LT: Duty for the Family

by Harmony Split

Standing Together (Blue Moon)

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Chapter Two: Standing Together (Blue Moon’s POV)

I was still mad as the door slowly creaked open. It’d been around an hour since my wife came back, but something was wrong.

The first indication was, that she wasn't directly coming to me.

The second was that she broke down at the door, crying.

As fast as I could with my additional weight, I scrambled from the bed and to her, just to stop a few inches in front of her in shock. Her hooves were soaked in blood. Some of it had already dried, but there was still enough to leave stains on the ground.

“Night! Are you hurt?” I asked her, worry edging into my voice.

She shook her head and sniffed, trying to hold in the tears but couldn't. It broke my heart to see my general, my lovely wife that broken. Ignoring the blood, I closed the distance and cuddled up to her, cooing softly into her ear.

“I failed,” she croaked.

“What?”

“I failed,” she repeated. “We’re at war.”

“War? What are you talking about?” I asked her confused.

“There was an act of sabotage. The equipment in the armory was enchanted and attacked everypony,” Night sobbed.

My eyes went wide as I held tightly on her. “Was anypony hurt?” Night just nodded and tried everything so she wouldn't have to look into my eyes. “Shield?” I just asked and she nodded again. “But she's alive?” Another nod. “Who else?”

“Midnight Flow, Heavy Chest and Night Dust, but,” Night stopped and her cries intensified again. Louder than I ever heard them before.

“Honey, talk to me!” I begged her.

“Sunset Streak and Rain Cloud are dead,” Night managed to bring out between her sobs.

My brain needed a few minutes to process the information registering the part that made no sense. “Sunset Streak? What was a Royal Guard doing in our Armory?”

“She was Midnight's marefriend.”

“Oh shit,” was all I could think to say. “How is she?”

Night sighed as her sobs slowly ebbed down. “Broken. Hopeless. Everything she has every right to be, but I'm also concerned. She wants revenge over everything else, I was able to talk her down, for now, but… I see it. I see the look, the pain, and the rage. It’s… it’s going to be bad.”

“We can look after her tomorrow. For now we should get you cleaned and into bed,” I said calmly and offered her a hoof to help her up.

“I have a bad feeling about everything,” Night said before grabbing my hoof and getting up. She’s always been a small pony, but right now… she feels so light in my grasp. It always amazed me how a pony that weighs nothing could carry such a huge weight upon her shoulders.

“Sorry for ruining the ground...”

“The floor is the least of my concerns!” I snapped, but I also felt a pang of guilt for when Luna discovered what happened to her floor.

“Blue...”

“Bathroom.”

“Blue.”

“Yes?”

“I love you.”

My heart was badly pained at those words, because I knew how scared she must be. “I love you too. And don't worry, I don't have any intention of leaving you. Ever,” I said softly.

I slowly guided her to the bathroom and into the tub. Without thinking, I climbed in behind her and started the water before grabbing a small brush to get all the blood out of her coat and from her hooves. She stayed still during the whole process, not making a sound.

As I finished and came up, she suddenly took me in a hard kiss, pressing her lips to mine as if she would drown without me. Her wings gently held me where I was all the while. I didn't complain and leaned into the kiss, trying to give her everything she needed, to be there for her.

“Everything came back up,” she whispered as we broke.

“Night, we talked about it,” I replied, gently nuzzling her. “I won’t leave you.”

“If this was the Royal Guard, we aren’t safe anymore.”

“I don’t think it was the regular Royal Guard.”

“Why's that?” she asked me.

I sighed. “Why would they start this now and not months ago? This just doesn’t makes any sense.” I snorted and glared. “No, I’m pretty sure that this was somepony we know very well.”

“Grey Plate?”

“Stop reading my mind,” I scolded her playfully before growing serious again. “Who else? The Royal Guard wouldn’t do anything under Celestia’s watch. I’m pretty sure that this was the act of an outsider.”

“And here I am supposed to be the general, yet my wife has the more intuitive mind,” Night replied. “Do you really think it was him?”

I had to admit that it was only a part of my mind that believed in this, but it made too much sense. “He was stripped of his rank thanks to us. He’s got every reason to do it.”

Her wings played over my back, the water playing its soft rhythm on our skin. “And what can we do with Midnight?”

“We should talk to her tomorrow, first thing.”

“Well, Luna and I are going to meet Celestia in the morning, so that will have to wait,” Night interjected before looking pleadingly at me. “Would you accompany me?”

