Falling For The Night

Chapters

Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine

Chapter One

"Ponies of the Royal Guard, attention! Royal salute! Present arms!" In unison, the uniformed ponies stood at attention, stiffly raised their hooves and saluted as Princess Luna's royal anthem was played by the nearby military band. Beads of sweat began to form on the brow of Captain Phoebus Noctornus. This was the greatest moment of his life; he was finally in the presence of Princess Luna, his co-commander-in-chief with Princess Celestia, who was about to review her Royal Guard.

"Ponies of the Royal Guard, stand at ease!" Phoebus relaxed his shoulders and snuck a glance at the alicorn at the end of the line. She was about twenty ponies away from him, chatting with the first pony in line. Even from Phoebus’ distance, Luna was captivatingly beautiful. Her starry mane and tail flowed in ethereal waves, and her deep blue coat gleamed. Her horn sparkled like a diamond in the last rays of the setting sun, and her massive wings were tucked at her sides. Finally, Luna stopped in front of Phoebus. Phoebus’ heart skipped a beat.

"Art thou in pain from standing at attention for so long?" Luna asked him, a hint of amusement in her voice. Starstruck and slightly afraid to speak, Phoebus could only marvel at her magnificence.

"Art thou slow of tongue or slow of mind?" Luna demanded.

"N-neither, Your Majesty," Phoebus stammered, struggling to maintain his bearing. She was so close to him that he could smell her perfume, a sweet mixture of lavender and vanilla. Though she was slightly smaller than her older sister, Luna was no less intimidating; actually, she carried herself in a manner that made her arguably more regal than Celestia.

"Then wherefore, pray tell, didst thou not answer our first question?" she asked.

"I am dreadfully sorry, Ma'am," Phoebus apologized, blushing madly. Luna nodded.

"Lots of ponies react this way in our presence," she said, her tone sympathetic. "We have seen this many times. Maybe we simply wish to jest with thee." Her turquoise eyes gleamed mischievously as she looked down and then back up to his face, and he could only stare in awe as she sauntered past him. Still, he couldn't help but notice that another member of his army was standing at attention as well; Luna had clearly noticed it, too. Phoebus felt his face flush with embarrassment as he and his fellow soldiers were dismissed to their barracks.

*******

"Phoebus, Major Graywing wants to see you in his office." Phoebus’ bunkmate and best friend, Onyx, caught up with him in the mess hall of the army base. Oh, shit, Phoebus thought, I wonder what I could have done wrong.

"You're being reassigned to a new unit," Major Graywing announced. "Princess Luna's private secretary just told me that the princess herself has personally asked to have you transferred to the Royal Lunar Guards."

Phoebus’ eyes widened in shock. The Royal Lunar Guards were Princess Luna's personal bodyguards. They protected the princess at all times, stood sentinel outside her bedchamber during the day, tasted her food and drinks before every meal to make sure they weren't poisoned, and accompanied her to all her official engagements. They were also awarded many privileges, including private apartments at Canterlot Castle, guaranteed access to the same meals the princess ate, lots of International travel, the same lodging accommodations as the princess whenever they traveled with her, not to mention a staggering increase in pay. What could he have done to earn such an honor?

"Did the princess give you a reason why, sir?" he asked.

"Not one," Major Graywing said with a shrug, "but this is an extremely high honor, Phoebus. Do you know how many stallions would kill to be in your position? Don't screw this up, son."

Phoebus saluted. "Yes, sir!"

"You're the luckiest son of a bitch alive!" Onyx told Phoebus that night. He, Phoebus, and a bunch of other stallions from their unit were sitting in their favorite bar, enjoying a few beers. "When do you ship out?" Onyx asked him.

"Tomorrow morning," Phoebus said. "I'm actually a little nervous."

"Hell, I'd be nervous, too, if I were you!" their friend Blacksky piped up. "One wrong move, and..." He moved his hoof in a quick sawing motion across his neck.

"I really don't think she's like that, dude," Phoebus said with a chuckle.

"Fucking gorgeous is what she is," said Onyx. "I'd do anything for a piece of her fine royal ass."

"You'd do anything for a piece of anypony's ass," Blacksky teased. Phoebus rolled his eyes and got up to leave the bar. Tomorrow would be a big day.

Chapter Two

"Royal Lunar Guards, quick march!" In the castle's sprawling courtyard, Phoebus and fifteen other guards marched forward in formation in four lines of four. "Halt! Order... arms!" Phoebus grabbed his sword and waited as the Celestial Guards saluted Celestia, and she retired for the night.

"Royal Lunar Guards, attention! Royal salute! Present... arms!" Luna's royal anthem was played, and she gazed down at her guards from her vantage point on the castle's balcony as they saluted her. Her swanlike neck curved in a graceful arc as she lowered her head and illuminated her horn. Slowly, she raised her head, and the full moon rose with it until she had placed it up in the sky. Then, she sent a wave of glittering pink and purple light from her horn. The wave swirled and danced, and then shot upward and became a pink nebula. Stars twinkled and flew to their respective places in the sky at Luna's command. When she was finished, she nodded to her guards, signaling that they were permitted to go and wait for her to hold night court.

***

Unlike Celestia's court, Luna's night court was often empty. Tonight was no different. She dismissed her guards quickly and turned away from her throne, her eyes saturated with sadness. The other guards fell into formation and walked out of the room, but against his better judgment, Phoebus stayed; he couldn't allow his princess to be distressed.

"Your Majesty," he said softly, raising his hoof. Luna turned and looked over her shoulder, surprised.

"What are you still doing here?" she asked, her eyes overflowing with tears. "Did I not dismiss you?"

"You did, Ma'am," Phoebus admitted, "but I can't leave you like this. Like your other guards, I took an oath upon my life to protect you. Are you all right?"

"That is none of your concern! I am perfectly safe, I am not in danger. There is nothing you can protect me from," Luna snapped, glaring at him. Phoebus took a deep breath, knowing that what he was about to say could cost him his future.

"With all due respect, Ma'am," he said slowly, "I believe it is my concern. I am indebted to you, as all of your guards are. It is my duty to protect you from physical and emotional harm. May I ask what troubles you?" Luna's eyes softened, and she took a step forward.

"Walk with me, Captain Nocturnus," she said, her voice soft.

***

The castle gardens were in full bloom. The warm evening air was fragrant with the countless flowers that adorned the sprawling fields. Moonlight gently illuminated the paths that led through the gardens as Luna and Phoebus walked.

"Isn't it a beautiful night," Luna sighed dreamily, looking up at her clear sky, which glittered with stars. It was a statement, not a question.

"It is, Your Majesty," Phoebus agreed. "You truly are an incredible artist, Ma'am." Luna glanced at him.

