A Moon's secret

Chapters

Chapter 1 hearts and hooves day escape
Chapter 2 The night before Hearts and Hooves day
Chapter 3 A dream and unlocking the past
Chapter 4 A Story of Sun, Moon, and Shield
Chapter 5: Guards Eating Cupcakes
Chapter 6: Lightshield Learns to Fly
Chapter 7 Hearts and Hooves Day
Chapter 9: Sunset
Chapter 10: The King of Equestria
Chapter 11: Nightshield Vs. The Elements of Harmony
Chapter 12: The Stars Will Aid in Her Escape
Chapter 8: Lightshield Transforms

Chapter 1 hearts and hooves day escape

Apple Bloom is walking around sweet apple acers looking up at the sky. The sky is baby blue with only a few clouds perfect weather for Hearts and Hooves day. Apple bloom decide to stay home while Applejack, Granny smith, and Big Macintosh went into town. Sweetie belle and Scootaloo were supposed to be there already but apple bloom figured they’d be late considering the whole town was out and about with ponies going on dates and buying gifts. Apple bloom was correct in her assumption considering the two were almost to sweet apple acers but had to stop and wait for sever ponies to get out of the way. Scootaloo looks at all the ponies in front of her and sweetie belle. “this sucks we are barely getting any were” she sinks down on the floor upset.
Sweet belle looks at her “awe its not that bad, and besides my sister says its worth it if loves involved. Scootaloo stands up gagging at what sweetie belle had just said.
“yuck” scootaloo said without noticing the ponies finally moving out of the way.

Sweetie belle chuckles and run forward “last on there is a rotten egg” Scootaloo looks at the filly running ahead “hey that’s not fair for you “she takes off chasing sweetie bell. As the two race they run pass twilight knocking her into flash sentry who is standing right beside her the two blushes as they pull apart. Sweetie belle takes the lead as scoots follows her. But as they pass under sweet apple acres sign Scootaloo pulls ahead winning. Scootaloo jumps happily as sweetie belle almost collapses on the ground from exhaustion. Apple bloom runs up to them “hey, girls”

The two responded “hi applebloom” though sweetie belles response is almost completely covered by scootaloo’s voice.

Appleblooms helps Sweetie belle up “I’m glad you girls could make it. Applejack, Grannie Smith, and big Mac are always so busy today”

Sweetie belle gets up with the help of applebloom “yeah, rarity is to when she’s not completing last minute orders, she is spending the day with spike.”

Scootaloo sighs “yeah Rainbow dash has no time today, she went with Soarin to clouds dale and she won’t be back until tomorrow.” She pauses and looks down. “why do we have this stupid holiday anyways it’s just an excuse for ponies to make out in public.”

Applebloom and Sweetie belle nods in agreement. Applebloom gets an idea and jumps forward “Girls lets go on an adventure to the castle of the two pony sisters”

Scootaloo looks at her confused “why should we go there?”

Sweetie belle nods “yeah its all dusty and worn down”

Applebloom sighs “its so we can get away from all the kissing and romance of this holiday”

Scootaloo smile “sound good to me”

Sweetie belle reluctantly agrees with her.

The three set off towards the everfree forest, where the castle of the two ponies sister sets. The three fillies run happily with each other playing tag along the ways as they approach the castle, they hear something. “Crying?” Scootaloo asked the other two
Sweetie belle nods “yeah, I hear it to”

Applebloom nods in agreement as the three walks across the bridge they see the source of the crying. Applebloom and Sweetie belle stay quiet staring with there mouths drooping open from shock.
Scootaloo breaks the slience “Princess Luna?”

Author's Note

My first attempt at a story I'll be posting the second chapter really soon. Please don't dislike if you only hate the Luna shipping.

Chapter 2 The night before Hearts and Hooves day

The moon is full and in the center of the sky. The air is cooled by winters hands. Princess Luna stands at the top of the tower on the balcony. Luna knows tomorrow is just another day, however she knew she would get no sleep tomorrow. Luna looks up at the night sky and sighs. She begins walking into the tower shutting the balcony door behind her. Luna then past the bed that was present in the room where' Celestia lays. Luna looks at her and walks by her. A creak comes from a floor bored underneath Luna’s front hoofs. Luna freezes as she sees her sister turn towards her after the creak of the bored.

“Sister, I can explain” Luna said not realizing that her sister was still asleep.

Celestia groans loudly but does not stir. Luna sighs in relief that her sister did not wake, she begins walking to the door to leave the room. She slowly opens the door and shivers feeling the cold hallway air which was not as cold as outside the castle but colder than the tower room. Luna slowly creeps into the dark hallway and closing the door almost silently behind her. Luna stands for a moment before using her horn to illuminate the hallway. As she walks through the hallway, she begins speaking to herself. “why does hearts and hooves day have to be tomorrow? I mean what’s the use of that holiday anyway.”

Luna’s ears go down as a tear goes down her face. “its such a dumb holiday”

she gets down the stairs and head towards the throne room. A pony guard in dark amour approaches her. “Princess Luna, the preparations for your departure are done. And as ordered Celestia will not know”

Luna nods “good, thank you” she turns around and begins walking out of the hallway that separates the castle from the throne room. But before she can leave the hallway. A Pegasus in gold armor steps in front of her. She looks at him noticing the blue hair and orange coat. The pony jumps noticing Luna. “Princess Luna” he kneels

Luna signals him to stand “Flash Sentry, what are you doing up?”

Flash stands up “I… well to be honest I was trying to sleep but I couldn’t I’m excited about tomorrow!”

Luna chuckles at him from seeing the almost foal like excitement in his eyes. Luna knew why to. Flash Sentry was sent to Canterlot at the request of Cadence she said she wanted to give him a chance to see twilight on heart and hooves day. Flash stares at Luna who’s now chuckling at him. Luna smiles “Flash, how about you take the night off and fly to Ponyville?”

Flash face lights up “yes!...um I mean thank you princess”

Luna nods as flash walks back the way he came. But before he walks out of the room “Flash, say hi to twilight for me”

Flash blushes “I will Luna” he gets out the door and out of sight of Luna

Luna sighs thinking of when she was like him full of Love and excitement. Luna thinks to herself ‘That must have been almost 2000 years ago now. I haven’t liked this holiday since him’ she shivers thinking of him. To her not saying his name made her fill less sad. Though her sister never made it easy for she believed Luna should remember him by name. ‘sister always thought she knew best. In a way I guess she might be, but I do not want to feel the sadness of the past especially after I forgave myself for becoming nightmare moon. Bring up him is not going to help my situation’ Luna left the castle as she walked through the court yard she knew her sister would be mad, leaving with saying goodbye but its only for one day so Luna was not to worried about the backlash from her sister.As Luna exited the castle and into Canterlot she felt the breeze and shivered slightly. As she walked through the center of town, she noticed it was decorated for Heart and Hooves day. Luna looks down only wanting to focus on her steps. As she approached the Boutique in Canterlot she sat down awaiting her guards to give her the signal to leave. Even though she’s a princess she knew in order to avoid everypony she had to leave without her guards and silently.

Luna wait for what seemed like hours. But just when Luna thought they weren’t coming a Pegasus flies in front of her. The Pegasus bows “Princess Luna its time we have made sure no one who shouldn’t know won’t see you”

Luna nods and signals the pony to stand “thank you, I will be back within two days”

The pony nods “yes ma’am”

Luna flies up and immediately heads out of the capital leaving the Pegasus. Luna flies faster as the streetlights of Canterlot fades away. She stops to catch her breath and looks up at the moon. ‘oh sister, I miss the days of old before my transformation and before I lost my somepony. Forgive me for running away from this, but I have to avoid the past at least for now.’ Luna starts flying again she passes over Ponyville and through the everfree forest. She finale lands at the castle of the two-pony sister. Luna pauses ‘its been so long since I’ve been here not since my defeat as nightmare moon at the hoofs of twilight and her friends. *Sigh* ‘this is the best place to stay, though it’s a constant reminder of everything. My transformation, my liberation, and where I met Light Shield. She pauses as a tear form in her eye. She hadn’t thought of that name in a long time. It made her heart sting. Luna blamed herself for what happened to Light Shield. Luna lies down as dawn approaches, she lowers the moon. Luna began sobbing knowing no pony could hear her. She eventually cries herself to sleep unaware of the dream to come.

Author's Note

This is my first time writing any suggestion or questions let me know. Also should there be a dream chapter? This story is something I'm doing in my spare time the next chapter will be up asap. :)

Chapter 3 A dream and unlocking the past

Chapter 3

Luna awakes in a dark forest and instantly realizes it’s a dream. A chill comes over her as she hears Timber wolfs in the distance. She begins to panic when the moon turns a blood red. Luna backs up into a tree. All though the princess has had dreams before, she had never seen this one. She had no control over it, which terrified her. As she continues analyzing the dream, she hears twigs break and leaves rustle. Nightmare moon comes through the bushes and into sight. Luna stares at her confused “How… can this be? You were destroyed”

Nightmare moon cackles as she gets closer and closer to Luna, until she stops two feet away from her. “Luna you cannot possibly believe that. If you have any doubt or guilt in your mind, I will never be truly gone” she laughs

Luna backs up and prepares to fight nightmare moon. As she does this Nightmare moon backs up into the shadows. “its your fault he’s gone.”

