Chapter 2

Brushing a bead of nervous sweat from your brow, you take up your post outside the Princess’s room. Down the hallway, you can just about hear the small formal band begin to play as guests arrive, combined with that sounded like gentle sobbing. Twitching slightly, you turn your head, trying to work out where this new sound was coming from; your ears eventually nudging your brain into realising that Princess Luna was obviously crying her eyes out in her room. Unsure what to do, you put your ear against the door to confirm your theory, being able to quite clearly hear the royal mare within.

Panicking slightly at the thought that you and the other two guards had been slightly harsh to her Majesty, you open the door a fraction with your nose, seeing her sat looking out the window at the line of carriages arriving at the Gala below when you poke your helmeted head through the gap. Something about leaving her crying there didn’t feel right; you quietly open the door a bit more, just wide enough to slip inside, your hooves making a quiet clopping sound as they impact the stone floor of Luna’s room. You step onto the rug that she was sitting on, the warmth welcome on the pads of your hooves, stopping a foot away from the crying filly.

“Ma’am, are you alright?” You ask, cautiously. Her head turns, you can see streaks of mascara running down her face, “I’m sorry. Is there anything I can do?” you apologise, feeling it obvious that she wasn’t alright at all. She stays silent for a little while, looking out of the window again. You turn to leave, feeling unwanted before she stops you, calmly placing her remaining shod hoof on your armour.

“Please, don’t go.” she asked quietly, tears still streaming down her cheeks, “Come and sit with me.” she adds, patting a spot on the rug next to her.

“I don’t know if I can Ma’am, the Captain said...”

“The Captain is mean, he’s always mean to me.” Luna replies, slightly sharper than before but still slurred. You sigh, silently agreeing with her, “He’s always mean to you too, I heard him at the door. I think you’re nice though, so you may sit with me if you wish.”

A lump forms in your throat as you very cautiously sit down next to the younger Princess. She can see how nervous you are, even through her drunken state, bursting into tears again.
“Nobody... Loves... MEEE!” She wails, leaning away from you. Realising that you need to try and keep her quiet, you put a hoof on her shoulder.

“Princess, I’m very fond of you, you’ve always been kind to me.” you say, however this does not help.

“THAT DOESN’T COUNT!” She screams, “My stupid sister says that I’m not allowed to flirt with anypony. Do you know how long it’s been since I was last with a stallion?”

“I... I don’t know ma’am.”

“A THOUSAND YEARS!” She bellows between loud sobs. “All...” she sniffles, “...I want is a hug.”
You think about the options available to you at the moment. You could hug her of course, as it would be the decent thing to do, but you were unsure on the protocol of such contact with the nobility.

Gingerly, you try to inch your foreleg around the shoulders of the still weeping alicorn, feeling her unexpected warmth when she leaned into you, resting her head on your shoulder, tears trickling between the plates of your enchanted armour.

“I was right, you are lovely.” Luna says, head still on your shoulder.

“Ma’am, may I admit something?”

“Certainly, what is it?”

“I’ve never actually done this before, let alone with someone of your...”

“Please, don’t remind me of my sta-.” she replies, interrupting, “Wait, never before?” she adds, giggling a little.

“Aye Ma’am.” you respond, blushing.

“So... you’ve never been kissed?” she giggles again, bringing her unshod forehoof up to your chest. You blush,

“Well, yes I have Ma’am, but it was a long time ago... Before I joined the guard, ma’am. She was an old fr...”

Before you can finish your sentence, the drunken princess presses her lips against yours, removing your helmet with her magic as she pushes into it, forcibly slipping her tongue into your mouth, the taste of alcohol still strong, with a hint of the fruit the wine had been made with. Your eyes widen, realising that this is a HUGE breach of protocol and probably something you could be executed for. She pulls away, registering the look of worry and confusion on your face.

“Ma’am, I...”

“Shh. Stop. Just call me Luna. Let’s just be two ponies enjoying the view tonight, watching my beautiful moon and stars.”

“Yes Ma’a- I mean, Luna.”

You see her look into your eyes, removing your helmet had partly broken the magic affecting your appearance, the colour around them changing from the standard blue to a deep emerald green.

“You’ve got lovely eyes. What colour is your coat normally?”

“White. A bit dull I’m afraid.” You respond, still uneasy about referring to her Majesty in such an informal manner.

“I’m sure you’re very attractive. Who knows maybe I could make you my bodyguard? Celestia has that mean old captain half the time, something about a jester, back before I came home... I don’t see why I couldn’t request you.”

“I... that would be something I’d like.” You admit honestly, warranting another kiss from Luna, this time on your cheek.

“Thank you for looking after me. I hope I haven’t been too much of a bother. I’ve just been a little emotional recently, I get so lonely.”
You think about her words for a few moments before seizing enough courage to lean in and kiss her, more gently than she had kissed you before, not daring to breach her mouth with your tongue. Pulling back, you see a look of disapproval on Luna’s face;

“Oh no, I’m so sorry, I thought-” you start to apologise before being cut off again,

“More tongue. I prefer it that way.”

Your lips meet again, this time parted a little further, allowing for you both to explore each others mouths, her tasting the mint leaves you had eaten before your shift, you tasting the sweet fruity drink she had partaken of. The kiss seems to last forever, until you both run out of breath and part, smiling, faces flushed.

“How was that? Alright for your fourth kiss?” Luna asks, seeming a little more sober than before.

“It was lovely, would you like another?”

Luna smiles, “Maybe later. I’d like to watch the stars a little longer with you... It’s so lovely and romantic this time of night.” sighing as she puts her head on your shoulder again. You feel a slight shudder beneath you, almost as if something immensely heavy had just fallen to the floor elsewhere in the castle but ignoring it in favour of the mare sat next to you.

You spend the next hour or so with Luna, pointing out the constellations your mother had taught you as a foal, laughing with the Princess at how bizzarely the names had changed since Luna had thrown them into the night sky so long ago. After that, you had watched the coaches leaving the gala together, before Luna spoke up once more.

“I think you should go, I imagine it’s getting close to the end of your shift.”

You nod, not willing to argue with the alicorn who had so easily melted your heart. She kisses you for the last time that night, you enjoying the scent of her mane that had been so close to your nose.

“I promise I won’t disappear anywhere, you don’t have to worry about being hauled in front of old Dukey; I’ll see if I can do something about the Captain as well. Will I see you tomorrow?”

“It’s my day off... We could meet in the gardens if that would be acceptable?” You ask, “They’re ever so lovely this year, the gardener spent forever getting them ready for the Gala.”

“That would be lovely.” Luna replies, kissing you on the cheek before ushering you to the door, “Good night guardsman.”

“Good night, your Majesty.” you reply. You see the corners of Luna’s mouth turn upwards and you both chuckle slightly as she closes the door behind you.

Next Chapter: Chapter 3 Estimated time remaining: 2 Minutes