Chapter Eight: Bounties Of Joy

~BlackRoseRaven

The vault was a treasure trove, both literally and figuratively: massive piles of gemstones and jewelry, treasure chests stacked to the ceiling and overflowing with all manner of coin and bauble from around the world.

There were racks stacked with scrolls and books and ancient texts, covered in enchanted cloth that kept them safe from time and dust, maps and paintings and blueprints, incredible works of art as well as rare magical components.

And dominating the center of the room were three statues of ponies, so realistic they were almost alive even in marble, dressed in beautiful, polished armor that shone even through the dust that covered it.

The first was a hulking set of golden armor, oversized full plate mail, complete with crown; the second was a gleaming silver breastplate with a chain underlay and solid boots to cover the hooves; the last, gorgeous smooth black plating and sapphire dragonscale leather.

Celestia, Sleipnir, and Luna: it was all designed to best suit them, and it kind of scared Scrivener to think about what a juggernaut Celestia had to be in her own armor, designed to be augmented by her magic and turn her into an invulnerable colossus on the battlefield. He was surprised that Sleipnir's wasn't the heaviest, but was rather just a breastplate, but Luna had explained to him that mobility had always been very important to Sleipnir as well.

While Scrivener pulled out the list of artifacts to gather and started putting things into the storage satchel, Luna lingered in front of her armor, rubbing a hoof silently along her breastplate until Scrivener approached and asked: "Why don't you put it on?"

She hesitated, then answered honestly: "I do not know if I deserve to."

Scrivener smiled a bit, and then he answered with a wink: "If there's any pony in all of Equestria who deserves to wear some fancy metal and dead animal skin, it's you."

Luna huffed at him and smacked him, complaining: "'Tis much more than that, Scrivy, 'tis a symbol! But... I appreciate thy crass council all the same. Even if 'tis stupid. Thou art stupid, beetle."

She hesitated only a moment longer, then took a breath before she reached out and pulled the helm loose from the statue's head, and then she studied it in her hooves before she smiled a little and glanced up at Scrivener, saying in a softer voice: "I appreciate it."

Scrivener shrugged and smiled at her, then went back to cataloging and collecting the necessary items. This actually included both Celestia and Sleipnir's armor, and Scrivener found himself marveling over how surprisingly light the full plate mail was in spite of how heavy it looked.

By the time the stallion had taken Celestia's armor off, Luna had shed her cloak and breastplate and put on her own old gear, and when he looked up at her, it was like he was seeing her for the first time.

The armor fit her body like a glove, snug and clearly comfortable as she shifted back and forth before she smiled as she spun her helm easily in one hoof before tossing it in the air, before catching it and shoving it firmly back onto her head. The hole in the forehead of the helm cradled her horn, adding support for it, and the curved edge not only protected her eyes but gave her a fierce glare.

Her mane sizzled gently against her armor as it flowed backwards out from beneath the protective metal lip of the helmet, and she bit her lip before she nodded slowly to Scrivener, saying softly: "Thou hast my thanks, Scrivy. I... I was afraid of the memories that this armor would bring, and the shame and pain that may come with it. There has been some, I shan't pretend otherwise, but also it feels much like... like a coming home."

"Like a snail." Scrivener said before he could stop himself, and Luna huffed.

"Ruin the moment, poet, grand." But she was smiling, and she paused as Scrivener smiled lamely back at her, his eyes drawing slowly back and forth across her before she reached up and straightened his glasses for him, making him blush. "I do not mind that thou art staring at me, but methinks it says something about thee thou likes me more in armor than naked. 'Tis a... feet-ish?"

"'Fetish,' and no." Scrivener grumbled and glanced lamely away. "I just think you look... you know, you look really good. You... you look like a champion. A valkyrie."

That triggered something in her, felt... right. Luna smiled wider at this, raising her head proudly, and then she paused before suddenly grasping the helm off Sleipnir's statue. She almost flung Scrivener's current helmet off, then slammed this down on his head, making him wince and then scowl at her.

But Luna only laughed, grinning widely at him: the helmet was etched with protective runes, gleaming silver and reinforced with an ivory coronet and visor to help protect the eyes. It was a little too big for him, but only a little: "By the Gods, Scrivener Blooms! Thou hast almost as fat a head as my brother did!"

The stallion gave her a dour look, and then Sammy scurried over from where he had been chewing on a gemstone to leap up and scramble happily onto his new, larger perch to pose proudly.

Scrivener sighed a little, but Luna smiled warmly, gazing up at this sight before she said softly: "Aye, 'tis a wonderful sight, though. This is what Sleipnir fought for, Scrivener Blooms. For peace, for joy, for safety for all ponies."

She stopped, then shook her head quickly and said finally: "Come. I shall pack the rest of my brother's armor. I am... I am glad to see it being taken from this vault. It deserves a better place to be remembered, if not passed down to someone deserving."

