Chapter 32

Dave held Nox in his arms as he walked up the stairs, the quiet colt yawned as he wrapped his hooves around Dave’s neck and returned to his deep sleep. Celestia nuzzled Dave’s cheek as they approached the unguarded bedroom doors

“I suppose that today has taken its toll on everypony” Dave sighed as he opened the door and allowed Celestia through before stepping in behind her and quietly closing the door, making sure he locked it. Dave carefully placed Nox into bed and Celestia tucked him in as she kissed his head

“He has been so good today, considering the situation” The princess of the sun sighed as she moved into Dave’s arms and nuzzled against his chest. Her limbs grew suddenly heavy as Dave wrapped his arms tighter and gently rubbed his face against Celestia’s head

“You have been through a lot too” Dave kissed Celestia’s head as he slowly released her and guided her to bed. The princess did not have the strength to resist as she climbed into bed and her head fell into the pillow

Celestia sighed as Dave placed the soft quilt over her and ensured there were no gaps for cold air to reach the tired alicorn. Dave stroked her cheek before he slowly began walking over to the sofa and sitting down, kicking his shoes off as he rested his head on the armrest and folded his arms

Dave stared at the balcony window, listening for any sounds before he allowed his eyelids to fall shut and he joined his family with their heavy slumbers. Celestia rolled in her bed and held Nox in her hooves, the sleeping colt unconsciously shuffled so he held his mother in return

The giant black fog that floated by the window let out a sad sigh as he floated to a lower window and floated back into the castle. Odio floated happily as he began humming a tune to himself as he proceeded down the corridor, doing occasional twirls until he passed a depressed Luna

“Good night Princess Luna” Odio said with a smirk, which he quickly lost when Luna ignored him and continued her slow walk to her quarters “Who died?” Odio joked

“Private Barrier” Luna sighed as she began walking up the long steps to her quarters, not looking back to see Odio stop and turn to look at her

“The little tinnie weenie guard?” Odio hurried after Luna, only having to move quickly for a short burst as Luna was still dragging her hooves “What happened?”

Luna sighed as she reached the door to her quarters, “he was murdered as all the other guards left to deal with a bank robbery” she allowed herself to snarl as she turned to Odio “And he was more than you could ever hope to be!”

Odio snarled slightly “It is one guard!” the black fog retaliated “You have hundreds all over Equestria! Why is this one so special?” he growled

“Because he was murdered inside the castle, executed in a way that required effort to out in place” Luna turned away, “Every guard feels guilty because it is their duty to protect” The princess of the night resumed her slow walking, “If they can’t protect their comrade then how are they supposed to protect their princesses?”

The black fog of hatred sighed as he followed Luna “I know this is probably the first death you have seen in a thousand years… excluding what I did to Dave… but that guard would have to die at some point”

“I know but it would have been nice to know he lived a full life and died peacefully rather than being hung by barbed wire and burnt” Luna stormed into her room as Odio’s confused stare was replaced with a startled gasp. As Luna closed the door behind her, Odio whirled around in anger but returned to looking at the princess’ door.

“Listen um… are you alright?” Odio listened for a response but tapped the door when he heard nothing. He casually fitted through the cracks on the door and spotted Luna curled on the bed “You ok?”

Luna looked up, screaming as she jumped into the air, “ODIO!” she shook her head as the fog looked around innocently. The princess of the night crawled back onto her bed as she waved the fog away, “These are my private quarters, and why would you care?”

“Well I apologize for the intrusion to your lair” Odio bowed graciously as he looked back with a frown “And I am doing this for Dave’s benefit” his frown turned to a snarl as Luna gave a unconvinced snort

“You have always been a selfish one” Luna sat up on her bed as she returned the fog’s glare “Why would talking to me be for Dave’s benefit?”

