Chapter 4: Twist of fate
She waited a little while in her room when she heard muffled voices from in front of her door. Perking her hears up she listened to that conversation between a female and a male voice.
"Oh my, such a shiny equipment. I have never seen stuff like that?" the female voice asked.
"Heh, yeah that's because I am the first to wear it," the male voice replied.
"The first? Where do you get it then?" she asked him curiously.
"You see, I am a Starlancer now..." he started.
"A Starlancer, what is that?" she wanted to know. Luna carefully opened her door without making any sound. Right in front of her chambers there was Diamond Sky talking to one of the palace maids. His lance has been stored away on his back so that he could use both hooves. The filly, he was talking to, wore the standard maid uniform, but unfortunately Luna noticed that she had a cute face. That girl fluttered her eyelids at him to charm him, but he didn't seem to notice.
"Princess Luna formed a new private team and I am the first one she had chosen to follow her call," he explained with his chest swelling up in pride. "I knew at first glance that you are something special..." she stepped near him delivering a seductive smile.
"Starlancer, your Princess demands your presence!" Luna called out to him.
Startled the maid gazed over at the Princess, taking a few steps back from her. Luna couldn't tell if it was because she was interrupted in her flirting or because of whom she was interrupted by.
"Please excuse me, duty calls... literally." He chuckled while the maid only nodded and scurried down the corridors into a different direction. Luna watched him entering her room with an annoyed expression on her face. After closing the door with her magic she yelled:
"I promote you to be my personal servant and the first thing you do is using my generosity to flirt with the palace staff?!"
"Whoah what? I didn't flirt with her," he replied confused, but she didn't calm down.
"Sure you didn't. I bet that maid thought so, too!" she yelled sarcastically.
"A minute later she would have jumped on your lap!"
"Wait what? No, no, no... she asked me a question and I only answered. Believe me, I didn't even know that she had such intentions. How did you know?" he asked lifting a brow not understanding the problem.
"As if it wasn't obvious enough," she said, upset and faced away from him. He stepped near her and hugged her by embracing her neck. Softly whispering into her ear he said:
"I am sorry. I didn't meant to hurt you. I just wanted to be polite so your team has a good reputation right from the start." She craned her neck to look at him and he could clearly see the jealousy and fury in her eyes. He maintained her gaze delivering a soft apologizing smile. She stared in his golden eyes and for a moment she got lost in time. Her fury got swept away in an instant. She turned around and hugged him back.
"You are my only friend... Promise you'll never leave me," she said with a quivering voice resting her head on his shoulder.
"Hey, I've sworn an oath to you remember? Didn't I swear to always be there for you and that I'll always do as you say? Of course I promise."
They hugged again and remained in that position for several moments. Luna couldn't tell how long they stood there before he asked:
"Do you have to be in Canterlot to raise the moon?"
"No of course not. I can do it anywhere I want. Why do you ask?"
"I just like to make it up to you and to honor your generosity. I just got an idea..."
"What do you have in mind?" she asked him curiously.
"It's a surprise, so I won't tell you just now. I have to plan some stuff first"
"That's mean, I want to know now... please!" the Moon Princess begged
"No" he said while, grinning.
"Pretty please - " she asked again trying to imitate the expression the maid had used before. For a moment he got stunned by the beautiful expression.
"Um... no" he blushed and turned his head away. "As I said, I need to manage some things first."
"Daaw..." she said pouting. A moment of silence followed.
Way too soon, Luna had to dismiss him to take her nap. While she was asleep, Diamond Sky worked out his plan. When the time came to rise the night the purple armored colt put his plan into action. When she returned the next morning, he said to her:
"You said you didn't meet many other ponies from around here because you were afraid how they react, didn't you?”
"Yes - " she slowly answered.
" - And you said that you are afraid of their retribution if you go alone, right?" She nodded not knowing where he was getting at.
"Well, you got me to protect you, so today, we will visit Ponyville. I will help you to get to know ponies and later that day we will have a picnic in a nice place" he said cheerfully.
"Ponyville? ... Meeting other ponies? .. I don't know.." she answered anxiously.
"Oh come on it will be fun, trust me!" he said even more cheerful. "So get ready and I will pick you up in an hour..."
