Child of the night: Twilight of the Night guard

Twilight stood at the entrance to the Night Guard recruitment center in Canterlot, where they take new recruits. It was just after midnight and she had left her home in Canterlot, in the lower noble district. Her goal was to join up after some pushing from her adoptive parents, they were a family that believed in the honour of serving the diarchy, and largely that meant going into military service.

However seeing as she was a shinso (True ancestor vampire) she had to join the Night Guard instead of the Day Guard, which Shining Armor her adoptive brother had joined. As a shinso she had a natural distaste for the day, despite it not actually hurting her. Also because of her affliction, ever since she grew up she was perpetually stuck at age of an eighteen year old unicorn mare. Although she could also shapeshift if required to, this still presented her some difficulties, She didn’t shapeshift often as the amount of her power drained each time left her vulnerable to capture. Another unique feature, was that she had eyes of deepest crimson and she matched Fleur De Lis in height and body type, long legs and alicornesque figure.

The other reason for joining the Night Guard was that she wanted to protect her Princess, Luna; not that she really needed protecting and the ponies of Equestria against, criminals, scum, and invading armies. She also did this as further gratitude to the Princess of the Night whom had saved her.

******

Twilight sat on her haunches alone in the cobbled street a worn hat lay in front of her, she was much younger at the age of ten. She wore a ragged black cloak with a hood her coat was grimy and matted. Twilight was busking, using her naturally beautiful and alluring voice to earn bits so that she may eat something, A stallion came up to her his grin was a creepy lecherous one, he smelt of alcohol and cigarettes. He grabbed Twilight and pulled her flank first towards his crotch, he was attempting to mount her and he would have succeeded had she not twisted her neck and pushed her forehooves down to spring her head up close enough and sunk her teeth into his neck breaking his skin, blood flowing into her mouth her pupils turned into slits and her teeth sharpened, she started drinking it as it flowed almost seemingly endlessly. The stallion cursed as he flailed about trying to dislodge her from her death grip on his throat, only opening the wound further and letting his blood flow out faster, after what seemed hours but was in reality only a couple of minutes, he paled his eyes closed and fell down on to the ground into the blood that spilt from his wound as he had thrashed. His last breath rasped out and finally she let go backing up. Twilight leant her head back in ecstasy mouth hung open as she relished it, the blood tasted like the most delicious of meals she’d had everything paling in comparison. Twilight looked down, she was covered in his blood as the pleasure passed she realized and backed away. Passing a puddle of water, she saw her reflection in it’s surface and blanched. Her eyes were glowing, her mouth was covered in blood. ”What am I!?” she thought. Red eyes, blood sucking and biting. Twilight shook and shivered as the revelation hit her. “No! Am I a vampire!? How? I don’t remember being bitten!” A memory from a few years ago started playing in her mind.

—--—

Twilight trotted up to the crowd that was forming in the market square

“What’s going on?“she asked a mare who was standing near her.

“They found a vampire, a monster that bites onto you and sucks out your blood. The lieutenant is heading the execution, death by being burnt at the stake.”

The mare picked Twilight up so she could see above the crowd. Past the crowd sat a large wooden stage, which had a large and long post driven into the ground around it lots of firewood was piled around it, on the stake trapped by rope was a rust color unicorn mare with silver mane and tail in white clothes. A unicorn guard held a torch and scroll in his magic and shouted out.

“Ponies of Canterlot here today to witness the execution of one Rusty Gear, this mare has been found guilty of being a vampire.”

“How do you know she’s a vampire?” somepony in the crowd shouted

“The lieutenant replied “She looks like one! Burn the vampire! Burn her, burn her!”

“I am not a vampire, you cretins!” Rusty Gear shouted

The lieutenant responded by sneering at her and chucking the torch on the fire. As the flames built and built they eventually surrounded the mare, burning her. As the flames licked her body she screamed and thrashed about unable to free herself. The crowd cheered and jeered as she slowly burnt alive. Twilight grimaced and cringed at the blood curdling screams emanating from the mare as her flesh melted, pus and fat popping in the heat a horrible visage as layer upon layer of flesh was burned away, the smell of cooked meat filling the air and Twilight’s nose making her want to wretch the cracking of bone sounded out as the screams died down and as the bone was all that was left atop them the eternal, sightless gaze and eternally grinning skull was an unsettling for most ponies, and a terrifying sight for Twilight, causing her to have nightmares of the mare's skeleton chasing her, trying to cause her to join Rusty’s deadly fate.

—--—

“No! No! No! I don’t want to die!” she thought to herself  she started sobbing and fell on her haunches again and threw up, but no blood came back up, only the remnants of yesterday’s hayburger. She heard a gasp and turned to see it was a Night Guard and he came upon her,recognising her “Those eyes are the those of a Shinso, shit! That bloody mess must mean that she has fed! Bravo Mike Lima!” He went to stab her with his spear. but as he did Twilight’s tears stopped and her eyes narrowed into a glare of utter scorn and loathing. She charged the stallion in front of her knocking his spear out of his hoof, using the momentum from her swipe she planted her forehooves on the cobbled street and swung her rear legs around to buck the guard into the wall, a sickening crunch as his body met an immovable wall. His teammate ran into the fray brandishing hoof claws as she swung at Twilight, who was dodging each attack before jumping back and then propelling herself at the guard mare who winded and coughing from the force couldn’t counter attack “Ha! Is that all you got? You adults are all alike, cowing the weak with your power, but being cowed yourself when you've met your match. The Princesses must let anypony join these days if they let maggots and 'roaches of your measly caliber join their guard. You won't find me as easy to cow as the other street waifs you scum beat, rape, and kill. Perhaps maiming you, so you adults can’t hurt me and other waifs again, will teach you a lesson! If not, I’m always willing to deal out more pain until perhaps you’ll have a bit more sympathy for the ones you’re supposed to protect!" Twilight grabbed the mare in her magic lifting her up and breaking bones in the guard’s four legs and wings before she turned towards the wall her partner hit and threw her against the wall, letting her fall on her comrade. Twilight walked up to the fallen guards lost in her rage as she lifted her hoof to finish them, a sapphire blue glow surrounded her.