"I am glad you think so," she said sadly. "Not everypony agrees with you, I'm afraid. Why do you think I became Nightmare Moon? Nopony wanted to enjoy my night."

"Your Majesty, may I speak freely?" Phoebus asked. The magnificent blue alicorn nodded, and he continued. "I think the most beautiful things happen at night. Couples come together under Your Majesty's moon. Ponies get married under Your Majesty's stars. Young lovers share their innermost secrets under Your Majesty's night sky. Some of the best parties are thrown at night. So many wonderful things happen after the sun sets." A small smile lifted the corners of Luna's mouth.

"Please, enough of this 'Your Majesty' nonsense," she said. "Call me Luna or Princess Luna. Just don't tell any of the other guards." The slightest hint of a smirk played at the corners of her mouth, and her eyes glinted mischievously.

"Yes, Your-- Princess Luna," Phoebus stammered. Luna nodded, pleased.

"You know, Captain," she said, "I feel like having some fun. Why don't we go for a swim?"

"A swim, Princess Luna?" Phoebus gaped. He had to do his job, but Luna was technically his boss, and he was a bit scared to defy her,.

"I will take care of your superiors if you get in trouble," she promised. "Take a swim with me, Captain Noctornus; that is an order, not a request.”

Chapter Three

Not only was the castle's circular indoor pool made of white marble, it was entirely surrounded by white marble as well. Phoebus had never seen such a lavish swimming pool before. Luna walked down the steps into the water and began to float lazily on her back.

"Are you not going to join me, Captain?" she asked, looking over at him. "Strip yourself of your uniform and come to me at once. That is an order." Her tone was playful, but Phoebus knew she was dead serious. His hooves fumbled as he took off his uniform and stepped into the lukewarm water wearing nothing but his boxers. He blushed a little as the princess looked him up and down. He swam over to her as she stared at the deep, sprawling scar on his right foreleg. Her turquoise eyes were soft with sympathy and concern as she lightly touched the scar. Phoebus flinched at Luna's surprisingly intimate gesture.

"This is a shrapnel wound," she said. "How did you get this?" Her voice was soft and gentle, and it made Phoebus feel safe. Still, he squeezed his eyes shut, fighting the flashbacks of bombs and gunshots that threatened to attack his sanity

"In the Appaloosan War, Ma'am," he replied. "Four of my best friends died in that battle. We were hit by a grenade, and I nearly lost my leg."

"Ah," Luna said, nodding. "That is why there's a Distinguished Service medal on your uniform."

"Yes, Princess Luna," Phoebus murmured.

"I have seen your nightmares about the war, Captain," she said. "I knew you lost four of your friends long before I selected you to join my guard. I already knew about your wounds and your medal; your heroism and service were some of the reasons why I chose you." She used her horn to bring two towels over, gave one to Phoebus, and magically dried herself off. "You had no disciplinary action taken against you, none of your superiors had anything negative to say about you. However," she said, "the real reason why I wanted to spend time with you tonight was to have you officially sworn in as a soldier of the Royal Lunar Guard. Get dressed and follow me." Phoebus obeyed and followed his princess to the throne room.

Chapter Four

Moonlight poured through the stained glass windows of the throne room. The moon always seemed to follow its mistress, and it seemed to make it its mission to bathe her in its glow. Phoebus tried not to stare as Luna's ethereal mane and tail sparkled in the gentle light. Wow, she really is breathtaking, he thought. The moonlight reflected off her horn, creating a colorful prism that seemed to dance around her. It must be an amazing feeling for her to know that she can bend that light to her will, Phoebus thought. He was roused from his thoughts when Luna spoke.

"Captain, come here," she said, her voice echoing and soaring to the throne room's high, cathedral-like ceiling. Phoebus obeyed and knelt in front of Luna's throne, a royal blue chair with her cutie mark carved into the top of it.

"Do you solemnly swear to serve and protect The Princess of the Night from all physical, emotional, and mental harm, taking into account the responsibilities thereof? Do you swear your allegiance to me?" Luna asked.

"I do, Your Majesty," Phoebus said. .

"Rise, Captain Noctornus," she said. "Welcome to the Royal Lunar Guards."

***

The night was ending fast, and Luna and her guards processed up to the castle's tower for Luna to lower the moon. After Celestia had raised the sun, Phoebus and the other Royal Lunar Guards followed Luna to her bedchamber. Phoebus sampled Luna's breakfast--pastries with an assortment of fruits and cheeses--and was about to end his shift and take a well-deserved nap, when Luna stopped him.

"Captain," she said, "I need you to stay with me while I eat, then you may take your break."

"Yes, Ma'am," Phoebus replied, slightly puzzled as to why she would want him to stay.

"Lunar Jewel," Luna called to her maid, "I am ready for my breakfast. Prepare a plate for Captain Noctornus as well, please." Nova started to protest, but Luna raised her hoof and cut him off. "You will not argue with your Princess," she ordered him. "You will eat with me this morning, and we shall become better acquainted. Now, where are you from, Phoebus?"

"I'm originally from the Crystal Empire, Ma'am," he said.

"Ah, then you know of my niece, Princess Cadance," Luna said, smiling.

"Yes, Ma'am," said Phoebus. "She is a wonderful, kind ruler. You and Princess Celestia must be very proud of her."

"We are," Luna said. “My sister and I just learned that she and Captain Armor are expecting their first foal. We are delighted with the news. Anyway, tell me about your family. What do they do for work?”

"My dad works in a steel mill, and my mom is a seamstress," Phoebus said. "My older sister, Honeybun, works as a beekeeper for the Royal Beehives."

"My sister and I love honey," Luna said with a smile, gesturing to the small honeypot that sat next to her teapot. "Every morning, I drink a hot cup of tea with lavender, lemon and honey. How are the bees looking this year?"

"Well, last time I heard from Honeybun, she said they were all exceptionally healthy, and that honey production is coming along nicely, Ma'am."

"The next time you speak with her, please send her my praises," Luna enthused, sipping her tea.

"I will, Ma'am," Phoebus promised, then a lump formed in his throat as he decided to tell her the truth. "Princess," he began, "I do have a younger brother as well, Quickfang, but he is deceased. He was killed by a hawk when he was a baby. My parents and I tried to protect him, but the hawk severely injured us; the doctors said it was a miracle that we survived the attack." Luna's eyes softened, and she reached across the table, placing her hoof on his. The intimacy of her gesture almost made Phoebus jump in surprise, but he willed himself to stay still.

"Oh, Phoebus, I'm so sorry," she said gently. "I can't imagine the pain of such a loss. If you ever need anypony to talk to, you can come to me anytime."