Scrivener smiled despite himself at this, saying wryly as he looked at the size of the statue of Sleipnir: "They'd have to be pretty big to inherit that armor."

"Well, true." Luna agreed, and then she softened as she stepped backwards, gazing across the statues before she bowed her head to them, murmuring: "My love to thee, my brother. I know thou needs no fine speeches, no prayers and promises, but all the same I promise thee that I shall do my best to follow the example thou hast set for me."

She murmured a soft prayer in a beautiful and strange language Scrivener didn't know, and yet he understood. He smiled a little at Luna, then he looked at the statue of smiling, warm Sleipnir, reaching up to knock once on the helmet as he said awkwardly: "I don't know if I can promise I'll do my best to take care of Luna, because she can't even take care of herself, but I'll try and take care of this, at least."

Luna snorted in amusement, then she replied easily: "Fear not, poet, I shall protect thee, for as long as thou continues to serve loyally as my maid."

Scrivener rolled his eyes before the sapphire mare straightened, moving as easily in her armor as if it was a part of her as she headed to exit the vault, saying easily: "Come, Scrivener Blooms. Let us make haste; we may still be able to reach Ponyville before dawn breaks should we hurry!"

"Cool, great. Walking all night so we can spend all day with Twilight Sparkle." Scrivener said wryly.

"Oh shut up, Scrivy, thou art soft on her and I see through thy foolish lies. And fear not for thy beauty sleep, thou can survive the day and I shall fortify us both with a spell, although we may experience quite the collapse at the end of our journey." Luna said with a wink, and Scrivener sighed tiredly before Luna spun her cloak over her shoulders and locked it on, letting it fall across her back like a cape.

"You know, the mysterious chick is all played out." Scrivener remarked, and Luna only gave him an amused look over her shoulder before she turned her attention ahead.

As they made their way back up through the castle, Luna thought it felt much less oppressive now. Like they had passed some kind of test, or the darkness here no longer considered them a threat. Funny, how changing the way you thought about something could change your perspective completely on it.

When they emerged from the castle, Luna noted two sets of eyes watching them curiously before two insubstantial figures flitted into the air, vanishing into the night sky. Luna wasn't entirely surprised to know the Nightmares were watching them, but they seemed like they were staying true to their word and remaining peaceful, even if they were clearly wary as well.

"Weird." Scrivener said after a moment, as he and Luna paused on the bridge, before he asked hesitantly: "They... they weren't so bad, huh?"

Luna smiled softly, glancing over at the stallion before she nodded hesitantly. Any other pony she might not be as forthcoming, but any other pony she expected would have said she should have destroyed them out of hoof.

Scrivener wasn't like that, though. He was bitter and judgmental, but he had learned not to blindly hate. He had a deep empathy, hidden under all the layers of sarcasm and jackassery, and he had learned that sometimes the light was blinding, and the darkness was what soothed.

"It is not entirely their fault." Luna admitted, almost grudgingly, as she started forward again. "All things must survive. That means all things must feed. It is a hard question, Scrivener Blooms: if Nightmares feed on emotion, which best comes from sentient pony and makes us prey to them, are they only doing what is natural to them? If evil is only 'things that prey upon us,' then what does that make pony, who bends nature itself to his will?"

Scrivener mused on this, but any deep philosophical discussion or thinking was halted when they reached the canyon edge and Luna said cheerfully: "Thou had the right of it the first time and I shall simply throw thee across."

Scrivener blanched as he looked up, but before he could argue otherwise, Luna hefted him up before she lunged off the ground, yanking him along with her in telekinesis as her wings gave several mighty flaps before she roared as she snapped her horn hard, and Scrivener and Sammy both squealed as they flew through the air across the gorge and crashed down with a loud thump in a pile of brush on the other side.

Luna landed, grinning widely as she watched Scrivener crawl out of a bush, scowling horribly at her as Samael growled and grumbled on his back, a few loose twigs and sticks stuck in the skeletal body of the pseudodragon "And look, Sleipnir's helm didn't even shake loose! My brother must approve of thee, Scrivy."

Scrivener grumbled at her, but blushed slightly as he looked away, any retort he might have had ruined by that. Luna studied him for a moment, then gestured at his satchels, asking: "They are not too heavy, are they?"

"Huh? Oh, no. I'm amazed how much is packed away in them and they feel fine." Scrivener said after a moment, glancing back and forth at the pair of sidepacks. They were bulging a little with the contents that extended space was now filled with, but otherwise, it only felt like he was carrying a few extra pounds, not two suits of armor and a slew of alchemical materials and magical objects.

Luna nodded to him, then she turned and began to lead the way forwards, saying over her shoulder: "Let me know if thou needs to rest at all. I think we shall make good time from here."

