Author's Note

...and so it comes to pass once more. Another tale of love and lust begins, only to, eventually, reach its inevitable end. Shall we go forth on this literary adventure together? It's going to be a long one...

~

Story contains spoilers for the Season 5 finale (episodes 25 + 26) of the official show (and by proxy potentially all other previous episodes) and very mature, sexual dialogue and explicit situations. You have been warned.

Meeting the New Guards

It was a beautiful Summer afternoon in Equestria as Princess Twilight Sparkle sighed happily, birds singing as the sun shone brightly outside. Late afternoon sunlight poured in through the window as she was sitting in the den and reading room of the Castle of Friendship, her home in Ponyville, flittering a wing's feathers as she settled down to read a book after having eaten a late lunch.

Spike had headed out for some reason or another after making them lunch, likely something involving his filly-friend and heart-throb Apple Bloom, and Twilight was looking forward to having a nice spot of quiet reading, something that was becoming much less common of an occurrence since she'd ascended to being an Alicorn princess some years ago....and even less common since her castle had magically grown from the earth itself after her and her friends restored the Tree of Harmony, the Cutie Map popping up along with it, and the tasks the tree brought with it, including the so-recent 'Glimmer Incident'.

As she heard a knock on the front door, Twilight gave a groan as she realized she likely wouldn't be reading anytime soon, lighting her horn and tossing the book aside in frustration with a levitation spell. As she reached the front door and opened it, she saw a group of three ponies; two bowing Royal Night Guards...and in the center Princess Luna herself.

On reflex Twilight bowed before the Princess of the Night, only to hear her chuckle fondly, placing a silver-slippered cobalt-blue hoof on Twilight's withers and greeting her with a smile as Twilight rose again. "Twilight, will you ever stop bowing to me? We are both princesses now, both Alicorns. Equals. You needn't bow to me."

"Sorry?" Twilight asked, the same way she always did, earning another fond chuckle from Luna.

"Oh Twilight, please never change. I love you just as you are." Luna said, getting a smile from Twilight as she wrapped her in a winged hug, Twilight returning it. She always had liked Luna since she'd come back to Equestria all those years past, finding a kindred spirit with Luna as she had with Luna's sister and Twilight’s ex-mentor, Princess Celestia, as a foal.

"So, I'm sure you're wondering why I and these two guards..." Luna said, gesturing to the bowing stallion and mare Lunar Royal Guards to either side of her, "are here this afternoon?"

Twilight simply nodded, only just noticing the guards again and giving them a quick glance-over and wave of the hoof, before returning her focus to Luna. "Right. May we speak inside?" Luna asked, with Twilight again nodding and inviting the trio in. "Guards, come inside with me please." The guards stood from their bow and did as commanded, following the Princesses in.

"I have some tea steeping, would you like some? Perhaps some water?" Twilight offered as they walked, getting a nod from Luna.

"Four glasses of tea would be lovely." Luna requested, nodding towards the guards. Twilight nodded in turn, going to get the tea as she heard the whistle of the kettle.

"Um...just go settle in in the den over there. I'll be there in a moment and bring the tea." Twilight said, pointing to the appropriate door.

~

After Twilight and Luna were settled in at the reading room, the guards standing watch, Luna finally spoke after taking a sip of tea. "Delicious as always. Now though, to the matter at hoof." Luna said, before looking to Twilight, who looked rather curious now.

"This is regarding the incident in which the Cutie Map was exploited to enable an infinite time-travel spell, which could have ended the comparatively-peaceful Equestria as we know it forever." Luna said, looking seriously at Twilight, "What you called in your report the 'Glimmer Incident'."

Twilight sighed as she remembered that event, in which the Friendship Map was exploited to, incidentally, nearly destroy Equestria’s freedom, and in one case Equestria itself, across nearly every dimension by a pony trying to get revenge upon her for having friends and for ruining her 'perfect community' of Cutie-Markless ponies. The ones she'd brainwashed to think they were all equal and happy, despite the opposite being true. She'd tried to convert the sextet of friends to her way of thinking by stealing their Cutie Marks, and thereby their special talents, but ultimately failed. Twilight and the others escaped, and, with help, stopped her from stealing her friends’ and her marks for good.

