“Again!” Autumn barked at Shooting Star.

The stallion picked himself up off the ground, looking at the cream coloured unicorn. It was dark and somewhat hard to see her even with her light coat. Celestia hadn’t risen the sun yet and he was feeling fatigued and not just from waking up three hours before dawn again. His black mane was matted down against his coat covering half of his face. He was glad that she was holding back and only splashing him with water the moment his shield broke, but he gave her a defiant glare as he focused his magic once more into a shield that bubbled around him, and then expanded it so two ponies could comfortably stand under it. The strain felt like someone was squeezing his horn – it didn’t quite hurt, but it was uncomfortable. For the first time that morning the shield he held around him didn’t collapse in on him.

“Well done, now keep it up.” Autumn said with a harsh tone to her voice. Star hadn’t ever seen her this serious. She was dressed in an armoured battle dress with her signature scarf around her neck. If it hadn’t been for the scarf he could have easily confused her for the drill-magus that he had seen when they had a school trip to observe the guard during their daily routine. He had found out later that it had been an effort to get a new generation interested in joining. She took a breath and stared him in the eye, and then without warning hurled a fireball at him. Star let out a soft squeak as the fire washed over the magical barrier and turned green from the blue shield spell. The flames swirled around him and put an intense pressure on the shield. “Focus!” Autumn screamed as the fire from her spell pulled away and then exploded inward towards him.

Shooting Star let out a squeak, the fire having turned to an explosion around him. The loud crackle of energy signalled to him that he’d messed up. His shield buckled under the stress of Autumn’s spell. He could feel the fire an inch away from his coat but opening his eyes he noticed that it wasn’t moving. The fire had stopped, but there was no longer any shield protecting him from the sweltering heat. He felt like he was trapped inside an oven.

“You and Twilight would have been dead.” Autumn sighed heavily. “You have a long way to go, Star.” She muttered, her fire disappearing from existence.

“I… you make it seem so easy, Autumn. What am I doing wrong?” He asked, falling to his rump and panting heavily from exhaustion.

She sat beside him with a kind smile and wrapped a hoof around his shoulder. Being so close to her, he could see that the edge of the scarf was covered in small razor-like blades that didn’t seem to harm him or her. He shook his head slowly. It was hard to remember that the happy go lucky party girl was in the Solar Guard and not just as an adviser.

“It’s not about what you’re doing wrong, it’s what you lack, Star.” She said, levitating him a bottle of water. “I’ve been trained from when I was a child to use this kind of magic. To some in the guard, I am a walking weapon. You don’t use or even consider magic in the same way I do. If Twilight is at your side, she can help you keep the shield, you both complement each other like that.” She leans back and looks up at the sky.

“I know, but I want to protect her.” He said, looking Autumn in her amber eyes.

“You shouldn’t have to be like me to do that.” She looks at him for a long moment. “Leave fighting to the soldiers. If you really want to master this spell you’re going to have to practice it every morning, and I mean practice hard.” A small smirk formed on her lips as she pressed small glass item into his hooves, it was shaped like an egg, about the size of a dragon egg. “This will cast a fire spell at you, the same one I used. It has a safety enchantment on it will only interact with your shield and nothing else.”

“Wait. You didn’t have to hit me constantly before!?” He asked quite annoyed that she had spent the better part of the morning shooting him with energy blasts.

“Well yes. You wanted me to train you, failure and consequences are a part of that, Star.” She sighed softly. “The difference is I can control my magic enough to not hurt you, this can’t, I won’t be there to keep the fire away from you.” She winked playfully at him. “Besides you did learn quicker than the average stallion in the guard.”

He let out an annoyed sigh. “Sometimes… I wonder why we are friends.” He muttered with a somewhat playful tone.

“I think it’s because life would be boring without me.” She patted him on the back. “You should go take a shower, Star. You smell like you did twenty laps around ponyville.” She gently punched his shoulder.

“Yeah, you’re right.” He said smiling. “Twilight is getting out of the hospital today.”

“I wish I could come with you to see her, but I’m expected back in Canterlot.” Autumn said with a small smile kissing star on the cheek. “Say hi to her for me, would you? And get her something nice like chocolates and flowers.”

