Luna’s Story 4: Traitor Among Us
Part 3: Nightmare Night

Princess Luna was all smiles as the crowd of grey armored stallions pressed in around her like children, rearing and whinnying happily. She chuckled, handing out blessings when she could and embracing those brave enough to take her hugs. They’d all been out on duty for several months now, and to see all of them together again was a sight to behold. Aegis Shield was shaking hooves, exchanging banter and gossip while the festival pressed on.

Nightmare Night was a big deal in Ponyville, for their tiny village was always graced with the presence of royalty. Ever since the first Nightmare Night that Princess Luna had returned, she’d always insisted on spending the night there. Not in Canterlot, nor Los Pegasus, or anywhere else with their fancier parties and streams. No, Ponyville was where her heart lay.

Games, sweets, and prizes were being passed out by ponies with fat saddle bags, and the stage was almost ready for Luna’s yearly speech. She’d teased several ponies with the promise of prizes for best costumes. “So then, we bucked him in the face!” One stallion had already had a few too many ciders, regaling Luna with the tale of a bar fight he and his fellows had broken up. The Princess chuckled good-naturedly. Truth be told there hadn’t been much ‘action’ comparable to the Battle for Canterlot a decade ago, but they were all eager to tell her of their exploits. Small-time thieves, bar fights, escorting frightened mares home in the dead of night-- A few of them had actually found love, much to the delight of their comrades. After all, they reasoned, there was no greater catch in all the world’s stallions than a Lunar Stallion. Luna agreed, poking fun at Aegis Shield, who blushed.

Excusing herself after a time, Luna made to mount the stage and head to the podium. Even after a decade she was not very good at speaking to attentive crowds, but she tried her best. At least her language lessons had brought her into the proper century, and she sounded more normal and approachable to everypony. The music from the band died down and everypony began to gather ‘round, happy to see the Princess in such good spirits on Nightmare Night. “CITIZENS OF PONYVILLE!” she concussed the night with the Royal Canterlot Voice, much to their delight. There was laughter and applause, and she made a show of bashfully lowering her voice. “Welcome to the tenth annual royal Nightmare Night festival!” she smiled and blimped her wings open, sending phantom bats in all directions. More applause and hoof stomping. “I have surveyed the crowds and have made my decisions for best costumes.” She gestured, and a pair of Lunar Stallions came forward with a quartet of golden trophies with crescent moon symbols on them. The crowd ooooh’d appreciatively, chattering for a bit while they admired the shine and sparkle of the trophies. “There shall be one for each gender, one for foals and one for adults!” she gestured to all four. The crowd went nuts. Last year they had only had trophies for the creative foals that had made their costumes themselves.

Aegis Shield smiled from his place in the crowd, making sure that the Lunar Stallions were grouped up and acting accordingly. They could party, sure, but they were still pillars of the community. They couldn’t get too wild. The Captain scolded himself a little when he finally remembered Stalwart Hide. He was still back in Canterlot with Twilight Sparkle, being studied. How could he forget? Smiling guiltily he called to a reveler for a bag of assorted candy to take home to his comrade. She obliged and pecked his cheek, wishing him a happy Nightmare Night. Aegis stuffed the little bag into his breastplate, promising to give it to his friend when he returned to Canterlot. He looked up, having not been paying attention.

Princess Luna was presenting a little earth pony filly with a trophy. She had glued gobs and gobs of cotton to her legs, and made little paper wings. When asked what her costume was, she flopped down on her cushion and curled up like she was asleep. ‘Pegasus asleep on a cloud’, she told them. The crowd ‘awwwww-ed’ loudly, she really was precious. Luna blessed the foal with a tap of her horn, presenting her with her trophy. She skipped off the stage, laughing merrily. The colt trophy went to a little foal who’d decided to be a space pony. He’d shoved a fishbowl onto his head, had vacuum cleaner parts all over himself for his astronaut suite, and had ever perfected a slow-motion walk to make it look like he was in lesser gravity. The crowd adored this and clapped voraciously. One of the adult ponies that won a trophy was none other than Zecora the zebra, who had rolled herself in flour. When asked what she was, they found out she was pretending to be a white earth pony. The crowd laughed and applauded, making her bow and chuckle with them. The stallion that won the male adult trophy had dressed up like death, weaving a complex spell around himself to make most of his body look like just a skeleton. Such magic!

