This is the FOURTH story in a series, but in case you don't wanna go all the way back here's a summary of what's happened so far! Or, if you have, here's a refresher!

Recap of Stories 1, 2 and 3:

The return of the Lunar Stallions, guardians of the night and Princess Luna’s private guard. It was an event that shocked Equestria, and brought new attention to the Princess of the Night. With Luna herself once again on the throne at night, the descendents of the original stallions had come to her from all across the land. All of them bore special medallions that, after a mantra was spoken, would envelope them in the grey fur and dark armor of their post. Luna, respecting the right of bloodline, took them into her charge. After a thousand years of utter silence, there were soon seventy Lunar Stallions. One medallion from each ancient family, willing given with their strongest sons. There had once been hundreds, but fate had been kind enough to muster a hoof full after so long. They adored her. Luna loved them all and especially her lover, a pegasus named Aegis Shield.

At first, things were great. They were a slowly emerging force to be reckoned with. Crime went down in Canterlot and in the surrounding areas. After all, ponies that had piranha-like teeth, could see in the dark, and often had the strength of several ponies were nothing to trifle with. What few criminals the city had were running scared.
Then, another super-power emerged. The Moon Champion. She was the descendant of the one mare that ever stood among the Lunar Stallions, Princess Luna’s avatar of war. She hunted evildoers in the city of Canterlot, and struck them dead rather than arrest them. This sent the Princess into a fury. The Lunar Stallions were beaten, battered, and thrust aside by the brutality of the Moon Champion’s strength. Using teamwork and a sneaky trick, though, Luna and her stallions managed to outwit her. For her murderous crimes, she was put to death.

Later, an even greater threat emerged. Princess Celestia came across a black bauble on a black-gold necklace. It had once been Nightmare Moon’s, a super-weapon meant to augment her powers and strengthen her so she could take on Celestia in a coup. But when Celestia donned the necklace, she was gripped by its evil powers and turned into a Celestia Beast. Feral and doglike, she ravaged half of Canterlot to the ground, killing ponies and breaking buildings like it was nothing. She even held her love interest hostage, garbing him in black leathers and chaining him up like a pet. Rushing home from a Nightmare Night celebration with her Lunar Stallions, Princess Luna lay siege to Canterlot itself. After a terrible battle that claimed the lives of most of her forces, the necklace was wrested from Celestia’s breast and she returned to normal. Then, it was time to rebuild. With only twenty-four Lunar Stallions remaining out of the original seventy, the Princess knew that she would need to build an academy to raise the next generation of her warriors.

That was ten years ago, and this is where the next chapter of our story begins.

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Luna’s Story 4: Curse of the Black Stallion
Part 1: A Bloody Birth

Newt Pippington Britishhooves, “Pip” for short, was rooting around in his parent’s basement. He had his own home, sure, but all of the old family stuff was still at his mother and father’s. He’d not been able to move all of his things yet. His father was a collector of all sorts of oddities, so it was always fun to go poking around in boxes for interesting things. Nightmare Night was coming up tomorrow night, and he really wanted to put together a dashing costume. Perhaps amongst all the boxes and chests he would find something interesting to put together. One could only dress like a pirate so many times and still be cute. Now that he was almost a fully-grown stallion, he would need something a little more grown-up. As per usual, Princess Luna was going to be attending the Ponyville Nightmare Night festival, and he wanted to look especially great for her. She was his favorite Princess, after all.

Shoving his muzzle into a burlap bag, he found it full of tennis balls and a set of rackets. He opened a chest, finding nothing but books. Mare-handling a vanity to one side to continue on, he poked through more dusty boxes. Picture frames of ponies he didn’t know. Stacks of old papers. Holiday decorations. Lots of holiday decorations. His parents didn’t enjoy Nightmare Night as much as he. He wasn’t content to throw a sheet over his head, call it a ghost and going out for the evening. He wanted to be something creative and original. He opened some drawers, sticking his nose into it. He let out a whinny when a spider jumped onto his face. He SMACKED himself upside the nose to get rid of it, falling over into a pile of junk. Showered in debris he poked his head out so he could breathe, shaking his head back and forth. Coughing at the disturbance of dust, he made to rise, but stopped. There was something cold and metallic pressed up against his soft underbelly.

The pinto stallion looked down, pushing a few things out of the way. It was a jewelry box, locked with a latch. “Shiny…” he said, English accent kissing the empty room. It was a delicate tongue, one that had made a few Ponyville mares swoon at him in the past.( He wasn’t really a lady’s stallion, but he’d gotten his fair share of kisses and batted eyes growing up.) Leaning down, he picked it up and rattled it a bit. It rustled like it was full of straw. Frowning, he freed himself from the mountain of junk and set it on the vanity. Lifting the latch, he popped it open. “What’s this…?” he said, leaning down. The jewelry box was stuffed with a scroll and a strange medallion.

Unfurling the scroll, he found it was also folded in half. He unfolded it, and found it was still not open. What was it, a road map? He unfolded AGAIN, barely able to hold the massive piece of paper. Hundreds of tiny, scratchy letters stared back at him. They were written in an Earth Pony’s mouth-pen, but followed very straight lines. There were diagrams of numbers corresponding to dates and times, tides, and what looked like a magic circle in the bottom right corner. There was an excellent drawing of the medallion, and a skeletal pony’s head as well. The teeth on it were triangle-shaped, and it looked like a piranha’s terrible grin. Pip marveled at it for a long few moments, turning it back and forth. He had no idea what any of it said, but It looked just amazing. This could go in a picture frame or something and somepony would consider it artwork, no doubt. He picked up the medallion that matched the picture, lifting it to the light. Inside was deep purple, almost black, and it was impossible to see through it. He thought it was a gem at first, but it couldn’t be. It wasn’t glass either. He couldn’t identify it. It spun slowly on its chain. “Hm.” He said, “Maybe I can make a decoration out of this…” he folded up the massive paper and put the medallion in his saddlebag.

Pip ended up with a few more odds and ends in his saddlebag over the next few hours. A ball of twine, some funny earrings, bandanna, and… and… he looked in his bag. He’d just built another pirate costume. “Bollocks…” he mumbled, turning his ears back. Deciding to stop for now and get some air, he cantered up into the basement.

Spending the evening with his mother and father, they invited him to stay for dinner to he accepted. Being a grown stallion he’d not yet learned to cook and feed himself properly, so any opportunity to have mom’s cooking was nice… Later the pinto stallion found himself stretched out on a couch with little memory as to how he got there. The fire was burning brightly in the hearth, and his belly was full. He could hear the murmuring talk of his parents in another room. He must’ve fallen asleep…

Reaching into his saddlebag with his nose, he pawed through his Nightmare Night treasures. Eh, maybe he could be a pirate again this year. If anything the Princess would recognize him, and that was one thing he wanted most. He’d harbored a pretty big crush on her Majesty for a long time, but he only got to see her once a year. So, Nightmare Night was very important to Pip. In his half-awake state, he slowly opened the odd scroll again. Sticking his hooves into the bag, he found he’d gathered up a good amount of fake jewelry, along with the medallion. Maybe he could be a successful pirate this year? One decked out with all his rings and treasures? That would be a neat idea. Sitting up slowly, he donned the earrings, a few golden bracelets, and the funny medallion as well. Smirking at his image at the wall mirror, he gave a half-hearted ‘Arr’ and chuckled. Shaking his head, he lifted the scroll to the firelight and unfurled it.
The picture of the medallion he wore was impeccable. It was surrounded by notes and scribbles that he couldn’t understand. The lettering was just the same, but the cipher was off. Maybe it was Latin? Or something similar? Suddenly a name caught his eye and he looked closer. The word ‘Luna’s’. It was there in the middle of all the jibberish. His eyes widened with excitement. Did this have something to do with the Princess?! He didn’t know, but suddenly he wanted to know what it all said. He didn’t dare write on it, so he got spare ink and parchment from his father’s writing desk on the other side of the room. Settling onto his belly with a business-like frown, the young stallion licked the tip of his quill and dipped it in the ink. He wasn’t the most brilliant of ponies, but he had had a foal’s code book when he was small, so sometimes he could crack ciphers after an hour or so. Scanning over the massive document that was as big as a road map, he leaned close. Sure enough, he found more proper nouns here and there in perfect English. “Is it a language, or a code…?” he mumbled. Maybe the proper nouns were all names, and all the rest was a code? Or did names just never change? He frowned at it all, but was now dying of curiosity.

He decided to focus around the area where he’d seen the Princess’ name. A little box had a couple of sentences in it, written in important-looking old red ink:

Ad kxo tuhb no kouh udt hodt.
Ke odt ucc olacj nakx jfadoj ke rodt.
Cijk udt fenoh, xidwoh udt mawxk.
R0 Luna's nacc udt tuhb ev dawxk.

Pip flicked his eyes back at his cutie mark, a compass. He was talented in finding things and finding things out. Codes and languages were another string of knowledge to him. Heaving a great breath, he worked by firelight. Eventually, he heard his parents retiring to bed. Promising himself he would only work until his eyes started to ache from needing sleep, and no later, he let his quill dance. Mumbling now and then, occasionally stopping to throw a log on the fire, he found a slow translation. ‘udt’ came out as ‘and’, a word that appeared several times in the message. Vowels, he discovered very suddenly, stayed vowels upon the translation. They just became other vowels. It could be spoken like a language, but it turned and translated like a code. Fascinating! Feeling alive and adventuresome, Pip worked hard until he had the entire couple of sentences translated on his scratch paper. Wouldn’t it be amazing if all this led to a treasure or something? A real treasure map to go with his pirate costume, that would just make his day! Circling the final product, he grinned a giant happy grin and stood. Holding out the paper, he recited aloud the fruits of his labor. “In the dark we tear and rend, to end all evils with spines to bend. Lust and power, hunger and might. By Luna’s will, and dark of night.” He frowned at the little passage. It made sense as a translation, and it was grammatically correct, but… it didn’t make any sense. Was it a riddle? A clue? Something else. “I should translate the rest of the--!”

Pip’s heart suddenly lub-dubbed so hard he fell to his knees with a gasp, his pupils shrinking into tiny dots. The amulet around his neck began to vibrate violently, surrounding itself with a purple aura of magic. His hoof leapt up to tear it from his neck, but it suddenly split itself open to reveal a serpentine eye. The stallion shrieked in fear, staggering backward and falling over the back of the couch. Crashing to the floor with a grunt, he felt it lower over his chest and then crush itself against the muscles there. The eye began to dart back and forth, glaring out at the world. Then, without warning, Pip’s body was wracked with the worst sort of pain he could ever imagine. As though suddenly every bone in his body had broken, and he’d been pitched into an icy lake. Screaming in wild agony he curled up in the fetal position as his fur suddenly doused itself in liquid night. White and brown swirled away, overpowered by oily black fur.

Pip’s parents heard all the noise and came rushing out. “Pip? Pip!” His father rushed around the back of the sofa, then recoiled in horror. “PIP, NO! What have you done?!” The stallion made a lunge for the eyeball medallion that had fastened itself to Pip’s chest, pulling at it with his teeth. All the while, the suffering pony writhed and cried out for mercy.

“It hurts! It hurts! Papa it hurrr-aaauugh!” His teeth suddenly jettisoned themselves from his mouth in a fantastic spray of blood. Like violent, jutting swords new teeth sprang into his jaws. Triangle-shaped piranha teeth filled his mouth, making him look monstrous! The stream of blood waterfalled out of his mouth as he bled upon the floor.

“Timpany! Get my crowbar!” Pip’s father shouted. The frightened mare dashed like a dainty rabbit, quite quick for her age. She returned quickly from the tool closet, thrusting the iron bar into her husband’s mouth. Turning, he thrust it into his own son’s chest, trying to pry the bauble out of his skin. Thrusting his entire weight upon it with a teeth-gritting groan, he cried out when it slipped and he fell. He looked at it in fear, for the tool had bent fairly neatly in half.

“What’s happening to him?!” she rushed, putting her hooves on her son’s side. His legs flailed and bicycled wildly. All the while Pip screamed in pain. His muscles were growing larger. His blotches of brown were replaced with a syrupy, oily black pelt that could only be matched by the night herself. Pip’s eyes flickered from their comforting brown to a terrifying gold. The pupils stretched into a serpentine gaze. Rising and squeezing his eyes closed the stallion BASHED himself wildly against the wall. Pictures fell from their places on the spackle. He bashed himself to it again, the lesser pain distracting him from the greater pain. “Trotter do something!” Pip’s mother shrieked in terror. The stallion leapt forward and tried to restrain his son, but was promptly tossed across the room like a rag doll. He landed hard right on the coffee table, shattering it into a million pieces and spilling Pip’s inkwell over himself. Ink blotted over the mysterious ancient paper, running over a good third of the writings.

Ensnared with dark magicks, Pip threw his head back and roared like an animal, showing off his terrifying teeth as something metallic began to unfold over his body. With the sound of many drawing swords, armor began to unfold over his frame. The breastplate was like flame, settling into a disturbing shape with the eyeball in the middle. Silvery, metallic protection began to melt over his black and flanks. It rushed up over his head and jutted outward into a dorsal fin atop him. It hardened like expanding ice, a metallic groan. The pain ended very suddenly.

Blood in his mouth and his mind completely gone, the beast that used to be Pip whinnied and reared with flailing hooves. He knocked more pictures off walls and pitched a grandfather clock over, bucking wildly and screaming like a wild pony. Pip’s mother and father shrank back into a corner, looking on in terror. What had become of their son?! Slathering and tongue-lashing about to spit the coppery taste when he could, he hobbled about like a new-born foal, nose working hard.

“Pip? Sweetie?” Timpany tried, clinging to her husband. The black pony’s ears perked, and his golden eyes gazed upon them with a mix of rage and hunger. “A-are you okay?” it turned to face them, the bloodshot eye decorating his chest glaring at them intently. Spittle and blood dripped, sticky, from his mouth as she approached. “N-now now, Pip. You’re scaring us!” his mother said, pressing herself back further into the corner.

“Pip! You take that thing off right now! It’s not yours yet!” Trotter found anger hidden under his fear and stepped forward to challenge the animal that used to be his son. Taking it as a sign of aggression, the black armored pony whinnied, rearing up and flailing his hooves. He battered his father with bruises and launched him into a wall, making his mother scream. Turning and setting his sights on her he charged, crashing straight through the wall and out into the night. Her poor aged body buckled and she fell in a bloody heap. “Pip! NO!” Trotter rose weakly, staggering. “Take it off! Take it off!” he shouted. The black pony turned with a snort of air from his nostrils. Scratching the ground and summoning the ancient power of earth pony strength, he charged! His father cried out briefly, but was rammed mercilessly across the room and through another wall. He landed in a terrible heap of moaning pain, but Pip followed. Leaping upon his father, his fangs flashed and he almost wasn’t able to stop him. Holding him back a few inches with all his might, Trotter whimpered as the tears ran down the sides of his face. The beast heaved and snarled, stomping on his father’s chest over and over. He could feel the ribs cracking and his strength failing. Raising his jowls to show off all his massive teeth, the oily black pony lunged again, knocking Trotter into a cabinet. He fell into a heap.. “I love you, son… ah-!” Blood sprayed across the window.

Turning, the beast walked quickly to finish off the female. She whimpering, trying to pull herself from the debris. He sniffed at her from a distance. Was she friend? Was she foe? Did she need to be eaten? He cocked his head at her, watching her weakly pull herself from the debris. She snatched at a piece of wood and threw it at him a feebly. It swatted him gently on the nose and he snarled like a demon. Rushing forward with a thundering of hooves he leapt upon her.
The scream lit up Ponyville, but was quickly cut off. Lights started turning on in houses up and down the block. The monster lifted its head, perking its ears at all the new lights. Dripping with fresh blood from its mouth, it walked curiously out onto the sidewalk. “Sweet Celestia!” belted a voice that made it turned around quickly and snarl. A trio of ponies, all garbed in armor exactly like its own, stood there wide-eyed.

“A Lunar Stallion!” said the second one.

“He’s frenzied. Lookit all that blood.” The third growled, lowering his horn aggressively.

“But the Princess has all the unused medallions!”

“Obviously not.” The first grumped. “C’mon, before he hurts somepony!” The three of them closed ranks, scratching at the sidewalk as they made ready to charge. The black-furred monster’s chest inflated. Lowering its head it roared at them a great and terrible roar. Foals all over town suddenly wet themselves and cried out into the night for their mothers. If you’ve ever heard the T-Rex roar from Jurassic Park, dear reader, you’ve heard this terrible sound.

=-----=-----=-----=

Luna chuckled loudly when Aegis Shield nuzzled her. “No no no, I’ll have none of that. Shave it off.” She told him firmly, giving him a royal shove right off the bed. It was near the end of the night and dawn was approaching. The Pegasus had grown a mustache and mild beard while out on a week-long patrol check-up in the area around Canterlot. That meant surveying the regions and their Lunar Stallions, usually three or four to a town these days. Though there were only twenty-four Lunar Stallions remaining, they did their active parts to keep the peace and protect the weak.

Snickering, he clambered back onto the bed and tackled Luna playfully, rubbing his face fiercely on her soft belly. The Princess squawked at the bristles on his face, squirming and swearing at him while she laughed. “What if your belly is dusty?” he guffawed, “I might have to sweep you up!” he rubbed his rough chin on her, back and forth, eliciting another round of laughter as she flailed about.

There was a banging on the door, making both of them freeze. It sounded urgent. Luna flipped over, shoving Aegis towards the bathroom to cleanse and shave himself. She was still smiling broadly when she magicked the door open. “Ah, Falling Storm.” She said, inclining her head when he bowed and spread his wings upon the floor for her. “What news, so close to dawn?”

“Your Majesty, there’s been a terrible incident!” he reported, rising and saluting.

“What’s happened?”

“A Lunar Stallion has emerged in Ponyville, frenzied like a beast!” he said.

Luna gaped at him. “Who? How long ago was this?”

“I flew as fast as I could.” said the sky blue stallion, flexing his tired wings. “The Ponyville Lunar Stallions caught him after a bit of a scuffle, but he’s still frenzied for some reason.” He looked distressed, seeking guidance from her with his eyes.

“How long was he frenzied?” Luna asked.

“He still is, and its been over three hours.”

She squinted at him, not sure she wanted to believe him. A Lunar Stallion could, at most, be frenzied for up to half an hour when he first donned his necklace. Princess Luna was not surprised at the emergence of another Lunar Medallion, but for such a long frenzy… “We shall go and see to this.” She inflated her chest into her more royal posture. “Aegis Shield!” she called over her shoulder.

Knowing the official tone, the stallion came running. “Yes, Princess?” he was not in his armor and he was partly-shaven, Falling Storm saw.

“We have a new stallion, in Ponyville.” She said. “Finish your shaving, and we shall teleport there.” She nodded to Falling Storm, closing her doors so she could don her royal trappings.

=-----=-----=-----=

There was a crack of parted air and the royal Princess of the night appeared in all her glory. Crown and regalia sparkling in the night, she fast approached the jailhouse and found it guarded by a trio of anxious-looking Lunar Stallions. There was a loose ring of ponies, standing around to gawk at the scene. “Report.” She told them, Aegis Shield at her side.

“We’ve got him locked up in th—!” There was a concussive roaring and the steel door strained violently on its hinges. Something was banging wildly at it. The stallion inside was not in a cell, but just inside the building itself. Luna scowled, leaning and squinting. “Or… not.” Said the stallion lamely. “It took all three of us to subdue him. It’s definitely a Lunar Stallion, but he’s… black, not grey like the rest of us.” He said, making a mild motion with a hoof.

Luna stopped, cocking her head. Aegis Shield looked up at her with concern. “Have you your patrolling weapon?” she asked one of them. The Earth Pony nodded, hoofing it over to her. It was a nightstick, already stained with recent blood. Taking it in the grasp of her powerful magic, she approached the door. Leaning, she aggressively banged on it a few times. The monster beyond roared animatedly, bashing himself against the barrier. The metal squealed and bent a little, straining on its hinges. “Get back, if he had to be caged, he may need to be broken as well! Move these citizens away!” she commanded the four Lunar Stallions. They turned on their hooves, pushing the curious denizens of Ponyville back as far as they could. The crowd pushed back a little, but the earth pony Lunar Stallion stomped his hoof like a crack of thunder. They backed off after that, frightened of his raw strength. The bucking sounds against the jailhouse door increased in intensity, and the stone around the door began to crack.

Princess Luna licked her chops briefly, frowning nervously. The door crashed off of the building, tumbling across the ground as the monster emerged into the night. Panting feverishly, it whinnied and roared ferally. Luna whapped it lightly on the nose with the nightstick, standing perhaps five paces away while the nightstick did the work. It gave a start, more surprised than anything. He stared up at the floating weapon. He followed it with his eyes, jowls rising. Rearing up he grabbed it in his teeth. Luna dragged him across the ground with it while he stubbornly dug his hooves in. She got a good look at him, the oily black fur was odd, but the armor was definitely that of a Lunar Stallion. What a strange incarnation… Turning, she addressed her stallions, “You will NOT interfere!” she told them, stepping forward and letting the monster have the club.

He crushed it in his teeth, shaking his head wildly back and forth to make sure it was dead. Then, he spotted her. She was tall! Taller than he! He recoiled, snarling savagely, showing her his teeth. His nostrils worked themselves. Luna made sure to move slowly, gracefully like silk. To panic the beast was to invite violence on herself. He sniffed at her, craning his neck to sniff-sniff closer without stepping closer. She smelled of rain pregnant wind, recent sex, and of recent eating. Trying to process an opinion based on looks and smell, he paused for a long time, growling at her while his golden eyes shone in the dark. Taking one slow step, then another, the Princess approached the bloodied, slathering beast. She could see the bruises, even with his midnight fur, where he’d been mare-handled into a cage. How had he escaped? Well, having seen him destroy the club Luna wouldn’t be surprised if he’d chewed his way out.

Luna was pleased when she allowed him to approach, looking unsure and growly. She could see the mild fear in his eyes, deep down. Newborn Lunar Stallions were just like foals in a way. While their armor embraced them they became powerful, wild animals that were completely on edge.

“Don’t do it Princess! He’ll eat you!” somepony suddenly shrieked in the crowd. That was enough to break her snake-charmer’s trance on him, for he snarled aloud and dove at her. Snatching her chest regalia by accident, he bit through the metal like cheese, shattering it into a thousand pieces. That had been an antique!

Mortally offended, Luna growled and dislodged a block of stone from the jailhouse itself by magic. “We shall have to do you the hard way, then.” She growled, heaving the massive stone in a high arc. It blasted over the beast’s head, his helm denting and his body face-planting into the ground with all the force of a cannon shot. She heard the bones in his face break, and he was unmoving. She let out a long-held breath, turning him on his side so he wouldn’t choke on his own blood. “Disperse the villagers.” She commanded the other four Lunar Stallions. They moved to obey her, and the Princess leaned over the unconscious Lunar Stallion. It would take more than a block of stone to kill an earth pony of her guard, she knew, and this monster was no different.

“Princess Luna.” A unicorn clad in cloak and pointed hat emerged from shadow, holding a lantern. “Is everything alright?” She was decorated with constellations, glittery stitching and a badge of office. She was ordained by Celestia herself to look after Ponyville and the surrounding regions, magic far more powerful than any other normal unicorn alive.

“Archmage Twilight Sparkle.” Luna nodded somberly. “I’ve everything under control. You don’t have to worry.” She gestured to the stallion she’d lay low with the brutality of stone and magic.

“Given the trail of blood and the two dead ponies, I’m already very worried.” Twilight gestured with her head, lighting a sparkling trail that led into a nearby alleyway. Luna leaned to see, and saw the dead body of a mare lying over a pile of rubble. The house was missing a wall. “Who is he?” she asked the Princess, gesturing. “One of your Lunar Stallions?”

“I don’t know who he is yet, other than a Lunar Stallion.” Luna said grumpily, turning and walking side by side with the Archmage. They reached the house and peered inside. They saw the bloody remains of a stallion through a hole in the wall. “Dear Faust…” she mumbled. “He must’ve donned the necklace and frenzied himself right in the middle of the living room. The fool!”

“Looks that way.” said Twilight Sparkle warily. The Archmage was well-informed about the powers and abilities of the Lunar Stallions, having helped Ponyville house three of them for the past decade or so. Leaning, she examined the ruined coffee table and pulled up a ripped sheet of old-looking paper. It had massive ink-stains all over it, and scrawling written in some foreign language she didn’t know. “Look at this.” She said, turning to show Luna.

