"Amongst my studies of the heavens, of stars, cosmoses, nebula and planets, I hath found mine thoughts drawn to the solitary sphere of blue that dost so elegantly grace our evening skies. With all the wonders of the universe to explore, why, then, doth mine eyes always linger upon that cold rocky surface? Pale and lifeless on its exterior with no warmth, it reflects the light which her sister Sun giveth onto her, though often within our world's shadow. Perhaps, then, tis pity and a touch of melancholy that striketh my heart at the sight of her loneliness, so set apart from the dazzling display of lights upon a blanket of black. Alas, one may never know, so blinded by the sun." -Excerpt from Starswirl the Bearded's “Reflections of Space and Time”

“And so, fillies and gentlecolts, with this last bit of ceremony we cheer on our new graduates, welcoming them as they take their first steps out into the world as adults, supporting them in their endeavors to become successful in their special talents.” The fuscia-maned speaker stood straight and tall against the wooden podium, beaming with pride that an assembly of joyful ponies mirrored. The parents, with their heads held high and their eyes glistening, gazed adoringly at a small group of late-teen fillies and colts that sat in rows behind the meager Ponyville schoolhouse stage. “Now, in accordance with tradition,” she continued, seeming to look over her shoulder to her students for a moment, “each filly and colt will now step forth to declare their own individual dreams and goals, so that we may support them and guide them to see their dreams realized.” Cheerilee smiled, and took a final moment to take in the proud faces of the parents, family, and friends in the audience before stepping to the side of the podium to the sound of hooves stomping in applause.

“Apple Bloom, if you would begin?” Cheerilee smiled brightly, nodding to the filly in question.

The yellow earth pony with red hair stepped forward with confidence, beaming at the crowd. “Gosh, it's been ah wild ride ain’t it? I'm sure plenty of y'all remember all mah antics of tearing things up with my cutie mark crusadin' huh?” The crowd chuckled softly, smiling in memory of the filly and her friends’ efforts to find their talents. She glanced back at her cutie mark, a hammer with an apple blossom behind it. “Why, who'da thunk mah talent would be fixing all tha stuff I done gone and broke?” The crowd laughed a little louder and Apple Bloom's smile widened. “So, now that school is finished, I plan ta open up mah own construction shop. Barns, houses, windows, yah break it, I can fix it! And that's mah dream.” The crowd gave her a polite cheer and she returned to her seat on the stage.

Cheerilee thanked her then gestured to the next in line. "Now, please welcome Sweetie Belle."

One by one, each young filly and colt stepped up and spoke of their dream, a sparkle of hope in their eyes. Tomorrow would be the first official day they would be graduates and adults in the eyes of everypony. Their nervous excitement was contagious; even Diamond Tiara shared a hopeful smile with her long-time rival Applebloom.

Finally it came down to the last class-member.

Cheerilee beamed a cheerful smile to the crowd. “And now, last but not least. Starstep, if you would?”

A gangly pegasus colt stepped forward to take his place at the front of the stage. He was a blue-grey, sporting a spiky, unruly charcoal mane and tail. The mark on his flank was four white stars surrounding a small white horseshoe. He ruffled his wings, a bit of nerves showing through, and brushed his bangs out of his icy-blue eyes while clearing his throat. “Uh, hey everypony. I'm really glad I got a chance to move to Ponyville and get to know all of you. Oh, and Mr. Cake, I'm really sorry about that sign, I'll fix it tomorrow.” The crowd shared a knowing laugh and the aforementioned Mr. Cake nodded to the colt. He paused, exhaling a few times to calm his nerves. “Um...gosh, public speaking is hard.”

He flicked his gaze to Cheerilee, who returned his look with a reassuring smile, its infectious nature sprouting upon his muzzle again. He nodded softly to the mare before turning his gaze back upon the waiting ponies. “Ahem, well, everypony knows I got a thing for the moon and stars and stuff. I can name every constellation and surface point on the moon. I even know about nebula and the aurora up north.” He nodded to a purple unicorn in the front row, “Thank you, Professor Sparkle, for that.” He paused to clear his throat before speaking up again. “It, uh, took me awhile to figure out what I was going to do with that talent; it’s not like pegasi can fly into space or anything.” The crowd chuckled softly. “One day, years ago, I was gazing up at the full moon and the deep night sky wondering what my goal in life was. Only then did it hit me—suddenly, I knew exactly what I was going to do.” His slightly awkward demeanor shifted to one of determination as he met the eyes of the crowd, and a soft hush fell as everypony awaited his revelation.

Starstep smiled and firmly stated, “I'm going to be Princess Luna's Special Somepony.”