When all the prizes had been handed out and the band was getting back into place to start the next dance, Princess Luna held up a solemn hoof. “I do have another announcement to make, and this seems to be the best place to make such an announcement.” The crowd quieted, looking up at her with adoration. “Tomorrow is the memorial day for the Battle for Canterlot, ten years ago.” She said. The Lunar Stallions exchanged wary glances with each other. It was always odd, having Nightmare Night be so joyful and then remembering their fallen brothers the next night during their remembrance day. “I shalt be leading the ceremonies for those that wish to attend in the Royal Gardens, for those who wish to come. All from Ponyville have my royal seal of approval to attend, and the guards shall not impede you at the gate.” There was a ripple of appreciation from those gathered, and a few made a quiet promise to try to come. Canterlot was some distance away via train, but not unattainable.

=-----=-----=-----=

Stalwart Hide stood trembling in his armor in front of a crowd of dozens. Princess Luna sat on a massive black throne. Between himself and Aegis Shield was a powder blue mare with a silvery mane, chained up and bound. “Axepony, is your axe sharp?” Luna said, referring to a ceremonial script she hadn’t read in ages. The words had to be said, there was nothing she could do about it. Stalwart died a little inside. So cold, so heartless for such a terrible event about to take place. Did she not care at all?

“Yes, your majesty.” said the earth pony from under his black hood.

“How many swings will it take?” the princess asked, still on the script.

“Only one, merciful and quick.” He responded, also with words chosen for him. He hefted the great weapon up, turning it until it shone in the lamplight. Trixie whimpered, shaking. She glanced over at Stalwart Hide, begging him mercy with her gaze.

Luna looked over at the crowd, then up at her sister on the balcony, licking her lips. She hadn’t done this in over a thousand years, and even Celestia not in the past hundred. Stalwart Hide slowly escorted Trixie to the executioner’s block and helped her to her knees. He didn’t want to. He wanted to sweep her up and gallop away. It wasn’t all her fault. Her armor, her ancestors, had poisoned her into a monstrous weapon! Did Luna take no responsibility for her own legacy?! They removed the manticals and chains from her body, stepping slowly back. Stalwart Hide looked felt to faint, shaking even under all his heavy armor. Princess, he begged silently, don’t do this! There’s another way! She could be rehabilitated! The Princess of the Night took a deep breath. “Axepony, are you ready?” she said ceremonially. Stalwart Hide locked eyes with Trixie, who whimpered at him pathetically. Her eyes were large and soft, begging him to save her. To somehow get her out of this horror. After checking his axe’s edge one more time, the hooded earth pony nodded.
The axepony was not cruel when he said, “Any last words? They’ll be taken into record.” Stalwart Hide saw only the slight movement of the hood’s muzzle, and the coil of large muscles when he steadied himself for the swing.

Trixie cast her eyes to the crowd, to her princess. This had all gone wrong, so horribly wrong. She turned her head to look back at Stalwart Hide, then the other lunar stallions. She looked up at Luna again, who was looking down at her with sorrow in her eyes. Leaning down at last and shaking like a leaf, she had to try several times to draw enough breath to speak. She lowered her head to the block and stretched out her neck. “V… Vivas… Noctus.” She whispered, crying softly.

The axe fell. Stalwart Hide cried out like a wounded dog as the severed head flopped wetly onto the ground like a bursting watermelon. He vomited violently and Aegis Shield rushed to his side to steady him. Stalwart flared his wings, shoving Aegis away as he was wracked with sobs. The Princess looked down at him with pity on her face. Blood and gore rushed up around his hooves as the rest of the scene vanished around him. The head of the Moon Champion settled as the body fell to one side, the fantastic spray of gore getting all over his front. He looked at his hooves in mortal terror, his eyes shrinking into pinpricks. “Oh Gods!” he cried, burying his face in his hooves as the red goo dribbled down his body and all around. “Oh GODS!”

“Stalwart.” A feminine voice made him flinch. He dared to peek between his hooves. “Stalwart.” said the head of the Moon Champion. How was she still speaking?! He felt icy hot terror crawl up his spine as he gaped in horror. “Why?” She mewled. “Why didn’t you save me?” she whispered, blood flooding wildly out of her mouth as her eyes drifted in different directions. Stalwart screamed, holding his head in his hooves.

Stalwart Hide jerked awake with a heart-wrenching shout of agony. Drenched with sweat and palpable fear, he clutched at himself and panted. Turning suddenly, he wretched into his wastepaper basket. Moaning incoherently, he lay limp and half out of his bed for a few miserable moments. Suddenly sensing movement in his room, he jolted when he felt a device attached to his head. It looked like a straining bowl, covered with wires and blinking lights. “Muhh…?” he managed, pawing at it.

“That must’ve been some dream you had, tossing and turning like that. That’s delicate, be careful!” Twilight Sparkle said from his bedside, startling the poor stallion.

