Author's Notes:

With every choice comes the pain of losing a different option. In life we are almost always regretting taking a wrong path and thus, suffering thereafter. For some this doesn't mean much, they accept that they are at fault and move on, always telling themselves they’ll make up for it. For others, it is a constant burden, dragging them down forever into their own palaces of despair. For life to exist decisions must be made, and choices must be lost. This has always been, and always will be. Therefore always cherish the choices you've made, for better or worse, because you are now what those choices made today.
You are you, and that is the best choice.

Snow drifted reverently down onto the small village beneath the lifeless grey clouds, pinpricks of light cracking through to illuminate it's parched rooftops, before disappearing behind the gloom again.

Ponyville, a town known around the world as the epicenter of harmony and also the home of its bearers. A quiet yet energetic place, usually filled with music, song, mirth, and smiles. A place most species would gladly call home; a place where foals could be seen running around with one another, enjoying the rapture of youth. A place where parents could mingle at cafes and shops, reminiscing the old times with friends.

Usually.

Today was obviously not so energetic, appearing to be in a state of silence. Winter tended to close doors and light fires, and the townsfolk knew that the innocent white flakes falling now were an imminent warning to the nearing storm. One that had been planned for months in advance by Cloudsdale, the home of the weather factories.

While not an immediate problem, it was declared that at first sign of flakes falling, the townspeople of Ponyville were to remain indoors while the storm blasted the town with it's icy gale.

And yet, one pony was breaking the rules.

While she understood the risks of being caught in the soon to be blizzard, the protégé of Princess Celestia chose instead to sit alone nearly three miles from her home. A scarf, a saddlebag, and some coffee in a thermos that currently warmed the unicorn mare's hooves.

her only company was a tombstone in front of her.

For several moments she sat there staring at nothing in particular, choosing to not think about anything.

A rare situation for her, not thinking.

She sighed softly, her breath catching the temperature change and turning to mist before disappearing among the falling flecks of white.

“Just like your spirit...” the words were out of her mouth before she registered their meaning, but she made no movement to act surprised or curious how such things occurred.

Living in Ponyville would do weird things to anypony.

Another sigh, another sip of her coffee, and Twilight Sparkle felt her eyes finally lock onto the dark marble tombstone that sat before her, its magically enhanced defenses making the rock impenetrable to the wear of time, as well as making the name etched across it glow brightly even in the evening light.

Twilight glanced at her saddlebag, lit up her horn, and levitated a medium size box from within to sit on the ground in front of her. Setting aside the coffee, she refocused her magic to sweep off the snow that had coalesced atop the stone's surface in the half hour since she'd arrived, and opened the box.

Inside were several small instruments. A long thin incense cradle made of polished onyx, a set of incense sticks, and a light lavender rose, grown straight from the crystal empire and enchanted to never wilt.

All the necessities of a mourner's chest.

Placing the incense cradle and sticks atop the slab, she lit one with a small spark of magic from her horn tip and then placed the rose down gently on the bottom of the tombstone's square base, just beneath the inscribed words.

With a moment to compose herself, Twilight brought herself to her tallest, drawing her front hooves from the snow to lift and gently clack together, before closing her eyes and slowly...she started to sing.

From life's caress I pray to thee
keep thy spirit forever free.
from souls below, to moonlit sky,
a daughter of yours, hear my cry.

Break thy chains, and pull thy strings,
enchant the heart, so our souls may sing,
mother, mother, your daughter, I care,
touch my heart, for I know you're there.

You watch as I pray,
above where you lay,
...I sit vigil...over your bones,
A resting place for you to call home.

I cherished thee when above hallowed ground,
But death is thy keeper...forever now.

Mother, oh mother, forget you I can't,
Accept our song, our unicorn chant,
Death guard you now within the night,
My mother Velvet...my mother Twilight.

Twilight finished the prayer, and blinked. The last words had nearly been whispers, and the feeling of tears at the edge of her eyes made it hard to stay unruffled until the end. She always cried after that song, she always would. She unknowingly had been holding her breath, and suddenly exhaled loudly. After softly wiping at her eyes with her fetlock, she tenderly collected the rose and incense, and returned them to the box.

Her hoof reached out and slid across the smooth stone.

“I will see you next year mother, I have to get home now but...but...” she felt a single tear slide down her cheek, before watching it fall to the snow beneath her. She shook her head and forced a smile on her face, before turning and walking away from the tombstone and the ones that surrounded it.

