Xeron didn’t feel cold, he actually felt rather warm. He slowly opened his eyes, noticing the stars, almost like he was in the void, and laying on a road of light. His eyes looked around some more, noticing his armor was still on. “Ok… Everything has officially become strange, and that’s saying something from one who’s dealt with Daemons.” He said, slowly standing up and noticed he wasn’t in pain.

The woman’s voice spoke, giggling a little. “I can understand that reaction… But I assure you, when I say this, nothing will happen.” Xeron quickly turned around, claws ready for a fight, and saw the strangest sight.

“What the…” He muttered, lowering his arms in disbelief. Right there, in front of him, was a pure white equine! Her mane and tail were pink, green, and some sort of bluish color. What freaked him out the most, was the fact she had horns and wings! “… Please tell me I’m barely alive and some Apothecary pumped me full of pain-killers…”

She gave a pondering look. “Well… I’m afraid you did die, in your universe at least. However, I brought you here to give you an offer.” The Equine said, before realizing something. “Oh! My apologies, I didn’t introduce myself!” The alicorn gave a sage-like nod. “I am Princess Cleslestia, Princess of the Sun and Ruler of Equestria.”

Xeron just continued to look at her, in disbelief, trying to wrap his head around what he was seeing, let alone what he heard. He shook his head, and regained himself. “Wait, whoa, hold on…” He said, eyeing the alicorn. “With all due respect, ehm… Princess, what offer? I swear, in the name of the Primarch, if you say friendship… I’ll rip out my own heart-… Wait, can I still do that?”

“Not right now, no… As for the first question?” Celestia said, before giving a smile and made a squeaking sound. “S-Sort of?”

Xeron looked around. “The fuck was that!?”

“Oh, that happens with awkward smiles… But yes. To go more in depth, I need you to protect a very special foal.” Celestia answered, thinking. “Like a Guardian of a future Princess.”

It was a good thing Xeron was wearing a helmet, because he was giving Celestia a look that obviously asked ‘are you stupid’… “And what made you think a Night Lord, a Night Raptor at that, would be perfect to protect a ‘foal’?” He asked, crossing both arms.

“To be honest, it couldn’t be just anyone. It required a Night Lord, those willing to go that extra mile to do what needs to be done. Though, it had to be a specific Night Lord.” She answered, making Xeron think on it more.

“So, what narrowed it down to me, then?” He asked, watching for her reaction.

She gave him a motherly smile, kind of creeped him out a bit, her eyes completing the look. “The promise you made to your mother, and how zealously you try to stay to the Primarch’s Path.” Celestia answered. “Will you accept my offer? It will be a chance to be that hero of justice, along with another chance at protecting Airy?”

That caught him, the fact she knew about his promise, and Airy. “What do you mean by ‘another chance to protect Airy’?”

Celestia gave a nod, smiling at him while she walked up. “The foal will be in many dangers, even at a young age. After she becomes my student, she’ll still be in grave danger.” She answered, nodding a few times. “She will need you almost all of her life…. I know about what happened to Airy, because you weren’t watching her, like usual, that man killed her in spite. This is your chance to redo such a thing, and prevent it from happening again.”

Xeron thought about it for a moment, and only had one question left. “I won’t have to be… An equine, will I?” He asked.

Celestia shook her head. “Not at first, not until she becomes my student. Then, we’ll have to make alterations.” She answered before giving a bigger smile. “I even returned a few things to help. Like the last image of Konrad, and the token you gave Airy.”

Xeron looked behind him, and saw a small bag on his belt. Opening it up, he found the very objects Celestia named. “Alright… I’ll do it.” He looked back at her, nodding. “I’ll protect this foal for you.”

Celestia gave an approving nod, still holding her smile. “Thank you, Xeron. You won’t regret this, I promise.” She said, before a bright flash of light engulfed the two of them.

The guards waited for their Princess’ return, relieved to see a golden flash of her magic. “Princess! You took longer than you said-…” A unicorn guard said, before seeing the eight foot tall, midnight clad, Night Raptor beside their beloved Princess. “Who is this Princess?” The guard asked, the others surrounding him.

“This is the Guardian I spoke of. Now, if you all will excuse us… We have a foal to visit.” Celestia said, leaving the throne room, with Xeron right behind her.

While they walked down Canterlot’s street, Celestia explained who the foal was and what she was going to do in the future. Thanks to his enhanced biology, Xeron learned what she wanted him to. Though, some of his attention was drawn to how strange this world was, but the night was actually beautiful. Celestia noticed this, and started to talk about her younger sister, and how her nights were always better.

Before they knew it, they had reached a decent looking house, with a balcony. Xeron just looked up at it, his acute hearing picking up the sounds of a baby having a trouble sleeping. Celestia noticed him, smiling. “She’s up there… Go on, I’ll handle the parents and her older brother.”

“Alright… Just give me a moment.” Xeron said, Celestia nodded before heading to the house. She lifted her hoof up, listening to what was on the other side, with a smile.