After Twilight and her friends had gotten their stolen Cutie Marks back, as well as the Cutie Marks of the villagers, the village leader Starlight Glimmer had many moons later after that event tried to get revenge. She made it so that Twilight and her friends had never met by using a time-travel spell and changing the past, preventing Rainbow Dash from creating the Sonic Rainboom that had inadvertently set off a chain of events which had earned the sextet all their Cutie Marks, thus consequently eternally bonding them as friends before they even knew each other.

The constant time-traveling – and each increasingly horrid alternate fate of Equestria it brought with it, ending with Ponyville and all of Equestria being a barren, lifeless wasteland – only ended when Starlight Glimmer, the pony responsible, surrendered and stood down after realizing exactly what she was doing; her not realizing just how important Twilight's friendships ultimately were to the very existence of Equestria itself upon seeing the desolate wasteland it would become without them with her own eyes.

"I see you know what I'm referring to, Twilight," Luna said, seeing the expression of deep thought on her face, "I cannot help but feel that such a valuable - and so easily exploited - object as the Cutie Map being left unprotected any longer is in Equestria's best interests. I mean, it's not that I don't trust you to protect it from others who mean to use it for malefic means Twilight, nor that I do not trust you yourself, as quite the opposite is true, but I believe having guards guarding and patrolling around the Castle of Friendship..." Luna said, nodding to either guard that flanked her, "...to protect you and the Map as well, would be in the best interest of all involved."

Twilight looked to either guard, then back to Luna again. "I see. So these guards...are meant for my castle?" she asked, getting a nod from the moon-princess.

"Yes Twilight, I am posting two of my most trusted Royal Night Guards to your castle to begin serving you. I would send a platoon of guards to you, but we, sister Celestia and myself, believe that two per shift – two for day and two for night – will suffice for now, given the relative calmness of Ponyville as of late, outside that incident. These guards, and those Celestia will be sending within the week for the day shift, are under strict instruction to follow your every command as though it were my own, and will serve you in any way necessary." Luna said, pausing when Twilight looked at her guards with a hint of unease.

"Ah, I see you've also noticed that they are both 'thestrals', more commonly known as 'bat-ponies', as are many of my Canterlot Night Guard. They are close friends with each other, and myself, and they have impeccable night-vision, great maneuverability given their wings and training, and are undyingly loyal to me...and now you. I asked sister Celestia for her opinion on the matter and she agreed with my decision. These two guards are now officially under your command, Twilight." Luna concluded, looking to Twilight for a response.

Twilight simply blinked, noticing that the two ponies were indeed thestrals, their leathery, membranous bat-like wings folded to their sides, small fangs protruding from their mouths. Twilight took this opportunity to look them over, slowly circling the two. As she did, their eyes didn't follow her, both staring ahead as they were trained to.

The stallion was as thickly build and highly muscular as all Royal Guard stallions were, wearing the regulation silver, purple and blue crested helmet and patrol armor set of the Lunar Royal Guards along with matching silvery sabatons. His coat was an ashen grey, his mane so light-gray it was virtually white, both groomed and trimmed to regulation, his coat glossy and his mane cropped short. His tail's color matched his mane's and was cropped short as well.

Like virtually all thestrals - with a strong minority having red or green instead - his eyes were golden-yellow and their pupils naturally slitted like a cat's, giving him a mysterious and unnatural appearance to most ponies. His membranous wings, now folded at his sides, were much like those of a bat's – hence the thestrals' moniker of 'bat-ponies'. The fingers were an ashen-grey, with the inner membranes a lighter gray. As she looked from his tail to his stifle, she saw that his Cutie-mark was a dark-blue shield with a crescent moon as its crest.

The mare looked much the same as the stallion – a glossy mid-grey coat, a few shades lighter than his, slitted yellow eyes, leathery, membranous wings with lighter-grey membranes, silvery helm, metal armor, and sabatons – but was significantly shorter and less bulky than him, looking about the general size of an Earth-pony mare and just as muscular. Her mane and tail were a deep royal blue and were longer than the cropped style of her stallion compatriot's, flowing into gentle waves, with her tail in curls instead of being cropped short. A look to her flank showed that her Cutie-mark was the Moon with a raincloud in front of it, with precipitation visible.

Luna must have noticed the expression on Twilight's face as she looked over the guards, mistaking it as fear, so she quickly worked to quell whatever was going through her mind about them. "Besides your castle's security and after the 'vampony' rumors – and they are just that, rumors – about thestrals drinking blood that have been spreading around these parts, I need Equestria's citizens to see that the thestrals are no more threat than anypony else; to show them that bat ponies are not to be feared, but instead to be trusted and viewed as protectors in the same way as my sister's guards are, instead of seeing them as blood-sucking monsters. What better way to accomplish that than having two of them protect the Princess of Friendship herself?” Luna explained, getting a soft nod of understanding from Twilight.

