GREEN 219 0 7531 42.75 KB 379

Moonlight, Veiled - Book 3

By horsa
Created: 2025-11-17 21:15:50
Updated: 2026-05-19 22:10:19
anonlunasafedrama/moon/

  1. 1.
    -CHAPTER XI-
  2. 2.
    >The long and winding road had led Luna and yourself to a small cottage nestled away in the foothills of the mountains east of Canterlot.
  3. 3.
    >It had been languid day’s journey, the two of you making your way down the royal road east at a steady pace.
  4. 4.
    >You would have been able to make the journey must faster on your own, but you held your gait to accommodate Luna’s slower walk.
  5. 5.
    >With the loss of her magic, titles and wordly burdens, Luna had taken to a much more relaxed, unhurried demeanour in her approach to life.
  6. 6.
    >You suspected that, with her magic largely drawn out of her and cast into the brilliant sky above, age was rapidly catching up with the venerable Princess.
  7. 7.
    >Your journey had been interrupted frequently, as well.
  8. 8.
    >Ponies crossing your path on the road stopped to pay homage to Luna, and she paid careful attention to each and every one of them.
  9. 9.
    >Most scraped and bowed in awe of her discarded titles and position – a practice Luna tried her best to discourage, but soon realized was fruitless to resist.
  10. 10.
    >The handover of power to Canterlot’s government of nobility and representatives had been laborious, though it had been made as seamless and expedient as Luna had been able to manage.
  11. 11.
    >After a couple long weeks of council meetings and petitions, Luna had formalized the handoff of power to a delicate balance of elected officials and electors of Equestria’s ancient titles.
  12. 12.
    >As with any government not the purview of an immortal, benevolent dictator (which had been Equestria’s law of the land for untold thousands of years), there were bound to be some gaps in issues of administration, succession, sharing of power, and so on.
  13. 13.
    >Luna, with your gentle guidance, had realized that if she was going to take personal responsibility for such concerns whenever they appeared, that her abdication would be in name only.
  14. 14.
    >With faith established that the government of Canterlot was as responsible and competent as it was ever going to get, she had ripped off the metaphorical band-aid and formally stepped down from all titles and responsibilities, formally and legally becoming a private citizen.
  15. 15.
    >That last change was, of course, in name only as well. No pony in Equestria would ever be able to see her as anything other than their beloved Princess of the Night, and Luna seemed to be at peace with that.
  16. 16.
     
  17. 17.
    >And so, whenever a passing pony stopped to bow before their beloved Princess, Luna restrained herself from correcting their error.
  18. 18.
    >She refused all but the most trivial gifts and offerings when offered, instead urging ponies to share what they had to give with each other in the upcoming days of hardship and need in Equestria.
  19. 19.
    >She asked after their families and loved ones, listening intently and passing long stretches in conversation with ponies concerning their dreams and hopes.
  20. 20.
    >This slowed your journey considerably, but you suspected that even if you tried, Luna would not be dissuaded from what she saw as her duty to her former subjects.
  21. 21.
    >You were certain in any case that as you put distance east between the two of you and Canterlot that you would likely encounter less fellow travellers on your way..
  22. 22.
    >So, with a relaxing week’s journey behind the two of you, you make it to the first true destination on your mutual itinerary in what should have been a three day’s walk.
  23. 23.
    >Luna perks up under your hand as the bend in the road reveals the cottage – though she’s still very nearly blind, the warm and welcoming lamplight ahead reflects in her greying eyes, brightening her face and drawing a grin from her as you approach.
  24. 24.
    >”Oh, is that what I think it is?”
  25. 25.
    >You pat her back reassuringly.
  26. 26.
    “A warm, soft bed, firelight and hot food? Certainly looks like it.”
  27. 27.
    >Luna’s grin widens and she picks up her pace.
  28. 28.
    >The last week’s travel has been punctuated by camping out under the stars.
  29. 29.
    >Neither you nor Luna had any complaints about the arrangement so far – her stellar arrangement of the heavens and her magical suffusion of the Moon’s presence overhead had rendered each night pleasantly warm and peaceful.
  30. 30.
    >What little chill had crept into your bedroll over the serene nights under the stars had been banished by the presence of your beloved at your side, and she was in her element under the light of the lambent moon.
  31. 31.
    >Still, a long journey on foot and earth made one miss the creature comforts of civilisation, and you were looking forward to a roof and bed again.
  32. 32.
     
  33. 33.
    >You reach the door – a rustic assembly of rough-hewn planks decorated with floral adornment – and knock gently.
  34. 34.
    >After a brief moment you hear the clopping of hooves on the wooden floor beyond, and the door opens to reveal an elderly mare bedecked in a shawl and half-rim glasses.
  35. 35.
    >As you’re standing slightly ahead of Luna and in full view of the threshold, she looks you up and down appraisingly.
  36. 36.
    >It was a look you hadn’t seen in some time, as the ponies of Canterlot had long since become accustomed to your alien appearance.
  37. 37.
    >”Hello, hello, welcome to the Shady Thistles, Mr... Creature. How can I help you today? Or, this evening, I suppose.”
  38. 38.
    >She seems a little flustered, and you hurry to speak up to allay her perplexity.
  39. 39.
    “Hello ma’am, I was wondering if you had a room open for the night, and some food for my companion and I. We have bits for the accommodations, if they’re available.
  40. 40.
    >At mention of your companion she looks past you to survey Luna, who had been serenely standing at your side, absent-mindedly peering out at the stars above.
  41. 41.
    >You watch as her expression changes from passivity, to puzzlement, then finally to starstruck awe as she takes in Luna’s height, wings, horn and dappled cutie mark.
  42. 42.
    >”Good heavens above, it’s the Princess, at my very door...” she says, under her breath to herself.
  43. 43.
    >Luna’s ear flicks at the title and she turns to meet the elderly mare’s gaze, a warm and comforting expression settling on her face as she lowers her head in a gentle bow.
  44. 44.
    >”Not Princess any more, madame. I expect news from the capital may not have reached your charming establishment quite yet, but please rest assured – We are here only on a personal errand of pleasure, and would be very grateful if you’d allow us to rest and recover for the night.”
  45. 45.
    >”Of course, of course! Please, come in out of the cold, and make yourself comfortable, Princess. Thorny! We have company!”
  46. 46.
    >Calling out into the room behind her, she anxiously beckons the two of you inside, demeanour shifting rapidly from her earlier briskness to the model of polite, if nervous, hospitality.
  47. 47.
     
