The Lives We Live Ch 3:

First Night

After departing from Ponyville, Celestia and Discord left to go turn in for the night. So Luna and Ven were left alone walking through the halls. Ven looked around, taking note of the marble covered floors and ceiling. “So this is your castle?” Ven asked following Luna through the darkened halls. “It’s pretty cool. Never been in one before, but cool none the less.” He spoke closely following Luna.

“Yes it is, how you would put it, ‘cool.’” Luna said with a hint of sarcasm. “Now as for your punishment.” She started.

“Princess I already know I’ve to watch you for two weeks, I get it.” Ven said rolling his eyes.

“Oh no, you don’t get it.” Luna said stopping in front of Ven, who had a confused look on his face. “You are to listen to every word I say without question.” She said in a stern and commanding tone, making Ven gulp. “Do any task that I give you without hesitation, and as my new personal guard you are to hold yourself with respect, so is not to give me any disrespect.” She paused for a moment awaiting a response from Ven.

Taking the pause as a hint to speak, Ven replied, “Yes ma’am.” He placed his hand on top of his forehead in a mock salute.

Satisfied with the human’s response, Luna turned around to continue down the hall. “Now that I know you understand what it is that you’ll be doing, it is time to get you out of those clothes.” She said not looking back towards Ven.

“What’s wrong with the way I’m dressed?” Ven asked slightly offended by Luna’s remarks.

“A couple of reasons really. Firstly, no personal guard of mine will be caught in that attire.” Luna said, causing Ven to huff in response. “And let’s not mentioned that most of it is ripped to pieces.” She pointed out making Ven actually look himself over. Luna was right on most accounts, Ven shirt was covered in mud and dried blood, and his pants were nearly falling apart by themselves.

“I see what you mean, so what am I going to wear?” Ven asked knowing that he didn’t have any spare clothes with him.

Still walking down the hall, Luna simply replied, “Follow me and I’ll show you.” She said in a vague tone that made Ven question her even more, but he decided against it. The two of them continued down the hall before coming to a black door with silver lining. Luna lit her horn and waved her hand over the door, causing it to glow a faint blue. When the glow stopped, Luna opened the door and stepped through, with Ven following suite.

“Umm...what?” Ven asked looking around the room, bewildered by the fact that it looked nothing like the hall that he was just in. Instead of marble floors, there were wooden ones, and the smell of burning incense filled his nose. Through the darkness he could make out was seemed to be a fight of stairs, that lead further into the building. He looked over to Luna, who still remained silent. Ven was going to ask her where they was, but footsteps from the other side of the room stopped him.

A dark-blue unicorn mare with purple and red mane, stood at a doorway. Ven also took note of the mare’s tight fitting dress, and how it showed off her curves. Brain, I swear to Cutos. That If you continue to go down that path… Ven stopped himself from checking out the mare, and started to find the walls to be a very interesting thing.

“Nightflare, I see that you are doing well.” Luna greeted walking over to the mare, who was apparently called Nightflare.

“A good evening to you as well princess.” Nightflare said in a respectful tone, she quickly looked towards Ven. “And just who, or what, is this?” She asked trying to be respectful and polite.

“Oh umm...Hi my name’s Ventus Soul, but Ven fine. I’m guessing that I’m the first human you’ve met.” Ven greeted, reaching out to shake Nightflare’s hand.

She took Ven’s outstretched hand and shook it, happy to find that Ven was polite as well. “Well Mr. Soul, it’s good to see that you have manners, not like most stallions I have the misfortune to be around.” Nightflare said with a frown on her face, she turned her attention to Luna. “So princess, to what do I own the pleasure of seeing you this night?”

“Yes well you should know that Ven here,” Luna waved a hand towards Ven, who nervously smiled and waved. “and his friends managed to get themselves sent here. Without spare clothes.” She finished explaining.

“Umm...well I can see that they must have been through something alright.” Nightflare said taking note of Ven ruined clothes.

“Yeah, we’ve umm...had a run in with, what were they called, Timberwolves? And I guess that my clothes suffered as much as I did.” Ven said with a small chuckle.