"I'm not afraid of them or anything, I mean, I knew bat-ponies all the time in Canterlot Castle, remember? I used to talk and play with the guards and Guard recruits as a filly all the time. It's just... why now? Starlight Glimmer did that last month, and now she's living with me and is making great progress on reforming herself as my pupil learning about friendship," Twilight said, before looking at the guards, "I mean, nothing's happened since..."

"I know this is sudden, but we simply cannot have a recurrence of a security breach of this magnitude. While I trust your judgement on Starlight Glimmer turning a new leaf, what if the next pony or other creature to pull something like this isn't just a misguided pony, but has truly evil intentions of destroying Equestria after all? Regardless, Celestia and I have been discussing sending you your own guards since that castle...grew...and this simply moved that along to fruition. Besides, we wouldn't want to have to get Shining Armor involved, would we?" Luna said with a sense of finality.

Twilight slumped a bit at the mention of her brother. She knew she'd never hear the end from him about it if Luna did tell him she'd been at risk in her own castle, and that he would probably insist on protecting her himself. Twilight couldn't have that, knowing he had an entire empire to rule with his wife Princess Cadence, as well as their beautiful daughter, and her niece, Flurry Heart, to care for and watch grow up; neither of which he could do guarding her.

"Alright, I understand and accept. They're...my guards now." Twilight said, getting a nod from Luna as she rose and hugged her again in parting.

"If you have any trouble with them, though I shouldn't imagine you would..." Luna said, giving each of the guards a firm look, "...just let me know and I'll take care of it. Sorry to leave so suddenly, but I've other matters to attend to, so I'll leave you to get acquainted with your new guards, and if you have any questions regarding them or anything else, just feel free to send a letter or visit me in Canterlot. Goodbye Twilight, and thank you for the tea." With that, Luna lit her horn, and in a second she was gone in a flash of light, leaving Twilight alone with the two Thestrals.

The room was awkwardly silent after Luna had left, the two guards still standing at attention to either side of where Luna had sat, motionless and seemingly lifeless, their faces devoid of any emotion. "Um...hello?" Twilight said as she looked to the guards, similar to how she'd spoken to Pinkie Pie that very first time she'd met her in Ponyville; unsure, but friendly.

"Master-Sergeant Bade Moonglade reporting, Your Highness!" the stallion barked, saluting.

"Sergeant Amaya Noctis reporting, Your Highness!" the mare replied in tandem, then saluting herself.

Twilight jumped at the sudden voice of the thestrals, though instantly recognizing the stallion's from somewhere long ago. "So...um...what exactly are your orders?" Twilight asked, trying to take on the sudden authoritarian role she was thrust into.

"We were commanded by Our Princess Luna to guard you and your home with our lives and to obey your every order as though it were her own, Your Highness! We are stationed at the Castle of Friendship for now and until further notice, and are to patrol for any anomalous behavior or occurrences on the grounds, in addition to whatever your orders are, ma'am!" the stallion stated, still standing firm.

Twilight was feeling somewhat uneasy by them just...standing there statuesque, staring at her and saluting. "Um... at ease?" Twilight said, more of a question than a command, but instantly the stone-like ponies relaxed some, looking like living ponies instead of statues of them.

"Bade...Bade...I know that name. Don't I know you from somewhere?" Twilight asked, finding the stallion looking more and more familiar as she looked at him more.

"Permission to speak freely ma'am?" Bade requested, Twilight granting it with a nod, "Princess Twilight, we were both foals living and studying in Canterlot Castle together, ma'am. While you were studying, I was in a junior guard program. We would occasionally talk when we met at the Royal Library, you doing magic studies and I royal guard studies."

There was a spark of recognition in Twilight's eyes, remembering a certain bat-pony pup that would always bother her while studying, just another of the ponies trying to 'make friends' with her and interrupt her studies, just like Minuette, Lemon Hearts and Twinkleshine, and of course Moondancer; all of them ponies she'd recently made amends with. Feeling a pang of regret as she remembered how she'd blown him off time after time, she decided this would be a good chance to make reparations with him too. "Bade Moonglade?" Twilight asked excitedly in recognition, the stallion nodding, "Moonie?!" she asked again, with the stallion smiling brightly in response to that old nickname she'd given him as a pup.