Luna looks towards the voice constantly turning towards the hoof steps of Nightmare moon, and her voice. “he loved you and this is how you repaid him”

Luna whips around blasting magic at the voice. “ha-ha, you can’t silence the truth. If you didn’t love him, he’d still be alive”

Luna eyes begin to fill with tears, as Nightmare moon’s words cut deep. Luna starts firing magic in all direction. Soon she hears it “damn it”

Nightmare moon falls to the ground with a thud. Luna approaches her still with tears in her eyes. Nightmare moon laughs “you may have caught me, but the tears won’t stop. He was kind and gentle and you Luna are the reason he’s gone… ha-ha”.

Luna rears back and with in an instant destroys Nightmare moon. Luna falls to the ground, exhausted from the psychological battle she just experienced.

Luna jolts awake, breathing heavily and sweating profusely. She looks around and realizes it was only a dream. Luna took solidarity in that fact, however the words of Nightmare moon weighed heavily on her mind. ‘she’s right I am responsible for what happened to him’ she begins to cry while her mind thought ‘he loved me, and I killed him’ tears began to flow at quicken pace. Luna didn’t realize how loud she became. In her state of distress, she attracted the attention of three small fillies who shouldn’t have been there. “Princess Luna?”

Luna turned around noticing the filly who said her name. In an instant she realized it was Scootaloo, Apple bloom, and Sweetie belle. Luna did not respond to Scootaloo and instead she stood up and wiped the tears away with her hoof. “Young fillies, what are you doing here?” Luna spoke staring right at Scootaloo.

Scootaloo felt the piercing stare of Luna. Scootaloo feels butterflies in her stomach. Scootaloo then hesitantly answers “well…Princess we were trying to get away from everything going on today”

Apple bloom gulps but musters out “Yup”

Sweetie belle remains silent but nods in agreement with Scootaloo. Luna looks at the three before speaking to the cmc “no need to fret, you fillies aren’t in trouble. In fact, I’m here for the same reason.”

The three fillies look at each other, confused on what Luna had just said. Apple bloom walks over to Luna “But you’re the princess, why are you here?”

Scootaloo nods as she follows behind Apple bloom. “yeah, you could've gone anywhere, why here?”

Sweetie belle walks with the follows the two. “you're super pretty, couldn’t you get any stallion?”

Luna slightly laughs at Sweetie belle’s question. “Apple bloom, even princess have things they want to get away from. Scootaloo, I came here because it feels like home and reminds me of time long forgotten.”

Luna pauses not knowing how to respond to Sweetie belle. She then sits back down and signals the fillies to come sit in front of her. The three fillies walk over and sit in front of her. Scootaloo sits right in front of Luna, while sweetie belle is on Scoot’s right side and Apple bloom is on Scoot’s left side. The three fillies stare up at Luna. Luna smiles “Sweetie Belle”

Sweetie belle looks at Luna with a concerned smile “yes, Princess Luna?”

Luna looks at her “Your right, I could get any stallion that courts me. However, I have no room in my heart for another stallion.”

The fillies stay silent and look at each other, before Scootaloo breaks the silence. “Princess Luna, what do you mean another stallion? Do you already have a special somepony?”

Luna only looks at Scootaloo before she sighs and looks towards an old tapestry. The Tapestry shows Luna and Celestia in front of the moon and sun. But below the two sisters is Light Shield and Star Swirl the bearded dueling. Luna smiles as she recounts it ‘I remember that day. Light Shield wanted to duel Star Swirl. Star swirl of course won, but that was to be expected.’ “Princess Luna?”

Luna looks towards the filly that said it. “yes, Apple bloom?”

Apple bloom stares at the tapestry that Luna had been staring at. “is that him, the one battling Star swirl?”

Luna paused as she realized the fillies had been watching her. ‘should I answer? Yes, Luna get a hold of yourself it’s time to remember him and stop running from my past’. Luna looks back at the tapestry “indeed it is Apple bloom. His name was Light Shield. It’s been almost two thousand years since I saw him last.” Tears form in her eyes

Scootaloo pauses “Princess Luna, could you tell us more about him?”

Sweetie belle nods “yes, please”

Apple blooms looks at her friends, before looking at Luna and noticing her watery eyes “of course, only if you want to Luna”

Luna doesn’t respond to the fillies. The fillies look at her unaware of the battle going on in Luna’s mind. After about a minute Luna finally speaks “I’ll tell you, but it will take a lot of time out of the day”

Scootaloo smiles “that’s fine”

Sweetie bell nods “yeah, tell us everything”

Apple bloom smiles at Luna and nods in agreement with Scoots and Sweetie belle. Luna sighs, but knows this will finally help her accept the past. “well it all started about 2000 years ago…

Author's Note

Hope you enjoy this chapter! Next chapter will take a little longer, but will finally explain the history and past of Light shield and Luna through their perspective and jump between past and present. Hope you all enjoy!

Chapter 4 A Story of Sun, Moon, and Shield

2000 years ago

The sun rises over the castle of the two pony sisters. Celestia stands in front of the castle rising the sun. A stallion standing at the same height of Celestia, comes and stands beside her. Celestia looks over at him after she had rose the sun. “Light Shield, you look exhausted, did you stay up with my sister again?”

Light shield yawns “Yes princess I did” He leans against her

Celestia rolls her eyes “you don’t need to be so formal.”

Light shield only nods slightly closing his eye. She smiles “go get some sleep. And before you say it, I know your cutie mark says you must protect the two of us, but I’ll be fine after all I’m stronger than you” she teases

Light shield smiles “as you wish Tia”

Celestia helps Light shield to stand straight back up, off her. Light shield walks into the castle. Celestia stands staring out over the forest.

Luna walks up to her room from the throne room. She yawns as she enters her room. Light shield follows her in without her noticing. He smiles “Hello Luna”

Luna jumps up hitting her head on the celling “you scared the hell out of me”

Light shield Laughs “sorry Luna”

Luna rolls her eyes “whatever, what do you want I’m about to sleep?”

Light shield smiles “I wanted to see you is that too much to ask?’

Luna rolls her eyes again “no, I suppose not.” She pauses “Can I ask you something?’

He stares puzzled “um, sure, what is it?”

Luna sits down looking into her vanity’s mirror staring at light shield through it. “do you think I could be adored like my sister?”

She starts brushing her mane. Light shield smiles “of course you could. The ponies just don’t get to see you that often.”

Luna does not respond but stops brushing her mane. She then stands up and turns to face Light shield. “I’m going to rest now.”

Light shield nods “of course, Luna” he exits the room and closes the door.

Luna sighs as she sits down onto her bed. *he is lying to you Luna. No, he does not care about us. He is more loyal to your sister, than you.* As the voice filled her head Luna tried to ignore it but as it continued to repeat most of the same, Luna began to believe most of what it said. Luna lays down staring up at the celling. The voice in her head now finally quiet she could hear her heart, which disputed what the voice said. *believe him and in yourself* as the voice encouraged her the princess falls into a deep sleep.

As Light shield walks down the hallway, he struggles to keep his eyes open. Finally, he reaches his room. It’s at the very, very end of the hallway. As he enters his room, and immediately sits on the bed. He yawns and looks around realizing he has not been in his room in about four days, thanks to the energy spells he’s been using to keep himself awake. The stallion lays down and tries to sleep, but instead he finds himself thinking. He finds himself planning nervously. Hearts and Hooves Day is tomorrow, after all. His mind wanders gleefully over to Luna.

Oh, Luna.

He smiles to himself. The youngest princess has the funniest charm about her. She’s so dark and brooding, but so plain and sarcastic in a way that feels almost more genuine and lively than Celestia’s sunny attitude. So elegant and majestic, yet so… creepy! Maybe it’s because she’s usually alone every night, but Luna never seems afraid to be herself. She doesn’t have to put on a smile for the crowds like her sister. She’s just Luna. Not to mention, well, she’s beautiful. Lightshield feels adrenaline flood his veins and a nervous pit form in his stomach.

Hearts and Hooves Day is tomorrow, He thinks to himself, grinning. And I’m going to tell Luna how I feel about her tonight! That smile slowly fades though, as he starts to consider Celestia’s reaction. It isn’t that she won’t be happy, or anything. In fact, she’ll probably be delighted! Celestia and Lightshield have been best friends ever since his cutie mark appointed him as bodyguard to the princesses. Ever since they were just little foals!

But that’s the problem. Lightshield’s job is important. Urgently important. Like, The-Existence-of-Equestria-Depends-On-Him-Important. Sure, Celestia laughs it off when Lightshield stays up late with Luna. She rolls her eyes humbly whenever he yawns during his day job. But still, she seems kind of annoyed. Kind of concerned. Which, of course, is understandable, because staying up all night means not being a great guard during the day. Which means putting her life into his hands might not be the best idea. But then- what about Luna? Ok, fine. Luna’s up at night when everyone’s asleep. Who’s going to hurt her?

But I want to see her! I want to spend every night with her!

His heart aches with longing. He thinks of her hair, royal purple and glowing like a midnight sky full of glittering stars. She’s so beautiful it hurts.

