Author's Note

As promised, I started writing again. I'm testing the waters with my Lunar Tales series since that is one I missed the most.

If you find any errors, please write me a pm, but I guess my editors got it all^^

And if you're one of the old readers who followed this for over 4 years:
Thanks^^

Night of Changes (Blue Moon)

Chapter Seventeen: Night of Changes (Blue Moon POV)

I opened my eyes, blinking in confusion before groaning and closing them again as tears threatened to come up. In my sleep I had searched for the warm body of my wife, as usual, but of course she wasn’t there. She was in Ponyville with the rest of our force, trying to end this war before it really began.

That wasn’t to say that life in the castle was easy at the moment. Far from it. With the sabotage of the Lunar armory that had cost a Royal and one Night Guard their lives, investigations were in full swing. Celestia herself had taken up the mission to find the perpetrator, and today would be the day she would present her evidence.

But if Night was right, there would be no evidence.

Night is always right, I chuckled softly. Well, mostly.

I sighed as I turned around. Sleeping alone was way more difficult than I remembered, the usual warmth at my side gone. They always say you won’t really miss something until it’s gone.

I wonder how she is doing. Probably kicking lots of flank.

Knowing there was no way for sleep to find me again, I rolled off the bed and stood up, before slowly making my way out of the room. The weight was starting to really hinder me, but I knew it was worth it. Soon there would be a little, energetic filly running around that was ours.

“There is just one question. Will she take after me or Night? Maybe she’ll get the best of both of our genes?” I said, before I tilted my head. “Or maybe she’ll only get our worst. That would be a mix, oh Luna.”

Shaking my head, I continued on my way and took the route to the mess hall. Coffee sounded really good right now. If I couldn’t sleep, I would stay awake. The doctor, Luna and Night would have my flank, but they weren’t here.

“Yes, coffee and maybe something to eat,” I said to myself before groaning. “I already dread the damn workouts to lose the weight after our filly is born.”

As I entered the mess hall, a familiar and friendly face greeted me. “Hey, Blue, couldn’t sleep either?”

“Good morning, Cousin. Seems like it,” I answered as I poured myself some coffee before sitting down next to her. “What kept you awake?”

“I’m worried about Wave and Night. Something isn’t right with all this,” she said before shoving some papers in my direction. “And look at this. It’s an early report of the investigation. They blame us.”

I spat my coffee out. “What?”

Moon Shield scowled. “Yep, read it. They say Rain Cloud made a mistake with the enchantments and lost control.”

“That’s bullshit and they know it.”

“Apparently that’s the only possible explanation for them besides one of us sabotaging everything so Sunset Streak dies,” Shield snorted. “But since Rain Cloud died as well and others of us got hurt, they dismissed it.”

“How is Midnight, by the way?” I asked, knowing the mare was more than broken.

“Not too good. Luna is trying her best to help her, but apparently nightmares and self-blame still keep her on edge...”

“Do you think we should go and make sure she’s alright?”

“Well, if we do then I will be the one to do it. You aren’t allowed to leave the castle, remember?” I growled, and she quickly raised her hooves. “Hey, I would gladly take you outside, but I like my wings too much to have them removed by your wife.”

“I’m going crazy in here,” I sighed, my head hitting the table in frustration.

“Look at it from the other side. You have a new life growing in you and soon it will join our family,” Shield smiled. “I hope Wave will play broodmare for me someday as well, hehe.”

“Red Wave with a big belly? Yeah, dream on,” I chuckled.

“I thought the same about you not even a year ago,” my cousin shot back. “And now look at you.”

“Keep that up and you’ll lose one of your wings early.” I threatened before looking back at the early report in front of me. “So that means the Royal Guard will get away and Celestia pushes all responsibility on our dead friend. I don’t know if I should yell at her or simply kick her.”

Shield looked actually worried. “Keep that down. As long as Luna, Night and the rest are gone, she’s got everything in her hooves.”

“Wow, it’s unlike you to be careful.”

“Very funny. Tell you what. I’m going to see Midnight and see if I can drag her to the castle to spend some quality time, just us three mares. We can help her with the pain, and she might keep us distracted from thinking about our mares for a while,” Shield said as she stood up.

I nodded. “Do that. I’m not going anywhere.”

“I hope so, and don’t get killed,” she answered and leaned in to kiss my cheek, but quickly dodged my right hoof before blowing me a raspberry. “I love you too.”

***

I hated waiting. I really, really hated waiting. By the time Shield came back with a very disheveled Midnight Flow, I had finished several cups of coffee, which earned me a scolding and getting restricted to tea. That didn’t hinder me from eating a lot, of course.

“If you tell me you ate all those plates of food in the forty minutes I was gone, I am going to call your flank fat from now on,” Shield grinned as she sat down next to me.

“Bite me.”

She laughed but my gaze stayed on the mare that silently sat down opposite us, trying her best to avoid our gazes. Her eyes were dull with rings under them, and her coat and mane were unkempt and dirty.

“Midnight? Are you okay?” I asked and immediately regretted those words as she looked up, glaring at me.

“You ask if I’m okay?,” She shrieked. “Yes, I’m perfectly fine! I’ve never been better! Could jump around in happiness! It’s not like my dead marefriend is lying in a cold room somewhere in the medical wing until the investigations are over and the burial can begin.”

