Two hours, only two hours of sleep Thought Thunder Clop as he tried to wrestle on his armor as quietly as possible. It was not what he was expecting the shoulder plates were squeaky, the gauntlets were dull and the helmet was at least two sizes too big. To top it all off it was dark, he couldn't turn on the lanterns because his roommate, a day time guard, was fast asleep. He as not looking forward to tonight's guard duty. Earlier he had made a fool of him self in front of Princess Luna and his new ill fitting uniform would not make his second impression any easier. Why oh why didn't I just take the field commission? he though in distress, but he knew why. Anypony worth his salt would have killed for this position, and according to the old legends sometimes they had to. This was a honorable post and Thunder Clop knew it, it would just take some time to adjust.
Thunder Clop fumbled around in the dark for his spear and then he was off. The palace looked a bit strange at night, long shadows fell across the vast, virtually empty halls. The colorful paintings appeared dull in the torch light and previously beautiful sculptures changed into frightening doppelgangers of the figures they represented during the day. There were only a few guards about too few thought Thunder Clop, and most of them were day guards. Thunder Clop made his way to the throne room where he found the princess, only two guards were posted at the entrance.
Thunder Clop walked slowly up to the princesses thrown and bowed low at the steps before it "Lieutenant Thunder Clop reporting for duty Your Majesty."
"We expected you to take more time sleeping Lieutenant." Luna said looking down at him.
"I am eager for duty my lady." Replied Thunder Clop I hope I'm not over selling it he thought to himself.
"Excellent, please stand buy our side so that we may converse." As Luna spoke she motioned to her left side.
Thunder clop walked up the steps and stood at attention next to Luna. "We are pleased to finally have an officer assigned to our watch." said Luna
"I'm the only officer!?" said Thunder Clop clearly shocked.
"Yes," said Luna "it has been months since our last night captain retired.... and so rarely do ponies apply to serve on the night shift. In fact Lieutenant Charging Lance was overjoyed to hear that a grey pony from the academy had applied for guard duty, so that he may return to his original posting" She looked down clearly troubled.
"My Lady," started Thunder Clop "if I may... how is it that no pony was simply assigned, surly many would jump at the chance to serve the royal family. To leave you without an officer..... disgraceful."
"Not many ponies wish to be assigned to the night shift Lieutenant, and fewer still those who conform with my sisters.... Theme" There was a sting in Luna's voice "And there is our.... reputation, so sometimes we must wait for a suitable pony, such as your self, to apply."
"Still," said Thunder Clop, "The entire royal family should receive the same protection, it doesn't seem right to me."
"You seem to care much Lieutenant." Said Luna, "perhaps we have finally found a pony worthy to be the night watch captain."
"CAPTAIN!?!" shouted Thunder Clop, a little too loudly. "How can I be a captain, I only received my commission a few hours ago. I, I don't have the experience or any kind of training.... I still don't even know the full lay out of the palace."
Luna again looked down cast "Yet you are the only one available... We had hoped you would have been happy to receive such a quick promotion..."
"My Lady," Sighed Thunder Clop, "It is truly and honor.... I just was not expecting something like this so, so soon." He paused for a moment "It will be an honor to serve as your captain my lady."
"Excellent!" said Luna "I, er We are overjoyed that you have accepted our commission! Please follow us, we have had new quarters prepared for you in our own tower."
Thunder Clop followed Luna back to her tower. The floor three floors down from her's was a nearly empty floor. The center was a large office, much like Shining Armors, but with dark drapes and carpeting. To one side was a bedroom. There was hardly any furniture no books on the shelves. Every thing was covered in dust. "We shall have the servants tidy it up for you." Said Luna, with almost of hint of embarrassment in her tone. "We hope you are pleased with the new arrangements?" She queried.
"Oh yes, very much so" said Thunder Clop. "My Lady, are many of the floors in the palace in such condition?"
"Well, no,,," hesitated Luna (completely forgetting to use the royal Canterlot voice), "as I'm sure you know, I was imprisoned for a thousand years by my sister, not without justification mind you, what I did was deplorable. During that time Celestia sealed off my tower... and other than for regular maintenance nopony was allowed in. So many of my things decayed with age and this tower was left forgotten for a long time. When I returned many of my favorite furniture and cloths had rotted away, and most of the room's in my tower were abandoned." Luna looked down clearly upset.
