Star Phantom: Ghost Stallion of Ponyville

The Majestic City of Canterlot. Capital of Equestria. Home to the Princesses and Nobles. The city on the side of a mountain, held up by a mix of earth pony ingenuity, pegasi science, and unicorn magic. Impressive to most, although some would disagree.

“Oh great, ya got us lost again.” The three ghostly vultures were those some.

“I did not.”

“Then why haven't we found the castle yet, ya idiot!”

“Uh, can I help you?” The three arguing old birds looked to see Star Phantom floating in front of them.

“Yeah, we're looking for this mare.” They pulled out a picture for Star to look at. “We already tried the castle, but she wasn't there.”

Star looked at the photo carefully. It was a mare, dark blue fur, a starry night mane, moon for a cutie mark, wings, a horn, a lot like “Princess Luna?!”

“Huh, so the colt does know who she is.” The vulture was blasted into a wall by an ecto ray from Star, who took a battle pose.

“I won't let you old spooks near her!”

“Hey, spook is a derogatory term.”

“We prefer, Spectrals. Thank you.” With that, the two remaining vultures charged at him with ecto covered beaks. Due to their age, they were slow enough to where Star could dodge them easily.

It was a pretty quick fight, ending with Star knocking all three of the old vultures into a wall. “Okay, okay, we get it, yeesh.”

“We yield, you win this round.”

Before Star could do more, the vultures disappeared in a flash of light. With the threat gone for now, the half ghost looked at the photo. “Why were they after her?”

Star Phantom in:

Princess Blood

Not real blood, not that kind of fanfic.

Princess Luna was sitting down enjoying a good book, or at least she wished it was a good book. In reality, she was reading a recent complaint from an idiotic noble.

Dear Nightmare Princess,
Please stop creating spirits to haunt my estate. I do not deserve such torture. I request that these entities be removed immediately, or else Her Royal Highness, Princess Celestia, will be informed of this cruelty. I await either a solution or a response.
Sincerely,
CashGrab

“I should send these nobles to the moon.” She mumbled as she crumbled the letter into a ball.

“I don't know, that might be a bit overkill, don't ya think?” The Moon Princess snapped her head to see Star Phantom leaning on the window, a window that was several stories off the ground. “Mind if I come in?”

“Of course, Mr. Phantom, or should I call you Apple?” Luna gested. Star snickered before flying inside. “So tell me, what brings you here?”

Star stuttered for a minute, confusing the alicorn. “Everything alright?”

“Y-yeah, it's just…” He looked away in shame. “I destroyed a good section of Ponyville last night-”

“What?!” Luna cried out, shocked. But she was quickly shushed by Star.

“Let me explain.” Luna laid back down on her pillow and listened as Star explained what happened. Trixie’s Crystal Ball, how it broke, the blind rage caused by the pain after it cracked. Throughout the explanation, Luna remained silent, trying to remember where she saw the crystal ball before. She knew what it was, but she doesn't remember how she knew.

Her thoughts were broken when she realized that Star had stopped talking. She saw him sit there, looking down at the floor in shame, his messy mane covering his eyes.

“I'm truly sorry you had to go through that Star.” Luna said, placing a hoof on his shoulder. He looked at her with a smile.

“It comes with the territory.” He said sincerely. There was an awkward pause. “So… How’ve you been?” Luna giggled at the slight awkwardness in his voice.

“Good, still trying to reintegrate, learning the modern tongue, along with some of the more recent laws put in place.” She pulled out a scroll from her desk drawer and showed it to Star. “Like this one.”

Star looked at the law carefully. “The Anti-Spirit Magic Act?”

“Yes, a law passed by my sister after my banishment.” Luna did her own shame face with that statement. “She decided that nopony else should touch this magic, for fear of more possessions.” Star raised an eyebrow, and rested his head on his hoof.

“Then why was that book in the library?” He muttered under his breath. Luna pretended she didn’t hear it, he never told her how he got his hooves on the spell, or how he managed to use it. That was something he wanted to keep private, and she respected that.