  48. 48.
    >The following minutes are a whirlwind of customer service.
  49. 49.
    >Thorny, who you learn is the husband of the elderly mare at the door and co-proprietor of the Shady Thistles, is directed to take your luggage to the “Fancy Room.”
  50. 50.
    >Meanwhile the mare – who you’re introduced to as Spiny Thistle – directs you to a nook in a corner of the cottage’s main sitting room, where she hurriedly moves a large sofa for Luna beside an antique and very comfortable-looking armchair for your use, both in front of an invitingly crackling fire.
  51. 51.
    >While she works, she offers Luna a continuous stream of services and victuals – from every variety of tea, alcohol and beverage that can be found in Equestria to every meal the inn has served going back generations.
  52. 52.
    >Before too long, and after dismissing multiple offers of assistance from both you and Luna, the two of you are seated comfortably wrapped in woolly woven blankets, a hearty dinner ordered from their modest kitchen, and a serving of tea and biscuits before you.
  53. 53.
    >After placing the latter items on the nook’s well-weathered oaken table, a flustered Spiny Thistle speaks up again.
  54. 54.
    >”You two make yourself as comfortable as you wish, and if you need anything at all please don’t hesitate to ask. Thorny’s just setting up your room now, and we’ll show you to your accommodations after dinner if that’s to your liking. In the meantime, please feel free to make yourself at home while I get your food going.”
  55. 55.
    >”Of course, Madame Thistle, we will. Please take your time, Mr. Anonymous and I are in no rush and you’ve made us feel perfectly comfortable.”
  56. 56.
    >Luna speaks graciously, eliciting a low bow and beaming smile from the elderly mare before she trots off.
  57. 57.
    >Finally, you and Luna are left alone together once again.
  58. 58.
     
  59. 59.
    >Luna takes a deep, calming breath over the whorls of steam rising from her tea before speaking again.
  60. 60.
    >”What a lovely couple. It seems you chose accommodations well, Anon.”
  61. 61.
    >You shrug nonchalantly, cradling your tea as well.
  62. 62.
    “They came well recommended.”
  63. 63.
    >Tea Leaves had suggested the inn to you over discussions of your planned itinerary with her and Ink Blot
  64. 64.
    >A cousin of hers had stayed there once on a trip to Manehattan, and had spoken well of the Thistles.
  65. 65.
    >Despite their thorny appellations, Mr and Mrs Thistle were reportedly as dedicated and hospitable innkeepers as any in Equestria.
  66. 66.
    >While Luna had settled matters of state following here abdication, you had set the archives in order with Ink Blot and a small crew of other dedicated clerics and scribes.
  67. 67.
    >While that process had progressed, you’d been given the liberty of planning a retirement vacation for Luna.
  68. 68.
    >She wanted to see Equestria under the light of the moon, touring the rolling countryside of her domain between the mountains and the eastern sea.
  69. 69.
    >The destination of the sea had been your idea, which Luna had taken to warmly.
  70. 70.
    >You wanted Luna to be able to relax and enjoy her retirement as much as she possibly could, and she seemed excited at the prospect of a comfortable gallivant following your lead.
  71. 71.
    >As you planned the journey, the prospect of its end pulled at your mind.
  72. 72.
    >You had remembered your dream of a stony shore and scarce-remembered lullaby, of the rising sun on a vast sea.
  73. 73.
    >You refused to give up on Luna, no matter how at peace she seemed to be with her own end.
  74. 74.
    >If a faint nudging of a dream was all you had to pin your hopes on, that would have to be enough.
  75. 75.
    >And so you had planned a comfortable journey with Luna, towards whatever end you would find together.
  76. 76.
    >It was a sobering thought, though it was hard to worry too much about it with the beautiful mare at your side.
  77. 77.
     
