(A foreword. The term 'Victorian' is used for the reader to imagine a certain style and not a statement of an actual 'Victorian' era in Equestrian history. Think steam-punkish)

For a while after Princess Luna left the sitting-room, StarStep stared at the doorway. Thoughts bouncing through his head at the same time he replayed the gentle kiss. He gave a soft sigh, “Princess Celestia?”

The white alicorn was still relaxing on her red velvet couch. She smiled as she lifted her head from her book, “Yes, dear?”

“You...you said I could talk to you if I had any questions, right?” He turned around and sat back on his haunches, looking up at the regal Sun-Goddess, her pastel mane flowing in a non-existent breeze.

She nodded softly, closing her book with her hoof. “Of course, ask away my little pony, and if I can answer, I shall.”

“Does...Luna like me? She sure does have a good time playing pranks on me. One moment she's teaching me some sort of lesson and the next comforting me and the next pulling some trick. I can't help but feel really confused.”

The alicorn regarded him for a long moment, her warm smile never changing. “I cannot speak for my sister's heart. As she keeps such thoughts from even myself. Allow me to ask this, StarStep. Despite all that's happen, do you still feel as driven to earn her affections as when you started?”

He frowned slightly, looking down to the floor as he thought about it long and hard. At last he raised his head to meet Celestia's eyes and nodded firmly, “I do.” he flicked his eyes to the door-way, as if expecting Luna to walk back in.

“Well, dear. Luna has been this way since long before Nightmare Moon. I wish I could explain why but I'm afraid it's not my place. However, if all goes well tomorrow evening, I expect you'll be in her presence far more often. Have hope, dear StarStep. Luna rebuked both Shining Armor and myself in regards to your escorting her for the event. I would say she sees something in you.”

StarStep frowned slightly, “I guess Princess. I wish she was more clear what that something is.” He tilted his head at the white alicorn, “Why is it Captain Shining and you, spoke against me escorting her?”

She sighed softly, “It's not that I don't think you're capable, dear. It's that I don't think you're ready. Please try to understand. This is...risky. If this was a normal party she was hosting, I would support her decision. But to throw you into the midst of griffon ambassadors. I...am very hesitant, my little pony.”

He pondered her gentle words, nodding slightly, “I don't blame you, Princess. Nor Shining Armor. Thank you for being honest.” He sighed, looking towards the open doorway. “But, I want to try, I have to try. I want Princess Luna to see me as something more than a friend to prank.”

Celestia smiled sadly, a whisper from her lips, “That's what I'm afraid of.”

________________________________________________________________

Rarity wasn't kidding about old style meets new. StarStep admired himself in his mirror. His new outfit made him look sharp. A bold-cut black shirt with a high-neck that left just a place at his throat exposed. The cuff-links silver crescent moons. A wide black leather belt, tooled in silver studs and embossed with Night-Lillies, wrapped around his mid-section, giving something the shirt could tuck into. Over the shirt a long vest that slightly draped onto his rump, the split just at the tail-base. It was a deep blue, a perfect match to Luna's mane. A single vest pocket at his upper chest, had a silver pocket-watch tucked inside with a thick chain running from it to a holding pin. The buttons on the vest were also silver crescent moons on onyx disks. Rarity had recommended a hat but Star liked his new styled mane, with it's subtle blue highlights and refused to cover it. Clipped to his leading wing edges were scaled overlapping plates of engraved silver, polished to a shine. They would restrict fancy acrobatics but made him look more dignified.

Feeling good with his appearance, he clipped the the ceremonial Royal Guard short-sword to his belt, ensuring the hilt didn't catch on the vest and left his quarters. Along the trip down the hallways, the evening guards would respectfully nod as he passed. They understood what a great honor it was for him and so spoke not a word of the previous day's embarrassment. He knew they'd joke about it tomorrow and it would be one of those stories passed on to rookies to scare them about Luna's pranks. He wanted to be remembered, but that was not exactly how he had imagined it.

