Following Nightmare Moon's defeat at the hands of the Elements, Princess Luna sits lakeside with her most loyal bodyguard, musing that Nightmare's unplanned demise has turned out better than all the foalish mare's victory plans ever could have. Luna's guardsman, however, is not so sure. He has given up much for the mare, home and family not least among his sacrifices, and he is left to ask, "can I ever recoup my losses?"
Nopony would be more surprised at the answer, perhaps, than himself.

Note that this is a complete, self contained, shoe polished and spit shined story, but that it is also a teaser for a much larger story that I plan to write.