The Artist Rifleman

Walking through the dream scape Luna found that dreaded door again like so many times before, it never changed it’s blue paint splattered with wet and dry mud especially along the bottom. It’s ghostly form never stayed long four maybe five hours at most, but yet again it was only an image an illusion that she couldn’t touch let alone enter, the forgotten dream. Every time it appeared in her realm she sensed it’s presence from the darkness behind it, all she could do was stand their and try in a vain attempt to open it until it disappeared like every time before.

Waking up Luna was almost in tears to her continued failure, for weeks now she had been finding this door on and off, with each failure she felt less sure of herself. Sitting up in her bed she just sat their, the blue sheets of her bed covering her lower half. Slumping down in guilt and sorrow she just sat their looking down to the blue clothed sea beneath her, after all those nights helping ponies with their nightmares and fears she was beginning to find that she had begun to develop one. Every time she watched that door disappear she thought of the poor pony that it must belong too, that door always seemed to bring back the memories of how she became nightmare moon, how closed off she became and how quickly it spiralled out of control. With a heavy heart she fell back to her pillow believing this was some divine punishment for what she was, maybe it was her door to the pony she was before the nightmare.

1

Walking toward the outskirts of Ponyville David followed the road he arrived by in search of a way back, wearing the clothes he arrived in he sceptically traversed the terrain. Leaving his rifle at the cabin he marched on with his revolver at his side, approaching the outskirts he turned around looking down the street he tried to imagine what the colourful thatched buildings would look like at night in heavy rain. Trying to remember the night he arrived he believed this was the way he came but he couldn’t be sure.

Turning back around he saw the everfree forest off in the distance, following the road towards it despite knowing what lurked within, he remembered walking through a woodland in France before arriving in ponyville. Hoping he would find some clue to how he arrived he pressed on as the road became less and less until it was barely a rugged dirt trail, walking into the heart of the everfree his hard studded boots struggling to find grip as he tried to keep his footing.

Looking around he hoped for any sign that might indicate he came this way, but upon looking around all he saw was the surrounding trees he was in the shadow of, their dark leaves and bark appearing even darker under their own shadow, looking passed them into the forest off from the trail was like looking into night, their was little too no light off the trail and the further he looked away from it the darker and denser it got becoming thick with dark foliage. Walking back along the trail David tripped over an upturned root of one the many trees running beside either side of the trail, hitting the ground grunt of pain as he landed on another root. Rolling on to his back he laid their in pain gritting his teeth as he did, looking straight up he saw light breaking through the overhanging branches that painted the ground black. Slowly getting up he felt stiff and sore feeling that he had at least bruised himself, standing up with a quiet groan he brushed off some of the dirt.

Continuing deeper into the everfree he stopped as he heard a noise, he couldn’t tell what it was if it was anything but it was quiet and quick he was barely able to catch it. He knew what was out their and knew he was in it’s domain, knowing this he armed himself pulling his revolver out the slack of it’s cord drooping down passed his raised arm. With his hand raised and his finger on the trigger he slowly advanced, his movements were slow and quiet as he crept forward hoping not to alert anything that might see him as a threat or a meal.

Seconds stretched too minutes as he lessoned out for what could have caused the noise, soon he was beginning to think that this mind was playing tricks on him. It was quiet almost unnaturally quiet like the forest was scared of him, looking up he saw the light above the trees begin to fade as the wind began to pick up.

Above him he saw the weather change at an unnatural speed as the branches over head shock violently, seeing this he turned back, he had only heard rumours about this forest and its unnatural ways and quite frankly he didn’t want to test them. The sky above him was beginning to grow dark as he started to run, he could hear the trees around him thrash about as the howling wind screamed at him, but it didn’t stop it only got worse as the dark clouds began to roar with thunder.

His run soon became a full on sprint as he ran to beat the storm, but it quickly became a race against the dark as the already limited light diminished with the sight of his surrounding. A loud crack of thunder breached the black sky making David flinch almost ducking down from the strike that never came, running with his sight against him he struggled to keep his footing, their was a reason why he train with such far targets he was far sighted, in day his sight at close range was fine he could read for an hour or two before he got a headache would set in but right now his eyes could barely see what his feet were landing on.

Running back towards ponyville he still couldn’t see it only the sight of the enclosing forest around the trail, continuing to sprint onwards almost blind to the ground beneath him as the dark sky over took him. The sounds of thunder roared across the sky like the light that lit his way if only for the briefest of moments, struggling with his footing he felt the uneven ground pulling him off to the side but he carried on until his foot stuck something that refused to move tripping him up.

Landing in the dirt David saw another flash of light followed by the unmistakable roar of artillery fire, laying their with shells approaching he braised his head with his hands. An explosion off to his right sent bit of earth and tree flying with some of the smaller pieces landing on him, looking up he saw the ground not three meters away erupt up in a small explosion forcing his head back down as more debris landed on him.

Closing his eyes he heard the sounds of shells screaming towards the ground before ripping up the earth in a loud explosion, the lighter sound of debris landing like rain quickly followed the explosion. He then heard the screams of dying over the sounds of bullets whizzing passed, he could hear them missing their mark as they struck the earth around him with a hard pat. Around him he heard men dying falling to the churned up earth beneath them only to be swallowed by it. Braising his head even harder as if to shut out the sounds of the war, he heard them becoming louder and louder closer and closer.

David’s eyes shot open as he pulled himself out of the mud screaming as he pointed his revolver forward, firing two shots off into the distance as he charged to meet his enemy. But in a single blink he was back, the storm had passed the wind was calming and the sky was clearing. Seeing where he was and what he had done he just stared in shock, collapsing by a tree resting his back against it with his knees raised putting him nearly in the fetal position. With his arms slumped over his knees he looked down with tears in his eyes too the revolver in his weak hand, sitting their alone he raised his free hand to his mouth clenching it into a weak fist as he tried to muffle his sobs. His glazed over eyes didn’t break from the gun in his hand as he thought of what was happening to him, he only had one thought on his mind the thought that was driving him crazy, how was he going to get back. In his mind if he got back and saw the end of the war he would no longer be plagued with these thoughts, he felt as if he had failed as a man, to him it was unbecoming of a man let alone officer to breakdown in such a manor.

2

Having returned to the cabin David got changed into his new blue clothes, leaving the blazer and vest off he rolled up his white sleeves and began to set up his painting station. Continuing one of his unfinished pieces he heard a knock at the door, opening he found Luna standing before him “morning David I’m not interrupting am I?” Luna asked hoping he had time for her.

“certainly I’ll stick the kettle on” David answered with a smile.

Letting Luna walk in he asked in a pleasant tone “so what brings you all the way out here?”

“oh the princess wanted to know how’s the paintings are coming along, and I thought it had been a little while since I saw thou” Luna answered in a half truth. She did want too see how they were coming along, she had spent days searching for a piano as not only payment but a gift for a friend.

“why don’t you take a look” David said as he motioned towards the stack of canvas’s by the wall.

Flicking through the paintings Luna was amazed at his work, despite how heartbreaking some were the ones he had clearly made for her were beautiful. Their was a new one with the silowet of two knights in a fighting stance, the one on the left held his sword low while the other held his in a higher guard. Between them was the bright full moon that looked to be setting under the lake they stood on, in the mirror of the lake the two knights crossed blades across the moon’s reflection. The moon looked to be a perfect sphere with a shining white light running across it marking the edge of the lake, the sky was a deep blue making the black shadow of the knights hard to see unlike the white and pale yellow stars that contrasted against the darker shades.

Smiling Luna spoke in a bewildered tone to how well he had captured her night “this is incredible, I’ve walked the halls of castle so hundreds times and not once have I seen a painting capture the night like you can”

“castle? I thought you worked in a gallery?” David asked to her odd statement.

Glad she was looking away from him as she looked through his paintings, her face dropped as she realised what she had said as stammered back a response “oh… I… went on tours of the castle of the princess’s, and now that she needs me to talk to thou I see a bit more of the castle”

“well at least it gives us the chance to chat” David said unaffected by her jittery voice.

Looking through the rest of his painting she replied in a calmer tone “that certainly is an advantage” Luna ended with a light giggle.

Realising what painting she was about to see David spoke up in a louder rushed voice “not that one!”

Expecting something horrifying to his tone she prepared for the worse, but the painting wasn’t of mud and blood or other horrors of war but her, it was a painting of her. Standing up from her kneeling position with the painting in hand she turned to him, their was no background and it was rather odd depiction of her. Her tail was too short, her mane came out too far and her proportions were all off like her hips were a bit low and her arms a tad too long. Looking up to him with wide sky blue eyes she spoke in a quiet tone, it was hard to tell if it was shock or amazement or a mix of the two “David, have thou tried to capture my likeness?”

Looking away slightly he answered in an uneasy tone “yeah, tried being a word for it”

Looking up to him with astonishment that matched her tone “thou painted this for me?” she hoped he had, she wanted him to have done it for her not the princess but for her.

“yeah, I wanted to have a go at painting a pony. So I thought of painting a friend would be a good start but as you can see, painting ponies is not exactly my forte” he said in a slightly down trodden voice.