As she exited the cemetery, a gentle popping noise was heard, and the mare was gone.

All that remained of her presence, was a single frozen tear, sitting among the long since dead, and it's newest additions.

Two months later.

Twilight groaned and banged her head into the desk for the third time that morning. Her attempts to knock herself unconscious were as fruitful as a dead apple tree trying to bear oranges in the middle of a drought, while on fire.

“You're gonna put a hole in the desk Twilight if you keep that up!” Another thump signaled to the speaker that their words weren't helping. “It wasn't that bad ya know, we were only five minutes--”

“There is no excuse Spike, I was late. Tardy! me, the Princess' personal student!”

Spike, the adolescent dragon she had dubbed her little brother, fidgeted with his claws clasped together, unable to figure out how to help. Four years had gone by since their arrival in Ponyville, and Spike was still getting use to new things almost everyday. He was now taller than Twilight, stronger than her, and even had wings sprouting out his back.

And yet his adoptive sister still managed to exasperate him.

“It was five minutes Twilight! Princess Celestia didn't even react like you--”

The mare had been mere inches away from hitting her head against the divot-laden desk for the fifth time, when her skull halted and practically ground sideways to lock eyes with the male drake, effectively silencing him. Her neck had somehow managed to make a sound like scraping metal gears when she had moved.

Spike dared not question it, because currently Twilight was giving him a look so terrifying he simply clamped his mouth shut and looked at the nearby bookshelves.

“...No excuses.”

He merely took a step back as she stood and trotted past him and through the kitchen doors. He followed reluctantly.

“F-Fine, I admit we were late, for once! I'm not making an excuse for that, what I am trying to say is that your reaction is out of line. Celestia didn't reprimand you, she didn't get angry, and yet you're acting like she's declared you an enemy of Equestria!”

Twilight didn't answer, instead she rummaged through the fridge for something to snack on. There wasn't any reason to reply anyway. She'd try to tell Spike her thought process, he'd get confused, she'd try to explain, thus more confusion and they would end up throwing their limbs into the air and walking two different directions in an attempt to calm down from sheer annoyance.

A normal relationship between siblings.

“I'm just saying you're beating yourself up over nothing. Again.” Spike leaned against the door frame to the living room and crossed his arms, tapping a claw against his bicep. Twilight lifted her head out of the fridge, an apple in her magic as she groaned.

“I deserve it spike, I was late. I failed to prove myself as a reliable resource to the Princess' services.”

She took an aggressive bite out of the fruit and marched past him. He flexed his claws and sighed, glaring at nothing in particular.

“Mares...”

Twilight halted mid-step and snapped her head back, glaring at him.

“What was that, Spike?”

Normally Spike would freeze up and act like he hadn't said anything, this time however, he merely slanted his gaze at her and glowered,

“Unless you're lodged halfway in some ancient tome, you're anything but deaf, Twilight. Do I really need to repeat myself?”

She snorted, raising her nose haughtily.

“I will have you know that being a female has nothing to do with this argument, therefore, your comment is invalid. Besides, stating genders as a rebuttal in a debate merely shows a lack of emotional stability.”

He growled deeply and unfolded his arms, jabbing a claw at her.

“And yet you're the emotionally unstable one, with no logical reasons for beating herself up mentally, has a heat cycle every other month that makes you lock yourself in the bathroom for two weeks straight, and—oh, might I add—has a panic attack every time the Princess so much as clips her hoof on the floor. Face it, Twilight, if you were male you'd be far more reasonable about this situation!”

a half eaten apple hit the floor.

Spike was tackled in his midsection as his sister launched herself at the dragon.

“TAKE THAT BACK!”

“No! You 'deserved' it!”

Tooth, claw, hoof, fire, magic, and horn flailed about as a mass of pony/dragon tumbled around the kitchen, random guttural growls coming from both sides as they fought.

“Take it back you arrogant lizard!”

“No! I'm right and you know it! you emotional horse!”

“And I'm the cupcake ninja who strikes at noon!”

Spike and Twilight blinked in tandem and looked up in surprise as a pink blob landed between them, somehow separating them. Twilight slid back against the far kitchen wall and spike slammed back against one of the counters.

Twilight was the first to recover.

“Pinkie Pie!? Where did you—mmphg!” Twilight was promptly cut off as a cupcake got shoved into her mouth, silencing her. The same happened to Spike though he hadn’t tried to speak. Pinkie Pie giggled, trotting in place.

