//------------------------------// // Chapter 4 // Story: A Moon's Tale // by Dark0592 //------------------------------// Luna half expected to wake up in some embarrassing position with Twilight, though while she wasn’t she wasn’t too far off. They weren’t wrapped around each other, but their faces were centimeters apart. Luna was afraid to move, lest she wake up the other. She didn’t know why but it would have been embarrassing regardless. So she stayed there, watching the other sleep. She could hear the deep breathing of Celestia sleeping on the other side of the room, but didn’t dare turn to look. It was nearly ten minutes before the unfamiliar feelings and embarrassment passed and she was able to calm herself. She looked around the room a bit, realizing the sun wasn’t even up yet. By the moon in the sky out of the window, barely peeking over the horizon, it was very early in the morning. She would normally rise in about an hour or so. Luna looked back to Twilight and found the girl’s eyes were open. Luna nearly fell off the bed, earning a soft giggle. “Shh, you’ll wake the Princess. She likes to sleep in late.” She whispered. Luna looked back at the Princess, who looked like she slept like a rock, and then back to Twilight and nodded. “So, like what you see or were you just sleeping with your eyes open for a while?” She continued with a sly grin. Luna flushed up and couldn’t form any words in her mouth, earning another giggle from the girl. “Oh I had to, I know you’re not used to this.” She said with a grin, yawning and sitting up. “Now I’d normally offer to share a bath to save time, but I’ve a feeling that would be more awkward than anything else so I’ll just have to go first.” Twilight said, standing and walking towards the hall. Luna was grateful her back was turned because her face was so flushed with crimson at the thought it felt like the temperature had risen. “Do you fancy my student, Sir Rose?” She heard, the voice startling her. She saw Celestia proppedo n an elbow, tiredly staring at her with a grin. “I-I don’t know…” Luna said, looking to the side. Celestia giggled and yawned wide. “Damn it’s far too early for my tastes… Well fancy her or not she quite fancies you.” The Princess said, stretching out over the bed and adjusting herself to get comfortable. “She… how do you know?” Luna asked. “Well she normally would have been up half an hour ago, and she’ll even wake me up early with breakfast. It would seem she wanted to watch you sleep, I’d say that’s a bit of fancy is it not?” Celestia replied. Luna was silent and Celestia giggled. “It seems I’ve made the good Knight uncomfortable.” She said. Luna smiled and shook her head, even though the other couldn’t see it. “I don’t think that’s the right word for it… I’ve no idea what I think, what I fancy…” She said, ending with a little groan. “Ah well, a day of rushing around in the Tournament should clear your mind. Or muddle it up further, who knows? Now I was having a particularly fanciful dream that I’d like to get back into.” Celestia said, settling back down in full and closing her eyes. Luna looked at her, her breathing had already slowed and she was out. Luna smiled and shook her head, sitting up. She had to do something to get her mind off of the morning, so she decided to go check over her gear and her horse. She was feeding her horse a little while later when Twilight entered the back yard with a boal of hot oats and a mug of what she assumed was wine. “You’re free to bathe now, and drink this. It’s wine mixed with an herbal solution that’s supposed to boost your energy, Zecora gave me the recipe.” Twilight said, handing the bowl and the cup over. “Thank you, Twilight, and I think I shall forego a bath this morning. I will dirty my self up pretty well today and I’m not exactly covered in filth at the moment.” Luna said, accepting the breakfast. “As you wish. though there is something I am curious about you that may not be the most common topic of conversation.” Twilight said, the two of them leaning against the hitching posts as Luna ate. “I probably won’t mind, ask away.” Luna said with a shrug. Twilight looked at the ground a moment and put her hands together. “What is your position on a lady fancying another lady?” She asked. Luna nearly dropped her cup and nearly choked on the drink. “Oh I’m terribly sorry, I probably shouldn’t have asked that.” Twilight said, lightly patting Luna’s back as she coughed. “No, no you’re quite alright. It was just… unexpected.” Luna said, regaining herself and setting the cup down on the top of a post. “My position… well, I was raised by a knight but never had much experience with either gender. I do not believe that a person’s fancy should be limited to their opposite.” She continued. Twilight sighed lightly and smiled. “Well then, I suppose it won’t be nearly as odd then if I were to ask you to the banquet after the tournament tonight?” Twilight said, her tone a bit unsure. Luna would have dropped her cup if she was still holding it. “W-What?... um… I...Isn’t the Knight supposed to ask the lady?” She asked. Twilight giggled. “Well, normally yes… But you aren’t exactly a normal Knight.” She retorted. “Fair enough, I suppose I’d be delighted to join you then.” Luna said, putting a hand over her chest and bowing. Twilight was grinning and looking at the ground, playing with part of the hem of her gown. “Great. I’ll be in the stands