And she wants to be with me!

He knows this. He knows she loves him too. Whenever Luna looks at him, her owly eyes, which usually look rather bored, shine brighter the sunniest day Celestia could ever conceive.

As he imagines Luna’s sparkling eyes, his heart bursts, and he feels as though snake venom is pouring from it.

Why do I have to change my sleep schedule to be with Luna?

The snake venom calms for a moment. He can’t be mad at Luna. Not Luna. But soon his heart erupts with snake, spider, and scorpion venom, all at once.

Why do I have to change my sleep schedule, just to guard Celestia?

Lightshield grinds his teeth.

Sleep, Lightshield. Stay awake, Lightshield. Sleep, Lighshield, Stay awake, Lightshield. I can’t take this anymore! Why do I have to choose between the love of my life, and my best friend?

He sighs.

I know why. Because they’re the princesses. They have power over night and day. Power over the sun and the moon. Power over me.

...What power do I have?

Suddenly, Lightshield feels a surge of power, as though he can make objects float, or become a dragon, or cause an eclipse. He feels like he can destroy anything.

Then, as quickly as it came, it disappears.

What the... what was… that was…

He shakes his mane and looks around the room, half expecting objects to be broken or on the floor, but nothing is.

That was nothing, He thinks to himself. And with that, he flops back onto the bed and sleeps the rest of the day.

Author's Note

Sorry I had to take a break for a while but now i have returned to complete the story! on another note this story will be dubbed and filed out on my YouTube channel soon keep any eye out! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGXQmrcRf0QsS6C_T-6rEDw?view_as=subscriber

Chapter 5: Guards Eating Cupcakes

Luna raises the moon, settling it next to the glittering stars. She then tiptoes into Lightshield’s room to wake him, only to jump when she hears his voice behind her.

“Don’t worry, Lunie!” He chuckles. “I’m already up! Surprise!”

“Lightshield!” Luna instinctively yelps in her Royal-Canterlot-Speech-Voice. “Thou mustn’t inflict such shock upon us this early!”

The stallion snickers. “Shh! You’ll wake Tia! Besides, it’s the night before Hearts and Hooves Day! Everyone’s too excited to sleep when it’s the night before a holiday!”

The princess sighs, gazing out the window.
“And by everyone, you mean most certainly not everyone.”

Indeed, the lights in the village houses are all off. No one is playing in the street, or visiting the castle, or strolling in the marketplace.

“Ah, don’t be like that, Luna!” Says Lightshield. “It’s just you and me tonight!”

Luna smiles at him. “Yes,” She declares. “Let the hanging out commence!”

Outside the castle, two lunar guards stand beside the doors. They share a tray of cupcakes that Celestia gave them for being good at their job.

“She’s always giving them candy,” Luna whispers to Lightshield, as they stand on the balcony above them. “Want some cupcakes?”

“Sure!” Lightshield replies softly. “Let’s go down and ask them- oh!” Lightshield gets cut off by the sight of Luna trying to climb down the balcony like a professional thief.

“What are you doing!” He whispers. “You’ve got wings, buddy! And stairs. We’ve also got some stairs over here.”

Luna shushes him as she swoops over, hanging upside-down from the balcony, tucking her wings slightly over her face in a batlike position. Below her, the guards chat casually and lick sugary pink cupcake frosting, having no idea anyone is nearby.

“Any plans for H and H Day?” One says to the other.

“Eh,” Replies the second one. “I’m one of those single-and-rocking-it kind of ponies. Tomorrow, I’m gonna eat chocolate, read horror scrolls and sleep the rest of the day.”

“Ah, that sounds kind of awesome.”

“Thanks, dudette.”

As the guards drone on, Luna’s horn gives a subtle lilac glow, and a rosey-colored cupcake floats off of the tray.

“How about you?” Continues the second guard.

“Oh, me?” Says the first. “Yeah, my special somepony and I are going to that new restaurant that Twinkle Twirl and Skywishes just opened up.”

“Ahh, yeah I heard they have good straw.”

“I mean, they just have like, the normal plastic bendy ones.”

“No, not straws, straw. Like the food.”

“Oh yeah, they have that.”

“I love straw- Hey! Why is that cupcake floating?”

There is an awkward silence as the two guards look at the cupcake hovering between them.

“What gives!” Snarls the first guard.

“Hey, it wasn’t me,” Retorts the second. “I’m not a unicorn!”

“Well, I’m not either,” The first complains as the other cupcakes float out of the pan one by one. “We’re both pegasi, dummy!”

They try to grab the cupcakes, but soon they’re too high up, and the guards would have to abandon their stations to reach them.
“Aww, rats.” The first guard sighs.

“Wait,” Says the second guard. “The cupcakes are glowing purple, right? If we’re not unicorns, then there must be a unicorn nearby.”

As they look behind them, Luna stifles an inaudible giggle and quickly turns herself invisible using her magic, leaving Lightshield the only unicorn to be seen.

“You!” The guards shout.

“What, me?” Lightshield laughs nervously. “Listen, this isn’t what it looks like-”

One of the cupcakes floats onto Lightshield’s hoof. Distracted by how good it looks, he joyfully takes a bite.

“Mmm!” Lightshield says. “Thanks, Luna!”

“Hey!” Luna chuckles from her invisible perch. “Way to give us away, thou ammature perpetrator of pranks!”

“Get them!” Shouts the second guard as Luna materializes over their heads.

“Whoa, hold up,” Fumbles the first guard. “Isn’t she like, the princess?”

“Oh come on,” The second groans. “It’s not like she’s Princess Celestia.”

Lightshield gulps at that comment. He knows Luna doesn’t take well to being thought of as the lesser princess.

The royal alicorn flaps her wings, and does a flip midair, then sets herself hovering dramatically in front of the full moon. Her purple hair ripples like a pirate’s flag. She then annihilates everyone’s ears with her royal voice.
“THOU DARE SPEAKEST TO US AS THOUGH WE ARE NOT PRESENT IN THE ROOM? THOU DARE BESTOW OUR SISTER WITH A HIGHER TITLE OF NOBILITY THEN WE?”

“I’m sure they didn’t mean it like that!” Says Lightshield.

“Nah, I definitely meant it like that.” The second guard states. The first guard elbows him. “Oh, come on,” The second guard continues anyway. “What are you gonna do, Luna?”

“Is that a challenge?” Luna growls.

“I mean, I guess?” The second guard shrugs.

“Very well,” Declares the princess. “In that case, THOU MUST CATCH US THOUSELVES WITH THE SHEER SPEED OF THOU’S HOOVES, IF THOU EVER WANTS TO RETRIEVE THY CUPCAKES!”

“I think that’s basically her way of saying: ‘If you want the cupcakes, you’ll have to catch me first.” Lightshield clarifies with a guilty grin, and a drop of sweat streaming down his face.

“Yeah, we know.” Snaps the second guard.

Luna dips over to the balcony where Lightshield is.
This must look very romantic, Lightshield thinks to himself.
Like that old scroll about the stallion who climbs his lover’s roof to speak with her on the balcony.
He shrugs off that thought as Luna says: “Hop on, friend.”

Lighshield climbs onto Luna’s back, and together they soar across the stars. They zip through the tangled vines of the Everfree Forest, and dart out into the empty streets of Ponyville. The Castle of the Two Sisters grows smaller as it fades into the distance. Purple glowing cupcakes drag alongside them in the sky.

“Uh, don’t look now,” Lightshield warns, peering behind at the pegasus guards flapping behind them.

“Ha,” Laughs Luna. “Those fools are no threat to me!”
She accelerates her flight farther into town, skidding to a stop in an alleyway. She stands with her back to the wall.
“You may let go, now.” She says to Lightshield, who is still holding onto her shoulders.

“Oh, yeah,” He chuckles, blushing. “Sorry!”

Luna gazes into the distance, squinting.
“Looks like those guards lost us!” She snorts.
The two laugh for a while, and Luna smiles at Lightshield.
“Lightshield, my friend,” She whispers. “Shall we celebrate this occasion?”

Luna dips her horn in the minty icing of the cupcake, and writes on the wall, as though the frosting were ink, and her horn was a pen.

“Lightshield and Luna were here,” The stallion reads aloud. “That’s got a good ring to it!”

“Most certainly!”

They giggle and look up at the stars, scattered like a winter storm across the sky. The moon casts a silver glow over the royal ponies, in a beautiful pattern not unlike the sun’s reflection seen from underwater.

“Oh, how I love the night!” Luna marvels, her eyes glistening with joy like a mother proud of her child.

“Me too,” Lightshield agrees. “It’s perfect.”

As he catches sight of Luna’s face, he can feel himself blushing. Her whole body shimmers like royal treasure in the moonlight.

Now’s my chance, he thinks to himself. I’m going to ask Luna to be my special somepony.

Chapter 6: Lightshield Learns to Fly

With such a beautiful silence, next to a pony so cool, Lightshield just has to blurt it out. He knows if he tries to subtly lead into it, he’ll lose courage.

“So, uh, Luna,” He stutters. “What are your plans for Hearts and Hooves Day?”

