“Remove your armor. You are no longer a part of my Sun-Guards.”

StarStep opened his mouth to protest, however the slightest shake of Lighthoof's head held his tongue. Celestia was firm in her expression and bearing. There would be no going back. To do so would dishonor Light's loyalty and his truthfulness. So, together the two pegasi removed their helms, gently resting them on the polished floor of Celestia's study. Then slipping loose the belly straps and secondaries that kept the large body piece from sliding. Their practices mouths finished the work in short order, and the pile of golden armor now laid at their feet.

They stood before the Royal sisters in silence. A terrible clenching at his belly, made Star want to curl up and weep. This wasn't at all what he'd expected. Still, he held his ground proudly. Standing side by side with his best friend and guard-partner. If Lighthoof could take it like a stallion, so could he.

Celestia leaned back on her bench, her business seemingly at a close at the dark blue sister stepped around the desk, halting before both of the colts. Star could feel himself trembling slightly as he craned his neck back to look up into her cold, commanding eyes. How could she inspire such passion in his heart and such respect that bordered on fear?

“I command, thou shalt obey.” Her voice was firm and sharp. A true mistress of the night. “Kiss my hooves.”

Princess Celestia spoke immediately, the hard voice of a ruler, “I command, you shall not. Leave my chambers at once.”

Luna was still looking down at them, waiting as she held her regal pose, her two fore-hooves close to each colt. Celestia was just behind her, still at her desk, that ever commanding presence of the Sun-Goddess.

Star glanced at Light, and his friend to him. There was uncertainty in the tan pegasus' eyes. Both Princesses had issued an order. Well, Star knew what he would do, he just hoped his friend would not regret his loyalty. Star leaned his neck down towards the crystal shod-hoof of his Princess, Lighthoof following suite moments later. They both planted a kiss on each of her fore-hooves. The cold, slick surfaces of the Royal slippers chilled their lips. Then they looked up at her, their Princess. She was gazing down at them, now smiling proudly. Her eyes glimmered in delight.

“Behold, those who bow to my call and place mine command above my sister's. Behold those whom shall rise with my moon and protect those ponies whom love the night. Behold my guardians, my Night-Guard.” Princess Luna reached out to pull both of the ponies into her fore-limbs, hugging them tightly, her neck between the two colt's heads. They responded hesitantly, returning the hug of the blue alicorn. She nuzzled softly at each of their manes then released her grip, leaving them slightly bewildered.

“As per old tradition, thou hath embraced the night. Welcome, my little ponies. My new Night-Guardians.” She was still smiling at them as her horn glowed a soft blue. The shadows on the floor crawled up the surfaces of their armor. The engulfing darkness draining the brilliant gold, leaving a deep purple, trimmed with hints of silver. The faux crest on the helm elongating to a more flowing shape, and tinting more a shade of blue.

“Adorn thy reforged armor. Let us speak of what is to come.”

As soon as they had put their final pieces of armor on, Luna had teleported them without warning. After the brilliant light faded, they found themselves in a room similar to Celestia's study, though the colors were clearly more night themed. With heavy violet drapes over the windows and a black-oak desk that smelled ancient. Silver candelabras upon each forward corner of it's oiled surface. Blue flames danced on the candle-wicks and fireplace crackled in an onyx hearth embedded in the back wall. It's own flames a brilliant blue and white, causing the shadows to dance about in sharp contrast. Star smirked at Lighthoof and patted his friend on the shoulder.

“Purple's more your color. I never thought gold suited you.” Under the magic of the armor, he noted his friend's coat was now a dark-grey, as was his own.

Lighthoof laughed, “Yeah, I suppose that true. Wow, dude. What did we get ourselves into?”

“Apparently the Night-Guard. I wonder if every new recruit has to go through all this?”

Lighthoof was looking about the room, admiring the old tapestries on the wall. Most were scenes of moonlit waters or the moon itself, cresting the horizon. “Guess it'd explain why there's not a lot of them. Ah well, I was more a night-owl anyhoof. Now sure how I'll work this out with Sherry yet, but I'm sure it'll be ok.”