She gently tapped the door and heard a mare, quickly, yell. “Coming! One moment, please!” Before the sounds of somepony trotting followed. There were sounds of the door locks unlocking and then the door slowly opened, revealing a light violet unicorn mare, with matching mane but had a white streak in it. “I am terribly sorry, we didn’t expect any late night visitors and-…” She got a good look at who was behind the door. “And… And… And…” The mare repeated, surprised at who it was.

“Honey? Who is at the door?” A male voice said, before a dark blue unicorn stallion walked over, and saw who it was that left his wife completely dumbfounded.

“I am deeply sorry for such a late night visit, my little ponies, but this is a rather important matter.” Celestia apologized. “Would it be alright, if I come in?”

“O-Of course!” The couple said, together, before moving out of the Princess’ way, so that she could enter.

“Now, I bet you’re both wondering what has brought me here, which is obviously of some great importance to Equestria.” She said, the two of them nodding, feeling blessed that the Princess herself was actually in their home! “It is about your daughter, Twilight Sparkle.” The two parents suddenly had a look of concern, eyeing each other for a quick second before looking back at the Princess. “My powers allowed me to see how special and unique she is. One day, Ms. Sparkle will become a very powerful unicorn, with a little help that is.”

“Um, Princess… I don’t know if you knew it or not… But Twilight is around three months old, and yet she still cannot use magic.” The mare said, still concerned for her daughter. “Are you sure that it is her?”

Celestia gave a nod. “So sure, that I used a great deal of magic to summon a powerful guardian, just to protect her.” She answered, the couple looking around.

It was the stallion’s turn to speak up. “Excuse me, Princess… But what guardian? You came here alone.”

Before Celestia could answer, the sounds of a foal crying filled the house. “Oh no, she’s scared again… Excuse me, Princess, but it seems our daughter is afraid of the dark. I’ll just go and-…” The mare was suddenly stopped by the Princess.

“Leave it… To him.” She said, the two gave a confused look before a roaring hum was heard outside of their house, followed by metal tapping against concrete. “Let us go watch, and see what he does, yes?” The two nodded, following the Princess up the stairs.

When they reached the crying foal’s room, Celestia slightly opened the door enough for them to peak through. The couple were suddenly shocked at what they saw.

There was some thing, and it was huge, squatting next to Twilight’s crib. It tilted its head a few times, as if the giant was examining their daughter. “W-What is that thing?” The stallion asked.

“His name is Xeron… And I’ve entrusted your daughter’s protection to him.” Celestia answered, the two unicorns continuing to watch what was going on.

Xeron just examined the unicorn foal, hearing her fearful cries. It wasn’t him that she was afraid of, she started crying before he arrived. “She’s so small, and delicate looking.” He thought, reaching his claw up and then lowered it towards the foal. “To the point, I could just tap her and she’ll die.”

He stopped his claw, to think further on the matter. In all honesty, he was starting to second guess the deal he had made. Though, all thoughts ended the moment he felt something tug his claw. He also noticed, the foal had stopped crying! The Night Raptor looked down, and noticed that she was pulling his index claw, giggling at it.

“Huh…. Despite what I look like, you aren’t afraid of me?” Xeron asked, as if she could answer. “Quite the brave one.” He chuckled before gently pulling her from the crib, cradling her in his armored forearm. He used his other claw to gently caress her small stomach, making the foal giggle even more. “Guessing you aren’t afraid of the dark, now that I am here, huh?”

As if on cue, the foal yawned and started to drift back to sleep. Xeron smiled, carefully laying her back into the crib, where she belonged. The Night Raptor reached into his bag, pulling out Airy’s amulet.

“If I’m going to do this, might as well make it official.” He muttered, gently placing the amulet around her neck. “Twilight Sparkle, as long as you hold this token… You shall be under my protection. If any were to harm you, in any way, I will hunt them down and make them regret their fatal decision. I am Xeron, Night Raptor of the Night Lords, and I will always come for you.” He watched, as Twilight drifted back to sleep, before he climbed up to the ceiling… Using his talons as anchors, the Night Raptor now stood watch over the foal, crossing his arms as if he were some massive bat.

“What exactly is he?” The mare asked, astonished at what she just saw.

“He is, what his people called, a Night Lord. Specially trained warriors that know how to wield Fear as a weapon. They also are specialized in stealth tactics.” Celestia answered, looking down at them. “He is bound to your daughter, and there is no need to worry.” She looked back into the room. “Twilight is protected by Fear Incarnate now.”

The two unicorns gave a light nod. “And… About her magic?” The stallion asked, raising an eyebrow.

“When the time comes, apply for her to enter my school for gifted unicorns. I have a feeling she’ll get in with no problem.” Celestia said, turning to leave. “Just be sure not to startle him! With over three hundred years of constant warfare, he may be a bit jumpy.” She called back, making the unicorns go slack jawed at how old he was, at least.

Though, even Xeron heard her comment, and just grunted with frustration. “I have the strangest feeling… She is going to be one of those types of jokesters.”