I froze, spoon halfway to my mouth, as a pony sat at my table. The oats in the spoon's basin dripped out as I set it back into the bowl. I didn't turn to look at them, just stayed where I was. Why was somepony sitting at my table?

"I'm sorry, it's just that this table only had one pony at it, my friends are doing extra runs with Astral Victory, and all the other tables are occupied." A filly's voice. Pleasant enough and a touch nervous, but it grated on me nonetheless. "Is it okay if I sit here? Just for today?"

No. No it was not.

My stomach growled, asking me to keep eating, but instead I turned to glare at the intruder. The white maned thirteen year-old flinched at my look. Her green coat was the colour of pine needles, and she seemed uncomfortable as I stared at her.

Good.

I didn't like it when ponies watched me eat, she didn't like it when ponies stared at her. It was a mutual understanding.

"I swear I'll be silent, it will only be today and you're always eating alone anyway."

There was a reason for that. I let her know that reason as my glower hardened, and I leaned in closer to her. She was thirteen, I was sixteen. The way I was acting, she was expecting me to start a fight. A fight that she knew she couldn't win.

"I'll-I'll just go," she mumbled as she stood up, taking her food with her. As she trotted away, she glanced over her shoulder at me, and hastily looked forward again when she saw me still staring. I watched until she sat on the corner of a table with a few fourteen years, and nervously began eating while they ignored her.

Good.

I picked up my spoon again, and raised the oats to my lips.

"That was rather harsh."

My spoon clattered into the bowl as I turned to glare at my newest intruder.

Strong Faith ignored all common sense and sat at my table. Other ponies shouldn't be sitting at my table. I can't eat when they're there.

"If Astral finds out you're bullying the years under you, you'll be cleaning the castle's chamber pots again." He actually seemed concerned.

That wasn't bullying, I was just trying to eat here. Is it really that much to ask for a table to myself?

He sat there in increasingly awkward silence, trying to ignore how much I wanted him to go away. I wasn't being too subtle, was I?

"So, it's the announcement today," he started in a conversational tone.

Yes. Yes it was. Why did he feel the need to talk to me about it?

When my only answer was more silence, he continued. "Today is a big day, isn't it? We find out who will be First, Second, and Third."

I knew that. I may score near the bottom in strategy and leadership, but that didn't mean I couldn't remember the thing they've been telling us for the last twelve years. Today was the day. It's kind of hard to forget that when it's been looming over our lives for as long as any of us could remember.

He shifted his hooves, not touching his breakfast. He stared down for a moment, before looking back up at me. "Who do you think will be First?"

I blinked in surprise when I realised he was nervous. Frowning, I glanced around the room and saw his usual friends watching us, looking curious and surprised that we were talking. Stern Conviction in particular was watching us, looking a little worried. Why wasn't he asking them this? Why me? I wasn't Stygus, how should I know if he will be First?

I frowned back at Strong Faith, crossing my forelegs.

Apparently he'd followed my gaze to his usual friends, and understood my question. "I ask you because..." He sighed and looked down again. "I just cannot. I don't want them to see me nervous. I just needed to ask somepony, and you're here alone and..." he trailed off, looking at me expectantly.

I blinked in surprise, before sighing.

He wasn't here to annoy me, he was just here to settle the churning in his stomach. I don't know why he would be nervous, he really was the obvious choice for First. The chess piece cutie mark he had was a sign of his talent in strategy and battle. He was a terrible warrior, but definitely an effective leader. He had less reason to be nervous than I did. There was far less competition for First in this year than there was in others.

"First," I pointed my hoof at him. "Second," I rested it against my chest. "Third," I pointed a hoof towards Blessed March. After a moment, I smirked and pointed at myself again, "Green."

He blinked at me, before smirking back. "Who says you'll be Green when you might not even be Second?"

"Second," I repeated, "I am the best."

Strong Faith snorted. "Even if you do get Second, which Stern Conviction is just as likely to claim as you, the Green most often goes to the Third."

I shrugged. All I could do was remain faithful to our Lady and know that she would make the right choice, even if I wasn't it. Luna's will was law, and I would serve her faithfully no matter what rewards I received for doing so. That said, if she gave me the chance to prove myself to her, I would jump at the opportunity to earn her affections.

He leaned forward again. "Are you sure I'm to be First?"

I nodded.

He still seemed nervous, but a little less than when he first sat down."Thank you, Slight."

I simply rolled my eyes.

He sat there for a moment, and opened his mouth to speak again, but I interrupted.

"Now leave." I pointed a hoof at the table he usually sat at.

He blinked at me, frowning. "I-"

"Go away," I said firmly, glaring at him.

He looked confused for a moment, before he shrugged and stood up. "Alright, bye."

I didn't answer him as I picked up my spoon and watched him walk away. After I was sure he was gone, I went to eat my oats again. I froze when a shadow fell over me.

Gritting my jaw in frustration, I turned around to glare at whoever had disturbed me again. That glare dropped and I blinked in surprise when I saw the pony that was bothering me.

"Chase?"

She grinned and sat next to me. "Who'd you expect?"

I stared at her for a moment, before I smiled back. "When did you get back?" I frowned as I noticed the heavy bags under her eyes and the new scar on her cheek. Her mane was tangled and pointing in all directions, while her coat was grime-stained and I could see flakes of dried blood mixed through it.

"About half an hour ago." She yawned and stretched, her shoulders popping. "I came here straight from Hoofens."

I pointed at the marks on her cheek. "These?"

"Oh Well, I was with General Bishop out at Clover's Gap, with the vanguard, when we had a skirmish with some gryphons we didn't know were gonna be there." She tapped the mark on her cheek. "Bastard almost gutted me with these freaky hook blades they strap on their wings, but they retreated right after he scratched me. Bishop ordered us not to pursue because they probably had a larger force on the other side of the gap, and he wanted it scouted out first. I would have gone, but Luna sent orders and I was rotated out of his retinue and sent back here." She smiled and put her wing around me. "Which is fine by me. The big ceremony's happening today, huh?"

I nodded and looked back to my meal then back at Chase. I was hungry, but... It could wait. It had been a month since I'd seen her, and I was eager to catch up. Pushing the oats away from myself, I turned to Chase. "Gryphons?"

