As the night progressed, Celestia returned to bed – beyond exhausted with the last few days events. And with the damage done and the threats identified, she could finally attempt some rest.

Luna, on the other hoof, had her duties to attend to. Which she took to from the comfort of Arin’s bed. Cracking the window open to the cool night air, her eyes settled closed – focusing on the dream realm once more. Her horn twinkled quietly in the chilly air, leaving Arin alone.

He leaned back in the sheets, examining his wounds. A lot of bits and pieces had been patched up – the skin on his hand had healed entirely, it seemed, the ache in his bones had settled to a soft, dull throb. His shoulder felt pressured, but in-tact. He was healing well, thanks in part to whatever magic the Crystal Empire doctors have.

By tomorrow, he’ll be able to walk around freely. Probably. And he would have to adjust his quiver for future endeavors; if he had landed an inch to his left, he would have no arrows to train with, or if need be – fire at his enemies. He’ll slip it to his hip, it’s more casual. It was fine; he would be able to fire faster, if anything.

Luna broke the spell, sighing. “There are few nightmares that haunt the world tonight. Especially here, in Equis – where we lay so close to the Crystal Heart, that it eases the worries of those around it.”

Arin adjusted in his sheets, sighing. “Well, what would you like to do, then?”

Luna’s eyes glazed over, thinking for several moments.

“...I would like to talk about us.” She said, tail swishing. “It is rather an important subject, one that I wish I could discuss in a more peaceful period.”

Arin frowned. Oh no. No more cuddles, huh? He’s gonna miss snuggling. She’s a nice a plushie during the day.

“Alright. What’s wrong?”

“Tis nothing wrong, Sir Arin. But rather if you believe yourself fit for the position, after the recent attack.” She asked, “The last thing We wish to see… I wish to see, is you falling dead before me. I couldn’t live with the thought of you perishing in my steed.”

“Then why did you put me forward as your guard? Any stallion in the castle could have taken the position.”

She went quiet, sighing. “No, that is not entirely true. We… I do not make friends. Not within the castle, not in Canterlot or Ponyville. I make acquaintances. My eccentrics prove that I am not the best choice for companionship, coupled with my royal position… tis hard to form a knightly bond with one who is terrified of you, or cares little for your health. I put forward your name for three reasons; the title would have little danger, it would give you purpose beyond your guest room, and because…”

She lowered her head. “You are our only friend. But I feel immense guilt; for your proximity to me, thou have nearly embraced death. If Our desire to see the world beyond the walls of Canterlot had been restrained, thy wounds would not exist.”

Arin slowly reached over, and with the tip of his finger, booped Luna on the nose. Her eyes crossed, wrinkling her snout as she looked at the tip of her muzzle. With the confused mare turning silent, Arin took his chance to speak.

“The only thing I find unacceptable about my position as your guard is the lack of training I’ve had with Nocturne. I know that it will be mandatory in the near future, and I’m sure Shining will oversee it… but that’s my only complaint. The rest I expected. And believe it or not, I’ve survived worse things than a train wreck.”

He smiles, “You know, Armageddon. Kinda. Though I managed with less wounds than I thought from that one.”

Luna sighed, “I will not hold anger in my heart, if you wish to give up this postion, Arin. Thou does not need to make excuses-”

His hands slid forward, wrapping Luna up in his arms. She went quiet, before her wings slid forward in a slow, warm hug. Embracing him close, his bandaged arms squeezing gently.

“I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t get to hold you like this if I weren’t your knight. All the more reason to stick around, huh?” He asked, the night time Princess not responding.

“Something wrong, Luna?” Arin asked, unsure. She sniffled.

“Yes… you need a shower.”

She began to giggle, Arin dazed by the striking statement. She slid back, “You smell like firewood, sweat, dirt, and medicine. While some of those things could even be seen as desirable, We do not believe Our senses can reasonably enjoy it as a myriad of a bundle.”

Arin raised his arm up, giving a gentle sniff. He wasn’t much of a filthy Seraph, but she did have a point. He’s been through hellfire and back, and he could use a bath.

She raised herself from the sheets, gently pulling them free of his body. Thankfully, he had the majority of his clothing on – but the sting of the cool night air made him shudder.

“Come. Lean on Us; your leg should hold your weight just fine, but We could never be too careful.” She said, offering a hoof to get out of bed. He gingerly took it, and stood up. His body ached all over, but other than that – he gladly leaned into her, following her to a door in the rounded guest chamber.

Happy to have him by her side again, she led him to the bath; in an expansive bathroom like this, in the dead of night, he actually needed the help. Luna had a habit of using her natural night vision to see, while Arin was a little less inclined to peering through the darkness.

Her horn glowed, and several candles lit along the side of the tub. It was somewhat romantic, he thought.