Stalwart’s brain took a few moments to register past his night terror, see through his cold sweat and understand the mare in front of him. “Miss Sparkle! I’m naked!” he told her, pulling his blankets up. She stared at him blankly, her eyes flicking up and down him. Of course he was. Stalwart Hide meant he wasn’t wearing his armor, and was pretty uncomfortable with Twilight Sparkle getting a good look at his normal form. Why? Well, with her overwhelming personality and thirst for knowledge, she came across as pretty intimidating. “What’re you doing in my room?!” he demanded with a sleep-deprived scowl.

“I’m measuring your brain activity so I can compare it to your Lunar Stallion form.” Twilight gestured to the machine that was steadily spitting out a stream of paper with wiggly lines on it. She picked up part of it to show him, but he couldn’t make any sense of it.

Stalwart Hide wiped his brow, kicking off his sheets with a grumpy murmur. “I think that’s enough of that.” He groaned and turned over sorely, clutching his medallion. Twilight stepped back instinctively when he flared his wings and raised his voice. “In the dark we tear and rend, to end all evils with spines to bend. Lust and power, hunger and might, by Luna’s will and dark of night!” his medallion burst with wild magic that blinded all of the Twilight’s internal radars. She recoiled with a yelp as his fur stained grey, his eyes flashed to gold, and his feathers imploded like fire crackers. Bat-like wings extended and his teeth sharpened while armor clacked into place all over his body. Lunar Stallion! He stepped off the bed, stretching sorely and doing his best to forget his nightmare, which, he noticed, Twilight had not even bothered to ask him about. How callous was she? Could she not see him tossing and turning in his fretful sleep?

Twilight found herself splayed out on her back, her pointed hat pressed over her face. Bicycling her hooves for a moment, she righted her hat and looked up at him. “Wow! Password-oriented, permanent enchantment matrixes!” she was on her hooves again, squinting at the eye on his breast very slowly. “I’ve never seen such a tightly-woven spell!” she stared at it, looking at the medallion on several plains of existence. Material, ethereal, magical, mythical, elevated, and even outer. Every single shade of existence that the she could see, the medallion showed up like a brightly glowing star. “Fascinating…” she mumbled, wide-eyed. Her vision flicked back up to his scowling face then her drifted up to his sharp, dorsal-finned helm. “My scanner!” she yelped, seeing the pieces all over the floor. “You wrecked my scanner!”

“You snuck into my room and put something weird on my head!” Stalwart Hide shouted back grouchily.

“I had permission!” she defended.

“Not MY permission!” he leaned into her face, snarling with all his pointed teeth.

She recoiled at the sight of all the predatory teeth, leaning back and lifting a hoof like she might need to bolt at any moment. Then she quickly regained herself. “I needed the data to help the Princess!” the scholar corrected her hat, bell jingling dangerously as a bell could… jingle. “If I put it on your head and told you to go to sleep you wouldn’t have been able to!” she shouted.

“I’m not your science project!” roared the Lunar Stallion, flushing angrily.

“The Princess gave you to me to study to help that poor pony locked in the dungeon!” Their noses pressed heatedly together, until they were both red in the face from all the pressure. “I have to gather as much as I can about Lunar Stallions for my textbook!” They both sobered up a little at the mention of their original goal.

“Then at least ask before you stick something weird onto my body.” he told her impatiently while they slowly came down from their shouting. “You even came into my bedroom without asking. How’d you like it if I snuck into your room and did something to you?” The implication of the sentence hit him as soon as he’d said it. Both of them flushed, looking to one side. They knew he hadn’t meant it that way.

“W-well, I wouldn’t. I’m sorry.” Twilight Sparkle said, hiding under the brim of her pointed hat for a few moments. “I’ll ask from now on.” She turned and clicked off her machine. Gathering up the bits and pieces of the shattered helmet-thing she’d put on his head, she stuffed them into her saddlebags and hauled the whirring machine away as well. He followed her out into the great room where her cloak was spread out over the couch. It was wrinkled in such a way that he knew she’d at least cat napped on the sofa the night before.

“You know, I don’t think Aegis Shield would mind if you took his bed. He doesn’t sleep in the barracks anymore, after all. It’s better than a couch.” Stalwart Hide offered trying to make peace after the argument. “I can’t speak for the other stallions, though.” He smiled a little awkwardly, but suddenly there was a great break in the silence. A whole gaggle of Lunar Stallions came down the stairs and into the great room, talking animatedly. Filtering out to their own activities, a few of them stopped to greet their Captain as the mage slipped out behind them. He soon forgot his nightmare.

=-=-=-=
Later…
=-=-=-=

Princess Luna arrived at the Lunar Stallion Academy doors, smiling for the thousandth time at the grand building. Turning, she went into the Lunar Academy and down into the dungeons. She found the three guards ponies there, playing cards around a small table. They jumped up when she cleared her throat, bowing low. “Falling Storm, report.” She asked the pegasus on the right. Glancing over into the vault she saw the new Lunar Stallion hadn’t moved much, but there was a cold puddle of vomit in one of the cage’s corners.

