Bridge Between Worlds

Chapter One “Bridge Between Worlds”

Both Celestia and Luna remained silent for several minutes. Despite having heard the tale from Madame Web and Twilight already, Celestia felt the same pull within her chest as before. Somepony so young should not have to deal with the amount of stress Parker had faced until now, and it was unfair that those around him took his deeds for granted, unjustly labeling him as a criminal. She couldn’t understand. Equestrians were appreciative compared to the beings of Peter's home world. If they only opened their hearts, they would’ve learned Spider-Man was just a young adult trying his best to do the right thing.

Nopony could fault him for that, yet they did so mercilessly. It even explained Peter's cynical behavior to a small extent. Even now, it was clear he held resentment toward himself, evident by the saddened gaze in his eyes and desolate tone of his voice. Peter had dealt with the negativity for so long that he believed he was indeed a horrible individual. Princess Celestia, despite her vast wisdom and experience, still wished to prove him wrong, lending him the care he rightfully deserved. Cassandra begged for her not to interfere too much, but there had to be a breaking point.

'I shouldn't, but...' Celestia faced Peter, giving him the warmest smile she could muster. At first, her effort seemed fruitless, but Peter's lips eventually curled, forming a smile to match her own. 'Peter's my responsibility now. I just hope Luna--'

“Sister,” Luna called out, her strong voice piercing the silent void that filled the room. Her back remained turned, preventing Celestia from meeting her sister's gaze. “Is everything he said true?”

Celestia nodded, letting out a low sigh. “Yes. He spoke the entire truth.”

Luna held her ground, keeping her gaze fixed on the ceiling and back to her sister. “I see. I would like to speak to the Outworlder alone now.”

Celestia's bright violet eyes widened. Luna's voice did not carry the same firmness, diminishing to a soft tone only Celestia was familiar with. Whether Peter's tale earned a little trust or sympathy, it was a small victory in any regard. Luna was not one to give trust easily, and had a tendency to shut out those around her. Despite the barrier she held, it seemed Luna was finally prepared to talk with Peter, not as a hardened princess, but as a friend.

Nodding, Celestia closed her eyes and focused her energy into her horn, causing it to glow brightly. “I understand.” This was no longer in her hooves, but Peter's. Celestia shifted her gaze to Luna. “Please, Luna. Try to be polite.” Peter opened his eyes, only to find Celestia with her sight set on him now, sporting a smile nonetheless. “Take care, Peter.”

That same moment, Celestia disappeared in a bright flash of light. Peter stood idly by, unsure of what action to take. However, Luna turned to face him, but Peter's eyes widened at a startling sight. Gone was the stern gaze, replaced with a gentle, ocean blue frown.

“Outworlder,” Luna gently whispered. Her voice matched her change in demeanor, giving off a sense of softness. “May we talk in the garden?”

Luna walked through the garden, following the golden path with her gaze fixed on the ground. The vicinity had been cleared by her command, evident by the chilling silence that filled the air. Even the Canterlot Guards in all their prestige were asked to vacate the area, but Luna was content with her choice, not wanting any form of disturbance to take away from her time alone with the Outworlder. A distant look formed on the face of the moon princess.

So much had to be said, but Luna found herself at a loss for words.

Peter followed closely behind as a gentle breeze rustled the petals of various flowers that surrounded the area, stopping in his tracks when he noticed the shrine he found himself in. The setting sun's reflection beamed off the marble surface of the fountain, but the spectacle only drew Luna closer to the decoration, prompting the mare to brush her hoof through the running water it held. Her mind argued with her heart, disagreeing with what it suggested.

“This is far enough,” Luna softly declared, taking a seat on the edge of the fountain. Her mind's cries turned into verbal assaults, demanding that she cease this nonsense, but her heart tuned them out, pleading for a chance of fairness. The Outworlder revealed his truths. It was only right she did the same for him. “We are free to speak openly now.”

Peter shifted his head about, eyes scanning his surroundings. “Are we still in the garden? It feels like we're in the middle of a maze right now. If we took a wrong turn, I'm sure we would've bumped into the Mad Hatter or something.”

Paying his sarcasm no mind, Luna's gaze remained fixed on her rippled reflection within the fountain water. “Yes, we are still in the garden. This area is off-limits to everypony.” She paused, her gorgeous eyes meeting with the sunset. “With the exception of my sister and myself, of course.”