  78. 78.
    >Before too long, the food you had jointly ordered was laid out before you.
  79. 79.
    >It looked, smelled, and tasted absolutely delicious.
  80. 80.
    >Croquettes and dumplings made of sugar-sweet squashes and potatoes
  81. 81.
    >A hearty soup of fragrant cheese and onion
  82. 82.
    >A fragrant salad of delicate leaves and garden vegetables drizzled with an intoxicatingly tangy vinaigrette and crystal-clear olive oil
  83. 83.
    >Steamy sourdough buns, served fresh from the Thistle’s oven.
  84. 84.
    >Dark, heady wine, served from their reserve cellar.
  85. 85.
    >Over the course of your residence in Canterlot, the vegetarian diet of Equestria’s inhabitants had grown on you.
  86. 86.
    >When you could get it, fine cuisine was prepared by the ponies with such passion and care, with such an astounding array of flavour that you barely missed meat any more.
  87. 87.
    >For you, it took a titanic effort not to immediately wolf down all the food as it was presented.
  88. 88.
    >Instead, you pick at it casually, eager both to make the sensation of flavour, and your time with the special somepony you were sharing it with, last.
  89. 89.
    >Mid-bite into a crispy, golden-brown croquette, you glance over at Luna to appraise her enjoyment of the meal.
  90. 90.
    >She’s nibbling daintily on some leaves of salad, fork held aloft in her horn’s magical aura, eyes closed serenely as she absorbs the cornucopia of flavour.
  91. 91.
    >Happy and carefree, she appears lost in the moment, the present joy of shared company, food, and setting happily carrying her along with you as the time passes without notice.
  92. 92.
    >She swallows a bite with a small sound of satisfaction and opens her eyes, catching you watching her as her eyes meet yours.
  93. 93.
    >She smiles warmly and leans in towards you over the table, holding your gaze in her own with a keen and affectionate smile.
  94. 94.
    >You lean in to meet her, lips meeting the tip of her nose in a small, playful kiss.
  95. 95.
    >She giggles at the gesture and leans back, setting her fork down to pick up her glass in its place.
  96. 96.
     
  97. 97.
    >”You certainly outdid yourself with this, Anonymous. To think this wonderful little place has been nestled in the mountains just a short flight from Canterlot, and I’d never thought to visit.”
  98. 98.
    “You’ll have to thank Tea Leaves when we return to Canterlot, it was her suggestion. I’ve certainly never explored Equestria this far away from the city.”
  99. 99.
    >Luna’s smile lowers sadly – minutely, barely enough to notice, but still – and she raises her glass towards you.
  100. 100.
    >”A toast, then, to Tea Leaves.”
  101. 101.
    >You pick up yours in turn, letting the wine’s sweet fragrance drift by your senses.
  102. 102.
    “To Tea Leaves, and all those still at home.”
  103. 103.
    >You and Luna take a quaff of the wine, delighting in its richness and flavour, and return to your dinner with appreciative, but unhurried, gusto.
  104. 104.
    >You make some small talk, discussing the stops ahead of you on your way to the sea, Luna excitedly planning activities and small excursions on the path ahead.
  105. 105.
    >You give credit to your help where its due, relaying the recommendations of Ink Blot, Tea Leaves and others where you had gotten them.
  106. 106.
    >Luna seems delighted in the prospect of the road, her newly-found joie de vivre seeming to counteract the weight of age newly settled on her now-mortal frame.
  107. 107.
    >Silver-maned but vibrant, cloudy-eyed and subtly wrinkled but full of life, the beloved pony princess before you still holds you rapt as her voice flows smoothly through you.
  108. 108.
    >Just as you finish the final bites of dinner together, the plates are whisked away by the Thistles.
  109. 109.
    >Replacing them, they serve dessert – an enchantingly smooth and sweet ice cream, sprinkled with nuts and dusted with powdered sugar, fine as snow.
  110. 110.
    >Served alongside it is their ‘signature’ dessert drink, as they claim.
  111. 111.
    >A warm, steamy mug of peppermint hot chocolate is served before each of you, flavoured with a melange of spices, coffee and the welcoming burn of a mysterious, warming liquor.
  112. 112.
    >You and Luna share another toast before the proprietors, this time to their kindness and hospitality, before taking some careful sips.
  113. 113.
    >It’s delicious, its warmth and flavour seeming to surge from your stomach to your fingertips in a rush.
  114. 114.
    >Luna’s eyes widen and brighten at her sip in turn, and she offers a heartfelt and appreciative thanks to the Thistles before they leave you to your final dish.
  115. 115.
     
  116. 116.
    >Each of your ice creams is gone in short order.
  117. 117.
    >As filling as the food served prior was, you found you always had room for a sugary capstone to a good meal.
  118. 118.
    >You’re glad Luna, judging by her speed in dealing with her own dessert, is of a similar disposition.
  119. 119.
    >That leaves each of you, happily full and by now fully and completely relaxed, reclining in your chairs and sipping at your hot chocolates.
  120. 120.
    >Catching Luna’s gaze once again as she takes a cautious draught of the still-steaming cup, you gesture to a large glass-panelled door behind her shoulder.
  121. 121.
    “Want to finish these under the stars? It’s a beautiful night.”
  122. 122.
    >She giggles and blushes a little at the compliment.
  123. 123.
    >”Oh, you’re such a flatterer.”
  124. 124.
    >She carefully picks herself up off her seat, stretching the stiffness out of her limbs and wings with each movement.
  125. 125.
    >You rise quickly, moving to her side to offer a hand in her assistance, which she leans into gratefully as she finishes her descent.
  126. 126.
    >”And such a gentleman too. Why, if I didn’t know better, I’d think you were trying to flirt with me Anonymous.”
  127. 127.
    “Is it working?”
  128. 128.
    >She casts you a mischievous smile and gently hits you with her withers as she passes you, gathering up her mug in her aura.
  129. 129.
    >”I haven’t decided yet, but we should finish this conversation outside.”
  130. 130.
     
