>”Come on, everypony!”
>Pinkie Pie pulls the trigger of her weird cannon, shooting another round of confetti across the room.
>You stand by a table, munching on some snacks, while Pinkie’s ”welcome home” party is in full swing.
>Not that there’s a lot of attendees. Just you, the six rescuers, and a few guardponies.
>The guards are actually just supposed to make sure there’s no trouble (in the form of changelings, mostly).
>But Pinkie’s doing her best to make sure EVERYBODY present is part of the festivities.
>You take a bite out of a candy apple while watching the messiness of the room.
>The Princesses had lent you (or Twilight) a chamber for Pinkie’s party.
>It was clean, empty, and perfectly neat when you got it.
>Now it’s full of balloons, confetti, disorderly tables and chairs, and leftovers of cake and candy.
>Loud, upbeat music tops it all off.
>Twilight and Rarity take the centre, swinging around and dancing.
>Twilight’s moves were irregular and clumsy, while Rarity managed to be more controlled and elegant.
>Both were having a good time, though.
>Rainbow Dash and Applejack are at another table and seem to have some sort of eating contest going.
>Suddenly Pinkie Pie’s right in front of you with a huge smile on her face.
>”That goes for you too, big fella!”
>Her front hooves wrap around your lower arms and she pulls you out on the open floor with surprising strength.
>Swinging you around, she forces you to spin together in twirling motions while she giggles uncontrollably.
>You play along as her boundless joy infects you, and twirl with the pink party pony.
>Until you start feeling dizzy.
>Then you slip from her grasp and stumble towards one of the tables.
>You lean against it for stability.
>Pinkie, however, just hops in between Twilight and Rarity and joins in on their dancing with her own chaotic style.
>You suddenly feel a hoof pat your arm.
>Looking, you see Fluttershy has appeared next to you, smiling reassuringly.
>”It’s okay, not everypony can keep up with Pinkie’s... energy.”
>Duh.
”I know.”
>Turning your sight back to the dancefloor, you see the three dancers hop around in a circle.
>Fluttershy’s much calmer attitude actually adds something nice to the evening’s abundant activity.
>A moment later, Rainbow Dash comes walking over to you.
>Plopping down on a chair and resting her head on the table.
>You look at her.
“You okay?”
>She grumbles something unintelligible.
>Applejack joins her and sits down in the same way.
>Except she smiles.
>”Ah win.”
>Dash gives her an annoyed look.
>”This time.”
>Applejack just laughs.
>Weakly.
“How much did you two eat?”
>Applejack glances at you.
>”I’unno…”
>Great.
>You pull her Stetson down over her face
“You better take it easy.”
>That makes Dash snicker.
>Then Pinkie rushes past you.
>You twist your head in time to see her offer a cup of cider to the two guards by the door.
>”You two shouldn’t just stand there! Come on, the party’s for everypony!”
>The stallions exchange looks.
>”We shouldn’t…”
>She just gives them a suggestive grin.
>”Buuuuuut…”
>And reaches out with the cup.
>However, Twilight trots over and interrupts her.
>”Let’s not make their work harder for them, Pinkie.”
>The pink mare responds with a pleading look.
>”Aw, come on, Twilight. They can’t just stand there like dusty statues.”
>”They don’t. They just have a job to do.”
>”While the rest of us are having fun?”
>”Well… Don’t bother them like that!”
>One of the guardponies speaks up.
>”It’s very nice of you, miss, but we’re just here to keep watch.”
>Pinkie Pie gives him a decidedly disapproving look.
>Then she dramatically throws her head back and walks away.
>”Fine. Suit yourself, party pooper.”
>Twilight rolls her eyes.
>Walking back, Pinkie Pie sees you and her eyes immediately light up.
>”Oh! I know!”
>She hops over to you and stick the cup in your face.
>”Tell us a story about nasty changelings!”
>What?
“Huh?”
>You still accept the cup, of course.