Placing the painting on top of the others Luna leaned into him wrapping her arms around him as she pulled him into a gentle hug, not expecting this David just stood their for a while before hugging her back. Wrapping his arms around her back sliding his hands over her hips before moving up her back, as his hands moved up her back he felt the long delicate feathers that lined her wings and tickled his skin. She was couple of inches shorter than him with her horn reaching the top of his head which he actively avoided, feeling her rest her head on his shoulder he felt her soft blue fur brush against his cheek. Hugging her back he heard her speak almost into his ear “even if it’s not thy talent thou did it for me, I don’t think anypony has been done such a thing for me. Thank thou”

Letting her arms slip back to her side she felt his hands glide over her soft fur ruffling it as they parted, smiling Luna walked passed him too just beyond his easel as she spoke in a playful tone “so what pose would thou wish to paint me in?”

Smiling David took off the half finished canvas replacing it with a fresh one, moving a chair into view David guided Luna into a pose with words and hands. The armchair faced him while Luna sat on it’s left arm, her legs hanging off it’s side with her right leg crossed over her left showing off her cutie mark, her vibrant blue tail ran passed the arm of the chair she was sitting on trailing over it’s cushioned seat. While her waist twisted to her left her chest was slightly straighter but still naturally curving with her legs as she balanced on the arm of the chair, her right hand ran across her lap resting out of sight on her thigh. Her left hand was held out like the was presenting something, her face was angled to her left but he could still see her gentle smile and both her light blue eyes. Finally her wings were flared out slightly giving him a good view of the long blue feathers that warmed her back while her left was mostly hidden behind her from her angled body.

She enjoyed how he instructed her, he wasn’t afraid of her or her royal title he wasn’t even afraid to touch her, as he moved her leg and hand to make little adjustments to her pose that vastly improved it as she showed off more of her cutie mark. She found his voice to be soft but not timid as he told her how to move much like his touch, as she felt his hands touch her his skin meeting her fur she found them to be gentle as his words. He didn’t instruct her like a princess but like a friend which she thoroughly enjoyed.

Holding her pose Luna spoke with a smile “so is this how thou has been thy time?”

Looking back and forth between her and her incomplete counter part he spoke in a casual but somewhat distant tone as he worked “mostly. Went out this morning for a walk, I was hoping I would find some clue to how I arrived here but all I found was myself in the middle of a storm”

Breaking her fixed expression Luna wore a face of confusion that matched her tone “a storm? That can’t be right their was no storm scheduled for ponyville this morning”

“it wasn’t in ponyville I was in the forest” David answered.

“forest what forest...” Luna said in a confused voice that trailed off as she realised where he had been “THE EVERFREE! Are thou lacking common sense! The everfree is one of the most dangerous places in all Equestria!” she yelled reverting back to her old Equestian royal voice.

Reeling back to her sudden outburst he rubbed his ears from the ringing in them, with his ears returning to normal he spoke in a surprisingly calm voice “well I wasn’t expecting that out of you”

Looking at him with an expression of shock she spoke in a bewildered tone “how can thou be so calm about this? The everfree is filled with timber wolves, manticores and cockatrices. Only a handful of ponies have even dare venturing beyond it’s border, most don’t even make it passed the mirror pool”

“The mirror pool? How far is that?” David asked as a point of reference.

Thinking for a moment Luna had to reimagine the map of her old home, she knew where it was in relation to the castle and where ponyville was in relation to the castle “it’s about two miles from the edge of the forest, most ponies think it’s a silly old legend. Thy reflection that can come forth, but I know it to be true” reminiscing about her passed, the world before her banishment brought her voice back down to a more relaxed tone.

Leaning back as she thought about that pool and it’s magic she wobbled in her seat as she nearly fell back, steadying herself she gave David a stern look as she realised what he did as she spoke in a loud shocked voice that showed her surprise “how did thou do that?”

“do what?” he asked.

“distract me, a moment ago I was shocked at how reckless thou were and then I wasn’t. Not even my sister can do that” she answered waiting an explanation.

Give her a shrug he answered in a nonchalant tone “beats me, if I could do it on demand it would have probably save me from being clouted half as much as I was” he ended with a smile and a laugh.

“clout?” she asked not recognising the word “what does that mean?”

Still speaking with a more cheerful voice he told her it’s meaning speaking fondly of the memories that surfaced with it “it means smack, god mum’s back hand was scarier than a teachers cane. Could have sworn John’s ears stuck out because of that, for a week it was like having a pare of wings on his head” he said with more laughter.

Luna’s face instantly dropped to a look of horror as she spoke in disbelief and remorse “thou mother beat you?”

Still laughing he answered “god no, she was disciplining us. They were nothing more than light slaps, a quick clip behind the ear. It didn’t hurt but by god was she quick. But don’t get me wrong she was quite capable of giving beating, I will always remember the time John was given caning by the head”

“John? Which brother was he?” Luna asked nearly interrupting him.

Smiling David pointed to the painting on the wall as he spoke his voice still staying full of joy to the memories running through his head “that’s John, second from the right wearing the same cap as me. He was twenty two when we took the picture that painting is based off. Anyway one day John was given ten slashes with cane for getting into a fight and when mum found out she went barmy, John said the boys called mum a skivvy because she was a clearer before she met dad. And… John may have made a few remarks about their mothers falling in class and their questionable legitimacy”

Holding back the beginnings of a laugh she sniggered out a response “that’s horrible”

Giving a light shrug he replied “that may be true but you insult a Mason we’ll insult you twice as much back. When our mother found out about the caning she may have made some comments not befitting a lady and certainly something I wouldn’t repeat to one”

Feeling a little bashful too him calling her a lady she felt a little flushed as if she was blushing under her fur, it was not like when nobles had called her my lady, they did it out of royal standing but he wasn’t he was doing it out of his own judgment of her. Trying to compose herself she fidget a bit in her seat as she stammered out a response “that’s... high praise coming from an officer, but now I’m intrigued what did she say?”

Smiling he let out a light laugh to what his mother said all those years ago and Luna’s reaction finding it cute how she fidgeted in place “when we speak I don’t speak too you as an officer, but I was raised as a gentleman and theirs no way I’m going to repeat that”

For a moment Luna became a tad disheartened by his response but then she remember who she was, with a sly smile she spoke “if thou remembers correctly I am the one who speaks to the princess, and if I say thou art isn’t up to par thy request of a piano could be void”

David’s face dropped slightly to her statement as he replied in a flat tone “you really want to know what she said don’t you”

Smiling with a wide smirk she answered and a playful voice “yes”

Rolling his head back he looked up to the ceiling as he replied with a huff “blackmailed by a pony with a piano how the might have fallen” Lowering his head he answered thinking this was unbecoming of him “fine”

Smiling Luna eagerly awaited his reply, leaning back with her hands on the back of her head in victory she fell back forgetting that she was sitting on the arm of a chair. With high pitch scream she fell into the chair with her legs tipping up into the air like a see-saw, her arm flailed up as if to grab something to stop her decent and wings spread out. She sat their trapped between the two arms of the chair as her rear sank into it’s cushion, looking passed his canvas David saw Luna her legs bent at the knee drooping down with the side of the chair. Seeing her and hearing her high pitch squeak of a scream he held his hand to his mouth holding back a laugh, turning to him Luna she saw his face knowing he had a huge grin under his hand so she yelled at him “DON’T LAUGH AT MY STUCK PLOT!”

Bursting out laughing David arched over to his knees with his hand failing to muffle is laughs, straightening up he walked over to her taking his hand of his face letting her annoyed expression see his grinning one, taking her hands in his he pulled her up with a simple “up we go” as she rose back to the arm of the chair. Sitting their with an embarrassed expression on her face she looked up to his her hands still in his “Don’t think this get thou out of finishing that story”

Feeling his thumbs gently stroke the fur of her hands he spoke in an equally gentle tone “I kind of was” he said with a smile.

Breaking his hands from her’s he told her what she wanted to know “so when my mother found out about John’s caning, she stormed into the headmasters office demanding to know what happened. After he told her and admitted that the others started it she...”

Looking up to him with those big blue eyes she asked “and she what?”

Sighing David continued “she threatened him. She said if he ever caned any of her sons again she would find the longest cane in the school and shove it up his arse, but no matter what cane she would find, it would never be as big as the one that is already up their”

Failing to hold back her laughter Luna fell back into the chair only to be court by David not by the arms but in a hug, pulling her up into his chest she laughed into his chest as she spoke through her laughs “thou can’t be serious, thou must be jesting”

Pulling herself off him she saw his face looking down with a smile not nearly as wide as her’s as he spoke in a truthful voice “theirs an old saying back home, one my father liked to use. Hell has no fury like a woman’s scorn”

Still laughing Luna struggled out a reply “I think that sums up my sister when somepony eats her cake”

Giving her a laugh in return he walked back to his canvas as he instructed her in a pleasant tone “okay how about you get back into your pose and see if I can do you justice” Smiling Luna did as he told her finding it even more enjoyable than before, she became filled with excitement to what it would look like when it was done.

3

Finishing up Luna happily jumped up from her seat rubbing her rear as she groaned “I have spend hours sat down on that infernal throne and yet my plot has never been so sore”

Moving the canvas to the others hiding it contents from view he spoke “the princess lets you sit on her throne?”

Realising what Luna eyes widened as she stammered out a quick lie “oh no she doesn’t... it’s what I call the reception in the gallery. By Celestia those chair might as well be made of stone” trying to change the topic she continued “so are thou going to show me your work?”

“only when it’s done” he answered back.

“it’s not done? How has thou not be finished I was stuck in thy pose for hours” she asked in a bewildered tone.

“perfection takes time” he replied smugly.

“I thought it was perfection is held in the eye of the beholder” she retorted in an equally smug tone.

