The Few

Chapters

Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 4

Chapter 1

The Few part 1
By: Carmack21
Editing: Mabbz

The Few.

"Who dares speak the name of our former self in such a way!" a voice roared through the hallways of the Canterlot castle. Just the sheer might of if could strike fear into even the strongest of solar guard.

"Y-your Great Majesty, I did not mean to offend you, b-but wh-when you were...*gulp*... Nightmare Moon, you mare-napped, your sister." a scared voice spoke with such little effect, it was comparable to a mouse.

The guards outside the court remained still. No emotion was seen in their faces; sure they felt sorry for the mare inside but what could they do, barge in there and place the princess under arrest for disturbing the peace? Nope!

The right side Pegasus guard with his last name etched in to his golden breastplate rather jaggedly turned to take a quick glance at his watch guard partner. They were old friends, but they were on duty so he couldn't ask for his thoughts. He snapped back into position but went limp; he was still being bothered by such a small thing, his eagerness to know what others thought. He opened his mouth but before one word came out he bit his tongue, he was on duty, guard duty. This was no time to ask idle questions.

"HOW DARE THEE!" the voice rang again, this time sterner, more emotional than the last time. Ceasing any thought the guard had.

By what the guard knew, the Princess was being accused of mare-napping, and high treason against the crown when she was controlled by the nightmare named Nightmare Moon. Although true, she had no actual influence in committing said crimes, but a few ponies saw it as a way to earn a couple extra bits. Even after Princess Celestia had informed everypony that she forgave her younger sister and stated that she was not in control of her actions, others still saw it as an opportunity.

"P-p-p-Princess, please forgive me, I'll never bother you again, I am sorry to have wasted your time." The voice was so fragile now just the slightest push could send her into full crying mode.

"Forgive thou?! Forgive THOU?! Others wait while you try to scrape a few bits from an event you never partook! You shalt never be allowed to come near this court again!" she screeched, far more annoyed by such insolence from a pony who wanted a few bits for her already full purse, while others starve.

The grand doors burst open knocking both guards against the walls and being squashed between the wall and the doors. The mare inside flew through the opening at full speed crying and sobbing. The two guards pushed the doors away and crawled out from behind them. They pulled themselves together, but before they were back in position the Princess of the Night stepped out the doors.

"Guards please walk with us." the Princess commanded in a surprisingly gentle tone.

"Yes Ma’am." they stated in unison.

The guards followed Princess Luna up a couple of hallways, each leading to a different part of the castle. Princess Luna stopped at a fork in the halls; she turned to get a good glance at the names etched on her guards’ armor.

The legible one was Ripspeed Deler, while the jagged written one was, Knight... Caster. She turned and started to walk again.

Being midnight court, the Princess usually took a burden off her sister by taking in the late arrivals or last spot open candidates. Mostly penny pinchers and bland requests. Tonight though she had enough accusations of being a mare-napper or a traitor. She wanted to take a walk and talk to someone who requested nothing, and who might wanna talk back.

"Ripspeed, that is an unusual name, but not as unusual as Knight Caster" the princess commented, trying get a short conversation going. "You are free to talk and respond openly to us; neigh, I command thee to speak openly amongst us." she stated.

"Yes Ma’am." the two said in unison again. This time a small frown crossed her face, and the temperature in the hallway seemed to drop slightly. Knight noticed the Princess’ mood, but said nothing; it wasn't his place to comment.

"So did my sister appoint you two to us or were you the unlucky ones drawn from the hat?" Princess Luna asked, hoping to get the conversation started, once again.

"Yes Ma’am." the two continued their tradition of replying with a 'yes' to all of her royal majesty's questions. But didn't actually answer the question.
Luna wasn't happy. How could she get a conversation started if they didn't answer her? "How would thou like to be the first ponies to be hanged in a thousand years?" the Princess asked followed by a little chuckle.

"Yes Ma’am" Ripspeed stated, not even thinking about what she had threatened him with.

"No Ma’am." Knight said. He knew she was kidding, but he wasn't going to say yes to a death sentence.

Finally, Something other then a 'Yes Ma’am!’

"Now, how did you come to hold this position?" she asked, putting a hoof on Knight’s shoulder plate.

He had never been touched by a royalty not even by Princess Celestia. This was very awkward for him; he started to panic turning scarlet red. Against all odds he managed to speak in a stern military voice. "I volunteered." he answered, knowing some pressure was being released off of him.

The Princess kept her eyes on this stallion; he was the first to break the military conduct of repeating 'Yes Ma’am' to everything that was asked of him. "So, thou volunteered for such a task... Why?" the Princess pondered, why would someone actually volunteer to guard an alicorn that tried to ruin the whole society of Equestria? Was he sorry for her, was he proving his bravery, or was he just plan daft?

"Well, we were called upon to fulfil a royal task, your Majesty, and I saw it as a chance to learn more about the night." Knight answered truthfully. Revealing a little secret he kept from even his closest friend.

There was silence between the two guards and the princess. The princess looked towards the moon, before telling them to follow her; it was time to return to court.

The night time court lasted another few hours but the dawn was coming and the moon was setting. Knight and Ripspeed looked on down the hallway when the clicking of hooves was heard. A pair of Solar Guards accompanied by Princess Celestia emerged from around one of the bends.

The two well rested guards stood in front of the two non rested guards, Ripspeed and Knight opened the double doors, and then ceremonially they saluted as Princess Celestia walked through. Knight and Ripspeed then turned face to look at the replacements once more. Knight took two steps right, while Ripspeed took two steps left, leaving the replacements room to turn face and back in the guard position. Ripspeed and Knight Caster stepped forward, turned and stood in front of the new guards, Ripspeed saluted turned and started to walk away like he was suppose too. Knight though stood there, it was his duty to accompany the Princess of the Night back to her room.

"Sister, how goes it?" Luna asked as she sat sideways in her cushioned dais.
"Very good sister. How was midnight court?" her sister responded with a hint of interest.

"Another had accused me of mare-napping, and requested currency for the fright that was stricken into her fowl." she responded in a rather sadder tone. "But I have found a little glimmer of happiness tonight." she added.

"Oh," Celestia was interested in this gossip. "What's this 'glimmer of happiness' you've stumbled upon?" her sister asked.

"We shall not say" Luna didn’t want her sister to know anything... Yet.
Princess Celestia tried giving Luna her best puppy dog look, her eyes going big and soft, with a little sparkle in her eyes, lip quivering a little, but even this had not compelled her sister to answer. Finally, she relented. "Well then sis, I shall take over." she said reassuringly.

Knight looked straight at the doors, waiting for his princess to walk out... Any second now... Any second... Creak, the doors opened by magic. Princess Luna walked slowly out wearing a dark black cloak, closing the doors behind her. She peered around looking both ways, making sure no pony was coming and stepped beside her guard. Knight was supposed to swing by the princess's room, drop her off, then walk to the café, grab a bite, and then retire to bed. Simple... Or that's what supposed to happen, but it never does.

The Princess commanded him to take her to the park, as the last few minutes of night were fading along the horizon, and she wished to see it off.
The Princess led the way, Knight followed. They travelled through the halls past the barracks, past the Princess's room, past the café (which had such a great aroma of hay bacon, and flower burger, and other stuff that Knight could only imagine) and continued out the castle doors to the Royal gardens.

"Over here, we shall sit under the Royal Arch." The Princess said walking down the stone path.

After a Luna sat and Knight watched her, he couldn't help himself, "May I ask Princess, how do you make the stars?" Knight Caster asked with out thinking.

The Princess motioned for him to stand next to her, he stood a few feet behind her, and came a tad bit closer, but a still out of her reach. "Back before we became Nightmare Moon, and war, peace, and great feast were common, we had taken the finest warriors, the most diplomatic of ponies, and the greatest memories that covered the land, and portrayed them in the night sky for all ponies too see. But as time crept on and other significant events took place we started portraying them as well." she finished the short story. "All thou has to do is Embrace the Night."

Knight drew his attention to the sky, embrace the night... He could still see a few star formations, and a couple clusters but the coming sun had obscured the sky. Tomorrow while on leave he shall gaze upon the stars with new eyes, and see if he could depict a few of the events, warriors, and diplomats.

"Let us retire to our room." Luna said as she sat still gazing at the stars. She pulled her cloaks hood on, hiding her head from the coming sun.

"Yes Ma’am." Knight saluted and led the way back.

Princess Luna staggered behind a little; her emotions were getting the best of her, a single tear formed in one of her eyes. It made the quietest splash on the tile hallway. Knight’s ears perked up when he heard it; he turned his head just a little, so slightly it was unnoticeable. Was the Princess crying? No... Was she?

"Princess, are you still with me?" Knight found himself stopping to ask, and then trying to cover his mouth to prevent any other words from escaping.

"We hath no need of your sympathy, we are fine." Luna answered with slight harshness in her voice.

