A dark blue Pegasus wearing black armor marched slowly down an empty corridor. His Cutie Mark is hidden by his armor but its two spears crossing the royal seal of Equestria symbolizing his desire to protect the Princess of the Night. Under his helmet is a black mane thats air blown backwards and hardly brushed. His sky blue eyes are hardened and unblinking, nothing can shake his resolve, except of course mind crushing boredom.

“Royal Guard my flank” he muttered to himself “Nothing ever happens here, all that stuff happens in Ponyville!”

This pony is named Star Shadow, he's a member of the Canterlot Royal Guard. The night branch to be exact, so he has a very, scary looking armor, complete with bat wings.

“Just a little bit longer” he whispered while staring at a clock on the wall “Then, I can get out of here and finally have some fun.”

He rounded a corner to find that the sun is rising, Smiling he trotted off to the guard station. He saw the usual sights along the way, chef ponies scrambling to prepare the royal breakfast, maids and other servants cleaning the rooms of the royals in the castle, and no morning would be complete without Prince Blueblood freaking out over some trivial matter.

“2 percent milk!” He heard Blueblood yell “I'll have you know that I, of a higher class, will only partake in the drinking of 100 percent whole milk suckled from the mighty super goat!”

“b-but sir!” A servant pony stammered back “the last time we tried to get milk from the super goat, he head butted Charlie off the cliff!”

“And you think that matters to me? He had a stupid name anyways, 'Charlie'

What were his parents thinking?”

Star Shadow put this in the back of his mind as he slowed down in the locker room. Taking off his armor and letting one of the unicorns return his wings to normal, rather than the ghastly bat shape. He took no time in checking out his time card and flying out of the castle. “Finally! I'm out of there!” he did a quick barrel roll before descending to the ground level of Canterlot.

He walked around the city of snooty for awhile before laying his eyes upon his favorite hang out, The Berry Punch. The Berry Punch is a franchise of bars founded by the Ponyville local Berry Punch. Now, Star Shadow isn't dysfunctional, he doesn't drink first thing in the morning, he just drinks water or the occasional apple juice, when he's feeling crazy.

From across the room he spots his two best friends, Paleo Soar, and Techie.

Techie is a light brown Earth Pony with a brown curly mane with blond tips. His Cutie Mark is a computer chip with several lightning bolts coming off of it, Symbolizing his job as Canterlot's technology expert.

Paleo Soar is a tan Unicorn that looks very old in the face, but is actually about 20 pony years old. His mane is dirty blond and mid length with dark purple streaks going through it. His Cutie Mark is a skull and crossbones, but with a T-Rex skull in the middle, symbolizing his love and knowledge of the ancient creatures known as Dinosaurs.

All of these ponies have something in common, they all work under the princesses in some way, Star Shadow as we've previously learned is the night guard for Princess Luna, Techie is the Developer of almost all the technology is Equestria and is best known for his advancements in locomotives, and Paleo Soar is the head of Paleontology in Equestria, mostly because he's the only Paleontologist in Equestria.

“Look at you!” Techie cried excitedly in his slightly higher voice, “It feels like days since we last saw you!”

“Yeah!” Paleo Soar agreed “Get over here man! Sit down!”

“Okay guys, but I'll say it again, don't expect me to drink” He stuck his nose up and put his hoof on his chest “As a member of the Royal Guards of Equestria, not a drop of alcohol shall touch these lips!”

After a moment of awkward silence, Paleo and Techie started to laugh uncontrollably. “Did they also teach you to overdramatize everything?” Techie spoke out between laughs.

“Okay ha ha, you got your laughs” Star Shadow sighed.

“Oh Star, your a riot.” Paleo Soar said.

“I try! On a side note, what have you guys been up to?”

Techie rose up his hoof “Oh! I'm working on this genius invention! It will wash...Something! I haven't thought of it yet.”

“Wow” Star said “Brilliant”

“Shut up! Its a work in progress! Plus all you do is walk back and forth”

“I'll have you know that later today I'm sitting guard at Luna's throne while she speaks to the locals of Equestria.”

“Oh sitting and looking forward, mind boggling!”