Scrivener smiled despite himself and nodded, naturally falling into step behind the mare. For a little while, they just enjoyed the night, the forest seeming more welcoming... or maybe it was just glad they were leaving, Scrivener reflected.

Then Luna asked impulsively: "So thou knows the stories of Sol, Titan, and Morgan, correct?"

"Well, a lot of them." Scrivener shrugged a bit. "Lots of folk legends, and lots of writers and authors cut their teeth on writing or rewriting some legend based on them. I don't think anyone knows all the stories, because, well, some jerk out there is always writing a new one."

"Did Celestia ever ask thou to write any for the Royal Court?" Luna suddenly stopped, then frowned before she brightened, and Scrivener scowled as he sensed- "Scrivener Blooms, I am a princess!"

"Y-Yes, you are?" Scrivener frowned at her uncertainly, not liking where this was going. "A... warrior princess?"

"Warrior princess. I do like that." Luna relished, before she spun around and looked down at him, and Scrivener scowled horribly as she declared: "As Princess of the Night, I assign thee the duty of recording the entire legends of Sol, Titan, and Morgan in thine own words!"

"No!" Scrivener burst out, looking up at her with horror. "Luna! You of all ponies know that's going to take me decades of work and research! Are you insane?"

"Yes!" Luna shouted, her eyes flashing as she leapt forwards, Scrivener wincing back as she shoved nose-to-nose with him, and then she suddenly smiled and straightened, reaching up to boop him with a hoof as she said gently: "Fear not, poet. As always I shall be there to rescue thee. I shall tell thee the old stories, and thou shall write them."

Scrivener Blooms blinked, and then he hesitantly smiled at this before he nodded slowly, then grumbled: "Just... let's make it an anthology format. It'll be easier to write and easier for people to digest. Ponies like lots of little stories, not massive million word ones. That's just the writer being egotistical and refusing to control himself."

"Ever compassionate Scrivener Blooms." Luna said wryly, before she laughed and turned her eyes ahead, and they fell into step with each other on the long walk back through the woods.

It was comfortable. And Luna talked now and then, and Scrivener mostly listened: sometimes he would make a quip or ask a question, but mostly he just liked to listen to Luna's stories, thoughts, philosophies. She had this way of flowing from one thing to the next, her words like music, her use of language beautiful in his ears, defying modern structure for the sake of a more beautiful sound.

They were both a little surprised when they emerged from the Everfree Forest near Ponyville in the early morning, just as the sun was beginning to rise. Luna smiled warmly as she fell into a trot, Scrivener huffing as he valiantly struggled to follow along behind her.

"Stop dawdling, Scrivy! Come, we have a chance to see Twilight Sparkle and her friends as 'normal ponies,' whatever that means. I suppose I have never been a very normal pony with my strength and beauty, though!"

"Oh yeah, that's the reason everyone stares at your fat butt." Scrivener muttered, and then he skidded to a halt when Luna immediately stopped and glowered over her shoulder at him.

Then she suddenly grinned and waggled her hips back and forth, teasing: "Oh, thou likes the butt, Scrivy? Then perhaps the Nightmare was not lying when she was trying to seduce thee after all! And I am sure Twilight-"

"Don't you dare!" Scrivener blushed deep red as he jumped towards her, then squeaked when Luna spun around with a wide grin, catching his throat against the flat topside of her horn.

The stallion winced as she forced his head back a little, only a little afraid as his lips curled down in an almost-exaggerated moue of displeasure, and Luna winked up at him as she teased: "Careful now, Scrivener Blooms. Thou seems to enjoy all too much picking fights thou cannot win."

She paused, then stroked her horn backwards along his neck, making him wheeze before she poked him childishly in the cheek with the tip, his eyes narrowing as she teased: "Yet perhaps 'tis unfair on my part to always take such advantage over thee, when I am so much stronger, faster, and, oh, simply much better as I am..."

"And so much more modest, too." Scrivener said grumpily as he shoved at her head, and she laughed as she was pushed back, grinning widely in entertainment.

Then she turned to lead the way into Ponyville, and Scrivener Blooms sighed tiredly as he followed her into the village proper, Luna looking cheerfully around as her cloak fluttered from her shoulders, revealing most of her armor. Early-risen ponies gaped at them... well, mostly at her, Scrivener reflected. He probably just looked like an unnecessary bodyguard to them.

He had never been here before: it seemed like a quaint little town, he thought. Well, maybe 'village' actually was more accurate, with a lot of thatch-roof cottages mixed in with somewhat more modern buildings that were still nothing compared to the stone and tile of Canterlot.

Twilight Sparkle was easy enough to find: her home was a large tree in the center of the square, which also housed the local library. He guessed that made Twilight Sparkle a librarian, which somehow didn't surprise him.