He arrived before Luna's massive blue doors, a little ahead of schedule. A pair of earth-pony Night-Guards stood at attention on each side of the door-frame. One of them nodded to StarStep before turning to rap his hoof on the door. There was a faint voice from inside and the pony cracked the door to listen. “Yes, Princess.” He responded to the voice. With that he clicked the door closed and turned back to his post, “The Princess will be out in a moment, sir.”

Star nodded and paced silently, a little nervousness building in his belly. Just a little longer and Luna would arrive and then they could get on with this. He hated the tension of waiting for something to start. The butterflies, and trembles in the wings. He knew he had to be patient. It was one of the hardest parts of being a guard.

Then the door swung open and he froze in mid-step. Luna stepped from her chambers, regal and elegant. Like the moon climbing over the horizon. She was wearing a Victorian styled dress, cut into overlapping layers of rich violet that ended in a final layer of embroidered silk, draping just enough to cover her flanks and down to the middle of her hind-leg. Her tail drifted out the bottom like a starry train on a wedding dress, drifting about on it's on accord. The collar of the dress rode high on her slender neck, accented by a black satin choker, the center-piece a polished onyx stone set into silver filigree. Around her waist, a black corset, cut in such a way her wings were still free, trimmed with more embroidered silk. Woven into her feathers were black satin ribbons. Over and under through the primaries. Gone were her normal crystal slippers, instead long shimmering black socks that rode to her knees, and onyx shoes that clicked firmly on the polished floor. From her ears hung a pair of heavy silver crescent moon earrings and a filigree of silver wire laced her long fluted horn. She still wore her onyx crown, forever a symbol of her station.

The Princess regarded him with a sly smile, “I take it thou dost approve?”

He realized he had been staring, jaw dropped at her beauty, “I...yes, Princess. You're stunning.”

She laughed lightly, “I thank thou for the compliment. Thy look is also very pleasing to mine eyes.” She gave him another studying look and nodded, “Hmm...though, while I approve of thy mane, tis...lacking somehow.” She grinned, “Perhaps a ribbon?”

The colt frowned slightly, “Um...sorry Princess, I'd like to decline that.”

She giggled and began down the hallway, StarStep taking his place at her side, “Tis amusing to me, how such clothing clutches the heart of ponies. While we adorn ourselves in very little in day to day life.”

StarStep nodded, noting his manicured hooves seemed to click on the floor more crisply and his footing seemed more sure. Perhaps Luna's little spa prank wasn't a total loss. He pondered her question and smiled up at Luna, “I think it's because we're so used to seeing each other in such a way, when we add something like these fancy clothes, it becomes a special occasion. Something to be savored.”

She nodded as they approached one of the archways leading out to the gardens. “Yes, I doth agree with thy thoughts. Tis distressing that fashion changes faster than the weather. One can imagine my frustrations at being away for a thousand years. Why, dear Rarity fainted dead away when I did ask for bloomers.”

StarStep blinked, resisting the urge to look back at her dress covered flanks, “Bloomers, Princess?” He blushed lightly at the thought of those on her body.

She nodded with a smile, “Indeed. Instead, she did introduce me to more modern forms of undergarments. I must say, I've never worn something so...rump hugging before. Tis quite a new sensation.”

StarStep keeps his eyes straight ahead and blushed hotly, imagining just what the Princess was wearing under her dress.

“Wouldst thou like to see?” She slyly looked down at him.

The pegasus felt his eyes bulge and ears steaming, “I...uh...I...would?” He remembered her warnings of only truth from his lips.

She giggled playfully and ruffled her ribbon laced wings, “Perhaps after the party.”

The two exited the hallway onto one of the garden paths. He glanced up, noting the twinkling stars, but it was a new-moon, leaving only the evenly placed torch-lanterns to light the gardens. They still had a little ways to go, walking together on the stone-pathway that wandered through the hedges and flower beds. Star could hear classical music ahead, gently playing a melody, undercut by the voices of a small crowd. It appeared the Princess was the type to appear fashionably late.