Jaws dropped, eyes bulged, and sharp intakes of breath were the only sound. Long moments passed—long, awkward moments. Starstep flicked his eyes from side to side, his confidence beginning to wane as the silence stretched. Then, somewhere in the crowd, a pony began to giggle, followed by a couple more, until a herd of deep laughter from the colts joined them. Starstep blinked, flared out his wings and opened his mouth to rebuke them when a soft hoof on his shoulder halted him. He turned his head, looking into the concerned face of his teacher of many years.

Cheerilee smiled sadly at him and gently tilted her head towards the back of the stage as she took the podium again. Raising her voice, she called for calm and giggled with the crowd. Starstep held his head up high, chest puffed out in stubborn teen pride as he stepped down the stage. Cheerilee spoke to the quieting crowd as he did, “Well now everypony. Seems Pinkie Pie has her work cut out for her in the jokes department!” The crowd shared a quick laugh with her. “And that, fillies and gentlecolts, concludes our ceremony. Punch and pie will be served at the back tables— thank you all so very much for coming!”

Starstep reached the back of the stage, hidden from the confused and laughing faces of his peers. He listened as Cheerilee finished up, his ears drooping at her mocking words and slumped onto his haunches. He could hear the scuffing of hooves as his class-mates began to leave their seats to join their family and friends. Choking back tears and closing his eyes, he leaned his head back against the stage wall and simply waited. Soft hoof-falls in the grass caught his attention. He gave a deep sigh and wiped his eyes with the back of a foreleg. “Come to mock me?” he called out, keeping his voice low as to not give away the strife that choked up his throat.

“No, Starstep, I would never do that.” The soft reassuring voice of Cheerilee caused the colt to flick open his eyes and stare at the pink earth pony.

“Then why...that joke...I mean.” he stammered out.

“Starstep...” She gave a patient sigh and sat down next to him, leaning slightly against his slender pegasus body. “Dear... I know you were being serious. What you said to them… well, think about it. You just declared your intentions of being a mate to one of our Princesses, an immortal pony who moves the very stars you love. I was deflecting them from you. Now they will brush it off as a graduating prank and go about their lives without harassing you about it.”

Star slumped his head, leaning back against Cheerilee. “But I... I wasn't lying. I really want this. How can I make...” Cheerilee reached up and put a hoof to his muzzle, stopping him.

“I know you believe you can achieve this, whatever your reasons.” She touched her hoof-tip to his chest. “But let me give you a final word of caution from your ex-teacher?” He nodded and she continued. “Embrace your dreams, whatever they may be, but don't overlook the things in front of you. It's not always about the destination—the journey can be just as fun.” She smiled and gave him a light peck on the cheek. “Good luck Starstep, I hope you find what you're looking for. I'll be around town if you ever need somepony to talk to.” With that, she shifted her weight from his side and wandered off, leaving the colt to consider her words.

“Heya, Star.” Scootaloo approached from the side of the graduation stage with Applebloom and Sweetie Belle in tow. The three young mares were just as gangly as the colt, a confident look in their eyes and playful smiles on their lips. The orange pegasus with fuchsia mane smirked. “Wow, I gotta say, I wasn't expecting you to tell the whole town that just yet.”

The colt looked away and slumped his shoulders.

“Oh, don't be like that.” Scootaloo gently slugged him in the shoulder. “It took guts.”

Apple Bloom nodded in agreement. “Sure did. Now wipe that frown off yer face. It's graduation day! No more school!”

A smile crept onto his face.

Sweetie Belle, the white unicorn with her styled pink and purple mane giggled. “Uh-oh girls, I think I see a smile!” And just like that the three young mares began to tickle him until the colt was howling with laughter.

“Okay! Okay, I give!” He was gasping for breath when they relented. “Geeze, what kind of friends are you?”

Sweetie gave her usual high-pitched giggle. “The best kind!”

Scootaloo helped him to his hooves. “Come on, we're going for victory shakes down at Sugar-Cube Corners.”

“I, uh, I'm not feeling very victorious.”

Apple Bloom rolled her eyes. “Yah made it through school, that's a right victory in mah books. Now come on, 'fore ah lasso yah and drag yah there.”

Star threw up his hooves. “Okay, you win. But there better be peppermint today.”

After a trot into town, they found they were at the tail end of a long line, the other graduate families apparently had the same idea. Thankfully, the town Party-Pony Pinkie Pie was an expert at pleasing crowds and had the line moving at a rapid pace. In short order the four friends got their drinks and wandered off to find a open table in the square. Star sipped on his peppermint shake as the others enjoyed their own. He couldn't help but smile at the refreshing flavor; Pinkie-Pie always knew how to get his as strong as possible.