“Stay your hoof, young one!” a beautiful female voice ordered as she strided gracefully towards Twilight who was now spinning around to face the princess she growled Another adult, and it's the princess, what right has she to tell me to stop!? When this is a matter of survival, she'll never understand! Twilight lunged forward and attacked Luna as she swung her hooves at the towering mare each impact should have affected her. However all that was elicited from her foe were giggles from the Lunar princess.

"That tickles! He he he he he he!"

Twilight's rage was quenched and all her arrogance fell away and all that was left was fear No, that's not possible! No I don't want to die. The princess had weathered her assault and thought of it naught but tickles. Twilight ran away down the alley way as fast  as possible, she neared the edge of the alley only to collide with princess luna's legs as she reformed from mist. She turned and was about to bolt when Luna appeared in front of her an amused smirk on her lips and a tittering giggle She thinks this a game!?Twilight shrunk down cowering expecting to be killed or at least thrown in the dungeon because of what she had done, as the giggles of the princess stopped Twilight felt a silver shod hoof touch her back causing her to flinch.

"Tag you're it!" exclaimed Luna boopping Twilight on the nose, Luna trotting away as Twilight stared at her incredulously.

When Luna noticed Twilight wasn't chasing her she sat on her haunches and stuck out her bottom lip and pouted "Aw has the game finished?" Twilight's jaw hung open at the princess. Seeing Twilight's confused look she scrambled to her hooves and trotted back to Twilight.

“It’s okay little one I will not hurt you,” Luna spoke softly to Twilight.

“Hurt her!? Did you see what she did to that us and that stallion?” one of her night guard squawked from the floor.

“Oh hush you big foals, she was playing, she just broke a couple limbs.”

Luna turned to glare at the guard. “Really you mortals are all so fragile, just one little tap and you’re down for the count and by a foal too! Shame on you!”

As she turned back Twilight had turned to face Luna and opened her eyes slowly, cautiously Twilight’s glowing crimson eyes met Luna’s sapphire eyes and in that moment the moonlight framed the Princess. Twilight gasped in awe of the beautiful mare in front of her, who had saved her from execution, Luna chuckled at the awe stricken filly  Luna turned to the stallions corpse,

Twilight continued to stare at the Princess gaping until Luna closed her mouth with a hoof under her chin.

“Did you do that?” she asked pointing a hoof at the corpse, a look of disgust fluttered over her features before continuing to look at Twilight.

Twilight’s face fell in shame before Luna brought her hoof under Twilight’s chin and pulling her face to face with her. Twilight’s eyes were now puffed up as she silently sobbed.

“Yes, pretty lady, I was scared and he was trying to hurt me! Nearly all of the adults want to hurt us street waifs ... . But, that ... that ... I-I just ... I don't know what came over me!, I don’t know what came over me!” Twilight replied lowly.

Luna giggled behind a hoof.

“You think I’m pretty?” Luna inquired as she lowered her head so as to see Twilight’s face properly, who nodded vigorously.

“What is your name young one? My name is Luna,” Luna asked the distraught filly.

“My name is Twilight Sparkle, Woona,” Twilight replied purposely, but cutely butchering Luna’s name causing the Night Guard and Luna to giggle.

“Well Twilight, It’s okay you aren’t in trouble, if you hadn’t done that I would have killed it myself or I would have taken it in and it would have been stoned. As I saw what he was about to do to you so I shall not have you imprisoned for killing in self defence and I know what you are, Twilight you are a shinso, a true ancestor, either born of two shinso, or powerful magic. You will crave blood. I only ask that you never slay the innocent among my ponies. The cruel, the murderous, and those who abuse those weaker than themselves, you may drain them until they die, but not the innocent among my ponies. If you do, there will be severe consequences, and I will know, if you have killed one of my innocent ponies. We Princesses have eyes and ears all throughout our kingdom."

Twilight latched onto Luna’s legs in respect and admiration. Luna stroked her mane to comfort the little filly and smiled warmly down at her. Twilight felt something ignite inside her cold little emaciated body, like a warming fire against the cold world, it filled her with warmth. A smile bloomed onto Twilight’s face as she nuzzled against Luna’s legs. Inside Luna’s heart the ember’s in her heart that she had thought long died from loveless partners, the whorses, gold-diggers and diplomatic. In the past glowed as one salient thought ran through her mind.

She needs me, my little pony needs love, and shelter and food. Shaking her head to negate her thoughts No, I can do better than that! Twilight has obviously had a horrible life and been alone for so long. a spark flashed inside her. Looking down she felt Twilight still nuzzling up against her legs. Her heart felt warmer. Her smile pulled at the cheeks on her face as it grew. Then the grin morphed into a frown as she had realised that nobles would make her life Tartarus How can I protect her? I can’t adopt her, the laws those venomous snakes in pony clothes, the nobles made behind our backs forbid it, so we ourselves couldn’t elevate commoners to nobles anymore through adoption into the royal family, as Celestia and I had a tendency to abuse the adoption system to help commoners who needed it, nobles (noble pfft yeah right! Those whorsesons don’t even know the meaning of the word anymore.) they really hated that their precious power and wealth was at risk. Looking at the little filly again another spark came igniting a small warmth in her I know! I can make her my betrothed that would circumvent that law. that way I can show her love, shelter and care.

“Twilight Let’s go get you a place to live. But before we go I have to do something, this is very important Twilight you are immortal like I am and so to keep you from the pyre, to keep you safe and guarantee that you’ll have all your needs taken care of, then you need to be put in foster care. I give you my hoof in marriage.”

