Lovers of the Night

It was another training day. But Shining Armor was the one leading this lesson. He thought he would have a day out in the yard. Lance and the other recruits were outside practicing swordsmanship. Princess Luna was on the balcony watching the recruits. But the one person she was watching was Lance. After hearing the story, she couldn't shake a weird feeling of her. Did she like him? Or was she just feeling her sincerity towards him. Suddenly, Sparking Blade joined her on the balcony. Princess Luna asked, "What do you want officer?"

"You looked alone on the balcony so..."

"We wish to be alone. Now if thy would excuse himself."

"Listen Princess, is this about Lance?"

"No."

"Then what is it?"

"We- I just want to be alone."

"That's not the answer."

"Yes it is."

"No it isn't!"

The two began to yell at each other. Luna didn't want Sparking Blade being there. She was already irritated with him. He had always tried to talk to her and hit on her. Boasting about his adventures and victories. She didn't like that in a pony. "Princess, I like you," yelled Sparking.

"Well, I don't like you! You always brag and boast. You always push anyone under you around and you always want to hurt anyone that gets close to me!" With those words said, Sparking Blade walked back into the castle. He was furious. Not about being insulted. He knew the truth. She liked Lance. Or that's what he thought. Though he was unsure, he had made up his mind. He was going to try to kill Lance. Even if he regretted it afterwards.

Lance's training had finished. He thought of going out to see Canterlot. He went back to his room to clean himself up. Before he could go anywhere, his door burst open. It was Sparking Armor. He had a wicked smile streaked across his face. He was holding a steel dagger. Lance backed up. Suddenly, Sparking Blade thrust his blade at Lance. Slicing the air and trying to hit Lance. "What are you doing Sparking," yelled Lance. "What has gotten into you!" Lance was clueless. All he could think to do was dodge. He continued doing an excellent job at it. That was Sparking Blade threw something at Lance. He stumbled back. That was Sparking's chance. He thrust the blade and managed to cut Lance. It was big enough for Lance to let out a yell. This yell alerted a guard not far from his room. "What was that?" wondered the guard. He ran to find that the officer was trying to kill the recruit. Even if he yelled stop, Sparking didn't let up. He was still trying to get Lance. The guard was forced to get help.

"Captain," yelled the guard. "What is it?" asked Shining Armor.

"It's Officer Sparking Blade! He's gone berserk! He's trying to kill Lance!"

Both ponies ran for Lance's room. As they got there, they saw the dagger stabbed into Lance's side. The guard tackled Sparking Blade, subduing him. Shining Armor ran to Lance. "Lance! Stay with me recruit."

Lance may have been bleeding slowly and in pain, but he managed to keep himself conscious. "I'm going to get help," said Shining Armor. He ran outside calling anyone he could. Princess Celestia and Princess Luna had heard him yelling. "Luna. We must see what this is," said Princess Celestia. They paced themselves quickly and followed a small crowd of guards. In the crowd, they noticed a medic. That worried them.

The crowd took them to Lance's room. There they saw a subdued Sparking Blade and an injured Lance. Luna ran pushed through the crowd. As did Princess Celestia and Shining Armor. The medic continued to do what he could. He kept pressure on the wound and bandaged him slowly. "Lance," yelled Luna. "Lance!" His consciousness began to fade. The amount of blood loss had sent him into a deep sleep. "Don't worry," said the Medic. "He's fine. He only lost consciousness." Luna turned to Sparking Blade. Her eyes full of malice and hatred. "Take him to the dungeon," said Luna hastily. Three guards grabbed Sparking who still had a wicked smile across his face. He had enjoyed every second of what he had done. His only regret was not killing Lance.

The recruits Lance had been training with waited anxiously outside of Lance's hospital room. So did Shining Armor, Princess Celestia and Princess Luna The doctor came out of the room. He said, "The recruit is fine. He suffered a minor blood loss but will recover quickly." They were all relieved. "He is open to visits. But I don't think he needs any flowers." The doctor winked and left to his office. The recruits had also decided to leave. They just wanted to be sure he would be alright. "Let's head inside shall we princesses?" asked Shining Armor. Both of them nodded. The three of them proceeded in. They saw Lance looking out the window.

"Look what this Recruit got himself into," said Shining Armor. Lance turned his head to see both Princesses and the Captain standing in front of him. "Or should I say Private?" Lance smiled. Other than the fact he officially was promoted, but the fact that two princesses and his captain came to visit him. "Thank you sir, but may I say, I am surprised to see all three of you here," said Lance. Princess Celestia responded by saying, "We wouldn't just leave anypony in the hospital without visiting. Especially one who is a Royal Guard." Lance laughed but grunted a bit.

"Please don't make me laugh. It hurts because of this stab wound."

"Well Lance, we shall be back at the castle," said Princess Celestia. "Come now Shining Armor. Come sister."

"I will meet you back at the castle," replied Luna. Shining Armor and Celestia gave a nod. They shut the door. "Is there something on your mind?" asked Lance. "Yes," replied Luna. "There is. I have to apologize. This time, this is my fault."

"What?"

"Sparking and I had... an argument."

"About?"

"Well about him, you and I. I just wanted to be alone on the balcony. But he came and started trying to talk to me."

"Continue."

"I told him to leave me alone. But he wouldn't. That's when he told me, he liked me."

Lance stared with a bit of confusion. "He liked you? Okay. Continue."

"I told him I did not like him. He thought it was because of you. But really, it was because he is a cocky fellow. He always boasts and brags about everything. How he came from a wealthy family. His skills. Everything. I told him it wasn't because of you, but he didn't believe me. So he went and tried to kill you."

Lance was a bit stunned by the back-story of why this happened. But he decided to ignore it. "Well, I'm fine now. There's nothing to apologize about now."

"I know, but..."

"But?"

"I have... a crush on you."

Again, Lance was stunned. But he displayed a smile and said, "Well, I do have the charms. I'm just kidding." He laughed and grunted again. Luna laughed also. "You should get going Princess. You probably have better things to do than stay with a pony all day. I'll be back tomorrow. The doctor said it'd be fine."

"Alright."

Luna got up and left the room leaving Lance alone. Lance thought it was amazing. He thought of finding someone, but he didn't expect the Princess of the Night or even any princess to have a crush on him. He thought he should get some rest and just left the idea in his head.