Under The Pale Moon Light

The morning sun was stabbing its way between the cracks of the blinds of the extra room in Sugar cube corner. The lines of light were the only things that lit the room as I stared up at the ceiling fan which hummed to its steady tune. I had attempted to move but was basically at the bottom of the pile of breathing corpses. The night prior was the same old song and dance, the girls getting hammered and me getting embarrassed or forced into an uncomfortable position and having to squirm my way out. I gave my announcement of my castle to the town and partied hard till around 3 am when I decided to let the fan put me to sleep which in turn put the rest of the gang to bed eventually.

In the other room the ding of the door marked the entry of a patron, I strained my neck to try and look towards the doorway that lead to the customers area, my vision was blocked by a wall of yellow thighs causing me to lift my head off the carpet. Spike popped his head from around the corner and we locked eyes.

"Whats up buddy?" He threw up a salute.

"Just here to pick up Twilight." I laughed at his seriousness.

"Good luck prying her off me." The purple mare was deeply embracing my left arm.

"I can tell you its easier than you think." I stayed quiet as he navigated over Rarity and Pinkie to the sleeping princess. I was genuinely curious what he was going to do. He leaned down to get close to her ear, "Celestia is on her way Twilight you over slept." I could feel her go rigid before mechanically sitting up and looking panicked. I hushed my laughs with my now free hand.

"That's not okay Spike." She rubbed her eyes before standing saying her goodbyes and leaving still groggy as hell. I turned towards my right arms anchor which happened to be the blue pegasus dressed like a Wonderbolt. I didn't want to shake everyone from their sleep so the gentle blowing of air on Rainbow was used to wake her quietly. Her big violet eyes locked with mine as she just studied me.

"Hey, I'm sorry for all the trouble I put you through yesterday." She huffed at my words and buried her face in my arm pit.

"How about for the past couple weeks." I kinda rolled my eyes as she peaked out from her hiding spot.

"I didn't think I was a problem until recently."

"Pinkie and Rarity are always so confident that you'll be okay but the rest of us are always so worried about you."

"If it makes you feel any better I promise I wont die." She sat up and flicked my nose.

"I guess that will have to do for now Sun." She made her way to the other room and I lost sight of her and a ding signed her departure. Time to free my legs, I sat up and wiggled trying to free myself from Aj's death grip. The mare eventually came loose and I made my way to the door. With the ding of the door I was out in the cold fall morning.

Ponies filled the streets cleaning and purchasing goods from stands. I gave my hellos and did a fare share of picking up bottles and things from last nights celebration. I made it to the center of town to surprisingly see Luna talking to the mayor. I approached and was quickly noticed by by both parties.

Luna motioned me over, "Tell everyone who asks it's Suns castle which was sold to him by me and Celestia."

The mayor turned towards me, "Sun is it really your castle?"

"Yes, is that an issue?" She put her head in her hands.

"Why can't this place go back to the quiet place it used to be?" I laughed.

"It wouldn't be as fun that way." She just looked defeated and began to walk off.

I looked to Luna, "How are the Moons?"

"You know childish but efficient."

"And Blood Rain?" Luna shook her head.

"No more mares Sun."

"I didn't mean it like that!" She began to walk away from me, "Luna I didn't."

"Whatever you say Sun." My hair stood up and I crossed my arms as I followed the Princess towards the castle.

Everfree Castle

Looking up the black tower looked like a tree reaching towards the sky. I gently lifted off the ground and made my way to the top. Opening the window I was in a hallway which spiraled downward like Sombra's Castle. In front of me though was a big blue crystal door with a moon and sun on it. The door opened to a spacious room that was furnished with couches, a looking glass, tables and a bar. I explored the room and found a ladder that lead to a loft with a bed and an eqestrian map which was black and blue, it reminded me of twilight's map at her castle as a bunch of cutie marks were spread out all over the map some I recognized and others were unfamiliar. One pulsed it was a red sun with golden stars on it, poking it it turned into a Blue moon with black stars in it, It was me. After that I quickly found Luna's cutie mark which was appearing and disappearing around the castle. I felt magical pressure as Luna teleported into the room.

"I love the room, it feels like an apartment." She looked stressed but it seemed to fade.

"Good I'm glad, I designed this entire tower and all the facilities." Her smile was nervous.

"What's up Luna?" Her eyes danced about the room.

"How do you feel about the color purple?" I just looked at her confused. "Well me and Cadence were working on a prototype and every time we run your magic through it the effect is a purplish red effect to the veins and padding."

"Did you make me a new suit?!" She was surprised by my out burst.

