Epilogue.

One could say the moon would forever be lonely. Forever chasing the sun for company, forever falling behind. Some might say she'd be forever lonely within the boundaries of the sky. Some would argue she has the stars for company. That she has countless adoring subjects, but none to call her own.

Some might say she was happy that way.

Princess Luna found herself at a hospital bed for the second time that year. Again she was looking down at the prone form of Stalwart Defender as he lay unconscious in the hospital bed. She hadn't slept, she hadn't eaten. Three days. Three days she'd been at Canterlot now, and still she refused to leave the medical wing, even going so far as to refuse access from even her own sister. In an adjoining bed had, for the past day, held Demonheart. But he was long gone. The final strike from Screaming Solace had shattered his wing, the last of the strength from his wing gone, Heart Sworn had regretfully told Luna that, unless a miracle occurred, he'd never fly again.

Eventually Celestia had bullied her way in and practically dragged Luna out, reminding her none too gently that she had work to do.

That was one week after return.

---

Defender felt pain. A dull ache in his wing, ribs and all of his legs. His eyes remained closed and a low groan escaped his throat.

"Ah, he wakes! The triumphant hero awakens. It's about bloody time."

Slowly, and wincing at the stabs of pain at his eyes from the light.

"Nngh… who's there? Where…?"

A smiling face appeared before his eyes, wearing a startlingly familiar helm. Defender smiled.

"Ah… Brave… If you're here, that means I'm at Canterlot."

"That's right!"

Another familiar voice and he turned his head a little. The smiling face of Heart Sworn came into focus beside Brave Wing.

"Heart Sworn? But… if you're here…"

She nodded, her smile fading a little.

"Yes, you're in the Canterlot hospital. You're um…. You're pretty badly banged up."

"Yeah Defender, what did you do? Fight a tribe of angry manticores?"

Defender chuckled softly.

"Heh… no, there were only six of them. Unicorns are… interesting opponents. One of them got me from behind. Cowardly bastard."

"Jeez man, what he hit you with? A goddamn wrecking ball?"

Again, a snort of laughter.

"No. It was a baton. You'd be surprised what force a unicorn can put behind a blow when they're using telekinesis."

Brave barked out a laugh.

"Apparently not enough to kill the great Stalwart Defender huh?"

A small, pained smile.

"Guess not. Hey, is Luna okay?"

Heart Sworn giggled.

"Yes, the princess is just fine. You know, in the two weeks you've been asleep she's been very busy. Think she fired half of the guards in the castle and imprisoned a couple more. It's been an interesting week, and I don't think the guard captain is terribly impressed with her, but she did it anyway."

She frowned slightly in confusion.

"Oh, and she went to visit some colt. She looked a little offended when she left though. I don't think he liked her very much."

His eyes widened at the talk of the colt, reminded of the young filly he saw in the lower regions of the castle.

"The filly! From the castle!"

Heart Sworn and Wing traded worried glances.

"Um… well… Nyx is…"

Defender felt his heart drop.

"She's not…?"

Heart Sworn shook her head.

"No, Nyx… We did all we could for her. She had nothing left."

"I… I see…"

"I'm sorry Defender…"

"…. Yeah. Me too."

There was silence for a time before Brave perked up.

"Oh! Apparently you had a visitor at some point, although nopony signed in. He or she left you something. Came with a note. Here."

The young stallion was rooting around at the underside of the bed as he spoke and he came up with a plain brown box. On it was, as said, a plain note with Defender's name written across it. Opening the note, Defender was painfully aware of his two friends, for he'd come to know them as such, leaning over to read it as well. He smiled and began to read out loud.

'Stalwart Defender.

I apologise, I had to borrow this. I have changed my mind, you may keep this. Perhaps someday it will be of use to you once more.'

Confused at the short and rather vague note, Defender handed it to Heart Sworn and tentatively opened the package. The nurse and guard duo not in the bed recoiled in shock and disgust at what was revealed and Defender's face split into a wry smile.

A mask of bone with the depiction of leaves etched into it.

---

Five weeks later.

"Who is it?"

