Noctiphobia

by Valorousspectre

Rating: mature
Tags: Princess Luna, Gore, Original Character, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Dark, Romance, Princess Celestia, Nightmare Moon
Length: 43998

Romance, LunaXOC, Luna Republic/Solar Empire, attempted assassination. What could go wrong?

The moon was always a solitary guardian, much like the sun. Keeping watch in the skies above Equestria as it always had for millenia. It was satisfied in its solitude, a lone sentinel in the sky. But then, when you think about it, whilst alone in duty, it was never truly alone. The stars fill the skies, adding a radiant beauty to the air.

But ponies aren't like the moon.

Luna dislikes being so alone. The knowledge that she will live for so long, an uncertain amount of time certainly, and never be capable of having somepony beside her to warm her at night and to hold her and tell her everything was alright haunted her, plagues her mind. All she wants is somepony to care for her, rather than having to care for everypony else in Equestria.

Meanwhile, in a town not so far away, a lone guard, tried and found guilty of a plethora of crimes, is exiled from his village, never to return upon pain of death. It's a fair way to Canterlot, but who says one couldn't make time fly?

Join Stalwart Defender and Luna in this epic game of cat, mouse and magic as they spiral inexplicably and irreversibly into tighter and tighter circles around each other, facing none other than assassins, bureaucrats and their own tangled emotions as the two find each other under the most extraordinary circumstances.

Sequel to 'Athazagoraphobia'

Rated Mature for later chapters

I do not own ' My little Pony: Friendship is Magic' or any characters that are contained therein, but I will write them how I wish to write them regardless of what others think is necessary. Should you have a problem with that, I can assure you with full and utter certainty that I really don't care. Thank you for reading this, you're wasting your time still reading this and I will never understand why on earth people would not only assume that I own such a wonderful show, but that they're still reading this stupid little article. On a brighter note, Bacon.

Published 2012-06-14 22:54:03 UTC
Last updated 2012-07-12 04:27:39 UTC

Roof Crasher

Chapter 1: Roof crasher.

Princess Luna was getting tired. She’d risen the moon hours ago and it was close to gone now. She’d gazed down at Equestria from her balcony once again. She thought back to her last appointment with Talisman and his response as to what he believed her problem was.

“Miss Luna, you are lonely. You crave some company of decent nature.”

Luna sighed unhappily. There was a problem with being lonely. Nopony could keep her company forever. As an alicorn, Luna was immortal and ruled jointly with her sister Celestia who raised the sun. But because of this neither of the two alicorns could take a partner. Celestia seemed to have come to terms with that fact. Luna simply couldn’t. She wanted to, but she just couldn’t. She wanted somepony special in her life that wasn’t her sister. She wanted somepony she could cuddle on the cold nights and play with or talk to during the long nights. She sighed unhappily.

“It’ll never happen Luna... Just forget it. Besides, nopony really likes you anyway. You’re second best to Tia and you know it.”

“That isn’t true Luna.”

Luna spun around blushing slightly that her words had been heard. Her sister Celestia stood in the doorway looking at her adoringly.

“Not many ponies really know you yet Luna. You don’t get out of the castle much. Besides, I know Talisman likes you.”
Luna looked at her sisters’ happy expression and couldn’t help but smile.

“Yeah but... Tia... Everypony loves you... How could you understand?”

Celestia nuzzled her insecure younger sister affectionately.

“I may not know exactly what you’re going through Luna, but I do want you to know that I’m here. I also know that everpony in Ponyville absolutely adores you.”

She gave her sister a long hug.

“Now go to bed Luna. It’s almost time for me to raise the sun.”

Luna rolled her eyes and smiled, content in her sister’s embrace. The two separated and Celestia teleported away. Luna sighed again and climbed into her bed. It was a massive thing, big enough to fit at least five ponies with room to spare. That, or two of Celestia’s stature. She wriggled around trying to get comfortable and levitated her Celestia doll over to her and cuddled it lovingly, stroking its silken outer skin. She was just falling asleep when a sudden crash woke her up. She jumped out of bed scared as a white and gold blur slammed into her floor and bounced across the room. It hit the wall and came to rest. Luna looked at it curiously. It took her a moment to identify the battered and broken thing as a Pegasus. His white coat was stained with spots of green and one of his wings was bending at an un-natural angle, but he was breathing. Two Guardsponies stormed into the room.

“Stop! It’s ok.” Luna cried.

The guards nodded and walked back outside. Luna walked closer to the Pegasus. He was barely conscious and only breathing shallowly, but he was definitely alive. Luna whispered to him.

“What’s your name?”

The stallion looked at her with unfocused eyes, obviously not recognizing her.

“Stalwart..... Defender...”

The Pegasus fainted.

Pegasus of the Guard

Chapter 2: The Pegasus of the guard.

Stalwart Defender woke up painfully. He was in a hospital bed in a stone structure of some sort. He looked around, his light purple eyes flickering around quickly. Two of his legs were splinted expertly and he couldn’t feel his left wing. A fragment of panic drifted through him and he fought it down as he had been taught. A voice he had heard somewhere before drifted through the door. He frowned, trying to remember where he’d heard that voice. He was still thinking when a very tired Princess Luna walked quickly into the ward. Stalwart gasped and went to stand. Luna looked at him irritably.

“Oh please don’t. You’ll hurt yourself.”

Her voice was sympathetic but had an undertone of irritation and tiredness. Stalwart Defender nodded, swallowing. How the hay did he end up in Canterlot? His head hurt...

“Are you alright Defender?”

He looked up at Luna in shock. How did she know his name? He couldn’t figure it out. He decided to ask, figuring that the worst that could happen was that the princess would leave.

“Your majesty.... What.... What happened?”

Luna looked at him in surprise. She turned to a nurse walking by who shrugged.

“Could have happened when he crashed through the roof my lady. He had a few bruises on his head when you brought him in.”

“What? I crashed... through a roof?”

The nurse looked at him and nodded pensively.

“Yes, and we found a rope in the roof cavity from where it snapped when you collided with the roof.”

Luna looked at the bewildered Pegasus kindly.

“Defender, you have a broken wing, two fractured legs and a minor concussion. Our doctors and nurses looked after you and you’ve slept for the past three days.”

Defenders’ eyes became curious.

“I’m sorry my lady but... How do you know my name?”

Luna laughed softly, a feeling of warmth spreading through her at the humorous moment.

“You told me three days ago silly.”

Defender felt a sharp pain as he tried to move and he blacked out.

~*~

“Will he be alright?”

Luna was standing at the reception, speaking to the nurse who was in charge of Defender. The nurse looked at Luna.
“Your highness, He will be fine so long as he doesn’t try to walk or fl-“

There was a clatter and a cry of pain from further in the hospital and both Luna and the nurse ran back through the ward. Defender was on the ground, both wings outstretched, his splinted wing dragging across the ground. The nurse rushed over to him, Luna stood there gobsmacked.

“Stalwart Defender! I told you to stay in bed!”

“I can’t... Stay here!”

“You most certainly can! Until such time as you are healed, you are staying here!”

Stalwart Defender forced himself to his hooves. He almost cried out in pain again, but his training would not allow him to.

“You... Don’t understand...”

Luna giggled and the nurse and Defender looked at her.

“You find this funny your majesty?”

Luna giggled again.

“Well yes! Sort of...”

Defender shook his head, trying to cut through the haze of pain blocking his thoughts.

“I cannot stay here.”

Luna approached and smiled.

“You can, and you will.”

He shook his head.

“You can’t... keep.. m-“

Luna put a hoof on his mouth and looked at him pointedly.

“You are staying here. Period.”

Defender looked at her.

“Is that an order..?”

“Yes.”

Defender sighed.

“Alright... I guess I’m staying here then...”

The nurse smiled thankfully at Luna then hustled her charge back into bed. Luna stayed by his bedside, speaking with him well into the night until morning, where she herself retired. Defender, tired not only from his ordeal, but also from forcing himself to stay awake whilst Luna was there, despite her constant reassurances that he could sleep, fell asleep almost as soon as her footsteps vanished from his ears’ range.

~*~

Stalwart Defender frowned and shook his head.

“No, I don’t think that would be the best course of action... It’s a bit, one sided don’t you think?”

Luna looked at him with an eyebrow raised.

“How do you figure?”

“Well, if both families claim that the land is theirs, you can’t simply give it to one or the other.”

The two were once again in the infirmary. Luna had come to him to talk, as she normally did whenever she had time. They were discussing a matter that Luna was having difficulty resolving, that Celestia would not help, or rather could not, help her with. She was asleep.

“What do you suggest then?”

Defender frowned.

“Split it down the middle and then take about an acre wide strip straight down the centre for yourself.”

Luna blinked.

“How would that help?”

“Simple. They get an equal share, and if they step over their boundaries... That is plant on your land... They can be penalised without the other pony getting involved.”

Luna thought about it for a moment, then smiled softly.

“You’re absolutely right! That’s a brilliant solution, why didn’t I think of that?”

Defender smiled.

“You would have come to that answer as well... had you thought long enough your majesty.”

Luna giggled.

“Defender, I told you to call me Luna. How many times do I have to tell you?”

Defender smiled.

“Always once more, your majesty.”

A messenger streaked around the corner to the room Defender was in and stopped in the doorway, stiffbacked.
“A Message for Her Majesty Princess Luna, Princess of the Night!”

Luna sighed and turned to the messenger.

“Spit it out then.”

The messenger stomped his right forehoof.

“Another urgent matter awaits you My Lady. They await your presence in the throne room!”

She turned back to Defender, an apologetic look on her face. Defender smiled.

“Your subjects need you Your Majesty.”

Luna looked to the Messenger and dismissed him with a wave of her hoof. He left just as suddenly as he’d arrived. She smiled at Defender and kissed his cheek.

“Thank you again. I owe you.”

Defender nodded.

“You’re very welcome My Lady.”

“I told you! Call me Luna!”

Defender gave a wry smile.

“Not likely to happen My Lady.”

Luna sighed.

“I’ll see you later okay?”

Defender nodded.

“I look forward to it Your Majesty.”

With that, Luna left the room, heading for the Throne room and Defender laid his head on his pillow. Night wasn’t over yet and he’d taken to becoming nocturnal so he could fully enjoy Lunas’ company, so he wasn’t tired. Nor could he move. He sighed, waiting impatiently for her return.

~*~

“Oh, and send for the two families bickering over that plot of land will you? I’ve got an answer for them.”

Luna was in the throne room. Her throne, smaller than her sisters’, but just as beautiful was of deep blues and purples, carved from the remnants of a meteorite that had fallen many ages before. The spells weaved into it would make it grow as she did; making it fit her as she aged. Yet another reminder of her eternal solitude. Just as she was thinking of that problem, the representatives of the families were shown into the hall.

“Ah, excellent. You’re here now.”

The two representatives nodded and bowed, shooting evil looks at each other as they did so. Luna almost had them thrown them out then and there.

“You will be civil in MY court! No more of these glances!”

The two started and nodded quickly, not wanting to anger the princess.

“Now then. Neither of you have changed your position I take it?”

They both shook their head. Luna sighed.

“Then I have a solution.”

The two looked at her, both of them hopeful.

“I shall split the land in half, and so there are not territory feuds, at the centre I shall take a half acre from both sides.”

One of the stallions smiled gratefully.

“Thank you your majesty. You rule fairly.”

Luna smiled gratefully at him. The other was not so accepting.

“But that is MY land! You can’t just give HIM half of MY land!”

Luna fixed the offending stallion with a glare that could freeze lava.

“I can, and I will. You try my patience and almost sway me to give him all of the land.”

The stallion became further enraged.

“That’s preposterous!”

“Preposterous!?”

Lunas’ voice was ice cold as she spoke.

“Preposterous is you believing you can order ME around!”

It was time for the sun to rise, and Luna really didn’t want to argue this close to her bedtime. She was tired and more than drained. The stallion snorted.

“You’re not the real princess! Let me talk to Her ladyship Celestia and we will sor-“

There was a blast of light and Celestia was standing in front of the offensive stallion.

“Why is it you believe my sister commands less respect than me?”

The stallion cowered back as the other members of staff in the throne room bowed, minus Luna, who was wide eyed in shock.

“T..Tia!”

“Answer me!”

The stallion whimpered, then stood tall.

“You are the princess, not her! She’s been gone for far too long t-“

“ENOUGH! You remember this and remember it well!”

Celestia leaned close to the stallion, her face a mask of rage.

“PRINCESS Luna has just as much authority as I do and if you fail to obey her orders again and I will have you imprisoned for treason!”

~*~

“I had that handled Tia! I did!”

Celestia smiled at Luna.

“The situation? I know dear Luna, but they need to learn to respect you as much as they respect me.”

“And they won’t do that if you keep interfering! You don’t understand Tia!”

Celestias’ gaze turned concerned.

“I worry for you Luna.”

Luna sighed in frustration.

“Be that as it may sister, if I look to you to solve all confrontations I enter, they will not learn to respect me as much as to fear you...”

Celestia pursed her lips in thought. Luna was right.

“I.... I see what you mean.”

Luna nodded.

“And that not only lowers their opinion of you, but it reinforces their tentative beliefs about me.”

Celestia looked her sister in pleasant surprise.

“You’ve really thought about this haven’t you Luna?”

Luna blushed and looks at her hooves.

“W..Well... Not really... I brought it up with Defender... I.. I know I shouldn’t have Tia but, I can’t help it!”

Celestia smiled at her.

“Don’t worry so much sister. If it helps you, then I’m quite alright with it.”

Changing Dreamscape

Chapter 3: Changing Dreamscape

“Nnnnoooo I prefer apples. I don’t like pears at all...”

Defender smiled sheepishly and scratched his head with his good hoof. He was well on his way to a full recovery, but he wasn’t going anywhere yet. His wing was still heavily strapped, having been broken in several places and therefore much more severe. Luna was once again at his bedside.

“Truly? I always found pears had a smoother taste and consistency.”

“Be that as it may My Lady, I prefer the crispness of an apple to the... Squishiness... of pear.”

Luna giggled.

“Suits the guard inside you?”

Defender laughed. He’d come to enjoy these visits greatly. Luna was a brilliant conversationalist and was always willing to talk.

“I guess so. But then, that would mean the guard would be sweet and refreshing. Not like a pear.”

Luna simply smiled.

“Perhaps you are sweeter than you believe?”

Defender peered at her.

“A..Are you insinuating something your majesty?”

“Not at all Defender, simply stating a possibility.”

This hopelessly confused him and he laughed nervously.

“I’ll take your word for it.”

The two fell into a companionable silence for a while, neither really wanting to talk, just enjoying the company of the other. Eventually, Luna spoke up and asked curiously.

“Defender... How did you end up here?”

Defender sighed sadly.

“I knew this would come up...”

He looked at her.

“I came from a place called Coltsvale. It’s a boring place. How did I end up here? I was exiled.”

Luna frowned.

“That doesn’t explain why you came crashing through my bedroom roof.”

“It doesn’t? Hmm, let me elaborate.”

He wriggled a bit in his bed.

“When you’re exiled, they sit you on this massive... almost a kind of seesaw. One end is heavily padded, the other is flat. They sit you on that part, read out your crimes, let you say something, then a Pegasus flies down at a set speed and strikes the padded end, catapulting you out of the town.”

Luna gasped.

“That’s awful!”

“When they exiled me... The Pegasus must have gone too fast. I can’t tell, see? They blindfold you and tie your wings shut. That’s the rope your nurse found.”

“That’s Barbaric!”

“That’s the law.”

Luna stared at him incredulously.

“How is it that my sister and I don’t know of this?”

“Coltsvale keeps mostly to itself My Lady.”

Silence hit them like a hammer stroke and they sat silently for a while before Luna spoke up again.

“You say this happened to you... How?”

Defender sighed.

“I was framed... for a multitude of crimes committed by one small group of ponies in particular.”

“Framed?”

“Yes. The first few offences... They sent me with warnings. Now, when I was accused of assaulting the nurse of our village, they decided it would be in the towns’ best interest to banish me.”

It was at this moment that a guard in shining gold armour burst, unannounced, into the room. Defenders’ eyes went wide as the guard spoke.

“My Lady Luna. Your schedule dictates that you are late for your regular scheduled visit to Ponyville.”

Luna looked at him sharply.

“How long were you at that door?”

“I just arrived now My Lady.”

Luna was sceptical of the guards’ claim, but as usual he showed no emotion whatsoever. She waved him away. A flash of disgust swept so quickly across his face Defender barely registered it.

“Defender. I’m going to have to leave now, I’m already almost late. I’m terribly sorry, I forgot about the session entirely.”

“No need to apologize your majesty... I understand completely.”

“I told you to call me Luna! Why are you so stubborn?”

Defender smiled wryly

“Perhaps it’s part of my obvious lack of charm your majesty?”

Luna giggled softly.

“Perhaps... you have more charm than you think?”

With that and a wave, Luna departed. Defender waved back and frowned.

More charm... than I think? What the hay does that mean!?

~*~

Talisman smiled at the younger princess lying on his psychiatric couch in his pseudo office in the Ponyville library.

“Now then, Miss Luna. If I recall accurately, we left off last week on the note of me trying you help you figure out your loneliness.”

Luna kept her gaze locked resolutely on her forehooves. She was lying on her back and felt vulnerable and shy on this couch, especially considering Talisman’s powerful ability to read minds. She knew he could do this, but he chose not to out of courtesy and great respect for the midnight monarch. But that didn’t make her feel any more comfortable.

“That fits into my memory of our last appointment.”

Talisman paused, peering at the princess.

“... But?”

Luna fiddles with her hooves.

“But I’m not sure that I need your help on that anymore.”

Talisman raised one eyebrow in slight surprise.

“Oh? Pray tell.”

Luna looked at him pleadingly.

“Only if you promise what I say doesn’t go past this room.”

“Doctor-patient confidentiality Your Majesty, I won’t tell anypony.”

She peered at him and he laughed softly.

“Or anything, I promise. Now, what is it?”

Luna returned her gaze to her hooves, seeming to shrink shyly.

“Well... There’s this stallion see..”

Talisman leaned forward on his chair.

“Go on.”

“Well... He sort of fell into my room one night through the roof.”

“He fell... through the roof?”

“Yes.”

Talisman frowned.

“Strange, but possible. Please continue.”

“Um, his name is Stalwart Defender. It’s a big and clumsy name, but it somehow fits. He’s quite the pleasant conversationalist actually...”

“I see. How often are you in contact with him?”

“Every night and sometimes early into the morning.”

“He’s an adviser then?”

Luna squirmed uncomfortably.

“Well no... He’s... well, he’s a roof crasher.”

Talisman looked over his notepad, one eyebrow raised.

“A... roof crasher?”

Luna nodded.

“Well, he crashed through the roof to my room a little while ago and he’s been in the medical wing ever since. I guess you could call him an adviser though... I find myself seeking his council an awful lot.”

“I see... and how exactly did he end up crashing through your roof if I may ask?”

“Well... He was banished from his old town.”

Talisman frowned.

“I still don’t understand. How does one crash through a roof by being banished?”

“It’s the method they used. See, he came from a place called Coltsvale and they have a rather interesting punishment system. But... if you’re banished, you, and forgive me if this is vague, are basically catapulted out of town, blindfolded and wings tied down.”

Talisman paused, unsure as to what to say to that. Luna sighed.

“Yes... that was our response as well. Or rather... my response. Sorry, I suppose I’m still working out a few kinks from the old tongue.”

Talisman waved a hoof dismissively.

“Not to worry about that. Tell me more about this stallion.”

~*~

Defender was bored. No, more than that, he was dead bored. If he was any more bored, he’d probably be made of stone. His hooves were on the mend, his forehoof having healed up being the least damaged limb. Unfortunately, his hind leg and his wing were still healing, so he wasn’t allowed to walk around.

Well, I guess it gives me time to think right? Ugh, but my mind fights against such stagnation! This is torture. I should be out at Coltsvale catching the real criminals, not rotting in some hospital bed. But I can’t go back there either, banishment is serious. Maybe I can pick up a job around here. At least it’ll get me food when I’m back on my hooves.

He looked at his still bandaged leg.

Literally.

He heard the familiar sound of perfectly filed hooves coming down the hallway and he looked up from his leg to the familiar face of a pretty young nurse. As usual when she checked up on him, she was blushing quite hotly.

“I trust you’re okay Mr Defender?”

He smiled at her.

“Yes, thank you Heartsworn. But, please, may I ask something?”

Heartsworn giggled and nodded.

“You already did, but go on!”

Defender chuckled a little at the joke.

“Is there any way to tell when I can start walking?”

The nurse let herself smile.

“Oh! The senior nurses estimate about another week or two at most. The wing however will take significantly longer to heal. Maybe another four to five weeks. Wing bones are very, very fragile and very delicate to work with.”

Defender nodded.

“I understand. Thank you miss.”

She giggled, blushing still.

“I told you! Call me Heart, not miss.”

Defender shrugged.

“If that’s what you want Heart.”

She smiled brightly.

“It’s precisely what I want, thank you.”

With that, she leaned forward, gave him a light kiss on the cheek and bustled away, her face burning red.

~*~

Luna sighed at the end of her recount as to how she met started talking to Stalwart Defender. Talisman was frowning slightly, not from being angry, but from listening for so long, trying to make sure he got all the details.

“so um... yes, that’s it.”

“I see... so you’ve been talking to him about matters of state?”

“Yes... but Tia said-“

“It’s alright, I’m not scolding you your majesty. I was simply clarifying.”

Luna nodded.

“Okay...”

There was a short silence before Talisman spoke.

“You don’t want him to leave.”

Luna looked at him sharply.

“You promised not to read my mind Tal!”

“I didn’t have to Majesty.”

Luna went to talk and stopped herself, then looked at him sheepishly.

“Was I that obvious?”

“Nah, I just know how to read ponies. But that isn’t important. It’s time to go Luna.”

Luna sighed and rolled off the couch, hugged Tal and started to walk out. Talisman smiled.

“Luna.”

She stopped on the threshold of the portal out of his office.

“Yes?”

“Don’t let him go.”

~*~

It was approaching dawn when Luna revisited Defender. He was preparing to sleep when she trotted in.

“Oh, I’m sorry. Is this a bad time?”

Defender looked over at her and smiled, pushing himself back up into a sitting position.

“Princess! Of course not, it’s never a bad time when you’re here.”

Luna blushed softly and Defender suddenly realised what he said and groaned.

“Oh, that didn’t... I mean I... That came out wrong!”

Luna giggled softly and trotted up to the bedside, facing the embarrassed stallion, slightly amused.

“It’s quite alright. I think I was due for a little reassurance.”

He chuckled softly and looked at her thankfully.

“In that case, I’m glad to be of assistance your majesty.”

Luna rolled her eyes, exasperated.

“Defender! I told you, call us Luna! I mean, me. Call me Luna.”

She blushed again, embarrassed. He smiled.

“I’m afraid that if I do that, ponies will think I don’t respect you as you are.”

“We’re alone here.”

“Except for the two guards outside of the room and the nurse in the next room, I suppose.”

Luna frowned.

“Guards..?”

She turned and looked at the doorway.

“You can come in here now. That’s an order.”

Two guards briskly trotted in, one of them fairly young, the other a grizzled old thing. The younger one was a Pegasus, the older one an Earth pony. They sat obediently in front of Luna and saluted.

“Sergeant Stonewall ma’am.” The tone from the older pony was professional and the practiced emotionless way of speech adopted only by the guard.

“New recruit, Private Brave Wing your highness!” The younger guard was excitable and the sergeant nudged him gently and the young stallion nodded and tried to put on the practiced blank face of the guard. Luna rolled her eyes in slight amusement.

“What are you two doing here?”

Stonewall lowered his hoof from the salute before he spoke.

“Ma’am. We were off duty and saw you unaccompanied by your usual guard ma’am! All ponies of the royal line are to be accompanied by at least one senior guard at all times ma’am! Her maj-“

“All right, all right!”

Luna giggled at the pair. Defender simply watched from his bed.

“I get it. And Sergeant, it’s alright. Technically I am with a guard right now. Apart from you two of course.”

Stonewall nodded.

“Aye ma’am, be that as it may, he’s not an official royal guard, and so it is mandatory for one of us to accompany you. The colt here is under my command, and therefore came with me. He was rather excited to finally meet you Ma’am.”

The private, Brave Wing, flushed at that and Luna looked at him and spoke teasingly.

“Is that so? Do I live up to your expectations New Recruit, Private Brave wing?”

His cheeks a rosy red, the young guard answered quickly.

“My Expectations it seems, did you no justice ma’am.”

“Oh? I like you already.”

If it was possible for him to go any redder, he did. Defender chuckled from his bed and Luna looked at him next.

“Adorable isn’t he?”

The sergeant guffawed and Brave Wing, to his merit, simply stood firm, although his face was quite red by now. More red than white.

“Don’t worry kid. You’re doing fine.”

The guard looked at Defender curiously, before Luna smiled at him.

“That’s right. You’re doing great, keep it up.”

She gently kissed his cheek before turning to Stonewall. Defender could have sworn the private was going to faint.

“Sergeant, I’m fine. You’re off duty, go and rest. That’s an order!”

The grizzled old guard smiled.

“Yes Ma’am. Just call if you need us. Or, anypony. C’mon boy, there’s sleeping to do.”

The pair left quite quickly, Stonewall bullying the younger guard out to get him to move. Luna giggled.

“What a pair those two make!”

Defender nodded.

“Mmm. They’re real guards. Off duty and still doing their jobs.”

Luna sighed softly.

“Perhaps so, but it’s annoying being flanked by guards all the time. Simply because they’re all so... stiff! Emotionless! They don’t care, you know?”

“I understand your majesty. Unfortunately sometimes it’s best to be safe than sorry.”

Luna rolled her eyes.

“Oh Goddess, you’re sounding just like Tia.”

Defender smiled wryly.

“Sounds like your sister is wiser than I’ve heard.”

Luna giggled.

“Wiser than you’ve heard? What exactly have you heard?”

Defender started to speak but stopped, frozen.

“I uh... wait... Should we really be talking about this?”

Luna almost seemed to bounce back to his bedside and seize his hoof in her own two.

“C’mon! I wanna know!”

Defender hesitated. Luna smiled.

“Do you want me to break out the royal order for it?”

Defender sighed.

“Alright, alright! See, in Coltsvale we had some rather unscrupulous beliefs. I’ll have to go back someday and tell them the truth.”

“Unscrupulous beliefs?”

“Yes ma’am. The way I understand it, after delving into the older archives, the first mayor of Coltsvale didn’t want that plot of land for his town. He appealed to Celestia to exchange and she refused. He had no real reason to do so, so she didn’t see any point. Therefore, anypony who lived there since has been told to believe that Celestia is a tyrant.”

Luna gasped.

“Tia? A Tyrant?”

The injured stallion nodded.

“Yes ma’am. In fact, there are quite a few ponies, if not all of them at least secretly, that worship the ground you walk on.”
Luna couldn’t help but puff out her chest with pride. Defender smiled grimly.

“I wouldn’t be proud of the New Luna Republic your majesty. They’re all very ready and willing to depose of Celestia by any means necessary to replace her with you on the throne.”

