Gorgeous hues of red and orange bled into deep violet as the sun set on the horizon. All across Equestria, ponies would be winding down, some enjoying the sight with their special somepony. Luna however paid no mind to the view, instead engrossing herself into her study. If it wasn’t for the final reading light fading from the sky, she might never have noticed it was time for her to raise the moon. Catching up on one thousand years of history and culture didn’t happen overnight, and at this rate Luna thought it might take another one thousand years.

Luna looked down at the infuriatingly fine print, squinting to try and discern any of the letters. But it was no use; she tossed a loose sheet of parchment in the pages to track her place. She walked over to the balcony, telekinetically opening the doors and sidestepping around her telescope. Taking hold of the energy of the moon as she must have done at least a thousand times since she returned to the castle, she focused her magic into making it rise.

What little red was left in the sky went dark, blues and blacks taking over; the sky becoming a void. Once again Luna’s horn flared with mystic energy. Tiny pinpricks of light coalesced, twinkling briefly before assuming their place in the sky. Luna looked up at her work that all but perfectly matched her starry mane save for the latter’s billowing in the windless night. She stood and drank in the presence of the night, in her own element once more.

She didn’t notice the door open behind her. “Your Highness?” the guard asked, “Princess Celestia has requested your presence for dinner,” Luna sighed, soaking it all in for a few more seconds, desperate to stall another of Celestia’s attempts to be closer.

“Tell my sister I shall be down shortly,” at that the guard gave a slight nod before retreating back into the hallway. Now that she thought of it, she was feeling hungry. Perhaps she could brave an awkward meal with Celestia in exchange for some food.

Luna strolled along the spiral steps down her tower, stained glass flanking her with patterns of famous constellations. The staircase opened up into a large hallway with dozens of guest suites lining either side. Luna recognized a few of the portraits from her books, but most of them were drawing blanks, even though some of them said they were over a thousand years old. A short walk brought her to another wing of the castle that housed the staff and dining halls. In the smallest of these sat Celestia and a feast fit for… well, royalty.

“Luna! Good evening, have a seat,”

“Sister,” Luna responded flatly sitting opposite the other princess. So far it looked like she made the right choice; there was more food than they could eat. And the deserts… not even Celestia’s mammoth sweet tooth could get through that much cake.

“So Luna, I hear you’re making great progress catching up with the present,” Celestia said while cutting herself a slice of pie.

This was what she was worried about. “And you wonder why some think you omniscient,” Luna deflected. “If you know the answer, ‘tis there a reason you need to ask the question?”

“I’m just making small talk,” Flashes of rage and darkness sprang to Luna’s mind, memories best left forgotten, but she felt she might never be free of them.

“’Tis my fondest wish that you would not,” Celestia, momentarily defeated, returned to her food. Luna looked back at the impressive spread, deciding on a simple salad for now despite the urgings of her stomach. Celestia had to be using some kind of spell to eat that much desert and never seem to gain a pound; all she ever seemed to do all day was eat cake and sit on her throne. Luna made a mental note to raid the royal archives for such a spell when she had some free time.

Several cakeless minutes passed. Desire mounting, Luna took a ripe banana instead. At that point Celestia decided to speak up. “I do have some business to discuss with you,” wonderful “I believe you’re familiar enough with the changes of the last thousand years to ease you back into helping run the kingdom,”

That was unexpected. “Entailing what exactly?”

“Representing the interests of Canterlot to begin with, but there is also law, the crown’s endorsement of various organizations and causes,”

“So… w-,” she stopped herself “I. shall take back the responsibilities that we once shared?”

“If that’s what you want,”

Luna stood from her seat, “I think I am going to retire for the night,” took a piece of cake and made her departure. She took the straight route back to her room, foregoing her usual after-dinner wanderings around the castle. She strolled into her room and listened for the door to click shut.

Giggling like a school-filly for the briefest of moments, Luna composed herself back to her normal regal manner. It took all her willpower not to hop up and down in joy at the thought. This was time for a celebration she rationalized, taking a huge bite into the sugary frosting covered cake.