“I don’t know if I should—”

“Oh come on, as if any of them would complain,” Night snorted. “Besides, they—”

Before she could go on, I closed the gap between us again and pressed my lips to hers, effectively shutting her up. Her wings continued over my back until they found my flanks, gently squeezing them.

Night breathed heavily and tried everything but to look at me as we broke. “I don’t know if I’m in the mood for this anymore.”

“I never asked you to,” I replied gently. “Let’s just go and snuggle to sleep and worry tomorrow.”

She nodded and I stopped the water before grabbing two towels. I slowly dried myself, but was more than hindered in my efforts due to my swollen belly. Before I could complain, Night had finished drying her own coat and snatched my towel away, drying the spots I couldn’t reach so easily anymore.

“You’re so easy to tease,” she snickered as she finished and slapped me softly on the flank with the towel.

Nose held high, I swished my tail at her before going back to the bedroom and climbing onto our bed, turning to my side. Seconds passed and nothing happened, so I lifted my head and looked back to see Night standing a few hooves away from me, smiling.

“What are you waiting for?” I asked.

“Nothing, just looking at you,” she chuckled. “Sometimes I still don’t believe that you’re mine.”

I chuckled as well and patted the mattress to my side. “Forever and always. Now come or I’ll get cold.”

There were many things I had to tell Night Watch twice. ‘Come to bed’ wasn’t one of those. In just a moment she rounded the bed and climbed on the other side, laying down next to me, nearly immediately wrapping me in a soft and warm hug.

“I don’t know what I would do without you at my side,” she said softly.

“Neither do I,” I replied, nuzzling into her neck. “I love you.”

There was no reply and I had no idea if she had heard me. Looking, I smiled as I found her already asleep, with a beautiful smile on her muzzle. Gently brushing her mane out of her face, I planted a soft kiss on her nose before snuggling back in. “Goodnight, my love.”

***

“Noooo!“

My eyes shot open and I jumped slightly upon the cry, before calming down and looking what had happened. At my side, Night Watch clamped her fangs and hooves tightly into her cushion, tears flowing freely from her eyes.

“Night,“ I said, nudging her slightly.

“No! Don't leave me!“ she cried back. ”Please, I need you! I'm nothing without you!“

“NIGHT!” I yelled, shaking her harshly. “You're dreaming, wake up!”

Night stopped trembling and opened her eyes, still blurred with unscathed tears. “You're here!” she said and quickly embraced me, her whole body shaking. “Oh thank Luna, you're here, you're not gone!”

“Why would I ever leave you?” I asked her softly, gently holding her.

“I… It… I had two dreams. In the first—” Night choked and pressed herself firmly against me. “You died in my hooves,” she sobbed before sniffing. “And in the other you left me because I'm clumsy, ugly and useless.”

“You may be clumsy, my love, but that's just you being you. All the other things are outright lies,” I whispered, gently nuzzling her. “You are my strong, smart, and beautiful wife.”

“I don't want you to go,” she said, her voice still shaken.

“Night, I won't. Never. No matter what happens,” I said before sighing. “I thought your nightmares stopped years ago when we talked about this. Is it about Midnight Flow and Sunset Streak?” I felt her nod and a few tears dropping onto my shoulder. “What are you so scared about?”

It took her a few moments to answer, but when she did, I understood her loud and clear. “That something unexpected happens. That we are happy and from one day to another, you are not there anymore. Or the other way around.” she stopped and sighed. “I’m worried we've bitten off more than we can chew.”

I broke the embrace and looked into her eyes, gently wiping a few tears from her muzzle with my wing. “We can do this. Together, just like we did everything else. Let's be strong and have a wonderful future together, Night. Let's be strong for our daughter, so she can have a good place in this world.”

My last few words seemed to have broken through, because she looked down at my belly and a smile appeared on her muzzle. However, her next move was unpredictable, even to me. She lowered herself and pressed her muzzle against my stomach, nuzzling it.

“I can't wait to meet you, Night Moon,” she whispered and I had to chuckle.

“My wife is such a softy.”

“Only with you,” she said as she came back up and blew me a raspberry, something she should remember the consequences of.

Before Night could retract her tongue, I darted forward and bit it, refusing to let go. My fangs pierced her tongue and I sucked greedily, while Night seemed to curse silently.

“Ow, ow, ow, BLUE! Noth my thongue!” she complained, and after a few good seconds, I let go. “Alright, you love my raspberries, I know,” she pouted.

I winked, “Well, they give me a quick meal.”