"'Th-thank you, Princess," Phoebus said slowly, surprised by her offer. Still, he tried to change the subject; he refused to become emotional in front of his boss. "Princess, if you sleep during the day, how do you watch over the dreams of nocturnal ponies such as myself?"

"I have a sort of built-in alarm system in my mind, which alerts me in my sleep when bat ponies are having nightmares or complicated dreams," Luna explained. "The system sends even stronger signals if one of my guards is having a nightmare. Since bat ponies are the only nocturnal ponies in Equestria, it's the only system I need. Half of my brain stays asleep as the other half protects their dreams, so I am still able to wake up every evening fully refreshed; it's one of the many benefits of being an alicorn." She poured herself a cup of tea and levitated two sugar cubes over her teacup and dropped them in, then she levitated a teaspoon, dipping it into the cup and stirring while adding a spoonful of honey, a squeeze of lemon juice, and some crushed lavender. Then, she fixed Phoebus a cup of the mixture.

"Drink this," she said. "It will help you sleep. You need to rest; you've earned it." She smiled kindly at him, then yawned sleepily. "I think I will retire to my bedchamber now. You may take your leave, and I will see you tonight." As if on cue, a new Lunar Guard marched in to accompany Luna to her bedchamber and watch over her as she slept. Phoebus saluted the guard who took his place.

"Sleep well, Princess," he said, once more enthralled by his mistress' beauty as she stood in the pink glow of Celestia's dawn, her horn glinting in the brilliance of the sunrise that graced the sky outside the huge windows. Her mane and tail sparkled extra brightly in the sun's rays as she turned to walk down the foyer that led to her bedchamber.

"You, too, Captain," she replied, glancing back over her shoulder to smile at him.

***

Phoebus landed hard on the ground, his wing bleeding from the hawk's talons. He flapped furiously, taking to the sky once more. The hawk grabbed him by his left wing again, and he twisted violently, desperately trying to free himself. The sound of crushing bone filled his ears, and a burst of agonizing pain seared through his wing as he fell to the ground once more. His parents and brother split up to distract the large bird. Quickfang took off toward the ground, and the hawk dove after him. Then Quickfang changed course, soaring upward.

Suddenly, the hawk seemed to hit an invisible wall at full speed. He screeched and reeled backward in terror. Luna appeared before him, her horn glowing. She streaked after the hawk, releasing a blinding bolt of white light from her horn. The bolt struck him and the huge bird fell to the ground, dead. Quickfang rushed to his parents, who grabbed him and held him close. Luna landed next to Phoebus and lowered her horn to his wing. A warm, tingling sensation filled his body, then his broken wing was completely, magically healed.

"P-Princess Luna," he stammered, rising to his feet, "what are you doing here?"

"I am the princess of dreams, Captain," she said gently. "It is my duty to protect everypony's dreams. Yours was the most intense nightmare I have seen in quite a while. 'Twas a flashback, was it not?"

"Yes, Princess," said Phoebus.

"Well," she said, "I may not be able to change your past, but I can change the nightmares of your past that continue to haunt you. I know that you blame yourself for your brother's death, Captain. I am here to assure you that it was not your fault."

"Yes, it was!" Phoebus wailed, trembling and curling up into a ball. "He died trying to save my life!" He sobbed uncontrollably, his tears pricking his eyes like a thousand needles.

"You doubt your Princess?” Luna asked, raising an eyebrow. Without allowing Phoebus to respond, she said, "It was no one's fault but the hawk's. Acquit yourself of your charges, my loyal servant; after all, you are the one who brought them against yourself. You did absolutely nothing wrong." Phoebus cried harder, and Luna lay down at his side, curling her warm body around his and draping one of her wings over him. It was such a protective, intimate gesture that Phoebus didn't know how to react.

"I will guard your dreams from here today," she whispered soothingly. "You are safe, Phoebus." It was the first time she had used his first name in such an intimate, personal manner. She wasn't acting as his boss nor his Princess, but only as a caring friend, and Phoebus was touched by her kindness.

***

Phoebus woke with a start. His entire body was drenched in sweat. His mane was wet and stringy, and it clung to his forehead and neck. As he groaned and turned over, he caught sight of something on his pillow: A dark blue feather, obviously Luna's. Phoebus gasped softly as he turned the glossy feather over in his hooves. Does she give a feather to everypony who joins her guard, or did she only do this for me? he wondered, puzzled. He couldn't understand why Luna was giving him so much attention. Was she just trying to be nice, or was there an ulterior motive behind her actions?

"Nah," he told himself out loud. "It's just a little gift from my boss." She was nothing more than his boss. When she intervened in my nightmare, she was only doing her job, he assured himself. A guard could never befriend his princess; it would be extremely unprofessional to do so. He was there to protect and serve Luna, not to be her confidante. Besides, Luna had Celestia, as well as many other friends; she didn't need anypony else.

Chapter Five

"You may take tonight off," Luna told Phoebus around six months later. "Tomorrow morning, you will accompany me and Princess Celestia as we travel to the Crystal Empire. Princess Cadance has just given birth to a daughter, Princess Flurry Heart, and we must go to the foal's crystalling ceremony. We will stay in the Crystal Empire for one night and return late the next day so that Princess Celestia and I can have plenty of time to spend with our great-niece." She smiled excitedly.

"Look at the gift I got for the foal," she squealed, conjuring a large white teddy bear with light blue eyes and a royal blue ribbon tied around its neck. "Isn't it adorable? Look at its little face! And little Flurry is the most adorable thing ever; Cadance sent us pictures just after she was born. She's the tiniest foal I've ever seen. I can't wait to cuddle her and squeeze her chubby little legs!"

"You really like foals, don't you, Princess?" Phoebus said, smiling. He had never seen Luna like this before, and he liked it.

"Oh, yes!" Luna enthused. "I've always wanted a family of my own, but I've never found the right stallion. Even after three thousand years I still haven't met the right one. What can I say? I'm very picky."

"You must be, because I'm sure you've had no shortage of suitors," said Phoebus. "If I may be so bold as to say so, Ma’am, you are exquisitely beautiful, and you're a princess. Have you tried letting anypony get to know you?" He knew he had just crossed a line by complimenting Luna so brazenly, but he didn't care.

"You and Princess Celestia are my closest, most trusted friends," Luna said, a hint of sadness in her voice. "I don't trust anypony in our social circle; they're always leaking ridiculous stories about us to the tabloids and telling photographers where we're going so they'll harass us. Any stallion who happens to be a commoner is automatically assumed to be a social climber, which isn't exactly a ridiculous notion. If I were to fall in love with somepony, I would have to be absolutely positive that he loves me for who I am, not because of my title, my status, or my rank, but apparently that's too much to ask." Her voice broke a little, and though she cleared her throat to try to mask it, Phoebus knew immediately that she was concealing a lot of pain.