“Gentlemen!” Paleo Soar Spoke loudly “ I have developed a spell that I think you would be inclined to see, If you'll follow me.”

He stands up and walks out of the bar while Techie and Star Shadow mock him silently.

“Alright then good sirs! Prepare to be amazed!” Paleo Soar focused intensely as his golden magic covers his body, and slowly a pair of brown, purple streaked Pterodactyl wings appeared on his sides.

Both Techie and Star Shadow's Eyes rose high, neither of them expecting this to be what Paleo was talking about.

“Impressed?” Paleo asked his friends.

“Yes actually” Star shadow said “Can you use them?”

“I'm not sure, I haven't tried.”

“Give it a shot”

Paleo Soar Stretched his wings wide and started to flap them, and sure enough, he was in the air. “This is invigorating!” he yelled as he flew...straight into a wall.

Star Shadow went to go help him up while saying “How about you hold off on the flying until you get some lessons from the flier in our group”

“Techie?” Paleo replied sarcastically.

“Ha ha, your a riot Paleo, but I gotta get home now. Gotta rest up for guard duty tonight.”

“Alrghty then, we'll seeing you tonight” Techie said.

“Really? Well I'll be seeing you then” Star Shadow raised his wings and flew off. His home is just a small apartment just outside of Canterlot, it's mostly empty, just a bed and...that's about it. He lives alone, and spends most of his time at his job. He sighed to himself as he laid down in his bed and went to sleep.

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That Night...

Star Shadow walked down the hallway of Canterlot castle to meet Princess Luna in her Chambers. He smiled to himself, Knowing from what Techie told him earlier that today would be interesting. He regained his composer as he approached the Princess's room.

He banged his hoof on the door “Princess Luna, I have come to retrieve you so that you may hear your citizens”

silence...

“Princess?” He bangs his hoof on the door again.

More Silence...

“Hmm, Maybe she isn't here.”

“Boo!”

Star Shadow let out a girly scream just before he realized the this was the Princess.

“Ah” he said “Trying out 'Fun' again aren't you?”

“Yes, After visiting Ponyville we have been finding fun in all places!”

“Still using the Royal We?”

Luna rubbed her hoof behind her head “Um, yes, some habits are hard to break”

Star Shadow smiled “Worry not princess, I'm sure that you'll break it soon.”

“Thank you Star Shadow, Let us head to the throne room”

Star Shadow went stone face and marched the Princess down the hall into the throne room.

The Princess sat down in her throne and in the Traditional Canterlot Voice yelled “BRING IN THE FIRST PONY!!”

A pale yellow earth pony with a dirty blond mane and an apple cutie mark, wearing a brown vest and cowpony hat. “Howdy Princess! The name's Braeburn! I come representin'” He rears up “AAAPPLEOOSSA!”

“Okay then Mr. Braeburn, What have you come to see us about?”

“Well Princess, Appleoosa is a farming based town, and the weather is a bit to dry for our liking, and-”

“Isn't Appleoosa in a desert?”

“W-what?”

“Appleoosa, is it not in a desert?”

“Well, yes Princess, but ah don't see what that hasta do with anything”

“If it's a farming based town, then why base it in the desert?”

“Uh, well, ah don't know princess, ah just moved there”

The Princess face hoofed “Well, we guess we could get an answer later, what is your question?”

“Well as I was saying princess, the weather in Appleoosa is a bit to dry, and we don't have any sort of weather team there, or Pegasus...Pegagasi...Pegasuses... Flyin' Air Ponies, and we like some rain on occasion to keep our soil moist without using our drinkin' water.”

“Well, other than moving the farm to another, more reasonable location, we could send some of the Weather Team from Cloudsdale to your town and have them bring in some rain clouds on a regular schedule, does that sound alright?”

Braeburn Smiled an ear to ear smile “Why yes Princess! That sounds perfect!”

As Braeburn walked out, Luna yelled, again in the Royal Canterlot Voice “BRING IN THE NEXT PONY!!”

A loud clunking noise is heard outside the giant double doors, a muffled “Don't hurt it!” is heard just before the doors open and reveal a giant structure covered by a tarp, and Star Shadow's friend, Techie.

