Chapter 6: Public Mingling

The journey to the ever-expanding Ponyville’s shopping district was a short one, filled with conversation and many random bouts of onlookers disturbing them. After all, it is not every day that you get to see seven beautiful girls walking about and having a great time. Fortunately, the seven were able to make it to the center without much more harassment. Something was odd though… Luna was noticing that girls would merely glance at her, and guys would glance and/or give her a smile. Did they not know who she was? That was when she realized that she left her tiara back at Twilight’s place, and compounded with the fact that she was wearing clothing that was completely unheard of for her, she was relatively incognito. As of right now though, she felt that was for the best, lest the public cower in fear before her like a couple years back on Nightmare Night. She did notice that a few people could make out who she was if they studied her closely. To her surprise, they only reacted in a sense of shock, being they have never seen her outside of Canterlot. Maybe the public was getting over her less than eventful introduction those years back. That, she thought to herself, would also be a marvelous thing.

“So, this is where the Equestrian youth do the ‘hanging out’ on their free time…” Luna mused to no one in particular, studying the expansive shopping mall.

“Yup yup yup!” Pinkie pie stated ecstatically, bouncing into the entrance before she turned around and spoke again: “There’s a few things I need to pick up for the bakery and the cakes, so I’ll meet up with you girls for lunch! Okiedokielokie bye!” and then she sped off, leaving the rest of the girls in shock.

“Y-yeah that reminds me. I-I need to pick up a few things for my animals… so I’ll m-meet you girls at lunch as well… i-if that’s okay with you of course…” Fluttershy spoke softly before the rest of the girls nodded and saw her off. Rainbow Dash looked after her.

“With her looking like that, she’s gonna get harassed and she doesn’t know how to deal with douchebags. I’ll go with her. Catch you girls at lunch!” Dash said as she ran off to catch up with Fluttershy. Rarity then turned to the remaining girls.

“I myself have a few things I need to purchase for the boutique, as well as scouting out my competition,” she said with an evil giggle at the end. “We shall indeed convene for lunch. Ta-ta for now!” Rarity waved the girls off, who said their farewells until then.

“So, looks like it’s just us three. Shall we look around a bit?” Twilight asked, directing her question mainly towards Luna rather than Applejack.

“Indeed. I’m quite curious as to what there is to find here. As a princess I never had to get things myself. I feel this will be a bit more exhilarating,” Luna commented.

“Well alright then! Let’s head off now!” Applejack exclaimed as the three of them began walking down the main entrance to the large, outdoor mall. They stopped in a standard clothing store where Luna could brows the casual selection for something more suited to her color scheme and style.

“Hey Luna, check this one out!” Twilight motioned towards the pink clad princess. When Luna came over, she examined a medium blue T-Shirt with a picture of a moonrise on it. She had to admit, Twilight knew her too well already.

“Exquisite! We shall indeed purchase this one,” Luna spoke normally, but her eyes betrayed her, showing that she was very pleased. Luna also found an array of blue jeans and shorts that she had taken a liking too, not necessarily in her own color schemed which impressed the two girls. After finding a few other shirts, as well as a couple other articles of clothing that Luna managed to add to their pile without the other girls seeing, Twilight and Applejack partook in grabbing a few clothes for themselves before proceeding to checkout with quite a large stock of various articles of clothing, from long sleeve shirts to undergarments.

“Alright, and your total comes out to one hundred thirteen bits and forty two cents,” The jovial cashier announced the total. Luna noticed Applejack and Twilight pulling out their wallets.

“And just what in the hell do you think you’re doing?” Luna asked both girls who stopped in their tracks.

“Payin’ fer the merchandise?” Applejack asked meekly.

“You two will do no such thing!” Luna announced, pulling out her own wallet.

“Luna! We took you here as our guest, we’re paying!” Twilight shot back. The cashier picked up on the name ‘Luna’ and glanced over at the pink-shirted princess, doing a double take and gasping in surprise.