"Yes, just a little more purposed for the missions that you'll be taking up from now on." My heart was beating fast from excitement. "We are still working out the kinks with cloaking and the magical entity in put."

"Is it here?" She seemed to of feed off my excitement and began to loose the stressed out look. She held out a dark pink crystal crescent moon which glowed with magical energy.

"Place it over your heart." I remembered having to change first.

"Luna could you you look away." She nodded and I stripped down to my white compression underwear and placed the crystal over my heart. It melted into a thin layer that covered my whole body that then turned jet black, the crystal seemed to thicken and turn into a flexible fiber. The crystals on my wings weren't even noticeable and remained transparent, the ones on my chest, abs, shins, forearms , and digits of my fingers were a dark red/purple. The chest had a black crescent moon in the center of the dark purple chest armor. The crystals on the bottom of my feet remained mostly black with a trim of the red/purple. Everywhere the color was seemed to lightly glow and dim making the suit look alive. Overall the suit looked significantly beefed up and would provide a lot more defense than the lighter suit Sombra tore apart. I no longer had the need for gloves to protect my hands as the crystals had extended that far this time. My hips both had loops for active swords.

"What about the helmet?"

"That's controlled telepathically." I just shrugged and thought about the previous helmet and the crystals that stopped at my neck previously crawled up my face and formed the bat looking helmet that concealed my entire head. Two pointy ears and glowing purple eyes were the only distinguishing characteristics. "One last thing Sun try flipping up the armor on your left forearm. I attempted and the the purplish armor opened to a black compartment which had three holes and two filled by the broken heart pendant of Sombra and the crescent heart of Selene, the only missing spot was Solaris. "They are linked to your radio so everyone in the team can hear them on missions. Blood Rain will be training you tonight so try to get used to it and check your bed Shinning sent you a gift."

"Thank you so much Luna." She was smiling as much as I was from within my helmet.

"Anytime Sun you deserve it." She chuckled and disappeared in a flash. I looked down to the empty spot on my forearm meant for Solaris.

"Soon." I slapped the compartment closed and headed over to my bed which was extremely large and had rather large box on it. I pulled off the note attached," A sword can defend a country but a shield protects what your friends and family care about - S.A" I opened the box and it had another note, "and it comes in black, make sure you protect your ass."

"What a dick," I chuckled as I pulled out the black crystal shield .It had three crowned points that lead down to one, it was weightless as I expected and sliding my arm into it was a perfect fit in the armor. What am I supposed to do with it when I'm not fighting? The note caught my attention or at least the protect my ass part, I felt my back and sure enough there was a notch that would clip in my shield just below my wings. Snapping it into place it felt like it wasn't even there.

Finally I feel like I can really kick some ass again.

Night Everfree Forest

The air was cold and filled with sounds of the forest as the clearing was bathed in the light of the moon. I had both swords raised as the hunters lingered just beyond sight. I was nervous as I was forced to the opening by Blood Rain and the others ability to be everywhere in the trees. I was overwhelmed quickly and just hoping to put up a competent stand before I was ruled out by Luna.

The grass was waist height and gently swayed with the wind. A noise from behind me sounded and I reflexively turned and blasted two trees across the clearing apart with a blast of blue lightning. I tried to sense vibrations but I got nothing, the wind magic wasn't picking anything up either. My heart was pounding and I was very aware that my usefulness was far greater when I can see the thing I'm trying to fight. The trees began to twirl as a large gust of wind went through the forest, which left a gap in my magic detecting ability. I spun on my heels over and over trying to locate the blue eyes of the others suits. Their eyes glowed along with a magic battery on the back which was one more spot for detecting them. I could feel a misstep as a member of the team stepped too close and was detected by my magic. I didn't have to look as I stomped hard to unleash a stone pillar under the feet of the Bluemoon. I turned to attack and the black suit with blue eyes was barreling towards me sword drawn, time seemed to slow as I side stepped the sword and both my blades slashed the attacker across the side, rules dictated they were out.

