The Princess and the Guard Chapter 8

    The night was fresh and clear, only small misty clouds were in the night sky, silence in all its beauty filled the air. The citizens of Ponyville were all in their beds fast asleep.
    Twilight prepared her saddle bag with only super necessary stuff, a tooth brush a hair brush, mini emergency pack and a single red apple. She was worried and a little scared; her legs were shaking as she prepared her things. Her recently washed mane, still wet, calmed her with the still fresh smell of her herbal shampoo.
    Downstairs Oni Fire slowly woke up to the soothing night air, his bones were hurting and his muscles sore, but the moonlight would always be gentle with his over worked body. He remembered the letter and Princess Luna’s words. His devotion to the Moon Princess was pure and true. His ancestors had always lived in caves deep in the Equestrian Mountains; they called themselves night ponies, known as bat ponies in general because they were bound to the night and the moon. Born with leathery wings, poisonous fangs and night vision eyes they were compatible with the sometimes tough nightlife. Their coats and fur always remained in dark colors to camouflage. They were technically a new race, discovered 200 years after Princess Luna’s banishment.
    Ponies always feared them because of their dark features and natural behavior, Celestia was soon informed of this new race and soon became familiar with them, she had explained to them that the moon was not hers and that it belonged to a mare that was, at the moment sealed in it. The night Ponies chose to remain hidden in the mountains, only a few families decided to live among the daylight ponies. The night stallions soon became the royal moon guards, devoted to their unknown Princess of the night. The night ponies had always been grateful to the moon and its gifts. They knew it was also a prison for its real owner and they understood why. The moon was powerful to them, it made night ponies strong, it was vital to them and they would honor its gifts and would protect the night until the real moon bearer would rise once again.
    When she did, her sister soon took her to the nearest colony in the mountains; the night ponies showed her their gratitude. They showed her scrolls, books and old paintings that proved her that her night had never been unnoticed, maybe to normal ponies, but to them…the night was vital. The night guards stood before her with total devotion presenting themselves as Luna’s protectors.
    The moon Princess cried of emotion, there she stood, powerless and weak from being sealed a thousand years inside her body, her once starry translucent mane was gone, her body stuck in mortal youth, she looked so weak and helpless, but the night ponies bowed to her as if she was still the powerful alicorn she once had been.
    Oni Fire was there and for some time he was Luna’s personal guard, teaching her how everything worked in Equestria, he shared his life with her, told her about his friends and about his love. Luna soon became the mare she once was, her mane recovered its immortal essence, her body grew and her coat darkened. She was back; the true Princess of the night was back. Soon she had no need for personal guards, for she was extremely powerful.
    Oni trained her good, provided protection and friendship, he had been her guardian. Now he didn’t had to be anything more that a guard to her. She was ready to face things on her own. Luna always knew about Oni’s past, the things he has to live and the ponies that prevented him to be consumed by vengeance and hatred, two of them were gone and one remained with him.
    Oni soon was called to defend the borderlines with the Wastelands in case the Changelings rose from their banishment, But treats to Equestria were always present, during the day, the borderlines only faced minimal threats such as exiled ponies trying to get in and confused dragons that woke up from their millennium nap… at night the REAL threats appeared. Creatures of all sorts tried to get in, each and every one with the single purpose… to take whatever revenge they held to Equestria or the Princesses.
    That was Oni’s job, to prevent or to kill whatever creature dared to set a foot hoof or whatever in the land. The scars in his body represented his battles with dragons, gryphon’s and lots of different dangerous creatures, he had pushed his body to its limits. He had broken his wings countless times, he had flown under the sunlight burning his wings, crushed bones, cuts and more. Any wound you could imagine… Oni at some point experienced it.
    Pain was something natural to him; physical pain would always shut the one he was feeling inside. He had always been the crazy one, the one with the maniacal evil grin, the one who loved to kill and fight… and it was true… he was not going to lie… But one stallion and two mares had pulled him off his darkness in to the white moonlight. He was still the same…. Only … less.
    He stared at the old photograph held in his hoof, in it, four young ponies stared at him with big grins in their faces. The background showed a starry night in a meteor shower, a young orange colt linking wings with a filly of the same color, on the other side doing the same with a dark pony giving a big fanged grin. The bat pony covering a tiny white mare with his wing.
    Oni sighed… those were fun days, filled with games under the stars, unforgettable friends… but now those were only distant memories. They were covered by the events that took place one hideous night, one night were he lost two friends and almost lost his love.
    He heard the sound of hoofsteps coming down the stairs. Quickly shoving the photo in his saddle bag he turned his head hiding the sadness in his face. Twilight stood in front of him, levitating her saddle bag with her magic.