“You know you could just ask.”

“That wouldn't be any fun.”

“You really know how to make me feel better,” she snorted and glared at me.

I held her gaze, and it took us exactly four seconds before we both collapsed in laughter.

“You know what Luna would tell us now,” she snickered.

“Yes,” I grinned back. “That even after all those years, we are still acting like cute fillies fresh in love.”

She sighed and leaned against me. “I hope it will be always like that.”

“We can't predict the future, but I will do everything I can for it,” I whispered gently, enjoying the contact more than I could ever describe.

“What would I be without you?”

“We wouldn't be anything without each other,” I replied. “Without you, I wouldn't have the life I have now. And with that fact, if I had known it years ago and never met you, I'm sure I would've regretted it dearly.”

We stayed like that for a while before she sighed. “How late is it?”

I took a glance out of the window and frowned. “Your timing was marvelous, Luna is lowering the moon. If we want to meet her before going to Celestia, we should hurry up.”

“Damn, and I like our morning shower fun!”

“Then it's evening shower fun today,” I chuckled before giving her a light slap with my wing. “Up! We’ve got work to do.”

She groaned and stayed where she was, but quickly scrambled to her hooves as my fangs suddenly pointed at a very soft region of her coat. “Alright, alright. You still joining me in the shower?” she asked, giving me her best puppy eyes.

“Fine,” I grumbled. “But you better keep your wings where they are.”

Night just laughed as I chased her into the bathroom and into the shower. She quickly turned the water on and pulled me in. Sighing, I allowed myself to relax against her, feeling the water wander over my coat.

Sometimes, time can go to Tartarus

***

Night was incredibly nervous as we waited in front of Luna's chambers. She worried that we were too late, that our snuggling session in the shower was at the wrong time.

“Night, calm down. She's getting ready, you heard what Strawberry Ice said,” I scolded her as her fidgeting became annoying again.

“Do you really think it was necessary to put our uniforms on?”

“Yes, because today you're not talking to her as her friend, you talk to her about an inter-military matter that could easily get out of hoof. As the General of Equestria.” I replied. “Now stop—”

I was interrupted by the door opening and Luna coming out. She wore her formal dress in midnight-blue, only a few shades darker than her coat, the trims black and silver. But that wasn't all. Over it, she wore parts of armor, melting perfectly with the dress. One thing was clear: She looked beautiful, but also highly dangerous.

“It's a pity you two never allowed me to treat you to a night after your wedding, if I’m reading your gazes right,” Luna chuckled softly.

Opening her muzzle, Night was about to say something and I knew it was either incredibly stupid or incredibly brave. Knowing her, probably both, but I quickly kicked against her right hind leg, causing her to flinch and shut her muzzle again.

The only one allowed to play with you at night is me. Princess or not.

It seemed like Night had gotten the message, because she shook her head before smiling sadly at Luna. “Do you really think she will listen to us? After all, the hatred the Royal Guard has for us are just rumors to her.”

“She will listen,” Luna replied clearly. “‘Tis something we won't ignore this time!” Then, a bit quieter, she added. “I feel the pain Midnight Flow feels. I know every aspect of it. Worry not, my friends, for I have plans for this young Night Guard so her life might bloom again under my moon.”

Hearing what Luna said settled at least one pain for me, and I was sure that Night felt the same. We both nodded and Luna took the lead as we made our way to the dinner hall where Celestia and Luna would usually enjoy breakfast before Celestia attended her duties and Luna went to bed. Seeing the Princess of the Night stepping forward furiously, I had no doubt Luna would remain sleepless until this matter was resolved.

“I cannot describe what I feel,” Luna suddenly spoke up. “All of you are my friends. Some more than others. A few of you are even my family, as such was Rain Cloud. Some of you know that he was my personal Guard for over thirteen years.”

“Thirteen years,” Night mumbled before her ears folded down. “Luna, there is something we have to talk about later, in private.”

“Very well,” Luna replied. “You wish it to be between us or shall Blue Moon accompany us?”

“She's coming with us of course,” Night said, and I knew she was a bit annoyed that Luna even suggested she had to talk about something without me needing to hear it.

Luna giggled. “I never doubted it, General. Now I hope you two are ready. This won’t be an easy talk,” she added as they arrived at the doors to the dining hall, flanked by two Royal Guards.

Looking at Night, I offered her a hoof she quickly squeezed before facing the door again.

We all knew this wouldn’t be easy. But I was determined to stand this with Night. It was the least I could do.