As they passed a patch of flowers, Star halted, the Princess paused in mid stride to look back at him curiously. “Is everything alright, my shadow?”

He nodded, reaching down to pluck a Night-Lily from the garden and approached her, flower in his mouth. He looked up at her expectantly, talking around the stem, “May I place this in your mane, Princess? I think it would make you even more beautiful.”

She tilted her head with a smirk, “Thy knowst there is punishment for plucking the royal flowers.” She regarded the flower and him for long moments, “I shall receive thy token if thou accept my own, agreed?” He nodded quickly, and she lowered her head for him. He leaned his head up, tucking the flower between her ear and the crown, nestled against her flowing ethereal mane. She beamed a warm smile at him as she returned to her regal posture. “Many an age ago, this was a sign of a stallion declaring his intentions for a mare. A token of his devotion. Though I am well aware that it dost not have the same social meaning it once held, I accept thy romantic gesture.”

She turned her head to pull loose one of her many black satin ribbons from her wings. Star grimaced a little but held steady as she used her magic to pull his lower mane into a pony-tail, using the ribbon to tie it off. He expected her to ridicule him, but instead she seemed thoughtful, “It suits thee. Thou now lookth of an age long past.” She saw the concern on his face and giggled softly, “I see thy worry. Trouble thyself naught, for it was a respectful and glorious age in Equestrian history. Thou will not be mocked, but inspire others with thy noble bearing and style.” She gave him a gentle kiss on the nose and used her wing to coax him to be closer to her side as the made their way to the party.

As the pair reached the end of the hedgerow, a pony looked around the corner, nodded to the Princess and shouted inside the garden clearing, “Hear Ye, Hear Ye. Now presenting your host for the evening, Princess Luna.”

Star glanced at Luna before they crossed the threshold into the party area, “No titles tonight, Princess?”

She smiled and shook her head at him, “Neigh. Tonight is to be informal and relaxed. Besides, it would spawn a bit of a title war between them. They take great stock in authority and honor. One always attempting to claw his or her way above another.”

Her bearing seemed to change as they passed under the hedge archway into the spacious area surrounding her Moon-pool. A truly regal pose, coupled with an expression that demanded authority but offering a soft smile to those that bowed their head in acknowledgment of her station. There were a few tables filled with snacks and punch, attended by maids and butlers in black outfits which seemed to sparkle in the lantern-lights. A temporary stage had been set up along one of the castle walls, where a four piece band was playing soft classical. Piano, cello, horn and flute, just loud enough not to interfere with the conversations around them.

Star took a rough count of about a hundred guests, at least thirty of them griffons. While the ponies were dressed in tuxes or other formal attire, the griffons were adorn in vibrant coats of blues, reds, greens and yellows, with very deep necklines, allowing their chest plumage to spill over. Many seemed to have dyed their chest feathers in stripes of varying amounts and colors. Many had metal bands around their bird-like fore-arms, and the larger, more decorative griffons bore many scars across their faces. Along with metal studs riveted into their beaks. Those were very intimidating and he made a mental note to avoid them if possible.

Before coming to the party, he had taken time to read a little of griffon culture. Apparently the markings were honor ranks and stations. He couldn't remember the particulars, but the general concept was, the brighter the color, the higher the station. The more marks, the higher one was within that rank. He'd also taken time to speak with Captain Shining about what was expected of him. It was simple enough, be by Luna's side the whole night. Keep her from harm, and stay silent unless specifically asked a question. He wasn't here to hob-nob with ambassadors. He was here to represent the Royal Guard and be Luna's shadow.

