//------------------------------//
// Chapter 1 
// Story: The princess and her guard 
// by verse jumper 
//------------------------------//

The princess and her guard
Chapter 1
Nighttime had fallen upon the land of Equestria, the moon shining full as it hung in the air amongst the stars, providing those who were still awake the faintest of light. The light of the moon shone down on the land’s greatest and fairest city Canterlot. Many ponies had already gone to bed, locking their doors and adjourning to their beds for a good night’s sleep. Few lights lit up the city, street lamps and windows glowed faintly in the night, and many of these tiny glows could be seen on the monolith that was the silhouette of the royal castle on this peaceful night. Within the castle walls resided none other than the princesses themselves. The halls were patrolled by the royal guards, their sole purpose to protect the royal family at any cost, especially at this hour, for the Princess of the Night herself had returned to her bedchamber for a well-deserved good night’s sleep.

It was pitch black in Luna’s room, the faint light from the moon shone down from her balcony and onto her bed, the moonlight softly illuminating the princess’ sleeping form.  For that moment, one would say that all was well this fine night, until out of the shadows of the corner of the chamber crept out the form of a unicorn, dressed in black and perfectly camouflaged to the point where he could just melt into the darkness. As the unicorn approached the sleeping form of the princess, the moonlight glinted off the blade he was carrying in between his teeth. The plan was simple really, kill the princess and prevent the upcoming of nightmare moon, that was his objective. Many ponies feared Luna for this very reason, and one unstable unicorn decided to act on this fear.

He would finally be the hero he always wanted to be, by killing the snake in the grass before it had the chance to strike, stop the coming of nightmare moon; at least, that’s what was going through the conspiracy filled mess that was the unicorn’s mind. Ever so quietly, the soon to be “hero” crept upon Luna’s bed, barely making a sound as he got into position, right at her side, the moonlight revealing only his hoof, and the blade in which it was holding. He aimed for her throat as he swung his hoof toward his sleeping target; he was so excited about how revered he would be amongst all of Equestria, so much that he never expected the blow to the jaw which felt like a freight train speeding out of control. The assailant fell to the floor, his knife thrown up into the air and sparkling within the rays of moonlight. The knife began to fall to the floor, only to be caught by a blue hoof, the body that it was attached to hidden in the darkness.

As the dazed assassin slowly sat up, wondering where the powerful attack came from, he turned to see his own knife being caught by the blue hoof. Then, the mysterious figure stepped forward into the dim moonlight, revealing a blue colt with a black mane, the assassin’s knife clenched within his free hoof. The assassin began to back away, unable to get to his hooves. His eyes widened in fear as he gazed upon the colt, the colt’s strange golden eyes glowing in the moonlight. 

Before the assassin could scream, the colt dashed forward and put his hoof over the terrified pony’s mouth, the sharp silver blade pressed against his throat. The colt glared, then spoke in a quiet yet powerful tone “You… shall not wake the princess… or I shall end your life here… understood?” The assassin nodded rapidly, realizing his life was now on the line.

The blue colt nodded, and with his hind hoof, stamped three times, making three individual clop sounds on the hard wooden floor. With that signal, the guards who were positioned outside the main entrance to Luna’s chamber entered, just as quiet as the blue pony, and without a word the assassin was dragged away. The guards shut the door behind them, leaving the blue colt alone with Luna once more. He turned to check on the princess, who was still sleeping peacefully, tucked under her covers, far off in the land of dreams. He was glad that the princess wasn’t hurt and began to trot back to his post, the balcony connected to Luna’s room. As he trotted back quietly, the princess stirred, turning over and looking in the colt’s direction, her eyes closed. 

She yawns “Verse?” she said tiredly. The colt turned to her at the mention of his name “Yes, princess?” She smiled softly “Thank you…” She turned over, seeming to return to her slumber once more. Verse smiled just a little, yet was curious why she had thanked him; she was asleep at the time… was she? He pondered this for a moment, standing in the silence of the darkness, and then returned to his balcony post, sitting down on a chair set aside for him, and began to gaze at the night sky once more, listening for any other intruders that would dare try to harm his princess.