Lunar Eclipse

He ducked again, trying to bring his sword up into position. The shade snarled, its impossible strength hammering against the interposed blade again and again. Blast it, he was a CLERK, not a proper soldier! He went to school to study writing and mathematics, not combat arts. Nevertheless, duty was duty, and this thing was a threat.

Everypony else was down. Guards lay strewn in the hallway as the blood-red moon hung overhead and the crowd of shades pressed in around him. This was it. Years of training and education about to end on the blade of some magical demon thing. Still, if he could just buy enough time for Shining Armor to arrive!

“You can’t win. Give up.”

The words echoed through his mind as he tried to catch his breath, gasping through burning lungs. A dozen cuts across his body sapped his strength, and his hands felt cold as they starved of blood. The shade lunged again, and brought its sword down in a vicious arc. Their swords met.

Once again, he found himself on his knees, blinking through a torrent of blood as he stared at the shattered blade in his hand. This time, there was no captain to save him. He was alone, trapped, and beaten. The sword came down-

Eclipse Penumbra gasped, bolting upright. The blankets were soaked with sweat and his hands would not stop trembling. The tired red sun was just beginning to set outside as the day ended. Night would soon arrive, and Princess Luna would be awakening soon. Reaching for the basin of water on the nightstand, he took a moment to remember where he was as he splashed his face. The Lunar Quarter in his personal chambers. A far cry from a week ago, it was not stocked with all manner of clerky things, from an abacus to one of those newfangled mechanical calculators from Gryphony. Ink, quills, parchment for days (or nights, as the case may be) and various other vital objects were strewn in what looked to the untrained eye to be a chaotic fashion across the desk and shelves.

Standing up, the Unicorn pulled on his robe and walked to the Balcony overlooking the gardens. Drawing aside the sliding doors, a cool evening breeze washed over him and stole away some of the tension in his shoulders. The burning scar on his face felt soothed by the current of air and he looked up to the stars overhead, twinkling in the comfort of their eternal black blanket.

It’s time to go to work, He thought to himself. “Nothing for it, Eclipse. Buck up.”

A quick shower and a trimming of his mane later, he stared at himself in the mirror. Unlike two months ago, his cheeks were gaunt and drawn, giving him a nearly skull-like appearance. It was hard to keep a full meal down and working 16-hour shifts to catch up on the multitude of details required to get the Night Court up and running after a thousand years was no simple task. Still, it’s a case of needs must, Pen. Now how about we make sure Princess Luna has her evening drink, shall we?

Fastening on his belt with the short dagger, he strode out of his chambers. Nodding to the guards outside, he hurried down to the kitchens as the remainder of the staff not yet off duty prepared to turn in for the night. By now, the kitchen knew to have a large barrel of extra-strong coffee ready to go, enchanted to keep it warm and fresh throughout the night. A special blend of Saddle Arabian beans and imports from the Badlands, she claimed it was “The true Power of the Night” and ensured that all her staff and guards were plied with as much as they needed.

A familiar click of boots alerted him to the approach of a friend. Without even turning, he held another cup out which was accepted as Mithril Weave caught up to him. “Evening, Pen. Got those forms for me?”

He rolled his eye. “If there is one thing I don’t miss, it’s filling out the same requisition form for the same five ponies every week. At least now I never have to do the same thing twice. Other than transcribing the swearing-in of sixty new guards in a row.”

“With any luck, that’s a one-off. So, you settling in well enough? How’s the eye doing?”

“It’s still blind,” he replied as he flashed a grin at her. “How’s the arm? Hey, where IS your arm?”

She looked down, grimacing. “It’s still not taking properly. The Artificer says the adjustment is all in my head, but I can’t seem to get it to move properly. It’s dead weight right now, so I’m not lugging it around.”

“After all the years you spent lugging the rest of us around, and NOW you’re concerned with dead weight? Getting old, Captain?” His comment provoked a grimace from her.

“Young enough to kick your ass, Pen. You know you don’t have to call me Captain anymore, right? You’re retired from the guard. Lighten up a little, you look like you’re about to suffer an attack of nerves.”

“Old habits, as the Princess likes to say. We’ve served what, four years together? I remember your little speech to us the first night on detail. Something about not falling asleep, just before we caught you napping in your office?”

“In my defense, I had been pulling double shifts for two weeks straight, and Shining Armor had my ass for that one. By the way, did you hear Shining’s getting married?” That comment drew Eclipse to a stop as he directed his full attention to her.