The Princess leaned over it. “That’s Ancient Equestrian.” She said, peering at it and mouthing along the lines as she read them.

“What does it say?” Twilight asked.

“Well it says a lot.” Luna said a little cryptically, for the lines she was reading gave her a bad feeling.

“Princess.” Twilight whined at her, suddenly sounding ten years younger.

Luna Looked at her apologetically, gesturing to a box of blood-red words. “This here? The mantra of the Lunar Stallions. It’s what gives them their power. Nopony was ever supposed to write it down.” She scanned her hoof briefly across it, then found what looked like the starting point in all the paragraphs of madness. “My name is Pitch Dark. If you’re reading this then I have failed and my armor has rejected me…” she trailed off.

“Don’t the Lunar Stallions have some sort of ritual to bind themselves to that armor of theirs?” Archmage Twilight was stepping through the hole in the wall to examine the stallion. Apart from being dead with a massive head-injury, he was battered with bruises and other cuts. His death must’ve been very violent. Luna nodded when Twilight looked back. “I know you have your secrets for the Lunar Guard, but that monster out there is--!”

“Not responsible for any of this.” Luna said firmly, cutting her off.

“What?!” Twilight Sparkle turned sharply. “Princess look at this mess! He’s destroyed this place and killed two ponies!”

Lifting her chest and spreading her wings with a royal authority, Luna spoke more loudly than before. “No Lunar Stallion is responsible for his actions when under the influence of the frenzy. It is law.” She talked down to Twilight Sparkle for the first time in a very, very long time. The unicorn scowled at her angrily, then turned back around to continue to examine the dead stallion. “This was probably some sort of terrible accident. You have to speak the mantra to activate Lunar Stallion armor, but… if he knew what it was, why would he not lock himself in a cellar or something? A newborn Lunar Stallion is no different than a wild animal.” She pawed through more debris and found scratch paper, broken glass that was stained with ink. “Translating.” Luna said over her shoulder to Twilight. “He didn’t know what he was reading.” She turned about as the Archmage came back to lean over the scrawling. By the chaotic arrangement of writing, and the trail-and-error notes, it was easy to see. The writer had been decoding Ancient Equestrian like a cipher. “Twilight, whose home is this?” Luna suddenly asked, looking over at her.

“It's…” Twilight screwed up her face in thought, noting the street and nearest landmarks. “The… Britishhooves household. Timpany and Trot-something.” She didn’t know everypony in town, but the friendly foreign family was certainly friends with everypony.

“Britishhooves.” Luna said slowly, turning and walking gingerly out into the alleyway again. “Britishhooves.” She said again. The time of year was what conjured up the thought, the connection and surname. She went back to the unconscious monster, seeing her Lunar Stallions standing wary guard. Luna knelt down, taking the stallion’s face between her hooves. Archmage Sparkle followed, the bell on the tip of her pointed hat jingling idly. She nodded politely as the last of the crowd dispersed back to their homes. “Britishhooves.” Luna chanted again, pushing the beast’s mane back so she could get a good look at his face. Despite the oily black fur he did look a little familiar. She squinted, trying to see past the blood and teeth. Pulling back his bangs and placing a bandanna on his head in her mind’s eye, she stood suddenly. “Pip!” she said, pointing at him. “Pipsqueak Britishhooves!”

Meanwhile, somewhere in the dark...

“Death… is… closer…”
“Who’s that? Who’s there?”
“Your heart… will… explode.”
“I mean it! Show yourself!”
“Your friends… your loves… will abandon you…”
“Back off! Whoever you are you back off!”
“Give in to me, Pip… you are already dead…”
“Who are you?! Tell me now!”
“The Black… Stallion…”

End of Part 1

Luna’s Story 4: Curse of the Black Stallion
Part 2: A Curious Archmage

“You know, as an organization you gotta admit the Lunar Stallions are pretty irresponsible with our medallions.” Falling Storm said idly while they loaded the unconscious Black Stallion into what basically amounted as a mobile steel box. They chained the limp beast up in half a dozen manacles, put a muzzle on his face, and then locked the door with eight different mechanisms.

“Why do you say that?” asked the unicorn Lunar Stallion next to him.

“Well, a thousand years ago the Lunar Stallions dispersed, why not just round up all the medallions and seal them away or something? Until Luna got back?” The sky blue Pegasus wondered. Falling Storm frowned in thought for a moment, tapping the steel box. “I mean, passing something down from father to son is nice and all, but these things are dangerous.” He jabbed a hoof at the black furred monster inside the box.

“War crimes, Falling Storm. War crimes. They were afraid, so they hid.” Luna had appeared behind him, wings unfurled. Both stallions jumped, turning about and saluting her. “At ease.” She said dismissively, turning and inspecting the steel trap they’d borrowed from the Ponyville jailhouse. “The Lunar Stallions followed me all the way up to my transformation into Nightmare Moon, and some even after I had. A hoof full of them followed me into darkness, never to return…” her voice took on a remorseful tone, but she soon buried it in her own inner thoughts. “You will take him back to Canterlot. The Lunar Stallion Academy is almost finished. Place him in the lowest dungeon and keep him under heavy guard.” Both stallions saluted. After they’d mare-handled the cage onto a cart, they were ready to go.

Archmage Twilight Sparkle stood nearby, frowning at Princess Luna. “What will you do with him, Princess?”

“Break the curse that’s on him, to start with. Lunar Stallions do not remain feral for so long after donning their necklaces. Something is wrong with his, perhaps.” She said thoughtfully.

“I’d like to come and help.” The Archmage said, the bell on the end of her pointed hat jingling. Luna opened her mouth to forbid such a thing, but Twilight quickly added, “Ponyville deserves to know what happened to the Britishhooves household. If I were to come back with at least partial answers it would set their minds at ease.” There really wasn’t any arguing with that, to be honest. Such a terrible accident should not be forever shrouded in mystery. The citizens of Ponyville deserved to know.

Luna considered for a long few moments of silence. “I shall read your report before you deliver it to your fellow villagers.” She said with an air of authority. “Though they deserve to know why and how this travesty occurred, the Lunar Stallions are not without their secrets. The public does not need to know everything.” She folded her wings regally and turned her muzzle up a little. “You of all ponies know how knowledge can affect others when bestowed without restraint.”

Archmage Sparkle gingerly set her lamp on the ground and blew out the flame within. “Yes.” She said a little soberly. She didn’t like to be censored like that, but the purple mare knew she was going to be drifting into a place that was not only royal in nature, but specifically male. Twilight knew she would probably not be welcome amongst the powerful and mysterious Lunar Stallions. She would need to tread lightly. Giving her hat bell a toss she sighed, nodding mostly to herself. “Go on ahead, I’ll join you in Canterlot before dusk.”

“Very well.” Luna nodded to Aegis Shield, who came close and raised a hoof to touch her shoulder. There was a pause. “Nightmare Night will not be the same without Pip, Twilight Sparkle.” She said a little sadly.

“No.” Twilight said glumly, turning away to return to the library. “It won’t.” her head hung a little low and she started down the street. Aegis Shield and Princess Luna winked out of existence with a crack of parted air. Twilight briefly wondered why she didn’t just teleport herself, the guards, and the cage to Canterlot. Shrugging and deciding to worry about her own problems, she turned the corner to head for home.

“Twilight! Twilight!” Pinkie Pie suddenly appeared out of an alley, as though she’d totally been waiting for the Archmage the whole time. “Good morning!” Suddenly out of the alleyway piled a quintet of bubble-gum pink foals all shouting and squealing and laughing so similarly to their mother. The Archmage briefly cursed the fertile stallion Pinkie Pie had married for unleashing another FIVE Pinkie Pies on the world. Berry, Chocolate, Lemon, Vegetable Pot, and Apple were their names, and they had just as much energy—if not more—than their mother. Only a mare like Pinkie Pie would have five children and sometimes talk about more. Ah well, when your husband was an ice cream store chain owner, one could have lots of foals and still live comfortably.

“Morning…” Twilight glanced at the horizon, seeing that it was barely past dawn. “Oh right. Good morning, Pies.” She smiled as the foals gathered affectionately around her and nuzzled at her legs and undercarriage. Such affectionate things. They definitely took after Pinkie Pie. Smiling lovingly, Twilight gave a flick of magic to send a cloud of ghostly butterflies up and down the sidewalk. They squealed and chased after them back and forth. Pinkie Pie chuckled, coming and hugging her friend.

“Why the frownie face, miss frownie pants?” Pinkie Pie affectionately reached up and adjusted Twilight’s hat so she could see her face better. Twilight smiled tiredly. “You look like you’ve been up spell-casting all night again!”

“There was an… incident.” The Archmage sighed a little. “Princess Luna was here in town for a little while, too.”

“Really?” Pinkie said. “Nightmare Night is tonight, I was sure she wouldn’t pop in until dark!” the pink mare looked excitedly about, as though Luna might be hiding in a bush nearby.

“I’m going to Canterlot to help out with what happened. I’m not sure if we’ll even be back for Nightmare Night.” Twilight paused when Pinkie Pie deflated in the mane like a tire. “B-but don’t worry, I’m sure the Princess will at least stop in Ponyville tonight. It’s tradition that she spend Nightmare Night in Ponyville after all. She won’t let you down.” Even as Twilight Sparkle said the words she wasn’t sure. After witnessing everything she had the previous night, she wasn’t sure Luna wouldn’t just forget about Nightmare Night entirely.

“Well, you be careful Twilight.” Pinkie Pie once again hugged her old friend with much affection. “If you don’t make it home for Nightmare Night, we’ll save you some sweets. Girls!” The pink mare called out to her gaggle of foals, mane re-inflating like a balloon. They turned and raced over, arranging themselves in a horse shoe shape around their mother. “Say goodbye to Twilight Sparkle!”

“Bye Twi-liiiight!” They chorused, then broke into the insane giggles that ran in the family.

Twilight smiled, trying to fight down the shudder working its way down her spine. In about fifteen years there would be five fully-grown mares with all the potent power of the Pinkie Sense—along with the boundless energy of their mother—running around Ponyville. As Twilight strode away, spirits lifted just a bit, she wondered if all the Pie clan mares bred like rabbits. She giggled to herself, a blush crossing her face.

Reaching the library at last, she found Spike leaning over a geography book. Ten years had made him take up slightly more mature hobbies, and lately he had been tracking dragon migration flight patterns. (The eventuality of moving out lay beyond Twilight Sparkle’s death, but they never spoke of it like that) He looked up when she came in. “Hey Twilight!” his adolescent voice croak-crackled, and she smiled at him warmly. “Check this out.” He pointed as she shouldered up next to him. Spike’s hand-drawn map looked just the same as the one in the book, and he’d colored his own based on the dragon breeds and families that lived there. He smiled at her toothily.

“Not bad!” Twilight said, taking off her hat now that she was home again. She hugged him briefly, still amazed that she no longer had to bend down. True though it was that dragons didn’t grow unless they hoarded items, if you have enough birthdays and Hearth’s Warming Eves-- it became an eventuality even in the pony society. Though a foot or two of height was a lot from Twilight’s perspective, he was still her ever faithful assistant. “Listen, Spike. I have to go to Canterlot for awhile.”

“Whut? But why?” he asked, looking up from his regional map. “Nightmare Night is tonight!”

“There was an accident in Ponyville and everypony is going to want answers soon.” Twilight said, levitating her saddlebags out and stuffing a few things inside. “I’m gonna leave you to run the library all on your own, okay?”

“I can already do that.” The dragon grumbled a little, watching her work a little frantically. “Wanna tell me what happened before you go?”

“A new Lunar Stallion popped up in the middle of town, and some ponies got hurt.” She stopped, turning and looking at him meaningfully. The dragon’s expression fell. Going to him, she smiled and they hugged like brother and sister. “I don’t know everything about it just yet, but when I come back I will, okay?” She was gathering up parchment, inkwells, and other instruments. She didn’t have any books on Lunar Stallions or she would’ve grabbed those too.

“Promise?” Spike said, reaching and putting her Archmage’s hat on her head. He flicked the bell to hang off the back side of her. “And you’ll be back soon?”

Archmage Twilight nodded, and hugged him one more time before she headed to the door. The purple dragon followed, stopping in the doorway and waving. “Don’t worry Spike, all the bad stuff has already happened. This is just a fact-finding mission.” She smiled. Stepping out into a nice open space in front of the library, Twilight looked about. This looked like a good spot.

“Tell Celestia I said hello!” Spike waved, then caught his head on the top of the doorframe. Grunting and holding the top of his head, he laughed embarrassedly.

Twilight smiled and nodded her head. “I will.” Her horn flickered, flickered, IGNITED like a beacon of light! Dust rushed away from her in a ring and a magic circle fifteen feet across appeared on the ground. She cocked her head and looked towards Canterlot, reaching out with her mind’s eye. The magic circle’s symbols rushed back and forth to rearrange themselves, then locked in place. Purple glitters of light appeared from nowhere, all rushing to splash themselves against the purple unicorn’s body. She tilted her head back and closed her eyes, her mouth going slightly agape. The air began to whir and a flush found the mare’s face as she began to look like something was REALLY making her feel good. Without warning she suddenly burst into a bright purple mist and darted away beyond Spike’s view.

Spike snorted and grinned, shaking his head. “Wish I could do that.” He huffed a little bit of green flame and turned to go back inside.

=-----=-----=-----=

Princess Luna made sure that the moonsteel bars were strong, tapping them with her horn. She and the quartet of Lunar Stallions had put their still unconscious prisoner into a dungeon underneath the new Lunar Academy. There had not even been an opening ceremony yet, but already they were using the dungeons. After all, if a Lunar Stallion misbehaved, it would take more than a normal cell to hold him. Moonsteel was far stronger than normal metal, and only Luna herself could procure it by hardening beams of moonlight into solid matter and shaping them into whatever she wanted. She was glad she’d invested the time in the detention block below the structure. Even the walls were lined with the stuff, so even a powerful earth pony Lunar Stallion could not burrow out. “Keep him under guard at all times, you three. I do not want him ruining Nightmare Night, nor the opening ceremonies of the Lunar Academy.” She told the three lower ranking stallions. “Aegis Shield, come.” She bade, and he followed silently.

He waited until they were out of earshot to speak, looking up at her. “What do you think?” he asked her curiously. “A black Lunar Stallion with a frenzy that’s hours long, it has to mean something.”

“Indeed.” Luna said frownily while they walked. “I suspect the medallion he accidently activated was worn by a stallion that followed me into darkness when I became Nightmare Moon.”

“Really?!” he looked up at her, shocked. “I had no idea!”

“ There were hundreds of Lunar Stallions, some of them followed me no matter what dark path I took. But, it’s just a theory for now. We’ll need to wait until he wakes.” The Princess said. “That may be hours or days. I hit him pretty hard.” She gave her starry mane a toss, pausing at an intersection and then choosing a side entrance to leave out of. She saw Aegis looking around the hallowed, pristine halls. “Don’t look too closely, or you’ll have nothing left to be impressed by when the Academy truly opens soon.” She smiled playfully. He blushed just a little, keeping his eyes forward.

“What will we do about Nightmare Night?” he asked her.

“It must continue as planned. Ponyville has been kind to me, and I have never missed a Nightmare Night there.” Luna said. “It will not be as joyful without Pip there, but--!”

CRACK! The part of air and swirl of magic startled them both when they stepped outside. Archmage Twilight Sparkle stood there, brushing a few flecks of magic off of her cape. “I’m here!” she chirped at their startled looks. A teleportation spell? Over such a distance? Astounding! “Alright Princess, what can I do to help?”

“We were just deciding what to do about Nightmare Night, and the upcoming Lunar Academy ball.” Luna said, nodding when the mare bowed. Aegis Shield looked her up and down, but the casualness of her demeanor said ‘longtime friend’, so he relaxed too. “I will of course return to Ponyville this evening for the festivities, but then I must return to sort this mess out and make ready for the academy to open.”

“The Lunar Stallions are going to have an academy?” Twilight said, her eyes getting big and sparkly. “Who will you hire as teachers? What will they teach? Will it be like the Solar Guard Academy? Shining Armor told me all about that, growing up!” she was chattering away, then looked past Luna at the massive building. “Is that it? Is that it there? Wow!” she said, bouncing on all four hooves a bit.

“Archmage!” Princess Luna snapped a little. “Control yourself.” Twilight blushed furiously and coughed. She gestured. “This is Aegis Shield, one of my two Captains.” She introduced the armored stallion, and they shook hooves formally. “If you are to learn about the Lunar Stallions and form a hypothesis about our new… charge, for me, I shall need to assign you an exemplary stallion for your studies.” Luna cocked her head and thought for a moment. “But whom…?”

“How about Stalwart Hide?” Aegis Shield suggested, looking up at her. “He was the second Lunar Stallion of this era, and even fought in the battle for Canterlot.”

“That sounds interesting!” Twilight said. With severe lack of non-public knowledge available to her, the Archmage was getting bouncy and excited. The mere idea of studying a Lunar Stallion, something the public knew little of beyond the obvious, was like discovering a new species! Just think of the papers and essays she could write!
Princess Luna mulled it over for a few moments. The other Lunar Stallions were scattered in the towns surrounding Canterlot, Aegis Shield was always by her side, and the other three were guarding the Pip in his cell. Though, wasn’t Stalwart Hide on vacation today… oh no, wait, it was past dawn. He should’ve been reporting for duty soon.

As though by some vast, comedic cue Stalwart Hide in full armor swooped down from on high. “Princess Luna!” he called down in his deep bronze voice. “Good morning!” he landed with an even clop of four hooves, bowing and spreading his wings upon the ground. “Vivas Noctus.” He said reverently from the ground. Luna inclined her head. Twilight was instantly fascinated by this. She’d never seen a pony bow that way, didn’t that dirty his wings? And what was that phrase? It sounded like another language. She would need to look that up later…

“You are uncanny, Stalwart Hide, we were just speaking about you.” Princess Luna said cheerfully. “This is Archmage Twilight Sparkle, she’s going to be investigating with us.” she stopped for a bit while they filled him in on everything that had happened, and the purpose of Twilight Sparkle’s stay.

“Er,” Stalwart Hide said. “Princess, if you created the Lunar Stallions and everything that has to do with us, why can’t you just--” he saw the searing glare Aegis Shield was giving him. “Er… right. Always willing to help, your majesty!” he amended.

“We prefer a third party’s eyes.” Luna said acidly, frowning for a few moments until he looked sufficiently sorry at her. “While I created everything Lunar Stallion related, it is because of that that I may miss something. It is like looking for errors in one’s own writing.”

“Your eyes just slide across misspellings and things like that.” Twilight put in, nodding. “Don’t worry, Stalwart Hide, I’m Princess Celestia’s protégé! You’re in perfectly professional hooves!” she beamed. Stalwart Hide wiped his face of the rather miserable expression on his face. The idea of a strange mare ‘examining’ him didn’t really appeal, much less so up close and personal. Most of the qualities of a Lunar Stallion were strictly physical, so he knew there would be a lot of poking and prodding. In the back of Stalwart’s head, the ancestors murmured with disapproval, not sure what to make of the purple mare just yet. They conferred and quietly debated, but gave him no offered opinion.

“Right.” Luna said, huffing as though to wipe a slate clean. “I am going to bed. The sun is rising.” She stretched, yawned, and pulled Aegis Shield rather unceremoniously to her side. “Come to bed, Aegis Shield, lest I fall asleep on my hooves.” He smiled bashfully, bowing his head and following his Princess towards the palace. Twilight watched them go, an alarmed look on her face.

“They’re lovers. Have been since the Lunar Stallions got started back up.” Stalwart Hide put in. “It’s not a huge secret, but not many talk about it.”

“Are Lunar Stallions more potent in bed?” Twilight wondered aloud, stroking her chin. Stalwart Hide went scarlet, face-hoofing. Twilight legitimately wondered at the logistics of alicorn-Lunar Stallion relations. Did the armor provide them with the extra strength and endurance needed to bed a goddess? Well no, wait, Big Macintosh was with Princess Celestia… sort of… that was more of a secret though… her brow scrunched and she stood there, perfectly still, for over a minute. Stalwart Hide leaned with a frown, looking into her face. She didn’t respond, she was so deep in thought. He waved a hoof at her, but no, her eyes saw something elsewhere while she was thinking. A thought bubble appeared over her head, complete with a cartoon alicorn, a cartoon of each pony stallion breed, and then Solar and Lunar Stallions. Fancy mathematics began to add, then multiply… multiply?! Twilight gave a start, her cheeks flushing red, when Stalwart Hide poked her sharply. “What?!” she said loudly.

“I said what do we do first?” he grouched back at her.

The Archmage gulped a little, then cocked her head. She didn’t know where to begin. Where did one begin when documenting a brand new species or breed? Surely it would be no different for ponies than with animals? She rubbed her chin for a long for moments, the well-oiled gears in her mind turning. “Ah!” she said, thrusting a hoof up. “I must observe the subject in his natural environment!” The Lunar Stallion didn’t know whether to scowl or laugh at her. She talked like he wasn’t there listening. “Can I see where you eat a lot? Or maybe where you sleep? Isn’t there a barracks for the Lunar Stallions?” She was full of questions right out of the starting gate.

“Er, well sure.” He nodded. He wasn’t a hundred percent sure that civilians were allowed into the Lunar Barracks. But then again she was both an Archmage and Celestia’s prized student. Surely an exception could be made. Yawning a little, since he was used to sleeping in the day, he gestured for her to follow.

Making sure she stayed close to him, he guided her all the way across the palace to the Solar barracks. When she opened her mouth to complain he put his wing over her back and swept her to one side. They stepped over some sort of invisible line that set off some of Twilight’s magical alarms, and suddenly they were in front of a set of double doors that hadn’t been there before. “Wow.” She said, looking them up and down. “So I guess you can’t get in unless you’re invited, huh? I never would’ve found these!”

“You’re with a Lunar Stallion, that’s part of what lets you see them.” Stalwart Hide pushed the doors open, revealing the spiraling staircase. He stepped aside so the mare could go first. Cocking her head, Twilight levitated quill and parchment to one side of herself. As soon as it was set in place in the air next to her, the pen started writing furiously. Everytime Twilight seemed to notice something new or interesting even on the stairs on the way down, the quill would jerk about and write on its own. Stalwart Hide, being a Pegasus, had no idea how something like that would work, but it was fun to watch.

When they reached the bottom and emerged into the great room, Twilight stopped to look around. It reminded her of an old Neighway hall, where Vikings would share grog and tell stories around long tables. There was a roaring hearth with tons of spare wood, plenty of furniture to stretch out on, and lots of stylized wall art. The long table was, amazingly enough, long enough to seat every single Lunar Stallion. The room was big enough for a table so large. Twilight had no idea how they would’ve found a tree big enough to carve such a thing, or much less how it didn’t collapse on itself. She scanned it briefly, and found it covered with spells. Anti-shattering, Anti-scratching, Anti-staining, anti-heat, anti-cold, waterproofing, and so on and so on. If a Canterlot scholar sat down with an encyclopedia of spells to wrap around a table, of all things, all of them had to be there. The thing was meant to stand up to even a rowdy group of seventy stallions. Twilight’s quill dipped itself in ink again, and began writing about her predictions on the Lunar Stallion sense of community. “Wow.” Twilight said again, peering about and taking her pointed hat off in awe. “It’s much bigger than I thought.” She admitted.

“Princess Luna expects the best, but she also gives the best.” Stalwart Hide smiled with pride as she did a slow lap around the great room, admiring just about everything. “Living here is a privilege, even if its two or three stallions to a room.”

“Oh, can you show me the sleeping rooms, then?” The purple mare was already moving on and wanting to see more. In the short span her magic quill and paper had already written more than seven paragraphs of random tidbits of information. He led her along, perking his ears and listening. Nopony was home, it seemed.

“We’re all stationed in the towns around Canterlot, right now. The normal meetup is tonight for the Nightmare Night festival. All twenty-four Lunar Stallions are going to be there. Or they should be.” He smiled happily, looking forward to see his comrades like they were so many siblings.

“Twenty-four?” Twilight frowned as they passed bedroom door after bedroom door. “But the table out there has enough room for three times that.”

