To the moon and back

Shadow put Autta down and looked at Luna, "What's wrong? What was it that you said to Aurora?"

Luna looked down and sniffled a bit, "Shadow...I...I can't love you anymore...I just can't. I'm sorry...I ruined your family by seducing you away from your wife and I can't see myself going through with such bad deeds...I'm so sorry..." she turned away and left. Shadow wanted to go after her but Autta held on to him tightly, he tried to comprehend what just happened and he sighed sadly. The mare he loved refused to love him but as he held his daughter in his arms, he was just happy he had her back.

Many months later...

Shadow dropped Autta off at the Lollipop's, Mr. Lollipop approached him, "Sonny, we are happy to have Autta back in our lives but...you really need to start thinking of finding yourself another mare. Everytime the misses tends to her garden, she sees you sulking on your porch or you force a smile around your daughter. Luna was a great mare but...I'm afraid that ship has sailed son. Do this for yourself sonny."

Shadow nodded and began to make his trek to work, he was still in charge of protecting Luna but he opted for being a chamber guard than a personal guard. At least he could still protect her and see her but he wouldn't talk to her anymore, he was making his way to the locker room when he saw a familiar face waiting by the door, "Aurora? what brings you here? Didn't your shift end a few hours ago?"

She nodded and had a pensive look on her face, "Yeah, it did but...but I've been meaning to ask you something that I just couldn't bring myself to ask while I visited Autta this past month."

Shadow looked at her a bit curiously but shrugged, "Go ahead, ask me anything." She was acting less and less cold and more like her old self so he didn't think she would say anything demeaning like before.

"Well, since we do see each other during my visits with Autta...and we were married once...and we ended on a misunderstanding...I um...I was wondering if you'd like to go to lunch some time or something...just as friends of course" she said as she rubbed her shoulder, Shadow hasn't seen her so nervous since she first asked him out long ago.

Shadow was a bit skeptic but he slowly began to remember all the good times he had with her and thought about how it would make her visits more enjoyable so he smiled and nodded, "Sure thing Aurora, I'd like that."

She smiled and hugged him before blushing embarrassingly and ran off, Shadow chuckled and went into the locker room to get changed. Once finished he caught up with his partner Silent Step, he always had his face covered and a voice manipulator on him, he was an Equestrian Special Forces member that was designated as Luna's back up in case of castle Attack. Even though he seemed frightening, Shadow thought he was an enjoyable companion to talk to. "So Shadow, I heard you and your old mare talking earlier, what was that about? I thought you two were at each other's throats?"

Shadow turned to him curiously, "How did you know that?"

Silent laughed, "You do know I have keen hearing, I heard you two from downstairs. Nothing gets past this old guard."

Shadow smiled and shook his head, "Yeah, well...she asked me to lunch and I  said yes, she is the mother of my daughter and was my wife at one point...plus she comes to my home every weekend so I might as well make amends to not have a tense atmosphere around my moon pie." Silent nodded and his ears perked up, Shadow knew that meant Luna was eavesdropping on their conversations. That ear perking saved them from a few embarrassing conversations being revealed, Luna opened her door and looked at them.

"Shadow, come in, I'd like to speak with you. Nec, you may cover his post." Nec came out and stood at Shadow's post as Shadow entered, she closed the door behind him and looked at him sternly as Shadow stood at attention. "I've told you before, I don't care for formalities like my sister does..." she sighed but Shadow stood at attention. She walked around him, "So you and Aurora are on speaking terms again? That's a surprise. So you can forgive a cheating mare but not a sorry princess?" She began to transform into NMM.

Shadow wasn't fazed by what she said, "She and I had a misunderstanding, we are parents of the same filly, and I see her often in my home. I might as well break tensions with her, your highness."

NMM looked at him angrily and grabbed his throat, "Luna has to burden with rejecting you every night you aren't in her chambers. She misses your conversations and your presence yet you deny her all that for refusing your petty feelings once?! You could have tried to convince her to change her mind and you two could have been happy!"

Shadow looked at her, "And what of you NMM? Would you have been happy?" The question took her by surprise and she let him go, he rubbed his neck, "I take it as a no then? Even if Luna loved me, you, you would never have so why bother...she left me to my own devices so I will leave her to hers. Now if you will excuse me, I have a chamber to protect. Goodnight your highness." He stepped out and Nec stepped in as NMM turned to Luna once more, he could hear her crying from inside but Shadow felt hurt as well so he didn't feel as much sympathy.

Night turned to day and Shadow left the castle, he remembered his talk with NMM but he brushed it off as old spite from Luna for going back with Aurora, "I'm only going to be her friend, nothing more. She did hurt me after all." He got a potion from Magic Mike's and drank it so he could be awake to grab some lunch with Aurora, as he reached his home, he saw her sitting on his porch steps. He smiled a bit and walked up to her.

She turned to see him and stood up, she dressed quite well for a simple lunch, "Hey Shadow! I um...I thought I'd meet you here instead of heading straight to the restaurant. Hope you don't mind."

Shadow shook his head dismissively, "It's fine Aurora, I'll just get changed quickly so we can go." He opened the door and let her in, she sat in the living room as he made his way to his bedroom to change. He was amazed by how she looked, she stopped dressing that way after they got married so it was a nice surprise to him. He took out some clothes and started to take off his current ones when he felt somepony's arms around his waist, he turned to see Aurora's blushing face close to his.

"Shadow...I'm sorry for barging in but...I really did miss you all this time...and maybe...maybe we could be more than friends..." she said as she brought her lips close to his and kissed him.

Shadow was shocked but was swept away by the moment and returned her kiss. As the two enjoyed each other's lips, a third party was outside in the air, viewing all that was happening.

"Why Shadow? Why are you going back to her?" said Luna as she wept silently.