//-------------------------------------------------------// Ascension -by castlemaid- //-------------------------------------------------------// //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter 1 //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter 1 Pipsqueak sat at his desk, finishing his last bit of paperwork for the day. He smiled and stood up as he finished the last page, placing it in the outbox for a messenger to pick up. He walked out into the hallway, taking a moment to stare longingly at the princess of the night’s large obsidian doors. ‘Captain Shining Armor got with Princess Cadance, and he’s only captain of the royal guard, I’m the bucking captain of Luna’s personal special forces, and I don’t even have the nerve to talk to her’ Pipsqueak thought, all while staring at her door. He shook his head beginning to walk away, hearing the princess’s chamber doors open. He quickly turned and bowed to the princess. “Good evening, Captain Pipsqueak.” She greeted gently, a soft smile on her face as her dress seemed to flow ethereally like her mane and tail. Pipsqueak blushed lightly, noticing his hat had fallen to the princess’s feet. “Good evening princess Luna,” he said, shaking away his previous train of thought. He spoke softly, “Um...my hat...fell to your feet princess...I would not think myself a gentleman if I were to pick it up with you standing over it.” Luna giggled softly and picked it up with her magic, walking forth and grasping it out of the air before adjusting it on his head. “You do not need to be so overly formal with me, you know. You are the captain of my guard and that earns you a privilege and honor most could only dream for.” She explained politely. “I was on my way to your office because I intended to invite you for some tea in my private chambers, if you have time that is.” “I was only planning to train for a while in my hidden antichamber, or whatever it is you call that room. I’m free as a bird, oh and good news from the west. Due to the guard stations in Las Pegasus the crime rate dropped to one percent,” Pipsqueak said offering his arm kindly to Luna. She hooked her arm around his as they walked to her chambers. “I’m very proud of your actions in regards to Las Pegasus. The city has always been hard to deal with.” she said with a sigh. “I swear that place is going to end up being ruled by crime again one day, but not this day, especially not on the guards’ watch,” he said confidently as they stood outside her chamber doors. He nudged her side gently and spoke quietly, “Um...you and Celestia are the only ponies that can open your chamber doors?” Luna smiled and patted his shoulder. “Guard Captains and those with clearance can open these chambers. Tonight’s talk deals with that as well.” she explained as they sat down in her personal living room. He brushed it off as a business type statement, thinking nothing of it for the time being. “If I’m correct, you enjoy chamomile tea the most, am I right princess?” Pipsqueak queried, raising his brow. She clapped her hands excitedly. “Of course! My mother use to make that tea for me when I was a filly!” Luna squeaked. Pipsqueak smiled widely at remembering what she had told him. “And with the tea you have...two lumps of sugar, and for reasons unknown, a pinch of nightmare salts,” he stated, trying his best to remember, “I’m guessing nightmare salts because it just adds that nightmarish taste?” Luna nodded with a cute blush. “You’ve been doing great as my captain for these few weeks.” “My dream was to be the best, not just to get to this position,” he said, flashing her a confident smile. He flicked his wrist and opened his palm, a deck of midnight blue cards appearing out of nowhere. “I’ve been working on my tricks to, trying to keep them looking like illusions rather than actual magic, of course, being as I don’t have sleeves, it was obviously magic,” he said, musing that her training had been paying off, “You taught me well so far.” She smiled. “You are the first student I have ever had. You have excelled at a rate beyond my expectations for an earth pony.” He blushed as she mused his proficiency with magic. “So what is it you wanted to talk about prince...erm... Luna?” Luna took a sip of her tea with a happy hum. “You did great with the tea!” She cheered. “Have you been reading those books I gave you when I promoted you to Captain of the Royal Night Forces?” “Which one’s?” he asked jokingly, laughing at the fact that she gave him access to a secret library section with the promotion, due to him being permitted to study further. She smirked wryly at him. “The books describing your duties, abilities, and expectations as my guard captain.” Luna began. “There is a pledge which you must both read and agree to, but truly mean it.” “Which pledge, I believe there are thirteen total, so which one are you referring to. I also apologize for being a little too well read. I actually hold a reading record above Twilight Sparkle that I’m quite proud of,” he finished, rubbing the back of his neck nervously. Luna sighed as she finished her tea, rubbing her nose gently. “The Pledge of Ascension. All of my guards are bat ponies as you’ve noticed…” she trailed off. Pip’s eyes widened. “Wait...D-do I have to get bat wings? b-but I don’t want to have to put any holes in this shirt,” he said sadly, holding up the shirt that was made to look like pirate garb, given to him secretly by the princess a few months back. ‘I still don’t know who would be kind enough to give me this’ he reminisced. Luna reached across the table, grasping his hands. “To be my captain is a dedication to protect not only the nation, but me as well until the day the moon never sets.” she whispered. “I picked you because I consider you worthy of such a privilege and honor.” “I’m fine with the ascension and all, but are the wings mandatory?” he asked, hoping to get