Stalwart Hide stopped a moment and looked at her seriously. “There were seventy of us, before the battle for Canterlot.” He whispered. “We lost a lot of good stallions that day.” Twilight wilted back a little. “But!” he heaved a quick breath, trying to keep the mood light. “With the Lunar Academy about to be unveiled, soon we’ll replenish our numbers.” He stopped and gestured to a door at the very end of the hall. “My room. Mine and Aegis Shield’s… though he doesn’t sleep here much anymore.” He snickered.

Twilight pushed the door open curiously, wrinkling her nose a little. There was a bookshelf, which she approached with interest and scanned the titles. “Huhm…” she said, magic quill dancing as she did a slow lap around the room. There was almost nothing to it, it was strictly functional.

“Er.” Stalwart Hide felt a certain warmth in his cheeks while a mare walked around inspecting his room. Princess Luna never asked anything about the personal quarters of her stallions. If they wanted to live in filth or cleanliness, it was their own business—so long as they saw to their duties properly and observed good hygiene. “What do you—!”

“SHH!” Twilight, Archmage or no, was in investigation mode. She stuck her muzzle under his bed. She deflated, finding no secret journal or dirty magazines or anything of the sort. She opened his drawers, fiddled with his things. He watched her go back and forth, cocking his head curiously. “Jeez you’re boring!” she suddenly squawked at him, face-hoofing.

“Hey!” Stalwart Hide dropped his polite demeanor right then. “What’s that supposed to mean?!”

“There’s nothing personal here!” The purple mare declared, gesturing around. “No photos of family! No dirty magazines! No snack food rotting in the drawers! No stuffed animals from your foalhood or anything!”

The Lunar Stallion scowled at her and started to growl a little ferally. His jowls lifted, exposing jagged teeth. “You pompus, rude--!”

Suddenly she’d grabbed his head. “Wow, lookit your teeth!” she said, peering at him. His teeth looked razor-sharp, triangularly shaped, like a piranha’s mouth. “Say ahhh!” when he refused she kicked him a little.

“AH!” he said, but as his mouth opened she turned his head to inspect his ears instead. Sweet Luna, Stalwart Hide begged, you’ve left me in the hooves of a mad-mare.

=-----=-----=-----=

Princess Luna and Stalwart Hide came down into the Lunar barracks great room, chatting about the Nightmare Night festival that was only hours away. They only had to pick up Stalwart Hide and check on the black-furred prisoner, and they’d be on their way. After all, it took two Lunar Stallion Captains to pull the royal chariot. Luna did love to make an entrance. What the pair of them came across, though, stopped them dead in their tracks. “Archmage Sparkle!” Luna barked, completely taken aback.

Stalwart Hide was standing on four stacks of books, very much on display in his Lunar regalia. Twilight Sparkle, her hat and cloak off to one side, was lying on her back underneath him, T-ways. She was armed with a tape measure, a magnifying glass, and had a strange instrument on her head. It had several colored lenses that could be adjusted for the light spectrum as well as magnification. “Oh thank the moon!” Stalwart Hide shuddered happily, seeing them approach.
Twilight sat up, scooting out from under him like she’d been working on a car (Er… cart, in Equestria). “Princess! I’ve just made a great discovery!” she said, cantering over and sticking her muzzle into her bag. She went to Stalwart Hide and broke a glass phial over his helm, then jabbed his underbelly with it. The stallion giggled, jittering on his hooves without meaning to. Aegis Shield cocked his head. “Lunar Stallion fur can withstand most crystallized substances! I tried glass, crystal, quartz shavings, everything! Nothing breaks the skin!”

“We should show her Panzer Hoof, she’d have a field day.” Grumbled Aegis Shield out of the side of his muzzle.

Luna snorted, stepping forward. “Stalwart Hide, you are done for now. It is time for the Nightmare Night Festival.” She pulled him off of the stacks of books before Twilight could stop her. “You may have him back later, Archmage.” She said loudly before the purple mare could protest. Stalwart Hide wanted to hug Luna so badly, it was only his dignity as a soldier that stopped him. “Come, I need you both to pull the royal chariot to Ponyville.”

“Yes Princess!” Stalwart Hide said way too loudly, rushing away and up the stairs like his tail was on fire. Aegis Shield tried very hard not to snicker at his comrade, and followed.

“What?” Twilight said, tilting her head. One of the lenses over her eyes made her eye look enormous, and the other made it look faraway. “You’re looking at me like…” she flustered a little. “I’m trying very hard! Honest!”

There was a long silence and Luna smiled painfully. “Just… be gentler with my stallions, huhm?” she said. “They’ve been through more than you can imagine.”

“Sorry…” Twilight mumbled, remembering the stallion’s comment about the battle for Canterlot.

“You may stay here if it suits you, and compile your information. Draw some conclusions.” The Princess gestured. “With a total of six Lunar Stallions in Canterlot, I don’t think you’ll be disturbed down here.” Twilight nodded apologetically, and the Princess turned to go.

“Er, Princess?” Twilight called after her.

“Yes, Archmage?”

“Er… uhm…” Twilight wanted to think of something nicer to say, to let the Princess know she was taking it all very seriously. But nothing noble sprang to mind and she wilted. “Happy Nightmare Night.” She said a little glumly.
“Happy Nightmare Night, Twilight.” Luna smiled in a way that reminded her very much of Celestia. A soft, bemused way that said she knew far more than she let on. Twilight could only guess at what it was.

Sitting at the long table after Princess Luna was gone, Twilight Sparkle put her cloak around her shoulders. Going to the massive hearth she put a few more logs on and stirred it with a poker. When the flames started to lick at the wood, she returned to her chair. She copied her notes down much more neatly, categorizing them and sorting them in order of importance. She kept the originals for safety, in her saddlebag. Sighing and feeling a little guilty for treating Stalwart Hide like a science project, she picked up her quill with her magic. Lunar Stallions are ponies too, not just Lunar Stallions, she wrote.

=-----=-----=-----=

“Give in to me, Pip.”

“No! Go away!”

“I’ve already taken you over once. Your will shall break, eventually.”

“Get away from me!”

“I’ll never leave you, I’ll never go away. I will always be here.”

The Black Stallion’s eyes flicked open. He saw the moonsteel bars, and went to hold them. “Hullo?” he called out into the darkness with a quiet English accept. “Is anypony there? Where am I? Hullo!?” he called louder. He held his face with his hooves. “My voice!” he said. It was a full step lower than it normally was, deep and syrupy. He looked himself over with shock. “My fur!” He backed up and saw his face in a bucket of water that had been put in the cell with him. “My face!” he said, peering so closely his nose dipped into the cool liquid. Suddenly feeling his throat on fire he doused himself into it, drinking greedily.

Good boy, drink up, Pip.

The stallion stopped, looking around in fear. “Who’s there?!” he said. “Who’s there?!” he shouted a little louder.

“Wow, I didn’t think he would sense us.” Three Lunar Stallions melted out of shadow, standing on the other side of the bars with somber expressions. “Whatever that amulet did to him, it must be powerful.”

“Please!” he rushed to the bars and they stepped back quickly, like he might bite them. “Where am I?! What’s happened?! Why am I like this?!” he showed them his hoof like that would explain everything. “I’m not a black stallion! I’m a white and brown pinto!” Saying it out loud made him sound all the crazier and he moaned pathetically, gripping the bars.

“Yeah, and I’m sky blue with a red mane.” Shrugged the Pegasus. He didn’t sound sarcastic. Pip looked at him. Clearly he was ashen grey, but… but… “The armor changes you, kid. That’s just what it does. You’re not gonna remember anything from your first transformation.”

“My first what?” he said, leaning so hard against the bars his head almost slipped through.

All three Lunar Stallions winced. “We… might get in trouble for tellin’ you.” Said the earth pony to Pip’s left. “But so long as you’re in there, you prolly deserve to know.” They looked at him with sympathy.

“What’s happened? How did I get here?” Pip asked, jiggling the bars a little with morbid anticipation. They told him everything. Within the hour, a great and mournful cry echoed up out of the Lunar Academy dungeons.

End of Part 2

Luna’s Story 4: Curse of the Black Stallion
Part 3: A Blushing Mare

Princess Luna was all smiles as the crowd of grey armored stallions pressed in around her like children, rearing and whinnying happily. She chuckled, handing out blessings when she could and embracing those brave enough to take her hugs. They’d all been out on duty for several months now, and to see all of them together again (minus Stalwart Hide and the three stallions guarding their “guest”) was a sight to behold. Aegis Shield was shaking hooves, exchanging banter and gossip while the festival pressed on.

Nightmare Night was a big deal in Ponyville, for their tiny village was always graced with the presence of royalty. Ever since the first Nightmare Night that Princess Luna had returned, she’d always insisted on spending the night there. Not in Canterlot, nor Los Pegasus, or anywhere else with their fancier parties and streams. No, Ponyville was where her heart lay.

Games, sweets, and prizes were being passed out by ponies with fat saddle bags, and the stage was almost ready for Luna’s yearly speech. She’d teased several ponies with the promise of special announcements and prizes for best costumes. “So then, we bucked him in the face!” One stallion had already had a few too many ciders, serenading Luna with the tale of a bar fight he and his fellows had broken up. The Princess chuckled good-naturedly. Truth be told there hadn’t been much ‘action’ comparable to the battle for Canterlot a decade ago, but they were all eager to tell her of their exploits. Small-time thieves, bar fights, escorting frightened mares home in the dead of night. A few of them had actually found love, much to the delight of their comrades. After all, they reasoned, there was no greater catch in all the world’s stallions than a Lunar Stallion. Luna agreed, poking fun at Aegis Shield, who blushed.

Excusing herself after a time, Luna made to mount the stage and head to the podium. Even after a decade she was not very good at speaking to attentive crowds, but she tried her best. At least her language lessons had brought her into the proper century, and she sounded more normal and approachable to everypony. The music from the band died down and everypony began to gather ‘round, happy to see the Princess in such good spirits on Nightmare Night. “CITIZENS OF PONYVILLE!” she concussed the night with the Royal Canterlot Voice, much to their delight. There was laughter and applause, and she made a show of bashfully lowering her voice. “Welcome to the tenth annual royal Nightmare Night festival!” she smiled and blimped her wings open, sending phantom bats in all directions. More applause and hoof stomping. “I have surveyed the crowds and have made my decisions for best costumes.” She gestured, and a pair of Lunar Stallions came forward with a quartet of golden trophies with crescent moon symbols on them. The crowd ooooh’d appreciatively, chattering for a bit while they admired the shine and sparkle of the trophies. “There shall be one for each gender, one for children and one for adults!” she gestured to all four. The crowd went nuts. Last year they had only had trophies for the creative foals that had made their costumes themselves.

Aegis Shield smiled from his place in the crowd, making sure that the Lunar Stallions were grouped up and acting accordingly. They could party, sure, but they were still pillars of the community. They couldn’t get too wild. The Captain scolded himself a little when he finally remembered Stalwart Hide. How could he forget? Smiling guiltily he called to a reveler for a bag of assorted candy to take home to his comrade. She obliged and pecked his cheek, wishing him a happy Nightmare Night. Aegis stuffed the little bag into his breastplate, promising to give it to his friend when he returned to Canterlot. He looked up, having not been paying attention.

Princess Luna was presenting a little earth pony filly with a trophy. She had glued gobs and gobs of cotton to her legs, and made little paper wings. When asked what her costume was, she flopped down on her cushion and curled up like she was asleep. Pegasus asleep on a cloud, she told them. The crowd ‘awwwww-ed’ loudly, she really was precious. Luna blessed the foal with a tap of her horn, presenting her with her trophy. She skipped off the stage, laughing merrily. The colt trophy went to a little foal who’d decided to be a space pony. He’d shoved a fishbowl onto his head, had vacuum cleaner parts all over himself for his astronaut suite, and had ever perfected a slow-motion walk to make it look like he was in lesser gravity. The crowd adored this and clapped voraciously. One of the adult ponies that won a trophy was none other than Zecora the zebra, who had rolled herself in flour. When asked what she was, they found out she was pretending to be a white earth pony. The crowd laughed and applauded, making her bow and chuckle with them. The mare that won the male adult trophy had dressed up like death, weaving a complex spell around himself to make most of his body look like just a skeleton. Such magic!

When all the prizes had been handed out and the band was getting back into place to start the next dance, Princess Luna held up a solemn hoof. “I do have another announcement to make, and this seems to be the best place to make such an announcement.” The crowd quieted, cocking their heads at her. Aegis Shield looked up, lifting his drink to his muzzle and smiling at his comrades while she spoke. “Ponyville was the first place, even before Canterlot, that helped to reintegrate me into society after my absence.” The dark alicorn said, walking sideways and gesturing mildly at the moon. “Everypony helped me so much, and made me a part of their families on the first Nightmare Night that I came here.” There was scattered chuckling from the adults that remembered the very turbulent first encounters with her Majesty. Royal Canterlot Voice, shouting and the like was forever ingrained in their memories. “So, it seems only right that I come to my family with my most sacred of announcements.” Her cheeks colored a little and she locked eyes with Aegis Shield in the crowd. “I am-- pregnant.”

There was a hushhhh over the crowd. Could alicorns get pregnant? Who was the father? There was concerned murmuring throughout the gathering. No cheering or happy faces. Luna started to wilt a little. That had not been the reaction she was expecting. Aegis Shield dropped his cider mug, staring up at her, then at her belly, then at his fellow Lunar Stallions. They studied him carefully, watching for a reaction. Cocking his head, he peered about then made the snap decision. Shoving his way rudely through the crowd and tapping the eye on his breastplate, by the time he mounted the stage steps he was a brown Pegasus with a golden mane. Rushing across the stage he reared up and embraced Luna happily. Pregnant! The Lunar Stallions suddenly followed suite and amassed around her up on the stage. Slowly, the feeling of shock dissipated from the crowd and there were slowly growing smiles. Pregnant! The Princess of the Night was pregnant! There was going to be a royal filly or colt! The murmuring turned into chattering turned into shouting turned into cheering. Wild stomping and flailing about was had. The royal family was going to get bigger. “I love you, Luna.” Aegis Shield whispered, nuzzling her for all to see.

Luna smiled bashfully, turning and presenting him to the crowd. “This is Aegis Shield, my companion.” She told them all. “He is the father.” The massive gathering peered at him curiously. What sort of a name was ‘shield-shield’? How odd… why, he looked like a normal Pegasus! The Princess had found true love, and not in some uptight upper-circle pony? That was great! The crowd watched him turn a lovely shade of crimson as his Princess basically announced that yes, this was the stallion whose nightly efforts had helped to spawn a new alicorn. Wasn’t he handsome? Wasn’t he strong and impressive? Wasn’t he virile and fertile and all the things a Princess needed to make a demigod in her womb? Feeling overwhelmed, Aegis Shield went a little pale then flopped over. Fainted. There was instant silence, for a grown stallion hitting the floor made a loud sound. The Lunar Stallions crowded around him, swatting at his face and such. But no, he was long gone. The excitement and rush of adrenaline had just been too much for the poor guy. Luna chuckled embarrassedly, leaning down and kissing his face.

=-----=-----=-----=

Stalwart Hide jerked awake, snuffle-sneezing. He remembered bringing a happy Princess and a fainted Aegis Shield back from Nightmare Night, then he’d collapsed into bed, then… then…? He realized he’d probably been awake for thirty-six hours, and fallen asleep when his head hit the pillow. That didn’t explain the device attached to his head, though. It looked like a straining bowl, covered with wires and blinking lights. “Muhh…?” he managed, pawing at it.

“That’s delicate!” Archmage Sparkle said from his bedside, startling the poor stallion.

“Archmage! I’m naked!” he told her, pulling his blankets up. She stared at him blankly, her eyes flicking up and down him. Of course he was. Stalwart Hide meant he wasn’t wearing his armor, and was pretty uncomfortable with Twilight Sparkle getting a good look at his normal form. Why? Well, with her overwhelming personality and thirst for knowledge, she came across as pretty intimidating.

“I’m measuring your brain activity so I can compare it to your Lunar Stallion form.” Twilight gestured to the machine that was steadily spitting out a stream of paper with wiggly lines on it. She picked up part of it to show him, but he couldn’t make any sense of it.

“I think that’s enough of that.” He groaned and turned over sorely, clutching his medallion. Twilight stepped back instinctively when he flared his wings and raised his voice. “In the dark we tear and rend, to end all evils with spines to bend. Lust and power, hunger and might, by Luna’s will and dark of night!” his medallion burst with wild magic that blinded all of the Archmage’s internal radars. She recoiled with a yelp as his fur stained grey, his eyes flashed to gold, and his feathers imploded like fire crackers. Bat-like wings extended and his teeth sharpened while armor clacked into place all over his body. Lunar Stallion!

Twilight found herself splayed out on her back, her pointed hat pressed over her face. Bicycling her hooves for a moment, she righted her hat and looked up at him. “Wow! Password-oriented, permanent enchantment matrixes!” she was on her hooves again, squinting at the eye on his breast very slowly. “I’ve never seen such a tightly-woven spell!” she stared at it, looking at the medallion on several plains of existence. Material, ethereal, magical, mythical, elevated, and even outer. Every single shade of existence that the Archmage could see, the medallion showed up like a brightly glowing star. “Fascinating…” she mumbled, wide-eyed. Her vision flicked back up to his scowling face, then her eyes drifted up to his dorsal-finned helm. “My scanner!” she yelped, seeing the pieces all over the floor. “You wrecked my scanner!”

“You snuck into my room and put something weird on my head!” Stalwart Hide shouted back.

“I had permission!” she defended.

“Not MY permission!” he leaned into her face, snarling with all his pointed teeth.

“I needed the data to help the Princess!” the Archmage corrected her hat, bell jingling dangerously as a bell could… jingle. “If I put it on your head and told you to go to sleep you wouldn’t have been able to!” she shouted.

“I’m not your science project!” roared the Lunar Stallion.

“The Princess gave you to me to study to help that poor pony locked in the dungeon!” Their noses pressed heatedly together, until they were both red in the face from all the pressure. “I have to gather as much as I can about a normal Lunar Stallion before I can study that one.” They both sobered up a little at the mention of the prisoner.

“Then at least ask before you stick something weird onto my body.” he told her impatiently while they slowly came down from their shouting. “You even came into my bedroom without asking. How’d you like it if I snuck into your room and did something to you?” The implication of the sentence hit him as soon as he’d said it. Both of them flushed, looking to one side. They knew he hadn’t meant it that way.

“W-well, I wouldn’t. I’m sorry.” Archmage Sparkle said, hiding under the brim of her pointed hat for a few moments. “I’ll ask from now on.” She turned and clicked off her machine. Gathering up the bits and pieces of the shattered helmet-thing she’d put on his head, she stuffed them into her saddlebags and hauled the whirring machine away as well. He followed her out into the great room where her cloak was spread out over the couch. It was wrinkled in such a way that he knew she’d at least cat napped on the sofa the night before.

“You know, I don’t think Aegis Shield would mind if you took his bed. He doesn’t sleep in the barracks anymore, after all. It’s better than a couch.” Stalwart Hide offered. “I can’t speak for the other stallions, though.” He smiled a little awkwardly, but suddenly there was a great break in the silence. A whole gaggle of Lunar Stallions came down the stairs and into the great room, talking animatedly. Filtering out to their own activites, a few of them stopped to greet their Captain as the Archmage slipped out behind them.

=-----=-----=-----=

Princess Luna arrived at the Lunar Stallion Academy doors, followed by more servants than she cared to have around her. Telling everypony that she was pregnant seemed to have spawned the idea that she was an alicorn made of glass now. Waited on hoof and… hoof, she could hardly find a moment to think. “Leave us!” she suddenly belted at the crowd of over a dozen ponies. “I mean…” she amended when she saw their hurt expressions. “Go and spread the news!” she thrust a hoof towards Canterlot. Word of her pregnancy would spread like wildfire anyway, why not distract them with spreading the happy news on purpose? Their faces lit up and they stampeded away. All of Equestria would know within the day, no doubt. She rolled her eyes, having expected as much. She didn’t blame Aegis Shield for passing out, it was big news.

Turning, she went into the Lunar Academy and down into the dungeons. She found the three guards ponies there, playing cards around a small table. They jumped up when she cleared her throat, bowing low. “Falling Storm, report.” She asked the Pegasus on the right. Glancing over into the cage, she saw the black stallion hadn’t moved much, but there was a cold puddle of vomit in one of the cage’s corners.

“Your Majesty.” Falling Storm saluted before speaking. “The black stallion has--”

“Pipsqueak.” The Princess interrupted.

“Er, Pipsqueak woke only briefly in confusion.” Falling Storm said. “Like any other Lunar Stallion he didn’t remember what happened during his frenzy. We told him.” He winced when she narrowed her eyes at him angrily. “He cried, threw up, then passed out.” He said.

“You are lucky I’m in no mood to stomp on your wings, Falling Storm.” Luna said dangerously, walking roughly past him and to the bars of the cell. She peered in at the limp stallion, and lit her horn with magic. She turned his body over and laid it on the nest of straw. He stank of blood, tears, and vomit. His fur was matted from sweat and he looked like garbage.

Wake up, Pip.

The black stallion gave a start, bicycling his hooves. “Whuh?!” he said, flailing about and sitting up. Straw stuck to his fur and he looked around blearily. Then he saw the alicorn standing on the other side of the bars. He rushed to her, his breastplate CLANGING against the moonsteel as he clutched at the bars. “Princess Luna!” he said, pressing his muzzle as close to her as he could. “Thank the stars you’re here!”

“Pip.” Luna saw he was himself again, smiling and favoring him with a peck on the nose. He flushed a jittered, the feeling of relief flooding over his face. He didn’t sense the magic that flowed over his body, soothing him. Alicorn magic was sneaky like that. “Back to your senses, I see.”

“I don’t know what happened, Princess! One minute I was sitting in my parent’s living room, the next minute I was in here and they were telling me I murdered them both! And my fur is all black! And I’m wearing this heavy armor!” he shifted back and forth. Luna could see the foal she’d met over a decade ago in his face, still as enthusiastic and energetic as ever. She smiled gently, petting his mane with a comforting hoof.

“Shhh-shhh, you will be alright soon enough. We’re going to help you, and get that armor off of you for starters.” Igniting her horn, Luna motioned for him to step back. He did, and she magicked the cell door open. The three guards bristled nervously, but she calmed them with a look. Not even a frenzied Lunar Stallion could topple an alicorn, they knew. The black stallion slowly emerged from the cell, ears turned down and looking dirty and pitiful. Pip looked at his Princess at her eye-level, a feat in and of itself. He’d grown! She opened her mouth to comment on it, but no, this was not the time for foalish things. The Princess looked him over for a moment. The armor was the same, the symptoms of transformation the same, but black fur… odd. “We shall get you out of this armor, bathe you, feed you, and let you rest. You are not a prisoner here, Pip.” She told him gently. He gave her a small smile, looking comforted as he cast his eyes bashfully to the floor. It felt weird, being so close to the Princess again.

“Let’s see then.” Falling Storm came up and pawed at Pip’s breastplate a few times. “All you have to do is tap the eye, see?” he reached up to teach the new Lunar Stallion how it was done. Bzzzzz-CRACK! As soon as hoof met metal, Falling Storm was launched into the far wall by a bolt of lightning, black as night! He cried out on impact, spittle flying from his mouth as his pupils shrank into dots. He lost a lot of feathers, and fell with a moan.

HE-EEEEE’S MINE!

Pip looked around fearfully, still very much armored and black-furred. “That wasn’t me!” he said fearfully. “I didn’t do that!” he looked at Princess Luna desperately.

Both the alicorn and the other two guards stared wide-eyed. Then, one of the guards snapped back to reality and rushed to check on Falling Storm. “He’s breathing!” he said. Luna looked at her fallen stallion, then back at Pip. This had just become far more complicated. The armor didn’t want to come off, it seemed. She hadn’t heard the roaring voice, though.

=-----=-----=-----=

Twilight Sparkle coughed a little, straightened her hat, smoothed her cape and knocked on the door. “Enter.” It was Celestia’s neutral tone. The purple mare stuck her head in to find the white alicorn on her bed reading. “Ah! Twilight! What a wonderful surprise!” The white mare rose with a genuine smile, closing her book. Feeling nine again, the unicorn rushed up to her and happily extended her neck. Celestia nuzzled her like a mother. “My my! You still look so beautiful in your Archmage’s regalia!” she praised, making Twilight blush.

“Thank you Princess, it’s so good to see you!” Twilight crooned a little when Celestia nuzzled her. It was like being near a favorite aunt, a mother, or some other beautiful feminine figure that meant the world to any filly. She felt at ease, and soon bowed. “I’m here in Canterlot to study the Lunar Stallions for Princess Luna!”