After Luna greeted all the ponies and griffons that came to her in thanks for the party, she wandered about, pausing to converse with one pack of attendees to another. Except for cursory glances at him when Luna stopped at a new group, the party-goers largely ignored him. A couple of the younger griffons with dark stripes eyed his sword and flexed their fore-claws as though itching for a fight. He made it a point to not meet challenging glares, keeping his head moving about, seeking unseen threats.

On and on the night went, a rotation of greeting, polite conversation and even a couple light debates over trading rights between the kingdoms. He found he was learning quite a lot about griffon politics and their relations to Equestria, just by being at Luna's side. Once or twice an ambassador sought to rile Luna with veiled slights against her recent return, sometimes outright declaring they'd rather take a mater up with Celestia. When one began to yell at her for some border incident, she calmly turned around and walked away. There was a silence in conversation around them from the nearby ambassadors when she turned her back on the him. And that was that. The crowd returned to their conversations, and the raging griffon found himself alone, fuming.

After that incident, the other griffons seemed to nod with a little more respect towards her when she passed. He wasn't exactly sure what just happened. He'd have to ask later.

“StarStep is it?” He blinked as he was addressed and turned to meet the look of one of a group of griffons Luna had stopped at. A large female griffon in a bright red laced coat smiled down at him, one eye sparkling in warmth, the other sealed shut by a terrible scar. Behind her, lesser ranked ambassadors looked on in a mix of curiosity and annoyance. Luna had turned her head to smile down at him reassuringly.

He bowed his head to the griffon in polite deference to her rank, noting her bright red markings on the chest. “Yes madam ambassador?”

She reached out a clawed hand, lightly tracing the silver wing bands along his leading wing edges. The tip of her index claw gliding along the abstract engravings, “These are beautiful. I remember when such fashion was quite the rage in my youth. Where ever did you find these?”

He smiled warmly to her. Inside he was a little shocked by how kind and genuinely interested she seemed to be, “The Royal Tailor, a Miss Rarity of PonyVille crafted them with the help of a silver smith from Canterlot.” He spread out the wing, allowing the overlapping plates to fully spread and catch the lantern light.

The griffon turned to her three companions, the claw pointing at the adornments, “Do you see what splendid things we ourselves could produce if we allowed cross territory crafting? Why must we constantly be arguing over who has better artisans than who?” She smiled back at Star, “I thank you for your time. And may I say, you are a fine consort for your Princess.”

If he had a drink he would be choking on it. Even the Princess seemed faintly shocked, “Oh, apologies, Redfeather Madria. I doth not have a consort at this time. Dear StarStep is but my blade-bearer this evening.”

The griffon looked him over again, eying the ribbon in his mane then the flower over Luna's hair. She smiled apologetically to the moon-goddess, “I ask pardon, Princess Luna. I simply saw signs of courtship from long since past. It appears I am showing my age again.” She chuckled softly, a bird-like sound before glancing over her shoulder at the other griffons, “If I am not careful, these ruffians will think me old and challenge me for station.”

The three males firmly denied such actions. The Princess seemed amused, “Oh, worry not, Redfeather Madria. If thy claws doth not keep them in line, tales of thy past valor and glory certainly shall. If you will excuse me?” The four griffons bowed slightly in deference as Luna regally stepped away, Star at her side.

Star glanced about before whispering up to Luna, “Princess, I thought griffons were all about climbing above each other. Why did those other three not seem very eager to rise above that ambassador?”

She giggled, leaning down to whisper in his ear, “Because my dear, she is a Broodmother and those three her consorts. Until male griffons can lay eggs, I doubt such things will become an issue for her. Other Broodmothers, however...” She trailed off as she approached another small group, this one made of ponies.

Towards the wee hours of the morning, with only a few more till the party officially ended, Luna and Star were near the Moon-Pool. She was explaining to some of her guests that the fish in the pool would come to the surface during the new moon, and glow with bio-luminescent to attract insects. He had indeed noticed white lights along the surface, and on instinct thought it was just the moon reflecting on the shimmering surface. But upon Luna's explanation he looked closer, noting that three fish, as long as a pony, were swimming through the upper half of the pool, glowing blue-white like the moon incarnate. They were mesmerizing, and had an ancient look to them. Elongated snouts and fins more like wings than anything he'd seen on common fish.