"There is definitely somepony out there for you, Princess," he said, reaching out to touch her shoulder. "There's somepony for everypony." Luna jumped ever so slightly at Phoebus’ sudden touch, and though he knew he had just broken royal protocol, Phoebus’ hoof remained on her shoulder as her eyes met his. Her dark blue coat was softer than anything he had ever touched before, much like the velvety softness of a pony's muzzle. Her eyes widened a little, and she cleared her throat. Phoebus jerked his foreleg back, knowing he had just crossed another line. Luna, the Princess of the Night, the Mistress of the Moon, who always exuded confidence, who was always in control of every situation, didn't seem to know what to do.

"Captain," she said, her voice clipped and businesslike, "we will depart at six o'clock tomorrow morning, and though you get to enjoy a night off, I am not allowed such a luxury. You will go and pack your things now, and I will see you at dawn."

"Yes, Your Majesty," Phoebus said, clicking his heels and saluting before hurrying off to pack.

*******

"Awww, aren't you just a teeny weeny itty bitty wittle angel?" the Princess of the Night cooed, tickling Flurry Heart. The filly smiled up at Luna and lifted her hooves to be picked up, and Luna happily obliged.

"You are just about the cutest thing I have ever seen!" Luna said, smiling from ear to ear as she cuddled the newborn princess. She tossed Flurry Heart into the air and caught her with her magic, and the alicorn foal squealed happily and began to giggle even more loudly. Phoebus tried with all his might to keep a straight face as he watched Luna fuss over the Crystal Empire's littlest princess. He had never imagined Luna as anything other than a stoic, serious princess, a relic from another age. He had certainly never imagined that she would show such shameless affection towards a foal, but Luna was putty in Flurry's tiny hooves.

"You need to have one of these, sister!" Luna told Celestia as she tickled Flurry with one of her feathery blue wings, making the foal giggle. "When is Sombra going to pop the question so you can give me a little niece or nephew? Tell him to hurry up!”

"Ugh, here we go again." Celestia rolled her eyes. “We’ve been over this a thousand times, Lulu. Sombra knows I’m much too busy to think about marriage right now. That may change in a few years, though. Who knows?” She exchanged a grin with Cadance, who took Flurry from Luna and kissed the filly’s forehead.

*******

After the crystalling, the royals returned to Cadance and Shining Armor’s palace for a reception. Luna cooed and fawned over Flurry for most of the party, even changing the foal’s diaper eagerly at one point to give Flurry’s parents and their servants a well-deserved break. She and Twilight nearly fought over the baby alicorn, but eventually Luna gave Flurry to her aunt Twilight and walked over to the dessert table, where she munched on some pink and blue petit fours and absentmindedly chatted with Flurry’s godparents. By the end of the gathering, Luna was noticeably exhausted, but there was still work to be done. Phoebus followed the blue alicorn out onto the east portico of the palace and saluted as Luna raised the full moon and adorned the sky with stars. As always, Phoebus was enchanted by Luna’s beauty as she turned back towards him and the other Lunar Guards marched back to their temporary barracks. Suddenly, her eyes locked with his. Luna felt her stomach flip as Phoebus took a small step towards her, and she turned so that her back was to him. Phoebus took another tentative step closer.

“Princess,” he whispered. Luna’s left ear flicked in his direction, and she sighed softly but said nothing as they walked to night court.

“Parliament has unanimously decided to expand our realm,” Luna told Phoebus after her night court was dismissed. “They took a vote yesterday, during our absence. The next piece of news I am about to share with you, I am telling you in the strictest confidence. If anypony else hears about this, I will know you have told somepony. Only my sister and I know of this. The Crystal Empire has petitioned to annex with Equestria. Cadance will abdicate the throne as princess and empress, and she will instead become prime minister. Celestia and I have expanded our realm, so our parliament decided to make us queens. At midnight, in just a few hours, the Crystal Empire will henceforth be known as Crystallia, and we will officially be its princesses.”

“Is that a problem, Your Majesty?” Phoebus asked. Luna heaved a sigh and turned towards the bat pony. Her turquoise eyes, which were usually so bright, were dull and tired.

“No,” she said, “but it means that more responsibility now rests squarely on my shoulders, as well as my sister’s. It is a lot to process. So many ponies seem to think being a royal consists only of smiling, looking pretty, and being adored, but it is so much more than those things. We are always expected to be stoic. Our mantra is ‘never complain, never explain.’ Any display of emotion is considered to be a sign of weakness by our subjects. Phoebus, between you and me, I am exhausted. Huge royal news is about to break, so I am telling you this now in the strictest confidence. After the crystalling, my sister told me that Sombra proposed to her, and she accepted. They will officially announce their engagement next week.” Her voice trembled slightly, but she kept her composure. “Phoebus, you are my dearest friend apart from my sister, so I need to ‘vent’ to you, as the young ponies say these days. I am thousands of years old and have had my fair share of lovers, but I have never married. This will be my sister’s first marriage; she, too, has extremely high standards when it comes to stallions. I have never been able to find a stallion to spend eternity with; as the younger sister, I always had to watch as everypony fawned over Celestia. The few romances I did have were short-lived. Most of my ex-lovers only used me to get closer to my sister, so I have found it quite difficult to trust anypony.” She looked down, and Phoebus could tell she was trying to mask the pain in her eyes. All he could do was marvel at the magnificent alicorn before him.

“I don’t understand,” Phoebus said slowly. “If I may say so, Ma’am, you are incredibly beautiful, more so than your sister in my opinion. You’re intelligent, funny, witty, kind. I don’t want to overstep my boundaries here, but perhaps it would help if you opened up to ponies more.” He moved closer to her so that he stood shoulder to shoulder with the queen.

“You, the rest of the Lunar Guards, and my sister are the only ponies I trust with my life,” Luna told him. “One can never truly know who one’s friends are when one is a royal.” She shook her mane and gave Phoebus a sad smile. “Come,” she said, “let’s go find something more exciting to do. The night is young, and I have nothing left to do unless I am alerted that I am needed in the dream realm. Take me to the guards’ tavern.” It was clearly an order, not a suggestion. She cast a spell that disguised her as an unassuming powder blue unicorn with a cotton candy pink mane and tail. Phoebus nodded and led her to the tavern, where the off-duty Lunar Guards were drinking.

*******

“And then I said, ‘Starswirl, you crotchety old bastard, I may be younger than you, but I can still drink you under the table!’” Luna yelled, guffawing and making the other guards crack up. “Bartender, pour us another round!” The guards cheered, and Luna whooped happily.