“Ah, Techie! My favorite scientist!” Luna says “Is it time for us to see where all of the bits you put into research went?”

“Yes Princess! I'm Sure you'll be impressed! Paleo if you will!”

Star Shadow smirked, only the slightest, he knew something amazing is about to happen.

Paleo used his magic to lower the tarp and reveal Techie's invention. It's a large square shaped structure with an arch in the middle made to fit...something, and bunch of brightly colored brushes.

“This, my Princess, is... a car wash!”

“A what?”

“A car wash! It'll wash your car!”

“What's a car?”

“Erm...I'm not entirely sure, But this'll wash it!”

“we gave you...10,000 bits a month...and you give us this?!” Luna wasn't as mad as she was irritated

“Well, Princess, I'm sure that it'll be useful for something...I-I tried my best”

Luna sighs, facehoofs and says “alright, just bring us a new, usable invention by the end of the week. Your dismissed.”

“Yes Princess!”

The princess chuckles and invites in the next pony.

Prince Blueblood, in all little of his glory walks through the door. “Auntie Luna!” He yells. “I demand that all milk in the castle be replaced with milk from the super goat!!”

“Blueblood...Please tell us you aren't serious.”

“I'm absolutely serious!” He stops his hoof “The milk from the super goat is a fine exquisite beverage that can enhance any meal!”

“Blueblood, I wouldn't put on my servants anything I wouldn't do myself, and last time we got milk from the super goat we lost Charlie.”

“So?”

“I won't lose any more servants.”

“So I have to drink...regular milk?!”

“Yes, I know its hard, but we believe in you”

“Fine!” he stomps his hoof “But Celestia will hear of this!!”

He storms out of the room as both Star Shadow and Luna laugh under their breath.

“NEXT PONY!!”

Techie and Paleo burst through the door again, still with the car wash. “Princess” Techie yells “I give you... the automatic shower!!”

“Techie...This is the car wash..”

“No, look at the sign. Automatic Shower!!” This was true, on the sign the words "Car Wash" were scribbled put and replaced with "Automatic Shower".

"Paleo, are you a part of this?" Luna asked

"No" he said through a felt tip pen in his mouth

Luna Face hoofed again and said “Make another 1000, sell them for 100 bits each.”

“Thank you Princess!” Techie beamed.

“Your dismissed. As are you Star Shadow, I need to go to bed.”

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Star Shadow left his armor off at the locker room and left for the Berry Punch. “I can't believe Techie's crazy contraption actually got the Princesses praise. He's gonna be bragging at the bar today.”

He smiled and took off towards the bar, landing gracefully and walking inside. As soon as he walked in he noticed a very slender Pegasus mare sitting at the bar counter. “hmm....She seems nice”She has a light pearl coat and a blond mane, He couldn't really get a good look at her eyes, but he could see that her Cutie Mark was a winged Shield, probably meaning she's on the day guard.

“I'm gonna go talk to her” Star Shadow thought. He walked over to the bar and tried to sound as casual as possible “*ahem* Hello miss, I would like to..umm, talk?” he wasn't very good at sounding casual.

“First off” She spoke back in an oddly deep voice “I'm a Stallion. Second, your weird, go away.” Now that he got a look at his eyes, he found them to be an oddly beautiful deep blue.

“Oh, I apologize then, I'm Star Shadow.”

“I'm Aero”(prounounced Air-e-o) “Now go away please? I'm trying to enjoy my day off”

“Oh, again I apologize. You just seemed, lonely. If you'd like someone to talk to, your welcome to join us over there” He pointed a hoof at the booth that he and his friends sit at, where Techie was waving wildly.

Aero looked down at his drink silently as Star Shadow walked away. He made his way over to the booth where he and his friends usually sat. Techie sat at the end of the booth with a giant smile on his face. “Can you believe it Star Shadow? One of my inventions was a success!”

“So far” Star Shadow replied “The last invention you made wasn't to good, I mean who's ever heard of a magic powered cider maker?”

“True, but who wouldn't want this?”

“Well I watched a servant named Charlie III try it and it removed most of his coat.”