“Yes, one of many anti-spirit laws that my sister has put in over the years, and now with the recent spike in activity, she has received petitions to activate a new branch of the guard, one that focuses on keeping spirit magic contained.” Star’s eyebrow could not raise higher. “But enough about that, I’m sure you wish to… hang out.”

Star’s stomach suddenly groaned, making him blush. “Hehe, sure, maybe we can hang out in the kitchen.” Luna giggled and nodded before the two walked out of the room toward the kitchen, unaware that they were being watched.

The kitchen staff have all gone home for the night, so Luna and Star had free reign over the kitchen. “Hey, Luna, the kitchen staff won’t mind what we eat, will they?” Star asked as he took a bite of hay sandwich. Luna swallowed the piece of apple that was in her mouth before answering.

“They shouldn’t, besides, one of their princesses is up, they should be prepared to cook at any moment.” She said with a sly smirk. Star smiled as he took another bite of his sandwich.

“Indeed.” Both of them snapped their heads towards the voice, standing in the doorway was a white unicorn with a blonde mane, and a face that defined fruitloop. “Such a shame peasants don’t know when to keep at their place.” Star could tell that statement was directed at him.

“Prince Blueblood.” Luna said with clenched teeth. “What a surprise to see you up this late.” Star raised an eyebrow, he didn’t know what, but he knew something bad was going on between the two.

“Well, I was feeling rather peckish and decided to grab a late night snack.” Blueblood explained. Boy, he sure sounds smug about it. Star thought. The white unicorn then walked over to the cabinet and opened it. Inside were an assortment of treats, the best that Canterlot had to offer. He grabbed a small bag of oats before closing the cabinet. “I’ll just enjoy this in my room, sleep well Princess Luna, and… commoner.” Blueblood’s grin made it obvious what his intention of that word was, causing both Luna and Star to glare at him until he was out of sight.

“Sheesh, what a fruitloop.” Star said plainly as he finished up his sandwich.

“Indeed.” Luna looked at her apple, only two bites could be seen on the produce. “I think I’ve lost my appetite.”

“That bad?” Star asked, his face remaining surprisingly blank. Luna nodded, then sighed.

“Yes, that bad.” Luna threw the apple in the trash, then explained. “He’s been bothering me ever since I came back. Apparently, he’s an unofficial member of the Royal Family, if him calling my sister Auntie has anything merit.”

“Yikes, that’s rough.” Star said sympathetically. Having a fruitloop for a nephew must stink beyond comparison.

“Indeed.” Luna sighed. “But that is the hoof I am dealt.” She then looked at the clock on the wall. “My goodness, tis nearly 4, surely you must be tired.”

“Oh me? Nah.” Star said with a chill out bro pose. “I'm good.”

Luna raised an eyebrow. “Is that so?” Star nodded. “Very well, let us see if you can last through my courts.”

It was Star's turn to raise an eyebrow. “Really?” Luna nodded in confirmation. “Okay. Let's do it.” It was at that moment Star's ghost sense off. “Um… might need to do a raincheck on that.” Star transformed into Phantom and flew into the hallway.

He looked around, feeling that the ghost was near. “Where could it-” A blast to his back knocked him into the wall. He quickly recovered and turned around.

There in front of him was a unicorn with pale blue fur, a pointed black mane, fangs, red eyes, and a white cape. He looked like Dracula who didn't get any sun while hanging out in the Arctic for three weeks.

“Well well, what have we here?” The Ghost asked. “An earth pony peasant who has no business being in a building of royalty.” His spiked grin would make normal ponies fertilize the ground, but Star could care less.

“Well well, another total fruitloop, this castle is chock full of ‘em.” Star quipped, his hooves glowing green. He fired a shot at the unicorn, but what happened next shocked him. The unicorn simply raised a toxic pink shield and deflected the ray, sending it into a nearby wall. There was a large explosion that alerted many guards and staff.