"Yes Ma’am." Knight was quick to respond. He then continued down the halls, past the café, then stopping at two dark coated doors with a lunar crescent in the middle. "There are no guards, and no locks on the door." Knight pointed out the obvious.

"That is correct. The night guard died long ago, but ever since we have been back my sister appoints guards to us... Or they volunteer." Luna used her magic to open the doors. The doors groaned open, and the Princess entered and shut the doors behind her.

Knight sat quietly, something seemed different. Embrace the Night? What had Princess Luna meant by Embrace the Night? Grr. "I could really go for a hay bacon supreme right now." He looked around, wondering where the day-time guard was. "I can't just leave her unguarded" he whispered to the door.

Maybe just a few more minutes.

13 hours later...

The dark doors slid open, the Princess stepped forward revealing herself in the candle light. "Guards? Where are you?" Luna inquired aloud. Wondering why no one was sent too awake her.
Knight stepped out from the shadows of a pillar, his eyes had bags under them, his stomach ached, his feathers were sticking out in random places, and his eyes were bloodshot. "Sorry your majesty... Follow me please." he said weakly.

"Thou art unfit to guard us. What bad luck was bestowed upon thee?" the Princess asked the sorry excuse of a guard.

Knight looked at her, gears in his head turning and grinding away. Ears turned back, and a small frown formed its way across his face.

"I stood guard at your room all day Ma’am, I felt it wrong to leave you unguarded." he recited, although knowing he was in no way or shape for guard duty. His mouth was dry, and his head felt heavy... Sleep... Sleep... Sleep! it moaned, yet he denied it.

The Princess didn't know what to say, nobody ever went out of the way to guard her, even the appointed guards switched off at exactly the appointed time.

"Grr." Her stomach growled at her. It was breakfast time after all, "What was your name guard?" she asked in a soothing tone. She had already forgotten his name, so unusual of her.

"Knight Caster Ma’am." he said feebly, his body ached with strain. Knight hadn't slept a wink since being put on guard duty for the princess two days ago.

"Grr!" both stomachs growled in unison.

"Sorry Princess Luna, please excuse my rough appearance. Now if you would follow me to breakfast Ma’am." he spoke with authority in his voice this time. His shift wasn't over until Oh-six hundred the next day, or 6am as most ponies would say. He could function till then, hopefully.

"Lead the way, guard." Luna’s respect for this guard grew more; the fact that he stood guard all day for her while no other would showed great potential. She looked him up and down when he turned to lead the way,
'What is that?' Luna thought as her eyes lay upon a scribble on his armor, one that she had not seen before. It was wrong too deface the armor that was provided either then writing ones name. On the back of his neck guard under the helm rested a crescent moon; small, but it was indeed a moon. Interesting...

The two walked through this hall and that, turning at this corner then making an immediate turn to the Royal dining room. He saluted the two guards, who looked him up and down. He was worse than rough, he was a mess, but his shift wasn't ov-.

"Guard Knight Caster," Luna addressed Knight in a soft voice, "You are hereby relieved of guard duty till you have cleaned up, please seek us after you have tightened up and received a clean cut." she commanded him, then with a flick of magic removed his helmet levitating it after her as she entered the room. His armor was also levitated off of him, following like ducks after the helm. His soft white fur faded and was replaced with an ash grey coat, and silver mane, which was cut low, like a military ranger. His body also lost a few muscles as well. His wings shrunk a few inches as well. As the white coat retracted, his flank was shown revealing his cutie mark, a crescent moon with a sword in the middle.

'What just happened?' Knight Caster asked himself, was she serious. He eyed the two unicorn guards who kept solid faces, both wondering the same as he, but too scared to ask, eyed him back. Knight’s mouth was ajar, his ears wilted back, he looked both ways and skulked down the hall... Shame, was all that came to mind, he tried to do something he thought was correct, but was not apparently. With his head down he continued towards the barracks, at least he will see his friend Ripspeed.

"What!" Knight yelled at the little sliding window for the barracks door.

"You do not bear her royal majesty's armor; I am on strict orders to allow no soldier in without solar armor since the attack on Canterlot by the changelings. It is harder for them to conjure up such objects." the guard on the other side of the door answered back, a slight bit annoyed.

"But I told you Princess Luna took my helmet and plate armor and told me I would get it back when I've cleaned up a bit" his temper was growing, the only other place to go would be a... A... A bathhouse. He was not keen on going there.

"Sorry... Knight Caster, but with out a note from Princess Celestia you are forbidden to enter with out armor." the guard read rule seventy-nine out of the 'New Solar Guard Rule Book'. He then shut the window leaving Knight all alone.

"Humph" Knight eyed the ground once again. He seemed nervous, his ears wilted and he walked down the hall once more, this time out the castle doors and out of the castle walls down the street towards the closest bathhouse.

He came face to face with the La Da Da In A Tub... Great, even the name sounded pricey. But if that's what it'll take to get his job back so be it... Just as long as they don't treat him like a girl...

"So a hoof manicure, mud bath, standard bath, hoof soak, massage, seaweed wrap, cucumber over the eyes, and to top it all off, a bow tie?" the mare at the front desk asked Knight while she inputted the prices.

Knight was stunned, all he wanted was a gosh darn bath... But no one can enter a store to get a good or service with out being persuaded to get more than he or she bargained for.

"Just a bath Ma’am." he said with a low annoyance in his tone.

"One does not simple enter La Da Da in a Tub and order just a bath my colt friend. Now look at those bags under your eyes, we will need to take twice as long to get rid of those." she spoke firmly with a smile on her face as she was calculating the sum on her bit register.

What was so hard for her to understand, all he wanted was a dang bath. He eyed the desk mare; she was no different then any other mare, besides the cutie mark that portrayed bubbles, a ducky, and a brush.

"Ma’am all I require is a bath, that's final. That's all I'll pay for and that's all I want. Now please take these and let me go take a bath." he scrounged in his satchel for more bits then it cost to actually take a bath, but Knight was fed up with arguing.

He walked past door after door after door till finally coming across the public bath. "Finally." he grabbed some soap and towels and slithered into the bath. The natural heated spring water felt good, but he had no time to waste.

He got right to work, cleaning his head and mane, followed by his face, then his neck and chest and back, trailing down to his flank and then his legs. He then doused in cooler water, got out and dried. He spent a total of six minutes, in and out, a new personal record. He gathered his things as others who soaked in the water watched; he hadn't noticed others in there until he looked up and caught a few eyes staring back at him. He blushed a little; he gathered the last remaining bottle of soap and took care of it.

Knight stowed his towel in the basket and trashed the empty soap bottle, and quickly made for the door. He was a little more presentable, only one last thing to do... EAT! Without saying a word to the mare at the desk he bolted out the doors, glad to be away from that mad house.

Knight knew where there were great places to go for grub, but he was in a hurry. Any place would do on the way back to the castle. He had twelve bits remaining. That really didn't buy much here in Canterlot, but he just needed a little grub. Enough to get him through till dinner, which is technically breakfast.

Aha! The tavern 'Loose hoof', perfect. He never went there, but it was always busy, and loud.

He eagerly crept to the door; the light shining through the cracks of the warped wood gave a delightful feeling. He pushed the doors aside, revealing the makers of the noise. They were all mares, no colts, no fillies, just mares. Had he just entered a mare bar? Grr! His stomachs barked the order to push past the embarrassment, and get a to-go burger or what ever they served.
"Hey, what are you doing here!" a voice behind Knight spoke with the slightest hint of anger. It seemed that everywhere he went without his armor, everyone was hostile.

He turned and looked at the accuser, sizing them up. Medium height, little broad in the shoulder, a small frown, green eyes that had a hawk like look to them, and a low trim military hair style, like his, and she was a Pegasus.

Her coat was a soft white with a few specks of black around her eyes, her mane was sort of a mix of white and black, and her tail the same. She eyed him suspiciously, as if he might pounce on her at any given minute, but she wore a stern frown as she questioned him.

"I... I am a solar guard, I’ve just came into grab a bite before heading back to guard duty." Knight answered
truthfully, hoping his guard stats would earn an ok from her, but he knew that never worked... Ever.

"Uhuh, and I'm Princess Luna’s guard. Come on, give me the real reason why your here." she tried to drag the answer from him.

Other mares started looking, the noise and music slow stopped and all eyes focused on the two starring eye to eye. Knight’s ears wilted back, and he started backing up. 'What did I just get into?' He questioned himself.

"What are you doing here?" The white mare asked again, edging closer to Knight. A few other mares stepped in as well, blocking the path as to not allow him to slip out.

"I told you I came in to grab a bite, that's all!" he repeated.

"That’s it! Girls, get him!" The mare yelled as she leaped along with a few others piling on top of Knight.

Whack! The double saloon doors flung open when Knights head smacked them open. He went sailing four to five feet out the door before landing on the ground.

"And stay out!" the mare yelled as she shut the doors and the music started back up again.

"Ugh! What is going on! I can't get in to the barracks, I can't get a bath, and I can't get into a bar!" Knight yelled to the sky.