“your sister, she doesn’t win too many arguments does she?” David asked but it sounded more like a statement.

Smirking she replied in a triumphant tone “nope”

Sighing slightly in defeat he spoke in a flat tone “how about you let me finish the background and in return I’ll paint you many more”

Dwelling on the thought Luna weighed up her options, she wanted to see what all of her waiting had brought but with all her excitement the idea of more painting was tempting. Bobbing her head slightly has she hummed in thought she gave him an answer “fine thou has won, thou has bested me but I expect thy best”

Smiling he spoke in a prideful tone to his victory “don’t worry Luna I’ll be sure to give you a painting that’ll even make a princess jealous. Now how about we have a break for a bit”

Giving him a confused look that matched her tone “thou wants me to take a break from what?”

“from more poses of course, that’s if you still want those paintings?” David said in a calm voice.

Slumping into an armchair she spoke in tired voice “fine but could thou please spare me from a pose like the last, I don’t think my plot could take it”

Sitting down across from her in the other chair he answered with a groan to his stiff body as he spoke in playful tone “if thy lady commands it, then it shall be”

Luna just stared at him, she had never had somepony jest at her in such a manor. Smiling she spoke in an uplifting voice “if thou was any other pony I would be insulted, but thou isn’t thee only one with amusing mannerism”

Still smiling he retorted out a playful response “like what? Would thou like to indulge me?”

Letting a laugh slip through her lips she answered with a smile to his playful word choice, Luna even found it somewhat pleasing to hear her native tongue from another even if it was in jest “thou uses strange words that we don’t know despite the fact we speak the same language. Thou uses words like clout, skivvy and the likes, thou would not believe how hard it is to understand thou at times”

Letting out a laugh of his own David replied “you can talk, I had to look you up and down before I knew what plot meant”

Feeling a blush run across her face she lessoned to his voice as he continued “but your a lot easier to understand than some of the others”

Giving him a confused look that matched her tone she asked “what does thou mean?”

“how you talk it reminds me of home” he answered.

“really? Thy people talk like I?” she asked curiously as she leaned in eagerly awaiting his answer.

“no but you speak in a Victorian fashion” he answered.

Her face twisted in confusion as she spoke her mind “is that some province in your land?”

A light smile appeared on his face as he shook his head dismissively “no, it was an era. The era of Queen Victoria, in fact I’m a Victorian” he ended with a light laugh, he never really dwelled on it. He was born into the Victorian era, lived through the Edwardian era and now he was in the rule of another monarch.

Smiling Luna spoke pleasant tone “sound like thou and I have something in common”

Leaning back in his chair he laughed as his head rolled back pointing to the ceiling “I guess your right, two Victorians one from the start of the era” he said guesting to her “and one from the end” he said casually tapping his thumb on his chest.

Smiling at his words she did find what he said to allude her somewhat “what does thou mean start and end? How different could things have got?”

Dropping his head down to look at her as he answered with a smile “the Victorian era spanned over sixty years and changed quite drastically in that time, it started at the end of the industrial revolution rising up from the steel and smoke too age of art and gold. But you my blue furred friend have the voice of the queen who’s seen it all, while I on the other hand was raised in the Victorian era, I grow up in the Edwardian era and now I’m under the rule of yet another monarch. But my voice is a bit of a mix, I grew up in the midlands so I’ve got the county accent”

“county? what’s a county?” Luna asked confused to this new word he spoke.

“a large region that governs under the government” he answered plainly.

“Wait, wait, wait. Government? I thought thou said thy ruler was a king? Does thy king not govern or is their an emperor for thy empire?” Luna asked her voice becoming more confused with each thing he said and each thing that she remembered.

Rubbing his eyes David knew this question would come sooner or later so with a groan he answered in a tiered tone “it’s a very long complicated story”

“I have time” Luna said with a smile as she awaited his answer.

In a softer voice David replied in what some would take as a plea “Luna it’s a really long story going back over seven hundred years”

With that her smile grew as she leaned in like a child eagerly awaiting a parent to read their favourite book “I do love a bit of history”

With another groan he leaned in resting his forearms on his legs as he spoke “okay I’ll tell you a short version. Seven hundred years ago the king had a rebellion of peasants and nobles alike, but instead of facing rebellion he signed a treaty that limited his power and as long as he kept it the nobles would stay loyal. And that was the start of the government but it really got power after the civil war between the cavaliers and the round heads, after king was executed the puritans took over with houses of parliament, but it wasn’t long before the people got sick of their rule and got the prince back. After that the prince was crowned and things mostly returned to what they were before the war, and now men elect the government in instead of only nobility having the vote”

Speaking up Luna asked in a confused but firmer voice to what she was about to say “men? Is that what thou calls the males of thy species?” getting a nod from him as she continued “thou said men elect their government but what about the mares?”

“they don’t, women can’t vote” he stated.

“why? That doesn’t make any sense, stallion and mares are equal here. The mayor of ponyville is a mare and the mayor of Manehatton is a stallion, and anypony can vote for them. Why doesn’t thy world let them vote?” she said with an edge to her voice at the shock of his world’s system.

Leaning back in his seat he spoke in a lower tone than before “it’s a man’s world, men put bread on the table, build the buildings, work in the factories and fight in the wars. So we get to vote, it’s suppose to be the man of the house voting for the house”

“I understand the whole one vote pre household but it doesn’t add up, what if their are several ponies in one house while another has only one” Luna stated.

Letting out an amused chuckle he leaned back in with a smile “you’ve got a smart head on your shoulders Luna, that’s why the women’s union has been making a lot of head way recently. Last I heard they were using the theatre to spread their message”

“and what’s thou opinion on the matter?” Luna asked almost afraid of the answer, she had met foreign dignitaries with similar ways. The minotaur would be quite aggressive and dismissive to females of theirs and other species, it wasn’t that they looked down upon them for being female but they respected strength and strength alone, and after a few shows of earth pony strength the dignitaries became less dismissive of ponies as a whole regardless of gender. But David was strange he wasn’t dismissive of mares, he didn’t act like they were less than him or anything he just treat them like how they treat each other, which made how his world work all the more puzzling.

Letting out another amused laugh he answered “after twenty-seven years of watching my mother and father live together I’ve learned one thing, if a woman wants something they are going to get it regardless of what you say”

Letting out an amused sigh Luna spoke in a more uplifted voice “that doesn’t answer my question”

“yes I think they should have the right to vote” he stated much to Luna’s relief as he continued “now what was I saying before all this?”

“something about the king I think” Luna said trying to remember were this tangent had started.

Straightening himself somewhat he answered “okay the so British Empire isn’t ruled by an emperor but the United Kingdom of”

“thy people have a kingdom and an empire!?” Luna yelled in surprise as she interrupted him.

“yes the British Empire is ruled by the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland” he stated.

Smiling Luna spoke in a pleasant tone “thou wouldn’t believe how Twilight would react if she were here instead of I”

“let me guess she would take enough notes to make a book” David answered with a smirk.

Laughing Luna replied in an equally humoured tone “true or until she ran out of ink”

4

After sitting their for a while Luna gaze fell upon the painting of David and his brothers, staring at it for a few minutes Luna turned her gaze too the stacks of painting in the corner. She had noticed that all the painting that had people were all men, turning to him with a curious look she asked the question plaguing her mind “David I’ve notice that all thy paintings seem to be of stallion men, apologies force of habit. But now I must ask what do thy women look like”

Standing up with a stiff groan he answered “hang on a second” walking off into the bed room he returned with a photo in his hand, sitting back down across from her he handed her the photo of his mother and father “their you go”

Looking over the photo she spoke in a slightly lower and distant tone, she didn’t exactly know why her words came out like that but they did “is this thou and thy, how would thou put it woman friend?”

Almost collapsing in on himself as he laughed he tried to stammer out a response “god no that’s my mother and father, I know I look like him but I’ve never been mistaken for him before”

With a look of mild shock Luna replied in a rushed voice “my apologies I didn’t mean to offend”

Waving her off he replied in a cheerful voice as his laugher died down “none needed, I do look like him. But my mother on the other hand I wouldn’t date by any means, she’s too smart for her own good”

Looking at him with curiosity she asked “how so?”

With that he remembered his mother and his laughter instantly returned if not returning with greater force “every time she introduced my father to one of her friends she would introduce him as her big amadan or loveable amadan”

“amadan? What does that mean?” she asked never hearing a word like it.

His laughter grew even stronger as he tried to answer her “and like I said before you’ve got a good head on your shoulders, it took my father years to asked that question. Now you see my mother is half Scottish and she knows a lot of Gaelic, but my father doesn’t speak a word of it. For at least sixteen years he thought it was something romantic, but when I turned seventeen he found out it meant idiot” his laughter got even greater as he tried to continue “all those years she had been calling him her big amadan or loveable amadan she was calling him her big loveable idiot”

Laughing with him Luna almost caved into her leap as she replied in a joyful voice “and thou said he didn’t know for seventeen years”

“at least, god knows how long she was calling him that. She could have been calling that from the moment they were married or the moment they were dating” he stated in a fit of laughter.

After their laughter died down Luna looked at the picture again, seeing that David did as he said take after his mother as she saw the woman of the photo standing by a painting she had made. Looking back to him she asked a new question plaguing her mind “David thou has painted so many pieces with so many of your people, but why has thou not done any with women?”