Luna instantly deflated.

“What!?”

“Yes your highness, and depose meaning anything from humiliation, imprisonment or.... or death.”
Luna frowned thunderously.

“Who are they to believe that my Sister is a tyrant? What gives them the right to think they can depose my...”

Luna peered at him.

“Wait... you’re not one of them are you?”

Defender gave her a dry look.

“Me? I’m the one who researched this so I had reason not to believe it. Trust me Majesty, I’d pledge allegiance to you both just as readily as I would give my life for Equestria.”

“And how read-“

“Where do you need me?”

Luna blinked. His face was serious and utterly sincere.

“Oh.”

“I’d do it in a heartbeat your highness.”

Luna smiled.

“Perfect.”

~*~

Luna rushed through the castle in Canterlot, heedless of the guards that watched her as she went. It was almost time for the sun to rise and she needed to talk to her sister privately. She reached Celestia’s room and stopped to catch her breath. It felt good to run. Feeling calm once more, Luna knocked at her sister’s door. The door opened almost as soon as Luna knocked. She walked in cautiously.

“Tia? Are you awake yet?”

Celestia sat on the balcony on the east side of her room. Her back was to Luna and her mane and tail weren’t flowing in the darkness, but rather fell over her shoulders, a light pink colour.

“Come in dear sister. I was just admiring the last of your beautiful night.”

Luna flushed as she walked into her sisters’ room and the door swung shut quietly.

“Thank you for the compliment Tia, I did try to make it beautiful.”

Celestia turned to her sister and her horn started to glow, her mane starting to shimmer with colour.

“You did an excellent job Luna. Now, what is it you wish to discuss? We won’t be interrupted here without my calling, so there’s no trouble. We can take as long as you need.”

Luna smiled and bounced over to her sister and snuggled up to her happily.

“Thank you Tia! So! First I want to know if my night was dark enough for you to sleep peacefully.”

Celestia giggled softly and put a hoof around her sister affectionately.

“It was perfect Luna. Thank you. And your time with Talisman?”

Luna blushed very lightly.

“C..Can we please not talk about that?”

Celestia smiled.

“Of course dear sister, I understand. Now, what else did you want to discuss?”

Luna nodded, trying to order her thoughts.

“Right, right yes. Tia, I know you only just sort of replenished the numbers but... Would it be possible that you need a new royal guard for the palace?”

Celestia frowned in slight confusion for a moment before smiling again.

“Luna. This wouldn’t happen to be about Stalwart Defender would it?”

Luna started.

Should have seen that coming...

“W..Well, it’s just that... Defender has been trained as a guard Tia and he has been ever so helpful to me. “

Celestia smiled.

“Luna, you have to remember that I cannot simply let any pony join the Royal Guard! Especially since they’re all guards of the day, and the ones who guard at night don’t like their duties.”

Celestia let out a small giggle.

“Well, except for Sergeant Stonewall and his student.”

“Brave Wing?”

“That’s the one. Those two just seem happy to serve.”

“Does... does that mean you can’t keep him as a guard?”

Celestia smiled.

“Luna, I know you want him to stay, but there is nothing I can do. I don’t need more guards right now I’m afraid.”

Luna instantly deflated.

“Oh... that is regrettable isn’t it..?”

Celestia hugged Luna gently.

“Luna, I’m sorry, but there’s nothing I can do.”

Luna frowned. Celestia had put extra emphasis on ‘I’, and it was bugging Luna.

“There’s nothing you can do?”

“No sister, nothing I can do.”

Luna smiled.

“Okay. Thanks Tia, you’re the best!”

The two sisters embraced for a moment before Luna turned and pranced over to the door, letting it open before prancing out and down the halls, earning smiles from some guards, most of them not even bothering to pay attention. Two in particular looked at her with a mix of hatred and revulsion.

Luna never noticed. She was too happy.

~*~

Defender sat in his hospital bed, but not in the hospital. He lay on the bed, on the balcony of Luna’s royal quarters. He was very, VERY confused.

Why did she request I be brought in here? I don’t get it.

It was cool, but not unpleasant. The sheets covering him, however, were standard issue Hospital sheets. Needless to say, they were stiff and irritating. He heard the door open and he craned his neck, trying to see who entered.

Stupid thought Defender. Who else would be in the Royal quarters of her majesty Princess Luna?

Sure enough, he heard Lunas’ voice soon after he heard a soft boom as her door closed.

“Hey Defender!”

“Um, Your majesty-“

“Please! I’ve asked you to call me Luna!”

Defender couldn’t help but smile.

“It’s not liable to happen anytime soon your highness.”

She rolled her eyes, exasperated.

“I will command it you know.”

“That’s one command I could not follow then.”

Luna shrugged and stood at his bedside, looking out at the night sky.

“Beautiful, isn’t it? The moon is only a crescent tonight, but I don’t think I’ve ever done a better job with one.”

“It’s wonderful your majesty. It... I guess it’s been a while since I’ve looked at the night sky from my little room in the infirmary. This is possibly the best night I could have been brought out here to see.”

He looked at her seriously and nodded.

“Thank you.”

Luna fought down a blush.

I didn’t even think of that! Why didn’t I think of that?

“That’s quite alright. I’d thought you’d like to see the sky, and since my domain is the night...”

Please buy that, please buy that!

He smiled.

“Please, you don’t need to explain. It’s... I’m thankful that you thought of me.”

Luna let out a breath she didn’t know she’d been holding.

Oh thank Celestia.

She still found saying, or thinking that, really weird.

“I’m glad you like it. But... That’s not the only reason I had you brought here.”

He looked over to her, brow raised.

“It’s not your highness?”

“No. Defender, I would like to talk about your previous occupation and the verdict of your prosecution.”

Defender gulped.

Oh Celestia, she’s not... I guess this is where I get thrown out.

“W..What would you like to know Majesty?”

“You were a guardspony before your trial, is that not correct?”

“Y..Yes Majesty, that’s correct. I served for ten years.”

“Mhmm. And during that time, did you ever face threats?”

His face creased as he tried to remember.

“W..Well, I wasn’t really manning the outer perimeter, which was for the younger striplings. I was patrolling the town itself so I did occasionally run into the occasional thief I suppose, yes.”

Luna looked at him archly.

“Your talent lies in guard, is this correct?”

Defender felt his heart sink.

Oh Celestia...

He didn’t answer, choosing to gulp nervously instead. Luna frowned at him, concerned.

“Defender?”

He sighed heavily.

“I... I don’t know.”

Luna was taken aback.

“What do you mean you don’t know?”

“I... I never found out. The only adult pony in Coltsvale without a cutie mark... no wonder I was convicted so quickly.”

Luna gasped and automatically looked to his flank, remembering at the last second he was covered by a sheet.
“No Cutie mark then?”

Defender nodded, depressed.

“That’s correct your Majesty...”

Luna paused, then smiled kindly at him, gently laying her hoof over his.

“Don’t worry. I know your mark will be great and noble. Like yourself in some ways.”

Defender almost found himself blushing.

“Thank you... your highness... that means a lot.”

Luna smiled for a bit more, then blinked.

Don’t get off track Luna.

Her previous momentum from her line of questioning having dissipated, Luna coughed softly.

“Defender, when you’ve healed. Where will you go?”

He shrugged.

“I’m not sure. I can’t go home... Exile is permanent and irreversible by law. Maybe I can find some other place to go.”
Luna paused to gather her thoughts.

Come on then Luna, out with it. It isn’t that hard.

“Defender, the guard stations for the solar guardsponies have been filled for a while now. Nopony has quit nor been relieved of duty in many years. You’ll find no work there.”

Defender sighed as he felt his heart plummet again.

Brilliant, there goes that idea.

“I see...”

“However..”

Defender looked back up at her.

“However I find myself in need of a personal bodyguard to accompany me wherever I happen to be going. It’ll be hard, gruelling work with little time to one’s self. There is only one spot open for this. You’d get decent benefits.”

Defender smiled
.
“And what, pray tell madame, would these benefits be?”

Luna giggled girlishly.

“Apart from being in the presence of a princess for most of your time that is? Well, you get fed without needing to pay for it while you’re on duty, which for this lucky stallion would be most of the time, you get holiday pay too, b-“

“I’d like to apply for this potential position.”

Luna beamed at him.

“As soon as your hoof has healed okay?”

Defender nodded.

“Thank you... your majesty.”

Luna rolled her eyes again and laughed.

The Blue Knight

Chapter 4: The Blue Knight

One Week later...

Defender stood on his own hooves for the first time in almost two months, outside his hospital bed which he’d developed a rather keen hatred for over that time. His wing was still splinted and sat awkwardly out by his side, his other wing out to keep balance. Brave Wing was with him, making sure he didn’t hurt himself.

“Feel better?”

Defender nodded.

“Yes, it’s good to be back on my own four hooves.”

Brave wing nodded. He had deep shadows under his eyes from lack of sleep.

“That’s good. I-“

His next words were cut off as the young stallion yawned, then looked down sheepishly.

“Sorry... I guess I couldn’t hold that back any longer.”

Defender smiled at him.

“Go and get some rest. It’s never good for a guard to be tired on watch. Since you’re not on duty, you’d best get some sleep.”

“But I’m on duty again in a couple of hours...”

“Then that’s a couple hours more sleep to keep you awake when it’s important isn’t it?”

Brave Wing went to speak, then nodded.

“Yeah, I guess you’re right.”

At that moment the pretty young nurse trotted into the room and smiled at the pair, blushing slightly.

“Hello sir. Defender, are you feeling better?”

Defender glanced at the now furiously blushing Brave Wing and smiled.

“I’m feeling much better, thank you Heartsworn.”

The young nurse giggled.

“Good! I’m glad I could be of service.”

She pecked the still injured stallions’ cheek and looked over at Brave Wing, who looked rather crestfallen, his face still flushed.

“And you? Are you alright? You look like you might have a fever...”

Brave wing started and shook his head, straightening up.

“N-No ma’am! I’m fine, thankyou.”

“You sure? You look like you might be getting sick.”

Brave Wing nodded frantically.

“I’m sure ma’am! Th....Thank you for your concern.”

The nurse giggled slightly and nodded to him before trotting out of the room. Brave Wing let out an explosive sigh and Defender tried to contain laughter.

“You’re still red Wing, need a physical?”

Brave wing shot a venomous glare at him, sending him into hysterics.

“Shutup Defender. Just... Shutup.”

~*~

Luna looked at her room, dismayed. It was an utter mess. There was clothing strewn all over the room, shoes littered everywhere, her bedsheets were untidy and the bed unmade... In short, it looked like a bomb just hit it.

Oh Luna... Why do you insist on cleaning your own room?

Then she remembered the stack of playpony magazines stacked under her bed.

Oh... That’s why.

She sighed in exasperation and concentrated. Things started flying everywhere. Shoes and clothing back to hanging up, her tiara back to her dresser, various make up products into the drawers of said dresser, the bed straightened itself and the sheets were draped neatly over it, Her favourite doll, one of her sister, flew over from the balcony and buried itself under the covers. A hairbrush flew out from under her bed, along with an airtight container which Luna stopped before it flew out of the room.

What’s this?

She levitated the container over and popped it open. The smell of stuffed green olives filled the room. They were still fresh.

Score!

She giggled and popped one in her mouth, savouring the taste before returning to the cleaning of her room. She was considering what to wear for Defenders’ coronation as her personal guard. She wasn’t planning on refusing him, regardless what anypony else thought.

And I said I was offering an opportunity. More like a lifetime employment option!

She giggles slightly and ate another olive.

It’ll be nice to have somepony to talk to now though... somepony to keep me company.

She felt slightly guilty at these selfish thoughts, but shoved them away quickly.

Hey, you’ve been through enough, you deserve this. You deserve it and you know it.

She sighed and trotted over to her dresser, looking in the mirror pensively, eating another olive.

Besides... where else does he have to go?

She decided upon regal clothing, but a bit more formal than normal. She wore her chest piece, which flew over from under her bed, her shoes of matching colour, from her closet, and her tiara, which floated down from the dresser. Simply to make sure everypony knew it was a special occasion, she wore a dress she’d planned on saving for that years’ Grand Galloping Gala. A beautiful, flowing gown of deep blues and purples with sparkling star like sequins

Oh my, I do so love this gown!

She giggled and twirled a little, admiring herself in the mirror.

It’s perfect!

~*~

“Sir?”

Stalwart Defender looked up from where he’d dozed off. He blinked a few times, then saw Stonewall poking his head in.

“Oh... Sergeant. What time is it?”

Stonewall smiled.

“Time to get inducted into the first of the Luna guard.”

Defender smiled, his mending wing flicking up a little in nervous anticipation.

“Oh, well I guess I’d best be ready huh?”

The grizzled guard nodded, grinning.

“Aye son, you’d best be ready. C’mon, you’ve got a ceremony to attend.”

Defender staggered to his hooves and shook off his grogginess. Instantly he had shrugged on the emotionless facade of those that take upon themselves the burden of being a guardspony.

“Yes sir, lead the way sir.”

Stonewall snorted in amusement.

“Relax kid, I’m not going to get all ‘superior officer on you’. You can be yourself.”

Defender forced himself to relax and threw a not so confident grin at the guard.

“Heh... sorry Stone, guess I’m just nervous.”

“Don’t be. Her Majesty Luna really likes you, you’ll make it either way.”

Defender raised a brow at Stonewall, who shrugged.

“What? She wouldn’t talk to you about affairs of state if she trusts you. On top of that son, she can’t let you go anymore, simply because you could tell others about the way you helped her and her whole reputation will be ruined.”

Defender paused just as he went to reply. What Stonewall had said made a lot of sense. She had spoken to him concerning events of state, and those aren’t meant to be taken up with guards, let alone civilians as he was at the time. To let him go might potentially give him the chance to ruin her. Letting him go would have been a hell of a display of trust. On the other hoof...

“Be that as it may Stone, but having me as a personal bodyguard is also a great display of trust.”

The old guard smiled and nodded.

“That it is. Good way to look at it.”

“Only way to look at it.”

Stonewall laughed softly.

“Either way, we’ve dawdled enough. If we’re late, the princess’ll have our heads. She wants this to be perfect.”

Defender nodded and briskly trotted over to the door. The instant he stepped out he was surrounded by other guards. Stonewall laughed again.

“It’s alright boys, he’s not a criminal. You can give him some space.”

Obediently, the surrounding guards took a half step away from the shocked Pegasus. One of them flashed a smile at him.

“Don’t worry sir. We just got a little overexcited. Some of us will welcome the freedom from guarding two princesses.”

Defender chuckled softly.

“I take it you’re one of them?”

The guard nodded.

“Yessir, I am indeed. It’s hard to find time to visit the family with such a demand on my time. I barely got an hour last Hearts and Hooves. But I love what I do and I like to think I do it well.”

“Ahem.”

The guard snapped back to attention and Stonewall gave him an odd look.

“We can introduce ourselves later. Just remember he’ll be a higher rank than you and even me.”

The guard nodded stiffly.

“Yessir!”

The grizzled old guard nodded.

“Good. Let’s get going then.”

~*~

There weren’t many ponies in the throne room. Celestia and Luna and a detachment of royal guards were all. Celestia, calm,
collected and utterly graceful as always, stood behind her sister, who sat at the foot of the steps to the thrones. Neither of them planned to use said thrones, and Celestia was hoping this wouldn’t go on too long. As a result of her not so obvious tiredness, Celestia had very, very barely noticeable shadows under her eyes.

Still she looked just as beautiful. Go figure.

Luna didn’t know how she did it, but she sat where she was needed, in her gown and royal accessories. Celestia had told her it wasn’t necessary to dress up, but Luna had insisted.

Tia, it’s my first guard. If I don’t dress nicely he won’t think I thought he was special enough to be my guard and that’ll demoralize him.

She still didn’t know where that reasoning had come from, but it had persuaded her sister and that was good enough for her. There was a series of staccato knocks on the door before it swung open and Defender was marched into the room, flanked by guards. In pairs, the guardsponies around Defender split off as the approached Luna, effectively forming a corridor of golden steel and muscle as they walked. At the end there was only Defender, who sank into a respectful bow, his wings held out on either side. Normally this wouldn’t be permitted, but a special exemption had been made for him due to the condition of his wing. Luna suppressed a smile.

“Stalwart Defender, Town guard of Coltsvale.”

Lunas’ voice rang out across the room. Defender almost winced. It was Loud!

As it turns out, the Royal Canterlot voice was best reserved for large crowds.

Instantly her voice dropped towards the end. Celestia put a hoof over her mouth to muffle her slight giggle at her sister. Defender never missed a beat however.

“Yes, you majesty.”

It wasn’t a question. Confirmation of identity was always required in any induction into becoming a guard, and this was no different.

Well, except he would be guarding one of the most important ponies in Equestria should he succeed.

“I ask you now, Stalwart Defender and answer well, for this is your one and only chance. What makes you believe yourself worthy to serve me?”

Luna almost winced. She never did like the wording for that line. It made her feel like an arrogant ruler, of which she didn’t think she was. This time, Defender took a deep breath to calm himself.

Alright Defender, don’t screw this up.

“Your majesty. I served the town guard for almost twenty years since I was 15, It has been my sole occupation in life, I cannot do anything better than this. Her Majesty also saved my life, taking me in after an unfortunate accident involving breaking my wing and two legs when she could have left me to die. For this I owe a debt beyond mortal bounds. For these reasons will I exist only to serve you and protect you from those that would do you harm.”

As an afterthought, after slight hesitation, he added.

“And I... have nowhere else to go.”

Behind her sister, Celestia was smiling softly. It was clear she approved of him. Luna looked much more serious however.

“Stalwart Defender of Coltsvale.”

Defender swallowed hard.

This is it...

“Yes your majesty?”

Luna motioned to a group of ponies behind Defender. A motion he failed to notice.

“Please stand.”

Defender stood up, anxiety wracking his entire body and mind. Luna looked at him gravely.

“Do you swear to serve and protect me until such a time as you are incapable of doing so or until you are released from
duty?”

Defender nodded crisply.

“Until death take me, or you have no further use of me, I so swear.”

Luna almost cracked a smile.

“Then you will need a set of armour in which to defend yourself.”

Which is the precise moment the pair of guards now behind him decided to put a deep blue helmet upon the stallion.

It's official now... I'm officially the personal guardian for Princess Luna.

~*~

Defender stood at his new post outside Lunas’ bedroom. Having no pressing business this night, she had resolved to spend it in her room doing whatever it is Princesses do in their spare time. As he did, he admired his new armour appreciatively. Whatever metal it was, it was remarkably strong and was a deep blue with almost purple tinges through it. Much like the night sky. It was fashioned similarly to those of the ‘normal’ royal guards, only the chestpiece had a shield emblazoned with a crescent moon rather than a star on the front. The moon piece was made of some sort of white stone which also seemed quite resilient.

Whoever made this is a fine smith indeed. I must remember to ask after him and thank him.

“Defendeeeeer!”

Defender looked back at the door behind him.

“Yes your majesty?”

There was a pause before Luna spoke again.

“Well, don’t just stand there, get in here!”

Defender started in shock and nudged the door open and stood in the doorway. Luna was sitting at the balcony of her room,
staring out at the night sky.

“Yes your Majesty?”

Luna turned to look at him and smiled, then gestured for him to come closer. Hesitantly, he took another step before sitting at attention again. Luna giggled.

“Defender, how do you expect me to talk to you from there?”

He struggled to find a way to put it without insulting her.

“I.. uh, the same way you would talk to anypony else your majesty?”

A flash of irritation flickered across Lunas’ face.

“How do you expect to protect me if you’re over there and a ruffian swings in through the window?”

Defender paused. She had a point. He sighed resigned to the fact that the Princess had won.

“Yes your majesty.”

He walked over and sat a respectful distance to the left side of her. Luna giggled slightly at him.

“You know, you don’t have to be so stiff, I’m not trying to talk to a brick wall.”

Defender twitched.

“I’m sorry Your majesty, It’s just... This is highly unorthodox and really isn’t fitting of a guard t-“

He stopped as he felt warmth against his body and he looked down, his eyes shooting open in alarm. Luna was snuggled up against him and her head was against his chest.

“W..Wha?”

She smiled at him.

“I was cold.”

Whispers

Chapter 5: Whispers.

As Defender walked out of the Princess’ room, he caught the attention of two other guards. One of them raised an eyebrow at him. He smiled awkwardly.

“Not what it may appear to be at first, trust me.”

The guard shrugged.

“It’s not so strange. Celestia has invited me in from time to time to talk. It’s never anything important however.”

Defender nodded, relieved.

“Oh good, I was afraid you’d think badly of me.”

The guard shook his head.

“’course not.”

The guard nodded to Defender before continuing to walk. However, the look Defender received from the other guard was one of absolute hatred and disgust. If looks could kill, Defender would have been killed right there. As he walked past, called by his companion, Defender frowned.

What was all that about?

~*~

And so a ritualistic sequence was formed. Defender took up his post every night, at nightfall and followed Luna wherever she went during the times she was required other places, except for her weekly visit to Ponyville. This was a point of great fascination for Defender, since he still had no clue as to why she went. Nopony had seen fit to tell him and he didn’t want to ask in case he came across as too... well, he wasn’t quite sure how he’d come across, which is precisely why he hadn’t asked anything. Despite this and his attempts to suppress his insane urge to find out what it’s all about, he still wanted to know.

Anyway.

After Luna had done as she was required, she often stopped at the kitchens to pick up a little something to eat. Defender had to suppress his own hunger at this, but somehow Luna always knew he was hungry. She’d more often than not take said food to her room, where Defender would stop outside the door and stand at attention. This is the situation he was in now. Luna was in her room, a large bowl of stuffed Olives in front of her and a delicious smelling roasted pecan pie beside it. Defender wanted to go in, but what fun would that be? He heard Luna call his name vaguely and he straightened up.

“Yes Your Majesty?”

Luna sighed softly. This was all a part of it, so Defender never payed it much heed.

“Defender, you can protect me much easier from within my room you know.”

Defender grinned slightly, not letting her see him do so. Not hard, considering his back was to her at his post.

“Indeed Princess, however entering a lady’s room, especially one of your calibre and status madame would be unthinkable.”

Luna giggles softly.

“Not if the lady invites him in.”

Defender turned slightly to look at her out of the corner of his eye.

“But madame, What if somepony saw this happen?”

Luna shrugged.

“Let them talk. Now come in here Defender and eat your pie before I decide to make a meal of it.”

Defender chuckled slightly and trotted into the room, closing the door behind him as he walked up to his employer, who nudged the pie his way with her nose. He nodded gently in thanks and nibbled at the crust of his pie as Luna popped another olive into her mouth.

“So Defender, as you know I have my scheduled visit to Ponyville tomorrow aaaaand....”

Defender glanced at her curiously. He didn’t say anything however, continuing to nibble at his pie.

“Well, it gets lonely going on my own. I mean, sure I can just teleport up there, but that’s just boring really. So, I was considering bringing you along this time. You are my bodyguard after all and not bringing you along just because we consider Ponyville completely safe could be a mistake at some point so...”

She paused. Defender waited for her to continue for a while before looking up curiously when she didn’t. She was looking at him endearingly, her eyes wide and shiny. He felt himself melt at her gaze.

“And you would like me to come along for the next trip Your Majesty?”

The endearing look flickered with irritation.

“Defender, I told you to call me Luna.”

“Yes Your Majesty, I know.”

Luna sighed in slight irritation before smiling slightly.

“But yes Defender, I would like you to come along tomorrow. And if you don’t like the idea I’m afraid I’ll simply have to make it an order♪”

The Pegasus suppressed a laugh at that. He was going to accept the offer either way, so it didn’t matter to him whether she ordered it or not.

“No need Your Majesty. I’d be glad to accompany you.”

Luna pouted slightly.

“Awwww, you’re no fun.”

Defender shrugged, honestly not sure what she meant.

“I’m... not paid to be fun?”

Luna simply rolled her eyes and ate another olive.

~*~

“Defender! Defender!”

The Pegasus stallion was literally opening the door to his quarters when he heard the voice. He turned slightly to see a young mare bouncing towards him.

Heartsworn...

He remembered the pretty nurse from when she’d been taking care of him while he was incapacitated. He smiled at her gently.

“Heartsworn? What are you doing here?”

She giggled slightly, her bouncy curls of baby blue gently swaying with her movements.

“I’m here to see you of course; why else would I be here?”

He considered this for a moment before nodding.

“Good point. How may I help you?”

The nurse smiled, a hint of naughtiness embedded within the infectious expression.

“Well... You can start by inviting me in.”

Defender, oblivious to the implications of the smile nodded and stepped aside, allowing her to bounce into his quarters. He followed her soon after, closing the door before turning to her. She sat by his bed, smiling. She was cute, that much Defender would admit to.

“I should thank you.”

“Whatever for?”

He smiled.

“For taking care of me while I was all banged up.”

Heartsworn giggled and shook her head.

“Oh no, it’s okay. Besides, didn’t you already do that?”

“Probably.”

She giggled again and pat the ground next to her encouragingly. Defender saw no harm in it, so he trotted over and sat next to her. She giggled again.

“Well, either way, again it’s fine.”

The Pegasus nodded slightly.

“I will find some way to repay you for your kindness some day.”

The young mare giggled and smiled wickedly. “I can think of a way you can repay me...”

“Uh... Heartsworn, why are you looking at me like that?”

It only took a moment for her to pounce. She pushed him onto the bed, using her weight to add momentum.

“Whoah!” He fell on his back, eyes wide, armour still on. He was still in the process of falling when she pressed her lips to his. His head hit the mattress and he was still in shock. At some point, his helmet had fallen and let his mane free.

Wh..What the..!?

When she finally pulled away, Defender looked at her incredulously.

“Heartsworn, what the hay are you doing?”

The young mare was sprawled out on top of him, dwarfed by his larger frame. Her forehooves were on the mattress at either side of his head. She smiled at him and giggled.

“Do I have to spell it out to you?”

Betrayal

Chapter six: Betrayal

Heartsworn lay next to Defender looking rather annoyed. The Pegasus lay with his hooves around her, looking a little uncomfortable.

“Well... that was... disappointing.”

Heartsworn had spoken, still looking decidedly irritated. Defender snuffed a laugh.

“You didn’t actually think I’d engage in that sort of activity with you when I barely know you did you Heartsworn?”

Heartsworn pouted.

“Don’t wanna talk about it.”

“Hey, be glad I’ve let you stay in here with me rather than kicking you out on your rump okay?”

She grimaced slightly and nodded meekly.

“Yes Defender... I’m sorry.”

“... It’s alright Heart. It’s alright.”

~*~

Defender woke up some hours later. It was his ‘day’ off, but he’d gotten so used to his routine, he was, once again, awake at the beginning of the evening. Heartsworn was asleep, laying next to him with her hooves around him, looking very peaceful. He smiled at her sleeping form.

She is cute, I’ll give her that. Maybe a bit overzealous though.

He gently lifted her hooves back and over from around his neck and repositioned her into a more comfortable position.

Well, at least she’ll sleep easy now.