"Yeah." She grinned. "I'd never fought them till this month, but it was seriously interesting. It's a damn shame they joined with the Celestians, because I'd love to see a few of those brutes tearing into enemy lines with us holding their leashes. And some of them were really good warriors too; I was surprised by the range of martial styles and tactics I saw. I saw one outduel a blade caster with just two short swords, and I thought only nightkin with ghost blades, or a better blade caster, could do that. Not all of them were that great though; some of them just flew straight at me with an axe or a hammer or something. They had no uniformity, no consistency."

I nodded, interested. "General Bishop?"

"An interesting stallion, actually." Chase tapped her chin. "I didn't see any of his supposedly 'brilliant' strategies, but there weren't any actual battles either. I got the impression he was smart enough, and he didn't seem as scared of us or Luna as the rest of his soldiers. Not that he lacked discipline, he just knew where the line was and knew that he was a long way from crossing it."

Her ears perked up and she grinned, shoving me with her hoof. "Only two years from now, and you'll be on rotation with the rest of us, eh? You'll get to travel around under Luna's orders, smiting all sorts of exotic heathens, mixing with famous generals, and getting your own foal to mentor back here at Blackrock."

I nodded, my smile growing to match hers.

"I told you, Slight, it's hard, but it's worth it."

We sat in silence for a moment before I asked, "Chase? What's it like?"

"What's what like?" She replied.

"Being with Luna."

She blinked in surprise, before she smiled again and slapped me on the back. "Why? Nervous?"

I didn't answer her, just frowned in annoyance.

"Oh, I'm just teasing." She rolled her eyes. "You were more fun when you were a foal." Then she paused in thought, breathing in as she stared at the ceiling. After a moment or two, she looked back across at me. "It's... It's... surreal. I-" She snapped her mouth shut and thought for another moment. "My first time with Luna was the greatest night of my life, and any nightkin will tell you exactly the same thing."

Nodding at her, I turned to look back at the table, thinking of carnal pleasures delivered by the majesty of Our Grace.

It might be a few months until I experienced it, or it might just be a hoofful of days. Luna wouldn't bed my year by a schedule or en mass. She'd take her time, working her way through us one by one, sampling our intimacy and deciding her preferences. Those she enjoyed she would return to, those who failed to excite her would very rarely be cycled back to Castle Blackrock, spending most of their years loving her at a distance, or at best, among a crowd of others.

My heart started to beat a little faster at that thought. Or maybe a lot faster. I swallowed nervously. Our Beautiful Moon, alone with me, holding me, speaking with me, touching me, and judging me.

"So, how do you plan on getting the Green?"

I glanced at her confused.

"Yeah, plan. I mean, the first night's important, making a good impression and pleasing her, but it's not like you're going to be the only one in your year that will succeed in that. You need to stand out from the crowd, not just in bed but day to day as well. All nightkin have the same coat and mane, so you need to do something to distinguish yourself." Chase indicated the piercings in her ear. "Some get tattoos on their face and neck just to help Luna remember them. You don't need to do anything like that any time soon, your mane and coat are as unique as any other pony's, but after your first night with Luna, you might want to do your mane back in braid, or locks, or something that'll help you stand out in Luna's mind." After a second she added, "Don't shave it off though, you want to do something that makes you look unique, but, you know, actually attractive."

I considered her words as I turned back to my meal. My stomach growled at me to eat, but I wasn't comfortable doing that with Chase sitting right there.

"Oh, right." Chase muttered as she looked at me. "Your weird eating alone thing?"

I nodded.

Chase rolled her eyes and stood up. "You've got the day off till the ceremony, right?"

I smiled at her, nodding.

"Great," she grinned. "After you're done with breakfast, come to my room and we can catch up."

"Alright. "

"Gee, don't sound so enthusiastic," she yawned again as she turned away.

When she was gone, I turned back to my meal and resumed eating.

Just a few hours until the ceremony. Just a few hours until I'm one of The Three. Then it's just a few weeks till my night with Lady Luna.

And then, then I'll be a nightkin, one of Luna's own.

I think Stygus always stands above other nightkin because he's insecure about his height. None of the other officers bothered with the formality of finding an elevated position when making an announcement or speaking to the group. He was small for a stallion, but normally sized for a mare. I suspect for him to be Luna's favourite he'd have to be disproportionately endowed.

Internally, I sighed in annoyance and looked up, vaguely hearing him blather on about the esteem of our positions, and the incredible blessing we were to be granted. They'd only been telling us this since we first arrived twelve years ago; I'm not entirely certain why he felt the need to repeat it now.

I'm sure every one of us was as sick of it by now as I was, but none of us broke rank or spoke out. We all tried to hide it, but I could see the nerves on everypony present by the way they shifted their weight ever so slightly, or a pegasus ruffled his wings a little bit. I was nervous too, but I think I did a better job of hiding it, or at least disguising it as boredom.

Thirteen of us in a line, with Stygus standing on his podium, and our mentors watching from the walls around the courtyard. It wasn't much of a ceremony, but I suppose we hadn't really become nightkin yet. For all of Stygus' long winded speech, this was essentially an announcement more than anything else. The real change would come after Luna had her time with us.

"-and so I must congratulate each and every one. I know you will serve our Goddess with conviction and pride." He saluted us with his wing, and we all returned the gesture with our hooves, even the pegasi.

"So, without any more waiting, it's time to announce how you will serve Her Grace. Remember, no matter what role you are given, we are all blessed by her affections." He smiled, and stepped down. "Starting at the top, the First shall be Strong Faith."

Next to me, I practically heard him smiling and the tension release from his body. Strong Faith stepped forward and bowed low. "Thank you, Captain."

Stygus nodded and turned to us, and I felt my pulse rising. Now for the Second, which was to be me or Stern Conviction. No. It was to be me. I swallowed and stared at Stygus. It has to be me.

"The Second was an unusually difficult choice this year. Normally there is a clear leader when it comes to this title, but in this case there were two standouts."

I closed my eyes, and breathed out, trying to calm myself.

"Ultimately though, I decided that the title of Second should go to the pony with the highest victory ratio. Step forward, Stern Conviction."

My eyes bugged as my heart dropped to my stomach, and I looked across to see my rival looking relieved and overjoyed.