The rest of the walk was silent after that. I looked around at my two companions, Luna had her battle face on. I could see the determination and fierceness in her eyes. In a way it scared me, it was the same look that she’d wear when she went to war, and having fought by her side more than once, I pity anypony or anything for that matter that incurred her wrath.

However the real danger wasn’t her, it was the pony that walked to my side. I looked over at the face of my wife, my general, Night Watch. She came up to my neck when she stood up, next to Princess Luna she was but a foal; however, at that moment, if I had to face one of the two in battle, I’d pick Princess Luna.

Gone was the playful bumbling mare. The one that tripped when walking down the aisle on our wedding day. It was replaced by something far-far more dangerous. The look on her face. I’ve seen it many many times over my life. It’s spelled the doom of countless armies.

Night Watch was planning, she was considering, thinking. When my eyes looked at her it was like I could see inside her head. I could see her playing through a million different scenarios of how this could go, of what she could do with the assets at hoof.

A cold shiver went down my spine as I, for just a second, pictured what that had to mean. What she was really planning in the absolute worst-case scenario. For in that second, in that split second, I saw her overthrowing Celestia herself.

I bumped her with my flank. Breaking her out of her concentration and almost causing her to fall over. “Blue, what the heck?” She asked playfully.

“Relax,” I replied back with a kind smile, one that was returned after a moment. She smiled back and started walking coat to coat with me.

“Thank you, for being by my side I mean. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

“Go into a blind rage and overthrow Equestria?” I asked playfully.

Night laughed. “Probably.” I don’t know if she did it on purpose or on reflex, but at that moment her hoofblades clicked together. They were an intricate part of her uniform, but that didn’t make them any less dangerous. I’ve personally seen what she can do with them. Her speed and size made them a deadly weapon on their own; although, they were nothing more than a foal’s toy when compared to her intellect and natural ability to command armies. I paused and looked at her. The moment she realized I’d stopped she turned around and said, “I’m joking.”

After a second I caught back up to her. She nuzzled me and we kept walking with Luna.

I hate it when you lie to me, I thought. We both know that wasn’t a joke.

With a wave of her horn, Luna threw open the doors to the chamber and we walked in, heads held high. I knew we had to strike quite the imposing figure between the three of us. Luna, in her regalia covered with armor, Night with her uniform on, and then there was me. In a way I felt like the odd-pony out. My armor was still in my chambers and I had merely my dress uniform on, mainly because it would not have fit me anyway, not with this huge foal-bump anyway. But the attention was on the other two anyway.

Celestia sat on the throne with her advisors flanking her. They quickly looked up at us and I could see the fear in their eyes. They were used to Luna, but Night and I were a different story. We were Equestria’s ‘dark secret’ after all, its warriors. They all knew of us, but it wasn’t something talked about.

It also didn’t help that the rumors of my wife persuaded her already fearsome reputation. Based on some of what I’ve overheard she won the last three wars all by herself and with a hoof and wing tied behind her back. The Equestrian Devil, they’d call her.

When I had told her that she just laughed. We all knew it was BS, but she said there was some value in such a reputation. And based on the last war with the Griffins, one that ended as soon as we showed up and with zero bloodshed, I suppose that’s true.

“Umph.”

On reflex alone, without missing a step, I helped Night get back to her hoofs. I had to bite my tongue to keep from smiling, I knew she hated being a clutz, but I loved her for it. Thinking back to it, I think it was due to that very fact that I first took interest in her. There was something about seeing this small, foal-sized mare tripping over her own hooves that just made me smile. Since then I’ve only fallen that much more in love with her the more I got to know her. But that was the initial thing that caught my eye.

Nopony said anything about it. We were all used to it, it’s just who she is after all.

“Sister!” Luna shouted when we closed the distance.

Night and I sat back on our flanks and looked up at Celestia as her sister laid into her. I watched as she and Luna had a rather… spirited debate, but even seeing the two alicorns argue, I couldn’t help but glance over to Night every now and again. She looked out of place, well, for that matter so did I. I mused over the situation. Instinctively I knew that this was between those three. Luna, Celestia, and Night. If I had to qualify myself here, I was the muscle.

That thought almost made me laugh, muscle, yeah right. I then kicked myself internally. I’m moral support.

I did smile at that. That was something I could be, something I wanted to be. That thought made me realize exactly how much I meant to Night and I couldn’t help but sit slightly taller.

Everything for her.


Author's Note

Aaaand another chapter.
I'm not promising any chapters per week, but I try :twilightsmile:

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