“That looked like so much fun you guys! we should wrestle more! or were you squabbling? Would that make it wrebling? Wrostling? Tee hee! Funny word that, squabble, sounds like a type of fruit. Anyhow whatcha two arguing about?”

She looked to Spike who folded his arms and blew a raspberry at Twilight, and then pinkie followed said raspberry across the floor to the mare who was growling and looking at the dragon with contempt. Pinkie Pie smiled.

“Ooooh, thaaat kind of squabble, here let me fix that.” She was suddenly across the room and sitting next to the young drake, with her arms crossed just like spike. She imitated his scowl just the same.

“Spike, ya gotta look at Twilight and tell her you're sorry, and you don't care about being a little late, and that she shouldn't worry about it too much either.”

A split second later she was next to Twilight, glaring at Spike.

“Twilight, ya gotta just shut up and listen to your friends.”

“Pinkie, I can't just--”

“SHUT UP AND LISTEN!” The shout startled the unicorn into a standing position and she found herself looking at the floor unable to speak.

Pinkie took on an air of wisdom, and sat cross-legged against the kitchen wall.

“This ninja has spoken her sweet words and now demands you two dispense with the meanie words and make up.”

It was several awkward moments of silence before Spike took initiative, standing and walking over to crouch in front of Twilight.

“Er...sorry Twilight, I shouldn't have said what I did, gender has nothing to do with it, you're right, but worrying over the unchangeable past is a pointless fight and I won't stand there and let you beat yourself up for it. We were late, yes, but nothing bad happened.” He held out his clawed hand to her and she sighed.

“Spike I...fine, yes. We were late, and I cannot do anything about it, worrying over it solves nothing. I'll just...make sure to prepare better next time.” They hugged and Twilight stood with Spike for a moment longer, and then they were both hugged by the pink mare.

“Great! Now that that's over with, what were you late to Twi?” Pinkie gave her friend a raised eyebrow and a cocked head. Twilight smiled, then chuckled, and then sighed, walking back into the living room.

“Nothing major, now that my head is clear. Princess Celestia merely invited me for our weekly tea time. I got lost in the castle and took a wrong turn.”

Pinkie flicked an ear sideways.

“Huh, you don't get lost in that castle Twilight. Is it cause they're doing construction?”

Twilight kept her smile and shook her head. When Princess Luna had inquired about the ridiculousness that was the castle's labyrinthine halls, Princess Celestia had stated that the additional hallways and doors had been a great distraction for her enemies in older times. Now it was more obvious that they were becoming a nuisance, and construction had started weeks ago to clean up the mess. So it would be true to say that the new rooms and different looking halls were a distraction, but it hadn't been the main cause of her late arrival. Spike interrupted whilst picking up some stray books off the nearby table,

“Nah, she was lost in one of her books that Luna sent her. Something about dream magic...” Pinkie 'ooohed' and giggled.

“Are you going to be Princess Celestia's student by the day and Princess Luna's student during the night Twilight?”
Twilight shook her head again,

“No Pinkie, and Princess Luna doesn't take on students, or so she told me when I asked, she said she wants to wait a couple hundred years before trying it out. I personally think she just wants a student that is free of judgment from her return, but it's only a hunch.”

Pinkie nodded sagely, and then walked to the front door.

“That makes sense, anyhow I thought I'd pop by and say hi before heading back home, I gotta put away the groceries I bought and then Dash and I are going pranking tonight.”

Twilight went to nod but then stopped and blinked.

“Pinkie Pie, you don't have any groceries with you!”

Pinkie grinned mischievously and opened the door, “Or do I?”

Before Twilight could answer her, the pink mare had bolted out the open door, and an orange had fallen out of her hair, rolling over to Twilight's hoof, who had a look of complete confusion written across her face.

Spike snickered while putting books away,

“I bet she got those cupcakes from her mane too.” Twilight gagged,

“I would rather hope not Spike, that would be very...Ew.”

Canterlot Castle.

As night time fell across Equestria, so too did one of The Royal Sisters. As the charge of the Sun, it was Celestia's job to guard the day, whilst her sister Luna kept the night in check. As the moon rose above the horizon, Celestia stood next to the dark coated mare and watched her sun disappear quietly behind the mountains. She sighed, an ear flicking ever so quickly, but Luna caught it. That subtle sign that something was bothering her sibling.

“What troubles you Sister?” Celestia didn't answer for several seconds, her eyes watching the light display as it lanced across the sky,

“Nothing, Lulu, nothing...” The White alicorn watched the moon raise itself up until she suddenly noted how it had stopped completely, and lower than it needed to be.

