Several hours had passed since Rune’s arrival in Canterlot and Luna could feel that the connection had been made. While they were connected to each other, they were both connected to her. A pensive link, sharing emotions and sub-thoughts. Luna's subconscious thoughts bleeding through into them. Sunset was coming and Luna wanted to give her ponies a tour before their first day. Luna knocked on the door to the small room. The royal guards all stood in attention by their bunks as if she was there for inspection of them. No one replied so she let herself in. Acropolis was asleep on the ground surrounded by books. Apparently Rune had collected them from the library at the school. They were all of lore and research done of the Lunar Guards. Rune Shift was curled up with him, being the little spoon. Her glasses half off, open book in front of her. Her light spell pulsing as she bobbed her head as she slept.

“Acropolis, Rune Shift, wake up. The night is just begging.” Luna’s voice was soft and motherly. They woke up and slowly moved from each other. Standing groggily at attention. They both saluted, Rune more or less raised her hoof a few inches off the ground and grunted.

“Princess, what are your orders?” Acropolis asked still not quite awake.

“I have a surprise for you two.” Luna led them out of the small room and through the barracks. They were getting mixed looks from the guards who were all still oblivious as to why they were there. Luna led them through the castle along its long and dark corridors. The setting sun made the halls glow a deep purple. Both of them felt privileged to be seen walking so casually through the castle with the princess. She came to a stop before a large door with a crescent moon on it. “This is my tower," the door seemed to react to her presence and opened. “it contains my chambers, several laboratories and observatories, storage, lodging, and most recently a new addition.” She motioned across the lobby to a massive door that they both recognized. It was the Lunar Wing door.

Acropolis opened the door to see the common chamber as he remembered it but much, much, cleaner. And with tables and chairs lining the wall. They moved in and looked out the window. Canterlot stretched out below them, the sound of ponies closing shop and going home echoed up to them. Luna had remodeled this wing of the castle to look just like the Lunar wing in the old castle all they way down to the carvings in the ceiling. She led them through the circular library, scholars and students restocking the shelves with new books and some of the older ones that had been deemed relevant. Rune paid close attention to the order they were shelving the books, or rather her books. They moved on into the barracks where brand new bunks and armor trunks had been brought in. Luna had a blacksmith and his team at work fixing the wall mounted torches. And then they came to the armory. They stood there for a moment staring at the door, the door that had changed their lives. It too reacted to Luna and swung open automatically. Inside they saw their armor on their stands in the middle of the room. All of the other armors had been brought over as well.

“Don thy armor.” Luna commanded with a smile. “And tonight the Lunar Guard will begin again!”

“Yes, Princess!” they chimed in unison. Acropolis wanted to put on his armor even though he knew it would hurt, he still liked wearing it. Rune was excited to see herself in her armor, Acropolis had described his in great detail. And rune wanted to see herself as well. Their armor latched on to them. The second merger was much easier and within seconds the two ponies were turned into their Lunar counterparts. Acropolis spread his bladed wings stretching them fully up to the sky. Rune observed her horn, now black and sharp, it felt as if locks deep in her mind were opening. Her magic was more focused and flowed freely. She loved the sensation, she could see it pouring off her, a slight smoke that seemed to follow her around. They looked at each other and smiled, their sharp teeth made the smile seem sinister. Separate they were intimidating, together they were terrifying. A small scratching itched at the back of their minds, like an dark echo of a whisper from down the hall.  

“Well then, thou first charge is to accompany us on our rounds.” Luna gave the simple orders. “first our meal with Celestia, then night court, and then rest. An easy night for starters. Tomorrow however thou will begin training.” as she lead them out of the armory both of them took up positions on either side of her as she walked. They had read up on proper guard maneuvers and was aware of the etiquette in these situations.

“Good morning sister.” Celestia mused well knowing it as well in the evening, but it was Luna’s morning. Luna entered the room followed by her two new guards. Celestia smiled as she saw them enter the room. Her guards looked to her for orders, were they monsters? Enemies? Possibly Luna making another attempt on the throne? “My, you certainly have outdone yourself Luna.” Celestia said calm as ever. “I had figured that something like this had happened. Now I see what has had your attention for the past few days. But now I must ask. Who are these ponies?”

