Author's Note

Okay here is the first chapter that I wrote, I hope it lives up to expectations.
*Nervous writer noises*

The Garrison and Uninvited Guests

Luna’s Secret World Redux

By: Neokiva

Edited by:

August 29, 1008 PN

It had been a few hours since they had left the besieged city on their mission to retrieve reinforcements from the the nearby garrison. Their flight hadn’t had any interruptions so far and so Twilight had leaned into Luna’s neck so that she didn’t cause her to lose her balance, this is the excuse she told herself and Luna. However, this wasn’t the real reason for her decision to lean close to the mare she was riding.

The real reason, she had wanted to stay as close to Luna as she could.

Unbeknownst to the mare riding her back, Luna was fully aware of what Twilight was doing and had a large blush covering her cheeks since Twilight had started. What had first clued her into what Twilight was really doing was when the mare in question started nuzzling into the nape of her neck.

How I wish I could return the favor, Luna thought to herself as she enjoyed the closeness and sensations spreading from her nape. Luna pouted as she spotted the garrison in the distance and she sighed, “Twilight! We’re almost there!” Twilight flinched and sat up, Luna bet that if she turned to face her, the mare’s face would be covered in crimson, It was nice while it lasted, Luna groused internally.

“O-okay, how are you holding up? You must be tired.” Twilight stuttered out. Luna chuckled at the mental image she was presented with.

“Do not worry Princess, your steed has stamina for days,” Luna continuing the earlier joke and turned to face the mare on her back.

“Stamina for days?” Twilight questioned and with a nod Luna replied,

“Stamina for days!” her lips cracked into a large grin. Twilight smiled in response. Luna’s smile is so beautiful, I wish she’d smile more, Twilight thought to herself.

As they came in for landing they were surrounded by the soldiers that had been occupying the garrison, weapons pointed at Twilight and Luna as Twilight gently dismounted from Luna’s back, still aware of the wounds on her back.

“Who are you?!” And what is your business here?!”

Luna remained silent as she removed her leg armor piece covering her mark and presented it to the soldier. The soldier leaned in to look at the mark and after a moment his eyes widened.

“Get the Commander out here!” The same soldier barked, his face set in a grim expression.

A draft stallion that dwarfed Twilight hurried out to greet her and Luna. Twilight--paying attention to what was happening--couldn’t help but notice his mane and tail cut accordingly to regulation… before shivering a little as she observed how his right eye had a long scar over it, matching the many smaller ones on his body.

“I am Commander Ironhide, what news do you have from the city?!” he near bellowed, Luna’s eye twitched but kept her stoic expression.

“The city is under siege, the Captain wants you to return and reinforce the city.” Luna responded calmly, and the Commander paled as he turned to his troops.

“Everypony get your flanks in gear! We have a city to defend!” Commander Ironhide ordered in the same bellowing voice, before turning back to Twilight and Luna.

“Thank you two for informing us, it must have been difficult for a couple of mares to come here. Come inside, it’ll take a while before we can move out.”

Another one?! Twilight thought in rage, her eyes widened and pupils shrunk, Luna noticed Twilight’s expression and placed her right hoof on her shoulder. Twilight quickly turned her head to see who had dared touch her, her rage sputtered out and her expression softened when she saw it was Luna, who shook her head gently.

Luna leant in and whispered in her ear, “Twilight? Please bear with it--mares here aren’t as strong as stallions or even mares back home and as such are treated with more care here, especially when everypony here is constantly at war... they can’t afford to let mares fight.”

Twilight sighed as she quietly nodded.

I don’t like it but I can understand their reasons, I’ll just have to bite my tongue. Twilight thought unhappily.

Luna pulled Twilight in close with her right wing. As the two of them entered the camp some stallions started cat calling at them.

“Hey sweet flanks, how about a real stallion show you what you’re missing out on!” one called out.

“Can you two handle this?” another called.

“Hey can you two make out?!” yet another called out in between whoops and wolf whistles.

The last one caused the two mares to blush deeply, Luna’s wing tightly grasped Twilight, causing the already blushing mare to blush harder.

The Commander turned to see what was the origin of the cat-calling… and upon seeing Luna’s tail flicking left and right, her puffed up chest and her position relative to Twilight… he made a choice.

“Oi! You maggots, if you’ve got time to ogle these mares--then you have time you could be using to work harder!”