He stepped forward, a wide grin on his face as he bowed low.

"It is an honour, Sir."

I opened my mouth to protest, but hesitated when Stygus looked directly at me. We stared at each other for a moment, before he looked to the crowd again.

"The rank of Third will go to-"

I tuned him out, and looked over to Chase, whose jaw was taut. She didn't look disappointed, just angry. She wasn't staring at me though; rather, she was glaring at Stygus, who seemed not to notice. After a moment she looked back towards me, frowning in thought, then back to Stygus. Then she turned around, trotted down the stairs and out of the courtyard.

"Stygus is a fool!" Chase ranted as she paced in front of me. "A blind, vain, arrogant, jealous fool!"

I didn't comment as I sat at the edge of Chase's bed and stared at the ground.

"How could he have passed you over? The victory ratios are meaningless!" she shouted, and looked at me. "You are the better fighter, I've seen it! Stern has his strength, and that's the sole reason he was able to defeat you! He has a fair amount of talent, but compared to you it's nothing!"

I think Chase might have been slightly biased, but I agreed with the sentiment.

"The victory ratios weren't merely close, they were nearly indistinguishable! Four matches! Four matches worth of difference! And you two have duelled what has to be hundreds of times!"

I grit my jaw. "Chase."

She ignored me, and kept pacing. "No, Stygus didn't actually bother to spend time with your year and find your strengths and weaknesses for himself, he just relied on what your teachers had to say."

"Chase," I said a bit more loudly.

"You know, I bet the fact I was your mentor had some influence on his decision as well! He hates sharing Luna, and he's never liked me. Respected me, maybe, but doesn't change the fact he's always trying to rotate me out and away from Lady Luna."

"Chase!" I repeated and clopped my hooves to get her attention.

"That blind, arrogant, vain piece of-"

"Chase!" I shouted.

She paused in her pacing and looked at me.

"You're pacing and ranting," I said after a moment. "Not helping."

She frowned at me, but after a moment she sighed and nodded. "You're right." Sitting on the bed next to me, she turned and asked, "So, what are we going to do about this?"

I swallowed, and stared at the floor again. There was only one thing I really could do. "Move on? " Just saying that felt like a kick to the gut.

Chase sat next to me, silent for a moment before she put her hoof around my shoulder. I was taller than she was these days, but she still hugged me to her chest and stroked my mane. Part of me wanted to push her away and say I wasn't a foal anymore, most of me just wanted to accept the closeness and let her wipe away my tears.

The real pain of it was how long I'd worked towards this. Hours of my free time in the courtyard, now wasted. I practiced not just with the ponies from my year, but the years above me, and with any nightkin that was willing as well. This wasn't just something I merely wanted, this was something I'd been working towards ever since I was foal. And I had every chance of getting it too. It wasn't a pipe dream or wild flight of fancy, it was something I'd always had a very good chance of achieving. I was strong, fast, and I'd always enjoyed it.

My special talent lent itself well to the ebb and flow of combat, and though there was no music to accompany, I always loved the delicate hoof work and precise timing that came with every moment of combat. It wasn't my special talent, but in the absence of stage and song, it was the closest I ever got to utilizing it fully.

But now that all the work and passion was just... thrown away, I felt not just disappointed but resentment. Damn Stygus for not choosing me, damn Stern for being chosen, and damn Starlit Path for training him so well. I was holding back tears, and at the same time I was fighting the need to take a knife to Stern while he slept .

Damn it! That was my title! Mine!

After a moment, Chase stopped stroking my mane, and pushed me away from her as she stood up. Once more, she started pacing in front of me, frowning in thought. I watched her, wondering what she was about to suggest.

After a minute of silence broken only by her hooves on the stone floor, she stopped and turned to me. "There's still a way for you to become Second."

I didn't respond immediately, just watched for a moment, before I wiped my eyes and asked, "How?"

"We won't convince Stygus to change his mind. So, we go above him to the ultimate authority of Castle Blackrock."

I blinked. "Her Grace..."

"Exactly," Chase nodded, and started pacing again. "If we can prove to Luna herself that you deserve to be Second over Stern, then she'll definitely give the title to you. And, it'll help you stand out from the others in your year for the Green."

I nodded, smiling at the thought. The attentions of Lady Luna, and the title I deserved, it sounded almost too good to be true.

"But, it would be risky." Chase looked towards me. "Not just a little, but a lot."

I tilted my head to the side.

"If you make that challenge, Luna will see it as more than just you versus Stern, but also me against Stygus. You've been given an order by your captain, who's been chosen by your Goddess. By questioning his authority, you're mutinying against Luna's will. If you lose, that is. I'll have to back you up, or it won't be seen as a legitimate challenge. You'll need me to support your claim, so my neck will be on the line too."

I nodded.

"Sometime during this coming month, Luna will stop by the training yards and pick out someone from your year to be the first one blessed. When Luna does that, the first time that is, you challenge Stern Conviction to a duel. If you win, and it's a clean win, Luna will decide you should be Second. Stygus will be punished for picking the wrong pony, and chances are I'll get in her good books. If you lose though, the punishment will be harsh and humiliating, and you can kiss your chances of the Green goodbye. I'll be thrown on the spit with you, and probably rotated out to the worst station possible for a few months, maybe even Canterlot."

I frowned. "What will happen to Stern?"

"Nothing. If you beat him, he loses the title of Second, but won't be punished because it's not his fault Stygus made a bad decision. If he beats you, he's defended his title and nothing will come of it." Chase shook her head and turned to me. "Anyway, that doesn't really matter. What do you think?"

After a moment I shrugged at her.

She rolled her eyes and trotted forward to stare me in the eyes. "No, Slight, this is a big deal. This isn't just about you and me what you want, it's also about Stygus and if he really deserves to keep his rank. This won't just affect us, but all the nightkin. Do you think that you're the best warrior of your year?"

I swallowed. "Yes."

"Then it's your duty to serve Luna to the fullest of your abilities, regardless of what you want and the risk to yourself. To do otherwise would be blasphemy. I'm not going to force you to fight, but you need to remember that you're a servant of Lady Luna before anything else. All that really matters is how well you serve her. If you think you're the best warrior, and I think you are, it falls to you to prove that and to take that talent as far as you can in our Lady's service." Chase poked me in the chest. "Can you beat Stern Conviction?"

