A lost souls second chance

The rest of storms day was spent going over protocol with twilight and polishing his armor so much it could be used as a mirror. Finely satisfied with his handy work storm donned his armor and made for canterlot castle as the sun was setting on the horizon. Storm watched it set, no matter how many times he saw it he was always awestruck by its beauty and the sheer power it would take to move the moon and sun. As that thought crossed his mind he was reminded of the events of the day and shook it off with a shudder He needed to concentrate on the task at hand. He arrived at canterlot just as the sun slipped past the horizon and the moon was making its journey upward into the sky. Their in the courtyard to greet him was Luna and multiple guards on either side of varying rank based on their armor. When he landed storm immediately dropped into a bow as the princess trotted up to him a wide grin on her face, though it turned to a frown at his display.

"I would have thought we would be past such formality's after last night my love" Luna said raising a quizzical eyebrow at storm as he stood.

"Please forgive me my dear" storm said a radiant smile on his face earning a smile from Luna. "But you of anypony would understand if I told you I wasn't sure if last night wasn't just a dream." Storm shied away slightly when Luna's expression threatened to turn wrathful. But it was quickly replaced by a devious smile as Luna pulled storm closer with a wing to whisper in his ear.

"I can assure you my love our time on the mountain was not a dream" earning a relived sigh from storm. "But I did see what transpired within your dreams and I must say it was rather sweet of you. Now we will have to see if you can treat me in such a way when you are awake." She said as she released storm to see a deep crimson blush staining the entirety of his face earning a slight chuckle from Luna as the two looked into each others eyes. The sound of shifting hooves and uncomfortable groaning pulled the two lovers back to reality as Luna eyed her guards with frustration and storm grinned at them sheepishly. Luna made as if to speak before a shocked expression overtook her to be quickly replaced by one of frustration.

"I thought I told you ponies to show yourselves to your new captain and to not sneak about tonight." She said turning to look at her shadow reproachfully storm was going to ask to whom was she talking to before his jaw dropped to the floor. As he watched two ponies seemed to melt from Luna's shadow and they were like no pony storm had ever seen. Both ponies had cat like eyes the stallion of a light red and the mares a bright yellow. Not only that both ponies had wings but not your normal wings like Everypony else. No their wings were those of bats or dragons and they were as black as the darkest of nights. Both eyed storm with scorn and suspicion before the mare spoke.

"Please forgive us princess but we don't trust this one." She said motioning to storm with a nod of her head. "We didn't want to show ourselves unless we needed to." Everypony gathered gasped as the mare said this looking first at her as if she were mad and to Luna expecting her to strike the pony down where she stood. A awkward silence fallowed the mares statement before Luna finally spoke.

"I would have thought that Surely my word should have been enough to calm your suspicions shadow." she said staring down the mare awaiting her reply.

"In other times it may have been my lady" shadow said bowing before the princess all the while keeping a wary eye on storm. "But ever since the two failed attempts at a changeling invasion we have been wary of any new comer especially in situations like this."

"Have you forgotten that storm helped fight off the second invasion shadow?" luna said irritation lacing her words. Without answering Both shadow and her companion put themselves between storm and Luna circling him like a cat would a cornered mouse. Luna made as if to intervene but caught storms eyes where he motioned for her to wait and see what happened. Slowly the two ponies got closer and closer to storm to the point that he couldn't move without hitting one or the other. Then just as suddenly as they began the two stopped in front of storm blocking all but themselves out of his line of sight with their wings.

"So tell me dragon why are you here really?" shadow said the sarcasm in her voice unmistakable. Storm rolled his eyes and sighed in frustration and replied

"I would have thought that was obvious." he said " I am here at the request of princess Luna to take the roll of captain of the lunar guard."

"Ok dragon but tell me this" shadow said again circling storm while her companion remained in front of him. "What do you know of leadership, what makes you think you are worthy of this title and rank?" Here storm chuckled and made as if to speak but nothing came out. Almost as if in response to shadows question storm went rigid and his eyes fogged over slightly, and when he spoke his voice was different almost like it was echoing. "What do I know of leadership you ask?" storm said his cloudy gaze falling on shadow. "I have commanded many a mind to do many things and lost many many more and felt the burden of their loss on my conscious. Leadership is both a blessing and a curse with it you can do many a great thing. But also you can ruin many a life and abuse the power that comes along with leadership. So to answer your question I know all I need to get the job done." As storm said this he remembered that he had indeed had many under his command, and lost more than he could count. Slowly storm relaxed and his eyes lost their haze. The first thing he saw was lunas look of horror before she masked with one of confusion mimicking Everypony else. Storm visibly shook as he returned to himself his face etched with worry as he recalled those vague memory's and his lovers face.

"What is with these memories popping up in my head I hope it stops soon it looks like I scared Luna just now. " Storm thought to himself before doing a mental note to do some research when he gets back to the library. Luna was the first to regain her composure and began to stare at shadow reproachfully before speaking.

"Their I hope that answers you questions shadow. Now if you will excuse us I must introduce storm to his peers and his new duty's." Without even waiting for a reply from the stunned mare Luna brushed past her to escort storm towards the gathered guards and inside as she explained his duty's as captain. After introducing storm to his new responsibilities Luna politely excused herself and retreated to her chambers her anxiety visible in every step she took.

'I feared this would happen" Luna thought to herself as she entered her chambers. "But I had hoped it would not, now I must either try and stop his memory's from returning or let them come and see what he becomes. With a sad sigh Luna pulled her magic together and patiently waited for the right opportunity to present itself.