“Um Luna, why don’t you just take care of me and adopt me? Why am I good enough to have your hoof in marriage, but not be your daughter?” Twilight asked

Luna cringed “Well you see Twilight a century ago, a bunch of nobles, who banded together to have a law passed in secret, this law states that the royal sisters, that’s Celestia and myself, can not adopt anymore foals. While you may question why a princess has to listen to the law, while it isn’t binding us, if we attempt to overrule it or try to break it, the resulting public relations fiasco will damage our already fragile positions and the nobles will try to take power from us, which in case you hadn’t noticed is a really bad idea. Nobles nowadays are narcissists, greedy, power hungry and worst of all selfish and racist. You see a leader is only a leader if they have ponies who will follow them, no matter how strong we are. If we overturn it we look like tyrants, abusing our power for our own gain and the gain of our acquaintances.  Which is called nepotism. If we try to remove them they take more power and if we do nothing they still take it, it’s getting to the point that any move we make can jeopardise Equestria where the nobles are concerned, because they only want what’s best for themselves, it would truly be a tragedy.  So in order to help you I am doing the one thing they can not stop and the one thing that is our unassailable right. Choosing who we marry.”

“But if you do that doesn’t that mean that others won't be able to marry you?” Twilight asked wary of the impending answer.

“Yes Twilight it does. My sister maybe more willing to pursue polygamous relations, but I don’t. Plus, so far no other pony has really loved me Twilight. All they see is the crown and the bits, and my tight flank. I mean look at it, it’s perfection. Unlike my sister’s cake filled rump.”

Meanwhile at the legion of doo—I mean the end of day court.

Celestia’s ears perked up as if hearing something. “Why do I feel as if I was just insulted.”

“But anyway I am getting off track, I hope that helped explain why, though do not worry you aren’t unloveable Twilight and it certainly doesn’t mean if I had another choice that I’d not even consider you for my consort.”

Luna scratched her neck awkwardly “That came out wrong. Basically Twilight I could love you as a daughter or a wife either way is possible, in those respects you are not deficient, either one would take time. Love isn’t always at first sight and sometimes it takes work and getting to know each other better.”

Luna grabbed Twilight and held her in a firm but gentle embrace.

Twilight looked up at the mare and gasped her mouth hung open, Luna chuckled and commented “Are you trying to catch flies with your mouth, Twilight.” Luna said before leaning in and adding conspiratorially “Trust me, they taste awful.” she smirked and mock-shuddered, causing Twilight to laugh herself for the first time in a long time, the fire in Luna’s heart melted the ice around it and burst out into a roaring blaze as she listened to Twilight’s laugh.

“Unfortunately you will have to wait till you are eighteen years of age, to actually marry me.” Twilight's shoulders sagged in disappointment. Luna noticed her disappointment before continuing “Before you accept, Twilight, remember this is an eternal bond mark, it is a commitment that even your next lives will be bound to. You can still back out now if you want to, however with this you will be guaranteed to get a home, food, my hoof in marriage and a place at my side as princess. while you will still be adopted even if you don't it is not guaranteed. If after I cast this spell you try to tamper, try to remove it, try to copy it. The mark will execute you on the spot and tell me you betrayed me.”

“I wouldn’t—” Twilight started but Luna raised a hoof to silence her.

“No, I doubt you would. But you must know this anyway. Don’t think of it as me doubting your loyalty Twilight.”

“I give you this chance because I want to help you, show you a better life. You’ll also get ancillary benefits from certain spells that can by used in conjunction with it, but that’s for later.”

Twilight gulped and looked down deep in thought frowning as she did She can help me and all I have to do is give myself to her, and be her consort when I am an adult. I feel so strange like this. Is this the feeling they call happiness? Plus, she’s a princess I’d never want for anything. And is agreeing really a sacrifice? she considered this No, the princess is giving herself to me too. her frown turned into resolute smile, Twilight looked up at Luna who had a worried expression on her face. “Yes, Pri- er Luna. I agree.” Twilight finally answered causing Luna to gleefully clop her hooves together.

“Now this won’t hurt a bit.”

Luna pointed her horn and cast the high ancient spell only known by the princesses at Twilight who felt a burning sensation around her forehead a silver glow formed swirling and curving in an intricate glyph under her horn and coiling around the shaft of it, “You will alway wear this mark Twilight. It cannot be removed by time or magic. It will not always be visible unless you will it to be, but this marks you as my life mate, my betrothed, all guards know of it, as do all nobles when you are legally old enough come to me in anyway you wish. I may forget this happened, due to how long that will take. However, do not despair my heart and this mark will not forget, and you need but show me your bond mark and the mark around my hoof shall glow in tandem.”

Smiling Luna continued “I will also inform your foster family of this so they don’t try and marry you off,  they are one of the most loyal noble families to the royal family and are good ponies.

Twilight blushed as Luna laid down and kissed Twilight below her horn on her forehead.

“Climb on my back Twilight.”

Twilight did as she was told and climbed up and then she curled up in a ball on Luna’s withers and took in her scent, one she would never forget.

******

She began trotting inside the building with her saddlebags on her back, which were full of everything she would need. Inside of the room, the walls were painted white and were devoid of decoration and added to the overall spartan feel it had. At the far end of the room sat three desks in an equidistant line from left to right guards sat behind each desk registering details before sending potential recruits to nurses to the sides of the room that would perform medical and physical checks on them.

As Twilight made it to the registration desk, she filled out her details, while a guard behind it gave her an appraising glance. She was tall slender, not an inch of fat on her where it was not needed, and looked like she’d give the model Fleur De Lis and the Princesses a run for their money.

The guard coughed “Ahem, ma’am, I think you’re in the wrong place. The modeling agency is just down the street.”

Twilight blushed at the compliment and giggled behind her hoof, “No, sir I am where I’m meant to be,” she replied

The guard raised an eyebrow “Ma’am you just don’t have the weight, or the muscle mass of other mares”

Twilight leant in and pleaded:

“Let me show you what I  can do, please. My brother is in the Day Guard and I need to beat him,” she lied opening her eyes wide as she could, her lips quivering.

The guard sighed “Fine, but don’t say I didn’t warn you.” The guard stamped her registration papers and directed her to the nearest available nurse.