He sat by the bedside for a while before growling in frustration and beginning to pace back and forth through the room. He wasn’t used to inactivity, and this was beginning to drive him crazy after only a few hours.

Rrgh... I need to do something! Anything!

He growled irritably and looked over at his armour. Surely Luna couldn’t punish him for doing his job... right? He’d never heard of a guard being punished for being devoted to his service or his charge. Never. Although...

“You’re to take tomorrow off Defender, you’ve been up every night and I know, so don’t try to tell me otherwise, that you’ve stayed up that late that many times that you’ve literally fallen asleep in mid stride towards your quarters. So you take tomorrow off okay? That’s an order.”

Would she punish me? Could she? Is it against the rules to do so?

He spared another glance at his armour, polished as he had made sure it was each day. And internal battle was raging in his head. Would he risk punishment and go to his post on the day he’d been ordered to take off? Or should he find something else to do? It’s not like he had anything to do really...

He looked over at his armour again.

Aw hay, I may as well.

~*~

Luna was bored. Very bored as she awaited her guards. She hated being surrounded, but Celestia seemed to think it necessary for her to always be accompanied by a guard, or two if her preferences were to be considered. The younger Alicorn sighed.

Tia... you’re smothering me... Sometimes I need some time alone as well, and being flanked by guards is not helping.

She could hear them now, the steady rhythm of metallic shoes on stone as they pair approached. She loathed that sound. It resonated in her mind as oppressive, the sound of a controlled oppression. She hated it. She sighed again and looked over at the approaching guards. As usual, their faces were blank of all emotion. One had wings, the other a horn.

Typical of you Tia. Magic and speed. Of course you’d try to go with every contingency.

“You’re late you two.”

The pair stopped short and the Pegasus saluted smartly.

“Apologies ma’am! We got caught up ma’am! Not used to night time duty ma’am! Won’t happen again ma’am!”

Luna rolled her eyes at the guard. Just like Defender... Much more enthusiastic, but like him none the same. But unlike him, she couldn’t joke around or play with him. She knew it would only lower their respect for her more than it already was.

“See that it doesn’t then.”

The Pegasus nodded again, the unicorn following suit straight after.

“It won’t ma’am!”

Luna spared a smile at the Pegasus.

“I know. I appreciate all your work. Now then let’s go. I’m due in the throne room.”

“Of course ma’am!”

The trio began on their way through the familiar corridors of the Canterlot palace to the throne room. It was silent, save for the sound of metal shoes on stone. A sound that constantly grated on Luna’s nerves.

Just ignore it Luna, just ignore it.

She did eventually reach the throne room; seconds away from ordering the guards to take off their shoes to stop the sound of metal on stone. She sat on her throne rather aggressively and looked out at the empty room.

Again.

Why do I even bother to come out here?

She had no idea why. Nine times out of ten there was nothing to do all night, and she simply got bored and returned to her room. Celestia seemed to think Luna couldn’t handle any real paperwork, which left her mind to wander for the sake of amusement. If it didn’t, she was sure she’d have gone completely mad a long time ago.
Her mind was so preoccupied by her thoughts that she wasn’t paying attention to her guards. Not that she really should’ve had to, they WERE guards after all. The Pegasus guard was standing tall, at attention as his duties demanded. The perfect guard.

On her right side, the unicorn’s face distorted into an expression of disgust and there came a very, very faint glow encompassed his horn, spreading onto and around the hilt of a thin blade hidden within the engravings of his armour. The padded sheathing forged into the armour silenced the normally loud rasp of metal upon metal. The shiv floated into the air and made its way silently around behind the other guard before a little and...

Luna’s ears perked up and she turned to look at the Pegasus guard as he collapsed with a pained cry, her eyes wide in shock. There was a small stab wound in his neck. The few other guards in the hall almost were instantly wary, two of them making their way up to the throne. This time, Luna welcomed the pair being so damnably close. That was, until they both drew small, sharp shivs from their armour, both (coincidentally?) being unicorn guards, and smiling evilly at the younger princess.

“guards!? What in the name of Eqestri-“

She was silenced with a yelp as one of the turncoats brought the blade across her cheek, scoring a shallow cut. The other guards around the throne room spun to meet the new threat, only to freeze as one of the traitors held his blade to her throat.

“Don’t move! Don’t fucking move or we’ll kill her right here, right now!”

Faced with no other choice, the now helpless guards held back, a few of them angry, most of them shocked that their fellow guards would even think to attempt such a heinous act.

Which is precisely when Stalwart Defender trotted into the throne room via the side door.

Nightmare Nights

Chapter Seven: Nightmare Nights

Defender froze as he took in the scene before him. Three unicorns surrounded the throne, one on the left, on the right and one directly behind it, no doubt hidden from sight from the other, less than pleased guards before the throne. All of them had sharp, thin blades. Shivs, if he remembered the proper name for such weaponry.

Oh Celestia, the damn idea is spreading...

“None of you shall move. Perhaps you should begin praying for your pathetic wannabe princess now. She’s not going to last much longer!”

One of the turncoats was talking, a sneer plastered across his face. Defender let his eyes dart around the room, trying to find some way of strategically taking them all out at once. But no matter how much he searched, he couldn’t find one at all. From his vantage point, he couldn’t see the slumped body of the guard who was attacked previously.

Dammit, what the hell do I do!?

He was running out of time. The leader, or who he believed was the leader of the insurgents, was placing his blade to Luna’s throat. He looked at his hooves in frustration, then his eyes went wide.

Fuck it.

~*~

“Now die usurping trash!”

The leader smiled triumphantly as he went to draw the blade across Luna’s throat. A thin rivulet of blood started to flow before...

He screamed in pain and shock, losing his control over the magic holding the knife, the blade dropping to the chair’s base, and clutched at his hoof. Embedded through the entirety of the muscle about halfway down his forehoof quivered one of three spikes, each connected to a deep blue, metal shoe.

The shoe of the midnight guardian.

The other traitor on the left side of the throne looked at his leader in absolute shock, his own magic wavering. The one behind the chair pricked his ears up and looked to the leader, careful to stay out of sight before yelping in shock as another blue boot smacked him full in the eyes and he went down. The higher point of the shoe had struck his temple first, and he was out cold. The leader spun around and pointed at the seriously pissed of Stalwart Defender.

“Kill him! I’ll take care of her royal fake!”

The only remaining uninjured turncoat nodded, swallowing hard, and walked around the throne and advanced upon Defender, his shiv held out menacingly. Defender growled at his attacker and advanced himself, sizing up his enemy. Hoof to hoof combat was standard training for a guard, so he knew that this guard knew just as much as he did, plus he had a weapon. Defender was missing two boots and had no weapon on his person.

Wait him out Defender, wait him out...

His enemy acted first.

The traitor thrust forward with the shiv, diving forward himself, planning to overwhelm Defender with a flurry of attacks. Defender spared a small smile before charging himself, ducking under the shiv and flaring his wings. There was a flare of sparks as the blade screeched along his helmet before he felt his muscles bunch up like a tightly coiled spring and he leapt up, head first, at the approaching guard. This was not a move one learned as a royal guard, so naturally the guard didn’t expect it. His eyes bugged out as Defender slammed into his chin, jerking him up onto his rear hooves, trying desperately to stay up. Defender continued up, using his momentum to spin as his wings arrested his ascent, slamming the other guard with a vicious kick from both of his hind hooves, backflipping back onto the ground and landing on his hooves, wings flared. The unicorn in guard armour was flung downwards straight into the ground. There was a crack as his breastplate was cracked, and a more sickening crack as his head hit the floor. His eyes glazed over instantly. He too was out cold.
The leader growled in frustration and finally yelled out in pain. He’d finally extracted the shoe from his hoof and he let the blood soaked thing drop to the ground. He turned away from Luna to face Defender, scraping his hoof across the ground threateningly. The rest of the guards simply stared in shock. What had happened, when it had taken place, had happened so fast most of them were still trying to comprehend it.

“You’re too late to stop us. You might have beaten them, but you cannot defeat me before I-“

His eyes went wide as his words died out, replaced with a bloody gurgle. He jerked spasmodically as the rest of his shiv was shoved through his throat, the end of the blade protruding through his windpipe. The traitor fell, bloody bubbles frothing from his mouth. Behind him stood the young Pegasus guard from earlier, his hooves shaky and panting heavily.

“Not... on my watch... you prick..”

The young guard collapsed. There was silence in the throne room. Four bodies on the floor, two metal shoes joining them.

~*~

Luna looked sternly upon her single guard. Celestia was in attendance, as was the only other guard Luna knew and trusted. Stonewall was at attendance, Brave Wing having been admitted into the medical wing as soon as possible. On his part, Stalwart Defender sat at Luna’s hooves, head held low, looking intently at the floor.

“Stalwart Defender. I distinctly remember telling you that today was to be your day off, am I mistaken?”

Defender shook his head.

“No ma’am, you’re not mistaken.”

“So you remember me telling you, ordering you, to have the day off?”

“Yes ma’am.”

She frowned at the downturned head of her personal guard.

“So, please explain to me why you came to the throne room, to duty?”

Defender gulped nervously. He had no idea what he was going to say, so he simply opened his mouth to speak.

“I... didn’t know what to do ma’am. With all due respect, I had nowhere to go and nothing to do with my time; my work is everything to me. By giving me a day off, you deprived me of the only reason I was here.”

Luna paused, the next part of her questioning rendered utterly useless. Behind her, Celestia stifled a giggle behind her hoof and Stonewall smiled.

“I...”

She coughed and cleared her throat loudly.

“Stalwart Defender. You have committed an act of insubordination in betraying my orders. This is an act punishable by demotion or dismissal from service.”

Defender winced, the consequences of his actions finally occurring to him. Luna smiled.

“However, due to your insubordinate actions and the heroics of a critically injured guard, the life of myself and potentially several other guards have been spared from the attackers. Due to these extraneous circumstances...”

Defender’s ears pricked up, his head rising ever so slightly.

“Due to the circumstances I have decided to keep you on active duty.”

He looked up suddenly. Luna giggled slightly.

“However. There are conditions. Conditions brought on by your insubordination.”

The Pegasus guard nodded slightly and looked at her.

“Yes ma’am?”

“It’s simple. Due to your insubordination you will not leave my side under any circumstances besides that of going off duty upon which you shall eat what you wish, sleep and get ready for work the next day. Do we have an understanding?”

Behind her, Celestia once more hid a smile behind her hoof. Stonewall merely continued smiling, directing it at Defender. Defender pushed down the urge to smile.

“Yes ma’am, perfectly clear ma’am.”

She smiled, pleased with herself.

“Good. Stonewall, on the topic of your recruit.”

Stonewall straightened.

“Brave Wing Ma’am.”

“Yes. In thanks for his heroic efforts, I’d like him promoted to a higher rank. I’m afraid I don’t know the ranks very well, due to my absence for a thousand years, so I’ll leave that up to you.”

The old guard smiled and nodded.

“Yes ma’am, I’ll see to it personally as soon as he leaves the hospital.”

“Good. See to it that you do. As for you Defender, get that scratch out of your helmet and meet me at my room. I still have things to discuss with you.”

~*~

“YOU IDIOT!”

Defender sat, staring at the furious princess as she pounded ineffectually at his chest with both forehooves. He’s just walked in as she’d demanded he did and she began hitting him.

“Majesty, I-“

“Shutup! Shutup!”

Instantly he clammed up, letting her continue to pound angrily at his armour. He hadn’t expected anything like this. He let her continue to yell and scream insults at him, some of them rather hurtful, others he couldn’t even understand the dialect was so old. At one point he could swear that she started speaking in another language. Finally deciding enough was enough, he caught both of her hooves in his own as she tried to strike him. She paused and looked at him furiously.

“What are you doing!?”

“Your Majesty, what do you care? I’m simply a guard, it’s part of the job to be in danger.”

She paused. Why had she reacted so badly? Why did she start going off her bean at him anyway? She didn’t understand, she was acting like a lunatic.

By the goddess, you’re acting like a spoilt foal Luna!

She pulled her hooves out of his grip, squeezing them tightly to her chest.

Still playing the filly huh?

She blinked at him, unsure how to answer his question. He looked at her, awaiting her answer. She shrugged and replied quietly.

“You had me worried. You’re the only decent conversation I’ve had in a good thousand years not counting my sister. I don’t want to see you go, because then I’ll be lonely again.”

The stallion felt his heart melt for the younger princess. That must plague her every day, being alone. She was alone for a thousand years, she didn’t want to be alone anymore. He couldn’t even begin to understand the magnitude of the intense feelings she had towards being alone with naught but her thoughts for company. He smiled softly and tapped the upset alicorn gently upon the head with his nose. When she looked up he spoke softly.

“I have no plans on dying just yet your majesty. Don’t think me to leave for some time yet.”

She smiled at him slightly, then frowned once more.

“Perhaps I should have taken this whole ‘Luna Republic, Solar Empire’ thing more seriously than I did. And picked my guards more carefully.”

Defender nodded gravely, his face suddenly serious.

“Yes, Although I had not known that they’d already infiltrated Canterlot. I suppose I should have seen it coming.”

“What do you mean?”

“Think about it. A thousand years of Celestia’s rule tends to imprint itself. The first ponies to harbour any sort of hatred towards you would be the ones who now serve two princesses when they still only believe they should be serving one.”

Luna shifted uncomfortably.

“What... What would you suggest?”

“Honestly? Your Majesty, you need more soldiers loyal to you. I will always be by your side, but if I’m incapable of providing you with any sort of defence through sickness or debilitating injuries, you’re going to need a replacement or twelve.”

Luna started, surprised she hadn’t thought of that herself.

Of course, I never thought of it because...

“But, Defender...”

He looked at her, his face still grave.

“Yes you Majesty?”

She hesitated for a moment before speaking plaintively, brushing one forehoof against his.

“You’ll always be here with me, right?”

“I...”

Defender paused, utterly entranced by possibly the most adorable and simultaneously one of the saddest sights he’d ever seen. Luna looked at him, her face as pleading as her voice had been. It screamed fear, and hope. His heart melted and he smiled.

“Of course Princess, If that’s how you wish it. I’d still feel better with a larger contingency however. And I think that we should start by recruiting the two guards I know we can trust.”

Luna tilted her head slightly to the side, curious.

“Who might they be?”

~*~

“What? You want to take two of my guards and induct them into your own private little order? On what grounds?”

Celestia looked down at Stalwart Defender in genuine surprise. He’d sought her out during the day, so he was ragged and tired. He felt a stab of irritation but forced it down.

Creating a public incident would not help your reputation Stal.

“Your Majesty, if I may be so bold, but I believe the answer is quite clear. Whilst I relish the chance to be the personal bodyguard for her majesty Princess Luna, I may not always be there when she needs me. For that reason, I’d like to formally request that you allow me to take Sergeant Stonewall and lieutenant Brave Wing into the midnight guardians for your sister’s own protection.”

Celestia blinked slowly, then asked cautiously.

“Defender, whilst you have a point, may I ask that, if you’re here, who is guarding my sister?”

“The self same guards I am requesting a transfer in services for Ma’am. I know I can trust them both, and so I thought them best for the job. I’m also told on good authority that Stonewall is an excellent judge of character.”

He shifted uncomfortably. This is where he got uncomfortable with his request.

“Ma’am, allow me to make this clear, I will do literally anything to get these two into my contingency. Any favour, any service, any duty, even errands. I want these two in the Midnight Guard and I will not take no for an answer. Name your price.”

Celestia raised her brow at this last statement. She knew he was blunt, but this bordered on ridiculous. She resisted the urge to giggle.

“Persistent aren’t we Defender? And what, pray tell, would make you think I’d be willing to give up one of the best new recruits and one of my most trusted guards to your command?”

Without missing a beat, batting an eyelid or even twitching, Defender replied back.

“The safety of your sister.”

~*~

“Alright. Stonewall, Brave Wing.”

The two newly inducted Midnight Guardians stood at attention, Defender in front of them. They were all in full armour and Brave Wing looked very excited. Defender smiled at the younger guard.

“As of today, you’re Midnight Guardians like myself. You have received your armour and, after this briefing, will be ready to start duty. Now, I know what you’ve been taught as a royal guard. Blank, emotionless and generally, as her Majesty puts it, ‘boring’.”

He looked over the both of them, still smiling.

“I want you to forget all about that. Her majesty Luna prefers that her guards remain themselves so long as they can still get the job done. I know you two can do that. Stonewall, this has been proven by your studious diligence to your duties for the past thirty years. Wing, your loyalty was proven the moment you risked your life to successfully save Princess Luna.”

Brave Wing flushed, looking down at his hooves. Stonewall glanced over at him quickly, smiling.

“You did good with that son. Real good.”

Defender let the lieutenant bask a little before continuing.

“There are a few things in your lifestyle that will have to change. For one thing, You will have to alter your sleeping habits to be nocturnal. Late nights, or mornings in this case, and early rises may be needed as well. Constantly changing shifts at the moment mean that you will frequently be tired since there are only three of us. You may frequently be called into her room to talk. Do not, I repeat, do not decline this. Her Majesty likes to chat and will chat about various things. At least try to seem interested in everything, she gets so disheartened when you don’t. The more she likes you, the more often you’ll be called in. Understood?”

The pair nodded. Brave Wing was frowning in thought.

“Hey Defender?”

“Yes Wing?”

“How often are you called in to chat?”

He shrugged.

“Almost every night, why?”

“Wow. She must really like you sir.”

Defender paused and thought about what Brave Wing had said. Then shook his head.

“Nah, I was just the only one she had to talk to. Now then. Brave Wing, you’re going to take first shift. We’ll pull them day by day alright? It’s only until we have more recruits. It’s going to be tough though. Do you think you can take a full day and night’s work Brave Wing?”

The young lieutenant grinned enthusiastically and saluted.

“Sir yes sir! Anything you can throw at me sir!”

~*~

Defender fell asleep almost as soon as his head hit his pillow that night. Yes, he went to bed at night. He was scheduled to go with Luna to Ponyville, but she had cancelled it last second. Apparently, the pony of whom she was going to see understood. He didn’t mind. He preferred it, in fact. This way he could be wide awake when they went next week and nothing could sneak past him. Brave Wing was with her now, guarding her. He’d seemed ecstatic when she’d practically pulled him into her quarters to talk. Probably something to do with a change of pace when it came to conversation. She’d seemed much more enthusiastic than she was with Defender. But then, one can tire of apples after a time and need a different fruit to help tide them over. And when you’ve had the taste of something for so long without anything else, new flavours always taste sweeter.

And so Defender dreamed. For a while, he was worried about being replaced. He WAS the original midnight guardian, but that went away after a time, replaced with memories of his time in Coltsvale and his framing and subsequent exile. It didn’t worry him anymore, he’d had that dream a million times now. One day he’d go back and capture the true culprits, but until then he was content where he was.

Then it all changed.

The haze clears. He’s in a familiar room, an almost comically large bed contained therein and a verandah in place of a window. A large telescope sat out on the verandah and the room was a mess of clothing and a few soft, cuddly toys.

Luna’s room... What am I doing here?

He looked around, curious. The room was empty except for Luna herself, in bed. He frowned. Why would she be in bed so early at night?

The room lit up with daylight and he grimaced.

Oh, that’s why.

She woke up, blearily. He smiled. Gods above she was adorable when she slept. She had a cute habit to curl up in her sleep, much like a cat, normally around her favourite toy which was...

Yep, There it is. Celestia in all her velvety plush glory.

The Celestia plush toy was being cuddled quite fiercely by the younger alicorn. As the light hit her eyes she grumbled and opened her eyes blearily and saw him, watching over her. She smiled at him and held out a hoof.

“Defender, my knight. Come, comfort your princess, remind her just how much better it is to sleep accompanied by a strong stallion rather than a soft toy.”

He paused, considering the offer.

Oh hay, why not? It’s only a dream right?

He smiled and reached out to her. Their hooves reached for each other, yearning, begging.

If it’s what my princess wants, who am I to deny her?

He started as his hoof passed straight through hers and she sighed.

“Thou dost not love thine princess, so thou canst never join her in such a way. Besides, thou art but a lowly guard, what dost thou have that others do not?”

“No...”

As he watched, the Luna of his dream faded slowly, hoof still outstretched.

“No, please don’t leave...”

In time, she faded completely from view, torturously slowly, inciting tears from the wayward Pegasus guard, reducing him to begging.

“Oh Luna, please don’t go... please...”

There was a gut wrenching, heart breakingly terrified scream and...

~*~

“Defender! Wake up boy, wake up!”

Defender’s eyes shot open in alarm and he sat up explosively, pushing Stonewall away. He was breathing heavily and he could feel tear trails on his cheeks and tears in his eyes. His coat was damp with sweat. If the glow from the closed curtains was any indicator, it was roughly midday.

“Are you alright boy? I can only guess at what you were dreaming, you were sobbing in your sleep and at the end you started making noises, which is when I figured I should wake you up. What happened boy, are you alright?”

Defender looked at Stonewall, wide eyed.

“Luna.”

~*~

Defender busted into Luna’s room, combat ready and stopped. Luna was fast asleep in her bed and Brave Wing looked over at him with a mug of coffee, a confused look on his face. When he spoke, he whispered softly.

“Defender? What are you doing here? Your shift isn’t scheduled to start for several hours at least!”

Defender struggled to find an excuse, a response to what he’d just done. He sat down and took a deep breath.

“I... couldn’t sleep. I wanted to test your reaction for if somepony burst in unannounced.”

Brave Wing looked sceptical, but he answered in that context anyway.

“Well, I was seconds away from throwing hot coffee at you, if that’s any sort of consolation.”

The older stallion snuffed a laugh and nodded quietly to Brave Wing.

“Well, Whilst I’m here I may as well take over.”

Brave Wing glared at him.

“Stalwart Defender. I have a good eight hours left on my shift.”

Defender nodded.

“So?”

“So go get some sleep.”

“But my shift-“

Brave Wing held up a hoof and pointed to the door.

“Go and sleep Defender, you look terrible. And remember, for each hour slept you can stay awake longer and be more alert! Don’t want a tired guard making a mistake now do we?”

Defender paused, and smiled.

“Had to throw that back at me didn’t you?”

“Yep. Now go sleep. I’ve got this.”

A visit to Talisman

Chapter 8: A visit to Talisman.

“It’s nice of you to come with me Defender. I was worried that, in light of the new recruits, you’d find yourself incapable of accompanying me.”

Defender and Luna were soaring through the night, Luna blending into the deep blue of the sky, Defender’s harsher white colour strongly contrasting it. It had been some weeks since Stonewall and Brave Wing had been recruited and the higher ranking Pegasus had been plagued with nightmares the entire time. It was always the same thing, with only a few changes every so often. Always he found himself in Luna’s room; always she reached out to him and requested he join her. Always the same thing happened and she said he did not love her, and that he was but a lowly guard. That he had nothing everypony else had. No matter how much he begged, she would fade from view on her bed and then the scream… always with the scream. If he was honest with her, it wasn’t purely to protect Luna that he was accompanying her to Ponyville. It was for his own peace of mind as well. He still didn’t know what this was all about, but he didn’t plan to leave Luna alone for even a second.

“I wouldn’t dream of leaving such an assignment to anypony else your majesty. Besides, I told you that I’d do so, and you also asked that I never leave your side, so here I am. It was a stipulation of my insubordination if I remember correctly.”

Luna rolled her eyes exasperatedly.

“Defender! We’ve told you countless times, just call us Luna!”

He smiled as she rescinded to the old dialect in her frustration.

“I know, your majesty. A gentle reminder majesty, of your speech. You returned to the old dialect for a time there.”
He looked over to her to see her looking away. He couldn’t tell for sure, but he was fairly certain she was blushing.
“Thank you, Defender, for the reminder. Now, we’re almost there okay? Doesn’t take long by flight.”

He nodded, then realising she couldn’t see him spoke.

“Of course Princess.”

She shot him an annoyed look and shook her head.

“Luna, Defender, Luna!”

He smiled, amused.

“Yes Princess, of course.”

~*~

Celestia sighed heavily, her mane a light pink and hanging down over her shoulders. Without the sun in the sky, her mane didn’t have the capacity to shine as it normally would, nor would it flow. The energy given off by the sun’s rays is what gave her mane and tail the appearance so many had sought to re-create, much like Luna’s mane drew the magic to change it into its starry form from the ambient light of the moon and stars as well as the gravitational pull that controlled the oceans and seas of Equestria. Right now, as she stared out at the beautiful night her sister had graced the ponies of Equestria with, she marvelled at how much more beautiful the younger sister could make the night as opposed to her. Even after a thousand years of practice, Celestia still couldn’t pull off a night sky quite like her baby sister ever could. This night she was having trouble sleeping. In fact, she had the past few nights. She had been shocked when an attempt was made on Luna’s life, but she had every confidence in Stalwart Defender and his contingency to protect her. However, when Luna had revealed to her the ideals behind the ‘New Luna republic’ and the ‘Solar empire’, or council or whatever the stupid notion was, she’d been losing more and more sleep to her thoughts. Although one couldn’t tell to look at her, she looked as beautiful as she ever did and no shadows had seemed to form under her eyes.

What had mostly started bothering her is the idea that, within her own ranks, could lie any number of insurgents just waiting to rise to the surface, waiting for the right moment to make a strike against her or her sister, as they had in the given weeks. The attack having been from her own guards rattled her, although it made a certain form of sense. The insurgents had believed that Celestia was meant to rule on her own, so it figured that they’d guard her just as fanatically as they would endeavour to slay her sister. She was going to have to reconsider all of her guards, evaluations to do, choices to make… Such a chore.

So engrossed was she in her thoughts, that she failed to acknowledge the pair of guards entering her room. They moved quietly for guards in full armour, barely making a sound with each step. There was an Earth pony and a unicorn, both of them with the practiced emotionless face of the guard. The glow of unicorn magic encompassed a pair of blades hidden in the armour of the magically endowed guard, the other one taking out a pair via his hooves. The blades made no sound as they exited their compartments. A similar setup to that of which the assassins from the attempt upon Luna’s life. Celestia still hadn’t moved from her spot. The pair of guards looked at each other and nodded, a soundless signal before the unicorn sent his two blades, circular in shape, spinning towards the solar monarch.

The pair of blades struck their mark… and continued straight through with no visible effect.

The unicorn flinched in alarm, instantly pulling his blades back through the air to beside him, still spinning them. The earth pony took up a ready stance, staring at Celestia in alarm. A voice, colder and darker than the blackest void itself swept its way down their spines, permeating their bodies and minds.

“You thought that, because your competition made an attempt upon Luna’s life, that I would not prepare myself for such an event? You are foolish in every sense of the word.”

~*~

“Alright, we’re here.”

Luna touched down outside a large tree with, and Defender shuddered even considering the possibility of this, windows and a door carved into it. He knew magic could do wonderful things, but this just took the cake and the icing as well. He looked at the tree in astonishment, causing him to miss Luna saying she was going inside. He blinked as she moved past him and he trotted brusquely over to her side, his ears flicking left and right. They were exposed, and he didn’t like it. Luna knocked on the door to the… tree… house… thing… and then waited patiently. The door was opened by a nondescript looking brown unicorn with equally nondescript brown hair. He smiled at Luna.