He slowly picked him self up, dusted off his coat and mane, and blinked few times. His stomach ached, but he couldn't feed it. With his head down he made the little track back to the castle. Maybe Ripspeed could snag him a bite of something.

He slowly started thinking about the night time sky, how beautiful it was, and how peaceful. 'Embrace the night.' Princess Luna’s words slowly crept back into his head.

Standing still looking up he started connecting the dots revealing simple formations, but as he stared longer the larger more complex ones began to show.

Battle scenes that would scare even the toughest of tough ponies, exquisite dinners fit for a king and queen that would last days, and great diplomats that devoted their lives to peace and prosperity.

Pulling his eyes from the sky felt awful, the moon was full and gave plenty of light, but he had a task at hand. On the way back again he caught himself staring at the sky, mostly the battle scenes. What drew his attention to focus on those few formations was a mystery, but they told the best stories.

His favorite constellation was of a stallion named Nesser Wall. He was a Captain in the Royal Army back before his great grandfather's time. He wasn't the strongest stallion, but he wasn't weak either. He was smart when it came to war and he always brought his brothers home. Then when he entered his last battle in what is now know as the Everfree Forest, he was struck down by an arrow to the neck while he leaped in front of Princess Celestia.

Either Princess Luna saw it as a way to secure his place in the history books, or Princess Celestia requested her sister to immortalize his glory, Knight never knew.

He had finally reached the castle walls and his heart started pounding for joy. He could get back to work and might learn a new thing or two about the night and stars with Princess Luna.
"Halt! Who goes there?" A voice hollered at Knight.

Oh come on! Just once can something go my way today? Knight cursed his brain. "Knight Caster, Private in her royal majesty's guard!" he yelled back, "Now please open the doors!"

"Open the gate! Gerts and Tercy go check him!" the voice brought a little hope back to Knights self-esteem; finally something was going his way.
The two recruits exited the doors; walking side by side they barked orders at Knight who complied. He was spread out on the ground his belly rubbing against the ground and his legs stretched out. The two patted him down, clearing him and giving the ok nod.

Knight got up saluted the two, and walked into the gates. He was well on his way to see the Princess at Midnight court, and reclaiming his armor. But maybe one quick stop, the cafe was still open and he knew the short cuts like the back of his hoof.

Arriving at the cafe Knight fought the urge too rush in and claim a bounty of food for his lonesome self. Pushing the doors aside and talking to the guard on duty he walked to the trays. Claiming his he started to fill it with food.

Hay bacon sandwich, hay fries, daisy soup, a bottle of apple cider, a rainbow colored cupcake, and a couple napkins. Selecting a seat was the next part, being without his guard uniform he felt out of place. Moving too the edge of the cafes small tables in the corner he began to eat and drink. With no time to waste and his stomach finally full, he dumped the trash, stacked the tray, and off he went to Midnight court.
His heart beat matched the clopping of his hoofs against the tile floor. Every step bringing him closer to his goal. Just a few more turns and a few more doors. Aha! Two twin wooden double doors stood between him and his armor.

Walking casually up to the doors he saluted the guards, thankfully they were the same ones from when he was relieved of duty. Using their magic the two unicorns pushed the doors open for him and he stepped in.

Luna was busy scribbling on a scroll, trying to reach a decision on some matter of state. Knight crept forward slowly, had she not noticed that he was here? He looked around; all the other ponies that help make decisions were gone. A noise behind him drew his attention; the unicorns had closed the double doors. He was trapped with no way out. He started thinking about backing up, but he stood fast he wasn't going to give in.

'What is the Princess planning to do to me, a hanging, a poison, or is she just going to tear me apart piece by piece?' his brain thought of the worst possible answers.

'Neigh, we shall do no such thing.' a voice entered his head. The Princess lifted her head from the scroll with a solid face.

"Huh?" he asked her, obviously confused about what just happened.
Luna lifted a hoof to her mouth and made a quiet shush noise, before returning her attention to the scroll. Apparently she didn't want to talk aloud.

Knight gathered his thoughts, 'Princess Luna, I have done as you have requested. I have taken a bath, ate, and have come before you to request my armor back.' Luna sat in her throne like chair, still scribbling on the scroll. 'What's so important about that dang scroll?!' He thought, forgetting that Princess Luna could read his thoughts.
Luna signed the scroll at the bottom, and then her attention focused on Knight. Using her magic she levitated the scroll to him, 'This is for Princess Celestia, we request you to bring it too her, then meet us at the royal arch.' she mind thought to him.
He focused on the levitating letter, he dare not touch it. Luna pushed it closer to him, 'Take it.' she said in her mind while staring at him.
As he cautiously took it, the double doors opened by magic and a number of political ponies stepped in and took their desired seats. 'Where can I find Princess Celestia?' he thought, but received no answer. He turned tail and headed out the doors. 'I guess it's up to me to find her.' he thought.

"Princess Celestia?" Knight knocked on the door for the Princess.
Creak! The door opened and a white head with a tricolor mane and a horn poked out. Her eyes had a little hint of annoyance in them but she answered his question. "Well hello my little pony, what seems to trouble you at this time of the night?"

Knight had forgotten that his shift was at night, and he had just woken the Princess. "I am sorry I woke you Princess Celestia, but your sister Princess Luna sent me to drop this letter off to you." he said, passing her the rolled parchment.

Celestia used her magic powers to lift and unfurl the scroll, she read line by line, then stared at Knight, and then back to the paper. Knight saluted then turned to head back to court. The Princess saw this and used her magic to levitate Knight off the ground and back in front of her.

She read the last line then magically zapped the scroll away. "Well then, Guard Knight Caster you are here by relieved of duty," Princess Celestia brought a paper and a stamp in front of her. She signed then stamped it. "You are required to report to my sister, Princess Luna with this." she handed him the paper.

Mouth agape at the word relieved, he reluctantly took the scroll.
Fear was stricken on Knights face as he walked down the hall. How had this happened, was it for insubordination in the act staying awake to guard the Princess? Slowly he made his way back to midnight court, his mind racing with thoughts of what Princess Luna wrote in the first scroll, and of what Princess Celestia wrote in the other. The one that was held in his teeth.

'Maybe a little look.' he questioned the parchment. His curiosity was getting the better of him. 'No! I shall not look!' he thought again.

He made it the rest of the way back without another thought of what fate was contained for him in the scroll.

There he stood face to face with the Princess of the Night no other pony remained in the room. His ears wilted back but after the night he had little fear of what might happen next, be it a beheading or a hanging.

"Knight Caster, we have seen you as a good friend to us." she paused looking at him, once again he was a little dirty, he had not received a wink of sleep yet, and he had a bruise on his shoulder from when he was thrown out of the bar. "But you have been removed from the ranks according to thy sister." she smiled devilishly.

"Yes ma'am." he recoiled with his military trained response.

"Yet you still stand here before us, and awaiting what comes next." Luna poked her head over the paper. Eyeing the stallion. "Before I go any further I would like you to meet one of my personal guards." she waved a hoof to her side. Out of the shadows stepped a devilish mare. He hadn't even noticed the silhouette of the mare in the shadows.

Her armor was of some sort of metal that Knight had never seen, and to add to that it was purple and metallic blue, instead of gold. Her coat was grey and her teeth were jagged. Her eyes were a golden orange, and her wings were bat like.

She eyed Knights every feature, after a few seconds she had already found each and every weak spot and was able to see his strength. She looked towards Luna and removed her helmet. Her grey coat dispersed to be replaced by a clean white one. Her true eye color came back, and her mane turned from grey to black and white. She knelt down showing submission to Luna, then rose and awaited further commands.

She turned her green eyes towards him, filling him with fear, 'Not again.'

"Please meet our personal guard. You might have met her earlier in the night? No?" Luna directed her attention to her single guard. "You shall follow her, learn from her, and then join her." Luna unravelled the mystery of the whole night.

Knight remained quiet for moment, before repeating what Luna said. "Join her?" he asked blankly. Usually if anyone did that they would be sentenced to clean the latrines.

"Yes, you shall join the ranks of the Midnight guard. You showed us that there are still a few who care about our night."

End Part 1

Chapter 2

The Few part 2

By: Carmack21
Editing: Mabbz

"Knight Caster, you have been tossed from my sister’s guard-" the princess stopped herself to think about what to say next. "You are jobless are you not? We come offering you a job. The choice is yours to make, but this is a one time offer." she finished.

'I was not tossed out of the guard, although I was tossed out of a bar.' Knight thought. 'This isn't an offer I could really refuse, is it?' After a moments pause, he spoke. "Princess Luna, why have you chosen me? I mean we just meet four days ago, and the Solar Guard has many great ponies. I am an average guard, I‘m not the strongest, I'm not book smart like your sister’s protégé, and I'm not even good at presenting myself before you." he added up all the flaws he had.