Twilight picked up her papers in her magic and trotted to where the guard had pointed.

The nurse turned towards her and took her papers. a curtain was pulled around her as she looked around, in the small cubical they had a treadmill, scales, measuring tape and a set of 20 weights.

“Okay Miss Twilight, I need you to drop the saddlebags and step on the scales.”

Twilight complied and stood on the large scales.

The nurse murmured, “100 pounds, wow! I am so jealous! You really have to tell me your secret. Okay off the scales next I want you to spend the next hour or until you are exhausted trotting on the treadmill, at first the gradient will remain at zero percent before increasing to two percent and one percent higher per minute at the speed three point three kilometers an hour, the speed will increase by an increment of five kilometers per hour every five minutes.”

Twilight nodded and climbed onto the treadmill and the nurse started the stopwatch and watched Twilight trot.

An hour had passed and the nurse was standing slack jawed “One hundred and ninety two kilometers per hour at an incline of sixty percent and you're not even breaking a sweat or have laboured breaths that’s impossible, I know this is personal, but do you have alicorn in your heritage? It would certainly explain your figure!”

Twilight chuckled nervously “I honestly don’t know. Maybe?” Stupid, stupid, stupid Twilight you almost gave yourself away, time to put those acting classes to work.

The nurse still visible shaken from the Twilight’s results spoke up “Well… let’s get on with the strength test” she said as she brought Twilight over to the barbell, “To measure your strength, we do a full rep for each weight, no magic.”

Twilight balanced on her hind legs as she hooked the bar on the wrists of her forelegs facing frog up. Twilight tensed and slowly lift up to her barrel, brought it up to her chest and switched to grip with her hooves and held it above herself. Then she replaced it on the ground for the next weight. Twilight repeated this each time for each new weight added each time feigning that the difficulty was increasing. The nurse eventually noticing the difficulty remarked “Okay you can stop now, what you have in speed, you lack in strength, though you still scrape by”

The nurse stamped a red pass mark on her physical and passed the papers back to Twilight who took them and picked up her saddlebag and made her way to the long and roofed carriage that would transport her and other accepted recruits to boot camp. Looking at the horizon the moon nearing the end of its nightly journey across the sky, it looked like it was two to three hours before dawn. Twilight groaned at that thought and got into the carriage

******

Three hours later, Canterlot palace.

Princess Luna slipped into her room, dossiers of new recruits for her guard in her magic floating in front of her face, Luna’s room was a rather simple one by almost all accounts, sure you couldn’t call it spartan at all there was no mess on the floor and everything had it’s own storage space, Luna’s full moon shaped bed occupied most of the left center of her room, it’s covers silk dyed a dark royal purple, the door to her ensuite bathroom sat opposite the foot of the bed, to the left of her ensuite bathroom lay her tv and games consoles, like her Haystation 4, and her Xbull One. Opposite and to the right side of her bed sat her high-specced custom built gaming pc.

Her bed was beckoning her to sleep,  but she lay the dossiers on her PC desk which doubled as an office desk, leaving one specific recruit’s dosier Twilight Sparkle’s, open the mare had piqued her interest, because of how she stood out among the crowd, she caressed the photo of the modelesque mare who wished to join her guard, “She is truly a beauty few could compare to, she could be one of the best models in Canterlot, yet she wants in my military” Luna said outloud to nopony. Luna jumped and landed on her back on, top of the bed disheveling the bed covers, her mane somehow splaying laying flat as she opened her wings laying them on the bed, Luna looked over to her left at her balcony doors. By my moon, I shall have her as my own! Luna licked her lips in anticipation.

Unbeknownst to Luna, her sister Celestia had slipped inside her room and was skulking in the shadows as she lay flat against the floor Celestia shimmied up to Luna’s tail that was dangling lazily over the edge of her bed, Celestia quietly chuckled to herself before she bit on the tip of Luna’s tail and pulled, causing her little sister to yelp and jump up in fright, land on her bed in such a way that she slid off the side and hit the floor unceremoniously, after flailing her legs about to regain her balance. As Luna looked around to find the perpetrator. She spotted her sister, whom was still in her mirth at another successful prank.

“‘Tia!? Why must you do this to me?!” Luna whined at her sister Celestia who was snickering behind her hoof.

“Why? Luna you know why, it is because I am your big sister and it’s my job to tease and prank you, plus you are so adorable when you’re flustered.” Celestia smiled down at Luna who was now blushing, and sulking but still trying to right herself.  Celestia stepped around her sister, where she spotted the dossier of Twilight Sparkle left open on Luna’s desk. Oh dear sister you make this way too easy.

“Oh Lulu, this mare is beautiful, whew! look at those legs, I wouldn’t mind permanently joining your side of the fence if this hot piece of ass is there, is this your little marefriend?” Celestia asked her smirk evident on her face. As an increasingly blushing and flustered Luna attempted to swipe it back out of her sister’s magic grasp all the while as Celestia kept it out of hoof range.

“She is not my marefriend!” yet.

“Oh? That’s good I just might take this one for myself then. Damn! It’s gotta be illegal to be this sexy!”

“No!~ I saw her first!~” belatedly Luna covered her mouth. Oh no! Luna looked at Celestia her face showing the dread building inside her, Celestia who now had a look of smug triumph on her face as her smile quickly evolved from a smirk to a full on grin. preparing to needle her little sister mercilessly.

“D’awww wittow Woona has a fillyfriend!!!”

“Nooo~” Luna whined as she covered her face with her forehooves, her face burning bright red so that even her coat could not conceal it.

“And they called it puppy love~!” Celestia sung her teasing lilt still affecting her voice.

“Sister! I am two thousand years old! I am not a puppy and I am most certainly not a cougar before you say that!”

“Oh Lulu! Stop trying to fool yourself, we are both cougars, it’s kind of mandatory when you’re lifespan is basically eternity and there is no way I am going blue balled throughout eternity just because the fillies and colts only have limited life spans. Also how is it fair on the fillies and colts who want to fuck us or get fucked by us. You would deny them such pleasure just because they have to die eventually?”

