Eyes Of The Night

Luna looks at the creature that she holds within her magic. There nestled within her magic was a bat pony knocked out cold. Stepping closer to the pony Luna examines the pony making sure that this wasn't some kind of Pegasus prank. Stopping mere inches away from him Luna could clearly see that it was by no means a joke.

His coat is of a greyish black; and his short choppy mane a warm chestnut brown. Luna gulps as she looks over his body. He is wearing some kind of leather armor. By the looks of it, it has seen better days as there are several tears; and scratches all over it. Casting her gaze down the bat pony's torso Luna stops at his flank. There on proud display was the sun nestled within the arms of a crescent moon. Never before has Luna seen a cutie mark like this one. It was strange yet beautiful in a sense.

Luna looks into the stallion's face. A considerably large goose egg was starting to show on his forehead. That had to hurt! Luna's cheeks heat up as she stares at him for he was quite a strapping young stallion. Maybe early to late twenties? The bat pony begins to stir.

"Oh my head. What happened? Huh? Where am I who are you?"

Luna blushes as she looks deep into his brilliant blue eyes. They were so dreamy. It was as if they were made of sapphires. The long slitted pupils only seem to accentuate their beauty.

"You are in Canterlot castle. My castle. I am princess Luna. Tell me who are you? Where do you come from, and why are you here?"

"I don't remember,"

"what do you mean you don't remember!? You come here assault me while I perform my royal duties, and tell me you don't know why!"

"Yes...owe. Could you please lower your volume? My head really hurts,"

Luna looks at the goose egg on his head it has swollen to the size of a baseball. Biting her lip she looks at the poor creature clutched within her grasp.

" He must be in agony right now,"

Luna gently lowers him to the ground before releasing her magic. The bat pony staggers on his hooves. He looks at her with a small grin as he finally gets his hooves under him.

" Tell me, if I leave to get you something for your head. Will you stay right here?"

" Where would I go?"

"So you will stay?"

"sure,"

Luna makes her way to the door she takes one last look at the bat pony before leaving the room.

The stone walls rattle as thunder booms above the castle. The guards stationed in front of the old west wing cover their heads as dust is sent cascading from the ceiling.

"What the BUCK was that!?" screams Hazy.

"How should I know! Maybe some pony dropped a jar of lightning or something?"

" You sure about that? I have never heard a lightning jar that loud,"

"Are you a weather pony? No!? Then shut it! That is all it was,"

Another burst of thunder erupts much louder than the previous one. They drop to the ground covering their heads as their bones vibrate from its intensity. They lay there for several moments before slowly getting back up. Their ears ringing with a high pitched wail as they wait to see if there would be another thunder clap. When there wasn't they take a collective sigh.

"See I told you some pony just dropped some lightning jars is all,"

"If that's the case than lets hope they don't drop anymore. I think one of my ear drums is ruptured," replies one of the guards as he tries to shake out the ringing in his ears.

"Yeah me too. Maybe we should go see the medic?"

"We can't just up, and leave our post. The captain would have our hides if he found out," Hazy replies.

"Ease up there, it will be fine so long as one of us stays behind to stand guard while the others go, and get checked,"

"Hey! What do you mean by one of us staying behind!? Can't you guys just go one at a time?"

"That would take way too long. If one of us stays behind the others can get checked out faster. So hold onto your breeches scary d' cat you won't be by yourself for too long,"

"Wait why do I have to stay behind?"

"One, because it is your fault that we all got stuck guarding a creepy door, and two out of all of us you are the least deaf," answers one of the other guards who was holding a hoof to his ear.

"But, but...UGH! Fine just make it quick,"

"We will be back before you know it," one of them says as they all stagger into the dark hall.

Minutes pass like hours the silence that surrounds Hazy pricks at his skin. The dark hall in front of him, and the door to the now forbidden wing behind him this couldn't get any worse. Time seemed to stand still as he stands there. If he were in any other part of the castle he could talk to passing maids. Maybe even take one, or two to his apartment for a toss in the hay, but no there would be no maids here. Nor would there be any other guards, or any other pony for that matter. He is alone in the dark.

"Take it easy Hazy there is nothing to be afraid of. You have been in the old west wing hundreds of times, and not once have you come across any flesh-eating monster, or anything else for that matter. It is just another part of the castle. It is just a really, really old part of the castle. That is covered with scorch marks, and broken armor pieces, and really creepy...statues,"

Hazy looks over his shoulder to the black iron doors. It was as if they were calling to him. The air around him grows icy cold as he continues to stare at the foreboding doors. Inaudible whispers could be heard from behind the door. Were they really behind the door, or were they only in his head he couldn't tell. His blood turns to ice as he approaches the doors. He takes the keys out of his armor. Placing the key to the lock he is about to open them. When a loud bong snaps him out of it.

"Huh? What was I doing? Where am...oh right standing guard. Wait was that the clock tower!? What time is it!?"

Hazy pulls out an old pocket watch that was given to him by his grandfather. It had just turned midnight.