Ironhide turned to face Twilight and Luna, ears lowered a little as he apologized, “I am sorry about those horny colts, you two,” before he added with a derisive snort, “they mean well but their brains reside in their hind quarters around mares.”

Ironhide ducked into a large canvas tent as his two guests did the same, and offered them a seat by the fire.

Taking the invite, they sat close together causing the Commander to sigh. “Once we make our way out to the city, return to the Captain for further orders. Eat while you can,” he said offering them broth he ladled from a cauldron, “I will leave you two alone for now, while I go check on the troopsmen,” Ironhide remarked as he left the tent.

Luna released the tension in her muscles, of which she had been unaware were tense. They began to eat as they leaned close together. Luna released the grip her wing had on Twilight but kept it draped over her. Luna’s ears perked up when she heard a whistling sound, her eyes widened as she picked up Twilight--who squeaked in surprise at the rough treatment--and bolted out of the tent before a flaming boulder slammed into the Commander’s tent.

“My tent!!!” The Commander cried out before growling, “Everypony out of camp! Take what weapons and armor you can carry and prepare for battle.”

“Twilight! Take your gear” Luna called to Twilight as she pulled them from the pocket dimension and put the wide eyed mare down. Twilight caught both in her magic, putting on her sword and gauntlet. Luna drew her sword and beckoned Twilight to follow her.

They ran out of the camp and came face to face with an army standing outside the camp facing the front entrance and several hundred meters away with two trebuchets and catapults. Luna paused for a beat before pulling Twilight onto her back.

“Twilight! We need to destroy those siege engines--otherwise this garrison is finished!” Luna shouted as she ran before she took off.

“When we are in range do not hold back! Destroy those things!” with wind blasting past her ears Twilight barely heard Luna but complied anyway.

As they reached the first trebuchet, Luna banked to let Twilight have a better shot.

“Sol!” Twilight called out as she pointed to her target, fire wreathing up the blade into a massive ball of fire that launched at the construct.

“Well done Twilight!” Luna cheered until she shielded them from a hail of arrows and bolts, wincing at the sudden impact.

“Luna are you okay!?” Twilight asked in concern.

“I will be fine, Twilight! So don’t worry! Just focus on the siege engines!” Luna replied as reassuringly as she could. She flew in between each siege engine as Twilight frowned, but concentrated on launching more fireball’s at the wooden weapons. As they weaved through each siege engine more Sols hit their targets-- Twilight could hear the ponies cry out in pain from the exploding siege machines.

A stray arrow hit Luna in the side causing her to cry out in pain.
“Luna!!!” Twilight screamed as more arrows struck Luna. Losing strength, Luna and Twilight crashed into the enemy army--where they were surrounded.

Twilight had just enough time to process the bleeding wounds with arrows sticking out of it... before gritting her teeth and letting out a scream of rage--her slit pupils dilated further as she roared in fury, “How dare you!”

Yes! How dare they harm your mare! Teach them a lesson they won’t soon forget! They. Must. Pay!

Twilight agreed with the voice, they dared to harm my Luna!? I’ll make them rue this day! She thought to herself.

Pointing her spellsword above her head she let out one word that echoed through the valley, “Fulger!” she growled out.

Unlike with the wolves Twilight did not hold back, this slight demanded her full power to rectify.

A bolt of lightning struck her sword as dark clouds swirled around her, her eyes glowing white as the ponies closest to their position backed away in fear at the sight.

Twilight was sure one of them was going to shout, “run!” but it was too late as hundreds of bolts of lightning struck the enemy forces--electricity engulfing thousands of stallions as bolts arced between armored ponies.

More bolts of rage-fueled lightning struck the army, further decimating them… As screams and cries of lamentations filled the air with each pony struck, they were felled by the magical lightning conjured by Twilight’s wrath.

As the lightning dissipated, nearly the entirety of army had been eliminated--the smell of cooked flesh assaulting Twilight’s nose as she gagged with her eyes wide at the sight around her.

The remainder of the forces were mopped up by the garrison soldiers--and when they reached Twilight, they stood silently in awe of the mare. Twilight thought that they were judging her, so ducking her head in shame she crawled over to Luna to pull out the arrows and heal up the wounds she had sustained.

With the arrow shafts sticking out of Luna’s side, Twilight wrapped around with her magic each one of the shafts, pulling them out one by one as she healed each puncture wound so Luna wouldn’t go into shock. As she went through each arrow, she heard Luna cry out in pain... before the latter looked up at Twilight with a weak but grateful smile as the young mare started healing her.