“Your Majesty.” Falling Storm saluted before speaking. “Our little brother has--”

“Pipsqueak.” The Princess interrupted. “His name is Pipsqueak.”

“Er, Pipsqueak woke only briefly in confusion.” Falling Storm said. “Like any other Lunar Stallion he didn’t remember what happened during his frenzy. We told him.” He winced when she narrowed her eyes at him angrily. “He cried, threw up, then passed out.” Falling said, scuffing a hoof warily on the ground.

“You are lucky I’m in no mood to stomp on your wings, Falling Storm.” Luna said dangerously, “Such a thing needs to be done delicately, and you lot are as gentle as a baton to the face, doing that.” She walked roughly past him and to the bars installed on the vault. She peered in at the limp stallion, and lit her horn with magic. She turned his body over and laid it on the nest of straw. He stank of blood, tears, and vomit. His fur was matted from sweat and he looked like garbage. “Wake up, Pip.” She said, a bit of power behind her voice.

The stallion gave a start, bicycling his hooves. “Whuh?!” he said, flailing about and sitting up. Straw stuck to his fur and he looked around blearily. Then he saw the alicorn standing on the other side of the bars. He rushed to her, his breastplate CLANGING against the moonsteel as he clutched at the bars. “Princess Luna!” he said, pressing his muzzle as close to her as he could. “Thank goodness you’re here!”

“Pip.” Luna saw he was himself again, smiling and favoring him with a peck on the nose. He flushed and jittered a little, the feeling of relief flooding over his face. He didn’t sense the magic that flowed over his body, soothing him. Alicorn magic was sneaky like that. “Back to your senses, I see.”

“I don’t know what happened, Princess! One minute I was sitting in my parent’s living room, the next minute I was in here and they were telling me I murdered them both! And my fur is all grey! And I’m wearing this heavy armor!” he shifted back and forth. Luna could see the foal she’d met over a decade ago in his face, still as enthusiastic and energetic as ever. She smiled gently, petting his mane with a comforting hoof.

“Shhh-shhh, you will be alright soon enough. We’re going to help you, and get that armor off of you for starters.” Igniting her horn, Luna motioned for him to step back. He did, and she magicked the barred door open. The three guards bristled nervously, but she calmed them with a look. Not even a frenzied Lunar Stallion could topple an alicorn, they knew. The grey stallion slowly emerged from the cell, ears turned down, looking dirty and pitiful. Pip looked at his Princess at her eye-level, a feat in and of itself. He’d grown! She opened her mouth to comment on it, but no, this was not the time for foalish things. The Princess looked him over for a moment. The armor was the same, the symptoms of transformation the same, he was just like all the others. “We shall get you out of this armor, bathe you, feed you, and let you rest. You are not a prisoner here, Pip.” She told him kindly. He gave her a small smile, looking comforted as he cast his eyes bashfully to the floor. It felt weird, being so close to the Princess again.

“Let’s see then.” Falling Storm came up and pawed at Pip’s breastplate a few times. “All you have to do is tap the eye, see?” he reached up to teach the new Lunar Stallion how it was done. As he pressed onto the symbol, the armor crackled and began to retreat. Pip jittered nervously back and forth while the great weight on his body began to fold up and compact itself. The armor withdrew itself into a series of metallic ribs, then rolled themselves into a silvery spine. The helmet melted soundlessly away over his chest and soon Pip’s colors returned as a medallion made itself known as a weight on his chest. The Princess and the stallions gathered peered at him. He was a white and brown pinto, though a very filthy one. “Come on, little brother.” Falling Storm smiled, extending a wing over Pip’s hunched shoulders. “Let’s get you cleaned up.” His voice was deep but comforting.

Princess Luna waited in the great room, infinitely patient, while Pip bathed, groomed, and was trimmed up by his brothers. They saw to his fetlocks, his hooves, and tangled mane. Lunar Stallions didn’t exactly play dress-up with each other, but it was a big part of military life to always look trim and excellent, so they knew what they were doing. Pip sat quietly, letting his three big brothers fuss over him for over an hour. Sure, they’d let him bathe alone, but beyond that they were the ones molding his look. When he finally emerged, fresh as a daisy sandwich, the Princess nodded approvingly.

Pip was a handsome thing, white with light brown splotches all over his body. As a young stallion he was already growing out into the barrel-chest of an adult pony that was in good shape. His tail had been trimmed short, as was tradition for military, and his brown mane had been brushed to a nice sheen. He looked very good!