“Oh really? Luna is usually so secretive about them.” Celestia said mysteriously, favoring her student with a bemused smile. Turning, out of habit, she took the Archmage’s hat and began to brush her mane. Twilight keened just a little at the intimate attention. “What have you found out so far?”

“The one Luna gave me to study is a jerk.” Twilight said with a scowl. Celestia’s lips rose a little higher. “He’s defensive and grouchy, and his room is strictly functional… it’s hard to get a reading on him!”

“Maybe he doesn’t want to be read?” Celestia said gently, tucking one of Twilight’s ears down so she could brush behind it. “Be patient, my student. Nopony will just give you their thoughts and secrets like the pages of a tome.” She said.

Twilight huffed a little, but nodded. “You’re right. I need to stop treating him so poorly. I just… wanted to get as much information as I could as quickly as I could.” She trailed off for a moment. “I think I’ve offended him.”

“Perhaps an apology to start?” Celestia said serenely, running the brush oh-so-gently through Twilight’s mane. “Perhaps if you became his friend it would be easier on both of you.”

“You’re right, Princess.” Twilight said, her face lighting up. The days of the friendship reports had ended years ago, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t apply what she’d learned to Stalwart Hide! “You always know just what to do!”

“It comes with being centuries old, my most faithful student.” Celestia chuckled softly, setting the brush aside as Twilight rose. “Things tend to move in patterns.”

“I should go find him right now and apologize!” Twilight Sparkle decided, levitating her pointed hat atop her head. Celestia eyed the jingling bell, flicking her gaze over a few different plains of existence. Interesting… “I’ll visit again real soon, Princess!” The purple mare turned and bowed to her Princess. “I’m going to be here for at least a few more days.” She promised.

“Good luck, Twilight.” Celestia nodded, smiling. As soon as the door closed and the purple mare was long gone, the white alicorn levitated the book back to her bookshelf. “Now, where were we?” she peeked under her own bed at the blushing Big Macintosh.

=-----=-----=-----=

“FOR HE’S A JOLLY GOOD STALLION! FOR HE’S A JOLLY GOOD STALLION! FOR HE’S A JOLLY GOOD STALL-AL-AL-YUNNNN! WHICH NOPONY CAN DENY!” The tavern called the Pig and Whistle was full of Lunar Stallions bellowing their song for their Captain. As a group they’d decided to wake him, then rather mercilessly throw him the male version of a baby shower. More of a… congratulations you big stud, sort of thing. They’d showered him with bits to buy things for the coming foal, some of them were giving foal advice being fathers themselves, and of course there was plenty of gossip to go around that was a little too seedy about her Majesty to mention.

Aegis Shield and Stalwart Hide sat side by side at the bar, and Stalwart offered him a smile. “Congratulations.” He said idly.

“Th-thanks.” Aegis said, scratching the back of his head a little. He had a thousand questions, and Luna had been too busy to have alone time with him just yet. How long until the foal arrived? Why hadn’t she told him in private first? Had he not been careful enough, and she didn’t want the foal? Did she? Should he be thinking about getting married now? What would that make him? Surely not a Prince, marrying into the Royal family. What would Celestia think?! Suddenly his ears turned back and a thought bubble appeared over his head.

“You have sullied my sister with your seed and now a foal grows within her!” said imaginary Celestia, decked out in angular golden armor and spitting fire. Meanwhile a very round-bellied Luna wept nearby, holding onto her sister’s back right leg. “For it I shall have you castrated yet again! Once was not enough apparently!” she shouted. “Guards! Bring me a rusty butter knife!”

Aegis shook himself out of the sick vision, lifting his cider mug again. “Uhh, what about you and the Archmage? How’s the study going? Can you help the black stallion we’ve got locked up?”

“She’s the worst.” Stalwart Hide moaned, facehoofing and leaning on the bar some. He stared into his drink. “She’s been poking and prodding and attaching weird machines to me since she got here. It never ends!” he drank deeply.

“That bad huh?” Aegis smirked.

“And not only that, she’s the Archmage! So she thinks she can just jerk me around all whinny-nilly!” Stalwart grumped, raising his hoof to call for a new cider from the bartender. When he received it he sighed, pushing the bits across the table. “What is it with us, Aegis?” he said a little wryly.

“What?” Aegis said, looking over at his best friend.

“Attracting mares that are far more powerful than us? Moodier and more dominant than us?” Stalwart was kidding and Aegis laughed genuinely, patting his friend’s back.

“’Eyyy, she may just need a good mounting to make her calm the buck down, righ’? Tension can do that to a mare!” said a drunken Lunar Stallion to his right. He'd been listening in on the whole conversation, and the liquid courage he'd been drinking made him more than a little friendly. Stalwart Hide glared.

“Well at least she’s only there for the study, right?” Aegis Shield joked. “I need to start thinking about weddings, and foal things.” He said a little heavily. It sounded mean to put it that way, but he was still getting used to the idea of being a father. He was still rather sore at Luna for not telling him first, but a whole crowd of ponies.

“In fact, when was the last time Captain Stalwart hide was seen with a mare?” the drunken stallion asked his fellows. There was some guffawing, but they all knew he meant well. “We’ve got one Captain hitched to a Princess! We should totally work on the other one now!” There was laughter and raising of many cider mugs.

Aegis Shield rolled his eyes, smiling sympathetically at Stalwart Hide. “She means well, at least.” He said. “Princess Luna asked her to study Lunar Stallions, and you got offered up as the prime example. Maybe you should be flattered?” he snickered just a little. “And, she’s keeping it professional if what you’ve said is true. I mean, at least the Archmage isn’t going to bust in here and shout--!”

“STALWART HIDE! I NEED YOU!” Archmage Sparkle bucked the door in and shouted over the crowd of partying stallions. Cider and food sprayed from over two dozen mouths, and uproarious laughter shook the entire establishment. Hooves pounded on tables, heads thrown back and tears streaming down faces. Never had such a perfect line been shouted over a group of half-drunken stallions plotting about how to get their other Captain laid. They laughed, and they laughed, and they laughed some more.

Stalwart Hide lost his entire mug, shattering it on the floor as he had his first heart attack. Panting and clutching his chest, he turned around slowly. “How did you find me here?!” he demanded, turning around and going to her when the laughter had died down.

“That’s not important!” The Archmage shook her head. “There’s been a development! I need you.”

“At least take me out to dinner first.” The stallion said acidly, glaring his fellows away.

The Archmage flinched, her face turning scarlet. “Th-th-that’s not what I meant!” she barked at him, stuttering. She looked around, suddenly very much aware that she was the center of attention in a tavern full of armored stallions. She gulped and stepped back a little. “C-can we talk outside?” she said a little warily. He nodded slowly, aware of her sudden mousey-ness. They stepped outside.

“What is it?” he asked. “I’m off duty. This is a foal shower… sort of.” He amended, glancing at the tavern.

“I wanted to apologize.” Twilight took off her hat meekly, staring at Stalwart Hide’s hooves. “I haven’t been treating you very well.” She turned her ears down. “I’m sorry.”

“S…. s’okay.” Stalwart Hide said. “You just got excited, I guess. Lunar Stallions are really different, and not a lot of ponies know a lot about us.” he scuffed his hoof on the sidewalk a little. “It’s a unique opportunity for Princess Celestia’s prized student. You might write a book or something.”

Twilight smiled embarrassedly. She’d been thinking of doing just that, when her report was done and the black stallion’s issues sorted out. “I… uhm…” she paused awkwardly, trying to think of something clever to say now that her apology was done with.

“We can start over tomorrow night.” Stalwart Hide put in for her.

“Oh, yes. I’d like that.” She smiled, a little rosey-cheeked.

“See you tomorrow, Archmage Sparkle.” He bowed a little.

“See you tomorrow, Stalwart Hide.” She bent at the front knees and touched the rim of her pointed hat. The bell jingled mysteriously. He liked the sound. Turning quickly before things turned even more awkward, she strode away into the night and left him alone.

Stalwart Hide turned, shaking his head, to return to the tavern. He jerked to a halt when he saw that all the windows were filled with muzzles pressed curiously up against the glass. Lots of golden eyes stared out at him, blink-blinking curiously. Was that Captain S’s marefriend? How had they never seen her before?! The poor stallion was bombarded with questions as soon as he came back in. “She’s a coworker!” he snapped with authority. “Princess Luna assigned us together so we can help the stallion from Ponyville. She’s studying Lunar Stallions to understand what’s wrong with him.” There was talk and chatter and laughter. Stalwart Hide knew he would have to be underhoof’d about this. “Besides, how interesting is that if your other Captain impregnated our Princess?” Aegis Shield choked on his mug of cider and hunched on the bar like he’d been struck with a rock. He turned to curse Stalwart Hide with his eyes as the group of rowdy armored stallions went back to celebrating their Captain’s studliness.

End of Part 3

Luna’s Story: Curse of the Black Stallions
Part 4: A Loyal Pegasus

Pip found himself on a charred, blackened field. He peered around fearfully, then felt the clank of armor on his body as he moved. His fur was black, and he was clutching a long spear in his hooves. He looked around, bewildered. He walked slowly along, and saw a terrible sight. Ponies. Ponies everywhere, carpeting the ground in a sea of death. He recoiled with a gasp. Most wore golden armor, the rest wore purple and silver. Their eyes stared at nothing, glassy and cold. He was on a battlefield. Gulping and watching his step, he tried to avoid the puddles of lifeblood and the broken weapons sticking out in all directions.

Thunder boomed overhead and the young stallion flinched. It might rain soon. Boom. Boom-boom. No, wait. That couldn’t be thunder. It was too close and there was no lightning with it. Tilting his head upward, he saw a pair of winged figures thrashing about in the sky. They parted, circled, and crashed together again. The concussion of air was palpable, and he winced against it while his mane flapped in a banner. Squinting up into the sky, he saw flashes of brilliant magick lancing back and forth. Clouds were swirling in a terrifying maelstrom, back and forth, threatening a tornado.

Suddenly, wings. Pip had wings and knew how to use them. Spreading them and holding his spear tightly, he launched himself skyward. He could hear voices as he rose high into the sky. “—and an eternity of darkness to shroud the land!” a female voice boomed across the landscape as he drew nearer. His heart lifted. Princess Luna! He saw the black alicorn, armored and furious, gathering magick to her cause and blasting a sphere of liquid night across the sky. The spell bomb attached itself to its target, a white feathery creature who screamed in mortal agony again. Feathers flew in all directions and golden blood flowed. Princess Celestia!

Fighting out of the globby mess, Celestia’s wings unfurled with a wild snap as a flash of magic cleansed her. “Thine treachery against our little ponies doth shroud your heart beyond mine reach, sister! Come back to our light before thy misplaced jealousy consumes you!” she shouted, even while she spoke seizing her own feathers out of the air with magic. The massive feathers turned, sharpened their tips into razors, and then pelted Princess Luna in a hailstorm of fury. The black alicorn shrieked ferally, then conjured a spherical shield around herself.

Princess Luna needed help! Pip pumped his wings hard. That white, sun-slinging bitch would hit the ground so hard her skull would shatter! He would toss her brain out and drink the blood with his Princess for the evening meal! He would carve his place in history as being the last Black Stallion standing, the one to slay Celestia!

Luna shrieked, pulling feathers out of herself as quickly as she could. As though by some silent command, the feathers shifted in material until they were metallic, and exploded! She cried out, pitched across the sky until she was able to halt herself upon a cloud. Barrel-rolling in the air, the dark alicorn unfurled her wings and launched herself forward again. “Thou said we would rule as equals! But no, they shun us and appreciate naught of our beautiful nights!” Boom. Boom-boom. Cracks of parted air and smashes of blows and fighting pitched the now-pegasus Pip. “They were supposed to understand! I’ll MAKE them understand after we art through with thou!” Luna’s muzzle was full of metallic fangs, and she slathered like a wild beast when she spoke. Pip fought through the hard air currents, whinnying to his Princess. He wasn’t close enough for her to hear. His wings were on fire, but he would not let his Princess fight alone. The beauty of her night would last eternal! He need only aid her to make it so!

Lithe muscles of battle flexing, Celestia parted the darkness with a light from her horn, blasting Luna with a beam of concentrated sunlight. The Princess of the Night belted out a cry of pain, rolling out of the blast and flinging her horse shoe right off of her hoof. Celestia hadn’t expected that and yelped, blinded by the silvery piece of moonsteel. A bruise rushed over her eye and she held her face.

Luna rushed forward, taking advantage and seizing her sister around the middle. Pinning her wings, she rushed to the ground to smash her sister headlong into the ground. Roaring the entire time she reveled in her sister’s cries of pain. Pain! Yes! Let her suffer for all the negligence and lies she’d weaved into their Equestria! Soon it would all be Luna’s!

Pip panted, dive-bombing from his high location to join the fray.

Celestia righted herself, and suddenly Luna got a very close look at the yoke her sister was wearing over her armor. “Forgive me!” The white alicorn cried, and suddenly the Elements of Harmony ignited in a fiery rainbow of creation magic. Luna’s pupils shrank as the fantastic blaze of colors overtook her, launched skyward. Her roar of fury and pain faded rapidly with distance. Pip barely had time to dive out of the way as his Princess went higher, higher, higher! She was soon a dot in the sky, heading for the moon, pressed into the massive satellite by a beam of prismatic light.

Roaring in a rage, the young stallion brandished his spear and dive-bombed like a mighty falcon. “What have you do-ooone?!” he shouted as the air whistled around his ears. He squinted, his cheeks flapping about as his speed went increased and he seemed to blur. A mach-cone started to form. His body began to stretch, the whine of parting air warned he was about to break the sound barrier. Shouting a scream of battle he set his spear-point for Celestia’s chest. The bitch would die! He’d kill her! He’d KILL HER! SHE’D FUCKING DIE!

Pip’s neck snapped.

The recoil was enough to give him only moments to live. Shouting at one’s enemy in a blind rage was not a smart way to fight a goddess. He felt his body tumble gently upon the ground. Celestia’s magical grip had been enough to stop him, and cast him aside like a rag-doll. She didn’t look down at him, but rather up at the moon. There was a strange silhouette over its pale face now. The profile of a mare’s head, sleeping. Her face was beautiful… as Pip felt himself begin to slip away, he heard the sun goddess bawling and casting her armor aside. The golden yoke she’d been wearing shattered into six pieces.

Before his vision turned to blackness, he found himself looking across an endless field of his dead brothers. Solar Stallions and Lunar Stallions, tangled together in a carpet of death miles wide. None moved, for none had survived. Glorious, glorious battle. “P—Princess…” Pip whispered as death took him.

That’s enough for now. Wake up, Pip.

Pip awoke with a yelp, once again without wings, startling the poor mare that had been scrubbing his hooves. She skittered back, along with the other four ponies that had been washing him in his unconsciousness. “O-oh my!” she said, coming back to him a little cautiously. “S-sorry! I thought the sponge was soft enough!”

“I fell asleep…?” Pip said it like a question, scratching at his throat. He still wasn’t used to the deep dark voice he seemed to be inflicted with.

“You did.” Said the one other stallion present, a washing assistant named Bubble Bath. “We just didn’t have the heart to wake you. You were soaking in the bath and nodded off, so we thought we’d get a few things done while you slept…” he trailed off, smiling gently as the Black Stallion inspected himself. They hadn’t been able to remove his armor, but his mane had been cleaned and lovingly brushed. His legs and flanks had all been scrubbed. His fetlocks were trimmed and perfectly even, and even his tail looked wonderful. Though it was awkward to bathe in armor, they’d certainly done their best.

“Thank you…” Pip said a little bashfully, sitting on his haunches.

“Your hoof, sweetheart?” asked the mare, gesturing. He gave it to her, hunching a little and blushing despite himself. He could wash himself, thank you, but after Princess Luna had sent him away to be professionally groomed—well, he couldn’t say no. She smiled kindly while Bubble Bath oversaw them all.

“I thought it would be a good idea to use my most attractive mares, to soothe the savage beast.” Bubble Bath smiled. Pip smiled painfully. “At least your back to your mind now, right?” he asked. The young stallion wilted at him, and the cleaning stallion turned his ears back. “S-sorry, I didn’t mean it like that…” he looked to one side, and motioned at another mare on the team. “Get a mane oil for him? If we can’t get his armor off, we may as well make sure that he looks great from the neck up.” Pip noticed his armor was all dry. How long had he been asleep, and how had they managed to haul an armored stallion out of the bath to do other hygiene… things, with him? He blink-blinked when a mare came forward with a bottle of the desired chemical. It stank, badly, but Bubble Bath insisted. “You’ve got foal-fine hair, I’ll give you that. But, if you’re getting prepared to be seen by the Princess, you need to look your best!” he teased, working some of the gunk into Pip’s mane.

The young stallion fidgeted while he was fussed over. The memory of the dream was fading fast, but the other presence with him had imprinted the vision of the past in the back of his head. It was enough for now, to show him what had happened and what was ahead.

=-----=-----=-----=

Aegis Shield heaved a great breath when at last the doors were closed and he and Luna were alone. He cast off his armor and hung the medallion from a special peg. “Why didn’t you tell me beforehoof, in private?” he asked, sounding wounded. “Why in front of a crowd of strangers?”

Luna turned, taking off her crown and regalia with a flick of magic. They hovered to the vanity, sitting on their little velvet pillows. “I thought you would be more receptive and joyful. Able to celebrate and spread the good news.” The dark alicorn scuffed her hoof on the ground a few times, looking guilty with her ears turned back.

“It’s a private thing!” Aegis Shield said, going to her with a worried expression. They nuzzled, and she could feel a certain desperation in his affection. “What if something ever happened to you and I hadn’t known about our foal? Or what if I had to be called away suddenly, and I came back to see you several months pregnant?”

Luna stared at him. “Months?” she asked. “Why would we be pregnant for months?”

Aegis Shield stopped in his tracks and worrying. “Wh… what? Doesn’t it take eleven months, like everypony else?” he realized what he was saying as soon as it came out of his mouth. Luna was not everypony else. He scowled at her bemused expression, and they sidled towards the bed.

Luna stretched out on the bed, laying on her side while her companion came down to have a look at her belly. There was no sign of swelling yet, but he still wanted to nuzzle and inspect. She smiled, heaving a slow sigh that only an expecting mother can. “Oh my stallion, alicorns don’t need nearly so long as the mortal races to bear our young. We are near unto gods, in most meanings of the word.” She stroked her belly and he looked up at her with questions in his eyes. “Why, if it took more than two weeks I would be surprised.”

“Two WEEKS?!” Aegis exploded. “B-but! That’s no time at all! You couldn’t possibly bear a foal in just two weeks!” Guiltily, in the back of his head, the stallion tried to trace exactly what night he may have impregnated her. Their lovemaking was always passionate and heady, but… no particular night stood out to him. Atop that, they’d never actually used protection. If the gestation period was so short, how had it taken him more than ten years to-- wait. He looked up at her slowly. “You wanted to get pregnant.”

Luna smiled gently, giving a slow nod. “Alicorns also choose when we wish to become pregnant. Our magic is potent enough to regulate out fertility. It is why we do not get moon flows like other mares do.” She said in a low voice, like it was a secret.

“You should’ve included me in the decision!” Aegis Shield said, stroking her mane on both sides of her head. Clearly the father to be was having a nervous meltdown. Not only was he going to be the father of the Princess’ foal, but he didn’t have eleven months to prepare himself. No, he had less than one!

“Its erm… not something that normally gets a lot of discussion.” Luna blushed a little, looking to one side. “To put it bluntly, we may only decide during… uhm…” she turned a little redder. “The-- the best part. And during that time, an alicorn’s mind may not be one hundred percent straight.” She mumbled. He blushed comprehendingly.

“This is a big step for us.” Aegis Shield sighed, laying his cheek on her belly as they lay there. There was a long silence, and the Princess stroked his mane. He lay there breathing, listening to her abdomen like he might hear something. She watched him worry, and nuzzled him for comfort. He looked up at her, and she kissed his lips tenderly.
There was a knock at the door. “Enter.” Luna said whispily, giving Aegis Shield an encouraging smile. The doors slowly swung inward, and none other than Princess Celestia stepped through the double doors. “Tia, you’re just in time.” The Princess of the Night stretched lazily out onto the bed, releasing Aegis from her embrace. “Come to see my swelling belly?”

Celestia smiled bemusedly, closing the doors with a flick of magic. “I didn’t think I would see the day you allowed yourself a foal, little sister.” The white alicorn came close and nuzzled her sibling lovingly. “Congratulations.” She set her eyes on Aegis Shield, who wilted like she might strike him with lightning. “And to you too, Aegis Shield. Congratulations.” She leaned and slowly kissed his forehead. The brown stallion felt an electric current rise through his blonde mane, and he felt the rush of magic go through his body. He shuddered. Celestia’s blessing was far less subtle than Luna’s.

“I was just explaining to Aegis about how our bodies work in these things.” Luna said daintily, sidling so that Celestia could lay on the bed too. In a moment of mischief, the Day Princess went around to the other side of the bed and settled by Aegis Shield. Luna pouted at her, and her sister smirked a little. Leaning over the nervous stallion, she puckered her lips and kissed Luna’s belly. The dark alicorn coo’d a little, then squawked aloud when Celestia blew a sloppy raspberry on her belly. “Sister!” Luna flushed, squirming away. Aegis chuckled a little, face-hoofing.

“Well, don’t worry Aegis.” Celestia said soothingly, looking down at the stallion. The white alicorn settled on her belly, gracefully folding her wings. “Throughout the ages I’ve bore several children. There are procedures and such to go through to ensure everything goes smoothly.”

“You had children?” Aegis gasped.

“Why do you think Prince Blue Blood exists?” Celestia’s chuckle was a tinkle of merriment. “His great-great-great… many greats, mind you, grandmother was my daughter. Her name was Princess Sunbeam.” Aegis felt himself easing down just a little while the Princess told the tale. “She ran off with a griffin at a tender age. It was quite the scandal. But, she was deeply in love, so I could not find it in myself to retrieve her.” She smiled a little embarrassedly.

“Prince Blue Blood has griffin blood in him?” whispered Aegis with wide eyes, like he was uttering an atomic secret that might destroy the fabric of society.

“Oh yes. How do you think he inherited such arrogance? Or the massive frame of his chest?” Celestia chuckled. “There’s a few drops of griffin blood in him.” Aegis was spellbound by this, turning back to Luna for confirmation. She nodded, chuckling.

They spent the next few hours talking, Aegis Shield planted squarely between the two Princesses. It was easy to see there was some preplanning that had happened there, for they were mostly addressing Aegis. Him being so caught off guard, Luna had wanted to make sure that he was eased into the idea with as much education as possible. They talked of how royal offspring were treated like royalty, how society would probably react, and many other things. How it would be very likely that the foal would be one of the mortal races-- not a full alicorn. It would be a filly, Celestia foretold to him, because all alicorn children were female. Creation-magic, after all, was a feminine trait. That was the magic that could create life and all the other things in the universe. Even if the foal got only a fraction of Luna’s powers, it would be an incredible soul with a great range of powers none of them could even guess at. But, female. It would certainly be female, for all alicorns were female as well. Slowly, steadily, the stallion worked his way away from fear and worry. He was going to be a father, after all. That was cause for celebration! (And the fact that he’d mounted an alicorn so skillfully she’d lost ALL control and wanted to be pregnant said something about his virility, after all… though, neither Princess said this explicitly.)

“A little birdy told me that the Lunar Stallions were already celebrating you, Aegis Shield.” Celestia said, leaning over to run a tender hoof over Luna’s belly. The stallion blushed a little, nodding. They’d taken him out drinking and then showered him with gifts of money and advice, but he wasn’t about to voice that. “No doubt they’ll want to close ranks around you in this delicate time, Luna. When I was pregnant with little Sunbeam, the Solar Guard wouldn’t even let me go to the bathroom on my own.”

Luna winced at the very thought, but sighed, “I imagine so, sister.” She said, sounding resigned. “But given how weak I will be for the next few weeks, it’s for the better I’m sure.” Both sisters nodded at each other.

“Weak?” Aegis asked.

“When an alicorn is pregnant, she loses most of her powers.” said Celestia. “Our bodies focus on bearing the foal and making it perfect, without deformation or flaw, leaving little magic for anything else.” She winced at an old memory. “Even flying is off limits.”