"My lady," started Thunder Clop "I am sorry I did not mean to upset you." Just then Luna began to cry. "Princess don't cry" Said Thunder Clop and he led here to one of the couches, dusty as they were. But Luna could not be consoled she continued to cry softly as she sat there. Soon one the princesses hand maidens walked by and noticed the distraught pony Thunder Clop asked her to bring some hot tea. Soon it arrived and the Princess took a few sips and composed her self.
"We are sorry for our out burst.... it is hard for us to remember the past.. all of our beautiful things.... all of our friends that we missed. In our arrogance we did not realize that we had destroyed so much of what made us happy..." Luna trailed off at the end.
Thunder Clop decided to change the subject, though he could think of only small talk. "It sure has been cold lately" He said awkwardly after about a minute.
"Yes" replied Luna, "normally on a clear night such as this we survey the land from our balcony, but chill steals our breath. Tell me Lieutenant, where are you from?" Asked Luna.
"Oh my family is from a small village a few miles from Manehatten. This time of year they're probably out sitting around the fire telling stories and eating popcorn..." Thunder Clop trailed off thinking fondly of home.
"Lieutenant?" asked Luna trying to get his attention.
"Oh my friends call me T.C." Thunder Clop blurted out. Oh My Gosh! What did I just say!? The princess doesn't want to know what my friends call me! Stupid Stupid! Stupid! She probably thinks I'm completely incapable of doing my job, she must think I'm unprofessional, that I'm not tough enough for the job. She'll probably never want to speak with me again! Or worse she'll kick me out of the royal guard!
Luna broke the tension with a small giggle before saying "I shall call you T.C. then, and you shall call me Luna."
"My Lady" started T.C. but Luna scowled "er, Luna. You don't have to call me that, I didn't mean..." But at Luna's down turned face he stopped.
"It has been so long since I've had a friend," she said, her voice shivering. "So long since I've been able to have a conversation like this. Nopony ever wants to speak with me.... they are afraid of me."
"I'm not afraid of you your maje...er Luna." offered Thunder Clop.
"Thank you," replied Luna, "Though it has been months since I was freed and returned to my normal form, this has been the first time I've had a real conversation. I think that we shall become friends."
"I would like that" Replied Thunder Clop, and he genuinely meant it. Luna didn't seem as bad as the rumors that circulated about her. In fact she was quite the opposite. She was gentle, sweet and more than a little lonely. He and Luna stayed in his office and talked the entire night. Mostly about his home town and family, but also about the princesses extended family and some of the more exciting or funny stories of court life. Neither of them noticed when Princess Celestia entered the room.
The princess cleared her throat loudly to get their attention. Thunder Clop leaped to attention, but Luna merely turned on the couch to face her sister.
"Good morning sister." said Celestia cheerfully, "entertaining our newest guard I see."
"Yes sister" replied Luna rather drolly, "This is Thunder Clop... or T.C." she giggled softly and Thunder Clop blushed uncontrollably. "He shall be captain of the night watch. I commissioned him earlier this evening, the two guards in the throne room can confirm this."
"You commissioned him captain!?" snorted Celestia "but he only just arrived!"
"What does it matter!?" said Luna angrily "my detachment has no captain! I needed one and so I made the promotion."
"What does it matter!" quoted Celestia, "you know very well that Shining Armor will be marrying Princes Cadence soon! And you know very well what I have in store for their wedding present! You have just hand picked the replacement for the the captain of the royal guard without my consent!"
"Must have slipped my mind..." said Luna as she got up and walked past her sister, turned and went upstairs. Thunder Clop continued to stand at attention, Princess Celstia remained in the office for a moment before she composed herself. Then turned to T.C
"You under stand captian that this conversation has been strictly confidential... I don't want to ruin my nieces surprise." Said Celstia kindly, perhaps too kindly thought T.C., "I'm sure we'll be seeing much of each other in the time to come.... good day."
"And to you as well my Lady." said T.C. saluting. After the Princess turned and left T.C. let out a sigh of relief. That had been awkward for him... more awkward than he had imagined. He knew that the princesses had a difficult past, but he had not expected them to be so cold with one another. He thought about his own brother... he could never treat him like that, they were very close. But I've never had to imprison him for a thousand years for trying to destroy the day before thought Thunder Clop as he climbed into bed...my, my, what have I gotten my self into....