Chapter 6: Dinner at Eight? (Revised)

Dusk slowly set in on the Eastern Sea, the Second Fleet had made it out to vast open ocean, Star Shield hadn't ever seen the ocean, so he was impressed by the amount of water.  In the distance he could see dense clouds moving towards the fleet, they were large and grey.  A storm...

Shining Armor and Princess Cadance had already retired to their own living space, Shadow Song too had left the bridge and gone down to the mess hall.  Luna stood alone by the viewport she too could see the storm coming, she looked down and away from the open ocean, he could hear her sigh even from where he was standing.

He moved over to the distressed princess.  "Is everything alright Princess, you don't look very good... sea sickness?"

Her eyes went back to the storm that was approaching.  "Do you think my sister made the right decision, letting me this operation?"

Star Shield nodded confidently.  "Yes, Princess Celestia has been known to make the best decisions for her ponies, you have no need to worry.  We all are confident in your skills at leading us."

Luna ripped her eyes from the ocean to look at the pegasus.  "Are you sure Star Shield, even my sister has been wrong before."

Shield sighed.  "Princess... ok, even if you don't think you're the right choice, the Night Guard will always be at your back, and of course myself.  We have absolute faith in your abilities, so you can stop doubting yourself, alright?"  He smiled at the Princess, trying to get her confidence up.

Luna smiled.  "Thank you Star Shield, your words are wise."

He chuckled.  "Oh, I try my best."  Before Star Shield knew it, Princess Luna leaned over and nuzzled his neck.

He could quickly feel his face turning red at the gentle touch, her aroma began to envelope the guard, his body became less tense and allowed the gesture.  Luna stood right beside him, her body almost touching his.  Star Shield could hear his mind screaming.  Dude!  You can't do this, she is the PRINCESS, quit doing what you're doing before you hurt yourself!  This time Star Shield retorted to his conscience.  Shut up brain!

He could hear Luna whisper.  "The ocean looks wonderful, so calm, those clouds seem complete the picture, don't you think?"

Star Shield still couldn't believe what was happening, all he could reply with was.  "Uh-huh, they sure are."

Only Captain Iron Jaw saw what was happening, the majority of the bridge crew had already left for the night, the next shift of ponies would be there in a few minutes.  He almost was surprised at what was happening, he had never seen Princess Luna, the usual hardass be so kind and compassionate to another pony, let alone a stallion.  He looked out to the dark clouds.  Those could be a problem...  He shrugged it off.  We'll cross that bridge when we get there.

Star Shield's mind was in a frenzy.  Should I say something, come on!  Think!  He could feel a goofy smile spread across his face, his stomach was bubbly, he couldn't remember the last time he had felt such a feeling of bliss.  Slowly he leaned back into Luna, which caused the Princess to let out a relieved sigh.

One of the naval officers walked into the bridge and to Iron Jaw and whispered something into his ear.  He nodded his head, he almost felt sorry for breaking up such a touching scene.  He called out to the two.  "Princess Luna?  Admiral Black Wave would like to speak with you."

Luna slowly pulled away from Star Shield, she turned and looked at the Captain, first she blushed because she figured out that he had seen her do that.  "Yes Captain, is he here yet?"

Iron Jaw shook his head, a smile was stuck on his face, it cause the Princess to be slightly annoyed by is reaction.  "No ma'am, he will be in a few minutes though."

Luna quickly composed herself, she looked at Star Shield, who was still stuck looking out the window.  "Thank you Iron Jaw, Star Shield would you like to accompany me to this meeting?"

Star Shield continued stood there dumbly, he was barely able to register that she asked him to have audience with one of the highest ranking ponies in Equestrian military.  "Sure, yeah, why not, I'd be glad to."

Luna walked into the command center, Star Shield snapped out of his bliss and slowly began to follow the Princess.  Before he reached the door he was stopped by the Captain.  "Guard, do you realize the gravity of what Princess Luna just did."

Star Shield couldn't take his eyes off of the Princess.  "No sir, I don't really know."

