What Path to Choose

Drako made his way toward the chamber where his ruler and the ruler of all of Equestria, Princess Celestia. He sighed as he neared the door knowing that she wasn’t happy with him after his last assignment. He was one of her best ponies but he also was her most disobedient.

He stopped not too far from the large golden doors looking at himself in the gold’s reflection. He was the same as ever, a tall Pegasus, with dark grey fur, black mane and tail, Bright green eyes, and a nasty scar over his left eye. His cutie mark was a crescent moon with a sword going through it. He remembered when he was young and first got his cutie mark. It was his sign that he would be a warrior, well the sword was but he never really figured out what the moon meant apart from matching his last name. Or at least that is what he liked to tell himself.

He sighed again and pushed the doors open keeping his head low as he made his way into the throne room. He moved close to the long stair case that lead up to the large pony with her flowing mane and tail and white fur, his Princess. He bowed low and said “Your Highness it’s been a while since we last saw each other.”

She smiled at him and nodded for her guards to leave “My faithful and trustworthy Guard Drako Moon it’s been too long. I am sorry to call you away from your duties.”

“We both know I had no duties to do thanks to my captain.” Said Drako getting up

Her smiled fell a little as she said “That is true but a Princess always needs to look as proper as she can.”

“Yes your majesty I understand. What is it I may ask you called me here for?”

“Well seeing how you haven’t yet finished a proper mission with your team without doing something…well…stupid. So I am reassigning you to a royal guard. A personal guard to be more exact.” Her smile grew bigger as she said this

He jumped at bit at that and said with a frown “You have to be joking! You want me to stand here every day watching over you? I’m a fighter not a statue; I can’t do this.”

“Well it’s either that or you can go back to your team with a demotion as a Privet.” Said the princess no longer smiling

He frowned then bowed again “I guess option one can’t be too bad then. But do you know how bad I am going to look in that guards outfit?”

She started laughing “Ok I’m done teasing you Drako Moon come follow me. You’re not my guard.” With that she got up and walked down the stairs and toward a side hall.

“You know you’re not that funny your majesty, but at least I won’t have to be a personal Guard.”

“Oh but you do I wasn’t joking about that. You’re just not going to be my personal guard you’re going to be my sister’s.”

He stopped dead in his tracks “Wait Princess Luna’s Personal Guard. You mean the pony once known as Nightmare Moon?”

She stopped too “Why do you have a problem of that Drako Moon?”

He smiled “No not at all, I just wanted to make sure was all.”

“You’re an odd one Drako Moon.” Said Celestia as she started moving toward her sister’s room. She stopped outside the open door and said “Luna it’s me I have your new personal Guard here.”

“Tell him to go away. We need no Guard we are powerful and can take care of our self.” Said Luna from inside her room

“What did I tell you about manners and talking like that? Now stop it and say hi to your new guard.” Said Celestia

“Fine oh dear sister send him in then.”

“Sorry she gets a little moody during the day, normally she stays up all night.” Said Celestia

“I know the feeling.” Said Drako following Celestia in to Luna’s Room

“Luna meet Drako Moon formally of the Second Battalion on the southern border.” Said Celestia

Luna stood there with a frown on her dark face. Her dark blue fur and star filled main was beautiful yet frightening at the same time. Drako bowed to her and said “It’s nice to meet you your majesty.”

“We have heard of you…” started Luna but she was interrupted by her sister

“Luna what did I say?”

She rolled her eyes “Fine…I have heard of you Drako Moon. You are quite the fighter from what I have heard.”

Celestia smiled and turned to leave “Luna knows how this works she’s had a few guards before you Drako. She’ll fill you in.”

With that the princess walked out of the door shutting it behind her. Drako sighed and looked over at her and bowed again “Well my princess what is it I need to know.”

“Luna please, I get so tired of being called Princess all the time.” Said Luna sitting back down on her large round bed “I haven’t been around any ponies for a long time and hearing that word all the time…well it’s just annoying.”

“I thought every mare liked being called a Princess.” Said Drako

“Every mare but me. I mean yes it has its upsides but all this getting used to different change of edict over the years and having to watch people bow down to you all the time is boring. It’s also hard to find a real friend when your royalty. No matter how hard I try every pony is either scared of me or to nice. I’m sure even you’ll be like that sooner or later just so you can keep a job.” Said Luna

Drako chuckled “You couldn’t be farther from the truth there Luna. I wanted nothing more than to fight and that was it. But your sister thinks it better that I am your guard instead of doing what I am supposed to do.”

Luna looked at him and smiled “Is that so and what is it you are supposed to do?”