“I will be exhausted, and accompany Celestia,” She sighs. “I shall stand next to her while she smiles and gives out compliments to couples in the streets. Then I shall line the palace hallways with lavender and go to sleep like always.”

“Sounds kind of sad,” He replies. “Don’t you uh… don’t you have a special somepony?”

The moon princess shakes her head. “No. My subjects do not relate to me. They don’t like to be quiet and think. They are loud, and overly-enthusiastic.They play catch, and hopscotch. They do not partake in sitting and talking, or firefly gazing. It is not their fault, though. They are more used to speaking with my sister. They are daytime ponies.”

“Oh.” Lightshield nods, unsure of what to say to that.

“It is no matter,” Luna states. And, in the present, she looks the Cutie Mark Crusaders in the eye, reciting her words to Lightshield. “What’s the use of that holiday anyway?”

“That’s what you said?” SweetieBelle complains. “But you totally loved him!” She covers her snout with her hooves, and says: “Sorry! No offense, Princess Luna.”

“No, no, no!” Luna rolls her eyes. “Well, yes, I said that, but then…”

Luna’s story continues. Lightshield touches his horn to hers.
“Luna,” He stumbles. “Would you spend Hearts and Hooves Day with a night owl pony?”

Luna’s eyes widen. “Lightshield I… I did not know you felt this way about me. I did not know anypony could fancy the princess of the night.”

The stallion withdraws his horn. “Luna, I… I’ve always had a crush on you. E-ever since we were just foals. You’re just so confident and cool, and you’re always there for me. And- I know you probably don’t feel the same way. Heck, you’re a princess of Equestria! I’m not nearly worthy of you but-”

“Lightshield!” Luna stops him. “I too have felt feelings for you since foalhood! I was too afraid to say it, because I thought you might like Celestia better like everypony else does.”

“Wait, really?” Lightshield can’t believe his ears. Everything he thought Luna would never say is coming from her mouth. Every desire his heart ever had is coming true. “Celestia and I are friends! Luna… would you like to be my special somepony?”

“Yes!” Luna cheers. “I would!”

And with that, the couple prances around with delight. They have never had fun together as lovers before, and they’ve discovered a whole new world. They talk, and eat cupcakes, and even kiss one another on the cheek. Luna is fast asleep when the sun starts rising. Lightshield sits behind her.

“Aw, Luna,” He chuckles. “It’s getting to be morning. You should really head home.” He gasps as an idea flashes into his head. “Oh! I can walk you home!”

He pauses and looks around. “Hmm… how am I gonna do that? Silly me, the castle is too far away to carry her on my back... Unless I was an alicorn. Wouldn’t that be great? Oh man, Luna would totally dig it if I had wings! Hmm…” Lightshield’s horn shines a bright tangerine orange, and sparkles fly around like a blazing bonfire. He puts a ton of pressure on his horn, trying to spread the magic around his whole body.
“Come on, come on…”

Sure enough, the orange glow creeps down his neck, and spreads until his whole body is covered.

“Ok,” He exhales, trying to catch his breath. “I did that! That wasn’t so hard! Let’s see if I can…” He lifts just barely off the ground. “Lift myself...up!”

It’s an immense struggle. Lifting his own body weight with nothing but magic is like trying to carry a young dragon with nothing but the tip of his snout. He sits there, semi-in-midair using all his strength, but he seems to be stuck.

“Agh!” He whisper-grunts, trying not to wake Luna (that would defeat the whole purpose!) “This is impossible! Why does being a kind-of-alicorn take alicon-levels of magic?” He begins to shake under the weight of his own body, slowly lowering to the ground. Just as he’s about to give up, he glances at Luna. She’s curled up like a majestic cat, lowering the moon in her sleep.

Lightshield tries to make a heroic, knightly face, and nods to himself. “For Luna,” he struggles to say through his aching muscles. With another unexplainable burst of power, Lightshield shoots into the sky, as though it were suddenly no trouble at all.. He feels indestructible, and kind of destructive like he did last night. “FOR LUNA!” He almost shouts, then covers his mouth, because she’s still sleeping. Lightshield hovers down and slides the princess onto his back. Grinning at the gorgeous mare, he promptly carries her back to the castle.
Present day, Luna gazes wistfully into the distance. “That was when Lightshield learned to fly.” She said. “When he showed me, I could not believe my eyes. A unicorn with alicorn-like magic. Magic he was inspired to use… by his love for me.”

“Awwww!” SweetieBelle and Applebloom sigh in unison, as Scootaloo pretends to barf in the corner.

“What a romantic story,” Applebloom states happily

“The perfect Hearts and Hooves Day tale!” Swoons Sweetiebelle.

“Yes,” Luna laughs, but her face grows solemn again. “It was.”

The faces of the CMC grow solemn too, as they realize Luna’s story is far from over.

“So, what happened?” Scootaloo asks.

“Well,” Luna continues. “Lightshield and I had decided we would have a Hearts and Hooves Night! We would skip Hearts and Hooves day, then celebrate our newfound love for one another under the moon.”

“That doesn’t sound so bad.” Scootaloo argued, raising an eyebrow.

“True, it wasn’t a bad idea,” Luna snorted indignantly, then frowned at the tapestry above them. “But that’s when the trouble started…”

Chapter 7 Hearts and Hooves Day

It has been daytime for several hours. Hearts and Hooves Daytime, to be exact. Ponyville’s cutest couples stare in wonder at two Lunar Guards, who grumble as they carry Luna’s bed, with Luna sitting in it.
“Hmm, no this will not do.” The princess orders as they ponder where to put the bed. “A little to the right."

“She seems happy.” One spectating pony whispers to another.

“Yeah,” The other responds in a hushed whisper. “She acts like a total freak when she’s happy. We should get outta here.” And at that, they rush off.

After a bit of back and forth, the guards finally set the bed down in front of Ponyville’s town hall.
“Yes, indeed!” Shouts the princess. “This slumbering spot is perfection!”

“Uh, Princess Luna?” A blue pony asks. “What are you doing?”

“CAN’T YOU SEE, CHILD?” Luna announces in her royal voice. “I WAS MOVING TO A PERFECT SLUMBERING SPOT, AND NOW, I SHALL SLUUUUMBER!” She flops over on her back.

“You there, guard-” She commands, but before she can finish, she is interrupted by a pink and green pony.

“Yeah, but what are you DOING?”

“I AM SLUMBERI-”

“I know THAT. Why are you sleeping here? Don’t you have something better to do? It’s like, literally a holiday.”

Luna raises her eyebrows. “I SHALL NOT TAKE PART IN THIS… DAYTIME HOLIDAY,” She declares. “IN CELEBRATION OF MY VERY FIRST SPECIAL SOMEPONY, I SHALL SLEEP IN THE CENTER OF PONYVILLE DURING HEARTS AND HOOVES DAY. I SHALL ABSORB ALL THE DAY’S ROMANTIC-NESS FOR MY DATE TONIGHT!”

The blue pony and the pink pony exchange bewildered glances.

“Now,” Luna orders. “Guards, play some romantic music!”

“But we’re Lunar Guards,” Yawns the first one. “We don’t play instruments. In fact, we’re usually asleep at this hour. More importantly, I’m supposed to be on a date.”
“DOES THOU EVER WANT CUPCAKES AGAIN?” Bellows the princess.

“FINE!” Groans the first guard, turning to glare at the second guard, who shrugs and says: “What?”

“You got us into this mess by making her mad last night,” The first guard whispers under her breath. “So you’d better do what the princess says, or it’s gonna be a long Hearts and Hooves Day. Drop me a sick beat.”

“Uh…” The second guard sighs and starts awkwardly beatboxing.

The first guard attempts to make up a romantic song to the beat. “Umm, Hearts and Hooves Day… it’s a good day, duh duh duh, yeah. Lovers giving flowers, singing songs for hours, when we just wanna go home...hypothetically. Uhh… I’m not talking about me… def-in-ite-ly… it’s a hypothetical pon-y.”

As the guard sings, she wanders a bit too close to Luna’s spot.
“Ah ah ah!” Luna scolds, karate-chopping the space in between the guard and her area.
“You must refrain from invading my Hearts and Hooves Day personal space bubble of romance, please.”

The first guard sighs, and groans: “Yes, your majesty.”

Across town, Princess Celestia strolls elegantly through crowds of ponies, smelling their bouquets of roses to help them find the perfect ones for their special someponies. All the while, she delightedly listens to Lightshield’s big news.

“So, yeah!” Lightshield gushes. “I have a special somepony, and I can fly, and everything is amazing!”

“That is absolutely wonderful,” Celestia squeals with glee. “My favorite guardian, my best friend, in a relationship with my little sister! Oh, this is so exciting!”

“Yeah,” Lightshield replies. “That’s-”

“You two are just perfect for one another! Luna has a very strange sense of humor, and I think you get it much more than I do.”

“Yes, exactly,” Lightshield bursts with excitement, struggling to keep up with Celestia as she speeds down the rose-smelling line. “That’s why-”

“Oh, I should have known you liked each other! I totally didn’t know it! Oh, this is such a wonderful surprise! You two are just adorable together!”