Princess Luna sat at the head of the long table, smiling broadly. He cleaned up very well, much to her approval. Spread out in front of her was a rather large meal, and Pip was shown to a chair. “Leave us.” Luna bade the other three gently.

Pip sat next to the Princess at the great long table. Where the other Lunar Stallions were, there was no telling. Probably all off doing important things. “Princess,” Pip was straight to the point, though in a small voice. “Is… is it true? Did the armor make me crazy? Did I… did I murder my mom and dad?” he looked up at her with such soft-eyed innocence that the dark alicorn swept around the table to embrace him with her wings and arms.

“Yes.” She whispered softly as he buried his muzzle in her chest to weep anew. She stroked his back and mane over and over. He sat on his haunches with his fore-hooves around her middle and she in a chair. “It is true. Thou art not the first to do such terrible things during the frenzy.” Luna sighed quietly, nuzzling the top of his head and scalp. “Shhhh-sh-sh-shhhh…” she shushed him like a mother to her fretting foal. “There is nothing you could have done differently, Pip. You were not in control of yourself. The magic seized you, and ran wild while the armor measured your abilities.” He sniffled a little in her wing-hug, tears streaming quietly down his cheeks. He couldn’t even look at her. Just lay pressed up against her and tremble quietly. “You are the product of a long, proud line of stallions… a thousand years, in fact, waiting for this day.” She smiled, pulling his face into her view so he would look at her.

“Th-this day?” Pip whimpered, snot dribbling out of his muzzle.

“You are a Lunar Stallion by blood.” Luna smiled at him encouragingly. “Descended from a family so old that none remember it all… waiting for my return.” She said the last bit a little coyly, but it was true. Turning her head, she gestured around her. “All this? All the stallions you’ve met and seen here? They’re like you. Destined for greatness, to walk with me.”

“W-walk with you?” Pip echoed softly, looking up at her. He’d always worshipped Luna like the goddess she was, especially around Nightmare Night and on the nights a full moon could be seen. Lunites were not uncommon, since the Princess of the Night’s return.

“I know you will want time to mourn, Pip.” Luna whispered, cupping his cheek so she could hold his eyes with hers. “But do think about it. You have a home here, by birthright, to be among the most elite warriors in Equestria.” She thought she saw a glimmer of hope in his eyes as she spoke, and Luna smiled quietly.

=-----=-----=-----=

Twilight Sparkle coughed a little, straightened her hat, smoothed her cape and knocked on the door. “Enter.” It was Celestia’s neutral tone. The purple mare stuck her head in to find the white alicorn on her bed reading. “Ah! Twilight! What a wonderful surprise!” The white mare rose with a genuine smile, closing her book. Feeling nine again, the unicorn rushed up to her and happily extended her neck. Celestia nuzzled her like a mother. “My my! You still look so beautiful in your mage’s regalia!” she praised, making Twilight blush.

“Thank you Princess, it’s so good to see you!” Twilight crooned a little when Celestia nuzzled her. It was like being near a favorite aunt, a mother, or some other beautiful feminine figure that meant the world to any filly. She felt at ease, and soon bowed. “I’m here in Canterlot to study the Lunar Stallions for Princess Luna!”

“Oh really? Luna is usually so secretive about them.” Celestia said mysteriously, favoring her student with an amused smile. Turning, out of habit, she took the mage’s hat and began to brush her mane. Twilight keened just a little at the intimate attention. “What have you found out so far?”

“The one Luna gave me to study is a jerk.” Twilight said with a foal-like scowl. Celestia’s lips rose a little higher. “He’s defensive and grouchy, and his room is strictly functional… it’s hard to get a reading on him!”

“Maybe he doesn’t want to be read?” Celestia said gently, tucking one of Twilight’s ears down so she could brush behind it. “Be patient, my student. Nopony will just give you their thoughts and secrets like the pages of a tome.” She said.

Twilight huffed a little, but nodded. “You’re right. I need to stop treating him so poorly. I just… wanted to get as much information as I could as quickly as I could.” She trailed off for a moment. “I think I’ve offended him.”

“Perhaps an apology to start?” Celestia said serenely, running the brush oh-so-gently through Twilight’s mane. “Perhaps if you became his friend it would be easier on both of you.”

“You’re right, Princess.” Twilight said, her face lighting up. The days of the friendship reports had ended years ago, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t apply what she’d learned to Stalwart Hide! “You always know just what to do!”

“It comes with being centuries old, my most faithful student.” Celestia chuckled softly, setting the brush aside as Twilight rose. “Things tend to move in patterns.”

“I should go find him right now and apologize!” Twilight Sparkle decided, levitating her pointed hat atop her head. Celestia eyed the jingling bell, flicking her gaze over a few different plains of existence. Interesting… “I’ll visit again real soon, Princess!” The purple mare turned and bowed to her Princess. “I’m going to be here for awhile, I think.” She said.