“My ass you are. You’re taking me in for a month, and besides I do agree that I need a makeover for my wardrobe back at the castle anyway. Trust me, I got this; your clothes as well,” Luna responded. The two girls were about to protest when Luna shot them a famous glare, stifling their resistance immediately. Luna faced the cashier and pulled out a wad of notes, handing 120 bits over to the cashier. Twenty-Bit notes had a younger version of Luna on them, further confirming who she was.

“Princess Luna!” The cashier exclaimed softly.

“Quite! I’m not trying to hide, but I’m just here on casual business,” Luna began to speak. She then slipped another twenty-bit note to the cashier as a tip.

“Try not to spread it around too much,” Luna finished with a wink before taking the bags and walking off. The cashier was dumbfounded but smiled at the Princess of the Night retreating out of the store. Luna looked over her shoulder:

“AJ, Twilight, pray tell, are you coming as well?” Luna asked with playfulness in her voice at the stunned girls.

“Did she just casually flirt with someone?” Twilight asked.

“Did she just call me ‘AJ’?” Applejack asked after. The two of them smiled and walked off after Luna, finally believing that after such short time, she was getting the hang of it. The trio had spent a good hour in that store and it was getting close to lunch time. Until they convened in the food court, they decided to go exploring for future reference. Twilight glanced over at Luna while they were walking. She was making great amounts of conversation: pointing things out, asking questions, even laughing with them. Twilight could not even begin to describe how happy she was. And she knew Celestia was peeking at her once in a while; undoubtedly she’d be thrilled as well.

“That’s my sis,” a voice echoed in Luna’s head, causing her to smirk a bit. However, not everything is designed to be peaches and cream. As they were sitting down taking a rest, the trio had the displeasure of catching they eye of a small group of guys who were lounging around, undoubtedly scouting for girls.

“Well! Look what we have here!” One of the guys shouted out loud, not subtlety at all. Luna glanced over with her eyebrow raised.

“Is this person serious?” Luna thought to herself. Twilight and Applejack just rolled their eyes in annoyance.

“Damn, look at the hot blue-haired one. She’s hella fine!” The same guy said out lout.

“Oh my Celestia he is!” Luna said to herself in disgust.

“And look! Two of the elements of harmony!” Another guy said

“I definitely have a place that needs harmony restored,” the third one proclaimed. That comment directed at her two friends created a throbbing vein on her forehead. Twilight picked up on this and attempted to diffuse the situation. What many others didn’t know was that when Luna was comfortable and in complete control of herself in a situation, she would become very aggressive if something… or someone ruined that bliss. However, a voice entered Twilight’s head:

“Shhh… Just let it happen, my faithful student,” the voice stated. Twilight thought she could hear her eating what sounded like popcorn. She had to stifle a giggle. Luna then turned around fully.

“I beg your pardon, is there a problem?” Luna asked with more than a hint of annoyance in her voice. The three guys did not seem to recognize her, making things a bit easier. The three guys stood up and advanced towards the trio.

“Not from where I’m standing. I get to look at three scorching hot girls,” the ‘leader’ of the boys said with a condescending tone. Luna stood up to meet them.

“I will not have you disrespecting me, nor the elements of harmony, my friends, in my presence,” Luna said aggressively.

“Babe, saying I’d absolutely rut you and your friends is not disrespectful,” he said as he put a hand on her shoulder, only to have it swatted away very hard.

“You will not address me as ‘babe’, nor lay your hands on me again. And I’m sure you’re one to talk. How many girls have you actually had the pleasure of being with?” Luna asked with a mock inquisitive tone. Before he could answer she spoke up again:

“And your sister does not count,” she finished with a contemptuous smirk. Applejack choked on her drink, stifling her laughter. Twilight only had her mouth agape at the surprising comment. She heard another voice in her head dying of laughter. The lead guy was taken aback by the words.

“You’re a quick and feisty little bitch, I like that,” he replied, trying to play it off very coolly.

