Moon Milk

By Lullasong

(?) - years before Nightmare Moon.

Working long and hard into the day was taxing on Princess Luna given her nocturnal nature. But she couldn't give up, not after all the sleepless days spent perfecting her recipe. This, would change everything, probably. Chocolate and milk, both so different but she was dead set on meshing her favorite candy and dairy product together perfectly. The combination often reminded the Princess of the Night of her relationship with her elder sister Celestia.

Two different entities co-existing in harmony for the betterment of all Ponies.

Now if she could just get this chocolate milk to do the same. After being booted from the castle kitchen her room was the only place left to carry out her work. Sure blending them together was simple enough but it had to be more than that. It had to be perfect. And she had no shortage of time needed to devout herself to this little project. In these peaceful times, the Kingdom of Equestria practically ran itself. That simple fact troubled her sister.

She would say, 'Don't be so carefree Luna. This could merely be the calm before a great storm. We must remain vigilant.'

A knock came at the door. "Luna are you in there?" called out Celestia, barging in before Luna could respond.

Luna didn't bother to look up from studying her notes. "I believe you just answered your own question before I could."

Celestia smiled sheepishly. "Sorry, I'll be more respectful next time." Her gaze paned over her siblings room, all was neat and in it's place save for that small patch of unholiness in the corner filled with a pile of milk bottles and chocolate bar wrappers. Quietly, Celestia gobbled down the last third of an abandoned bar chocolate bar left lying on the floor. "You know Luna-"

"Yes, yes. I should be asleep and saving my energies for the imminent moment when the lives of all Pony kind are to be threatened by some as of yet unforeseen threat." Luna interjected. "So you've got your mane in a bit of a twist? I've got to get this mix right. I have almost..." she trailed off, concentrating on mixing the confectionery concoction in front of her with a steadily increasing speed. Making the perfect mix was her 'baby'.

"Don't you think you've maybe spent a little too much time on this already? How many ways can there be to mix chocolate with milk?"

Luna shot a semi-piercing gaze at Celestia. "Hmph...Is that a serious query sister? I've got notes you know. Lot and lots and lots of notes! From my many moons of research!" The night pony haphazardly guzzled down her latest creation at once, giving it no time for breath.

Celestia nibbled on a bit of candy she'd found after the un-princessy act of rummaging through her sister's trash. "Luna, you've only been at this for two days and I've told you the second batch you gave me was practically perfect. Why go on?"

" 'Practically perfect' will not make the cut, my sister." At once Luna used her powers to condense a mass of wrappers almost as large as her bed down to the size of a mere volleyball and tossed it into the waste basket. "And that second batch will be a distant memory once you treat your royal taste buds to my very latest!"

Celestia magically snatched the bottle out of thin air that Luna had levitated over to her. "Okay, if it'll help get your focus back on your duties, I'll try it."

Luna watched anxiously as her sister slowly moved the top of the bottle to her muzzle, taking in the fragrance as both a joy and a precautionary measure. Then she drank it. A mere sip at first then before she knew it the whole thing had been downed a fraction of a second later. Luna's heart beat rapidly, that was the reaction she had wanted. No words, just a pony genuinely enjoying her product with gusto.

Celestia was ecstatic. "Woah, Luna..." Wide eyed she gazed at the bottle, "This was the most amazing drink I have ever tasted."

Silence. There were no words to describe how happy Luna was now. Just a massive smile plastered on her face. Okay, maybe a few words to describe her cheer. "Oh sister, this has made me most happy. Why I haven't been filled with joy like this since we both got our cutie marks!"

A pleased Celestia hugged her sister. "I'm happy you met with success. But...what are you going to do now?"

By now if the smile Luna beared grew any wider her head would've exploded. "I... am going to personally deliver a shipment of my 'Moon Milk' to random citizens of our land." She placed a crudely drawn map of Equestria on the table and began placing a blindfold over Celestia's eyes. "Now just place your hoof down on the map after I spin you around three or ten times and wherever you land is the lucky settlement that is to be graced with my royal presence."

"But Luna..." Celestia stopped herself. She had hoped the response would be that her sister would now return focus back to her duties. "Just let her get this out of her system. She'll probably just go no matter what I say." she thought. Without saying a single word more on the matter she allowed Luna to spin her around. Then after being sufficiently disoriented she planted her right hoof down firmly on the table with an audible thunk.

"So, where will you be headed?"

"Hmm..." Luna examined the map. "Okay, so where you chose is the complete and utter middle of nowhere. Not what I had in mind. But it looks like the closest place to where you landed is a fledgling, little settlement called, Manehattan. I still say it should've been named Ponyville...but I digress, it will do just fine." Almost immediately Luna took flight to depart.

"Wait!" Celestia shouted, a bit shocked by her sibling's rashness. "You're leaving now, as in right now?"

Luna raised an eyebrow, almost confused by this. "But of course dear sister, why delay my journey?"

"B-but I...um." Cele stammered, at a loss for words. "Okaaaay, I guess now is as good as ever but what about packing the milk or getting some sleep first and while I'm at it, why don't you just stay here and treat the castle guards to the drink of your invention?"

"One, no packing is necessary as I shall prepare the beverage fresh on site. And two...you're right, I will start fresh tomorrow. Thank you." Luna took a deep breath inward taking on a more serious demeanor before switching into her royal canterlot voice. "AND THIRD, LET IF BE KNOWN THAT PRINCESS LUNA DOES NOT SHOW FAVORITISM TOWARDS THE PONIES THAT ARE CLOSEST IN PROXIMITY TO HER RESIDENCE. I CARE FOR ALL OF MY SUBJECTS EQUALLY." Her booming voice echoed throughout the castle halls, shaking even it's sturdily constructed walls.

In the distance the sound of a eight layer cake that had just been completed and taken all morning to produce suddenly toppling over could be heard along with the alarmed gasp of Gwetta the baker.

Celestia remained calm, gently placed her hoof to her forehead and let out a calming breath.

"Yes Cele, I am aware of what just happened. I shall go and give my sincerest apologies to Gwetta...again."

Like, hate? Lemme know in a review. Pweeaase? Now that this is done, on to writing Chap. 2!
And credit to deviantart user Shilokh for the cool cover image. ^^ Thanks!