Luna cupped her still-flat belly. “But, suffering for two weeks is nothing compared to a lifetime of joy.” Aegis smiled lovingly, finally completely on board. Leaning, not even minding Celestia’s eyes on him, he kissed Luna’s belly again, then her lips. Luna met her sister’s eyes, perhaps looking for approval. The Princess of the Sun smiled gaily, unfolding her wings and leaning. Aegis let out a little grunt as he was suddenly pressed between both Princesses. Celestia embraced Luna and Aegis, heaving a great and happy sigh. “I’m so very happy for both of you. It’s been centuries since there’s been a royal foal in the palace.” Luna blushed. Celestia only used her wings in a hug when she really, really meant it.

=-----=-----=-----=

“Alright, one more time.” Twilight Sparkle said, smiling genuinely. “Then we’re done, I promise.”

“Promise?” Stalwart Hide scowled. The purple mare nodded, and he heaved a sigh. With absolutely no pride or emotion, he spoke the words. “In the dark we tear and rend to end all evils with spines to bend. Lust and power, hunger and might, by Luna’s will and dark of night.” There wasn’t a shred of excitement in his tone. He gasped a little as the magic rushed over his body. He twinged to grey, grew his bat wings, and so on. The armor appeared, blah-blah-blah… Lunar Stallion. It would’ve been more exciting if it had been the first time he’d performed the transformation for Archmage Sparkle. But no, this was the twenty-third time, and it had more than lost its charm. For the past hour and a half, she’d been sitting on a bench across from him and asking him to transform over and over again. The royal gardens were nice and private, so it was an ideal place to study the flow of magic that a Lunar Stallion underwent when his regalia took over. Twilight had written pages and pages of notes and little charts for it all. “Finally.” Stalwart Hide sighed, flopping forward onto his belly.

“Are you fatigued?” Twilight asked eagerly. “Does transforming take energy from you?”

“Yes. And no.” Stalwart Hide answered the questions in order. His belly suddenly growled loudly, and he cocked his head. “We done? I’m hungry.” He complained, rising to leave.

“Oh wait, please.” Twilight raised a hoof, hurriedly stuffing her things into her saddlebag. “I’ve been studying with you all night, at least let me buy you dinner.” She said, smiling. “I can drop my things off and I’ll treat you, anywhere you like!”

“Really?” Stalwart Hide said, cocking an eyebrow. “Lunar Stallions eat a lot, I wouldn’t wanna drain your purse. My tab is prolly better.”

“Oh nonsense!” Twilight said, chuckling. “I’ve been poking and prodding at you all night, you deserve a tasty reward!” She donned her pointy hat, jingling the shining bell mysteriously. Pushing it back so it was behind her head and not dangling in her face, she smiled at him genuinely.

Stalwart thought for a few moments, then shrugged inwardly. Eh, what was the harm? She was offering him food for all his help, and he was certainly hungry. Once she’d stopped being such a twa-- er, stopped looking at him like a science experiment, she hadn’t been half bad. She was genuinely curious, organized, and always spoke aloud so he could follow along with anything she found out. “Alright then. Lead on.”

The pair of them ended up at a place called the Spice and Fire, a rather nice Mexican place. The dim lighting and candles strewn about gave it a very cultured look, and the bright colors on the spackled walls were certainly a nice change from all the dark stone and such they’d been around all day. “This is nice.” Twilight commented, looking around. After the waiter had taken their order, the purple mare smiled across the table at him. “So how did you get mixed up into the Lunar Stallions?”

“Princess Celestia sort of fired me from the Solar Guard, after I made an inappropriate comment about her sister.” Stalwart Hide said. Twilight gasped, her eyes widening. He smiled a little bashfully, and told her the story. Princess Luna had been in a coma, and he’d called her Sleeping Mare. The stressed out and worried Princess Celestia had cast him out of the group of guards that had been watching over the dark alicorn, and his demotion followed soon after, followed by his dishonorable discharge. Nopony wanted to be around the one that Celestia herself had cast down. “And then, I found out that Princess Luna was looking to hire a singular Lunar Stallion. This was back before all the others showed up. It used to be just Aegis Shield.”

“Wow, that’s fascinating!” Twilight Sparkle said, leaning forward with her chin on her hooves. “So what happened?”

“Luna gave out a series of qualifications to this big crowd. Then, some tests. I was the last one left standing, and she invited me to become the second Lunar Stallion in a thousand years.” His chest had inflated with pride.

“That’s quite an honor!” Twilight said, smiling grandly. “You must be very proud!”

“Oh yeah.” He said, nod-nodding. “What about you? How’d you get to be Archmage?” he pointed at her with a curious hoof. “There’s only one per Equestrian region.” Twilight blushed and told him her story, about how she’d saved not only Equestria, but her home town on multiple occasions with the help of her friends. Also, how she’d helped prevent a changling invasion and prevented the downfall of the nation with only her wits to guide her against a fake Princess Cadance. “Wow.” Said Stalwart Hide, impressed. Their food arrived, and they dug in. Stalwart Hide with ghusto. It was only after he’d cleared his third plate that Twilight Sparkle began to stare. He hadn’t been lying when he’d warned about the Lunar Stallion appetite, it seemed. The flicking revelation made a connection in her mind. Lust and power, hunger and might. It was literal. Interesting! (What was the difference between power and might? She’d have to inquire later…) She found herself smiling at him wider and wider, until he paused and cocked his head. “What?” he asked.

“Nothing.” Twilight said, fighting the slight warmth in her cheeks. It was a little disturbing to see a stallion with such piranha teeth tearing away at a burrito, chimi-changa, tortilla rolls, tacos, chips and so on. He had to tear his food with teeth shaped like that, he couldn’t bite it off like a normal pony. She considered suggesting that he transform back to normal—but she knew she shouldn’t. She’d made him do it over and over that night, so if he was comfortable like that she wouldn’t push the issue. She did notice, however, that the more he ate the happier he became. The vague notion that the fastest way to a stallion’s heart was through his stomach, but this was on a far larger scale. By the time Stalwart Hide had reached the sixth plate, she found herself staring at his chest and belly. S… surely his legs were hollow or something?! Where was he putting it all?! While the stallion was distracted by interesting cultural Mexican wall decorations, the Archmage gave his body a brief scan.

Stalwart Hide’s body was in hyper-drive, her senses saw. It was quickly breaking the food down, sending energy to all parts of him. The armor was connected to him on a magical level, and it was like looking into a fuel tank. Whatever he put into it was turned into a common sort of energy, and stored as a rather literal pool of power. All ponies had energy pools like this, but the Lunar Stallion’s seemed to be on a much grander scale. It was almost like a unicorn’s mana, or magic potential, but he was a Pegasus so… it was all the armor. It drove him to eat a lot to power itself. Interesting! “Twilight?” she heard him ask loudly.

She blink-blinked out of her scanning, looking up at him guiltily. “Uh-whuh?” she said, rubbing her eyes a bit like she’d gotten dust in them.

“I said are you okay? You’re staring at nothing.” He said.

“Oh, yes! I’m fine.” She quickly took another bite of her food, which had grown cold over time. Chewing thoughtfully, she watched him polish off the last of a grouping of nachos. She wanted so badly to puzzle it all out. If the armor literally used his body like a battery, it’s no wonder he had to eat so much. Perhaps the hunger and might bit of his mantra went together? Lust and power, hunger and might? Maybe if he fed the hunger he received might from the armor, in return? She frowned at her plate in thought, and the purple mare of course ran the rest through her equation. If slaking hunger granted might-- perhaps, then, having sex granted a Lunar Stallion power? Oh, dear Celestia! “Erk!” Twilight flinched like she’d been slapped, and her soda cup LAUNCHED itself into the stratosphere! Her jolt of emotion had sent it into the heavens. Her face went scarlet and her back knees pressed together as her tail tucked.

“Good one!” Stalwart Hide said, watching the cup go until it was beyond even his sight. He put a hoof to his brow to block the moonlight, grinning. Crunching the last chip out of the chip and salsa basket, he smiled at Twilight Sparkle. That had been impressive! His smile fell a little. “You okay?” he saw her red face. “You’re not choking are you?”

“I-I’m fine!” she said, forking food quickly into her mouth so she wouldn’t be able to talk. The Lunar Stallion cocked his head, suddenly unsure she’d done that for entertainment.

End of Part 4

Luna’s Story 4: Curse of the Black Stallions
Part 5: A Mare’s Dance

Pip sat a little forlornly in his room. It wasn’t a prison cell, but there were guards posted outside and the balcony was a sheer drop of over five stories. He’d hoped to see Princess Luna right after his grooming but she’d been delayed, then delayed again. Finally somepony told him that she’d announced that she was pregnant at the Nightmare Night festival. That had been three days ago. Apparently the Lunar Stallions were closing ranks around her, and refused to budge from their barracks or the palace. It was a sensitive time, and Luna could not see such a dangerous ‘guest’ at the moment.

The black stallion peered at himself in the full-length mirror. He studied the strange armor that clung to his body, and his golden eyes. They let off a light steam of yellow, as though their piercing gaze was as hot as it looked. The trails were like cigar smoke. It wasn’t as though they were treating him badly, but he longed to see his Princess very much. Ever since he was little she’d held a special place in his heart. He could admit he’d crushed on her for a bit, despite only actually seeing her once a year. Any mail he’d sent was probably lost in the mountain of other fan mail and important things that were addressed to her… he sighed, putting a hoof on his cheek and rubbing a little.

Not for the first time, he sighed in depression. “Ma… Papa…” he whispered, resting his forehead on the cool silvery surface of the mirror. “I’m so sorry…” he squeezed his hot eyes closed, trying to fight down the tears. “I’m so sorry!” he banged his head against the mirror, and it cracked because of his helm. He winced. Just one more problem. He sat on his haunches, wilted and feeling pathetic. How could he have done such a thing to them? Killed them, destroyed their home, fought Lunar Stallions until the Princess herself had to step in and stop him? They’d said something about the armor he was wearing making him crazy, but that was no excuse! He’d done what he’d done, and he was wracked with guilt. Maybe Princess Luna would be merciful and banish him to the nearest celestial body for his crimes. Whimpering like a foal, he rested his face on the cracked mirror.

Don’t cry, Pip. The first transformation is always the hardest. You could not have known.

Pip gave a start, looking around. It was that voice again. He didn’t dare call out to the guards. He was in enough trouble as it was. Gulping, he did a quick circuit around the room, checking under the bed. He even poked his head over the edge of the balcony. In the back of his mind, there was black laughter. Shuddering, the black stallion went back into his room and peered around. In his mind’s… ear, it seemed to be everywhere, and somehow above him. “Who’s there?” he whispered. “Where are you?”

I’m here with you, Pip. Follow that cold shiver that’s running down your spine.

Pip gulped a little, looking around fearfully. He almost checked under the bed again, but didn’t. Where was it coming from? He swept his gaze slowly over the high ceiling, the beautiful columns in the corners, the houseplant… he peered behind the vanity and nosed his muzzle into the linen closet.

I’m right here!

The black stallion jerked about in fear, only to find himself looking into the badly cracked mirror. “Wh… what?” he said. He approached the mirror and studied himself, then peeked behind it. “I… I don’t understand.” He said, pressing his back legs together to hide the tremble. He’d heard the voice many times before, and he was willing to bet it was the same voice that had granted him the horrific visions of the battle between Luna and Celestia.

I am your ancestor. My name is Pitch Dark the Ravager. You donned the medallion and spoke the words, so I came rushing back from beyond the veil to aid you.

Pip peered at himself, trying to find a facet of the mirror that was big enough to fit his entire head into. He was having trouble. “The words? The words on the paper?” he said, leaning back and forth as he spoke to the mirror like it was a window. “That funny language?” He thought he saw his golden eyes flickering a bit. Some sort of brighter, inner light took hold when the voice answered in his head.

That funny language was Ancient Equestrian, the language of the goddesses Luna and Celestia. I wrote what I could so that my descendants would don the necklace and free me once again.

“Why were you threatening me, earlier? At first you sounded like an evil spirit or something!” Pip squawked. The guards outside the door shifted, and poked their heads in. Pip smiled at them embarrassedly. “I’m fine!” he told them. They flicked their eyes around the room, then shut the door again. The young stallion lowered his voice and leaned closer to the mirror to whisper. “Why the personality shift?” he whispered.

It is our way. Midnight Stallions always open new relationships with threats. It is a show of strength.

“So you’re not going to take over my body or something?” Pip asked, deflating with relief.

Oh I’m still going to take over your body Pip. I just need to hammer away at your sanity for a bit longer. After all, who but a crazy pony stands and talks to a mirror like he’s having a conversation with himself?

“I’m not crazy!” Pip argued. His eyes widened as soon as he said the words, and he put a hoof over his mouth. There was a dark chuckle in the back of his head, and the voice once again went silent. “Hello?” he peered back and forth at the mirror, like he might see the voice’s owner in the glass. “Hello?” but he received no response. He was alone again.

=-----=-----=-----=

“There’s to be a ball, Twilight Sparkle.” Luna said, peering at her with a frown.

“Is that like the Grand Galloping Gala?” Twilight said, peeking out from behind Stalwart Hide. The poor stallion had been standing perfectly still for a long time while Twilight took muscle measurements, had him hover in place for as long as he could, and measured his hooves. “I did have a great time at the Gala.” She said in a sing-song way, chuckling at the memory.

“The Lunar Academy is about to open and accept applicants.” Princess Luna smiled at the purple mare. “All of the Lunar Stallions will be attending, along with many other important ponies. I would only expect that the Archmage of the central region would be in attendance.” The alicorn twisted her arm a little, smirking when the unicorn wasn’t looking.

“So it’s… like a party then?” Twilight said cautiously.

“Well, there will be music, food, and so on.” Luna listed. “I’ll be giving a speech, cutting some tape, you know.” The alicorn smiled.

“Why do I get the feeling you’re not telling me something?” Twilight mumbled, cocking her head. Something had the stink of alicorn mischief on it, she just couldn’t see it yet.

“Well, unlike the Gala, this ball requires an escort.” Luna said. Twilight flinched to a halt, leaning up over Stalwart Hide’s back and using him as a prop to see over him.

“But I don’t know any stallions here in Canterlot.” Twilight said, frowning. Stalwart Hide didn’t speak, but Luna saw the annoyed look on his face at those words.

“Well then.” Luna sighed, running a hoof through her mane. “We shall just have to make do with what we have then.” She made a show of peering around. “Stalwart Hide.” She said, smiling. The stallion flinched.

“Yes, your Majesty?”

“How would you like to escort Archmage Sparkle to the Lunar Academy ball?” Princess Luna smiled alarmingly. Twilight and the stallion looked at each other. Twilight’s face began to color a bit. Luna could see something pass between them, and she unfurled her wings. “She is a pony of high station, she should not be seen with just any street urchin.”

“Oh,” said Stalwart Hide, cocking his head a little. “That makes sense.” He turned his head about to peer at the purple unicorn whose fore-hooves were propped on his back. “Wanna go with me?” he asked her. Twilight looked back and forth between the Princess and the Lunar Stallion. She had the vague notion she was being railroaded or something, and scratched her head.

“Well if that is not enough for you to consider, Twilight Sparkle, consider this.” Luna turned towards the door and made her way to leave. “You’ve had but one Lunar Stallion to examine thus far in your studies. This ball shall host all twenty-four of them.” She winked over her shoulder, though at which one of them it was hard to tell.

Twilight Sparkle’s face lit up. “I could check for consistent data across a matrix!” she gasped. Not only would she have her own specimen, but she could observe the entire species! That would be amazing! Stalwart Hide cocked his head at her, then turned about so she would stand on all fours again.

“Eh, you okay?” he asked, cocking his head.

“Uh? Oh yes!” Twilight said. “I think we’re done for now. I need to go find a dress!” with that she turned, stuffed her things away in her saddlebags, and was off. “See you later, Stalwart Hide!” she called over her shoulder as she donned her pointed Archmage’s hat.

Stalwart Hide stood there, feeling a little confused. “Did… did Princess Luna just set me up on a date?” he asked the ceiling, blink-blinking. No answer. He frowned with a furrowed brow. He’d been studying with Twilight Sparkle for almost three solid days now, and had a rather cautious friendship. They both knew she was just there to examine a Lunar Stallion because the Princess said so, but it wasn’t as though she were mean to him or anything. After getting her over the initial thrill of being given a test subject and reminder her that he was still a pony, she was actually quite nice. Huh. Well, he could have worse dates, he supposed. The Princess forbade any Lunar Stallion from attending the ball without a dance partner. Balls had dancing, after all.

=-----=-----=-----=

“Rari-tyyyyyyyy!” Twilight Sparkle BURST into existence with a crack of parted air, right in the middle of Carousel Boutique. Rarity looked up with a jolt from her sewing machine, over half-moon glasses. “I need a dress!” she looked stressed.

The pale unicorn eyed her friend up and down. “Why, Twilight! You look positively frazzled!” she watched the unicorn dance fretfully on her four hooves, looking back and forth like there might be something on one of the racks she could just grab and end her troubles with. “What do you need a dress for? Some special event?”

“I was invited to the Lunar Academy opening ball and the Princess set me up with one of her Lunar Stallions as an escort!” Twilight fretted. “I don’t even know how to dance! With a partner! Don’t know how to dance with a partner!” she looked like she was doing an I-have-to-pee dance, and it would've been funny if not for her face.

Rarity took off her half-moon glasses sympathetically, smiling gently at her fuse-blowing friend. “Now Twilight, that’s no way for a lady to act. You’re the Archmage! Take a deep breath---” she waited for Twilight to obey, which she did, “And out again. There. Much better.” She tossed her purple mane a little, coming over. “If you’re going to a military ball, there are certainly customs to be observed, and dances to be known, of course.” She was already going through one of her racks, sliding garment after garment to one side. Twilight was surprised she hadn’t come forward with a measuring tape. Rarity used to make everything to order, but the success of her business in some upper circles had allowed her to branch out and think creatively on her own terms. As a result, she had a wonderful collection of dresses to choose from. “What color is our stallion, pray tell?” she asked over her shoulder.

“Grey. With purple armor and… gold eyes.” She said after a moment. The mild tone of whisp made Rarity look at her sideways. The pale unicorn had heard mares, in the past, tell certain details about their stallions.

“Well I can’t have you wearing purple, dah’ling.” Rarity said. “You’re already purple. It's redundant.” She pawed through a few more dresses. “Yellow or gold would clash with your mane… hm.” The fashionatta rubbed her chin for a moment, considering. “How do you feel about frills and black? Perhaps silver?” she was talking to herself more than Twilight. “Ah! Black with flecks of silver!” she seized a dress from the rack and yanked the purple mare behind the dressing curtain. She stepped back when she’d gotten it over Twilight’s head. “Oh my! You’ll look simply divine in this!” she smiled.

Twilight looked down at herself, then at the tri-mirror. She tilted her head. “Really? It’s not too fancy?” she asked, looking over at Rarity.

“Dah’ling! You’re going to a ball hosted by a Princess! You’ve got to look your best!” Rarity was already applying needles so that the dress could be adjusted. “When is this ball, now?” she asked.

“In a few days. Luna said there would be dancing, though.” Twilight wilted in her dress a little, turning her ears down. “I don’t know how to dance with a partner. Just the wild dancing we used to do at some of Pinkie Pie’s parties.” She started to get upset, but once again it was Rarity to the rescue.

“Twilight, you don’t think I would send you off to a ball without learning at least one dance, do you?” Rarity said. “A lady must always be prepared for the events of high society!” she lit her horn and began moving furniture out of the way. The shop’s sign flipped to say ‘closed’, and Rarity’s dusty record player hovered out of the closet.

“You’d teach me?” Twilight said softly, her eyes getting big and soft.

“Well how else will you impress your stallion if you don’t dance with him?” Rarity chuckled, leaning over a stack of records while she hunted for the right one.

“He’s not my stallion! I’ve only known him a few days!” Twilight squawked way louder than necessary, dancing fretfully on her hooves. Rarity glanced over her shoulder with a smirk, but said nothing for awhile. When she’d found the proper record, she stuck it onto the turn table and turned the crank gently. “Princess Luna is letting me study him so that I can help her with another stallion that’s got a big problem.”

“I see, I see.” Rarity said with an amused smile. Even she could smell the alicorn strings being pulled around her poor friend. “Well if that’s the case, all the more reason to treat him nicely, yes?” the white unicorn tossed her mane a little, gesturing that Twilight join her. “Now, Twilight, the traditions of a military dance function are very important. You’re there to honor the soldiers, or in this case, the Lunar Stallions, yes?” Twilight nodded at her words. “Well then, you must learn a dance that celebrates the masculinity of your partner.”

“Wh-what?” Twilight was blushing heatedly.

“Stand up straight! A lady doesn’t hunch like somepony is about to beat her over the head!” Rarity was already launching into the lesson, prodding Twilight sharply to help her stance. "I make quite a few bits teaching ettiquite these days, Twilight Sparkle, and I shan't have one of my best friends hunching at a ball!" The purple mare could sense she was in for a long lesson.

Two Days Later…

“Legs straight! Don’t lock those knees! Lunar Stallions don't slouch!” Aegis Shield was hosting physical training for the entire Lunar Stallion corps, the first one they’d done together in a long while. Having gathered around Princess Luna during the tender time of pregnancy, they were all once more stationed in Canterlot while they waited for the foal to arrive. It made them a little nervous and jittery. If there wasn’t at least two or three Lunar Stallions with the Princess at all times, they would start to sweat and worry like crazy. But for now, she’d pleased them all by watching their training from her high balcony. “One! Two! One! Two!” they were doing side-straddle-hops, well, as best as horses in armor could. The Princess watched with pride while they sweated and worked for her.

Luna looked over her shoulder when she heard somepony knocking at her door. “Who comes?” she asked, holding her slightly bulging belly.

“Twilight Sparkle.” said a meek voice.

“Ah, come in!” Luna shifted on her sitting pillow, careful of her belly, and not leaving the lip of the balcony. She didn’t want to worry her stallions. “I’m here on the balcony.”

The Archmage entered, in cloak and hat, bowing. The bell jingled animatedly when she straightened. “Your highness.” She smiled, her eyes going down to look at the coming foal. “How are you feeling?”

“Well enough, for a pony gaining weight so quickly.” Luna mused, rubbing a slow circle on her abdomen. “It isn’t kicking yet, but I can feel it growing.” She mumbled, smiling in a soft way. Twilight smiled, nodding.

“I wanted you to know--” Twilight turned and produced a tied stack of papers. “I’ve finished my studies on Stalwart Hide, and I’m ready to examine the Black Stallion.” She said. Moving, Archmage Sparkle pulled the string, fanning the papers out a bit. Luna leaned over them, admiring the drawings, charts, and fancy mathematics had been used. “If Stalwart Hide is the exemplary Lunar Stallion, then I’ll have a broad cloud of data when I see the others at the Lunar Academy Ball.” She smiled, throwing her chest out to be praised.

“Shouldn’t you be paying attention to Stalwart Hide at the ball?” Luna cocked her head with a frown. Twilight wilted a little when she was not immediately praised for her days of concentrated study and reports. The Princess eyed her a little, frowning. “He is the exemplary Lunar Stallion, everything they are supposed to be and more. You need not study the others.”

“Uh-h… oh.” Twilight said, looking to one side.

“Does it not seem disrespectful to think of others and not your escort at such an important event?” Princess Luna pressed, slowly pawing through the pages. She found one with a rather impressive set of drawings on it. Twilight had drawn Stalwart Hide’s face from all angles to show off his eyes, teeth, and jaw structure. She pawed through a few more to find detailed anatomical drawings, complete down to the last masculine detail, drawn with all the dryness of a scientist. Everything was labeled, accounted for, explained, and referenced properly. His eating habits were contemplated over. The weight of his armor versus the versatility of the metal’s malleability matrix. The extent of his nightvision. Everything Twilight could think of was detailed. The report was many pages long, probably longer than it needed to be, but Luna made a show of inspecting it. Twilight Sparkle’s writing was scratchy at best, she had no idea how her sister had managed to read all of those friendship reports… oh wait, she’d had an assistant writing for her. Hmm.

“I… went and got a dress.” Twilight offered. “And I learned a dance too.” She smiled. Luna looked at her, smiling with approval. Straightening the papers, the Princess gave them back to her.