It was then that she felt the glare.

“Lulu....the ponies need their--”

“Our ponies can wait, we think. Especially when thou just blatantly lied to us. Our sister does not lie so simply, and with no cover up at all...What troubles you sister?” Luna emphasized her interest by leaning forward and rubbing her cheek into her sister's neck, feeling the muscles tense and then relax.

Celestia bit her inner lip,

“The moon isn't high enough Lulu, you nee--” Luna shook her head, rubbing more.

“What we need is verification sister, that you will speak about what ails thee, the moon will rise once that truth hath been laid bare to us.” To emphasize her point, Luna pulled back and sat with a frown in front of the moon's path, forcefully blocking it from her sister's sight. Celestia stared at Luna for several moments before sitting as well.

A heavy sigh drifted between them.

“As you know Luna, our little ponies care about us a lot more than in the past, they have guards for us, special armor for us to wear in times of war, and of course they have personal servants to tend to our every need.” Luna neither nodded or showed any movement to acknowledge her, she merely waited. Celestia tended to wind down to the actual problem and the princess of the night had found out very quickly that trying to make her jump to the point flustered the alabaster mare.

Having a student who craved every ounce of knowledge had that effect on one's way of explaining things.

Celestia stood and walked to the balcony, looking over the expanse of water that was a nearby lake.

“About a hundred years or so back, our ponies decided they needed more assurance to our health. They started requesting, and then outright demanding I see a doctor on regular visits, and I was okay with this. What I feared, however, was what our blood would tell them.”

Luna perked up at that, flicking her ears forward in curiosity, it had been noted by her assistant scribe that they had to get checkups the next day; Celestia at dawn, and Luna at dusk.

“Are thou ashamed of thy bloodline Sister? No...you are worried for another reason....do the records have to be made for public viewing?” Celestia chuckled,

“Not if we wish them to be kept personal, but one pair of eyes sees it regardless and that's all is needed for gossip to arise.”

“Ah, thou means the nobility beneath us, the elites yes?” A simple nod confirmed it. Luna smirked and moved to stand next to her sibling, nuzzling the mare's neck again gently.

“Tia, we know they cannot find any error in our birthright, we are of the celestial lineage, a bloodline that dates back to an immortal era, one only three beings still remember. Regardless, even if they dislike our ancestor's choice of lover, they can do little if anything about it.”

Celestia nodded slowly, “No, you are correct, I don't fear what they'll learn of us, but...” She sucked in her breath.

“But what they may learn of others.” She turned to Luna and smiled, knowing the expression her sister now held was one of surprise and confusion.

“Tia...you jest, surely. We are not among those who have living relatives any longer...unless, you have found one?”

Celestia chuckled and looked back across the expanse, her eyes locking onto a small town not ten miles from where she stood.

“Found? no....but, also yes.... Lulu, we are no longer the only beings with the celestial bloodline.”

Luna gasped, and then frowned, her voice but a whisper.

“Who shares our blood?”

Celestia felt her happiness drain, when Luna had returned from her exile, Celestia had spent an entire day laying her soul bare and answering any question truthfully no matter how dark it's answers, and almost a year later she still was uncovering truths hidden beneath the royal mask...but this...how could she tell her the truth?

Then again...how could she lie about it?

“I...inside Lulu, I want no stray ears to hear this information, and no matter who it is, I want you to promise me you will NOT tell them, are we clear?” Luna stopped from following her indoors and scowled.

“We promise nothing Tia, thou said these given truths were a 'non prison hold' questionnaire.” Celestia frowned.

“It's pronounced 'no holds barred' and I...I can't tell this to you without some sort of security for the unknowing participant.” Luna smirked, her tail flicking sharply back and forth.

“Then tell us not, we want nothing but pure truths from our sister.” with her nose lifted she trotted past her sister and to the sun emblazoned doors. Opening one she paused.

“The Night has begun and we must tend to our court, but Tia,”

They locked eyes. For the briefest of moments Celestia saw sympathy on her young sister's face, and then to her utter fear, Luna grinned slyly.

The fox had found a loophole apparently.

“The information will be visible to us tomorrow nonetheless, and we will have our answer.” With that she swung the door shut quietly and pranced off to court.

Celestia groaned.

As Luna entered the luxurious grand hall known as the royal throne room two guards fell in step next to her, one of them spoke up, his thick bat pony accent rumbling like a soft growl.