    “It´s almost time princess; I hope that you’re ready because we will not stop until we get to Canterlot”
    Twilight just nodded. Oni noticed her puffy face, she had been crying, he hated crying, he had had to stand as lot of crying.
    “Princess, I really don´t know what to say to you to make you feel better, I suck at these things… but the only thing I can say to you is that Flash is a really good guy, he will protect you no matter what, he may seem…strange sometimes and I will not lie to you….in part is because of me and others that had hurt him deeply… but he … has really deep feelings for you princess, I can see that, even I … can see it … and he will protect you no matter what”
    Twilight listened to Oni´s words carefully, she studied the stallion´s face, he was scrunching it and frowning while talking meaning that he was doing a very difficult thing for him. When Oni finished Twilight smiled and nodded. Oni was a little bit relieved; the mare´s eyes had the same sparkle they always had.
    Soon both ponies heard the heavy hoofsteps armored by golden horseshoes, the tall figure of Flash Sentry in full armor came down the stairs, the Pegasus wore a deep frown, reveling his determination and seriousness.
   “Time to go Princess” he simply said.
    Spike ran to Twilight giving her a hug, she hugged him tightly.
    “I´ll teleport you to Canterlot when I get there ok? I would teleport myself if I could but I can only take one pony with me and it´s still very tiring.” Twilight said cleaning Spike´s eyes from the tears.
    The 3 ponies went outside; they walked to the woods and stopped at a clearing.
    “Why don´t you wear your armor?” Twilight asked to Oni.
    The bat pony smiled.
    “I don´t need one anymore” he said with pride.
    Flash approached Twilight lowering his body to her level.
    “I´ll carry you princess, you still have to heal your wings” Twilight looked at him with watery eyes, she smiled and linked her hooves around his neck, carefully Flash surrounded Twilight´s back and hind legs lifting her from the ground.
    Soon they were in mid air, Twilight covered her face on the crook of Flash´s neck, instead of feeling warmth and fur, she could only feel the cold hard metal. She watched as the town quickly became smaller from the altitude, tears started running through her eyes falling on Flash´s armor. She looked up admiring the moon, the stars and the misty clouds.
    She was heading to trouble, to a possible war and far from her friends.
    “I´ll fly up front so you can follow me, we will hide in the Canterlot cave palace first” Oni said quickly flying a few meters in front of them. He only did it to give them time alone.
    Twilight felt the warm breeze through her mane, the silence of the night sky comforted her.
    “I´m scared” she said in a whisper.
    “Look at my armor Princess” Flash said in a calm steady voice.
    Twilight looked at him confused then her gaze went to his chest, in the armor was incrusted her sparkle, her cutie mark, the symbol that represented his devotion to her, his princes, the symbol that represented her represented his protection, his pride…… his love.
    “I´m not sure I can do this without my friends” she said.
    “I will be there” Flash said whispering to her ear.
    Twilight hugged him tighter.
    And so they flew under the night sky not speaking a single word, Twilight still hugging Flash, him whispering comforting words to her ear slowly driving her to sleep.
    The sun stung her eyes, she could feel the breeze of the sunlight in her fur, the hard armor had turned from cold to warm, making it more comfortable for her to rest her head in it. She could hear Flash´s wings and Oni´s, she felt tired and calmed.
    “Morning Princess, were almost there” Flash whispered in her ear.
    Twilight responded tightening her hug.
    “There’s the cave palace, we should speed up” Oni said beating his wings in a faster pace, Flash told Twilight to hold on tight and did the same.
    Twilight turned her head to face the palace. A giant cave entrance carved with intricate designs stood mighty and beautiful. They landed softly on the entrance; two guards saluted Oni with fear and respect in their eyes, Oni nodded, the guards, dressed in their dark purple armor stepped out of the entrance letting them pass. Flash lowered Twilight to the ground and the three of them started the long walk through the main hall.
    One of the guards led them to Princess Luna´s main room, when the doors opened the beautiful figure of the night princess greeted them in surprise and happiness.
    “I am so happy you could arrive in time, Oni there´s not enough gratitude” Luna said jumping off her throne and trotting towards them.
    Twilight gave the Princess a big smile; the night mare returned the gesture with a hug, that´s when she noticed the bandages covering Twilight´s wings.
    “Young one… what happened to you?!” Luna asked with a concerned expression.
    “I…I kind of did a stupid thing, Flash took care of my wings, there not broken, but they need to rest” Twilight said to the Princess trying to calm her.
    The moon mare quickly regained her composture. “Flash Sentry, they require you for information in the interrogation room, after you’re done you can reunite with the Princess. Oni please take Princess Twilight to the star chambers, I´m sure you are eager to go there to.”