Letting out a weak huff that matched his voice “it’s been two years since I’ve seen a woman, apart from the nurses but they jump patient to patient so much you barely see one for more than a minute. I wanted too, I wanted too quite a few times but I think I’ve forgotten what they look like”

Looking back down too the photo in her hands she spoke in a slightly dismissive tone “but thou has this”

Shacking his head slowly from side too side he answered her in a defeated tone “it’s not the same, not for me at least. I could do it with the other photo of my brothers because I was with them when it was taken, and I had been around men in those uniforms for three years so I knew ever detail of them. If I was too paint my mother it would turn out like my first painting of you and I couldn’t do that too her”

Seeing the depressed look on his face Luna looked back down to the photo in her grasp she asked one more question “so if thou had a mare, woman, a woman before thou to pose as I did thou would be able to paint her?”

Getting a slow low nod he replied in an equally low tone “yes but the nearest woman is a world away” ending with a slight barely audible chuckle escaping his lips Luna knew he was lonely but she couldn’t imagine what he was going through. He had been fighting for years away from any chance of find love and now he was away from his own kind, away from his family. Even Luna didn’t know what that felt like, she didn’t really remember her banishment only brief flashes as time went by and she still had her sister and subjects. But he had nothing and with that she felt pity for him, but he did have something he had her he had their friendship.

Putting the photo of David’s parents down she stood up with a smile as she walked over to him, reaching out she plucked a hair making him reach up covering the spot she pulled from as he yelled “ow what was that for?”

Lifting up the hair she stretched it out between of her fingers at eye level, inspecting the hair intensely she spoke in a soft soothing voice as she never broke eye contact with the hair “like thou said it’s been two years since thou has seen a woman so I’m about to show thou a woman”

With that David wasn’t sure of what she meant and why she had pull one of his hairs out, but he was sure that he was a tad scared of her despite how much he would deny it. He thought with her words and act that it was some kind of mating ritual but before he could say anything she began. The horn on top of her head let out a soft blue glow that slowly spread across her body until it reached her fingers, stopping at the hair stretched out between her fingers the soft blue glow of magic became stronger becoming brighter until her whole body became surrounded in a blinding white light. The last thing too be coated in magic was the hair in her hand, slowly the blue magic forced it’s way across the hair struggling to move forward as it resisted her, focusing more Luna pushed through determined to enact her spell.

As the blue magic completely engulfed the her David shielded his eyes, with his arm over his eyes he turned away as white light became unbearably bright blinding him. Sensing the light was gone he turned back to Luna only to find a woman, a human woman standing in her place. Lowering her hands she began to twist and turn as she examined herself, while she examined herself David did so too. Standing before him he found the woman to be not just attractive but out right beautiful, her hair was long and straight running halfway down her back, but it’s colour was strange it was dark not black but so deep of a blue that you could barely tell the difference between. Her skin was pale but vibrant looking to be smooth like silk, completely devoid of any flaws. Her eyes were as blue as her magic unlike her subtle pink lips, even her nose was appeared small and delicate like the smile she wore as she looked over herself. Unable to keep his eyes up high they slowly moved down her body taking in her naked form, she had a rather slender build with her breasts and hips nicely complementing her figure. Slowly trailing down from her face he saw her bust straight in front of him at eye level as stayed seated, they were the same as her pony form but right now they had his attention which he struggled to look on from. Moving on his eyes slowly pasted her chest to her flat belly and slim waist that exaggerated her hips giving her an hourglass figure, moving further down her he saw she was completely hairless apart from the hair on the top of her head. Passing her hips he saw her womanhood in full view as he moved down her shapely legs.

Looking over her new form she spoke as she slid her hands down her arms feeling her new smooth skin “so what does thou think?”

Looking back up to her with widening eyes he spoke in a mix of shock and confusion in his voice “Luna? How did you…?”

Smiling she quickly interrupted “magic”

Lifting her arms up she looked over her hands stroking her palms before letting her slender fingers slide over her face, feeling her new face she enjoyed the sensation of soft skin, it was so strange to her, her skin was as soft as her fur but it was smooth like silk but not nearly as warm. But as she stood their her eyes widened somewhat as she felt no horn, twisting her head around in surprise she looked over her back finding only that her back no wings no tail. Looking down her side her eyes widened even further as she saw her thighs, franticly twisting and turning between each thigh the shock on her face becoming clearer by the second. Standing at a slight angle too David Luna showed off her left side as she reached down too her rear with her left hand, clutching her rear she stretched it out slightly almost taunting him as she stared in shock to her missing cutie mark.

Her voice became somewhat erratic as she spoke to herself and anyone who could hear “MY CUTIE MARK! WHAT’S HAPPENED TO MY CUTIE MARK!? PLEASE SAY I DIDN’T DO THE SPELL WRONG!”

Looking between her and her rear David spoke in a calm voice “Luna”

Being too focused on her missing cutie mark Luna didn’t register him as she continued “I KNOW IT’S ADVANCED MAGIC THAT FEW PONIES CAN DO BUT I’M AN ALICORN!”

Repeating himself he spoke again in a slightly louder voice “Luna”

Still refusing to her him Luna continued as if he said nothing “WHAT IF I’M STUCK LIKE THIS? WHAT IF I TURN BACK BUT IT’S STILL GONE?”

Repeating himself yet again David yelled her name “LUNA!”

Snapping her head around to him he saw the fear in her eyes as she yelled back “WHAT?”

Retuning to his previous calm tone he spoke “Luna your fine humans don’t have cutie marks”

Looking at him with sad pleading eyes she asked in a low quiet voice “really?”

Nodding he answered “really”

Relaxing in her stance she he spoke in a more cheerful voice “thou would not believe how much of a relief that is to hear, do thou know how important a cutie mark is to us?”

A small smile appeared on his face as he spoke remembering all to clearly Twilight’s reaction “yes I believe I have an idea”

Smiling back Luna spoke as she began to stretch, learning how her current moved “that’s good, I suppose it’s kind of hard to miss. Let me guess Twilight asked what thou’s was and went on for hours about them”
Letting out a soft chuckle David answered with a smile “you make it sound like you were their”

Letting out a laugh of her own she gave him a warm smile as she slid her hands down her body to her hips as she spoke in a pleasant but curious voice “so what does thou think? Thou never answered my question”

With that David realised he was still staring at Luna and she was still standing before him displaying her naked form for him, he wasn’t sure how she had done it but somehow she was able to make him forget that she was naked.

Luna’s smile grew wider as she took a shaky step forward, her feet crossing each other as if she was balancing on a rope. Leaning down to him with her hands sliding behind her back with them cupping each other behind her over where her tail would be, with an ever growing grin her tone became mischievously alluring “well are thou going to answer or are thou just going to st...”

With a sudden sharp squeak Luna fell into him landing on him, awkwardly landing on him her head rested on his right shoulder with her long dark hair sprawled out over his face. Her chest was pressed deeply into his which she found somewhat uncomfortable which wasn’t helped by how she was laying on him, her knees rested on the edge of on his seat while his right legs was sandwiched between her’s. Her arms on the other hands jumped from behind her back too either side on him.

With a slight groan Luna spoke as she felt David’s hands cup her sides lifting her off him somewhat much to her pleasure as it took the pressure off her chest “sorry I guess my lack of wings through me off balance”

With a groan of his own as he moved her off his wounded chest he answered with his voice becoming as mischievous as Luna’s was “it’s alright, it’s not everyday a woman is so eager to sit in my lap”

Letting out light laugh as she pushed herself up she lowered her left hand down to his taking it off his side, lifting it up she pried his hand open with no resistance from him. Matching her hand with his she noticed he was quite different from her’s in small ways, his hands were bigger than her’s even with her slender fingers over his she could still see his coming out from behind her’s, his skin was also different Luna found it to be tougher and rougher maybe even thicker. In a calm voice as soft as her skin she spoke as she inspected his hand “thou hands are different to mine”

Interlocking her fingers with his she felt his rough skin brush against her soft skin as he closed his fingers with her, with their hands joined Luna slowly moved her head back but as did her cheek brushed against his. Feeling how smooth and soft the skin on his face was she brushed her cheek against his again, pulling back again she turned to him her cheek still against him as David turned to her. Luna’s soft blue eyes were almost shut as she enjoyed the new sensation of soft skin on soft skin, she found it relaxing so much so that she could fall asleep in his arms, unlike fur she didn’t sink into it or ruffle against it as she moved she merely just glided across it’s warm surface. As they turned into each other their lips slid across one another, closing her eyes a bit more to soothing sensation running across her lips she felt it become deeper.

Smiling in near bliss as she felt David’s left hand slowly move up from her side up to her back, his hand stroking her naked back as his fingers intertwined with her long dark hair. Soon she felt his hand glide across her neck too the back of her head ruffling her hair as he gently held her head in place, slowly she opened her groggy eyes like she had just woken up only too see David’s eyes still closed as if they were as asleep as her’s were.

Slowly pulling back with wide blue eyes she realised what they were doing, as she leaned back she felt their lips part as she felt David lean forward unwilling to end their kiss almost chasing it as it left him. As their lips parted she saw his eyes open thinking for just a moment them to be a mirror imagine of her’s, with a blush running across her face with a shy expression she lifted her hand up to her lips feeling them with a slender finger “did thou just kiss me?”