He came back an hour later just as he promised. Meanwhile the Princess took a bath, brushed her mane and prepared herself to meet her subjects. She wanted to leave a good impression on the citizens of Ponyville.
"Are you ready? Come on let's move out!" he said assertively.
"Wasn't I the one in charge here?" she answered chuckling to cover her nervousness. She followed him to the train station of Canterlot.
"We - we are going by train? I can just order us a Pegasi-carriage to take us there," the Moon-Princess anxiously whispered.
"Duh, where is the fun in that? Besides how are you going to meet ponies in a two pony carriage?" he asked and rolled with his eyes.
He opened the door with his magic and let her enter the coach. They sat on a train bench, on the opposite side of other random ponies, who were looking out of the window. It seemed like none of those other ponies had noticed who they were traveling with just yet. After a few minutes the train began to move. Luna looked out of the window, watching the landscape fly by.
"I have never ridden a train before," she whispered to Diamond Sky and he looked at her in surprise.
"In all your years, you never rode a train before?!" he whispered back baffled and she shook her head.
"There are other ponies around. See that yellow coated pony with the pink mane right over there?" he whispered back after a short pause.
"Yeah..."
"You are going to talk to her," he said grinning.
"What?! No, I can't! I don't know her," she whispered, strained.
"Yes you can, just try it. I don't know her either but isn't the point in getting to know ponies to get to know them?" he said encouragingly.
"Oh, OK..." She turned to the yellow pegasus pony. "Good day to you, dear subject. How are you doing, today?" she called that other pony maybe a little too loud.
The addressed pegasus-pony, who had been looking out of the train window a second before, turned her head towards her, recognized the Princess and mumbled something in a very high pitched voice while trying to make herself as small as possible.
"Aren't you feeling well, dear subject?" Luna asked nervously. The yellow pony replied something unrecognizable in an even higher pitched voice and dashed off into another coach. Diamond Sky grinned gleefully.
"Well that was interesting all right..." Luna said, bugged. "No, you did it all wrong. Much too starchy. Next time just say 'Hi'. See that gray pegasus-pony over there? That one with the bubble cutie mark?. Try it again and don't be so tense this time."
Luna turned to the mare in question and just said: "Hi!" The pony turned her head, weaved at them and said:
"Oh, hi there Misses! Wow your hair looks so shiny!"
"So what's next?" she whispered to Diamond Sky. "Ask her something to keep the conversation going," he whispered back.
"So are you traveling to Ponyville too?" Luna asked, not knowing what else to say. Diamond Sky put a hoof on his forehead hardly suppressing a laugh.
"Yeah, oh wait, did I switch up trains again?" the pegasus wondered strained.
"Um.. I think there is only one rail connection to Ponyville.." Diamond Sky explained.
"There is? Thank Celestia! My boss wouldn't like it if I am late again." That pegasus seemed very relieved.
"Ask her why she visits Ponyville." Diamond Sky whispered to Luna.
"So what business are you up to in Ponyville?" she redirected the question to that mare.
"Oh, actually I live there. I had to deliver a parcel to somepony in Canterlot, but I forgot to bring it along. Now I’m going back to fetch and deliver it," the pegasus pony said joyfully.
"You are a pegasus pony.. wouldn't it be faster if you just.. um - fly?" Luna suggested.
"I guess so, but I often switch up directions and end up somewhere else. So I am using the train so I can't get lost. Wait, this is the train to Ponyville isn't it?" she asked, still joyfully.
"I guess so - ." Luna just answered, not knowing what to reply.
"Next Stop: Ponyville main station" a male voice on a speaker said.
"Oh that's my final destination. It was nice to meet you Mrs. Shiny Hair and Mr. Shiny Suit," the gray Pegasus pony said, got onto her hooves and left the train as the doors opened.
"She didn't recognize me, did she?" Luna asked, irritated.
"I don't think so... But you did good back there, Princess" Diamond Sky said patting her shoulder.
"I did?" she asked doubtfully.
"Of course.. see it isn't that hard, is it?" Diamond Sky smiled. They left the coach and trotted down the cobbled street leading to the town center. Ponies ogled them and started whispering as they walked by. They obviously recognized the Princess and of course they never saw an armor like Diamond Sky's before. Luna looked at their faces. Some ponies had a curious expression, some a more fearful one and some just smiled in their direction.
