Chapter 1 - The Beginning
We line up along a dirt drawn line in the middle of a half field half forest type terrain, preparing for the race ahead.
"You sure you can keep up? Racing doesn't seem 'up your alley'" My competitor/best friend says in a way Rainbow Dash would to Twilight when she wants to do something athletic.
I scoffed, "of coarse, just because I don't seem like an athletic pony doesn't mean I'm not one"
"Whatever you say", she replied coolly.
We both looked forward determined to win. "Ready." I said first
"Set." she replied
"Go" we both said in union and took off down the trail. For the first few minutes we stayed neck and neck until she decides to play dirty and inch towards me driving me to almost run into a tree so I stop.
"Oh that was so fair!" I yelled to her and she turns her head and sticks her tongue out. I growl and rears up then begins sprinting towards her easily catching up from my little break.
I hit her flank with my head throwing her off balance and runs slightly faster. As soon as she regains balance she attempts catching up but I stay right ahead of her and she says jokingly "you're just lucky I don't have a horn or I'd steal your virginity right here, right now." And I blush/ laugh.
We jump over a series of fallen trees, rocks, and dodges large, low tree branches that found themselves in the middle of the path.
I suddenly dig my hooves in the ground to stop myself right before I fall down a ditch where a river was rapidly flowing by causing her to slam right into me throwing us both down the ditch but our wings quickly react and we fly back to the top the ditch. While panting heavily, we look at each other and burst out laughing.
"That.. was a.. close one" the dark grey, just a few shades off from black, Pegasus huffed out between breaths.
"Hehe, yeah" I said a bit light headed. She punches my shoulder in a joking manner.
"Don't tell me your all worn out. Just because you don't get out much doesn't mean you can let yourself go"
I gasp and slams my right foreleg on the ground and spreads my wings threateningly "Just because we cant get out much doesn't mean we don't keep ourself in shape. Yes, we do have responsibilities to handle every night but we do have nights off every now and then such as this one so stop your complaining"
She scoffs and says knowing I let my grammar slip only when I'm sad, angry, embarrassed, or nervous "okay, okay, calm yourself Luna. Don't get yourself all worked up. You know what happened last time you got worked up" My ears lay back and I hang my head shameful, and on the brink of crying from the memories which alerts her and she lifts a foreleg eagerly and corrects her mistake "whoa I didn't mean to hurt your feelings, I'm sorry"
"We, I mean, I, know. I get like this whenever I think about my mistakes. I cant help it"
"You are an extremely sensitive pony. Almost soft"
I wipe the small tear from the eye she cant see "We are not soft, Nightwing, We are... emotional"
Her tone is defining "soft. And I thought I told you to only call me Night"
I glare at her then sighs "whatever. I'm hungry, Lets go get something to eat"
"I could eat". We take off to the sky back towards Canterlot to find a restaurant that fits our taste. She grins and jerks forward slowly indicating she wants to be in the lead and I laugh softly.
"You just cant help yourself, can you?"
"Nope." She takes off in a flying sprint and I roll my eyes and easily catches up due to my larger, and more muscular, wings and sticks my tongue out at her and passes her. Her small size dose give her just as much as an advantage as my large size is though and she bullets by me and I laugh and slows down letting her win as she dives straight down when we are over Canterlot and rolls in tight circles, right before she hits the ground, to slow down and plants her hooves on the ground not even dizzy while I just simply glide down since I am above that kind of behavior and lands next to her as she pants. "Just because your a princess doesn't mean I'll take it easy on you"
"Well I have standards and-"
"And apparently responsibilities" she interrupts and I shoot her a glare.
"You know I hate being interrupted, but as I was saying, I have standards that were given to me and I have no choice but to follow them"
"That sounds boring"
"You have no idea, but anyways, lets go eat" We walk around the large city looking for a nice place to eat. When we finally decide on a small, cheep place, despite the royal discount I receive from any restaurant in Equestria, we enter it, greeted by a stallion waiter at the door.
He bows at my presents and says "Good evening, Princess. How many?"
"Two" I grumble and he turns and takes us to a table and we sit.