Leaning back in his chair back to his previous position, his hand moved down with him to her neck gently cupping it as he spoke in a low bashful tone that sounded a little distant “sorry I don’t know that what came over me”

With a warm small smile and an equally warm voice she spoke as she took her hand off her face, moving her hand over to him she cupped his cheek softly brushing his lips with her thumb “thou has no need to apologise” Leaning back in Luna smiled as she placed a soft kiss on his right cheek, breaking her quick kiss she moved back her face level with his as she spoke in a soft soothing voice “beside I asked what thou thought of my form and I think I liked thou answered”

Feeling the cold air of the cabin brush against her naked skin she repositioned herself, taking her hands off him she sat on his lap as she wrapped her arms around him, leaning into him as a source of warmth as a cold shiver ran up her spine. With a shiver in her voice she spoke “I suppose thou kind are made for heat”

Wrapping an arm around her he stroked her side for warmth as he spoke in a light laugh “not all of us”

Taking her head off his side she looked up to him fighting back the shudder in her voice as she asked “if thou is attempting to jest thou would make a poor jester. Just look at me theirs not a patch of fur on me, I’m freezing”

Smiling at the slight pout on her face he answered her “England’s a cold country their are times were the sky is grey and cold for weeks”

Leaning back against him she spoke in an irritable tone “that still doesn’t make me feel any warmer”

Moving his left hand too her he began stroking her right arm, but while he did the white sleeve of his shirt began to roll up against her as he moved. Feeling the hair of his arm brush against her she recoiled slightly as it tickled her skin, pushing off him slightly she saw his arm. Sitting up Luna took him by the wrist holding his arm up in her view, with an irritated scowl she demanded an answer “what is this!? I thought thou said I did the spell perfectly and yet thou has fur”

Looking down to her and her scornful scowl he matched her tone with a calm tone of his own “you did and it’s not fur it’s body hair”

“so what? Do thy mares not have fur while thou does? that’s not fare, at least too me I’m freezing” Luna said in an irritated pout.

With her arm still around him David stood up scooping her legs up under his arms that she held, breaking her grip on his wrist she swung herself into him wrapping her arm back around him as he stood up. With a squeak she felt him spin her round before gently placing her back down in his chair, watching him walk away Luna spun around in her seat as spoke in a more shocked than irritated tone “hey what’s thy idea?”

Watching him walk back with his blue coat in hand, walking around behind her he wrapped his coat around her shoulders. Pulling the seems closed she heard him talk behind him in a calm comforting tone “their you go that should keep you warm”

Turning over in her chair she curled up in her seat letting his blue coat act more like a blanket as she spoke “I suppose this is why thou wears clothes”

Sitting down in the other chair David replied “that’s one reason”

Hugging herself under his coat for warmth she gave him another questioning look that matched her tone “one reason? Why would their be any other reason?”

Avoiding her gaze he looked down too her blanketed body as he replied in a bashful tone “you don’t want to know”

A sly smile spread across her lips as she pried him for the secrets he was hiding from her “oh now thou has to tell me or would a word to a certain princess loosen those lips of thou’s”

Lightly shacking his head he replied his voice becoming slightly firmer in his bashful tone “Luna you really don’t want to know”

Straightening herself up in her seat before leaning forward towards David her grin grew wider as her inquisitive tone became stronger “thou are not helping thy self, now tell me what I want to know or would another kiss loosen thy lips”

Looking up to her he saw the smug grin on her face as he held his hands up in defeat “thou wouldn’t want to kiss me again I may never let you go” he said in a jesting tone.

Fidgeting in her seat in excitement she spoke in a triumphant voice “good now tell before I do”

“fine don’t say I didn’t warn you. The other reason why we wear clothes is to hide our body’s from the public, nudity is not just frowned upon it’s illegal. The only time a man and a woman see each other naked is when they are husband and wife” he said in defeated tone knowing full well how Luna would react.

Luna’s face dropped more with each word he said as she pulled his coat tighter around her for comfort as she spoke in a shocked plea to herself “I’ve been posing for thou as a pony for hours, I’ve been flaunting my human self before thou like an animal in heat, I was naked in thy lap kissing thou. Thou must think so little of me, I’m never going to live this down”

Leaning forward David spoke in a loud enough voice to get her attention “Luna this isn’t my world it’s yours, and if you want to walk around naked who am I to tell you not too”

Looking up to him with almost sad eyes as she spoke in a plea “really? Thou doesn’t think any less of me”

“of course not, you couldn’t have known what I would considers inappropriate or scandalous. And besides your the only woman I can talk to around her without a million questions coming my way” David said in a reassuring voice.

Smiling Luna found his words comforting, knowing how ponies could be to outsiders she asked in an almost sure voice “twilight again?”

Letting out a laugh he confirmed her suspicions “yeah I feel like she has been stalking me, it feels like every time I step out that door she’s their with a note pad and pen”

Letting out a laugh of her own she spoke in a happier tone than before that quickly returned to her lower tone “she can be a bit intense. I hope no pony find out about this, if my sister found out about this I would never hear the end of it. Truth is Twilight has asked me a couple of questions about thou. Imagine how she would react if she knew I can change into a human mare… woman, a human woman”

“well she won’t find out through me, neither of them will. And besides I wouldn’t want this to get out, it might start a war” David joked.

Distracted by his words Luna asked in a calmer tone “what does thou mean to start a war?”

Continuing his jesting tone “if thou went to my world the great war would come to a swift end, and the war for thy hand would begin”

Blushing she fidgeted in her seat as she looked away from him with a bashful expression “thou shouldn’t jest in such a way” holding back a mischievous smirk she looked back up to him her tone slipping into a more playful one no matter how much she tried to hold it back “or thou might find me back on thy lap”

Calling her bluff he spoke in a slightly mocking tone “and thou might find me unwilling to let thou sit anywhere else”

“are thou mocking me?” Luna asked in an annoyed tone to him beating her at her own game.

David leaned in ever so slightly giving Luna a good look at his motionless face and unwavering voice “does it sound like I’m mocking you?”

Holding his still expression he saw Luna’s expression hold for awhile but her sky blue eyes widened and her face dropped as she began to believe him, slowly his composure began to waver as he fell into his knees as he blurted out a contained laugh “I’m sorry Luna I can’t I just can’t keep it up, you should have seen the look on your face”

Standing up Luna was determined to win their little game of chicken, walking over to him Luna sat back down on his lap. Looking up to him she wrapped her arms around his neck almost hanging off him, feeling the cold cabin air wash over her front as his coat opened with her arms, looking into his eyes that match her’s she spoke in an alluring tone, she intensively watched as his face turn from joy too shock as she leaned into him pressing herself against him “and thou should see thy face”

Taking her hands off him she caved into herself as she raised a hand over her mouth to muffle her laughter, while her other hand pinned the open coat over her shoulders closed “thou are right it is hard to hold a straight face”

Soon David was laughing with her, as their laughter subsided she leaned back into him as if he was the back of their chair. Slipping her hand back under his coat she curled back up into it hiding her legs under it again, looking back up to his behind her she spoke in a calmer softer voice than before “I suppose thou was lying about my beauty as a woman”

“and what makes you say that” David asked looking down to her.

“thou’s jesting tone” Luna answered.

Wrapping an arm around her he spoke his voice as true as her eyes were blue “well you are, your a living work of art more beautiful than anyone artist can capture. But that won’t stop me from trying”

Giving her a light pat on the knee she stood up, turning to him she spoke in a playful tone “can I at least keep some clothes on this time”

5

Standing behind his station he painted another painting of human form, this time she wasn’t wearing his coat she had used her magic to summon a long blue dress. She was in a similar pose to her first painting but this time she was more sprawled out over the chair, sitting on the arm of the chair she leaned in on the back of the chair. Her right side leaned against the back of the chair as her right hand gently caressed it’s top, while her left hand rested on her lap over her pressed together knees that were angled to her right. Her dress was a deep blue the kind the sky was on a clear summers night, her dress was sleeveless held up by two thin straps that ran over her shoulders. Their was a single splint in the front of her dress just above her left knee, this allowed David too see the full length of her left leg from the knee down too her shoes, which were high blue heels that matched her dress perfectly.

With her body angled to her right she looked on slightly more to him but still to her right, her hair was swept back as she wore a soft comforting smile. Even with her smile wavering in her pose after a few hours of staying still, she still looked to be enjoying herself as she watched David’s head move back and forth between her and his work.

After a few moments Luna noticed David hadn’t looked at her for a little while, hearing the soft tap of his paint brush being placed down against the wooden palette in his hand, she couldn’t see him but she heard his pleased voice “okay I think that’s done”

Happily jumping up Luna didn’t even stretch her sore body as she walked over to see how he had captured her likeness, walking over with a wobble in her step she realised how much of a struggle it was to move, she hadn’t the balance of her wings or tail and she wasn’t use to heels but still she pressed on.

Stepping aside for her David moved away from his work giving her a moment as she took it all in, raising her hand over her gaping mouth as she stared in awe. Was this really how she looked she thought, the chair was basic lacking most of it’s detail unlike her, he had painted her in perfect detail. In the hours she had been a human she had never seen her face and now she had, taking a step closer to the painting she reached out almost ready to touch it. The tips of her fingers were so close to it before retreating back to her, lifting hand up to her she felt her fingers glide across her face feeling every little detail of the face she never saw “is that what I really look like?” she asked in a low tone.