“Right on time Luna, as usual. And uh… Stalwart Defender? You can drop the whole guard thing, you’re not going to find any harm here. Anypony stupid enough to tangle with Twilight probably isn’t going to survive the encounter with their pride… or much else either really.”

Defender was momentarily stunned at the unicorn’s seeming blatant disregard for the safety of the princess before he heard Luna giggling. He looked at her and she waved him inside before walking in herself. Still confused, he walked in after her. It took him a moment to realise that he’d walked into a library.

“A… Library Princess?”

She nodded and spoke softly back.

“Yes, Twilight Sparkle and Talisman live here. Tal is… well…”

Talisman, walking in front of the pair spoke up, interrupting Luna.

“What she means is that I’m a shrink. A psychologist. I take different things and discern meanings from it and try to use this meaning to help ponies.”

He walked them into a large room somewhere in the roots of the tree and turned around to face them.

“Now Defender, before you even bother to get all stubborn on me, yes, Luna is going to be out of your sight for about an hour, no I will not budge on this, no you may not be in the room at any time whilst she is in there, no you may not sit outside the door. You may sit in this room and this room only. Twilight is likely to be down shortly, she’ll probably want to talk to you. After Luna has had her turn, then I will bring you in and we can talk.”

Luna giggled softly.

“Tal, He’s not here for an appointment, he’s simply my bodyguard!”

Talisman shook his head slightly and waved the princess into another room, whispering to her before the door closed and Defender was left alone, stunned and still trying to comprehend what just happened.

~*~

And so Defender sat, bored and edgy, outside the room. He wasn’t particularly happy with leaving the princess on her own with a stallion he’d never met, nor been given the time to get to know at least. Eventually being too bored to sit still anymore, he got up and started pacing. That got old very quickly and he looked around for a book to read. His back was to the door when Twilight entered, two steaming mugs of hot chocolate floating after her. She looked at the guard, slightly confused as to who he was.

“Um, I’m sorry, can I help you?”

Defender whirled around, sinking into a ready stance before relaxing and sinking to the floor.

“Are you okay?” Twilight inquired, concerned.

“Yes, I’m fine. I take it you’re the librarian here?”

She nodded guardedly.

“That’s right. Who are you and why are you here?”

He straightened up once more, automatically throwing up the blank façade of the guard.

“Stalwart Defender, Midnight Guardian of Princess Luna. I accompanied her here to Ponyville on her request.”

His mask of blankness all but vanished as he wriggled slightly and looked to the locked door leading to Talisman’s office.

“However… I do not understand why. If she is so safe here with the other pony, It makes no sense to have brought me along.”

Twilight paused, taking in the information, then smiled.

“Oh, of course. You must be the other visitor Tal mentioned then. I trust he wasn’t too abrupt? He sometimes forgets that not everypony knows about his unique abilities.”

She set one of the mugs before Defender and took a sip of the other herself. The uncomfortable guard nodded in thanks and picked his own mug up. The familiar taste of the brew allowed him to relax a little more and he smiled.

“He was a tad… blunt, yes. If you don’t mind my asking ma’am, I’m afraid I don’t know your name.”

She nodded and put her mug down gently.

“Twilight Sparkle. I guess I’m just a librarian. Nothing special.”

Defender frowned slightly. He’d heard the name before in passing, and by the sound of it she wasn’t ‘just a librarian.’ He shrugged mentally. He’d ask around about it later.

“It is a pleasure to meet you Miss Sparkle. You live here?”

She nodded happily.

“Yes, I live here with Tal and Spike. Spike is my assistant and… well, basically my little brother. He’s a baby dragon.”

That sparked his interest and he peered at her.

“You went to the magic school in Canterlot?”

She started in surprise.

“Well, yes. How did you know?”

He chuckled softly.

“Miss Sparkle, I’m may be one of the few personal guards for Princess Luna, but I’m still just a guard at heart. Intel about the surroundings is important. And that magic school is the only one I know of that demands hatching a dragon egg to enter.”

Twilight smiled sheepishly.

“I guess that’s true. Sorry.”

“Whatever for? It’s fine Miss Sparkle, I assure you.”

She laughed softly and her smile became more sincere.

“If you say so Mister Defender.”

He winced at the title.

“Please, simply Defender will be fine.”

Twilight smirked.

“Then ‘Twilight’ will be fine.”

He smiled. The tone was very familiar, as was the trick Luna had tried to play on him many times. It never worked then but…

“Alright… Twilight. I must say, you have an impressive library.”

She flushed, embarrassed.

“This? Oh, this is nothing. It’s puny in comparison to the Royal library in Canterlot. I could get lost in those stacks, picking up books here and there whenever they interested me.”

She sighed, a melancholy smile on her lips.

“I miss that old library.”

Defender frowned again. He knew that he’d heard her name before, even if it was in passing.

“So you’ve been to the royal library?”

She nodded an affirmative.

“I used to practically live there. My studies pretty well demanded it.”

Something in his head clicked and he gasped. She looked at him, concerned.

“You alright?”

He nodded and sank into a bow. She looked at him, confused.

“Forgive me Miss Sparkle, I didn’t realise I was addressing the student of Princess Celestia!”

Twilight stared at him for a moment before stifling a giggle.

“Defender, please. I’m not royalty and I’m certainly nothing special. There’s absolutely no need to bow for me so please, sit back up. You’re just embarrassing me.”

His hasty reversal of his bow made her giggle quite a bit more.

“I’m sorry ma’am, I swear, I meant no disrespect!”

“And you didn’t give any Defender. Honestly, let loose a little! It’s not like I’m royalty y’know.”

“You… may as well be ma’am. I’m afraid you’re a bit of a legend among the guards.”

Twilight felt a surge of curiosity.

“Is that so?”

Defender nodded.

“Yes ma’am. Some of the older guards even remember you from your time at the palace ma’am.”

“Really?”

The guard nodded silently. Twilight smiled.

“Tell me. Is Stonewall still wandering the halls?”

Defender chuckled lightly.

“Yes ma’am. But he’s not a guard for Celestia anymore.”

Twilight was surprised at this and it showed in her expression.

“Really?”

Defender nodded.

“He’s under my command now ma’am.”

“Your command? You outrank Stonewall?”

Defender nodded. Twilight huffed.

“Huh. Figured he’d be at least lieutenant by now.”

“Sergeant, actually ma’am.”

“Sergeant? Huh, not bad.”

"Not at all ma'am."

Twilight pause and silence fell over the pair. After a while, she hesitantly spoke again.

"What about Shining Armour?"

Defender frowned.

"The Guard Captain? He seems to be alright. It's not like I see him often, he's on during the day, which is normally when I sleep. Why?"

Twilight hesitated before sighing.

"He's my brother."

~*~

“Alright Luna. What’s really going on with the guardsman?”

Luna looked up at Talisman from the couch, slightly shocked at his blatant tone of voice.

“I don’t understand… what do you mean ‘really going on’ Tal?”

Talisman fixed her with a withering look.

“You take him in from his rather serious injuries, induct him as a personal bodyguard despite his background of instigated criminal records, then when he disregards a direct order you ‘punish’ him by making him stay by you whenever it’s possible. Luna, be honest with me. Are you really so attached to this stallion that you’d not only refuse to discipline him as guards are meant to be disciplined, but that you’d keep him closer in the wake of these events?”

Luna felt her temper rise and had to force down the urge to use the full force of her voice on the unicorn.

“You forget your place Talisman! I am here voluntarily, but I am NOT here to be interrogated! He is MY guard and I will deal with his insurrections as I see fit! AND you’re forgetting that, in disobeying my orders, he saved my life! This session is over.”

She rolled off the couch and marched to the door. Talisman stared out after her as she continued march right out of the room before sighing and following her.

Looks like I hit a tender spot.

~*~

“Defender! Talisman wants to talk to you now. Please hurry it along, I want to be home before sunrise.”

Defender looked over at Luna in surprise. It wasn’t like her to be this short. Something must have happened. Something she didn’t like. Talisman stood in the doorway, looking a bit unimpressed to be honest.

What happened in there?

~*~

“So Defender. Personal bodyguard to Princess Luna. Must be a hell of a responsibility.”

Defender looked at the couch, decidedly unimpressed, then looked at Talisman.

“I’m not lying on that couch.”

Talisman shrugged.

“Suit yourself. Sit, stand, whatever. Now. There has to be another reason you came down here. I felt it when you arrived. Now you can either talk to me or I can take the information. Either way, I will be treating you as a patient Stalwart Defender, so you may as well do it on your own terms.”

Defender paused. Someone confident enough to say that to a personal bodyguard had to be either very cocky, or very powerful.

“Alright, fine. So be it. I’ve been having… nightmares… for some time now. Are you that kind of doctor, Talisman?”

Tal smiled wryly.

“You’re in luck, Moonlight Guardian.”

~*~

He was in Luna’s room again. He recognized it well. Very well. The light streamed in through the window and a groggy Princess Luna awoke from her slumber and smiled upon him.

“Defender, mine knight. Come, comfort thy princess, remind her how much more satisfying it is to sleep accompanied by thee, a strong stallion rather than a mere soft toy.”

Why not? Tis but a dream is it not?

He reached out to her as she reached out unto him. However his hoof was insubstantial, and passed through hers as Air passes through empty space. And her face was saddened.

“Thou dost not love thine princess, so thou canst never join her in such a way. Besides, thou art but a lowly guard, what dost thou have that others do not?”

“No… My Princess…”

As he watched, the Luna of his dream faded slowly, hoof still outstretched.

“No, please don’t leave...”

In time, she faded completely from view, torturously slowly, inciting tears from the wayward Pegasus guard, reducing him to begging.

“Oh Luna, please don’t go... please...”

There was a gut wrenching, heart breakingly terrified scream and...

~*~

“Defender! Wake up!”

He jolted out of his sleep, sitting up explosively, gasping.

“Luna!?”

Talisman stood by him, a concerned look on his face.

“She’s safe Defender. She’s in the next room with Twilight, they’re catching up on things is all. That dream is pretty intense Defender and… well, it has some pretty clear cut meanings, if you ask me.”

Defender looked at the plain unicorn curiously.

“Oh really? Care to explain this to me then?”

Talisman smiled wryly.

“Promise not to hit me?”

Defender nodded wearily.

“Yes, I promise.”

Tal smiled.

“It’s simple really. My first realization is that you, Stalwart Defender, have a very big crush on your employer. Might be more than that.”

Defender almost bristled at what he saw as a blatant accusation, but held his tongue to let the psychologist explain himself.
“Her asking you to come to her, that’s your subconscious mind’s way of letting you know that you care deeply for Luna. Much more deeply than most. However you have doubts, you don’t see yourself as worthy, or you believe she does not. That you haven’t proven yourself yet. This is a damning thought that may or may not be true. I cannot be sure.”

He stopped and frowned.

“But that last part… her fading away firstly can be interpreted in a number of ways. You losing your chance with her completely, you seeing her as unreachable… or losing her. The scream… well, that’s something else entirely.”

Defender frowned.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean I can’t puzzle it out Defender. I can’t puzzle it out at all. It just doesn’t seem to fit into context.”

“So… what do I do?”

“I’m not sure. I can’t say what would happen if you told Luna how you feel, and don’t try to deny it. I think it’s fairly obvious now.”

Defender bit back a retort and considered the unicorn’s words.

“If…” He said cautiously, “Even if what you say is true, and I’m fairly certain it’s not, even if I wanted to, I couldn’t reveal anything of the sort to her. For one thing, I am merely a guardspony. I’m charged with defending her, and falling in love with an employee is not only cliché, but fairly likely to make her laugh at me as well. It’s simply not done. And the scream… That scream just chills me to the bone Talisman. I never see anything past that scream.”

He shuddered at the memory.

“Do you know what happened to make Luna and I consider more guards? And attempted assassination. Public execution.”
Talisman nodded.

“I know. I got the story from Luna.”

Defender nodded.

“I chose two I could trust. I don’t know who to trust anymore. And I’m worried. Tal, if they’ve come after Luna, you can bet there’s going to be somepony going after Celestia too. But I can’t protect both monarchs.”

Tal felt a wry smile touch his face.

“Don’t count out Celestia just yet. Forgive me when I say she’s much more competent than her baby sister, only because she’s had that extra thousand years practice. She’s probably perfectly capable of keeping herself safe.”

“Even so…”

“It’s your job to defend Luna, and you’ve done a stellar job so far.”

Talisman smiled.

“You’ll do just fine.”

Doubts

Chapter 9:Doubts.

Luna was quiet on the return flight, as was Defender. Both of them were considering their respective visits into Talisman’s office.

Luna.

Her mind roamed over the meeting in general, but paid special attention to his last series of questions, analysing them, considering them closely.

Why did I let him off so lightly? Why did I offer him the position of personal guard anyway? It makes no sense when you consider it all. Tal’s right, he was instigated in several criminal acts in his town of birth. Hay, he was banished because of these instigated crimes! What if he’s trying to get into my good graces?

Her expression turned from pensive to concerned.

What if he’s just another assassin, sent with a false story to deceive me into letting him in, then sending the first lot of assassin’s as cannon fodder, let him kill them in cold blood to make me trust him even more? Who’s to say he’s what he seems to be? Who’s to say he’s not the REAL assassin?

Her mind had gone off on a wild tangent, but all of her focus was now on these details. Now that she thought about it, it seemed to make even more sense. She looked warily over to him. His face was deeply troubled and his eyes were downcast. His wingbeats lacked the energy they had earlier when they were flying to Ponyville.

What is he thinking..?

~*~

Defender couldn’t bring himself to look at his princess. The implications revealed by the curious psychologist baffled, concerned and weighed him down exponentially and it took everything he had simply to keep flying. He kept trying to refute Talisman’s claims, turn them around into false ones, but he couldn’t. No matter how much he tried, the plain sort of unicorn’s observations rendered his arguments invalid. He was trying not to face the now clear cut truth.

You’re in love with Luna Defender you romantic fool. What were you thinking?

Of all the ponies to fall for, it had to be the one who he knew he could never, ever have. Not only that, but his employer to boot.

Could that get anymore cliché or stupid? Ugh, dammit Defender, get a grip and whatever you do, don’t let her know.

Then there was the scream.

The one piece of possible symbolism Talisman simply couldn’t identify. The last piece of the puzzle that just didn’t seem to fit the bill. The context was all wrong, and it was completely and utterly out of place. It obviously didn’t belong.
I’ll be damned if it doesn’t give me a bad feeling though. It chills me, scares me, and not much does that. Something about that scream… And it’s obviously a mare screaming, not a stallion.

He gulped down a surge of dread as something occurred to him.

What if…

He finally looked over at Luna. By this time, she’d stopped looking at him and was now look straight ahead, still with a disturbed look to her features.

What if it’s her scream..?

He looked forward, his face settling into a determined scowl.

That’s not going to happen. She’ll never have reason to scream whilst I’m around. Never!

~*~

They flew the entirety of the way back to Canterlot in absolute silence. Neither one could come to speak to the other, but both for entirely different reasons. To Defender, that silence was almost unbearably loud. He wanted to speak, to banter like they always had, but that meeting with the unassuming psychologist had seemed to have robbed him of anything to say. What could he say after everything that had been ‘revealed’ to him?

Nothing, that’s what. Not even telling her how I… wait, no. I didn’t… I’m not in love with Luna, she’s my employer!

The pair landed on the veranda of Luna’s personal quarters, still not speaking. The rest of that night passed in a blur for both of them, neither of them really focusing on anything, nor really able to talk to one another. Defender was almost glad when Stonewall came to relieve him, taking his place quickly. Defender rushed down to his room and practically fell into his bed.

~*~

Luna liked Stonewall. He was gruff, blunt and often didn’t stand any complaints or whining. But he still somehow managed to be respectful of her and the ponies he spoke to. It was a fine line, but one he walked quite confidently. She also knew that she could talk to him and nothing she said would leave the room if she asked it of him. Although sometimes, like Defender, he had a problem with calling her Luna. Not as much, but sometimes. Often just enough to remind her that she was, in fact, a Princess and not a normal pony. Not necessarily something she liked to remember, but she did know that it was necessary. His level headed way of looking at things large or small was refreshing and often rather insightful.

He was also closer to her in age, though only by a decade or two.

He stood by her side even now, sitting out and admiring the view of Canterlot in the early hours of the morning. She couldn’t sleep, and her mane was losing it’s beautiful shimmering and flow that it had during the night. Instead it was hanging loosely, cascading down to her shoulders and a few inches past like a light blue waterfall. She was tired, yes, but her mind was so preoccupied that she couldn’t even consider the thought of sleep. Tired of the silence, she spoke, not looking at him, but clearly addressing Stonewall.

“Sergeant, what do you do if you start to question past decisions?”

Stonewall was silent for a moment before he looked at her.

“Past decisions Luna? This isn’t about proclamations or rulings is it ma’am? I’m afraid I wouldn’t be able to advise you in such things effectively. I never did have a knack for that.”

Luna shook her head gently, trying to keep her thoughts in order.

“No, nothing like that. It’s… complicated.”

Stonewall felt an eyebrow rise.

“Complications are rife in all decisions ma’am. But if you want my help, you need only ask.”

“I know… But this is a little sensitive, so I’d prefer you didn’t allow it to leave these walls.”

“Of course not Luna. On my life.”

She smiled gently at that.

Always so serious Stonewall.

“It’s about Defender.”

“Yes ma’am?”

She hesitated, doubts flooding her mind.

What if Stonewall is in on it as well? Is he an insurgent as well? They’ve had some time, quite a lot of time together to plan and such. He could be just another member of this stupid Luna Republic.

She mentally scolded herself at the mere thought of this.

Preposterous. He’s been dead set loyal to Tia and just as loyal to me since I returned. No way he’d be one of them.

She sighed, making up her mind. Stonewall had sat silently during her little silence.

“Stonewall, I want you to be completely honest with me. You know Stalwart Defender better than anypony in the palace. Do you believe he has any… ulterior motives?”

Stonewall, to his credit, managed to keep a straight face, but his voice betrayed his confusion.

“Ulterior… motives ma’am?”

“Ugh… This isn’t easy for me to ask.”

She took a deep breath and spoke before she lost her nerve.

“Stonewall, do you know if he’s been acting suspiciously or planning anything with anypony at all that doesn’t seem to fit with any of his duties?”

There was a moment of stunned silence before Stonewall spoke. His voice was level, and his face was as responsive as that which he was named after.

“Are you insinuating that, Stalwart Defender, who saved your life, is plotting against you behind your back Princess?”

Luna winced.

“Well… you make it sound as though I should be shot for such a question.”

Stonewall didn’t reply. A quick glance revealed he was, in fact, thinking.

“Princess. May I speak plainly?”

“Of course.”

He looked at her, stony faced.

“That’s an absurd notion that should never have either left your voice box nor should have ever been cultivated inside your mind young lady and you should be ashamed of yourself.”

She went to retort angrily and he held up his hoof.

“I’m not finished yet! Stalwart Defender is the most dedicated, unyielding and downright stubborn, often to the point of foolishness, Stallion I’ve ever met, let alone had the pleasure to share duties with. His entire life, nay, his entire world revolves around you Luna and you’d do well to remember that. He’d sooner cut off his own leg before he let you get even a scratch upon you young mare and don’t you ever forget that!”

Luna sat in stunned silence of the lecture. He was speaking to her as though she were but a foal and it was certainly a new feeling. Not even Celestia spoke to her like that, but rather treated her as an equal, sister to sister. In retrospect, she should have expected a lecture, but she supposed she had thought he’d give an honest reply.

Well, at least you don’t get much more honest.

“Do you, perchance, have any children Stonewall?”

Taken momentarily off guard by the question, Stonewall paused to collect his thoughts.

“Yes ma’am, two little ones.”

She found herself smiling at the grizzled veteran.

“You spoke to me as you would a young foal who just did something silly.”

He nodded.

“I’m aware. You did say something silly Princess, and I was admonishing you for it.”

She couldn’t help but giggle at him. She brought her hoof up to her chest in mock fear.

“Oh my, am I being a bad filly? You’re not going to spank me are you?”

The stallion grinned and shot back.

“Don’t tempt me young mare, it might be the only thing to teach you a lesson.”

Luna coloured, her plan to embarrass him backfiring.

“Oh my.”

~*~

Light shone through the window, the light of the moon. The stars weren’t out that night, or they were covered by clouds. It was difficult to tell which. He saw Luna sitting at the railing of her verandah, pensively staring out at the lights of Canterlot. He looked down to calm himself and noticed he was sitting down and was wearing his old, Coltsvale uniform. Wearing his stone scale armour. He always hated this armour. It was much too brittle and heavy for his tastes. He took a step, the familiar sound of clinking stone on stone. Luna turned around to face him.

“Stalwart Defender. What art thou doing within thine princess’s room?”

He paused, confused.

“What are you meaning in that dear Luna? Thine invitations lead me here of course.”

She shook her head.

“Nay. Thou shouldst not arbitrarily impose upon mine space.”

“I… but Princess. Thou art constantly telling me…”

“Nay! Thou shouldst never have entered.”

Completely confused now, he took another step forward. She frowned at him darkly.

“Take no more steps towards thine princess. Thou shalt leave this instance.”

“But Princess!”

He took another step forward and the room faded from view. He was now in a corridor, dank and dark. He barely noticed, he was too fixated upon Luna, who looked alarmed.

“Defender!? Help us!”

“Luna!?”

A door, made of old wood, probably oak, started swinging closed in front of Luna. Defender panicked and started running.

“LUNA!”

She was fighting invisible bonds, straining to lift her limbs.

“Help us! Please! Help us!”

The door was still swinging shut. Defender was galloping full pelt, and still felt like he was walking through chest high water. Panicked breathing, pounding hooves, the sound of his heart racing at a million miles a minute before…
The door slammed shut in his face and he collided with it. And all he could hear was a bone breaking, blood freezingly terrified scream.

“LUNA!”

~*~

Defender was running before he was even aware that he was running. He wore no armour, having left too quickly to don it. His wings were beating in time, lending him speed. Speed he used to his advantage as he burst into Luna’s royal chambers, shoulder first.

“LUNA!”

Oh Celestia, please let her be alright.

The room was in shambles. Vanity knocked over, shards of glass from the mirror on the floor. Her shoes, abandoned at her bedside. The curtains were on the floor. The prone form on the floor caught his attention and he rushed over.

“Stonewall! Stonewall, wake up come on!”

He pushed the body over and froze, a choking sob coming to his throat.

Stonewall… I’m so sorry…

A long, jagged cut ran the length of his chest and several on his legs. His armour, it seemed, hadn’t been enough. The crumpled chestplate, or a piece of it, was hanging off of the railing. He was missing an ear and covered in blood. His eyes were still in a determined glare. Tears in his eyes, Defender gently closed them, one by one.

“I’m sorry Stone… so sorry.”

Then he spotted something that made his blood go cold.

No… she never went anywhere without that…

Luna’s tiara, the one piece of jewellery that Luna had once told him she’d never let go of was laying in pieces under one of Stonewall’s hooves.

Right next to a bloodstained Celestia plush toy.

“Well well well. This does make things much simpler.”

The last thing Defender remembered was spinning around and then pain. The last thing he saw was the floor as his face hit it and he blacked out.

The Cult of Endless Night.

Chapter 10: The cult of Endless Night.

Celestia sat by her window once again, staring penitently out at Canterlot. Two prone bodies decorated the floor. The bodies of the pair of assassins who tried to kill her. They had been relieved of both armour and weapons.

Oh, and they were still breathing.

There came a polite knocking at her door and she smiled to herself.

“Come in Captain. I’ve got something for you.”

The door opened on it’s own, revealing a snow white unicorn stallion in the gilded armaments of the guard captaincy. Emblazoned on his flank was a blue shield inlaid with a large, pink, six pointed star with three smaller five pointed stars adorning the top of it, one each inbetween the three prongs and one above the middle prong. He saluted smartly, or went to, just before he caught sight of the two bodies.

“I see. If I may ask ma’am, what did these two do?”

Not even bothering to turn around, Celestia answered him calmly.

“It seems Luna is not the only one in danger of attempted assassination from insurgents captain. If I may be so bold as to suggest you check the armour of your troops Shining?”

The captain was looking at the pair closely, trying to identify them.

“Yes, of course Celestia. Why may I ask?”

A pair of chestplates crashed to the ground in front of the pair.

“Because they’ve got weapons hidden in them. If you can find anypony with hidden weapons in their armour, I’d say it’s a good bet that they’re insurgents.”

“Yes ma’am. I’ll do so as soon as I can.”

“Thank you Shining. It’s good to know you’re still loyal.”

“Till death milady.”

The captain hesitated for a moment before looking to Celestia.

“Celestia, if you don’t mind my asking, have you heard from my sister?”

A soft smile graced the solar monarch’s lips at his question.

“Twilight is doing quite well Shining. Perhaps someday you might meet her partner? I know you've been too busy to visit them. How is my niece Shining?”

There was a lull in the conversation as two more guards took away the prone ones before he smiled.

“Cadance is radiant as always… Auntie.”

He smirked cheekily before trotting out of the room. Celestia couldn’t help but giggle lightly at his comment.

That’s true, that would make me Twilight’s aunt wouldn’t it?

She smiled as she began the spell to raise the sun.

Never thought of that before.

~*~

It was cold. Very cold. And damp, very, very damp. Whatever she was on was hard as well. Her mind was fuzzy, making it hard to think, and her eyelids… so heavy…

Luna forced herself to open her eyes. All she saw was darkness. Sheer and utter darkness. But then, Luna had never been afraid of the dark. The darkness was her domain, her night brought the darkness to Equestria and she could see in it as clearly as she could see in the day. All she had to do was….

Wait… what the..?

In her dazed state, her mind could barely register that she couldn’t access her magic. She couldn’t feel her magic reserves as she normally could. She was normally very proud to be able to boast of her precision control over her magical capabilities, but right now…

I can’t feel anything… is this how an earth pony feels every day?

Somewhere in the vague parts of her mind, a small voice was telling her she should be terrified at this fact, but it was too small for her to take any notice of. She tried to move her wings, lift them off of the cold floor. Again, nothing. They remained stubbornly on the ground, not wanting, it seemed, to move at all.

“Ahh, you’re awake.”

The voice came from behind her, but her inability to move prevented her from seeing him. Not that it was really concerning her at the moment.

“Your Royal Highness Princess Luna. Keeper of the night and joint ruler with your highly esteemed sister Princess Celestia. It is my great honour to meet you dear Princess.”

She heard a dark chuckle that worried her even in her drugged state.

“The cult of the endless night welcomes you, bearer of Nightmare Moon.”

~*~

Stalwart Defender awoke, cold, stiff and sore. His eyes darted open and started looking around, sitting up a little too quickly and trying to fight off the burst of dizziness caused by this almost made him fall again. After overcoming his dizzy spell, he could firmly agree against all odds that he was, in no metaphorical sense, imprisoned. Stone walls around him, a single torch outside lit up the surrounding area.

I can’t be sure, but I’d be willing to guess this was the Canterlot dungeons… but why in Equestria would I be in the dungeon?

He approached the barred doorway and knocked on one of the bars in an attempt to gain the attention of a guard.