“I will.” He said with a nod watching Autumn motion her hoof to rip open a portal as if it was nothing. Not that it surprised him, the theory behind it was easy enough to understand. The only reason he couldn’t do it, yet he reminded himself, was the fact that it required a lot of magical power. Even she had told him that he could eventually do it if he kept up this practice. “Good luck Autumn.” He called after her when she stepped through the portal.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~

It was still early in the morning when star arrived at the hospital. The sun had just been risen by Princess Celestia and it was well on its way to its zenith. It wasn’t officially fall yet but he could already feel a chill in the air that made him regret not putting on at least a thin coat or at least the scarf Autumn had offered him before she’d left his home. He was panting softly as he approached the large double doors of the hospital. He didn’t have to be in a hurry, but he wanted to be there the moment visiting hours started at the hospital, like he had done every day that Twilight had been there.

He smiled a little looking at the chocolates and flowers levitating beside him. Twilight was getting discharged today and he really wanted to get her something nice. So, he had done some asking around, spike had been helpful in telling him exactly what kind of flowers and chocolates Twilight liked. It had cost him quite a few bits, but he felt that they were bits well spent on his marefriend.

Pushing open the door he smiled at the nurse sitting behind the reception desk, it had been the same nurse every time he visited Twilight and he had gotten to know her just a little when he was too early, and he needed to wait. He had gotten her name as Sweet Drops, a childhood friend of Dr. Starsong. “Good morning Sweet Drops how are you today?” He asked with a small smile.

“I’m alright, a little tired. I took over Red Heart’s shift last night. Poor mare overworked herself and the doctor made her go home.” She giggles softly. “You’re here to see miss Sparkle, I assume?”

“Yep! I brought her flowers and chocolates.” He said, holding up the items. “I’m very happy she is getting out today, I missed being able to go out with her.” He admitted with a small blush spreading across her cheeks.

“She is a very lucky mare to have you, Star. Makes me kind of envious. You’re a few minutes early but…” She trailed off and looked left and right in a conspiratorial manner before using her magic to push the clock two minutes ahead. “You can go and see her, just don’t tell anyone.” She giggled softly.

“I don’t want to get you in trouble, Sweet.” He said looking at the clock for a long moment.

She winked playfully at him, motioning him inside with her hoof. “Don’t worry, Doctor Star would have probably done the same. Go on, she should be just finishing breakfast.” Sweet Drops whispered softly giving him a light shove with her magic.

Rolling his eyes, a little Star stepped further into the hospital instinctively walking to Twilight’s room with a small smile. He felt a little nervous about being here just a bit too early but no one he passed seemed to comment on it, not even when he passed the doctor treating twilight who gave him a cheery good morning. He finally relaxed a little noticing that no one really cared that he was just that bit too early. Finally, when he got to the right room he knocked on the door.

“Come in.” Twilight called in a sweet tone of voice. Opening the door, he saw her sitting in the bed, a book to one side of her while she was using her magic to eat from the little fruit cup that had come with her breakfast. She looked a lot healthier than she had the first day she was in here and for the first time when he arrived she looked like she wasn’t exhausted. She placed down the book and grinned just a little at him. “Staaaaaaar come in! Don’t just stand there in the door.” She called him over, patting the bed invitingly.

Star slowly stepped into the room his smile growing tenfold as he slowly approached to sit on the edge of the bed with her. “I’m happy to see that you’re doing better, Twilight. I brought you these.” He said and slowly offered them the chocolates and the violets. He watched her smile grow, and it pleased him to see her cheeks becoming a soft shade of cherry red. “I take it you approve?” He asked.

“Of course, I do, how could I not approve of my favourite chocolates and flowers?” She asked with a small smirk. She leaned in and pulled him close to herself, drawing him into a deep and passionate kiss. He slowly closed his eyes, wrapping his hooves around her in a gentle embrace. It suddenly occurred to him that they hadn’t kissed since the incident with Starry. Slowly melting into the kiss with her he gripped her just a little bit tighter in his hooves, he slowly started running one of his hooves through her mane as she lays back on the soft pillows.

“That feels good.” She whispers finally breaking the kiss after a full minute of making out with him. Her cheeks were flushed, and her eyes half lidded. “Being petted does feel nice.” She whispered softly, her head leaning slowly against his hoof, smiling.

“Well then I’m not going to stop.” He said with a playful tone to his voice the flowers and chocolates discarded on the nearby table.

There was a light cough from at the door. “As much as I hate to interrupt this heart-warming scene I fear that I must.” Both unicorns squeaked and if it wasn’t for the quick acting of the tall grey coated mare, Shooting Star would have probably been in the hospital with an acute case of horn in eye. Instead both ponies found themselves in the doctor’s grey magical aura before any such thing could happen.

“D-doctor…” Twilight whispered softly, trying to hide behind her mane.

