so talented! She's going to get into the Wonderbolts for sure this year. Who knows, maybe I could too one day.”

“The Wonderbolts?” Luna asked while her unburnt hooves were being delicately filed. “Is she not setting her sights a little low? Those ponies are glorified stage magicians. Miss Rainbow Dash is a true prodigy and a hero just like the rest of you.”

“Oh, I completely agree,” Fluttershy actually managed to smile directly at the Princess as she said this. “I'll support her either way though. I'm just glad she's been getting nicer. Sometimes we all just need a little kindness.” That last sentence seemed wrong to Luna somehow, but she couldn't quite place why. Even with the awkward way Fluttershy was speaking, it didn't seem to fit with the rest... “I think Tank is really getting to her,” she continued, oblivious to Luna's puzzled gaze. “That's her pet tortoise. That I gave her. He can actually fly, and – sorry. Nevermind, I'm rambling.”

Luna returned the smile, and the fear on Fluttershy's face faded a little. “Rambling is what we are here for,” she said. “But my time is drawing short. This has truly been lovely. Thank you so much for spending this morning with me.”

“Princess Luna, why don't you read some more of that story for us before you go?” As Twilight asked her question, Aloe and Lotus nearly groaned out-loud.

“I would love to,” Luna replied, “but I must discuss something in private with miss Rarity. It is time-sensitive, because I will be leaving tomorrow, and I know not how long I will be gone. I know it would be cutting thy time here short, but wilt thou meet me in thy shop?”

“Of course Your Highness,” Rarity bowed her head. “Please excuse me Fluttershy. You know how much I hate missing these chances to spend time together.”

“It's alright,” Fluttershy said. “Twilight will be here with me, right?”

“Sure thing!” Twilight exclaimed as Lotus applied some highlights to her mane.

Now that she felt gorgeous enough to be in the Princess' presence, Rarity exited the spa with a slight hop in her trot. Luna followed her with her book wrapped in a levitation aura, feeling refreshed as well. They had done a good job caring for her, and she had written them a generous royal disbursement certificate as a tip.

“I must stop and get something,” Luna said. “Give me but a few minutes, and I shall meet thee in thy store.”

Rarity nodded and rushed off in a blur. Meanwhile, Luna returned to the library. She discovered it was still empty. Come to think of it, she had only met a couple ponies bowing to her along the way here. The villagers must have had quite the party. She was thankful for the relative calm. Starting a huge fuss here was the last thing she needed now. It was probably inevitable, but she hoped it could wait a little while.

She found her chest and inserted her horn into the lock. She brought out the silvery, shining cloak and draped it over one shoulder. She considered taking the journal as well, but decided against it for now. I will write in it when I return, she promised herself. Luna locked the chest, then set off for her rendezvous. Tired-looking ponies were trickling back in from Sweet Apple Acres along the way. She did her best to be polite and regal enough for them, but she was very relieved when she finally made it to the Carousel Boutique. There would certainly be a crowd by the time she left, so she began preparing herself mentally.

Rarity flashed her perfect up-scale-salespony smile and walked over to the Princess. “Your Highness, I am honored that you wanted an audience with me. I have some divine seasoned hay sandwiches and a bottle of '83 Vanhoover wine, a most excellent vintage I say, assuming it's not too early for you. I always start my day with a small glass. I know none of it is exactly royal quality, but...”

“Normally I would not partake of any of that,” Luna said, “royal quality or not. But since thou took the trouble to prepare it for me, honor compels me to accept. Thou art most gracious.”

As they sat down to enjoy the refreshments, Luna presented the tattered hooded cloak she had brought to Rarity. “Oh my,” was her first response as she was mesmerized by the way the silver thread reflected polychromatic light back, with the light composed of different colors depending on the angle of view. She breathed another “oh my” in a much different tone once she noticed the huge holes in the thread. She looked to the Princess for permission, then took the cloth to begin examining it up close. She put down her meal and intently took in every little detail, from the measurements of the hood, to the embroidered black circle on the back, to each individual black star woven into the cloak.