“I am pleased. When the ball is over, we will examine the Black Stallion together and make comparisons between your findings on a normal Lunar Stallion—and our guest.” She gestured mildly with a hoof. “And good work learning a dance. Some will attend and not know how, a shame.” She chuckled just a little, and Twilight smiled a little embarrassedly. She’d learned to dance with Rarity, in the privacy of the Carousel Boutique. But soon she’d be in a huge ball room surrounded by other ponies, real music, and a real stallion. It didn’t matter how much practice one got with a mare, stallions were much bigger and stronger partners. Twilight felt a light warmth in her face. Luna pretended not to notice.

“Should you really go near the Black Stallion while you’re pregnant? What if he attacks somepony? You could be in serious danger.” Twilight said, concerned. Luna considered this for a time, so the Archmage quickly added, “Your companion would be unhappy with you going near something dangerous while you have a foal.” She gestured gently to Luna’s belly.

“He does not command me.” said Luna indignantly, crossing one of her front hooves over another. She winced as soon as she said the words, letting her face fall a little. “S-sorry. Hormones.” She mumbled. “You are right.” Luna sighed, running a hoof through her starry mane. Opening and refolding her wings for comfort, she was silent for a time before she spoke. “Aegis Shield takes very good care of me.” She gestured for Twilight to look over the lip of the balcony they were on. Twilight peered down at the group of Lunar Stallions exercising in the courtyard. Now and then they would glance up at Luna’s balcony, as though to see if she was still there. There was a very real tension down there. “They are nervous about my weakness.” She whispered to Twilight softly. “Alicorns lose most of their powers while they are pregnant. That’s why the gestation is so short.” the mare whispered to the Archmage. Twilight nodded her understanding. “They are preparing to close ranks around me while I wait for the foal to come.” She looked down at her belly and sighed for the thousandth time. The purple unicorn smiled lovingly. She’d heard many expecting mothers make that sound. A sort of happy, weak little sigh that a mare makes when she knows she’s going to be a mother. “Very well, we shall delay examining the Black Stallion until a little after the foal is born.” She finally conceded with a nod.

Twilight smiled thankfully, letting out a greatful sigh. One less thing to worry about. “Oh hey, there’s Stalwart Hide there.” She pointed, leaning over the lip a bit. After Twilight had released him from their study and called it done, he’d gone to report for ‘PT’, or Physical Training. “He’s really nice, y’know.” She said to the Princess.

“I know.” Luna smiled at Twilight sideways, but the unicorn didn’t notice. She was too busy watching Stalwart Hide fall into line next to Aegis Shield. When the stallion saw the rhythm of the exersizes they were doing, he joined right in. Soon, he was sweating and grunting along with the rest of his comrades.

When the stallions ended their current exercise, the entire group startled Twilight back when they bellowed out a chant. “MORE PT SIRS, MORE PT! WE LIKE IT! WE LOVE IT! WE WANT SOM'ORE OF IT! MAKE IT HURT, CAP’NS, MAKE IT HURT! H’OAH!” Twilight giggled behind her hoof. They were like colts, what a silly thing to say! Luna smirked a bit, settling down to continue watching them.

“Sit with me, Archmage.” The Princess offered. Without taking her eyes off the group, Twilight joined her on the sitting pillow. “My stallions tend to like it when I watch them do physical training, perhaps with another mare of high station they’ll feel twice as good?” Luna chuckled.

Twilight found herself staring at Stalwart Hide. With the balcony they were sitting on above and in front of the corps, Luna and Twilight had an excellent view of Aegis and Stalwart’s backsides. The two of them led each exercise, and the other Lunar Stallions copied what they did. In full armor, each thing was a sweat-inducing endeavor that made even the earth pony stallions grunt loudly with effort. The Archmage cocked her head a little to one side, leaning a little to get a better view. Her brother Shining Armor had described leading PT a few times, but she’d had no idea it could be so back-breakingly difficult. Why, with all the running sweat and shivering muscles and… and… stuff... What was she thinking about again? Stalwart Hide was doing wing-ups, his front hooves tucked against his under-carriage as he pumped furiously up and down. Twilight frowned, her train of thought completely gone. Luna was watching Twilight Sparkle out of the corner of her eye, smirking silently. So that’s how it was, was it? Interesting. The Lunar Academy ball was tomorrow night. It was going to be interesting too.

=-----=-----=-----=

“Ah, Twilight Sparkle. Welcome back.” The elderly mare behind the desk said. “Finished with those already?” she whistled softly at the high stack of books Twilight had levitated up onto the library desk. The Royal Canterlot Library always had an amazing selection, and she’d gotten a little carried away. Anatomy, muscle structure, sports records, medical journals on stallion development, everything she’d borrowed for her studies. The librarian cocked her head as she checked each of the respected titles back in again. “You’re not building a Frankenpony are you, Twilight?” teased the librarian with a smile.

Twilight giggled, shaking her head. “Afraid not.”

“Good good.” The mare chuckled good naturedly. “Need some light reading, I take it?”

“Mythology and Old Equestria?” Twilight said with big sparkling eyes.

The librarian sighed and smiled, shaking her head. “Alright, but you remember the rules. No check-outs from that section.” Taking a golden key from under the desk, she handed it over to Archmage Sparkle, who took it in her teeth with a bow. “I’ll swing by in six hours or so to make sure you eat something.” She winked. Twilight smiled, practically skipping away. Being so late at night it was in the wee hours of the morning, the purple mare knew she would have the entire section to herself.

But no, she was wrong. There was one more pony in the locked, glass-framed room of the Royal Canterlot Library. “Xoh o0oj noho u thoum0 feec ev cagiat jkuhcawxk…” a whispery, male voice was mumbling over a dusty old tome. Twilight stuck her head down to unlock to place and whine the door open on its hinges. The key flickered, then burst into glitter and vanished after she’d stepped beyond the threshold. It closed behind her, clicking into place and locking. “Adt xoh mudo u hiddadw haloh ev shoum0 uihehu… hu… hu… uihehu.” The voice was struggling to read the language, whatever it was. It sounded old and a little feral, but it pleased Twilight’s ears. She’d never learned any of the old scholar’s tongues, having been so busy studying magic and modern facts. She wished she had room in her brain to learn a second language, but supposedly the older you got the harder it became. Being a middle-aged mare, Twilight knew she could learn more and a variety of subjects, rather than devote herself to one. She did respect those that learned other tongues, though, very much. “Jxo seict dek ro ev kxo ouhkx eh kxo… jb0.” It sounded unsure. The purple mare moved slowly through the stacks, peeking through them to see the study area to see—Stalwart Hide? Twilight squinted, trying to make sure. Sure enough, it was him! She knew by the brick wall cutie mark. He had a little mound of books splayed out, all open to various pages, while he scribbled and spoke aloud what he was writing. He would stop now and then, flip some pages, squint, and then write a bit more. She felt her heart flutter a little bit. Did he… study? Oh my! “Udt xoh cowj… rouikavic cakkco rhudsxoj… ev… ev jkhodwkx…” he said the last word with some force in his voice, then smiled at what he was writing. He thought he was alone, it was easy to see. She watched him lean back, scratch a bit, then rock his chair forward with a clack of tiles. His wings subtley were on the rise as he continued. “jfcu0ot eik 'doukx mo. M0 uvvoskaed udt… udt xoukot--!” His quill jerked to a halt and he looked wildly around. “Who’s there? I feel you watching.” He spoke aloud, hunching over his work like a foal who didn’t want to be copied from. His ears turned back and he squinted around.

“I-It’s me.” Twilight came out before he became angry. Stalwart Hide’s eyes widened, and he started slamming books closed as quickly as he could. “Oh n-no please, don’t go.” She went to stop him, but he was already stacking the books up in a tall stack.

“It’s alright, Twilight Sparkle.” Stalwart Hide cleared his throat a little, looking really rather embarrassed. “I study a little bit at a time. I hear you can go for hours and hours, so it’s all yours.” He said, smiling bashfully as he forced his wings to close before she noticed them.

“What’re you studying?” Twilight tilted her head to one side, squinting at the titles. She blinked a few times while he squirmed. “Darn… I can’t read any of those titles. What language is that?”

Stalwart Hide deflated in relief, then quickly composed himself. “It’s Ancient Equestrian. I study it for a hobby. Princess Luna and a few others speak it, but it’s a mostly dead language.” He started shoving books onto a little wheel cart so he could put them back where he found them.

“No language is dead if somepony still speaks it.” Twilight said with… affection? She smiled at him, genuinely impressed at his dedication. “I bet it means a lot to the ponies long gone. You should be proud.”

“Thank you.” Stalwart Hide smiled. “I don’t get to use it often, but you’ve gotta keep the mind sharp.” Clearing his throat a little, he turned and started to push the cart with the top of his head. “See you at the ball!” he said, disappearing behind the stacks. Twilight waved at him, wondering why he had gotten so jittery when she appeared.

End of Part 5

Luna’s Story: Curse of the Black Stallions
Part 6: A Grand Ball

The city of Cloudsdale was a flurry of activity that night. An arena had been constructed out of the darkest storm clouds that the poor pegasi could pull together. They’d worked for weeks on it, all for this startling occasion. Princess Luna was holding a tournament, a rather violent one at that, amongst her personal guard. The winner would receive the title of leader of the Lunar Stallions, and the Princess’ favor. Rumor had it she might kiss the forehead of the stallion that came out on top.

A massive tournament bracket had been set up, showing the hundreds of stallions that had entered. It was one round, single elimination, and only the strong survived. The rules were simple enough, only the strongest of the two combatants would be able to claim victory. Whether your opponent gave up, was unconscious, or otherwise—it was pretty much up to the two of them as soon as they stepped into the arena together.

Princess Luna, fiery eyes gleaming with toxic glee, watched the event from on high. The royal box was flanked by a pair of black stallions, heavily armored and motionless as statues. She’d been looking forward to this for weeks. Of course one couldn’t have all the hundreds of rounds the tournament would have all in one night, so she’d elected to watch the elite eight fight to the finish. For the honor of the highest form of combat, she’d commanded the arena be built in the clouds, and only allowed a stark few to attend. Now, finally, it was time for the final round. “COMBATANTS!” Her voice concussed the night, and the thunderclouds around them rumbled dangerously. “STEP FORTH!” A pair of armored pegasi stepped forward, bat wings open and intimidating to any who looked upon them. Slathering a bit and muscles coiled, their golden eyes glittered intelligently up at her Majesty. The gathered crowd, mostly Lunar Stallions, roared and cheered. Two crowd favorites had made it to the final round. The pair looked around, inflating their chests to look more impressive. Civilian mares swooned, and even the Princess herself felt a stirring in her more feral heart. The pair of them were the pure picture of masculine glory. Muscle and cunning and sharp teeth, anything a mare might want between herself and her enemy, or in her bed. Luna gave a black chuckle, reaching out with her hooves to silence the crowd. “YOU HAVE DONE WELL TO COME THIS FAR, AND MUCH HONOR IS ALREADY HEAPED UPON YOU!” she blasted the sky with her voice, sending shudders down many spines. “BUT IN THIS LAST ROUND ONLY ONE STALLION MAY WALK AWAY VICTOR!” she lifted her hoof, looking from one to the other. They faced each other with savage snarls, wings snapping open and muscles coiling. “---LET THE FINAL TOURNAMENT ROUND BETWEEN CINDERBLOCK THE IMMOVABLE AND PIP--”

No no, Pip, you’re not allowed to change the story.

“—CINDERBLOCK THE IMMOVABLE AND PITCH DARK THE RAVAGER… BEGIN!” she thrust her hoof forward and both pegasi launched themselves at each other. The crowd roared in delirious excitement, hooves pumping and voices shouting. The pair of them dashed back and forth across the sky, their clashing of hooves and armor shuddering the air like thunder. Luna watched in rather open admiration, smirking on one side of her muzzle. They threw themselves at each other, over and over, savagely beating the tar out of each other. Feathers were flying, hooves were denting armor, and teeth were scratching across bare fur. By the time the battle reached its climax, both of them were bloodied and gasping. Pitch Dark roared ferally, leaping forward and crashing into Cinderblock’s chest again. The big-chested stallion weathered the hit, shuddering and digging his hooves into the thundercloud he was standing on. But, he didn’t expect Pitch Dark to wrap all four legs around his body and sink his fangs into his neck. They struggled, flailing about and whinnying. Pitch got into his deathgrip, avoided the artery and squeezed. Even Princess Luna was shocked at his brutality, and watched him choke the other stallion into unconsciousness with his teeth. When Cinderblock went limp, the gasping Pitch Dark planted a huge hoof on his chest, heaved a great breath and roared ferally at the crowd. They roared back, flailing and cheering. Cinderblock lay there bleeding, eyes rolled into his head while the medics rushed onto the field.

“I am the greatest!” Pitch Dark shouted to the crowd. “I am the best!” he reared and flailed his hooves, showing off his impressive wingspan and masculinity. The crowd stomped their hooves and cheered wildly while he stood there soaking in the glory. He’d done it! He was the mightiest of the mighty! The strongest, most powerful Lunar Stallion! Suddenly, the crowd hushhhhed, for Princess Luna herself had risen from her seat and come to the lip of her box balcony. Pitch Dark turned, his lungs still heaving from the brutality of his final deal. Full of adrenaline and the thrill of battle, he rushed forth to be away from his fallen opponent. He only wanted her to see him, not Cinderblock (“the immovable” indeed! Hah!). Planting his hooves, he looked up at her expectantly. The crowd stilled as Luna raised her hoof, parallel with the ground. She looked around to be sure everypony was paying attention. There was a long, frozen silence. She turned her hoof up.

The arena exploded with cheering, and Pitch Dark was showered with flower petals and given a golden wreath of victory upon his head. A quad of pegasi appeared with a litter to bear him away in glory, and he hopped onto it with his chest thrown out and his wings open to show off. Falling onto his belly in fatigue, he contented himself to wave to the crowd and smile with blood-stained teeth. It was official now. He was her Royal Majesties most powerful, most cunning, and most---- everything, pony! Neigh, stallion! Ha-hahhhh!

That Night…

Pitch Dark grunted with effort as he forced Luna over her own writing desk to claim her virginity. The alicorn had rather frankly commanded that she preferred a powerful stallion to slake her heat. It wasn’t as though the stallion were about to turn down this once-in-a-lifetime activity. He was her champion, after all. He hadn’t expected virgin’s blood, though. The scent of copper in her bedchambers was just as heavy as sweat. He rutted her furiously, watching ink bottles pitch themselves over and shatter on the floor.

“Yes! YES! Ravage us, thy beast!” Luna bellowed, clutching desperately at the desk until it began to buckle under her. The pain of her ripped hymen stung badly. Feeling the wood splinter-- the heady, muscled Pegasus flung her from it and over the bed. Diving upon her, he relished in her lustful shriek when he sank his teeth into her neck to tame her. She would go nowhere while he had his way. Her back legs stuck into the air as her mane bannered about. The stink of salt and sweat accompanied his furious grunts of effort as he thrusted into her waiting marehood. Gasping over and over, Luna relished in the feeling of being overpowered. It took a powerful stallion to dominate a true alicorn in the bedroom, and she’d put over five hundred to the test to find just the right one. The coil of muscle, the shriek of battle and broken bone, it had all been worth it. How often did somepony, anypony get the chance to rut the brains out of a Princess? Neigh-ver, he was willing to bet!

Luna growled, eyes flickering with a green serpentine gaze as she fought him. She turned over, lifting her tail as he dove upon her again. The bed groaned dangerously, but he coiled and arched his back without mercy. The alicorn cried out, violently tearing the sheets with her teeth. Her virgin’s blood stained the bed sheets, along with her sweat and feminine nectars. She moaned rather pathetically when he held her down, spending himself deep within. Unable to help it, Luna purred, squirming a little.

His strength spent, Pitch Dark flopped down upon her, gasping. After a few long moments of breathing, Luna turned and eased him over the sheets for pillow talk. “Tell us, Pitch Dark—my champion.” She said while stroking his rock-hard, erect wings with a hoof. “Dost thou relish in the thought of thy actions?” Pitch Dark murred softly, looking at her as a bead of sweat worked its way across his flank. He nodded a little. She smiled, the green serpentine of her eyes flickering once more. “Power can corrupt, we assure thou.” Luna said. “But we’ve a greater plan for thee and a select few Lunar Stallions, if thou wilt but listen.”

What do you say, Pip?

“Anything you wish, your Majesty.” Pip said aloud, suddenly in Pitch Dark's place. “I would follow you anywhere. Anywhere.” He put his hoof on her breast, his eyes flickering a sickly gold and green while Pitch Dark pulled the strings of his mind.

“And suppose I descended into darkness, stallion, would’st thou follow me?” Luna pressed, her voice terse and demanding. He recoiled for a moment, but then leaned and rather erotically dragged his fangs across her shoulder. She shuddered a little, draping a massive hoof around him to feel his muscles.

“My life it meant to serve you, your Majesty,” Pip flicked his eyes upon the mess on her sheets and loins. “In all capacities.” He smirked at her. “Even into darkness.” He dragged his tongue across the little love bites he’d given her, rewarded with oily purrs and petting.

Alone in his room, Pip squirmed on his bed and moaned loudly. One of the guards posted outside turned and peered in at him, only to be rewarded with an eyeful of something he REALLY didn’t want to see. He slammed the door, and wouldn’t tell the other guard what the Black Stallion was doing with himself at the moment.

=----=-----=-----=

Stalwart Hide grumbled to himself while the other Lunar Stallions chit-chatted and compared formalwear. All of them were in their armor, yes, but each had chosen an accessory or other bit to make themselves stand out. Aegis Shield had been given a golden circlet to wear over his ears, for example. Stalwart Hide had a humble black bowtie around his neck, and even that was mostly hidden by the lip of his chestplate.

The scene was thus: No Lunar Stallion was allowed to enter the ballroom without his escort (male or female, it did not matter), so they were all piled at the entry-hall waiting. They were to await their escorts, and parade past their fellows into the room beyond. When everyone was inside, the other attending parties could enter and the ball could begin after Princess Luna’s speech. “St---Stalwart Hide?” a timid voice floated through the rows of gathered stallions. He turned his head, perking his ears. There was a ripple of interest from the gaggle of soldiers and other officials.

Archmage Twilight Sparkle finally emerged into Stalwart Hide’s view, and she was gorgeous. Her mane had been done up in a beautiful loose bun, and her face touched only lightly with make-up. She’d elected to wear silvery stud earrings, but that was nothing compared to the dress. She was adorned in what must’ve been a work of art by any other name. It was thin and jet black, hugging her body like a glove. The frills of the train flirted with the floor, but never quite touched it. Flecks of silver dotted it, looking very much like the night sky. Silver trim and a pair of bracelets on one hoof completed the ensemble with flair. The plush shoulder bits accented the attractive piece, and Stalwart Hide felt his jaw hanging a little. She was breathtaking.

The purple mare stopped in front of him, smiling shyly as she watched his eyes travel her up and down. He’d definitely groomed, trimmed his fetlocks and such, but the Lunar Stallions hadn’t been allowed to dress up very much. It was a military ball, they had to be recognizable. Her eyes darting back and forth, she tried to think of something very clever to say to him. Something… something dashing, and perfect, to start the evening with. Her mouth quivered a little when she found his eyes were resting on hers. They looked at each other for a long few moments. “H… Hi.” She managed after a long time.

“Hi…” he said in the same rather dreamy tone. Both were too afraid to make the first move. Off to one side behind Stalwart Hide, a grizzled Panzer Hoof kicked his Captain in the flank, startling him forward. The massive stallion nodded sagely as his leader finally got the idea and shouldered up next to Twilight Sparkle. The pair of them paraded into the ballroom, past their fellows, as was expected. “You look… nice.” Stalwart said carefully, smiling at her with a warmth in his cheeks.

“You too.” She said, looking anywhere but him. Her brain was going a mile a minute, trying to come up with meaningful conversation. She’d taken the dance lessons, she’d gotten the dress, she’d been sagely-advised by both Princesses—now what? She was just here as a friend, wasn’t she? Her eyes glazed over a little as she recalled to her mind’s eye the scene of Stalwart Hide leaning over a mound of books, studying. She gulped a little, trying not to stutter-step as they entered the grand ballroom.

There was a small orchestra already playing, banners with symbols of the moon everywhere, and servants mingling in the crowd with hoof-food and drinks. Walking side-by-side, Twilight and Stalwart weren’t sure what to do with themselves. What did one do at a ball? Just hang out? Nopony was dancing yet, so… hmm… They both peered about, puzzled. Lunar Stallions were starting to leak into the room one at a time. Panzer Hoof with his solar guard wife. Pen Maker and his marefriend. Falling Storm and red stallion Stalwart didn’t recognize. They were all there, eventually. Twilight had fun just seeing who was who and who they’d come partnered with. She felt a few eyes on herself as well, and tried to look dignified. “Uhm…” Twilight said, drawing her escort’s attention. He looked at her, smiling gently. Twilight! It was Rarity’s voice in the back of her head. A lady does not slouch! Stand up straight! Gulping, Twilight jerked upright like she’d been slapped on the butt, smiling and throwing her chest out a bit. Stalwart Hide leaned back like she was about to bite him, then smiled coyly. “I… I think it’s great that Princess Luna is having this ball.” Twilight managed after a few awkward moments of silence. “The Lunar Stallions don’t get nearly as much thanks as they should. With this academy, I’m sure your numbers will swell as well!”

“I hope so.” Stalwart Hide smiled, bobbing his head a little.

“I bet you’ll get to oversee a lot of the new recruits, being a Captain and all.” Twilight smiled dazzlingly. Stalwart Hide nodded a few times. “I know they’ll be in good hooves.” His cheeks colored bashfully when she said it to his face. “I mean, your strength and endurance levels were off the charts.” She started to deviate into her science and facts, and he deflated. “You could probably run across a desert if you wanted to, built like that!” she poked his chest plate a little. They chit-chatted for a long time, eventually getting their hooves on a pair of strong wine glasses. Liquid courage helped to ease the tension a bit, and they deflated into more normal conversation after that.

“Oh look it’s Princess Luuu-ohh-my.” Stalwart Hide’s eyebrows rose until the lip of his helm hid them.

Princess Luna, escorted by Aegis Shield, had entered the ballroom. She’d chosen to be fashionably late to try and slip in, but the room hushed a bit when she entered. Her belly was round, very very round. The Lunar Stallions around the room whispered to their dates. They’d been briefed on the gestation period an alicorn had. Two weeks was blindingly fast to create a new life and bring it into the world. But, it also meant that signs of the pregnancy were going to show very, very quickly. She’d announced her pregnancy on Nightmare Night five days ago, and she’d known before then so she was… what… halfway to giving birth? More? The dark alicorn hunched just a little bit, running her hoof over her belly when something inside shifted. Was the foal kicking? Her gasping and wide-eyes said so. But that’s not the only thing that had changed. Princess Luna’s mane, usually vibrant and starry, had dulled. No longer did it flow with a breeze that was not there, or sparkle like the night sky. It looked like a powder blue wig with flecks of glitter in it. It was no surprise when half a dozen on-loan solar guards emerged into the room with her, eyeing the crowd suspiciously. All of the Lunar Stallions had escorts to worry about, so she’d taken the initiative to have others look after her that night. She doubted she’d do much dancing, as bloated as she felt, but it was the thought that counted. “Good evening, everypony.” She said in a rather soft voice. She sounded thin and a little reedy, the vibrant force of her voice gone. The foal, it seemed, really did sap an alicorn of her powers. This new version of Luna looked positively… mortal.

Aegis Shield took Luna to a table in the sitting area, where she held her abdomen and gratefully took a seat where she could see most of the room with ease. He sat loyally next to her and called for wine and food. “Whatever you want, Luna, have it. You’re eating for two.” He chuckled a little coyly, smiling and making sure to sit very near to her.

“I do not think wine would be best while pregnant, my stallion.” Luna said with a bemused sigh. “Perhaps juice would be better?” she cocked her head and a servant vanished to make the sprint to the kitchens. Feeding and watering a pregnant mare was way different than doing so for a rowdy group of soldier stallions. Thankfully, the head chef was not a complete moron, and had stockpiled a special refridgerator for just such the occasion. Sparkling apple juice was brought to the Princess in a wine glass, drawing a grateful chuckle from her. Sure, it was just juice and seltzer water, but her little ponies had thought of everything to care for her and the foal. It touched her, and she began to tear up as she stared at her drink. “You all take such good care of me!” She mewled softly, tears going down her cheeks. Aegis Started to panic a little, then she smooshed him into a hug and rubbed his mane happily. “Ohhh, my love and heart! Forgive my outbursts! The hormones make me giddy.” she sniffled and released him, taking deep breaths and trying to compose herself. Hunching a little, rather embarrassed at her mood-swings, she sipped her glass daintily. Aegis smiled sympathetically and stroked her mane.