“Well, no, but I just don’t like it. That word makes us sound like predators.” Luna sighed.

“The alternative is Discord, or dragons, sister and you already tried dragons didn’t you? If I remember correctly you couldn’t sit on your throne for 3 months after that attempt”

Luna winced at being reminded “Oh fine! I am a cougar and Twilight Sparkle caught my eye!” Luna pouted exaggeratedly crossing her forelegs before she and Celestia both burst into laughter.

“Okay Lulu, I wish you the best of luck seducing your little guard ….” Celestia glanced at the dossier again. ”Okay maybe not so little. I know! You could endear her towards you by hoof forging, enchanting a custom armor for her. I doubt there is a premade set that would fit her, though you might want to disguise it as a reward for sparring against you, something tells me she’ll win.”

Celestia trotted towards and through the door

“Of course! Why didn’t I think of that?”

“Because Lulu you were too busy staring at that flank of hers!” Celestia said as she leant back into the room, giggling as she retreated, only just missing being hit with a fluffy pillow projectile that was thrown at her hitting the door frame.

Luna felt a tugging at the back of her mind the signal reminding her“Oh it’s time to lower the moon.” Luna trotted through her balcony doors. As she stood on her balcony Luna began to charge her horn and use the spell taught to the two sisters as fillies, by Starswirl the Bearded. Eventually the moon slowly dipped below the horizon. Soon after the sun rose in it’s place ready to make its route across the azure sky.

Returning to her room closing the balcony doors Luna trotted towards her bed yawning and stretching, there she spotted the dossier of Twilight sparkle, she looked to the left and right to make sure no one was looking and levitated the dossier up to her face  and kissed the photo of the mare that would soon be hers leaving a black lipstick mark on it.

“Luna and Twilight sitting in a tree k-i-s-s-i—”  came wafting on the breeze from Celestia.

“ Shut up ‘Tia!” Luna shouted, cutting Celestia off. The laughter of her sister met her ears in response. Luna groaned laying the dossier on the desk and sighed as she slid under the covers of her bed using her magic to close of the curtains. Closing her eyes she fell asleep, dreaming dreams of Twilight in compromising positions.

******

Bootcamp, next night

Twilight stood at attention, next to her footlocker which sat at the foot of her bunk.Her mane was now tied in a bun and her tail had been cut to a regulation length, her fetlocks were shorn as she and her bunkmate, who was standing next to her leant over to whisper “Hi, my names Cloudkicker. What’s yours?”

“Twilight, Twilight Sparkle, nice to meet you Cloudkicker.” Twilight replied in a hushed tone. Just then the doors slammed open revealing a thestral mare with a silver mane and tail, violet slitted eyes and a cutiemark with a  sword behind a heater shield.

“Listen up I am your Drill Sergeant and I am Sergeant Shielded Steel! I'm gonna push you flea-ridden flesh bags so hard you're gonna hate me and curse the day I was born. And you know what? I'll be enjoying every single second of you little maggots writhing in misery and pain. I'm gonna make Tartarus look like heaven. I'm either going to forge you into living weapons for the kingdom, or you can die trying! And if you do end up dying, at least your dead corpse will do more good after your death than you ever did in your pathetic, miserable excuse for the life you were living! I see some of you smirking or giggling like a bunch of schoolfillies on a school outing. Today I'm being nice, because you'll never see me like this until you either fucking die and feed the worms or you become the elite of the elite! Do you fucking understand me!?”

Everypony in the room respond “Yes, Drill Sergeant”

“Good! Now it’s your first day here so we are going to sort the wheat from the chaff, you will meet an instructor in a ring outside, you will be given a sword and your aim is to hit the instructor five times in a row, and avoid being hit five times do not worry about the blades foals they are enchanted so they only leave paint marks and won’t harm your opponent or you won’t get harmed yourself. I bet you just love that shit stains!”

“Yes, Drill Sergeant!” another chorus rang out.

“Fall out! Follow me to the training field and maybe you’ll survive this place! You will be disciplined, you will follow orders and you will love your country!”

“Yes, Drill Sergeant!” another chorus rang out.

“Good! Now get your flea-riddled carcasses in gear and get ready to get them handed to you five ways from Sunday!”

Twilight trotted over to and took a place at the  ring nearest to the barracks, as everypony else took their places. The instructor opposite levitated a blade to Twilight.  “What is your name?”

“Twilight Sparkle, Sir!” she said as she took the proffered blades handle in her hoof, much to her instructor’s surprise. Still he turned to the pile of dossiers and opened her dossier and found the photo had a black lipstick mark on it, which puzzled him.

He turned around to find that Twilight had taken a ready stance standing on three legs sword in her right forehoof.

“Is something wrong?” she asked.

“Oh nothing just give me a moment” he shook his head and took his blade in his magic readying himself.

The instructor bull rushed Twilight hoping to make her flinch and gain an opening, Twilight stood unflinching. the instructor opened with vertical downwards cut to take advantage of Twilight opening that she had left open when choosing to use her hoof instead of magic, Twilight’s blade flashed as she parried catching the instructor by surprise creating an opening in his defence but she made no move to exploit it.

The instructor grit his teeth and slashed horizontally left to right, upper right to down left and then down right to upper left before slashing down, Twilight blocked or parried each attempt, only angering the instructor. each thrust and slash met Twilight’s unbreakable defense and her lax stance and demeanor was getting to him.

Meanwhile Princess Luna had arrived to inspect the new trainees and was trotting with Sergeant Shielded Steel.

“Princess, always a pleasure to have you with us to watch the thinning of the wannabe guards. How are you finding our recruits this year.”

Princess Luna looked over the recruits looking for her little lavender mare, until she spotted her effortlessly parrying and blocking her instructor while she held a look of disinterest and perhaps a little boredom. Can’t have her being bored now can we.

“Follow me Sergeant, I believe I have found what I’m looking for.” as Luna made for Twilight’s ring everypony else stopped fighting to watch her save for Twilight and the instructor.