Princess Luna’s guard started snickering; Knight was all that, and to add to the list he had been bested and thrown from the bar by mares.
"Thou describe thyself as a weakling, but have thou not shown that thou push through hardships when being denied the rights that thou should acquire?" Luna pointed out.

"I don't know what to say?" Knight found himself stumbling over his words. He lost himself in his thoughts as he stood there with a blank stare.

"Knight Caster, we shall give you till midnight, and then thou shall give us your answer." Luna said to break Knight’s silence.

"Thank you, Princess Luna." Knight collected his thoughts and saluted, turned and walked from the lonely court room.

Luna looked to her guard, 'You know what too do Specs.' Luna sent a thought message to her guard.

'Yes my Princess.' her guard replied. She began to follow Knight, secretly sticking to the shadows and keeping a fair distance from her target.

Knight thought as he walked, it was a good offer, and he was just recently fired from his old job so why couldn't he say yes? Was it because of that mysterious mare, the same one who threw him out of the bar? Or maybe because Princess Luna was most likely responsible for his dismissal in the first place?

Click. A hoof step faltered behind him; someone was not in sync with his steps anymore. Hmm. He quickly turned a corner.

Specs flew from her hiding spot on the roof; she had stumbled on the freshly waxed floor. Quickly taking to the air as to not attract attention she waited for Knight to turn and question her, but he never did. Had he not heard her? Spec quickly landed again and continued her pursuit. Quietly, she turned the corner and- "Eep!" was all she could manage.

Knight had her pinned to the floor, his hoofs locked on to hers. Her mind began racing with the question of how he had just managed to pin her. "Why are you following me?" Knight demanded, glaring into Spec’s eyes.

"I am supposed to try and persuade you to join the Night Guard" she answered as she squirmed ineffectually under him. Luna’s only guard bested by a colt, that wouldn't look good for her.

"Persuade me? I have until midnight to decide. You are the pony who threw me from the bar, how do you think you can persuade me?" he answered sarcastically. He removed himself from her, and casually helped her up.

Her armor clanked slightly as she got up and readjusted it. She found herself looking at him, eyeing him. Specs had a new found appreciation for this colt. What was it?

"Now please stop following me" Knight said and turned to walk away once more. The need to collect his thoughts and decide his fate was a big deal too him.

"I’m sorry!" She blurted out. She had meant it but her tone had suggested otherwise.

Raising an eyebrow Knight was about to question her but decided not to bother. If it was about the bar he didn't care.

Specs had at least wished to get a response from him but nothing came. She bit her lip "My name is Speckles" she said with a bit of embarrassment. Up until now Knight hadn’t heard her name, and now he found himself struggling to keep a straight face. The personal guard of Princess Luna was called Speckles? Granted, not everypony had a name that suited them, but still…

He managed to avoid laughing as he replied "I am Kni-" before he could finish Speckles jumped in.

"Knight Caster, I know." she butted in.

"Well then, Speckles, I'll let you get back to your guard duties. I shall take my leave." He started walking away again.

Speckles watched Knight as he made his way down the corridor. She waited until he left her vision; pulling a ledger from her breastplate she scribbled a few notes. Replacing the notepad back in its rightful place she put her helmet back on. Her white fur was replaced by grey; her eyes turned golden; and her wings turned bat-like once more; her teeth were replaced by a jagged set of teeth. She took flight, sticking to the shadows of the pillars.

Knight turned the corner; he knew this demon like Pegasus would rest at nothing to keep up with him. He made his way out the grand double doors of the castle. Once Knight was outside he stretched his wings and took to the skies, his ash grey coat and silver mane flapped through the crisp night air.

Dong! The clock chimed in the background. It was eleven o'clock, and he had an hour to make his decision
He flew to the one place he could gather his thoughts, the park. He landed on the sidewalk, and headed to the bench. Taking a seat he looked towards the stars. 'Embrace the night.' he mumbled to himself. Each constellation started to appear, then his favorite, Captain Nesser. "I wish you were here to help me." he whispered.

"Hmm" a voice mumbled off in the distance. Speckles had followed him to the park but kept a safe distance away. "What is he doing?" she muttered to herself.

Knight looked too the sky, "Its said Nesser you fought alongside Princess Celestia, but when she banished you were caught with a tear in your eye, rather it be regret or you were devastated yet you carried on." Knight turned to look over his shoulder in the distance. The clock was halfway to midnight, but he knew his decision. He wrenched himself from his seat and took flight.

Speckles ducked into the shadows, took out her notes and scribbled. Once he had passed she replaced her notes, started following him.

When the predator and the prey reached the castle, Knight landed in front of the doors and promptly knocked. "Who goes it?" the guard called.

"Pri- Knight Caster" Knight hollered back, catching himself before saying ‘private’. The doors cracked open, two guards stepped out. They searched him and gave the O.K. to the Sergeant. Knight walked in and headed towards the court.

Speckles stayed to the air. She slipped past the archery guard and made her way to the balcony above the court. Entering easily, she hid in the shadows behind a column in the corner of the room. Standing guard she waited; her task was done.

Luna sat listening to yet another boring conversation, not taking any of it in. When a faint breeze made its way into the court she was the only one who noticed. 'How goes thy mission?' Luna thought to her guard.

'If he has a weakness other than those he listed earlier, he didn’t show it. He seems to have the right skill set, though you have to push him to make him reveal it' she replied silently.

'Good, good. He has shown himself to be a recommendable candidate then, has he not?' Luna lifted an eye, her face looking devilish. 'We request a helmet and gear from thy armory' she motioned for her guard to leave.

'By your lead I shall follow, whether it be to the battlefield or to the grave. I fight for you and only you for thou have shown me the light in the darkest of days.' Speckles crept from her hiding place, surprising a the other ponies, who hadn't even realized she was there, and left.

"Princess, can we have your decision?" asked the stallion that had the floor.

"We are sorry; we were lost in our mind. Can thou repeat what thou asked of us?"

Travelling down the hallways Knight found himself taking the scenic route to midnight court. He walked past statues and paintings, each telling a significant story, frozen in time. Staring at them, he wasn’t paying attention to where he was going causing him to bounce right into a blob of lavender.

"Oof" the unicorn said as she bounced and hit the floor.

"Sorry!" Knight said as he quickly bent down to help her up and gather her books, quills and parchments.

"Thanks. You know, some ponies look where they're going." the purple mare commented with a little chuckle.

"I look most of the time but I was distracted by… something" he recoiled as though it was an insult. “I'm starting to think that today might be a nightmare since everything’s gone wrong."

"Sounds like somepony has had a bad day" the unicorn replied sympathetically. "By the way, my name is Twilight Sparkle, Princess Celestia's most faithful student and protégée." said Twilight.

"I am Knight Caster. But I'm sorry I need to go I have an appointment to keep, and I don't think I should be tardy." Knight said.

Twilight flinched at the mention of the word 'tardy' before saying goodbye to her new acquaintance.

Before entering the doors Knight stood still, a cold shiver ran down his back. It was time. He pushed the doors aside and walked in with military precision.
Luna noticed he didn't say a word, nor did he cause a commotion. "We are growing tired. We shall have a recess for the rest of our night" Princess Luna announced to her council.

With that each diplomat recovered their papers, quills, and other instruments then proceeded to get up, pushed in their chairs and left. Once they were gone Luna focused on Knight, her gaze was easy and a hint of happiness crossed her. She waited for his answer.

"I've reached my decision. I, Knight Caster who was tossed from Her Royal Majesty’s Solar Guard shall join in the Princess’s Night Guard." Knight announced.

"Huzzah! Thou shall be granted what thee requires by Speckles. There is but one thing thou can't forget. Once thou join us there is no way out but death or royal discharge." Luna arose from her dais and trotted forward to be face to face with her new recruit. "All thou need to do is sign this, with your life’s essence." Luna magically summoned a scroll and a dagger with a moon crescent on the hilt in front of Knight.

He carefully read the scroll aloud. "I solemnly swear my allegiance to The Goddess of the Night, and our beloved ruler Princess Luna. By pricking my hand and fulfilling this document I shall not stray from her said unless ordered. My life is hers, for I shall Embrace the Night forever henceforth." Taking the dagger in his mouth and raising his hoof, he sliced his flesh and pressed it against the paper.

The paper vanished in a puff of gas which travelled into knight’s nose and throat, knocking him unconscious.

Princess Luna and her guard stood over his limp body, "Does thou remember the training?"

"Yes Princess, but are you sure he's the one you want?" Speckles asked.

"Does thou remember how thee were choosen? We shall mold him into an unstoppable fighting force." Luna used her magic to levitate the pegusus limp body down the hallways to the Night Guard barracks.