"Yeah...that's me, all grown up and enlisted in the Royal Guard now....and look at you, Princess Twilight Sparkle!" he said happily, looking much more relaxed now, "When I learned you were the newest Princess, I couldn't believe that little filly with her books—"

"Oh, so this is that little ‘lavender-coated, violet-eyed filly’ Twilight you'd always talk to in the library, huh?" Amaya, the mare guard, interrupted, looking at Twilight then at Bade again; "She sure grew up from the 'little bookworm' you described her to me as, becoming an alicorn princess and all..." She gave Bade a smirk.

"I-I'm so sorry your Highness!" Bade stammered, mortified, glaring at Amaya before bowing to Twilight, "I didn't mean anything bad by that description, just that you liked studying books! I mean—"

"At ease Master-Sergeant." Twilight stated in a command, the solder quickly getting back to his hooves. Twilight could swear she heard Amaya giggling. Twilight sighed. "Look, it's very hard for me to command ponies around like this and have them putting me on a pedestal just because I have wings and a horn. Therefore, I request that you and Amaya remain at ease around me and treat me as though I were a fellow guardspony, or friend, instead of royalty. Until I give an order, of course...and that's an order itself."

The two thestrals looked at each other, then her. "Your Highness, are you commanding us to...you want us to treat you as an...equal?" Bade asked, a confused tone in his voice.

"Yes, yes I am." Twilight said simply, nodding, "I really don't feel comfortable bossing ponies around in an everyday situation. It just feels...wrong to me."

The two bat-ponies looked to each other, back to her, then nodded. "As you request." both replied, giving a courteous bow.

"That means no bowing either, except in public," Twilight said, giving a chuckle, "friends don't bow to each other like that, after all. Also, just call me Twilight please, and that's an order too. Being called 'princess' still makes me feel...weird."

"As you wish...Twilight." Bade said, with it feeling strange calling her that.

"Yes Twilight, as you command." Amaya replied.

"Also," Twilight said, noticing the large amount of luggage set up near the entrance, undoubtedly all of the guards' possessions, "I would like to show you to your quarters first," Twilight called out to them as she watched them walk away to do their initial patrols no doubt. "I want you to be comfortable here, and having a little place to call your own is a great way to get settled into a new home. You can also leave your armor in your chamber when you're off-duty. You won't need it to relax, after all!"

Both guards nodded as Twilight levitated their bags in her magic, following her as she'd commanded.

<Wow, this is gonna feel soooo weird having these guards under my control...> Twilight thought to herself, soon reaching some vacant rooms side-by-side, and a short distance from her own.

Twilight thought, her eyes once more drawn to that stallion, seeing in great detail just how handsome he'd grown up to be,

~

As he was setting up his room and unpacking, Bade pulled out an old and partially-faded, badly-taken picture of himself and Twilight when they were filly and pup and placed it in the frame of his vanity mirror, looking at it as the memories of her started rushing back to him. That's when Amaya nudged Bade, interrupting his thoughts as she looked down at the picture. "Hey, is it just me, or is Princess Twilight really hot now? Like, she's one hay of a sexy mare!" she asked, getting a mortified look from Bade but continuing anyways, "I mean, I know she's a princess and all but damn her wings are seeeeexy...and that flank, don't get me started on her flank!"

"You shouldn't say things like that about a princess!" Bade exclaimed instantly, looking around to make sure nopony else had heard her. The area was empty, save for them.

"Aw lighten up! I could see the way you were looking at her flank too, mister 'I used to talk to you in the library sometimes, Twilight'! Don't think I've forgotten what you said about how you used to feel about her, Bade. How you used to think about her once you were alone for the night...how—"

"Enough!" Bade said sharply, interrupting her as he continued to unpack, a blush heavy on his face; "That was before she became a Princess!" He sighed, looking to his dresser's vanity mirror and seeing his own reflection, "Besides, we barely even talked back then. After a few exchanges she'd always start ignoring me, engrossed in some book or another again. I'd never stand a chance catching her attention now, not with her...being a...a Princess...and me a lowly guard, and a thestral at that. A...A 'bloodsucker', as they call us."