"A waiter will shortly be with you to take your drinks" he turns and yells in a surprisingly loud voice from a fancy stallion as he trots away "MARCEL!, GET YOUR SLOW FLANK OVER HERE, THE PRINCESS SHALL NOT WAIT FOR A SORRY EXCUSE SUCH AS YOURSELF!"
The sudden yell made both of us jump and stole the attention of everypony in the restaurant and caused them all to look our way and I groan and buries my head in my forelegs and Night looks at everypony and says threateningly "Mind your businesses. I'm sure none of you would like to be stared at" everypony scoffs and turns now talking about us and Night looks at me "What is wrong with you, I would personally milk my princessness if i were one"
I lift my head up "Well your not me, and I hate all of attention this curse brings to me"
"Curse?"
"Just don't ask, please"
Finally the other waiter, one who is obviously new and is a bit clumsy and even more obvious, wasn't born and raised in Canterlot, shows up and says "Sorry for the delay, it seems that you two were having a moment I shouldn't interrupt"
"Nah, don't sweat it, Marcel" Night says while waving her hoof dismissively.
"Well, what can I get you two to drink, this evening"
"I would like a hay milkshake, myself, what about you Luna?". I don't answer since my head found its way back to my forearms and she sighs and answers for me "Make that two"
He nods and leaves, a lot less quiet then the previous waiter had.
"Girl, you need to-" she stops as she catches sight of a light brown Unicorn stallion with a darker brown mane cut much like the popular DJ Vinyl Scratch, with a cloak that matches his coat color, sitting alone a few tables over, staring at us. More specifically, me. She growls lowly and says now angry "I thought I told you to stop staring" but the stallion says and dose nothing but continue to stare. Nights facial expression turns hostile "I'll give you something to stare at if you don't quit"
I lift my head up and obvious that I have been silently crying "It's okay, Night, in case you've forgotten, I am something to stare at"
Her expression softens but she stares back at the stallion and says "But its the way he's staring, its like.. pedofoalish"
"He's probably just fantasizing the stuff he'd like to do to me, a lot of stalli-" I stop talking as I finally turn to look at the stallion and it concerns Night.
"Luna? Whats wrong?" I don't answer "Are you okay?" I still don't answer but I blush as if reacting to something and she finally understands. "Ohhh, I see, You-u-u-u like him"
I gasp finally breaking eye contact and reconnecting it to Nights but in a more defensive way "I most certainly do not"
She burst out laughing "AH HAHAHAHA DENIAL IS THE CLENCHER HAHAHA!"
I scoff but blushes more and the stallion even blushes a little and she calms down now more serious "Why don't you go talk to him?"
"Why should I?"
"Because you like him"
"So, what if I do. I cant be with anypony. I am royalty. It's forbidden and my sister and the royal court would deeply frown upon it"
"Yeah I know, and it's stupid as hell. I don't care what they say. Go talk to him. Your a big mare. You make your own decisions."
"O-okay" I get up and slowly walks towards him and she sighs and pushes me with her head from behind until I'm standing right next to him and she leaves and I laugh nervously but remembers who I am and acts as if this this pony never even heard of me before by having a formal posture with a straight face trying to push away my nervousness "G-greetings, fair civilian. We art Princess Luna"
He spoke my name along with me and chuckles at my nervousness easily covering his own and I blush harder.
"What is thou name?"
He smiles and says "Crystal Flame, but just Crystal for short, maybe even Chris if you'd like".
"Crystal is what we prefer, but thank you"
"For what?"
"What?"
"Thank me for what?"
I open my mouth to say something but closes it at a loss for words and my whole face reddens and he laughs again.
"No need to be afraid, princess"
"W-we don't even know why we are acting this way, it's so unlike us"
"I just love your way of speech, I heard you still used ancient language but I didn't know if was so thick"
"we - I - am only learning the new language of this time, t'is very confusing"
"heh, I bet"
"Yo, Luna, your foods getting cold" Night says loud enough to be heard this far and I look at her.
"But I didn't order"
"Gotcha covered.. I know what you like" I look at the salad in the place I was sitting.