Luna hesitated, biting the inside of her lip as she looked up at the sky. "Well, perhaps we have made too good a time, and we should-"

Scrivener strode past her, and she glared at his back as he approached the library door, answering: "Hey, Twilight was the one who said stop in any time, right? Celestia would have told her to be ready for us, so I'm sure if anything she's been up all night waiting."

He paused, then added: "And she'll blame me, too."

"Well, I suppose 'tis fine then. Although I swear, Scrivener Blooms, thou art trying to make me jealous by how thou acts as if thou cares more for Twilight than thou does for me."

A smile quirked at Scrivener's mouth at this, and Luna blushed and glared at him, trying to splutter some excuse before the stallion turned to knock on the door. Before he could, however, Luna quickly leapt forwards and shoved him face-first into it, the whole tree rattling from the force of the bang as he collapsed with a groan.

He blinked a few times, then glared up at her from the ground as she feigned an innocent gasp. "Oh my! Thou appears to have tripped, Scrivy. Thou should be more careful."

"Silly me." Scrivener muttered as he climbed slowly to his hooves, and then he rose a hoof and knocked twice more on the door, adding pointedly: "If you want to start a war here, I'm not going to play fair, you know."

"And thou underestimates me severely if thou thinks I would ever stoop so high as to 'playing fair' with the likes of thee!" Luna retorted, and then they both quickly tried to look innocent as the door swung open to reveal Twilight Sparkle, who stuttered to a stop in mid-scolding as she saw two ponies she clearly had not been expecting at all.

Was that at their armor, or had she forgotten to let Twilight know? Surely Celestia would have told her, wouldn't she?

"I... did something happen?" Twilight looked back and forth, hurriedly attempting to smooth down her frazzled mane. "I didn't think you'd contact me unless there was an emergency!"

"Oh, nothing to worry about, Twilight. We just wanted to stop in and invite you to a get-together we're having in Canterlot to celebrate our recent marriage." Scrivener told the bald-faced lie with a smile, and Twilight's jaw worked madly, spluttering wildly, thankfully missing how Luna's own jaw dropped. "Well, if you insist, we can stop in, sure. Coming, dear?"

Luna forced a bright smile, almost singing, her eyes glaring daggers of challenge at Scrivener Blooms: "Of course, my handsome husband!"

She swept past Twilight – stabbing Scrivener in the rump with her horn while the mare's back was still turned – and then both she and Scrivy turned around and dropped on their butts together inside the main room of the library. Luna seized one of his front hooves and twisted it almost viciously as she held it, and Scrivener winced, then leaned over and bit the side of her neck, making her squawk.

She quickly turned that to a giggle as a flustered Twilight finally closed the door and almost mechanically approached them, staring at them. Scrivener turned his bite to a nuzzle and Luna cooed as she tilted her head up in exaggerated enjoyment, and Twilight Sparkle, smoke nearly pouring out of her ears, asked disbelievingly: "What how what... what happened? When? When happened?"

"Well, it was part of our terms for doing this together. We spend all our time together anyway." Scrivener said, like this was the most reasonable thing in the world as he gestured with his free hoof and looked squarely into Twilight's eyes. "It made sense anyway because she's pregnant."

"Very pregnant. Extremely." Luna agreed, feeling a giddiness run through her and a warmth thudding in her heart that was from more than just the joy of this silly stupid prank on Twilight.

Twilight stared at them, and Scrivener's mouth and Luna's nose both twitched, before the two started to giggle quietly. Twilight was hyperventilating, mouth working and ears spinning like radar dishes, still lost and confused and dazed, and finally neither of the troublemakers could restrain themselves, Luna and Scrivener both bursting into childish cackling.

Twilight's face froze, and then she slowly closed her mouth and narrowed her eyes to slits, snorting steam at them before she grumbled: "Horses of Heaven. I'm going to clean up and wake up Spike. But I want you both to know you're both sick."

"Nay, we're very healthy!" Luna blurted out, and then she fell against Scrivener, laughing like a donkey as he nearly choked on his own cackles, and Twilight groaned and rolled her eyes before she stormed grumpily off.

Once she returned a few minutes later, the two had calmed down, and partly disrobed: Luna's cloak and helmet lay with Scrivener's helm and bags and some of his armor. Luna was helping him out of the rest by hoof, and Twilight watched them for a few moments, before she asked finally: "You were kidding before, right?"

Scrivener tilted his head back with amusement, answering easily: "Sometimes I think she's out to marry you."

"Oh shut up, Scrivy." Luna bopped him on the back of the head as she finished undoing the clasps for his breastplate, and then she helped him out of it as Twilight sighed and shook her head, coming all the way down the stairs before smiling as Sammy scurried past, watching the little skeletal pseudodragon happily zipping around the open floor of the library.