Luna tried to get a better look at their situation wincing as she did so, as they hadn't been captured yet, The garrison must have arrived on time she assumed.

“How goes the battle?” Luna asked Twilight weakly

“we won,” Twilight mumbled half heartedly

The silence stretched for a while until Luna let out a surprised squeak as she felt a tongue on her wounds. Refocusing on the mare doing so Luna's face turned neon pink from the intimate action of Twilight cleaning her body with her tongue.

Luna relaxed again, simply enjoying the sensations spreading from the points of contact of Twilight’s tongue. If Twilight was doing that then we must definitely be safe.

I am glad Twilight is here, I don’t want to keep cauterizing my wounds with my magic like before, Luna sighed exaggeratedly, catching Twilight’s attention although she did not add anything in response. I am also glad Twilight’s here with me I get so lonely back home... Sometimes, I really hate that my magic makes me unable to use spells that are for healing wounds - I could have helped Twilight, without having to give her that damnable curse. And that kiss might have actually happened without interruption,

This train of thought in turn caused Luna to blush harder unbeknownst to the mare treating her.

Luna then started daydreaming of her future with Twilight, she was in a kitchen and cooking, two foals a filly and a colt ran in and up to her legs “Mom~ Nebula is being mean to me!” the filly complained

“am not! Lumina is lying to get me in trouble again!” Nebula responded

Luna stared sternly, “Nebula Sparkle, were you being mean to Lumina?” Nebula wilted under Luna’s gaze his ears folding back.

“maybe…” Nebula said looking at the floor scuffing his right hoof.
Lumina stuck her tongue out at Nebula

“just wait till your mother hears about this,” Luna reprimanded

“No~! She’ll lecture me on Harmony and demand I write an five hundred word essay on it!” Nebula complained

“Honey, I'm home!” Twilight called out as she entered the kitchen and kissed Luna on the lips, Luna sighed wistfully.

Shaking her head to clear the pleasant fantasy Luna turned to face Twilight again… only for her expression to morph into a frown, as she saw Twilight’s grief stricken face, tears trailing down her cheeks.

“Twilight? What’s wrong?” Luna asked in concern.

Twilight muttered something but Luna couldn’t hear her.

“Pardon?” Luna enquired further, causing Twilight to turn to face her and shout in grief, “I am a monster!” causing Luna to flinch from the volume of her voice.

Twilight wilted when she saw Luna flinching at her. “I’m sorry I shouted at you, it’s not your fault,” Twilight added quietly as her ears splayed on her head.

Luna’s frown deepened and finally took in the surrounding battlefield--having been distracted by the pain in her side and her fantasy, she hadn’t had a chance to look. What she saw gave her great pause.

Wow, I knew she’d be powerful, but not to this extent. Luna thought before frowning, Great Luna you gave your best friend and possible marefriend PTSD!

What will she think of me for killing so many ponies? Twilight thought as fresh tears stained her face further. She saw Luna looking at the devastation. Twilight hung her head in shame as Luna turned back to her, who had a frown on her face.

Great! Luna hates me now! What if she abandons me or I lose her as a friend! Twilight thought to herself, and now I have no chance to be with her!

Luna for her part noticed the sorrowful shame-faced Twilight and her eyes widened, she got up quickly--wincing as she did so. She pulled the younger mare into a hug, causing Twilight to stiffen in surprise.

“It’s okay Twilight, I am here.” Luna said and that was all it took for Twilight to burst into tears as Luna comforted the mare in her forelegs, rocking her back and forth as Twilight’s sobbing increased in volume.

Commander Ironhide moved up through his men and down to where they laid together. “Her first battle with ponies?” he asked Luna with a surprising amount of compassion in his voice. Luna nodded as she stroked Twilight’s mane.

“Hey! Kid.” Twilight turned to look at the Commander, her eyes bloodshot. “You did good, you helped save my men from an out and out massacre. If you two hadn’t come we would have been as good as dead.” Twilight looked at him in confusion, which brought a smirk to his lips.

“Stallions!!! Show them how grateful you are!!!” Ironhide shouted out loudly, causing Twilight’s ears to flatten against her head on reflex. The garrison cheered loudly which only served to confuse the distraught mare even further.

Luna chuckled at her expression and hugged her tighter.

“Twilight, you’re a heroine. You need not feel shame for defending your friends or those who need help.”

“But I…” Twilight’s response was cut off by Luna’s hoof.