“Good luck, Twilight.” Celestia nodded, smiling.

=-----=-----=-----=

“Aww-hhhhhh-yessss…” Glitter Star slowly splayed herself out on the massive bed, satiated in every sense of the word. The carpeted floor was littered with empty food containers, her bits purse, some accessories, and a pair of Lunar Stallion medallions. Moaning in a low, sultry way, she licked her lips a little and looked next to herself. A flushed, frizzy-maned Panzer Hoof lay next to her, winded from their vicious lovemaking. Well, more like sexual Olympics. Or, rather… celebratory ‘caught your first major bad guy aren’t you awesome’ sexing night. Or… yeah, there was no polite way to put it. Glitter had helped catch a major villain on her first night as a Lunar Stallion a few nights ago, and they’d gotten together to stuff their faces, giggle, kiss, and enjoy some private time together to celebrate.

Panzer smirked, leaning and kissing her while they both tried to catch their breath. When he saw her shiver, he sidled over until they were pressed together. She turned, burying her face in his massive barrel chest with a loud purring sound. He had the good nature to blush when one of her hooves wandered where it pleased while they rested. “That was…” he couldn’t find good wording for it, and smiled shyly. Though he was the immovable object, the indestructible pony who could not be stopped—he was actually quite shy in bed. Glitter had coaxed him there after several years of dating, and even now he was still such a gentlecolt when the act itself was over. He always wanted cuddles, would lavish her with gentle kisses and let her rest in his massive, hot embrace. Those muscles and iron-like body were much warmer than they looked. He’d once told her that his body temperature was much higher than a normal pony’s, because of his special talent.

There was a long silence while they lay there staring contentedly at each other. Then a broad grin raced across her face. “We should do it in our Lunar Armor.” Glitter giggled loudly. “Just to see what it’s like!”

“I would break you in half.” Panzer snorted, rolling his eyes. She laughed aloud and shoved his shoulder. “I would!” he said, red-faced. “Earth ponies get much, much stronger in our Lunar forms!”

“Hyeh-heh-heh-heh!” Glitter embraced him, trailing one of her legs invitingly over his groin. He murred despite himself, hunching and blushing a little. “Break you in half. I bet you say that to all the mares you rut the brains out of! Big oaf!” she teased, kissing his cheek. Panzer snickered a bit, putting her in a playful headlock and scrubbing her mane with his hoof. She squawked, wiggling furiously until he let her go. There was no mitigating his massive strength, even in his normal form. Glitter Star soon settled down, lying on her side to regard her lover. “…I love you.” She whispered meaningfully, “You know that right?” She was touching her muzzle to his. His expression softened, and they embraced quietly. Kissing her, he pulled the sheets up so that they might make love once more before sleep.

=-----=-----=-----=-----=

It was an animated night at the Pig and Whistle tavern. The Lunar Stallions had rented the place out so they could all get enough to eat and not have to worry about any other patrons at the establishment. They did eat a lot, after all, so going OUT to eat as a group busied an entire establishment for the duration of the evening, even if there were only twenty-four of them. Stalwart Hide and Aegis Shield, the two captains, sat at the bar while their soldiers partied and unwound for the evening. Aegis snickered a little, lifting his cider mug again. “What about you and the mage? How’s the study going? Well on your way to publishing a textbook about us?”

“She’s the worst.” Stalwart Hide moaned, facehoofing and leaning on the bar some. He stared into his drink. “She’s been poking and prodding and attaching weird machines to me since she got here. It never ends!” he drank deeply.

“That bad huh?” Aegis smirked.

“And not only that, she’s Princess Celestia’s protégé! So she thinks she can just jerk me around all whinny-nilly!” Stalwart grumped, raising his hoof to call for a new cider from the bartender. When he received it he sighed, pushing the bits across the table. “What is it with us, Aegis?” he said a little wryly.

“What?” Aegis said, looking over at his best friend.

“Attracting mares that are far more powerful than us? Moodier and more dominant than us?” Stalwart was kidding and Aegis laughed genuinely, patting his friend’s back. The face of the Moon Champion flicked across Stalwart’s vision, but he dismissed it as the horrible memory it was. She was a casualty. One of many. Nothing more.

“’Eyyy, she may just need a good mounting to make her calm the buck down, righ’? Tension can do that to a mare!” said a drunken Lunar Stallion to Stalwart Hide’s right. He'd been listening in on the whole conversation, and the liquid courage he'd been drinking made him more than a little friendly. Stalwart Hide glared.

“Well at least she’s only there for the study, right?” Aegis Shield joked.