Spike followed her down awkwardly, giving a nervous wave to Luna and Scrivener before he winced and half-hid behind Twilight when Sammy zipped over to quickly crawl up the railing and then glare at him almost challengingly.

Twilight sighed at this, rolling her eyes before she said pointedly to Spike: "For the last time, it's not a zombie, and he doesn't want to eat your brains."

Spike nodded with a lame laugh as Twilight walked away, and then his eyes widened as Sammy twitched back and forth, making jerky motions as he rose his front legs slowly before he opened his mouth as the blue flames in his sockets intensified, and Spike yelped before he bolted back up the stairs, quickly followed by a cheerfully-chirping pseudodragon.

Twilight frowned over her shoulder at the clatter, then shrugged as she said: "Well, that was quick. I'm glad they're playing, though. Spike's still very young, especially for a dragon, and it's good for him to relax now and then."

Then she winced at a crashing and banging from upstairs, Luna and Scrivener trading an amused look before all three ponies watched as Spike came rolling back down the steps to land with a whump near Twilight, the purple mare wincing before her small companion rose a claw and mumbled: "I'm okay."

A moment later, Sammy came jumping down, landing on Spike's back with a cheerful chirp, and Luna snorted in amusement before saying easily: "Twilight Sparkle, if thou could be so kind as to fetch us ink and quill, we must inform my sister-"

"Oh, oh, I can do that!" Spike leapt to his feet, any injury and fear forgotten as Sammy was flung loose with a squawk. The baby dragon bounced over to a writing desk, grabbing a quill and roll of parchment off it before he hurried back, Sammy giving offended little cheeps as he followed after him at being forgotten so quickly. "I'm Twilight's Number One Assistant, you know... and uh, you know, I could probably take some time off to be yours, too, if you ever need one..."

"I don't know about that, Spike, I'd be pretty helpless without you around." Twilight answered, before she smiled at Luna and Scrivener, adding: "I'm pretty interested myself hearing about your adventure myself... you went back out to the ruins of the castle, right?"

"Well, Scrivener Blooms is a much better storyteller than myself, and I am sure he will be happy to relate our adventure to thee after this. For now, the letter shall be quick and easy, when thou art ready to take it, Assistant Spike." Luna said with a smile, and the little dragon puffed up and nodded firmly to her. "Excellent, thou art truly worthy of thy title.

"Now." She cleared her throat, then said, calm and clear: "Dearest sister Celestia, I wish to inform thee that our mission has been a success, and we are now relaxing in comfort in Twilight Sparkle's lovely home. We shall rest here until tonight, then return to the castle before tomorrow morning. All my love, Luna."

Spike mumbled the last few words, and then he finished signing with a quick flick of the quill before he bounced back to the desk, Sammy hurrying after him with a chirp before the dragon rolled up the letter and then grabbed a seal to snap it on. "Okay, ready to send!"

"Send away." Luna answered agreeably, and the dragon nodded as he began to raise the letter before yelling when Sammy immediately leapt up and tackled it, trying to yank it away, the two tussling briefly over it as Scrivener Blooms and Twilight Sparkle both sighed and Luna grinned in amusement.

Spike managed to tear the letter free, then he ran with the parchment over his head to leap up on a stool and shove a window open, quickly blowing a breath of green fire over it. The parchment dissolved into a whirl of particles that swirled up into the sky, and Spike smiled as he turned smugly around and put his hands on his hips, looking down at the pseudodragon from his proud perch. "And that's why I'm the Number One Assistant!"

Twilight shook her head, and then she turned her eyes back to Luna and Scrivener, asking: "Are you tired? I'm sorry, I didn't even think of how long the journey must have been, let alone the fact you both sleep during the day. I can give you my room-"

"Nonsense!" Luna declared, and Scrivener grumbled but clearly deferred to her decision. "Scrivy and I desire to experience the normal pony's day for a change of pace, and if thou shall have me, I would accompany thee on whatever excursions thou hast for today with thy friends."

She paused as Scrivener yawned, and then her horn sizzled before she leaned over and poked his temple with the tip.

Immediately, Scrivy yelped and leapt to his hooves as if electrified, eyes bulging as Luna grinned at him widely. "Well, I warned thee that I had a spell to wash away our tiredness, did I not?"

"Thanks, Luna. That wasn't rude at all." Scrivener said dryly, before he added mildly: "I don't know how you're going to experience a normal day, though."

"What does thou mean?" Luna asked as she stood up, absently flicking her horn with a wince to zap herself with the spell she had used on Scrivener, whistling through her teeth. Her wings fluttered, her body flexed against her armor, and energy thrummed brightly through her flowing ephemeral mane and tail... and after a moment, she paused and looked down at herself, then raised her head with a flat expression. "Ah. Yes."