Star glanced down at the floor and sighed, “I...Light.” He walked over and gave his friend a hug, “Thank you for your trust, and for sticking by me. I don't have many friends, but I'm glad you're one of them.”

The other pegasus laughed it off and patted his friend on the back, “It's cool, dude. Just returning the favor from our recruit days.” He grinned, “But guess who gets to explain to Sherry and Peach Blossom how I ended up on night-shift?”

They shared a chuckle just as the room flashed white, and the Princess of the Night appeared behind her desk. Both of the newly appointed Night-Guards bowed respectfully to her.

“Mine apologies for the delay. I had but a few more issues to work out with Tia.” She smiled warmly to both of them. “It pleases me greatly, to have two new dedicated members to my guard. We art few yet, as the order was disbanded after my banishment to the moon.” She used her magic and two glasses filled with a chilled yellow liquid appeared on the ground before the colts. “Please, enjoy a refreshment. I dost hope thou likes mead.”

The friends exchanged glances. Not a drink they'd tried yet, but if the Princess offered, well. Who were they to turn it down? So they toasted the alicorn and drank deep. It was sweet, and slightly burned the throat. After the glasses were finished they grinned at each other.

“A few things thou should be aware of, my dear guards. First, until I pick mine own Captain of the Guard, Shining Armor is still thy commanding officer. Because we art yet so small, I hath dismissed rankings for now. All of thou art equal in authority. This is to promote unity between thee, and to foster a family like group. However, I should hope that in the event of emergencies, one will not taketh offense to one of thy ranks stepping forward to lead.”

Star and Light glanced at each other shrugged before Star smiled to her, “Of course not, Princess Luna.”

“Second, I expect thou knowst that from this day forward, mine word shalt supersede my sister's commands. However, thou will still obey her otherwise. Tia and I hath always had our own guards, with which to protect the different times of the day. She is still thy Princess as well, but thou art officially mine.”

Lighthoof nodded firmly to that. He supported both his Princesses equally. Star however, felt his heart soar at Luna proclaiming him, her's.

“Tonight at dusk, thou will report to the Moon briefing room. I shalt assemble the guard for a meeting with thy new family. Afterward, thou will begin thy first evening shift.” She smiled at them both, “StarStep and Lighthoof. Because of thy...past, in visiting Old Canterlot and familiarity with many of the establishments there, I shalt begin thy night-duties on a patrol route near the bars and night-clubs.”

Star's heart fell. He'd hoped to be at Luna's side from now on. Her personal guard. Still, he supposed this was a hoof-step in the right direction.

The Princess paused, as though expecting him to voice a complain. At his silence she smiled and nodded. “Because we art so few, and only so many of Tia's Sun-Guards can assist us. I must place mine guard where they art most needed. Mine heart soars at so many of my ponies enjoying the night. Before my banishment, twas mostly underground activities and much behind closed doors.” She grinned, “I am so delighted, that ponies now openly embrace the evenings. And so, I must do all that I can to protect those ponies.”

Lighthoof saluted, “I would be honored to assist in that cause, Princess Luna. The whole reason I joined the guards was to protect others.”

A giggle slipped from Luna's lips, “Indeed. Be the guardian angels of the evening. Protect and aid. And remember. Thou will not be on castle grounds during the patrol. I encourage thou to use thy flying to thy advantage. The area thou will be assigned, tis too large for two normal ponies. I expect thou to adapt.”

The two colts nodded firmly, so Luna continued, “Very well, I shalt see thou both at the meeting at dusk. I suggest thou begin altering thy sleep schedule. Be well my dear guardians.” Her horn glowed and Lighthoof vanished.

StarStep blinked and looked up at Luna in confusion, “Um, was I suppose to go too, Princess?”

She smirked and gestured with her hoof to him, “Come here, StarStep.” She patted the end of her large padded bench.

An eyebrow raised, and a tingle in his belly, he trotted around the side of her desk and hopped up where she had indicated. He tilted his head at the taller alicorn, a soft smile playing across his lips. Luna grinned back, her horn glowed as his helm was pulled and set upon her desk. With gentle hooves, she caressed his cheeks.

