No one but you ...
It all started one night when our "hero" of the story was on her routine guard post in the royal palace.
"I wish i could get a chance as well" she gently sighed ..
A Pegasus mare of the Royal Nightguards was on duty outside Princess Luna's bedroom, as she had been so many times before, but tonight was proving to be a much more exciting night than many other boring nights.
Our "hero" Nightbloom was a not-quite-navy blue Pegasus with long flowing light green mane and tail with pink highlights and abnormally long hair for a guard, and a cutie mark depicting a heart and a note on a silver shield, was listening to the on goings from the room behind her.
A smooth song was flowing out from the bedroom, it would seem that Princess Luna was in a very good mood tonight, as she would sometimes sing songs in her amazing voice.
Not many knew about just how wonderfully a singer that Princess Luna really was, it could be argued that she was a better singer than her older sister Princess Celestia even.
Occasionally Princess Luna would invite either famous or talented musically gifted ponies to her chambers, and for the most of times, sweet music could be heard coming from the room from where they would set up.
As time passed by, eventually the sound of music and singing would stop and soon after, a all-orange unicorn would depart the room, carrying a musical case with him, a hinted guess would suggest the case to contain something in the way of a violin.
It was well known by the Nightguards that on occasion, the princesses would sometimes have long talks with their respective guards to learn more about them and sometimes even help them along to whatever dreams they might have, like connecting them with the right people to maybe move from guards to whatever profession that they was interested in.
One example would be a guard who was pressured into being a guard by family heritage, but wanted more to be a mechanic to fix items like the carriages and such that the royal palace had at their disposal. In that case, the guard had mentioned it in a talk with Celestia and she had pulled some strings to help the guard, which he was most grateful for.
As a result of that guards wishes, he became a royal chief mechanic and worked diligently with the royal carriages and much more that fell into his field of expertise.
On this night, a happy humming Princess Luna was seeing the unicorn off and afterwards turned to her guards at the door.
"So, how are my guards doing tonight" Luna calmly asked, giving a sign that meant that for now, they was relieved of talking like on duty.
Nightbloom was happy about being able to converse like normal, her partner though, a seasoned Pegasus, dark grey with silver mane, was quick to engage Luna in conversation, talking about his family like he was updating Luna about what was happening at home in Cloudsdale.
After a while of talking, Luna glanced over to Nightbloom to see a face of thinking, slightly scrounged up as if not really knowing how to tackle a thought that was in her mind, Luna made a mental note to speak with her after her partner was done.
It took a while for her partner guard to allow Luna to end their conversation, which was 95% his talking anyways, and she turned to Nightbloom to see if maybe she wanted a talk as well.
"And what of you dear Nightbloom, what are you thinking so heavily of i wonder ?" Luna spoke, slightly surprising Nightbloom and making her falter her voice a bit before speaking up.
"Oh, i was just thinking about your sweet singing this night, how i was thinking it was a pity that not more of your loyal subjects could hear your magnificent singing like earlier this night." she said, still a bit shaken by Luna's question.
"Well" Luna started "I don't think that our subjects should be subjected to my horrible singing, I am really not that good if i do say so myself"
Nightbloom was floored by Luna's downlook of her skills and quickly prompted "Oh no no my majesty, you surely do have a very skilled talent for song, if one is to judge from what we heard out there this night, you must not think little of your self like that."
"Oh pish posh, i am sure even you could out sing me" .. it was like a gauntlet had been thrown and luna spoke again "How about we make this interesting .. a few ponies to judge who sings the best .. if you win, i shall do everything i can to make your dreams come true, and if i win, you have to take song lessons from me."
"Ehm, well .. that is .. oh my, i cant really loose here, can i .. argh, okay, deal" Nightbloom exclaimed after thinking for a few seconds, she really could not loose in this deal, being tutored by Luna would be so totally awesome, and if she was better than Luna, then she could get help to realize her dream.
"Excellent, when would ye like to loose ?" Luna slyly said to the slightly shaken Nightguards
"How about tomorrow night, if that suits your highness ?" Nightbloom shot back with a smirk.
"It is a deal, tomorrow night we shall do battle .. only in song though, of course" Luna giggled and Nightbloom and partner couldn't help but giggle along for a bit, before Luna bid them a good night as they was relieved shortly.
---------- THE NEXT NIGHT ----------
As Nightbloom wandered up to her post by Luna's bedroom, she noticed that there was already 2 pairs of nightguards changing watch. Slightly confused, she approached the pair leaving, asking what that was about.
"Haven't you heard, you got the night off since you'll be doing musical battle with Luna"
"Yes, but i did not think i had the WHOLE night off, oh well, thanks and enjoy your time off, waving as she approached Luna's bedroom doors.
Shakingly, she gave the door a slight knock and Luna's voice could be heard, beckoning her to enter.
Inside, she saw 4 ponies, each sitting along one side of the room on soft pillows behind a desk, but she was a bit choked to find that apparently Celestia was gonna be the 5.th judge.
"Welcome dear Nightbloom" Celestia spoke, "we are eager to hear battle between my sister Luna and yourself"
Nightbloom gulped hard "Y-y-yes your Majesty" was all she stammered forth.
