You turn your neck to the side and hear a weak but satisfying crack before quickly snapping back to attention. You allow yourself to let out a short sigh as your eyes scan the marble hall in front of you. It was a difficult job, being required to stand stick-straight for hours on end, but somepony had to guard the castle. Often you were lucky enough to be given a patrol route, but today was not one of those days.
You instinctively pull yourself even further to attention as you hear hoofsteps echoing down the hallway, drawing towards you. There's no telling who it could be, of course, but if Prince Blueblood or the watch captain walked by it always paid to be extra careful with your posture.
An undulating, starry mane is the first portion of the pony to enter into your frame of vision, followed by the tall and regal posture of a dark blue pony with a purpose in her step. This isn't the most surprising thing to happen to you; you've seen Princess Luna out roaming the halls on the tail end of your shift before.
...But you've never seen her stop and turn towards you. Lifting a hoof, she tentatively draws closer, looking you up and down with narrowed eyes.
All you can do in response is to attempt to look through her and hold your breath.
Finally, she moves her face into your field of vision and smiles reassuringly. "At ease, Royal Protector. How are you doing this evening?"
Somepony...especially one of the Princesses...talking to you? This is highly unorthodox. "E-er, I am well, Your Highness," you stutter out with impressive coherency.
Princess Luna's deep blue eyes analyze you for a few more moments, but the smile on her face keeps you at ease. "Well, I know that you must have a terribly stressful job, but could I trouble you for a small favor?"
"Anything, Your Majesty," you dutifully reply, hypnotized by those soft and sparkling eyes of hers.
"I would like you to report to my chambers at the end of your shift this evening," she comments. "Please don't keep us-I'm sorry...me waiting too long."
"Absolutely, Princess. Your wish is my command." Your face is rather hot and you can't help but bite your lip after responding.
"Thank you, dear," she says, briefly placing an adorned hoof on your cheek before marching down the hallway again to her prior destination.
As she walks away, you bring a hoof up to your cheek and blink a few times as you try to process what had just happened.
You arrive about an hour later at Princess Luna's chamber doors, still not having a single idea of what to expect. You had told nopony at the barracks about what had happened; what would they think? Besides, it couldn't reflect well on Princess Luna that she was inviting random guards to her room at night. Steeling yourself, you bring a hoof up and knock on the ornate golden doors.
"Come in," you hear Princess Luna sing as the door opens, ostensibly from the influence of her magic.
You enter Princess Luna's chambers. Looking around the large, ornate room, you fail to spot her. "Your Majesty? Where are you?"
"Over here!" she calls from the direction of a large couch in the corner of the chamber. "Shut the door behind you and come over."
Put slightly on edge by Princess Luna's informal tone, you stifle a yawn and close the door before marching over to the couch. As you approach, your line of sight expands to include the Princess of the Night, who is laying on her back on the cushions. Your eyes widen as you take in her form; she's wearing purple-striped socks, a fuzzy-looking blue sweatshirt with a moon symbol on the front, and what appears to be some sort of headset.
"Don't be shy," she tells you, popping a potato chip in her mouth. "I was just playing some video games, come on over and join me!"
You look to the strange box-like contraptions and magical crystal television in the corner of the room near the couch. 'Video Games' were a commodity mostly for the well-to-do, and you had only played them a few times in your whole life as a result. You had no idea the Princess played them; even more surprising to you was that she had gotten into them so quickly after a thousand years away.
You tentatively step over to the couch, expecting a trap or test of some sort. "You required my assistance, Princess?"
"Oh! Yes I did!" She sits up quickly, a few crumbs falling off of her hoodie in the process. "My royal advisers and therapist have recommended that I take some 'me time' at least once a week in order to 'recharge' myself," she said, flipping her mane. "Today is my first day giving it a shot, and I need you here to cuddle me while I play video games." She tilts her head with a smile and looks at you expectantly.