“Cease this mockery of a match, instructor!” Luna bellowed causing the instructor to jump out of his coat and turn around to meet the irate Princess of the Night.

“Care to explain why you haven’t beaten this recruit?”

“I don’t know your majesty, I think she’s cheating somehow.” he said with a worried expression.

Luna stop to consider her next words, “You are correct she is cheating,” the instructors face lit up and then his lips had a smug grin on them, when he looked at Twilight as if he’d gotten her in trouble. Luna shook her head at him. “However not in the way you might be imagining. She gave you a handicap by using her hoof instead of her magic, because there is no way you would have provided a challenge, even though your technique was sound. Against her speed, reflexes and strength you had no chance.”

The instructor’s face fell. Not only had he been bested by a recruit, but if what her majesty was saying was true this mare humiliated me.

“Oh, hehehe you noticed that did you your highness?” Twilight said as she rubbed the back of her neck sheepishly.

Luna licked her lips So cute! And her voice. That’s it she’s the mare for me!

”Wait, you aren’t even going to ask her first, what if she doesn’t want you?

What mare wouldn’t want to be my lover let alone be my wife?

”That maybe true but do you want a resentful disloyal unloving lover/wife or do you want a happy loyal and better yet loving one?”

The latter is preferable, but how do you suppose I go about it?

”There is a new fangled invention it’s called asking her out on a date.”

I can’t do that I’m a Princess all the ponies expect me and my sister to be perfect, oh if only they knew the real us, instead of that detestable standoffish mask we have to wear!

Luna took the instructor’s sword, and made a copy so that she wielded two ”Worry not young one, I shall be your opponent. It’d be a shame to waste such potential on this whelp.” She pointed to the instructor who was turning red from the rage building inside him ”However that strength and speed of your’s shall not avail you. So quick grab your sword in your magic as you’ll need it.”

Around the ring ponies gathered to watch the Princess and Twilight fight. Twilight took her sword in her magic and performed a flourish as Luna and Twilight began circling each other, keeping an eyes on each other, when neither flinched, together they rushed each other locking blades before pushing off each other, Twilight sliced overhead as Luna blocked with one sword and countered with another.

“Your technique is sloppy recruit, you cannot rely on brute strength and speed with me but feel free to use magic, don’t worry I will as well.”

Twilight swinged her sword horizontally as Luna brought her two blades to meet hers as a shock wave emanated from the pair knocking observers back as the blades rubbed against each other sparks leapt of from the point of contact, Twilight and Luna each continued to trade blows Luna downwards slash with both her swords, met overhead guard. Twilight’s  rapid stabbed met with Luna dodging and weaving, Luna swung around and bucked Twilight who still guarding slide back. Both Luna and Twilight smiled.

Simultaneously they thought Finally! A mare who can keep up with me!

Twilight smiled My wife to be, if she honors our commitment.

Luna threw out her hoof and chanted:

“The chaos in the storm is mine, I am darkness and then light.

The drums of war with booms do sound

breaking solitude of night!”

A ring of electricity formed as a ball gathered in the center of it lighting the night sky up.

“Oaths of Ancients, brave and bold

Sturdy shields of warriors old

grant me strength in time of plight

to protect with all my might! Knight’s shield!”

Twilight finished chanting a  lavender ball of light formed in front of her before enveloping and becoming a protective dome around Twilight as Luna finished chanting.

“Mjolnir!” The ring disappeared as the bolt of lightning fired at Twilight, striking her shield and shattering it.

Nearby Cloudkicker asked the red maned unicorn mare next to her “Why do they need to chant, don’t they just will it to happen and poof it happens?”

The mare giggled “That’s only for cantrips, lesser spells. For the advanced tiers of spell casting you need to memorize and understand the chant for it, spellweaving and arcane multilayering being interwoven together. Lower tier spells like Knight’s Shield or Mjolnir aren’t powerful, but they are quick to cast. Stronger spells take longer, however they are that much more devastating. I’m Incendiary Flare by the way”

“Mine’s Cloudkicker and that’s Twilight Sparkle in the ring against Princess Luna.”

Luna gave Twilight a sultry smile and giving her bedroom eyes Finally a mare who won't break like some many others, if only she was immortal.

Twilight smiled back at Princess Luna in a mirror of her expression and began chanting again.

I am the blade unsheathed,

Iron is my strength, tempered and tried by fire,

I remain, even when my foes have perished,

I honor the fallen warriors and the sage ancients,

I still walk among the living,

and so shall the ancient spirits heed my call,

Princess of Blades!

Rose petals gathered into a ring and spread outward engulfing Luna, Twilight and the spectators. As everypony gained their sight back, the world had been replaced. In the night sky stars twinkled next to a blood moon that hung ominously near the ground replaced with a field of flowers of many different hues, a single white cobble path led to stairs which in turn led to a simple large black throne with red velvet back and cushion. Behind it, two large great swords crossed at the hilts were visible over the back of the throne.

On top of it sat Twilight sparkle in a scarlet evening dress that made Luna drool. The evening dress had a slit down the left side of it revealing Twilight’s flank, cutie mark and rear leg and not much else. The evening dress was backless and the chest of the dress connected to a black and red edged choker around her neck.

Luna gulped down excess saliva as she wiped her mouth. Tartarus! I want that dress on the floor of my bedroom, no stay focused Luna she just used a reality marble. Stay vigilant I don’t know what it does.

Incendiary Flare stood mouth agape at the scene before her. “A reality marble! The world in one's mind imposed onto reality temporarily!”

Cloudkicker looked at her “A what in the what now?”

“Cloudkicker, that is a very powerful spell that imposes a world on top of ours, each world is based upon the caster’s mind.”

“Oh, okay.” Cloudkicker replied as she went back to watching the fight.

“Welcome to my world Princess Luna, do you like it?” Twilight asked an innocent grin on her as she stood up from her throne.

Luna coughed composing herself “Yes, I’d like to know more about it.”

