Luna’s Story 2: Wrath of the Moon Champion
Part 1: The Champion Appears
“Hurry up, hurry up.” Whispered one of the three stallions crouching in shadow. “The lunar patrol will go by any minute now!” with a rather un-graceful hoof the bigger of the three broke one of the windowpanes in the door and reached to unlock it. They tumbled in a heap into the pie shop. “Spread out, thirty seconds, and we’re out.” The three of them rushed about, opening display cases and getting their saddlebags ready. Putting stacks of pies gently in their bags, they searched the shop for anything else of value. One of the three found a strong box behind the counter, nickering and signaling their biggest group member over. The barrel-chested stallion squinted at it back and forth. Pulling it from the shelf they’d found it on, he gave one of the corners a firm kick. It sprang open, drawing smiles from their faces. It was an old design, to have such an obvious flaw. The bits inside shone in the full moon’s light. Reaching greedily, they ran their hooves through it.
“Hey you!” Somepony had emerged from the upstairs apartment, clopping quickly down the banister. “What do you think you’re doing?!” it was a portly, angry stallion, no doubt the baker. His wife rushed down after him, whinnying angrily as they leapt from the stairs to defend their shop. Splat-splat! They fell in a heap, both pie’d to the face. The weaponized sugar took hold quickly, and their eyes rolled into their heads. The poor shop owners had never known what hit them.
“Nice one.” One of the three complimented the smallest. He was the fastest draw with a pie, after all. He nodded, bobbing his head as they continued their work. When they’d stuffed their bags with pies and secured the strong box’s bits. “I can convert these into throwing pies in an hour so, let’s get back so we don’t get—”
A shadow interrupted the moonlight streaming in the front shop window. All three ponies turned quickly, but not quickly enough. Suddenly a shape burst through the glass, tackling the largest of the three thieves into shadow, over the counter and beyond sight. He screamed ferally, but a sudden sickening thud silenced him. There was a stomach-churning whack, whack, whump-ing of hooves on flesh before a quick spatter of blood shot across the wall. Both remaining thieves stared slack-jawed. Something had knocked the boss right off his hooves! “Let’s get outta here!” one of them made a gallop for the door, desperately grasping his saddlebags of loot as he went.
The same shadow grunted, leaping off of its first victim and over the counter. Sailing through the air, it landed on the running thief’s back and tackled him to the ground with sheer weight. In one horrific bite of triangle teeth, it tore the saddlebag off his back and bashed his head into the doorframe two, three, four times until he stopped resisting. His yelps were throat-wrenching, like a bawling foal’s. Blood dripped from the oak wood, and by the time it finished with him he looked almost dead. His hooves bicycled weakly, then he went limp under the terrible figure. Whoever it was loomed over its second conquest, turning slowly and setting its sights on the last thief standing.
“I give! I surrender!” he dropped his loot bag and threw himself on his belly to beg for mercy. “D-don’t hurt me! Please! I surrender!” The stallion turned pale as the shadow loomed over him. Igniting its horn, it grew so close he could see golden mist curling out of its amber eyes. Boiling, frothing, untamed rage twinkled in the darkness. He put his hooves over his head in terror, shaking like a leaf. “M-mercy!”
It slowly turned to study the shop owners, spilled out over their banister and stairs. A young and healthy couple, struck down by weaponized confections. Its jowls lifting to reveal a piranha’s triangle-tooth’d smile. Looming over the remaining thief like an apocalyptic black shadow, it finally spoke. It was a flushed, exhilarated whisper. “Not for you. Not tonight.” The stallion stared up at the shadow in slack-jawed terror. A silvery, gauntleted hoof dashed out of the darkness into a flash of moonlight, blinding him as he was struck down. He didn’t have long to scream as the predator leapt upon him, but it was a luscious sound.
=-=-=-=
The next morning solar guards surrounded the area, for it was a crime scene. Right after the dawn the shop owners had been found laying in their own shop, spatters of blood and pie all over the place. “What happened here?” one guard that had just arrived asked his fellow.