“I found when I was a little colt that I was meant to be a fighter.” Said Drako

“Is that how you got that cutie mark then Drako?” asked Luna

“Yes in Cloudsdale but it’s not a story I like to talk about really.”

“Oh come on my new guard tell your princess the story it would amuse us.” Said Luna with a grin

“I would prefer not to your highness. It’s not a story I like to tell…like most things in my life. So let’s just drop this and you can tell me what my new job is so I can do it. And probably fail at some point and your sister will find a new job for me.” Said Drako looking away from her

Luna sighed then smiled again thinking of something “How about this. I won’t make you put on the royal guard’s uniform if you escort me on a night out.”

“You want me to take you on a date but we only just met your highness and I’m sorry but I’m not really into being seen on dates with Royalty.” Said Drako frowning

“It’s not a date and we won’t be staying here in Canterlot. I want to visit Ponyville. It’s the home of the one’s who changed me back into who I am and put an end to Nightmare Moon. I was there for Nightmare Night but I can’t seem to ever get away after that to visit and I would like to visit it without it being a holiday focused on when I was still…well you know…evil.” Said Luna looking away blushing

“Well if it gets me out of putting on the outfit then fine. I haven’t been to Ponyville in a long time. I know it is a small place and not a lot happened there.” Said Drako getting to his hooves

“That is what I thought too but my sisters student Twilight Sparkle lives there now and from what I have read in her letters that I steal from Celestia, it’s always got something going on.” Said Luna getting to her Hooves as well

“But what about your sister? Wouldn’t she be mad if I were to let you go off to Ponyville like this?” Asked Drako

Luna’s horn started to glow a dark blue and a piece of parchment and a quill hovered in front of her and she started to write saying as she did “Dearest sister Celestia, I feel like getting out of the castle for a while and visit with your Student Twilight Sparkle. As you said before I need to start making friends so I figured I would start with the one you sent out to learn more on Friendship. Do not worry my new personal guard will be with me and no other. I’ll miss you while I’m gone but will return as soon as I can. I will still do my duties in raising the moon every night though…Promise Love your sister Luna.”

“Sounds like crap to me.” Said Drako laughing

“It is and I’m sure she’ll come looking for me once she finds it. So for now let’s have fun what do you say?” said Luna

“I say let’s get flying.” Said Drako opening his wings

She smiled back at him “You’re an odd stallion you know that Drako.”

He smiled back at her and took to the air “It’s funny I been hearing that a lot today…”

Drako found that Luna was quite a fast flyer on the way to Ponyville. He prided himself on being one of the fastest Pegasus in all of Equestria. He had only known two pony’s faster than himself but that was a memory he wanted to forget. But he was still surprised that she could keep up with him. So in no time they found themselves landing in the middle of Ponyville.

Luna had put on a hooded cape to keep over her head so people wouldn’t notice her. She didn’t want other pony’s getting scared or over excited on the fact that Princess Luna had just came to Ponyville. Even though Drako thought her size would be enough of a give away.

The bright moon was still high in the sky putting the time around midnight. He looked around and sighed not even thinking about the fact that no one would be awake at this time of night. He turned to Luna and said “I think every pony is still sleeping.”

“They are it's one of the reasons I don’t like being the one to bring up the moon. No one is ever awake to see how beautiful it is.” Said Luna holding back a small sob

“Luna that isn’t true at all I know plenty of Ponies who like to stay awake at night just to look up at your beautiful Moon.” Said Drako with a smile

“If this is so then tell us about two.” Said Luna

He sighed “First off stop with the We and Us, its I and Me ok. And Second I am one of them who love to look up at the moon every night. I find the glow to be magical. Something you can’t get during the day when everypony is too busy working or whatever. The second pony is…well…never mind.”

“See you can’t even tell us…I mean me about two pony’s who like my night only yourself and that I don’t even think is true.”

He grew a little angry at this and said back “That’s a lie I can think of her…I just can’t…well…talk about her.”

Luna looked a little shocked at this and said in a softer tone “We…I…am sorry to have offended you, I was only saying it’s hard to believe is all. Who is this pony?”

“She was one of my only friends I had in flight school. Well her and another pony I should say. The two of them were always protecting me. You see I wasn’t always a tough guy back then. I used to be afraid of everything. But she…she saw me for who I was. It was something she was always good at, seeing who pony’s really are. She used to sit up on the top of a hill with me at night when I would sneak out and…just look up at your Beautiful moon with me.” Said Drako

“It sounds to me like you are in love with this Pony, Drako Moon.”