“In fact, when was the last time Captain Stalwart Hide was seen with a mare?” the drunken stallion asked his fellows. There was some guffawing, but they all knew he meant well. “We’ve got one Captain hitched up with a Princess! We should totally work on the other one now!” There was laughter and raising of many cider mugs.

Aegis Shield rolled his eyes, smiling sympathetically at Stalwart Hide. “She means well, at least.” He said. “Princess Luna asked her to study Lunar Stallions, and you got offered up as the prime example. Maybe you should be flattered?” he snickered just a little. “And, she’s keeping it professional if what you’ve said is true. I mean, at least the mare isn’t going to bust in here and shout--!”

“STALWART HIDE! I NEED YOU!” Twilight Sparkle bucked the door in and shouted over the crowd of partying stallions. Cider and food sprayed from over two dozen mouths, and uproarious laughter shook the entire establishment. Hooves pounded on tables, heads thrown back and tears streaming down faces. Never had such a perfect line been shouted over a group of half-drunken stallions plotting about how to get their other Captain laid. They laughed, and they laughed, and they laughed some more.

Stalwart Hide lost his entire mug, shattering it on the floor as he had his first heart attack. Panting and clutching his chest, he turned around slowly. “How did you find me here?!” he demanded, turning around and going to her when the laughter had died down.

“That’s not important!” The purple mare shook her head. “There’s been a development! I need you.”

“At least take me out to dinner first.” The stallion said acidly, glaring his fellows away.

The mage flinched, her face turning scarlet. “Th-th-that’s not what I meant!” she barked at him, stuttering. She looked around, suddenly very much aware that she was the center of attention in a tavern full of armored stallions. She gulped and stepped back a little. “C-can we talk outside?” she said a little warily. He nodded slowly, aware of her sudden mousey-ness. They stepped outside.

“What is it?” he asked. “I’m off duty.”

“I wanted to apologize.” Twilight took off her hat meekly, staring at Stalwart Hide’s hooves. “I haven’t been treating you very well.” She turned her ears down. “I’m sorry.”

“S…. s’okay.” Stalwart Hide said, genuinely surprised at her. “You just got excited, I guess. Lunar Stallions are really different, and not a lot of ponies know a lot about us.” he scuffed his hoof on the sidewalk a little. “It’s a unique opportunity. I can’t blame you for getting carried away.”

Twilight smiled embarrassedly.“I… uhm…” she paused awkwardly, trying to think of something clever to say now that her apology was done with.

“We can start over tomorrow night.” Stalwart Hide put in for her.

“Oh, yes. I’d like that.” She smiled, a little rosey-cheeked.

“See you tomorrow, Twilight Sparkle.” He bowed a little.

“W-wait.” Twilight stopped a moment, taking off her pointed mage’s hat and playing with it in her hooves. He perked his ears a little. “I… I didn’t ask you this morning. What was your nightmare about? You looked so awful when you woke up.” She was saying it in a small voice, trying to extend an olive branch to him. To soothe him at least a little. After all, what sort of nightmares could drive a Lunar Stallion to such distress? There was a long silence. He studied her with a neutral expression. She waited a few heartbeats, then blurted. “I-I’m sorry! I shouldn’t be so intrusive!”

“It’s fine.” Stalwart finally decided. “You’re studying Lunar Stallions, I suppose it’s okay for you to know. Tomorrow is memorial day for the Battle for Canterlot.” He tried to explain it shortly. “But there are other ponies who died that nopony will remember, or want to remember.” She cocked her head at his cryptic words. “Just… just meet me here tomorrow night, and I’ll show you what I’m talking about.” Twilight nodded eagerly, glad he was trusting her with something so sacred. The Lunar Stallions were known to get moody and morose on their own holiday. If he was willing to share, this could be a great ice-breaker for them. She might even learn some Lunar Stallion history, that would be great!

“See you tomorrow, Stalwart Hide.” She bent at the front knees and touched the rim of her pointed hat. The bell jingled mysteriously. He liked the sound. Turning quickly before things turned even more awkward, she strode away into the night and left him alone.

Stalwart Hide turned, shaking his head, to return to the tavern. He jerked to a halt when he saw that all the windows were filled with muzzles pressed curiously up against the glass. Lots of golden eyes stared out at him, blink-blinking curiously. Was that Captain Hide’s marefriend? How had they never seen her before?! The poor stallion was bombarded with questions as soon as he came back in. “She’s a coworker!” he snapped with authority. “Princess Luna assigned us together. She’s studying Lunar Stallions.” There was talk and chatter and laughter. Stalwart Hide groaned at the ‘give her SOMETHING to study’ jokes that instantly started flying left and right.