“Hey! Anypony there?”

The sound of metal shoes on stone echoed through the cell and Defender sighed in relief as one of the guards came into view.

“Guardspony! There’s been some sort of mistake. I shouldn’t be here! I need to be out there, looking for Luna!”

The guard nodded seriously, then glared at him.

“That’s nice. Shutup! Unless you’re telling us where your assosciates took her majesty, you can go to hell, and make sure your voice goes with you!”

With that, the guard spat in Defender’s face and walked off. Defender was too shocked to speak.

Associates!? Me take Luna? What in the name of Equestria is she talking about!?

He took a moment to wipe the saliva off of his face before swallowing himself.

What the hell have I been thrown into here!?

~*~

“Celestia? I hate to disturb you ma’am, but I just received word. Concerning Luna’s absence?”

Celestia turned to Shining Armour, her face tired and worried. It wasn’t marred by any physical defect such as lines or wrinkles, as they normally would, but her anxiety more radiated off of her in waves of emotion. The captain of the guard could feel it from here.

“Yes Shining? Pray tell.”

He paused for a moment, not quite believing what he was about to say.

“Two of my guards captured one Stalwart Defender, presumably in the act of kidnapping your sister. His accomplices, however, got away.”

Celestia frowned at him.

“You don’t actually believe that do you?”

Shining hesitated and glanced at the open door behind him. Celestia noticed that and the door swung shut.

“you can speak freely in here dear Nephew. Nopony else will hear us.”

He shot her a grateful smile before speaking.

“Quite frankly Celestia? I think it’s ponyfeathers, through and through. I don’t believe it for a second.”

His face fell.

“But… they have the body of another Moonlight Guardian ma’am… Stonewall has been killed.”

“Oh no… Not Stonewall”

Saddened, the monarch looked at her hooves.

“I guess compensation for the family is needed.”

Shining Armour nodded sadly.

“I’d hate to be the one to tell his two foals they no longer have a father… But I’ll do it myself. Make sure it’s done.”

Celestia was silent for a while before speaking again, a frown of thought on her face.

“Stalwart Defender thought very highly of Stonewall. So much, in fact, that he personally appealed to me to transfer him into his services. In a lot of ways, I guess he considered him a father figure. He wouldn’t kill Stonewall, even if his life depended upon it. And, though he would never admit it, you and I both know that he cared much too deeply for Luna harm her. He would sooner harm himself.”

Shining Armour found himself agreeing with her wholeheartedly. He’d only met Stalwart Defender on occasion, and even then it was for very short times. But even then, his determination to defend Luna even from Shining Armour himself at first meeting was not something you saw every day. It wasn’t fanaticism, Shining had seen and met fanatics before and Stalwart Defender wasn’t fanatical. Zealous, determined and devoted suited him better.

“Celestia… I respect Defender and think him as a great guard and I hate to say this but… There’s a little too much going against him right now to earn him in good graces at court. To be blunt with you ma’am I’m not actually sure why she even hired him in the first place. His record is far from clean. Anything from assault to theft to attempted murder. Fact is, he was banished from his town because of it.”

Celestia sighed heavily.

“I already know all of this Shining. There’s nothing my sister and I keep from each other. I know of what has been said he’s done, and he’s denied every act. He swore to Luna that he didn’t do any of it and I believe his word.”
“Your opinion won’t hold in court Celestia. You and I both know it.”

“I run the court, remember?”

Shining nodded.

“Yes but you cannot simply let one go on opinion alone. Start doing things on a whim like that and ponies will lose respect for you. You can’t afford that.”

Celestia grimaced, knowing that this was true.

Oh Luna… please be safe.

~*~

“WE DEMAND TO BE RELEASED AT ONCE! THIS IS AN OUTRAGE!”

Luna, having recently recovered from her heavily drugged state, although not enough it seemed to be able to use her magic, was bending the full force of her voice upon her captors. Standing before her was a dark green stallion, almost black, and his hair was the colour of rotting flesh, his eyes completely dead looking. He wasn’t even flinching. In fact, he had a small smile on his face.

“An outrage you say Princess? Oh, but it isn’t. You want to know what the real outrage this country is facing is? This land is facing?”

His smile very slowly grew, his dead eyes beginning to creep Luna out.

“The illusions that our society faces each day. There are so many lies that ponies face each day it’s absurd. Our time here is brief. Do you not believe we should face the truth each day?”

Luna faltered in her verbal assault, blinking.

“I… wait, what? Truths?”

“Yes little princess. Truth.”

His smile turned into a twisted grin.

“The light shines brightly into the eyes of those who look into it, blinding them to the truth. Only in the darkness do the lies fade. Only in the black of night do the lights cease and the blinding of ponies die down to nothing.”

The unhealthy looking stallion leaned forward, his eyes now dancing in dark, menacing, fanatical zeal.

“My Princess of the night. You were meant for something far greater than what you are. Once, you were a queen! The ultimate purveyor of the blackest night. The harbinger of night, the only power in this world capable of revealing the truth.”
Luna stared at him in absolute shock and horror.

“You don’t mean..!”

A sinister chuckle rolled from his throat.

“Yes Princess. Soon, so soon, our Queen, our one true ruler shall once again be born in the form of the ultimate queen of the night!”

His grin, nay, his entire face, split into a maniacal, sadistic smile.

“Nightmare Moon shall return! Ushering in a new age of enlightenment and eternal night!”

“You’re Insane!” Luna screamed at him incredulously.

A sinister chuckle escaped his lips.

“No Princess. I’m one of the few left in Equestria that can still think clearly.”

His facial expression dropped back down to the previously dead expression he wore at the beginning and he stood up and turned around. As he was walking away he called back.

“I’ll see you later Princess.”

~*~

Three days had passed without Luna’s return, and no list of demands. Celestia had been covering for her sister, saying she was not well and was bed ridden. Only a select few knew the truth of the matter, those few being composed mostly of Celestia, Shining Armour and a few guards. The only civilian that knew was, in fact, Stonewall’s wife, who the guard captain had thought was owed a full explanation.

Three days had passed, and now Shining Armour found himself in a court room. He would be called upon to give his honest thoughts and breakdown of Defender’s character, to try and prove that he would never do such a thing. Honestly though, he failed to see how his word would help.

I have to try.

As it turned out, Celestia was not going to be the judge, as she normally tended to do, based on a unanimous decision that she’d be biased upon decisions made to actually be a good choice for a fair trial. Not that Shining Armour believed this would be a fair trial. He didn’t know how, but he knew that somehow, something was rigged. Celestia had never been questioned before in terms of fair trials, why would she now? The entire setup smelled fishy to Shining Armour.
His thoughts were interrupted by a gentle nuzzle at his neck and he looked over at the source of the welcome distraction. Cadance, the niece of Luna and Celestia, and his wife, sat by his side, a worried look on her face.

“It’ll be okay Shiny, I know it will. They can’t do anything much with him, they have no real evidence.”
He grimaced.

“They have anecdotal evidence Cadance, and that just might be enough. I have no doubt the anecdotes will be lies, but there isn’t a whole lot I can do about that. I just hope that he doesn’t do or say anything stupid.”

The court was called to silence. Not too difficult taking into account just how few ponies were included. This was an interesting sort of setup for court considering the extraneous circumstances. As it turned out, they weren’t calling Stalwart Defender into the court, which grated against Shining since not only was it unorthodox, but against regulations.

But who was he to argue with a judge?

~*~

Stalwart Defender was in another room, that is to say, he was no longer in his cell. He’d been ‘escorted’ to another, larger room, still made of stone, because he had a visitor. It wasn’t somepony he knew however. So why they’d want to visit him was beyond his level of comprehension. Apparently, the stallion who he was about to talk to was named Iron Heart, or something like that. Something to do with metals and organs. Defender was rather impatient, and more than a little angry, when the stallion finally walked in. He had deep, deep purple hair and a coat of deepest blue. His eyes shone with an inner light, seeming to constantly change colour and the horn upon his head confirmed his racial identity as a unicorn. Something about him put Defender on edge.

“Good afternoon, Stalwart Defender.”

He smiled and Defender felt a chill go down his spine. The stallion’s next words were directed at the guards in the doorway.

“Thank you gentlecolts, that’ll be all. You can wait outside.”

The pair of guards looked a little wary but walked out anyway, closing the door behind them. The instant the door closed the stallion smiled.

“Alright. Now that they’re gone, guardspony, I can talk freely.”

Defender looked at the stallion in a mixture of disbelief and disdain.

“They can hear you, you know.”

He chuckled darkly.

“No good stallion, they can’t. All they hear right now is anything outside of this room. A useful little enchantment I’ve kept for occasions. Now then. How about we get to the point hmm?”

Defender narrowed his eyes warily.

“You’re not a lawyer like the guards who escorted me said… are you?”

An amused chuckle emanated from the unicorn.

“Very good Guardspony.”

Defender ventured further.

“If I were to guess, I’d say you’re not using your real name either. Not to mention I can’t see any visible cutie mark either. Who are you?”

The smile decorating his face from before grew and with it grew the sinister quality to it.

“My my, you are good.”

He sat down before Defender, who was restrained by chains leading to the floor, preventing him from moving too far.

“You’re correct. My name, dear framed commander, is Splintered Dreams.”

The stallion leaned forward, the same creepy grin still on his face.

“And if you ever want any chance of seeing your beloved Princess Luna again, you will listen to everything I say.”

~*~

Celestia sighed sadly.

“I just know this is a mistake… Shining, are you sure this trial was..?”

Shining Armour nodded. The pair were in Celestia’s quarters, and Shining Armour had just told the solar monarch the result of the trial, which he was now positive was rigged.

“I’m sure of it Celestia. But without concrete evidence… there’s nothing I can do to overrule the judges’ decision. They’ve ruled that, for now at least, he remains imprisoned in the dungeons, which is where he is now. But…”

He hesitated, not really wanting to continue.

“But..?”

He sighed.

“They’re pushing that, in the possible event of termination of her majesty, that Stalwart Defender be terminated as well, penance. A life for a life.”

Celestia stared at him in shock.

“Capital punishment? In Equestria? That hasn’t been used since the dark ages! What makes them think I will allow this?”

He hesitated once more before speaking.

“Celestia… In the event that Luna does perish, I believe they would plan to use your grief as an excuse to say you are unfit to rule. In the event that the ruling body of Equestria is unfit to rule…”

“The court makes the decisions in the name of the crown… I see.”

The pair sat in silence for a long while, both of them considering the implications of Luna’s possible complete disappearance from Equestria. Rather regretfully, Celestia sighed and started to speak.

“Shining, I don’t mean to seem rude and I’m not trying to get rid of you, but… I wouldn’t want to distract you from your duties.”

For the first time in a while, Shining smiled.

“Celestia, I’m off duty. If you would like, I can send for Cadance and you can have a bit more company if you would like.”

Celestia smiled gratefully at her nephew.

“I would like that, thank you.”

~*~

“You can’t be serious!”

Splintered Dreams nodded.

“Oh yes, I’m deadly serious. See, this was all planned. Your trial would have just finished by now. Without you ever having been there. And I’m willing to bet that they plan on keeping you imprisoned until such a time as their plan comes to fruition. Which will take another…”

He paused, thinking.

“Three days.”

Defender looked at the stallion incredulously.

“How did you know all this? Why three days?”

The creepy grin that had continued cropping up for the past hour split his face again.

“Why do I know this? I think it’d make more sense for you to figure it out yourself. Think about it.”

It only took a moment for Defender to arrange his suspicions.

“My best guess is that you’d have to be one of them in order to get close enough to know all this…”

His thoughtful face turned into a disgusted grimace.

“But then, if you were really one of them, then you wouldn’t be telling me this in the first place. Which could only make you either a turncoat or a spy.”

The smile widened.

“Oh very good commander. You’re very close. You’re right, I did pose as one of them. In fact I still am. So far as they know, I am a fellow member. Their wrong of course. Personally I don’t care for either princess.”

He held up his hoof as Defender went to speak.

“However, I do recognize the need for a working government. And without Princess Luna, Celestia wouldn’t be capable of functioning on her own for a long while.”

He stopped, letting Defender process all of this before he rather casually cracked his neck.

“Now then. I have something for you.”

His horn, for the briefest moment, glowed and his hoof met his shoulder. Or it went to. It stopped an inch or two away from it, and when it left, a mask cam with it. It was, it seems, made of bone and shaped, rather morbidly, as the skull of a pony. Etched into the surface was a pictograph of three leaves.

“This is for you. I’m afraid I will have to hide it again, but I will give you a way of retrieving it off of your person. It’s a rather unique item, and I expect to have it returned to me upon the completion of this little quest, understand?”

Feeling a little sick, Defender took the mask.

“Is this..?”

Splintered Dreams nodded.

“Unfortunately, yes. It is, in fact, quite literally a pony skull. I didn’t make it, I didn’t enchant it. It’s a…”

He paused, searching for the correct word.

“Practical antique. Invisibility is a useful asset to be in the possession of dear boy, and I expect you to use it well.”
He went from smiling to dead set serious in less than a second.

“Stalwart Defender. The Princess is being held in the ancient castle deep within the Everfree Forest. There are a group of ponies in Ponyville that know the way. Seek out Twilight Sparkle of the Ponyville Library. She and her friends will show you the way.”

He knocked twice on the door to the room and it opened almost instantly.

“Perhaps someday we’ll see each other again. If you’re not killed for your actions. So long, old friend.”

Nyx

Chapter 11: Nyx

My dearest pupil.

I’m afraid I have no time for your lessons or to question what you have learned. There is something I must tell you now, as I fear for Equestria’s safety.

My sister, Luna, has been kidnapped. We are uncertain who or where. A few guards captured Stalwart Defender, apparently in the process of stealing her away. However they have no proof other than their word and a dead guard. You remember Stonewall. He gave his life trying to protect my sister. As such his name will be honoured with those others who will be forever remembered, recorded in the histories.

Your brother and I have very strong doubts about this supposed story. Neither of us believe that Stalwart Defender would ever harm a hair upon Luna’s head and would sooner die than see her even get a scratch upon her person. You have met him before, once I believe, and I’m certain even from that brief interlude you can assure me with utter certainty of his integrity.

I may need your help. I hate to bother you and your friends again, but this is something that must be done. My power may not be sufficient to secure her release. I’m afraid Equestria needs me here as well. Without me, I’m afraid that the entirety of Equestria will fall into the hands of insurgents, and that cannot be permitted to happen.

Once more, I am sorry that I must bother you about this. Thank you for your cooperation.

Your loving mentor.

Celestia.

~*~

“Does that sound about right to you dear nephew?”

Shining Armour nodded. By his side was Cadance, who also nodded.

“Auntie, we’re going to find Luna. I promise. If there’s anypony who can find her, it’s Twilight and her friends. You, Shining and I all know it, and Luna knows it too. She’ll be alright, I promise.”

Celestia attempted a smile to her niece.

“Thank you Cadance. I lost my sister once, I won’t lose her again.”

~*~

Roughly the same time as Celestia was sending the letter to her prized pupil, a guard carrying an iron tray approached the prison cell of one Stalwart Defender. On said tray was a chunk of bread, thin soup and a bowl of water. He’d been moved to a more secure cell after a certain unicorn stallion told them that he was much too violent and dangerous to be kept in a standard cell. So now he was in a completely stone room with a thick, heavy wooden door. A small slot at the top of the door was covered by three iron bars. The guard approached the pair guarding the door.

“I’ve got his food here guys. Going to have to open the door.”

The two guards nodded.

“Yeah, great. Careful though, apparently he’s really dangerous. So be quick about it alright? Don’t want another guard dead because of him.”

“Got it.”

One of the guards took a ring of keys from his armour and used one of them to unlock the door. It was opened and the tray carrying guard stepped into the room. The artificial light made sure nothing could hide.

It only took a moment for the guard to stop short.

“What..? Where is he?”

~*~

Defender watched the three guards enter the room, all of them shocked at his sudden vanishing act. On his face, as much as he reviled the object, rested the mask Splintered Dreams had given him the day before. The trio went up to the back wall to test for cracks, covered entrances, anything. That was when he decided it was time to leave.

Being as quiet as he could, his hooves covered by the now torn up bedsheets, Stalwart Defender slipped out of the room and started moving as quickly and as quietly as he could through the deepest parts of the Canterlot castle. It wasn’t easy. There were a surprisingly large amount of guards here. And from some of the chatter he picked up, he knew why.

Apparently, this was the easiest place to guard in the entire castle, having no trouble at all. Most of the time, the only reason he could sneak past the guards was because they were too lazy to get up from their seats and leave their drinks. For the first time in his life, Defender thanked Celestia for lazy guards.

Something he never thought he’d do.

~*~

“Twilight! Message from Celestia!”

Twilight frowned as Spike staggered his way down the stairs in a fit of tired irritation.

“A letter? This late Spike? Why would Celestia send a letter this late unless…”

She trailed off as she took the letter from Spike. Talisman had retired long before, his work having claimed most of his energy that day.

“Unless it was really important… Spike, what do you suppose Celestia would want at this time of night?”

“I dunno. Can I go back to sleep now? I’m tired.”

Twilight couldn’t help but giggle softly.

“Yes Spike, you can go back to bed. Sleep well now.”

With a muffled thanks from the young dragon, who Twilight could practically see growing as she watched, he staggered, tripped and otherwise dragged himself back upstairs and into his bed. Twilight smiled at him as he left.

They grow up so fast.

Wrenching herself out of her little daze, thinking about Spike as she was, she picked the letter back up off the floor where it had fallen, her curiosity once again sparked. The design on the wax seal did indeed indicate that is was Celestia who had sent the message, this Twilight was sure of. Breaking the seal, she unrolled the scroll telepathically and began to read, her expression turning more and more horrified at each passing sentence until eventually she cast the sheaf of paper away from her.

“TAL! WAKE UP! WE HAVE THINGS TO DO!”

After a minute or two, Talisman made his way out of the bedroom, rubbing his eyes.

“Nngh… Twilight, what is it that’s so important you have to wake up half of Equestria? And after all the work I’ve done today?”

“Oh bother that Talisman! Luna’s been kidnapped, I hardly think your work is very important right now!”

It took Talisman a minute or two to actually process what Twilight just said and, by the time it’d dawned on him the implications of exactly what his marefriend had said, Twilight was gone, out the door in search of her bed ridden friends.

“What!? Luna? How… Twilight!”

~*~

“Two more days, great Princess. The full moon will herald your return to ultimate power my graceful monarch, and return you to the bringer of the truth! The herald of eternal night.”

Luna didn’t even bother to answer him, not even giving him the satisfaction of her looking at him. She heard him walking away and turned around to see him exit the room. Sitting down, she sighed sadly and tried once again to reach her magic, again unsuccessfully. Her frustration at this fact knew no bounds.

“Rrgh, Why can’t I reach you!?”

“They won’t let you…”

Luna looked around in shock. She was unaware that there was anypony else in here.

“Who are you? Show yourself!”

“Um… That might be a little difficult.”

Luna frowned in slight confusion.

“To reveal who you are, or to show yourself?”

“Showing myself… I’m afraid my location is blocked by a wall. I’m next to you though, the next cell over.”

Luna practically squashed her face in her rush to press it to the door on the left side.

“Then who are you? Why did you not speak yesterday?”

The small voice came back.

“Well I… they wouldn’t let me… are you really Luna? The princess? I always wanted to meet a princess.”

Tears came to Luna’s eyes at this little revelation.

She can’t be anything more than a filly! Who else has ‘always wanted’ to meet a princess?

“Dear child, what is your name? Why are you here?”

There was a short silence before the answer.

“My name… My name is Nyx. I don’t know why I’m here… Something about the release of truth? I don’t know.”

Release of truth? Could this have something to do with me?

“You’re sure they said ‘release of truth’? Not something else?”

“Yes miss Luna, I promise. That’s what I heard.”

For a long while, Luna pondered this and the filly, Nyx, in the other cell, remained silent. In the almost complete silence, Luna could now hear her breathing softly. Luna could not understand why the cultists would even consider stealing away a little filly for anything like this. It made no sense. She doubted that, even if she had centuries in which to consider it, she could ever understand it. It was something that utterly, utterly confounded her.

“Nyx, tell me. Do you know what they plan to do with me?”

There was a moment of quiet.

“No miss Luna, I don’t.”

Luna found herself nodding.

Of course not. I guess there’s a certain logic to not telling her. All foals fear Nightmare Moon. It is not a tale used to instil peace, as many others are.

“Nyx, listen to us carefully. The ponies here aren’t very nice. And what they want isn’t very nice either.”

“Not very nice..?”

“No dear one. Have you heard the tale of the mare in the moon?”

~*~

Defender cursed himself for not moving faster.

Had I moved faster, I wouldn’t be in this stupid situation! Idiot!

In his defence, the amount of noise that could have been made moving faster might have alerted them earlier. Or he could have slipped on that puddle of cider he almost hit in the kitchens. Or he could have run headlong into the cook carrying that big pot of hot soup. Or something. Of course, had he bypassed the kitchen altogether instead of detouring to it because he felt like he hadn’t eaten in the past twenty years he wouldn’t be in this situation either. But he had. It had taken a good fifteen minutes out of his escape time. And now, because of this, he was now trying to dodge every guard and his faithful pet at the same time, all of them having been called to alert to find the missing prisoner. Thankfully, his mask was still functioning. But for how much longer he wasn’t sure.

Stalwart Defender was no magician, for obvious reasons. He was a simple Pegasus really, and magic wasn’t high on his agenda to learn about. But he did know a little. The most prominent fact in his mind right now was that all magical items required charge. Magic didn’t last forever. The imprint of enchantment lasted until removal, but all enchantments required energy, and it had to draw it from somewhere. That’s where magical charge came in. Had he a few energy cells, which were crystals infused with magical energy, he wouldn’t be so worried. But he didn’t, and Splintered Dreams hadn’t told him exactly how long this darn thing lasted.

Not to mention he just wanted to get the damnable object off of his face.

It felt like small hooks were pulling at his skin, making it shift and move wherever the mask touched, and sometimes his vision flashed, and in the darkness the eyesockets seemed to glow with their own light, a sickly green colour, lighting his way. Nopony else seemed to see it however, which was just as well, since if they could he would have been discovered by now. As useful as it was, he hated the accursed thing. If he hadn’t needed it for his escape, he would have destroyed the mask as soon as he could.

But, as fate would have it, he did need it and he couldn’t destroy it. And so weaving in and around the guards milling around the place looking for him very quickly became a very popular past time for Stalwart Defender. It was all going well, until in his attempt to miss one guard he plowed into somepony else.

Somepony without armour on.

~*~

“Ow!”

Cadance stumbled into Shining Armour, earning an concerned look from the guard captain.

“Cadance! Are you alright? What happened?”

Stretching her wing out, which had been mysteriously assaulted by an unknown force, Cadance frowned.

“I don’t know. It felt like something hit me. It was… warm? Static, like that feeling you get when you’re touched by somepony who’s been rubbing their hooves on the carpet.”

Shining Armour frowned.

“Can’t have been a guard then. They’re all wearing armour, the touch would have been cold…”

At that moment he saw a familiar face.

“Brave Wing! Brave Wing! I need to see you, now!”

~*~

Stalwart Defender’s ears pricked up at the sound of the Guard Captain, he recognized the voice, calling his recruit.

Brave Wing is alive?

He spun around, standing in a lull of activity as the guards patrolling this room left, resuming their search through the rest of the corridors. His head ran a mental check of the three figures before him and he gulped as he realized precisely who he’d bumped into.

Shining Armour, Guard Captain of the entirety of Canterlot.

Brave Wing, Lieutenant of The Midnight Guardians corp. Learning under… Stonewall…

Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, Princess of the Realm Wife to… Oh shit.

His mind was torn between listening in on their conversation and leaving the castle, forgetting for the moment that he was invisible to the naked eye. His hesitation, it seemed, lasted too long and the trio began to walk away.

In a split second, probably really bad decision, Stalwart Defender followed them.

~*~

“Celestia wishes to see me? Whatever for sir?”

Shining Armour found the casual way the lieutenant was speaking to him refreshing, as opposed to the uptight, not so casual way his own soldiers spoke to him, bar Stonewall when he was alive. There was no changing the old dog. But despite his friendly demeanour, Shining could detect an undertone of despair to the young soldier, despair and sorrow. A closer examination of him revealed the physical traits of a pony that hadn’t slept in several days and was feeling the strain.

“Aunt Celestia didn’t tell us why, just that she wanted to see you.”

Shining started in slight shock as Cadance spoke, having almost completely forgotten about the initial question. The trio were now walking down a very heavily gilded hallway.

“Ah, yes. Sorry Lieutenant. I’m afraid her Majesty didn’t tell us why. Simply that we needed to find you and bring you to her as quickly as we could. Thankfully, you’re not that difficult to find. Your armour is quite… well, it stands out from the customary gold.”

Brave Wing couldn’t help but puff his chest out with pride.

“Midnight Guardian corp sir. None better.”

Cadance stifled a giggle.

“Naturally. You do guard Luna.”

Again, Brave wing nodded, slightly more proud, before all of his pride left and he deflated.

“Yeah… looks like we didn’t do a very good job huh? I mean… jeez. Stonewall d.. gone and Defender imprisoned… Guess I failed huh?”

Shining grimaced, not really wanting to answer that question.

“…. Depends Lieutenant. You did everything you could, and that doesn’t make it a failure.”

The trio had now reached an ornate golden door with a depiction of the sun engraved on it.

The entrance to Princess Celestia’s quarters.

“Well, Ladies first my dear.”

Cadance smiled and knocked gently. The door, as usual, swung open on its own accord. The two stallions followed the youngest princess into the study and stood before Celestia. Brave Wing almost forgot to bow.

Guess I’ve become too accustomed to Luna’s influences huh?

“Your Majesty. You wished to see me?”

Celestia was staring out at the city when he spoke, not having moved even as she’d opened the door and heard them come in. Her horn glowed and the doors slammed shut behind them, earning a flinch in surprise from all ponies present bar herself.

“Brave Wing… You served Luna as her Bodyguard under the tutelage of Stonewall and Stalwart Defender, correct?”

Brave Wing swallowed.

“Y..Yes ma’am, I did. And, being that my other Midnight Guardians are incapable of doing so, I am willing to take full responsibility for the failure of my fellows.”

Celestia was silent for a long while before she turned around. Her eyes were sad, and her body spoke volumes of bone crushingly strong sorrow. Her shoulders were slumped and she had deep shadows beneath her eyes.

“My dear Lieutenant. This is not about Stonewall’s death. He did not fail, he fought till his death to defend my sister.”

Out of nowhere spoke a rather familiar voice, making Celestia, Shining Armour and Brave Wing start in shock and spin around, Cadance following suit, not finding the voice familiar.

“We only fail in our duty if we do not bring her back in time to save her. Until then, we are still Midnight Guardians.”

They watched in stunned astonishment as Stalwart Defender lifted his mask, letting it rest atop his head, not making contact with his face and thus not allowing him to be rendered invisible.

“And nothing on Equestria will stop us.”