“At one time yes, but after some time went by I saw that she didn’t feel the same about me. I think it was because of who I became. I’m not sure…but like I said I don’t like to talk about my past. I am who I am now and I’m not…can’t change that now.” Said Drako

Luna was about to say something when a voice called from behind them “Princess Luna is that you?”

They both turned to see a Purple Unicorn walking toward them with a saddle bag full of books and a smile that was a little too big. Luna smiled too and said “Twilight Sparkle what brings you out at such a late hour?”

Twilight walked up to them both and smiled saying “I was getting some books back from Lyra and Bon Bon and they kept me late. But enough about me why are you in Ponyville?”

“I wanted to get away and try and get to know some new ponies or your friends better. I found it’s not easy being along all the time. Oh and please forgive my manners this is my new personal Guard…” said Luna but she was cut off

Twilight looked shocked and backed up a little saying “Oh my Celestia it can’t be you. Drako Moon of the Sands?”

“Drako please the sands thing was something stupid made up by my team.”

“And for good reason I have read all about you. You were the best fighter in Celestia’s border guard. Your only flaw is that you never take orders to heart and well mess up your mission’s. I heard you left your team not long ago in the paper but I had no idea you got assigned to Royal guard. That must sting a little after a long history of fighting.”

“Yes it can be a little but not as bad as I thought it would be. I find that Luna here is a great mare to talk too. Not like talking to her sister. It’s all business and no fun.” Said Drako with a laugh

Luna almost fell down she started laughing so hard “Oh that is so true.”

Twilight looked a little bothered by this but she chuckled a little and said in a more high pitched tone “Yeah funny...but careful what you say I mean she is our ruler after all.”

“Well Twilight Sparkle it was nice to meet you and all but we have to be going. We need to find a place to stay for the night I have to do my job somewhat well and find the princess a good bed to sleep in.” said Drako turning to leave

“Oh you can stay at my place I have an extra room the princess can stay in for the night until the sun is up and then I can invite the girls over and we can all have a good time. That will give me time to help you get to know more about friendship and Ponyville Princess.” Said Twilight sounding way to happy

Luna blushed some then said “Well I guess that would be alright with me…that is if my guard thinks it would be a safe place to stay the night.”

“You’re Celestia’s Student right Ms. Sparkle?”

“Yes her only privet student.”

“Well then I see no reason why we couldn’t trust you. It will also save us a bit of two not having to stay the night at an inn and paying them off to not tell people the princess is in town.” Said Drako

“Oh once Pinkie Pie finds out I’m sure everyone will know. It’s only a matter of time just you watch.” Said Twilight walking off

“Oh yes Pinkie Pie the chatter mouth. Well I do not mind to much if they find out as long as its tomorrow and not tonight I am tired and require a good night’s sleep oddly enough.” Said Luna following

Drako did the same wondering to himself as he followed “What am I getting myself into?”

It didn’t take long for them to reach Twilights house or more like a large Library with a bedroom over looking it and a smaller room off to the side where another bed was. She told them spike normally slept in her room and the other room was for her friends if they didn’t want to walk home or felt like staying a night.

After a bit of chatter and a laugh or two they all said good night and Luna went off to her room and Twilight to hers leaving Drako in the main room to lay down near Luna’s door.

He started to think about how his day was going and found it wasn’t as bad as he thought but at the same time it wasn’t going well too. He had just helped the Princess run away to Ponyville on a whim and all he did was watch her go and didn’t’ try and stop her. He should have said something to Celestia first or something but once again he found himself trapped between doing the right thing and being his own boss.

It was always his down fall too. With his family, his job, his love life. Always he did the second thing. He liked to do what he wanted no matter what anyone else said about it. He was stubborn and it was just the way he was there was no way around it. Sure he had tried a few times to do something about it but it always ended the same.

He sighed and laid down on the soft couch in Twilights living room not too far off from Luna’s room so he could hear if anything happened to her. Slowly he shut it eyes and let his tired body fall into a long deep slumber.

The next morning he was awoken suddenly by a high pitched squeal. He jumped to his hooves and looked around ready for an attack of some kind. But he found himself met by a Pink Pony with curly hot pink hair. She had three balloons for a cutie mark and a smile bigger than any he had ever seen. She let off a giggle and sat down on her rear looking at him with her bright eyes.

“Hi there mister sleepy head I’m Pinkie Pie, and who might you be…oh and why are you sleeping on Twilights couch. Did you two hook up last night I mean I know she ran off home a bit early last night but I just thought she wanted to read or something like that. I never thought she was meeting another pony or even a big stallion like yourself. But I thought I saw her going toward Bon Bon and Lyra’s palce. Oh but wait if you spent the night then why did you sleep on the couch? Did you two fight or was she not good or did you find out she was a really big egg head? Or were you drunk?...” Drako stopped her but putting his hoof to her muzzle

“Do you ever stop talking?”