“Break-in. Pie thieves using weaponized sugar pies.” The other said. “The owners said there were three.” They stepped in together to examine the scene. “We’re not sure about the blood, though. The couple said they got hit with pies and went down, but…”
“A serious beating happened here.” Finished the first, nodding slowly. “I’ve never seen anything like this before…” he trailed off, seeing the spatter of blood on the doorframe, the wall behind the counter, and the big blot of it in the middle of the store’s floor.
“Also, the door was unlocked, but the front window was completely broken in.” He nodded towards the debris and mess that was all over the floor. “Watch your hooves, we didn’t let anyone clean up yet. We’re still piecing everything together.” He gestured mildly.
“So… the thieves broke in through the door to steal pies.” The first guard said, walking slowly through the scene. “The owners hear the ruckus and come down… they get pie’d, and then…” he turned slowly and looked to the broken in front window. “Somepony, or some-thing, came through the front window.”
“And that kind of leads us to our biggest question.” The second guard said with a sigh.
“What’s that?”
“Where are the thieves?”
“We don’t have them in custody?”
“No. The store owners saw them, but… they weren’t here when we arrived.”
“You don’t think they’ve been kidnapped, do you?”
“Who kidnaps thieves?”
“I dunno. But whoever it was certainly bucked the hell out of them before he left.” He winced at all the red that painted the room. “Looks pretty brutal.” The other guard nodded his agreement. “You think we’ve got a vigilante or something?”
“Dunno. Seein’ something like this, there’s no telling what happened after the store owners were hit.” He said, cocking his head and rolling his eyes. Then, he paused. “What the…” his eye-rolling stopped mid-roll and he tilted his head back. The vaulted ceiling was high, like a church, making it easy to heat with the ovens of the pie shop and such. But that wasn’t what drew his attention. Attached to the ceiling were a set of ropes and plastered to the skylight, blocking it out entirely, was a limp stallion. Next to him in huge letters carved in the plaster was VIVAS NOCTUS. “Get him down!” the guard roared. “Get the others!”
Rushing outside, the other guard called more in. Working with magic and wings, they dislodged the poor stallion. Working quickly with the ropes that had cocooned him, they recoiled when they saw his condition. He’d been beaten, badly. The hoof prints all over his body were proof enough, as well as the crusted blood on his mouth and nose. A little piece of paper was tucked under his arm, which one of the guards snatched with magic. “This one was smart enough to surrender. Regards.” He read aloud, cocking his head with a frown. The gathering of guards stared at him, then down at the bloodied stallion.
One knelt, taking off his helm. Green washed over his body as the solar magic gave out. He pressed his ear to the victim’s chest. “He’s alive. Barely.” He told the others. “We’ll need to get him to a doctor, right away.” They all nodded in affirmation, rushing to call for a cart and secure the roadway. They never found the other two thieves.
=-=-=-=
Princess Luna awoke with her head resting on something warm and breathing. She murred quietly, lifting her head a little. The past few months had been so peaceful. She had beautiful nights, a happy demeanor, and most importantly, Aegis Shield. Her handsome, wonderful stallion. Leaning a little, she studied his face with a smile. He was so peaceful when he slept, she often forgot he was also one of her personal guardians when they were in bed together. In private, they were very much in love, and very much equals. They studied the stars together, often ate together, and shared the same bed now and then. She nuzzled him quietly. He was one of the captains of the lunar stallions, in charge of the force of seventy night-time guards with magic armor and complete devotion to her. Quite flattering, really. Though, she did suspect he got ribbing now and then for sleeping with his boss. Whatever it was, he happily endured it and continued to excel.
Rising, she ached in a private way. She and Aegis had stayed up quite late celebrating the beauty of the full moon (to put it nicely). She nosed him again until he stirred. He turned over, his eyes slitting open. “Rise, my stallion. The new night is upon us.” she said sleepily. He grumped at her, pulling a pillow over his head. Smirking, she reached with a large hoof and rubbed his belly in wide circles. He laughed, jittering away and curling up. “Ticklish thing.” she mused, getting out of bed and going to the balcony naked.