“Do guest chambers typically come with a candle lit bathroom?”

Luna blushed at the comment, rubbing the back of her head with a hoof. “Well, no. But our niece insisted she help with the lighting. Our eyes are not very fond of the brightness of the lamps – which was her reasoning for the candles. We are inclined to agree.”

She turned the faucet on, not noticing that there was a small pool of soap in the bottom of the tub. It began to bubble up quite quickly with hot, frothy water. Arin blushed. This was almost something out of the corny romance novels in the Milla Serine Library.

“…And the bubbles are for…?” He asked. Luna’s eye twitched.

“We did not request bubbles. I…”

A rose petal fell into the tub from above. They both looked up, a small hammock of roses swaying softly, making it rain romantic red ribbons into the warm pool below. You know, this tub was awfully large for one person to bathe in, he thought.

Luna’s cheeks were more red than blue at this point.

“So, on the topic of ‘things you did not expect’, does that include the rose petals too, Luna?”

Her breathing grew quick, a nervous laugh following. “Oh, would you look at that! We believe that We must return to the dream realm; in the other room. Beneath the covers. Alone.” She quickly trotted to the door, the urge to call out to her boiling in his chest.

“W-Wait! Luna!” He said, and the mare stopped in her tracks. Turning her head in the doorway, she looked to him. Cheeks still red.

“I… I need help bathing. I’m injured.”

It was his turn to blush. Luna looked out the door – towards the comfort of the bed against the chilly air – and back to the Seraph.

Think of thy royal duties, Luna. She thought to herself, Thou can not fall to such… carnal, desires. Not with a commoner.

But he is not a commoner. Not anymore. Her other side argued. He is… our Knight.

Mentally, she scolded herself for being a romantic. A very predictable one, at that.

The door slid shut behind her, her magic turning the lock to keep any potential guests out for what she was about to do.

“Well… If thou requires assistance, as our friend… we see no choice but to offer it. It is common in Equestria for friends to often bathe each other, after all. The Element of Generosity, Rarity, speaks highly of her salon visits with… friends.”

She stood by the tub, her head tilted up to lock eyes with Arin.

Okay, you made a mistake. You’re not ready for this Arin. You’re gonna make a fool of yourself, he thought, as his hand slid forward to gently cup her cheek. Gazing into those beautiful azure eyes, his heart melting into a puddle in his chest.

Without breaking eye contact, Luna’s horn gleamed – gently unbuttoning his shirt around his chest, sliding it to the floor with the sound of his crescent moon buttons clattering to the crystal beneath. She didn’t waver, gently reaching a hoof up to his pants. A click of the magic, and the belt buckle undid itself – the trousers falling to the floor, undergarments in tow. Luckily, he had no bandages – what damage that remained was internal at this point.

She didn’t look down. Instead, her hoof slid up – offering a hoof to him, to allow him entry in the tub. He gently took it, stepping a leg over the brim. She was stronger than she looked, able to balance him with with a soft, feminine grunt.

As he began to settle in the water, Luna stripped her regalia. Arin’s eyes wide as her hoof dipped into the pool, sinking down to the bottom as she entered the wide tub with him.

Steam swirled and bubbles popped as she approached, two legs on either side of his hips as she eased him into the waters below. She kept him safe and close as he leaned into the shallow pool, the long tub perfectly sized for his stature.

Luna stepped closer, gently taking a sponge in her magical grasp. With slow, tender attention, she dipped it into the shimmering water below, before easing it against his dirt covered face. Her nose was no more than several inches from his, the intimacy drawing attention from other parts of his body.

Unlike a bath with Honey Rose, this was done in total silence – and with a gentle care that could only come from the heart. She lathered his short brown hair with a smile, massaging his scalp as a quiet, content sigh followed the gesture.

He eased deep into the water, Luna’s chest dipping lower. Her weight soon pressing into his stomach, laying against him in the hot waters. Her attention never once faltered, cleaning every pore, every curve to his face and neck. Dipping into the warm waters to wring her sponge, cleaning the lather free.

Arin’s hands slid up from the water, taking the sponge from her magic grasp. “It’s my turn. Let me take care of you now, Luna.”

She blushed, but didn’t move, as Arin took his mission seriously. The sponge was soaked again, and he brought it to her sparkling, flowing mane. Dragging through the ethereal hairs, that began to sag and rejoin from a starry mass into that familiar cerulean you could only see when she slept. Her eyes slid shut – letting him draw the sponge along her cheeks, the quiet sound of water dripping and their combined breath the only noises echoing through the chamber.

He pooled a thick puddle of shampoo into his hands, gently pressing them into her soft, supple mane. He made careful work of the process, kneading into her scalp. She rested her chin on his chest, eyes closed as he worked. He even scratched behind her ears, much to her enjoyment.