“Something to think about, my Night-Guardian.” She leaned in, her cool breath washing across his muzzle. He swallowed, his heart pounding in his chest. Then she placed her lips to his, and kissed him sweetly. Oh how the colt wanted to drown in that sensation. A chilling warmth upon his lips, craving so much more. And then she pulled away, her smile full of affection, teal eyes reflecting the blue-flames of the candles, glimmering in delight.

“In holding to thy convictions, thou hath done well. For thou hath walked along a cliff edge this dawn.” She smiled and nuzzled against his nose, “Believe in me, and I shalt believe in thou. Be well, dear StarStep. Do not forget thy vows to me.”

With that, Luna's horn glowed and Star found himself standing in his darkened quarters. With a little whoop of excitement over Luna's show of affection, he danced about as he began the unbuckling of his new armor. Now, he just had to figure out his new sleeping schedule.

Just before dusk, Lighthoof was at Star's door. They chatted a bit as Star finished suiting up. Light banter of expectations of the shift tonight. With both colts geared, armor freshly polished and coats brushed to a gloss, the two friends made their way to the Moon briefing-room. Along the walls of the corridor before it, were wooden posts at two foot intervals, driven into the stone at forty-five degree angles and small engraved silver plaques beneath many. Most of the posts already held the dark purple helms of the Night-guard. At direction from the pony at the door, they found non-marked posts to hang their helms on and wandered into the room.

The Moon room was built like a large college lecture hall. A central dais at the front, with step-like flat platforms staggered upwards. Counters built at the front of each level, to act as writing surfaces for note taking. Built so every pony could see center stage, and center stage could see back.

As he and his friend walked in, Star took a quick count of the ponies already at in attendance. He figured at least forty to fifty ponies, and remarkably, he noted four mares. While not unheard of to have female guards, it was a profession a lot of mares tended to avoid. Another thing that struck him as unusual, was that all of the ponies had congregated towards the center of the seating areas. Clustered into a massive group. Chatting quietly with one another, or taking a light nap until the meeting started. There were no stragglers, or ponies hiding in corners. He was used to that in the Sun-Guard meetings. It was not to say Sun-Guards were not friendly to each other, but these ponies seemed to have a true sense of camaraderie.

“StarStep, Lighthoof. Glad you two are here early.” Shining Armor smiled from the dais at the pegasi pair. “If you could, stand up here with me. We'll start the briefing off with an introduction to your new co-workers. We're just missing a couple more.” The colts nodded, giving gentle wing flaps to lift themselves up to stand off to the side.

Star took the chance to glance over the group of dark-purple clad guards before him. No pony had their helm, so it was an odd mixture of colors in that crowd. Unfortunately, since they all worked with their helms, he didn't recognize anypony. He imagined that would change soon.

At last, three more Night-guards wandered in, helm-less and Shining Armor cleared his throat. “Alright Guards. Everypony accounted for? Anypony we should wait for? Princess Luna is personally going to speak with you all tonight.” There were hushed whispers, and almost everypony wore a smile. Star was starting to feel right at home. Nopony spoke up about absentees so Shining silenced them with a wave of his hoof.

“Let the Night-Guard meeting come to order.” His voice carried through the room, commanding respect and attention. “Presenting her majesty, Princess Luna.” He bowed, and every other pony followed suit.

The click of crystal hooves on the polished floor announced the Moon-Goddess as she strode into the silent room. With regal grace, she stepped up onto the dais, slipping between StarStep and Lighthoof as she faced the other ponies. “Arise my dear Night-Guardians. As the moon doth each evening.” They all rose from their prostrated positions and smiled to their Princess. Star looked around her chest to Light and grinned. Light returned the grin with a smirk before the both tilted their heads to give their full attention to the blue alicorn between them.

“This dusk, thy ranks increase by two. I urge thou to join me in welcoming them into the family.” She unfurled one of her massive wings to drape over Lighthoof. “Please embrace Lighthoof as a brother. As he hath embraced the night with his loyalty and quick wit.”