"Crap! Those plot-holes never came back! I've been standing here by myself for hours! Oh they are going to get it tomorrow. Well my shift is over might as well head home," Hazy trots off at a brisk pace leaving the iron doors behind.

Princess Luna walks down the moonlit halls making her way to the kitchen. Several of the staff were in a panicked hustle; trying to find out what had caused that loud explosion. She does her best to avoid the bustling ponies. Though she isn't able to avoid all of them. Most of them ask if she was alright, or if she knew what had caused the entire castle to shake. She would tell them that she didn't know either, and would be on her way. As she makes her way the captain of the guard runs up to her. A look of confusion, and worry on his haggard face.

"Princess! Are you alright!? What was that explosion?"

"I have no idea good captain, but whatever it was seems to be over. Maybe some pony had to really use the bathroom?"

"This is serious princess. If some pony is dabbling in something that dangerous we need to take immediate action,"

"Oh come now captain no pony in Canterlot is that powerful. They would have to be as strong as Sombra. Now return to your chambers you can investigate in the morning,"

"Y...yes princess," the captain salutes Luna before turning on his heels heading back to his quarters.

Luna sighs as she continues to make her way to the kitchen. She hopes she was right, and that the bat pony in her chambers wasn't capable of such powerful magic. If he was then all of Canterlot could be in danger. As she steps into the kitchen several chefs were scrambling all over the place gathering pots, and pans that had fallen off of the shelves. She makes no attempt to stop them she simply grabs an ice pack, and heads back to her bedchambers.

The way back to her room was much quieter as ponies were starting to calm down, and head back to bed. Opening the door her eyes go wide. It was empty.

"Oh no, no, no. Where did he go? He said he wouldn't leave,"

Luna frantically searches the room. He wasn't on the balcony, nor was he in the closet, or in her personal bath room. She stops at the foot of her bed. A pair of hooves reach out from under her bed making her jump into the air as they make contact. A pair of slitted eyes look up at her with as the bat pony laughs at his own prank.

"Gotcha,"

"That's not funny," Luna replies as she tries to stifle her own laughter.

"Sorry I couldn't help myself. There were too many ponies barging in here to see if you were ok. So I decided to play it to my advantage,"

"Wait! Ponies were just barging into my bedroom? Wait! How were you not spotted!?"

"They were very loud on their way here I could hear them a mile away,"

"If you could hear them how did you know that I wasn't one of them?"

"Easy you walk much softer than they did,"

"Oh um ok well here this will help with your head," Luna says as she hands over an ice pack.

"Thank you my lady," the bat pony smiles at Luna as he places it on his head.

The night eventually goes back to normal. The halls are quiet as a grave as the night watch diligently patrols the halls for the source of the disturbance. Maids, and butlers go back to bed. Yes, things return to normal well except Luna isn't by herself tonight. Her, and the bat pony sit in silence in her bedchambers as Luna watches over her night. The bat pony simply eats a bowl of fruit watching Luna command the night. Luna glances behind her a blush grazes her cheeks as she sees the bat pony looking straight at her. She coughs before lowering her head. She turns around, and walks up to the pony.

" I think that will do for tonight. How is your head? Any better?"

"Yes, thank you my head is feeling much better now. Thank you for your help,"

"Do you remember anything yet?"

"No I am afraid not, but I found a name etched into my armor. It says: property of Midnight Shine,"

"Midnight Shine? Huh? It is a fine name,"

"Thanks I guess,"

Midnight looks down at the bowl of fruit in front of him. He pushes it towards Luna offering it to her which she graciously accepts. They eat the fruit in silence. A beam of sunlight streaks across the room signifying it was now morning Luna speaks up.

" I should get some rest,"

"Yes, that would be wise, but um if you don't mind me asking. Do you mind if I stay here? I don't really have anyplace to go since I can't really remember anything,"

" You are quite brave to ask if you could stay here...in my chambers...while I sleep. Pray tell what exactly would you be doing while I sleep?,"

"Um...sleeping?"

"Sleeping where?"

"Um...good question"

" Ha...very well you may stay here...for now, but I am afraid the only place suitable for sleep would be my bed, and I am not so inclined as to share my bed with a stranger,"

"That is alright I will sleep under your bed. Just in case some pony barges in again,"

"Hah! That would be problematic. Will you be alright sleeping under the bed?"

"I think so. It was actually pretty comfortable under there while I was hiding,"

Midnight Shine says as he crawls back under Luna's bed. Luna's cheeks grow bright red as she watches the fully grown stallion's tail swish as it vanishes under her bed. She stands there for a few seconds trying to collect herself.

"Are you not going to bed princess?" Midnight asks from under her bed.

Luna snaps her head "Yes!" Luna crawls in-between the covers. Her eyes grow heavy as almost immediately sleep begins to over take her.

"Sweet dreams princess,"

"Sweet dreams Midnight,"

Dawn breaks over the horizon the city begins to wake from its slumber. Slowly ponies begin to drift into the streets to begin their day. An earth pony mare walks out of her apartment building. A pair of glowing yellow eyes follow the beautiful mare as she walks past the corresponding alleyway.