Twilight walked down the dark lunar corridors looking for Acropolis. Spike had said he had showed up earlier in the evening and had headed down into the Lunar wing without her. She walked through the massive doorway that separates the Lunar wing from the rest of the castle and found him bowed before the window in prayer.

“Aren't you taking that story a little to seriously?” she asked with a chuckle.

“I figured while we are here we might as well observe the traditions of these halls.” he stood up. Smiling at her. “Shall we?”

What followed was more sorting and hauling books out of the ancient library. He thought of what Applejack had said and of Lyra’s lost canary. These thoughts were just filler in his mindscape. In the back of his mind all he thought of was the voice that called to him. Halfway through the night, while the moon high in the sky, Acropolis found himself near the barracks door again. He could feel eyes on him, as if the door itself was staring at him.

Come to me soldier!

It was loud, like the speaker was standing next to him. He looked to Twilight, she was looking calmly through her books. She hadn't heard it. How could she have not?

To arms!

Again? Arms? What was it? The door? No. it was from beyond the door.

Formation! NOW!

The voice was coming from the Armory! He knew it. He felt it. He wanted it to stop. It was so loud in his ears. He bolted into the barracks and made his way to the armory door. Twilight had seen him flinch and when he ran off she followed him. He came to a stop in front of the armory. Twilight landed next to him, concerned with his sudden actions.

“You cant open it,” Twilight reminded, “Luna said only Lunar Guards and herself could open it.” her statement had no effect he reached for the door. “Even Big Mac couldn't buck it open. And my magic-”

Acropolis pushed on the door, and it swung open with ease.

“-couldn't open it” she trailed off. They stood there in silence for a moment that felt like eternity. He had just opened a door that shouldn't have opened. They stood in the doorway of a room they should not be seeing. So of course, they went in.

The room was circular with racks of weapons and armor lining the walls. Each suit of armor had its own station and supplies. The walls were decorated with more depictions of conquests and wars. Carved into the rock just like the others. On the ceiling was a skylight with a lone beam of moonlight focused into the middle of the room illuminating a lone armor set. It was well worn, clearly it had seen many battles, it was scraped, and glorious. It was dark metal with blue details, like nothing he had seen before. It stood there commanding, even with no pony inside it, it demanded respect. Acropolis never thought that a suit of armor could cast such a presence.

“Whoa.” Twilight said after moment breaking the silence. “that must be the captains armor. I if recall correctly he was never defeated in battle and he supposedly survived injuries that would have killed lesser ponies. Some even rumored he was immortal. He had exiled himself when Princess Luna fell from grace.” Acropolis eyes were locked on the armor. “But research and records show he was just a normal stallion. Well an extraordinary stallion, but mortal nonetheless. He passed shortly after Nightmare Moon was exiled. Records says he died of exhaustion but those around him say he died of a broken heart, he truly loved the princess.” she trailed off realizing that Acropolis hadn't moved. His eyes still locked on the armor.

FORMATION!

The voice called in his head. He snapped to stance, startling Twilight, his legs taut, hooves evenly apart, back straight, eyes forward, expressionless, hoof to his heart. Twilight was very confused.

“Acropolis? You okay?” Twilight asked.

WHO DO YOU SERVE? The voice boomed.

“PRINCESS LUNA!” Acropolis shouted and giving Twilight another fright. His eyes were glazed over as if he was sleepwalking.

“Princess Luna?” she looked around at the empty room. There was only her and him in the room.

WHAT DO YOU PROTECT? It boomed even louder.

“EQUESTRIA’S NIGHT!” Acropolis shouted even louder. His eyes were still locked on the armor. Every muscle in body was tight. Twilight was starting to get worried as Acropolis started repeating himself, shouting over and over again. Twilight had to excuse her self from the noise. His shouts reminded her of the royal Canterlot voice that Luna had used when she visited Ponyville. The freshly turned princess figured Luna would know what to do. After all this was her chamber, her magic had sealed it. The Princess of the Night would know how to handle this. Twilight turned only to stop dead in her tracks. In the barracks, stood a tall and dark figure, showered in the moons gentle beams.

“Good evening Princess Twilight,” Princess Luna greeted, “It would seem that some pony hath opened our door.”

Acropolis was still shouting in the armory as Twilight met with Princess Luna. His voice was echoing through the empty halls. The Princess of the Night seemed amused by this strange turn of events. She kept a slight grin on her face as they spoke.  