around that one small detail, “I mean, I don’t really go to battle unless it’s an emergency or war, and I can fly just fine without wings.” He smiled nervously, hoping he wouldn’t have to gain the wings of a bat, he’d always disliked the idea of having wings, ever since the mysterious gift. Luna wrung her hands nervously as she tried to think of a way to answer him. “Well… its… Ascension comes with everything. I’ve never heard of being able to only partially gift somepony such a gift. With Ascension comes immortality, lots of strength increases, intelligence boost amongst other things.” “I know, and I understand Luna, it’s just I’ve grown close to these particular garments, and I have no idea who gave them to me. I never wanted to alter them because I wanted to ask the gifter their permission first if I ever wanted to add, remove, or change something. I even left this small little...moon...pin…” he realized just then that it was Luna who gifted it to him. His face dead panned as his palm hit his face making a very audible *slap*. He looked at Luna gratefully. “Why would you give these to me, nopony has ever given me so much, especially not a custom outfit such as this. And the fact that it’s hoof stitched, I can tell, no magic was used in it’s making, except when it was enchanted by me of course, but why would you spend so much time on it for me?” he asked, not needing to pause for breath. She blushed a deep red. “I… I wanted to give it to you because I… I have grown very fond of you.” Luna whispered softly. “Since that day we met in Ponyville over fifteen years ago, I just couldn’t get you out of my head and all of these feelings are very complex, yet familiar.” she sighed and looked down at her hands. “I was beyond flattered you wanted to join my guard so I… I know its not right, but I broke my own rules with giving you all that training to help you outrank your comrades, with the hopes that one day you would be nominated to be my captain…” the princess of the night whispered. “You do know it took a lot more than the training to be nominated right? B-but that’s besides the point, you actually have feelings for...me, Luna?” he looked at her bewildered at what she had just confessed. He grasped her hands, speaking softly, “I wanted to join your guard and reach this rank because I was inspired by you, or rather, I began to develop feelings for you, and didn’t realize it until a few months ago. I just never had the nerve to speak to you about such things, you being the princess of the night, and me just being a night guard.” He looked down sadly at the last part. Luna looked at him, lifting his hand and kissing the back of it chastly. “But you aren’t just a mere guard, Pipsqueak. You are my Guard Captain and that’s what matters to me because it lets us be close.” “Luna…” he spoke softly, bringing his face closer to hers. He caressed her cheek with a hand. He stopped an inch away from her face, leaving the decision to her. She shuddered softly, leaning in and kissing him on the lips, her eyes fluttering close. He kissed her with a fiery passion, wrapping his other arm around her midsection, pulling her close. Luna moaned softly, her lips parting as she licked his lips for entrance. He parted his lips, his tongue caressing hers lovingly in a dance of passion. He moved his hands down to her sides and he began to sensuously caress her. Princess Luna pulled back slowly, her hand caressing Pipsqueaks cheek dotingly. “By the gods.. This may have been the best kiss we have ever had in well over a thousand years.” she whispered. “And it’s my first kiss,” he admitted, his heart fluttering at her compliment. “But just because I don’t have any experience with this,” he began softly, licking her neck sensuously, “doesn’t mean I’m not good at it.” He kissed her again briefly. “Did you really enjoy our first kiss?” he asked sincerely, looking into her sapphire eyes with his own dark brown ones. Luna nuzzled Pipsqueak gently, kissing his nose. “I loved it… I really did.” she cooed. “Is this the real reason you wished to speak to me tonight?” he asked in a serious, but loving tone.She kissed him softly. “That’s part of it… I really do want you to ascend. Celestia, Cadence, and I are immortal. Ascending is what allows you to be with me for all of time.” she whispered. “Would you like to begin the process, oh but first,” he removed his shirt, carefully cutting two holes in the back then put it back on, “okay, now we can begin.” He nodded and kissed her forehead, preparing himself for the transformation. Luna’s horn began to glow a soft blue as she leaned in and tapped her horn against his forehead. “I hope you are ready, Pipsqueak. This may hurt a bit.” “I had a timberwolf bite my arm and leg, I’ve gotten a bowling ball to the skull, and too many swords and knives through various parts of my body. I think I’ll be fine,” he said, laughing to lighten her mood a little. She giggled softly, closing her eyes as she let her magic wrap around the stallion. The princess concentrated deeply as she felt her essence brush against the guard captain’s as she begun to change him. Her hands grasped his tightly as she anchored her magic fluidly through both her horn and hands. Pipsqueak closed his eyes, feeling the magic begin to change him. He could feel it flow to his back for wings to form, his teeth to grow fangs, and his eyes to change his iris shape and color. He felt a warm tingle as his body began to change, but he felt a quick change in the magic. He was quickly thrown into the air as his body began to morph. Wings sprung from his back, but to both his, and Luna’s surprise, they were dark brown, almost black, feathered wings, probably about the span of Celestia’s wings if not larger. His irises turned a deep cobalt blue, but refused to take the slitted form. His teeth rejected the sprouting of the fangs. His body reformed into a more