//------------------------------// // All I Ask of You // Story: Music of the Night // by Aegis Shield //------------------------------// Music of the Night Part 5: All I Ask of You The winter cold had driven Cleff from the pond and the meadow, especially after dark. The mare of the night was scarce as well, having promised to return when the weather was warmer so their rituals could continue. She’d promised to wait for him, and he’d shakily agreed. After the night in the din of the cave they’d scarcely seen one another, and the silence was a quietly bubbling cauldron of want to Princess Luna. Two or three months had passed, and the chill of winter was at its height. Winter Wrap-Up wasn’t for another month. Celestia noticed her sister’s happiness. Luna walked with a certain bounce in her flanks, ate with more gusto, gave honest hugs more often when Celestia was near… it was odd, but a welcome development. Perhaps Princess Luna was finally settling down and becoming the joyful princess of the night once more? Luna kept commanding more and more cloudless nights to the weather pegasi, and the moon and stars shone like never before. Brilliant meteor showers drove the star-gazing community wild with love for her. She walked the streets of Canterlot some nights with an undeniable smile plastered across her royal muzzle. She even earned a few less-than-stellar rumors about her private guards in the process (they WERE always together, perhaps something gossip-worthy was happening in her royal chambers? Oh my!). The Royal Canterlot Voice appeared less and less, though it did occasionally pop up in her enthusiasm for life. She was, for lack of any better words, very very happy. “What is this?” She stopped at a fancy toy store, her nose pressed to the window. Both of her bat-winged guards peered in at the display. They squinted through the glare. There were little pony dolls of Celestia and Luna in the window. Fully posable and certainly cute to look at. The princess threw her head back and laughed gaily, which drew more than a few looks from the ponies on the street. Shaking her head, she gestured for her guards to continue to follow her. She treated them more like ponies these days, and less like accessories she could never escape from. It was royal law to have at least a pair of guards with her at all times (as though anypony could harm a goddess), but she treated them with smiles and even little gifts now and then. One of them looked at his twin, raising a silent eyebrow. He shrugged. Their charge was like a blushing school filly, but it wasn’t exactly a bad look for her. Whatever shift that had caused her amazingly good moods, they weren’t about to question it. Meanwhile in the palace, Princess Celestia looked down from on high with a loving smile. Perhaps her sister was beginning to adjust to modern life in Equestria after all. And if the local populace saw her cantering down the cobbled streets of the city laughing like a filly, perhaps they would be less afraid of her. All the better. She nodded with quiet approval. That night at dinner, Luna talked animatedly about everything she’d seen that night. To Celestia, it was like having a second Twilight Sparkle telling her about the city of Canterlot and all its sights. Though the sun princess knew the city like her own hooves, it was wonderful to hear Luna talk in great length about the citizens and the going-ons. “I was also thinking of something, sister.” Luna said, pausing for a moment for reflection. Celestia smiled with interest. “Perhaps, since it is another month before Winter Wrap-Up celebrations begin, we might have a ball at the palace, just to keep spirits high in the cold weather?” Celestia gave a laugh that resembled a tinkling wind chime. “You say that like you need my permission, sister. This is your home too.” She gestured to the sweeping ceiling and massive columns on either end of the royal dining room. “If you desire such a thing, put it together and put our staff to task. I’m sure they would love the very thought of you heading such a grand event yourself.” The sun princess watched the smile on her sister’s face grow and grow until it tugged hard at her eyes and she bounced a bit on her sitting cushion. Her eye flicked to the two bat-winged guards, whose mild smiles vanished into the at-attention-stare the moment they felt the eyes of royalty on them. Celestia smirked just a little, nodding and returning to her food. “Why, I could probably even deliver a few of the invitations personally!” Luna elated. =-=-=-= Cleff awoke in Rarity’s bed. Stirring lightly, he flicked his ears a few times to waken them and start up the blood flow. The mare pressed innocently into his chest gave a slow sigh of waking when his weight shifted. “Mmmhh, Cleff…?” she whispered, eyes slowly lidding open. He smiled, stroking her face to admire her beauty again. After returning from Canterlot, Cleff had been gently pursued by Rarity and with the mare of the night all but gone… it had not been a hard decision to drift towards the dressmaker. She was kind, gentle, and sensitive to him. She was also very generous, and upright. He adored her. They’d spent many evenings together, often with her head to his breast while he quietly serenaded her under the harsh shadows of the colder nights. It had been a hush-hush relationship since Cleff was relatively famous, and Rarity did not want either of them to be a source of public gossip. But, it hadn’t taken more than the second month together before word got out that Cleff was often seen around her dress shop. Since he obviously wasn’t buying dresses, that only meant one other thing since Rarity wasn’t the sort to make a stallion’s