“Say no more,” Nightflare said stopping whatever Ven was going to say next. “I’ve know just what to do. Oh girls, we’ve have guests.” Nightflare called out, clapping her hands together. Suddenly the dark room was a lit and a sprawl of mares filled out from the upstairs rooms. In a mere matter of moments, the railings was lined with mares of all types, and all of their gazes were pinned to Ven. “Girls I would like for you to meet Ventus Soul, he is a human, and he needs some clothes. If you all be so kind as to get him some, I would greatly appreciated.” Nightflare said to the group, who all smiled and nodded.

One by one, the mares walked down the steps. A light-pink mare and a dark-red one, grabbed Ven by the wrist and lead him into another room. “Hey! What the- Luna, help!” Ven cries fell on deaf ears and before he knew it he was off in another room altogether. The two mares that was pulling on him, pushed him into what seemed to be a dressing room.

Before he could regain his balance, a unicorn mare was already taking his measurements. “Oh my, well aren’t you a lanky person.” She said before taking off to write down the measurements.

Ven was going to say something to the mare, but the feeling of something begin wrapped around his waist caused him to look behind him. “Oh you're right Pearl, he is pretty lanky.” A light-blue mare said, she spread her wings, and flew over Ven’s head.

This caused him to be spun around, completely disoriented. When he did manage to regain his balance again, he failed to take note of a gray unicorn mare coming up behind him. Her horn started to glow an off gray, and before Ven could tell what was happening his tattered shirt was removed off his body. “Mmmm, but look girls, he not just lanky.” The mare said, causing the others to stop whatever they were doing and turn towards Ven.

“Could I have my shirt back?” The embarrassed human asked trying to cover up his well defined body from the mares’ gazes. There was a collective ‘huh-uh’ from the group as they went back to finding the right size clothes for Ven. He just sighed, giving up on fighting against the seemly endless flow of mares.

A coal-brown earth-pony mare, walked calmly towards Ven. “So having fun?” She asked teasing Ven.

“Depends on what ponies call ‘fun.’” Ven said slightly off put by the situation. “So could you explain to me what’s going on Ms…”

“Please, just call me Delight.” The mare said in a calm and sweet tone.

“Delight, huh? I can tell that it fits you.” Ven said returning the mare’s kindness.

“Why thank you, Mr. Soul. My parents always told me to treat others with kindness and respect, and that it will be returned.” Delight said with a small blush on her face form Ven’s kind words.

“Ven would be just fine, and your parents were right. It’s like grandpa always told me, ‘One doesn’t get kindness, without giving some first.’ Or was that grandma? Blah, I can’t remember.” Ven said starching the back of his head. In doing this the mares could see his hidden muscles come out into view, but a glance towards Delight made the drooling mares go back to work.

“I think that it would be best if we went to another room, come along Ven.” Delight said leading Ven to a back room, much to the disappointment of the mares working around them. “So Ven I take it that you’re not from...well here.”

“Well it’s kind of a long story…” Ven said sitting on a couch that was against the wall.

Delight followed Ven to the couch and took a seat next to him. “Try me, and it’ll be a while before the others are done.” She said not wanting to lose the battle.

“Well alright this is how it went…”

Ven’s description of the events from earlier that day

Delight stared at Ven with wide and shocked eyes, and Ven could tell that the mare herself was about to break down just from hearing the story, but she was able to keep face. “Did...did all that really happened?” She asked completely unsure of what to think.

“Pretty much.” Ven said leaning his head back on the couch, looking up to the ceiling.

“But...there’s has to be something that you can do.” Delight said, not knowing that Ven has been thinking of different ways, and outcomes of what would happen.

“There is, and I can think of a few right now, but…” Ven paused, “but, if we did try any of them, someone could get hurt, or worse.” He said looking at the ceiling.

Delight took a deep and calming breath before continuing, “What about the princesses? I’m sure that they can come up with something.” She suggested with a wary smile, but the smile quickly vanished as quickly as it came, when Ven shook his head. “Why not?”

