Princess Luna sat alone in her private chambers and on her desk laid Marshalls longsword. The blade had been severely damaged beyond repair during his last battle with notches and cracks decorating every inch leaving the hilt as the only salvageable piece.

"This will not do." The princess said to herself as she tried to think of a way to replace the blade when out of the corner of her eye came the gleam of her own sword; Fantasia.

The sword was crafted by her finest smiths using a special ore called Star Metal. The ore had made the sword glow in a mystic light, as if it had been forged from the stars themselves. On the pommel rested a giant sapphire attatched to a hilt of gold and shining silver while at the base of the blade was a crescent moon. It was after staring at her own sword that Luna came up with a brilliant idea.

"Call the master smith at once!"

"Yes your highness."

As requested, the master smith was summoned to the princesses private chambers where he was presented the sword.

"Well I'm not gonna lie to ya princess. This blade has seen its last days." The smith said after examining the swords condition.

"Can the hilt be saved?" The princess asked while he took a second look at the hilt.

"Mmm...I suppose."

"Good. I have request for you."

At that moment, a guard stepped forward carrying a small chest filled with star metal. Needless to say, the master smith was astounded to be given such a gift since star metal was very rare to come by and very expensive to purchase.

"I wish to commission your skills. I want you to forge a new blade for this sword, the finest you can make and I promise you will be paid in full."

"....The blade will be ready in a months time!"

"Excellent. You may get started."

With a quick bow of his head, the master smith took the star metal and damaged sword and rushed back to his workshop to begin forging a new blade while Luna had gone off to visit Marshall in the hospital wing.

Hospital Wing

Marshall was laying in bed, gazing out his window to watch the recruits train. Even from a distance he could see the many mistakes they were making but thanks to his injuries he could do nothing except watch. It was at that moment, the warden heard three knocks on his door followed by the familiar voice of the princess.

"Hello?"

"Come in."

Luna walked into the room quietly to see him still staring out his window, wrapped in bandages and covered in scars from countless battles with the newest addition being the three marks on his chest.

"Princess."

Marshall was slightly surprised to see the princess herself paying a visit as he tried to stand but the sting of his wounds quickly reminded him to not get out of bed while Luna helped him to lay back down.

"Please, there's no need to stand." She giggled slightly.

"I came to see how you were doing."

"I've been better. This isn't the first time I've been in this position." Marshall said to himself with a slight chuckle as he began to share some war stories.

"I was once hired by a rivertown that was being plagued by bandits. During the battle, pikeman managed to stick me in the side just before I cut him down and as I laid there bleeding, I wondered if this was going to be my last day on this earth." Marshalls hand moved to a scar just below his rib cage where the spear had left its mark while he smiled like an old man remembering his youth.

"How did you survive?" Luna inquired before he continued.

"The townsfolk took me in and healed me, they put a roof over my head."

"They must've been greatful." She added with Marshall nodding in agreement.

"They were. I thought I might have found a home in that place....but chose to leave anyway." The wardens smile slowly faded away as he poured himself another cup of water.

Luna looked at the numerous scars on his body and could not help but feel sad for him.

"Perhaps, when this war is over you can come to Canterlot. The royal guard could use a knight like you." She suggested as his smile returned.

"Hm...I'd like that."

Over the course of his recovery, Marshall recieved visits from the princess after her daily routine and they would often spend the day getting to know one another.

Meanwhile

The master smith had worked diligantly over the course of the month as he shaped the sword with each strike of his hammer. He would barely stop to eat, sleep or rest as he pumped the furnaces day and night to keep the metal hot before having it tempered, cooled and sharpened to perfection.

"There." The smith whispered with delight as he gazed upon his creation.

The width of the blade was slightly larger than a normal longsword and gave off a sinister emerald glow even when kept out of the sunlight. The hilt had also been painted black, as a final touch to the smiths creation before having it placed in a new sheath.

"Tell the princess that my work is finished." He told one of his workers after dousing himself with a bucket of cold water.

The moment the princess heard the blade was finished, she called for Marshall who had finally recovered from his wounds. She would personally hand him his new sword as a gift.

"Sir Marshall. I present you, your new sword." The princess said aloud as she handed it over.

The moment the knight unsheathed his blade, he was in awe of its craftsmanship.

"If I may sir, I've given the sword a name." Said the smith feeling a bit bashful.

"What is it?" The warden asked while getting a feel for the sword.

"I call it Nightfall, sir. The steel of that sword will be sharp enough to cut stone like paper." The smith bragged before Marshall strapped the sword to his waist and bowed his head in gratitude.

"You have done well master smith." Said Princess Luna who handed the smith a hefty bag of gold.

"I hope to acquire your services again in the future."

"Of course your majesty." The smith replied before returning to his workshop.

"And as for you Sir Marshall." She addressed the warden in a more regal tone.

"I have requested for Shining Armor to transfer you over to my unit. My men have need of a soldier with your skill."

Marshall stood there completely stunned by this sudden news as one of the night guards presented him with a black tabard baring a crescent moon.

"Do you accept?" Luna asked him.

For a while, Marshall stood as stiff as a statue. He was offered a chance to serve at the princesses side, to be her champion and such offers were considered to be the highest honor of any knight. When his eyes finally turned to Luna he sensed a hint of desperation, almost as if she was begging for him to be by her side and so without thinking he stood firm and placed his hand over his heart to give his answer.

"It would be my honor, your highness."

End.