End part 2

Chapter 3

The Few
Part 3
By: Carmack21
Edited by: Mabbz

"Ye-ow!" Knight sat erect in bed. It had been two weeks since he joined the Night Guard, but it seemed like eternity had passed since a glimmer of sun light last fell upon him. His body had changed some, gaining a few extra muscles here and there, but for the most part he was pretty much beaten up. Both eyes were black and blue, his torso and legs had cuts and bruises, and his mane was tattered. To top it off he hadn't even taken a bath since the night he enlisted.
"Come on you big baby, just let me finish stitching you up. Then you can have some R&R" Speckles spoke with a can-do attitude. She was actually enjoying this, since it wasn’t happening to her.
"Ye-ow! You know Specs just ‘cause you say it’s to toughen me up doesn't ma- Ye-ow! That doesn't make it any less painful" Knight recoiled with a hint of aggression.
"Oh does big baby need a binkie? No? Then zip it so I can finish field dressing the wound" Speckles worked slowly and carefully to seal a wound given to him by Princess Luna and a sword. "There, good as new" she eyed Knight. "Sort of, anyway" she chuckled.
"Yeah, yeah have your laugh, but when it comes time you might be where I am and I might be holding the needle" Knight made to get up but Speckles pushed him right back down.
"You need your rest" she stated.
"So my R&R is just sleeping?" Knight said with a grimace.
"Yup" was all Speckles could offer. She collected her supplies and made to leave. "By the way, I felt the same way when I joined, so I took leave when no one was looking" she said, winking an eye at him.
A smile crept its way across his face, "So where are you going tonight?" Knight asked.
"I’m meeting a friend at the Loose Hoof" she replied. "Around six-ish. And he is buying the first round" She added in a whisper.

"Yup, just don't throw me out this time" Knight whispered back. With that, Speckles said her goodbyes and left. Knight sat alone, the barracks never felt full; of course the occasional mare or stallion stepped in to bring this or that or do some minor task, but it always seemed empty. "Mhmm, guess I'll take nap then" Knight yawned to himself. He slid under his pale blue blankets and closed his eyes. Sleep had never felt so inviting; within minutes he had passed out.

The dream started off weirdly. Knight fell from the sky, hurtling towards a forest at the edge of a field at terminal velocity. He quickly tried to spread his wings but they wouldn't obey him, he went to scream out but his throat felt tight. He closed his eyes 'This is going to hurt' he thought. But the pain never came. He open his eyes a crack, before opening them properly in confusion. He had stopped, somehow.
"Fire!" a voice on the ground attracted Knights attention.
'Fire? I don't see any fi-' before he could finish his thought a volley of flaming arrows flew over head towards the forest. Landing in trees, sticking in the dirt, and bouncing off rocks. Knight quickly found out that he was in the midst of a war, a great war by the sound of exploding in the sky above him.
"Fire! Fire! Fire!" the voice hollered again, and the arrows once again flew. "For the Princess!" the voice yelled, followed by screams and battle cries then the sounds of hundreds and hundreds of hooves were heard.
Looking in the distance Knight saw a clearing; suddenly stallions and colts dressed in white and gold full-body uniforms and carrying spears and swords flooded it.
"We are less, but for our Princess we shall die on the battlefield! For Princess Luna!" Knight’s ears perked up as the sound of someone with a gruffer voice started yelling, followed by the sound of hundreds of ponies stomping their hooves.
On the opposite side of the clearing, fewer than a hundred stallions trotted forth burdened by dark purplish-blue and grey armor. They screamed with adrenaline as each and every pony let out their battle cry.
The advancing golden uniformed army definitely had the advantage, but the darker grey army stood fast. "Fire the arrows!" a golden uniformed officer hollered. He stood tall and stern, but Knight could hear fear in his voice. Soon after volley after volley of arrows rained down upon the dark army.
"Hold formation! Shields up!" the dark commander yelled, no emotion but grim determination in his voice. His stallions worked in sequence, all shields were raised at the exact same time and no one broke rank. Clink-clang-clunk-snap, arrows bounced off the metallic shields, landing uselessly on the ground.
"Fire!" the commander yelled again, and again the arrows flew and bounced off the shields. By this time the forces cold see eye to eye, the battle was about to begin.
"Colts, we were chosen by Princess Luna for this reason, to wreak havoc upon the enemy! Regardless if it be our own brothers, we will still fight! We pledged our loyalty! We are the Few!" The darker commander preached to his men. "For Luna!" he yelled and charged head first into battle.
"For Luna and Commander Nesser!" the voices yelled and followed him into battle.

A dragging sensation pulled on Knights body; he was being pulled from his dream.

"What?!" Knight sat erect in bed. His dream made no sense to him. Nesser wasn't a lunar guard, he was a solar guard.

Mulling it over in his mind, Knight turned to get out of his bunk. 'I should really tell Speckles about it' was his final conclusion. "Well I guess it's time to go and meet Specs". Knight got out of his bunk went to find his companion.

For the first time he walked through the palace with his guard armor on. Princess Luna and Specs kept at him with harsh training and tough love. Every now and again he would pass by a civilian who gasped at him with a slightly fearing look.
He looked towards the sky, comparing his gear to hers. The magic in his gear was weak, all it did was change his voice and give him a different mane and coat color, and bat-like wings. Apparently he was in the training armor; it didn't give him the same attributes that Specs had. Specs’ armor gave her razor sharp jagged teeth, an ash grey coat and mane and made her wings bat-like, as well as adding a few less noticeable perks like strength, speed, and other attributes. But there was one thing odd about her, her eyes although switching color never seemed to change, they were always comparable to a dragon's. They seemed to always tear at you too, picking and poking, trying to find your weakest parts. She was alright once you got to know her.
Looking down he say his destination, the 'Loose Hoof'. Last time he was here was the day he joined the Lunar Guard, and his co-worker threw him out. But standing at the doors was a white mare with a few specks of black around her face, with a black and white mane – in a sexy red dress?! Knight stopped immediately in his tracks, jaw dropping to the ground.
"Sp-Spe-Speckles?" Knight stuttered. He was completely blindsided by the mere appearance of her.
"Well aren't we fit for duty? I guess you didn't get the sneaking out part, you know, where you try to stay under the radar?" she laughed a little, but it subsided quickly.
"I thought we were going to act professional, and maybe this time my guard status would buy me a drink" he added which made Speckles giggle.
"Of course it won't, no one knows we even exist as an actual guard unit" Specs smirked, crushing Knight’s dream.
"No one knows we exist as a guard unit? But everyone was staring as I walked by. They have to know" he looked over at Specs then in the closest window reflection. "Unless I look like a pony dressed up for Nightmare Night. I feel stupid." Knight looked down at the ground; it was a good five to six months until the next Nightmare Night.

"Hey bud, let's forget the tavern and head back to the castle. At least there you won't be judged on your armor." Specs laughed and led Knight back to the castle like a mare leading her child home from Sugarcube Corner with nothing to show for the visit.

Taking off his armor, and losing the little magic it had, his grey coat revealed itself and his crescent moon and sword mark came forth. "So no one knows we exist... How come?" he asked Specs who sat on his bunk while he stowed his gear properly.
"Well it's a long story, but I guess your gonna hear it eventually." She let Knight sit down on his bunk beside her before she started. "It started a thousand years ago; Princess Luna felt shunned and dishonored because all but a few ponies slept through her lovely night, but played and worked during the day. Princess Luna found the Few who loved and studied her night, and allowed them to work with her. As time went on the Few were given magical armor," she pointed towards the racks and racks of purplish blue and grey armor. "But no army is leaderless, and Princess Luna just knew who should lead them. Captain Nesser, who was Princess Celestia's own Captain, looked towards the Night Princess as a true war leader. He never mentioned this to Princess Celestia until one fateful day when she gave him a dishonorable discharge for lack of restraint." She looked at Knight who was taking in the history.
"So Captain Nesser was fired? But what about all the statues and paintings of him leading his troops into wars?" Knight blurted out.
"Well, I guess I should save the rest for another time" she decided with a smirk. "Now let's go eat." She laughed when Knight started whining about her not finishing the story and how leaving ponies on cliff hangers stinks.
"Fine... But you’re buying the first round." Knight got up from his bunk, and helped Specs up. "Lets go" he smiled as they left the barracks.

Chapter 5

The Few Part 5
Alicorn Mischeif.
By Carmack21

As night crept it's way into exsistance, Princess Luna woke from yet another restless sleep. The need for more sleep was visible in her eyes, but a quick Poof of alicorn magic cleared it away. Doing a Solar eclipse yesterday used up quiet a bit of power, and sleeping alone in her bed didn't make it any better.

With help from her powerful wings, she hoisted herself up and out of her nice cold bed, and walked slowly to the door of her chambers. Proping it open slightly she found Knight once again standing post on the right side of the door. His posuter was that of stone, he stood so still, and his armor polished and cleaned was shinning in the candle light, but alas there was one flaw. He fell asleep, standing up.

Lunas eyes lit up with alicorn mischief at this, so many possiblities, so little time. Poof. Luna summoned a scroll, containg an alicorns number one most important responsiblities. Practical Jokes, most of which were crossed out since apperantly her sister had changed the laws while Luna was bannished and wouldn't let her sister commit such funny and hannist pranks.