"I-I don't think salads get cold, nor were they at all warm to begin with" I reply flatly and she shrugs.
"Needed a way to get your attention" I roll my eyes and look back at Crystal who has an amused look from our playful banter.
"Would you like to come sit with us?" I asked.
"Sure" I smile at his response and leads him to our table and sits where I was before eyeing my salad making sure its perfect and looks at her.
"You really do know me, Night."
"Someone has to"
"You know, you two act very much like a married couple" Crystal says looking back and forth between us.
I sigh "We're not, believe me"
"You seem upset about it"
"Yea bro, what, do you have a little crush going on or something?" Night playfully teases.
I hesitate to say "For a while, yeah. But I grew out of it". Night has a surprised expression that says 'shit just got serious' and I continue "But that is not why I seem upset"
"Is it what you told me earlier?" she asks and I nod and holds back tears now unable to speak or I'll break so I just look down.
"What am I missing out on now?" Crystal asks and Night explains everything I told her about 10-15 minutes ago about how I am forbidden to love but a lot more detailed and even explains why it has to be that way.
"Now that is just ridiculous" Crystal almost shouts while slamming a hoof on the table. "They cant keep you from loving someone, your still a pony like every pony else, not a mindless robot just because your royalty, you still have emotions. You can feel things, and in some cases better then others. In fact, it was your emotions that led you to your raging turn and caused-"
Night desperately signaled him to not bring up that horrible night behind my back and he gets the message.
"Well, you get the picture. They cant contain you in the walls of that castle"
I sniffle and decides to just not hold it in anymore and I burst into tears and grabs onto him in a bear hug and he quickly scans for royal guards anywhere near before he returns it, so they don't arrest him for physical contact with a princess.
The commotion has, again drawn everyponys attention and Night yells "SERIOUSLY ARE WE DOING THIS AGAIN?!". She looks at me calmly "can we just go?"
"Only if.. he comes.. with" I muffle through his chest.
"I honestly don't care at this point" She puts enough bits on the table to pay for her food and leaves, even tough neither of us even touched our food, and I let go following not having to pay due to my discount and Crystal walks beside me.
When we are out of the restaurant I say "c-can we go back to the castle, its near morning and Tia will be wondering were I am when she wakes up"
"Whatever" Night coolly says "what about you, Crystal"
"That would be amazing" he replies excited and we head towards the royal castle.
When we arrive at the castle I take us to the throne room and Crystal admires the beauty of the castles interior, paintings, and especially the stained glass windows taking a long look at the one resembling the defeat of Nightmare Moon.
"I would so-o-o-o get lost in this place" Crystal says as he sits next to me as I sit on my throne and I scoff.
"This place? Nothing compared to Tias and my old castle" I giggle while saying "I hid traps everywhere without Tias permission and it was hysterical to watch her slowly discover them all".
He laughs "Yeah, it would be funny to see the most regal pony in Equestria embarrass herself like that"
"Oh it would, wouldn't it" Celestia says from the doorway to the throne room clearly not amused causing us all to jump.
"Oh dear Celestia it's.. Celestia" He frantically says while bowing.
"W-w-what are you doing up?" I stutter out afraid of what might happen
She walks forward and stops right before the small set of stairs in front of the thrones then says in the same tone "Not sure if you noticed the time, or even your horn, at that" She gestures to my semi-dimly glowing horn that tells me its time to lower the moon.
"Oh dear, I didn't even notice it, I'm sorry"
"I noticed" she states not getting any happier "I've been waiting for you for 5 minutes out on the balcony, what have you been doing with this-" she pauses and glares at Crystal for a moment then reverts her stare back to me "-stallion" she emphasizes the last word.
My ears flatten and I say defensively "Certainly not what you are thinking"
"But you wanted it to, I can sense it, kind of even smell it. Now lets go"
I sigh and follows her with my head down since its true and Crystal quietly asks Night what we were talking about and she gestures 'sex' as best she can without bursting out laughing and Crystal gasps lowly and watches me leave the room ashamed.