This went against almost everything you knew about Princess Luna. She was wildly eccentric, sure, but also mysterious and even thought to be a touch reclusive. Princess Celestia gave out free hugs for the guards and you considered her to be almost like a second mother, but you had never seen Luna do anything of the sort. What gives? Had you just misunderstood her character, or was this a test that could see you fired if you failed?
"Royal Protector?" Luna asked, an eyebrow arched slightly. "Art thou...you...okay?"
You shake your head to clear your mind. "Y-yes, I'm fine. But, are you certain, Princess? This isn't some sort of test?"
"It's a test to see how quickly you can get out of that uncomfortable armor and snuggle with your Princess," she responded, covering her mouth with a hoof and giggling.
You stand with brow furrowed, unsure of how to continue.
"Oh, come now," Princess Luna says, wiggling off of the couch and trotting over to you. "I even turned down the heat so that we have to share warmth." She pouts a little bit. "Don't you want to snuggle? I promise there's no tricks."
Come to think of it, you do feel a little cold. Still, you cover your bases before agreeing. "So long as that is what Her Highness wishes, I shall not object."
"Excellent!" She clops her front hooves together happily before using her magic to haphazardly remove your armor and toss it to the floor. "Now, come snuggle your Princess!" She runs back over to the couch and lays down again, wiggling slightly in excitement.
You walk over to the couch and, after a moment of consideration as to the best approach, gently step over Princess' Luna's body and lie down behind her, your position mirroring hers.
You don't have time to even place a hoof around her before she scoots into you, pressing her body against yours and wiggling into your crevices to fit herself more tightly against you.
The situation hits you immediately: you are snuggling with the beautiful princess of the moon, on her orders and desire, and she is unbelievably soft. You can feel your face and body heat up as her silky coat rests against your rough one.
"Ahh," she sighs, picking up her controller in her magic. "That's much better." She turns her neck so that one eye faces you. "Doesn't that feel nice?"
You manage to squeak out an incomprehensible reply as you find your hoof naturally wrapping around her midsection, which is still covered by her fuzzy hoodie. You hug her close to you and find yourself giving her a squeeze and closing your eyes blissfully.
"Oh, an affectionate cuddler, are we?"
Your eyes shoot open and your hoof darts back toward your body. "S-sorry Princess!"
"Don't be sorry!" she coos happily, looking back at you again. "I wanted affection! I knew I was right to choose you." She playfully scoffs as she turns back to the game, taking your hoof in hers and placing it around her midsection again. "What kind of pony wants unaffectionate snuggles?"
You try your best to give rational consideration to her point but find your mind lost in the experience of cuddling Luna. Placing the tip of your muzzle just next to her mane, you inhale the scent of her shampoo; the smell of lavender hits you and you suddenly feel drowsy as a result.
She obviously knows what you are doing, since she leans her head back and covers your muzzle in her mane. It undulates gently, massaging your muzzle and bathing you in lavender. You gently lean into her further and close your eyes, beginning to doze off.
"Are we sleepy?" Princess Luna asks some time later, pushing you immediately back into full consciousness. "I thought snuggling with me would be exciting?"
"I-it is Princess!" you exclaim a little too loudly, before scrunching up your muzzle in embarrassment. "I...I'm just a little tired from a full day of work, is all."
"Stay awake if you can," she commands, leaning over to nuzzle you before flopping back to her resting position. "I get more affectionate cuddles that way."
You give her a squeeze again and she lets out a happy groan. "You have done a wonderful job warming me up," she says, squirming and lighting up her horn. After a few seconds of struggling, she removes her hoodie and plops it on the floor before pressing back against you once more. "I don't even need that any more."
If you thought her sweatshirt was nice to cuddle, the feeling of her silky coat against your chest feels a million times better. You choke back a gasp as she plays her game, her tail sneaking between your legs and teasing your back hooves with its movement. Every once in a while, you can feel her body tense up when she hits a stressful point in the game.