Nodding, I said, "Yes."

"Are you going to challenge him in the sight of our Goddess?" I opened my mouth to answer, but she cut across me. "Really think about this. Really, really think about this, Slight."

What was there that needed thinking about? It would be wrong of me not to challenge Stern, someone needed to stand up against Stygus, and it was my moral duty to fight for Luna's affections, was it not? And that even worked alongside my own desires to be Second. I could defeat Stern, so I would defeat Stern.

"I will challenge Stern Conviction."

Chase nodded at me, and turned away, pacing again. "Alright. Luna's away at the moment, but she'll be back sometime next week. After that, she could stop by your year at any time, but I'll do my best to keep her distracted. In the meantime, you need to practice, a lot. Talk to as many nightkin as you can, spar with as many ponies as you can fit in every hour, find all your weaknesses and work to remove them. If you fail... Well, just don't fail, for both our sakes."

I sat there until she started to glare at me.

"What are you still doing here? Go! It's day time! I'm going to sleep, and you're going to spend every spare hour you can between now and next week perfecting your technique." She started to shove me towards the door. "Go, go, go!"

I stumbled into the hall, and she slammed it shut behind me.

The week and a half passed in a blur, blending together in my mind as a giant mix of tension and aching muscles. The hours I burned away in training didn't really seem to help much. It takes much more than a week to really improve any combatant. Still, we were extremely close before, and as near as I could tell, Stern had actually relaxed a bit since being declared Second, so perhaps I'd taken ahead of him ever so slightly.

As soon as it started, the week ended, and before I knew it, I was lined up in the courtyard as the sun rose over the horizon, waiting to enact the genuinely dangerous part of the 'plan'. Really, it wasn't much of a plan, more of a hope that I could defeat Stern when it mattered most. I wasn't alone, and we were all standing at attention, watching as two from our year duelled in the ring before us. I was barely watching, my stomach churning nervously as I glanced at the current Second. I knew I could beat him, I'd done it before, but... Everypony has off days, and what if today was mine?

Stern Conviction was an earth pony's earth pony, or at least that was how Chase liked to describe him. He was easily the tallest in our year, and the thickest. Not an absolute giant, but certainly a solid sized lump of bone and muscle. He was stronger than I was, and had better endurance. I was an above average earth pony, taller than the average mare of my tribe and with a respectably large pool of earth pony magic. Stern though, was a spectacular earth pony with more raw magic in him than anypony else in our year, unicorn and pegasus included.

Fighting him was never easy, and today I found myself thinking only of just how hard he could buck and just how badly he could outlast me in an endurance contest.

No.

Gritting my jaw, I looked back ahead. I was the better warrior, more skillful, faster, and with better hoofwork. I could beat him. No, not only could, but would.

That was when she appeared. Oh goddess, my heart rate rose as she entered the courtyard, her blue armour glowing with power, her starry mane billowing. Her walk was regal, elegant, supple, perfect. It spoke of power, grace, poise, agility, and danger. She wasn't a mere pony, she was a Goddess, a force of nature. She could destroy this entire courtyard with less effort than it would take me to sip from a glass of water.

And I was about to risk her wrath.

I gulped, and glanced at Chase who was walking some small distance behind her. She caught my eyes, and glanced at Stern Conviction, then back at me. Her message was clear. Are you sure you want to do this?

I hesitated, but after a second I swallowed and nodded. To earn Luna's affections, I had to stand out. I was the best, now I just had to prove that in sight of my Goddess.

I stepped forward out of line, and raised my voice, "I challenge Stern Conviction."

Astral Victory paused, glancing at me with his eyebrows raised. Then he looked back to the two ponies in the ring, who had both stopped and were staring at me, and said, "Alright, you can fight him next-"

"No." I said firmly with a stomp, my heart racing like I'd been galloping for miles. "I challenge him for the rank of Second. He's not the greatest warrior of our year, I am."

Stygus' deep voice barked out, making me jump. "Song of Night , get back in line!"

I looked at Chase, who nodded at me, then back at Stygus. "No. Your judgment on the Second is flawed, and I wish to prove that to Lady Luna. You're not the ultimate authority here, our goddess is." I bowed low towards the princess.

"How curious, it has been a while since a challenge was issued." Luna smiled, showing the barest hint of her fangs, and glanced at Chase. "Stygus, you know the rules, let us hope that you were correct in your choice. Chase, for your sake, let us hope your charge knows what she's doing. It'd be such a shame to damage that beautiful body of yours."

Chase stepped forward and bowed low. "Slight is-"

"Song," Stygus corrected with a glare.

"Slight," she snapped back. "Slight is without any doubt in my mind the best warrior of this year. Stern Conviction is stronger and has more magic, which is the only reason he has ever been able to defeat her. Stygus is too blind to see it, relying on reports and victory tallies. In a few years' time, Slight will have matured more in body and magic and will clearly outshine him."

"Yes, yes, we care not for the why, merely that a challenge has been issued." Luna flicked a hoof before looking straight at me, her eyes trailing over my body as though she was inspecting me for the first time. I know I was merely being judged for worth, but my pulse soared even faster at her attention. Just that she was looking at me was enough to make my ears burn.

I rose up from my bow and trotted to the ring.

Astral was watching me with no expression. His eyes flicked over me, before he turned to face the assembled class. "Stern Conviction, step forward."

The class parted as Stern made his way to the front. He was looking at me, seeming slightly hurt that I'd done this to him. We both took positions on opposite sides of the ring, and he frowned at me.

"I wish to give Slight a chance to back out, before she does anything that merits punishing."

It was too late for that anyway. I simply shook my head.

"Slight, please. If you lose then..."

"Stop being a coward and fight!" I snapped before he could give the impression he was going to go easy to save me from losing.

He grit his jaw. "Slight," he warned. "Don't force this."

I turned to Astral Victory. "If he continues to try and escape, does that count as a forfeit?"

Stern stomped his hoof and snarled at me. "Fine then! You brought this on yourself!"

Astral stood in the centre of the ring, glancing between us sadly. "Are both the combatants ready?"

"Yes," Stern hissed, and lowered himself to the ground.

I nodded.