There was no time to celebrate as a streak came across the sky. I stepped back hard as the ground I once stood upon was now a crater. The huge bat pony was for sure Crescent and he began to use his huge frame to charge me. I stabbed both of my swords in the dirt. I rushed forward with a boost from excel which caused my knee to smash into his jaw at a barely visible speed. landing my fists hardened by the suit unleashed a volley of punches while I maintained the agility to keep avoiding his attempts to grab me or return a punch. I wound up hard and a blue magic circle formed on my leg which was swung with excel propelling the pony across the clearing into the cover of trees. My helmet came down and I wiped the sweat from my brow, I could feel the dark magic form around my eyes, the warmth of magic signaled a change and the dark marks under my eyes formed a line that extended to my jawline. I only have half a hex its about time I started acting like it. I raised my fist and slammed it down on the earth causing a shock through the earth and sending anything not tied down airborne, this included combatants that were immediately struck down by branching arcs of lightning. Many black suits began to emerge from the trees, I raised my hand and the Sombra sword came flying and was swung which released a wave of dark magic which knocked down the ponies. With my off hand a ball of wind was launched which sent the victims sprawling against the far trees. I once again placed my sword in the soil and pulled all of the air inward and up causing a vortex. With all the lightning, thunder, and now roaring wind it must of seemed like a thunderstorm from Ponyville. Only a few ponies were sucked inward and sent flying by the magic, as soon as the wind stopped I rearmed myself and slid the Sombra sword into one of the loops on my hip. Selene was at the ready and was quickly being aimed at every tree.

"Any idea where she's at?" Selene just laughed.

"I hate people that spoil things and honestly you're not getting any better leaning on me." The sword then vibrated and returned to a necklace. I quickly and clumsily placed her into the compartment on my arm. I reached for the Sombra sword just to see the thing already reverted into a broken heart necklace on the ground. Of all the times to have you guys protest me. I extended my left arm and raised my right ready to fight at the blink of an eye. Though no enemy showed themselves and I waited fist raised high, minutes turned into a hour and with that came the return of the noises of the forest making it harder to determine what was in my head and what was actually happening. The first hour passed and I was starting to think I had dealt with everyone but the creeping suspicion I was still being watched persisted. I began to walk towards the path that lead back to the castle, a few steps in a powder was thrown into my eyes that burned. I stumbled back desperately to the clearing. I could make out a figure with red eyes pursuing me, my helmet slammed shut as the base of whatever weapon they used attempted to bash my face in, my eyes began watering heavily and I reacted as most people would spontaneously launch lightning bolts at the figure. Unlucky for me they parried every shot closing the gap and planting their foot on my cheek which launched me a fair distance. I scrambled backward on my butt as the figure stood above me pointing their short swords against my neck.

"You shouldn't of lowered your guard Sun." My hand tapped the earth and the figures feet were encased in rock. I rolled backwards just avoiding their swords.

"I hope that armors really good." I could feel the warm glow of the magic from my Sun tattoo transfer to my right leg along with the boost of magic from my moon tattoo to my excel spell, I didn't need to see to hit a stationary opponent. I swung my leg with all my might launching the figure across the clearing with a crack that knocked leaves off the trees. Everyone emerged from the trees stunned, Luna came marching over to me in a huff.

"So did I pass?" She looked irritated.

"Your field commander is in a pile of leaves she knocked off the tree with the force of that kick." My helmet came down and I began wiping at my eyes.

"So I definitely passed." She smacked her face. I was personally satisfied stupid Blood Rain could see I wasn't all talk and I could keep it under control.

"Well I'll tend to Blood Rain please make sure you didn't zap any of your teammates to death." I just snickered as I asked around if anyone was really that injured but besides Crescent and Blood Rain I didn't go that hard and Crescent was fine, impressed but fine. I could see Luna peel off Blood Rain's helmet and tend to her like a mother. In the end she won the battle for Luna's attention today. Everyone began heading back to the castle besides the whiner and Luna, I made my way over as the two were getting into a heated debate.

Blood Rains eyes narrowed at Luna, "He has proven himself enough, if tonight doesn't show that nothing will." The ball was now in Luna's court.

"You are the field commander but I have the finale say and I don't think its a good idea." They both looked to me and like any confused person would do I just looked at the two with my clueless expression clear as day on my face. They both went to talk but Blood beat Luna to the punch.

"Sun we just decided on your job within the team." I looked to Luna who looked away. "You will be our newly created position of arcane demolition and unique mission operator."

"What does that entail?"

"Basically destroying target compounds after we assassinate everyone to make it look like an accident and anything strange the princesses cook up."

"Sounds easy enough."

"Good next week we are deployed on a mission to recover Solaris from a compound just south of Las Pegasus." A pit formed in my stomach and my hands got hot, I turned away. "If you can handle it of course." I turned back to face the two with the best fake smile I had.

"Don't worry I'll be fine." I turned from the two and hopefully they didn't sense my forming killer intent. The dark magic in my system faded but was put in a box to be unleashed in a week. I left the ground and began climbing high into the sky, and I became a silhouette over the forest caste by the pale moon light.

Author's Note

Some clean up things for the Bluemoon's and Sun is off to Hoofington