“Princess, what is going on here?” Twilight asked. As they stood there the moon seemed to brighten and fill the room completely. Luna seemed to glow and her mane seemed to sparkled more. Twilight took this as a sign Luna was excited for what was happening.

“It would seem that the recruitment process hath begun.” Luna smiled and leaned down to Twilight. “Here, we will give to thee a spell so thou can see what is happening.” Luna’s horn sparked as she touched Twilight’s. The purple alicorn was confused as the spell didn't seem to do anything but she proceeded to look back into the armory. There stood the largest Stallion she had ever seen, he made Big Mac look like a child. He had scars all over his body clearly he was a warrior. Then she noticed that he was transparent and wearing the armor on the stand. A ghost?

“Princess? Who is that? Is he a ghost?” Twilight asked her interest was now peaked.

“That, Twilight, is Lunar Strike. The captain of the Lunar Guard of old.” she motioned to the carvings and murals all around them. “And he is more of a echo than a ghost, he will fulfill his objective and vanish. Returning back to history where he belongs.” As Luna walked into the armory it seemed to greet her by purple fire torches igniting along the walls.

Acropolis clearly saw the apparition as well, the massive stallion stood over him, he was massive. The shouting exercise had stopped and now the stallion was barking regulations at him, ancient outdated rules of dress that Acropolis and obviously shattered with his simple guard attire.

“Lunar Strike! Report!” Luna entered the room as a princess should, wings wide, demanding voice, and chest puffed all the way up. The apparition stopped and saluted her.

“PRINCESS, I BELIEVE WE HAVE OUR NEW CAPTIAN!” The royal canterlot tone was strong in this one and this time Twilight heard it too. It was so loud it rattled the armor sets around them.

“This one?” Luna looked at Acropolis. His eyes were filled with confusion, like he was still half asleep but standing upright. “Lunar Strike, are thou sure?” she asked getting right up nose to nose with Lunar Strike, her eyes alight with royal power.

“Do I get a say?” Acropolis spoke up cautiously. Lunar Strike cast daggers with his eyes at him, apparently he didn’t.

“DO YOU QUESTION MY JUDGEMENT? I HAVE SEEN HIS SOUL, PEERED INTO HIS HEART!” A smile came across the ancient stallions face. “He reminds me of me.” the royal canterlot voice falling away. “He loves your nights and the desire to protect burns in him. He will serve. He will survive the armors test.”

“So sure of thine candidate?” Luna looked over at Acropolis, sheer terror had come to his face. “But we will speak to him alone for a moment Lunar Strike.” she motioned for Acropolis to step out, which he did with much haste. Lunar strike faded back into the armor.

“Acropolis? Are you okay?” Twilight asked catching him as he started to lose his balance on the way out.

“Haha,” he seemed delirious. “Been worse.”

“So tell us, Acropolis, how did thou open the door?” Luna leaned down and brought her face right up to his. He could feel her breath, her big eyes seemed to pull him into oblivion.  

“I-I just opened it,” he stammered out. “I had prayed to the moon that I wanted to see what was in there. Maybe that did it,” he motioned to the corridor. “All I wanted was to get the voice to stop. I didn't want to become the captain! I mean I didn't even make the royal guard! How can I be a captain?” Acropolis was back on his own feet now.

“Thou didn't make royal guard? Ah, is that why thou art with the Ponyville town guard?” Luna asked. Acropolis nodded. “If we may be so bold why were thou rejected?”

“I can't fly very well, at all really.” he said. Luna and Twilight looked at each other rather shocked. His wings were huge with massive feathers. His back muscles were well defined and clearly he had strength in his wings. “I failed the flying course three times so they dropped me. But my royal guard try out was enough experience to land me this job.”

“Luna, I think Acropolis needs some time to sort all of this out.” Twilight said, “How about we let him go home and we can talk about this armor and the guard tomorrow. We will meet up and decide what to do then, okay?” Luna saw the logic in this. And she had to figure out why after all these years did Lunar Strike pick him? A simple guard, a no-pony, to replace him in spirit as the captain of the Lunar guard.

“Agreed, Twilight, tomorrow night.” She looked to Acropolis and smiled. “I truly do hope that you do not look on this as a negative Acropolis. It is a great honor to even be considered for the Lunar Guard.” Luna lifted her horn and Acropolis vanished in a spark. “Sleep well, now I have some preparation to do.”