  131. 131.
    >Your cup is significantly cooler when you pick it up again.
  132. 132.
    >You’re reclining on a bench on the Shady Thistle’s rear-facing balcony, which overlooks a small, verdant defile running into the mountains behind the property.
  133. 133.
    >The silver moonlight dances and plays among the leafy bushes beyond, a babbling stream running down the mountain and lending a gentle undercurrent to the sigh of the wind passing through the trees.
  134. 134.
    >The bench is generously cushioned, large overstuffed pillows protecting you from the sturdy oaken planks.
  135. 135.
    >You’re grateful for them, as you’re certain that your entire body would have gone numb long ago if it weren’t for their generous padding.
  136. 136.
    >You shift slightly, and Luna’s weight shifts to accomodate the movement.
  137. 137.
    >She’s draped over you, body cast over yours, legs intertwined and muzzle buried happily in the crook of your neck.
  138. 138.
    >You play with her mane absentmindedly as you take a sip of your drink, listening to the way Luna’s contented, steady breathing intermingles with the valley’s cool breeze.
  139. 139.
    >The drink flows past your lips and over your tongue slowly, carefully, as you try to take a drink without moving too much and disturbing the Princess.
  140. 140.
    >Your lips still tingled, only partially from the effects of the alcohol.
  141. 141.
    >You hoped the Thistles had the good sense and propriety not to disturb your time with Luna, but your sense of self-consciousness about the relatively public nature of your situation still distracts you a little.
  142. 142.
    >Luna shifts a little on top of you, the movement of her muscles against you pulling you back into the moment.
  143. 143.
    >Her neck arches back smoothly, withdrawing her head from its nook to face you sleepily.
  144. 144.
    >”Have you not finished your drink yet?”
  145. 145.
    >You take another sip, fixing her with a look of mock accusation.
  146. 146.
    “Someone distracted me before I could.”
  147. 147.
    >”Oh no, that’s a shame. You’ll have to ask for a fresh, hot one before the night’s over.”
  148. 148.
    >With each word her speech softens into a whisper, eyes lidding and face drawing closer to yours.
  149. 149.
    >Forgetting your drink, you reach with your free hand to pull her closer to you.
  150. 150.
    >Your lips meet again, and only part after what seems simultaneously an eternity and not nearly long enough.
  151. 151.
     
  152. 152.
    >The next morning finds you and Luna tangled in the sheets of your shared bed in the Shady Thistle's guest suite.
  153. 153.
    >Luna's sprawled over her half of the bed, legs akimbo and a wing spread over you, wrapping you in downy, feather-soft warmth.
  154. 154.
    >The first movements of your stirring do little to rouse her, eliciting instead a sort of half-groan, half mutter sound from the Princess as she adjusts minutely to subconsciously accommodate you.
  155. 155.
    >Deciding not to get up right away, you attempt to adjust yourself into a more comfortably reclined position on your pillow.
  156. 156.
    >You want to savour the moment of peaceful snoozing shared with Luna for as long as you can.
  157. 157.
    >Blinking the sleep from your eyes, you instinctively look outside to check on the weather beyond the windowpane.
  158. 158.
    >You'd woken up after a long and restful sleep following a night of rest, repast and recreation with Luna.
  159. 159.
    >Surely if the sun hadn't risen yet, it would shortly.
  160. 160.
    >It takes a moment for your memory to catch up to your instincts, the pale light of the full moon casting silver rays on Luna's static, corporeal mane.
  161. 161.
    >It was still midnight, which was as close to morning as you were ever going to get for the foreseeable future.
  162. 162.
    >Sighing softly, you rest our head back down, adjusting an arm to alight on Luna's shoulder, in the crook of her wing.
  163. 163.
    >You stroke the join absentmindedly, letting your thoughts drift as you let yourself enjoy the texture of feather and coat under your fingers.
  164. 164.
    >Still half-asleep, Luna mumbles appreciatively at the touch, shifting again to lean closer to you.
  165. 165.
    >"That tickles, Anonymous."
  166. 166.
    >She murmurs as an eye opens, peering at you half-lidded.
  167. 167.
    "Should I stop?"
  168. 168.
    >"Mmmmm, no. Dig in a little."
  169. 169.
    >You turn your absentminded touch into a gentle kneading massage, working the muscles and tendons beneath the Princess' coat gently but firmly.
  170. 170.
    >She voices another tired groan, this time appreciative and pampered.
  171. 171.
    >"That's the spot. Who would have thought fingers would be so useful."
  172. 172.
    >She shifts again, inviting you to attend to her other wing and turn the casual massage into a committed backrub.
  173. 173.
    >You work her muscles with your fingertips, kneading out some of the accumulated knots of your shared journey so far under your admittedly out-of-practice hands.
  174. 174.
    “You’d be surprised, Princess.”
  175. 175.
    >She chuckles, turning to cast an eye in your direction.
  176. 176.
    >”Was that a challenge, Anon?”
  177. 177.
    “I was thinking more of an invitation.”
  178. 178.
    >She giggles again and rolls under you, drawing you close to her warmth and tangling the sheets even further.
  179. 179.
     