Defender hesitated, his armour was absent from his still injured body, only his helmet on his head. Bandages wrapped around his chest prohibited from breathing too deeply. He stood outside of Luna's door, having knocked just recently upon it. To be honest, he shouldn't even be out here. His injuries were too severe, and his wing was wrapped tightly to his body. He'd also been told earlier by Heart Sworn that his wing injury was much too severe to allow him to ever fly again.

He'd been effectively grounded. Incapable of flight for the rest of his life.

May as well get this over with.

"It's me."

There was silence for a moment before the door swung open and Luna sat in the doorway.

"Defender? What are you doing out of bed?"

He smiled.

"I thought that you visited me so much, I figured I should visit you for once."

The look she gave him was suspicious and he sighed.

"Alright, and I had something to tell you. Now can I please come in?"

Luna looked a little more satisfied and nodded, stepping aside to allow him to enter. He limped into the familiar room and smiled.

"I see you haven't gotten any better at keeping your room clean princess."

Luna humphed in mock offense as she closed the door, practically prancing back into the room. As concerned as she was for him, she was glad to see him, and very glad he could walk again.

"So? What is it Defender?"

Defender was silent for a long moment before walking out to the balcony, The wispy, feather-light curtains blowing in the breeze from the night. Curious, Luna followed him, sitting beside him.

"Defender?"

Defender took a deep breath of the crisp, cool night air to steady his nerves.

Alright, here we go.

Slowly, he took his helmet off and offered it to Luna.

"Princess, I'm resigning my post."

Luna looked at the helmet in shock.

"I.. what!"

He put the helmet at her hooves.

"I'm resigning from my position as head guard. I failed you princess, as a guard. I failed you. I failed to provide protection when needed most. I am unfit of the position."

Luna stared at him.

"Unfit..? But you saved me!"

He shook his head.

"No, I cannot continue knowing that I allowed you to be harmed. I cannot be here every second of the day and night, so I know I cannot keep you safe for said time either."

Luna felt tears developing in her eyes.

"D..Defender! W..Why?"

She looked down at the brand new cutie mark gracing the stallion's flanks, A tri pointed shield with a crescent moon engraved upon it, the two points encompassing the top most and bottom most point of a four pointed star.

"You just got your cutie mark by defending me, why would you quit now?"

"I just told you why princess."

Luna paused for a long while before sighing, trying to hold back tears.

"Alright… I don't like it, but alright. But… where will you go?"

Defender smiled at the tears running down her cheeks.

She does care…

"Well… Princess…"

He took the helmet back and reached inside it, bringing out a flower found only in the Royal Gardens. It was also considered a crime to pick them. A Lunar Lily was an exceedingly rare flower, and it bloomed during the night. During the day, the petals closed themselves up, defending their fragile inner selves from the harsh light. Luna gasped.

"Defender! It's illegal to pick these! You can be fined for doing so!"

His smile widened a little.

"Princess, please. I have permission. Well, sort of. The groundskeeper got a request to move a bunch of them and the groundskeeper uh… 'relocated' one of them into my hooves. Something tells me Celestia already knows about it."

Luna paused in her concern.

"I… don't understand."

Defender blushed lightly as he carefully and rather hesitantly tucked the flower behind her ear.

"I was reading a book a while back during my… inability to move, and I came across a very interesting part concerning olden day methods of courtship. Apparently, in the older times, the way to request courtship with mare you were interested in was to pick a flower and give it to them as a gift, often worn behind the ear, like so."

Luna's eyes widened as she realised what he was getting at and her face flushed. She spoke slowly, carefully.

"And… in return the mare could either return the flower, or give him a token in turn to accept his advances…"

Defender nodded nervously. Luna's hoof went up to the flower at her ear, feeling its petals slide over her hoof. Her horn started glowing and a deep purple ribbon, nearly black, with pinpricks of silver light, reminiscent o the night sky, floated over from her dresser.

"They would often tie it in their mane, easily seen."

Defender's heart leapt to his throat as the ribbon secured itself at the end of his mane, giving him a ponytail styled mane.

"Luna, would you be willing to accept my courtship?"

Luna felt her heart skip a beat.

He used my name!

She giggled giddily, on hoof lifting to cover her blushing cheeks.

"Doesn't my token already answer that?"