“No excuses, please, I have a coltfriend too. Nothing to be ashamed about, miss Sparkle.” She said with a gentle smile stepping further into the room. “I won’t be long, promise. After I’m done you both can start making your plans. It’s nightmare night tonight after all!” The doctor said way too excitedly. Something she realised, and she blushed a little. “S-sorry, I just came from checking in on the foals… it’s hard to not be excited for tonight.”

“I’m just as excited.” Shooting Star and Twilight said in unison. They looked to each other and giggled softly.

“Ah, the love birds have plans then?” The doctor asked as she sat beside the bed with a smile. Both nod with embarrassed smiled. “Well in that case… there is a lovely spot just ten minutes east of the abandoned clock tower at the edge of ponyville. You get the best view of the night sky from there, it’s worth the long walk I swear.”

“T-thank you. We’ll consider it.” Star said with a smile.

“Good now miss Sparkle I see no reason to keep you here but promise me that you will take it easy for the next week. If needed have your coltfriend stay with you and take care of you.” The mare said with just the hint of a grin playing on her muzzle. “You might be feeling better, but your magic is still recovering, admittedly at a nice pace, but there is no need to take risks with your health.”

“I understand doctor. I promise I will take it easy.” Twilight said.

“Good then you can get dresses whenever you’re ready to leave. I will make sure your paperwork is done and at the front desk.” The mare said and then quickly took her leave. She paused at the door. “Have fun you love birds~” She winked over her shoulder at them. They both looked at each other blushing deeply. For the longest time they said nothing to each other and simply held hooves.

“So… do you want to check out the spot she told us about?” Star asked with a sweet and loving smile. “I can make a nice picnic again.” He leaned in to kiss Twilight’s cheek.

“I would like that.” She said and returned the kiss to his lips. “Come on, help me out of bed… we have a lot to prepare for.” Twilight said.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~

Twilight smiled happily to herself as she looked her costume over in the water of the fountain. The beard was obviously fake, but the rest of the outfit was historically accurate to what Starswirl the bearded had worn. She felt proud of herself that she had managed to make the costume entirely on her own, rarity would likely throw a fit about how she had used the wrong stitch, but she was satisfied with it, more importantly she felt proud of herself.

“Hold it right there!” Shooting Star’s voice announced with a hint of command. Twilight squeaked out and almost fell into the water if it hadn’t been for his magic. As she turned around she was confronted with him wearing the typical uniform for the ancient Night guard. She took a long moment to admire him in the uniform, from the deep blue cloth to the sergeant’s stripes on his shoulders. “T-twilight are you okay?” He asked a little concerned.

“I’m fine, sorry I was lost in thought.” She admitted with a small blush. “You startled me a little.”

“I’m sorry.” He said and slowly wrapped her up in his hooves softly kissing her on the lips. “I like your costume, it’s very accurate.” He complimented her.

“I could say the same about you, my love. Where did you even find a costume like that? I have only seen them as museum pieces in Canterlot Castle.” Twilight said her voice filled with amazement.

“Well… I might have pulled some strings with a few friends who joined the guard after school and they made a replica for me.” He announced proudly. Wrapping his hoof around her neck he drew her into a gentle and loving embrace slowly licking lips with her in a deep and passionate kiss. The two of them for a long moment forgot everything around them, the ponies, the sounds, it was only them and the love they held for each other. Soft little coos and the light smack of lips as they parted to stare adoringly into each other’s eyes.

It was a combination of the screaming and the sky becoming clouded over that finally caught the attention of the two lovebirds. Twilight instantly recognised it as being Pinkie Pie amids quite a few foals. The strange thing was that it sounded like genuine terror. Looking at the sky she could see a chariot cloaked in shadows appearing over the buildings drawn by creatures that she was familiar with but the rest of ponyville might not have been familiar with: Bat Ponies. A cloaked figure stood on the chariot cackling maniacally.

“Star… I think I need to go check that out, meet you back here in a couple of hours?” She asked, looking over at him.
“I could go with you.” He offered. “If you want me to.”
“I think I know who that is and… she might need some help.” Twilight said with a small kind smile, leaning in to kiss him on the lips. “Don’t worry about me. You should go make sure that the foals are alright.” She said with a sweet smile she waited for him to nod his affirmation and then quickly ran off to the sound of the commotion in the distance.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~

“Twilight!” Star called out as he ran towards his marefriend with a happy smile set on his muzzle, “Where have you been? You just disappeared when Princess Luna did.” He looked her over for a moment with before embracing her in a tight hug.

“It’s alright star, I’m sorry, somepony needed to make sure that Luna was alright and help her.” Twilight said in a sweet and gentle tone. “She’s been away for so long. She needed help finding the fun in Nightmare Night and how to fit in.” Twilight hugged him back tightly, softly kissing him on the lips.