"And you both understand this is a true fight? No rules or sparring limitations, if you're at risk of serious injury there won't be any intervention?"

I nodded again and lowered myself, keeping my eyes on Stern.

Stern didn't even respond.

"Then, in that case..." Astral glanced between us again, "You may fight." Then he stepped out of the ring.

We started circling each other, and as always, Stern's hoofwork was precise and perfect. Each step measured and placed just the right distance apart. I shifted the direction left and he copied, circling with me. Neither of us stumbled or put a hoof wrong, so almost a minute passed with us just circling each other.

Then I stepped forward, and Stern darted in to meet me. His strikes were hard and fast, perfectly executed jabs and without overextending at all. No window opened up as I ducked between and under his strikes, before shifting back a step. He followed forward and feinted to his right. I spotted the move, and backed away again to avoid the heavy blow he prepared but didn't use.

Fighting Stern was always difficult. His defence perfect, but his offence slightly delayed. That wasn't an issue for him because his spectacular endurance allowed him to wear down anypony. With enough time, I'd be exhausted and sloppy and he'd take the advantage. He was a precision fighter, never leaving his guard open, but always pressing his opponent.

I wasn't a precision fighter. That's not to say that my hoofwork was slow or wrong, as much as I didn't care for the step-by-step perfection he strove for. To me it was a dance. It wasn't just about doing everything right, it was about feeling the ebb and flow of things, about you and your partner in violence. Not the rote learning of punches and hoof placement, but deciding moment by moment what the next step in the dance was and how to match the tune.

I twisted on my hind hooves, spinning past him and into the centre of the ring again. I didn't get the chance to strike him that I'd hoped for, as he perfectly pivoted and moved forward to keep the pressure up.

I moved forward too, his hoof brushing my ear-tip as I passed through his defence. I'd gotten lucky, I knew that, but it didn't matter. I was past his iron guard now. My strikes weren't half as hard as his, but they were better placed, and he was reeling after a painful clap to his ear. He still kept his perfect poise, but that wasn't saving him as I landed another blow on his jaw. Catching my hoof with his, he tried to land a counter attack. Sliding around it, I knocked his forehoof away, and with both his forehooves off the ground he had to rear back to stay upright. Spinning on my forehooves, I knocked his hind legs out from under him, and double bucked him in the stomach while he was still in the air.

It was a heavy blow, and I felt it in my legs as I was turning to face him again. Stern wasn't even winded as he stood back up with dust on his coat and frustration on his face. This time I darted forward to fight him, but no, his defence was back up and my attacks were all blocked. Overextending on my left, he landed a glancing blow on my shoulder that nearly knocked me out of balance.

Nearly.

His eyes widened as he realised what he'd expected to be a strong hit wasn't, and I was inside his guard again. He was backing from me now, barely keeping pace as I landed more than one solid hit on his chest and shoulder, but without much effect because of just how tough he was. Then I overextended, and his blow to my face knocked me clean off my hooves.

Even dazed, I rolled to standing and avoided his follow up strikes. Most of them. He still scored another blow to my face, no doubt blackening my eye, and a strike on my shoulder, leaving a large bruise.

Grabbing his hoof as he punched, and pivoting with his momentum, I threw him over my shoulder. He didn't land right this time, and I smashed my hoof into his exposed stomach, fully winding him. He rose to his hooves, but failed to block my strike to his head. Staggering away, he slammed into the ground again as I kicked the legs out from under him. My forehooves closed around his, and I pulled him upwards, head-butting his face. I think I cracked the cartilage in his nose as he fell back down.

Panting, I stepped away for a second, and he started to rise again. Darting in, I powered a strike into his kidney and he gasped in pain, stiffening. I stepped over him, and grabbed one of his forehooves, while I wrapped my hind legs around his neck. I tightened my grip, cutting off his breath and nearly yanking his foreleg out of its natural position.

"Yield," I ordered through gritted teeth.

He didn't answer, just wheezed for air.

"Yield. Tap your free hoof three times and I'll stop."

His free hoof went to the ground, but not to tap it. He tried to push himself back up, and I closed my eyes as I pulled on his leg. Screaming in pain as his foreleg dislocated, Stern tried to throw me off again, but needn't have bothered as I stood up by myself.

I'd won the fight. I didn't need to kick him when he was already down.

Then I blinked in realisation as a grin split my face. I'd won the fight! In sight of Lady Luna, I'd won the fight!

I looked over at Chase, and saw her grinning at me.

It was a good, clean fight, with no luck or dirty tricks at all. Well, there was luck when I got through his defence the first time, but other than that? I was the clear winner.

I turned to face Lady Luna and bowed.

Astral Victory barked out, "Win! Song of Night!"

"Slight," I corrected quietly, daring a look up at my Goddess as I waited on her reaction.

"Most impressive," her eyes narrowed as she looked over at Stygus, "Or perhaps, most lacking. Stygus, I want to see you in my chambers first thing tomorrow morning. You're dismissed."

"My Lady!" he protested. "Anypony can have an off day; the outcome of one duel doesn't prove that Song of Night is any better than Stern Conviction."

"Oh, is that so? Tell me, are you confident enough in your choice to agree to another duel tomorrow? And the day after? And the day after that?" Luna licked her lips. "You may be strong, but can your body take that punishment ?"

"M-my Lady," he stuttered as he bowed. "That's not what I was suggesting. I made an informed decision based on how Stern Conviction and Song of Night performed over the year. To the best of my knowledge Stern Conviction remains a stronger warrior."

"Therefore Stern Conviction should win more often, is that not so?" She began walking towards Stygus, her body swaying sensually with a feline grace. "I ask again, are you willing to put your body on the line?"

"...No, My Grace," he answered quietly.

"Ah, and thus we have our answer. You picked a pony you had no confidence in, and that, my dear Stygus, was your mistake. My office, tomorrow morning." Luna looked over at Chase. "You have chosen well; see me tomorrow morning as well." She finally made her way towards me, walking around me, eyes tracing every curve of my body. "Congratulations, your ploy paid off; you are now the Second."

"Thank you, Your Grace," I answered, still bowing as low as I could. My heart was racing, and I wanted nothing less than to stand up and dance and hold hooves with Chase while laughing like a mad pony. For obvious reasons, I didn't do that.