She unfurled her other wing over StarStep. He shivered at the brushes of her feathers, looking up adoringly as she gazed down at him. A slight smirk upon her lips. “Please embrace StarStep as a brother.” There were hushed whispers at his name and slight gasps. “As he hath embraced the night with his devotion and candor.”

The Princess pulled back her wings and took a step backwards as the guards filed from their spots into lines. One by one, they other Guard-ponies introduced themselves, offering hoof-bumps, hugs, or friendly pats on the shoulder. After each pony greeted them, they would wander back to their spots in the stands. Through it all, Star found it interesting that everypony seemed genuinely pleased to see him and Lighthoof. With a guard group that seemed this exclusive, he'd worried about arrogant ponies. But this felt more like a gathering of ponies who shared a love of something. Mostly Princess Luna, or things pertaining to her evenings. Despite the butterflys in his stomach at being the center of attention, it was comforting to be surrounded by so many like-minded ponies. Lighthoof was eating it up, taking time to playfully banter with a few ponies before the lines moved on.

At last, it ended, with everypony now at their places, and the two colts still between the Princess. She took a few steps forward to regain her position slightly ahead of them. “They will be assigned the night-club area. As pegasi, they will prove most effective at so large a patrol.” She faced a pair of unicorns, one colt and one filly. “Nova and Blur. Wouldst thou enjoy Moon-Pool duty for a while? I knowth the club detail hath been hard upon thee.”

Both unicorns nodded at once, “Yes, Princess.” The filly spoke up, “We'd be honored to protect your pool.”

Luna nodded her head at their acceptance, “Indeed. Enjoy thy time of relaxation.” She used her wings to scoot StarStep forward to the edge of the dais. “Now, before the next order of business. I believe StarStep should address the rumors thou all speakth of in whispers.”

Many of the ponies blushed slightly or looked away embarrassed they'd been caught. Star glanced at Luna in confusion. “Ah, what rumors, Princess?”

She smiled down at him, “The griffon incident.”

“OH, uh, yeah. Alright.” He ruffled his mane and cleared his throat. “I guess I'll just give the facts then. Yes, I clobbered a griffon at Princess Luna's gathering a week back. Yes, he went down with a single shot.” There were whispers again. “He was saying horrible things I refuse to repeat. Things that I'm sure would have boiled the blood of many here. However. Despite how much he deserved it. He was only using words, and I acted as though he was a threat to our Princess. I also made the mistake of thinking the Princess could not handle such a fool on her own.” He turned and bowed his head to Luna, “I am sorry, my Princess.”

She smiled down at him and gently rested a crystal-shod fore-hoof on his mane, “Thy apology is of course accepted. Allow thy failure to act as a lesson to others, and grow stronger for it.” She removed her hoof, and he raised his head to smile at her. “Let this be a lesson for all of thou. My dear Night-Guardians. Let thy tongues speak truth, thy hearts pulse with passion, and thy minds temper and guide.”

Then Star blinked, a frown on confusion upon his muzzle as something was prickling under his wing. At a slight unfurling, a fresh Night-Lily tumbled to the ground beside him. He glanced at, then to Luna. She was looking back at him, amusement in her eyes. A gentle smile upon her lips. Was the flower a prank or was she hinting at something more? She seemed to be waiting for him to speak. Perhaps her words were more for him than the other guards. He supposed it couldn't hurt to try.

So, taking a deep breath, he swept the Night-lily up into the fold of his wing and smiled to the Moon-Goddess. “Princess Luna. I would like to offer this flower as a token of courtship.”

The silence was deafening. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see many of the other Night-Guards. Mouths hanging open, eyes bulging. No pony moved. Even Shining Armor seemed shocked from his forgotten spot off to the side. Everypony had their eyes locked on StarStep and the Princess. It was one thing to suggest such in private, it was another to ask to court a Princess in public. Princess Cadance was the first Princess in a thousand years to accept it. Celestia had turned down hundreds in her sister's absence.