Bringing one of your front hooves up, you draw it slowly down the side of Princess Luna's wing. Feeling your touch, she spreads it open slightly, allowing your greater access to the feathers. She hums softly as you pet and preen the elegant, soft indigo plumes.
It is not long before you find yourself closing your eyes and yawning again.
Princess Luna is quick with her response this time. "How about you play for awhile?" she asks. "It'll help keep you awake. Have you played this video game before?"
You shake your head. "No, Your Highness."
"It's a story based game, so hopefully it will not be difficult to learn. Sit up."
You follow Luna and scoot to the edge of the couch. She disappears behind you and you practically jump off of the couch when you feel her front hooves wrap around your midsection. Ignoring your tense form, she wiggles a bit to maneuver her sock-covered back hooves around your flanks and places her chin on the crook between your neck and front right leg. "Ah, that's much better," she purrs, rubbing her muzzle against your neck.
You remain completely frozen as her soft coat brushes against you. You can't even react to her back hooves petting the sides of your legs.
"Aren't you going to start playing?" she asks curiously, not stopping her rubbing.
You stumble over your words. Eventually you just decide to shut up and play the game as best as you can. You struggle of course, and after dying the fourth time on the same sequence, you feel Princess Luna's muzzle touch your ear.
"You're pretty bad at this," she whispers, nuzzling your ear. "Try again."
With adrenaline coursing through your veins, you try the sequence twice more and die both times. Princess Luna giggles and leans her muzzle against the side of your face. You almost feel as if her lips touch you.
"Well, I suppose that I might hit the hay early this evening," she comments, her body heavily resting upon yours.
"Princess," you say quickly, surprised by your own audacity. "I-if I can ask, w-why did you want me to snuggle with you?"
Princess Luna pulls her head off of your shoulder and sighs. "To be honest, the nights can get a little lonely. The only pony I ever get to hug is Celestia...so it's just nice to have somepony to hold...And to be fawned over a little bit."
Even though you can't see her face, you can feel both her pain and the grin that follows it.
"And why not cuddle with one of the night guards?"
Princess Luna bites her lip. "Their wings are so leathery and uncomfortable...Is that racist? I hope not."
Standing up slowly, you turn around and bow to Princess Luna.
"You aren't staying the night?" Princess Luna asks with a pout.
You sputter for a while. "W-well, I mean, I don't...I mean, I have w-work tomorrow a-and..."
"I thought you liked me..." Princess Luna tilts her head and casts a soft, lonesome expression at you.
A blush hits your face with overwhelming force and you hold your breath as you desperately search your mind for a reply. "I...I..I like you..."
Princess Luna flashes you a broad smile. "Oh, good. I was so worried! Obviously it's better to cuddle with a pony who like-likes you, you know. I do enjoy the extra attention."
You look up at her shyly. "...Do you like-like me?"
She pulls her head back and scrunches up her muzzle as her cheeks slowly tint red. To her credit, she recovers quickly. "You ask so many questions, for a guard. Maybe we'll play a game of truth or dare when you come to cuddle me next week."
You take a step back in shock. "Next week?"
"Of course! You didn't think that I am one to just cuddle you and let you go, now did you? You'll be paid triple overtime, of course." She stands up from the couch and walks you over to the door out of her room. "And one last thing, try to get the day after off. I'd like to have a sleepover."
Your face and ears are burning hot but you manage to nod reverently anyway. "O-of course. Thank you, Princess."
"No, thank you," she says with a soft smile. She leans down and plants a soft, quick kiss on the top of your muzzle as a parting gift.
Soon after, you stumble down the hallway back to the guard barracks with a goofy smile across your face.
That night, you have wonderful, happy dreams.
Author's Note
I'm not saying that Princess Luna is my ironic pone waifu but I am saying that if ISIS put a gun to my head and made me choose I would say 'Princess Luna' immediately with great conviction and no reservations.