She was suddenly brushing up against me, her coat far softer than any silk, and I could feel her breath on my neck. I could have sworn she licked my ear as well, but that was surely my imagination. My already hammering heart beat faster and harder as blood rushed to my ears.

"Mmmmm..." She licked her lips and trotted past me, her tail brushing along my cheek. "My chambers. Now."

Obediently, I stood to trot after her, before I froze in sudden realisation. Her chambers. Now. Her chambers. Right now.

I put a hoof to my lip, and gulped when it came away bloody. I could feel it swelling, and I knew that my eye was as black as tar. I would be in the chambers of my Goddess while I was bruised and dirty and not ready to be in her presence at all.

For some reason I couldn't fathom now, I hadn't thought of that when planning this.

Luna stopped and looked back to glare at me. "Now," she hissed.

I immediately galloped after her, only glancing over my shoulder to see Stern Conviction glaring at me with hate, pain, and betrayal. He was clutching his shoulder, and being helped by a unicorn servant with a healing spell. Then I passed through the castle doors and lost sight of him.

Well he shouldn't have accepted the title of Second if he didn't deserve it.

I looked back ahead at Luna, and smiled to myself as I trotted more quickly to match her longer strides. Watching her walk usually entranced me, but now I just felt clumsy. With a dancing cutie mark, I had always been more graceful and sure-hoofed than even the pegasi in my year. But walking alongside Luna made me feel like a cow next to a cat. Except the cat was larger.

Her tail glittered with a thousand stars as I gazed at her movements, her cutie mark, and any part of her that I could lay my eyes on. Dimly, I realised I hadn't matched my goddess' gaze since I was a foal and too foolish to realise how wrong that was.

But that didn't matter. I'd done it. I'd earned the title of Second; I was now one of the Three. A wide grin split my face, and before I could help myself I rose up onto my hindhooves and did a giddy twirl. Halfway through it I realised what I was doing, and completed the motion as fast as I could, pretending it hadn't happened, but Luna was already staring at me with a smile on her face.

"Tell me, have you ever worn normal clothing before?" Her tail flicked up at me playfully. "With those dancing skills and some nice clothing..."

I gulped and stared at the ground. "No." My eyes widened as I realised how short an answer that was, too brusque for a higher ranking officer, let alone Lady Luna, the Liege of the Night herself. "I-I- Uh... That is, no, Your Grace. I never have."

"Well it is never too late to learn. I've got a particularly delicious outfit that would work perfectly on you." A shudder ran through my body as her gaze trailed along me. "Most definitely, but another time perhaps. I have something different in mind for tonight."

A blush covered my face, and I hated myself for it. I was the Second, wasn't I? The Second doesn't blush like a foal with a crush. "A-As you wish, your Grace."

Without warning I was forced against the wall, her tongue in my mouth, dominating me and forcing me to submit. I was too surprised to do anything other than stare at her closed eyes and freeze in blind panic. Then just as suddenly as it began, she was gone, walking along normally as she said over her shoulder, "Personally I find the crush rather endearing. It's a nice change of pace. "

I stared at her, mouth agape and panting before I remembered a conversation I'd once had with Chase.

"She can read your mind..." she chuckled and rubbed the back of her neck. "It makes things really incredible when she knows exactly what makes you squirm."

Luna could read my mind. Internally, I prayed that I hadn't thought of anything that would make her unhappy, and then I realised I was praying to her, Luna, the being reading the thoughts from my head, about her not seeing anything in my head that would displease her. The foolishness of such an action was undeniable.

I swallowed as I stared at her walking away, before I galloped to catch up. I slowed to a rapid trot when I was just behind her, and stared at the ground rather than her flank. Not that that helped, because I was still thinking of her flank.

Dimly, I became aware that I truly was bare before her. I might as well be a foal trying to hide a lie from a parent. Even more so, actually.

Was she reading my mind as I realised all this?

Though there was no answer, she moved directly before me, her tail slipping to one side as her flank swayed in my face. My mind froze, and my body reacted as I threw myself to the left, slamming into the wall on my bruised shoulder. A moment later I facehoofed.

Obviously, Luna wouldn't have done that if she hadn't wanted me to watch her flank. Why was I such a fool? I never wanted to be First, but perhaps a modicum of intelligence wasn't too much to ask for. Now I was acting like a true idiot in front of my Goddess. My dreams of how this night would go weren't quite surviving reality.

And then her laughter reached my already burning ears and I wished that I hadn't defeated Stern Conviction. I could have just been another nameless face among the nightkin, serving her in grateful silence. But no, I just had to be ambitious. I just had to be one of the Three, didn't I?

I shook my head and scowled, catching up to Luna again. No. This was what I wanted. This was what I'd earned. It was my duty to serve Lady Luna as best as I could, and that meant being the Second of my year.

With new-found determination, I set my eyes on her flank, staring at it intensely.

Then I realised just how stupid that was and looked at the ground again, blushing.

Would somepony please just end me?

This was the longest walk of my life, and Astral Victory occasionally took us on week long hikes.

Finally, we arrived at her chambers, and I was more grateful than I'd ever been to see something as simple as a door. Luna opened it with her magic and entered, and I went to trot after her, but hesitated in the doorway.

These were my Goddess's chambers, not just Chase's or the barracks. This was where divinity rested. Shouldn't there be more... ceremony, or something of the like, before I entered? Was it truly right for me to just walk in like-

I felt magic wrap around me and yank me into the room. Next thing I knew, I was slammed against the wall, Luna's mouth searching for mine, her tongue cleaning the blood from my face. It was a moment, before I lost myself to it, throwing myself at her with all the enthusiasm of a starving pony at a bowl of salad. I didn't even care that she had read that terrible analogy straight from my mind.

Only my mouth found air as she pulled back at the very last second, a smirk plastered all over her face. "Bad Slight. Tonight is a special night. Tonight you become a nightkin, so be a good girl, understand?"

Heat was flowing to my loins, and I wanted nothing more than to try and tackle her to the bed right then, but... I swallowed and stepped back, staring at the floor. Though I still fidgeted, anxious to start. Right then I didn't care about the ritual and the nightkin in any way. All I wanted was for her to take me.