“Oh goody, here comes the Royal Guard from their tea break.” The unicorn slowly dissipated as he said, “Until next time… commoner.” Star tried to stop him, but he was too late.

“Darnit, gotta change back.” He dipped back into the kitchen as the guards came rushing down the hallway.

Said guards kicked the kitchen door in, barging through spears first. “Princess, are you alright?” One asked. Luna simply sat at the table, Star staying invisible in the seat next to her.

“Yes, I may have jumped at a shadow. I will repair the wall immediately.” The night princess explained plainly. The guards stood dumbfounded, they did not expect that excuse.

“I see. Be more careful in the future, please.” He said, as if addressing a foal caught running in the middle of a busy street. With the situation resolved, the guards quickly returned to their positions. Luna and Star stared at the door they kicked in for a few minutes before Star reappeared and cleared his throat.

“So, uh, are we going to that Night Court?”

Wow, a night dedicated to being with a princess… and it's boring as heck.

Not. A. Single. Pony showed up. Luna sat there on her makeshift throne for three hours. Star laid next to her, playing with an ecto ball he formed. The silence was becoming unbearable.

“Soooo.” Star asked, looking around the empty hall. “Is this normal?” Luna sighed. Her face said it all. This was normal. The half-ghost inwardly cringed at the realization.

“I hate just how normal it is.” Luna growled, her eyes narrowed at the door, probably planning on burning it down. After a few seconds, that glare was replaced by a depressed droop. “But I don’t blame them.” Star’s eyes widened. “If I didn’t become that thing, there would be no reason to fear the night, no reason to fear… me.” Tears started pooling in her eyes, her mind and heart filled with self-loathing and guilt.

The earth pony stared at her in disbelief, but he shook away that feeling and grew a look of understanding, and a feeling of determination. He walked over to her side, and put a hoof on her back. He gently rubbed it up and down, a comforting smile filled Luna’s vision. “It wasn’t your fault.” Was all Star said, his voice soft and gentle. “You were trying to do some good.” Luna looked at him, stray tears attempted to fall down her cheeks, but her comforting companion stopped them dead with his free hoof.

"But it was." She retorted. "If I wasn't stupid enough to use that spell... this never would have happened." The dark blue alicorn got up and started pacing. "I wouldn't have been banished. Ponies might've started to like me rather than fear me, and you!" Star recoiled at the hoof pointed at him. Luna pulled the hoof back and sat on the floor in shame. "You probably wouldn't have found the spell and used it. You would still be normal, have no reason to hide."

The tears started to flow freely, with no friendly to stop them. That hoof was too busy rubbing her back in sympathy. It was the same thing Big Mac did for him when he was crying after being picked on at school, the same thing he did to comfort AJ when their parents died, and when he comforted AppleBloom after she had a hard day at school. Star was no stranger to comforting those he cared about, it was a instinct that was instilled as a member of an ever growing family. The stallion would also do everything in his power to make things better, to make them smile. And I know just how to do that.

The half ghost apple farmer stood and marched toward the door. He opened it and saw a secretary who lookee bored beyond her mind. “Excuse me?” He said, his head being the only thing exposed. The secretary looked at him, intrigued. “Any appointments or last minute entries?” The mare instantly shook her head. “Alright then, cancel Night Court for the rest of night.”

The secretary stood up in disbelief. “Excuse me, but only
Her Royal Highness can-”

“Her Highness, isn't feeling well. A slight headache from the lack of inactivity and overthinking simple things.” Star said, his voice carrying a royal tone. “She wished to retire for the rest of the night, and to not be disturbed. Am I understood?”

“Y-yes sir. Have a good evening. I'll… lock up the courtroom.”

Star nodded his thanks, and closed the door. He quickly walked back over to Luna and presented her a hoof.

Luna noticed a bright light from the top of her vision. When she went to look at it, a white hoof with a black foreleg glowed before her. Attached to the leg was Star Phantom, a soft smile on his face. “Come with me, Your Highness.” He said with teasing elegance. “Tis time for you flight.” The Princess of the Night stared at him in wonder, then took his hoof without a second thought.