>Rainbow Dash perks up at that.
>”Yeah! Did you ever fight any?”
>The whole group gathers around you.
>Even the guardponies look curious.
>Twilight looks a little concerned, though.
>”Girls, let’s not… What if he doesn’t want to talk about it?”
>The request takes you by surprise, but you’re not actually bothered by the idea of telling about your experiences with Chrysalis.
>You already did it with the Princesses.
“Twilight, it’s fine.”
>She looks unconvinced.
>”You sure?”
“I’m not having PTSD or anything.”
>Everybody except Twilight looks confused.
>”Pee-tee-wha’?”
>”It means Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Applejack.”
>”… Wha’?”
“It means I’m okay and not stressed out about what happened.”
>More or less.
>”Oh. Okay.”
>Time to tell stories, apparently.
>You sit down on the table since the stools are shorter than you’d like.
>The tables are awfully low too, anyway.
>Sipping your cider, you think for a moment.
>Just start from the beginning and tell the whole thing?
>You look at Rainbow Dash and remember her question.
>She seems to have mostly recovered from her food-induced ache and is paying attention.
>Intensely.
“No, I didn’t fight any changelings.”
>”Aww…”
>Yeah, your time over there wasn’t particularly action-packed.
>Rarity steps closer and gives you an inquisitive look.
>Pretty intense, with her thick lashes and sapphire eyes.
>”What was it like, exactly? We’ve all been dreadfully worried, but you seem… fine.”
>You glance at Twilight.
>She looks less concerned now, but still watches you closely.
>Looks like she hasn’t passed on anything from your meeting with the Royal Sisters.
>But it might be better to share some more amusing episodes than the bleak, simple facts.
>At least, that’s what Pinkie Pie (and Rainbow Dash) seems to be hoping for.
“Well, there was one time I tried to run away.”
>That gets everybody’s interest.
>Alright, you’ve got your first story.
 
>You entertain the mares for a while with a few episodes of Chrysalis’ hospitality.
>You also tell them about the bath, although it doesn’t excite them much.
>But you hope it helps Twilight understand how Chrysalis seemed to change her attitude towards you a bit.
>And, you notice, it makes Rarity blush.
>Suddenly the talk reminds you of something.
“Oh yeah, almost forgot…”
>You reach into your pocket and retrieve a letter.
>Seeing how no changelings have jumped you, now seems like an okay time.
“Since we’re talking about Chrysalis, I got a note.”
>You hand the suspicious letter to Twilight.
>She grabs the envelope with her magic and studies the broken wax seal.
>Every pony stares at it.
>Twilight opens it and pull the note out.
>Unfolding it, her dark purple eyes scan it for several moments.
>But her look of concentration only evolves into one of confusion.
>”What’s this?”
“I think it’s from Chrysalis.”
>Then her eyes go wide.
>”What?!”
>Light blue magic suddenly snatches the note from Twilight’s “grasp”.
>It hovers towards Rarity who also reads it.
>”Goodness…”
>Rainbow Dash beats her wings a few times, but then decides to simply walk over to Rarity.
>”What is it?”
>Fluttershy, Applejack, and Pinkie Pie join in on reading over Rarity’s shoulders.
>Twilight has her attention pinned on you, though.
>”Are you sure?! This is really serious!”
>Well, yeah.
“That’s what I thought.”
>”She’s infiltrated the castle!”
“You think?”
>That would be one way to get the letter to you, you suppose.
>… and quietly worry about.
“The Princesses should know, right?”
>”Yes! Yes, they should!”
>”… That’s it?”
>You turn your head to see Rainbow Dash staring at you with a disappointed look on her face.
>Maybe she was expecting some kind of dramatic death threat?
“That’s it.”
>She sighs.
>”How can you even tell this is from her?”
>Rarity looks at the note with a respectful expression and provides an answer in your stead.
>”It’s not everypony who can write like this. She may be an evil queen, but I must say she has an impressive hoofwriting.”