The ball continued for a few hours of socializing, mingling, eating and drink. The Princess was approached by many well-wishers and curious bystanders that wanted to get a look at Aegis Shield just as much as they did Luna’s pregnant belly. The dark alicorn was a little embarrassed at such intimate attention when one of the mares innocently asked if she could listen at Luna’s belly. Seeing no harm, she lifted her silvery silken dress a little and leaned back in her chair. The mare wasted no time and knelt on all fours while others looked on. She held her breath, pressing her ear gently to the Princess’ swollen belly. Something shifted, then rather visibly kicked her. “Oh! Feisty!” she chirped, pawing at the foal with her hoof. Luna giggled, ticklish. The foal shifted again, and she cupped herself with a breathy moan. “Have you thought of any names yet, your Majesty?” the mare asked, getting up while Luna fixed her dress.

“Not yet, no. Though, I imagine I should. T’won’t be long until the birth.” Luna said with a blushing smile. She’d not given one single thought to the foal’s name yet! She looked at Aegis Shield for aid, but he looked just as lost. Name somepony? How could they know what might be a good name? It was a big responsibility. The foal would be stuck with whatever name they picked for life. “Perhaps later.” Luna finally amended. “Let us enjoy the ball.” She smiled and he nodded quickly. After a time, she saw the ball room was filling up and the dais had been set up for her speech. “Well, excuse me, I must go speak.” She bade her lover and current conversation companions. Rising with a good deal of effort and holding herself, the very pregnant Princess made her way slowly across the room and to.

“Shhh, shhhh! The Princess is going to speak!” somepony said. The ponies in the room began to gather ‘round the large dais, some taking the opportunity to sidle up to their dates and nicker softly.

Princess Luna stood erect, and tried to call upon the Royal Canterlot Voice to address the entire room. But, she found she couldn’t do it. The concussive force of her magical voice refused to come to her. She rubbed at her throat a little, looking shocked, then swallowed embarrassedly. A few murmurs came from the crowd, but Luna quickly salvaged it by holding her hoof up. There was instant silence, and a Lunar Stallion or two scolded his date into complete quiet. This made it much easier for the Princess to be heard. “Welcome to the Lunar Stallion Academy Ball. Here, I have erected a military academy similar in every way to the solar counterpart, but different in several important ways.” Luna spoke for a long time, occasionally stopping for breath. She spoke of the limited number of graduating stallions, that the necklaces they wore would only accept the truly worthy—and a stallion less than worthy would probably be crushed under the weight of the disappointment of their ancestors. The Lunar Stallions in the room nodded gravely. They knew of such trails. (Twilight Sparkle stood a little closer to Stalwart Hide, gulping a little.) The Princess spoke of the high expectations the school would have, and that the drillers and teachers would be among the finest instructors bits could bring to the grounds. After all, with a graduating class of forty-six, in the end only the most potent of warriors could rise to be amongst their lunar brothers. “And with that,” Luna concluded, smiling and gesturing to the orchestra tucked in the corner of the ball room. “I invite you all to approach your partners for the first dance. I think I need to sit down.” She cupped her belly and finished the lengthy speech with a joke. There was a good-natured chuckle as Luna labored off of the stage and found her place with Stalwart Hide again, at a table to rest. She found that, during the speech, her table had become weighted down with healthy, tasty treats, and smiled. Aegis picked one up and, much to the delight of a few onlookers, fed it to her. Luna blushed, but did not deny him.

Elsewhere in the crowd, Twilight Sparkle had set her brow into a concentrated look of serious-face-ness. Gulping a little, she looked over at Stalwart Hide. The stallion was leaning with interest over a table that was covered in fancy crackers and cold cheeses. Which one to try? His Lunar Stallion belly just didn’t know which to try. Hmm… oh! All of them! Of course! He chuckled, leaning down with his mouth open and his piranha teeth out. “You wanna dance?” Twilight Sparkle blurted behind him, a little red-face.

“Hamph--?!” he startled at her words, missing his cheesy goal entirely and setting his fangs over an arrangement of flowers that had also been on the table. When he turned to look at her with startled eyes, there was a blood-red rose clenched in his fangs. Twilight startled back at him. How smooth was he, wow! She gulped, but she hadn’t taken those dance lessons from Rarity for nothing.

The pair of them walked slowly out towards the dance floor of the ball room while a hoof-full of other couples did the same. The orchestra was still playing background music, waiting for a reasonable amount of ponies to join. Soon enough, the conductor saw that almost all the Lunar Stallions had taken their partners out to dance. Nodding to himself he tapped his music book a few times, and struck up the orchestra. “Oh my. Aegis Shield. Look at that.” Luna gestured with her muzzle. The Lunar Stallion Captain turned his head, spotting Stalwart Hide out on the dance floor. “I must see this…” The Princess chuckled, sitting regally and staring at the pair on the dance floor.

Twilight Sparkle squared her shoulders. She could do this. It was just a dance. Just a dance. Taking a deep breath and trying to clear her mind, she did her best to wipe her I’m-concentrating scowl off of her face. It wasn’t very attractive to scowl at your dance partner after all. While the orchestra played a slow, tinkling tune involving chimes and many smooth wind instruments, the purple mare called up her lessons with Rarity.

Stalwart Hide watched curiously as Twilight walked a quick, quiet semi-circle around him, flicking her tail just once. Mare inspects the stallion, Rarity called it. She approached with precisely five steps, touching her nose to his for a moment. He leaned into her, lifting a hoof to bow to his partner. Bashfully, she silently reflected his greeting by crossing her front hooves in a dainty, feminine way. She made eyes at him for a few moments, then stepped forward to press her chest against his. How strong is the stallion, again from Rarity. All the moves had names. Stalwart Hide could not resist her, and pushed back with the weight of his chest. The rocking motion made him giddy in his stomach, his muzzle was pressed lightly against her mane. The tickling scent of honeysuckle touched his nose. They rocked back and forth a few times, until Twilight turned away with a new flick of her tail, swatting his muzzle with disinterest. Rose still clutched in his teeth, he moved about her, offering a hoof which she took. He pulled her close once more, and they smiled at each other.

“My my my…” Luna said, chuckling behind a hoof and lifting her sparkling apple juice to her lips. “I do not know where Twilight Sparkled learned that dance, but she certainly has Stalwart Hide’s interest now.” She winked at Aegis Shield, who chuckled and watched with her.

Stalwart Hide ran the tip of his muzzle down one side of Twilight’s face, then the other. She pressed to him once more, lifting her hoof to embrace him with both front hooves. He walked gracefully backward while she held on. Her back hooves squeaked lightly against the marble. Stallion supports the mare, from Rarity. The dance was designed to lead the stallion along, but also let him play the 'stronger' role. He didn’t need to know the dance to participate. The mare’s moves were meant to entice graceful reaction. After Twilight had slid forward a few feet, she closed her eyes and fell forward a bit. He picked her up using his muzzle, and she rather unashamedly nuzzled him. Pressing up against her chest with his own, they rocked back and forth a few times again. He felt her nodding into his mane, heaving a quiet and happy sigh. Opening his wings at her in a coy display of masculinity, he smiled a rather heady smile. She was good. She was really good. He hadn’t pegged the scientist-slash-scholar-slash-archmage to be such an excellent dancer.
Twilight rocked back and forth with him, closing her eyes and smiling broadly. She was so happy, she didn’t want the moment to end. When the song flourished and threatened to end, though, she slid up against him T-ways and extended her neck. He obliged with a quiet nuzzle, planting the red rose in her mane with a rather romantic nip of her ear. She looked up at him, smiling shyly. It didn’t take either of them long to notice the other was panting a little.

Scattered applause drew them out of their staring at each other, and the pair looked around. The dancers had parted into a wide circle, given Twilight Sparkle and Stalwart Hide plenty of room to dance alone. This, of course, had made them the center of attention for many other ponies. Both of them blushed, looking at each other then back at the crowd. A woof-whistle sounded from somewhere, and the pair of them slunk towards the sitting area to catch their breath.

Princess Luna sipped her sparkling apple juice with a bemused smile, and Aegis Shield felt a familiar tickle on the back of his neck. This smelled of alicorn mischief. “Did you plan that? The two of them, I mean?” he asked, cocking his head.

“If I recall, you were the one to suggest Stalwart Hide to Twilight Sparkle.” Luna smiled, daintily putting the glass down on the table. “It is my experience that if you put two ponies close together for long enough,” she paused and smiled at him lovingly. “They do one of two things: kill each other, or fall in love.” Aegis Shield smiled wryly at his Princess, then returned his attention to the dance floor. He’d lost track of the pair. If he’d looked to one side, though, behind a column-- he may have spotted the Archmage and the Lunar Stallion Captain sharing their very first shy kiss.

End of Part 6

Luna’s Story 4: Curse of the Black Stallions
Part 7: Intermission

Donut Sprinkle dove over a kitchen island, pressing her back to it. Fwipping her mane quickly out of her eyes, she panted and sweated in fear. The beast stalked about the kitchen, sniffing rapidly and growling. How had it gotten in?! When?! Slowly, shifting her weight, she turned and peeked. She could hear the rapid sniff-sniffing as it raided the spice rack and cupboard, nosing things out of the way with loud growls of frustration. She peered at the great black shadow, quivering like a leaf.

“Servant!” A very-pregnant Princess Luna roared. “Come out! We demand thee fix something chewy but also spicy, and with crunch!” she rattled off her craving, dashing through drawers and throwing things over her shoulder. Donut sprinkle yelped when a nine inch kitchen knife slammed itself into the wall. She was just the night time snack mare! She gave little goodies to night time palace guards and did the occasional snack run to other staff in the wee hours! She couldn’t make something so… so obnoxious! “Servant!” Luna shouted again, suddenly coming across a jar of peanut butter. She was instantly entranced, for the label read ‘crunchy’. “Oooh…” she nosed it out of the cupboard and leaned to magic the jar open. Her horn sputtered, crackled, then farted out a few purple sparks. Nothing happened. Snarling savagely, Luna picked up the jar with her hooves and tried to wrestle it open. Nothing. She pitched it at the floor with a shout of rage. The foal kicked, shifting in Luna’s belly. The Princess moaned, leaning hard against a countertop and holding herself. “Ohh! The foal!” she gritted her teeth, panting a few times.

Donut Sprinkle poked her head out, igniting her horn with the quietest magic she could. The peanut butter jar righted itself, then the top screwed off. The Princess’ wings flared open wide, a few feathers falling out as her ribs were slightly revealed. The foal was taking its toll. Jubilant, she shoved her muzzle into the jar, loud sloppy sounds bouncing all over the kitchen. As she ate animatedly she chased the jar around the tiled floor while the kitchen mare looked on. This would be a story to tell her children, her grandchildren, and so on… wow. Luna started tilting her head back, her long tongue trying to make the last bits of it come down to her. Crunching and slurping wildly, she finally dropped the jar when she saw a bunch of bananas hanging from a hook. Wide-eyed, she made a beeline for them and took the whole bunch. Peeling one she ate hungrily. She was on the seventh one when the sound of many armored hooves started rushing up the hall towards the kitchens.

“N-now Princess, I think your guards are coming!” said Donut Sprinkle a little fearfully. She approached the ravenous alicorn with a whisk, trying to herd her out into the hall where she’d be seen. Luna was shoveling grapes from a box into her mouth when she was poked a little. Chewing, she blink-blinked down at the little unicorn. “Let’s g-go now! They’ll be missing you!” she prodded the Princess a couple of more times. Luna leaned down and, without missing a beat, took a bite out of the whisk with a metallic crunch. Donut Sprinkle dropped it, going pale and then shrieking.

The heavy stampede of hooves halted, and the murmur of male voices in the hall got closer and closer. Princess Luna made to dive into the cupboard, but she held her belly and ended up doing a rather comedic lope. A quartet of Lunar Stallions burst into the kitchen and spotted her. “Princess!” One of them came forward. “We found you! Thank goodness!”

“Away to me, stallions! I demand cake!” she told the servant mare, Donut Sprinkles. The stallions looked at each other, then slowly came forward to herd her from the pantry and towards the exit. Luna pointed a demanding hoof at the mare, her face completely serious and agitated. “Cake! Cake I say! Chocolate with black jelly beans! Ca-aaaaaake!” her voice faded with distance while the four Lunar Stallions literally had to mare-handle her majesty out of the kitchen and back towards her room.

Donut Sprinkles stood alone in the wrecked kitchen. None of the other cooks were ever going to believe her, she thought miserably. Hey everypony, sorry about the mess! The Princess just came in here and jacked half of our food!
“Princess you’re naked and it’s the middle of the night!” said one stallion.

“Silence, Cinnamon Toast!” Luna squawked, her mane slipping over her eyes for a moment. “My foal demands food and I crave many things!” She poked him in the nose, sticking out her tongue at him. The normally red stallion sighed, then pulled a blueberry muffin out from his saddlebags. Her Majesty locked her eyes on it, starting forward slowly with open wings and wide eyes. She licked her chops, and Cinnamon Toast started walking backward. Nowhere, anywhere, had the Lunar Stallions trained for anything like this. Take out purse-snatchers? Sure. Battle for Canterlot, where Celestia herself was the enemy? He’d survived it. But nothing could prepare him for a hungry, pregnant Princess Luna who was eyeing him and his prize like a… like a something very hungry eyeing something delicious. He wasn’t good with analogies. Increasing his pace when she did, he led her back towards her private chambers.

Captain Aegis Shield was waiting when they arrived, patiently herding the Princess inside and thanking them all. Posting the Lunar Stallions a safe fifty feet from the bedroom door, he finally let the ‘starving’ Princess have her muffin. “It’s two in the afternoon, you should be in bed.” He scolded while she scarfed the pastry like she hadn’t eaten in days.

“I was hungry!” she balked.

“You need your rest too.” Aegis Shield said patiently, coming and putting a wing around her. Luna nuzzled him, crumbs falling from her muzzle.

“Ohhh, my stallion, you always have my interests at heart.” She giggled. Her stomach rumbled, and she suddenly belched explosively. She turned a lovely shade of scarlet, a hoof coming up over her mouth. Aegis snorted, shaking his head and moved to help her into bed. The dark alicorn moaned while she slid into bed, holding her belly. “It won’t be long now.” She whispered. “Two days, maybe three. She’s starting to move around a lot more.” She stressed a little until she got onto her back. She let out a loud sigh of relief, stroking herself and watching Aegis. “You must think me a great big blob.” She sulked a little as he walked around the bed to get into it with her.

The stallion clambered into bed, smiling patiently. “You’re not a great big blob, you’re pregnant.” He leaned and kissed her on the mouth. She purred into the kiss, stroking his chest a little. Then, he made a show of leaning down and kissing her belly as well. “You stay in there until you’re good and ready.” He glanced over his shoulder at the shambled remains of a crib he’d tried to build out of a kit. A much nicer one had been given to them as a gift by some of the palace staff, but he’d tried his hardest and given Luna a good laugh for it.

“She likes you, I can tell.” Luna said, hugging his head lightly to be abdomen. “She knows you will be a good father.” She lovingly stroked his golden mane, leaning back on the heap of pillows. Aegis smiled up at her, then leaned and pulled the thick curtains shut to shut out the daylight. Luna heaved a great sigh. There was a long silence. “…you don’t think me ugly like this?” she said timidly after a time.

“You’re pregnant.” He snorted. “There’s nothing ugly about it.”

“But I am round and eating everything and unsightly!” Luna mewled, eyes tearing up a little. Aegis Shield chuckled softly. “What if you no longer find me attractive after the birth?” she whimpered, clinging to him with his head to her belly.

“I find you attractive right now.” He said helpfully.

“Thou art a fibber!” she said, her stress making her old dialect return for the first time in a long time. "We are a great big blobby blob!" She began to wheeze a little, a mare trying not to cry. The foal shifted, a little distressed, and she held herself with a soft groan.

Aegis Shield leaned up, sidling upward until they were eye to eye. He cupped her cheek with his hoof. His eyes hadn’t adjusted yet, so he closed them and felt around with his lips until he found hers. Then he kissed her. Really, really kissed her. “I love you.” He whispered meaningfully. Luna suddenly burst into loud sobs and crushed the stallion against herself, covering his face and mane with kisses.

=-----=-----=-----=

Twilight Sparkle was pressed up against Stalwart Hide. A great table lay spread out in front of them, covered with scrolls and old tomes of lore. Some were in Ancient Equestrian, some were not. Both ponies had decided to do a bit more research on the old Lunar Stallions together. After all, if the Black Stallion had an odd necklace that made him black instead of grey, perhaps there would be some mention of a high-ranking stallion somewhere? There simply were not any black ponies in history, so such a stark color would be a topic of historical importance.

They’d been at it for hours, busily comparing notes and time lines. The great thing about the Lunar Stallions was that all of them had traceable lineages. They’d been following one stallion’s family line after another, back and back until they couldn’t be found. Since the medallions passed from father to son, they went through many hooves and changing of bloodlines. Illegitimate colts were major stumbling blocks.

“And then he married… dear Celestia, three different mares. He outlived them all!” Twilight face-hoofed, not sure which set of foals to look at first. Their latest stallion had been very long-lived, and had started three families. Since wedding vows often said till death do us part, he’d managed to marry three times and have foals with each wife. “Uuuugh!” Twilight rubbed her sore eyes and threw down her quill. Stalwart Hide smiled sympathetically. Sixteen hours without a break was a long time for a normal pony. Then again, Twlight Sparkle wasn’t a normal pony. He, at least, had his lunar armor to augment his endurance. Not her, though. She was all-natural, home-grown all-nighter material. Or in their case, all-dayer.

“Maybe we should take a break.” Stalwart Hide said gently, patting her back with a hoof. He’d said that an hour before, and an hour before that. Twilight prodded him with her quill, rubbing her eyes again and squinting blearily over the text again. Her eyes refused the strain and began to water. When the first tear of exhaustion fell he reached over and snapped the book shut. She scowled at him. “I think so.” He said firmly.

“I’m not done.”

“We need to rest for a bit. You won’t learn anything if you start drooling over the texts.” Stalwart Hide snorted. The purpled mare started to scrabble about in her notes, trying to make sense of the web of organizing she’d made over the giant span of time.

“How many stallions have we traced down? Like six?” she asked, sighing and flopping over to lean on him. Her head clanked painfully against his shoulder armor, but she didn’t flinch. “This is almost too much.” She sighed tiredly.

“C’mon.” Stalwart Hide said slowly. “We should stop for now. Leave it all here, we can just lock this study room and ask them not to disturb it.” He soothed her when she opened her mouth to protest. “After all, we’re doing difficult research for Princess Luna herself.” He smiled comfortingly.

“Mhh-rhh-mm…” Twilight had fainted, dead away, into a deep slumber while leaning on him. He looked at her in surprise, but said nothing. Smiling, he moved slowly and put his muzzle under her midriff. Lifting, he bore her gently on his back. Emerging from the study room, he bore the curious looks of a Lunar Stallion carrying an unconscious Archmage Sparkle from a study room. He had her cloak draped over her like a blanket, and her pointed hat clutched in his teeth (the jingling bell was hot to the touch, how odd…). He nodded just once at the mares behind the desk as he went by.

The Lunar Stallion bore her gently to the room where she was staying. It was Princess Luna’s astronomy tower, but he’d also learned that Twilight had stayed there while she was under Celestia’s private tutoring. When he arrived and pushed the doors open, he peered around curiously. One wall was all windows, looking out over Canterlot. Two walls were massive, ceiling high bookshelves, There was a massive hourglass in the middle of the room, counting down to who-knew-what, and finally he found the living space. At first he mistook it for an alcove, for it was literally an antechamber with no exit beyond it. There was a four-poster bed, a tiny icebox, and a writing desk with supplies. Depositing Twilight herself on the bed and fluffing a pillow, he looked for a hook to hang her funny hat on. Not finding one, he decided on the desk.

Peering over the desk and flopping the hat on it, he turned to leave, but stopped. Turning back, he lifted the hat and looked at the scrawlings on the papers. Twilight’s hoofwriting was atrocious, but he could sort of make it out.

Xoh o0oj noho u thoum0 feec ev cagiat jkuhcawxk…
udt xoh mudo u hiddadw haloh ev shoum0 uihehu…
jxo seict dek ro ev kxo ouhkx eh kxo jb0
udt xoh cowj rouikavic cakkco rhudsxoj ev jkhodwkx…
jfcu0ot eik 'doukx mo. M0 uvvoskaed udt xoukot-

The Lunar Stallion gasped, then rushed his hooves over his mouth as not to wake the sleeping mare. The poem. His poem. The one he’d been writing a few days ago before the ball! He snatched up the paper and quickly ran his hooves over the rest of the desk. Translation books, old codex, language translation algorithm pattern recognition formulas. There were pages and pages of notes, scribbling, and circled sections. Twilight Sparkle had, in three days, translated most of the first line, which read something like ‘Her eyes were a dreamy’. Just the first phrase. Gulping and panicking, his mind raced.

Twilight had only heard him mumbling to himself in the library! She’d only heard him speak the words once! Had she stolen his poem? No. No, it was safe in his study notes in his library locker, where he kept all of his supplies. The librarians were quite strict about making sure nopony ever disturbed anypony else’s things. The only other conclusion… the purple mare had heard the funny words in a language she didn’t know, memorized them in ONE go, and then transcribed them onto paper for study. Spelled right, no less! How did somepony spell things in a foreign language so correctly?! He was positively flabbergasted, and actually rather intimidated by this thought. His opinion of her mental capacity went up about ten notches, and he set down hard, staring at her scrawlings and notes. “Short lines and lack of proper nouns point to prose, perhaps a song or poetry…” he whispered, glancing over his shoulder at her. She was, of course, correct. He’d taken to writing poetry to practice his Ancient Equestrian. He smiled miserably. What should he do? Wait and let her translate the whole thing? Steal it? His heart thundered at the very idea. It wasn’t exactly an innocent poem.

Swallowing a little, he put the paper back where he’d gotten it. His mind ran over their dance at the Lunar Academy ball. There was something heavy, something needy in that dance. He liked Twilight, he did, but there was an underlying sense of power to her that he’d just not quite glimpsed. Maybe that was why she was Celestia’s chosen student? The Archmage of the central region of Equestria? He shivered a little with guilty delight. It was no secret the stallion had a weakness for powerful mares. Heaving a quiet sigh, he leaned to put out the lamp that lit the little alcove. He went and shut the curtains to block out the cruel rays of sunshine coming in from the wall of windows. Returning to her, he watched her sleep for a time. She was beautiful, sharp as a tack, and certainly more powerful than some Lunar Stallion unicorns he could name. So much perfection rolled into one more, it was staggering. He liked it, he decided. Leaning over her, he decided he would kiss her forehead and then be away. Just an innocent kiss.

Folding his wings quietly, he leaned over her. Her face was so peaceful, and she gave a quiet murr in her restful state. Just a quick kiss, a peck on the forehead. Closing his eyes, he closed the distance to zero and pressed his lips lightly to the right of her horn. Twilight turned, one hoof hooking around his neck. His eyes bulged when she suddenly clung to his head like he was a Smarty Pants doll. He pulled a little. No good. Looking around in a panic, he pulled a little harder. The purple mare fretted in her sleep, making a pouting face. She clung harder. The stallion stood there by her bedside, completely locked in place. Great. Just great. He stood there for several minutes, wondering what to do. Screwing up his bravery, he gave a sudden hard tug, like one might do to remove a band aid. Twilight whimper-moaned, and he quickly stuffed a pillow in her arms. She calmed down and purred, burying her face in it. Sighing in relief, he backed off and out of the alcove through the curtains. Walking backward out of danger, he turned around—

--And ran right into Princess Celestia. He eep-squeaked, his wings snapping open in panic. Her massive hoof rushed up to cover his mouth before he screamed in startled fear. Her bemused smile sent ice through his veins. Celestia was the polar opposite of Luna in so many ways, her very presence made him on edge. She held his mouth and nostrils for a few moments until he began to fret for air. She seemed to remember herself suddenly and released his face. Her hoof lowered and tapped lightly on the ground while he got his breath back. “P-Princess!” Stalwart Hide lowered himself to his belly to bow, as was appropriate to do for a pony of royalty.

