Chapter 4
The two entered the dimly lit bed chamber, Verse trotting around the room, lighting two candles on either side, giving the room a soft enough glow to allow them to see in the dark. The colt didn’t speak a word as he soon adjourned to the balcony, beginning his night watch.
All the while, Luna watched Verse move around the room like some sort of machine, repeating the same actions over and over to the letter, not missing a beat… she frowned as he trotted onto the balcony and into the cool night air. Luna climbed into bed, using her magic to un-tuck the covers to allow her to slip beneath them, covering herself up and resting her head on a soft pillow, looking at the silhouette of her silent guard on the balcony.
An hour, maybe two, had passed, and Verse had not moved much, staring out towards the land of Equestria which was now covered in the soft light of the moon. Luna could only watch, seeing her once vibrant and alive friend now quiet and solemn, her mind racked with thoughts on how to help him. Silence filled the room, until Luna called out. “Verse… could you please come in? I… wish to ask you something.”
Verse soon trotted inside. “Yes,Princess? Is something wrong?” he asked, expecting a lecture or perhaps an awkward conversation about his outburst at the table, he still felt foolish for losing his cool like that. Instead, the Princess sat up. “Nothing is wrong, Verse, I just wanted your company, for I am restless… please, sit with me.” The colt raised an eyebrow for a moment and then nodded, the blue colt clambering onto the soft quilt of the elegant bed.
The mare smiled softly. “I want to apologize for Blueblood’s actions towards you, what I wanted to be a nice dinner between equals turned into a disaster due to his arrogance…”
Verse was taken back for a moment. “There’s no need to apologize, pri-…Luna, the Prince has the right to say what he pleases. I’m just a guard, and I’m not supposed to have an opinion.”
With that, Luna huffs in slight annoyance. “How could you of all ponies say that?” she asked, crossing her forelegs together. “The colt who was so hard headed he wouldn’t even let a king of demons push him around. The colt who voiced his opinion whether the world wanted to hear it or not?” she said with an annoyed, yet, somehow concerned look on her face. Verse stared at her for a moment, confused, not entirely sure what to say. The princess then continued as the colt stayed silent. “You used to be the colt that so many ponies despised or looked up to… now you’re just so quiet. Verse, tell me, why did you take this job? Look at what it’s done to you… you rarely go out; I never see you anywhere but here at the castle.”
The blue colt sat there in silence for a moment, starting to look down as he spoke. “… I’m a danger to those around me, and without Candy or Fire to watch out for me, to keep me in check, I felt like it would be best to stay somewhere close to the mares with enough power to stop me before I could do any damage.” He shrugged a little. “I’m… not saying that I’m a ticking time bomb, but… there’s so many things I don’t know about myself or… my abilities, and I don’t want Ponyville getting damaged because of them. At least here I can keep myself from the world, so everypony benefits. Celestia can keep me under tabs… and I have a place to sleep.”
The princess shook her head. “But this does not benefit you, Verse, you close yourself from the world as if you’re some sort of monster, that your abilities make you an outcast…” She leaned forward, placing her hoof on his. “While they do the exact opposite… they make you special, they make you unique and give you the power to help others, and you have, so many times over. Why would you waste that potential?” she asked, watching his hoof begin to glow a soft blue in hers.
The colt grimaced at the sight of his hoof glowing again. “And who’s to say I won’t hurt somepony? Who’s to say that I’m just some kind of accident that doesn’t belong anywhere?”
The princess sighed. “You’re not, Verse, you’re far from it…” She let go of his hoof, watching the light fade from it, leaning back into the cushions of her bed. “I just wish to help you, Verse, I have very few friends in this era, and you are one of them. I do not wish to see you waste your life, gifts or no gifts.”
Verse climbed out of bed, nodding. “I understand, Luna, and I thank you for your kindness, but I’m fine, you don’t have to worry about me.” The colt turned to leave, trotting back towards his post.
“Verse, wait.” Luna called out, the colt turning his head back to her. Luna scooted over to the side, making more space. “…I wish for you to lay with me.” she asked.
Verse blinks, a small blush appearing on his cheeks. “I-I’m sorry?” he stuttered out.
The Princess of the Night tilted her head at the colt’s curious reaction and then rolled her eyes. “Not like that, Verse… I meant I wish for you to join me in bed, and in slumber.”
Verse shook his head. “Why?” he asked, confused. “I can just get some sleep when I get home, and it’s still my shift.”
The princess sighed once more, perhaps he was still hardheaded. “Verse, there is a difference between sleep and rest… and from what I know from you, you’re a colt who hates to be alone in the waking hours, whether you want to admit it or not. Thus, I believe you will sleep more soundly in the company of a friend.”
Verse nodded a little, understanding now. “That’s not necessary, Luna. Really, thank you, but I don’t think-“
Luna shook her head. “That’s an order, Verse. Join me in bed, you wouldn’t disobey an order now would you?” she said with a soft smirk. The colt was caught in a corner now, unable to disobey as he sighed… he climbed under the covers, turning his back to Luna in slight embarrassment, feeling awkward lying next to his Princess as she wrapped the covers around both of them.
Verse laid there, unsure of what was going to happen next, his eyes staring into the darkness of the room, until a foreleg wrapped around his midsection, almost holding him. He gulped a little, unsure of his Princess’ intentions. Then, he heard a familiar sound, one he had heard many times on his night shift. Luna’s breathing had slowed into the familiar pace it always reached when she slept, the Princess of the Night had already fallen asleep, holding Verse close. At the sound of her slumber, he relaxed a little, realizing that this situation wasn’t as awkward as he had perceived… it was… rather peaceful as he felt a gentle warmth radiating off of Luna. His eyes soon fell shut, the colt drifting off to the first restful sleep he had experienced in a long while.