~*~

Celestia stared at the disgraced and formerly imprisoned guard in utter shock. The entire garrison was picking the castle apart with a fine tooth comb and a pair of tweasers and here he was, large as life and not even budging under the four stares he was being assaulted with wearing…

Are those..?

“Defender.”

“Yes Lady Celestia?”

She paused and pursed her lips before continuing.

“Are those my bed sheets from solitary confinement?”

He looked up at her confidently and with confidence and an absolutely straight face replied:

“Yes. Yes they are.”

Her brow furrowed.

“I don’t suppose those bed sheets did anything to harm you?”

“No. They did not. They were, however, very itchy.”

“Did they insult you in any way?”

He hesitated for a moment.

“Well no.”

“Are my Bed sheets not to your liking?”

He squirmed.

“Must we discuss this now?”

“I simply wanted to know why on Equestria you would utterly destroy my lovely floral sheets that I made sure were as unthreatening and warmly friendly as possible for potentially dangerous ponies.”

It was at this point Stalwart Defender remembered the floral nature of said sheets and instantly felt self conscious. Large colourful flowers covered his hooves in pretty shades of pink, baby blue and deep rose red. It was almost pretty. He flushed.

“They were very itchy Majesty, and I needed to move silently. I’ll replace them, I promise.”

“You had better. And they’d better match those ones Stalwart Defender, or be it on your own head I will make a new set of sheets out of your coat.”

Shining Armour, Brave Wing and Cadance, reduced to mere onlookers, watched the discussion in stunned silence. The safety of Equestria was at stake and these two were having an argument concerning floral bed sheets?

~*~

“So… Nightmare Moon isn’t a nice pony? Like these bad ponies that kidnapped you miss Luna?”

Luna smiled at the innocence of the young voice from the cell next door.

“No dear girl. Nightmare Moon is much meaner. She’s very nasty and wants to rule all of Equestria without anypony else. Not only that she wants to plunge Equestria into eternal night.”

“But, Miss Luna, why would anypony want night all the time? What about the day? Everypony needs the day to live.”

“Yes child, we do. But Nightmare Moon doesn’t believe that. She thinks that all she needs to run this country is her magic which, I suppose, certainly could be done. But it would take a lot of power. Power she has.”

There was silence from the little filly for a while.

“So… How did they plan to get her out of you Miss Luna?”

“I don’t know dear one. I really don’t know. But, the stallion who kept speaking to me hinted at something happening in two days. Or so. What’s really been bother me is why you are here.”

“I… I don’t know why I’m here. Buy I’ve been here most my life.”

Luna started in surprise.

“Most your life!? My Dear, you’re saying you grew up here?”

“Grew up..? Um, no? I… I don’t know Miss Luna.”

“How is it that you mean child? You don’t know?”

“I was… I was found and brought here. I only remember the day I woke up. A nice stallion picked me up and brought me here. Said I’d usher in a new age…. Or something like that.”

A small sniffle came from the direction of the cell next door, a heartbreaking sound.

“But… just recently they put me in here, refused to let me out. Then they gave me a weird drink that made me feel strange and I couldn’t think very well. My wings wouldn’t work and I couldn’t stand up.”

“They gave me something similar Dear one. My magic is useless. I don’t know how they’ve done it, but I can’t fly and my magic is useless. Otherwise we’d be out by now.”

“Miss Luna? I’m scared.”

“I know dear one, I know.”

Who dares brave the forest?

Chapter 12:Who dares brave the forest?

Celestia was deep in thought. Within the muffled confines of her quarters she sat, accompanied by the captain of her guards, his wife, Brave Wine and the disgraced bodyguard Stalwart Defender, who had told her what he knew.

“So, you believe that she is within the confines of our old castle?”

“No your Majesty, I know she is. However I believed that… Well, I guessed that since you hadn’t condemned Brave you… perhaps you hadn’t lost all faith in me either.”

Shining Armour frowned, confused.

“I don’t understand. How is it you know this?”

Defender hesitated, his mind going through the memories of his discussion with Splintered Dreams.

“Just remember Stalwart Defender… I was never here, you do not know me and I never told you anything.”

“I’m afraid I cannot tell you, for I’m not quite sure how I know myself.”

Shining Armour was clearly sceptical, but a gentle nudge and a shake of her head from Cadance prevented him from speaking up. Celestia showed no signs of scepticism, nor any other real change in thought.

“If Luna is there, then You cannot waste any time then can you?”

Defender paused, along with everypony else in the room.

“I’m… sorry?”

“Well, you’re going to go get her are you not?”

She looked at him archly, challengingly.

“You are planning on getting her aren’t you Defender?”

He cringed under her glare.

“Of course I was You Majesty. I’m not about to let anything happen to her you know.”

“This is you only second chance, you understand?”

He nodded.

“Yes milady, I understand.”

Brave Wing nodded and stepped forward.

“We’ll leave immediately.”

Defender shook his head, looking to his fellow guard.

“No Wing. You have to stay here. If you go missing, any other insurgents within the confines of the castle will really start getting suspicious. Besides…”

He smiled.

“I don’t think the ill Princess would be without guards. True? And since that is the cover story, I need you to be here to reinforce it.”

Crestfallen, Brave Wing sighed and hung his head.

“I… I understand. I’ll stay here.”

“Excellent. In the mean time, I will go and enlist the help of Twilight Sparkle and her friends. They know the way to the ruined castle.”

He grimaced.

“Besides. I might need her and her friends.”

Celestia nodded.

“True. Stalwart Defender, promise me that you will not allow her to come to harm.”

The disgraced guard nodded.

“I promise you milady. I told her she would never be harmed whilst under my protection, I meant it.”

~*~

“Alright Everypony. I know it’s late, or early depending on how you look at it, but this was far too important to wait until morning.”

Twilight stood before her friends. Fluttershy sat, leaning on a big black coated stallion with deep red hair and a single visible purple eye. He had one wing draped over her shoulders to prevent her from being too cold in the cool night air. Rainbow Dash was practically lying all over A purple stallion with hair like flames. He was struggling just to keep her awake. Applejack, Rarity and Pinkie Pie sat on their own, or rather, AJ and Rarity were. Pinkie was bouncing, seemingly wide awake. AJ yawned before she spoke.

“If ya say so Twi. Couldja just tell us what it is that’s so important thatcha had to wake us up at two in the morning?”

Talisman sat beside Twilight, a cup of steaming hot coffee in his hooves. Twilight looked to him and he smiled tiredly, putting one hoof over one of hers for support.

“Girls, Demon, Ranger, Princess Luna has been kidnapped from Canterlot.”

There was a collective gasp from the others in the room. Well, everypony except Talisman, who’d already been told.

“What!? Luna? Taken?”

Almost instantaneously, Rainbow was in the air, agitated.

“Is that even possible? How the hay do you kidnap a princess of Equestria!?”

Rarity sat, shellshocked, unable to speak. Fluttershy and Demonheart in much the same state. Applejack, however, was just as vocal as Rainbow after her outburst.

“Ah have to agree! How in the hay did she get kidnapped? She’s got more magical power than anypony but Celestia so far as we know! Besides that, who’d be stupid enough to risk Celestia’s wrath?”

Twilight held up a hoof for silence. I took the ponies a while to actually calm down enough to do so however.

“Girls, please.”

Ranger feigned offence at this, although his façade didn’t last for long. After this piece of news, he really didn’t care for jokes. Twilight continued.

“We don’t know who did it, we don’t know how or why. But Celestia can’t leave the capitol, it’s too risky for her to do.”

“Risky?”

Rarity sighed and looked to the confused Athelete.

“Honestly darling, do think a little. If Luna’s been kidnapped then it’s likely it’s from somepony who doesn’t want her on the throne. Following that thought it stands to reason that there are others that want Celestia gone.”

Rainbow was about to respond hotly when a blast of light blinded the group and, in the dead centre of the room, appeared Stalwart Defender.

However, due to the strange occurrence of him appearing three feet above the ground and not expecting it, he fell face first onto the floor, cursing in pain as he hit the ground. He received a further surprise when he looked up.
Straight into the glowing red, aggressive eyes of Demonheart, hearing only a low growl from the big Pegasus stallion. His wings were flared in typical Pegasus fashion when it came to intimidation. Make yourself look big enough and maybe your aggressor won’t want to attack you. It’s not like he really had to though. Demonheart was big enough to make most ponies back down without any attempt at a fight either way.

After recovering from her shock and watching the scene for a moment, trying to comprehend what she was seeing, Twilight stepped forward.

“Defender? What are you doing here?”

Talisman found himself chuckling at the situation, much to the amazement of his fellows.

“It’s alright Demon. He’s okay. He’s actually Luna’s personal bodyguard. No reason to be so defensive, he won’t hurt us and he definitely won’t hurt Fluttershy.”

Slowly, very slowly, Demonheart’s eyes slowly began to change colour, which was quite the shock to Defender, who hadn’t met the large stallion yet. He did not, however, back down. He felt a gentle tug at one of his wings and a gentle nuzzle to his shoulder and he relaxed a little, recognizing the loving touch of Fluttershy. Mind you, he only relaxed enough to give the white Pegasus stallion enough room to stand, which he did. It was then and only then that Stalwart Defender recognized just how big the Pegasus was.

By all things holy in this world! This stallion is huge!

Demonheart was quite a bit larger than the guard and, even with all of his training, Defender hoped he never got on the bad side of him.

Not to mention the way his eyes changed.

That had, quite honestly scared him. There was a lot that Defender had seen. He’d even faced Luna’s tantrums without a twinge. But this…

What in the name of Celestia is this stallion?

~*~

Brave Wing sat rather despondently in Luna’s quarters. It had been a long night. While all of the guards had been told of Luna’s absence, and reason for, not all of them seemed to believe it. As such, he’d been chasing away various guards all night. Having been (temporarily) promoted to the head of the ‘order’, He had not only the right, but the authority to push pretty much anypony that he wanted to around. But he missed the company of Luna, and had grown accustomed to talking with her on his shifts. As such he was fairly bored.

He sighed as another knock came upon swift wings to his ears. He trudged over to the doorway and nudged it open, speaking before even acknowledging the presence.

“I’m sorry, Princess Luna is not well and will not be taking visitors right now.”

His face flushed however when he looked up, revealing the seriously pretty nurse Heart Sworn.

“Oh, Heart Sworn! I… didn’t know it was you.”

The young nurse stared at him in surprise.

“Brave Wing? Wherever is Defender?”

Brave Wing hesitated, unsure as to what to tell her.

Oh man, what do I tell her? I know she likes him, but… I can’t let her into the room either. Oh jeez, what a mess.

“He’s… not here at the moment.” He replied evasively.

“I can see that Wing. Could you tell me where exactly he is?”

Brave Wing automatically shook his head.

“I’m sorry. I’d like to tell you, but I cannot.”

She looked a little crestfallen. Something that Brave Wing couldn’t help but notice.

“Oh… It’s rather important. It’s… well it’s about his wing.”

Brave Wing frowned.

“His.. wing?”

She nodded.

“Afraid so. Oh dear, this could be disastrous. See, I’ve gone over the X-rays from his broken limbs and wings again…”

Her face flushed as he looked at her incredulously.

“What?”

“Why were you looking at his X-rays?”

She stammered nervously.

“I… um… c..concern, suspicion?”

His amused look only made her flush further.

“What does it matter!? I was looking at them, okay?”

She took a moment to pull herself back in line before continuing.

“Anyway. The doctor in charge of Defender’s treatment, one of our senior doctors, made a mistake and set his wing wrong. Whilst one of the breaks mended true, but the other one… well…”

She hesitated before continuing in a wavering voice.

“It’s going to be very fragile unless we fix it properly. That means re-breaking and re-setting it.”

It took a moment before the full implications of what Heart Sworn just said occurred to him.

“Oh… shit.”

Heart Sworn seemed quite taken aback by Brave Wing’s sudden curse, having never heard him curse before.

“I’m sorry?”

Brave Wing barely heard her. He was too busy checking both directions of the corridor that Heart Sworn was standing in before he grabbed her hoof and exited the room, letting the door swing shut behind him.

“Come on. Celestia must know.”

Heart Sworn, naturally, resisted, pulling back gently. Naturally Brave Wing was stronger, but he stopped as he felt her tug and looked back at her.

“Celestia? Why would she care what happened to his wing?”

Brave Wing, once again torn, hesitated.

“I… Celestia will decide if it’s important enough to tell you. I cannot. Now come on! This could be really important!”

He went to leave again, but the young nurse resolutely held her ground.

“I’m not going anyplace until you tell me exactly what is going on.”

Rrgh! Dammit Heart Sworn…

He sighed, frustrated.

“Jeez Heart, listen. You’re cute and you’re quite the strong heart, as well as kind. But I cannot tell you under any circumstances. It’s not my information to tell, I don’t have the authority. Celestia is the only one who’s allowed to tell anypony anything. It’s… Listen. I can’t tell you why I need to do this, but I can say this. Either you come with me and give Celestia the details and she can decide what to do, or I go alone and she only gets a little information.”

Heart Sworn couldn’t help but be surprised at the sudden maturity the young guard was showing as he paused for breath. Before she could talk however, He continued.

“Heart, this could be the difference between Stalwart Defender living or dying.”

There was almost complete silence for a moment as Heart Sworn tried to comprehend what was just said.

“…. I… okay.”

~*~

Needless to say, Celestia was quite surprised when Brave Wing flew into her quarters via her balcony, with a terrified Heart Sworn clinging to his neck, almost strangling him. He put the young nurse down gently once he was inside the room and landed himself, taking a moment to catch his breath from her grip of iron. Celestia looked at the pair.

“Brave Wing. Please explain what you’re doing here and who this is.”

Brave Wing, snapping to attention, breathed deep and began to explain.

“Your Highness, I beg your forgiveness for entering your chambers without permission and in the fashion of which I did, along with bringing another into your chambers the same way. Majesty, this is Heart Sworn, the nurse who assisted in treating Stalwart Defender during his recovery from his accident.”

Celestia looked at the young nurse, who was quite pale, not only from reverence at the presence of the princess, but also from her sheer and utter terror from being flown around the castle. Heart Sworn, for her part, did manage to bow rather gracefully considering the circumstance.

“Y..Your Majesty. It’s an honour t..to meet you.”

Celestia smiled gently at her.

“It’s nice to meet you too Heart Sworn. So it’s you I have to thank for my sister’s guard?”

Heart blushed.

“W..well I helped, that’s all. I was only in training at the time.”

Brave Wing, having been sitting impatiently waiting for the introductions to finish, jumped in before Celestia could speak again.

“Excellent. Now that we know each other, I’m sorry for being short ma’am, but Heart Sworn has something to tell you about Defender.”

Celestia appraised the young guard for a moment in surprise. He’d never been this brash under her corps.
“Is that so?”

She turned back to Heart Sworn.

“What is it that you have to tell me?”

~*~

Celestia stared at the young nurse in shock.

“Are you sure?”

Heart Sworn nodded.

“Yes miss, I swear. There’s… well, there was also a hairline fracture at the base of his wing. I um…”

She hesitated before speaking.

“If that goes then… I’m scared that he won’t be able to fly anymore. I mean… ever.”

“How bad?”

Heart Sworn blinked.

“I… I’m sorry?”

“The damage Heart Sworn. How bad will he be damaged?”

“Oh. I um… My best prognosis would have to be bone fragments in the cartilage, so shredded cartilage around the joint, potentially torn ligaments from bone fragments, if not torn then severely damaged.”

She hesitated again.

“As I said before Majesty… He’d never be able to fly again. Not even our magic can repair cut ligaments and shredded cartilage. Not enough for that anyway.”

Her nerves were starting to get the better of her now and her voice dropped down in volume dramatically.
“I… I’m sorry Majesty b..but.. Why is this so important..?”

The room was silent for a long while and Heart Sworn felt her nerves rapidly becoming worse. She was about to break down when Celestia spoke.

“Heart Sworn. You must understand that what I’m about to tell you cannot leave this room under any circumstances. By no means are you allowed to tell anypony at all about this, understood?”

Heart Sworn nodded slowly and felt herself subconsciously leaning forward.

“Stalwart Defender was found guilty of planning and instigating the kidnapping of Princess Luna.”
Heart Sworn gasped in shock.

“What!? No! Defender would never!”

Celestia held up a hoof for silence.

“I didn’t say he was correctly convicted. He was locked in the dungeon until such a time as he divulged the location of Luna or until she was found. However…”

She paused, as though still trying to figure it all out.

“Somehow our disgraced guard managed to procure a rather curious piece of equipment, an ancient mask enchanted with the invisibilus charm. Meaning when he wore it he became completely invisible. Using this he escaped from the dungeon and came here to tell me what he somehow managed to discover from within his cell.”

Celestia once more held up a hoof for silence.

“Before you ask, Luna’s location was among them. I sent him to Ponyville in order to find her and bring her back.”
“But I don’t expect him to get out without fighting. This could be a problem.”

~*~

Defender galloped alongside Twilight Sparkle, Talisman on her other side. Behind the trio was the rest of Twilight’s friends and fellow bearers of the elements. Among them also was Demonheart and Rock Ranger, both of them beside their respective partners. In fact, Demonheart was one of the only reasons Fluttershy was willingly galloping headlong into the Everfree Forest. As they were running, Twilight yelled to Defender.

“How do you know all this anyway? I thought you said you were locked up!”

Defender grimaced as he ran.

“I’d tell you if I could Twilight, I really would. But I can’t. I just know she’s there and I know I need to get to her.”

Twilight’s face creased into a frown. This bothered her. The fact that he couldn’t tell anypony how he knew what he knew placed a large amount of suspicion upon his shoulders. Secrets never flew very well with Twilight, she sucked at keeping secrets herself and she didn’t trust them either. Secrets got ponies hurt. The mask atop his head worried her even more. She had read up on possibly everything that could be considered valuable in magical history and yet she’d never once seen an artefact like that one. It chilled her to the bone. The thing wasn’t normal, and she had her suspicions about the origins of the mask and its materials.

But she still didn’t know what exactly to think of it. She trusted his intentions, but she wasn’t sure if she trusted him as an individual anymore. She wasn’t sure if this was his true colours coming out, or if she’d merely missed it beforehand, but something told her that this artefact of his wasn’t, strictly speaking, legally obtained.

Endless Nightmares

Chapter 14: Endless Nightmares.

“Dammit, now I’m down an element bearer! What am I meant to do if I need you all!?”

Stalwart Defender had stopped, after prolonged demands for a rest from the others. They were at a very familiar riverway now, the river once too turbulent to cross thanks to a particularly upset sea serpent. Rarity, huffing heavily, harrumphed.

“Then I suppose you’ll have to wait! It’s not OUR fault you were in too much of a hurry to leave Demon behind to fight.”

Defender whirled upon Rarity with a ferocity rivalling an angry ursa.

“I had no choice! Luna is in danger and if I don’t get to her, who the hell knows what’ll happen to her! I can’t stop for

anything! It’s too important. As it is I’ve lost too much time! We’re only a few hours away from moonrise, so we have to MOVE!”

Rarity cowered away from the angry soldier. Applejack, frustrated as well, snapped.

“Hey! Don’t ya’ll take it out on her! We’re all tired, an’ we know that it’s important we get Luna back. Ya’ll ain’t makin’ it any easier!”

Finding a new target to vent his pent up frustration at, Defender rounded on Applejack.

“No! You know nothing! Nothing! You think you do, you think you can handle anything. We know nothing of our enemy! And yet still you’re fine with waiting here for them to do whatever foul thing they have planned for my princess!”

Applejack retaliated just as heatedly, refusing to back down. Twilight barely heard her.

My princess?

She looked to Talisman, who was panting heavily and he looked at her grimly and nodded. Her eyes widened.

So that’s why he’s so urgent… This is more than simple duty to him.

She turned back to the argument. Applejack was speaking still.

“…So ya just shut your trap and catch your darn breath before Ah buck it out of ya again! Ah’m tired, Ah’m runnin’ on Empty and Ah’m gettin’ behind on the work needed for the farm runnin’ out to the middle of noplace on the insistence of some half witted idiot who thinks he knows where the princess is! You’re lucky Ah’m even out here right now!”

“Thinks!? THINKS!? I have it on VERY good authority that she’s out here in that forsaken bloody palace! If my word as her personal protector isn’t good enough for you then I don’t need you here! I need ponies that can follow orders, not a bunch of undisciplined country bumpkins who can’t tell a sword from a hammer and have problems with authority!”

“Personal guard huh?”

“That’s right!”

“Well ya ain’t done a very good job have ya!?”

“THAT’S ENOUGH!”

Defender bit off his retort and spun around, eyes wide at the sudden drop of air pressure and temperature. Twilight stood, teeth gritted, eyes bright white.

“I’ve had enough! Both of you shut up! We’ve got a job to do and all this bickering isn’t helping!”
Her blindingly angry stare fixed itself upon Applejack.

“A guard died trying to defend Luna. Defender was off duty at the time, this guard was taking care of Luna. He was an old friend.”

Applejack looked devastated as Twilight turned to Defender, feeling an odd sense of satisfaction at not only shaming the farmer completely, but making the larger, armoured stallion flinch back in fear.

“And you. We are not soldiers. We are ponies, yes, and none of us are afraid to do what is right. But you do NOT lead us! Without us, you’d still be back facing the unicorn from before, so how about we all learn to get along BEFORE we go killing each other?”

The two previously fighting ponies nodded emphatically, desperate for the enraged unicorn to calm down. Just as she seemed to calm, a slow clap came from the path in front of them and Defender’s eyes widened at the familiar voice.

“Bravo, miss Sparkle. I thought they’d never shut up.”

~*~

“This is your room?”

Brave Wing looked around in quiet shock. The room was richly decorated, something that did come as a bit of a shock since not only did few ponies live in the castle, even fewer lived here enough to have time to decorate their chambers. The walls were a vibrant pink colour and there were a few pictures hanging on the wall, one of which containing two mares, one with the same soft, gentle and calming pink that made up Heart Sworn’s coat. This caught his attention. Between the two mares was a basket containing a filly.

“Heart? Who is this?”

She shut the door gently and locked it before looking over at him. Seeing him looking at the picture she sighed.

“Oh, Mother…”

“Your Mother?”

“I guess. Both of them.”

Brave Wing started visibly.

“Two mothers?”

He felt rather than saw her sit beside him.

“Yes, two mothers. I know, it’s not exactly commonly accepted, but those are my roots. My birth mother is this one.”

She pointed to the pink earth pony.

“She… They both tried the magical way, but something about my mum’s physiology didn’t allow her to accept the magical impregnation. They resorted to a stud service.”

She looked to a smaller picture held in a frame sitting on a nearby dresser, Brave Wing following her a moment later. In the image was a proud looking stallion with baby blue hair sitting with her in his forehooves, nuzzling her. She was giggling.

“My dad. He was so proud of me. I saw him every weekend and he got along very well with my mums. They were great friends and he never demanded any more time with me. He believed in quality time over quantity. And he insisted on paying foal support.”

“He sounds like a great stallion. A good father.”

Heart Sworn smiled.

“He is. He lives in Trottingham now. Had to move for work reasons. He only volunteered for the service because he was in the area and didn’t have any problems with the idea. He was always so proud of me. He still is. I send him letters every week along with my mother… unfortunately it’s only ‘mother’ now, since…”

She looked back at the image of her parents and sniffled, tears coming to her eyes.

“Sleepy Hollows died in a house fire… Dad tried to get her out… almost succeeded too. He had to go to hospital because of severe burns. He’s okay now but… He was heartbroken. He failed to save his little girl’s mummy…”
Brave Wing looked at her as her voice choked off. She was crying openly, her teal eyes, reminiscent of her father by the looks of it, were wet with tears. His heart went out to her and he wrapped a wing around her.

“It’s okay Heart. I know how it feels… My father wasn’t exactly straight either you know.”

Heart Sworn almost choked on her surprise before looking at him.

“I… what?”

He nodded.

“I may not know your pain of the death in the family… my biological mother and father… well, I don’t know them. Father and papa adopted me when I was still a foal. They still live here, in Canterlot. They were so proud of me when I was enrolled into the Royal Guard. Even prouder when I told them about my promotion, and induction into the Midnight Guard corps.”

He nuzzled her gently behind her left ear, inciting a coo of soft delight.

“Don’t worry. I don’t think you’re different or strange simply because you have two mothers. How could I?”

He grinned.

“Look at us. Both of us have gay parents, both of us turned out just fine. What does that tell you?”

She burst into a fit of giggles, leaning on him for support. Brave Wing felt his heart flutter in his chest.

Sun and Moon, the mare I’ve been crushing on for ages is leaning on me!

Suddenly she shivered and he put a hoof to her shoulder worriedly.

“Heart Sworn!? What’s wrong?”

“Your armour… it’s cold.”

He felt himself laughing before it registered.

“Yes, I suppose it is. Sorry about that.”

She looked up at him, smiling. Once more he felt his heart melt, as he always did whenever she looked at him.

Oh jeez, you’re on duty Wing! What are you doing?

“Brave Wing?”

“Yes Heart?”

“Do you think Defender will be okay?”

He felt his heart sink.

Guess it was still just wishful thinking.

He nodded, keeping up his façade of happiness.

“I’m sure he’ll be fine.”

She smiled.

“Good. He can take care of himself.”

She reached up and removed his helmet, much to his surprise, and his mane tumbled down his shoulders. He hadn’t cut it in some time, not really having had the time. She giggled.

“Wow. I thought all you guards had short cut manes?”

He shrugged, still stunned.

“W..Well Luna prefers us be ourselves. And in my defence, I haven’t really had the time to cut it recently.”

Her smile was covered by her hoof as she giggled.

“Don’t worry, I like it.~”

“I… you do?”

She nodded and her hooves wrapped themselves around his neck, pulling him down until their muzzles were practically touching.

“I love stallions who aren’t afraid of having a long mane~”

He gulped as she leaned forward slowly, bridging the gap between them and his eyes slid shut just as…
The door burst open and he whirled to face it, pushing Heart Sworn behind him at the same time. In the doorway stood two Royal Guards. Brave Wing grimaced.

“So. It’s come to this.”

~*~

Fading out of the darkness upon the higher limbs of a tree, reclined lazily upon his back, rested a stallion with deep, deep purple hair and a coat of deepest blue. His flank was bare. However, resting over his face was…

“Splintered Dreams? Is that you?”

Twilight and co looked at Defender in alarm.

“You KNOW him!?” Twilight demanded. Defender nodded.

“Yeah… but…”

Splintered Dreams chuckled and rolled out of the tree, falling for a mere moment before his horn glowed and his fall was halted, landing on thin air. Hiding his face was a mask much like the one upon Defender’s head. A mask made of bone.

But this one was different.

There was a splatter of deep maroon upon it, in fact there were several. And etched into the skull was a depiction of a bunch of grapes. The eye sockets were empty, as is to be expected of a skull, and his strange, shimmering eyes peered out of them.

“Well well. Look at this would you? Five of the elements of Harmony, a rock star and a psychologist who reads minds are escorting our brave little disgraced guard.”

Talisman frowned and reached forth with his mind, only to recoil in visible disgust at what he found, flinching back and causing Twilight to look at him in curiosity.

