//------------------------------//
// Capitulo Veintidos 
// Story: Cuatro 
// by Dirty Bit 
//------------------------------//


Capítulo Veintidos


Title


After their small time at the donut shop, Luna and Cuatro made their way outside and trotted into the city streets once more. Chilling winds flew past the two alicorns, allowing for their manes to be carried in the breeze.

Luna paid the cold no mind, but then smiled as she shifted her gaze to Cuatro "A fine day for this weather, dost thou not agree, Sir Cuatro?" The strange alicorn only followed in silence, unable to respond to Luna's question. Her eyes lidded slightly as her smile widened "Art thou still shaken from our favor earlier?" She asked in a teasing tone.

At that question, Cuatro managed to speak "It was...unexpected...even from a pony of high regard such as yourself..." He shifted his gaze to Luna "May I ask why?"

Luna held a hoof to her muzzle as she stifled a giggle, then replied "We only wished to see if thou art as dutiful to us as thou make thyself out to be! Thine action proved thee to be most devoted to whatever we ask of thee!"

Cuatro nodded "But of course...This may seem wrong of me to say, but despite us being friends, I would gladly serve under you if I you ever offered a position to me..."

Luna shook her head with a smile "Wrong indeed. How would thou explain to the Elements of Harmony why thou would abandon their care?"

Cuatro realized the futility of his statement and looked down "That's right...Perhaps I was quick to assume my future, especially since they were the ones that have helped me..." He looked at Luna "Please forgive me, Luna..."

Luna nodded "Think nothing of it." She examined Cuatro's expression and tilted her head "Sir Cuatro...Hast thou ever smiled in thy life? Or when thou were with the element bearers?"

Cuatro paused, then shook his head "I'm sorry to say I haven't...I even went through a session of learning laughter with the help of Pinkie Pie..." He stated reluctantly.

Luna giggled "Pinkamena is truly a 'party animal', as they would call it!" She then frowned "But it is sad to see thine face in a perpetual state of emptiness."

Cuatro met Luna's gaze "You're not the first to regard me with a sense of emptiness...I'm beginning to think I'm connected to it somehow..."

Luna couldn't help a sad expression from crossing her face upon hearing "Sir Cuatro..." She stopped in her trail, Cuatro following suit, and the Princess of the Night looked up at Cuatro "We cannot fathom thy former life, but it sounds as if thou would envoke despair wherever thou may go..."

Cuatro was silent, and the more he stared at Luna's sadness, the more he felt penitent in his words. He did not want this to continue, and an idea that appeared to be a longshot crept into his mind.

"...Knock knock..."

Luna's sadness instantly gave way to confusion as she blinked at the strange alicorn "Pardon?"

Cuatro paused, but repeated himself when he found his voice "Knock knock..."

Luna was silent, until she perked up with a small gasp "Oh! Tis one of those 'knock knock' jokes, correct? The kind most ponies use nowadays?" She tilted her head "We've never considered thee to have a sense of humor, Sir Cuatro." Cuatro stared back in silence.

"The feeling is mutual..."

Luna shook off her curiousity and smiled "But we digress! Pray tell, who is there?"

Cuatro finally replied "Me..."

Luna stared at Cuatro as he stared back with his emotionless expression, and afterwards, she began to giggle "Ah, that is one way to deliver a joke! We remember it being told differently, but thou did well to attempt a jest!"

Cuatro felt his discomfort vanish upon seeing Luna happy again, and gave a curt bow in reply "I only wish to make you happy, Luna...Be you princess or friend..." He replied in his usual tone.

Luna looked up at Cuatro with a smile "Thou art most devoted indeed to say such a thing, Sir Cuatro..."

Cuatro looked back at Luna "Is it a problem?"

Luna shook her head "Nay...That thou would consider the well-being of a friend is an amazing trait within a pony!" She sighed "But perhaps thou should try to follow Pinkamena's advice and smile once in a while..."

Cuatro looked down "I don't think I can oblige to that...not yet..."

Luna frowned, until a thought came to her "Then, when thine memories return..." She took a step forward and lifted a hoof to Cuatro's chin to have the two lock gazes "Would thou try and smile for us then?" She asked in a soft tone as she smiled.

Cuatro only stared and felt his legs go numb, and before he would let his reactions get the best of him again, he gave a nod "I will do it for you, Luna...Until my memories return, I will promise that..."

