//------------------------------//
// Chapter IX 
// Story: The Royal Guard 
// by Jacob562 
//------------------------------//

	Thunder Clop bounced around in his small boat. The ocean swelled and bucked in the fierce wind. He held onto the helm with all his might, struggling against the wind and the spray. This tempest had sprung up from no-where. A bolt a lightning cracked through the sky. "Remember your priorities...." Celestias voice echoed even over the howling wind. Above head a sail was ripped in two by a mighty gust. "You can't be like Cadence and Shining Armor...." The sun princess's voice rang out once more. Suddenly a massive wave began swelling up in front of Thunder Clops small boat. It kept rising him higher and higher, soon the bow of the ship was pointing strait up. Thunder Clop held onto the wheel dangling about the ocean churning below him. "I believe she cares for you too...." Celestia rang out one last time before the boat finally capsized.

Thunder Clop was swirling in the black waters. Trying his best to right himself. He started swimming for the surface, struggling against the pain in his lungs, he must breath soon. Thunder Clop crested the water and took a huge gulp of air before a wave came crashing down on his head. Once again he was swirling below the water. He breached the surface once more and suddenly the storm stopped. The ocean was immediately calm. T.C. floated on his back on the surface allowing the current to take him wherever it pleased. He looked up at the sky and watched the last of the clouds blow away. Soon Thunder Clop felt soft sand rise up to meet his back, but he continued floating. He floated up to a soft patch of grass and found that it was no ocean he sailed on, but the lake at the foot of the valley that he loved so much. He lay perfectly content looking up at the cool moonlight.

KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!

The sounds woke T.C. with a start. Thunder Clop looked at his alarm clock, only 10:30, he'd barley been asleep for an hour. Who would be disturbing him though, and why. Thunder Clop wearily walked to his bedroom door, rubbing his eyes.

"Yes?" he asked as he opened the door.

"Sorry to disturb you sir!" said a guard pony saluting. "But Captain Sentry has taken ill and requires bed-rest. Princess Luna has asked if you would cover his shift."

Thunder Clop hesitated for a moment, he was still extremely sleepy. Finally he replied "Yes of course, I'll be ready in a few minutes."

Thunder Clop pulled on his armor and grabbed his gear. He was exhausted, but somewhat excited to be with Luna again. This schedule shift had been harder than he thought, it had only been about a week since the switch over and all ready he missed Luna terribly (he had forgotten all about being upset with her.) It only took Thunder Clop a few moments to get to the throne room but, to his surprise, Luna was not there. He inquired with the other guards who told him that Luna was in her room, she had left soon after she ordered the guards to wake him.

Why didn't she just wake me herself then? thought T.C. my room is directly on the way to hers. He slowly climbed the stairs to the top of the tower. He got to Luna's receiving room, but she was not there either. He knocked on the door to her office. "Enter" he heard voice through the thick oak doors. Thunder Clop walked through the door to see Luna sitting at the couches and table, with a stack of board games to one side. Thunder Clop immediately knew what she had in mind.

"Good, you are here," she said enthusiastically, "now we can put this matter of whom is better than whom at playing games." She smiled slyly at T.C. as he walked to his seat across from her.

"All right Luna, if you're really that determined to get your flank spanked tonight, I guess I must oblige" Said Thunder Clop tauntingly.

"I believe it is I, who shall be administering the pain." replied Luna.

First they played chess, a game both were familiar with, though Luna did have the advantage of being around since its invention. Their first game or two was somewhat even and won by Luna but soon T.C. hit his stride, and began to beat Luna, quite badly to her dismay. Next they played a game of risk, with only two ponies it did not take too long, and once again T.C. beat Luna soundly. "This game is nothing like a real war." Said Luna dismissively as she reached for the next box, Hoofopoly. She managed to beat T.C. at this game, it had never been one of his favorites. Soon it was early morning, about 4 o'clock, and Luna and T.C. were enjoying a game of changeling-checkers. T.C. was beating Luna once again when suddenly she sat up right and folded her arms across her chest. 

"I grow weary of this pass time." She said.

"Now Princess," said Thunder Clop adopting a rather gloating tone, "you promised not to pout."

"I am not pouting." Said Luna matter-of-factly. "Princesses do not pout. I was merely stating that I wish to partake in another activity."

"Okay then," replied Thunder Clop. "What should be do?"

Luna pondered for a moment before speaking, "It is a glorious night, we should be outside enjoying it, instead of being couped up in the tower like this." Luna stood up and walked though her room to the balcony. She beckoned Thunder Clop to follow. Luna stood in the moon light, a soft breeze blowing through her mane. Suddenly she jumped from the balcony and took flight. Thunder Clop followed, it felt good to spread his wings, it had been far too long since he'd had a chance for a leisurely flight. 

But Luna was in no mood for leisure tonight. She darted up and down, out and around the turrets and towers of the castle. Thunder Clop chased her through the sky above the palace grounds, Luna always stayed playfully out of reach. After they had completed several laps Luna allowed T.C. to catch up with her briefly, only long enough to tell him to follow her. Then she took of speeding towards the distant mountains. Luna gained altitude, higher and higher she guided Thunder Clop, occasionally diving through a cloud, dissolving it in a mist of cool spray. T.C. did his best to keep up, but the Princess seemed to have an endless reserve of energy. She slowed once again, "It is not far now T.C." she said before speeding in front again.

"Were are we going?" Breathed Thunder Clop. They were far into the mountains now, though the summer night air was still comfortably warm.

"You shall see soon enough." Replied Luna teasingly. 

It was not long before Luna began to descend. She banked and hugged the steep side of the mountain. Luna began to gain speed and soon was out of Thunder Clops sight. He followed the direction she had gone and soon rounded a rock out cropping. What he saw stunned him. He was hovering above a valley nearly identical to the one from his filly-hood. A small stream snaked its way through the landscape and collected in a small pond at the foot of the valley. Even at night Thunder Clop could make out the crystal clear water. He watched as Luna gracefully landed in the meadow surrounding the pond. She folded her wings and sat on a shallow grass covered hill near the shore. Thunder Clop followed her down and landed softly beside her.

"Luna," he started, "This place is beautiful."

"I thought you might like it here." She said knowingly, "Dose it not remind you of someplace?"

"Yes," said Thunder Clop, "It's exactly like a place back home. My brother and I used to love to camp there. I think of it often..."

"You even dream of it." Said Luna.

Thunder Clop looked over at Luna, "So it was the real you in my dreams. Why didn't you just tell me?"

"I would have if I could have" replied Luna, "but I learned long ago that if I reveal my true identity to ponies while they sleep it often causes them to wake. And being trapped in a dream as it slams shut is, well, a less than pleasant experience."

Thunder Clop looked down at the grass. "So then you know how I feel about you?"

"I do," replied Luna, "but you should know how I feel about you, surely by now?" Luna lay down on the grass.

"Oh, I have a pretty good guess," Said T.C. laying down beside Luna, facing her.

"Good," she said softly, "Then let us try this one last time...." Luna and Thunder Clop both closed their eyes. Soon T.C. could feel Luna hot breath on his lips. He moved them forward to meet hers. It was a wonderful sensation. The princess had the softest, most delicate lips T.C. had ever felt. Before either of them knew it they were in a tight embrace. They lay bathing in the moonlight on top of the soft grass kissing passionately, both caught up in the shear ecstasy of the moment. It was no wonder they didn't notice the sound of flapping wings or the thud of a landing pony.

"What EXACTLY is going on here!?"

T.C. looked up to see Princess Celestia standing above them fuming, a red sun slowly rising behind her.