Apple Bloom looked at her three friends. “Well, y'all know I aim to set-up mah own shop. What do y'all got planned? We talked 'bout it off and on, but I reckon it's high time we get our sights set.”

Sweetie grinned. “Dinky and Pip have been talking about starting up a band. It sounded like a lot of fun. I'll bet my sister would love to make rock-star outfits.”

Star chuckled softly. “I bet she would, assuming your band needs gems coating everything. I don't think Pip likes frills though.”

Sweetie giggled. “He does look cute in pink. Well, we know what Scoots is going to do. Wonderbolt academy. With those big wings, I'm sure you're a shoe-in. Plus, one of the Captains is Rainbow Dash! You got it easy.”

The orange pegasus smirked, spreading out her slightly larger than normal wings. “They are awesome, huh? Yeah, I got this in the bag.”

“But how about you, Star?” Sweetie asked, waving her spoon around in her magical field. “I don't think there's a job listing for being a Special Somepony. Is that even a job?”

The orange pegasus licked some of the whipped cream off the top of her shake. “Sure there is, but Dash told me its hard work and kinda icky.”

The colt sighed and fidgeted with his straw. “No... Honestly, I don't have a clue where to start. It's just... a dream, I guess.”

Apple Bloom shook her head. “Look, Star. Yah might be lookin' at this the wrong way. Yah can't go in assuming yah can be somepony's something special. Yah have to get to know one another and if things click, well, then it's meant to be. Mah best suggestion is to work close to the Princess and see if there's any connection. Yah just gotta be prepared if things don't work out.” The other two fillies nodded in agreement.

“Oh!” Sweetie's face lit up. “What about a job in the palace? They have hundreds of servants and other palace duties. Rarity knows lots about it.”

Starstep considered her suggestion. “Well... I dunno. It would let me meet with the Princess from time to time. But... I have a hard time cleaning my own room, ask mom.”

“AH! I got it!” Scootaloo slapped her hooves to the table, bouncing her empty shake glass. “A Royal Guard!”

The colt thought about it for a moment. “That's... actually, that's a really good idea, but, don't they only take 'the best of the best' or something? I barely got through school.”

Scoots rolled her eyes. “That's because you spent more time learning about stars than history or math. Or writing poems about Princess Luna.”

Starstep blushed slightly. “Okay, I get it. So, is there any way I could even get into the recruit program?”

“You did study a lot with Professor Sparkle and she is Shining Armor's sister. Maybe she can get you a shot?” Scootaloo suggested.

Star lept from his seat and hugged the pegasus. “Yes! That's it! Scoots you're a genius! I'll go see the Professor tonight. Thank you.”

The orange filly smirked and gave him a peck on the cheek. "Anytime, Star."

The other two fillies smiled at him, happy that their friend had found a path towards his dream.

“ALL RIGHT YOU BUMPS ON A FROGS RUMP! GET THOSE HOOVES MOVING BEFORE I TELL THE PRINCESS YOU LIKE BANANAS!”

Starstep chuckled at the drill Sergeant shouting at the new recruits. He could hear them through the open window near his post in the halls of the royal palace. The light of dusk filtered in, bathing the white walls in a deepening orange glow. He had fond memories of his days as a fresh recruit. Well... they were fond to think about when not being chased around a track by an earth pony three times your size, yelling things that would make a manticore blush. It had been two years since he joined the recruit program, thanks to a letter of recommendation from Professor Sparkle. It had been a long road, but here he was, a Royal Guard. He faintly wondered how his friends had fared after they'd parted ways.

Across the doorway, his guard partner glanced over at his soft laughter, raising an eyebrow.

To the untrained eye, both pegasi guards were pure white, adorned with golden armor, crested with mock blue manes along the top of the helm. It was simply enchanted armor, designed so each guard could do their duty without being singled out–an old tradition from when there were still blood feuds between pony clans. This way they were able to serve the princesses without worrying about old hostilities hindering their duty. Once the helm was removed, the enchantment would, of course, fade, allowing them to resume their normal off-duty lives

Starstep's door partner flicked his eyes up and down the hallway, searching for eavesdroppers then whispered out the side of his mouth, “dude, shhh, you're gonna get us in trouble.”

Starstep just smirked, but kept his voice very low, “It's alright, Light, there's nopony around. I was just thinking of our training with old Sargent Hardplot. I swear that pony could crush a pony's head with his...”

“Dude, seriously, shhh, we finally got put on the castle guard roster and you're trying to buck me over.”

“Lighthoof, you need to relax. We're guarding a door, a giant golden door that has to weigh, what, fifteen earth ponies? I mean, who's really going to sneak by us and open this thing?”