“I shall be most pleased if thou couldst patch this for me,” said Luna. “There will be many cold and wet nights ahead of me. I shall pay thee most generously.”

“Pay me?” Rarity gasped, nearly slack-jawed. “Not in a million years, Your Highness! Why, it would be payment enough merely to work with this material. What is it?”

“That is moonsilver thread. Moonsilver is a very light, flexible metal – found only on the moon. Because making a trip there is not a little out of my way, I shall make due with patches of the sturdiest cloth thou hast.”

“I cannot allow such a crime against fabulosity to go uncorrected,” Rarity said – before speaking.

The effect did not outwardly distract Luna this time, though her heart began to beat a little faster.

When Rarity's lips actually moved she said, “Oh, that is truly dreadful. Nevertheless, I shall do my best. How soon do you need it?”

“By tomorrow morning, if that is possible.”

“It will be done by tonight!”

“Well,” said Luna, “do not hurry it too much. I am very patient.”

“Consider it done,” Rarity replied, then resumed eating her sandwich and sipping her wine.

The two finished their brunch. It would have been in silence if Rarity had not started humming to herself in between bites. Luna did not say anything about it. She simply grinned and nodded her on. Rarity flushed, but continued her quiet melody anyway.

“Thy manner is most charming,” Princess Luna remarked as she stood to leave. “I wish that we had been able to spend time together sooner. However, I must go rest now. I thank thee for the food and in advance for thy services.”

“My pleasure on both accounts, Your Highness.” Rarity beamed. “Pleasant dreams!”

Luna tipped her horn, Rarity gave a graceful, ladylike dip, and the two parted ways.

On her way out to the fields, Luna saw that a crowd had gathered in the town square, led by the Mayor – and Pinkie Pie. All the ponies except the pink one bowed deeply to her.

“Hi,” Pinkie said loudly and trotted forward. She threw one fore leg around the very-stiff shoulders of the Princess. “How are you doing?”

“I am doing well,” Luna said in a monotone. “Thanks for asking. And thou?”

“Just fantastic! I got as many ponies as I could together as soon as I heard you were here, because this is a really special day.”

“It is?”

“Yes! You're the Princess of the night, but you're out here during the day. How often does that happen? Never, that's right! Do you know what that calls for!?”

“A par--” Luna began, trying to shift away from Pinkie's grasp.

“A Small And Brief Welcome Celebration!” Pinkie Pie shouted triumphantly. “All these beautiful ponies here are going to give you a super special gift, then we're going to leave you as alone as you want to be!”

“You – are?” Luna gaped at her captor.

“Yep,” Pinkie replied. “Then we should have a spooky midnight dance party when you leave! I mean, we won't if you don't want to. I'm not so insensitive that I'd throw you an unwanted surprise party. But what could be more fun than that?”

“Uh,” the Princess started, looking around at all the smiling faces in the crowd. What is going on here? “I do love to dance, but I do not wish to make a big scene of my departure. Perhaps – perhaps next time I come?” I can not believe I just said that.

“Aww...” Pinkie Pie and much of the crowd sighed.

“Fine.” Luna rolled her eyes as her subjects cheered and clapped their hooves on the pavement.

That expression soon changed into a wide beam as she saw the little foal Pipsqueak make his way out of the mass of ponies, carrying a wreath of dark iris blossoms with him. Before he got the chance to say anything, she scooped him up in her hooves and squeezed him close.

“Hey favorite Princess,” he said, squirming until she set him back down. “This is for you. We made it to show how much we missed you!”

She lowered her neck so Pip could place the wreath on her. She rose back up slowly, gazing at him, at the rest of the town, then back to him again, completely silent the whole time. Not a sound came from the crowd either. She took in and exhaled a very deep breath.

“My friends,” she addressed the assembled citizens, “it seems as though I have made a great error in judging what kind of reception to anticipate when I arrived here. I thought that last Nightmare Night might merely have been a fluke, and that I would be shunned again. Or worse, I thought that the celebration this time would be even wilder, and that I would be forced into all manner of events I wanted no part in. Instead I have been shown great respect and courtesy. There is something of equal importance I would like to share with you, but I will do so just before the dance party. Farewell for now. Th-Thank you all...”