“Sister, This is Acropolis, our new Lunar guard Captain, and his first Lieutenant Rune Shift. They are the revival of my Lunar guard.” Acropolis and Rune Stood at attention as their names were called. “The magic on the armor called to them.” both sisters seemed to realize what this meant.  

“Ah, I see Rune Shift has joined your employ." Celestia smiled at Rune softly. "So, that means,” Celestia trailed off. “Regardless, how were you planning to merge these two into the existing guard?” She asked sipping her tea.

“I don’t, I want to establish the Lunar guard as its own entity, to guard the equestrian nights. Sister I wish to have the Lunar guard back as it was so many years ago.” Luna kept a stern tone. Acropolis noted she had dropped the royal ‘we’.

“Under your sole control?” Celestia asked the question as she put down her cup. It was a loaded question, heavy with meaning and experience. The royal guards seemed to understand its double meaning as well. Acropolis and Rune had also caught the subtext.

“We are loyal to Equestria. To Luna and Celestia.” Acropolis and Rune said in perfect unison.

“Not what I truly meant.” Celestia smiled. “I know Luna won't try to take the throne again, I was more commenting on, well, i'll be succinct here. You two are possibly the most dangerous beings in this castle.” she took a very calm sip of her tea. She could feel Luna's aura seeping off them, Celestia was well versed in how Luna's link worked with her guards. While she couldn't hear what they were saying over the link she could feel it and that something was off . “Except for me and of course, you, sister. I was really asking if you could stop them if they went rogue.”

“I can sister, that will never happen again, I assure you. These new armors have fail safe built in to prevent such a occurrence.” Luna’s uneasiness spread into Acro and Rune’s armor. She was recalling something very painful, sudden flashes of a violent skirmish rushed through their minds. They could almost see the pile of bodies. Whatever this event was, it was bloody and painful. Celestia and Luna meet eyes and Celestia could see Luna's resolve, but she also saw what Luna didn't see.

“Well then, dear sister, congratulations! Now we should discuss lodging arran-” Celestia was cut off.

“I already have turned my west wing into a barracks, at the moment enough for 150 heads. I am also in the process of converting a section of the lunar gardens into training grounds.” Luna said excitedly, clearly very happy that Celestia was so accepting of the idea. “But, I must admit sister, I am surprised that I didn’t have to debate this with you.”

“Luna, I do not feel that this is a bad thing, slightly dangerous, yes, but overall a positive. I think this will help endear you to some of the more skeptical ponies still out there. Your guard once again protecting the civilians of Equestria!” Celestia made grand gestures as if she as dictating to a news stand. “Makes quite the headline, that and they are quite fearsome.” Celestia looked at them both in the eyes from across the room, her stare was piercing as if she was looking right into their souls. After a moment of silence Celestia spoke up. “Luna, I have a grand idea!” Acropolis had the misfortune of locking eyes with Celestia in this moment. The grin on Celestia’s face was devious, and the look on her face was of some pony reveling in a act of violence. Celestia’s face that day would follow him to his grave. It lasted only a second, and just as quickly she was back to her regular cheery self.

“What is it?” Luna asked, intrigued by her sisters change in demeanor.

“Since you seem to wish to revive old traditions how about a duel?” Celestia’s suggestion was met with silence. Royal guards shocked, Lunar guards shocked, Luna shocked, everypony’s jaw was on the floor. Celestia could hear the static from the link spark up.

“W-with whom? You and me?” Luna asked hesitant to her sisters answer. Luna knew in one on one she would win, since she had already beaten her sister once before. And she knew that without the elements Celestia was weak.