I scowled as I realised what I'd just thought. "Take me?" I muttered, hating every fibre of my being.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk, that is going to cost you." Her horn lit up and the ground beneath me burst to life, intricate lines running in all directions. Glowing red lines. There was a flash of light and a vial of a murky, almost white fluid levitated before me. "Drink up, my dear, for the most memorable night of your life."

I took the vial in my lips and tossed it back with no hesitation. My eyes bugged and my throat burned as whatever was in it went down as smooth as shattered glass. Instinctively, I tried to spit it out, but the liquid refused to leave me, crawling down to my stomach even as the vial smashed on the floor. Dimly, I was aware of my head hitting the ground, but mostly I was clutching my throat and trying to breathe.

It couldn't have been long before I was finally able to fill my lungs, but it felt like it had to be several minutes. Shakily, I rose to my hooves, every breath burning.

"What was that?" I whispered hoarsely, any feeling of arousal dead and gone.

"That was the start of something beautiful," she whispered seductively, her voice seemingly coming from all around me at the same time.

I blinked and searched for her, but I could only see shadow. Something inside me panicked, and I backed away from the endless dark, fear rising inside me. It took me a second, but I stomped down on my emotions and reasserted control. For some reason I was trembling, but it wasn't due to fear as I stepped forward again.

"My Lady, where are you?" I asked, spinning around slowly, searching for her. Oh, bad idea. Doing that made me dizzy, even if it was slow, and the world tilted. No the world hadn't tilted, I had. As I fell, the ground seemed to only get further and further from me, shrinking far off into the distance. Then, just as suddenly, it rose up and slammed into me.

I rolled onto my back, and stared up at a ceiling that... I blinked. I had no idea why, but I swear the roof was staring back at me. Why was the roof staring? Roofs shouldn't stare.

"Do not worry, my little pony, the fun is about to begin," came the silky whisper. A moment later, something straddled me around the waist, and pulled me up to rest again Luna's chest. Her silken coat made shivers roll down my spine, and I nuzzled against it. A moment later, a knife flashed.

"My Lady!" I shouted and tried to stand up, but her hooves held me firmly against her.

The knife buried into her chest, and blood sprayed over my face. I panicked and desperately tried to pull away, and then I smelled it.

Her blood smelled like... it smelled like... the deepest richest fruit I'd ever imagined. Like the finest wine anypony had ever made.

Before I knew what was happening, I snatched the knife from her chest and licked the blood off it, cutting my tongue as I did. I didn't care. That flavour enchanted me and demanded my all. I tossed the knife away and went straight to the source, suckling from the wound in her chest. Sadly though, the wound closed over, and the delicious flow stopped. I tried to bite into the flesh and rip it back open, but my blunted teeth found no purchase.

Then I felt a hoof against my chest, and I was pinned to the ground. A hoof flicked my nose, and a stern voice reprimanded, "No."

I whimpered as I stared up into her beautiful blue eyes. The cat-like slits seemed to grow, and I found the ground falling out from beneath me as I drifted up into her pupils. The world receded to the corners of my vision before vanishing entirely, and all that lay before me were voids of midnight.

Then she broke eye contact, and I collapsed to the ground with my head throbbing. A heavy warm cotton was stuffed inside my skull, and a voice inside me screamed. No wait, that wasn't inside me. That was me. Screaming.

When I realised I was screaming, I stopped and sat up confused. Why did I just scream? I wasn't in pain. Looking around, I saw I was still in Luna's chambers, sitting in the middle of a ring off runes and strange words written in languages I didn't understand. All the lines were glowing, and as I breathed in I realised some of those lines were drawn in blood. Luna's blood.

I dove for the nearest symbol with my mouth watering, just as I felt teeth close around my mane. Yanked out of the air, I was thrown on my back in the centre of the circle again, Luna glaring down at me.

"No, bad." She kicked my side and I yelped in pain as ribs cracked. "You've had yours. Stay."

I whimpered and nursed my side as she stepped out of the ring and turned to face me again. Her horn glowed and I was suddenly jerked into the air. The runes around me transformed from glowing red to a shadowy black. They spread like spider webs until the floor was covered in ashy looking powder.

Then I crooned. I don't know what happened, but I opened my mouth and some sound came out. A high pitched wailing, singing that sounded like more than one voice. It rose and fell and I realised I couldn't have been the one singing because I didn't have this much air in my lungs.

Then Luna's horn stopped glowing, and the circle disappeared. I hung there suspended in her telekinesis, as I looked up at my Goddess, panting.

She smirked and walked towards me, hips swaying and her wings ruffling excitedly. She breathed near my face, and I smelled something beautiful and floral on her breath. As she began nuzzling me, I was gently lowered to the ground, her wings covering my back. I could hear her heart beating, slower than mine, but rising steadily. She smiled down at me, touching my face with her hoof. I smiled up at her, leaning into her warmth.

Then I dove for her throat, dreaming of blood that sang.

Luna saw my clumsy attempt, and didn't even seem bothered as she moved with my momentum, throwing me to her bed. Then I fell, down, down, down, the roof spiralling far overhead as I dropped deep into the bowels of the earth. I didn't know when I landed, but I grunted with pain when I did. The black silk sheets covered a soft mattress, but even so, my broken ribs hurt terribly.

Then she was on top of me. Her tongue in my mouth as I was pressed down into the softness beneath me by the softness above me. I bit down, grabbing her tongue with my teeth and trying to make it bleed. Above me she shivered, and kissed harder. My forehooves wrapped around her neck and pulled her closer. Her lips mingled with mine, making me groan into her mouth even as I gnawed and chewed, seeking that glorious blood.

Then her tongue pressed against one of my teeth, and I felt it wobble. My eyes widened and a tiny amount of panic crawled through me as she touched more of my teeth. Then she pushed one, and it twisted out of its socket. I should have felt pain, instead I shuddered with delight as she pushed all of my teeth out of place one by one. I must have swallowed a few, but a second later she sat back and spat out the rest . My pearly whites glistened with blood as they tumbled to the mattress beside her, and she smiled at me, exposing her fangs.

She then nibbled my ear and trailed soft bites down the side of my neck. My ears flickered with pleasure, and inside my mouth I felt pressure along my gums as something inside them pressed upwards. Sharp canines pushed out of the holes were my teeth once were, and I faintly tasted blood in my mouth. It tasted good, and I probed the new teeth with my tongue, quivering in delight as Luna began trailing nibbling kisses across my chest, along my belly, and towards my marehood.

