To the moon and back

Shadow looked around skeptically, he was sure NMM was going to make him do something weirdly erotic like previously on the balcony, "Okay then...just you and me...what could go wrong I guess." As Shadow entered, NMM tried hard to grit her teeth at his remark, she felt belittled that a mere mortal didn't appreciate the fact he was before a beautiful goddess. He sat on her bed and curiously looked about, it was quite sometime since he stepped inside and it all looked the same. "Do you ever redecorate...or at least move a book?"

NMM sat beside him and with a sight hmmf she replied, "I'll have you know that I enjoy tidiness in my life. Everything has an order and a place. A book organized on a shelf like a mere mortal to his work, they are put there for a reason."

"Then why am I still a Lunar guard, even though Luna and I are not in speaking terms? I'm sure you know we had a falling out considering you are her."

She nodded and rolled her eyes, "We may share the same body but I have no romantic intentions with such a petty stallion. She adores you as if you were a valiant knight of high class and worth but all I see is a stranger who has inappropriately touched me and loves only half of me."

Shadow smiled, "So what you are saying is you are Luna...rather...half Luna. So I'm right!" NMM glared at him and punched his arm

"You are HALF right and do not insult or mock our train of thought! Why must I suffer seeing you around?"

"Because half of you loves me apparently and she sure does have a funny way of showing it...like observing me and my exwife having sex. Gotta admit, didn't think she'd be a peeping tom but...hey...whatever floats her boat."

NMM was surprised by his knowledge of Luna's early actions and coughed loudly, "Y-you knew!? How!? We were in cover the whole time!"

Shadow chuckled and poked her shoulder, "You do realize sunlight casts shadows off an object and my curtains are white so I saw your silhouette on my balcony door. I think Aurora was too busy to notice but I did, I didn't want to make a scene...and it felt too good to stop..."

NMM cheeks flushed red and she looked away, "I see...we made a slight mistake...damn Tia and her sun...." Shadow kept smiling and NMM looked at him curiously. "Why aren't disgusted by our actions? Why don't you scold you for intervening with your love life?"

Shadow sighed and shook his head, "Because, even though Aurora loves me and showed me it with gusto...I still love Luna. I couldn't stop and can't stop loving her. She's silly, cute, beautiful...I...I can't be mad at that. She still loves me enough to stalk me...as weird as that came out, still sweet."

NMM looked at him and saw how sincere he was being with her, she smiled and blushed lightly, "Well...she does love you and maybe instead of rolling around the mud with that vile mare, you could maybe...get to know me? I mean, if you really love Luna, you must love all of her."

Shadow looked back at her and saw the bit of rose coming from her cheeks and with a small smile said, "Okay. I would like to get to know you better NMM, not just because I love Luna but...I want to love you too."

She blushed more and looked around, she felt awkward yet happy, it was a new feeling to her and she didn't know what to do. She looked at him with a puzzled look for a bit while he just smiled at her contently till she grabbed his shoulders roughly, Shadow was confused as what she was gonna do till she pulled him to her and planted a kiss on his lips. He was surprised but quickly accepted it till she slowly broke it off, she blushed and let go of him.

"No stallion has ever said he had an interest with me before...I just didn't know how to respond...I'm sorry if you didn't like it..." she said nervously.

Shadow hugged her, "It's alright, I liked it. So...if we want to get to know each other, we gotta hangout or something." NMM broke the hug and handed him a letter from her dresser, it read about his reassignment as her personal guard.

"You'll be stuck with me again, hope you don't mind. Luna and I are going to dissect that brain of yours to see if you are worthy of a goddess' love. Pray you are because if you aren't, I'll mercilessly beat you into a pulp for waisting my time and love."

Shadow laughed and nodded, "Haha, alright my queen. I'll do my best to please you both."

She smiled and stood up, "Good, now be gone with you. I wish to be alone tonight." He got up and left her chambers, as he left, NMM's horn glowed and an image of Luna was projected into a mirror.

The image began to speak to her, "I told you he was a sweet and understanding stallion if you got to meet him. I can't believe you actually got him to agree...or that he caught me peeping...that's so embarrassing!"

NMM rolled her eyes, "I had to deal with your embarrassment! Do not put us in such a situation again foolish filly! And yes...he is rather sweet...but a goddess needs more than just that! He must prove himself to both of us now if he wants my heart."

The image looked at her skeptically, "You mean 'our' hearts. I love him too ya know. As a matter of fact, I loved him first!"

NMM began to argue with herself in the mirror till she realized how foolish she looked, "What ungod-like behavior has that stallion caused me to do?" She chuckled and stepped out to her balcony and observed her night sky, "It would be nice though...to have a loved one beside me to enjoy my work and tell me he loved it and I equally..."

As NMM imagined her ideal future, Aurora was passing by the castle from the bar when she ran into Shadow, "Shady! Why are you out early? Did she finally fire your plot?"

Shadow laughed, "Hehe, no. She didn't, she talked to me for a bit and I got my old job back. She then told me to take the night off and here I am."

Aurora tried to hide her anger, she began to think it was all a plan of Luna's to take Shadow from her. "I see...that's good. More pay n such. Since you're off and promoted, let's celebrate at my place! It's not to far off from here." Shadow nodded and they began to walk together to the upper ends of Canterlot city.

They stopped in front of a large house and Shadow looked surprised, "Wow...that's one fancy house ya got there. Must of cost a heart attack and a half."

Aurora giggled, "Sure did but I wanted to spoil myself, I had to sleep on a couch for a few months though. Come on in and make yourself at home, I'll get us some drinks." They walked in and Shadow looked about as Aurora made her way to her kitchen, Shadow sat on her couch and saw old photos of them when they were dating.

"Guess she didn't forget about me while we were separated..." he said to himself. Aurora brought a bottle of whiskey and two glasses for them, she sat beside him and poured the whiskey.

They each took a glass and held it up, "Hmm...to new beginnings, even if they are like the old ones!" she said as they tapped their glasses together. She quickly put away her drink as Shadow took it slowly as he tried to savor the taste. "Shadow...I need to ask you something."

He turned to her, "Sure thing, what is it?" Aurora looked uncomfortable and scratched her head as she tried to come up with something to say.

"Well, it's just that Luna gave you your old job after taking it away not so many long months ago and she does have a previous history with you...I'm just...I dunno...worried."

Shadow looked at her a bit taken aback, "Well yes, she is giving me the personal guard position and yes, we had a personal history. Why does this seem to bother you?"

She frowned and looked at him sternly, "I don't like it. She is clearly trying to take you away from me again. I don't want her to do that to us again Shadow."

Shadow put down the glass and turned to her, "Aurora, I get that you are concerned but I'm afraid as to what exactly concerns you. Are worried for my emotional well being or are your worried that Luna will pull you away from any chance with me? We are just friends, her and I as well as you and I. She has made it clear that if I want to have something with her, I have to earn it by getting to know her."

She crossed her arms and looked at him angrily, "So, are you going to try to earn it?"