    “As princess Twilight´s personal guard I cannot leave her side in this matter” Flash said with full determination in his voice.
    Princess Luna could see the concern in the stallion´s eyes.
    “I know, but it would be better if you take care of that matter so you can fulfill your duty as a guard, It´s an order soldier, you look tired and it would be better if you just finished protocol matters now” Luna said to Flash with a deep authoritative voice.
    Flash directed his eyes to Twilight asking her to go or not, Twilight smiled and nodded, Flash obeyed, bowing to the Princess of the night, he left accompanied by a night guard.
    “Oni will take you to your chambers, we will prepare a personal room for you later on, during the mean time you will stay in the star chambers ok?” Luna asked.
    “What about the threat made to Equestria?” Twilight asked worried.
    Luna sighed. “We will discuss that later, now you need to rest.”
    Twilight nodded in agreement.
    “Oni you´ve been flying under the sunlight for too long, I am deeply sorry for making you do that again” Luna said with full concern in her voice.
   The Night pony gave her a big grin.
    “You know how I am Princess, this is nothing”
    Luna gently shook her head giving him a small smile.
    “Come on Princess we have to go” Oni said leading the way. Twilight followed him in silence.
    Oni took her through corridors filled with paintings; they passed a library the dining room and the sleeping quarters. Soon they arrived they arrived to a door, in it there were three stars carved, underneath it was read “Star Room”.
    Oni sighed in relief and pushed the door open. Twilight gasped amazed, a large and wide circular room, walls covered in beautiful green crystal plaques. Books and scrolls littered in different corners, on top of her head a giant dome stood covered in black curtains. In the center a magnificent telescope pointed to the ceiling, behind it a massive mountain of pillows and sheets revealed a small skinny earth pony mare reading a giant book. Her mane was messy and curly, so long that it looked like waves of snow spreading through the covers; her cote was the same snow white color, her eyelashes, long and curvy were bright pure white, her cutie mark which was three diamond stars was almost not seen, bearing the same color.
    The mare heard the silence of the room being interrupted. She lifted her head towards the noise, Twilight got a little surprised by her eyes, deep soft red orbs bright and beautiful as rubies looked directly at her, then her eyes gazed at the stallion. The mare quickly stood from the ground and without any explanation, she quickly trotted towards him.
    Oni wrapped her small frame with his hooves, nuzzling her hair; he closed his eyes breathing her missed scent. The mare wrapped her hooves around his neck, holding him tightly, they shared a small kiss.
    “I missed you so much! are you ok? You don´t have any new injuries don´t you?” the white mare started asking to the stallion.
    “I´m fine, I´m fine… geez stop being so worried”
    “You have a fever… you´ve been flying under the sunlight again…haven’t you?” the mare said frowning at Oni. “For the love of the moon, when are you going to learn!!!” she said quickly shoving a cold towel to Oni´s forehead, the bat pony smiled defeated and rested o top of the covers.
    “Forgive me Princess, my name is White Fur, I´m the star reader, I´ve been informed of the situation, you will be staying with me until they finish preparing a room for you, since the hole castle is designed for night ponies, preparing a room for a daylight pony will take some time” she said to Twilight while covering Oni with a light blanket, the stallion finally dropped his tough exterior giving in to fatigue.
    “But…aren’t you a daylight pony to?” Twilight asked.
    White Fur smiled. “Yes technically I am, but I´m albino… so the sun kind of hurts me, that is why since a filly I´ve been living under the moon light”
    “Oh, I just thought you were naturally white” Twilight said.
    “Everypony thinks that the first time they meet me” White Fur said with a happy face. “Take a seat anywhere you like, I can prepare a sofa for you to, there’s mushy comfy pillows in every corner just pick a place and make yourself comfortable. Oh! If you like to read there are plenty of books here for your use, although most of them are about astrology, the food can be ordered anytime you want, I have apples here but if you like something else, feel free to ask.”
    White Fur´s personality calmed Twilight, the tiny skinny mare gave her a lovely smile adorned by those amazing ruby eyes. White Fur laid next to Oni resting her face next to his, Oni smiled and pushed his face closer to hers. Twilight smiled at the cute display of affection. The scary fierce looking night pony with demon eyes had a lovely caring mare. Without wanting to spoil the moment she silently trotted to a pillow in a far corner, levitating a random book and an apple, she sat on the pillow in silence waiting for her guard.
    She could hear low whispers from the couple laying on the covers, they were talking to each other about their life’s, how much they had missed each other and other things. They sounded happy.
    Twilight concentrated on her book, ignoring the whispers, she smiled sadly, for she wanted the same. She took a bite of the apple, it was delicious.