“So what? He had a stupid name!”

“I guess” Star Shadow said as he sat down

“So tell us the story about that pretty mare from across the bar.” Paleo said.

“Firstly, He's a Stallion, Secondly, he said I'm weird and thats all I'm at liberty to tell you.”

“Well, he seems a bit lonely drinking hard Cider, well, by himself.”

“Yeah, I invited him over here if he wanted to come and talk to us.”

“He looks like he's content in staying there with himself”

“I feel sorry for him though.” Star Shadow looked over at Aero again sadly, and started to feel a weird tingle in his chest

"You okay Star?" Techie asked

"Yeah, I'm fine"

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another day later...

Star Shadow walked down the halls of Canterlot Castle heading to the throne room of Princess Celestia “I've never been called in the morning before. I wonder what she wants”

He headed through the giant double doors and saw the very same Stallion he saw in the bar last night and the two princesses sitting on their thrones “Star Shadow, my faithful guard. Sit please.”

“Yes Princess” He said

“Now then” Celestia started “I called the two of you together to tell you of a scouting mission that I think fits you two perfectly, I need you to go to Fillydelphia and check on how the progress of the recovery effort is going after the parasprite attack

“Yes Princess” Both the guards said.

“Most haste, the both of you! And take those saddle bags” she pointed a hoof at some saddlebags in the corner “They have all the materials you'll need.”

“Yes Princess!” Both of the Pegasus said while flying out of the room.

Both Star Shadow and Aero flew out of the castle and headed towards Fillydelphia

“Hey Star Shadow” Aero started

“Yes?”

“Go ahead and try not to talk to much, you annoy me.”

“Oh... I see.”

They flew in silence for awhile before things started to get awkward. Aero started to whistle Equestria Girls and Star Shadow just stared at the distance. They were like this for an hour until the sun started to fall. “We should take the night off, its getting cold and dark.”

“Fine” Aero agrees.

They set up the tent started to munch on some Granola bars “Shouldn't we light a fire?” Aero asks.

“We have hooves buddy, good luck doing that with your mouth.”

“True, we should go in the tent, sleep for tonight.”

“Yes, I'll join you in a moment.” Star Shadow he took a drink from his canteen and walked over inside the tent.

After getting inside he saw that Aero was shivering and chattering his teeth. Star Shadow smirked and cuddled next to him “What the hay are you doing?” Aero demanded

“You were cold, we have no blankets, I'm using my body to warm you.” Star felt a weird tingly feeling in his chest as he cuddled closer to Aero. Aero himself was blushing but tried his best to hide it.

“You know Star Shadow, you aren't so bad” Aero said softly

“Thanks, that means a lot” They both smiled as Star Shadow snuggled into Aero's neck

“Hey” Aero said, falsely harsh “You might be enjoying this to much.”

“Oh” Star backed off a bit “sorry”

Aero moved back with him “Don't be so serious, relax”

Star felt his body relax some into Aero as he for one of the first times actually relaxed. Just as Star Shadow was about to fall asleep Aero spoke up “Hey, you awake?”

“Barely”

“Why are you so tense? We have pretty much the same job”

Star Shadow waited for awhile before answering “I was a Guard when Nightmare Moon attacked and when Discord attacked, both times I had a marefriend, and both times they had to leave because they were scared I'd die, so I try not to keep to attached to people.”

“Well, If its any consolation, your pretty cool, I'll be your friend."

Star Shadow smiled to himself "Thanks

“Ha, we should go to sleep.”

“You first...”

“No...you...”

Both of them fell asleep in each other's hooves, both feeling the same thing but not sure how to say it, and they both dreamed of each other.

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The next morning...

Aero was the first to wake up, and was oddly pleased to find himself still in Star Shadow's hooves. After a few minutes Star woke up too with a loud yawn.

"Hey" Aero said quietly "good morning"

"Hey" Star Shadow replied sleepily "Same to you"

"Thanks"

"Hey Aero?"

"Yeah?"

“Thank you, so much.” He looked onto Aero's eyes, he was thankful for his dark coat, because under that his cheeks were flushed

“Your welcome, but we've gotta get moving buddy” Aero looked back and blushed too.