“Come back to my bedchamber after sunrise, Captain,” Luna said to Phoebus as she stumbled toward the castle. The sun was rising after Luna had drunkenly lowered the moon.

“Your Majesty, I don’t believe that would be a good idea,” Phoebus said cautiously. “I think we should probably get you into bed and let you get a good night’s sleep.” Luna rolled her eyes and gave him a smoldering look that made his nether region stand at attention. She was clearly undressing him with her eyes.

“So serious all the time,” she teased, giggling. “There is fun to be had today, Phoebus. Come have another drink in the safety of my bed.” Her brazen flirting shocked Phoebus, but he kept his composure as he led Luna to her bedchamber. She’s drunk out of her mind, he reminded himself. She doesn’t actually mean what she’s saying.

“Aww, no fun today, then?” Luna pouted, batting her eyes. “I just wanted some company. Nights are so long for me, and nopony ever really tries to make sure I’m okay. Maybe I just want to be taken care of for once.” She stood so close to Phoebus that he could smell the strong scent of liquor on her breath. Then, out of nowhere, she gently pressed her lips to his. Too shocked to react, Phoebus froze. Her kiss tasted of alcohol, cherries, and the dark chocolate she had eaten earlier. Her lips were impossibly soft, and Phoebus desperately wanted to kiss her back, but he resisted the urge to do so.

“Ya know,” Luna slurred, “I’ve liked youuu eeeeverrr since I first saw you, Phoeeeeebus.” She giggled coquettishly and batted her eyes. “Yer the best Lunar Guard I’ve had in a looooong time, didja know that? Yer also suuuper cute. What do you say we resume this party elsewhere, hmmmmm? Whadja think about a little alone time with da Princessuhduhniiight?” She brushed her flank against him, and Phoebus moaned. Her offer was tantalizing, but he couldn’t accept it.

“With all due respect, Ma’am, you’re drunk,” he said slowly. “I don’t think it would be a good idea.”

“Aww, am ah nawt purrrdy enough for you?” Luna pouted.

“Ma’am, you’re absolutely beautiful,” Phoebus assured her apologetically. “You’re intoxicated, though. I think we should get you in bed and make sure you get plenty of rest.” Luna pouted again, almost falling as she opened her bedchamber doors.

He helped her climb into her bed and left her after she had quickly fallen asleep. Her flirting stayed on Phoebus’ mind as he got into his own bed. Had she only been drunkenly rambling, or was she actually interested in him? Did that kiss actually mean something? Only time would tell.

Chapter Six

The night after her drunken escapades, Luna summoned Phoebus to the throne room right after she raised the moon.

“Captain,” she said, “before you resume your duties for the evening, I want to discuss last night with you. I sincerely apologize for what happened at the bar. My behavior was entirely inappropriate, and I can promise it will not happen again.”

“Really, Your Majesty?” Phoebus said with a smirk. “That’s a shame, because I very much enjoyed it.” Luna snorted and rolled her eyes.

“You shall never know how it feels to get a proper kiss from me,” she scoffed, “so I’m glad you enjoyed what you got.” Her words stung Phoebus’ ego slightly, but he could tell by the flirtatious glint in her eye that she was bluffing, so he shook off any self-pity he had and looked Luna squarely in the eyes.

“I may never know, Ma’am,” he said confidently, “but I will do my best to get as close to knowing as I can. I love a challenge.” Luna laughed haughtily and walked towards the door.

“Do you?” she asked, her voice lilting. “What a shame, because there is nothing worse than a challenge from which there is nothing to be gained. Don’t waste your time, captain. Report to your post at once.” She shot him a smoldering glance over her shoulder, then magically opened the doors of the throne room.

“Breakfast,” Phoebus blurted. Luna stopped in the doorway and looked over her shoulder again, clearly shocked that Phoebus had not obeyed her order. “Please join me for breakfast tomorrow morning,” he said. “I just want to get to know you better, Ma’am. It would give me the greatest pleasure if you would accompany me to breakfast.” Luna stared at him for a few seconds, then threw her head back and burst into uncontrollable laughter.

“’The greatest pleasure’!” she howled, once she had caught her breath. “You very much amuse me, captain. Yes, I’m quite sure it would give you ‘the greatest pleasure’--you and countless other stallions who get off on the idea of bedding a queen. You are aware that I am thousands of years old, are you not? Nothing you do will ever impress me. All of you stallions pull the same stunts with me, and most have been nothing but desperate social climbers. If you are trying to woo me, you are failing miserably. Why should I eat with you, captain?”

“Because I stand here not as a guard asking for the attention of a princess,” Phoebus said, “but as a simple stallion, asking for nothing more than a fair chance to prove to an intriguing mare that his intentions are pure. Your status and title do not entirely define who you are, Your Majesty. I see the loneliness that saturates your beautiful eyes every day. I can’t begin to imagine how difficult it must be to never know who your true friends are. I only want to prove to you that you are safe with me. Behind your regal facade, Ma’am, you are still only a mare at your core. You want to be known in the deepest way. You are undoubtedly so much more than a face on our money or a portrait in our government buildings. You are more than the crown you wear and the throne upon which you sit. I am only asking for an opportunity to get to know the real you, as a friend. I swear to you that I have no ulterior motives. Come to breaKfast with me.” For a fraction of a second, so briefly that Phoebus wondered if he had only imagined it, Luna’s eyes softened ever so slightly, then became hard as stone again.

“For disobeying an order from your princess and commander in chief,” she bellowed, “you will drop and give me two hundred push-ups, NOW!” Phoebus obeyed, and once he had finished, Luna smirked and leaned in close to him while he was still on the floor. The scent of her lavender perfume filled his nostrils. “The castle dining room, right after I’ve lowered the moon,” she whispered in his ear, her sweet-smelling breath tickling his neck. “Don’t be late.” She shot him another heart-stopping smile before exiting the throne room, leaving Phoebus stunned and still on all fours.

The sunrise’s scarlet glow flooded the enormous dining room through its four stained glass windows and domed glass ceiling, painting the walls in brilliant shades of red, orange, pink, purple, green, and blue. Each window depicted a different scene of each member of Equestria’s royal family below a picture of each royal’s cutie mark. One displayed a picture of Celestia soaring through a light blue sky, while the next showed a picture of Princess Twilight Sparkle shooting a magenta bolt of magic from her horn with her wings spread. Another window depicted Princess Cadance prancing majestically against a background of a turquoise heart, and the last depicted Luna flying through the arc of a crescent moon. The mouthwatering smell of freshly baked bread, pancakes, and countless pastries made Phoebus’ stomach growl as he sat down at the long, polished mahogany dining table.