Luna drew her hoof back and beamed "T'would be an amazing sight to see thee smile, Sir Cuatro!"

Cuatro stared back "I can only hope my memories return entirely so that I may see to my promise..." He looked around "Where should we go next? Could there be another place to your liking?"

Luna held a thoughtful expression, until she brightened "Of course!" She unfurled her wings "Sir Cuatro, take flight and follow us! Make haste!" The Princess of the Night then took off into the sky, while Cuatro stared before he unfurled his own wingspan and followed behind at a decent pace.

The two alicorns flew across the sky until Luna made a course towards a snow-covered plain with a lone tree outside of Canterlot. When the two landed, Luna trotted up towards the tree and placed a hoof on it. Engraved on the old bark was a sign that said 'Tia + Lulu, Best sisters' "This is where we spent most of our youth when we're not busy at the castle..." Her hoof slowly slid down the bark as she held a nostalgic smile "Tia and I, we would usually play here sometimes."

Cuatro noted Luna's tone and nodded "I see...It is a good place."

Luna turned to Cuatro "Please forgive the location. We only wished to show thee a place that we hold dear whilst we could talk more." She faced Cuatro "Tell us, Sir Cuatro...Hath thou made any progress with thy magic?"

Cuatro stared before he replied "I have...It seemed to be a part of my memory as well..." He closed his eyes and his horn glowed green as he conjured a javelin in front of him.

Luna noticed and awed at the appearance "Remarkable! Is there a name for this spell?"

Cuatro opened his eyes "Yes, actually. It is called...Luz de la Luna..."

Luna blinked at the name and tilted her head 'An intriguing name...It's as if Sir Cuatro was one with the moon in his time...' She thought for a moment, before she smiled "Sir Cuatro, thou saith that thou would do anything for us, correct?"

Cuatro canceled out the javelin as he opened his eyes back to Luna "I have...But I should also take my friends into consideration..."

Luna kept her stare "Would thou protect them with all of thy strength? And us as well?"

Cuatro nodded "I shall do so for all that they have done for me thus far, and you not only for your status, but our friendship as well..."

Luna held a proud smile "And thou favor our precious night as much as thy friends?"

Cuatro nodded once more "Yes, I do...I will not hide that fact from you or anypony else..."

Luna looked into Cuatro's eyes before she lightly stomped a hoof "We ask for thee to bend knee for a small moment, Sir Cuatro. We wish to bestow upon thee a gracious honor!"

Cuatro complied to Luna's request and knelt properly despite the snow covering his legs. He hung his head and closed his eyes as he did so.

"I wonder what she is going to do..."

Luna smiled down at Cuatro "Thou hath shown great promise as a friend and a considered thyself a protector of those thou deem most dear to thy heart! Thy strength admirable, thy devotion commendable, and thy commitment to our night most astounding! And for those facts alone..."

She leaned her head down and closed her eyes as her majestic horn touched Cuatro's left shoulder as he remained in his position "We would gladly dub thee Sir Cuatro..." She brought her head up to lean it back down to where her horn touched the strange alicorn's right shoulder "The Moon Shield!" Luna brought her head up and looked down at Cuatro once more "Rise, so that we may behold thy form, Sir Cuatro!"

Cuatro did as he was told and looked back up at Luna "Thank you very much for this title, Luna..."

Luna smiled at Cuatro "Thou hath earned it with thine admirable traits! If thou were royalty, we would gladly engage thee with the Royal Canterlot Voice!"

Cuatro blinked "Royal Canterlot Voice?"

Luna hummed "Yes, we forget that thou art nary familiar with the concept. Allow us to show thee..." She cleared her throat before she began to speak in what Cuatro would think to be an amazing accent...

"WE ART MOST PLEASED THAT THOU WOULD ACCEPT OUR BLESSING THIS FINE DAY, SIR CUATRO!! WE ASK THEE TO WEAR THY NEW TITLE WITH PRIDE!!"

Or so he thought. He was lucky to stand still with his ears intact while his mane and tail blew back furiously from the force of Luna's mighty voice. It was as if she were able to use her own voice as a weapon. He lifted a hoof to brush back his mane before he replied in his usual tone "That was an intriguing display of your voice..."