“YES!” Lightshield blurts out. He begins to talk extremely fast, to get to his point before she can interrupt him again. “YES, AND THAT’S WHY WE’RE HAVING A HEARTS AND HOOVES NIGHT, AND I WAS WONDERING IF MAYBE, PLEASE, I COULD HAVE THE DAY OFF AND GO TO SLEEP SO ME AND LUNA, WHO IS MY SPECIAL SOMEPONY CAN HANG OUT TONIGHT!” He has to catch his breath by the time he finishes his sentence.

Celestia’s face drops as she walks along. “I’m sorry, Lightshield. But you know I can’t let you do that-”

“Well, why not?” Lightshield finds himself cutting her off now, with slightly more hostility than he intended. He just really wants to be with his favorite pony in the world tonight, and he can’t imagine what could possibly be important enough to put that on hold. “There’s nothing to guard you from today. It’s love-day. Who’s going around attacking people on a holiday like this?”

“Unfortunately, villains do NOT take a break today,” Says Celestia indignantly. “ At least, not those obnoxious Diamond Dogs.”

“Diamond Dogs?” Lightshield retorts. “Oh for crying out- Why would they give a damn about Hearts and Hooves Day?”

“Because! Have you seen the sparkling jewelry and gemstones ponies give to each other on this day? Don’t even get me started on the ones they give ME! Diamond Dogs are all over that sort of thing. They’ll kidnap anyone with enough gemstones coming their way, and no one gets as many free gems as Equestria’s princess!”

“You mean one of Equestria’s PRINCESSES,” Lightshield warns.

“Oh, we both know Luna isn’t in any danger tonight!”

“Yeah, because no one but me seems to care about her.” Lightshield mumbles, just a little too loud.

“What was that?”

“Uh, n-nothing...Your Majesty.”

“Are you accusing me of not caring about the wellbeing of MY OWN SISTER?” Celestia huffs. “Do you have any idea how much danger she’d be in if I got kidnapped? She’d have to raise the sun AND the moon! She’d be the target of every evil force in all of Equestria!”

A voice in Lightshield’s head speaks:
Would she, Celestia? Or maybe YOU’RE just scared, because she’d be the most powerful force in all of Equestria. We BOTH would be. Together. Keep in mind, I can fly. I’m practically an alicorn now. If you don’t think I’m on your level, think again.

He decides it best not to say this aloud.

“Listen,” Celestia speaks sternly. “I know it’s hard for you to miss out on Hearts and Hooves Day. Especially since it’s so exciting you’ve found your special somepony! But perhaps you should have thought of your sleep schedule limits when it comes to Luna.”

“Are you saying I shouldn’t have chosen Luna?”

“I’m not saying that! I-”

“She’s all alone! Every night! No one else gets to choose her! Everyone only knows about the princess of the daytime!”

“Lightshield, that’s-” She exhales sharply. “You know what, we don’t have time to argue. We have a job to do, yes? Let’s agree to disagree for now, if we want today to go smoothly for the subjects.”

“You’re right,” Lightshield agrees, a little reluctantly. “For the good of the people.” With his hopes shattered on the floor and crushed into a million pieces, he steps in front of Celestia, looking as threatening and guard-like as possible. While he pretends to care about the roses she smells, he can’t stop thinking: What am I going to tell Luna?

He doesn’t get much time to think of that, though, as Celestia immediately begins to yelp: “Invasion! Invasion! Hide the jewels! Lightshield, I told you!”

Sure enough, little scrappy-looking paws dig through the ground.
“Great,” Lightshield hisses, rolling his eyes. “Diamond Dogs.”

Chapter 9: Sunset

It’s almost night time. Ponies are basking in the colorful shades of Princess Celestia’s Hearts and Hooves Day sunset. An audience of pegasi line the balconies of Town Hall. Unicorns and Earth Ponies fill the space on the floor. Celestia entertains them with a speech, while Luna sits in the corner, hooves crossed, giving her sister a glare-of-doom.

“Mares and Gentlecolts,” The sun princess neighs in a sing-song voice. “This has been the most wonderful of Hearts and Hooves Days!”

Ponies cheer, and stomp their hooves in applause.
“Yeah, just wonderful,” Luna snorts to herself, rolling her eyes lividly.

Celestia clears her throat. “Now, tis almost time for our sister to raise the moon, and bring us a good night’s rest.”

That statement is met with disappointed “Awwws” from the crowd, and Luna makes a little growling noise.

“Yes, yes,” Celestia carries on. “But first, we’d like to say how lovely this day has been! We have been met with some of the most fantastic smelling roses we have ever laid nose on! We were given so many generous gifts from thankful subjects, and we even tried Skywishes and Twinkle Twirl’s new restaurant! Thy straw was delicious!”

A purple pony with pink hair, and a pink pony with purple hair give each other a hoof-bump in the audience.

“But of most importance, we saw so much beautiful romance! Ponies sharing their love for one another, and spreading the power of-”

“Uh, Princess Celestia?” A pony in the audience cuts in. “Why is the moon already rising?”

Celestia looks up. “The- what?” Sure enough, the moon is slowly rising up, settling right next to the sun.

“Haha,” Celestia laughs tensely. “We have NO idea! How crazy! Haha, could you all excuse us for just one second?”

Now it’s Celestia’s turn to recieve “Awws” from the audience, as she trots offstage, locks hooves with her sister, and pulls her off to the side.

“Luna!” Celestia whispers violently. “I know we’ve had our differences today, but ruining my speech on purpose!”

Luna looks like she has just seen a dragon. “C-Celestia,” She gulps. “I have nothing to do with this. I-I swear!”

“Oh, please!” Celestia retorts.

“No,” Luna trembles. “Celestia, I’m scared. I have no idea what’s going on!”
Celestia can tell by her sister’s voice…she isn’t kidding. Her first thought is that it must be some kind of magic problem, so she starts scanning Luna’s horn, checking to see if there’s anything wrong with it. But as the sun and moon begin to move rapidly across the sky in random directions, Luna’s head immediately turns toward the castle. Celestia follows her gaze, and comes to the same realization.

“You don’t think…” Luna ponders, her voice wavering as ponies in the audience start to panic.

Celestia raises her head, and narrows her eyebrows. “Lightshield.”

Chapter 10: The King of Equestria

When Luna and Celestia arrive, The Castle of the Two Sisters looks almost the same as always. The throne of the sun still stands on the right, with the throne of the moon on the left… but there is a new throne between them. It’s made of rocks and stone, with ruby highlights. Luna recognizes it as the one thing left behind from Discord’s reign. But now, instead of Discord sitting in it, there is Lightshield. Only, he looks different. His mane is jet black to match his grey-black fur. His eyes are a striking red. His cutie mark is discolored and hanging upside down on his flank. He grins smugly, and gazes up at the stained glass window above him.

“Pretty, isn’t it?” He remarks, pointing at it with his ebony hoof. “A shield. A stained glass window of my cutie mark. Shame that’s all you guys ever had to offer me. Ooo, and lookit that! It’s half orange and half purple, snazzy! Does it represent being torn between night and day? Does it represent having ponies fight over you for a living? Oh, how about being powerless for no reason!”

Celestia stares at him in awe, speechless that he would even consider taking the throne. That anyone would even have a complaint about her reign.
Luna is far less impressed. “Lightshield!” She cries. “What. Are. You. Doing!”

“I agree,” Sweetie Belle says in the present. “What. Is. He. Doing?”

Apple Bloom nods in agreement. “Yeah, I thought you said he was a nice guy!”’

“He was,” Luna responds coldly. “Until...well… allow me to explain.” She clears her throat and proceeds.

“Lightshield, ha!” Her coltfriend sniffs.“That name was overrated, and didn’t suit me at all! You may call me Nightshield! As for what I’m doing, I’m making myself whole again! Now that I have control of the sun AND the moon, I don’t have to be torn between anything! Problem solved!”

Luna frantically peers at the ponies standing next to the stallion. “Guard Number One! Guard Number Two! Thou art taking HIS side?”

“My name is Shadowblade!” The second guard shoots back, flapping his batlike wings in her direction.

“And mine is Eclypsa!” The first joins in.

Celestia shoots a glare at her own traitorous guard, Skychaser, who dives down, and helps block Celestia’s pathway to the thrones. Nightshield struts down the tall staircase.
“Wow,” he snickers. “Looks like I’m better at this than you!” He reaches the bottom, and winks at his marefriend. “Don’t worry, Lunie! I still want you around. You see, you two may use the humble title of princess, but I am NOT a prince. I am a king.” He darts his eyes up at Celestia. “Tia, you’re excused.”

The sun princess furrows her brows. “I beg your pardon?”

“Yes,” He replies, with a shooing-a-servant-away gesture. “You are pardoned. You’re excused. You can leave now.”

She huffs loudly. “I will most certainly NOT leave! This is my castle!”
“Right,” Nightshield chides, without even looking her in the eye. “Your castle. Sure, honey.” He offers a hoof to Luna. “Care to dance?”

“Dance?” Luna questions, her hoof half-raised and hesitant.

“Oh, come on, Lunie!” The stallion flirts, taking her hoof and dipping her elegantly.

“We are unsure of what thou is trying to do!” The moon princess responds, trying to keep her balance. Princess or not, her job never required her to be good at dancing. “Why has thou dethroned us, and is now offering to… dance with us?”

