Lunastice

[no_vampires_plz]

As Twilight leads the little foal down the path, the character of the woods around them changes. The trees are bigger, the brambles thicker, and the few plants that are still growing look considerably more... exotic than what one generally sees around Milliways. The most noticeable change, though, is in the weather. The thin layer of snow and frost on the ground is replaced by thick snowdrifts that crunch under their hooves, and the leaden sky of a Scottish winter gives way to a clear dark blue. The setting sun makes the snow gleam gold and pink as the trees thin out and give way to rolling hills.

"Alright. If anyone asks, your name is Sharp Tack and you're a friend of the family visiting from Canterlot."

Comments

[no_vampires_plz]

Twilight chuckles a little. "He says he's pleased to meet you too."

"Who!" Owlowiscious takes off again and flies toward the top of the hill, turning back in midair to make sure they're following. "Who! Who!"

[basic_powers]

Okay, now that he understands just fine. Tyler grins and briskly bursts into a quick trot to follow after Owlowiscious, lantern bouncing with each step.

[no_vampires_plz]

There's a picnic blanket spread across the snow up above, and a large basket set atop it. Owlowiscious flutters down to land on the basket's handle and hoots again.

"Great job, Owlowiscious." Twilight gives the owl a friendly pat on the head before opening the basket and taking out a heavy quilt and a brass telescope, which she carefully begins to set up.

[basic_powers]

Once he catches up, Tyler's going to take his careful time getting onto the quilt. First tapping off one forehoof of snow against the other, then the other forehoof against a hindhoof...then standing on his forelegs to tap both his hindfeet together to get the snow off of them before settling all four clean hooves onto the picnic quilt.

[no_vampires_plz]

"Alright, here we are..." Twilight pulls out the object at the bottom of the basket--a heavy hardbound book entitled The Astronomical Astronomer's Almalac to All Things Astronomy. "I'm glad I thought to bring this along."

[basic_powers]

"...what's that for, finding all te stars?"

[no_vampires_plz]

"Of course, what else would it be for?"

[basic_powers]

...he's just not going to comment about how the stars are right there. Or how he can find the constellations he likes just by navigating from the big dipper.

"Didn't know, thought I'd ask..."

[no_vampires_plz]

Except that the Big Dipper isn't in the sky, but on the backside of a bear the size of Ponyville. He'll have to look for some other landmarks.

"Now, over there in the east-southeast, you'll see..."

[basic_powers]

So for the next hour or so Tyler gets a very wordy lesson in the astronomy of Equestria and it's historical significance.

At least there's still a celestial giraffe in the sky here too!

Eventually though, he notices something ...odd in the sky.

"...Hey Twilight?"

[no_vampires_plz]

"Hm?" Twilight looks away from the telescope, which she was using to track a comet's progress through the southern sky. "What is it?"

[basic_powers]

"...what's that shimmery stuff in the sky, coming from the north?" Tyler asks, just a little warily.

He's seen lights LIKE that but that was a wholly different reason for the lights being in the north.

[no_vampires_plz]

"What?" Twilight frowns at the northern horizon. "An... aurora borealis? This far south??"

There's something strange about its shape, too. Almost like...

"Hang on a second--" Twilight turns the telescope and aims it directly at the aurora before squinting into the lens. Then she gasps. "Oh, wow."

[basic_powers]

"...what..what is it?" Tyler's ears have flattened to his head in the prelude to worry in the tune of 'oh crap cultists'...which. Is a jump but not an unexpected one.

[no_vampires_plz]

Twilight doesn't say a word. She just steps back from the telescope and nods toward it.

[basic_powers]

Tyler just inches to peer into the viewing piece of the telescope and squint.

[always_the_moon]

There, at the very edge of the aurora, is a chariot, being pulled by two pegasi with leathery, batlike wings. Seated in the chariot is a slender equine with indigo fur and a mane and tail that sparkle with starlight. Her horn glows the with the same shifting colors as the aurora, which is streaming from her flared wings and spreading out behind the chariot like the wake of a ship.

"It's Princess Luna," Twilight whispers excitedly in Tyler's ear. "And she's coming this way!"

[basic_powers]

"...uh.." He's really unprepared for heavily magical royalty, so should he keep panicing or calm down.. "...Twilight? Who is Princess Luna?"

[no_vampires_plz]

"Didn't I tell you? She's Celestia's sister. Celestia raises the sun and rules the day, and Luna raises the moon and rules the night. This is her holiday."

[basic_powers]

"....oh."

0-0

"...wow she's really going up there."

[always_the_moon]

The aurora is getting closer and closer. Murmurs of astonishment rise from the hill as the other groups of stargazers catch sight of the chariot and its rider. As the chariot approaches, it descends, bathing Ponyville and its surroundings in green and crimson light.

It seems to be heading for the crest of the very hill they're sitting on.

[basic_powers]

Tyler has very few words in his vocabulary that he'd be able to use effectively to describe just how much WOW he is feeling right now looking at the Aurora Borealis. At least until sense and caution start creeping up at the sight of the chariot heading towards their hill specifically.

"...why's she coming this way?"

[no_vampires_plz]

"I don't know..."

With a crunch of hooves on snow, the chariot lands, scarcely ten yards from Twilight and Tyler's position. The Princess is no longer actively creating the aurora but it continues to shimmer in the air above them.

[basic_powers]

...when that happens, it should come as NO surprise that Tyler has somehow, silently managed to put Twilight between himself and the Moon Goddess Princess.

And just peeer out from behind her tail at the larger winged unicorn.

[always_the_moon]

Princess Luna steps out onto the snow and walks almost silently toward them, her silver-shod hooves scarcely leaving an imprint in the snow. Twilight hastily drops into a bow.

"Rise, Twilight Sparkle," says the Princess. "You, of all ponies, need not show obeisance to Us."

Twilight stands up, looking a little sheepish. "It's good to see you, Princess Luna. I wasn't expecting to see you again until next Nightmare Night at least."

"As did We," says the Princess. "But We were made aware of another celebration in Our honor, and wished to see what festivities this night would bring." Luna leans over to one side. "And who is thy young companion?"

"This is--um--" In her nervousness, it takes Twilight a moment to remember Tyler's assumed name. "Sharp Tack. He's a family friend visiting from Canterlot. It's okay, Sharp Tack, she's not gonna bite you..."