He looks at the seat of my throne and notices a small wet spot in the middle of it and he freezes up, so Night looks at where his eyes are locked at and also sees it "O..m..g. Tia was right, she was thinking of sex, dude you should totally bang her. Only one stallion has every banged a princess and that's because they're married. Like, every stallion will envy you.
"I can't just have sex with her, that's just wrong. And what if I did and her sister found out. Who knows what she'd do to me. I think she hates me"
"Okay first, She's a princess, she doesn't hate anyone, except maybe Discord but that's because he's bad. And second, if you do bang her, it would prove how much you meant that little speech you made at the restaurant"
"Well, that's true, but still"
"But nothing, you-" She stops when we both enter and the sun is now present and we both walk up to Night and Crystal Celestia says firmly
"My sister has told me she had no intensions of my accusing but is simply in heat so she cant help it" She looks at Night and continues "as a good friend of hers I want you to keep them in check and make sure they do noting they know they shouldn't. If you fail to do so I will get a guard to"
Night nods in understanding and Celestia glares at Crystal that says 'don't you try anything, I don't like you' then walks away and he sighs "told you she doesn't like me"
"So you lied to your sister?" Night asks and she looks at me, who is shamefully holding my head down in embarrassment.
"Y-yeah" I meek out.
She giggles "so he turns you on?"
I glare at her and doesn't answer but instead changes the subject and looks at Crystal "Where exactly do you live?"
He immediately blushes from nervousness and looks down "oh um.. nowhere really, I'm pretty much an orphan. My family died a few years ago and I couldn't pay for the house myself"
"That explains the cloak" Night mumbles.
I gasp "that simply won't work, I will arrange for you to stay in the room right next to Nights"
"you really don't need-"
"Nonsense" I interrupt him.
"Okay, excuse me for asking but, if your homeless then how did you have money to get into that restaurant?" Night asks curiously.
"Just because I'm homeless doesn't mean I don't have friends, well, a friend. He treated me to lunch. He's pretty much the pony who has been keeping me alive. He left shortly before you came in the restaurant."
"Well, let me show you to your new home" I interrupt then trots out of the room and he quickly follows not wanting to get lost and follows this time behind me. He accidently caught a glimpse of underneath my tail as I trot but quickly looked away knowing it was wrong. After a few seconds he gave up the fight and full on stared at it and Night, who is beside him without him even knowing, sees what he's doing and bumps shoulders with him getting his attention through scare and whispers so I cant hear.
"You know you want it"
"N-no, I don't. I-its wrong
She scoffs "Don't fight it, but uh, you might want to stop now"
"Wha-" Crystal didn't even get to finish his word before I stopped suddenly, half for a purpose, and that purpose isn't because we arrived, and Crystal slams face first into my hind quarters and quickly backs away now frightened. "Oh my gosh, I am so sorry, I-I didn't mean it, I didn't see you stop and-"
"Hey" I interrupt, "don't sweat it, accidents happen.. and you uhh.. got a little something on your face" I say almost seductively as I walk into his room hoping he'd see I intended for him to slam into me but Night sees it before he dose and says lowly.
"Okay, no denial now. She's horny, probably in heat, and has you in mind. Bro, she wants you"
"I-I know, but I-I-I can't"
"Just show her your interested"
"Hey!" I shout from inside "you guys coming or not?
"y-yeah", he nervously says back and walks in and Night follows.
I give a tour of the large room containing a queen sized bed, large bathroom, and a small balcony.
Crystal looks at the room amazed. "This.. is so.. cool" He mumbles with a loss of words.
I giggle "you like it?"
"How could you not, I could probably get lost in this room alone if I tried"
"Now I don't think that's true"
"I was being sarcastic"
I look at him confused and he remembers then explains, "Sarcastic is using irony in order to mock or convey contempt"
"Oh-h-h" I laugh understanding. I look at the bed and lays down on it, stretching first and lays on my back sighing.
"You okay?" He asks as he walks over and sits next to me.
"Y-yeah"
"Are you sure? You still seem upset."
"Crystal can I have a moment with you" Night says interrupting us.
"Um, sure?". He gets up and follows Night outside.
"Have fun" I say with a fake smile and they shut the door behind them.