The ghostly earth pony wrapped his forelegs around her and took off, phasing through the walls of the courtroom. Luna felt fright for only a moment, but that feeling faded away as she saw the City if Canterlot in the light of the night. Ponies either slept in their beds or were out working the night shifts of their business. To many, this may seem normal, but to the Princess, it was a sight to behold. Star smiled at the look of wonder in Luna’s eyes as she observed everything around them.

“Flying like this, being completely weightless, is a step beyond amazing.” The alicorn said, her voice portraying the same feeling of wonder her eyes reflected.

Those eyes suddenly turned towards him, and in an instant, he lost focus in them. The stare lasted a few seconds before being interrupted by the two slamming into the side of a building. The two fell right into a large pile of hay, giving them a semi soft landing.

“Falling, however, is not.” Luna groaned while pulling herself out of the hay. Star floated out and started brushing away loose strands of hay from her fur, causing the Princess to blush. Once he was done, Star realized what he did and blushed with her.

“I am so sorry.” “No no, it's fine.” They said at the same time. The two started giggling, the red slowly dissipating from their cheeks.

“We'd better get back.” Star said, floating above Luna, he extended a hoof. Right before he could accept it, a pink ecto blast slammed into the halfa, sending him back into the wall.

“Star!” Luna was about to rush to his aide when a sudden chill reached into her body. For a moment, she felt a familiar feeling. The feeling of being overshadowed.

Star groaned, the side where he was hit felt hot and his head was throbbing. He looked around, but couldn't see the cart that hit him. A loud explosion put those thoughts away. He looked up to see a large column of smoke.

The earth pony shot into the air, and to his horror, he saw a huge fire engulfing an apartment building. In the streets below, ponies were running for their lives. “She's back!” “She's insane!” “It's Nightmare Moon!”

“What?!” Star was suddenly struck by a blue magic bolt, this knocked him off balanced, and forced him to crash land onto a nearby roof. A familiar maniacal laugh from above him made Star fear looking up. Braving a peak revealed Luna, her horn alight with magic, her teeth glistening in a sadistic grin, and her eyes glowing red.

“Yes.” She said, her voice not her own. “I, Nightmare Moon, have returned. Bow to me, my subjects!”

“Somepony call the guard!” A random unicorn shouted.

“Yes, do call the guard. I cannot wait to see you wrapped in the chains you deserve, Princess.” Not Luna muttered under her breath.

Star quickly got up, his green eyes glowing brightly. He catapulted himself at Luna, surprising her, and grabbing her. “Who are you?!” He shouted, demanding an answer.

Luna recoiled in mock fear. “Oh no, giving me a pair of scary eyes, are we?” Her sadistic grin grew to the point of full expansion. She leaned in. “I am Nightmare Moon, the Mare in the Moon come to bring eternal night.”

“Liar.” Star growled. His teeth nearly cracking as he clenched them harder, along with his toxic green eyes becoming blindingly bright. “I know you're not her. Get out of her body now.”

“If you're so sure, come and make me.” Star faltered slightly at that invitation, an action which the entity inside Luna immediately picked up on. “You don't know how to do it, do you?” The entity laughed loudly. “You must be so young to not know!”

The entity was right, Star didn't know. He was only half ghost for a few months, he was only used to the basics. The half ghost knew he could overshadow a pony, but he had no right to practice. Why would he? Who would he overshadow? Star almost felt defeated, but then he remembered watching ghosts possess inanimate objects, a skill he's learned overtime was to adapt and use what he's seen as an example of how to do it. Just follow the example.

Star brought out his own grin, turned intangible and entered Luna’s body. The body thrashed around like a blanket in the wind before the same vampire wannabe ghost flew out and crashed landed on the roof.

The ghost had no time to recover before Star/Luna grabbed him and pinned him to the ground. “I'm going to ask, one more time.” He/She growled. “Who. Are. You?”