Twilight clapped her hooves together in joy.

Oh by my sister’s glorious beard! That is so adorable. Luna thought to herself.

“You see your highness this world is filled with swords of my fallen enemies, I began collecting them in order to honor those who died in honorable combat with me.”

“I don’t see any swords?” Luna said confusion evident on her face as she looked around.

“Oh how remiss of me! Oh subjects!” Twilight sung out, the stars started winking out as blades fell to the fields.

“You called your Highness?” a short broadsword asked.

“Ah Viktor! I did indeed. All of you copy the no damage enchantment on the blade I am holding, I do not wish to harm our guests.”

“As you vish your Majesty!” Viktor responded.  “Und~ done! Ja, ve are all set your Majesty!”

“Good now you see that beautiful mare in the black crescent moon torc?” Viktor nodded.

Wait did she just say I'm beautiful? Huzzah! No wait don’t get ahead of ourselves here she might not mean it that way, but still. Luna danced in her mind her expression and focus unwavering, despite the mind victory dance she was doing.

“Well that’s your target. Okay Viktor go have some fun with her!”  Viktor bowed

“To arms for da Princess!” All the blades began to float in the air and then launched at Luna who promptly cursed readying her blades blocking, parrying and dodging sword swings from all direction. Rolling, jumping, kicking off an attacker.

Twilight trotted down the stairs of her throne, towards the the blades as they stopped and bowed low. Smiling she said “You are all dismissed.”

A chorus of “Yes your Majesty!” rang out.

Twilight readied her blade and launched into Luna and locked blades with her, both her and Luna roaring to push against each other.

“Why did you dismiss them?” Luna she asked

“Oh I found it a bit unfair and honestly I was getting bored.”

Princess Luna in a last ditch attempt at turning the fight in her favor lunged forward her lips locking with Twilight’s as her tongue forcefully entered her open mouth causing her to melt into it and release her reality marble, the Princess of Blades. In the of the shock of having Luna shove her tongue down Twilight’s throat, their tongues danced and wrapped around each other Luna’s wings quickly springing to attention. Luna pulled back her tongue catching one of Twilight’s fangs as she did causing her tongue to bleed leaving some blood on Twilight’s fang, Luna recoiled as pain from the fang cutting her tongue took hold, she looked wide eyed tears gathering in her the corners of her eyes. her hooves holding onto her mouth as she kept her mouth shut tight.

Twilight opened her eyes closing her mouth then asked “Princess Luna are you okay!?”

Luna winced as she moved her tongue. meanwhile a drop of blood fell from Twilight’s fang and landed on her tongue, causing Twilight to flinch and recoil her back arching in ecstasy.

Luna went to shout at Twilight but when she noted her blissed out form in front of her, Twilight pushed herself up straight and grinned widely, her pupils shrunk to slits, Twilight wrenched the two blades from Luna’s grip and with three blades hit her five times, before Luna regained herself Twilight sped forward attempting to pounce on Luna and sink her teeth into that supple neck of hers, when just then Luna  put the mare to sleep with a sleeping cantrip however the mare's momentum kept going and landed on top of Luna.

“Well that was close.” Luna huffed.

As Twilight lay on top of Luna, she dropped her swords to the floor and sniffed, breathing in Luna’s scent as she then snuggled deeply into Luna's chest murmuring contentedly. A smile formed on Twilight's lips, while a warm one found its way on Luna's. Wrapping her legs around twilight resting her chin on Twilight's head. Sergeant Steel ran up and asked “Princess are you okay? You there! Arrest Twilight Sparkle!”

“Belay that order!” Luna ordered to the shock of those around her.

“But Princess! That mare is dangerous! She almost beat you! She was about to kill you! She was about to sink her teeth into you, which nopony has done in two millennia, the attempted killing part, not the biting part!”

“Correction, Sergeant she did beat me. As for killing me? Yeah, that is never going to happen. As for the biting? I do so enjoy it when a mare nibbles on me, sends tingles through me” Luna replied while shuddering in pleasure, “ All, aside from the biting, are feats that should be praised considering how stacked against her the odds were, also I shall be taking her as my apprentice.”

“You’re rewarding her!?”

“Of course I am, I wasn’t serious when I fought against her and the fact is that she still can’t harm me if I am relaxed enough, Sergeant. And it’s not like your training her would benefit her at all, when she is already far ahead of you. Send her things to my bedroom.”

“Right away your Highness! Wait, your bedroom?” he asked incredulously

“Oh don’t get your tail in a knot about it, it’s only temporary. Until I can find her her own quarters.” Which will be hers until I can get her back into my bed again properly.

Luna stood and smiled at the smile on Twilight’s face as she slumbered. Luna then levitated the unconscious Twilight onto her back and took flight, eventually she arrived at her tower and landed on her balcony and entered her room. To find her sister grinning ear to ear.

“So do you always kiss your opponents before the first date, sister?” Celestia sniggered then leaned over to the side to inspect Luna’s passenger. “Or bring them home for some fun?”.

“Oh hush sister she’s the first pony beside you who I can play fight with. Plus we have graver concerns, she has tasted my blood.”

“So have many of your opponents, Luna.” Celestia replied as Luna gave her a flat look before using her magic to prise open her Twilight’s lips and mouth revealing fangs.

“Oh Faust! Why does she have fangs? Is she part Thestral?” Celestia squealed backing up.

Shaking her head at her sister Luna explained “She is a vampire and as evidenced in my fight a shinso, a true vampire, they are practically unkillable. She’d definitely make the perfect mate for me.”

“Luna can’t you keep it in your metaphorical pants for one second. You were just telling me it was bad that she tasted your blood! Why is it bad?” Celestia practically yelled before folding her ears back “Sorry, we just found a pony that is nearly on par with us… again and I am freaking out and you still want to fuck it!?”