“Well, that’s just it,” He laughs, spinning Luna. “I’m not trying to dethrone you at all. Well, probably not. I’m a king now, baby, and I need a queen. So, you don’t need to use the royal ‘we’ when addressing me. I don’t need any of your fancy princess talk. I’m not your subject. But now, Princess Celestia can be OUR subject!”

Luna steps on Nightshield’s hooves by mistake. “So you are… trying to dethrone my sister?”

“Well, here’s the deal,” Nightshield casually informs her. “You have two options: One, you can marry me, and we can defeat Celestia together! Two, you DON’T marry me, and I dethrone you both. Your choice. Honestly, it works out for us either way, since the only thing standing between us was Celestia and royalty. Come on, Luna! I know you’re not all friendship and flowers. That’s Tia! Not you!”

In the back of the room, Celestia stands in a battle stance, but her eyes are wide. “Luna,” she pleads. “Don’t do this!”

Luna raises an eyebrow, and purses her lips at Nightshield. “But of course not,” She scoffs. “I will not sacrifice my own sister for my royal title. We may have our disagreements, but I will not betray her! Besides, married or not married, you’ll still have the sun and the moon, despite the moon being rightfully mine! I am not giving what little power I have to my protector!”

“Protector!” The stallion retorts. “Whatever happened to coltfriend?”

Once more, Luna hesitates. “Well, I...I-”

“Fine!” He snaps, dropping her on the floor mid-spin. “If you’re against me, that’s your problem. He stomps back up to his throne. He gives a nod to his guards, and they promptly block both princesses from the thrones.

At this point, the Cutie Mark Crusaders are too engrossed in the drama to cut in. They are huddled together, staring in amazement.

“Such a shame indeed,” Says Nightshield in the story. “You would have made a great queen. I guess now you can just be my non-royal marefriend. I’m sure you’ll change your mind eventually. In the meantime, lemme have some fun with these new toys of mine!” His horn glitters with black sparkles. Both the sun and the moon, encased in a black glow, rise shakily into view through the castle skylight. With some effort, he begins to move them rapidly in random directions. As the sky blinks grey, pink, blue, and black, the screams of confused ponies can be heard from every direction. Some shout: “What is going on with the princesses!” While others are galloping loudly to their homes, probably to lock themselves inside and freak out.

“LIGHTSHIELD!” Celestia shouts in her own royal voice. “THOU MUST STOP THESE DESTRUCTIVE SHENANIGANS AT ONCE!”

“IT’S NIGHTSHIELD,” He barks, then he squints at her for a moment, thinking. But about what, Celestia is unsure. Then his lips curl into a smirk. Celestia isn’t sure exactly what he does with his magic, but the sky goes almost completely dark. The only thing visible through the skylight is the moon, which now has a peachy hue.
“Know what this is?” He taunts.

“A lunar eclipse,” Luna yawns. “I have seen many. What is your point?”

Nightshield nods. “That’s right. A solar eclipse. The moon and sun are positioned so that Equestria is casting a shadow on the moon. Know what that means?”

“Do not patronize me!” Luna complains.

Nightshield ignores her. “It means the sun is on the opposite side of the world. Ah, but right now, I’m moving it with my magic. I’m moving it slowly closer. And when it gets here…” He looks Celestia in the eye. “It’s gonna crush you.”

The Crusaders gasp.
“YOUR COLTFRIEND WAS GONNA BAKE CELESTIA LIKE AN APPLE CRISP?” Apple Bloom yelled, but she was met with a fascinated ‘shhhh!” from the others.

In the story, Celestia inhales sharply, taking a few steps back. The sisters make eye contact. “The Elements of Harmony,” They both say at the same time. The princesses begin to search the castle for them, but the guards herd them back to the center of the throne room.

“Ah, ah, ah!” Nightshield teases, as the six gemstones float over to him. “Looking for these?”

Chapter 11: Nightshield Vs. The Elements of Harmony

“So,” Says Luna. “You have the Elements of Harmony, Light- I mean, Nightshield!”

“Don’t encourage him!” Celestia whispers in her ear.

Luna gives her an eyeroll.

“Indeed, I do!” Nightshield proclaims, as The Elements slowly circle his head. “You know, it’s funny. You princesses keep these Elements so safe, and so secure, like they’re so important. But considering they’re the supposed key to friendship, you sure don’t live by them. I mean, let’s go down the list: Honesty? You act like I’m your equal, but I’m just your stupid protector! Laughter? Maybe when you’re not fighting. Generosity, ha! That’s a good one. Loyalty, CLEARLY no. You hate each other. Kindness? HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!”

“Are you finished?” Luna groans.

“Wait,” He answers, cupping the purple gem in his hooves. “Hang on, Lunie. I’m just getting to the good part! Magic! That’s really all you two have isn’t it? Well, had! You don’t have it anymore do you? Guess you don’t really need the other elements. They’re just a suggestion. Magic is the one with all the power. Well, I mean, if you’re looking for power, and not fwiendship! Look at you two. You don’t deserve these! Keeping them for yourself all this time? Ha! That’s some GREAT generosity right there.”

“You say that like you’re not planning to be worse!” Celestia shouts.

“Oh, I’m gonna be WAY better,” Nightshield counters, floating the gems into his arms. “I’m giving these away to ponies who deserve them. Ponies close to me, of course. Wouldn’t want these puppies in the wrong hooves again, now would we? Naw, I’m giving them to my wonderful guards!”

“NOW, HOLD UP!” Apple Bloom interrupts. “YOUR COLTFRIEND WAS GONNA BAKE CELESTIA LIKE AN APPLE CRISP, AND GIVE THE ELEMENTS AWAY TO RANDOM PONIES?”

Another ‘shhh’ from Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle.

“WHAT!” Apple Bloom argues. “ARE Y’ALL NOT SURPRISED TOO?”

Scootaloo shrugs. “I dunno. I thought this story was going to be about Nightmare Moon destroying some poor, innocent stallion. At least the fact that he’s a jerk makes me feel a little better.”
Luna shoots her eyes at the orange filly like fiery lasers.

“Haha,” Scootaloo laughs nervously. “But not that much better.”

The princess glares at her, but keeps going.

“Wait,” Shadowblade exclaims, in-story. “Really? You’re giving the Elements of Harmony to us guards?”

Nightshield gives him a friendly pat on the back. “Of course, my stallion! And I know just the Element for you! Hold out your hooves!”

The guard holds his hooves out eagerly, as the red gem lands between them.

“Loyalty,” He decides. “For my loyal guard!”

“Aww, congrats, Shadowblade!” Skychaser smiles, doing a cute little flip in the air.

“Sweet of you to congratulate him!” Nightshield praises, handing her the pink Element of Kindness.

“Wow,” Eclypsa sniggers, eyeing the princesses. “There goes the royal family’s reign over Equestria. Guess you had the element of surprise all along, huh Nightshield?”

“Eclypsa,” The king responds. “That is hilarious.” He promptly floats the blue element of Laughter over to her, then turns to face Luna. “Luna, once you admit that you don’t care about the power of friendship, you can join me and have the Honesty element. But, you have to be honest first. Come on, Lunie. Admit it!”

“Ok,” Luna commands. “But first, use the elements to imprison me in stone like we imprisoned Discord. If you truly love me, the stone will be broken, and I’ll join you.”

“Luna!” Celestia breathes, but her sister winks and she backs off.

Nightshield’s face twitches a little. It’s cute, Luna thinks. He hopes he loves her enough. He hopes he’s good enough. He hides it well, but Luna knows him. “Very well,” he says. “Guards, activate your elements!”

The guards pose dramatically, but nothing happens.

“I said activate your elements!” Nightshield roars.

“It’s not working, King Nightshield!” Skychaser whines, shaking the gem as though it would shoot bullets with enough effort.
“You fool,” Luna cackles. “The elements only work if a pony demonstrates the element in question. In other words, of course it didn’t work! Shadowblade may be loyal to you, but he betrayed us! As did Skychaser, so Kindness is out of the question. And Eclypsa-”

The guard cuts her off. “It’s not my fault the gem doesn’t like my puns!”

“Nobody likes your puns,” Luna remarks.

Skychaser swoops over to Nightshield’s throne. “Well,” She comforts him, grabbing the floating Generosity element. “Here, why don’t you try Generosity? It was really generous of you to give us all those elements!”

“No!” Nightshield wails. “I want the Element of Magic! That’s the powerful one!” He whacks the gemstone right out of Skychasers hooves. It freezes in place midair, and appears to be lighting up.

“Whoa,” Skychaser cheers. “It’s glowing! You really are generous!”

Luna clears her throat. “Ahem, no he is not. The purple gem is not glowing, fool. It is my magic glowing around the gem. I am carrying it with my magic, and now I AM BRINGING IT TO MYSELF. AND NOW I AM HOLDING IT.”

Celestia steps up beside her. “And now, we will be taking the other elements back!”

Nightshield growls, and shouts: “ATTACK!”

“Wait!” Shadowblade calls out. “My element is finally working!”

“Mine too!” Yells Eclypsa.

Sure enough, all three elements are beginning to glow.

“You idiots,” Nightshield rears, and stamps his hooves. “It’s just Celestia and Luna stealing them with their...magic?”