Not even seeing him walk off and return as she stayed fixated on her painted counterpart, giving her a triumphant smile he handed her a mirror. Standing their for a little while David held out the mirror but she didn’t take it, she didn’t even know he was holding it she was too focused on the painting. After a while she hesitantly took the mirror slowly raising it too her face, her eyes widened as she saw herself, she was the spitting imagine of the woman in the painting but the one thing she saw was her eyes, they were the exact same eyes as she had as a pony.

Taking a shaky step towards him she almost fell into him as she wrapped her arms around his chest, resting her head on his right shoulder she squeezed him tight as she spoke in a tone filled with warmth like crackling fire “thank thou it’s beautiful”

Hugging her with half the force she was putting into him he replied in a modest tone “don’t thank me just yet I still got a lot more work to do on it, and besides I should be thanking you for letting me do this”

With a soft smile she took her head off him as she looked up to him with a playful smile that matched her tone “if thou want to thank me thou could help me to my chair”

With that Luna felt David move his arms around her picking her up with a sudden loud yell of surprise he picked her up bridle style, clinging onto him for dear life she wrapped her arms around his neck before he gently placed her down in her chair. Smiling to the comfort and relief she felt as she finally got off her aching feet, kicking off her shoes she stretched with a soothing groan “thou would not believe how much my feet hurt”

Walking off too his bags by the door he returned with a wide round tin in hand, handing it to her he spoke like he did when he instructed her in her pose “try rubbing this on your feet it should help”

Looking at the tin it looked to be a tin of shoe polish but the label had completely faded away “what is it?” she asked.

“rubbing oil for your feet, it’s part of the standard provisions for troops” he answered.

“is their anything thou doesn’t have in thy bags” Luna said in joking tone. Throwing the tin back to him he court it against his chest as she spoke in an increasingly playful tone “well go on then, my feet hurt”

A soft laugh escaped his lips as Luna twisted in her seat laying across the whole chair, her back was resting against one arm while her legs hung over the other “an officers and gentleman I am and if thy lady asks thy lady will get” he playfully replied.

Kneeling down before her feet he unscrewed the tin, its worn metal scraping against it’s self like rusted gears. Taking a blob of the clear oil in hand it’s consistency being more like thin cream than water as he began to massage her feet, coating her whole foot in a thin layer of the oil she recoiled, retracting her feet nearly into her dress to sudden cold biting at her skin. Cupping her foot in his hands he pressed his thumbs into the souls of her feet rolling them around just under her toes. A soft moan was able to escape her lips as she relaxed into her seat before she could muttered out a soft word “thou should look into working in the ponyville spar, ponies would pay bits for this”

Giving her a light laugh he replied not even looking up to her as he ran his hands across the full length her feet “thanks but I think I’ll stick to the oil of paints”

Finishing up he sat back down across from her as she stayed sprawled out over her chair, turning to him he saw her relaxed expression as she rubbed her legs together stroking her feet against one another “where did thou learn that? I don’t suppose thou’s army training included foot massages”

Chuckling as he dropped his head somewhat he spoke in a voice that matched her’s “in a way they did, each man was told too take good care of his feet and to do daily inspections of each others”

Turning around in her seat she sat up as she asked in a curious tone “why would thy leaders tell thou men to do that? Are thou feet prone to injury?”

“no but there is a disease running though the trenches, we call it trench foot. I got it twice from spending mouths standing in flooded muddy trenches” he stated.

Looking at him with a degree of shock that matched her voice “that’s sounds awful”

“It wasn’t so bad, court it early both times so I got to keep all my toes. And it got me in a warm bed for a few days so that was pretty nice” he said in a casual tone.

Her expression softened ever so slightly to how little it seemed to bother him, so she thought it couldn’t be that bad of a condition “but that still sounds like awful conditions to stay in” her face dropped as she realised what he said before as her voice dropped with her “did thou say all thy toes as in thou can lose them from this condition?”

“yeah but it’s pretty rare now, everyday we inspect each others feet to prevent it” he stated in an ever so slightly lower voice that quickly became more cheerful as he continued “I remember one day I had to check Jim’s feet, by god they were the most revolting things that ever to walk the earth. I swear I would rather face the Jerry’s gas before the smell those things produced. One day in the middle of summer I remember seeing him asleep airing his stinking feet, then I heard him laughing in his sleep. You won’t believe what was making him laugh”

Eagerly waiting the end of his story Luna lessoned closely as he continued almost leaning in “When I turned to face him I saw a rat perched on his leg like a parrot licking his feet, it probably thought it was cheese, when he woke up he screamed like a little girl. I could have sworn a couple of the men hid his boots just to make him a walking rat trap”

Luna laughed gently at his story finding it a little mean but it sounded to be all in good fun, if not made up. He knew by her laugh that she could tell it wasn’t completely true but found it funny anyway, the truth was that Jim panicked when he saw the rat but it wasn’t a scream of fear but pain. When he moved the rat bit into his foot nearly taking his toe off as he shook it, which he then shoot off when he aimed for the rat on his flailing leg.

6

After another hour or two Luna left returning home as a pony, arriving back in Canterlot Luna made her way back to her chambers but was court by the one pony she didn’t to see “and where have you been?” Celestia called out in an annoyed voice that only a mother could produce.

Turning around in the corridor just outside her chambers she saw her sister before her with arms crossed over her chest, she was wearing her golden crown and matching neckless that drooped down hanging just over the large white breast. Looking down to Luna Celestia held a good half a head of height on her, looking her sister up and down she saw Luna was not wearing her royal attire. Looking down to her sister with a scornful expression she spoke in an irritated voice “Luna you’ve been missing all day, I thought you were going to help with the preparation”

“preparation?” Luna asked tilting her head slightly.

Letting out a loud annoyed huff that matched her increasing riled tone too Luna blatant disregard for her family “the preparation of Cadence’s and Shining Armor’s wedding” in that moment Luna realised that she had been slipping in her duties, the royal wedding was fast approaching it was less than two months away and now they were a day behind because of her.

Gesturing too Luna lack of clothes Celestia spoke as she slumped slightly in not defeat but sheer fatigue “and why aren’t you wearing your crown?”

Luna’s voice was a little shaky as she shied away from her sister’s gaze “I was out”

“out where?” Celestia demanded.

“with a friend” Luna answered her voice becoming quieter and shyer too Celestia pressing questions.

Celestia’s expression softened somewhat happy that Luna had a friend that she could rely on, but still annoyed at her missing presence and her keeping her friend a secret form her “so who is she?”

“he my friend is a he” Luna stated shyly.

Celestia slightly recoiled to Luna’s words, she wasn’t expecting Luna to be keeping secrets from her but now she did. Walking over with a teasing smile she pulled her little sister into a tight hug almost squeezing the air out of her lungs, speaking in a teasing coo of a voice “oh look at you, my little sister has gone and got herself a little colt friend. Has thy wedding preparations stirred up some feeling for him, ooh maybe we will have another wedding before the year’s end, oh wouldn’t that be nice lulu”

Pushing back against Celestia’s hold Luna broke free taking a few heavy breaths matching Celestia’s teasing tone with a mocking tone of her own “please sister we haven’t had the first wedding and thy are already scheming for a second cake, if thou eats two I fear that thy flanks may be to much for thy dresses to bare”

Celestia paused for a moment in shock to Luna’s retort before firing back a furious defence “I’ll have you know my flanks are perfects, everyday I catch some guard staring at them with stars in their eyes”

Realising what she said they both began to laugh, calming down their laughter Celestia spoke with less of a tease in her voice “so who is this royal courter of yours?”

“sister please we are not courting, he doesn’t even know I am of royal birth” Luna answered in a slight whine.

For the first time in hundreds of years Celestia was taken completely by surprise what matched her flabbergasted voice “how can he not know you aren’t the princess of the night, theirs only three alicorns in the whole of Equestria”

“well he’s not exactly from Equestria” Luna stated nervously knowing Celestia would want to pry as much information as she could out of her.

Smiling widely Celestia wrapped an arm around her sister as her intrigued voice became more pronounced “ooh do tell”

Feeling Celestia shack in excitement through her hug Luna answered her voice becoming even more nervous “theirs nothing to tell”

Pulling Luna in tighter Celestia wrapped one of her wide wing’s over Luna’s side as teasing tone returned with greater strength “come now Lulu there most definitely is”

Sighing she deflated as she answered her sister’s pandering questions “his name is David”

“and?” Celestia added with a long drawn out tone.

“and he’s an artist” Luna stated reluctantly.

Loosing her hold on Luna Celestia took a moment to process what she just said “wait is this the same artist that you nominated at the gallery?”

Hanging her head low Luna answered her sister’s playful interrogation in a low tone “yes, but he didn’t even know it was submitted, Applejack did it on his behalf”

Yet again Celestia was taken completely by surprise, once in a hundred years was a rarity but twice in a single day was unheard of. In her state of bewilderment Celestia’s hold on Luna weakened as she spoke “wait he’s in ponyville? Is this the same creature Twilight has been sending me letters about?”

Looking up to her sister Luna spoke with a degree of shock “Twilight has been sending thou letters about him?”

Her tone started off normal and calm but soon turned lower and distance in pity and remorse for someone she had never known “yes but she knows next to nothing about him, all she has managed to tell me is his situation is quite dire. Apparently he’s been wounded quite severely multiple times from this war of his, Twilight said he could barely breathe when he first arrived. I was going to give him asylum if Twilight and her friends vouched for him, but apparently he wants to go back out of some strange sense of duty. Imagine wanting to go back to that, has he told you about this war of his?”