Luna felt embarrassed as she recoiled with a faint blush "Er, forgive us if thou art uncomfortable with our demonstration..." She spoke in an apologetic tone with an expression to match.

Cuatro never thought she would feel this way, and found himself trotting near her "Do not be afraid. While it almost took me by surprise, I was serious in my words. Your Royal Canterlot Voice must be very special to use such volume..."

Luna never thought that another pony would like her Royal Canterlot Voice as she stood with a reinvigorated smile "Yes, well...This voice has been in our royal line for generations! We're glad that thou would enjoy it!"

Cuatro looked towards the city of Canterlot "I suppose your sister thinks otherwise, correct?"

Luna sighed "Sad but true...Many ponies doth not fancy the ways we were raised into given our...absence..." She looked away with a sad expression.

Cuatro turned back to Luna "Absence? What are you referring to, Luna?"

Luna shrunk away when she was asked the question 'We should not hath brought it up again...' "Nothing of dire concern, Sir Cuatro...Forget our words, please..."

Cuatro stared at Luna and trotted to her side "I cannot let your current mood stand, Luna...If you will not tell me, is there a way to lift your spirits? Should I-..." He hesitated reluctantly "...Should I tell another joke...?"

Luna looked over at Cuatro as he stared and managed a thin smile "We're fine, Sir Cuatro. There is no need to feel uneasy..."

Cuatro replied flatly "I disagree to that..." He inched himself further "It would be against my duty to ignore a problem my friends are facing...even you..." He held out a hoof "Tell me what I can do to cheer you up..."

Luna stared at Cuatro and noted the determination behind his seemingly dispassionate face and smiled "Thou would easily live to thy title..." She looked down, and then an idea came to her as her spirits lifted. Luna's horn glowed as a mound of snow was lifted up and curled into a ball, then the Princess of the Night turned to Cuatro with a mischievous smile "Think quickly!" She said as she flung the snowball at the strange alicorn.

Cuatro felt the cold snow pelt his face, and he brought a hoof up to wipe it off of him while Luna began to laugh. The strange alicorn noticed that Luna held another snowball in her magical grip and tossed it at him again, only Cuatro was able to dodge this time "Why do you hit me with snow?"

Luna smiled "Thou art unfamiliar with the concept of a snowball fight? Tis a form of recreation in times of winter! Thou should try it!" She created another snowball and flung it at Cuatro.

Cuatro dodged and activated his horn as he made a snowball of his own. He then tossed it at Luna, only to have her dodge as she retaliated instantly.

The two alicorns were fighting fiercely; Luna was enjoying the moment, whereas Cuatro was confused, yet he was getting used to it. Soon, Luna made two snowballs and tossed them both at Cuatro one at a time.

The strange alicorn thought to himself as the snowballs approached him.

"Perhaps I should try a new tactic..."

Cuatro dodged the first one as his horn began to glow, and then he caught the next one aimed at him. He managed to stop it mere inches from his face as he then tossed it back to Luna.

Luna was surprised at this, but she acted quickly as she made her own horn glow, catching and tossing back the same snowball.

It was not long before Cuatro and Luna began to repeat the process until the ball was trembling in the middle between them with their magic being evenly distributed among the projectile.

Luna showed small signs of strain while Cuatro maintained his own composure 'He is a most formidable opponent! Unless...' She held a mischievous smile as she continued to push the snowball against Cuatro's own force "Sir Cuatro, relinquish thy magic!" She called out in mock authority.

Cuatro instantly did as he was told, but was then pelted in the face once again with a snowball. Luna laughed as she trotted towards his side "Thou should not have done what we've asked!"

The strange alicorn finished cleaning his face as he looked back at Luna "But you told me to-"

Luna laughed more "Oh, Sir Cuatro, thou must really learn to unwind! Thou mustn't take most things at face value all the time!" She nuzzled under his chin "Forgive our action, but we're pleased to say that we're feeling much better thanks to thee!"

Cuatro felt his heart quiver as she had done so and replied "My pleasure..."

Luna smiled up at Cuatro 'Most bashful, this one...' She looked back at Canterlot "Come, Sir Cuatro! Let us fly back to Canterlot and find other means of leisure, shall we?" She unfurled her wings and took flight. Cuatro only hesitated for a moment before he followed her.