“Yeah”

Both Aero and Star Shadow left the tent and got in their armor, packed the tent and flew off towards the mountains.

“Be careful here” Star Shadow said, "this is Griffin territory, they tend to not like ponies."

Their flight was mostly uneventful as they flew around the mountain.

“We should be seeing Fillydelphia any time now” Aero said

“Like I said though, Keep an eye out” As soon as Star Shadow said this, they both heard a group of eagle screeches. Griffins, a group of three.

“Crap! Fly!” Aero screamed as he broke off into a barrel roll as Star Shadow followed along. Aero looked behind him and saw that one of the Griffins was catching up to Star Shadow, so he tucked back his wings to stop his movement and tackled the Griffin.

“Stupid ponies!” He yelled “I'll kill the both of you!”

Aero wrestled with the Griffin for awhile until he got and opening and slashed the side of the pony, leaving three deep gashes and slicing in half some of his main flight feathers. Aero screamed and bucked the Griffin's beak, cracking it in a few parts. “AERO!” Star Shadow screamed. He dove down and dodged the hurt Griffin's claws. Flapping his wings as fast as he could, he finally caught up to Aero.

Aero couldn't feel a thing, he was in to much pain. He tried to flap his wings, but they felt weird. He knew he was loosing a lot of blood, and he heard the ground rushing towards him. “At at least Star's safe...” He heard some wings rushing towards him, and in an instant, the most powerful force he's ever felt tackle him. He opened his eyes and saw that it was Star Shadow, tears flying from his eyes and muttering “Not you too... I'll never let you die.”

Star Shadow slowed down and landed softly in a grassy field. “Hold still, I gotta patch you up”

“Hey, Star?”

“Yes?” He pulled a small bottle of rubbing alcohol out of the saddlebags. “This is gonna hurt” He poured decent amount onto the wound, Aero screamed and Star Shadow started to cry again “I'm sorry, I'm so sorry.”

“Gosh, I'm tired, losing a lot of blood I Suppose, I've gotta tel you something.”

“Yes?” Star Shadow held Gauze against the wound.

“Last night, I started to feel that I liked you, as more than a friend. I've been thinking about how I should tell you. Now just seemed right.” Aero's eyes were half shut and he was smiling.

Star Shadow went over to the saddlebags and got the tarp they use to make the tent, lied it on the ground and tying two corners into a knot, so he could have it around his neck, he then lightly dragged Aero onto the tarp, put on the saddlebags and put the tarp around his neck.

“We should get going, we should be in Fillydelphia by sunset.

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After a few hours of dragging, Fillydelphia could finally be seen in the distance. “Only a few hours now”

“You should let me walk.”

“Oh, your awake?” Star Shadow sounded happy “and also, no, I'm not sure you can”

“Just let me try, your tired”

“No, I don't know how deep your wound is, it might be down to the muscle, if you walk, you might make it worse.”

Star Shadow walked along silently. For awhile fore speaking up “Aero”

“Yeah?”

“Earlier, when you told me how you felt about me, well. I feel same way. It's pretty hard for me to get close to people, but you. Well. Your just amazing. And I want to protect you. Better than the others.”

“What actually happened to them?”

“My first marefriend was killed by a manticore in the Everfree Forest while we were hiking, and my second marefriend was killed by Discord's chaos.”

“Why did you lie about your First marefriend? You said Nightmare Moon killed her.”

“I did lie, and I'm sorry about that, but it was because, well...I watched her die, I saw her get attacked and I was paralyzed with fear. I was to much of a coward. So I joined the Royal Equestrian Army. I wanted to get brave, to get strong. Then I became a night guard, to protect the young princess. Then Discord attacked, Celestia ordered us to protect Luna, and not let her leave our sight. Then, because I couldn't leave to protect her, so when chaos struck, she died too.”

“Those weren't your fault, you couldn't stop that”

“I know, and I used to feel empty, but know, I have a coltfriend now, and that emptiness has been filled.”

Aero blushed and looked Star Shadow in the eye. “your a sweet heart.”