The sponge soon came and cleaned away the suds, his fingers parting the blue strands around her eyes. She split them open, gazing up at him once more. Those sapphires gleaming in the candlelight, her muzzle a spare inch from connecting to his lips.

They both hesitated. Luna’s soft voice followed.

“A-Arin? What does thou think of… me. As a mare.”

He slid his spare hand over her cheek, trying to think of the words to describe the feeling in his chest. The thrum of his heart when she spoke so kindly to him, when her wings wrapped firmly around his back. In Erenorn, he was often attracted to the exotic beings that would frequent the local taverns…

He summoned up his courage, and leaned in. Giving his answer, right on her lips. She slid back an inch, caught off guard from the movement – before easing in to the sweet kiss. Her ears folded, her head tilting in – her soft lips locked tight to him, refusing to part his own.

She was as tender as the soft velvet of her coat, the plush sensation of the kiss making his heart flutter. The sweet Princess tilted towards him, embracing him in her wet wings. The kiss lasted several minutes, the soft beat of their hearts merging in to one steady rhythm.

And just as quietly as it began, it ended. She pulled away from the kiss, his arms draped over her barrel. They breathed deep in this moment, his naked form pressed tightly to her own in the gentle waters of the bath.

“How long? How long have you felt this way?” He asked quietly, running his knuckles along her cheek. “It’s only been a few short weeks since we met…”

“And yet you’ve turned out to be exactly what I wanted, right from the start. You’re strong, striking, attentive… your foreign features are a gentle throb in Our heart, one We can not simply let pass. And your long life…” She trailed her hoof along his chest, feeling the heart beat within, “…It is a benefit to Us.”

“Is this why you wanted me to be a Knight?” He pressed his lips to her forehead, right under her horn. When he pulled away, she nodded.

“Knighting you would grant you a Noble’s rank, allowing Us to love you as We wished.” She returned the kiss with a peck to his nose, gentle and sweet.

For a while, he didn’t speak. Sharing the warmth of the bath, her hooves draped around his neck. And they stayed like this for a while, enjoying it all.

But all wonderful things must come to an end. Arin helped preen Luna’s wings in the warmth of the water, gentle soap soaking in to her feathers. The ones she plucked to form flights for his arrows had already recovered. He took his time, exploring every inch of her body with his fingers. Feeling the gentle skin beneath her fine coat, hiding waves of ancient power beneath a supple surface.

Her own exploration began from his chest downwards, stopping right above his belt line. She didn’t want to prod too deeply. Not yet. Instead, she leaned in for another kiss. Love must start slow, and blossom like a flower.

The plug was pulled, the drain began to pull the soapy water away – along with the rose petals, which slid down the long pipe and out of mind. They helped each other free of the empty tub, towels quickly finding them.

When they returned to the bed, Arin in fresh clothing compliments of Rarity, Luna had little thought to do anything else but pull him in with her wings and hooves. He was eager to do much the same, feeling her mane grow with magical power once more. The individual strands of hair coalesced into a single flowing entity, blowing into the wind.

“How does your hair do that?” He asked quietly, running his fingers through the starry sky. “It’s beautiful.”

“Our magic is connected to the moon; thus We inherit a piece of the sky it holds, when We will it to be.” She traced her hoof along Arin’s chest, thinking. “And how does thy magic typically work, in Erenorn?”

“When a Seraph reaches the age of ten, their powers begin to awaken and manifest. For some, it’s simple magical sparks they can call from their hands. Others sprout a pair of magnificent wings, all at once – magical in their nature. Many still obtain both. If nothing appears by a child’s eleventh birthday, then they are Inert. Magic may still form in the right conditions – but chances aren’t high, either.”

“So thou could have been blessed with wings, not at birth but at age? There is no ritual to draw this power free?” She asks, shuffling to pull herself closer. Nose to nose, his hands drawing up against the back of her head.

“Yes. I could have wings, or magic, or both right now. But then, I wouldn’t be here – would I? Unless if that bastard had other reasons to specifically send me away.” He tensed at the thought of Leotoln, holding Luna tighter in his arms. “I swear, that cursed pigeon will never lay a finger on your starry mane. Not as long as I draw breath.”

She blushed at the words, smiling. “And I dare to believe you.” She replied. Leaning in for another gentle kiss. Tingles shot up along Arin’s spine at the feeling, heart pounding with desire.

When she pulled away, he basked in the afterglow.

“Wouldn’t you prefer a stallion?…” He asked, “I’m not even of your realm.”

“You are stallion enough.” She said with a soft nuzzle, enjoying the romance while she could. But as the minutes waned and her duties called, she clenched softly to his chest – horn sparkling dimly in the moonlight.

“We must bid thee farewell for now, Arin.” She whispered. His warm hold tightened.

“I will still be here, holding you until you’re done.”