“Really? Who to?”

“Cadence, by the sounds of it. Or, as the full title goes, Princess Mi Amore Cadenza. His little sister’s babysitter.”

“Oh! Well, that should be a fun wedding. Good for him!” Though known for his utterly rigid discipline amongst the guards, he was respected as both competent and charismatic, able to lead rather than drive his subordinates to excel. On the day shift, at least. He had a somewhat darker reputation for shuffling under-performers to the Night Shift in order to boost his performance reviews.

The two stopped outside the Lunar Quarters. “Well, I’ve got to run a surprise inspection. But really, do you have anything I should know about?” She raised her eyebrows as Eclipse considered.

“Nothing off the top of my head. Just make sure noponys got any contraband. If you can, try to get your budget report pushed past Bean Counter so I can sign off on it.”

She nodded before putting her helmet on and striding away. Levitating the barrel of coffee in after him, Eclipse was not surprised to see Luna standing on her balcony raising the moon. At the smell, she turned, her expression brightening. “Ah, mine most loyal vassal. Here with tribute fitting for a Princess?” She accepted the proffered cup and sipped of the near-boiling liquid, sighing with relief. “Most excellent. My compliments to the chef, as usual. Now, what exciting duties await us this night?”

Eclipse didn’t even have to pull out the list he had been ready to prepare. Well, gotta get it over with. “Nopony has sought an audience this evening, your highness.”

Her ears drooped. “Alas, again. Still, I suppose it has only been a week since we have, ah, ‘opened for business?’ Mahaps we shall find something productive to do tonight. I grow weary of spending hours sitting in a stuffy throne room where nopony has need of me.”

Eclipse squinted at her. She seemed… nearly as under the weather as him. “Your highness… forgive me if I am out of line, but are you alright? You seem down.”

“‘Tis nothing of concern. I’m sure that they will come… eventually. Perhaps another look over the budget reports for the Royal Army?”

He shook his head. “We’ve been over them every night this week, and I sent them off to Shining this morning. I’m sure you are aware you do not HAVE to sit on your throne all night? You have other aides who can summon you if needed.”

“I refuse to sit in my quarters all night. It is too much like just another prison.” She nearly spat out the word, before colouring. “My apologies, I should not speak in such a manner before you.”

“It’s alright, Princess. It’s just me, Eclipse. Everypony’s friend.” His dry tone didn’t cover the twinkle in his eye, tired though he was as he offered her a small joke in an attempt to lighten the mood.

It didn’t have the expected effect. Rather than a chuckle or laugh, or that snort that could have come from a pig that he found so amusing, he got only a sigh. “Friend… indeed. A princess does not get the luxury of such things.”

“Your highness? With all due respect, your sister has plenty of friends.” That, as it turned out, was exactly the wrong thing to say. Her eyes flashed as her hand trembled, clenched around the cup.

“Our dear sister has much that we do not. ‘Twould be no understatement to call her the most beloved in all the land. Not… not that I begrudge her AUGH!” Her statement came to an abrupt end as the cup in her hand shattered. As accustomed as her tongue may have been to scalding hot coffee, her hand was not, and her shriek drew a loud crash from the door as two lunar pegasi burst in, halberds brandished.

“Your Highness, what-” one started, before she waved them away. “‘Tis nothing, a spill. Return to your posts, please” she said, turning swiftly without meeting Eclipse’s eye. The two bowed before retreating, closing the door behind them as Eclipse Penumbra stepped forward. Grabbing a towel, he began to clean up the broken pieces and mop up the spilled liquid. Luna strode away, pushing open the doors to the balcony and stepping out, gazing up at the sky.

I didn’t sign up for this. I suppose there was a bit of a reason she went… nightmare mode. Suddenly, he stopped, unaware of the broken ceramic digging into his palm. Her sister. That’s why she did what she did, she was angry and jealous because she… has never had a friend? How is that possible? She’s a princess. Still, the evidence was there: In a week of the Night Court being open for petitioners, not one had come forward, not even any of the nobles seeking favours. The throbbing pain drew his eye back and he finished picking up the pieces as Luna stood silently on her balcony.

Then, he had an idea. A dangerous, risky, and completely inappropriate idea. He might still be a little rusty, and it had been ages since he had done it with anypony other than himself, but if she was the kind of pony he thought she was… Finishing nabbing up the last of the spilled coffee, he stepped over to the door and poked his head out. One of the guards, still on high alert, looked at him. “Please inform anyone who wishes to petition the Princess that she is not available tonight, but if it is urgent, let me know.