“One of Luna’s Lunar Stallions…” Celestia said gently, smiling.

It was protocol to name one’s self before royalty as well. “M-my name is Stalwart Hide, your majesty.” He regretted it, oh-h’ohhh he regretted it, as soon as the words left his mouth. A spark of recognition fleeted across Celestia’s features when he spoke his name. The stallion that had poked fun at Luna when she was in a coma, almost a decade ago. He turned his ears back and she leaned forward a little to get a better look at him. He pressed his back knees together to keep from trembling.

“Where is Archmage Sparkle?” Celestia asked in the same gentle tone.

“She’s sleeping. She’s been working very hard.” He told her in a whisper, gesturing.

“Oh.” Celestia said, leaning to peer between the lips of the curtains. “I remember. She said Luna was having her research the Lunar Stallions.” The white alicorn said mildly. “You must be her research partner, if you’re in here while she is asleep.” Stalwart Hide gulped and nodded a few times. “That’s good. I do worry for her sometimes when she goes overboard--” Celestia paused when she saw the stallion split into an alarming piranha-tooth’d grin. His eyes had narrowed in knowing amusement, and he nodded without thinking. “Did you coax her to rest, Stalwart Hide?” the Princess asked. He nodded. “Interesting…” the Princess mused, eyeing him up and down once again. He wilted back a little, like she might strike him with her hoof or something. Celestia peeked in at Twilight Sparkle again, then turned about to leave. “She never rested when I asked her to, while she was learning something new.” She said mysteriously over her shoulder. “Perhaps having a partner to rein in her enthusiasm for study is just what she needed.” Then, she was gone.

It was all Stalwart Hide could do not to pee himself. If she’d come only moments earlier, she would’ve seen him in there with Twilight! The things she would’ve assumed! It made him shiver with icy fear. She’d drop-kick him to the moon, easily. It may have been over ten years since he’d worked under the Sun Princess, but he knew from the subtle facial twitches that she was being hardline-protective. She’d quite literally sized him up just now. Wiping his brow and sighing again, he stood there and looked around the room. This was where Twilight stayed. Neigh, Archmage Sparkle. He remembered his brash offer of a barracks bunk when they’d met before. How silly that must’ve seemed, if she had this huge place all to herself! He blushed a little.

Walking slowly, the Lunar Stallion went to the dark alcove and peered in at Twilight Sparkle. Turning to the writing desk and using his night vision, he decided to steal the poem she’d been translating. Stuffing it under his chest plate, he took out a fresh piece of parchment and, checking over his shoulder that she was still asleep, began to write. It wouldn’t be perfect, since he couldn’t use any of his books or codexes. After perhaps ten minutes of working from memory, he produced a few lines of prose to leave for her. Though it was in Ancient Equestrian, it roughly translated to:

If you can read this, we should dance again soon.
Just the two of us, alone together.
I think you are a cute pony.
I want to know you more.

It wasn’t nearly as beautiful or poetic as his last bit, but having worked with only what he knew by heart it was pretty good. He used basic words that she would no doubt track down and translate much more quickly. He wouldn’t mention it to her, he would only let her come to him. If she wanted. If she ever translated it. He smiled and shook his head. Of course she would. She was Twilight Sparkle. He yawned suddenly, and put the quill down. He was exhausted. He needed to sleep to. Turning and casting one more look at the unicorn as he walked by, he quietly shut the door of the astronomy tower behind him and left.

End of Part 7

Luna’s Story 4: Curse of the Black Stallions
Part 8: A Royal Birth

Pip Pitch Dark sat on war counsel, twelve ponies and Princess Luna herself. Two stallions at the long table were an unsightly black in color, something he’d never seen beyond those two ponies in particular. It was a little unsettling. Even from where he sat he could see the flecks of something sickly green in their golden eyes. As though somepony had taken an eyedropper filled with green food coloring and put it in them.

To his left was Moon Dancer, her Majesty’s Moon Champion. She was a feisty thing with silvery armor, a pair of wing swords, and red in both her mane and cutie mark. One look would remind the viewer of quicksilver and flame, two articles of war. Appropriate, given she was Princess Luna’s avatar of war-- and the one mare to ever stand among stallions when it came to military might in Equestria. It unsettled more than one or two of the stallions at the table. After all, a mare’s place was at the market or in the kitchen with foals, not on a war counsel. Yet there she sat, like she belonged there. Pip Pitch Dark would have complained, but the situation was dire so he dared not question her majesty’s wisdom. “Is this wise, your majesty?” Moon Dancer did it for him, lifting her silvery visor and casting her golden gaze to the head of the table.

“War is never about wisdom, Moon Champion.” Luna said acidly, spreading out a grand map of Equestria on the table. The mountains and towns were labeled, and a squire appeared at the table to place markers. While the gangly teen with cotton in his ears quickly and quietly placed little wooden figurines on the appropriate places, Luna spoke again. “Equestria was promised a pair of royals, to rule the country equally. Yet they worship our sister as though she were alone, leaving the night to sit idle with nopony in it.” She squinted over the map. “It is blasphemy to one of the sacred covenants of ponydom. No one ruler shall ever stand above all the others.” She quoted the oldest texts, one she and her sister had written together. “Our government is about balance, and Celestia has wrested all powers for herself.”

“Are you jealous of your older sister?” Moon Dancer asked softly. The table went quiet and one could see she regretted her words when she closed her visor o’er her face. “Forgive me, your majesty…” she mumbled. “Mine tongue is loose this night.”

“It certainly is.” Pip Pitch Dark snarled, flaring his wings at her aggressively. Moon Dancer did not flinch, but only eyed him from the slits in her helm. “It is not our place to question her Majesty, only follow her!” There was a murmur of agreement at the table. The mare frowned in a troubled way, sinking into her chair as she leaned back.

“Silence!” Princess Luna snapped, rapping her massive hoof sharply on the long table. Everypony flinched. “Squabble elsewhere, but waste not our valuable time in counsel!” she glared around the table until they returned their attention to the display in front of them. There were little wooden ponies all over it, painted yellow to represent contingents of the solar guard. “This,” she gestured. “Is our sister’s strength.” She pointed to each of the little wooden ponies that were standing on the towns surrounding Canterlot. “A layered defense. If anyone were to make for Canterlot with an army, no matter the size, they would have to pass near one of these towns. Messengers would be sent to the capital, and Celestia would muster the rest to meet the threat.” She reached to one side, and began placing more wooden ponies on the map, these were black. “These are the Lunar Stallion platoons.” The arrangement was much more centered around Canterlot. “We keep them near the capital and surrounding rivers to stranglehold anyone that dares cross rough terrain to get at us.” She began shifting them around until there were two platoons attacking each singular wooden solar pony at the innermost layer of Canterlot’s defenses. “But if one starts at the core of my sister’s defenses,” she smirked. “They are more than overwhelmed from their flanks.”

There was a murmur at the table. Princess Luna was proposing more than war. It was civil war against the Sun Princess herself. “We can we be ready?” Pip Pitch Dark asked, leaning to see one of the town’s better. The fledgling ‘Ponyville’ was just at the bottom of the valley on which Canterlot sat.

“Surely war is not the answer, Princess Luna.” Moon Dancer said, frowning in a troubled way and leaning over the map. “I mean not to stand between thou and victory, but wars are paid with ponies lives. Can we not find another way?”

“Words fail to reach mine sister’s ears.” Luna scowled at her avatar of war. “Blows will have to do instead.” As her jowls rose into a smile, her eyes flickered a neon green for a moment. “Can we count on everypony here to participate?” she looked around the table with an air of authority. All but Moon Dancer quickly agreed, standing up and saluting. Pip Pitch Dark looked at her with an angry glare. For an avatar of war, she sure didn’t seem very eager.

“Please, allow us time to consider, your Majesty?” Moon Dancer lifted her helm. “War is not a decision to be made in minutes, or even days.” Her wing swords shifted a little, and one slid a few inches out of its sheath. Pip eyed the silvery blades of solid moonsteel was a measure of jealousy. Nopony could temper moonsteel, it was a gift from Luna herself.

“Think quickly, Moon Champion,” Luna rose from her seat slowly. Everypony else rose to salute her again. “For we march into the sun in a fortnight.” She announced. “Dismissed.” While she stood idle every pony filed out of the room, weapons and armor clanking as they went. “Pip, why dost thou remain?”

Now Pip, no changing the story.

“Pitch Dark, why dost thou remain?” Princess Luna said, cocking her head. The two black stallions that flanked her shifted nervously at their Princess’ annoyed look. “We said dismissed.” She gestured for the door, and Pitch Dark slowly rose from his seat to salute her.

“I don’t need to sit idle and think, your Majesty.” He said aloud, turning and saluting her. “I am your champion. Call if you have need of a warrior, and I am there.” He smiled despite himself, opening his wings to display his virility for her.

Luna smirked in amusement. “Thy enthusiasm and loyalty is well-noted.” The Princess opened her wings in response, looking to her black-furred guards. “Close the doors. Bring him to us.” She turned with a smile as the stallions rushed to do as they were told. Bristling with barely-concealed aggression, they herded Pip Pitch Dark forward with rather rough shoving. When he came before Princess Luna, he went to his belly to bow, as was proper. Her tinkling giggle of approval was music to him, and he spread his wings upon the floor for her. His gesture of submission pleased her and she leaned down to kiss his forehead, blessing him. “We art pleased with thy unquestioning obedience. We wish we had many more soldiers like thee, Pitch Dark.” She smiled a bit wider. “Perhaps now thou may join the Midnight Stallions.”

“The… Midnight Stallions?” he looked up at her, blink-blinking with curiosity.

“Within the Lunar Stallions there is another group.” She gestured to the black stallions that were behind him to his left and right. “An inner circle, if thou will. Our most trusted soldiers and most powerful mages.” She leaned down to put a hoof under his chin, raising it so that he would look into her eyes. “Will thou join us and grow closer to our darkness, champion?” she whispered in a sultry way. He couldn’t nod, for she held his face firmly. Looking into her beautiful, powerful eyes he could do naught but stare into their depths for the longest time. He saw all the stars in all the sky in her gaze.

“Yes, your Majesty.” He whispered in awe after a time. “Anything, anything for you.”

“Then breathe me in, Pip.” Luna’s tone shifted to a slightly male voice, then back again. Her eyes flickered a strange golden color, then returned back to their normal deep blue. “Breathe in my dark.”

“Yes… yes, my Princess.” Pip came to his knees before her as she held his face with both her front hooves.

Princess Luna passed a hoof over his eyes to close them and tilted his head back. Heaving a deep breath, she ignited her horn with black magicks. She breathed hard upon his face, “H’uhhh!” silvery glitters and icy air erupted from her muzzle, pressing his mane back and chilling his face. His armor rattled as he shuddered hard. “Breathe.” She bade him, smiling and watching his pleasant expression. She saw his nostrils flare. “Breathe in my dark.” She coaxed again, watching his chest inflate. “Bre-eeeeathe.” She whispered, grinning down at him as her eyes flickered to neon green once more.

Pip shuddered, his wings curling in to save his body from the cold. His fur began to stain black. His eyes slitted open, and one could see the boiling magic work across his gaze. Little flecks of sickly green danced in his eyes, as though somepony had sprinkled glitter into his golden orbs. His armor shuddered on its own. The ancestors vanished entirely, their voices no longer aiding him. He was all alone in his own mind. The power of the armor he wore was his to command, and his alone. Princess Luna’s mouth was moving, and she was stroking his face. Pip (or was it Pitch Dark? He couldn’t tell.) shifted and cocked his ears, but he couldn’t hear her. The world was swimming, and the war counsel room was soon gone in a sea of colors. A deep male voice, that of a Lunar Stallion, super-imposed itself over the Princess’ moving mouth. Pip could hear it in his head.

Rise, Midnight Stallion. Rise…

“Yes…” Pip sat up in bed, covered in sweat and magic. The eye in the center of his breastplate glowed brightly, a sickly green color to match his once-golden eyes. He peered around the room, then slowly started walking to the door. When an unfortunate coffee table got in his way, he gently pressed a hoof down on it. It crunched under him like cardboard, and he continued on in a straight line as he made for the exit.

The two guards outside the room, both Lunar Stallions, turned and threw the doors open at the noise. “What do you think you’re doing?!” one of them shouted as Pip made to simply stroll past them. He ran made a grab for the stallion’s shoulder, and Pip grabbed him bodily. “Uh-WHAH?!” he was placed in a terrifying Ger-mane suplex and flipped over backward. His helm dented as he was slammed head-first into the marble floor. Bloodied, the stallion moaned and kicked his hooves a little before going limp.

The other guard, known as Panzer Hoof, felt his mouth go agape. The Midnight Stallion advanced slowly, not in any rush. The tank-like stallion planted his hooves, scowling angrily. “You got a’lotta guts, considering the hospitality around here.” He crackled the bones in his neck to one side, then the other. “But you ain’t getting’ past me. Nopony EVER gets past me.” The earth pony lowered his center of gravity, snarling and showing his teeth. Pip hissed, flipping his now forked tongue out at the massive stallion. The air tasted like muscle and magic. Narrowing his possessed eyes he started forward. Panzer braced when the stallion crashed into him, and his frame didn’t even shudder. Using a massive hoof he cuffed Pip so hard he fell back over himself with a yip. “See?” he said in a deep growl. “Dunno whatsamatter with you, kid, but you can either stay here or--!”

Pip’s back suddenly split open, along his shoulder blades. Bearing down with his face pressed to the floor and his rump in the air, he looked very much like he was trying to poop. Tense redness in his face matched the spurt of blood that shot from him at two angles. Panzer Hoof’s eyes widened while the black stallion screamed with effort and pain. A pair of large, bloody, bat-like wings flapped into existence, heavy and useless with wet blood. His armor glittered and shifted like the reflection of water on its surface. Magic was pouring out of it so hard, even an earth pony like Panzer Hoof could feel it.

Almost through, Pip, almost through.

Pip screamed again, bashing his forehead against the floor over and over while Panzer Hoof looked on. Deciding not to let him finish his horrific transformation, the massive stallion leaped upon him with a roar. The black stallion was wrestled to the ground and pinned, “Somepony!” he roared. “Somepony help!” he used all his weight, all his might to hold the other pony down. He got blood all over him, almost like birthing blood, while the brand new wings flapped back and forth with intent. They were too new, too malformed so far to be of any use, but it didn’t keep them from splattering Panzer in the face with blood a few times. “Somepony!” he roared again, but got no answer. The quarantine was in an out of the way corridor, away from every pony else. The stallions struggled back and forth, but Panzer was too big, too immovable to be uprooted from Pip’s back.

Why does this feel familiar? Ah yes, I’ve fought him before.

Pip twisted around with a snarl, the light of evil in his eyes. Lashing out with his fangs he grasped Panzer Hoof around the neck with his powerful jaws! The massive stallion grunted, but his tough skin helped. Pitch Dark whinnied in frustration. This body wasn’t as strong as his own had been, even with the Lunar Stallion armor. He couldn’t just choke-a-bitch as he had in the past. This stallion’s neck had muscles like stone. Panzer bicycled his front hooves, battering the smaller pony with all his might. Pip yelped, caught in the middle in the worst way. His body gave out, and not even Pitch Dark’s roars of rage in the back of his head could drive him to rise. He fell, covered with bruises, panting. Panzer turned, making sure he was down.

Suddenly a great cry echoed down the hallways of the palace. The Lunar Stallion turned, perking his ears. The sound was female, and one of extreme pain. A few moments went by, and then another belting shriek followed it. Panzer looked down at the defeated pony, then at his fellow guard. It was neither of them. Then, his brow rose as the realization dawned on him. “It’s time.” He gasped. Turning quickly, he bucked Pip right in the face. The stallion yelped, but fell limp, knocked out. Panzer could drop him off in the moonsteel cell before he made his way there.

=-----=-----=-----=

Luna cried out again, the Royal Canterlot Voice cutting in and out as she squirmed and sweated profusely. Splayed out on her own bed surrounded by nurses, doctors, and Celestia herself, she was going into intense labor. She’d been strolling along with Aegis Shield, coming back from a lovely dinner (breakfast?), when suddenly her water had broken, splashing over a carpet. The stallion had panicked, she had panicked, and then the palace was sent into a frenzy of activity.

The dark alicorn moaned, holding Celestia’s hoof tight in a crushing way only another goddess could bear. She arched her back, her mane clinging to her face and neck while beads of sweat trailed down her delicate, gaunt features. She looked much thinner, much weaker than ever before—the foal was almost there. She was coming now.

Aegis Shield paced back and forth, glaring at the floor while he had to listen to his lover weep and cry out in pain. The hall soon filled with Lunar Stallions, palace staff, and runners that went back and forth with cloth and hot water. An alicorn giving birth had not happened in three hundred years, so furious drilling and procedure-education had been going on for the past two weeks. The Lunar Stallions closed ranks. The palace staff waited with perked ears just beyond the edge of the corridor. The squires running back and forth had to shoulder through lots of tense Lunar Stallions. The poor colt that came rushing with the first pail of hot water had been cuffed and dragged down by ten of the upset soldiers, only to be released, much to their great embarrassment. Aegis Shield, on the other hand, longed to be in the room with his beloved. But no, a birthing was for mares only and he was not allowed in. Pressing his cheek to the door and scratching at it with his hooves, he huffed and tried not to weep. “I should be in there with her!” he shouted.

A pair of Lunar Stallions, fathers themselves, helped to pull him back. “Trust me, you don’t wanna see what’s happening in there. Let the mare-folk handle mare-folk business.” One of them told the Captain with a sagely nod. “When the foal is born you’ll be the first one through--” he paused and winced when the doors shuddered at Luna’s piercing scream of birthing agony. “Those doors.” He finished with a pained smile. Aegis continued his pacing, back and forth, his hoofsteps heavy. The Lunar Stallions, as a group, were filling the hallway and holding back the crowd as well. The palace staff had all, for better or worse, abandoned their posts to witness the miracle.

“OH GODS!” Luna cried out, her back arching again. She lost more than a few feathers in the process. The nurses rushed around, and one stopped to give her a mouthful of ice chips. She chewed them eagerly, soothed for a few moments. “HYNNH!” she bore forward for a moment, huffing animatedly in agony. Sweating and screaming out again, she bashed her hooves against the head of the bed over and over. The nurses struggled to restrain her so she didn’t hurt herself or the foal.

Celestia’s eyes widened when she saw two little lumps and one big lump on Luna’s belly switch positions. The foal was moving to come out headfirst as it should. Holding Luna’s hoof in both of hers, she whispered encouraging things to her sister. “It’s going to be over soon!” the sun princess said loudly over her cries. “Bear forward! You can do it!”

“She’s dilated.” said one nurse to another form where she squatted between Luna’s back legs. “We’re ready.” She nodded to the others. “Hon you’re gonna feel the need to push, and when you do, you do it as hard as you can, okay?” she leaned authoritatively over her Princess. Luna nodded, huffing and puffing. “Good, good, do your breathing. One, two, one, two. Gooood.”

A cool cloth was put over Luna’s forehead and they gave her more ice chips to chew. They rocketed across the room in a spray of glistening cold when she belted out another cry of pain. Whoever said birth was a beautiful, glorious thing was a bold-muzzled-bucking liar! Luna cursed whatever foolish pony had said that. Birthing was pain! Pain and blood and sweat and more pain!

Outside Luna’s chambers, the crowd was getting upset and shifty. The Lunar Stallions bristled at them, bearing their fangs like the wild, beastly warriors they could be. Wings were starting to open as a contingent of the solar guard appeared, marching to push the crowd back another few steps. The Lunar Stallions relaxed a hair. The solar guard was far more efficient at crowd control, and their sheer numbers would keep the curious onlookers back. The doors rattled again as the Royal Canterlot Birthing Scream sounded again. Everypony flinched, and Aegis Shield fretted more. A murmur went across the crowd, and it was slowly escalating into nervous chattering.

Time went by at a crawl, but over an hour passed. The father-to-be was nervously pressing his ear to the door now and then, only to be dragged back by his fellow stallions. Squires ran back and forth with more pails of hot water, strips of cloth and anything else they were ever sent for. Even they seemed rattled by what was happening inside. Aegis kept trying to lean when the doors opened to get some glimpse of Luna, but they were always quickly shut again. He cursed the squires for being so quick and flitty with their business. If only one of them would get stuck in the door, he could stick his head in and s—

The crowd went silent.

The Lunar Stallions turned with perked ears.

The solar guards stopped harassing a particularly excited mare.

Somewhere, in the half-light of Luna’s chambers, a foal was crying.

Aegis Shield squirmed free of his comrades, RAMMED the doors open with the top of his head and burst onto the scene. “How is she?! Is she healthy?! Is she okay?! How is Luna?!” he blindly rushed forward before smacking into Celestia.

The white alicorn didn’t even flinch, but turned her great head none the less. Leaning down she gently took Aegis’ neck scruff in her teeth and set him on his hooves. “Luna is very tired, shhh.” She said gently, leaning and smoothing his mane. “Go on, now.” She smiled bemusedly.

Nurses were slowly putting their things away and leaving. They carried wads of bloodied cloth away, along with surgical tools and what looked like a vat of something terrible and bloody (probably the birthing sac). Distressed, Aegis Shield rushed to the bed and pushed back the curtains. Stepping into the darkness the medical crew had made so Luna could rest more comfortably, the stallion saw his beloved splayed out on her side. Her swollen teats had a visitor, who was eagerly suckling with quiet whimpers.

Covered with sweat and blotches of blood in her most private areas, Luna looked up slowly. “Ohhh, my stallion.” She whispered softly. “It is a girl.” She told him. Aegis eagerly opened his wings, coming up onto the bed and leaning down to see.

She was a tiny thing. Colored exactly like her mother in every way, save her blank flank of course. Her little wings were wet from birth, fluttering with a soft buzzing sound when they decided to move. The little foal lost the nipple briefly and whimpered loudly, pawing at her mother’s undercarriage. Smiling with soft eyes, Luna leaned a little so she could find it again. When she was reattached the newcomer settled down again, suckling eagerly. “She’s beautiful…” he whispered, leaning around to see more closely. Horn. She had a nubby little horn too. Aegis gave a start, his brows rising. “I thought Celestia said we could only have a foal of one of the mortal races?” he whispered, leaning down to inspect closer. The foal saw him and shrunk away a little, but moan-whimpered when he nuzzled her. She was so tiny.

“I don’t care what race she is.” Luna whispered, flopping her head down, exhausted and just trying to breath. Slowly, before his very eyes, Luna’s limp mane returned to its ethereal state. The stars winked into existence in her hair, all of the eternity of space. “Go and tell the others for me. They’ll want to hear it from you.”

“I’ll be right back.” He kissed her sweaty forehead, then rushed away to the hallway. Leaning out into the hall, he mooshed his face into Celestia again, who chuckled and stepped aside. “Everypony! Everypony!” he shouted as many heads turned his way. The Lunar Stallions looked on, some lifting a hoof in anticipation. “It’s a filly! It’s an alicorn!” he shouted. The hallway burst into cheers and clapping that startled the newborn into whimpers. Celestia smiled and pushed Aegis back into the room, shutting the door behind him after the last of the nurses had left. The stallion rushed back to the mother of his foal.

“We must still name her.” Luna whispered, letting her ethereal mane hide and warm the foal. The baby pony seemed perfectly content to be hidden in her mother’s cloud-like locks while she fed herself.

“She looks just like you.” Aegis said, teasing a little. “Not even a little like me.” He thought for a time, nuzzling the exhausted mare while she rested. While the minutes ticked on, he could see the sheen of Princess Luna’s coat returning. The strength and body fat of her slender frame was rearranging itself like clay. No longer could he see her ribs. Her feathers strained and sprouted like weeds until her wings returned to their full, powerful glory. She purred quietly as her strength began to gingerly return to her.

“You name her, my love.” Luna whispered as sleep began to take her. “I must… rest…” she was already drifting off. Aegis stroked her mane over and over, peeking under it to see the little filly again. She bleated at him a little, cuddling up against her mother. His warmth and gentle nuzzles made her look at him. Her eyes were beautiful. Huge and pretty eyes like her mother’s. The stallion smiled, settling onto his belly to rest with his daughter and love.

“Princess… Woona.” He smiled. She decided to hug his face right then, and tears sprouted from his eyes. “My little Woona.”

End of Part 8