Peter furrowed his brow. “So, why am I here?”

“I wish to speak with you about more… personal matters,” she trailed off, her stern voice falling from its usual pedestal. “Here, you nor I need to worry about others eavesdropping. Are you fine with this?”

He shrugged his shoulders. “Sure, but I'm surprised you want to know more. My life story isn’t exactly a great thing to listen to.” The stallion’s gaze softened. “After what I've done, I'm surprised you can even look at me.”

Luna managed a smile. “I beg to differ. Yes, you're… not quite what I was expecting, but I'm not afraid to admit that I'm glad to have been proven wrong.” Her hoof gently tapped the free space by her position on the edge of the fountain. “Please, let us talk.” She cringed before pulling her hoof away and glancing to the side. “I understand if you are not comfortable speaking with me on your own.”

Luna's eyes widened as Peter accepted the seat, sitting perfectly on the edge of the fountain while facing her. The stallion laughed sheepishly and scratched the back of his head, unaware of the reaction he earned from Luna. A gasp nearly escaped from her mouth, but the princess resisted the urge, managing to keep her smile subtle in the process. Once again, the Outworlder's blissful ignorance proved to be a welcomed trait, yet Luna felt scared, the inside of her chest growing cold with doubt.

“Princess Luna, I'm honored, but if anyone's uncomfortable, it should be you,” Peter honestly replied, paying no mind to his choice of words.

Luna’s demeanor lightened. “I fear your opinion may change.” Magical energy surged from Luna's horn, causing the water within the fountain to glow brightly. Peter watched the spectacle, but his eyes widened once Luna's reflection in the water changed dramatically. Its figure grew more slender, matching that of Celestia's in a malicious sense, and her coat became as black as the darkest void, matching the moonlit sky. “I would like to tell you about Nightmare Moon.”

Peter's jaw dropped. “Whoa. That's you?”

“Yes. That was me,” she emphasized, narrowing her gaze on the image. “The jealousy and envy I had for my sister took form, turning me into the very embodiment of evil.” Nightmare Moon grinned menacingly within the waters. Luna cringed, holding a saddened look in her eyes. “I'm not proud of the things I've done, but you have been honest with us since the start. I thought I could at least do the same for you.”

The pair sat quietly for a few moments, causing a sense of uncertainty to build within Luna. She found the Outworlder staring at her intently, occasionally shifting his gaze to the image in the water. A part of Luna dreaded the look he bore, for it was something she saw far too often. Ever since she was returned to normal, several ponies would bear that same stern gaze, though they would make sure not to let Luna see them up close, but she could still feel their uncertainty and distrust lash out at her.

Perhaps it was paranoia or apathy that drove her to feel this way. Luna shook her head. No, it was guilt, and she understood exactly why her subjects felt the way they had. Even though he was not from her world to begin with, Luna could not help but feel the inside of her chest ache. Just that quickly, the Outworlder distrusted her, finding her past too titillating to ignore. However, the stallion brought his hoof up to his chin and tapped it slightly, giving the image of Nightmare Moon one final glance before giving his full attention to Luna.

“You've shrunk. Like, a lot.” His response was blunt and crude.

A blank expression formed on the mare's face. Inwardly, she felt compelled to bring her hoof over her forehead to express her vast exasperation, but her mouth betrayed her thoughts, letting out a soft giggle. The Outworlder was nothing short of a halfwit. His demeanor remained upbeat and casual, not a hint of fear visible within his features. Somepony was not terrified of the once Nightmare Moon. Heat returned to Luna's chest, prompting the mare to humor the stallion and return his joke with a sarcastic grin.

“Mind your tongue, Outworlder,” Luna grinned. Sobering, a serious expression formed in its place. “It… does not bother you?” Luna moved again, peering back over the edge of the fountain to catch sight of her reflection mirroring the unease on her face. “Do you not fear what I used to be?”

Peter's face grew serious for a moment, and Luna was grateful for that. She could believe his answer if he gave it without interjecting humor into the conversation. Shaking his head, the stallion made certain his hazel irises met and stay fixed on Luna's glossy, blue gaze.

“No. It's like I told a friend yesterday. Everypony makes mistakes,” Peter simply stated, his tone earnest. He folded his hooves and shook his head slightly. “I know what it's like to lose myself, too. We're not that different.”