  180. 180.
    >Breakfast that morning was a pleasantly light arrangement of grains, fruits, bread and eggs.
  181. 181.
    >Picking over your bowl of yoghurt and granola, sipping at your cup of coffee, you take what time you can to soak all the relaxation you can get.
  182. 182.
    >You and Luna had gotten up late – your shared morning together delaying further the start to your day.
  183. 183.
    >After bathing and dressing in freshly-cleaned clothes – the Thistles had taken your things for cleaning before you had gone to bed – you and Luna had made your way back down to the common area of the inn for some food.
  184. 184.
    >It seemed that the two of you were the inn’s only guests.
  185. 185.
    >It could be a sign of hard times for the common folk of Equestria, or simply that no one wished to travel without need now that the darkness of night was a permanent fixture in Equestria.
  186. 186.
    >Either way, you were grateful for the solitude it afforded you with Luna.
  187. 187.
    >In the few weeks you had spent in Canterlot between the last sunset and setting out, you had both been so preoccupied with preparations that you had scarcely seen each other.
  188. 188.
    >Most of her time had been spent with her court, organizing the transition of power.
  189. 189.
    >Most of yours had been spent in the archive, handling loose ends and tending to Ink Blot’s concerns in your absence.
  190. 190.
    >You had done your best to convince him that both yours and Luna’s absence from the castle would be temporary, but plans had been put in place to make it permanent if need be.
  191. 191.
    >So, when the dim and moonlit ‘morning’ of your departure came, you had done your best to sneak Luna and yourself out with as little fanfare as could be managed.
  192. 192.
    >A handful of farewells to those who were closest to you, and in short order the empty road lay stretching out before you.
  193. 193.
    >Luna had a monumental ordeal in convincing her royal thestral guard that she wouldn’t need their guardianship on the voyage.
  194. 194.
    >They had been convinced instead to guard her chambers and symbols of office, that which represented her authority now that she had set them aside.
  195. 195.
     
  196. 196.
    >Now, a week later, it seemed that Luna was finally getting used to the idea of being free, perhaps for the first time in her life.
  197. 197.
    >She savours her breakfast, sipping her own coffee and nibbling daintily at the assortment laid out in front of her.
  198. 198.
    >A smile has set into the lines of her face, resting in the warmth of her eyes and carefree tumble of her mane.
  199. 199.
    >She is free, and for the hundredth time since setting out, you thank whatever luck you had been blessed with that her freedom included your company.
  200. 200.
    >She could do whatever she wanted, be with whoever she pleased, and she was here, happy, relaxed, with you.
  201. 201.
    >”You’re staring.”
  202. 202.
    >You jolt back to the present, spilling a little coffee on your hands as Luna’s words tenderly, playfully break the moment’s silence.
  203. 203.
    >Luna’s eyes are boring once again into yours, that smile which had taken up residence on her features turning into a laugh at your shock.
  204. 204.
    “Can you blame me?”
  205. 205.
    >You realize you had lost yourself in her eyes, cradling your cooling coffee in a hand as you reclined languidly in your seat.
  206. 206.
    >Luna laughs, and leans back in her chaise in an equine mirror of you.
  207. 207.
    >”I still find it hard to believe that you think so highly of me after losing my magic.”
  208. 208.
    “Do you really? There’s poems written over hundreds of years about your beauty.”
  209. 209.
    >”And I found it hard to believe those too. You would not believe how many nobleponies try to get what they want through sponsored flattery.”
  210. 210.
    “Well, if anything, they fall short of the mark. There’s something about you that defies words, Princess.”
  211. 211.
    >”Defies words? That’s quite an excuse to come from my personal Royal Archivist.”
  212. 212.
    >It’s your turn to laugh, chuckling as you set down your coffee.
  213. 213.
    “You’ll just have to dock my pay then. Maybe someday I’ll make an attempt at putting how I feel about you into words, but until then you’ll just have to make do with me staring and fumbling over you.”
  214. 214.
    >Luna’s smile deepens as she nods in acquiescence.
  215. 215.
    >”I’ll look forward to reading it when you do.”
  216. 216.
    >Luna takes another sip of her coffee, expression turning thoughtful.
  217. 217.
    >”Speaking of writing, how’s your book coming along?”
  218. 218.
     
  219. 219.
    >Luna’s reminder dims the atmosphere, if only by a little.
  220. 220.
    >Her smile remained, but it had turned thoughtful and pitying.
  221. 221.
    >She was sorry for asking what she was asking of you – you could see it in the gentle lilt of her voice, the quiet sadness in her gaze.
  222. 222.
    “It’s coming along, though it’s been a couple of weeks since I’ve made any new notes.”
  223. 223.
    >”That’s what I thought, and I feel I owe you an apology for that. After all, it’s been many moons since I’ve given you new material to work with.”
  224. 224.
    “To be fair, I haven’t asked.”
  225. 225.
    >Luna nods in understanding, her next words considered and deliberate.
  226. 226.
    >”That’s alright, Anonymous. You may ask what you may of me whenever you wish. After the time we’d spent together, you are more suited to being my biographer than perhaps any pony alive.”
  227. 227.
    >”As for the history of the Alicorns writ large – that of my sister, and the others – I will share what I can with you as we continue our journey.”
  228. 228.
    >She cocks her head slightly, questioningly at you.
  229. 229.
    >”Would that be agreeable, Anonymous?”
  230. 230.
    >With the formality of the scenario, her archaic dialect had started to creep back into her words, causing you to grin a little despite yourself.
  231. 231.
    “As you wish, Princess.”
  232. 232.
    >She smiles and leans forward across the table, inviting you into a small, appreciative kiss that you accept gladly.
  233. 233.
    >”Oh, and Anonymous?”
  234. 234.
    >Your eyes meet with Luna’s over the short, short distance between you.
  235. 235.
    >”I was being serious about looking forward to reading what you have to say about me. I’d like to have a look at my biography before it turns into an obituary.”
  236. 236.
    >Her smile is sad, but the old hints of pride and some small, lighthearted vanity lights up her eyes in a way that makes her irresistible.
  237. 237.
    “You have my word.”
  238. 238.
     
  239. 239.
    -CHAPTER XII-
  240. 240.
     