Iron Jaw waved his hoof in front of Star Shield to get his attention.  "Son, you need to realize that, that."  He pointed towards the happy princess.  "Doesn't happen everyday.  Princess Luna hasn't ever done something such as that in my lifetime and trust me, I've seen a lot.  I'm pretty sure Captain Shadow Song can confirm this, hell, even Shining Armor could."

Star Shield was a bit surprised by this.  "You're kidding, she hasn't ever even nuzzled another pony?"

Iron Jaw shook his head.  "No, she never has done that to a stallion."

"Never?"

Iron Jaw nodded.  "Never, or at least as far as I've seen."

Star Shield rubbed the back of his head.  "Wow...."

Iron Jaw motioned for him to go ahead into the command center.  "It would be best to keep such as that private, congrats son.  You won't hear me saying a word."

"Should I be worried?"

Iron Jaw just chuckled.  "You'll learn sometime.  Go, follow your princess.

Star Shield walked into the command center and stood in one of the corners while Luna and the Admiral were talking, he couldn't take his eyes off of her.  Wonder what the Captain was talking about?  Maybe once I get back I'll ask that mare Twilight about this.  Since his mind was elsewhere the meeting went by pretty quickly for him, it had lasted about an hour, General Silver Star came in later and the three discussed until late into the evening, even with standing there on, Star Shield barely felt tired and his limbs didn't ache from standing for so long.  Once the meeting adjourned Luna stayed behind.

"Star Shield?"

Star Shields dreamscape evaporated as he came back to reality.  "Yes Princess?"

"Would you want to have dinner with me?"

He looked at the Princess with surprise.  "With you, like just you and me?"

She smiled sheepishly.  "If it's too much of a problem...."

Shield quickly waved her off.  "No, no, it's fine, I was just wondering.  I would love to have dinner with you Princess!"

A grin spread across her face as she let a small giggle escape.  "Great, I am in the Captain's quarters, I will see you around eight hopefully?"

He smiled.  "Of course."  I must be dreaming!

Luna walked out of the room happily and left the bridge.  Star Shield was still in awe at the past few hours of events, he sluggishly walked out of the command center, he let the invitation seep in.  Holy hell!  I am about to have dinner with Luna!  Captain Iron Jaw's eyes tracked Princess Luna as she left, she almost skipped out of the room, his gaze then moved back to the surprised guard.

"What did you do?"

Star Shield's mind was even slower than before.  "Yeah..."  He broke out of his trance and jogged out of the bridge and down to where his quarters were, he flew through all of the cloths that he had brought from his home, he was searching for something that would look official and nice.  He quickly found what he was looking for, it was a tuxedo.  He had worn it to his prom, it was jet black and dark violet enlaced with the dark threading to give it the look of midnight.  He remembered that it was that white unicorn Rarity that did that for him.  This'll do alright.  He put the tux on and checked himself in the mirror, he combed his mane to make sure he looked alright, and ate at least three dozen breath mints.

By the time he had finished grooming it was approaching eight and Star Shield made his way to the Captain's quarters where Luna was.  He knocked on the door lightly, in no time at all it opened revealing the Princess of the Night, she was in a dark blue dress that matched her coat that was laced with black and violet, a crescent moon necklace hung from her neck finishing the look.

She smiled at him.  "Come on in Star Shield!"

Star Shield looked around the Captain's room, it was at least three times as big as his living area and had it's own table and bathroom.  He kept glancing at Luna, not sure of what to say.  He could almost hear Steel Hoof.  Come on filly!

He cleared his voice as he saw her walking over to the small table.  "You look very nice tonight Princess."

She blushed.  "Thank you."

He walked up and pulled the chair out for her, an old move that his dad had told him about.  "Would you like to sit?"

She sat down and looked at Star Shield as he went to the opposite side and sat.  "Thanks, for doing this, it's not often that I get company."

Star Shield smiled.  "It's my pleasure, thanks for inviting me."