"It's good to know I've done my part in making her happy...But I must know the meaning of these reactions towards Luna..."
_____

When they arrived back in Canterlot, Cuatro and Luna landed in the streets and faced each other. The Princess of the Night smiled "Can we trust thee to find another location around Canterlot this time, Sir Cuatro?"

Cuatro shook his head "I will follow you wherever you wish to go. I cannot think of any particular location for us to spend time together...Truthfully, I would gladly gaze at the moon and stars at your side if we were to meet at a later time..."

Luna inched her head towards Cuatro "Would thou really?" She asked in a soft tone.

Cuatro nodded and replied instantly "Yes...I would like nothing more than to look at your night sky...it fills me with peace..."

Luna's smile widened "Sir Cuatro..." She uttered as her eyes lidded slightly.

Cuatro stared back, finding himself captivated by her stare again, though his expression did not change "Luna..." He felt warmth along with a heart-racing sensation overtake his body. Time seemed to stop for both alicorns as they looked at one another.

"I hope I'm not interrupting anything..."

Luna was startled and turned to see her sister looking at the two with her neutral expression "T-Tia!"

Cuatro noticed as well and stared back at Celestia.

"Perhaps we may have been gone for too long..."

Celestia spoke up "It's nice to see you're enjoying each other's company like this, but you're needed at the castle now, Luna. You have duties to attend to."

Luna met Celestia's stare with one of her own "With the nobles, yes? More laws that require discussion?"

Celestia nodded "I'm sorry to cut your time together short. Let's go now, Luna. We don't want to keep them waiting..." She turned to Cuatro "I believe you should head back to Ponyville, Cuatro."

Cuatro stared in silence, then turned to Luna, who looked back with a thin frown and a calm, but apologetic gaze. He then looked back at Celestia "I understand...Royal duties come first..."

Celestia replied "Thank you for seeing things our way." She turned to Luna "Come, Luna." She turned around and trotted back to the castle "I'm sure you'll see Cuatro again."

Luna sighed as she looked at Cuatro "I'm afraid this is where we part ways for now, but we shalt indeed see thee again soon!"

Cuatro nodded "I look forward to it..."

Luna smiled "Likewise...Till we meet again, Moon Shield..." She trotted away with a content smile and her eyes closed. When she was at a proper position, her tail found itself under Cuatro's chin, slowly brushing along as Luna distanced herself away.

Cuatro's cheeks flushed and his pupils dilated in the same pace the tail was going under his chin. Out of all the times he had physical contact with Luna, this proved to be the most exhilarating. The more he felt the tail, the more his mind felt hazy. It was considerably the greatest feeling on himself.

*POMF*

Luna stopped and blinked when she heard a sound. She looked back and her eyes widened with a small gasp as a faint blush appeared on her face. After a small moment of pause, she held a hoof to her mouth, trying to stifle a fit of laughter at what had happened.

Cuatro stood with dilated pupils, but also with his wingspan spread against his will. When he snapped out of his trance after the feeling subsided, he first noted Luna's laughter, then turned to see his wings with his usual expression, blinking in confusion.

"My wings? Why are they out?"

He tried to move them, but it was as if they were stiffened into position. This confused the strange alicorn further.

"What is this?"

Cuatro turned to the laughing princess in front of him "Luna, what is wrong with my wings? Is this normal?" He asked, oblivious to the princess' laughter.

Luna managed to stifle her laughter as she held a hoof to her mouth "Th-Thou should-" She chuckled "Thou should try and control that more often, Sir Cuatro!" She trotted away "F-Fare thee well!" She went to catch up with her sister as she continued to laugh.

Cuatro only blinked at the vague explanation given to him, and focused back on his wings. As he stared at them, he felt the stiffening feeling fade and regained control of his wings.

"Out of all my previous reactions...This is the most obscure one yet..."

After a couple of flaps to ensure his wings were alright, he flew into the sky and looked towards the distant town of Ponyville.

"Now to go back to my friends...I hope that they may help me as I've helped Luna..."

With that, he blurred out of existence with his Sonido and went back to Ponyville.

When she reached the castle, Celestia looked up to see him leave and hummed. She found the image of a pale figure appearing next to a running man carrying a child before kicking him away at a far range 'Be safe, my little ponies...' She turned away and trotted into the castle.

Luna looked up to where Cuatro once hovered and smiled 'We shalt see thee again soon enough, Moon Shield...' She followed her sister inside of the castle.


To be continued...