"Alright let us see here. Should we sleep with thees mare friend? Hmm, we think thou has no mare friend.... Hmm let us see, let us see... Oh here we go, we shall have a dragon move into his quarters and... Hmm no.... Oh, here we have found a great one." Luna quickly closed her eyes to focus, using her magic she cast a spell on Knight. Poof!

This was a louder poof then usual, and it startled Knight awake, and he jumped to attention. "Good mornin Princess Luna." he said with a smile, and a salute and waited for his first orders of the night.

Luna almost bursted out laughing, the sight before her was halarious, and Knight had no idea. "Knight Caster, we request thou to retrive for us a tonic from our sister. Here is a parchment of what we've requested." Luna poofed a letter for Knight, who took it tenderiously into his teeth. Luna used all her might to hold back her laughing and spoiling the prank.

He saluted her and was off. He seemed taller... Maybe the extra vegetables he was eating were makeing him taller. After running errands for Luna so much he had the castle hallways down packed, but occasionally he would run into a dead end, and would have to back track or ask for directions. Today was one of those days.

He ran into a dead end, and backtracked a little ways untill he found the first pony he saw. He crept up and tapped the mare on the back of the shoulder, "Huh?" the mare turned around, "AHHHHHHHHHH!" she tore off running faster then Knight could realize what just happened.

"What in Equestria?" Knight said INS more feminin voice, and questioned if his throat was sore or if he had smelly breath. "Hmm, seems like I must find my own way." he said. Starting off again, he took a few more turns this way and that, up a few stairs till his destination was found. Knock. Knock. Knock. Knight glanced over at the the two guards positions, both weren't filled, how peculiar.

Creek. The wooden door crept it's way open, and Princess Celestia popped her head out. Celestia stood face to face with her worse possible nightmare, "(Christalis)". Quickly backing up and charging her alicorn magic,

"Oh buck." the scroll dropped from Knights mouth and he managed to get his last words in before she blasted him in the chest, sending him flailing back against the hallway wall. Celestia stampered her hoofs on the ground to gain stability and used even more power to blast Knight through the wall, then through another and another and another and another untill there were no more walls to blast through, and Knight went flying out into the gardens.

"Whaaaaaaaa!!!!" Knight said as he flew out the side of the castle with animated swirly eyes, and landed on the grass. Rolling over, he regained his vision, and clutching at his chest, he quickly took note of his hoofs they had holes in them and they were blackish... like, then he put it all together, he looked like (Christalis). Trying to speak, but with no effect all that came out was "Prin.... Cele.... I... A... Kni..." he started coughing again and gripping the grass.

Celestia walked out of the castle through the hole she created, and flew down to Knights body. "Was your plan really to walk up to MY door (Christalis) and just best me like you had at the wedding? I've been waiting for this chance for awhile now." Celestia reared up ready to buck the living life out of Knight, but a loud uproarish laughter caught Celestias ear. "You dare laugh at me?" she turned to Knight, "What are your last words (Christalis)?" as she turned to buck his life away.

Knight went soft in the eyes and was able to get a line out before he started coughing again, "Im not (Chrirstilis)." and tried to drag himself away from her range.

"Hahaaaaha! Sis will thou please us by not murdering our guard." Luna came flying down from her balcony that over watched the entire garden and surrounding areas.

"What?" Celestia said, inragged by her sister confussing her with such words. "This isn't one of your guards Luna, it's (Christilis)." Celestia once again reared up to buck the caughing Knight.

"Hahaha! Big Sis we used our magic to turn our guard while he fell asleep, into one of thous worse nightmare. We did not see you cross it off our list." Luna said as she bent down and touched Knight with her horn, causing Knight to shrink a tad bit, and lose the feminen qualities, but still unable to breath.

"Sister I almost killed one of your guards. What if you had not caught me in time? What if I...." Celestia looked over towards her sister. Luna was rolling on the grass laughing her head off, apperently she found hummor in her sisters anger, and quickly found something to tick her off with, and poke fun towards her big sis. "Luna give me your list!" Celestia demanded from her manically laughing sister. "And you," Celestia focused on Knight, "It would be wise too be catious around my sister." Celestia spoke in a softer less harsh tone. But deep inside she was laughing.

Knight tried to open his mouth to protest, but a blackness crept into his eyes as he fought the urge to pass out, but the animated swirly eyes came back and he flopped over on his back and was out cold.

"We only merely poke fun at our sister. Doest thou not like pranks anymore?" Luna bent down and put Knight on her back with magic. "We hope thou hast not broken our guard." Luna shrugged when Knight was firmly resting on her back.

"Sister that is unprincessly, I'll call for a medical pony to come take care of him. In the meantime you shall go to your room and think of what you've done." Celestia protested her sister carrying the limp guard.

"Sis this is our guard, we shall do as we please, and we shall go to our room as we please." Luna snapped back at her sister, and trotted off to her room.

Once at her room, Princess Luna set Knight down on her cool bed, an walked over to her balcony. "We comand thee to rise." she spoke aloud and with a magical spark from her horn moved the moon.

Knock. Knock. Knock. "Princess Luna, may we enter?" a familiar voice echoed through the door.

"Thee who speaks to us, what is the password?" Luna answered back.

A loud hoof noise was made against something hard, most likely a facehoof, "Im a .... Uhhh.... Do I have to?." the voice was much clearer now, an Luna walked towards the door, a grand smile was clearly visible.

"Yes." Luna snickered to herself.

"Im a... pretty girl." a choking noise was made as the last two words came out.

Princess Luna unlocked the door to allow the voices owner to enter. "Well thou admits to being pretty finially." Luna was still giggling.

"Yes ma'am." Specs answered with a cough. She walked in, Ripspeed in tow.

Takeing her eyes away from the pouting Specs, she looked at Ripspeed. He was worn down, both his eyes had black and blues, cuts and slashes covered his legs, and his training armor had more dents and dings then what he previously had.... Queit a bit more. "Princess." Ripspeed tried to bow but his dented armor didn't allow such activities, and quickly rose.

"What happened?" Lunas giggling died down, and she was interested in the beaten pony.

"Uhmm...." Specs went to speak but lost herself in her mind. Their training was suppose to be simple today, all Ripspeed needed to do was beat Speckles in a skirmish. That easy, right? But well just by looking at Ripspeed, it wasn't. "We kinda ran across a problem Princess Luna. We can't get his armor off. It's kinda beaten on him now." Speckles informed Luna.

Ripspeed saw a slight movement in his perifiel vision. Looking over at what drew his attention, his jaw fell open. Knight was laying in the Princess' bed..... Unconcious? Hmm.

Noticing the expression on her guards face, Luna cultivated a brilliant plan, two pranks in one day. "We see thou noticed Knight...," directing her attention to Ripspeed. "Poor thing was pushed to his limits and passed out, but we recived satisfaction from him." Luna said holding back an uproarish laughter.

Ripspeeds jaw dropped even further, had Knight slept with the Princess?

"Hahahaha!" Luna could barely keep from laughing, "Thou thinks we slept together? We only play a prank on our sister, and she took it the wrong way." she snickered.

"I'm awake! I'm awake!" Knight shouted flailing his arms as he sat erect in bed, but quickly fell back down on the inviting cool bed and passed back out.

"Uhm, we shall be off then, but before we go Princess can you help get Ripspeeds armor off?" Specs spoke up completely knowing the mischievous ways of the Princess, and stopping any escaltion from there.

"We shall." Luna said, even though mischief was still painted in her eyes. Luna lowered her head and just barely nicked Ripspeeds armor and it fell off.

"We used a batterying ram, a pair of metal hoof shears, you bucking me in the chest, and you pulling me behind a cart trying to get it off, and all it took was the Princess just touching it!" Ripspeed directed his attention to Specs, agression and anger danced in his eyes.

"Must have been weakend from all that." Specs smiled, knowing full well that all the other ways they tried were just her way of getting a few laughs. "Thank you Princess Luna." Specs bowed and retreated to the door, Ripspeed in tow carrying his ruined armor.

Looking back over at the limp form in bed, Luna cantered her way over to him. "Hmm a noon night nap would be nice... And it has been awhile since we had someone to warm our bed with us." Luna thought. The idea of takeing advantage of Knight had no need to register in her head. She queitly lifted the covers with magic and sidled up close to her guard.

This was not heard of in this peaceful era, but back before being exiled Princess Luna use to select one stallion guard from her battlion, usually he was big, and barrel-chested... But it was nice to finially after a thousand years of being alone in bed, Luna could finially sleep peacefully. Even if Knight didn't agree... But who wouldn't?

Luna pulled herself close to his body, his body filling her with warmth, and she cuddled him.

Chapter 6

The Few Part 6
By: Carmack21

Shifting in bed, Knight opened his eyes slightly and quickly took notice of Luna. He closed his eyes again and reopened them, "Good night Princess Luna." Knight said half awake. Knight closed his eyes once more. "PRINCESS?!" Knight makeing the realization, quickly bolted upright and jumped out of bed, causing Luna to roll over into the new space.

