//------------------------------// // PreCommon Era Chapter Three/PreLunar Rebellion: Chapter Three: A Request // Story: Rise of The Lunar Knight // by Moonlit Novel //------------------------------// PreCommon Era Chapter Three/PreLunar Rebellion: Chapter Three: A Request Luna looked at her sister with worry. “Dear sister, what god would punish his followers for following their hearts?” she asked as she thought about what Masao had said and explained about the Christian and Jewish religions as best he could. Her sister looked at her with a look of sadness. “I do not know dearest sister. I do hope that thy friend will feel better when he awakens” Celestia said sadly. Luna looked at her sister as she sat on her throne, Celestia standing up and starting to head to bed once more. “I will see thee at dawn. Please try and keep thyself entertained for tonight, I do not think thy friend will be joining thou” said Celestia with a sad voice as she left the room Luna looked up to the ceiling of the room as she thought about Masao’s request… - - - Evening Star and Masao laid in his bed, sleeping, the room showed no signs of anything that could have happened, Masao’s arms were wrapped around the mare as he held her close their breathing was steady and if someone actually cared to look, the pair was fast asleep as if just being in each other’s company was enough for them to relax and fall asleep. It was this sight that Luna was greeted to when she opened the door to Masao’s room, and a pang of jealousy shot through her for a moment from what she saw, but she quietly shut the door and left the duo to rest as she started to argue with herself about many things. From how he may have been in that position with her, had she fulfilled his request, to it was up to the two currently sharing the bed for whether they were going to sleep together, and not her… - - - The next morning Masao awoke with Evening Star in his arms, and her wings wrapped around him protectively which made him blush lightly as he remembered the kiss they had briefly shared before going to bed, neither had thought all that hard about doing so and he didn’t regret having kissed her. Not any more than he would regret kissing any girl for that matter and he smiled lightly into Evening’s fur, which earned him a giggle from the mare as her eyes fluttered open. Before she could even open her lips to tell him “Good morning” his lips encompassed hers and her eye shot wide for a moment before fluttering close. “Good morning, Evening, I trust you slept well?” he asked pulling away and the mare giggled lightly before nodding. “I wonder, what hast gotten into thou? Thou normally refrains from kissing me, and after last night, I would not have been surprised if thou never did so again. The fear for one’s soul is a powerful one” said the mare and Masao chuckled, nodding in agreement, before kissing her once more. “Why should I fear for my soul so much that I lose sight of what I have in front of me, I have two mares I love, one who has been there for me whenever I needed her, and the other…” he trailed off shaking his head. “So who is this other mare then Masao?” asked the bat pony a look of scorn on her face but her tone off put the look making it obvious that she was messing with him, and instead of answering he kissed her gently. Getting out of the bed he stretched his body, and stood up only to be knocked over as Evening pounced on his back. “I would like to take a moment of thy time Masao” she whispered into his ear… - - - Walking into the throne room laughing as he and Evening teased each other. Masao stopped watched Celestia stand up and trot over to him, her look was stern and he knew something was wrong. “Masao, thou—” she started when he frowned at her. And put a hand in out in front of her. “If this is about my request last night, I do not apologize, I still feel as if it will be the best bet for Luna to always have someone with whom she can relate, at least in some regard” he interrupted and Celestia frowned “Thou didst not say that thou were risking thy life for my sister” said the Solar princess and Masao frowned shaking his head. “Would that have changed Luna’s answer any, Celestia? Or would she have become even more steadfast in her refusal?” he countered as Evening made it into the throne room giggling before she noticed the presence of Celestia and quickly composed herself. “Princess” said the bat pony with a slight blush from her antics as the white alicorn stared at her. “How art thou doing Evening Star?” Celestia asked politely before turning back to Masao, “I doubt it would have, but lying about how your religion—” “I never lied, it is a sin to lay with anyone who isn’t human” he interrupted with a shake