=-----=-----=-----=-----=

Test Theory looked up quickly, pushing his oily mane out of his eyes when he heard somepony coming. He shoved his notebook under the straw he was supposed to use for a bed and whipped out the book he’d been given to read while in his cell. He hunched over it and furrowed his brow when the little peeking door slapped itself open. He looked up slowly, glaring. “What?” he demanded. “I’d like to rot in this cell in peace if you don’t mind.” He scowled at the golden eyes that stared at him.

“It’s me.” It was a familiar deep voice. “I come bearing gifts.” There was a black chuckle from behind the door. Test Theory rose, warily closing the book. As he looked on, a thin grocery bag pressed through the little opening. He snatched it before it hit the ground. Peering inside he found a tiny wine bottle, celery, some oat cookies, and a set of artist’s charcoal. The mad stallion smiled gratefully. “Feel like chatting now?” the golden eyes said lowly, flicking to one side to make sure the hall was empty.

Test Theory nodding, going and hiding his gifts under the straw. The prison food was barely food at all, those would sustain him much better. “You wanted to know about the amniomorphic spell.” He said, scratching himself rudely as he came back to the door to whisper. “Why?”

“I have plans. None of your concern.” said the stallion in the hallway. “But, I understand you’re a bit short on test subjects.” He whispered, the implications more than a little crazy. “Suppose you devised a way to use the amniomorphic spell to mold a grown pony. Could you do that?”

“In… in theory.” Test Theory scrunched his face a little. It was more complicated than changing an unborn foal, still ripening in the womb. A grown body had solid bones, an intelligent mind, hardened muscles… everything was where it was going to be. Molding a body that is finished forming was like molding a marble statue that was already done. Risky at best, catastrophic at worst. “I could do it if I had enough time and runes on these walls. What do you plan?” he really wanted to know.

The Lunar Stallion in the hallway stared at him in a long and icy silence. The villain stared back at him. They were at a crossroads. “I’ll give you a hint.” He shuffled in the hallway a little, reaching into his saddlebags. Leaning a little, he lifted an object for Test Theory to see. The mad stallion pressed his muzzle to the little window in his prison door and squinted. It was an arrow. A thick one, yes, but still an arrow. “Do you know what this is?” said the Lunar Stallion softly, his voice heady with pride.

“Yes?” Test Theory said, sounding unsure. “What of it?”

“Take a closer look.” The shadowy figure bade him, almost shoving the arrow’s head up his nose in the process.
Test Theory squinted further, until he caught the sudden glimmer of yellow metal in the half-light. He gasped, eyes widening and scrambling backward in fear. “Solar Steel?!” The mad pony whispered, a hoof over his mouth. “You made Solar Steel into a weapon, are you crazy?!” he was whispering loudly now, and the Lunar Stallion quickly hid the arrow away again. It was a well-known fact that Solar Steel (as well as Lunar Steel) could only be made by the Princesses themselves. Concentrated sunlight (or moonlight) made into a metallic form that mortals could shape with enough effort. The only catch was, it could only be made into defensive things. Bars on a cage. Armor. Shields. Those sorts of things. To take a piece of Solar Steel and craft it into a weapon, even something as tiny as a singular arrow--- it was such an enormous blasphemy that even ponies like Test Theory recoiled in revulsion. It was not only illegal and unheard of, but ponies just didn't even talk about such things. It wasn't an option. “What could you possibly want to do with that?!” the scientist wanted to know, shoving his glasses up his nose to squint at the Lunar Stallion in the hall.

“I’m going to assassinate someone.” He saw the Lunar Stallion’s face contort into what may have been a smile, or a grimace of some kind. It was hard to tell in the dark.

“What? Who?” Test Theory had to know, just HAD to know! “That’s the most unbelievable overkill I’ve ever seen! Who could you possibly bear such a grudge against?!” his voice was rising above a whisper to a panicked sort of shriek, and the stallion outside his cell hushed him.

“Work with your runes and formulas. I want you to try and have it figured out as soon as possible, how to mold an adult pony into a certain shape.” The dark-hidden pony ordered him. Test Theory made a face as he got into his saddlebags again to produce a sheet of paper. “This shape.”

The scientist unrolled the paper, and gaped at the rather detailed drawing. “This is…” he trailed off, his eyes flicking up at his mysterious ‘friend’. A slow, rather mad smile began to rise on his face. “This is going to be fun.” With that he turned away from the door. The peeping door slapped closed with a clank of metal, and the mysterious stallion was away. Test Theory looked over his shoulder with a broad, not-quite-there-in-the-head grin. He liked his new friend. He liked him very much. This guy was crazier than HE was!

Shoving a fresh oat cookie in his mouth, Test set to work right away.

End of Part 3

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