"So we need to get some things first. I ordered some food at the shop my friend is working at," Diamond Sky explained.
They stopped in front of an old-fashioned half timbered house. A sign above the entrance stated: ‘Sugarcube Corner’. The decorum seemed a bit extravagant though. It turned out to be a bakery. She entered a larger room with some displays offering cakes, cupcakes, muffins and different sweets. A pink earth pony with curly mane was cleaning the counter when they entered the building.
"Hey there Pinkie! " Diamond Sky called.
"Hey Diamond!" the pink mare answered beaming widely upon recognizing him.
"Did you get what I ordered yesterday?"
"Yes indee-dee!" She said wound up. "Who is your marefriend?" Diamond Sky and Luna both blushed and dodged each others gaze. The pink pony jumped over the counter, examining the blue mare intensely. Then she inhaled a large amount of air.
"You are Princess Luna, aren't you, aren't you, aren't you?" she jumped in circles around the two of them.
"Err.. yes this is indeed Princess Luna. Princess this is my friend Pinkie Pie. I mentioned her before..." the stallion introduced them to each other.
"Weeee, a new friend!" Pinkie yelled in excitement.
"F - friend? ... Nice to meet you!" the royal pony said intimidated. "You know her?" Luna asked Diamond Sky.
"Well yeah. Actually, I don't know anypony who doesn't know her. She's cool."
He looked at Pinkie and they both grinned. "Pinkie could you please get us what I ordered yesterday?"
"Oki-Doki-Loki!" She left the room bouncing like a ball. She then returned in her bouncy way with a big basket which looked quite heavy to carry with that ease. Diamond Sky used his unicorn magic to let it levitate in midair.
"Oh, I forgot to get a blanket, but you could ask at Sweet Apple Acres and borrow one there." she jumped around the room.
"Thank you Pinkie, I owe you one!" Pinkie stopped right in midair and stayed like that for a few moments.
"Well duh! We are friends remember?" the hyperactive pony replied rolling her eyes.
"Sweet Apple Acres is to the south, isn't it?" the Starlancer asked unsure.
"No. It’s to the west, silly!" Pinkie giggled.
"Ah anyway we better get going. See ya Pinkie!"
"It was nice to meet you, Pinkie Pie," Luna said to the earth pony.
"You gotta come again another time Luna! Friends are always welcome here..."
"It's 'Princess Luna', Pinkie!" Diamond Sky said strictly.
"I don't mind..." Luna giggled.
"Have Fu-hun!" Pinkie yelled as they opened the front door of the shop and stepped outside. They turned to the west, just like Pinkie Pie told them. Soon they reached a huge hilly area covered with lots of apple trees everywhere. After walking on the sandy street for several moments they saw a red coated stallion leaning on a wooden fence while chewing on a straw of hay.
"Hello there mister, are we interrupting you with something important?" Diamond Sky asked politely.
"Nope" the red stallion replied tersely.
"Are you the owner of this farm?"
"Eeyup."
"OK. You see Pinkie Pie sent us. She said we maybe could borrow a blanket from you. We’d like to have a picnic."
"Eeyup." Diamond Sky and Luna exchanged a glance while he slowly moved over to the barn. After several minutes he returned with a red rolled up blanket made of cotton.
"We will return it as soon as we are finished with our picnic, OK?"
"Eeyup," the farmer stallion just replied.
"OK, thank you my friend. See you later then." Diamond Sky said irritated and turned to leave.
"He doesn't talk much does he?" Luna whispered to Diamond Sky as soon as they were out of reach.
"Eeyup!" Diamond Sky replied copying the red stallion’s voice and Luna giggled.
They walked a while alongside the wooden fence that defined the property of the Apple Family, enjoying the surrounding nature. They found a nice place among apple trees not far from the forest edge of the Everfree Forest. Using his magic Diamond Sky spread the red blanket they’d gotten from that apple stallion and lay it on the grass right under an apple tree. He then put the basket on top of it.
"This is the Everfree Forest isn't it? I’ve heard there lives several deadly creatures within it. Isn't it dangerous to rest here?" Luna asked nervously.
"I doubt so. Those deadly creatures you mentioned live deep within the forest at the very heart of it and normally don't come close to the town without reason." Diamond Sky explained remembering his lessons.