“Is it the corrupting darkness you spoke of?” Luna questioned, edging closer to the stallion.

He nodded, glancing off to the side. Luna brought her hooves over her mouth. It was as she feared. The Outworlder indeed shared something in common with her. While her cynical mind questioned his legitimacy, Luna’s heart begged to find the answer to the burning question that haunted her so. Unknowingly, the mare placed her hooves just inches from Peter's own, causing the stallion to face her.

An bewildered expression formed on Luna's face. “May you… share your experience with me? I would be most grateful… Peter." Her mouth added the name lamely, earning several cries of frustration and anguish from her mind.

“It's pretty weird,” Peter replied honestly, shrugging his shoulders. “Would you believe me if I told you an alien parasite latched itself to my body?”

Luna nodded, maintaining eye contact. "Frankly, I'm inclined to believe anything, Outworlder."

Peter looked intrigued. “Duly noted.” Luna brought up a valid and obvious point. He was a human with spider powers who magically transformed into a pony. Suspension of belief was an understatement. “Well, this parasite didn't just use me as a host. It actually made me stronger. Like, a lot stronger. It took my powers and upgraded them. I was… powerful.”

Luna furrowed her brow in thought, as if choosing her words carefully. “Was it… enjoyable?”

Peter hesitantly nodded his head as a shameful look formed in his eyes. “Yeah, it was. I felt invincible, but something wasn't right. The longer I wore the suit, the more I started to change. I started to lose control. The parasite… the symbiote… began to take over my mind and body, and started influencing almost every action I made.”

“What happened?” she lightly questioned.

The stallion inhaled deeply before sighing. “Things were spiraling out of control. I grew more aggressive by the day, and before I knew it, I stood over one of the bad guys, ready to finish him once and for all. Right then and there, I knew I had to get rid of the suit. It took me a lot of effort, but I managed to get it off.” Peter groaned. “Then, the symbiote found another host named Eddie Brock, and turned into a monster who called himself Venom. He was my worst nightmare in living color.” Shaking his head, he waved his hoof dismissively. “It's still nothing like your story. I shouldn't have brought it up.”

“Outworlder…” Luna paused, chastising herself. “Peter. You did what I could not and repelled the darkness. That is an admirable quality.”

Abashed, Peter shook his head and laughed sheepishly. “Aw, come on. You're giving me way too much credit.”

“I humbly beg to differ,” Luna firmly stated as she bowed her head, respectively. “Thank you for sharing your tale with me.”

Suddenly, the mare stood from her seat and turned to face the stallion. Energy glowed through her horn, but before Peter could react, a bright flash of energy surrounded his being. Once his vision cleared, Peter found the scenery around him had changed. On the rooftop of a building, it was clear that both ponies were back in Manehattan. Despite having dealt with this experience a few hours ago, Peter cringed, clutching his knapsack with his hooves with great force.

“Again?! Oh, my God!” he shrieked, his voice echoing through the darkened skies. As the stallion stammered about aimlessly, Luna turned to take her leave. Peter noticed and extended his hoof out to the princess. “Wait. You're leaving?”

The moon steadily rose from the horizon, prompting the mare to give the stallion an affirming nod. “It is my duty to watch over the land in the night. I must not be late. Plus, you must wake early for your race against Spitfire. You should rest if you’re hoping to fare well.”

There was no humor behind Peter's smile, only a sense of understanding. “Right. Guardian of the Night. I forgot.” After a few moments, he sighed again. “Does this mean we're friends now?”

Friend. That word held so much meaning, and Luna found herself ensnared by it. Despite her polarizing attitude and initial distrust, the Outworlder still held his hoof out in companionship. Luna's mind begged not to accept. After all, both the Outworlder and Discord shared quite a few similarities. They were immensely powerful and, much to Luna's annoyance, both were loaded to the brim with sarcasm and clownish antics. However, there was an important difference between both individuals.

Discord used his power carelessly, doing whatever he pleased without any regard for those around him, but Peter used his gifts responsibly, for the greater good. With his nobility and strong heart, he even did what Luna could not and freed himself from the depths of corruption that were casted by a malevolent entity. Peter, granted, was a twit. Yet, she was finally able to understand why Celestia harbored such an affection for him. Luna looked away, hiding the smile she gracefully bore.