>Applejack gives Rarity a questioning look.
>”Ah don’t see why that’s important.”
>Rarity only glances at her.
>”Queens are usually… more refined than other ponies.”
>But then the white unicorn frowns.
>”… although she also seems like a rather loose mare.”
>That makes you snicker.
“You’re one to talk.”
>Her blue eyes immediately latch onto you.
>With murderous intent.
>A glare that would kill a lesser creature.
>Oh shit, should’ve thought before speaking.
>But both Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash laugh.
>Even Applejack tries to hide a smile with a hoof.
>Only Fluttershy isn’t responding with amusement at Rarity’s expense.
>Rarity looks around at the others with obvious frustration.
>”I’m a romantic, thank you very much! There’s a difference.”
>”Ooooh, is Chrysalis too, then?”
>Pinkie Pie looks at you eagerly.
>Applejack scratches her chin, taking another look at the floating note.
>”Actually, ah’m startin’ to wonder what sorta relationship the two of you had, now.”
>All eyes settle on you.
>Silence.
>… Fuck, that manages to make you feel uneasy.
“Hey, it’s not like we had anything going on.”
>Rarity looks at the note.
>Then back at you.
>”Really?”
>Oh come on…
“Yes! She’s just teasing.”
>They can’t seriously doubt you, can they?!
>They all seem to consider that for a moment.
>Then Twilight steps towards the five mares.
>”It’s true, she likes toying with ponies. We should all remember that.”
“Humans are no exception.”
>Let’s be inclusive here, Twilight.
>She nods at you.
>And then narrows her eyes a little.
>”When did you get this?”
“Just last night. A unicorn brought it shortly before I went to bed.”
>”That’s troubling.”
“Yeah.”
>”I think I should take this to Celestia right away.”
>Suddenly Pinkie Pie is quite literally up in her face.
>”But what about my party?!”
>”I, uh, calm down, your party’s been good.”
>Pinkie Pie looks downright sad.
>”But it’s supposed to be for everypony.”
>Twilight just smiles.
>”It’s okay, it was fun. I’ll just see you a little later.”
>You decide to butt in.
“The party’s already been going for a while. We’d have to break up sooner or later.”
>The pink party pony looks at you as her face contorts into a deeply appalled expression.
>Okay, maybe that wasn’t the best thing to say.
>”Now, let’s not make a fuss. I need to deliver this.”
>Twilight plucks the note from Rarity’s blue magic with her own.
>”You can have fun without me, can’t you?”
“Sure.”
>Twilight gives you an analytical look.
“Take that however you like.”
>Wasn’t actually meant as an insult, but you don’t mind teasing her a little.
>She giggles softly at you.
>”Alright, good to hear. I’ll see you all later.”
 
>It didn’t take long for the party to break up after that.
>Partly because Twilight departed, partly because the ponies (and person) started getting tired.
>Pinkie never succeeded in getting any guards to join in, despite an extra couple of attempts.
>Rarity and Fluttershy followed you back to your room.
>They all had their own rooms, though.
>Once safely back in your own, they bid you goodnight and left.
>And now you’re alone.
>Looking out the window, you see it’s not just night but really late night.
>The landscape outside is black.
>Well, you ARE feeling like proper sleepiness is lurking just around the corner.
>Figuratively.
>Sitting down on your soft bed, you ponder if you should do something or just go to sleep.
>When someone knocks on your door.
>Huh?
>You get up and walk over to the door.
>Grasping the handle and opening it, you see your guest.
>Princess Luna with two bat guards behind her.
>”Good evening. I wonder if I might come in?”
>You stand there for a moment.
>This is… unexpected.
“Okay.”
>She smiles and nods back to her guards, who bow and depart.
>Stepping back, you make way for the dark blue princess of the night.
>She walks in without a word, and her flowing, starry mane brushes against you when she moves past.
>But it’s so light you can barely feel it.