“Your highness, we are sorry to inform you that tonight your scribe, Lustrous Quill, is unable to attend due to family issues. If it pleases you one of us will be willing to call in representatives.” Luna never faltered in her trot, merely nodding and choosing the one who spoke to do so.

As she reached the throne her horn shimmered and a large dark blue cushion appeared, thumping down atop the stone seat that her sister dared call a sitting place. It was a terrible piece of furniture, one that 'withstood time itself', yet it guillotined the rump of whoever sat atop it too long. Celestia said she never felt uncomfortable but Luna preferred to have her plot rounded and not marble flat.

Sighing as she sat down she shook herself and levitated a gavel to the podium and then spoke loudly.

“Our Lunar Court is now in session!”

With a simple thwack of the gavel, she flopped sideways and stretched across the throne in a mock attempt to look as lazy as possible. She wasn't expecting anyone for several hours at least, if at all, as being only four years into her return Luna had found that her night court was still very unnoticed to the nightlife ponies of Equestria. But if she was lucky, she'd get a case every other week...or a criminal.

Those were always fun.

With this information logged away she had begun to pull a comic book from her podium when the door creaked, and then opened.

Luna blinked and immediately shoved the comic book underneath the cushion and sat bolt upright, her body relaxed and calm.

Yes, calm...that was the right word...

Luna was as calm as a spring loaded school filly who'd just earned her cutie mark in demolition.

A griffon entered, to everypony's surprise. Obviously startled by the large empty space, he simply stood there at the end of the red carpet, unmoving. They shuffled uncomfortably and then said something but were too far away to be heard. Luna smirked and waved one of her guards to fetch them. The throne room was quite large, and on normal days was packed with ponies vying for Celestia's attention. (or Luna's, should she be awake). Night time was a whole different feeling. The room was empty, devoid of life almost, and airy to the point that if one listened they could almost hear Celestia snoring two towers away.

Or so Luna told the guards.

After a bit of chatting the guard brought the griffon—a young male—up to the dais before assuming his position. Luna looked him over, her ears going down rather quickly. The young griffon was currently wearing a dark travel cloak, foreleg bracers, and a neck scarf, a sword was belted around his waist but hidden by the cloak, the handle and pommel being the only parts visible.

His tussled white neck plumage showing signs of either heavy exercise or wind turbulence, Luna assumed it was the latter. His eyes were a deep forest green that held firm as he eyed Luna curiously atop the throne. He bowed griffon style before her. Splaying his front talons out and lowering his beak till it nearly clipped the carpet.

“To her majesty, The ruler of the night, I bring a message from the northern military outposts.” Luna blinked, this was something new. She never got military reports, let alone from another race. She nodded.

“Tis an acceptable reason for visiting, but thou hast forgotten to state thy name and rank, fair griffon.” The griffon looked a little flummoxed by the statement and sat up straighter.

“Er...Avian Technical Sergeant...Dawnclaw Songfeather, of the second variety platoon under her Highness Princess Celestia...and Princess Luna... as well?” He looked from the guards at her side to her with an eyebrow raised.

Luna smirked.

“A rather ironic title Dawnclaw, considering the court you arrived in. Pray thee tell us, is this the first time thou has entered our court?” He nodded slowly.

“Please pardon my confusion, I don't get out much your grace, so I expected to find Princess Celestia here.”

Luna brushed aside the fact that even if Dawnclaw had arrived an hour earlier he would not have seen Celestia, and instead leaned forward with a smile.

“And we assume thee flew here with haste?” Another nod.

“Very well! Let us see this report, sergeant.” The griffon retracted his cloak and reached into his saddlebags, searching for the scroll. While he did, Luna eyes viewed the sword at his side, she was surprised to say the least.

It was not any normal sword.

Dawnclaw pulled out a sealed, cream colored scroll and placed it at the foot of the dais, before backing away and sitting. Luna, eyes still locked onto the pommel of his sword, levitated the scroll over and opened it, before silently reading.

To Their Royal Emissaries, the Sun and Moon.

E-7 Master Sergeant Hard Hooves.

Second variety platoon, Equestrian border patrol/ Air Force.

Under requisition fourteen dash sixty-two of the compact for the Equestrian/Griffonian military Union Pact, we have been notified to alert their royal Highness' of any new recruits to our platoons from Griffonian position swaps, as well as any new rank promotions.