The guard nodded, resuming her post as he quickly moved across the room to his own quarters. It took less than a minute for him to locate and retrieve the item he desired, one which had provided him endless hours of pleasure and entertainment. Only those with great fortitude had ever beaten him, but if he recalled correctly, Princess Luna had invented chess. Returning to the living area, he began to set the pieces up. By this time, the princess had come back in and was filling another cup, her hand still trembling, but she looked somewhat interested as he quietly set the board and looked up at her.

“It seems tonight, protocall be damned, your highness. How about a friendly match? It’s been a couple of years for me, but I understand you invented this game as a way to improve strategic skills? I’ve had this set since my father passed it down to me, and his father had it before he did. We’ve been playing for generations.”

She slowly approached him, her face neutral as she looked at the board. “‘Tis a game of no chance at all, only skill. I would enjoy it, but we have-”

Aware his mother would have twisted his ear off for doing so, he interrupted her. “Nopony wants to see you. You asked me to give you the truth? There it is. In time, I am certain many will seek you. Perhaps some will do so to go around your sister. Perhaps they will seek to court you or win favours. Tonight however? There is nothing wrong with relaxing once in a while. If you wish, I would be happy to spar with you, so to speak.”

For a moment, he thought she was going to dismiss him on the spot. Then, she pulled out a chair and sat down. “I believe I shall play black. Your move, my White Knight.”

Two armies clashed. Lowly foot soldiers rushed ahead, meeting in a desperate melee frenzy as galloping knights charged into the fray. Bishops hid behind their castles as the Queen herself waded forward, striking down any who would oppose her.

Finally, when the blood and screams of the field faded, only the few remnants of the black army remained, crushed without mercy by the Solar guard.

“My apologies, but that is Checkmate, again” stated the Unicorn as he set his castle down next to the King, watched over by the bishops.

“Drat! Best six out of ten?” The princess glared at her opponent as he used his magic to reset the board. The moon hung low in the sky, nearly ready to be dropped the rest of the way as the stars began to fade in the early pre-dawn light. The keg of coffee stood empty while the remnants of a cake pilfered from Celestia’s Repository lay scattered across the table. A far cry from a few hours ago, she was finally at ease as she leaned back and belched softly. “Pardon! That was undignified.”

“Nearly as undignified as what you did to my poor knights.” Eclipse rubbed his horn, a massive headache building up in his forebrain as he squinted at the board. “Most churlish of you, Princess. You nearly had me that time.”

“I suppose, in a thousand years, you lot have developed plenty of strategies I have never heard of. What was that series called again?”

“The Discordant Maneuver. Knights in the middle, queen on the flank, bishops guard the King while the castles move in for the kill. Here, like this” he said, setting the board with the pieces in the proper places. “Just like this. Move 35, Castle to back file, and it’s checkmate.”

Before she could reply, the clock chimed behind them five times. She looked over his shoulder at the timepiece as it alerted her. “Ah, our rematch will have to wait. This has been… a most enjoyable night.” She stood up from the table and stretched her wings. “Mayhaps we shall do this again?”

Penumbra nodded at her. “You nearly had me that last one. I had to improvise there. Your highness?” he said, raising his voice in a query. At her raised eyebrow, he continued. “If it makes any difference… I… don’t think you are a bad pony.” He stood up. “I swore to help you as you need. If you ever need to talk, need to vent… I will listen, and nothing you say to me leaves this room.”

She looked at him. He met her eyes with his own, and though he couldn’t see through it, even his milky left one met hers steadily. “I… thank you for that. I think I will take you up on that, My Little Pony. I… must lower the moon to make way for my dear sister’s sun.”

As she turned away, he thought he saw a wet gleam in her eyes.

“Dammit.”

The Gryphon cursed her foul luck. Knowing a former guard was enough to get her into the palace, but the Princess of the Night had not made her normal trek to the Throne Room this night, meaning she had stayed up so late for nothing, and would have to risk another trip back. Pulling a picture out, she ran her talons over it mournfully. “I promise you… we'll be together again. Soon, my love. I will avenge you, and it will be the last thing I ever do.”

From the picture, her love, Grape Fruit, smiled, her arm around her gryphon lover under the bright sun of Marealago.