“Oh, if you like a fight, you’ll simply adore me,” Luna retorted in a very challenging manner. The boy on the right tried to antagonize her even further and grab her ass, only to have it grabbed by the wrist, startling him immensely with the quick reaction. With surprising strength, Luna immediately used his weight against him and judo-flipped him hard on his back, his head landing audibly on the cement floor.

K.O.

Everyone stared in awe at the spectacle. Twilight and Applejack’s jaws were on the floor. Twilight could not stifle the intruding hysterical laughter in her head.

“Holy crap I saw that coming a mile away! Bahahahaha!”  Celestia sounded like she was having trouble breathing.

“Holy shit this bitch is crazy!” one of the other guys shouted, backing up a few steps. Luna only smirked at him.

“Before you call names, I’d look at your choice in clothing first,” Luna mentioned. The wannabe “playa” looked down only to find that his unfashionable shirt and low hanging pants were replaced with a frilly pink tutu , not covering his backside at all, and wearing a thong and a tiara. He screamed heavily, attempting to cover himself while onlookers in the mall were laughing heartily at the spectacle before them. Luna only smiled deviously, one that proclaimed "who's the bitch now?"

“As for you two, you can turn around and fuck right off. If I see you again I’ll go Nightmare Moon on your sorry asses. Now get the hell out of my SIGHT!” Luna completed her sentence by shouting her last word in her royal voice. The two guys ran away like little boys in fear, partially due to them figuring out who she was. Luna then moved the knocked out corpse into a trash can, wiped her hands together and walked back to the table where her slack-jawed friends were.

“Good lord those were some real… what do you call them… ‘douchebags?’” Luna asked inquisitively. The two still had no words for her.

“I apologize for their actions, my dear friends,” Luna said sincerely, sipping a drink that she got. Just then, Luna felt a tug on her shirt. She straightened up in startle and looked down at the disturbance was. She saw a little boy with a gleaming smile on his face.

“A-are you P-princess Luna?” The boy asked with his youthful inquisitiveness. Luna found him simply adorable.

“Why, yes I am!” Luna bent down to eye level with him and gave him a beautiful smile.

“Wow! You’re my favorite Princess!” He spoke with glee. Luna’s heart melted instantly.

“Windfree! You know not to bother stranger-” A woman, seemingly the child’s mother, began to say before she noticed who he was talking to.

“P-Princess Luna! Please forgive me, he did not know any better,” the woman said with some anxiety. Luna would have none of it.

“Oh not at all! It’s quite alright.  Your son is absolutely adorable, and such a handsome young man!” Luna beamed at him, making him blush profusely. She then noticed that the woman, now relieved, had a camera on her arm. She turned to the boy.

“How about a picture?” she asked him. He nodded vehemently, as if he got the best Hearts Warming Eve present. The mother smiled and got in position to take a picture. Before she snapped the shot, Luna turned her head slightly and kissed the boy on his cheek, making him go even redder but smiling with glee.

“Thanks Princess! You’re amazing, and not mean like everyone thinks you are!” The boy spoke with conviction, further filling her with another fuzzy feeling of glee.

“Thank you Princess, it meant the world to him,” The mother thanked with utmost gratitude.

“Please, call me Luna,” Luna replied, smiling back at the two before they head off in their own direction. Now Twilight and Applejack were completely stunned. Who was this girl and what has she done with Luna?!

“What? I know, contrary to how I’ve acted in the past, I actually do love my subjects,” she said happily before sipping at her drink.

“For day two, you’re progressing very nicely, Luna. I’m very impressed!” Twilight said with a smile on her face.

“I must admit, I’m still a bit apprehensive about tonight’s premeditated plans,” Luna replied, slightly nervously.

“Think nothin’ ‘bout it, we’ll walk ya through it!” Applejack countered.

Luna only gave a full smile in return, one that was very rare and the girls were more than happy to be on the receiving end of it. They would make sure she had the time of her life tonight. That had already been decided.