Luna bowed to them, choking down a sob, then resumed her path. To her continued surprise, Pinkie Pie did not follow her. Instead, she grinned and waved, with Pip on top of her head doing the same. Then they both dashed off.

By the time Luna finally got far enough into the grass outside of town that she guessed she would not be stumbled upon, it was already noon. Not as much rest as she would have liked, but it would have to do. She took off her wreath and gazed at it until sleep finally took her.

That night, the moon was a bright crimson and the sky was completely clear of clouds. No lamps were carried out to the field where the party would be, but none were needed. The grass and leaves were practically glowing red themselves due to the size of the moon in the sky. The air was hot but not muggy, so all kinds of animals aside from ponies roamed the open spaces, seeking relief with every gentle wave of wind. It was the perfect atmosphere for the wild set that the DJ was organizing at the head of the shiny outdoor dance floor that Pinkie Pie maintained a few minutes off of the road to Ponyville.

On the raised wooden stage that the speakers were set upon, Princess Luna stood in front of nearly everypony in the village. She wore their wreath of irises proudly around her neck. Her repaired cloak was clasped around her body by the collar bearing her crescent moon symbol. Rarity had filled the holes with a purple cloth that perfectly matched the outlines of Luna's mane, and she had taken the extra time to continue the pattern of small black stars on the patches as well. As the cloak flapped in the breeze along with her mane, an aurora of bright colors flashed before the eyes of the crowd, in stark contrast to the sinister red glow that surrounded them.

“I wish to tell you a story,” she said loud enough that all could hear without her needing to use a microphone. “Or part of one. It concerns a time and a land both long gone, but its meaning still concerns us today. I do not need to remind any of you of the trials you have faced in only the last two years. They have been great, but so far you have been greater. Be not frightened when I tell you that even worse threats lie ahead, for you will soon see that even the greatest of terrors can be overcome if there are enough beings of virtue, courage, and strength to face them. Listen well, and I shall tell you of the deeds of a very old friend of mine.

“Her name was Zapeta, and she was a horse who lived in the country that you now call Andalusia. She lived by a code very similar to ours of friendship, except that she was also required to possess extraordinary bravery, for she lived in a time and a place full of conflict, where the wicked preyed on the weak, where there was no Tartarus to lock away the monsters, and where there was no treaty that bound dragons from violence.

“I do not know what it is called now, but southeast of Equestria there is a mountain that was then known simply as the Lost Mountain. Dona, or Lady, Zapeta trekked the thousand miles there in order to consult with a wise but fearsome dragon named Oracle, who had a divine gift for predicting the future.”

“Excuse me,” a voice called out from behind the stage. “I know I am early, but I would like to interrupt, because I happen to know this story by memory.”

Laden with bags, sacks, and pouches that took up almost as much space as her body, Zecora approached the stage. The crowd mumbled and gossiped, and the din grew to a fever pitch when Luna bounded over and extended her hooves to help lift the zebra onto the stage. They held hooves for a moment longer afterward.

“Dost thou truly know this adventure?” Luna whispered.

“Yes,” Zecora replied as she smiled warmly at Luna. “In my training as a teller of stories, it was one of the first I sought out in my queries. Perhaps I can help tell it.” Zecora raised her voice so the crowd could hear her. “If, of course, your subjects will permit.”

With a wave of affirmative hoof stomping starting with a grinning Princess Luna, Zecora painstakingly removed all of her gear, then drew out some green powders and potions that many ponies there recognized.

“If I recall,” Zecora projected her storyteller's voice which, while not as loud as Luna's, could still be heard by most ponies if they pressed closer. They eagerly did so, just in time for a spray of green dust to be blown out over them. “Dona Zapeta wished to learn if and when a gruesome doom might fall. She had heard a prediction of a great tidal wave, so she went to find a way to save her home from that early grave.”