They lay down on the blanket. Diamond Sky then looked into the basket Pinkie Pie had gave him. He found several plates and handed one over to Luna using his magic horn. He then sliced the cake and put two pieces onto the plates. There was a bottle of applejuice in the basket too. While eating the cake and drinking the juice, both of them leaned back against the trunk of the apple tree enjoying the view. After she had finished her slice of cake Luna asked:
"So where did you meet that Pinkie Pie?"
"I met her some years back, when I was still an apprentice. I was allowed to come along and learn from the more experienced guards of Princess Celestia, when she visited Ponyville for Summer Sun Celebration Day. At our arrival at the Inn, she just popped out of nowhere, introduced herself and offered her friendship. However, I refused at first, cause I didn't want to socialize with ponies of a town I rarely visit. She kept on appearing out of the blue and in the end I accepted her as a friend. Your sister stayed several days and so did we of course. Pinkie showed me around the town in my leisure time. We had some fun together and stayed in touch when I returned to Canterlot. I visited her several times during my vacations, too."
It was a warm and sunny day. In fact Diamond Sky had asked a Pegasus pony when and where the best weather would be around here. Luna yawned. She didn't take her afternoon nap and all the exciting new events today got her tired.
"You may take your nap here now, Princess. I don't mind at all," Diamond Sky said to her as she yawned again. "Thank you Diamond, it’s been a great day so far. Thank you for bringing me along..."
She rested her head against his shoulder and dropped off to sleep shortly after. He enjoyed her presence and warmth, avoiding any unnecessary motions to not wake her. This whole day turned out even more perfect than he had imagined.
He just sat there under the apple tree, listening to Luna's silent breathing, the singing of the birds and enjoying the sun. He looked up at the apple trees. They had thick, long branches and looked quite old. He then turned to the forest.
"This place doesn’t seem that dangerous at all. In fact the trees and bushes look quite beautiful in the sunlight," Diamond Sky though by himself, but of course he knew better.
Inside the forest, it is dark and dangerous. There were living many kinds of animals and beasts, some yet to be discovered. You shouldn't underestimate the unknown. He learned all about it in theory class when he was younger.
Buried within his own thoughts, the time lapsed away. The sun moved further to the west and he spent most of the time watching 'his' Princess sleeping peacefully. It must have been late afternoon, when suddenly a loud "Zapp!" occurred near them. Luna instantly awoke, while birds escaped the area.
"Did you hear that noise?" Diamond Sky whispered to the Princess.
"Yeah, what the hay was that?" she asked, drowsily.
"I don't know, but it was somewhere around here...." he replied, while looking around to spot the source of the noise.
Luna looked up into the apple tree. "Look, the apples changed their appearance. Aren't they much more colorful than before?" The apples had indeed changed their appearance into a multi-colored rainbow. "I have never seen something like that before" Luna said, fascinated.
"Neither have I," Diamond Sky agreed. "How is this even possible just like that?" he wondered. He picked an apple to have a closer look. He then heard a growl from somewhere behind him.
"Diamond, look!" the Princess screamed. Three pair of yellow eyes appeared in the bushes on the forest edge. Slowly both ponies got up on their hooves. Three creatures jumped out of the shadows.
They looked like big dogs but much more feral and they didn't have fur... instead their whole body seemed to be made out of sticks and branches. The creatures slowly drew near.
"Quick! Get behind me Luna!" Diamond Sky yelled, pushing her behind himself with a hoof while taking up his combat stance. He used his magic to detach the lance from its sheath on his back and levitated it in front of him to block a possible attack.
"You start running while I will distract them. Try to escape!" Diamond Sky ordered her in a stern voice.
"No, I can't leave you here..." she cried.
"I've sworn to protect you... Damn, too late, we are surrounded!" Diamond Sky cursed like a sailor pony.
Another wooden wolf jumped out of the bushes behind them. Keeping his princess close to him, Diamond eyed those wolves with a grim determination. The wolves just stared back at them growling, but a few moments passed when none of them moved. It was like the calm before the storm. Suddenly one of the wolves burst out from their formation and charged at Diamond Sky. He jumped to the side and the wolf missed its target.