"Okay, few things you should know about Luna" Night starts lowly. "First, she's sensitive. She even rivals that Fluttershy mare, the one who represents the Element of Kindness"
"Wow, really? That mare? Didn't she take lessons from that one Iron Will guy then turn into a real jerk" He says surprised.
"Yeah but Luna is different. She's not shy, like at all."
"She seemed kind of shy around me back at the restaurant"
"That was nervousness. Not shyness. Piss her off enough and she'll bight your head off. He jerks back a bit.
"Wow"
"Yeah, so just be careful with her. Second, whatever you do, do NOT bring up the whole Nightmare Moon thing, ever"
"Bet I can guess why" He says flatly.
"Exactly, you don't even want to know what happened when I did the first time"
"Kind of do now"
"No you don't. Lastly, don't do anything weird around her sister"
"Was planning to just avoid her all together."
She laughs sarcastically "haa, good luck with that. If there's anything else you need to know that I forgot I'll let you know or if you have any questions about her, I'm your mare. Any questions?"
He thinks for a moment. "Nope"
"Good." She goes back inside and he follows only to find me crying and she stops and gestures me mouthing 'see?'.
His ears go down saddened and he sits back where he was before he was interrupted while Night sits in a corner not wanting to interrupt anymore. "I knew you were sad. Mind telling my why?"
I jump a bit from not knowing they came back and I sniffle and raises my head. "It's noting. Just don't worry about it."
"And if I want to worry?"
"Just don't, please"
"How much trouble do I get if I disobey a princess?"
"I'm asking nicely for you to drop it" I half shout almost loosing my temper but I calm down.
"I just want to help you"
"I-I know, I'm just. I'm sorry." I start crying a little more and he doesn't even bother asking even though he knows he should and hugs me and I take a few seconds to respond and return it. "C-could you lay with me. I-I know we like just met but and It's wrong but, I just need comforted." He says the last word with me then continues himself.
"I know. You're hurt. I may not know why but that's okay. I want to help you any way I can" he replies as honest and sincere he can. Then he lets go, jumps up on the bed himself, lays next to me, and continues hugging me. I face I'm and lays my head on his chest but tries not to poke him with my horn.
He runs a hoof trough my mane in an attempt to comfort me and I sniffle again. "Thank you, and I have a reason to do so this time"
"Oh really, what's that?" He curiously replies.
"For being there for me when no one else as"
"What about Night?"
"She doesn't count"
"Oh thanks" She says flatly and I laugh softly.
"Oh be quiet, you know you wouldn't do what he's doing right now"
"Hmm, touché"
"Exactly". I suddenly shutter and gets goose bumps and Night grins knowing very well what shuttering means when it comes from me.
"So, Luna. I've been seeing the signs. Seems to me you weren't lying. You really are in heat, are you?"
I sigh, "Yeah, okay I am. So what, ya gonna make fun of me for it? Sorry for doing something I don't control."
"Whoa girl, calm down. It was just a question. No need to bight my head off. Sheesh." she replies quickly.
I stand up and says, almost yelling, threateningly, "Then why the hell is it so important?"
She sits up now afraid that I might have one of my episodes and quickly attempts to calm me, "Luna please calm down. I don't want another one to start."
My tone is full of the insane madness that happens during an episode and I laugh crazily as I jump down and walks towards her with my wings out. "Another what? Don't you trust me? Friendships are based on trust"
She looks at Crystal, who is watching in fear, and yells at him. "Well don't just stand there! Do something!"
He snaps out of it and runs in front of me but my eyes are locked on Night and he tries everything he can except for one thing but they all fail. Until he realizes what he thinks will calm me and he kisses me. It works.
I stop everything and returns his kiss. Enjoying it, and returning it more passionately then I intended and I wrap my arms around him which makes him nervous.
When I finally break it we lock eyes and something clicks insides both of us. A small flame ignited within us.
"I-I" He stammers out but I put a hoof over his mouth as a tear rolls down my eyes and a smile creeps It's way on my face and I hug him again laying my head on his chest and he smiles, rocking back and fourth.
Night crazily trots in place excited and trying not to scream from happiness as he witnessed the two fall in love.