Yet, despite how his heart pounded, and the expression of the Night-Guards, as though they were expecting a train-wreck. He kept his focus on his Princess. Her beautiful eyes, and playful lips, turned up in amusement.

Slowly, the Princess leaned down, tilting ever so to the side to present one side of her head. Star ignored the collective gasps as he pulled the Night-Lily from his wing with his mouth and tucked it above her ear into her star-filled mane. She lifted her head, eyes shimmering, a broader smile now on her regal muzzle.

“StarStep, I accept thy token and offer a token of my own. Will thou accept?” Star's agreed, his mouth felt dry for some reason. He watched in surprise as a single blue feather from her wings slid free in her magic. From her other wing, a silver linked chain floated out. She bound the quill of the feather to a catch on the chain and floated it down over Star's head. The dark blue feather rested lightly against his chest-plate. He blinked at it, thinking that his gift paled in comparison. But as he looked up into her eyes, those thoughts vanished. There was the slightest hint of sadness in her eyes, but overwhelmed by her joy and affection.

Luna spread out her wing to pull him close to her side. “Let it be known before witnesses, that we hath exchanged gifts of courtship.” She looked over at the crowd, “Should there be any who dost desire to challenge this colt for this right, speakth thy thoughts.” She waited, nopony so much as moved, “So it is, so it shalt be. Let it be known that no favoritism shalt be shown to him in regards to his duties.” She looked out in the crowd again, her gaze challenging, “Speakth not ill of thy brother for this. Instead, embrace him as one who seeks the heart of the moon. Thou art dismissed to thy duties.”

At that, the crowd stirred. Some seemed in shock, whispering in small clusters, little looks over at Star confirmed his fear they were talking about him. But deep down, he didn't care. He nuzzled softly into Luna's coat. She glanced at him with a raised eyebrow. “Forgive me, Star. Tis...difficult for me to become used to shows of affection in public. Twas terribly frowned upon in past ages.”

Star nodded. Retreating his nose from her coat for now. He wanted to dance around with her, playful as a foal. Excitement filling his veins. But he willed his body to remain calm, and professional amongst so many new co-workers.

As the guard filed from the room, some stopped to offer their congratulations and well wishes. A few seemed disheartened. Upon Star's voicing concern at this, Luna reassured him it would be fine. Almost every pony here only saw her for as a Princess, a goddess.

At last, the room was empty besides Star, Light, Shining and Luna. She gave him a gentle nuzzle and wandered from the room. A slight bounce in her otherwise, regal gait. Star's eyes never left her till the alicorn vanished into the hallway. Then he turned to his friend with a grin. “Well...can't say I saw that one coming.”

Light laughed and patted him on the shoulder, “Yeah, dude. Crazy stuff. Though uh...yeah, might wanna talk to her about that school-mare thing later.”

Star grimaced and nodded as their commander stepped up to them. “StarStep, I want to congratulate you on your courtship. It's not easy getting a Princess to notice your love.” He smiled, “Remind me to tell you about what it took to get Cadance's attention.” He sighed, “I still think the griffon party was a horrible mistake and I won't apologize for voicing against the decision.”

Star nodded to Shining Armor, “I wouldn't ask it, Captain. You were right. I'm impulsive, and I let me feelings blind me over duty. For making the guard look bad, I apologize to you as well.”

The white unicorn nodded back, “It seems you've learned a lot in your time away. I only hope such an incident doesn't happen again. Or it may be your last as a Guard, and probably an end to your courting the Princess.”

Star frowned, “I understand, sir.”

“With that said, gentlecolts, here's the maps for your patrol area. There's no set path as a Night-Guard. Go where and when you feel is best. It's a lot of city to cover. Be smart. And remember, you can always call for help from the watch-towers on the walls. The Princess set you with one of the hardest sectors, you'll see why tonight. Good luck, Guardians.” He pulled a pair of small linen maps from the podium and floated it to the colts.

StarStep and Lighthoof saluted Shining Armor sharply before he returned the gesture. Then they trotted out of the room to retrieve their helms. Old Canterlot awaited the two new Night-Guards.