“Oh no dear sister.” Celestia chirped. “You would simply wreck me.” such language did not become her highness but Acropolis was quickly learning that our dear princesses had more to them than he thought. “Two of my choosing against yours, not to the death or anything. If I recall correctly, sister, your guard were the best of the best, Equestria‘s Elite. I would hope that they can prove their status.” Acropolis got the feeling that this was typical of the sun princess. She was a compassionate and kind soul, but every once and awhile she reveled in a good fight.

“If I win?” Luna inquired. Uneasiness pulsed through their armor.

“I will allow you to screen thirty of my guards, no questions, no strings, they will be yours to take or decline. But if you lose.” Luna tensed. “You will train even harder until you can win.” Celestia grinned. She wanted Luna to have her guard be at their best. Truthfully it was one less thing for her to worry about. If Luna wanted the own her nights, let her, but she had to prove her guard could at least defend themselves. Besides Luna ran the nights anyway.

“When?” Luna was still, Acro and Rune could feel her excitement through the link.

“Three days time.”

“Agreed.” Luna shone proud. Confident that her brand new and untrained guard could take down Celestia’s best. Luna shared her confidence through the link. Acropolis and Rune’s armor tuned in and shared their uneasiness to Luna. They still lacked confidence, but what they lacked in confidence they made up for in spirit.

The rest of their breakfast was uneventful, Luna and Celestia discussed rulings, policy, and plans for upcoming events. Eventually Celestia excused her self and went off to sleep, the moon now breaching the sky. Luna was left alone to finish up her breakfast in silence, The newly re-named Celestial guards had left with Celestia. Acropolis and Rune were at the windows bowed in prayer to Luna’s moon as it rose. Luna could feel the act calming their souls. She tuned into their armors and felt nothing but peace and calm. The rest of the night was canceled, Luna dismissed them and went on with her duties without them. Night court was usually boring anyway.

They wandered the castle a bit until they made their way to the lunar gardens. Beautiful flowers that came to life in the moonlight blossomed everywhere. Acropolis remembered Fluttershy’s account of the Gala, and her failed attempt to befriend the animals in the lower gardens. In this gardens all the creatures were nocturnal. Acropolis could hear them scurry around in the dark corners of the gardens. It was quiet, every pony was avoiding them. Word of their appearance had spread quickly and the servants, guards, scholars, workers, avoided them like the plague.

“I don’t really know how we expected them to react.” Rune took off her helmet. The enchantment on her head dispelled with a poof. “we do look like monsters, no pony's seen anything like us for a thousand years.” She peered into a fountain basin. Their reflections rippled as a bird took off.

“Our appearances are the least of our worries Rune, tomorrow we start training for combat.” Acropolis moved towards Rune. “Combat training is, difficult, Rune.” His tone was concerened. He had seen combat before and was worried that the bookworm lieutenant may not be up for it.

“I'm not weak Acropolis.” Rune rebutted quickly.

“I didn't say that, I merely meant that the next few days are going to be very tough Rune. Combat with ponies is, hard.” Acropolis looked off into the Glow Apple trees. They stood there in silence for a few moments, both of them unsure what to ask next. They could feel the eyes of other peering at them from the castles balconies.

“You've fought many other ponies?” Rune asked breaking the nights silence.

“Not really, more like wrestling Berry Punch out of The Apple Core.” He said with a chuckle.

“Who from where?” She replied through a smile.

“Oh, town drunk, out of local watering hole, harmless gal. Just likes her sauce a bit too much.” Acropolis paused while smiling.

“You miss your friends.” she commented.

“Yeah, but this is more than that, i'll be helping to protect the whole kingdom. I can stand being a little homesick for that. What about you? You lived here didn’t you?” Acropolis had no sooner asked the question than he regretted asking it. Rune looked away but he could feel her through the link. She had no real friends at speak of. “Sorry.”

“No, it’s fine. I'm not exactly a social butterfly.” She looked around nervously.

“You seem fine around me.”

“I can read you through the link. I know you’re a kind soul.” she walked over and bowed her head next to his. “I have nothing to fear from you.”

“Glad to hear.” Acropolis looked up to the sky. “I just hope that Celestia gives us some easy ponies to go up against.”