A second wolf ran towards him, baring its fangs. With a swift motion diamond did a sidestep, knelt down and swiped his lance in a sweeping circular swing towards the wolf's legs. The result was, that the wolf lost its balance, like stumbling over a tripping wire. Being at full speed it was too late for the wolf to stop or jump over it, so he clumsily landed in the dirt. Meanwhile the first wolf attacked again, trying to strike with his claws. Diamond used his weapon to parry the swing and then pushed its arm away to open up its defense. Diamond then used the opportunity to thrust his lance into that wolf’s shoulder. By ripping it out of the wolf’s body again, he opened up a wound and several smaller sticks and branches fell to the ground. That wolf yowled in pain and backed off.
The third one hesitated before jumping at him. It glared at Diamond, now knowing that it wouldn’t be that easy to overpower him. So instead he tried to circle Diamond before he attacked, but Diamond was well aware of its presence. He did a sidestep while spinning around, lunging out to deliver a concussion strike with his lance handle towards the wolf’s temple.
He then turned around and saw the last Timberwolf, which had appeared behind both ponies and was charging Luna. Eyes wide opened, she just stood there paralyzed. It was obvious to Diamond that she was shocked in surprise. The charging wolf jumped into the air and nearly hit the Princess's head with his fangs, but it got blocked and repelled by a purple force field. Diamond Sky had quickly summoned it around the royal pony using his magic. The wolf stumbled and rolled on the ground before it regained his balance again. The same wolf then tried to burst the bubble by repeatedly beating on it with its large claws. Although Diamond was able to keep his protective shell active, he winced with every hit that wolf dealt to it. The wolf then got hit by a large rock. Diamond Sky had lifted it up with his magic and threw it like a shot putter at the feral creature, which temporary dazed it.
Meanwhile the first wolf rushed towards him again, lifting its gigantic claws to strike at him. Diamond whirled around, noticing his approaching foe. But it was already too late to dodge the swing entirely.
Although Diamond did a sidestep to prevent being hit that wasn't enough and the claw of the wolf hit him in the flank, knocking him to the ground. The blow managed to knock him back a couple of steps and pushed the air out of his lungs. Fortunately, Diamond's new armor was a brilliant piece of craftsmanship that absorbed most of the damage.
With Diamond now lying on his back, the second wolf, which happened to be the nearest to his current position, used its opportunity and jumped on top of him. It used its front claws to hold him down and opened its jaws to bite him. Using his magic again, Diamond quickly lifted up his lance in front of him and shoved it oblong into that wolf’s jaw so that the wolf couldn't close his jaw around his head. The wolf tried to bite through its gag bit by force but the plated shaft was durable enough to resist the pressure and the tip pierced into the wolfs wooden mouth the more it tried.
Yowling in pain the wolf took a step back trying to get rid of the thing that was stuck between his fangs. Supported by his now free front hooves, Diamond secured his pole arm that was stuck in the wolf's mouth. The wolf then flailed his head around wildly so that Diamond struggled to keep hold of his weapon. Another wolf stepped near and tried to bite him. Dangling in mid air, Diamond used his hind legs kicking it in the face. The wolf backed away but Diamond also lost hold of his lance as a result. The wolf was still flailing his head around and the lance finally detached from its mouth. Diamond watched how his weapon got hurled far away, deep into the heart of the forest, making him unable for him to reach it with his magic.
The wounded first wolf quickly recovered and then furiously tried to slash Diamond Sky with its claws, but the swing got deflected by the purple chestplate again. Diamond Sky quickly jumped beside the creature and with another move, behind it.
Luna, still within the magic shell, Diamond Sky had summoned around her, watched in awe as the gray coated stallion used his hind legs to forcefully hit the creatures hip. The wolf howled in agony as his wooden bones broke.
The wounded creature limped away and Diamond Sky, now unarmed, backed off next to Luna breathing heavily. He used that short pause to take a breather.
"Release me and I can help! Just let me out of here..." Luna plead desperately.
"Can't do that! Can't allow anything hurting you! If somethings happen to you I'll never forgive myself..." he replied between breaths.