“Firstly the reason I voiced my concern is that she would do practically anything right now to sink her teeth into me and everypony in between her and my neck is at risk. Secondly ponies don’t even wear pants. Didn’t we outlaw them because they don’t breathe well? Third you're forgiven, though I’d appreciate if you called Twilight a she and not an it. And finally of course I want to fuck her! An immortal, unkillable mare who is also beautiful to boot, wants to join my guard and she is strong and fast enough to play fight with me. Hay yes I want to fuck her, I also want to date her, marry her and have her be my apprentice. not necessarily in that order.”

“Fine! Just make sure she doesn’t eat the pastry and cake chef, otherwise I don’t care what happens.”

Celestia left grumbling as Luna levitated Twilight into bed.joining her shortly afterwards just after setting the moon for another day. As Luna got comfortable, Twilight moved closer in her sleep wrapped her hooves around her and nuzzled into her neck, A small smile gracing her lips as she did. Luna’s heart melted as warmth and sleep claimed her.

******

A new night had come and Twilight cracked open her eyes, what met her were two sapphire eyes and smiling lips as well as an blue energy mane with bed head (somehow). “Whu- Princess Luna what are you doing in my bed!?” Twilight began to panic then noticed she had her hooves wrapped tightly around the her. Twilight released her hold and jumped backward out of bed, she panted watching the night Princess smirk in amusement and noticing she wasn’t in the barracks.

“I am so sorry Princess Luna! Please don’t banish me!” Twilight begged, a snort and then laughter followed as she started to enter her breakdown mode.

“Oh hush Twilight! We are not going to banish you. I put you in my bed so you could sleep off the match’s effects on you. Nothing happened, I promise.” Luna trotted over to Twilight kneeling down so they were both sitting

Relaxing Twilight sighed in relief, Luna had turned to look at a nearby clock. exposing a bite mark on her neck. Twilight froze, Luna turned back and noticed a smirk formed on her lips.

“Fun fact: you like to drink in your sleep, so it’s a good thing my sheets are too dark for blood stains to show up.” Twilight shrunk back in fear, trying to escape. However Luna hooked her hoof around Twilight’s neck to stop her retreating with a look of concern Luna held her tight to her barrel,

“Don’t worry, Twilight. Your secret is safe with me and Celestia.“

Twilight relaxed again a smirk found it’s way back on Luna’s face “Another fun fact my neck isn’t the only thing you nibbled on, you left me with stiff wings this morning missy!” Luna chided with mock heat in her voice.

Twilight paled as she tried to distance herself, despite her unnatural strength Luna’s grip held fast. So she settled for groaning Stupid repressed sexuality!

“Now Twilight, before we get started time to get some breakfast in that belly of yours.” Twilight looked confused.

“I'm not hungry.”

Her belly growled causing Luna to giggle. Belly, you traitor!

Luna rested a hoof behind Twilight’s head and said “Open wide and say ‘Ah!’ Don’t stop till I tell you to.”

Cautiously she complied looking left and right in confusion and before she could stop herself, Luna forced her head down forcing Twilight’s fangs down and sinking into her neck Luna winced as they broke her skin, Twilight  mouth clamped down as blood touched her tongue and letting blood drain into her awaiting mouth. Despite her muffled protests Luna held her until she finished. Twilight stopped and swallowed the mouthful of Luna’s blood and started crying as she looked up at the Princess whom was smiling warmly and she did the only thing she could think of at that moment and embraced the Princess tighter and sobbed out apology after apology, while Luna tried to console her by stroking her mane and cooing.

“It’s okay Twilight, I can’t let my new apprentice go hungry.”

“Thank you, for not hating me!” Twilight wailed as her tears cascaded with renewed vigor.

Twilight licked at Luna’s neck  both wounds fading then disappearing completely.

And then it dawned on her “Apprentice!?”

She doesn’t remember me, well to be fair she hasn’t seen me since I was a foal and I didn’t look like this and that was a couple of decades ago. It’s also isn’t the right time yet, too early. I don’t want her to feel she has to love me or marry me. I want to win her heart all by myself.

“Yes, Twilight, I shall be training you.”

Twilight froze in shock

“I will be training you in proper swordsmareship, magic of all types and finally after you have master these we shall move on to more … advanced endeavours. For now though I shall tell you your new rights and responsibilities.“

“You will be expected to attend all formal and casual events at my side. I will also be ensuring that your education isn’t deficient or to fill in what knowledge you lack. This one is very important,” Luna whispered conspiratorially. “This next one is unique to you. No feeding off anypony but me. If you're feeling hungry tell me and I’ll give you something to sink your teeth into. Twilight blushed at the imagery Luna was painting for her.

Next you may not date while under my apprenticeship for obvious reasons  because that would clash with the first responsibility.”

As if I’d betray you Luna, I am yours already and nopony else is taking me from you!

“Rewards include free reign of most of the castle barring a few areas these are the kitchen(unsupervised) and the war room,  you’ll have the quarters next to mine as your personal room. I’ll think of others as you progress also as you beat me in our little match I’ll be making your own custom and enchanted armor.” Luna explained

Twilight nodded writing down notes on a piece of parchment

“I would also like to know why a mare with a curvaceous figure such as yours, wanted to join the night guard, instead of a modeling agency?”

“Well Princess—”

“Call me Luna. Don’t worry about using my title.”

Twilight stared at Luna for a bit thinking for a second “Ok, Pri- L-Luna. Um the reason is I have admired you since I was a little filly and I wanted to do something that was actually beneficial to the country, being a model doesn’t do that. Also considering that I am nocturnal then.joining the day guard would not be a good idea. I am also competing with my brother Captain Shining Armor.

Luna smirked again as she prepared another question “Okay and one last question Twilight. How did my blood taste?”

At hearing her question all the blood in Twilight’s body rushed to her face changing it to a nice crimson red as she blushed. “Princess Luna I—”

“I want the truth, Twilight and remember no title” Luna interrupted, Blushing a deeper shade of red Twilight sputtered.

“It—your blood? It—ruined-other-blood-for-me!” Twilight blurted out quickly before hiding behind her parchment and hooves as Luna began sporting her own blush as a smile pulled at her lips.