Odio flew closer to Luna as his fog hid most of her bedroom from view “Because if I don’t then you will bottle these emotions up and release them by going in a huff with Dave about how he doesn’t belong to Celestia and all that nonsense”

Luna gasped, “How dare you!” she stood as her horn began to glow and summon a large ball of magic beside her “That is ridiculous, leave now or you will suffer the consequences”

“Hit me with magic and Dave will never look at you again,” Odio said calmly as Luna flinched “I am his best friend, you’re an ex-girlfriend” he floated gently as a smile floated into view “On Earth they say ‘Bros before hoes’ a lot”

Luna’s magic faded as she sat down “Just leave me, you are wrong and I don’t need to prove it” she frowned as Odio floated closer, her horn almost glowing again

“I do” Odio whispered “Because if Dave walked through that door now, one of two things would happen” Odio floated towards the balcony as he began to sift through the cracks “If Dave is worried and mentions Celestia, instant tantrum but if Dave acts all caring to you then you would kiss him”

Luna continued to stare at Odio until he was completely out of the room, increasing her glare until Odio finally floated with the wind and moved to a different part of the castle. The princess of the night groaned as she tipped sideways and collapsed onto her bed, removing the crown from her head as she removed the rest of the regalia

As Luna attempted to drift off to sleep, she was interrupted by a knock at her door. Groaning the princess sat up and quickly made herself presentable, “You may enter” she called, keeping her royal posture until Dave poked his head in, “Oh hello”

“Hey” Dave gave a weak smile as he stepped into the room and closed the door behind him. He stayed by the door as he leaned against the wall, “How are you holding up?”

“Urgh, attending a funeral and then being a subject to you and Odio to mock with your performances” Luna turned her head away as Dave frowned “Funny how you show up right after he left”

Dave shook his head, “I heard that you were talking to Odio and I was hoping you knew where he was” Dave stopped leaning of the door as he looked around the bedroom, “But I knew that you would be in a state because of the funeral so I thought I would at least seem like I cared”

“So you came here to find Odio?” Luna gasped as she whipped her head around to look at Dave, his arms now crossed “Well why did you ask how I was?”

“Because I thought that you might have needed a friendly face” Dave shrugged as he walked back to the door and began to open it, “But obviously this is some giant play to make you look like an idiot, you caught me, I’m off”

Luna sighed as her horn glowed and she used her magic to hold the door “Wait, I’m sorry” She dropped her head as Dave allowed the door to close. Luna rubbed her eyes as she shuffled closer to the edge of her bed, “I have been rather short-tempered since the murder”

“I know it must be hard for you” Dave sighed as he sat on the edge of the bed, “Most of the guards are down in the barracks having a drink, Celestia is asleep, Nox is asleep and I can’t seem to join any of them”

Luna smiled slightly “I suppose we both just need somepony to talk to” her smile grew as Dave nodded in response, running his hand through his hair as he tilted his head to look at the princess

“I guess that you don’t exactly want to be alone right now” Dave gave a weak smile as he sat up and stretched his back, “I can’t get to sleep but I feel tired”

“I feel the same” Luna nodded understandingly as Dave dropped back onto the bed, “The problem with these sorts of events is that you feel strange for a few days until you get over the shock”

Dave grunted in response as he covered over his eyes with his arm, “One guard inside the barracks by himself” the human rolled onto his side as he looked at Luna, “Whoever attacked must have been brave or stupid”

“We will find out who is responsible” Luna turned her body so she could look at Dave with out having to twist her neck, “When are you going back to my sister?”

Dave shrugged “They will be asleep until sunrise and I doubt I could get to sleep even if I wanted to” he scratched his chest as he looked back at Luna, “If you aren’t busy, can I stay and talk with you?”

“Of course” Luna smiled happily as she laid down next to Dave, “you know that we haven’t talked properly in a while”

“Kinda my fault” Dave chuckled, “to be honest I have been avoiding you slightly” he sighed as Luna frowned in concern, “My relationship with Celestia is a bit vulnerable at the moment, so I didn’t want to risk her thinking I still wanted to get back together with you”

“Still wanted to get back together?” Luna’s jaw dropped as Dave slowly nodded, “You mean that you always wanted to… but Celestia…”

Dave rolled onto his back and stared at the ceiling, his hands resting by his side, “I didn’t want to lose Celestia, I had to do everything I could to make sure I stayed with her, including hiding my feelings”

Luna shuffled closer to Dave as her eyes widened in hope and awe, “Dave can you do something for me?” she lifted her body slightly as Dave nodded, “Don’t fight your feelings”