As Luna entered the room, Phoebus automatically stood at attention. Luna walked to the chair beside him and giggled.

“I thought you just wanted to know me as a friend,” she said, “so why are you acting so formal? Please sit, and please just call me Luna if we are going to address one another as friends. Remember, you are off-duty right now, Phoebus.” His name sounded slower and sweeter than molasses as it rolled off her tongue, and Phoebus had to fight the urge to gape at her. Soaked in the blood orange puddles of sunlight that bathed the walls through the windows and ceiling, Luna was even more beautiful than usual. Her glossy dark blue coat gleamed. Her horn shimmered like a tall, pointed diamond as it caught the light, its reflection dancing on the walls in every direction. Her mane and tail twinkled, reminding Phoebus of the galaxies over which she ruled. The alicorn was utterly magnificent, and Phoebus couldn’t believe she had granted him the honor of her presence.

“Luna,” he murmured, clearing his throat as he sat down, “I’ve told you about my family, so why don’t you tell me about yours?” Luna gave him a small smile.

“Well,” she said, her face falling, “you obviously already know my sister. Power was thrust upon both of us when we were very young. Our dear parents, King Cosmos and Queen Galaxia, were murdered by dark forces that not even the Elements of Harmony could repel. I can remember hearing the news that they had stormed the castle and were killing everypony they could find. Our guards were powerless against the might of those creatures. Our parents yelled at us to run for our lives, so Celestia grabbed my hoof and told me to close my eyes and not to open them until she said I could, and that she would lead me out. I opened my eyes, though, and I watched as one of those bastards drained our mother of all her power, including her immortality, and slit her throat. They forced our father to watch helplessly as she died, then they killed him the same way. We alicorns are immortal, but these scumbags used some kind of dark magic, the origins of which are still unknown even to Starswirl the Bearded, and the likes of which have never been seen since, to murder our beloved parents. Not even Princess Twilight Sparkle, bearer of the Element of Magic, has ever been able to figure out what kind of power was used to take our mother and father from us.” Pain saturated Luna’s eyes as she looked at Phoebus. “I blamed myself for their deaths for thousands of years,” she said. “I know it’s ridiculous, but for the longest time I blamed myself for not staying and helping them fight. I blamed Celestia for not staying or trying to save them, and for forcing me to leave them behind. During our fight that led to my banishment, just before Celestia sent me to the moon, I told my sister that our parents’ deaths were ultimately nopony’s fault but her own. The darkest part of me knew that statement would cause Celestia more pain than any magic I could have thrown at her. To this day, my biggest regret is telling her that. I still remember the anguish in her eyes when I allowed those words to escape my lips. She has forgiven me, and I have forgiven myself, but I still regret it. Actually, I created the Tantabus partially because of what I said to her.” Her eyes turned downward when she mentioned the force that she had created to torture herself for the pain she had once caused as Nightmare Moon.

“You also destroyed the Tantabus,” Phoebus reminded the alicorn. “You shouldn’t harbor any more guilt. Your past doesn’t define you. Look at how wonderful the present is. You’re extremely intelligent, and you’re incredibly perceptive. Your regal stoicism makes you a calming, constant force for so many ponies. You’re a wonderful, kind and just ruler, and your dedication and devotion to duty and service will go down in history as legendary. You’re also breathtakingly beautiful. The future is wide open for you; who knows what it could hold?”

“You flatter me, Phoebus,” Luna said, the slightest hint of a blush creeping onto her face. She yawned and stood up. “I’m going to retire to my bedchamber,” she said sleepily. “You may go to your barracks as well. I’ll see you tonight.” Phoebus nodded and saluted, then flew off for some well-deserved sleep.

Chapter Seven

Phoebus gasped for breath and opened his eyes. Black clouds of smoke billowed up from the scorched ground. Ashes danced in the breeze like gray flower petals. Charred corpses and miscellaneous burnt body parts lay scattered around Phoebus. The sickeningly sweet smell of death, dried blood, and gunpowder filled the bat pony’s nostrils as he struggled to move. His body felt stiff, and both of his wings were obviously broken.

“How long was I out?” he wondered. Disoriented and unable to stand up, Phoebus looked around. A few seconds later, he began to remember the land mines. The Appaloosans had lined the route that the Equestrian army used to transport supplies with land mines. Many of the mines had exploded, and all of Phoebus’ platoon had been blown to pieces. The field was littered with the frost-covered entrails of his fallen comrades. Severed heads and legs lay strewn across the icy ground. Miraculously, Phoebus had survived in one piece, though by the looks of it, his right front leg was barely attached to his body, and he was covered in severe burns.

“I need to get out of here!” he thought. He rolled over onto his stomach and crawling through the frozen grass, dragging his injured leg behind him. The smoke was so thick that Phoebus struggled to breathe and couldn’t see further than three feet in front of him, but he decided that no matter what happened, he would not allow himself to die here. He crawled about ten feet before his body finally gave out. Just before he closed his eyes, there was a sudden, blinding flash of light, and Luna appeared. She galloped over to him and lowered her head, immediately healing his wounds. With one sweep of her horn, Luna changed the dreamscape to a moonlit meadow with a small pond.

***

Phoebus woke with a start to see that Luna was lying by his side, cocooning him under her wing as if he were a tiny foal. Her eyes overflowed with concern.

“It was a flashback, wasn’t it?” she whispered. Phoebus allowed his tears to flow freely as he nodded and buried his face in her soft coat.

“Ssshhhhh, it’s all over,” Luna soothed him. “Nopony will ever hurt you again.” She gave his forehead a gentle nuzzle, and he curled himself into the alicorn’s body. “Sleep,” she said softly. “You are safe now. I will guard your dreams.” Before he drifted off to sleep, Phoebus felt a hint of embarrassment at the fact that the pony he was supposed to protect was protecting him instead.

Luna gazed down at the batpony nestled under her wing. Her heart ached for him, and she longed to heal the scars that only he could see. She stayed with Phoebus and let him sleep until it was time for her to raise the moon, then she woke him gently so that he could prepare for work. After raising the moon, Luna cantered to the foyer to meet with Celestia before the older alicorn went to sleep.

“Tia,” she said, “I think I might have a problem. I think I’m in love with one of my guards.” Hearing herself speak those words terrified Luna, but she wasn’t going to let fear stop her from saying what she knew with absolute certainty. Celestia’s face lit up as Luna told her about Phoebus. She had never seen Luna act this way, as if she were a little filly who was still in elementary school. Luna absolutely glowed as she spoke of the bat pony who had so quickly won her heart. As the older sister, Celestia was hasty in warning Luna not to fall too fast, and to know the difference between love and infatuation. Luna assured her sister that she would be wise, but also that she knew she had never experienced a love like this and probably never would again. She was certain that she would be a fool to let it slip out of her reach.