Scrivy smiled in amusement at her, and then she grumbled as she started to childishly stomp her hooves before pausing as Twilight said: "I don't think that the ponies here in Ponyville are going to treat you a whole lot differently than other ponies."

"I... well... perhaps I can polymorph myself..." Luna mused, slowly setting her hoof down, before she cocked her head when Scrivener gently tapped her on the shoulder.

"You know, I hate agreeing with Twilight, but she has a point." Scrivener Blooms shrugged a little, and the purple mare smiled at him brightly. "We could try her way."

Luna huffed, but then she nodded awkwardly before glancing down at herself, and Twilight encouraged: "You did really well on Nightmare Night! Everypony really liked you, Luna."

"Yeah, you can do it!" Spike added, and Sammy chirped loudly in agreement before he nipped at Spike's heel, and the little dragon winced and kicked back at him, asking lamely: "Uh, also, can you um, tell the zombie to leave me alone?"

"It's not a zombie, Spike. There's no such thing as zombies or ghosts or monsters." Twilight said, before frowning when Luna and Scrivener traded snorts and amused looks. "What? They're not... are they?"

Luna grinned, nudging Scrivener before she began to quickly take her armor off, and the stallion sighed before he started: "Well, why don't you both sit down, and I'll tell you everything that happened to us, and afterward you and Spike can decide what's real, and what's not."

The morning passed quickly: after filling Twilight Sparkle in on the experiences they'd had, and once Luna was out of her armor – and she removed both her tiara and peytral, tossing them somewhere across the library to Twilight's shock – the sun had fully risen, and Ponyville had become a bustle of activity. Luna spent a lot of her time staring out the library window, watching ponies go by, while Twilight Sparkle scheduled her schedule and then modified her schedule to accommodate the time it took to make her schedule, with the help of a Spike who seemed too used to this to find out as anything out of the ordinary, and in spite of Scrivener Blooms being as unhelpful as possible, distracting both her and Spike.

Eventually they got out of the library and headed into the town. Luna was nervous, but the presence of both Scrivener and Twilight helped make her brave, and she had finally been able to relax as they had started to interact with other ponies, and they treated with her a kindness and respect.

Even Twilight seemed to treat Luna a little differently, as the sapphire mare wandered around with them without even barest royal vestments. Scrivener couldn't help but smile a little, although he admittedly found it funny that he wasn't jealous at all, even if part of him felt like... well, Twilight and Luna would be a good fit.

Twilight caught him looking, and he waggled his eyebrows at her, and she glared back at him with a blush while Luna was gazing around with fascination at the happy little town that was actually respecting her space without cowering or hiding from her.

But Scrivener didn't tease her any further than that. He wanted Luna to have a good time today, and he didn't want to distract her from taking in and enjoying the town.

They stopped in at Mrs. Cake's shop, where Luna greedily sampled a little bit of everything she was offered from the generous Cakes; Scrivy and Twilight were eventually forced to drag her out so they could continue their little tour, as Pinkie Pie-

When did Pinkie Pie join them?

Well, she'd been here long enough they'd all just kind of accepted her as part of the group, and Twilight Sparkle had only shrugged and remarked when Scrivener had looked at her: "You get used to it."

They stopped in next at Rarity's boutique, and the mare had squealed in delight and immediately abandoned the project she was working on to seize Luna and drag the winged unicorn off. Scrivener Blooms had greatly enjoyed watching Luna being measured, primped, and forced into all manner of clothes and dresses, but then karma had struck and Rarity had grabbed him with the same gusto, and he had been extremely surprised by just how strong her grip was as he'd been yanked up to go through the same process.

He felt very unnaturally pretty by the time they left, and Luna still had several ribbons in her hair, looking both embarrassed but also strangely happy. It really had to be something special for her, to be treated like a normal pony. Even, maybe especially, when she didn't entirely understand or like what they were doing.

When they passed near the market, Twilight Sparkle remembered she had to pick up a few things, so they went into the square of stalls, the others following, Pinkie Pie talking their heads off the whole time and yet somehow not entirely annoying, like a background hum of noise. They found Applejack and Apple Bloom both on duty, and Apple Bloom had been fascinated, first by Princess Luna, then by little Samael, who happily played with her around the stall while Applejack was surprised and pleased by how Luna was interested in her farm life and how she followed so many old traditions that were similar even to what the earth pony farmers had done in the far flung past.

Applejack gave them some apples and promised she'd give them one of Granny's fine apple pies sometime, and then Pinkie, Apple Bloom, and Samael had crashed through one of her carts, so the ponies had helped the orange mare clean up before they'd gone on their way. But they had been caught by Rainbow Dash on the way back to the library, and she had insisted they come and watch her do some stunts.