for the tournament, next to Celestia. I’ll cheer for your crest.” Twilight said. Luna smiled and saddled her horse. “I suppose the sun is rising and I should be getting ready, I have to see Rarity about the lances.” Luna said, looking at the sky. “Alright. Applejack and Dash are in the market somewhere, they should be setting up at this hour, they told me they wanted to talk to you about something.” Twilight said, looking over towards the sunrise. “I’ll see them then. I’ll see you at the tournament then, my lady.” Luna said, grinning, as she mounted Brynhildur and secured the sack that contained her armor in the bags. “Sir Rose.” Twilight said, inclining her head. Luna nodded to her and rode off. “You know there will be a lot of fuss about that, nearly every competing Knight has requested your company at the banquet.” Spike said, yawning, as he came to see what she was up to. “Oh when have I given a damn about causing a little fuss.” Twilight giggled. Spike rolled his eyes. Luna found Applejack and Dash at Rarity’s, rather than in the market, and was surprised by what they had to say. “You want to be my Runner and Squire?” Luna repeated. “Well sure, you’re a pretty interesting Knight.” Dash said. “And the family loved to have you with us, normally they’re indifferent to guests.” Applejack said. “I believe Pinkie was in the market to be a Herald.” Rarity said. “Wasn’t Fluttershy asking you if you knew any Knights looking for a surgeon?” Applejack asked Dash. “So We’ve got Dash as your runner, Pinkie as your Herald, AJ as your Squire, Fluttershy as your Surgeon and I’ll be your Blacksmith and Clothier of course. I suppose whether or not the lot of us stay with you after you leave the village depends on how well you do, at least that’s what I’m thinking.” Rarity summed up. Luna thought for a while. “Well I don’t see why not, but either way I don’t really think I could ask any of you to leave your lives here.” She finally said. “Pfft, don’t worry. If we had something more awesome to be doing then we’d do it, though even if I’m not an actual Knight working for one would be cool still.” Dash said. Luna smiled and nodded. “Now then, the reason I came here was to ask for the lances Spike and Belle made me.” Luna said. “Oh of course, we assumed you would. We’ve already got them all in a cart, there’s enough there to last every match you could possibly have, going three lances each time. Naturally we’re hoping there will be a few left afterwards, but either way they are yours.” Rarity said, motioning for them all to follow as she made her way to the back yard. “I’ve got Winona, my horse, pulling it for you. It’s like a cart of feathers for her, not a better pack horse in the country.” Applejack said when they reached the yard to find Belle feeding a horse that was hooked up to the cart. “I can’t thank you all enough. Shall we then? I don’t want to be late for the first event.” Luna said. “Of course. Alright everyone, pile in or get your horse.” Applejack said, hopping into the cart. “Winona knows these streets as well as the mayor, she doesn’t need anybody leading her.” She continued. Rarity climbed aboard with no trouble. Luna and Dash walked back to the front and mounted their horses. Dash had a stallion so toned and well groomed it looked like the horse of a king. “There isn’t a faster horse than Tank in all of Equestria, proven two years in a row. I’ll go get Fluttershy and Pinkie’s already there.” Dash said. Luna nodded and almost dropped her jaw when Dash and Tank rode off and were out of sight in seconds. She shook her head and guided Brynhildur to fall into step with the cart that was now rolling. “I’ve always watched these things from the stands, I wonder how it’ll be working with the Knight that wins the tournament.” Rarity said, looking over Twilight’s armor. “Well hopefully I’ll give you a chance to find out.” Luna said. It wasn’t long before they reached the tournament grounds. The first event that Luna was participating in was Archery. Twilight had given her a schedule that accounted for her matches all the way through. There were two points where she’d have to forfeit a match of the sword or a match of Archery, which meant that she had to be ahead enough to afford the losses. For now, though, she stood twenty yards away from the small target. Her arrow was notched and her bow drawn. With a soft exhale she released. In the second or so it took for the arrow to teach the target the wind caught the projectile and shifted its arc. Luna had accounted for this, though, and she hit only a centimeter or two away from the dead center of the bullseye. Her competitors’ arrows were at the edges of it or not in it at all. “Winner, Sir Rose!” The announcer called. Her friends in the cart, along with a good portion of the spectators, cheered loudly. Luna had little time to spare to get to the lists, though. Her next event was a joust. When she put her bow away and mounted Brynhildur, the cart was already moving. She made it with more than enough time to don her gear properly. She sent Applejack to get Brynhildur ready and Rarity and Belle to prepare the lances. “Hail, Sir Rose.” Luna heard as she had just started getting frustrated with her breastplate. She turned to find Twilight at the doorway, grinning like a child at play. “Hail, Lady Twilight.” Luna said, smiling and doing an odd head-touch/salute motion (something along the lines of the ‘I