“They have a whole country to run. Me and my friends can’t just ask them to drop whatever work that they have to do, and expect them to give their complete help.” Ven said already having thought of that, and having shot that idea as soon as it came to him.

“I see...I’m sorry…” Delight said in a crestfallen and saddened tone.

“Thanks, but what do you have to be sorry for?” Ven asked looking at Delight’s saddened expression.

“You're separated from your world, your family. Everything you’ve done, everything you’ve known, gone.” Delight said in an empathetic tone. “Aren’t you sad about that, mad even?”

“Hah, you know I’ve not really thought about all of that just yet. Now that you mention it, no.” Ven said with a genuine smile on his face.

“No?”

“No.” Ven said looking back up to the ceiling. “My mother and father were big time leaders, so I was raised by my grandparents.” Ven said the smile growing in warmth. “I remember all those times grandpa would drag me out to the lakeside and tell me all of those stories.” He said chuckling at the memory. “You want to know a saying that he used to tell me all the time?”

“Sure.” Delight said, amazed by Ven.

“‘In life, we all have paths to take. Some paths led to happiness, others lead to hardships that we must overcome. But so as long as you follow your heart, and do what you think is right, then the end of your path will be one of great joy.’” Ven quoted, and much to his surprise a single tear rolled down his cheek. He wiped away the tear before Delight could say anything about it.

“That’s a beautiful quote.” Delight said after a long pause, wiping away a tear herself.

“Really? Cause you should know, he told me that quote when he was drunk.” Ven said with a with a laugh. Delight broke out in a fit of laughter herself at this, and the two just sat there laughing, enjoying each other’s company.

“Even so, it’s still a beautiful quote.” Delight said trying to stop her fits of laughter.

“Ha, yeah there was this one time whe-” Ven stopped when a mixture of colors, caught the corner of his eye.

Delight soon caught on to what Ven was looking at and an evil frown replaced her smile. “Shouldn’t you all be working?” She asked, standing up and putting her hands on her hips.

There was shuffling behind the door, and a white pegasus mare was pushed through the opened door. She looked back to the other mares with a unsure and unwilling look on her face. But with a little more encouragement from the others, turned to face Delight. “Umm...w-we’ve n-needed to k-know Mr. Soul’s choices of colors.” The fidgety mare said.

Delight sighed, knowing that the mare in front of her had problems with expressing her feelings. “Very well,” She said in a soft tone that seemed to ease the mare’s nervousness. “Ven, could you come over here?”

Ven got up from the couch and walked over to the mares. “Yeah? What is it?” He asked.

“Snowbrush here needs to know what colors would you like for your new clothes.” Delight answered.

“Umm...well I’m not that picky when it comes to color, but I have a feeling that Luna would like it better if I had some dark colored clothes.” Ven said not really caring about the color.

“R-really are...are you s-sure? We’ve m-made clothes to last you for about a m-month.” Snowbrush said hiding behind her gray and blue mane.

“Really a month?” Ven said surprised at how fast the clothes were made. “Umm...still though, I like dark colored stuff anyway. Oh and if you can throw in some silver with it that would be cool.” He said with a grateful smile.

Snowbrush nodded and muttered something to low for neither Ven nor Delight could hear her. She quickly spun around and was out of the door faster than Ven thought was possible. “Umm...was it something I said?” Ven asked not sure what to think of the situation.

“No, Snowbrush just has problems with being around others.” Delight said.

“Humm...reminds me when I was in middle school.” Ven said, Delight shot him a confused face, prompting him to continue, “Yeah I’d made a vow to not speak to anyone back then.”

“Why?”

“You wouldn’t be able to tell now, but back then I was usually did everything in my power to not talk to anyone.” Ven said remembering the days that he would go without speaking to anyone.

“Again, why?”

“Good ol’ mom and pops thought it would be best to leave me with my grandparents. This really upset me and for a while I just didn’t talk to anyone.” Ven explained. “That could be the same case here with Snowbrush. Is she new or something?”

“Well actually no, Snowbrush has been here for about the longest. And as far as I can remember, she would never really talk to anyone.” Delight said, she crossed her arms in thought of anything that would give Ven the answer. “Maybe...maybe she is just never had many friends.”