He moved his hoof and she started again like nothing had stopped her “If you were drunk it was really nice of you to stay down here and not make a fool of yourself and no I don’t stop talking unless I don’t have anything to say which is normally not a problem.”

“I can see that. And no I didn’t…hook up with Twilight last night I’m Princess Luna’s Personal guard she is here visiting and we got in late last night and Ms. Twilight Sparkle offered us her home to rest for the night.” Said Drako rubbing his head. This pink pony was starting to give him a head ach and the day hadn’t even started yet.

“OH! Princess Luna! I love her so much she was so much fun the last time we saw her. She gave the little filly’s quite a scare it was so funny!” said Pinkie Pie with a giggle

Before he could say anything else Twilight came out from her kitchen and smiled “Pinkie let him at least get up before you start talking his ear off.” She then turned to Drako and smiled “I’m sorry Mr. Moon but Pinkie gets a little out of hand some times. Also Princess Luna is still sleeping I think she did get up last night to lower the moon so her sister could bring up the sun but I haven’t heard a peep from her since then.”

“It’s ok Ms. Sparkle I’m sure she is tired after her long day yesterday I’ll let he sleep a bit longer.”

She blushed some and said “Please call me Twilight.” She then turned to Pinkie and said “So why did you want to come see me today Pinkie?”

“OH yes I almost forgot! Rainbow and I wanted to see if you could help us with something. There is thing we saw in the evergreen forest the other day and well we figured you know so much about well almost everything you could help us.” Said Pinkie “Rainbow will be here any second I’m sure she just had to finish clearing the skies.”

Drako stopped dead as he was getting up at the name and he turned quickly to say something but before he could the door to Twilights house opened and a blue Pegasus entered with a bright Rainbow main and tail and beautiful Purple Pink eyes. He swore and tried to move behind the couch.

She walked in saying “Twilight did Pinkie tell you what we found you have to come see it…” then she stopped looking over at Drako who was doing a poor job of hiding himself “Twilight who in Equestria is that?”

“Oh Princess Luna is here visiting she is still sleeping, and this is her Personal Guard…” started Twilight but she was cut off by Luna who took that moment to walk out of her room

“My guard We…I have woken and am ready to have a nice fun day off here in Ponyville…why are you hiding behind that couch come and stand next to me as you should.” Said Luna almost yelling

Rainbow Dash flew forward and stopped in front of Luna putting herself between her and Drako and she said in an angry voice “How dare you show your face after what you did Drako Moon.”

“What are thou talking about Ms. Rainbow Dash. Drako is my guard and a nice one at that.” Said Luna

“Sorry to be offensive Princess but Shut up. You can’t Trust Drako.”

Drako couldn’t listen anymore and he jumped forward his muzzle inches form Rainbow’s “Shut up Dash you have no idea what happened that day NO idea.”

“Um…guys…” started Twilight

“Quiet Twi.” Said Rainbow then she turned back to Drako “Do you even know where she is or what has happened to her since you left four years ago, Either of them for that matter.”

“I sent money to her to make sure she could get by and made sure she was taken care of or have you forgotten that Dash. I spent every waking moment hating myself for what happened.” He said growing angry too

“Yeah money and that was it as for a place to stay you dropped her on my door step and left without even saying good bye. And don’t even get me started on…”

“Don’t bring her into this that was none of your business she made her choice and that is that.” Said Drako yelling now

Finally with a surge of magic Twilight separated them and made it so they couldn’t talk. Then she said “Princess Luna with your promotion may I ask you to step away from them so I can figure out what is wrong with them?”

“Twilight Sparkle my sisters most faithful student feel free. I too would like to know what is going on.” Said the princess walking over next to a (for once in her life) quiet Pinkie Pie

“Now Rainbow you first. What are you two talking about? Who is this she you keep bringing up?” Said Twilight letting Rainbow free of the spell

She frowned then looked at her friend saying “We are talking about two Mare’s to put it right. The first one is Drako’s Ex Marefriend and the other is his sister who he left as a little filly on my door step after their parents passed away.”

“And who are they.”

“I won’t tell you about his Ex that I’ll make him explain himself but as for his sister…well you all should know her quiet well. I been letting her live with me for years now.” Said Rainbow

“OH no way!” said Pinkie Pie

“Wait who has been living with you Dash I thought you lived alone.” Said Twilight

“Sadly Twi no I haven’t. Drako’s Sister is none other than Scootaloo. The Filly I have watched over for Four years now…”