Bade recoiled as he felt a hoof smack his face firmly but not enough to hurt much, looking into the hard gaze of Amaya. "Don't you dare say such things about yourself, Bade Moonglade, or about our tribe! Not only are you absolutely not a 'bloodsucker', but you're also somepony who's risen through the ranks of the Royal Guard in record time; somepony Luna trusts explicitly with her very life and who many other ponies are proud to call a friend and fellow Guardspony, including Princess Twilight herself! Somepony that is also very special to Twilight even still, I'm sure."

Bade simply chuffed. "As if...Twilight is a princess now! An Alicorn princess! I've not truly known her in...at least twenty years, and she's...got other friends now. The quintet of mares who will never leave her side, and who have helped her save the world...hay, countless times. She doesn't...need a worthless bat-pony like me as a friend anymore. Surely—"

Another, harder smack of a hoof across his face interrupted him again, with him looking up to see Amaya glaring at him once more. "You are the best friend I've ever had Bade! I never want to hear you call yourself worthless again, you hear me?! You're a kind, handsome stallion who is loyal to his friends and country alike. You would lay down your life to protect Equestria as you swore in your oath to do. Not everypony can say they would...and Twilight would be lucky to have somepony like you as a friend! Besides that, a Princess not falling for a Royal Guard? Oh, did you maybe hear about Shining Armor? Who do you think he is? Oh, right, HE'S A GUARD MARRIED TO AN ALICORN PRINCESS!"

Bade simply grimaced, rubbing his smacked cheek idly as he thought about what Amaya said. He'd finished unpacking, his room now looking much like his barracks at the Castle though much more roomy. He could get used to not having to share a bathroom with other ponies, and not having to listen to Nightfang snoring all night too!

"Twilight would be even more lucky to have you as a lover than a friend, as you said you'd always dreamed of her being! I remember you telling me about those dreams, of you getting married to her..." Amaya said as they then walked to her bedchamber, her thoughts then switching gears; "Oh I hope my 'preciouses' didn't get hurt in the move...please tell me they didn't..."

Bade blushed deeply at that statement about getting married to Twilight, glad that his helmet covered his face from Amaya.

"Amaya..." he muttered, clearly trying to contain his embarrassment and failing.

"Anyhow...don't think I've forgotten about that...and don't forget about that time you nearly asked her to dance at your and her graduation ceremony dance! How you told me you wanted to ask her on a date...then didn't. How you wanted to marry her, have foals and grow old together..."

Bade remained silent the rest of the trip, remembering all of that was true. He had wanted to ask Twilight Sparkle, the beautiful Unicorn he'd known since foalhood, to dance that night but hadn't had the nerve; he'd wanted to ask her on a date many times after as well but never could bring himself to. "I...I know." Bade replied simply, sighing softly.

"...and don't forget that I know you used to masturbate to the thought of her when you were younger! If I were you back then, I would have gone after that cloppable flank then and there!" Amaya said, then finally reaching her chamber and stepping inside, finding it looked much like Bade's next door.

Bade's blush grew deeper as she said that, his head lashing up to look at her, "You promised you'd never bring that up again!" he yelped, looking like a scared rabbit, "You can't tell anypony I used to think of Princess Twilight like that! I'd be a laughingstock...and possibly even kicked out of the Guard or something!"

Amaya put a soft hoof on him, smiling softly, "Hey I haven't told anypony before, why would I now? Besides, you think you're the only one with that purple posterior on their mind as they rub one out? She's likely the clop-material of many a pony, stallion and mare alike..." she comforted, with Bade quickly calming down, "All I'm saying is, I know you still likely harbor feelings for Twilight, no matter what you say." Amaya sighed, before looking out the window and seeing night was falling.

As she dug through her luggage, she pulled out a number of long and slim boxes and opened them. "Ah, looks like my preciouses are juuuust fine." Amaya said with a sensual coo, Bade knowing those dozens of boxes all too well. Inside each one was a dildo or dong of some sort; many were anatomically accurate stallionhoods – medial ring, flared glans and a large set of balls at the base, though some lacked the balls – though there were more than a few more 'exotic' ones, like the upward-curved equine-shaped Zebra one, or the pointed and barbed 'Manticore', or the very large and thick-knotted 'Timber Wolf' or the dual-shafted and spined 'Dragon'. There were also double-ended ones, for when Amaya had mare ‘company’ in her bedroom. As she gave the glans of one a kiss, Bade winced.

"Really Sergent?! You brought those to a Princess's castle?!" Bade exclaimed in disbelief.