Closing her eyes, the princess ignited her horn with deep magicks. Grasping at the silvery celestial body, she pulled the moon from beyond the horizon. Its pale face began to peek up over the end of the land, and she smiled. Setting it on its normal course, she nodded to herself and turned back to her room. Going to her vanity, she began to don her crown and regalia, fiddling with her shoes as she did so. All of the trappings were symbolic, really, but some ponies refused to look at her if she wasn’t wearing them. Like she were more nude than they.
Chuckling, she nodded to Aegis Shield as she saw him rising. Stretching back and forth, he pulled on his medallion. Popping his neck back and forth, he spoke the oath. “In the dark, we tear and rend. To end all evils, with spines to bend. Lust and power, hunger and might. By Luna’s will, and dark of night!” Old magicks gripped him as his fur stained an ashy grey. The ancestors raised their deep voices in song, rearing and whinnying as it all melted over him like quicksilver. Armor exploded over his body like so many drawing swords. His eyes glowed gold, sprouting a spectral mist while his feathered wings melted together like wax, turning bat-like. Lunar stallion! Shaking like a wet dog for a moment, he smiled at her smile. “What?”
“Thou art still so handsome.” She said softly, running a brush through her ethereal mane. He smiled despite himself, bowing slowly. “I’ll meet you in the hall to go to dinner.” She told him. He nodded, heading to the door.
When Aegis Shield opened the door, he found a solar guard with her hoof raised to knock. “Captain Aegis Shield!” She belted, a little startled. “A report, from the solar guard!” she said, thrusting a scroll to him with her hooves. He took it gently in his mouth, nodding his thanks.
Without leaving the room, he shut the door and unfurled it. His eyes raced back and forth across the letter, slowly widening in horror. “What is it?” Luna called from where she was brushing herself.
“There’s been an incident. They need me.” Aegis said apologetically. “Forgive me Luna, I--”
“Go on, a captain of the lunar stallions has many responsibilities other than the princess herself.” She smiled at him. “We do not think we will be assassinated on the way to the dinner table.” She snickered playfully. “I can make it on my own.” He smiled at her a little painfully. Pausing in the doorway, he went back over to her at the vanity. She blinked at him for a moment, but he leaned up to nuzzle her. She extended her neck with a quiet purr, and he ended it with a quick kiss. Luna shivered just a little, but he could already tell she was shifting into princess mode and out of Luna mode.
“I’ll try to be back before the midnight court starts.” Aegis Shield said, walking backwards towards the door. “Don’t start without me!” he called playfully, turning to leave. She shook her head at him, smiling contentedly. Turning, the mare admired herself in the mirror for a moment. Unlike so many other females, she liked her looks and could certainly understand how a stallion could be attracted. But the fact that she was a princess had stayed a thousand hooves. Until Aegis, that is. She smiled quietly, warmth gathering in her face. Companion. Friend. Lover. He fit them all. She was halfway to dinner before she wondered just how the messenger had known to look in a sleeping princess’ chambers for him. Ah well. Word was bound to get out eventually.
=-=-=-=
“Of course we agree to thy standard on the road tax across-the-board standard, but thy richer landowners are not exempt from such things.” Luna tossed her mane haughtily. “And if they try to wriggle their way out of the standard seven percent tax rate, I shall have their funds and their flanks seized.” She menaced the official with a quick and icy look. He shuddered, looking away quickly, unable to withstand the gaze of the immortal alicorn. Turning the glare off, she opened her mouth to speak again.
Aegis Shield burst into the Midnight Court, startling Luna and everypony else present. “Your majesty!” he shouted, the deep bronze of his voice echoing to the high buttresses. He practically shoved the official out of the way to take center stage on the red carpet that stopped at the base of the dais. Luna frowned. She’s not seen him so upset in a long time. “There’s been an emergency! You must come to the lunar barracks!”