She was a showoff, but Luna liked how loud and confident and brash she was. As they sat in a field outside Ponyville together, a comfortable little band, Fluttershy had eventually joined them, and Twilight Sparkle smiled at her friend as Scrivener had nodded and Luna tossed her a wink, the shy pegasus blushing, but then happily accepting Sammy when he jumped into her forelegs.

"We should have a party before our friends leave!" Pinkie Pie declared happily, clapping her forehooves together before she bolted off, and Twilight Sparkle sighed before giving a wry smile as above, Rainbow Dash did a wild spin, leaving a streak of color behind her.

"Well, guess that's happening whether I like it or not."

"We'll help you clean up afterward." Scrivener said, before he paused and added: "Or I will, at least. Luna's not very good at cleaning."

"Shut up, beetle." Luna absently bopped him with a forehoof as she watched Rainbow Dash shoot high, then drop and zoom straight down until she cracked the sound barrier and unleashed a Sonic Rainboom, Luna grinning as her mane whipped back from the force, whistling a little as she murmured: "Truly, the ponies of this day and age are incredible."

They all ended up going back to the library together after Rainbow got the praise and more that she deserved, and they found that Pinkie Pie had somehow set up an entire party, with food, music, decorations, and everything else necessary. Twilight had helplessly gone into a fit, shouting about her organization over the music as Luna had laughed and mingled with the gathered ponies, her eyes sparkling as she really felt for the first time since her return that she was part of something.

Scrivener sat back and studied her; in a way, he thought that the fact they were just having a party, rather than a party specifically for Luna, helped the situation a lot. It meant she got to just enjoy being here, rather than the center of attention.

He sat back, watching with a soft smile as he sipped at a cup of punch, watching as Luna danced awkwardly with the other ponies, Pinkie Pie encouraging her and Rainbow leaping around her, laughing. It was a wonderful sight to see.

Twilight Sparkle approached and dropped on her rump beside him, sighing tiredly as she rubbed slowly at her face before mumbling: "None of this was on the schedule for today. I was supposed to study tonight, too."

"Can't schedule Luna. Believe me, that's one of the first things I learned." Scrivener answered mildly before he added: "You know, you study too much. You're not the library, you're the librarian."

Twilight grumbled, then tilted her head as the stallion murmured: "I don't think she's ever experienced this. Not even in her past."

The purple unicorn smiled a bit, then she scooted a little closer, saying quietly: "You really care about her, don't you?"

"Yeah. Yeah, I do. As a friend. As more." Scrivener paused thoughtfully, then he winked over at the mare as he noted: "I can tell you, of course, because no one will ever believe you if you tell them. And I definitely cannot tell Luna, she would just hold it over my head and never let me live it down."

Twilight sighed and rolled her eyes, before she said plaintively: "You're kind of a coward."

"Yeah." Scrivener stopped, then he said in a softer voice: "Honestly, though, I don't think that I deserve-"

"Oh, don't even start with that. It's not about what you deserve." Twilight shoved him gently, and the stallion swayed briefly with a snort. "I think... I think it would make her really happy too. So... get out there. You can even say that I pushed you, if anyone asks."

"You're a good friend, Twilight Sparkle. And I hate that." Scrivener smiled despite himself, nodding to her before he sighed as he strode towards the dance floor. It was hard to take that first step, to swallow that embarrassment and fear...

And then Luna's eyes met his, and it was only the two of them in the whole room as Scrivener winked at her before he stepped forwards, surprising the mare when he did a short bow to her before he stepped forwards, and she automatically fell into the classic estampie.

Scrivener wasn't a very good dancer, but neither was Luna, but they only had eyes for each other as they danced the old dance together, ponies cheering and laughing as Pinkie Pie bounced excitedly around them until they finished with a sharp bow to each other, then Luna leapt forwards and embraced him, and the earth pony laughed as he hugged her fiercely back.

They both felt free.

And as the music started up again, Scrivener started to step away, but Luna grabbed him with a grin before she half-dragged him over and grabbed Twilight as well, making her squawk as she was jerked backwards and pulled onto the dance floor. She blushed and laughed even as she tried to slip away, but Luna spun her between them, and Twilight Sparkle found herself dancing with them both.

It felt like that was where she belonged, and Scrivener and Luna flowed with her naturally, dancing with and around and together with her.

It was a wonderful night. They partied deep into the evening before ponies started to leave, and it was the witching hour by the time Twilight Sparkle came downstairs with a yawn to the empty library after tucking Spike in, only to scowl at the sight of Scrivener Blooms neatening up the main room. "Oh, don't worry about that, I'll get it later, Scrivy."

"Uh huh. It won't be Spike or anything." Scrivener answered, and the mare blushed a bit before she frowned at a loud slurping, and she turned just in time to watch Luna drinking the last of the bowl of punch before she belched loudly.