“Maybe, she likes being alone like I was in school.” Ven told her, “At least, that was before I met Leon and Mia. After I met them I started being more social.”

Delight smiled, “They must be good friends.”

“Yeah they’re, so Delight what about you?” Ven asked the mare. “I mean, like friends and stuff.”

“If you haven’t noticed most of us here are really good friends, and Madam Nightflare is really good to have a conversation with.” Delight said with a happy smile.

“Wait, ‘Madam Nightflare?’ You mean that she was, like, recognized by the princesses right?” Ven asked hoping that the really answer would not be the one that he thought is was.

“Well...Madam is recognized alright. But most likely not in the way your thinking.” Delight said with a playful grin.

Delight giggled when she saw the visible blush on Ven’s face. “Ah I see so this place isn’t just a boutique it’s also a…” He tailed off not sure if he had the right to finish the sentence.

“Yes, this is a mare-house that doubles as a boutique and a home for many of the mares.” Delight said finishing Ven’s thought.

“...”

Ven’s silence worried Delight slightly, “Ven are...are you, you know, homosexual.” She nervously asked causing Ven to look at her with a dumb and slightly offended look. “It’s okay if you are.”

“What no, no I’m not gay. You just caught me off guard is all.” Ven said with a wary smile.

“Ah I see, it just that you look like you were uncomfortable with this begin a mare-house.” Delight said looking away in shame.

“Well I’ve been with a few girls in high school and well…” Ven scratched the back of his head. “A few months ago, one of my homeboys got married and for his bachelor party we went to a girl-house.” He said with chuckle. “Anyway, long story short, we all woke up in the middle of a forest without most of our clothes, and homeboy was missing with the wedding happening in less than eight hours.”

“Oh wow, so how did you find him?” Delight asked interested with the story.

“By defying all natural laws of nature itself, we managed to get dude back just in time.” Ven said with a laugh. “Best party ever…” He said in a reminiscing tone.

“Sounds like you are the one that can get the mixed up in a lot of mess.” Delight said with a laugh of her own.

“Heh, yeah. I mean I managed to wind up here didn’t I?” Ven asked in a sarcastic manner.

“Oh right how did your friends take the news about, not being able to go home.” Delight said leading Ven back to the couch.

“Well, Mia is smarter than me so I think she figured it out quicker than me that we couldn’t go home.” Ven said taking a seat on the couch. “Leon is another case though, and let’s say I know what a man sound like when he lost everything.” He said in a monotone voice.

“I see well I hope that he’ll come around eventually.” Delight said placing a reassuring hand on Ven’s leg.

“Don’t worry, Leon is a tough guy so he’ll be fine.” Ven said with a smile.

The door opened showing that is was again Snowbrush, she looked through her mane and spotted the two sitting on the couch, and quickly walked over to them. “Yes, Snow? What is it?” Delight asked sweetly.

“Um...M-Mr. Soul’s clothes are ready for him, and h-here are some clothes that p-princess Luna wanted you to wear.” Snowbrush handed Ven an indigo jacket that had Luna royal symbol on it, with a pair of black pants, and a white t-shirt. “Also, princess Luna is waiting for you in the parlor.” And before Ven had the chance to say thank you Snowbrush was already out the door.

“Poor mare…” Delight said with genuine care for Snowbrush.

“Well I don’t know, she seemed to be calmer than before.” Ven said putting on the t-shirt, surprised at how well it fitted. “Delight I really must thank you.”

“Thank me, what for?” Delight asked flatter.

“For talking with me.” Ven said putting on the jacket and noticing an odd similarity to the one his head family members would wear on special family occasions. “And I really must thank the mares and Madam Nightflare, you all been a really big help.” Ven said zipping up the jacket.

“Any time Ven. Hey that’s what us working-mares are for.” Delight said leaving Ven to finish dressing. Which didn’t take very long since he only had to change out of his shredded pants. He walked over to a mirror to get a look on how the clothes fit him.