After the guests thanked Luna for the hospitality and informative talk about the Moon-Pool, she turned and started towards the snack table. He could hear her belly rumble ever so softly as he walked at her side. He chuckled and smiled up at the Princess. She smirked back.

“Oy, you frilly tart, don't walk away when I'm talkin' ta you!” The crowd went silent. The screeching angry voice cutting through like a knife. Even the band suddenly halted their music at the outburst. Star glanced over his shoulder, curious who was making such a racket.

A young, rather large griffon with six brown stripes on his chest was pointing a clawed finger at Luna. Star frowned at him while the Princess glanced back, smirked and took another step away.

“OY, I said, don't you be a walkin' from me, yah overgrown crow. Yah sister is ah better ruler, and these feathered fools only to be talkin' to you, on account yah ride her coat-tails like ah foal sucklin' her teets. My family lost face account ah dealing with yer sorry flat flank. You should be bowin' to me for all da suffering they been through.” The griffon was smirking. Arrogance in his eyes.

Star growled under his breath, turning on the spot and glared, trying to meet the griffon's gaze, but the loud-mouth was focused solely on the Princess. Luna sighed, pausing mid-step. She shook her head and turned around, beginning to march towards the smaller being with all the regal bearing she possessed.

“That's right yah right weak pigeon. Bow down here and beg for me family's forgiveness. I might be willin' to let yah suck my griffon cock. Though that be still too good for yah, being yer whole family nothing but lying thieves and sluts. Specially you, yah blue cunt.”

Every foul word from that griffon cut StarStep. He couldn't believe anyone could speak so horribly to Luna, his Luna. And on the last word out of the arrogant male's beak, rage blinded StarStep. He crouched, tensing his legs, his wings flared out, the metal bands rasping on each other like a sword being drawn. Then FOOM, he launched with all his might at the griffon. Last thing he remembered was his outstretched fore-hoof connecting with the griffons beak, a terrible cracking sound, then he lost flight control and tumbled off to the side along the pool edge. The griffon recoiled onto his hind-legs, spinning around twice from the impact before he belly-flopped into the Moon-pool.

Star laid for a few moments, eyes spinning from the crash and noted a few griffons fishing the other from the pool. He seemed to be out for the count. With a smirk of pride he staggered to his hooves, his ears swiveling to the sound of clicking from gem-stone shoes. Pleased with himself he turned to face Luna as she stopped in front of him. Except, her face wasn't at all what he was expecting. She glared down at him, so full of cold rage.

Calmly, she slid her hoof from her onyx shoe, shook her head sadly at Star, her eyes on the verge of tears, then POW. StarStep staggered away, his face on fire and stumbled a few steps before his hind-legs collapsed on him. He support his front on trembling hooves, his back to Luna, mind in shock. All eyes of the crowd were on them now. He blinked back tears, looking over his shoulder as the Princess took the few steps to regain striking distance to him. He shuttered, trying to crawl away in panic. Her teal-green eyes, so furious, yet dripping with tears, held him as she leaned her head down to his level, “Thou will report to mine sister's study, and thou shalt await us.” She hissed through her teeth.

Then she lifted her head, mane flowing about her, regal and proud, the ever powerful Moon-Goddess. She lifted an accusing hoof to point towards him, “THOU SHALT BEGONE FROM MINE SIGHT!”

The Royal Canterlot voice, booming in his head, he did as was commanded. Scrambling to his hooves and running for his life from the garden to Celestia's study. There he sat for the next hour, a cold hearth and ticking clock his only companions in the dark room. Shaking from tears of confusion and anger. Then the door began to creak open...