of his head as he sighed… - - - Later that day when the princesses lowered the sun and raised the moon, Masao sat with the trio of mares had had befriended in the dining room eating dinner, or in the case of Luna, breakfast, when Luna spoke up. “Masao… I…” she stumbled on her words for a second before clearing her throat, “I have been thinking about what thou had said.” She said with a slight tremor in her voice. Masao frowned at her and Evening Star placed a hoof on his thigh to keep him from speaking up. He glanced at her as she motioned for him to pay attention to Luna. “But what I don’t understand is why, why dost thou wish to risk death to avoid death?” she asked and Masao opened his mouth to speak when her sister spoke up. “Dear sister, dost thou not understand? He dost not want this for himself, he wants this for—” “Celestia, don’t. If she doesn’t want to do this I won’t force her” Masao interrupted causing Luna to look between Celestia and Masao, and for a moment she believed that he was courting her sister, but only for a moment as she remembered the scene from last night when she found him with his arms wrapped around Evening Star. “I—I apologize, but I still wish to knowest why wouldst thou take this risk” asked the dark blue alicorn and Masao thought for a moment for the right way to broach the topic. “I already said I want to be here for you, so you don’t feel lonely, correct?” he asked her and Luna scowled at him. “Do not answer my question with another question, Masao! T’is not fair!” she said annoyed at him and Masao frowned and she relented with a sigh, “Yes thou did sayest that” “I—… I want to be able to keep that promise, I do not think it would be right for me to die and leave you lonesome” he said and the hoof on his thigh seemed to grip him harder but when he glanced at Evening she kept her eyes on Luna obviously awaiting her response. “I see… and thou thinks that poisoning thy soul will grant thee eternal life?” she asked and Masao frowned, “Why should I hurt, and potentially kill thee, just so thou can hide from death? T’is it because thou fears for thy soul after death? Or T’is it because thou wishes to be there for me long after thy time was supposed to end?” she challenged, Masao gritted his teeth, not once had he lied to her, and here she was questioning his honesty. “Did you ever think that was perhaps, both?” he asked in a carefully leveled voice which made Luna look at him sheepishly as her sister glanced between them, a fork in her telepathy holding a small amount of carrot hovering halfway between her mouth and the plate. “I apologize, Masao, I did not think, and I do think that maybe I can at least try to grant your request…” she said as she turned her face away from Masao.as she levitated a forkful of food to her mouth and promptly started to eat it, chewing slowly as if to postpone any more words from herself. “Princess, might I asked what changed your mind?” asked Masao his eyes narrowing in suspicion but Luna kept quiet… - - - Later after dinner Luna led Masao and Evening Star to a practice field that the pair knew well and off to the side were a few swords on the weapons rack which drew Masao’s attention. “It seems that a few of the guard forgot to put these away, the guard captain will be furious” he said as he walked towards them when one of them glowed with a teal hue as it flew to Luna who held it in a guarded position with her magic. “Masao, I wantest thou to attack me” said Luna the look on her face making it clear she would not take no for an answer. “Why? I don’t want to risk hurting you, or more likely, you hurting me on accident.” said Masao surprised at her and a little worried. “I heard that thou have been learning swordsponyship from the guard, I wish to test you and your skill.” She said in reply, the sword in her magic twirling around as if she was bored. “No” Masao said firmly and he turned around ready to walk off. “So, thou wouldst ask me for a favor, and yet deny me one in return?” came the biting reply making Masao spin on his heel and face her. “Excuse me?” he said his eyes narrow, it was not like Luna to act like this, and he did not like this Luna. “Fight me, if thou wins, I will grant your request, if thou loses, thee wilt never bring it up ever again” at that Evening Star glared at the lunar princess. “Now that is not fair! Thou art forcing him to fight thee, and he shalt have no chance of winning against thee! He is but a novice compared to thee” the bat pony argued only for Luna to glare at her. “T’is his choice, Evening, not thine” she replied with a bite in her voice. There was a sound of a blade singing through the air as Masao suddenly stood in a ready stance his chosen blade at the ready…