It turns out, the elements actually are lighting up, and, in a massive flash of rainbow, the guards become encased in solid rock. Skychaser, who had been flying at the time, crashes to the ground. Nightshield stands baffled, surrounded by terrified statues.

“Serves them right!” Luna grumbles.

Nightshield looks up from the statues, boring into Luna and Celestia with his eyes. He pants a few times, as though trying as hard as he can to find a reason not to hurt Luna. Apparently he can’t find one, because he charges toward the princesses. The princesses charge toward him. There, in the center of the throne room, they collide.

Chapter 12: The Stars Will Aid in Her Escape

Luna dodges a kick from Nightshield. The already-rainbow Elements of Harmony flash lilac, gold and black as ink, while they fizz back and forth in the air, being pulled by Celestia’s, Luna’s, and Nightshield’s magic all at once.

Celestia bellows: “I’ve got the element of Laughter!” Though, it’s slightly muffled since she just jumped up and caught it in her mouth.

“I have obtained the Kindness element!” Luna adds, holding down the pink jewel she just tackled as Nightshield tries to yank it back with magic. With his hind legs, he bashes the Honesty element out of Celestia’s grasp and takes it for himself.

“You may have two,” He hisses. “But you’ll never get the element of Loyal-”

Celestia flicks it onto her back using her horn. Nightshield kicks her hooves, causing her to flop onto her face, and snatches the Generosity element with his teeth. Luna headbutts him from behind, sending the three rolling across the floor.

With a flare from Luna’s horn, a circle of fire forms around the Kindness element, blocking anyone from taking it.

“Oh,” Nightshield sneers. “So you wanna play it like that! I can do complex magic too!”

Shadowy magic floods from Nightshield’s horn, through the room. It is shaped like veins, like a branching river. Vines, leaves, fly traps and bits of pine emerge from cracks in the building. The Everfree Forest itself emerges from the ground. It rises, and entwines together, forming a foot, an ear, and two yellow, glowing eyes. The biggest timberwolf the sisters have ever seen lets out a mighty roar, and swipes at them, like a cat playing with a ball of yarn.

Luna runs along the wall, avoiding the greenery surrounding her like tentacles. The wolf throws it’s wooden head down, fangs aimed straight at Luna. She barely jumps out of the way, grasping one of it’s antler-like ears with her whole body. It tosses its head, trying to throw her off, but she holds on tight.

“Luna!” Celestia cries.

The moon princess fires a beam of purple light directly at Nightshield, throwing him back a couple feet. She snaps off the timber wolf’s antler and plummets to the ground with it, softening her fall with magic.

Like a pirate sword, she points it at him.

“Challenging me to a duel?” Nightshield laughs. “You always were the awesome one.”
The two slash each other, antler verses unicorn horn, until Luna has him cornered.

“Well played,” Nightshield comments, crawling away from the pointy timberwolf-ear. “But you fail to recognize that I’m an ALICORN!” He picks himself up with magic. It takes way less effort than it did the first time. Luna flaps her wings and glides after him. She dives left and right, hurling both her antler, and her horn at him. In midair, they duel. Nightshield blocks her slash at his flank. Luna parries his horn with the antler, which the stallion tosses away with his teeth. Soon, they end up locked in a stalemate, horns crossed, blocking each other.

“Now’s your chance to give up, Luna!” Taunts Nightshield, exerting all the strength he has.

“No,” Luna tears up. “I can’t give up. I can’t give up on you! Please, stop this! We do not have to fight! My sister is a good mare!”

“One day you’ll learn.” Nightshield growls.

Luna’s face drips with sweat and tears. “I thought we could make it work! I thought Celestia would listen! I’m sorry...Nightshield…” Celestia catches her eye from her peripheral vision. She is hiding something behind her back leg. Gems. Jewels! The Elements! She’s trying to communicate something in secret. But what? Luna tries to read her lips.
I have all The Elements! She mouths.
She has all The Elements? Why mouth it in secret then? Luna looks closer as she mouths it again.
I have all The Elements but Magic!
Magic! Luna gazes back at Nightshield, trying to make it look like she was paying attention to him the whole time. He does have the magic one. He’s holding it.

Ok, Luna. She tells herself. All you have to do is take it. Ok, so that’s not going to be easy. He has powerful magic. You’ve got to be smart about it… but… take it, and it’s all over.
He’ll be trapped in stone, just like the guards. You may never see him again. No more staying up late together, no more cupcake-stealing, no more stargazing.
She knows what she must do, but finds herself unable to bring herself to hurt her coltfriend. Until suddenly… was the room getting… brighter? Oh no!

Luna could see the sun looming over the skylight, ready to crush it.
“Got a little impatient,” Nightshield shrugged. “Figured I’d speed this up a bit. Ready to give up now?”

Present day, Apple Bloom covers her eyes. “Oh, I can’t look!”

“Look at what?” Scootaloo asks bluntly. “Luna’s telling a story. We can’t actually see it happening!”

Back in the story, Luna squints, blinded by the fireball hurling toward her sister. She takes a deep inhale, and lets out a deep sigh.
“Lightshield,” She squeaks weakly, touching his face. Then, she leans in, and kisses him on the lips. The timberwolf’s branches unravel until it looks like a fallen forest. The sun rises away from Celestia…

Luna grabs the purple gem.

“No!” Nightshield shrieks. “NOOOOOOOOO!”

Luna flies down and lands beside her sister.

“Ready?” She says.

“Let’s do this,” Celestia replies. The Elements circle the sisters, and form a rainbow ring around them. They float up to his level, eyes shining. The rainbow annihilates him. To the sister’s shock, the statue of Nightshield crumbles and breaks immediately after the rainbow drains away.

“No!” Luna cries, desperately trying to piece the statue back together.

Celestia stands there, speechless.

The moon princess sobs over the pieces of broken stone. “Sister, how could this happen?”

“This is very bad,” Celestia shudders. “The Elements of Harmony are meant to create friendship. Never harm. If the Elements killed Nightshield, then at least one of us has the same hatred within us.”

“The same hatred that turned you into Nightmare Moon,” Sweetie Belle interrupts. “I’m so sorry, Luna. You didn’t know what would happen to him.”

“No, I did not,” Luna whimpers, a shiny tear rolling softly down her cheek. “But it was my fault. I blamed Celestia for what happened between me and Lightshield,when really I should have directed my anger at him. He was going to hurt my sister, and even though I stopped him, I ended up nearly doing it myself.”

Although it is broad daylight, the room feels dark, and solemn, as though it is a dreary night. Luna feels the whole story flood her body as her sobs echo along the palace walls. The words Nightmare Moon has been shouting at her for years attack all at once.

It’s your fault!

You killed him!
If you hadn’t been so hateful toward Celestia, Lightshield would have lived.

You don’t deserve to be loved by the ponies of Equestria.

Nobody loves Princess Luna.

You’re nothing but Nightmare Moon!

And as she sits there, tucked in a little ball on the stone floor, she feels alone. Just like she did every night after Lightshield was gone. Like she did when the sun set, the sky went dark, the ponies went inside, and all that was left was a purple, empty town. A reminder of the pony she once shared the night with. A reminder of the Hearts and Hooves day that left her with a terrible decision to make. A reminder of what she meant to Equestria, and what she did. Suddenly, she feels something touch her. Little hooves wrap around her. Apple Bloom’s hooves. And then Scootaloo’s, and then Sweetie Belle’s. Three little fillies, comforting her. Even after all that she said. After all she told them about herself. They don’t hate her. They love her. They love her anyway.

“Why are you doing this?” Luna cries. “Can’t you see I don’t deserve love? I killed Lightshield! I became Nightmare Moon! You should just go find someone worthy of love to spend Hearts and Hooves Day with. I blew my chances at enjoying this holiday a long time ago.”

“But, Luna!” Apple Bloom pipes up, her little eyelashes batting. “Hearts and Hooves Day ain’t just about romance, and dates. It ain’t just about love letters, and sharing straw at restaurants. Shoot, it ain’t even about having a special somepony!”

“Which is gross,” Scootaloo adds, and Apple Bloom gives her a not-the-time look before continuing.

“Hearts and Hooves Day is about love. It’s about loving your family, your sister, your brother. It’s about givin’ love to ponies who need love. Not just sharin’ love with the ponies who already have it.”

“Well,” Sweetie Belle utters dubiously, ignoring Apple Bloom’s time-and-a-place-look. “It kind of is about romance, and sharing love with ponies who already have it. Not that I agree, or anything. Ponies without love just get cast aside. It’s not really about ponies who don’t have any love.”

“Well, maybe it should be!” Apple Bloom declares, opening the castle door and letting a beam of sunlight catch the whole group. “Come on, Luna! You don’t have to be alone this Hearts and Hooves day! Because you’re gonna hang out with us! We don’t need a special somepony, and neither do you, because we love you, Luna!”

And so, Apple Bloom, Sweetie Bell, Scootaloo, and Princess Luna eat chocolate, read horror scrolls, and sleep the rest of the day. That night, the Cutie Mark Crusaders come to Canterlot Castle. The four stargaze on the balcony, overlooking the slumbering town. The fillies are still covered in pink streamers from the festivities. Luna licks a heart-shaped lollipop. Celestia is asleep in her room.