  241. 241.
    “We should rest here, Luna.”
  242. 242.
    >You gesture to a small clearing near the path, nestled between the boughs of an old and hoary oak tree and the elbow of a babbling stream.
  243. 243.
    >Your journey since leaving the Shady Thistles had taken you far over the pleasant countryside of eastern Equestria.
  244. 244.
    >Rolling farmland and pastures, country roads and copses of woodland tucked in the spurs of the northern range of mountains had been your companions for many long hours of journey over the moonlit expanse of Luna’s realm.
  245. 245.
    >The land was sparsely populated, but the rural ponyfolk were invariably welcoming and kind.
  246. 246.
    >Many nights had been spent in the guestrooms of farm estates, small cottages and cabins across the expanse of Equestria’s hinterland.
  247. 247.
    >Many more nights had been spent under the open sky.
  248. 248.
    >The kindness of the early summer weather had held through Luna’s night, warm and breezy through much of what would have been the daylight hours, and refreshingly cool during the ‘night.’
  249. 249.
    >Of course, over the weeks, the diurnal cycle had become ever more of an abstraction, with the differentiation between day and night an academic practice of habit more than a reflection of reality.
  250. 250.
    >On those nights spent under the stars, with the great orb of Luna’s celestial body illuminating the landscape in a hundred pastel shades of silver, the two of you had spent many long hours in conversation.
  251. 251.
    >She spoke freely about her past, more now than she ever had with you in Canterlot.
  252. 252.
    >She recounted long stories of her youth with Celestia, of pranks and petty rivalries, competition and jealousy, arguments and resentment.
  253. 253.
    >Always, there was a throughline throughout her recollections – that she missed Celestia dearly, that she loved her more than she had ever known or fully admitted to either herself or her sister.
  254. 254.
    >She recalled her kindness, her generosity, her endless capacity for compassion.
  255. 255.
    >Where in your earlier conversations with Luna the memory of her sister had seemed a burden about her, now they seemed a source of peace and comfort.
  256. 256.
    >Here, in the shoulder of a gently rolling river, lit by the light of the last moonrise she would ever command, she was at peace with herself, her past, and her future.
  257. 257.
     
  258. 258.
    >She stops to listen to the sound of the brook for a moment, eyes closed, the wind gently stirring her mane as she considers your suggestion.
  259. 259.
    >”Would you describe where we are, Anonymous? The journey is long, and I’m afraid I’ve quite lost track of our whereabouts.”
  260. 260.
    >As the journey had carried on, Luna had seemed less and less concerned about exactly where you were and where you were headed, content to bask in the glow of her moonlight as she passed over the land she loved.
  261. 261.
    >You describe in broad detail the last few day’s journey to her, giving the name of the last township you’d passed and the terrain you had walked, the mountain’s arms and names of rivers crossed, and how far you thought you were from the coast.
  262. 262.
    >Though you were no great navigator, you were confident that you were perhaps a week or so away from the stony shores of the great Eastern Sea.
  263. 263.
    >Luna peers around her through her clouded eyes as you talk, taking in the turn of the river and shape of the trees boughs above her.
  264. 264.
    >You finish, and she smiles warmly.
  265. 265.
    >”Excellent, I believe I know where we are. Humour me, Anonymous, for I believe I know of a better spot for us to shelter for a while.”
  266. 266.
    “You aren’t too tired?”
  267. 267.
    >With deliberate, careful slowness, Luna stretches out her limbs as she walks towards you, rolling some of the stiffness out of her frame with care.
  268. 268.
    >”Not at all, I have the energy for another short walk. Trust me, it’s not far.”
  269. 269.
     
  270. 270.
    >The road you had been following had been taking a meandering path eastward, cutting over streams and through woods in a gentle traverse towards the sea.
  271. 271.
    >You had recommended the rest stop just off the trail, within sight of the road and just before a small trestled bridge over the stream.
  272. 272.
    >At Luna’s bidding you follow her off the beaten path, heading in a generally southward direction, following the inviting sound of the stream’s path further into the woods.
  273. 273.
    >You had no fear of danger as you followed her into the unknown – for all the problems that plagued Equestria in its latter years, its heartland was still an agrarian paradise by your standards, ruled by peace and untroubled by the peril of creatures or banditry.
  274. 274.
    >The walk is strangely reminiscent of some of the strolls you had taken together through Luna’s moonlight garden in Canterlot Castle.
  275. 275.
    >Though not populated by such a bewildering and exotic array of flora, the foliage here gives the impression of a carefully manicured garden-forest.
  276. 276.
    >Fireflies flit between flowering bushes, the blooms of early summer’s verdantry seemingly untroubled by the lack of sun.
  277. 277.
    >Perhaps by some magical property of Luna’s moon, life continues to grow in abundance even in the dim glow of the night sky.
  278. 278.
    >The path – if you can call it that – takes you along the shore of the river as it bends around roots, craggy rocks and gentle curves.
  279. 279.
    >Fish play between the stones, and the night air is punctuated by the gentle trilling of birdsong and the music of frogs and crickets hidden in the boughs of bushes along the shore.
  280. 280.
    >Luna steps forward confidently as you stay close by her side, navigating the rocks and roots with ease as you forge a path towards an unknown destination.
  281. 281.
    >Suddenly, your route takes you up a sharp rise in the terrain, a sort of natural burm crowned with venerable trees blocking your view ahead.
  282. 282.
    >With some minimal struggle you crest the rise together, and take a moment to survey the view laid out before you.
  283. 283.
     