Twilight stared, but Scrivener looked undisturbed, saying mildly: "I'm only paid to teach her modern language, not manners. Some tasks are just impossible."

"Shut up, Scrivy." Luna licked her lips, then smiled over at Twilight Sparkle as she gestured at the mostly-empty food table, saying cheerfully: "I have helped by cleaning the food."

"Uh. Thanks." Twilight said awkwardly, before she bit her cheek and said: "You know, you don't have to leave, you could have a nap or..."

"Or what, Twilight Sparkle? Slumber party?" Scrivener asked mildly, and Twilight scowled at him as Luna grinned, but then shook her head as her expression softened to a smile.

"Nay, I must return to Canterlot, but... I will return here to Ponyville when I am able. We both shall, Twilight Sparkle. I am sure Scrivener Blooms wishes to see more of thee, after all." Luna winked over at him, and Scrivener snorted in entertainment as he walked over to the pile of bags and equipment.

They chatted easily, but Twilight Sparkle mostly just watched them. She had strange, funny feelings as she watched the two of them, that she didn't entirely understand, that felt a little wrong, or greedy, or silly.

She also admired them. Both of them, even if she would never, ever admit that to Scrivener Blooms.

The stallion sighed as he finished getting his armor on with Luna's help, and then he wheezed when she dropped the saddlebags across his back, groaning as he loudly cracked his spine. "Oh Horses of Heaven, I'm going to feel that in the morning."

"Nay, hopefully by morning we will be home in bed and comfortable, Scrivener Blooms, and then we shall sleep like logs!" Luna declared, and then she flicked her horn to flip her cloak off the ground and fall over her back, winking over at Twilight. "Thou art free to join us any time for sleeping, too, Twilight."

Twilight turned beet-red, and Scrivener snorted laughter before he followed Luna to her. The sapphire mare embraced the purple mare fiercely, and she smiled after a moment as she hugged her tightly back before Luna kissed her cheek gently. "Thou art a wonderful mare. I like thee much better than thy brother."

"He's just protective of me, Luna, that's all. Be nice to him." Twilight almost chastised, before she and Scrivener looked at each other, then they shared a short hug as well-

"Now kiss!" Luna leaned in towards them, and both ponies scowled at her, which made her huff. "Damnation. Silly fools, I am the dream-maker, 'tis not my fault I am trying to make thy dreams come true."

The ponies parted before Scrivener glanced down as Sammy scurried out from under the table, the stallion smiling slightly as his pseudodragon climbed up to perch on his head. "Was worried about you, idiot. Thought Fluttershy stole you."

"She would have. She's come a long way. I think we all have." Twilight bit her lip, and then she looked at Luna and said softly: "You too, you know, you and Scrivener both. It's amazing how ponies change and you just... never know where you end up, or what depths ponies have."

"I thank thee, Twilight Sparkle. Thou art kinder to us both than we deserve." Luna said, before she smiled a little. "I am no good at goodbyes, so come, Scrivy. Let us hurry back to Celestia now. Perhaps we will get back before dawn, and avoid a scolding."

Scrivener grunted, then he reached up and flicked Twilight's horn gently, making her huff. "Take care of yourself, Twilight Sparkle."

She nodded, suppressing her slight flush before she watched as the two headed to the door, and she bit her lip as they left, not knowing why it felt like part of her heart went with them as the door swung gently closed and left her alone in the library, and for the first time, wanting something more than just the friendships and relationships she had found here in Ponyville.

Twilight sighed, shaking her head almost angrily at herself as she turned away, and then her eyes locked with surprise on Luna's peytral and tiara, which had been left behind on the food table. She approached, then carefully picked up the tiara before she smiled faintly at the little note pasted inside:

For you, Twilight Sparkle, for helping me find something more important than being a princess.

Luna and Scrivener had returned safe and sound, then promptly gone to their quarters for some well-earned rest. Something seemed different between them, but if anything, Celestia was happy for them. Happy her sister had found something so special.

Now, in the secret depths of Canterlot, beyond hidden passages and security wards, Celestia sat in a room with her scrying mirror, and all manner of alchemical ingredients, murmuring quiet ritual incantation over Sleipnir's imbued forge hammer taken from an ancient book of lore floating before her.

The walls were covered by a library of shelves, and the forge itself burned with intense flame, like a miniature sun in the maw of the oven. As her hammer began to glow, she guided tongs with telekinesis to remove a superheated bowl from the forge, within which the bark of Yggdrasil had become a golden dust.

She dipped the head of her hammer into this, swirling it once, before she rose it high, then slammed it down into her mirror. Bizarrely, the mirror didn't shatter, but instead rippled like liquid before she slammed her hammer down again, and it was like she was hammering a new, different reality into the mirror.

There were truths that she had to know, and this was the only way she could find out how.