see you’ motion from avatar). “Would you care for some assistance? It would not be the first time I’ve helped somebody into their armor.” Twilight offered. Before Luna could say yes, though, the girl was already pulling the thing into its proper place. “You’ll get the hang of doing it yourself eventually, but until then it’s nice to have some help.” Twilight said as she adjusted and finished with the breastplate. Luna had already gotten her pauldrons on, so Twilight helped her with the gauntlets and the arming cap. Luna pulled her helmet on and smiled at Twilight. “I’d say I’ll win this for you, but I’m not one for dramatics like that.” She said. Twilight giggled and grabbed luna’s face in her hands. “How about you just win and say it was for your father, I’ve had more than enough knights claim they’d win this for me.” She said. Luna smiled and nodded. They walked outside and saw Applejack and Rarity with the cart at the lists. Pinkie was wooing the crowd with enthusiastic words and half-truths while Dash came to a near screeching halt on Tank with Fluttershy holding on to her for dear life. Luna waved to them and turned towards Brynhildur, which had been fitted with the proper gear, while Twilight walked up the stairs leading to the main section of the stands. “Who is my opponent?” Luna asked Applejack. Before the farmgirl could answer, an overly pompous voice came from behind them. “That would be me, Prince Blueblood.” The mounted knight said, opening his visor to the side to reveal blond hair and blue eyes. “Prince? Are you related to the Princess?” Luna asked. “Eh, long story short it’s a political thing.” Rarity whispered into her ear. “Indeed, I am the Nephew of the Princess. I wonder what you were doing with my Lady a moment before.” He said, his voice so snobbish it made her want to gag. “I did not know any Knight had claim to her.” Luna retorted. “I have claim to any lady I should fancy.” He argued. Luna didn’t have a chance to offer another retort before they were called to start. Blueblood humphed and rode to his place on the other side of the lists. “Knock-em dead Luny! I’ve got the crowd all buzzing with excitement!” Pinkie said, practically bouncing over.Dash high fived her and Twilight watched Blueblood. He was grinning at the stands, and when she followed his line of sight she saw that he was staring at Twilight. “How good is Blueblood?” Luna asked. “He normally finishes within the top three in these Tournaments.” Belle answered. “Hm…” Luna said and closed her visor. Applejack handed her off a Lance and the flag dropped. They both started at the same time, but it became apparent that Brynhildur was the superior mount when Luna reached the lists’ fence seconds before Blueblood.She could see his cocky grin through his visor’s grates and she narrowed her eyes. Top three? He’d never faced a Knight like her before. Her arm jarred back as she struck him dead right in the center of mass, right on his chest, blasted apart. Her breath was forced from her lungs as Blueblood’s lance broke on her chestplate. She recovered quickly though and was a little surprised to see that Blueblood was sprawled across the ground instead of on his horse galloping the other way. There were a few moments of stunned silence, the only sound being Blueblood’s horse coming to a stop, before everyone erupted into cheering. She grinned under her visor and tossed the shattered lance away and turned her horse back towards her side as the crowd calmed down. She stopped in front of the stands, in front of where Celestia and Twilight sat. “I’m impressed, Sir Rose.” Celestia said with a grin as she clapped. Luna inclined her head in response and looked to Twilight. “Apparently he thought he had a claim over you, Lady Twilight, so I’d like to formally ask you to Banquet.” Luna said, the crowd dead silent. Twilight laughed and clapped her hands together. “Of course, Luna. It’d be an honor, you big showoff.” She said. Luna grinned and rode back to her spot to dismount. “Sabatons, greaves and sword if you would.” Luna said when she reached the cart. Rarity and Belle had already removed the pieces of their bag and were ready to help her into them. It was a quick process with a master smith and her apprentice doing it so she was at the sword ring with enough time to spare to warrant an introduction from Pinkie. “...He claimed her lady, and she didn’t like that, so instead she gave him claim to the dirt! She’s the wildflower in the elegantly boring bouquet, Wilde Rose, Sir Luna Rose!” She finished valiantly. The crowd cheered and Luna entered the ring. “I like the name.” She said to Pinkie, clapping the Herald’s shoulder as she passed. “Just came to mind!” She exclaimed and vaulted over the gate to watch. Luna was a deadeye with her bow, and not even a gale force wind could unseat her on a horse, but she had never really owned armor before. All of her skill with the sword was in an agile and maneuverable style. Her armor may have been flexible and light, but plate was still plate. She nearly lost and he landed eight blow to her four, but she adapted her style and managed to with with ten blows to nine. Luna was exhausted as she made her way back to the lists. She would have another sword match afterwards and then rush right into three consecutive archery matches. She groaned and loosened her greaves as she jogged back to the lists. This was going to be an exhausting day.