The dark princess rushed forwards and smacked her lips against Dave’s, stopping after a moment to collect her thoughts, But as Dave responded with nothing but a small grin the princess moved forwards again and kept herself pressed down on the human

Luna positioned herself above Dave, her horn glowed as her magic pulled his shirt from his body with ease. She wrapped her hooves around his neck as she continued to bombard Dave’s face with kisses

“I WIN!” Odio cheered, causing Luna jump in shock. The princess looked at Dave in time to see him burst into a black fog and whiz around her to rejoin the main cloud

“Odio?” Luna shuddered as her mind suddenly kicked into gear. Dave’s body should have resisted her magic. Dave brought up the conversation about their relationship and he encouraged Luna’s kissing with a simple smile

“Isn’t it funny how I made a cheap copy of Dave and you didn’t notice?” Odio swirled happily as Luna’s head fell to her hooves, “So long as it had the face you were sold”

“I HATE YOU!” Luna yelled in her royal Canterlot voice as her magic began to illuminate the room and she fired a blast at the fog “HOW DARE YOU DO THIS TO ME!”

“Quite easily, I am a giant fog capable of supporting two forms simultaneously” Odio moved out of the way of the door and floated to the opposite side of the room, avoiding magical blasts along the way. He coughed before putting on a panicked face, “W-what are you doing?”

“What am I doing?” Luna growled, her eyes burning with hatred, “I am going to DESTROY YOU!”

“LUNA!” Dave yelled from his spot at the door, his eyes constantly shifting between the fog and the furious princess

“Thank god you showed up Dave” Odio sighed happily, “I came to talk to Luna but she snapped and started attacking me”

Luna snorted at Dave as her magic surrounded the human, her smile faded after her magic waned and released Dave. Now the princess realized that Odio had tricked her twice within minutes

A tiny strand of fog moved near Luna’s ear a whispered gently, “One half stayed here for the fake Dave whilst the other secretly got real Dave, who found you attacking me… bros before hoes”

Luna’s face dropped as she hurried across the room and stopped a few inches from Dave, “Odio provoked me, he made sure that you arrived when you did, he…”

Dave cut the princess off by raising his hand to her lips, “You were attacking Odio, you have always hated him and you have always wanted me” he looked at Odio, “Him and I are best friends and you can’t stand another obstacle between you and me”

“No!” Luna pleaded desperately, “he tricked me into thinking you and I were… confessing our love again” her eyes began to water as Dave shook his head in disapproval

Dave glared at the princess, his eyes full of anger as they crept over to Odio, “I’m not happy with the way you have been treated recently” his frown turned to a slight smirk as Odio hurried over

“Are you gonna see if we can get something in place that keeps Luna away?” Odio smiled hopefully

“Not you” Dave’s smile grew, “I’m not happy that Luna hasn't spent a day with all her family round her since I got back”

Odio’s eyes widened “B-but she was going to attack me! Didn't you hear those ludicrous lies?”

“Yeah, silly enough that only you could pull them off” Dave stepped away from the fog “I know you well enough to know that you would try something like this eventually”

“But what about bros before hoes?” Odio sighed, “I’ll wait for my punishment elsewhere, start packing or something,” he groaned as he floated out of the room

Luna stammered in confusion, “h-how did? Why did you believe me?” the princess gazed into Dave’s eyes “You looked so disappointed at me”

“At Odio” Dave sighed, “I hoped he wouldn't try this crap but it looks like it is too late, once Celestia finds out then he is outta here”

Luna grabbed Dave’s hand with a hoof, “I won’t say anything, and I know you can come up with some way to punish him”

“Thanks Luna” Dave smiled as he stroked Luna’s hoof with a thumb “I don’t blame you for falling for his copies of me, they are based off of my memories and thoughts after all”

Luna nodded understandably, “Well I hope to see you at breakfast tomorrow… and maybe a dinner with the rest of our family members?”

Dave nodded with a smile, “Of course, anyway I have to go” he left the room, leaving Luna to stand by the door, “See you in the morning”

“I shall be there” Luna smiled as she closed the door and wandered over to her bed, pausing as she made another connection. “Based off of thoughts… get back together” Luna climbed onto her bed and her tiredness quickly beat her thinking as she drifted to sleep