Under my direct Instructions to deliver this to you personally, Dawnclaw Songfeather is also instructed to stay at the Canterlot castle barracks under either of your Highness' command, until further instructed. There is an additional scroll attached per this spell matrix:

(It was here Luna fell into actual mumbling, as she'd starting reading magical gibberish, and something about cake offerings to her sister.)

This list is the information pertaining to the new recruits. As for Dawnclaw, He has been transitioned to my platoon, however with his rank in Griffonia as high as it was, he was overqualified to be in my charge. I decided to send him to your capable hooves and allow you to place him where you feel it safest. As of you reading this, Dawnclaw's new rank is below.

E-8 Senior Master Sergeant, Dawnclaw Songfeather.

In salute, E-7 Master Sergeant, Hard hooves.

Royal Equestrian Air Force.

Luna re-read the scroll to be sure, and then let it slowly roll back in upon itself. For a few seconds she merely watched Dawnclaw as he sat before her. The she grinned, said grin grew wider until it was easily creepy.

“Eheheh...ehehehehe...” Both her guard gave worried glances to one another before Luna stood tall and smacked her hoof down onto the stone, being far louder than the gavel she'd used previously. All the guards, Dawnclaw included, snapped to attention.

Luna fixed her stare on him.

“Technical sergeant Dawnclaw Songfeather, step forward.”

With a very audible gulp he shook himself and walked slowly up the steps, before sitting right in front of Luna. Quick as a whip her hoof shot out and pulled his sword from it's scabbard before the griffon realized what had happened. It was simple really, his sword had decided to just vanish, and inexplicably find itself in Luna's hooves without warning him.

Luna almost purred as she beheld the blade in her hooves, it was a weapon she had not seen in a millennium.

It was a Lunar Katana.

From her time as Nightmare moon, Luna had crafted her own weapons and armor for her soldiers, and those who did good(or evil) in her name were given gifts such as the sword she now held. The blades and armor were something she'd come up with all her own. After finding a way to weld silk, moonlight, and crystal iron together, The product was a blade that could cut straight through steel and was as light as a feather. To emphasize it's power she channeled her magic into the blade, before quickly swiping it in a sideways slash.

To his credit, Dawnclaw only flinched as the blade swept past the top of his head by mere inches. Several seconds eclipsed by in silence before a low thrum was heard in the room, then a resounding whistle, and then a dying whine as the voice the blade created died off. Luna grinned and held the sword out, blade flat and just above Dawnclaw's right shoulder.

“This blade is of an era long since forgotten, where did thee get it?”

Dawnclaw actually smiled at the inquiry and relaxed,

“It's been in my family for almost--”

“A thousand years?”

He stopped and cocked his head,

“Y-yes, um... it was my ancestor's, I believe his name was General--

“Crueldual Songfeather.”

Dawnclaw furrowed his brow but nodded, choosing to stay silent after the second interruption and instead admire the carpet. Luna smiled and gently tapped him with the flat of the blade, bringing his attention back, her voice crisp and clear,

“Tis a fine sword. One such as you Dawnclaw, who bears the name of thine forefathers should do well to keep in mind that this blade—whilst beautiful—is ancient, has a dark history, is slathered in blood lust, has killed hundreds of soldiers, peons, and prisoners alike, and--” Her voice peaked as she leaned forward with each snippet of information, until she was inches from the Griffon's beak. She could smell a slight amount of fear from his breath, or maybe it was grilled chicken....

“Tis also, one of the finest pieces We ever crafted, We would see no reason to part it from you, Senior Master Sergeant Dawnclaw, your forefathers would be proud.”

Dawnclaw for the most part blinked and stared at her without a word. It was not until she cordially went through the process of formally ranking him up, reading him the scroll, and sheathing his sword, did he fully grasp what she had said.

“S-senior...Master...S-s-”

“Is something the matter, Sergeant?”

He snapped to attention, his talon flying to his brow in a salute.

“N-no your Grace!” Luna smiled and sat back down in her cushion.

“Good, then as of now We would request you relax, and take your leave, one of our guards will escort you to your new quarters, We expect to see you first thing in the evening tomorrow at nine o clock sharp. We will have new armor and a proper harness for your sword when you arrive.”

As one of Luna's guard passed him, he stopped and looked confused.

“I...I'm not sure I follow, your Highness, why will I be attending night court again?” Luna smirked.

“Because Dawnclaw, Your Princess, she who guards the night, has a new Lunar Sergeant.”

He gulped. The two sentinels frowned.

And inside, Luna squeaked with glee.