Thinking back Luna hadn’t realised how much he had told her about himself and the war, her face dropped slightly as she remember the stories he told them on nighmare night. Luna’s tone was similar to her sister’s but worse, her words were slower and lower holding more sorrow in them “he has and it sounds worse than any nightmare I have faced, it even sounds worse than the war against Sombra”

Celestia froze as she remembered the war of the crystal empire, and dark magic it’s king used. She was brought out of her hazy memory as she heard Luna continued, her voice almost romantic as she spoke of his work with the beginnings of tears glossing over her eyes “unlike the others I’ve seen little glimpses into his war. He’s an artist, and he’s painted it he’s painted so many horrible things. But he’s also the only one that has ever been able to captured my night. He paints so many beautiful things, he’s done paintings of his home, thou should see them they truly are remarkable, he even did some of me”

Luna remained silent for a moment as Celestia just stood their watching her sister, she had never seen her feel so much pity for a creature before, not even one of their little ponies “it sounds like you and him have grown quite close” Celestia stated in a calm tone filled with warmth and care.

“yes I suppose we have, it’s nice being able to converse with somepony that doesn’t see the titles or my past. But it doesn’t feel right, every time we talk I lye to him, I’m lying to my only friend” Luna said in a voice as cold as night and as lonely as the moon on a starless sky.

Feeling Celestia pull her into a soft comforting hug, her warm feathers wrapping around her like a blanket as she spoke in an equally soft and comforting voice “come now Lulu I’m sure he’ll understand”

Resting her head on her sister chest she spoke her words muffled by her sister’s pure white fur “but what if he doesn’t? I don’t want to loose him. It’s been so nice to have a friend again”

She didn’t look down as she spoke to the little sister in her arms, she looked like a little filly so scared hiding from the world in her big sister’s arms as she spoke words of encouraging “Lulu if he truly is your friend then he will forgive you”

Hugging her sister back the blue alicorn as she spoke with a soft unseen smile “thou are right, I will tell him”

Unwrapping her wings from around her little sister Celestia eased up their hug, still holding onto each other as their hug subsided “and if you need any help or advice I’ll be right here, day or night I’ll be here for you” Celestia added in a reasurring voice.

“well their is one thing thou could help me with” Luna said taking up her offer.

Holding a deep heartfelt smile Celestia replied “anything”

Shyly tilting her blue furred head away Luna asked “could thou acquire me a piano”

Recoiling to her request Celestia was expecting something else, something along the lines of advice on how to tell David who she was “what do you need with a piano? You don’t play do you?” Celestia said losing confidence in herself thinking that she was beginning to lose her sister again.

Still shyly looking away Luna answered her sister’s prying question “it’s along story but David may believe that I sent by the princess, and that if he does a few paints for her she will gift him with a piano”

With a gormless expression Celestia spoke her confused mind “okay that makes sense but I thought you said he did paintings of you, but why would the princess that you said you weren’t want paintings of somepony else”

“I told him the princess wanted paintings of her night, but he put them on hold, he put painting ordered by the princess on hold so he could do one for a friend, for me” Luna stated in warmly.

“well he sounds like a special kind of pony, maybe thou should invite him to the wedding, I would love to meet him. And maybe Cadence could tell me if there is something a little more between you two” Celestia teased.

Blushing Luna stammered out a response “Celestia must thou insist on this childish notion”

A wide grin spread across Celestia’s face as she watched her sister squirm under her playful questions “but thou didn’t deny it”

7

It had been a week since Luna had seen David and thanks to his company Celestia had noticed a substantially change in her mood, Luna didn’t just appear happier she genuinely seemed happier. Gone where the morning were Luna would walk in miserable and tiered, now she always seemed how she was before the nightmare happy and content in her duties.

Every night she had been doing her duties in the dream realm, and every night she had looked for that one particular door that plagued her mind. But now it was gone like it had never existed which made Luna hopeful for the first time in years that it had all worked out, that the pony that owned that door had gotten the help he or she needed.

Teleporting all the way to Ponyville first thing in the morning, she walked towards the David’s cabin under the red morning sky. Knocking on his door she was greeted by David and the horrid smell of smoke “Luna what are you doing here so early” he asked in a tired voice “accurately your timing couldn’t be better I’ve just finished the last painting” he stated interrupting himself.

Stepping into his cabin she saw how worn out he was, heavy dark bags were under his eyes making her speak out in concern “when was the last time thou got any sleep?”

“couple of hours last night why?” he replied his tone a polar opposite to her’s.

“thou looks tired” she answered.

Smiling he let out a soft chuckle “that’s became I am, I’ve sent all week working on these” he said as he pulled out the canvas’s.

The first was of her as she is, it was of her in her first pose. This time the rest of it was painted in, the chair she was sat on was painted a light violet, with the walls behind her painted a dark aqua. Behind her was an open window with curtains a lighter violet than the chair she was sat upon, tied back with thick golden rope in the middle. Through the open window she saw the bright glow of a full moon, just below the moon was her out stretched left hand presenting it to the canvas’s audience. The glow of the moon turned the once dark sky into a softer blue, but hidden in the mists of blue sky was the slight twinkle of distant stars, the same twinkle he captured in her mane and tail.

Silently gaping at his work she moved on to the next painting, it was the one of her human form that she saw before. This time the rest of the details were filled in, the violet chair she sat upon nicely contrasted against the blue of her dress. Unlike the last painting their was no window or natural light, the painting wasn’t dark but had a natural glow with an ever so slight orange tint of an unseen fire place. Behind her against the shadowed aqua wall was a wide brown varnished cabinet, that took up a fare amount of the left side of the painting, a single lit candle stood alone on the cabinet’s edge illuminating the room with it’s glow.

The next one was also of her human form as she wore his long blue coat, it’s large size evidenced in how baggy it appeared over her as it nearly blanketed her completely. The painting was of her from the right side as she sat beneath a large tree, her back was resting against it’s old trunk as she curled up into the fetal position. Her knees were pressed against her chest making the coat bulge out while her naked feet poked out from beneath it’s covers, her feet gently rested on the dark cold ground barely ruffling a blade of grass as she looked up to the star filled sky above her. Her hair was long and could easily been mistaken for the sky, her painted counterpart looked so peaceful like she had just finished painting the sky. Off in the far distance passed the rolling hills and dark orchards was a little village, it looked like ponyville, a warm glow emanated from the windows of all the homes making the little village look even cosier than it was in reality.

Luna’s voice was quite but filled with astonishment as she lowered the painting back to the ground from which it came “their beautiful” turning around Luna wrapped her around around him pulling him into a soft hug “thank thou”

Feeling him hug her back she eventually broke their hug as she moved off, moving to the corner of the room she began to move his furniture with her magic. As the chairs and cabinets became engulfed in a light blue glow David asked “Luna what are you doing?”

Smiling as she cleared a space she spoke in a voice that matched her cheerful smile “I told the princess about thou paintings and she decided to send this early, besides she still has thy first painting”

In a bright flash of blue light a grand black piano stood before her in the corner of the room, staring in awe David stammered out a response “how did you?” seeing the proudly smug expression on her face David answered his own question “magic”

Nodding in response she stepped aside as David admired his instrument, running his fingers across the white keys he felt each individual key, they were smooth almost glossy as let his fingers glide across it’s surface. Sitting down on the stool that teleported in with it he hesitantly struck a few keys, too his amazement they held a perfect tune “it’s in tune” he whispered in astonishment.

Smiling Luna spoke from behind him but he didn’t even break his gaze from her gift “the princess wanted only the best for thou, she truly admires thy work” watching his hands rest on the keys as if he was about to start Luna asked “go on are thou going to play something?”

Turning to her she saw how thankful he was, he looked as if she had just returned something more valuable than a mountain of gold and gems, no a mountain of gold and gems to a diamond dog “any requests?” he asked with a smile as he spoke in near bliss.

“I think I’ll let thou decide, I’m sure thou will play something I’ll like” she stated in a soothing tone.

Readying himself he placed his fingers on the keys about to play, but he didn’t press the keys. Only after realising that he had no idea what she would like, his hands fell off the keys white edge. Turning to her he looked at her for any indication of what would please her, but he saw nothing her lack of clothes gave nothing away. That was until his eyes fell upon her cutie mark, his gaze stayed fixed on the crescent moon on her black flank for so long that it began to make Luna feel a little uncomfortable “I think I know just the piece” David answered in a sure voice as he looked up to her with a confident smile.

Turning back to the black piano be began to play (moonlight) lessoning to it she found it’s slow rhythm to be laced with sorrow, it seemed such a simple piece long beats with the same three notes playing over and over again but yet it didn’t feel like he was repeating himself. Hidden in the music was an ever so small ray of hope as the notes moved from their deeper side too a the gentler middle, but their was also a present feeling of dread as the notes lingered as the piece fell back to the deeper side, but no matter where his hands were his slow pace stayed ever constant.

After what felt like a few seconds but was probably minutes his hands trailed off, but before she could say anything he began again like he had never finished. This time he was right in the mild of all the keys playing a more cheerful tune, that jumped about a bit more too shorter notes. Even when he moved back to left to play the heavier notes that seemed to linger for longer, it didn’t seem to hold any other emotion other than swelling hope.