“Aegis Shield! We are in the middle of the Midnight Court!” Luna protested hotly, ears turning back in an angry expression. The official lay in a heap, his eyes in comical swirls and one hoof twitching. The Stewarts and other ponies of the midnight court looked on in shock. Nopony just ordered the princess around like that. “What calamity could possibly ruffle thou so?” she demanded, rising from her throne.
“There’s been an… an incident!” he said lamely, curling his wings embarrassedly. “It’s lunar stallion business! I… I can’t say it here!” he pleaded with his eyes, a private look that stirred the night princess’ heart for a moment.
Luna considered for a long moment. Showing favoritism was not a good policy for a princess. However, the lunar stallions were seventy, not one. The move was politically sound. Weighing her options briefly, she looked out across the court. “We declare a two-hour recess!” she trumpeted across the room. “Eat, stretch, and return within the time.” She commanded all the ponies present. “Away with you.” She walked slowly down the dais stairs as the room emptied out, frowning deeply. When they were alone she spoke again, “Thou art my lover and heart, but I am not at thy beck and call at all hours of the night.” She scolded him with a frown. “I am still the ruler of Equestria right now.”
“Someone strung up a pony in a pie shop.” He whispered fiercely, all four of his hooves jittering. She blinked in shock. “Two others are missing, presumed dead. There was blood everywhere.” He gave her the quick run-down. “They were robbing the shop, knocked out the owners… but something stopped them, and strung one of them up like a birthday piñata. He carved Vivas Noctus on the ceiling.” He said in a low voice, worriedly.
“Impossible!” she snapped angrily. “None but the lunar stallions know that phrase’s meaning, it is a sacred oath! Writing it down is forbidden!” she loomed over him without meaning to and saw the shudder in his frame. Taking a deep breath, she calmed herself. Her mind raced while she frowned at the ceiling. “Captain, summon the lunar guard. All of them.” She commanded. Aegis Shield snapped a serious salute. She only ever called him by his rank when things had gotten serious. Gone was the soft lover Luna, now it was time to be the princess and ruler of Equestria.
Within the hour, seven rows of ten were gathered in the throne room, both captains front and center (Aegis Shield and Stalwart Hide, the two original new lunar stallions). Those that had been taken from guard duty were replaced with their solar counterparts, and those that had taken the day off were mustered forcefully from their relaxing. The princess of the night called, and the lunar stallions answered unquestionably. “At-ten-HUP!” Stalwart Hide barked. As one, the rows of stallions saluted. “Or-der-ARMS!” their hooves fell in unison, a single massive clop on marble tile. The months of training had made the unit strong and unified, Luna observed with some pride. “Dress-right-DRESS!” their front-right hooves lashed out, and they spaced themselves accordingly. One stallion would be exactly far enough away from his comrade to touch his shoulder, no closer and no farther.
Their arrangement perfected, both captains stepped forward and saluted princess Luna. “Presenting to her majesty, the entire lunar stallion corps. Seventy ponies strong.” Aegis Shield announced in his captain’s voice. Turning on his hooves with military precision, he presented his salute to his stallions. “Vivas Noctus.” He said. It meant ‘long live the night’, an ancient Equestrian oath to her majesty of the moon, princess Luna.
“VIVAS NOCTUS!” Boomed the entire group in one voice. Aegis Shield turned back about, and with Stalwart Hide at his side, returned to the front-middle of the ranks by walking backward.
The formalities of the gathering over, Luna rose from her throne to speak. “Lunar stallions!” she said over the sea of ashy grey and purple armor. They all affixed her with their ‘guard stares’, blank and serious looks of attention. “Something terrible has come to our attention and I require all of you to speak truth this night!” she walked slowly. “One of you, it seems, has taken justice into his own hooves.” She told them briefly about the pie shop incident, and the implication of the two missing thieves as well as all the blood and signs of battle. “Also, the stallion in question chose to write your sacred oath, vivas noctus, upon the ceiling.” She got a few startled looks for that. Nopony WROTE vivas noctus, it was a sacred oath! “We demand to know whom.” She fixed the entire core with a narrow-eyed gaze. She saw eyes flicking back and forth, beads of sweat here and there. “We DEMAND TO KNOW WHOM!” The Royal Canterlot Voice concussed the night, shaking the throne room on its foundations. The core flinched as one, but nopony spoke. “Somepony will speak his admission, or we shalt spend the night together reading thy minds one at a time.” She threatened them rather openly. “We do not condone murder and violence in our guard, we are not at war! Thou art a peacekeeping force in this era, and we shall not have such senseless vigilantism among us!” Her voice rang over the group of stallions, but none of them spoke. There was a long and terrible silence.