garb. Ponyville, quiet little town that it was, accepted the new couple and many eagerly anticipated the idea of their joining. Though rumors ran rampant of their being lovers already, a proper wedding would be a joy to the town like any other. The denizens chuckled at seeing either of them walking on the street, especially any member of the mane six when they spotted Cleff. Then, one day, an engagement circle had appeared around Cleff’s neck like a hoop of gold. It hung from a little chain about him, pressed to his chest with a quiet sort of romantic gleam. He would wear it on his hoof when they were married, but for now it showed off that he was no longer on the market. The rumor mill went into overdrive for a week, given that Rarity had been the one to propose, quiet coupling or not. But, back to the present. Cleff quietly nuzzled Rarity awake, not wanting to lose the warm afterglow of the night before. She nibbled on him a little and he gave a pleasant shudder. Their quiet romance was everything she’d ever dreamed and then some. He was truly her prince charming, and such a handsome thing to boot! “Good morning, Rarity…” the stallion whispered to her. The chill of the room made him not want to leave the sheets. He sank back into them, wrapping his fore-hooves around her. The mare giggled scandalously when his teeth found her ear, her hoof pawing at his chest good-naturedly. She buried her face in his chest, smiling privately to herself. He stroked her mane, taking in her perfumed scent. “Ah, Rarity…” he whisped out in such a way that she gave a little giggle. “You’re not thinking of doing anything scandalous, are you Cleff?” she said with a giggle, rubbing his chest a bit. He snickered shyly, his face coloring. At night in the dark was different, but during the day, even the chilled morning—! Rarity gave a shrieking laugh when he suddenly pressed his lips to her belly and blew a hard raspberry. “Ack! None of that! NONE of that!” she squirmed like a ticklish filly, laughing heartily. Music to Cleff’s ears as he poised over her with a grand smile. She stared up at him when she’d calmed, and after a time he came down upon her for shy good morning kisses. “I had bad dreams last night.” The opera pony whispered into her neck after a time. “Of the mare of the night, taking me away somewhere… I don’t know where.” It occurred to Rarity to wonder how the blind dreamed. Did they just hear sounds and have other phantom sensations, other than sight? It was hard to imagine. How could they ever tell the difference between reality and dreams? “Oh Cleff, whatever mare you kept running into is probably back in Cloudsdale or something by now.” Rarity said gently, wavering her hoof in his white fur. “I’m sure she’s long gone by now, and you can be all mine.” She nuzzled his mane on the top of his head while he hugged her quietly around the chest. Cleff had told her, briefly, about the day he’d vanished and the mare of the night had taken him… someplace. The odd winged one had a strange scent about her, he’d not forgotten it. But, three months with no signs of her had thankfully dampened the memory and the rather blatant lust she’d displayed for him. It was better left alone. The blind pony cocked his head up and giggled when Rarity mouthed playfully at his ear. “But, it was all so odd.” Cleff insisted softly, enjoying very much her chewing on his ear while they lay there. “The mare of the night was—” Rarity hushed him with a gentle but firm hoof, over his wonderful, music-making lips, before she drew breath to quietly serenade him back to calmness. No more talk of darkness, forget your wide-eyed fears. I’m here, nopony to harm you, my horn will warm and guard you. Let me be your freedom, from night time now dry your tears. I’m here, with you beside you, to guard you and to guide you— Cleff smiled apologetically, turning his face so she could see it. How dare he talk of another mare while they were in bed together? A guilty expression flitted across his features, but he still lamented of the night mare’s influence over him. Both in his dreams and upon the night they’d last encountered one another. Say you’ll love me every waking moment? Turn my head with talk of summertime? Say you’ll need me with you now and always? Promise me that all you say is true? That’s all I ask of you— It was a quiet and quivering voice, that of a needy lover or a vulnerable companion. Rarity slowly squeezed Cleff’s head to her chest, cutting him off from his quiet lamenting. The poor thing needed guidance, a strong mare to keep him upright and healthy and happy. The pale unicorn knew she was just the one for him, even to guard him from mysterious mares of the night. Or was it nightmares? The play on words made it hard to tell. She stroked his mane lovingly before she continued, eyes lidding into a lover’s gaze. Let me be your shelter, let me be your life. You’re safe, no one will find you Your mare of night is far behind you Cleff lifted his head a little, his milky eyes soft and pleading as he tried to find the right angle to make it look like he was looking into her eyes. It was a trick he’d been trying for months and months, but was never able to get right. Rarity cupped his cheek as she saw how slowly upset he became in his quiet pleading to her. His singing voice quivered with a vulnerable shudder: All I want is freedom, A world with no more night mare, And you, always beside me, To guard me and to guide me— Rarity quickly took his face in both hooves, turning them until she was astride him on the bed, very hard for ponies to do but still it happened. She stroked his soft white face over and over to soothe him. He gave a quiet whimper of vulnerability, shutting