Now closely watching his hands and how he played she saw his hands stop for just a moment as the most dramatic change came in, his hands went crazy fingers staying less than a split second on a key before moving on. Their was a lot more variety in his choice of tone, he was using everything the piano had to offer and she could see by the look of determined joy he was loving it “He must have truly missed this” Luna thought, he wasn’t even using a sheet he had completely memorised this which on it’s own was remarkable. The music it’s self was grander holding a confidence that the other piece didn’t display, the only thing she felt from it was pure excitement like the piece it’s self was excited to be played. Luna could see in how he played that the piece was filled with life and energy, even when it got louder it wasn’t in sorrow or grief but it was as if the very piano itself was cheering him on.

When he was finally finished he had completely forgotten Luna was there, he panted slightly as his felt his rapid heart beat. Feeling the rush of adrenalin die down he turned too Luna, turning too his left he flinched as he found her sat beside him silently smiling to his music but now she was sporting a mischievous grin “Luna what are you doing their?!” David said in a panicked voice.

Leaning on his panicked side she could feel his racing hearts “enjoying thy music of course, it was beautiful. How did thou know I would like it?” Luna asked in a teasing tone that became somewhat dreamy by the end.

Wrapping an arm around her waist he answered in a calm voice as he pulled her in slightly, cupping her hip with his hand he poked her cutie mark making her flinch as he answer her “by thou’s cutie mark and thy name”

Turning to him with wide sky blue eyes she spoke in a flustered voice “thy people named it Luna?”

Shacking his head slightly he answered her in an ever so slightly lower voice “not exactly, it’s called moonlight sonata. It was written by the greatest composer of in history”

“he must have had quiet the ear for music” Luna said in a relaxed tone as she rested her head on his side finding the crook in his neck to be a perfect fit for her head.

Letting out a stiff chuckle he answered her in an amused tone “not really, he was deaf”

Moving off his side as she spoke in a suspicious tone “are thou saying the greatest composer of thy world was deaf?”

Not looking away he answered her “yes”

Breaking into a fit of mocking laughter “if thou wanted to jest thou should come up with a better story”

Looking down to her he loosened his hold on her letting them part slightly as faced each other “I’m not joking” he stated in a sure voice.

“come now thou wants me to believe the greatest composer in thy history was deaf, the stallion that wrote that couldn’t hear his own work” Luna said in a mocking voice.

“he wasn’t always deaf by the time he wrote that it was quiet hard for him to hear, that’s why it made use of the heavier notes. My father once told me when Beethoven conducted his final symphony he had to be physically turned around, his hearing so far gone that he couldn’t the audiences applause, they were right behind him less than a couple of feet and he couldn’t hear them but he could see them and they made sure he knew how much they loved his work” David said in a sure voice almost reminiscing about how his father told him those stories.

Luna’s expression dropped somewhat as she spoke in a lower voice of disbelief “thou are telling the truth, I can’t imagine loosing my hearing but he lost it and he needed it more than most”

Hearing her depressive tone he spoke in a teasing tone “I can, you nearly gave me a bloody heart attack with that stunt you pulled” letting out a soft chuckle Luna found herself laughing with him as he continued “I know I’ve got two hearts but I don’t think a heart attack would do either one of them any good”

“now I know thou are jesting” Luna stated in a flatter tone as her laughter died down.

David met her tone with an equally flat expression that made her question herself “thou know it is getting quiet hard to tell when thou are jesting and telling the truth, at this rate I might have to call on Applejack to get through a single conversation with thou”

“do you believe I’m lying?” David asked in an almost lonely voice.

“lying no, jesting yes” Luna stated with a wavering confidence.

“do thou want to find out?” he asked with a slight smugness in his voice.

“and how would I do that? I’m no doctor” she stated before a mischievous grin spread across her lips that matched her mocking tone “or are thou trying to make me human again” she said thinking that she would feel if her other form had a second heart.

“or you could just lesson” he answered plainly.

Luna’s grin faltered into a small pout as she failed to toy with him, but as she stood up it returned with greater force as she sat back down on his lap, draping her soft blue furred hands over his clothed chest she rested her head over his heart. She planned on teasing him in almost every way she could, she revelled in her plans for him like a villainous scheme but that all disappeared as she heard the double beat of his hearts that echoed in her ears. Gently pushing herself off him she looked at him with a nearly frozen expression of disbelief but her eyes were as wide as the sky with shock “thou were telling the truth, how does thou have two hearts? When I was human I only had one”

Leaning in with a suspicious smile he whispered his answer into her ear “a gift from god”

Leaning back she answered in a whisper of her own “what?”

Bursting out in a fit of laughter he almost fell into the pony in his lap as he saw how innocent she looked as she stared at him in awe like he was some kind of miracle “no, it’s just something my mother use to say. God gifted me two heart so I could love twice as much”

Leaning back on his chest she lessoned in amazement to the double beat in his chest, that nearly lulled her back to sleep.

The rest of the day passed rather quickly as David played more pieces for her, with the day drawing to a close Luna stood up to leave, saying her good byes she opened the door only to be met by poring rain and harsh winds “that’s not right, the rain was scheduled to start tomorrow morning not tonight” and with a heavy sigh she continued to talk to herself “the weather ponies must have gotten carried away again, how are ponies suppose to know the weather if they keep doing this?”

From behind her she heard David’s calm voice “was the sky red this morning?”

Turning around to him she gave him a confused look to his odd question as she felt the cold wind ruffle her blue fur “yes but what does that have to do with it?” she asked in a confused tone that matched her expression.

Looking passed her through the open door out into the dreary orchard he answered “red sky at night sailors delight, red sky in the morning sailors warning”

“so thou can tell what the weather will be by the colour of the sky” Luna said in amazement before softly laughing to save face as she realise what she said.

“it’s just an old nursery rhyme sailors made up” David stated.

“well regardless of what those sailors say flying home will be a challenge” Luna said as she looked out the door dreading her journey.

Closing the door before them David spoke in a sure voice “Luna I wouldn’t be much of a man if I let you walk home in that, you can have my bed tonight”

“but were will thou sleep?” Luna asked a little shocked at his generosity.

“I’ll sleep in the chair or on the floor” David stated nonchalantly.

“I will not have thou sleeping on thy own floor at my intrusion!” Luna almost yelled.

In a calm soft voice David reassured Luna that she was not a burden “your not intruding Luna your my guest and besides I can’t sleep in a bed any more, haven’t been able to in years to use to sleeping in the trenches”

His word for how comforting they were to her impeding on his lone time were somewhat sad, forcing her to ask a question she wasn’t sure she wanted the answer too, a question about the war “do they not have beds in the trenches?”

“no, you sleep where you can when you can. On a good night we would sleep in a dug outs along the trenches, cold walls and tough beds were our comforts but it kept the rain off our heads. On the other nights we would sleep outside against the trench wall, men to my left men to my right, their were more men than wall to fit them on. But it was good I trusted those men I rely on those men, I could have not met the man beside me not ten minutes ago but it didn’t matter he was mate and you didn’t want anything to happen to him” David said as he reminisced with Luna finding it heart warming as well as heart breaking, she didn’t know what happened to those men but she could feel the looming fret in his words.

Luna noticed through the window that the sky had turned to night in her absence, the moon was raised high into the sky from the pale glow of the clouds that covered it. She knew that Celestia had done her sacred duty of raising the moon for her, letting out a soft giggle she knew Celestia would berate her for this but she didn’t care, she enjoyed her day to much to care what her sister would come to think.

She didn’t enter the dream realm that night, she just wanted to relax too enjoy a good night’s sleep like anypony else, but despite that she could still feel it’s presence’s drawing her in to the dark nightmares that hid behind so many doors. Stirring in her sleep she awoke to the quite sounds of creaking floor boards just outside her room, getting up she hesitantly tip toed her way to the door, it’s old rusted hinges squeaking at the slightest movement. Upon opening it she saw David from his left side, a small side table to his left stood between them. At first she though he had fallen asleep in his chair like he said he would, but then she saw him without looking pick up the wide short glass. Even from her distance she could smell the dark rum’s strength “David?” she asked quietly.

Leaning over the arm of the chair as he turned to her with a surprised voice “Luna? What are you doing up?”

“I heard a noise and thought thou was awake” she said in a tired voice.

“sorry was getting myself a drink” he stated as he shook the glass in his hand sloshing it’s dark liquid against the inside of the glass.

“that’s okay but why are thou drinking at this time of night? Shouldn’t thou be sleeping?” she asked in an almost worried tone.

Dismissively waving her off he spoke in a voice just as tired as her’s “I was I got couple of hours sleep, as to my drinking I always found that a stiff drink works wonders on a restless mind” he said as he downed the rest of his drink.

“are thou having trouble sleeping?” Luna asked her worried tone becoming more pronounced in her words.

Dismissively shacking his head he adverted his eyes from her gaze as he answered “it’s nothing, I’m just having trouble sleeping out of the trenches that’s all” placing his glass back on the table with a clunk as his tired arm gave out on him, falling back his head resting against the back of his chair, his eyes fell shut as he continued his voice growing more tired with each passing word “it’s just so quite here, I can’t believe I forgot how quite the night could be. I’ve missed this, I’ve missed this so much...”

Hearing his words trail off, Luna walked around the chair to find him fast asleep in his chair like he had never woken up. In a quiet flash of magic she summon a blanket above David, which she let fall down to him like a stray feather. The moment it landed on him he seemed to snuggle into it, Luna found it cute how he curled into it’s warm wool like a little foal. Pulling it up over him she tucked it loosely around his shoulders, seeing a small smile spread across his lips she instinctively cupped the side of his head, brushing his hair away as leaned in placing a soft kiss against his forehead.