Just after Luna had dismissed her night court for the evening, Spike burst through the doors of the throne room, only pausing for a second to bow before hurrying up to the alicorn.

“Your Majesty, I have an urgent message for you,” he gasped, belching out an envelope. Luna thanked Spike and dismissed him, then magically opened the envelope and levitated the note in front of her, smiling at its contents:

Meet me at the lake.

-P

*******

For the thousandth time that night, Phoebus wondered if he was making a fool of himself as he stood by the lake where he had joined Luna for a swim a year earlier. He was madly, hopelessly in love with his boss, and there was nothing he could do about it. Had he expected too much of Luna too soon by asking her to meet him here tonight? He had no idea what he would say to her or how he would react if he learned she miraculously had the same feelings for him, but he knew that he was about to risk everything. He had shown her every scar on his body, mind, and heart. He had shared his hopes and dreams with her, laughed with her, and because he guarded her bedchamber, he thought she was just as beautiful when she thought she looked like a complete mess as when she was perfectly coiffed and made up. He was absolutely certain that he loved her more than life itself. The fact was, however, that Luna was the best friend he’d ever had, and he didn’t want to ruin their friendship. What in Tartarus am I doing? he wondered, terrified.

Just as he was about to leave, Phoebus heard the beat of Luna’s wings as she landed behind him. Beads of sweat began to form on his forehead, and he slowly turned to face the alicorn.

“You wished to see me?” Luna asked, walking up to the bat pony with a curious smile on her face. Phoebus started to bow, but Luna stopped him. “Dispense with the formality, Phoebus,” she said, laughing. “Come on, it’s only me. You know you don’t have to bow when we’re alone. Tell me, why did you want to see me?” Phoebus was unable to speak, so he stepped close to Luna and brushed a lock of starry mane away from her face as he looked up into her cyan eyes. His mouth felt cottony, but he finally found the words he wanted to say.

“Luna,” he blurted, “I love you. I never imagined it was possible to love anypony as much as I love you. You are my best friend, my protector, my guiding light. I love you.” The long-awaited words sounded sweeter and purer than church bells, and Luna’s heart swelled. Finally, she thought.

“I love you, too, Phoebus,” she said gently. He leaned in slowly and tentatively, and her lips met his as they embraced. Phoebus couldn’t remember much of their night at the tavern a year before, but he had never forgotten the impossibly sweet taste of Luna’s kiss. Feeling her mouth against his this time, when they were both sober, was nothing short of incredible. Luna opened her mouth ever so slightly, and their tongues mingled as they deepened their kiss. She moaned softly into his mouth, and Phoebus’ body responded naturally. After they broke their kiss to catch their breaths, Luna lay down on her back and motioned for him to join her. Phoebus obliged, and they lay in silence for a few minutes, watching the stars.

“What’s your favorite constellation?” Phoebus asked. Luna chuckled.

“Well,” she said, “the Lunar Princess is my favorite, but not for the reasons you might expect. If you look at a map of the constellations, you’ll notice that the Lunar Princess is isolated from all the others; she’s all alone. Yes, it reminds me of my banishment, but it also reminds me of Nightmare Moon’s defeat. The legend always said that the stars would aid in my escape, but it never specified exactly which stars would do so. Well, that constellation was originally known as Pegasus, but it actually came alive when Nightmare Moon was defeated and I returned to the throne, and because of the Elements of Harmony’s power, a star was added just above Pegasus’ head to turn the constellation into an alicorn, commemorating my redemption.”

Suddenly, a green cloud covered the clear sky, and thunder shook the ground. Luna leapt to her hooves and glared upward. A small cyclone appeared and quickly died down, leaving a smirking draconequus in its place.

“Discord,” Luna shouted, “what in Tartarus are you doing here?”

“Oh, dear,” DIscord purred. “Have I interrupted a romantic moment? Here, chocolate always enhances the mood.” A torrential downpour of chocolate began to hit Luna and Phoebus.

“Ugh, of all the times he could have shown up, he chooses now,” Luna groaned. All of the sudden, Celestia appeared with the Mane Six.

“It’s time for you to leave, Discord,” the solar queen yelled, scowling. “Did you not learn your lesson the last eighteen million times? We agreed that you could prank me all you wanted, but Luna is off limits. Fix this immediately, or I will send you on a one way trip to Tartarus!” Discord shook with laughter.

“You’re a funny one, Celestia,” the draconequus chuckled. “I was just trying to have some fun with your little sister. Why is that such a horrible thing?” He pouted innocently and hung his head in mock sadness.

“If you don’t leave in five seconds, I’ll throw you a going away party that you’ll never want to remember,” Pinkie Pie warned, glaring.

“That’s a marvelous idea,” Discord drawled. “Will there be balloons and cake? I love cake!”

“Oh, yes,” the plucky pink Earth pony said with an evil grin. “The balloons are dangerously fun!” She created some brightly colored balloons that Phoebus immediately recognized as mines. Discord was too stupid to notice, so he ran to grab a light green “balloon,” which promptly detonated, exploding in his face. He disappeared into thin air with the explosion.

“Way to go, Pinkie!” Twilight cheered.

“Yes, thank you, Pinkie Pie,” Luna told the pink pony, sighing with relief. “Your quick thinking saved the day.” As the other ponies turned to leave, she turned to Phoebus and said, “Come to my bedchamber, and we shall finish what we started.”

Chapter Eight

Phoebus took a deep breath as he gripped the bouquet of moon flowers and lavender in his hooves. He slowly approached the huge mahogany door that led to Luna’s royal apartment. Luna’s royal cypher, a crown above her cutie mark between her initials, LR for Luna Regina, had been carved into the center of the heavy door. Celestia’s royal cypher was styled in the same manner. The door alone was intimidating, and Phoebus felt a hint of anxiety when he was reminded that the mare he loved was a queen. His hooves shook a bit as he knocked on the door with the large gold knocker underneath Luna’s insignia. He heard the staccato click of her hooves on the marble floor as she walked to the door. She wasn’t wearing her obsidian crown or necklace when she opened her door, but her lack of royal attire did not diminish her beauty nor her regal presence in the slightest. The sweet aroma of her lavender and vanilla perfume filled Phoebus’ nostrils, and he had to resist the urge to inhale deeply as he greeted her with a soft, slow kiss that ended too soon. As she broke the kiss, Luna gave the bat pony a heart-stopping smile that made all of his blood rush downward, and he blushed a little as he felt himself harden. Luna glanced down and smirked ever so slightly as she nudged the door open further to let Phoebus in.