Trying to trace his mind for how he ended up in bed with the Princess, he came to a single possible reason..... 'I'm still dreaming.' Knight noted. 'Yea that's it.'. He was satisfied with his conclusion, and looked on at the Princess who was stil asleep. Her eternal hair flowing over her eyes, her gentle smile, and every now and again her right ear would twitch. How cute. He looked at her features, her breathing, her every perfection, and only finding one imperfection on her. One flaw that was unprincessy, but barely phasing Knight. Luna was a snorer.

"Mmhmm this is a wonderful dream." Knight stated to himself hopeing to never wake up. He leaned in close to the Princess, her smell wafted in to his nose. The smell of her comforting him and giving him courage to conquor his dream and take control. He leand in close and without hesitation kissed Luna on the cheek.

Just then the Princesses eyes lidded open barely a crack to reveal a intruder kissing her. "Unhand us you Scallion!" Luna shouted wide eyed and before realizing who it was, she blasted the already beaten and scared Knight with a flash of alicorn magic.

"Oooof!" Knight said as he landed hard against the wall of her magesty's chambers. Unable to stand Knight layed there, the black bolt of lightning left a deep resonating scare that glowed a dark black and blue.

Luna stood stunned, she just made the connection of what she had just done. She blasted her guard with a couple gilojewels of alicorn magic. Maybe a slap would have safissed, but she just blasted him, leaving his armor crumpled and his eyes closed.

Throwing the sheets off, she rushed over to Knight, praying she had not just killed him. "Knight Caster wake! Wake we comand thee!" there was no response. His sprawled body motionless, and not only beaten by the Princess of the sun, but also by the Princess of the moon. "Wake I comand you." Princess Luna lost her old tongue, and her eyes started to tear up. A single tear rolled down the Princesses cheek, down past her chin and fell upon Knights eye.

Knights eye started to twitch at the feeling of the Princesses tear landing on his closed eyes. He lidded his eyes just a crack, "A-am.... I-I.... S-Still dreaming Princess?" a small faint grin grew on both ponies faces, and Luna embraced Knight with a hug.

"No Knight, tis not a dream. Tis not a dream." Luna repeated to the limp body of her guard. Knight blinked blinked and his eyes slowly shut.

'Today has been the weirdest day of all.' Knight said to himself, trying to stay awake, but the urge of sleeping quickly over takeing him. Once again unconscious, Knight drifted of to his dreams.

Knights eyes lidded close and he felt a falling sensation, one that seemed somewhat familiar. As if something was pulling him towards a recollection, or a lost memory fragment. As quickly as it started it stopped, and once again Knight stood above a clearing. A war was happening and he knew which one.

"Captian, what should we do? They come from both sides, surely they will surround us in no time." A Lunar Soldier stood waiting for directions from their Captian.

"Take up Wanning and Waxing defensive patrols and position them to both of our flanks! Any other available force stay here!" Captian Nesser shouted to the Lunar soldiers divisions.

"Captian where would you like us?" a group of misfit unicorns, and earth ponies asked.

"Full Moon division gear up but stay put, you are our secret weapon." Nesser noted to his smallest unit. "New Moon division, make ready! Sheilds up and swords out!" Nesser comanded. The advancing Solar army was growing closer with every breath. Precious time ticked away every minute they wasted ment the enemy was at an advantage. "Full Moon division," Knight Hollared, "You are the best of the best at your job. Time to put that to great use!" Nesser shouted.

Knight recalled the leason that Specs had taught him, ever since the creation of the Lunar Army, each division had a specific name, Wanning and waxing were the defensive units. New Moon was the larger fighting force, and last but the most reliable of all Full Moon. The Full Moon division was mainly made up of Unicorns or Earth ponies with the occasional Pegasus or two. , who supported Princess Luna so much that only the most fit and militaristic ponies went to join. They were always tasked with the hardest and dirtiest of all jobs, but they were contemp on pleasing their princess no matter the task. They were given brand new eveything, but usually beat the buckin hell out of it, causing them to look like a rag tag team of half uniformed soldiers.

"Captian Nesser, Full Moon division requests to be sent in!" the CO of Full Moon spoke up hopeing the words would reach his Captians ears.

"Full Moon Division..... Go get them for the Princess of the Night!!!" Nesser shouted. Setting his secret weapon to work, could bear the fruits of victory.

"Full Moon foward HOOO!!! For the Princess!!!!!!" the rag tag team galloped into the battle, smiles and grins painted on ever ponys face.

"Captian what shall we do?" the New Moons Divisional leader, although new was waiting for three frettful words. 'New Moom, Forward!' but they never came.

Captian Nesser stood grinning at Full Moon Division. A smile crept slowly on his face, the plan was going accordingly. His most favored and well trained division was already a hundred yards or so out. The rag tag team was a mere fraction of what was heading thier way, but you should never under estimate the size of an army.

"Hoof Stomper! Take Full Moon Alpha to the far right! Grass Gazer! Take Full Moon Bravo to the far left!" Fire Teaser yelled as Full Moon Division was in eye sight of the Solar Army.

Splitting ranks and creating a thin wall, Full Moon was screaming and hollaring as they rushed towards the enemy. Both army's clashed head on, waves of gold mixed with purple, blue, and silver. The gold army pushed on gaining more footing, but as quickly as they secured it, they lost it. "Puuush!" A solar guard yelled to his brothers as the lines moved in a wave pattern.

Looking from the wall to the small gathering of soldiers Knight couldn't comprehend how it must have felt pinning brother versus brother, sister versus sister, family versus family. How had this all happened? Equestria surely had it's battles in it's past, but how did Princess Celestia and Princess Luna allowed this to happen.

"They're breaking through!" a gold coated soldier yelled.

"Dont give up! We can hold this line!" Another yelled.

The fight started to blur around Knight, everything started too slip through his vision, and a slight pinch pricked his arm. The seen was dropping faster now, and a low insesant 'Beep.' replaced the clash of swords, shields, and orders being shouted back and forth.

'Beep.'

"Dont falter the line!" Nesser shouted.

'Beep.'

"Hold it until the Princess is through with the fight." said Nesser.

'Beep.'

"Dont harm any pony!" Nesser said before the last of his words dissapeared.

'Beep.'

The noise of the beeping exceeded and rapidly grew louder and faster. "Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep! Beep! Beep!" Knight slowly opened his eyes, sterile white lights shinned back at him. A rushing sensation pushed him this way and that, like he was in the middle of a chariot race. "Doc. The Princess said he was hit by a lightning bolt." a nurse who was out of his vision said.

"Alright bring him to the ER!" the doctor said. "And get this armor off of him!"

Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep.

The insesant beeping noise continued. Knight could stand it no longer, he cracked open his eyes a bit more and peered around the room. White, white, and more white, a few posters here and there, and a door. the room was simple, a few medical machines decorated the side of the bed as well.

"Hello?" Knight asked to the room, there was no response. Odd? 'What am I doing here?' he asked himself. 'huh.' he managed to say when he realized he was laying atop something. He wiggled over a little bit to recover the item. He pulled a rectangular remote with a big red button from it's hiding place. With no fear of what might happen he pressed the red button.

And

Nothing happened? Knight frowned at the outcome of the device, maybe it's broken. Knight tossed the remote over his shoulder, and it clashed against the wall.

BOOM! The door was shoved open and a cannon was aimed at Knight. "Its Party Time!" a pink mare yelled as she yanked on the pull cord.

KABOOM! Confettie and streamers were blasted everywhere, and ponies started entering the room. Knight layed half dazed by the event of what just happened.

Luna followed by her sister, the two other lunar guards, and a lavander mare entered the room. Luna quickly took to stand next to Knights bed and hold his hoof, after all she was the whole reason he was there. The guards stood at the foot of his bed, both giving cheerful reassuring smiles at him. The purple mare accompied Princess Celestia on Knights right. He tried to recall her name... Twilight... Maybe. "Is this a dream?" Knight asked everypony standing there.

"No. No tis not a dream." Luna said as she gently stroked his hoof with hers.

The End.

Sorry for the sudden ending, I've been mulling it over in my head about how to end this and post a completely diffrent story, one that is better written. I've been takeing writting lessons from friends and now I'm 40% better then I was ever before.

Chapter 4

The Few Part 4
By: Carmack21

Edit by: Luna_G1rl

"All rise for Princess Luna!" a solar guard hollard at his troop. All the solar guard within earshot stood at attention for Princess Luna and her three guards. It's been about thirteen weeks since Knight enlisted, eleven since he heard the real story of Nesser and the Few, and about five since he mentioned the discharge of a Corpal Ripspeed, to whom Princess Luna gave the chance to join the Lunar Guard.

All three walked with perfect unison, Ripspeed, on the far left, Knight on the far right, and in the middle was Specs. Knight was finally out of the weaker, thinner training armor, and was fitted with a new harder, durable, and more powerful set of armor.