“Yes, we are... friends, Peter,” she said sweetly before her mind finally regained control, prompting the mare to shoot the stallion a glare, albeit a playful one. “Tread lightly, and pray you do not betray my trust. I will hunt you down otherwise.”

That very moment, Luna disappeared in a flash of energy. Peter stood idly by, scratching the back of his head. It seemed in his short time, Peter was gaining more friends in Equestria than he’d ever hoped to imagine, and ironically enough, they were all girls. Paying the matter no mind, Peter swiftly threw his heroic attire on and left for the Manehattan Palace. So much time had passed. His friends were probably worried sick about him.

As he swung off into the distance, Peter had not noticed Luna watching from a safe distance in the sky, the darkness and clouds masking her position. She did not truly want to leave, but her duty as co-ruler of Equestria demanded it. However, her sister mentioned that she would be attending the race between Spider-Mane and Spitfire. Initially, Luna declined joining, but at the moment, the inside of her chest burned, demanding to reconsider her decision.

Bearing a smile, the princess mentally nodded, agreeing it would be in her best interest to cheer her new friend on. With that in mind, Luna disappeared once more, giving her final consent to the Outworlder.

With Luna's trust earned, Peter was free to roam throughout Equestria.

-u-

In the dead of night, time pressed on, but for the watchful alicorn, it stood at a standstill. There was a strange giddy sensation channeling through her, something she had not experienced in her long life. She knew not what to make of these emotions, but the source creating the disturbance was easily tangible, of one not from her world. Luna cleared her throat, attempting to free the invasive thoughts from her mind. However, that task seemed impossible currently, causing the alicorn to release an exasperated groan.

“I know that sound of frustration all too well,” a warm voice declared from behind, prompting Luna to face the source. Celestia walked onto the balcony with a small grin, sharing a glance with her younger sibling. “What’s on your mind? What are you looking at?”

Luna blankly stared at Celestia before returning her gaze to the horizon through the telescope. “Nothing.”

The singular answer, blunty delivered, was aimed at both inquiries, yet the corner of Celestia’s mouth curled into a smirk. “I have never seen somepony stare at nothing so intently.” Luna’s brow lowered as she grumbled under her breath, never freeing her gaze from the telescope. Humming, Celestia raised her eyes and stared in the same direction as her sister. “You just left Manehattan hours ago, but you can’t seem to keep your eyes off of it.”

“That’s none of your business,” Luna interjected, agitation filling her voice. “I have my reasons. With the grand spectacle approaching, mishaps can occur. That’s all.”

Celestia blinked, never faltering against her sister’s harsh tone. She edged closer, grinning while arching a brow. “The nightly air must be warm. You’re all flushed.”

Luna’s complexion paled at the comment. Even with her dark fur, a pink blush could still be seen on her cheeks with relative ease. Luna soon stomped away from the telescope, making certain that her back faced Celestia. She hated that about her sister. Even after a thousand years away from each other, Celestia could always spot abnormalities in her younger sibling and often reveled in the fact.

“You don’t have to be so resistant towards him, Luna,” Celestia softly declared, as if sensing her very thoughts. “That feeling you’re experiencing is perfectly normal. I even think Peter wants to grow closer to you as well, but nothing can happen if you keep up a wall between him and yourself.” Celestia let out a low sigh. “Then again, you’ve always been like that. All you have to do is take a chance.”

Luna frowned. “We are worlds apart. Surely, there’s nothing special to find.”

“Worlds apart, yes, but you two have still found common ground. That’s a start,” Celestia reaffirmed, causing Luna to glance to the side shamefully. A low silence filled the air around the alicorns, as if allowing their words to sink in. Celestia turned to take her leave, pausing upon reaching the nearest doorway. “You’re my sister. No matter what you decide, I’ll always love and support you, but I know how alone you’ve been my entire life. You have to come out of your comfort zone at some point, but only when you’re ready. Just try not to take too long.”

Luna’s eyes softened as she brushed a hoof against her foreleg. “Sister. I hardly know him.”

Celestia managed a smile, placing a hoof over her sister’s shoulder. “Then change that. Spend time with him. It’s been ages since you’ve had a legitimately good friend that you could openly spend time with.” She gave her sister a friendly wink before walking away. “I hear Peter has the day to himself tomorrow. Make of that what you will.” Celestia paused briefly at the entrance to the balcony, her smile shifting to a playful smirk. “Who knows? Maybe something could blossom beyond friendship in time?”