"What? I couldn't simply leave my collection of preciouses behind! What was I supposed to do, throw my collection that's worth at least a good few thousand Bits away just because we're changing deployment?" Amaya asked indignantly, petting one of the larger, double-ended twenty-four-inch stallion models, "You know as well as I do how strong a thestral's sex drive is Bade, and I wouldn't survive long without one of these during mating season! Oh, don't give me that look! Don't think I haven't heard you moaning as you rubbed one out countless times after smelling a mare in heat over the years either!"

Bade's cheeks flushed red again as she said that, not helped by the large collection of dildos now displayed proudly on Amaya's shelf, all standing tall and proud in a row by size." "C-Come on, we've got to secure the perimeter at least once tonight." he said, trying to change the subject.

"Alright, alright, mister 'Thestral who can't talk about sex or jacking off without getting flustered'. I just have a few more bags and preciouses to unpack." Amaya said, moving to her non-sex-related baggage.

Bade nodded, lost in his thoughts now as she unpacked her clothes and such; thoughts of a particular purple alicorn he was tasked to protect. A beautiful, important mare that he indeed still felt very deeply for even if she likely didn't feel the same for him.

Amaya thought, looking over to her friend,

~

Twilight had arrived back in her study after she'd guided the two guards to their chambers to settle in, looking through her collection of books that had been salvaged from Golden Oak Library, the hollowed-out tree library that was her home that had stood near this spot, after its destruction at Tirek's hooves. As she carefully looked through the tomes with her magic, them still smelling lightly of burnt wood and smoke, she finally found what she was looking for.

As Twilight held the book she smiled softly, opening the book up and finding it was the picture album that she had as a filly she was looking for. As she looked through all of the pictures of her past – one of her holding her acceptance letter to Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns, one of her graduation from it, a picture of her and Cadence at the beach, Shining Armor, her brother, giving her a playful noogie when they were foals – and finally, a blurry, out-of-focus and slightly faded picture of her and a small bat-pony foal. A colt named Bade Moonglade standing beside her at their graduation, both smiling brightly.

Twilight smiled as she remembered the too-brief talks they'd had at the library, with her so focused on studying she'd started ignoring him after they talked for only a few minutes. Now that she thought back, he seemed like a nice enough colt and was cute to boot, something that she realized had translated over well to when he'd become a stallion. A big, strong, handsome stallion.

As Twilight looked through the precious few other pictures she had of him she smiled softly, wishing she'd gotten to know him more. Then she realized something: that nothing was stopping her from getting to know him more now; he was now posted her guard after all.

~

Amaya and Bade finished their first sweep before the sun set over the horizon, the sky a deep purple and orange, the stars of Luna's night starting to show as they headed back inside Twilight's castle and locked the door. Twilight had asked Spike to prepare an extra two portions of dinner for the guards, and as they sat at the table after being called for dinner they found a bowl of minestrone soup and fresh-baked bread placed before them, along with a floral salad of daffodils, daisies, lettuce, tomatoes, and rose petals drizzled with an Itallion-style vinaigrette.

"So, see anything out of the usual out there on patrol?" Twilight asked casually, a crisp crunch sounding out as she took a bite of bread.

"Nothing to report Prin...Twilight." Bade said, stumbling as he'd nearly called her 'princess' again and broke her earlier orders for them not to.

"No ma'am, nothing at all." Amaya said, confirming her partner's statement, "All calm."

As something came to mind, Twilight looked to Amaya, then Bade. "So, why do your names both have to do with the Moon? Is it like that with all thestrals?" Twilight asked, that question nagging her since she'd learned 'Amaya' was Japonies for 'night rain', and Moonglade was obviously also lunar-related, having done some light reading on thestrals and their customs while they were out.

"Well Twilight, long ago before Equestria was founded, Princess Luna found our race living in caves, away from the other races. A long story short, Princess Luna alone helped to defend us thestrals from certain extinction from a great threat, teaching us to fight and fighting to protect my ancestors herself. As a way to honor her, and what she'd done for us thestrals, at least one child from each family is to be named in some relation to the moon, night, dreams, or Luna herself." Amaya explained, taking another bite of salad.