“How is the Princess?” Star asked curiously. “What is she like?” He watched as Twilight pointed to the group of foals that Pinkie Pie was watching over and how they were being chased by the princess of the night, right towards them. As the foals and Pinkie Pie ran past screaming good-naturedly Luna paused with a smile at Twilight.

“We, that is to say I, would once more like to thank you, Twilight Sparkle.” The princess said, straining to talk in a more modern way. She then looked at Shooting Star with a gentle and pleasant smile on her lips. “And this must thine partner, correct?” She asked slowly letting her eyes wander over Star.

“Yes Princess.” Twilight said with a bright smile. “Princess Luna, this is my coltfriend, Shooting Star, Star this is Princess Luna.” Twilight said motioning between the two.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Princess.” Star went to bow but was stopped by a hoof under his chin, making him look up at the Princess of the Night.

“It is a pleasure to make thine acquaintance, Shooting Star. You honour us with thy choice in costume.” She smiled tenderly at him she winked at him for a moment and then looked to Pinkie Pie and the foals who were waiting for her in the distance. “Now. If thou woudest excuse me, the hunt is on!” She announced and charged at the group who once more ran away screaming in mock terror

“She really got into the spirit of things, didn’t she?” He asked wrapping his hoof around Twilight’s withers.

“She really did.” Twilight whispered slowly leaning against Star. “Luna looks a lot happier while enjoying herself.” Twilight said gently resting her head on his shoulder her lips curling into a small smile of joy.

“So, are you too tired or do you still want to have that starlit picnic we agreed to? I made sure to keep everything warm and cool until I found you.” He whispered into her ear.

“I think I would really like that, star. “Twilight whispered with a soft giggle turning her head to softly kiss him on the lips. She gently took his hoof in hers and squeezed it softly as both walked to the place they had initially agreed to meet. “So, what did you do while I was helping Luna?” She asked curiously.

“Well…” He trailed off for a moment with a fond smile. “I spent most of my night with the foals from the orphanage actually, at least the ones who were not with Pinkie Pie tonight. We spent most of the night playing board games inside and they had a little costume contest among themselves.” He said with a big, proud smile. “It was actually very fun, and doctor Starsong was there too with the children from the hospital and her own foals, did you know she had twins? They were just too adorable dressed up as Solar Guards!” He grinned for a moment ad he looked over to Twilight.

“That sounds like it was very nice, Star. Maybe we could do that together next year?” She offered with a smile of her own slowly pressing herself closer to his side. “I do love foals.” She admitted with a fond smile. “Oh, I know, trust me she didn’t stop showing me pictures of cute moments. She even took them to work once. They’re very young though, I think a year old.” Twilight said.

He nodded slowly. “About that old, yes.” He paused for a moment and slowly guided her to the place where he had set up the picnic basket and the large fluffy blanket. “It kind of makes you want to experience it, doesn’t it? Or am I just being silly about it?”

“No, I don’t think it’s silly.” Twilight said with a smile. “I had the same thought when I saw those two little colts for the first time I just wanted to hold them and mother them.” She blushed deeply as she laid down on the blanket, using her magic to gently pull him against herself. Both ponies sighed contently as they nestled up together.

“It feels good to lay down.” Twilight whispered softly, pressing him lips against his barely giving him enough time to take out the snacks and wine from the basket. “Thank you for this. This is perfect to end a long day.” She murmured softly laying her head on his shoulder with that sweet smile.

“I’m happy you like it, Twilight.” He said levitating up a piece of cheese offering it to her, smiling as she almost lazily bit down on it. “Don’t fall asleep here, I don’t think I have the energy to carry you home.” He teased.

“We could sleep here?” She giggled softly. “Don’t worry I’m not that tired yet. I’m just enjoying being close to you, Star.” She whispered softly taking a piece of the cheese and offering it to him, not with her magic but by holding it with her lips and pressing hers to his in a tender little kiss, only to push the cube into his mouth with a low giggle. She watched him scrunch up his nose and smirked a little. It was fun to watch him being surprised.

He chuckled softly. “I’d rather sleep in your bed. The pegasi said it would be chilly in the morning.”

“I love you, Star.” Twilight whispered.

“And I love you, Twilight Sparkle.”

Author's Note

This story was commissioned by Shooting Star1234.

I hope you all enjoyed the story as much as I enjoyed writing it, quite honestly this is my first brush with a romance adventure (with some Slice of life) kind of story. If you have and feed back or even critisism then please feel free to leave a comment below.

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