“The name is Ghost Blood, commoner.” The word on the end made Star’s widen. The pieces clicked instantly.

“Blue Blood.” He whispered.

“My pony form, yes.” The half ghost said, a grin forming on his face. “My little secret, just like yours.”

“What?”

“Oh don't act so clueless.” Ghost Blood said with a roll of the eyes. “I know all about your half ghost status. We both used that spell.” The pinned unicorn explained. "Look, Let's make a deal.”

Star raised an eyebrow. “What deal?”

“We both want the same thing, our secrets kept safe. I want my reputation safe. You want Princess Luna safe.” He said matter-of-factly. “The deal is, we keep our secrets quiet, I don't harm Princess Luna intentionally, deal?”

Star thought for a few moments, was this deal worth it? Keep my secret safe and protect Luna? That was good. Keeping his secret safe, along with his status? Not so good. But the deal would be worth it with one change. “I'll say yes, if you promise to never hurt her, ever.”

Ghost Blood laughed. “That's entirely up to you. You must protect her.” The sound of hundreds of hooves and clanking armor could be heard in the distance. “I suggest you hurry Little Dragon, I can hear the guards.”

Star sighed. “Deal.”

“Ah good, and since you agreed, I'll cut you some slack.”

“How?”

“Throw me.” Star grinned devilishly.

Ghost Blood soared into the building across the street, his impact left a unicorn shaped crater in the wall. “That was way too hard.” He said, his voice muffled by the brick. The halfa recovered and out on a BridleWay style performance. “Curse you, Princess Luna, you foiled my plans! Ah!” He disintegrated into thin air as Star/Luna posed heroically on the edge.

Some ponies cheered as they watched their princess fly off into the night, just as the guard arrived.

Once safely back in her room, Star exited Luna’s body. He quickly caught her as her body gave out, unable to cope with two other souls within her. The tired stallion lifted her into a comfortable position and gently laid her on her bed. He gently placed the covers over her body and shut off the lights. He used his the glow his eyes to check the room one last time before laying down on the floor and going into a very troubled sleep.

Luna slowly opened her eyes, her head pounding, her body stiff. Her bed roof was the first thing she saw, then memories of last night returned. She immediately shot up to a sitting position. “Star!” Her eyes frantically scanned the room, but stopped at seeing a note on her nightstand.

The note was held in front of her with her magic as she read it.

Dear Princess Luna,
Sorry about leaving without saying goodbye. I followed BlueBlood as he left the castle, as part of our deal, he's moving to his private estate further in the mountain. DreamTalk with me when you get the chance.
Signed,
StarShine Apple

P.S. Congrats on becoming the local hero.

Local hero? She asked in her head. A loud knock shook her door.

“Luna?” The voice of Celestia echoed from the other side. “May I come in?” The alicorn quickly hid the note.

“Yes, come in.” No sooner had the door opened did Celestia tackle her younger sister in a huge hug.

“Oh LuLu, I'm so relieved you're okay?” The ended, giving the Sun Princess a chance to grab her sister’s head. “What were you thinking? Why would you fight the Canterlot Ghost?” Luna was beyond confused, but decided not to voice it. Her elder sister continued to rant.

“How could it possess you? That makes it even more dangerous.” Celestia said, pacing back and forth. “First that phantom stallion destroying Ponyville, now this.” She sighed. “I think it's time to put the new branch of the Guard in place.”

Luna’s eyes widened. “Sister, surely that is overkill.”

“Not anymore. After what has happened these passed few days, I have no choice. The bill to fund the branch will be signed today as soon as I sit on that throne.” She looked back at her younger sister, seeing a horrified look on her face. Her sisterly instincts took over and she started to comfort her younger sibling. “Don't worry, LuLu, everything will be alright.” She gave a quick hug before heading out the door. “Get some rest, sister. You deserve it.”

Once again, Luna was alone. She looked out the window, her only thoughts being; I need to warn Star.