Then she kissed me in the mouth again, but she was still trailing kisses up my inner thigh. I blinked in confusion as I saw two Lunas sharing the bed with me. I opened my mouth to speak, when one Luna occupied it with her tongue. My hind leg kicked and twitched in delight as the other Luna's lips touched my other lips, and I gasped for air as I felt every muscle in my stomach tighten. She probed, her perfect tongue touching my inner wall.

Oh sweet glorious Grace.

One Goddess above me, holding me down and dominating me, another Goddess between my thighs, pleasuring me. No matter how I struggled, I would be subjected to sensations so glorious that words become paltry as I flail to describe just how divine this moment was.

Then her jaw clamped down. I struggled and tried to sit up at the shock of it, but the Lady above me kept me down, while Her Other Grace tore into the flesh of mare-folds. She was biting... something, something glorious. She wrenched and tore at me and I screamed with pleasure. My skin ripped away, as she pulled along my belly, exposing another layer of silky dark fur beneath. Wrenching and tearing, my old coat was pulled away with surprisingly little blood as the rending Luna ripped away the weak pathetic flesh of an earth pony, and left behind the perfect dark grey coat of a nightkin.

The Luna holding me down paused with her head over mine and I whimpered and smiled up at her. She smiled down at me and leaned in to kiss me, her tongue licking the blood off my newly emerged teeth. Then she pulled back and bit my upper lip. I smiled and nodded at her, not that she needed my permission.

The flesh of my face stung a little more than rest of me did as it was torn away, but it was the most glorious sensation of freedom. As if I'd been confined somewhere hot and moist and was now feeling crisp, cool air on my coat. The rest of my skin peeled away as smooth as cloth, and Luna's magic tossed the sodden, bloody mess over her shoulder.

The two Luna's then turned to each other, and kissed passionately. I sat up to join them, but without even a thought, the Luna bloody from tearing my folds away put her hoof out and held me to the bed. As I watched, my goddesses merged into one, and I was left with one true vision of perfection once more.

Her hoof nudged my shoulder, pushed me to the left, and I rolled over obediently. Her strong hooves steadily massaged my shoulder and back, and I felt my excitement dimming as the repetitive kneading didn't carry the same sensual pain and pleasure her teeth had. I started to rise again, when Luna pressed me down into the bed.

"Stay," she purred into my ear, but the heavy pressure on my back reminded me of how forceful she could be. I whimpered as my cracked ribs twinged, but I obediently went with it as Luna rolled me onto my belly and began to nibble at my sides. I was starting to feel aroused again, as her fanged teeth gently tested my skin until she bit lightly and drew blood.

Then she stabbed with her horn.

Deep and hard.

I'd never been with a stallion, or anypony for that matter, but I screamed at having Luna inside me. Every muscle in my body stiffened as Luna penetrated my side, and my wine-like juices squirted over her face. She licked her lips, savouring my flavour as she rolled me over. I was paralysed, unable to move as I almost whited out from the perfection I was experiencing.

Then Luna stabbed my other side.

My back arched and I screamed louder than I'd ever screamed before. I felt Luna's muzzle pushing the wound open further until her teeth gripped one of my ribs. I squirmed as she pushed my bones around, shifting them into position for what was to come next.

She tugged.

A bloody leathery black protrusion was dragged from me, as she brought my glistening wings into the candlelight. Everything ceased to mean anything. All that existed was Luna, my bleeding sides, and the waves of ecstasy rolling from my loins and across the rest of my body as she rolled me over and set to work doing the same for my other wing. My muffled cries into the pillow accompanied the wet slurp of new limbs being dragged out of my body and into the world.

Millennia later, reality returned and I collapsed back to the bed, still twitching occasionally, as Luna lay next to me.

Her wing draped over my back, and I stared at my trembling hooves. My coat was gone, torn from me and replaced with a new fur of dark grey. Shaking, I looked over to glance at my new wings, and they shifted on my back. I stretched them out, watching the black leathery limbs as they responded to my command as naturally as if I'd always had them. Tears touched my eyes as I stared at my new, perfect form, and I turned to look up at my Goddess.

She reached down, and wiped the tear from under my eye, blood glistening on her hoof. A mirror appeared beside her to show me my face. It was almost like my old one, but more shapely, more beautiful. Less blunt and broad like an earth pony, and more elegant and angular like a pegasus. My eyes had changed too, transforming into the cat-like golden slits all nightkin had. My ears had grown, and I smiled as I saw my teeth, now canine and predatory. The only thing unchanged was my cutie mark. The golden horseshoe surrounded by a blue swirl.

"Thank you," I whispered hoarsely.

"You'll have the chance to repay me," she purred back and nuzzled my face. "It's my turn now. Normally I prefer more experienced and refined hooves, but... in this case, I can see the appeal of the young and eager fumbling of a newborn ."

She was perfect. My Goddess was glorious and perfect and truly the ultimate good of Equestria. Of course I had to be Second. Not because it was about me, not at all. I'd been wrong to demand the rank because I wanted her affections. It made little difference whether or not I deserved the rank or not, all that mattered was that I served my Goddess with my all. And to do that, I had to be the best I could possibly be.

For her.

A small distinction perhaps, but an important one.

She smirked, and pulled me closer for a kiss. "Then serve me, little Slight." When her lips separated from mine, her wings pressed against my shoulder and pushed me down towards her fruits.

Days, weeks, months, years, it matters not. A glorious eternity later, I lay under the wings of perfection, the top of my head touching the bottom of her jaw. Her coat was smoother and softer than anything I'd ever touched, and the way it rubbed against me with her every breath made me shiver. Her leg around my chest tugged me closer, and she nuzzled me gently as she slept.

I smiled at her, and snuggled deeper into her perfect wings, and breathed her divine scent in deeply. It mingled with the sweat of my body, the blood of my change, and the bodily juices of our activities.

I watched her sleep for a moment or two, before I rested my head against her chest. Slowly sleep overtook me, and the warden of dreams granted me a peaceful rest under the wings of her affections. Chase hadn't been wrong.

This was the best day of my life.