A soft cough from behind them caused both guards to stiffen. Seconds ticked by, sweat trickled down Starstep's neck. They were supposed to keep ponies from going in, not coming out. By tradition, he wasn't supposed to look back at whoever was behind them. He resisted the urge to glance, but it was unnerving knowing there was somepony scrutinizing him. Soft hoof-falls clicked, echoing around the white polished hallway as the mystery pony approached Starstep's flank. He flicked his eyes to the left, seeing Lighthoof glance back at him. The other pegasi's eyes widened and he snapped his gaze ahead. Oh, that wasn't good.

“Starstep, was it?” a soft, almost angelic voice whispered in his ear, causing it to twitch and a hot blush to form on his cheeks. He nodded curtly to the voice's query. “Pray-tell, didst thou hear voices out here? Surely that cannot be, for there art none here but thee and thy partner.” The voice was slightly teasing. “It appears my sister's guards art becoming lax in their duties.” Clicking hoof-falls echoed again as the Princess of the night circled around to face a slightly trembling Starstep. She glanced him over head to hoof, the armor's magic was ineffective to her eyes, so she could see him for who he really was. She smiled slyly at Starstep, lifting up her long alicorn leg to rest a hoof upon his breastplate, “Thou art new, I... suppose I can overlook this breach of tradition, if...” her mischievous grin widened as she let the word hang in the air, “thou whilst tell me why thou dost tremble so?” She leaned forward, a knowing look in her eyes.

The pegasus swallowed, clutching his wings to his sides, meeting the gaze of the princess of the night. He willed himself not to become moonstruck by those beautiful eyes. “Princess I...” he paused—he could lie, but he had heard a rumor that the princesses could detect such things. He suspected that if he was to ever lie to her or Celestia, his job as a royal guard would be over. Besides that, he didn't want to lie to her. Why had he even thought such a terrible thing? This was Luna, the very reason he signed up to be a guard. And so, he took a deep breath and steadied himself.

“Because you are beautiful,” he managed to whisper out, hoping his guard partner did not hear.

A frown flickered across Princess Luna's face, followed by a faint look of confusion. The midnight blue alicorn leaned back her head, shook it for a moment, then leaned back in with an arched eyebrow, “I am... afraid I didst not catch that. I know thou art new, but please learn to speak up—tis not befitting a royal guard to whisper in such a way.” She tilted her head, awaiting his response.

Starstep was shaking now, clutching his wings painfully to his side, “I uh...” He cleared his throat again. “Princess Luna...” He started, thanking his stars that his voice was not wavering. “I am trembling because you are beautiful.” He cringed internally, knowing that his partner had heard every word.

Luna blinked down at him, stunned for but a moment, but quickly regained her smile and slid her crystal-shod hoof off his breastplate. “Well, tis been ages since a pony hath been honest about such.”

“Princess, you're not... mad or anything?”

Luna laughed delightedly and shook her head, “By the heaves no. I welcome such honesty. I am well aware that there art those whom enjoy looking at me and mine sister. We wouldst be fools to think otherwise. I suppose I am just shocked thou art the first since my return to admit as much.” She beamed a smile at him. “I had figured thou trembled so terribly due to fear.” A flicker of a frown crossed her muzzle. “I am glad to see twas not the case. Now...” She turned and began to regally walk down the hallway, smiling coyly over her shoulder. “I must be off—please remember thy duties and let thine eyes not be distracted by the royal form.” She rolled back her head and laughed, giving a little rump wiggle before disappearing around the corner.

Starstep stared after her, a grin widening across his face after the Princess disappeared, before turning to his door partner. The grin vanished, noting Lighthoof was at stiff attention.

Before the other pegasus was the white, regal alicorn Princess Celestia. Everything about the princess gave off an air of motherly affection, but also of a mother's tough love. She was intently staring at Starstep with a raised eyebrow. Now he fought the urge to tremble for different reasons.

“Starstep, Lighthoof, a word if I may?”

Author's Notes:

To new readers:
Welcome to a story that delivers laughs, romance, action, and a bit of drama. I invite you to read through the tale before making a final judgement as it and its characters have evolved through the writing. If for some reason you are unhappy with the Fic, please take a few moments to message me or leave a comment. I'm happy to learn from my mistakes and grow as a writer. A few quick notes: This story was started during the middle of season 2, so there is no Twilicorn. The head-cannon I have for Equestrian culture uses the concept of an evolution from a herd mentality. Thus it is reflected in their sexual and social relations.
Thank you and enjoy the story.
(Note that many of the early chapters have not been officially edited. So yes, there are errors.)
-Indigo Eclipse-
Chapter edited by: Idylia