“What is it?”

Talisman shook his head, an utterly disgusted look on his face.

“You really don’t want to know what’s in this… creature’s mind.”

Splintered Dreams tutted.

“Now now little unicorn, that’s just rude. Not terribly gracious at all.”

Defender rolled his eyes.

“Why are you here Dreams?”

Splintered Dreams regarded Defender in a mixture of disappointment and vague negligence.

“Straight to the point hmm? Pity. Ah well. I’m afraid I’ve been ordered to stop you by my… superiors… in our little order.”

Defender frowned.

“Meaning what exactly..?”

Dreams sighed.

“Meaning I’m going to have to fight at least one of you. If I let you past without a fight, I won’t be trusted anymore, to the point where they may simply kill me for my indiscretions. In fact, I guarantee they’d kill me.”

His eyes swivelled, paying special interest in Twilight.

“So I’m afraid one of you is going to have to stay behind. So terribly sorry.”

Defender sighed heavily.

“you sure you can’t just let us..?”

“Nope. One must stay, and we must at least pretend to do battle.”

Talisman stepped forward, a look of twisted hatred livid upon his face.

“Then I’m your opponent.”

Splintered Dreams looked at the stallion and laughed.

“I’m sorry, did I say you got to choose who faces me? Let’s be honest Talisman, you’d never stand a chance unless I was asleep.”

Tal bristled at the half-insult whilst Twilight started.

“How do you know his name!?”

Dreams’ head rotated slowly to face Twilight.

“I know much more than that Twilight. But I digress. We have spent far too much time lollygagging. Let us begin, favourite of Celestia!”

~*~

“Brave!”

Heart Sworn looked at the two looming figures before her, cowering into the corner of her room. Standing before her were the two Royal guards that had just kicked the living hell out of her only protection. Brave Wing lay on the floor, groaning in pain. His armour was scattered, in pieces, and he was covered in shallow cuts. He was having difficulty breathing. The two guards smiled maliciously.

“Heh, she IS kinda cute you know. And nopony is coming this way for at least an hour. We could have some fun.”

The other guard seemed to consider this proposal before nodding, much to Heart Sworn’s utter terror.

“we certainly could. It’s not like she’s going to overpower us any time soon, right?”

The pair chuckled. So focused upon their prey were they that they didn’t notice Brave Wing’s eyes light with fiery fury.

Oh they’re NOT!

From his point on the ground he heard Heart Sworn scream and the two start laughing, then a solid slap. Brave Wing saw red.

Oh you did NOT!

He forced himself to his hooves, avoiding the shards of glass from the broken picture frame that had fallen from the wall. He suppressed the urge to cough, painfully rising until he could lift his head enough to see. The pair of turncoats, for he was positive they were such, were trying to manipulate Heart Sworn into a more… agreeable? Position. He looked around frantically.

Alright, I can’t take them head on. They’d kill me with those blades on their wings. I can’t even take one of them from behind because the other would kill me before I had the time to move onto him…

Suddenly he had a flashback of another time he was on the floor, on the ropes, dying.

The throne room. He felt his lifeblood leaking out of him. But he saw it all. Defender come in and then, miraculously, hurling his shoe at the attacker. Burying it within his forehoof.

His armoured shoe.

His Spiked armoured shoe.

Brave Wing grimaced painfully.

This is going to hurt.

By this time, one of the guards was mounting the now frantically screaming Heart Sworn.

Screaming his name.

“Hey! Dirtbags!”

The pair swivelled to look at the battered and broken stallion. He forced a grin.

“Rule number one of being a soldier. Never, ever leave an enemy behind you.”

The two looked at each other before the perverse guard mounting his beloved got off of her and the other slapped her again.

“Don’t move sweet thing~”

“You should have stayed down kid.”

Brave Wing smirked tauntingly at them.

“You should have stayed at home where your mummy could still feed you your milk.”

The two guards growled angrily, their wings flicking up and out, the tips of their feathers glinting.

“You’ll pay for that!”

“You’ll certainly try to make me pay.”

The pair of pegasi guards charged.

Time seemed to slow and Brave Wing took a breath and closed his eyes.

Heart Sworn is screaming.

The insurgents are charging at me.

It’s now or never.

His forehooves shot up, his shoes following them and he spun around and his forehooves bent, the muscles in his hind hooves clenching, tightening like a tight spring.

One Celestia.

Two Celestia.

Three!

He lashed out with a mighty kick and felt his hooves connect with both thrown shoes in a satisfying ‘CLANG’ of metal on metal, then a screech and a scream of absolute agony and he stopped short of completing his kick and fell down, the unexpected fall winding him.

Move dammit!

He rolled forward the instant he hit the ground, coming up breathing heavily as he spun around…
And gaped in shock at the results of his efforts.

The two guards stood frozen, having landed seconds before they were hit. Piercing their helmets and going straight through their skull and into their brain were the shoes. Blood soaked down from around the spikes embedded in them and the points of one of the shoes poked out the back of the guard’s head, coated in blood and brain matter. As he watched, the pair twitched, then toppled onto the ground, dead. This revealed Heart Sworn.

Oh jeez.

He rushed over to her as she gaped in absolute shock and awe. Her face was flecked with spots of blood from the burst from the guard of whom he’d driven the spike clean through the head of, several of them on her cheek and one or two on her lips, most of it on her forehead. Carefully, very carefully, he wiped the blood from her lips.

“Heart? Are you okay?”

Her eyes tore away from the scene that was in front of her and settled upon the guard before her, covered in shallow cuts and covered in rivulets of blood.

“I… Brave I…”

“Shhhhh…. It’s okay… I’m here.”

She felt warmth as she was enveloped in a feathery embrace and a clang as his chestplate finally fell from his body, the straps giving out under the beating they’d received and he drew her to his chest, staining her fur scarlet.

“I’ll take care of you… I promised.”

She gasped and looked up at him from his strong embrace.

“W..Wing, you need to get to the hospital! You’re bleeding and cut an-“

She slowed to a stop at the amused look in his eye.

“It looks worse than it is. I think you need something to help recover from the shock maybe, but I’ll be fine.”

“I… I… I don’t know if I have anything here..”

He smiled.

“I do.”

He leaned down and kissed her gently, meeting minimal resistance in her surprise before it melted away to a long, heartfelt embrace.

~*~

“The Famous Twilight Sparkle. Personal protégé of Princess Celestia and fabled element of Magic.”

Twilight didn’t like Splintered Dreams. Didn’t like the way he spoke, the way he carried himself, he way he spoke. There was something about him that seemed off, wrong. She didn’t like his eyes either. No eyes should be any more than one colour at a time. His seemed to constantly shift. It was disconcerting and unnatural. She didn’t like that mask either. It creeped her out.

Why does he even wear such a gruesome thing!?

She especially hated the way he seemed to know so much about her. Her name, the fact she was an element of harmony, where she lived.

She just didn’t like him.

And so the pair stood a fair distance from each other, both horns glowing gently in preparation for spells to come.
A duel between two unicorns was a rare affair with often fatal results. To understand this, one needed to understand the rudimentary elements behind magic itself. For starters, the more complex or advanced a spell, the longer it took to cast, and generally the more powerful. Secondly, you could only cast spells within you range of casting. That doesn’t necessarily mean that a ‘weaker’ unicorn could not defeat a more skilled unicorn should their mind be fast enough to cast several low level spells at the same time or in quick succession. And it was considered common courtesy by all unicorns that, upon engaging in a magic duel, that spells that draw in the general populace were forbidden. It was also considered polite to allow those of higher status to initiate the combat. One also had to remember that, in the time that it took for your opponent to perish or give up from a spell, they could cast a counter spell that could destroy you as well. Needless to say, duels were not taken lightly.

But in this case, Twilight wasn’t sure if those rules would apply. And so she was quite surprised when he sat down. A traditional sign of allowing the opponent first strike.

“You have the higher status, Twilight Sparkle. I am but a lowly criminal.”

Her surprise must have shown because a humourless laugh erupted from him.

“What? You thought because I was part of a heartless criminal organisation that I wouldn’t follow tradition? Don’t be absurd. My manners are very much intact. But I warn you. You will not be the first I have duelled, and if you do not throw everything you have at me, you will not be the first I have slain.”

Twilight gasped.

“I thought you said you had to at least pretend!”

She couldn’t see it, but she was sure that under that mask he was smiling.

“Twilight, Twilight, Twilight. Where would be the fun if out battle was only pretend? And who would believe it? No, The only way is to go at it hoof and horn. If you don’t think you’re ready for it, lie down and surrender to me now.”

Twilight gritted her teeth angrily. Normally she condemned violence in all forms but… if it’ll save her life..?
Her horn began to glow brighter and her opponent let out another laugh.

“That’s more like it!”

Illusory enemies

Chapter 15: Illusory enemies.

Twilight launched off a simple combat spell at the prone form in front of her. Since Celestia abhorred violence as much as Twilight does, her studies hadn’t encompassed many combat orientated skills. However, the lightning bolt Twilight unleashed at Splintered Dreams was a commonly used spell in duels of the past, or so Twilight had learned in her studies of history. The flash as the bolt collided with a deep magenta shield summoned before her opponent showed that even the simplest spell could have phenomenal power, given the unicorn casting has sufficient will.

“Ah, the thunderbolt spell. A commonly used combat spell, precisely controlled as expected. However I cannot help but notice it was fraying at the edges. Your aim was impeccable, but you need to put more intent into your spells Twilight.”

The older stallion stood up, his horn now sparking dangerously.

“I’m not a stack of hay bales ready to be lit on fire!”

A stream of deep purple flames flowed from the empty air surrounding Splintered Dreams before it lashed out, whip like, at Twilight, who barely managed to get a shield powerful enough to stop it before it clashed in an explosion of flames. Her shield dropped, her eyes wide.

Whipflame!? Where did he learn a spell like that?

All through her pause of shock, Splintered Dreams remained standing where he was, waiting patiently.

“Oh Miss Sparkle? If I may draw your attention to the problem at hoof rather than in your head?”

She started and shook her surprise off.

Dammit Twi, stay focused now.

Summoning some of her own magic, she let it seep into the ground, summoning a simple shield before her of shimmering pink as she did so. Splintered Dreams tilted his head.

“Defense? Of course, you never really learned combat magic did you?”

His eyes flashed and suddenly he broke into a gallop, charging at Twilight with reckless abandon.

“Let me show you what it’s really about!”

He crashed headlong into her shield, horn shimmering, only to stop moments later as a sudden torrent of roots exploded from the ground and twisted themselves around him, tangling him up in an inescapably intricate mass of roots. Twilight smirked.

“Gotcha. You know, I want to know what you look like. You know how I appear, what about you?”

He struggled to no avail as a thin tendril worked its way up and under his mask before wrenching it off. Her brows furrowed in both confusion and concern at what she saw.

Nothing. He had no face. The pair of strange eyes stared at her from a blank head. A head that split in two as an unseen mouth split into an evil grin filled with razor sharp teeth.

“Surprise!”

The entity behind the mask laughed before melting through the vines holding it in place. Twilight Backpedalled furiously as it reformed before her, still wearing the sadistically evil smile.

“Nice try Pupil of Celestia. Not nice enough I’m afraid.”

A horn formed of its own accord upon the creature’s head, beginning to glow a second later, driving Twilight to draw upon her own reserves to fire off a bolt of light mere milliseconds before a matching bolt of equally black shadow ripped its way off of the shadowy horn of her enemy and they clashed about half way, blowing both duelists off their hooves. Twilight landed heavily on her side, sliding the last few feet into a tree with a cry of pain.

Splintered Dreams, it seems, was not so lucky.

Twilight forced herself to her hooves and surveyed the damage. A few cracks in the ground where the explosion had dried it out, but no real damage to the surrounding area, just a heck of a shockwave. She found Splintered Dreams when she looked a little closer at the area almost directly in front of her, impaled upon a broken tree trunk. A large spike of wood, probably what was once a branch, had speared itself straight through his chest. Spots of blood were littering the ground beneath him as he struggled to free himself, getting weaker and weaker.

“I win. You lose.”

His struggling stopped and he looked down at the mare before chuckling darkly.

“Never underestimate your opponent!”

The eyes closed and a violent hacking sound, emphasised with equally violent heaving startled Twilight, but her face went pale at what started coming out of his mouth as he finally brought up what his dying body had been trying to be rid of.

A stream of crimson blood poured out of his mouth, hitting the ground with a wet splat. More blood than any one pony is meant to have in them, Twilight was certain. It went on for some time before the body spasmed and went limp. Disgusted, but also curious as to why the dying stallion would do such a thing, Twilight stared at the puddle of blood. Or, what was once a puddle of blood.

It was morphing, changing. Twilight watched in fascinated horror as the form of a stallion was moulded out of the cloying liquid. First the general shape, then a tail sprouted from the mannequin like form of the mould, followed by a mane. It congealed and colour faded into it.

From behind the bone mask, standing in a pool of unused blood, watched Splintered Dreams once again.

“You never know when they’ll have another trick up their sleeve.”

~*~

“Coriolis. I need you to take the final barrier. That’s our last defence. They broke through the last two. I want you to guard the final entry.”

A single red eye snapped open, fixed upon an emaciated form shrouded in darkness.

“It is as you wish. Proceed with the ritual; I will handle the intruders…”

The silhouette evaporated, vanishing into the air. A pair of dead looking eyes shifted from the now empty space to a slow sweep.

“All of you will prepare the sealing glyphs and Starswirl’s circle. I expect it to be complete by the time I return with Nyx and the princess. Do not disappoint me.”

~*~

Twilight squeaked in pain under the onslaught of spells thrown at her barrier, pounding mercilessly at her, hungrily trying to reach her flesh. Her skull felt as though it was on fire and she’d never been more terrified, or more tired, in her life. Across from her was Splintered Dreams, laughing manically as he casted spell, after spell, after spell.

This shouldn’t even be possible!

Twilight was, as the element of magic and personal student to Celestia, potentially the most powerful unicorn of this age. And yet, this demented unicorn before her was throwing away magical energies as though he had an infinite supply. Theoretically speaking, this shouldn’t be possible for any mortal pony to do, regardless how skilled they were. Spells didn’t take some random energy from nowhere to cast. Spells drew upon the life force of the pony casting them in order to bring them into being. As such, After such a bombardment of spells, the pony before her should have been on his knees, quivering in exertion. Instead, he was walking towards her!

Barely standing, Twilight growled in frustration and pain. Another strike from a powerful spell sent her and her shield skidding back, tearing up turf under her hooves.

Another strike like that and I’ll be doomed!

Throwing caution to the wind, she forced her trembling legs to move, springing to the left as she let her field drop, narrowing avoiding the series of magical spikes sent her way, landing where she was standing not a moment before. Splintered Dreams followed her calmly, hurling fireball at her as she hit the ground. On instinct, Twilight casted a waterwall spell and the fire collided with it. In an instant it was doused, a burst of steam erupting from the wall before it froze solid and shattered as Twilight altered the spell, sending icicles flying towards her hated foe.

Another flare of flames as Splintered Dreams set the space before him aflame, causing the ice to hiss and melt before evaporating into steam, but not before a sliver sliced across the mask covering his face. He flinched.

Bingo!

Now on the offensive, Twilight began hurling spells at him, most of them small time combat spells she’d picked up here and there in her studies. He barely dodged a magic missile, ducked a finger of flame and got knocked off his feet when the ground beneath his hooves erupted outwards. He struck a tree heavily and hit the ground soon after, stumbling onto his hooves. He barely managed to get a shield up in time to block a steady stream of lashes from vines hanging in the surrounding trees. Twilight glared at him determinedly as she continued the lashing at his defences, trying to break through.

Then he laughed.

The laugh chilled her, making her eyes shoot open in shock as his shield subtly shifted in colour from deep purple to an equally deep blue. The vines struck the shield and froze solid instantaneously. He went from looking at the vines to looking at Twilight.

“Is that all you can do?”

The wheels inside of Twilight’s head had started whizzing the moment she saw the snap freeze of the vines touching his shield and she smiled at him.

“Not quite!”

Her horn shone with an incandescence rivalling the time she moved the Ursa and, gripped within the hold of her telekinesis, thousands of leaves were ripped from their branches and flew at him. She saw his eyes widen.

“Clever Girl…”

They struck the shield as one, snap freezing in place. Her spell complete, Twilight slumped to the ground panting, observing her work. Around what once was Splintered Dream’s ice shield was now a spherical barrier of snap frozen leaves at least three inches thick. Her view wavered, everything blurring in her fatigue and the immense pain in her head. And just as she was about to give into her fatigue…

“That was an excellent move Twilight Sparkle.”

With a groan she turned around slowly. Standing before her, breathing heavily was Splintered Dreams once again. The distinctive smell of ozone indicated the use of a teleportation spell. A spell Twilight was positive only she knew.

“How..?”

He laughed quietly, straightening up.

“You thought you were the only one who knew of the teleportation spell? It’s not a completely lost art you know.”

Twilight watched as his horn began to glow, watched in absolute horror, her tired mind trying to find a suitable solution to the problem at hoof.

“Goodbye Twilight Sparkle.”

At that instant her mind latched onto a memory.

A memory long since forgotten.

Twilight! What are you doing in here? This area of the library is restricted for a reason!

I’m sorry! I’m sorry Princess I-

Put the book back at once!

I… I’m s-sorry! I was just c-c-curious!

Hhhmph… Twilight Sparkle. There are spells and enchantments in these books not even I dare to even try to cast. Black magic is a dangerous practice. It’s not, strictly speaking, outlawed, but it is severely frowned upon and most practitioners turn evil themselves. I want you to promise me never, ever to look upon these books again.

B..But princess!

No buts! Promise me!

I…. promise.

Good. I am very disappointed in you Twilight Sparkle.

I’m sorry…

Her eyes went wide as a set of pages leapt into her mind. A set of pages she was never meant to read.

That spell… is my only hope.

Calling upon the last of what she had, Twilight concentrated. A dark aura swirled around her and Splintered Dreams stopped, eyes wide in stunned surprise.

“W.. Dark magic? What are you up to Sparkle?”

The temperature around the glade dropped a good ten degrees and the grass at Twilight’s feet began to wilt, threads of bright green energy flowing into Twilight. Dreams gasped in shock and horror and began to scramble backwards.

“W..What are you doing!? Are you insane?!”

Twilight opened her eyes and glared balefully at Splintered Dreams.

“You drove me to this. Now reap what you sowed!”

In that instant, she directed the fury of the spell to come crashing down upon the screaming stallion’s head. He began to age before her eyes and strips of flesh started to peel off of him, resulting in fountains of blood which were caught before ever hitting the ground, vaporising into streams of red energy, also flowing into Twilight. She felt her mind clear, her fatigue vanish and the aura grew stronger, expanding around her. More of the foliage around her wilted, surrendering their life to her. The stallion before her, or what was left of him, let out a scream of agony as he collapsed, a stream of magical energy flowing out of his horn, the very conduit for raw magic, and into Twilight’s.

Never before had she felt so powerful, so in control. It was intoxicating, she felt giddy, drunk with power. She started laughing exultantly, feeling the power of life itself at her hooftips before…

No! This is wrong!

She cut off the spell, her mind lucid once again and she gasped at the magical whiplash that occurred, wincing at the sudden explosive pain in her mind. It was gone as suddenly as it came and, concerned, she looked upon the remains of her enemy only to find nothing. She whirled around, fully refreshed, as she heard clapping from behind her. Sitting in a tree not six feet away, watched Splintered Dreams. He held his hooves up in surrender as Twilight reached for her magic.

“Wait! Wait.”

Warily, she let the power slip away. He slid down out of the tree. It was now apparent to Twilight that he was panting heavily behind his mask.

“That was well fought Twilight, until that last moment. I didn’t think you were serious.”

Twilight scowled.

“You forced me into a corner!”

“Yes, but I had thought you would turn to your natural potential, not the dark arts.”

His voice, jovial up to this point, dropped down into a serious tone.

“Twilight Sparkle. Not even I would have attempted that spell you just used. Soul Siphon is forbidden for a reason. No Dark Magic should be attempted in the field until years, decades of practice has been attempted, even then I do not suggest ever using it.”

He turned away, cracking his neck leisurely.

“Now, I think that’s enough action for one day. I think I’ve done enough to stall you. Go on then, go catch up to your friends. Or check on the other two back that ways. Either way…”

He tipped his mask, looking over his shoulder.

“Do try not to get killed.”

Astounded, Twilight called out.

“Wait!”

He paused. Twilight bit her lip.

“If you… if you were up there, what was I fighting?”

A snort of amusement made Twi bristle indignantly.

“Apparitions, illusions. Nothing more than tricks upon the mind. But I had to pull back once you brought Soul Siphon into play. Not even my magic can deceive it.”

He left Twilight in a mixture of anger, shock and awe as he walked away, completely ignoring her and the hoof tracks leading away from the place.

~*~

“Come on! It’s not that far away now, hurry up!”

Rainbow all but danced in the air in her impatience, the others trailing behind, no match for her speed. They reached her location and she smiled.

“There! It’s right there! The bridge is right-“

Her sentence was cut off with a loud yelp as she collided head on with a shimmering barrier, sliding down to the ground.

“Ow! Hey, another one of these stupid things!?”

The others reached her and Defender growled in frustration.

“Nngh! Another? Rarity, you think you could break it?”

Rarity eyed the barrier dubiously.

“I… I’m not sure darling, I’m not Twilight.”

“Do not bother to try…”

The words came like a whisper upon the wind. The group, startled, looked around, searching for the source of the chillingly cold voice. Defender, once again, growled in avid frustration.

“Just show your cowardly face already!”

“But I am right here, lest you mistook me for something else.”

The swung around to face the bridge. Sitting directly beside the leftmost post on their side sat a thin, emaciated form completely swathed in dirty brown cloth. The only place not covered, in fact, was a perfectly precise eye hole, through which a single red eye gazed out at the group. The rags wrapped around his horn confirmed him as a unicorn.

“And right here is where you shall stay, until I say otherwise.”

~*~

A drugged Princess Luna was thrown unceremoniously into the Starswirl's Circle inscribed upon the floor. The unicorn at the northern most point hissed irritably at the pair he had left the princess to, Nyx having been far too much of a hoof full to handle both at once.

"Careful you fools! She's the only one who can take the form of our queen. Imbeciles."

The pair grumbled a quick apology before retreating into position at the four and eight o'clock positions around the circle. This made six ponies around the circle, each sitting at each two hour position. Behind the lead pony, a pair of small eyes peered out from a glowing pentagram on the ground. Pale green in colour and with slit like pupils reminiscent of cats, they looked utterly terrified.

"Daddy!? What're you doing to Lulu?"

The lead unicorn didn't flinch, nor bat an eyelid.

"We are making her better child. We are giving her what she needs to be whole once more."

He looked about the circle and the pale white of his teeth glowed in the darkness as he smiled.

"Let us begin. For the Glory of our queen, and the eternal night!"

Above the open ceiling, the full moon glowed, pale and sickly.

Black Magical Nightmares

Chapter 16: Black magical nightmares.

“Alright, so you claim that the pair attacked you first and were, as you put it, ‘insurgents’. Why on Equestria would they come for you? You’re just a guard. Not even all that prodigious.”

Brave Wing gritted his teeth in frustration. He’d been here all night, trying to explain to this stupid stallion precisely what had occurred here. Over to his left stood Heart Sworn, surrounded by a group of mares, presumably friends or colleagues of hers, worrying over her, despite her insistence that she was okay.

“Look, I told you. They came and attacked me to get to Heart Sworn alright? They weren’t after me to begin with. Heart Sworn had picked up on something that they didn’t want getting out so they came to take care of her!”

“And you, of course, put a shoe through each of their heads. That is a likely story.”

“It’s the truth!”

“Of course it is.”

Brave Wing, about to snap and lash out at the irritatingly sceptical stallion, was silenced by the sudden, powerful voice of the captain of the guard.

“Brave Wing! What’s going on?”

Instantly Brave Wing snapped to attention, facing Shining Armour. To be honest, since Stonewall died, Brave Wing had only ever seen one other guard as equal rank to Defender, and that was Shining Armour himself.

“Guardspony? What are you doing here?”

The guard that had been ‘interrogating’ Brave Wing made a set of hasty excuses, then quickly made an escape. Shining watched the guard leave suspiciously.

“Brave. What was he doing?”

Brave grimaced.

“Apparently? Finding the most effective way to piss me off.”

Shining frowned.

Could he be another one?

~*~

Stalwart Defender sat moodily within a prismatic cocoon of magical energies, preventing him from moving so much as an inch. Beside him stood Talisman, horn glowing along with several of the inscriptions upon the smooth stone around his neck. Having been not only fed up with his constant bickering with Applejack and his tendency to be more inclined to violence in the current circumstance, Talisman had erected the barrier around the frustrated Pegasus to prevent him lashing out at the, seemingly, completely peaceful unicorn sitting by the bridge. However, if Tal was to be honest, he was starting to become greatly irritated by the mysterious barrier keeper. Right now, Rarity was trying to ply her charms with the unicorn to utterly no success. Off to his right, Applejack paced agitatedly. Rainbow paced, in time with her good friend, in the air, matching Applejack’s movements to the step.

“Ooh! I give up! You simply won’t budge!”

Rarity stalked away from the stiff, emaciated stallion at the side of the bridge, frustrated beyond belief. Pinkie Pie had left them a while back to go back to make sure that Twilight, Fluttershy and Demonheart were alright, since none of them had caught up with them and the group had felt a rather disturbing temperature drop a while back. The moon was high in the night sky by now and they were all feeling the strain. Growing impatient himself with the immovable stallion barring their path, Talisman called Rarity over to him.

“Rarity. I’m going to talk to the uh… bridge keeper. Here, keep feeding magic into this shield, keep him contained while I talk to him.”

Rarity nodded and took over his vigil to contain the frustrated guard as Talisman walked up to the emaciated figure.

“Alright. I’m not going to beat around the bush, no tricks. What’s your name?”

The single visible red eye fixed itself unerringly upon Talisman, scrutinising him.

“Talisman. Recently redeemed in his parent’s eyes, psychologist of Ponyville. Afraid of sleeping since you were thirteen, scared of what you’d see, where you’d go. Terrified what secret you’d discover in your sleep. So terrified, in fact, that you refused to learn anything about your magical prowess.”

Talisman stared at the entity.

“I.. how… How did…”

“Time. Time is all that is needed. And time I have in plenty.”

Talisman stared at him before reaching forth with his mind, a talent he wasn’t born with, but had learned to control some time ago, and went to read the thoughts of his conversational partner. He gasped in shock and staggered as the eye upon him intensified its gaze, glaring at him. Talisman’s eye bugged out, lost in the seemingly limitless capacity of this… entity’s mind.

By the Goddesses…

It was like peering into the depths of time itself, deeper than the deepest chasm in Equestria, spanning a larger area than the universe itself. He felt his consciousness start to slip away, his thoughts beginning to lose cohesion, the very essence of what made him what he was beginning to fragment, disintegrate, ceasing to exist.

Just before he was violently ejected from the entity’s mind.