his eyes and leaning the weight of his head into one of her hooves. Such a trusting gesture, it made her heart thunder with the desire to protect her dear Cleff. Swallowing, she whispered to him lovingly: Then say you’ll share with me one love, one lifetime, Let me lead you from your solitude. Say you need me with you here, beside you? Anywhere you go, let me go too? Oh Cleff… That’s all I ask you— She pressed him into the sheets, pulling the comforter up over them both so they could preserve the warmth of their bed. He’d not yet moved in with her, but it very much felt like his just as much as Rarity’s. The purple-maned unicorn had guided him there several times, and sometimes his masculine scent lingered for a few days after he’d gone. He still lived with his sister at the record store, but it was hard to tell that these days, eloping with Rarity as he was. “Say you love me—?” Cleff trilled just a little, pawing at her chest with his hoof in the darkness of the folds of the sheets. “You know I do.” Rarity whispered sensually in his ear, making him give another shy and flushed shudder. She brushed his mane to one side so she could reach more of his face to kiss him. Their hearts were in unison for that sweet and tender moment: Love me, that’s all I ask—of – you-uuu… The only witness to what happened next was the quiet protest of the bedsprings. Well, almost. Outside, in the biting winter cold, was Princess Luna standing in the tree line. She’d approached Ponyville on chariot, but had chosen to walk the rest of the way into town so she wouldn’t have a repeat of Nightmare Night. But, she’d come at the town at an odd angle when she heard a familiar, though muffled, singing voice. It was coming from a dress boutique, and although it was coming from the second floor it had only taken a single flap of her wings to see inside. Luna stopped dead, coming to a halt on a sturdy brand. Her mouth went agape. She saw them. She saw the whole thing. Her heart quivered and her pupils shrank into a shocked, completely shocked expression. Her bat-winged guards cocked their heads from where they were at the base of the tree (Luna’s chariot lay hidden in the foliage). Luna tried to make a sound, to call out to Cleff and demand what was going on. How DARE he… he… with that unicorn she’d seen at the Royal Opera House. That Rarity she’d met a few times after her defeat as Nightmare Moon. HOW DARE SHE make a move on Cleff after she’d so clearly staked a claim on the stallion! And there around his neck, an engagement circle of gold?! Furious, boiling, godly anger began to billow in Luna’s chest, and she shuddered to the ground on groaning wings. Her twin guards saw her expression and turned their ears back. Such an expression was alien to them after weeks and weeks of a happy, bouncy Princess Luna. She landed with all the daintiness of a snowflake, the snow under her hooves crunching lightly. Her head bowed forward, and her star-riddled mane glimmered weakly. She gave a groaning shudder, and neither of them asked what she’d seen through the window. From under her wing, a hoof-written invitation to the Winter Lunar Ball fell into the snow. Addressed to Cleff Scratch. It crumpled a little with the wetness of the white powder. One of her escorts bent respectfully, coming to his knees to retrieve it for her. He held it in his mouth, held it out for her to take back. It burst into flames and he gave a panicked whinnie, shoving his muzzle into the snow. Luna looked up, heaving great, angry breaths of barely-bridled rage. She stared at the boutique, sorely tempted to cause it to burst into flames as well. The snow around Luna’s hooves was melting rapidly, and wriggling aura of super-heated air drove her twin escorts back. “Tell. Everypony.” she whispered slowly under her mane. “Our Winter Lunar Ball is a masquerade, and that I must go to prepare my costume. Alone.” She punctuated with all the fury of a thousand icy moons, and the two of them could only nod dumbly. Finally, she let her gaze rise to the window where that blasted mare Rarity was having her way with tender, virginal Cleff. She sullied him with her touch! A shuddering moan fell over her, one of deep betrayal. Her wonderful, weeks long good mood came crashing down as she murmured: We gave you our music, made your song take wing, And now, how you repay me? Deny me and betray me? She was bound to love you, when she heard you sing-- Oh Cleff... A diamond-like tear forced its way from one of her eyes, and she gave an audible sniffle. But then, Luna’s pupils narrowed into serpent-like slits. Her aqua eyes flashed a brilliant green. Her jaw set itself into a furious, shuddering scowl as her fur began to dip closer to black. Both of her bat-winged guards looked at each other in a panic. That looked just like—! Luna vanished in a cloud of sparkling magic, her gaseous form racing back to the hidden cave beneath the foundations of the world. She ignited the candles so hard they burst into showers of sparks. The Royal Canterlot Voice was her outlet of unbridled, agonized RAGE! YOU WILL CURSE THE DAY YOU DID NOT DO--- ALL THAT YOUR NIGHT MARE ASKED— OF— YOU-UUU! The foundations of all of Equestia gave a barely-discernable rumble. Celestia looked up from her business in the royal court. Something had sent a ripple though her tea. Luna stomped angrily to the wall, yanking a dirty sheet from where it hung. Nightmare Moon’s armor gleamed at her, full of black anger. A perfect costume for the upcoming ball. She wrenched the helm from its resting place. Behind her, dozens of scrolls and quills rose by magic. Her project was almost done anyway, what better time to unveil it for dear Cleff? End of Part 5