Ripspeed although new was given a set of non-training armor for this particular occasion, since a full Solar eclipse only happens once every so often.

Princess Luna led her guards to a special part of the castle where not many ponies got to go. There were more and more guards, posted in every avilable space and donned heavier and heavier gear as they made their way further and further down the hallways. Where ever they were going was special to both Princesses. But within a few more turns they were upon their destination, a wide circular room with two pedastools in the center, one facing the other, and a glass window in the roof.

"Captian Speckles, we request that thee stays where thou stands with Knight and Ripspeed. We request no pony but our sister to enter." was all Luna needed from her guard.

Folloing strict orders the three guards stood at attention in the entrance blocking it as too not allow any too enter. Not much time passed when Princess Celestia, flanked by a troop of Solar Guard appered from around the corner. As the herd walked as one, every so often two stallions would break away from the group and take up positions against the hallways wall. Filling in gaps until there were three guards remaining and Princess Celestia.

"Split rank." Specs ordered in her stern militaristic voice, and the Lunar Guard broke rank and split. Specs to one side and the two newer guards to the opposite.

"Halt." the leader of the Solar Guard barked. "Split rank!" this time two solar guards crept to the side with Specs, and thier Captian, Shinning Armor stood beside Knight and Ripspeed.

"Well, hello Knight Caster and Ripspeed. It seems my sister is expanding her guard again." she spoke sweetly to both guards.

Shinning Armor was surprised by this, he knew Princess Luna aquired guards but she aquired two of his discharged stallions. He tried to keep his mind from ponduring it, and was soon lost in thought about something else.

The two Lunar Guards bit their tongues, they did not want to say anything to the comment, Instead Knight opened the door for her too enter.

After she went in and the heavy door was closed Ripspeed looked over at his Captian, who gave a nod. 'Why did she say 'again' too us?' he thought to Specs. It was true Ripspeed never heard the full story of the great war. Nor did he know the real fate of Captian Nesser, and how he had joined Princess Luna, when he was fired, causing many of his loyal guards to follow.

'I shall explain later.' she thought back to him.

'I could go for some hay bacon right now.' Knight with out knowing, intruded into their conversation, and drawing a stern look from his captian. 'Whoops, sorry I forgot you guys can hear me.' he spoke as he tried to make amends.

'Is that all you can say for yourself, your hungry. Did you not hear what the Princess said?' Ripspeed contimplated, stealing a quick glare at his friend.

'I'm sorry, but the only Princess's words I care about is Princess Luna's.' he shrugged.

'You should really reconsider that thought. We three aren't the only ones who can think talk.' she made a subtle quick nod at the other guards, who were well away into their thoughts.
Making sure the Solar Guard didnt hear their conversation, Specs told her fellow guards to remain quiet while she tried to jump into the solar guards thoughts.

'Captain Armor, did you hear the Princess? What does she mean by 'agian.' a solar guard standing right next to Specs thought with no hint of expression changing on his face to his Captian.

'She must have good reason, it's not like Princess Celestia ment anything bad, right Captian?' the other solar guard added.

Specs, was wondering why Shinning Armor has yet to reply to the guards about their Princess, until the guard next to her mentally facehoofed himself. 'Dodger, don't waste your time, he's stuck thinking about his wife. Again.... For the hundredth time today.' and with that said, Specs stole a glance at Shinning Armor, and sure enough he had a slight grin and glassed eyes, as if he was imagining something wonderful.

'Wow... These guards are complete fools.' Specs thought in her head.

'Who said that?' the guard next to her thought quickly.

Specs stood still, she forgot that if she tries to enter ones thought conversation (being as hard as it is) then you must leave that conversation, or the next words you think will be heard by the group you've joined.
'Uhm, sirrr.... Captian.... CAPTIAN!' the Solar guard thought, trying to get the attention of his fearless leader. But he was met by no response.

Specs quickly left their conversation knowing by far they had no chance of realising who intruded upon them. 'Well I'll say this... Good Solar Captians are hard to come by now a days.' she smirked at her men.

'Yup.' the two Lunar Guards thought at once.

'Now back to attention. We must be ready for what our Princess is doing.' She comanded her guards to attention.

'By the way what is she doing?' Knight thought to Specs.

"Ahha, our big sister comes at last." Luna stood at the foot of one of the thrones, but when her sister walked in she walked over to meet her.

"I am sorry that I'm late, I ran in to a little problem, but I put my most faithful student Twilight Sparkle on it." Celestia walked towards Luna.

"What hasth thou done this time?" Luna was interested in what her sister had to say. Even if it was about her 'Most Faithful Student Twilight Sparkle.'.

"Well remember how we froze Discord in stone for all eternity, and how we though it was impenetrable, but all it took was three fillys to break the curse." she gestured to a metaphorical thought bubble. "Well let's just say we need something stronger then stone."

"We must help our friend Twilight!" Luna went to rush for the doors, but a magical force grabbed her and pulled her back. "Big sis, they need us." she whinned.

"Dont worry young sister, they have already captured him." she used her magic to summon a bubble that Luna could see. Sure enough Discord was imprisoned again, but this time he was leaning on a trash can, and his hand was supporting his head up. But strangest of all was the look on his face, it was a look of 'Here it comes again. Oh no, I don't care anymore.', and his body language suggested it was getting old.

POOF! The magical bubble disappeared, and Celestia walked up to her designated seat. "See sister, Equestria is safe for yet another year." She chuckled.

"Ok Tia, shall we commence the eclipse?" Luna wanted too know. She could hear her guards getting agitated out side, so she thought talked to her Captian, 'Captian Speckles, we shalt be done soon. Keep thou guards thoughts under control.' turning and going to her designated seat across from her sister.

"Shall we begin then." Princess Celestia asked.

"Yes we shall." Princess Luna was out of practice, but her sister encouraged her anyway.

The two sisters touched horns, causing dark blue and briliant white sparks to jolt this way and that. With both powers they centred the moon infront the sun, causing a solar eclipse.

Outside the room.

Since no windows layed on the great hallways walls, Knight was unable to tell what was going on. Something felt odd to him, his armor started getting cold. He did not move, but the sensation got the best of him and he started shivering. Looking at his Captian, he noticed she was slightly jittering too. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Ripspeed doing the same. 'Specs, what is ha-happening why did it get s-s-so cold?' he could barely think.

'It'll only last a f-few mi-minutes, it'll-l pass.' she encouraged him, and shrugged towards the Solar guard.

They weren't shivering, yet instead thick beads of sweat rolled off their faces, alot of sweat. Both Lunar and Solar guards wished to be in the opposite armor, apperently what ever was being done, it was affecting the magic that powered their armor.

"Knight Stop shivering so much." Specs spoke aloud, she found it easier then thinking it too him.

Without realization of what he was doing Knight started too hear the click clank of his armor as it rubbed against itself. "Yes ma'am." said Knight.

After what seemed like an eternity, but was actually no more than ten minutes the two Princesses reappeared in the doorway, both wielding a grand smile, and the scene before them made both alicorns chuckle. "Hast thou faired well?" Luna asked her guards with a hint of playfulness.

Her guards eyes were big and soft, as they huddled together shivering tremedesly, trying to share what ever heat one might have.

"Now wasn't that fun?" Celestia asked her guards who had animated swirly eyes and were spaced well away from one another sprawled out on the floor, hopeing the marble floor would give them a little bit of coldness.

"Well sister we think thy guards need relief." Luna suggested to her sister.

"Yes sis. Shinning Armor, Corpol Dodger, and Corpol Thrasher all of you have my blessing for leave." Celestia granted her guards.

"Specs and Ripspeed, thou has permission for leave. Knight we request thee to assist us in walking to our room." Luna selected Knight, because of a simple question that arose a couple days ago. Knight released himself from the small shivering troop and followed his princesses command, takeing his place next to the princess while his fellow guards, and his polar opposite guards left.

The two sisters made an attempt at small talk but eventually said their farewells. As Princess Celestia made her way back down the hallway, her guards that were stacked on the wall started to follow her, and soon enough she was flanked by a troop of guard ponies who cared too deeply about her safety.

"Hmm," Princess Luna became lost in thought, "It seems our sister has not taken likely to being beaten by Chrysalis" she noted.

Knight glanced over at his Princess, "Princess Luna?" it came out like a question.

"What doest thou need?" she looked down at her guard, With a questioning look.

"Can you teach me about the moon and stars?" he asked her innocently. Recently he started studying all he could on the subject, but he wanted too know more. He wanted to hear from the pony who made them not read from a danky old book.

"Guard hast thou no question that must be spelt aloud?" she chuckled at his eagerness to question things, and wonder to how it all worked. "On the next full moon we shall 'teach' you everything we know." she told Knight. That being said, the pair walked quietly to Luna's bedroom, where Knight took his place standing guard all alone even though he had no need to.

End of Part 4