“Come in and sit,” Luna urged. Phoebus did as he was told, sitting down on the large black leather couch in the spacious living room. The room’s white walls were covered with priceless paintings by some of the world’s most famous artists. An enormous crystal chandelier sparkled above them, and a fire roared in the black marble fireplace. Luna dimmed the chandelier slightly and joined Phoebus on the couch, conjuring a bottle of red wine and two crystal wine glasses. Phoebus insisted on pouring their drinks, an offer that Luna graciously accepted. Chivalry had always been important to him, and he wanted to show Luna that while he would always love her and respect her status as his queen, he would not compromise his masculinity. Tonight, if she was willing, he would show her what true passion and pleasure felt like. The stallion in him longed to take Luna at that very moment, to ravish her until she was exhausted, to show the undying love he had for her in every fiber of his being, to see the side of her that she so skillfully hid from the rest of the world. The gentlecolt in him, however, respected her immensely and wanted to romance her, and that was exactly what he planned to do tonight. Though he knew that Luna had a natural inclination to take control of every situation, he also knew that her role was tiring, and that the weight of her crown must be an unimaginable burden. Duty and service to Equestria were at the very heart of everything Luna did, of every thought she had, and of every word she spoke. Phoebus had an immeasurably large amount of respect for Luna’s unwavering dedication and commitment to such duty and service, but he knew that sometimes, behind closed doors, the crown must be removed so that Luna could just be herself with him. He thought of that night at the bar, when she had freed all her inhibitions and allowed herself to have fun; he wanted her to be that way with him, vulnerable, but obviously unaided by alcohol. He revealed the bouquet that he had been hiding behind his back, and Luna’s face lit up.

“Oh, Phoebus, they’re beautiful,” she gasped. “Thank you so much! Moon flowers and lavender are my favorites.”

“I know,” Phoebus replied, smiling. “I remembered the state dinner you held for the Saddle Arabians. You specifically asked for floral arrangements with lavender and moon flowers.” Luna blushed slightly and arranged the flowers in a vase.

“I’m going to make us some breakfast,” she announced. “Celestia gave me the most delicious recipe for blueberry pancakes.”

“Mmmm, that sounds wonderful,” Phoebus said, “but I had some other plans.” He pulled Luna close, and she showed no resistance. Phoebus gently brushed a lock of mane out of Luna’s eyes and leaned in, kissing her softly. Luna opened her mouth slightly, inviting Phoebus to deepen the kiss, and he did so eagerly. He allowed his hooves to roam over her beautiful body and felt himself harden when she pushed her body against his. Phoebus broke their kiss to skim his lips over Luna’s long neck and nipped gently at the little alcove just under her cheekbone, making the alicorn moan softly. He scooped her up into his hooves and carried her over to her massive king-sized bed, still drinking in her sweet kiss. Finally, the queen and her guard gave in to the feelings they had kept at bay for so long, savoring every moment as they lost themselves in each other.

***

“I love you so much,” Phoebus murmured, stroking Luna’s cheek. Luna kissed him sweetly and rested her head on his chest as she looked up into his eyes.

“I love you, too,” she whispered. They had just made love three times in a row for six hours, only stopping for a few minutes to breathe each time, and they were both satiated and exhausted in the best possible way.

“Why did you join the military?” Luna asked after a few minutes. Phoebus paused and thought for a moment.

“I wanted to be part of something greater than myself,” he said. “After my brother died, I felt so lost. I had no sense of purpose, but I wanted to make my parents proud, especially after what happened. He always wanted to join the army, so I decided that I would go after his dream, since he couldn’t. It was the best decision I ever made, because if I hadn’t joined, I probably never would have met you.” He kissed Luna’s forehead softly, and she sighed blissfully.

“I want you to meet my sister and Sombra,” she said, gently tracing Phoebus’ wing with her hoof. “Their wedding is in a month, and if everything goes well with your meeting them, I want you to go with me.” Phoebus’ stomach dropped. The idea of meeting Celestia terrified him, but he nodded.

***

“Tia!” Luna squealed, wrapping her sister in a hug, then kissing both of her cheeks as Celestia entered one of the castle’s many drawing rooms. She and Sombra greeted each other in the same manner, then they turned their attention to Phoebus. The bat pony bowed, then waited for the white alicorn to extend her hoof to him, which she did.

“Your Majesty,” he said, bowing again, “it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance.”

“The pleasure is all mine, Phoebus,” Celestia said, smiling warmly. Phoebus was immediately put at ease by the larger alicorn’s easygoing demeanor, and he returned her smile.

“Luna has not been able to stop talking about you for months,” Celestia said with a mischievous grin, ignoring Luna’s shocked expression as the blue alicorn blushed furiously. “I’m so glad to finally meet you.” She leaned in close to Phoebus and whispered, “If you break my sister’s heart, I’ll send you to the moon for ten thousand years.” She chuckled, but Phoebus could tell from the look in her eyes that she was dead serious. The four of them laughed and enjoyed each other’s company for the rest of the night. Celestia and Sombra treated him like family. By the end of the evening, Phoebus knew with absolute certainty that he wanted to spend the rest of his life with Luna. As Celestia ascended the staircase that led to her and Luna’s bedchambers, Phoebus stopped her.

“Your Majesty, I promise you that nothing in this world matters more to me than your sister’s happiness,” he said, looking Celestia straight in the eyes as he did so. “I love Luna with every fiber of my being. I knew I had to come to you. I want to ask for your blessing to marry your sister.” Celestia’s eyes welled up, and she hugged Phoebus.

“Of course, Phoebus. Take good care of her.”

Chapter Nine

Luna stood in front of her full-length mirror, examining her white silk ball gown and royal-length veil edged with lace roses and moon flowers. Her mane was done in a half-up, half-down style with loose curls that fell elegantly around her shoulders, and her veil was held in place by her diamond-encrusted platinum tiara. The veil was five feet longer than the cathedral-length train of the dress. She was distracted by a soft knock on her door.

“It’s time, little sister,” Celestia said gently before turning to take her place at the altar. Luna smiled and magically lowered the veil’s blusher over her face. The trumpets began to play a fanfare, and the cathedral doors opened with a flourish. Smiling, Luna took the first steps of the most wonderful walk she would ever take. Phoebus stood at the altar. His eyes misted over when he saw how spectacularly beautiful Luna looked. Luna gave her bouquet to her beaming sister and turned to face her groom.

“I will love you long after the sky can no longer hold the stars or the moon,” she promised him. Phoebus made the same vow to Luna, then they exchanged rings. The ceremony ended with a sweet kiss between the newlyweds after they were pronounced husband and wife. Their new life was only beginning, and their future held the not so distant sound of tiny hoofbeats.