For several weeks, Luna waited in the treetops for her dear friend. She nearly became withdrawn, which caused her sister to question her behavior. Luna didn't say anything, for she felt ashamed of loving a forbidden pony. One evening, Celestia left to deal with some matters in the neighboring kingdom, and wouldn't be seen for a while. That didn't concern the young sister, however; she didn't mind being independent.

She flew to the border, and hovered just above the trees. She watched a familiar figure come into view, and landed behind the pony. "Well, well. Look who's back," She announced.

Sombra jumped, and turned to face her. "It's worth the risk," He commented. "So, um..." He fumbled with his hooves for a moment. He knew that he kept the other jewels in his room, but he didn't want Luna to know, for fear of feeling her wrath.

He had heard tales of a terrible mare cursing the land. However, Luna didn't seem like her. She seemed sweet, benevolent, and pleasant overall; she wouldn't hurt a fly.

Sombra told himself to relax, and his nervousness went away. "What do you do for fun?" He asked.

Luna smiled and said, "I'll show you. I promise you, it's fun!" She led Sombra into the forest, and they reached the Everfree Pond.

Sombra had to admit, the water was gorgeous and clean-looking, especially under the clear, silvered moonlight. "It's a different world under the moonlight," He remarked.

"I agree," Luna concurred. She loved whenever it was dark out and when the colorful lights would come into play. When she was younger, she used to play with the nocturnal Breezies near the pond.

Now, she stood still and waited for the Breezies to appear. There was nothing, so Luna figured that the Breezies were afraid of Sombra. Why would they fear him if he was kind and innocent?

"Come out, come out, wherever you are!" Luna called to the Breezies.

The breezies cautiously escaped their hiding spots, and hovered closer to Luna and Sombra. "She brought a colt this time. Is he magical or nah?" A female Breezie wondered.

Sombra suddenly shifted with discomfort as he managed to keep his composure. "I have magic, but I... my father wanted me to, um, to practice the dark arts," He explained.

"You don't have to tell them the dark truth about you," Luna reminded him. She glanced at the Breezies, winked her left eye, and giggled. "He's quite the gentlecolt. You should trust him, no matter what."

The Breezies flew away, unsure what to say in response to Luna's words. Luna and Sombra were alone now. Luna's eyes glinted with mischief, and Sombra smirked in response. "I know what you'll do," He said.

Luna pushed Sombra into the water, causing the colt to laugh. The colt splashed the cool, clean water into Luna's face immediately. Luna scrunched her nose as she splashed the water back to him. "Back to you," She chortled as she watched Sombra slam his hoof against the water. "Oh, no, don't do-"

The water splashed all over Luna, causing her hair to become shiny and soaked. Her hair glistened in the moonlight, which made her seem all the more beautiful and ethereal. Sombra could only look on with awe, as he did before. Even though he loved her for her grace and beauty, he was still tempted to follow his ambition to become a king.

Luna still wondered what Sombra meant when he said "you're her." So, she decided to ask the question about the short comment. "Remember when you said that I'm her? I wonder what that means," She spoke as she pushed her bangs away from her eyes.

"Some ponies see you flying. You are about the same size as the other teenaged ponies, except that you are magical and you have powerful wings. They wonder whether you are a Breezie or a legendary alicorn," Sombra explained.

"Ironically, Celestia wouldn't let me into Equestria." Luna almost frowned.

"The thing is, my parents wouldn't let me speak with alicorns. They fear that an alicorn would murder me, but you're sweet and kind. I don't think you would do that. My mother is more protective, though she seems to prefer my rival more."  

"Who's your rival?"

"Shining Armor."  

"Oh." Luna nodded for a second before splashing the water onto Sombra.  

"What was that for?" Sombra playfully asked.  

"Who knows?" Luna snickered cheerfully as she splashed the water at her friend once again.

The prince and the alicorn frolicked in the pond til midnight, and the prince felt that he had to return home before his parents could suspect something. "Good-night, lovie," Sombra said at last.

Luna's heart fluttered at the nickname. No one called her lovie before, but she knew that it was endearing and somewhat romantic. "Good-night, my prince," She returned. "Someday, we will be queen and king, and bring peace to the two kingdoms!"

"That's a good idea." Sombra nodded in agreement as he waded out of the water, and trotted away from the pond.

Luna smiled as she watched her sweetheart leave the forest. Another visit, and another chance to bond with him. Then, someday... they would potentially fall in love, get married, and rule the two lands together! But, soon, she would learn that her dreams may not come true. She went to the Great Tree for the night, and slumbered on a branch.