The food was beyond spectacular and even rivaled his mother's cooking, and she could make a pretty wicked meal.  The fleet had entered the storm because the cabin shook every few minutes, it didn't bother the two too much though.  They were deep in conversation with one another, Star Shield told Luna of some of his experiences back in Ponyville. He told her of interesting times during school, and how he wanted to become a part of the guard after seeing her on Nightmare Night several years ago. They avoided the subject of romance, though they were running out of things to talk about so Star Shield was the first to ask.

"So... Princess... have you ever had a crush on anypony?"

She began to blush.  "No, well yeah I guess I might have one.  I've lived so long it's hard to not have one."

Star Shield could feel his face heating up.  "Who was it?"

She turned her head away.  "Oh, it was nothing."

He thought about it for a second, and decided to just let that part of the conversation drop.

Luna noticed the silence and brought the question back around to him.  "Did you ever crush on somepony Star Shield?"

He chuckled nervously.  "Well yeah, I guess anypony would have a crush during school... her name was Silkfeather, she was one of those ponies that every stallion wanted to go out with, I obviously developed a crush and it progressed from there.  One day while I was out in town I saw her standing with a few of her mare friends and I must've lost my mind cause I walked up to her and asked if she would want to maybe hang out sometime, dinner, movie or something.... and then I quickly turned into a laughing stock among her friends, I don't know what I did wrong.  After a while I realized how much of a bitch, excuse my french, she really was and decided to let it go."  He didn't shed one tear, he simply laughed at the fact that he had wasted his time on that mare for so long.

Star Shield saw Luna's face turn from one of shock to anger.  "Well that is downright unfair, how dare they, after you build up the courage to ask a mare if she would want to go out with you that she would blatantly turn you down and make you look like a fool!  She doesn't know how lucky she is to have had your affection!"  Her words tumbled out of her before she knew what she was saying, quickly her face reddened, her eyes slowly went down to the table.

Star Shield was shocked, puzzle pieces began to connect in his head.  Captain Iron Jaw's words and Luna's just now gave him a new image of the Princess.  "Luna... have you ever had a crush on somepony?"

She looked up to him with tears in her eyes, and then looked away, she whispered something quietly.  "Luna.  It's fine, you can tell me."

She swallowed and spoke in a quiet voice.  "I don't know, it's just you have such a kind heart and are willing to do anything to make anypony feel great.  I couldn't tell what it was, you simply took my attention, when we were talking during those days in the garden, and when you talked so confidently and warmly.  It made me feel special, to be somepony for you to talk to, after all that you have seen, even though you hadn't left the boundaries of Ponyville..."

Star Shield nodded at her words, he was surprised to hear this coming from the Princess of the Night.  The next sentence is what through him for a loop the most.  "It is said that when an alicorn would see the one, that they would know for a fact.  I have lived for several thousand years, I have seen good ponies come and go and suffered the loneliness of exile.  I haven't ever seen a stallion like you Star Shield, your special.... to me."  She looked up at him with a confident smile, her eyes were slightly red from her crying.

He was dumbfounded.  After all this time, I am the only one that she has ever really felt for... The next events played themselves out, Shield got up from where he was sitting and walked over to Luna.  He wiped away the tears that remained on her cheeks.  "You are beautiful Luna... thank you.  I would've never thought that something this extraordinary could happen to me."  This time it was his turn to nuzzle her, he leaned down and rubbed his cheek to hers.

The two got up from the dinner table and went over to the larger bed that was on one side of the room and began to talk, never did the conversations turn tense, Luna laughed and opened up for him, telling him of stories from long ago, stories that were so funny that they could rival Pinkie Pie, and stories that were heart-wrenching, time was not a factor for them.  They had moved closer to one another until Luna had leaned against Star Shield and fell asleep.  He looked up to the clock, it was almost midnight.  Guess I had better go to sleep as well.  He looked down to the Princess who was contently sleeping and smiled.  Who would've believed that I could catch the eyes of the Princess of the Night.  He rested his head against the some of the pillows and let sleep overcome him.