A towering illusory crag hung over the ponies' heads, with clouds of sickly green smoke spewing from its peak. The image lit up a circular green aberration of color against the black sky and the red light of the moon.

“She ran as fast as she could to the mountain's base,” she continued, “but she soon saw that she could not keep up that pace. For a group of pilgrims were going to seek the Oracle's wisdom too, and she vowed to see them safely through.”

“Indeed,” Luna interjected. “It was a harrowing journey, but through her selfless virtue and bravery, they all arrived safely, though shaken, at the cave of Oracle. Normally he demanded treasure for his prophecies, of which the peasants carried their entire lives' supply, but my friend implored him on behalf of herself and her charges to answer their humble questions in the name of good and honor.”

“Did he not laugh at that?” Zecora asked as she twisted the smoke of the mountain into a huge dragon's head with teeth like blades and eyes like coals. She made it laugh and threw black powder toward the apparition. The powder ignited very briefly, lighting up the scene with flashes of fire. “To him, a horse was nothing more than a gnat.”

“Yes, but no gnat was Dona Zapeta de Alicante,” Luna said, stalking back and forth across the stage, each turn presenting a whole new array of shimmering colors to her audience emanating from the combination of her mane and cloak. “She stared the massive dragon directly in his eyes and asked the question of one of her companions, who wished to know if the season's weather would be right for growing wheat. Enraged by what he perceived as the irrelevance of the question, he breathed his dark flame above their heads as a warning. All cowered except for my friend, who asked of Oracle another of their questions.”

“So that process continued, until the dragon decided to make of them some delicious food. As the dragon lunged down to bite--”the green smoke dragon did the same as the crowd screamed--”Dona Zepeta leaped into his mouth without any fright. She knew that with all the fire he had wasted, tonight she and the pilgrims would not be tasted. With all her might she kicked out one of his teeth, and as he roared in pain she slipped out to take shelter underneath.”

“And then she pressed his own tooth against the single gap in his scaly armor. Because it was her calling to be courteous in all circumstances, she apologized for invading his home and threatening him in this manner, even as she held one of the few things that could penetrate his skin to his heart. The dragon relented, and told her that a sorcerer was planning to send the tidal wave on the next solstice as a sacrifice to increase his power. The sorcerer's lair was far out into the ocean, a place few horses dared to tread.”

“Yet she decided she would go there, with her heart free of dread.” Zecora released the image of the dragon into a cloud of smoke, which hung over the dance floor as if it had come from a fog machine.

“Oh my gosh,” the goggled DJ Vinyl Scratch hurried over to the Princess and whispered. “Your Highness, please tell me I can start the music now. This is perfect.”

“I was not finished,” she said, then sighed. “But very well. I think they got the point.”

With a shout of joy, Vinyl lowered the pin onto her first record and ran over to the microphone. “Alright everypony, let's spin it!”

As the opening licks to “Iron Mare” played, Luna levitated a squealing but smiling Pipsqueak over to the stage with her and Zecora. She showed him a few steps, with her head banging with the rhythm, and he joined in with some banging of his own tiny head. Several other ponies jumped onto the stage as the deafening sound of stomping hooves joined in with the deafening sound of the speakers.

“Thou art amazing at improvisation,” Luna shouted to Zecora.

“That is not so much the explanation,” Zecora yelled back as she shrugged and joined in the dance with the other two. “It is that you and I have so quickly developed a close relation. I know your words well, and I am sure mine you could foretell.”

“I would not go that far. In any case, it is so good to see thee here!”

“I planned on waiting, but then I saw all the noise and light you ponies were creating. Who could ignore such a dance floor?”

The noise and light grew greater as the night wore on. The shadows of ponies danced in the cloud of green dust, surrounded by a landscape bathed in scarlet light. Luna's multifaceted flashing cloak reflected the lasers and lamps from atop the stage, making its effect even brighter and more dazzling. Despite doing the same thing at the hoedown yesterday, Ponyville moved and cheered through the whole night.