“Midnight, watch your tone!,” Shield quickly scolded but I raised my hoof.

“She is right, that wasn’t exactly tactful of me. I’m really sorry, Midnight.”

The mare in question snorted before looking away again. “I can’t forget her.”

“You shouldn’t,” I said softly.

“I know, but it’s hard. I see her everywhere, and the fact that she gave me the keys to her apartment, taking me out of the barracks isn’t making it better. Everything smells like her and all the memories… I don’t know what to do.” She sighed before plopping her head down. “Luna is doing her very best to make me forget, to help me cope, but I don’t know… It’s not that she isn’t lovely, but sometimes I have the feeling everything moves way too fast. “

“Listen, rookie,” Shield started, but quickly reared back as I glared at her. “Uh, Midnight, listen. This isn’t healthy. As hard as it is, you gotta keep your distance from that apartment for a while.”

“And where should I live? The barracks are full. My bunk was given to a newbie.”

“How about you ask Luna if you can stay with her for a while?” I smiled before stopping. “That is, when she’s back. Until then you can stay in our room. I’m pretty sure Night won’t be mad, and we have a guest bed that’s big enough.”

Midnight looked shocked for a second. “Is that really okay? I mean, she is not here and I don’t want to interrupt you two.”

“As if,” I laughed. “Trust me, with this,” I pointed to my belly,” there is no sex at the moment. And when our foal is here, we will be busy with other stuff. Besides, we can always use the shower or an empty room to fuck,” I added with a grin.

“Those two are worse than two of Red Wave, and that’s saying a hell of a lot,” Moon Shield chuckled, before retreating as I cuffed her with a wing. “Ouch, no fun!”

“Watch it or I’ll team up with Red for a few punishments!” I threatened.

“As if.”

“No sex for a week, no blood for a month.”

Shield immediately blanched. “What? That’s not fair!”

We both perked up as laughter came to our ears, turning to Midnight who was trying to hold in her guffaws. “You two are really something!”

“We’re cousins, that’s normal. She’s always joking with me,” Shield smiled.

“I wasn’t joking with the punishments,” I added, making her wilt again.

Midnight raised her hoof slowly, as if we were in class. “What’s the plan now?”

“Well,” I started. “If you want to accept my offer, you two go to the apartment and get the stuff you need. I will wait at home since I can’t leave the castle. And then we will have some quality time!”

“Ouh, ouh, can we play Ogres & Oubliettes?” Shield grinned.

“NO!” Midnight and I quickly yelled.

“Awwww.”

“I think I will take you up on your offer,” Midnight slowly said. “Provided we don’t play that horrendous board game. I really don’t like it.”

“Deal!” I quickly said before my cousin could interrupt. “Shield, please help her get some stuff from the apartment. Enough to stay a few days at least.”

“Why always me?”

“Who else?”

She growled, “Fine. I miss the times my rank was higher than yours. Come, Midnight. Let’s leave grandma alone.”

I tried to cuff her with my wing, but she quickly sprung up and out of reach. Blowing me a last raspberry, she left with Midnight.

Sometimes she can be a real pain in the flank, and Red Wave made her much worse, I thought with a chuckle.

***

Did I mention that I hate waiting? Sitting alone at home, I waited for Moon Shield and Midnight to finally arrive. They took their damn time, that was for sure.

“Two hours, what is keeping them so long?” I whined.

In that time I had already prepared the guest bed with fresh sheets and bedding before plopping down on the bed I shared with Night, inhaling deeply just to have another wave of worry pass over me.

“I hope you are alright, my love,” I whispered while gently caressing my swollen belly.

Finally, there was a knock at the door.

“About time!” I growled, ripping the door open wide, just to be quickly pushed to the side by a panting Moon Shield who quickly closed the door and turned the lock. “What’s wrong, where is Midnight?”

“They took her in,” she panted.

“What?!”

“They took her in, Celestia’s personal guard waited on us in front of the apartment and arrested her for personal questioning as we tried to leave with her stuff,” Shield answered, before sighing. “Something is terribly wrong. Celestia didn’t even want to talk with me when I went to her chambers. After a few seconds, two of her guards slipped out and immediately tried to arrest me. I defended myself and then bolted as the rest of her guard came after me.”

I raised an eyebrow. “That doesn’t sound like Celestia, even if her recent actions have been questionable.”

Shield shook her head. “I don’t know what it is, but I think it’s the same situation as in Ponyville. Something is wrong with the Royal Guard, and I’m pretty sure Celestia is also affected.”

“Then we have to warn Night and Luna!” I yelled, but my cousin quickly shushed me.

“And how might we do that?”

I sighed loudly… “Lightning Blossom. She is a hot head, but she’s the only one with enough connections to reach Ponyville quickly.”

Moon Shield groaned, her head hitting the wall. “And now she is our only hope, isn’t she?”

“Well, she is still family after all.” With that I moved up, pulling Shield with me. “We have to warn Night and Luna, no matter how.” I added a small growl. “And if a damn Royal is getting in my way, I’m cutting their muzzle off.”

“Sometimes… sometimes, you really scare me, Blue,” was all Shield had to say to that before we unlocked and opened the door, checking the hallway before bolting out.

Night, stay safe! You are not allowed to die! You have to be there for me and our foal!