slender, effeminate, and aerodynamic form, yet keeping his muscle tone, probably due to the addition of wings. His eyes began to glow brightly, and he realised at that moment he understood why his ascension was different than normal. The clarity faded away as he fell to the floor, groggy as if he just got over a hangover headache. “L-Luna...i-is it over?” he groaned as he got up from the rather harsh fall. He dusted himself off, feeling an unfamiliar weight on his back. He looked back in question noticing the large wings folded against his back and mused at them with a whistle. “Love the color, but why are they...feathered? Shouldn’t they be, like, bat wings?” he queried. Luna approached Pipsqueak quietly, pulling the stallion into a hug as she ran a hand down his feathered back. “I… we… we do not know why your transformation did not go as planned. This is the first time we have ever seen such a radical change in how the process works…” she whispered, kissing him softly on the lips as she gazed into his dark, cobalt blue eyes before shuddering at the way he seemed to look into her. He gripped her sides firmly, his wings flaring out in arousal. They heard a startled “eep!” from another pony and stopped their display of affection. They turned to see princess Celestia had just walked in on them. “Ah, Captain Pipsqueak, Luna, I didn’t know you two were still awake, I thought you two would be asleep, or Luna to be in night court, then again, that’s what we pay our lovely staff for,” Celestia spoke fluently, giggling, “sorry, I’m going off topic. I see that young Pipsqueak here has undergone ascension, and to godhood I might add. Just look at you, your wingspan, it’s larger than mine even. And…” Celestia’s eyes widened in utter shock, her jaw dropping slightly. “Y-your eyes, they’re dark blue, dark wings, and…” Celestia began, thinking to herself. ‘The glint, that could only mean, he’s, no he couldn’t be, he couldn’t possibly...be...prince...Pip. THAT’S HIS BUCKING NICKNAME! How could I have been so blind, it should’ve been obvious, he is a relative of his no doubt, the fabled alicorn prince from before the days of discord.’ She turned her back to them as she thought. “S-sister?” Luna called out in surprise, putting her hand on her shoulder. “Is everything alright?” Celestia looked back as she shouted,” What!?...um...oh right, I do tend to over do it on my thought process. Apologies sister,” she spoke softly, blushing lightly. “What I was thinking is that Pip here, is most likely a descendant of the great prince Pip, due to his obvious ascension to godhood, the stallion fabled from the times before discord’s rule, even before the time of our parent’s rule dear sister,” She spoke in her soft, elegant voice. Her eyes widened. “B-but how?! Prince Pip was rumored to be immortal! How can Captain Pipsqueak be his descendant?” Luna cried out in shock. “Yes, alicorns may be immortal, stopping the aging process at around twenty five years of age, or if a pony were to somehow ascend to alicorn hood at an age above that, the aging process would slowly go back to twenty five years of age. But that doesn’t make us invincible, we may still be killed, be it by knife, pneumonia, or otherworldly forces,” Celestia explained in a cheerful manner. Luna squeezed Pipsqueaks hand as she leaned into him nervously. “If he is his descendant as proof has shown… does that mean he will no longer be our guard captain?” she whispered shyly. “If I even am a god, I know just the pony who actually would serve this job really well,” Pip cut in, “He’s a hell of a dedicated fighter, loyal as the element herself, but shy as the element of kindness. I’ve even seen him around her place a few times, he’s hopeless, just like me.” Pipsqueak blushed as he rubbed his neck nervously at his statement. “Who is he, Pip?” Luna queried softly. “Shadow Breeze, sadly, he’s stuck at the rank of private, and that’s just because he’s too shy to ever go for the promotions. His record is better than anypony’s in the ranks, even mine believe it or not. But he’s always so shy, the only pony he talks to is me. He’s a great guy, and the ladies love him, but he’s always scared stiff in a pony’s presence, let alone a lady’s presence. You remember him Luna, he was in my office last night, and basically every night you came in and he was shuddering in the corner,” he explained, laughing heartily as he remembered her asking if Shadow was okay every time he shivered in the corner. She looked up at him, holding his cheeks before kissing him again. “You look… dashing…” Luna whispered with a blush. He blushed, flustered, speaking rather quickly, “Luna! Your sister is right here!” He flailed his arms in a ridiculous fashion. Celestia couldn’t help but giggle at the display. “I guess I’ll leave you two to your foolery, just make sure she’ll be able to move the moon down in the morning,” she said with a wink, walking away giggling. She disappeared out the door and down the hall, leaving the two flustered at what she just hinted at. “B-but we wouldn’t…” Pip began, blushing profusely, “w-would we?...Would we?” He looked at her, actually considering the possibility of them committing such an act. Luna smiled, and kissed his chin. “With time, we will eventually become one in the flesh.” she whispered, grabbing his hand and pulling him towards her large bed that seemed to be a mere extension of her night. “Y-you’re seriously okay with doing this? I mean, I’m all for it, but this soon? I honestly don’t think it’d be a good idea,” Pip said, his voice wavering, his body sweating nervously. She giggled and pulled him down onto her bed. “Forgive us, but we were not implying that we would have sex tonight. We simply wish to… c-cuddle.” Luna murmured, her cheeks flushing. Author's Note Tell me what you think. I want to know if I've improved. But don't worry I plan to finish both this and TS.