When he was admiring the new set of clothes, a ripple in the mirror’s reflection caught his eye. The mirror started to ripple and Ven’s reflection distorted into something much darker, than Ven, and he recognized the shape almost immediately.

“Cutos, what the hell do you want?” Ven demanded, dropping all emotions from his voice.

You can’t protect her forever, I will be free and this pitiful world will burn. Cutos spoke through Ven’s head.

“Why are you after Luna? What do you want with her?” Ven continued to demand speaking without emotion. Cutos refused to respond to Ven’s demands, and the image started to fade away. “Cutos! I swear if you try to hurt anyone, I will tear you apart. Piece by little fucking piece. Do you hear me?” Ven nearly shouted at the mirror but Cutos was already gone, reseating back into the deepest parts of Ven’s mind.

He just sighed and turned away from the mirror. He reached the door and stopped, his mind thinking on what Cutos just said to him. It’s obvious that he’s after Luna, and that somehow she’s a way for him to get out. Ven thought to himself, already figuring out Cutos plan.

And it’s not going to happen fur ball.

He walked out of the room and back into the rest of the mare-house. Ven was greeted with the cat-calls of the mares that called the business home, making him blush like mad. Luna quickly walked over to Ven and handed the bag that had the rest of his clothes. “So Ventus, you enjoyed you stay at the Moonlight Kiss?” She asked in a sly manner.

“You knew that this place was a mare-house didn’t you?” Ven asked flatly.

“Hey, most stallions would kill to undress in front of these mares.” Luna said waving a hand towards all of the mares. Ven spotted Delight in the crowd of mares and she shot him a playful apologetic smile, which he returned. “Come along Ventus, we have a long night ahead of us.” Luna said nudging him on the arm.

“Yes ma’am.” Ven answered while he lifted the bag onto his shoulders, and grabbing his own. “Well everyone I must bid you a farewell and good night. Madam Nightflare I do hope that we can meet again.” He said bowing his head towards the mares, making most of them giggle like school-fillies.

“Well Ventus, I must say that it was fun, and I’m sure that the girls would love to have you around again. Isn’t that right ladies?” Nightflare asked all of the mare who responded with a collective ‘huh-uh.’

Ven laughed at the groups silly and playful mentality. “Well I guess we will have to do this again some other time.” He said taking his leave with Luna, “Till next time.” He called out from the black door that led him and Luna to the Moonlight Kiss.

Madam Nightflare turned towards the other mares. “Alright all of you, back to bed.” She clapped her hand ushering the girls back up to their room. The girls grumbled a little but did as they were told to do. Nightflare then noticed that a head was missing from the herd of mares, quickly coming to an conclusion as to why this curtain mare was not with the other. “Humm, I wonder if Ven would be enough…” She said most to herself and produced a roll of fresh incense.

“Huh-oh girls, Madam pulled out the incense.” One of the mare called out from the second floor.

“Go to bed, Gem.” Nightflare said, walking towards her own room.

Lunar Court 2:56AM

“Proposal 220: School tax cuts, will now be seen by the floor.”

It has been a galling four hours since Lunar Court started, Ven was doing any and everything to stay awake through the boring meeting of nobles and the like. After nearly falling asleep twice, he put on his headphones, and started to listen to the most energetic music that he had with him. When the nobles first saw the human there was a short uproar and questions before Luna could fully explain the situation. Most of the nobles seemed to accept the human’s presents, but others remained unsure of what it really meant.

Guh, how do Luna do it? Ven asked his tired and sleepy brain, which failed to yield an answer. He lazily looked over to Luna to see if she was using any tricks to keep awake, and when he did his right eye started to twitch in annoyance. Luna was sitting on her throne fast asleep, and none of the nobles seemed to noticed or even care. “What hell?” Ven said under his breath.

He then looked around to the other guards only to see that most of them were also asleep, or doing something else. If Leon was here he would pop a blood vessel. Ven continue to think to himself on the state of the Lunar Guards in comparison with any soldier from his world. Even members from Ven’s clan would make better guards than the ones before him now. How are these guys called Royal Guards, guards for that matter, if they aren’t doing their jobs? Ven started to really become irritated with the guards before him, sure Ven was caught asleep during school, but he would very sleep through something that’s important like this.