  284. 284.
    >The treeline you and Luna emerge from mark the edge of a small meadow, a field of wild grass swaying in the night breeze.
  285. 285.
    >Bushes of lavender and wildflowers break up the verdant expanse, their scent playing on the breeze as the wind stirs up their gentle fragrance.
  286. 286.
    >The stream you had been following before the burm circles around the edge of the meadow before running through its middle, undulating lazily through the brush.
  287. 287.
    >It flows to meet a tree in the meadow’s centre, looking almost as if it was planted deliberately, lonely in the midst of grass and flower and cradled water’s arms.
  288. 288.
    >Beneath that tree, partially subsumed by its trunk, a crumbled rectangle of stone lays strewn by the riverbed.
  289. 289.
    >It must have once been a small cottage or shed, its timbers long since rotted away and its stones tumbled by the long years of nature’s reclamation.
  290. 290.
    >Luna stands beside you, wordless, surveying the meadow and breathing deep of the lavender scent carried to her on the night air.
  291. 291.
    >She turns to you with a smile before beckoning you onwards, descending down the crest and into the rolling green field of the meadow.
  292. 292.
    >You follow, your shared pace slowed considerably as you let yourself relax at her side, the weariness of the long day’s travel evaporating from your limbs as its replaced by the comforting prospect of a restful sleep under the light of the moon.
  293. 293.
    >Without speaking, you follow her to the ruins at the centre of the meadow, finally dropping your bags against the cold grey stones as she trots contemplatively around their perimeter.
  294. 294.
    >”It’s a little worse for wear than when I’d been here last, but I’m glad I remembered the spot at least.”
  295. 295.
    >Luna’s voice is low and thoughtful, speaking as she walks, occasionally stopping to kick at a tumbled stone or peer at an old piece of worked, rotted wood.
  296. 296.
    “What is this place?”
  297. 297.
    >”An old summer home from the days of my youth. I found it by chance on an evening flight many, many moons ago. I’d return occasionally in the years since, to tend to the lavender and have a place of peace and solace far from Canterlot.”
  298. 298.
    >She breathes deeply, taking in the floral scents on the air, smiling while drifting through the recollection of memory.
  299. 299.
    >”I had almost forgotten about this place, and would likely have never been here again were it not for our little trip, Anonymous.”
  300. 300.
    “Our good fortune that my plans took us near here, then.”
  301. 301.
    >”Providence, my love. We should rest here for a while – I think the remaining leg of our holiday may be the hardest, and I’ll want what’s left of my strength fully recovered for the journey.”
  302. 302.
     
  303. 303.
    “Let’s have some dinner, then. I’ll get a fire going.”
  304. 304.
    >You busy yourself about the ruins, selecting a spot outside the boughs of the tree, against the ancient stones to set up your little travel kitchen.
  305. 305.
    >Luna watches you serenely, occasionally breaking her observation to look at the starry sky above, the movement of the wind in the grass, the rustling of the oak’s boughs in the evening breeze.
  306. 306.
    >As has become something of an evening ritual, she offers to help with the preparation, which you gratefully but firmly rebuff.
  307. 307.
    >Satisfied that she’s content and comfortable, with a small fire crackling merrily within a stone circle bearing up a small metal stand, you fill a small pot with river water and begin to bring it to a boil.
  308. 308.
    >The crackling of the fire, accentuated with little cracks and pops of the dead boughs you’d gathered from the area, mingles relaxingly with the babble of the stream beside you.
  309. 309.
    >”What’s for dinner tonight, my dear?”
  310. 310.
    >The affectation brings a little jump to your chest – it still does, even so long after Luna had started to sprinkle in the words into her regular conversation with you.
  311. 311.
    “Let’s see...”
  312. 312.
    >You rustle through your bag, going through some of the wraps and bundles set aside in a compartment of your portable luggage
  313. 313.
    >You were still fairly well stocked from your visit to a farm a few days prior.
  314. 314.
    “Some sourdough, spring greens, carrots and potatoes. I still have a little vinegar and oil too – I was thinking of making a side summer salad, with steamed and fried potatoes and carrots.”
  315. 315.
    >”That sounds marvellous.”
  316. 316.
     
  317. 317.
    >It still felt surreal, discussing dinner plans with Luna, godlike Princess of the Night.
  318. 318.
    >Your heart still caught in your throat at her touch, her voice, every time her glance passed your way.
  319. 319.
    >Despite that, being with her felt as natural as breathing.
  320. 320.
    >You chat as you ease into the familiar pattern of dinner preparation, discussing the path, Canterlot gossip and minor affairs of state, and much other small nothings.
  321. 321.
    >The dexterity of your human appendages made meal preparation far easier for you than it would have been for Luna’s hooves, and you were more than happy to put your thoroughly unimpressive culinary skills to work for the Princess.
  322. 322.
    >Before relinquishing her magic into the night sky, she would have been able to help with the use of her horn’s aura.
  323. 323.
    >Now, with her powers significantly weakened, the use of her horn was limited to only the most basic tasks.
  324. 324.
    >Bearing up utensils and other small objects, simple levitation and a flickering, cantrip magelight seemed to be all that was within her abilities at the moment.
  325. 325.
    >And each day, that ability seemed to reduce.
  326. 326.
    >For all that losing a major part of her day-to-day functionality must have frustrated her, she bore it with grace and ease.
  327. 327.
    >For your part, all you could do was make her as comfortable as possible, and give her ease without coming off as patronizing.
  328. 328.
    >You had learned quickly that, as much as she was used to being waited on by a small army of servants and maid-ponies in Canterlot, she neither wanted nor expected that treatment from you.
  329. 329.
    >It was a delicate balance.
  330. 330.
     