"Oh my, don't be so nervous, it would not do your chances good dearest" came a voice from the other side of the room, Luna dressed in a gown for once, curiously eyeing Nightbloom in her nightguard armor.
"Did you not get the memo of formal attire dear ?" Luna asked a slightly bewildered Nightbloom, "i dont think armor suits a singer well, do you ?"
Luna wrapped a hoof around Nightbloom and dragged her into a magnificent wardrobe filled with dresses and gowns alike.
"You may choose any you like, don't worry about the size, we have a spell for that" said Luna "Just call me when you have found something you like dear" and with that, went out to warm up her voice.
Nightbloom had never seen so many dresses before and curiously looked around, before finding one that she liked.
It was a rather simple evening dress, pale blue in color with a few sapphires attached, she quickly undone her armor and slipped into the too big dress, eyeing herself in a fullsize mirror before calling for Luna.
"Aah yes, a Very handsome dress this, hold still now" she said as her horn glowed a deep blue and Nightbloom could feel the dress match up to her body perfectly, "There, all done." Luna spoke and commented "I hope you like you're new dress" before teleporting her armor to Nightbloom's quarters.
"M-My dress" Nightbloom stuttered forth
"Why yes my dear, i do say that looks absolutely darling on you, and so i am giving it to you"
"Oh wow, i have never had a dress this beautiful before, but don't think i'll go easy on you singing" Nightbloom said
"I would have it no other way" Luna spoke, and they both walked out of the wardrobe, Nightbloom to a comfy pillow besides the judges and Luna to the middle of the room.
"Dear judges" Luna announced "I shall be singing 'Ave Maria' for you tonight to your delight"
with that, Luna sang ... and how she sang ..
Nightbloom was in awe of Luna's beautiful voice, stomping her hoofs when she was done
"Wauw Luna, that sounded amazing" she said when luna came forth to switch place with Nightbloom
"Why thank you, just go ahead and try your best" gently leading Nightbloom to the middle of the room before taking her previous place.
"O-okay then, so allow me to sing 'Erutan - No one but you' for your delight" Nightbloom said before shaking off her anxiety a bit before starting.
Nightbloom sang like her life depended on it, closed eyes and lost in the song, she didnt notice how the guards peaked in to hear her song and how the judged reacted as well, not untill she had finished and heard hoofs on the floor, applauding from the door and from Luna and judges.
"Well then, i guess it's all up to the judges now" Luna said, looking over at the guards who sheepishly ducked back out again, then turning to eye the judges
A while went by with debate from judges table, but eventually Celestia pronounced "We have a decision".
"By votes 3 to 2, the winner of this contest is .... Nightbloom"
Upon hearing this, Nightbloom fainted. She had just outsung Luna of all ponies ..
"Hehe, looks like she didn't expect that" Luna said while levitating Nightbloom to Luna's bed and gently laying her down.
"Well, she did win fair and square, and even the guards cheered for her i think" Celestia said, giving her sister a nudge and a grin of approval "nice try though on your behalf dear sister, maybe if you 2 teamed up as singers, you could really shake some musical opinions together"
"Now thats a idea, i will have to think of it and of course ask Nightbloom as well" said Luna, noticing movement from the bed.
"Well now, feeling better Nightbloom ?" asked Luna
"Ah yes, thank you Luna, i guess it just was a bit of a shock for me"
"Well, Celestia gave me an idea, and i wanted to hear your opinion on it" Luna said with a smile.
"Okay, what was her idea ?" Nightbloom asked.
"Well, she says we both sing very talented and figured we would do well if we teamed up and toured a bit"
Obviously, Nightbloom was happy that she was still on Luna's bed, cause next thing Luna saw was her body falling as Nightbloom fainted again ....
A loud giggle came from Celestia and Luna just smiled, silently wondering if this was gonna be a regular thing.
Eventually Nightbloom came around again and accepted the idea brought forth by the princesses.
After a while of talking and arranging practice time, Nightbloom realized that her dream was actually coming through, she would be able to protect and sing with Luna and that was all she ever wanted.
A month later, they sang on their first appearance in the royal castle, tickets was sold out fast and proceedings went to charity and orphaned ponies alike. It was a huge success.
The pair toured Equestria and was happy both on and off the stage, and when their first tour was complete, Nightbloom confessed her love to Luna, who herself had developed strong feelings for Nightbloom.
Needless to say, they was happy for a long time ....
----- THE END ? -----
A/N
What of the wish Nightbloom won ? .. well, who knows if i'll write more later ..
I was asked why i had selected these 2 tunes, and i'll tell you.
Luna's tune was selected by me with thought of how much music has changed in the 1000 years that she has ben gone and only recently come back, therefor i went with a more old style song.
Nightbloom's song was actually the inspiration for the story, as it's a song i found to be very enjoyable and one i listen to alot, so much that i had to import the CD from USA to Denmark .. it is a song which i hope one day to play for a girl if i ever find one ........ that song is written and performed alone by Kate Covington @ www.erutanmusic.com
i have actually thought of other storys inspired by her music, maybe i'll write more on a later date .. time will tell ..
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