Star Shadow stopped walking and laid down next to Aero and nuzzled him softly. “I know, you are too”

They stayed like that for awhile, just enjoying each other's company and listening to each other breathe.

“I hate to be the one to ruin this moment, but we gotta get going, you need to get to the hospital.” Star Shadow stood up and started to drag the tarp

Aero pouted and said “aww, party pooper”

Star Shadow started to walk again and after a few seconds. Aero spoke up “You know, I have a really great view from here.”

“Of what?”

“The moon”

“What are you talking about? It's the middle of the day and...oh” Star Shadow blushed “your a pervert”

“And you love it!” Aero smiled brightly

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After another few hours, they finally arrived in Fillydelphia “I can't drag you any further” Star Shadow said “If I do, then the concrete will tear up the tarp and scrape your flank, and I don't want to damage that, its precious merchandise.”

“So, what are you going to leave and get help?”

“Nope”

“Then what are you going to-”

“HELP! THIS PONY IS HURT! SOMEPONY HELP!” And sure enough some ponies came over, some

ponies came over offering help themselves, and some ran off to find a hospital cart.

“Such a drama queen...” Aero sighed.

“Hey it worked.”  Star Shadow smirked and a hospital cart came around the corner. The ponies pulling it in attached themselves and pulled a stretcher from the back of the cart and helped Aero get on it and into the back of the cart.

There was a doctor pony inside who looked  prepared for the worst “What happened?”

“Griffins attacked, He fought off one of them, but the one he fought off also got a pretty good shot at him” he pointed a hoof at the bandages on Aero's side. The doctor removed the bandages and raised his eyebrows.

“Wow, these wounds were treated very well, looks like your going to heal very well”

“Yeah” Aero looked up at Star Shadow “I guess I have a guardian angel”

Star Shadow leaned down and nuzzled Aero. The doctor, oblivious to the situation continued “We'll have to extract the feathers that were cut in half so new ones can grow in properly, and we defiantly have to put stitches in those gashes. And your gonna be grounded for awhile, but I'll give you some exercises that your friend there can help you with.”

Star Shadow and Aero looked and each other and said “I would like that.”

“let's get inside and get you healed up”

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...inside the hospital

“First” The doctor started, “we have to stitch up these wounds.”

“Will it hurt?” Aero sounded worried

“Not at all, we're going to numb the area.”

“Will that hurt?”

“No, but it will tingle”

“Alright, but Star has to be here” Star Shadow nuzzled against Aero affectionately

“That's fine Mr. Aero.”

Aero turned around to nuzzle back his coltfriend and suddenly felt a sharp pain in his flank, and he let out a girly scream. “Hey! You said it wouldn't hurt!” he turned around and saw Star Shadow chuckling “It's not funny!”

“C'mon, its a little bit funny.”

“And we're done!” The doctor announced proudly.

“Really?” Aero asked “that quick?”

“Yes, you were occupied for a bit. So I just did it then, went without a hitch!”

“Great! But now we have to remove my feathers don't we?”

“Yes, but that won't hurt to much, we can do it here”

“I'm a bit nervous, I don't like pa-ahh!” The doctor plucked out one of his feathers “Stop doing that!”

“Sorry Mr. Aero, I've found that it works best in most situations.”

As he went through plucking off every feather from Aero's wing, Star Shadow held on to his hoof to calm the pain. Once he was finally done the doctor started to teach Star Shadow how to help Aero with his Exercises.

“Okay Mr. Shadow, using your hooves just grab the tip of his wing and stretch it out until the joint pops.”

“Thats it?”

“Yes, your free to leave”

“Alright! Time to get to our hotel!” Aero yelled, hoof pumping into the air.

“We have a Hotel?”

“We're part of the Celestial Guard, of course we do”

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...Hours later

“I can't believe that all we could get was a crappy motel” Aero grumbled

“Hey, at least we get to share a bed”

Aero bumped his shoulder against Star Shadow's “That's true”

Star Shadow Climbed into the bed as Aero followed behind him “You tired?” he asked

“Not even close”

Aero moved in closer to Star Shadow and nuzzled into his neck. Star Shadow was tense at first but relaxed into it, and they both fell asleep in that position