>As you close the door she climbs into your bed and lies down.
>Her mane keeps moving about as if there was a wind in the room.
>Or just an unusual lack of gravity.
>”I hope you find my visit appropriate. It was better for me to come than my sister, I believe.”
>You look out the window again.
>Black night.
“I guess I can see that.”
>She smiles.
“So…”
>”I’m merely here to talk.”
“Okay. What about?”
>You pull the room’s only chair up to the bed and sit down.
>”I’ve been meaning to ask you about Queen Chrysalis.”
>Oh. That.
“I thought this would wait until the next meeting.”
>Her expression is blank.
>”… I thought it might be better to come here now.”
>Suit yourself.
“Okay, then.”
>”Indeed. So, firstly, I’d like to ask what you think of the Queen.”
>You saw this coming.
“Well, she can be pretty bad.”
>”How so?”
>”Manipulative, sadistic, cruel, all that.”
>You keep it simple.
>Luna looks away and seems to mull it over.
>”Is that all?”
“Well, no.”
>”Oh?”
>Her bright blue eyes settle back on you.
“She was also sometimes confusing.”
>”Do explain.”
>You wonder what Luna’s going to think of this.
“Allowed me to wander, to bathe… little nice things like that.”
>The night princess looks at you with open intrigue.
>”Interesting.”
“It wasn’t right away. Only later.”
>”Still interesting. Perhaps this changeling isn’t completely heartless.”
>You shrug.
>You know she might not always want to be, but her habits and general way of thinking was skewed pretty badly towards being a bitch.
“It’s hard to tell.”
>She still had her good side, at least.
>She was actually willing to be lenient and cut corners.
>Luna tilts her head a little, her mane barely reacting and continuing its steady movements.
>”She still confuses you, then?”
”A bit. At least.”
>You feel a yawn creeping up on you.
>Why did it have to be Luna and not Celestia that came to visit?
>NOT having this talk right before bed would’ve been nice.
>”Are you alright?”
>You snap out of your grumbling thoughts.
“I’m fine, just tired.”
>Luna smiles at that.
>”Perhaps it would have been better if Celestia came to visit after all.”
“At a different time of day? Yes.”
>She laughs softly.
>”One last thing, then.”
>Her expression turns serious.
>”You passed a note to Twilight.”
“You know already?”
>”Of course. It was delivered to Celestia. Who is my sister.”
>Makes sense.
“Wouldn’t it be better to talk about this at our next meeting?”
>She’s quiet for a moment.
>Looking a little annoyed.
>”… I suppose so.”
>The yawn finally overpowers you, and you stretch your jaw and let out the usual noise.
>Very relaxing, although it also gives you an extra kick of sleepiness.
>Then you notice Luna staring.
“… What?”
>”Interesting teeth.”
>What?
“Thanks?”
>”You’re welcome.”
>She smiles again, with a clear hint of amusement.
>”I merely hadn’t noticed before. You seem a great deal more like a carnivore than ponies in there.”
>Well, duh.
“My kind is known for eating meat, you know.”
>That makes her chuckle.
>”Yes, I’m well aware.”
>Then she stands up and climbs out of bed.
>”I’ll be nice and leave you to rest.”
>She walks towards your door and knocks on it with a shoed hoof.
>It’s immediately opened by her two dark, bat-ish guards.
>She turns back towards you with a friendly look on her face.
>”We may meet again. Although I suppose the circumstances are a bit unpredictable these days.”
“That’s fine. Just, next time, can’t you meet me in my dreams instead?”
>She blinks.
>”… Why?”
“You can do that, right? And it would be nice if I could get some sleep at the same time.”
>”I… guess.”
>She seems to think.
>”Goodnight.”
>Then exits your room, and a guard closes the door after her.
>And you’re alone.
>… Well, so much for that sudden visit.
>But now the need for sleep is lurking around the corner anymore.
>With no princess to keep you up any longer, you get over to your beloved bed.