Talisman staggered back from the sheer magnitude of the force of being ejected from such a vast consciousness, the magical effect actually having a physical effect on him as he stumbled back, crying out in pain at his sudden, explosive headache. The others cried out in alarm and Rarity, forgetting the barrier, rushed to his side. Finding himself free, the first thing on Defender’s mind was his now hurting companion. He walked over hesitantly, looking at him in confused concern.

“Doctor? You alright?”

Talisman groaned at him, his headache not allowing for much else.

“Oh shut up you oaf… let me sleep..”

Forcing down a heated response, Defender looked dangerously at the emaciated form by the bridge.

“If you’re planning to kill us, you may as well do so now.”

The single visible red eye snapped to look at Defender, staring at him.

“Had I wanted you dead, I could have killed you the moment you entered my sight. I could have just as easily erased you all from existence.”

It’s gaze roamed around the tight circle of friends and Defender.

“All of you… were replaceable. Still are. But you…”

The eye fixed itself upon Defender once more.

“You I am not allowed to touch. My master will not allow any harm to come of you by my hoof.”

Defender frowned, puzzled.

“So, you can’t kill me or them? But especially not me?”

The being was silent for a long moment before speaking, it’s wispy voice sending chills down Defender’s spine.

“I could erase their existence, but not kill them. As I said, they are… replaceable. Even the mind leech is replaceable. You, on the other hand, are not.”

Hand? What in the hell..?

“Wait, erase from existence? As in never existed?”

“Indeed. Complete and absolute annihilation, never to have existed. Parents would still live. Line would still survive, but they would never have been born, been conceived. No body, no mind, no soul.”

Defender took a wary step back at this new revelation.

“And… you can do that?”

“Implicitly. Without doubt, no hesitation, no remorse, and utterly, utterly no effort.”

The unmoving nature of this entity, for Defender had ceased thinking of it as a pony, and the way it spoke, like a whisper upon the wind, or the wind itself, frightened him and he took another wary step back.

“What the hell are you?”

The creature’s eye looked up to the heavens, the moon almost in the centre of the night sky. Defender was dimly aware of Rarity yawning behind him.

“I… am what I am and nothing more.”

He looked back down to Defender and for a moment, just barely for a moment, Defender could have sworn he saw something else buried within that eye before it was snuffed out.

“My master frowns upon explanations, but I see that you are sceptical of my claim. I have no name, I have no definite form. I have no title, nor species nor genus. I am an agent for my master, one of the two hundred and twenty-two agents sent by our master to watch and preserve the original line.”

It looked once more to the heavens and it’s horn began to glow.

“I am an agent of the timeline. For a blink of an eye we had a name, for the blink of an eye we were legends, myths. Now, we are secret. Now, we are quiet.”

Before the bridge, the barrier of shimmering diamond-like structure began to fade, the perfect size for one pony to fit through.

“Now, we are waiting.”

He glared down at the sudden movement of all the ponies before him.

“However.”

They halted in place, Defender at the portal already.

“Only he may enter. Should any others enter, my master will be very upset. Moreso than he will be already for my revelation.”

The other ponies began to argue with him, the creature merely sitting silently before once again there was the glowing of a horn and the offending ponies were trapped, encased within the diamond walls of his barriers. Defender took a step towards them and froze as a familiar sound clawed its way up his spine and took a hold of his mind in its freezing cold talons, screeching into his ears.

The sound of Luna screaming.

Without a second glance at the ponies contained and completely at the mercy of the creature restraining them, Defender wheeled around and galloped desperately over the bridge and into the castle, heedless of any sounds or sights around him.

~*~

Whispers…. Night…. All encompassing… awe inspiring….

“Daddy!? DADDY!”

Waiting…. So long… Wretched…. Bodies…

“Daddy! I’m Scared! Stop it! You’re hurting her!”

Power…. Power overwhelming… My power… My… Mine….

“STOP IT RIGHT NOW!”

The shrill scream of the young filly behind him did nothing to stop the dead looking stallion from continuing his spell. Swirls of magical eddies spiralled around him and his colleagues, whispers filling the air over the potent screams of the moonlight goddess.

A thousand years I waited… A thousand years we suffered…

Frantic scrabbles at the barrier behind him. Heedless, must continue.

Our own sister betrayed us… Our sister… Dear Sweet Sister…

Luna’s eyes snapped open, blazing white.

“Dear, Sweet Princess Celestia!”

The spell, and therefore the first part of the ritual, complete allowed a moment’s respite from the surrounding unicorns. Luna glared down upon the stallion before her, dead looking eyes shimmering a little.

“What are you staring at you fool? Why have you summoned me?”

She looked around.

“And why am I contained with glyphs and a Starswirl’s Circle? Are you trying to destroy me? That is a very bad idea.”

The stallion before her shook his head almost violently and bowed.

“No! Never harm my queen. We have resurrected you from your prison within the feeble princess’s mind. Our cause is completely devoted to you my queen.”

He looked up, a smile flashing across his face.

“We even managed to obtain one of the vessels containing your power.”

“Only one? Are you truly so incompetent as to only be capable of obtaining one?”

He winced at her blatant insult.

“I… I apologise majesty. He was guarded by Celestia herself, and none of us have any chance of defeating her or her guards.”

“And yet you were capable of stealing away my vessel.”

He winced again.

“I… when you put it like that Majesty…”

“Enough! I have slumbered long enough. Now it’s time for breakfast!”

The horn upon the night queen’s head elongated and began to glow ominously as the temperature in the surrounding area suddenly and inexplicably dropped by ten or so degrees. Swirls of dark magic began their rounds, surrounding her. Eyes widening in absolute horror, The lead stallion scrambled out of the way of the deadly spell just before she brought the full power of her magic to bear.

On the small, defenceless unicorn filly by the name of Nyx.

~*~

“LUNA!”

Defender felt the temperature drop instantly, the characteristic sensitivity to the weather noticeable in all pegasi kicking in. His eyes lit up in triumph just as his heart leapt to his throat and his stomach tightened in panic.

Beneath! She’s beneath me.

He spun around, looking around him desperately until he found what he was looking for. A staircase to his right led down to a lower level and he recklessly plunged down it, calling frantically as he went.

“LUNA! LUUNAA!”

He busted through a flimsy door into an underground antechamber and stopped dead. The room was circular and was, quite literally, a room of doors. Everywhere he looked was a door. The walls were covered with simply doorways, and they all looked the damn same!

Rrgh! Luna, I’m coming for you, even if I have to tear this whole fucking place apart!

He swivelled his head slowly, narrowing his eyes.

No, focus Defender. There has to be a clue..

His eyes found the eleven o’clock door and he smiled.

Bingo

The door was new. Whilst the door itself had been weathered down, the evidence showed itself within the shining hinges bars on the door. He rushed over to it swiftly and went to force it open with his shoulder whilst running and…

Fell right through it.

Surprised, but not enough to stop him, Defender plowed forward. Obviously whoever had left here earlier, or came last, had forgotten to lock the door on their way.

Worked for Defender.

~*~

Splintered Dreams watched the desperate stallion rush into the castle, completely invisible. Upon his face rested a mask with the symbol of leaves etched into it.

The mask he’d give Defender.

Unknown to defender, Splintered Dreams had swiped the item off of him during his mad sprint through the Everfree Forest just before stopping him.

“Good luck Defender. You’re going to need it.”

~*~

Having no real knowledge of the castle, it was pure blind luck that Defender stumbled upon, or rather ran into, the ritual room. Busting through the door as he had been doing the past few times, he automatically zeroed in on the closest stallion, a thin, gangly unicorn with an unusually long, tapered horn. The satisfying ‘crunch’ of Defender’s shoulder meeting his target’s chest and buckling it was not enough to sate Defender’s current appetite for destruction and he whirled to find another target before stopping dead, staring in absolute horror at the scene before him.

Standing in the centre of a large, intricate set of runes was somepony Defender had never thought to meet. Nightmare Moon wasn’t her regular size, but her horn, mane, tail and eyes were just as they’d been described to him by his mother. The fluted horn was easily the length of his forehoof, the eyes of pitiless green with cat slits and the mane and tail that of shadows and the night sky. She never turned from her prey. Dangling in her grasp, black magic swirling giddily around her, was a young filly barely old enough to have gone through her first molt had she been a Pegasus.

And she was dying.

Her body was shrivelling in on itself, the soul being sucked out of her slowly, torturously. Her mouth was open in a silent scream of absolute agony and her eyes were tightly shut, squeezed shut in pain. Her hooves clutched at her chest in a vain attempt to release herself from the mad clutches of the alicorn before her.

It only took a split second for Defender to intervene.

He leaped explosively right over one stallion knocked down a second to plant himself between Nightmare Moon and the young filly. Almost instantly, Nightmare noticed him and smiled maliciously.

“Ah, another pony come to play! Tell me, My little pony” She snarled sarcastically, eyes downturning with hate, “Are you afraid of the dark?”

And she turned the full force of her soul siphon spell upon the hapless guard, who cried out in shock at the sudden, excruciating pain. He’d been on the receiving end of many things, from blades to hooves, but never in his life had he felt such intense, mind shatteringly, bone breakingly intense agony.

No.

The image of Luna’s smile flashed through his mind and his eyes opened in a determined glare. Defying the pain, the power, the odds.

He took a step forward.

Nightmare Moon was curious at this stallion’s seemingly impossible battle, and why he was even trying to win it.

“Give up. Your soul shall be added to my own life force, making me stronger than ever before!”

With a grunt, he took another step. He felt his strength ebbing from him.

“N..No. I know you’re in there… Luna.”

Another step and Nightmare snarled, enraged.

“Luna is no more! I am Nightmare Moon!”

“You’re.. a fake!”

Another step and he was standing defiantly at the dark princess’s forefront, glaring rebelliously at her.

“And you’ll let Luna go!”

The soul Siphon spell was cut off in an explosive display, Defender barely being able to remain where he was and resist being blown off his hooves, the other ponies in the room less lucky. He heard one hit the wall with a sickening splat, another scrabbling at the ground, and the last swearing. He tried to ignore it all and glared at his current nemesis, who glared right back.

“Let. Her. Go.”

A short laugh barked out at his demand. A bark of laughter that was cut off as Defender punched the offending creature, Socked her straight to the cheekbone. She whirled on him.

“HOW DARE YOU! Y-“

She cut off and started, then convulsed , falling to the ground and screaming. Defender, unsure of what he did, looked around to see the lead unicorn, or so he guessed, screaming bloody murder at the only remaining conscious unicorn in the room, who had slid over something that Defender guessed must have been important. Some glyph or something if he had to guess.

Regardless, he dropped down to Luna’s side and held her head in a firm grip.

“Come on Luna, I’m here, don’t you ditch me now. I told you I’d protect you, and I meant every word of it.”

He felt tears in his eyes as he held the now still princess, who’s horn had shrunk down to regular size and eyes were closed.

“I promised, and you told me never to leave your side. So don’t you dare leave mine Celestia dammit, you’re too important to just up and leave!”

A pair of eyes fluttered open and the form lying before him gasped in a breath. A stab of fear ran through Defender as he held his breath.

“Princess?”

She looked up at him, as though startled, her gaze softening the moment they found him over her. Those beautiful, blue orbs were just as he remembered. Beautiful, deep, dark, like her night sky.

“Defender…”

“I’m here princess.”

They smiled at each other gently before Defender cried out in agony once more, his body giving out and flipping completely over his princess as she recoiled in fear. Behind him stood an enraged unicorn, hair the colour of dead flesh, dark green, almost black pelt and angry eyes. Held in the grip of his telekinesis was a long baton. Where he’d gotten such a weapon was unclear, but he seemed to know how to use it.

“You IMBECILE! You ruined EVERYTHING!”

Luna cowered away from the sheer animosity of the stallion as he brought the baton down on Defender again, eliciting another sharp cry of pain.

“Now I’ll have to start from scratch!”

Another frenzied strike.

“Can your simple mind even comprehend what this would have accomplished!?”

Enraged, the stallion swung the baton in a fast, powerful sweep, just as Defender leapt up and opened his wings for flight.

The result?

There was a god almighty crack as the baton connected with Defender’s already twice broken wing and he screamed in agony, the momentum of the shot throwing him to the ground, his head striking stone and he was knocked unconscious. Luna saw red.

No! He’s pushed him around enough!

“ENOUGH!”

The full force of Luna’s voice, known only as ‘the Royal Canterlot Voice’ was not something to be taken lightly. The stones themselves trembled as she spoke and the unicorn shied away from it fearfully. He looked over at Luna and began to shake. She advanced upon the hapless unicorn, her horn starting to glow ominously.

“You have deceived us, drugged us, USED us, and now thou attempt to kill thine princess’s bodyguard!? Such crimes are unspeakable! Thou shalt pay dearly for thy transgressions!”

Luna had never agreed with capital punishment. She saw it as crude, cruel and overall bad for the image of the Royal house. But never before had she thought it so comfortingly fitting than right at this moment. To his merit, the stallion spoke against her.

“You’ll never understand! And nothing you do will stop me! You will all rue the day you crossed horns with Screaming Solace!”

Her snarl deepened.

“We think otherwise.”

The stallion gasped suddenly in pain and clutched at his chest with both forehooves, then looked up at Luna in disbelief.

“But… you’re… princess?”

Luna shook her head.

“Tonight we are what you wanted us to be. We are an executioner.”

His chest burst in a foul mixture of blood, bone and shredded organs as he collapsed backwards from the force of the matter suddenly erupting through the skin of his chest.

He was dead before he hit the floor.

Luna rushed over to Defender, heedless of the mess she’d just made.

“Defender? Defender! Oh, I have to get you home… you need medical attention.”

With a great heave, magic having retreated to the back of her mind, Luna lifted Defender up onto her back and started carrying the stallion up and out of the ruins of the ancient castle that once housed the very elements used to stop the entity who had nearly stayed free that night, coming back only to scoop up the barely breathing filly Nyx in her magic before departing again, her only thought to get home.

Epilogue

Epilogue.

One could say the moon would forever be lonely. Forever chasing the sun for company, forever falling behind. Some might say she’d be forever lonely within the boundaries of the sky. Some would argue she has the stars for company. That she has countless adoring subjects, but none to call her own.

Some might say she was happy that way.

Princess Luna found herself at a hospital bed for the second time that year. Again she was looking down at the prone form of Stalwart Defender as he lay unconscious in the hospital bed. She hadn’t slept, she hadn’t eaten. Three days. Three days she’d been at Canterlot now, and still she refused to leave the medical wing, even going so far as to refuse access from even her own sister. In an adjoining bed had, for the past day, held Demonheart. But he was long gone. The final strike from Screaming Solace had shattered his wing, the last of the strength from his wing gone, Heart Sworn had regretfully told Luna that, unless a miracle occurred, he’d never fly again.

Eventually Celestia had bullied her way in and practically dragged Luna out, reminding her none too gently that she had work to do.

That was one week after return.

~*~

Defender felt pain. A dull ache in his wing, ribs and all of his legs. His eyes remained closed and a low groan escaped his throat.

“Ah, he wakes! The triumphant hero awakens. It’s about bloody time.”

Slowly, and wincing at the stabs of pain at his eyes from the light.

“Nngh… who’s there? Where…?”

A smiling face appeared before his eyes, wearing a startlingly familiar helm. Defender smiled.

“Ah… Brave… If you’re here, that means I’m at Canterlot.”

“That’s right!”

Another familiar voice and he turned his head a little. The smiling face of Heart Sworn came into focus beside Brave Wing.

“Heart Sworn? But… if you’re here…”

She nodded, her smile fading a little.

“Yes, you’re in the Canterlot hospital. You’re um…. You’re pretty badly banged up.”

“Yeah Defender, what did you do? Fight a tribe of angry manticores?”

Defender chuckled softly.

“Heh… no, there were only six of them. Unicorns are… interesting opponents. One of them got me from behind. Cowardly bastard.”

“Jeez man, what he hit you with? A goddamn wrecking ball?”

Again, a snort of laughter.

“No. It was a baton. You’d be surprised what force a unicorn can put behind a blow when they’re using telekinesis.”

Brave barked out a laugh.

“Apparently not enough to kill the great Stalwart Defender huh?”

A small, pained smile.

“Guess not. Hey, is Luna okay?”

Heart Sworn giggled.

“Yes, the princess is just fine. You know, in the two weeks you’ve been asleep she’s been very busy. Think she fired half of the guards in the castle and imprisoned a couple more. It’s been an interesting week, and I don’t think the guard captain is terribly impressed with her, but she did it anyway.”

She frowned slightly in confusion.

“Oh, and she went to visit some colt. She looked a little offended when she left though. I don’t think he liked her very much.”

His eyes widened at the talk of the colt, reminded of the young filly he saw in the lower regions of the castle.

“The filly! From the castle!”

Heart Sworn and Wing traded worried glances.

“Um… well… Nyx is…”

Defender felt his heart drop.

“She’s not…?”

Heart Sworn shook her head.

“No, Nyx… We did all we could for her. She had nothing left.”

“I… I see…”

“I’m sorry Defender…”

“…. Yeah. Me too.”

There was silence for a time before Brave perked up.

"Oh! Apparently you had a visitor at some point, although nopony signed in. He or she left you something. Came with a note. Here."

The young stallion was rooting around at the underside of the bed as he spoke and he came up with a plain brown box. On it was, as said, a plain note with Defender's name written across it. Opening the note, Defender was painfully aware of his two friends, for he'd come to know them as such, leaning over to read it as well. He smiled and began to read out loud.

'Stalwart Defender.

I apologise, I had to borrow this. I have changed my mind, you may keep this. Perhaps someday it will be of use to you once more.

Confused at the short and rather vague note, Defender handed it to Heart Sworn and tentatively opened the package. The nurse and guard duo not in the bed recoiled in shock and disgust at what was revealed and Defender's face split into a wry smile.

A mask of bone with the depiction of leaves etched into it.

~*~

Five weeks later.

“Who is it?”

Defender hesitated, his armour was absent from his still injured body, only his helmet on his head. Bandages wrapped around his chest prohibited from breathing too deeply. He stood outside of Luna’s door, having knocked just recently upon it. To be honest, he shouldn’t even be out here. His injuries were too severe, and his wing was wrapped tightly to his body. He’d also been told earlier by Heart Sworn that his wing injury was much too severe to allow him to ever fly again.

He’d been effectively grounded. Incapable of flight for the rest of his life.

May as well get this over with.

“It’s me.”

There was silence for a moment before the door swung open and Luna sat in the doorway.

“Defender? What are you doing out of bed?”

He smiled.

“I thought that you visited me so much, I figured I should visit you for once.”

The look she gave him was suspicious and he sighed.

“Alright, and I had something to tell you. Now can I please come in?”

Luna looked a little more satisfied and nodded, stepping aside to allow him to enter. He limped into the familiar room and smiled.

“I see you haven’t gotten any better at keeping your room clean princess.”

Luna humphed in mock offense as she closed the door, practically prancing back into the room. As concerned as she was for him, she was glad to see him, and very glad he could walk again.

“So? What is it Defender?”

Defender was silent for a long moment before walking out to the balcony, The wispy, feather-light curtains blowing in the breeze from the night. Curious, Luna followed him, sitting beside him.

“Defender?”

Defender took a deep breath of the crisp, cool night air to steady his nerves.

Alright, here we go.

Slowly, he took his helmet off and offered it to Luna.

“Princess, I’m resigning my post.”

Luna looked at the helmet in shock.

“I.. what!?”

He put the helmet at her hooves.

“I’m resigning from my position as head guard. I failed you princess, as a guard. I failed you. I failed to provide protection when needed most. I am unfit of the position.”

Luna stared at him.

“Unfit..? But you saved me!”

He shook his head.

“No, I cannot continue knowing that I allowed you to be harmed. I cannot be here every second of the day and night, so I know I cannot keep you safe for said time either.”

Luna felt tears developing in her eyes.

“D..Defender! W..Why?”

She looked down at the brand new cutie mark gracing the stallion's flanks, A tri pointed shield with a crescent moon engraved upon it, the two points encompassing the top most and bottom most point of a four pointed star.

"You just got your cutie mark by defending me, why would you quit now?"

“I just told you why princess.”

Luna paused for a long while before sighing, trying to hold back tears.

“Alright… I don’t like it, but alright. But… where will you go?”

Defender smiled at the tears running down her cheeks.

She does care…

“Well… Princess…”

He took the helmet back and reached inside it, bringing out a flower found only in the Royal Gardens. It was also considered a crime to pick them. A Lunar Lily was an exceedingly rare flower, and it bloomed during the night. During the day, the petals closed themselves up, defending their fragile inner selves from the harsh light. Luna gasped.

“Defender! It’s illegal to pick these! You can be fined for doing so!”

His smile widened a little.

“Princess, please. I have permission. Well, sort of. The groundskeeper got a request to move a bunch of them and the groundskeeper uh… ‘relocated’ one of them into my hooves. Something tells me Celestia already knows about it.”

Luna paused in her concern.

“I… don’t understand.”

Defender blushed lightly as he carefully and rather hesitantly tucked the flower behind her ear.

“I was reading a book a while back during my… inability to move, and I came across a very interesting part concerning olden day methods of courtship. Apparently, in the older times, the way to request courtship with mare you were interested in was to pick a flower and give it to them as a gift, often worn behind the ear, like so.”

Luna’s eyes widened as she realised what he was getting at and her face flushed. She spoke slowly, carefully.

“And… in return the mare could either return the flower, or give him a token in turn to accept his advances…”

Defender nodded nervously. Luna’s hoof went up to the flower at her ear, feeling its petals slide over her hoof. Her horn started glowing and a deep purple ribbon, nearly black, with pinpricks of silver light, reminiscent o the night sky, floated over from her dresser.

“They would often tie it in their mane, easily seen.”

Defender’s heart leapt to his throat as the ribbon secured itself at the end of his mane, giving him a ponytail styled mane.

“Luna, would you be willing to accept my courtship?”

Luna felt her heart skip a beat.

He used my name!

She giggled giddily, on hoof lifting to cover her blushing cheeks.

“Doesn’t my token already answer that?”

He smiled before tossing the helmet away just before she leapt into his hooves, hugging him fiercely, knocking the breath out of him.

“Oof! Luna! Injured still, Injured!”

She pulled away just as quickly, concern sweeping over her.

“Oh! I’m sorry, are you alright?”

He nodded, one hoof seeking out hers as he took a small step closer, chest to chest with her.

“Luna, I know I’m not perfect, and I’m certainly not a prince. I have no royal blood, and I’m no longer even capable of flight. But I Mmphff!”

He was cut off, eyes widening in shock as she surged forward, pressing her lips to his in a passionate kiss, her wings sweeping around him, hooves following suit. After a moment of stunned, non-response, Luna broke away, blushing heavily.

“I.. I’m sorry, too quick? I swear, I don’t know what came over me.”

Defender took a moment to try and clear his head before looking down at her. Her wings were in the middle of retracting back to her sides when he smiled.

“A little warning perhaps next time Princess?”

She pouted.

“Defender!”

He chuckled softly.

“Alright, Alright. Luna.”

He leaned down and kissed her gently. The princess reacted instantly, pressing back eagerly. Unseen by the both of them, since both sets of eyes had closed some time back, Luna’s long horn began to glow. The glow magnified, beginning to encompass the pair. The skin beneath his bandages began to glow, his mane, his coat, Defender was encompassed by a halo of light. His eyes snapped open as he felt the usual itch from his healing bones, bruises and lacerations turn into a dull ache, then begin to pick up again. He winced, breaking away from Luna.

“Defender? What’s wrong?” Luna asked, eyes still closed, trying to savour the last of the rush from their last kiss.

“L..Luna, what are you doing to me?”

Her eyes opened in confusion and her face turned from one of bliss to shock.

“I.. I don’t know! Defender!?”

The pain turned into an intense burning sensation and, tearing the bandages as they plowed straight through them, his wings burst from his sides, full spread. He cried out in pain, eyes screwed shut, as the burning sensation, for a moment, intensified.

“Defender!?”

He was vaguely aware of the desperate cries from Luna as he suddenly felt a great weight lift from his shoulders The bandages covering his legs, chest and wings fell from him, leaving a pile of bandages around him. He took in a gasp of air and his eyes snapped open. Before him was the concerned face of Luna.

“Are you okay?”

He blinked and smiled.

“Never better.”

His wings flexed, painlessly extending and retracting, his hooves the same.

“Luna… I don’t know what you did but…”

He grinned.

“I feel better than I ever have before.”

He nuzzled her gently.

“Thank you.”

“You may find that you’re not quite finished yet Defender.”

The pair, Luna and Defender looked over at the doorway, which now stood open. Celestia was at the threshold of the room, a gentle smile on her face. Defender gulped nervously.

“Uh… I… I can explain princess, I swear.”

Celestia giggled softly.

“My dear little pony. I think the Lunar Lily in my sister’s mane, and the ribbon in yours, tells me exactly what I need to know.”

The door swung shut as Celestia stepped in.

“But, you were wondering what Luna has done to you, as you should be.”

Defender nodded, his head held down low in a sign of surrender, submission.

“You can stand tall Defender, I’m not going to bite you. What Luna has done hasn’t been seen in many years. Alicorns are born in one of a few ways. The first is natural and can happen to almost anypony. The second way is that one of us, me or my sister, have a foal. However, that had never happened at all. Not to mention our cycles function much differently to any normal pony. The third… well, you just experienced it.”

Defender frowned.

“I… I don’t understand.”

Celestia smiled.

“Cadance could explain it better, but it’s said, in old legend, that when an Alicorn loves another, and the attachment is honestly reciprocated, the old magics dormant within the alicorn surface and transform the other.”
She smiled.

“After all. One should never have to witness the death of the one they love, should they?”

Alright, finally finished it. I would like to say right now that the idea of the flower and the token was not my idea. I would like to thank the wonderful author of 'To Love The Moon' for that piece of brilliance, Indigo Eclipse~♪ Well, I hope you all enjoyed the new and improved Midnight Guardian, have a good day/night and eat plenty of bacon. Unless you're vegetarian, in which case sit forlornly to the side watching me eat bacon in hungry longing.

Prologue

Prologue

The pure white Pegasus stood blindfolded with his wings tied to his body on one end of a Catapult-like contraption that more resembled a giant modified see-saw. There was a crowd around the fences surrounding the contraption. A grey Unicorn stood at a lectern behind the Pegasus reading off a sheaf of papers. They were a list of crimes.

“...Stealing strawberries from the cornerstore, maliciously bullying three young colts, striking another pony repeatedly and the attempted murder of our beloved nurse Red Cross. Before we banish you forever from the lands of your birth town of Coltsvale, do you have any last words to the people?”

The white Pegasus grimaced.

“I am innocent of all charges. The True culprits can and will be brought to justice.”

The town mumbled under its breath. The unicorn at the lectern shook his head.

“Last requests?”

The Pegasus snorted derisively.

“Let me go.”

A brief stir of laughter swept through the crowd. It was silenced a moment later as another Pegasus ascended rapidly into the sky. Then he fell, aimed for the softly padded opposite end of the see-saw contraption. He was going too fast, everyone could see that. There was a cry from the grey unicorn and the contraption flung the white Pegasus further than it had another ever before.