The second and third wolf now attacked together trying to hit him with their claws. Diamond Sky jumped back and grasped a branch of the apple tree that he and Luna had sat beneath earlier with his unicorn magic. It was one of those long and thick ones Diamond Sky had examined before. He pulled it back and let go of the purple glowing branch and it swept both wolves of their feet. He turned his head and saw how the fourth wolf rushed towards him, knocking him to the ground. Diamond Sky quickly tried to roll aside but got hit by another slash of the claw. He suffered several scratches on his face which started to bleed.
Still within the force field, Luna witnessed how another purple glowing rock hit the side of the wolfs head, stunning it for a moment. Diamond Sky turned around and delivered another kick in the face of the beast.
Luna was impressed at how skillfully her Starlancer fended against four Timberwolves twice as big as himself. She cheered for him inside her purple sanctuary since she couldn't do anything else. Diamond Sky once told her that he wasn't as good as his comrades, however, she really doubted that now. How can anypony be better than this? His moves looked elegant. It was almost like dancing, how he dodged the wolves, fighting back when an opportunity struck. What Luna didn’t know was, that Diamond finally had found a proper incentive to fight.
The two wolves got back onto their feet and quickly tried to bite Diamond Sky. He dodged their attack but meanwhile a fifth, much bigger Timberwolf jumped out of the shadows. Luna assumed that this must be the leader of the pack. The Alpha Wolf quickly rushed towards Diamond Sky.
"Watch out!" Luna screamed, but it was already too late.
The Pack leader caught Diamond Sky off guard, delivering a mighty backhand swing with its paw, which forcefully hit the pony. The powerful strike sent Diamond Sky flying through the air before his body hit the apple tree’s trunk, making a horrible cracking sound. Even the best body armor couldn't absorb that amount of damage.
The purple force-field around Luna shattered as the brave unicorn lost consciousness. Luna melted into tears as she saw that the Starlancer couldn't move anymore. The Timberwolves gathered around the badly injured pony to deliver the final blow.
"Diamond!!.. Diamond Sky please, get up!!" Luna screamed, crying.
“No, get away from him! Please! Please don't be dead! Diamond.. My poor Diamond!! No.. no.. this can't be real... Diamond Sky get up!"
Tears covered the ground beneath her head as the Princess shivered in terror.
"No Diamond Sky... NO!"
"No, I can't let this happen... I WON'T let this happen!!" her voice changed and got colder and more aggressive. "I won't lose another loyal pony!!"
The Sky instantly turned pitch black. Out of nowhere a wall of clouds quickly covered the entire sky.
"YOU SHALL SUFFER! YOU SHALL PAY! YOU SHALL BE ANNIHILATED!" the Princess screamed in an unholy voice.
The Princess levitated in mid air with her eyes glowing in an unnatural white color. The air around her body blurred due to the heat of her burning rage. The sky turned even darker while lightning flashed around the clouds. Loud thunder rolled across the sky. The Alpha Wolf raised its claw to kill the fallen pony, when a mighty bolt of lightning struck its body, knocking it to the ground, leaving a black steaming crater.
The remaining wolves turned around to see the princess levitating in the air holding up both hooves above her head. With a fanatic manic expression, she moved her hooves, pointing at them and several bolts of lightning emerged from the sky, smiting down all the remaining Timberwolves at once.
Barely alive, the steaming scorched wolves whined and crawled away, trying to escape. They were never confronted by such amount of power before and Luna’s terrifying appearance utterly convinced them to run for their lives. She knew that another direct hit with a bolt of lightning would evaporate the still living creatures since they were made of wood after all.... But she didn't mind at all. Yes they deserved it! They need to be obliterated! Especially the pack leader who had hurt Diamond Sky. She was ready to turn the Alpha Wolf into dust when all of a sudden a silent voice said:
"No... don't... kill them..." Diamond Sky moved and tried to get up but collapsed immediately. He coughed up blood and groaned in pain. The Princess, still with her hooves above her head, ready to finish off the creatures froze in midair and turned to the crushed pony. Sparks of energy streaked around her body overcharging the air with furious electricity.
"Remember... who.. you are - " he mumbled, before he lost consciousness again.
She looked at the pony amazed, then she turned to the crouching Timberwolves and turned back to the pony. Thunder rolled threateningly. Another streak of lightning enlightened the clouds as she slowly lowered her hooves. The white unnatural glow in her eyes vanished, leaving her normal turquoise eyes filled with tears.