"Being named in that way is viewed as a great honor in our culture; being named after your race's savior and all. I am the chosen one in my family, and Amaya in hers. Our ancestors swore their loyalty to Princess Luna that day of our salvation, swearing their fealty to her to serve her in any way possible for all generations to come. That's how the Lunar Royal Guard was originally formed, replacing the ponies who once served to allow them to use their talents elsewhere. Of course, those who wanted to stay were allowed, but Luna knew the value of having powerful allies. She also knew the pain of being shunned, so didn’t want that for the beings she just saved and befriended." Bade finished, having finished his meal in the meanwhile, eagerly moving on to the still-warm chocolate-chip cookies served for dessert.

Twilight blinked, having never read about this in any of her studying. She knew that not too much was know about thestrals' past though, as many ponies needlessly feared them too much to study even what was already documented of them; thinking of them as the 'vamponies' of old myth, many didn't even dare to approach them, let alone talk to or study them. All that was known by many was that one reason they were so efficient as night guards was that, combined with their keen night-vision and hearing, they also had their natural high-frequency screech that could temporarily deafen and disorient a threat, while also acting as an alarm call.

"Ah, I see, that's very interesting. I'll have to look into thestrals more." Twilight said, knowing she'd have to ask Princess Luna for more information or reading materials on thestrals later, to understand her new companions more. After all, who would know better about her guards than she who saved their race.

Amaya simply nodded, moving on to her own dessert, "So, mm these cookies are good...um...I mean, any more questions Twilight?" she asked, getting a nod in response.

"So, you and Bade are friends?" Twilight asked, getting a nod from both.

"Yes, we've known each other since we were filly and colt, or 'pups' as our tribe calls their young, and we've been inseparable since." Amaya answered, Bade backing her up with a nod, "Then we both decided to become Royal Guards together when we came of age and went to Royal Guard training together. He pulled more ranks than me though and eventually became my superior, something he won't let me forget."

"Ah, I see." Twilight said, nibbling on a flower stem, "So, anything exciting happen while you were on duty for Princess Luna you'd care to, or can, share?"

Amaya grinned. "Oh yes, let me tell you about that time..."

~ ~ ~

It was a couple of hours later of talking when Twilight yawned grandly, stretching her wings and legs as she stood. The quartet had talked about this and that; Twilight and the thestrals talking about themselves and their pasts, and Spike tossing in what he'd done with Apple Bloom that day.

As Twilight again yawned and Spike joined her, the thestrals nodded. "Are you ready to go to bed, Twilight?" Bade asked, getting a nod from her as he realized it was likely around midnight and they hadn't done any more patrols since late evening.

"Not that getting to know you two more wasn't fun, and hearing that about Princess Luna, but it's been a kinda long day." Twilight said, getting an understanding nod from the guards, "So, you two going to sleep as well?"

Bade shook his head 'no'. "You're not tired?" Twilight asked, getting another shake of the head.

"Ma'am. We thestrals are nocturnal, which is why we are so good at being night guards; when ponies have trouble staying awake, we're awake and alert." Bade explained, with Twilight clearly remembering that fact now, "Amaya and I will sleep in the morning, when you awaken. We will keep the area secure overnight."

Twilight simply nodded, her eyelids lidded tiredly as she smacked her lips, once more stretching her wings and legs as she walked. "Mmmmk, goodnight then." Twilight stated simply, Spike giving the guards the same sentiments, before both headed to her bedchambers.

As she walked away, she didn't notice that both guards' eyes followed her flank as she walked, before Amaya nudged Bade, startling him.

"W-Wha-?" he stammered, unable to tear his eyes from that royal plot.

"Don't think I don't see you eyeing the Royal Heinie mister Moonglade..." Amaya said with a snicker, seeing Bade's cheeks burn with a blush as he finally looked away, "...but don't worry, I was looking too. As I said, that ass is definitely divine."

"C-c'mon, we should do a patrol. It's been hours since the last one." Bade said, derailing the topic again.

"Uh-huh, alright." Amaya said with a knowing smirk, before following behind him as they headed to the front door.

~

In her chamber, Twilight lay awake on her bed, thoughts and memories of the thestral stallion who she couldn't stop thinking about for some reason keeping her awake.

"Bade...what are you doing to me..." Twilight whispered to herself, not entirely sure how to deal with the feelings that stallion was giving her. Feelings she'd never felt for a stallion before him.

Twilight felt she could warm up to having some new constant company around the castle to talk to; sworn, loyal protectors willing to give their lives for hers. To follow her every command.

It certainly helped they weren't the worst looking either, especially not Bade.