Aegis Shield winced. Threatening the group as a whole was probably not the best way to ferret out a confession. But she was the princess so she would do as she pleased. Still at attention, the captain swallowed and hoped somepony would cave. Luna didn’t sound like she was fibbing when she threatened to read their minds by force. It was a harsh threat, for mind-reading was a deeply violating magic to use on another pony. It was up there with bodily injury and torture. The mind was the last sanctuary against the world, and to peer into it was to violate every sense of privacy that pony had ever known.
“Very well.” Luna said with narrowed and angry eyes. “We will not allow this to continue. We have no tolerance for vigilantism. The criminal shall be rooted out. His armor and honor cast from his family!” She stomped down the stairs of the dais from the throne. “Hammershot! Step forth!” she barked. The first pony in the first row came forth, shuddering as he was zeroed in on by her majesty. “Remove thy armor.”
“Yes you majesty.” He said a little fearfully. Reaching with a shaky hoof, he tapped the eye of the chest plate he was wearing. The eye closed and his normal form returned. Yellow fur and orange mane, he knelt before her on all four knees, presenting the crown of his head and spreading his wings on the floor. It was an invitation to crush his wings, an ancient gesture, if he displeased her. Luna’s horn ignited. A few of the lunar stallions squeezed their eyes shut and looked away. If this was the only way to root out a murderer, they would have to endure it. The princess of the night stared into his soul, and by the time it was over he was sweating and shivering.
“Melancholy! Step forth!” Luna commanded, done with him.
“Pen Maker! Step forth!”
“Storm Chaser! Step forth!”
“Wet Willy! Step forth!”
“Tree Knot! Step forth!”
She knew them all by name and face, despite their all being grey and dressed the same. One by one the princess worked down the line of the lunar stallions, each more exhausted than the last. She knew their minds now, their dirty little secrets. All in service to the crown. They were expected to give anything and everything, and they did so willingly. But, it didn’t make it any less chilling to have her peer into their thoughts. Princess Luna was nearly at the end of the first row when a loud clopping sound made her jerk her head around.
There upon the very top of the throne’s back was a unicorn, standing daintily with all four hooves very close together for balance. The armor covering it was silvery and bright, shining in the moonlight that poured into the room. Twin wing-swords hung on its shoulders, limp from being sheathed. Like a starry beacon the moon shone behind the armored pony, encircling it with a white halo of pure night. The helm and visor obscured the upper-half of the face. “Your majesty.” The voice was female. She bowed. “Vivas Noctus.” She recited. Every single stallion in the room gasped in anger. How DARE she?!
Luna’s eyes widened. She knew that silvery armor. She’d made it herself, millennium ago. Heaving a great and angry breath she thrust a hoof out as the Royal Canterlot Voice shuddered the palace. “SEIZE HER!” Wings opened. Horns ignited. Seventy sets of hooves pushed off. The silvery mare smiled quietly, hopping behind the throne with a dainty bending of her legs. There was a crack of parted air. A dozen stallions tackled the throne itself right off of its pegs to get at her as great swaths of them came at the hiding spot from all sides. They rushed forth to pounce on the intruder, but she was gone! Teleported away according to the sound, they realized as one.
“Princess, who was that?!” Aegis Shield said as the lunar stallions scrambled back and forth to check every inch of the massive room. “What was she wearing?!”
“White lunar armor.” Princess Luna murmured darkly, staring out past the throne’s platform and into the stars. “The one set ever made for a mare. The Moon Champion.”
End of Part 1