She zestfully moved one hoof and a strong wind squall blew the badly damaged Timberwolves back into the heart of the forest. That was when she heard the yells and sounds of the group of ponies who were running towards them as fast as they could. Help was on its way, it seemed.
*****
Pain..... so much pain...... pain everywhere.... He slowly opened his eyes. His whole body hurt. He saw a white ceiling and white walls while looking around without moving his head. A frequent beeping could be heard somewhere next to him. A white blanket covered his body. He then realized that he was in a hospital. He saw the blue Princess sleeping on a chair next to him with her head leaning on his bed. Her mane was untidy and her eyes were red and swollen as if she had cried a lot lately. He tried to touch her but he couldn't. A sudden pain made him stop. Luna instantly awoke as he groaned. "Diamond Sky!" she yelled anxiously. "No don't move! You are very badly injured!"
"What... happened?" he slowly whispered. "We got attacked by the Timberwolves. You managed to fend off four of them at once, but another one caught you off guard and knocked you against that tree. Almost every bone in your body broke when you hit the trunk.”
"I .. am .. sorry..... I failed..." he croaked hoarsely. Tears dripped from her face onto his blanket as she started to cry. She actually had used her new ability and entered Diamond’s dreams while he was out. Her initial intention was to keep his sleep safe and peaceful, so his body could recover. What she had seen was not what she had expected though. She assumed his dreams would be all about him being a hero or becoming the leader of the Guard or something like that. What she found instead were images of herself. Saying that she was surprised gazing at her own image would be an understatement. In his dreams he had also whispered to himself: “Make her smile, make her smile…"” Comfort her, comfort her” and “Protect her, protect her...” As if it was his very own mantra that he should not forget about.
It was obvious that all his thoughts were about her. She felt his pain, yet it seemed to be only a secondary concern of him. She also learned that he blamed himself for not being strong enough to protect her. ”All my fault, all my fault… Not strong enough, not strong enough...”
He blamed himself for taking her there and for ignoring her concerns about the dangers of the Everfree Forest. She blinked, pushing her spirit walk experience away.
There he was, wounded, broken and still he was only worrying about her wellbeing, her safety and blaming himself for his own weakness, she realized. "What?! No - no you didn't! You fought against four of those beasts twice as big as you are, you saved my life using your force-field, but more importantly you stopped me from losing my mind... I - I - I almost lost myself.... Seeing you there... suffering."
She embraced him gently accompanied by sobbing. "The Nightmare Moon inside of me wanted to kill all of them.. but you stopped me. You brought me back to my senses. Because of you, I remembered who I am... You saved my body AND my soul not only in that forest. I was so full of doubt, shame and fear before we met. You showed me how to live my life and you showed me how to be happy. You helped me forget my horrible past and you helped me in finding some friends. Because of you I was given a purpose…" her voice quavered.
She barely couldn't see anymore, because her eyes were drowned in tears.
" -All because of you..." she repeated whispering. "Diamond Sky! I.. I love you!" she yelled and then she passionately kissed him on the mouth.
When their lips touched it felt a like a spark of electricity jumping between both ponies. It was a long and passionate kiss, lasting several moments. The incredible agony he felt a second before vanished in a flash. He closed his eyes and devoted himself to the warm sensation spreading his body now. After a long while of sweet sensation she pulled back.
"I........u......too..." he whispered barely audibly. She didn't understand what he’d just said, but she knew it inside of her heart. And within her embrace and with a smile on his face...
...he passed away.
***
Luna cried like she never cried before and probably never would again. She cried for hours... she cried until there were no tears left to shed. He had always been the pivot of her emotions, but now he was gone for good. Although the nurses and doctors were silently watching the scene from the hospital hallway, they knew that it would be best to leave the Princess of the Night alone. They had known that Diamond Sky would have never made it, but seeing their last farewell broke their heart a little. One of the doctors, having tears in his eyes, silently closed the door to give Luna time to grieve.
"I will never forget you.. I shall always remember what you taught me.. Your actions shall never be forgotten, just like you’d always wanted." she whispered. She looked outside of the window into the darkness of the night. The moon shone with a pale white light through the hospital window. A swarm of shooting stars fell from the sky as if the heaven was mourning too. The stars began to move and aligned, forming a new star sign:
The Starlancer
THE END
Thank you for reading.