His attention turned to the few nobles in the room, they all seemed to having the same thoughts as him, but didn’t want to do anything about it. The continued the meeting even after it was evident that Luna were no longer awake.

“All who favor the proposal rise-” The spokespony was cut off with a loud bell began to chime and echo through the castle. Without a second word the nobles began to file out of the throne room, with the Lunar Guards at close tow. Ven stood in his spot awaiting Luna to wake up and take her leave as well, but she remained on her throne, her arm keeping her head up.

Sighing, Ven quickly realized that it was apart of his ‘job’ to wake the princess up. He walked over to Luna and started to nudge her awake. “Luna. Luna wake up, time to go to bed.” Ven said trying to wake the sleeping princess, to no avail. “Luna, get up!” He shouted causing to slowly wake.

“Mmm...Ven, what is it?” Luna asked cracking an eye opened.

“Everyone’s gone Luna, I think that Night court is over.” Ven said in a gentle voice, knowing how it feels to be woken by someone.

Luna looked around the empty throne room to see that it was in fact empty. A displeased frown came across Luna’s face, irritated that none of the guards woke her up. “Great…” She said in a dejected sigh, she tried to get up from the throne, but lost her balance.

“Whoa,” Ven quickly moved to catch Luna, grabbing her by the shoulders. “Luna, are you alright?” He asked looking into Luna’s blue eyes, and her looking back into his silver eyes.

“Huh, yeah just tried.” Luna said trying to stand up again only for her legs to gave out from the numbness of sitting on the throne. Ven just rolled his eyes, knowing the feeling of not being able to stand on your own legs. He took Luna’s arm and wrapped it around his shoulders and placed his hand underneath Luna’s other arm for support.

“Thanks.” Luna said putting a better effort in trying to stand up right.

“Anytime, come on let’s get you to bed.” Ven said slowly helping Luna out of the throne room. The two slowly made their way through the castle halls, Luna giving directions every now and again. “Hey Luna, why it seemed that no one noticed that you were asleep?” Ven asked the question bugging him since the meeting.

“Because none of them care…” Luna whispered more to herself than Ven. “Because I have more duties to attend to at night than Celestia does.” She quickly answered.

“What ya mean you got more duties than Celestia?” Ven asked not connecting the dots.

“As princess of the night I have to oversee all nightly affairs, that includes dreams.” Luna answered with a rather bored tone. “Go around that corner right there, my room should be the one at the very end.”

“Ah, makes sense.” Ven said doing as he was told. Man, so Luna looks out for all of Equestrian's dreams? Every night? She does got it rough… Ven thought as he reached Luna’s room. Luna opened the lock with her magic and Ven pushed the door open with his own. He led Luna over to her bed and gently sat her down.

Ven was going to leave but Luna stopped him with her magic, he looked back to Luna’s sleepy eyes. “Where do you think your going?” She asked mustering as much as a commanding voice as she could.

“Umm...to find a place to sleep myself?” Ven’s answer turning into a question.

“No, as part of your job to watch over me at all times.” Luna said trying to hint to something that Ven couldn’t pick up on.

Ven raised an eyebrow towards Luna, not knowing what she was hinting to. “Yeah?” I really hope she don’t mean…

“You’ll be staying here with me.” Luna said too tried to figure out how bad that sounds.

All thoughts in Ven’s head frozen, and his face turned to one of flustered disbelieve. “I’m sorry,” Ven could swear that a tiny explosion was set off in his head.

“Bed. Now. No questions.” Luna order removing Ven’s jacket, tossing it across the room, and dragging him into the bed with her. Ven sighed giving in to his faith. “Now was that hard?” Luna teased turning over in the bed.

Ven just rolled his eyes and turned around facing the door. “Night Luna.” He said getting a soft snore as a response. Ven laughed before drifting off to sleep on his first night on the job.

Author's Note

Well this took a lot longer than I thought it would, sorry about that got distracted by other stories, and my co-writers are no where to be found. The next chapter should be done within one to two weeks time, depending.