“We shall talk about it in depth later Twilight, for now just relax. I am afraid this won’t be the last time that you will be forced to take other ponies’ lives.” Luna added solemnly. “Now if you would be so kind to help this mare up to her hooves,” Luna smiled as Twilight scrambled to help her up.

When we have time I would think it best to talk to her properly. It isn’t easy taking a life, but the death toll here numbers in the hundreds easily, Luna sighed, poor filly.

“Alright Stallions! It's time we finish preparing and retrieving our stuff….” He paused, then his eye twitched as he remembered the fate of his gear, “my tent!” he cried out running off to his flattened home away from home.

Twilight had to stifle a giggle as she watched the scarred stallion rush back to the camp, her tears slowing down, when she felt Luna lean against her and sigh. Twilight blushed at the closeness, but helped her hobble back to camp.

“Looks like your adventuring days are over,” one of the soldiers said with faux concern.

“Why would you think that?” Luna asked warily turning her head to the stallion who had started speaking.

“Well because you took an arrow to the…..” he was interrupted by Luna who had grabbed the stallion in her magic and pulled him close,

“if you finish that joke, I’ll have to beat you senseless on principle!” Luna glared at the stallion.

After he furiously nodded Luna pushed the soldier away, while the other soldiers laughed at his misfortune.

Twilight grunted as she struggled to aid Luna, “you know what? I wish I had earth pony strength!” as soon as the words left her mouth Luna laughed, Twilight's side and face was assaulted by the vibrations caused by Luna’s laughter at Twilight’s complaint.

“How about asking the soldiers to help you?” Luna enquired thoughtfully

“If you need help We’d be happy to oblige!” one of the soldiers exclaim to unanimous agreement.

“nope, no thank you I can do this! Especially not after you’ve been carrying me both metaphorically and literally since we got here! I feel like I'm not carrying my half of the workload, it's unbalanced.” Twilight explained between grunts of effort.

Luna’s left eyebrow arched and she gained an expression of wry amusement, “Twilight, I do not expect you to carry the burden of an alicorn.”

“you don't, but I do, I refuse to be deadweight!” Twilight retorted.

Luna chuckled, “at the moment I appear to be the deadweight” she added self deprecating.

“you’re not deadweight Luna, I would never think that!” Twilight replied looking straight at her.

Luna blinked owlishly, before smiling and letting out another laugh, “and I would not consider you as such either Twilight, but if you insist, just don't hurt or strain yourself on my account.” Luna replied warmly.

Her laugh is like music to my ears, Twilight thought to herself. My crush is getting really severe, thinking back to her thoughts, when Luna was hurt. Should I just get on with it and confess my feelings for her?

Luna’s thoughts were similarly occupied by the moment she was hit and crashed in the middle of the enemy army, did she really say “her Luna,” it was muttered and normally no pony could hear, but as an alicorn she was able to but she still had her doubts. Perhaps it's just wishful thinking on my part. And if I act on it, would it alienate the only friend who understands me, is it worth it? What if I am wrong about the signals?

Luna’s mind went back to the cave when the seal had first broken and blushed. Would we have kissed had it not been for the pain Twilight felt interrupting? Should I kiss her? Luna shook her head, no, not now after what she has had to deal with. She is vulnerable and I fear that would end in an unhealthy relationship. Her thoughts were pierced by Twilight’s voice.

“Luna are you okay?”

“Oh, yes I am fine. I was just figuring out our next move.” Luna partially lied.

“Oh, what are we doing then?” Twilight replied sincerely.

“Oh! Once we get back, we shall aid in the defence! Then, once the fight is over, we shall see about accommodations and food--we shall also tend to our wounds!” Luna replied hurriedly to her, as it was only through her combined experience that she managed to make up something halfway decent.

“Oh, that sounds good,” Twilight perked up and smiled radiantly at the older mare making her feel guilty for lying, even if it was only a partial lie.

Her guilty introspection was shattered when Twilight had moved under Luna's barrel and slid her head between her forelegs, to make it easier for herself to hold Luna up. Twilight was the perfect size to fit under Luna and it took quite a bit of Luna’s considerable willpower not to sink her teeth into Twilight’s virgin neck or nibble her ears, and then have her way with the mare.

Calm down she's only helping you walk! Luna berated herself internally despite this her instincts continued to scream at her especially because she could feel Twilight's muscles under her as they moved. This is going to be a long march Luna groused internally shoring up her self control for the surely self control sapping journey.