  331. 331.
    >Eventually, dinner is complete – a steaming dish of seasoned potatoes and carrots, fried to a crisp-edged golden brown, warm buttered toast with honey, and greens tossed in a pungent, peppered vinaigrette.
  332. 332.
    >You bring a plate to Luna’s spot under the tree, eliciting a soft exclamation of appreciation at the presentation.
  333. 333.
    >Leaning yourself up against a stable-looking wall beside her, you recline with your own food, the aroma mingling with the cool night breeze as you settle in.
  334. 334.
    >Luna raises some of the food in her horn’s aura, magic emitting from the midnight-blue ivory with the faintest glow in the night’s darkness as her brow furrows in concentration.
  335. 335.
    >You know better than to offer to feed her – that would be a bridge to far for her pride, and you can’t say you blame her.
  336. 336.
    >You tuck into your food, the warmth and wholesomeness settling into you, replenishing your strength spent over the long day’s trek.
  337. 337.
    >Luna makes a satisfied sound at her first bite, continuing afterwards to eat with deliberation, savouring the relaxation and flavour.
  338. 338.
    >Soon enough you’re both finished, and you take the plates to the river for a quick wash before settling down again.
  339. 339.
    >You stop by your pack again before returning to the Princess, rummaging around for a moment while she eyes you curiously.
  340. 340.
    >Finding what you’re looking for, you bring back a bottle and two small, stoneware cups to her side.
  341. 341.
    >“Why, I didn’t realize tonight was a special occasion, Anonymous.”
  342. 342.
    “It isn’t, really.”
  343. 343.
    >You pour some of the rich red liquid into each of the cups, giving one to Luna before setting the bottle down and sitting close by her side, leaning gently against the warmth of her flank.
  344. 344.
    >She knew that you’d packed some wine for your journey, of course, but you’d been sparing with it so far.
  345. 345.
    “Of course, every night with you is special.”
  346. 346.
    >”Obviously.”
  347. 347.
    >You catch Luna’s mischievous grin and return one in kind, swirling the wine around in one hand, taking in the heady aroma as you moved the other to nestle into its familiar spot within the softness of her mane.
  348. 348.
    “But this is a special place, and I wanted to celebrate its rediscovery. Thank you for bringing me here, Luna.”
  349. 349.
    >”I can’t imagine another I’d rather share it with, Anonymous.’
  350. 350.
    >You gently tap the edges of your cups together, Luna bearing hers aloft in her wan aura, before bring the drink to your lips.
  351. 351.
    >She shuffles slightly, inviting your body closer against hers, turning her neck to move softly against your hand.
  352. 352.
    >For a moment, you recline in silence together, the night’s breeze in the grass and tree playing against the babbling stream, in rhythm now with the steady rise and fall of Luna’s breath and the even drumming of her heart.
  353. 353.
     
  354. 354.
    >You take another sip, enjoying every precious moment of sensation with Luna you can.
  355. 355.
    >The sound of her breath, the warmth emanating from her, the softness of her coat, the way her silver-shot midnight mane fell about her side, over your hand and around your forearm.
  356. 356.
    >Every little moment was precious and you drank it in like a man dying of thirst, wanting to drown in her.
  357. 357.
    >She draws in a deep breath, settling into the relaxation of the moment.
  358. 358.
    >”How far are we from the coast, again?”
  359. 359.
    “Maybe nine or ten days. We’re getting close.”
  360. 360.
    >You shift a little against her, turning your head to meet her eyes.
  361. 361.
    >They’re closed, and her head droops slightly, as if she were already half-asleep.
  362. 362.
    >”Hmm. Close indeed.”
  363. 363.
    >You move your hand from its resting spot, stroking her shoulders affectionately, eliciting a sleepy murmur of gratitude.
  364. 364.
    “Do you know what you would like to do when we get there? I was thinking of finding a comfortable place to stay for a little while before heading back.”
  365. 365.
    >She tenses a little at the final words, almost imperceptibly, before stirring a little more to level her head down against the grass.
  366. 366.
    >”I’d like to rest, Anonymous. I’m... tired. So very tired.”
  367. 367.
    Her eyes open, just barely, to regard the crackling embers of your little fire by the side of the stream.
  368. 368.
    >”After that, we shall see. But first, I just want to rest.”
  369. 369.
    “Of course, Princess. We’ll take the rest of the journey slow.”
  370. 370.
    >Turning to the fire, you stir yourself from your position against Luna’s side in a move to put it out and prepare for bed.
  371. 371.
    >Before you can stir fully, you feel a tug at your shirt.
  372. 372.
    >Luna, still looking into the embers, has her horn lit faintly with magic, weakly holding a knot of your clothing in her aura.
  373. 373.
    >”Stay with me, Anonymous. Please, stay, until it goes out. Stay at my side.”
  374. 374.
    >The embers and small tongues of flame dance in her eyes as they stay fixed on the fire, focused on the warmth of their glow.
  375. 375.
    “Of course, Luna.”
  376. 376.
    >You wriggle gracelessly onto the soft grassy earth at her side, laying down to face her.
  377. 377.
    >Gently, reassuringly, you cup her cheek in your hand, drawing her gaze to yours for a moment.
  378. 378.
    >She moves her head against yours, pressing its side into the crook of your neck as you draw her tightly into an embrace.
  379. 379.
    “I’m not going anywhere.”

Moonlight, Veiled - Book 1

by horsa

Moonlight, Veiled - Book 2

by horsa

A Cold Night's Date

by horsa

Moonlight, Veiled - Book 3

by horsa