Thus did the young thief manage to not only take the jewels, but, he stole something more precious; Luna's heart of gold. One day, he gave her a beautiful gift.

As they strode through the woods, they sat near a rock, and Sombra levitated a necklace from his pouch. Luna gasped as she observed the beauty of the moonstone necklace. "Oh, my. The moonstone... it's my favorite gem. This gem reminds me of the moon," She exclaimed as she took the gift and tied the necklace around her slender neck.

"It looks good on you," Sombra complimented.

"Aww, thank you. And, thank you for the gift! I really love it!" Luna pulled Sombra into a tight embrace as she squealed with happiness.

Hearts were warmed, and kind words were exchanged as the months turned into years. On Luna's sixteenth birthday, as the moon rose into the sky, Sombra planned to give her a wondrous gift...

Sombra waited near the borders, and looked to the skies. He looked to Luna, and smiled as he took in her ethereal, goddess-like beauty.

Luna was no longer an awkward little filly; she has blossomed into a beautiful young mare. Her hair changed from the lightest shade of lilac to a medium azure color, with the purplish tips surrounding the azure part. Her hair began to sparkle a little, but her hair didn't ripple yet. Soon, it would ripple as if there was a phantom breeze. Her fur coat changed from light purple to midnight blue, and she was the most beautiful sight to behold, just like her beautiful sister.

Sombra had changed, too. He was no longer skinny; he had a stocky, fit build. His hair was less unruly, and could be easily slicked back.

Luna decided that enough was enough; this was the time to let the romance blossom! She approached Sombra, and blushed shyly. She almost chortled with shyness as she smiled.

Sombra stared into a pair of cerulean eyes, and his heart fluttered for a few moments as he smiled. He closed his eyes, moved his head forward, and leaned forward. Luna's eyes widened, but she reminded herself to close her eyes. Her lips pressed against Sombra's lips; soon, they were lost in the kiss.

The moon shone, which illuminated the pair. Then, the couple gently broke the kiss. Sombra smiled once more. "This is true love's kiss," He whispered. "You are my truest love ever. I love you, and my heart aches each time I'm away from you."

"May peace soon fill our future reign someday," Luna promised. "Hopefully, if you have to choose a bride, you have to choose me; and, with good reason."

"I will, I swear..." Sombra nodded swiftly.

Luna beckoned Sombra to follow her, and they strode into the forest. They sat near the Everfree Pond, and the alicorn draped her wing across the prince's back, as if to protect him from danger. Just then, they heard a noise in the bush. Luna immediately shot up, for fear that Celestia might be spying on them. "Go home, before they find you!" Luna warned. "It's not safe!"

With that, Sombra escaped the forest immediately. What used to give him a feeling of peace and security now filled him with a foreboding sense of dread. Luna watched as an ivory alicorn escaped the bushes. Celestia stared her down, as if to shame her for loving a stranger.

"Who is that?" She demanded. "Was it Sombra again?"

Luna backed away; she had never seen her sister so livid before. She knew how terrifying the magical folk could be if they were enraged. "Yes," She confessed. "He's kind and sweet. He is as gentle as a smooth stream-"

"He stole from us one time! How can we trust him? I have a bad feeling about him," Celestia interrupted curtly.

"It's only rumors, I assure you. Don't yell at me."

"Fine, whatever. I'm going to sleep through the night. I'm tired from protecting the forest all day! You will go about your nightly duties as the Protector of the Everfree! Hear me?"

"Yeah... right." Luna only whispered as Celestia stomped off. Behind the alabaster alicorn was a fiery trail, with flames licking the soft grass and the air.

Luna tamed the flames with her magic, and willed the flames away. Soon, there was no more destruction in the forest. She couldn't handle her sister's dark side, could she? She shook her head as she flew into the headwinds. She inhaled, and then exhaled softly as she looked around. Soon, she was high up in the air, her mane rippling in the wind. Her tail mimicked the movement of her mane as she dashed through the darkened sky.

The kiss was surely sweet and gentle, and that was what Luna thought about the true love's kiss. She was seriously infatuated with the prince, that's what. But, the kiss and the romance was not what they seemed to her... she was still naive, young, and innocent, but the future would forever change that. Soon, she would become the opposite. For now, she was content with being young. She still wondered if she would get another visit from the prince. Maybe, someday, if they became young adults, then they would get married and live happily ever after.

However, there would not be a happily ever after. All of the innocent romance was about to change...