//------------------------------// // Lady Luck Smiles upon thee // Story: Lady Luck Smiles upon the Broken // by The Stainmore Phoenix //------------------------------// Nightmare Moon sat in the semi patched ruins of the Castle of the Two Pony Sisters. Ever since the ordeal with the Elements of Harmony and her being split off from Luna, none of the ponies, save Princess Twilight or Princess Celestia even thought of visiting her. As for Cadence and Shining Armor, running an entire Empire hampered their good intentions to visit her, but they at least had their doors open if ever she needed a warm place to stay while up north. Princess Twilight did the same thing, and Nightmare Moon spent countless nights in the castle. However, she was turning the Castle of the Two Pony Sisters into her home. While the restoration job was going on, she was out doing some house supply shopping in Canterlot. She had taken to wearing a cloak and not her armor when going out, but that didn't help alleviate fears. “I guess my disreputation proceeds my current actions,” she muttered coldly. Finding a sandwich shop, she sat and ordered a sandwich. Eating it in silence, she scanned the stores in her immediate vicinity. Book, movie, grocery, clothing, household apparel, and general stores lay all over the block. As she returned to her sandwich, a clank was heard and a dull blackish red Pegasus stallion in Celestial Gold Armor came up to the table. “Excuse me, ma'am, is this seat taken?” He asked. A firm, yet calming voice came from the stallion. Nightmare chuckled. “If you count air as being a living being that can occupy a chair and eat a sandwich, then yes,” she said. He chuckled and pulled out the chair. He looked at her after sitting down and removing his helmet, he glanced around and then sat back. “It's grateful that it's the weekend,” he said. “Sometimes I can't stand the other guards. If you thought high school fillies and colts are immature and disgusting, these stallions act just as childish, going as far as to drench a Stallion's handkerchief in hot sauce and put him out of action.” Nightmare Moon chuckled, “I don't know how you put up with these ponies.” “It takes a lot of will power and money, mostly money,” he said. Nightmare chuckled. The stallion sat back and ordered a carrot and apple sandwich. As the waiter departed with the order, the stallion looked at Nightmare Moon. “I'm Sergeant Pyro Sphere,” he said. “And you are?” “Nightmare Moon,” she said, knocking back her hood. He merely raised his brows in admiration. It seemed that the mare of legends had more sides than a piece of parchment. Sitting straight up, he gave a quick look around before looking at her. “Okay, now, Ms. Moon, I want to ask, what brings you here?” he asked. “Causing trouble?” “No,” she said flatly. “I'm here to shop for additional features to my house, such as lamps, fans, bathtubs, you know, normal necessities to make a castle feel like home.” “And what castle is that?” Pyro asked. “The original castle that Princess Luna and Princess Celestia ruled,” Nightmare said. Pyro gave her an amused chuckle. “I take it that the castle was free,” he said. “Yes,” she said. “It was actually fitting for me, but a home's a home and I'm not complaining.” Pyro nodded. “I've actually been out and about myself on my free time.” Nightmare's ears twitched straight up. Pyro chuckled. “I take it your looking to have a special somepony in your life?” he asked, sitting back. “You could say that,” she said. “What's with the defeatist attitude?” he asked. Nightmare explained everything to him. He leaned inward and looked her in the eye. “You need to know one thing about yourself-you are as strong as you view yourself,” he said. “Let those others view you as something your not. A mind is a complex thing and to view one side is a sin that makes that pony look foolish in the end.” Nightmare smiled gratefully at him and after they ate their lunch, he accompanied her on her errands. She enjoyed his company and he enjoyed doing some shopping. To the Royal Guard, it was a small paradise that he could get used to. Once they finished, he headed back to his post, only to be summoned by Celestia. He hoped that he'd be given the light treatment, however, upon entering Celestia's day court room, he found it empty of all life, except Celestia, who was sitting rather contentedly. “You wanted to see me, your highness?” he asked. “Dispense with the title, Pyro,” she said. “As you wish,” he said. “I suppose you have spies everywhere to tell you who your guards are with.” She gave him a bemused chuckle. “No, Pyro,” she said. “I have called you in here because while I was out looking for a book to read, I saw how you and Nightmare Moon got along with each other. I was wondering, would you like to be moved to where she resides, to be her guard?” “If your okay with that,” he said. “It's fine by me, but what are your feelings?” she asked. “It's a nice change of pace,” he said. Celestia smiled and after dismissing him, she summoned his commander, a Dark grayish blue unicorn stallion. “Ah, Captain Cobalt Streak, I assume you know why you are here?” she asked. He nodded, and chuckled. “Hopefully, he'll get to have her as his special somepony,” he dryly chuckled. “Considering he's about as romantic as a rotting tree.” Celestia chuckled, then cleared her throat. “Anyway, I wanted to run this by you before we sign off on the transfer,” she said. He nodded and trotted off to fill out the papers. The hours seemed to be days to Celestia, who couldn't contain her happiness. She had strong gut feelings that somehow Nightmare Moon and Pyro Sphere were going to go down a road that had never been truly trodden, the road of having love and marriage straighten out a villain who's past has stained her image.