He smiled before tossing the helmet away just before she leapt into his hooves, hugging him fiercely, knocking the breath out of him.

"Oof! Luna! Injured still, Injured!"

She pulled away just as quickly, concern sweeping over her.

"Oh! I'm sorry, are you alright?"

He nodded, one hoof seeking out hers as he took a small step closer, chest to chest with her.

"Luna, I know I'm not perfect, and I'm certainly not a prince. I have no royal blood, and I'm no longer even capable of flight. But I Mmphff!"

He was cut off, eyes widening in shock as she surged forward, pressing her lips to his in a passionate kiss, her wings sweeping around him, hooves following suit. After a moment of stunned, non-response, Luna broke away, blushing heavily.

"I.. I'm sorry, too quick? I swear, I don't know what came over me."

Defender took a moment to try and clear his head before looking down at her. Her wings were in the middle of retracting back to her sides when he smiled.

"A little warning perhaps next time Princess?"

She pouted.

"Defender!"

He chuckled softly.

"Alright, Alright. Luna."

He leaned down and kissed her gently. The princess reacted instantly, pressing back eagerly. Unseen by the both of them, since both sets of eyes had closed some time back, Luna's long horn began to glow. The glow magnified, beginning to encompass the pair. The skin beneath his bandages began to glow, his mane, his coat, Defender was encompassed by a halo of light. His eyes snapped open as he felt the usual itch from his healing bones, bruises and lacerations turn into a dull ache, then begin to pick up again. He winced, breaking away from Luna.

"Defender? What's wrong?" Luna asked, eyes still closed, trying to savour the last of the rush from their last kiss.

"L..Luna, what are you doing to me?"

Her eyes opened in confusion and her face turned from one of bliss to shock.

"I.. I don't know! Defender!"

The pain turned into an intense burning sensation and, tearing the bandages as they plowed straight through them, his wings burst from his sides, full spread. He cried out in pain, eyes screwed shut, as the burning sensation, for a moment, intensified.

"Defender!"

He was vaguely aware of the desperate cries from Luna as he suddenly felt a great weight lift from his shoulders The bandages covering his legs, chest and wings fell from him, leaving a pile of bandages around him. He took in a gasp of air and his eyes snapped open. Before him was the concerned face of Luna.

"Are you okay?"

He blinked and smiled.

"Never better."

His wings flexed, painlessly extending and retracting, his hooves the same.

"Luna… I don't know what you did but…"

He grinned.

"I feel better than I ever have before."

He nuzzled her gently.

"Thank you."

"You may find that you're not quite finished yet Defender."

The pair, Luna and Defender looked over at the doorway, which now stood open. Celestia was at the threshold of the room, a gentle smile on her face. Defender gulped nervously.

"Uh… I… I can explain princess, I swear."

Celestia giggled softly.

"My dear little pony. I think the Lunar Lily in my sister's mane, and the ribbon in yours, tells me exactly what I need to know."

The door swung shut as Celestia stepped in.

"But, you were wondering what Luna has done to you, as you should be."

Defender nodded, his head held down low in a sign of surrender, submission.

"You can stand tall Defender, I'm not going to bite you. What Luna has done hasn't been seen in many years. Alicorns are born in one of a few ways. The first is natural and can happen to almost anypony. The second way is that one of us, me or my sister, have a foal. However, that had never happened at all. Not to mention our cycles function much differently to any normal pony. The third… well, you just experienced it."

Defender frowned.

"I… I don't understand."

Celestia smiled.

"Cadance could explain it better, but it's said, in old legend, that when an Alicorn loves another, and the attachment is honestly reciprocated, the old magics dormant within the alicorn surface and transform the other."
She smiled.

"After all. One should never have to witness the death of the one they love, should they?"

---

Alright, finally finished it. I would like to say right now that the idea of the flower and the token was not my idea. I would like to thank the wonderful author of 'To Love The Moon' for that piece of brilliance, Indigo Eclipse~ Well, I hope you all enjoyed the new and improved Midnight Guardian, have a good day/night and eat plenty of bacon. Unless you're vegetarian, in which case sit forlornly to the side watching me eat bacon in hungry longing.