“Hey,” Sweetie Belle ponders, peering in awe at Luna’s silvery night. “Luna, how did Nightmare Moon escape her moon prison again?”

The princess’ eyes widen in surprise at the question. “Oh, well- It is quite curious, young filly. But, the stars aided in my escape from the moon prison. I am unsure why.”

“I think I know why!” Says Sweetie Belle. “I think they were sent by someone who loves you.”

“Celestia says it was NOT her doing,” Luna assures her.

“No, not Celestia.” The filly shakes her head.

“Then who, child?”

The night gets quiet for a second as the ponies look up at the stars, and come to a mutual agreement, which, all at once, they say out loud.

“Lightshield.”

Author's Note

Thanks to everyone who read this! I appreciate it and so does my co-writer Sugar sprinkles! First part of this story (1-6) will be up on my YouTube channel before thanks giving! Again I appreciate all of you who read the story prequel or sequel coming soon! maybe :scootangel:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGXQmrcRf0QsS6C_T-6rEDw?view_as=subscriber

Chapter 8: Lightshield Transforms

The Diamond dogs snarl and drool as ponies flee in terror. There are three: One looks like an ebony-furred French Bulldog. Another is scraggly, and pug-like. They are led by a silvery great dane-looking alpha dog.

“Greetings, dear princess!” Says the alpha in the raspy, nasally voice all Diamond Dogs have. “Have your subjects been giving you lots of precious gems on this lovey-dovey holiday?”

Celestia lets out a horrified shriek, but quickly regains her composure. “You have no business being on land, Diamond Dogs.” She remarks sternly.

“Aww,” The little pug one taunts, clawing herself out of the ground. “Is the nice pony princess going to give her precious jewels away as gifts for us Diamond Dogs?”

“Yeah,” The bulldog yips. “Because ponies are soooo nice and friendly?”

The alpha chortles. “Haha! She totally will, because she soooo doesn’t have a choice!”

Lightshield trudges over to them. He feels like a bear that is caught in nine bear-traps, and these dogs are just a tenth bear-trap that he could honestly care less about. “Mmkay,” He murmurs with a bored glare on his face. “This is getting painfully routine. A bunch of dumb pooches break into the kindgom. They try to steal the stuff, we kick them out. Let’s just get this over with!”

“Pooches!” The alpha snaps. “Pooches! Hmph! We have names, you know!”

Lightshield’s facial expression changes by zero percent. “That’s great,” He says plainly. “No one cares.”

The Alpha points to himself proudly. “I am Buster,” He declares. “This is Buddy,” He points to the bulldog. “And this is Rex!” He points to the pug. “We-”

BOOM!

Magic erupts like a geyser out of Lightshield’s horn. The sonic blast tosses the dogs in countless directions, screaming all the way until they’re out of sight. Over in Town Square, Luna’s sleep is disturbed by the outcry of a creature soaring over her head, and then a sickening crash somewhere way in the distance.

“What in Equestria was THAT?” Asks Guard Number One.

“‘Twas a Diamond Dog,” Luna replies gravely. “And it came from that way.” She motions across town, to the area where it flew in from. She jumps out of her bed, and heads in that direction. “Come, guards. We must protect my sister.”

“Whoa, whoa, WHOA,” Scootaloo interrupts. “He just straight up blasted them? He just, like, recklessly magic-blasted them across the sky? You WOULD like this dude.”

“Watch your mouth, filly,” Luna warns, before continuing. “Meanwhile, my sister was reprimanding him.”

“LIGHTSHIELD!” Celestia shouts. “Diamond Dogs can’t fly like ponies can! You could have killed them for all we know! What has gotten into you lately?”

“Oh,” Lightshield scowls. “So, what? You’re gonna drag me away from the love of my life to fight some stupid Diamond Dogs, and then complain that I’m fighting them wrong?” He has never felt so open. So unwilling to hide his feelings of anger. He feels bad, in a way, but somehow, it seems like this has been bottled up for longer than he thought.

“You are my protector,” Celestia booms. “And if your priority is to hurt others, you can be relieved of your duty.”

Lightshield smirks. “Fire me? Great! Then I can be with Luna, and good luck finding anyone better to protect you!”

“Oh no,” Celestia half-whispers, shaking her head slowly. “If this behavior persists, you can forget about ever being allowed in my castle again!”

“HER CASTLE!” He howls without thinking. By the time he realizes he probably should have said ‘you and Luna’s’ Castle, it has already come out of his mouth.

My castle! The voice in his head says, but before he can feel guilty about that, Luna and her Night Guards arrive at the scene.
“We heard a commotion,” Luna announces. “Though it seems you’ve already taken care of your Diamond Dog problem. I scorn any canine who thinks he can defeat the noble likes of my coltfriend and sister!”

Celestia stomps right up to her. “Luna! Do you know what he did? He blasted three Diamond Dogs with intense magic! He probably killed them!”

“He…protected you?” Luna inquires.

“Well, YES, but Diamond Dogs aren’t villains! They’re-they’re nuisances! They don’t deserve to be blown up! Besides, they hadn’t even tried to kidnap me yet! They were introducing themselves! Telling us their names!”

“Oooo good idea!” Guard Number Two chimes in, playfully elbowing Guard Number One. “We should do that too!”

“Yeah,” Scootaloo cuts in again. “I was gonna say… What even ARE the guard’s names?”

Luna sighs. “Names I got very wrong. I still regret that to this day.”

Back in the story, Luna puts up her hoof. “No need. I already know your names. You’re guards Number One and Two.”

Guard Number Two gasps offendedly. “YOU THOUGHT THAT WAS MY NAME THIS WHOLE TIME?”

“I’ve gotta say,” A light, squeaky voice interjects. “That’s mighty rude.”

“Guard Number 3?” Celestia exclaims. “The only Celestial Guard I ordered today is Lightshield!”

Luna blinks a couple times. “I was not aware that you even had a Guard Number Three!”

“Well,” Says the third guard, turning away from the princesses and pointing her nose up. “That is some solid disrespect right there.”

“ENOUGH!” Lightshield interrupts, then gazes at his marefriend. “Luna, Celestia isn’t letting me sleep today. She isn’t letting me stay up tonight with you! For Hearts and Hooves Day!”

The Night Princess gasps, then glowers at her sister. “Is this true?”

“Luna,” Celestia cries. “I can’t go through an entire holiday without my most powerful guard!”

“Well I can’t go through this holiday alone!”

“Oh, this is what you always do! When will you ever put the ponies of Equestria first!”

“You always act like you put the ‘ponies of Equestria’ first,” Luna yells.” I guess I’m just not a pony of Equestria to you!”

“There are more ponies in Equestria than just you!” Celestia, shouts back, stomping her hoof on the stone pathway.

“There are more guards in your court than just my coltfriend.”

“He’s more than just your coltfriend! He’s my guard!”

Lightshield feels a stinging pain in his stomach when she says that. Coltfriend? Guard? The two options that controlled his life. The only two things he’s ever been allowed to be. But they’re like day and night. They don’t happen together. Just like how Luna and Celestia can’t work together. So then, who is Lightshield? Who is Lightshield if day and night can’t happen at the same time? That’s it! Lightshield thinks to himself. That’s why I can’t be with Luna! That’s why my friendship with Celestia is falling apart! It’s not because I can’t be a guard, and a boyfriend, and a best friend at the same time! If they want a relationship with me, they can’t be princesses!

“He’s my guard too!” Luna growls at Celestia, who looks like she’s about to blow up like the Diamond Dogs.

As the princesses bicker, the guards give each other uncomfortable glances. They laugh a little, but the we’re-totally-out-of-place-in-this-situation tension is still in the air.

“Well,” Guard Number Two exclaims briskly. “Here we go again!”

“Yup,” Guard One sighs. “Just another day in Equestria Kingdom!”

Guard Three whinnies. “I can’t believe they don’t know our names!”

“I love it here!” Guard Two snarks.

“Don’t we all!” Says One.

They pause for a moment to roll their eyes at all the yelling.

Guard Two groans softly. “Ok, seriously, I’m starting to hate both of the princesses.”

“Well, uh…” Guard One winks at Guards Two and Three. “I just remembered we’ve got that thing to do in that other place!” She starts slowly backing away from the argument.

“Ah, but of course!” Guard Two grins and backs away too.“Yes, let us go do that thing!”

“I agree!” Guard Three nods and follows them. “‘Tis a very important thing!”

“WAIT!” A sharp voice whispers to the guards. “Hi there, Shadowblade! Eclypsa, you look exhausted. Nice armor, Skychaser. Is that new? Anyway, please, allow me to escort you back to the palace.” It’s Lightshield, who is sneaking away from the princesses himself.

“Lightshield?” The guards breathe in unison. The royal protector smiles at how pleasantly surprised they all look that he remembered their names. “Yes, indeed,” He boasts, prancing quietly in front of them to lead the way. “Come, come. There is so much work to do!” And as patches of his fur shift from white, to grey, to pitch black, he chuckles wickedly.

“Hold on to your horseshoes, ‘cause there’s a new ruler of Equestria in town.”