Luna quietly watched her sister exit the balcony with a furrowed brow, glancing off to the side as her features flushed. “Goodbye, Sister.”

That giddy sensation had only swelled, accompanied with a sense of urgency. Her fractured thoughts trailed off as a gentle breeze brushed through her mane. She had spent countless eons alone, and the prospect of missing out on something within reach seemed like an asinine thought. Reasons flew through her mind on why she should inquire Peter’s company, whether it’d be to fill the void of loneliness or something more.

She chastised herself for bending, let alone for an individual that wasn’t from their world to begin with. An irritated growl escaped from the alicorn. She felt flustered, not at the prospect, but at her own reasoning. If it was any of her other compatriots, she would not have been so indecisive. However, for Peter, it was different, and she couldn’t exactly place why. Luna inhaled deeply before sighing, stealing one final glance in the direction of Manehattan.

Luna shook her head. She did not want to be alone any longer. With her mind made, she knew what had to be done.

A low yawn escaped from Peter’s mouth as rays from the morning sun seeped through small openings in the curtain. Almost the entire night was spent adjusting and reloading his web-shooters, a task that usually only took minutes to complete back on Earth. However, something as simple as fingers made all the difference in contrast to the blunt instruments he had now known as hooves. Fortunately, through trial, error, and adhesive touch, the stallion managed to reload the cartridges over the course of an entire night.

“Plus, it’s already morning,” Peter sarcastically whispered, stealing a glance at the clock across the room. The girls had already departed, each deciding to take a tour of the city in their own respective ways. Left to himself, Peter stretched his hooves high over his head and readied himself to go to bed. However, the sound of light knocking escaped from the window, causing the stallion to arch a brow in its direction. “Maybe it’s the insomnia talking, but I guess doors are too conventional for Equestria. Either that or birds want to chat? Nah. That’s the insomnia talking. Or the buried insanity. Maybe both.”

Negating his thoughts, Peter slid the curtains open and blinked upon spotting Princess Luna hovering from the outside in midair. Her wings flapped diligently to keep her form adrift several stories from the ground, and she resembled a dark angel of sorts, practicing as much grace. Meanwhile, unbeknownst to them, the door to the room creaked open as Twilight peeked inside, but the unicorn paused upon noticing Princess Luna, easing back outside. She remained out of sight, all while holding her silence and centering her violet gaze on the pair.

Luna cleared her throat after a brief duration. “Please pardon my intrusion, Peter Parker. I hope that I came at a decent time?”

Peter shook his head and chuckled sheepishly. “Oh no, I'm the one who should be apologizing. I was up all night working on my web-shooters. So I don’t look my best, although that isn’t much of an upgrade. Then again, you were up all night, too. Thinking about it like that, we’re both in the same boat.” The stallion’s eyes widened as a belated realization came into mind. “Is that why you’re here? Did I break parole or something?”

Taken aback, the princess inhaled sharply. “What? No! You’re not--” she paused, sternly staring down the aloof stallion. “You’re being coy, aren’t you?”

“It’s kinda my thing. Sorry,” Peter lightly declared, scratching the back of his head. Sobering, the stallion’s brow furrowed at a thought. “Still. This is unusual. What brings you by?”

Luna opened her mouth, ready to respond, but her words fell in the back of her throat. Her iron-clad demeanor faltered, evident as she glanced to the side shamefully. The thumping inside her chest sounded closer for some reason, as if she was an observer. That familiar giddiness returned, thanks again to the mere mention of Peter. It was like a faint nervousness, something impossible to grasp or control. The princess chided herself for her pathetic behavior, unable to figure out why she acted in such a way.

Furrowing her brow, Luna managed to shift her gaze back to Peter. “Would you…” she stammered, gathering her bearing. “...Would you like to come outside with me? The skies are clear, and it’s quite beautiful.”

Peter chuckled, nodding. “Sure. Sights are always better when they're shared.” Another yawn escaped from the stallion’s mouth as he climbed onto the railing after closing the window behind him. “Let’s grab some coffee and bagels. If this city is anything like my own, that’s a good breakfast snack to have.”

Luna smiled warmly at the comment, feeling--among many things--relief. “Indeed. Thank you.”

The alicorn’s horn emitted magical energy before they vanished from sight in a burst of light. Twilight furrowed her brow at the sight before simply closing the door. An unsettling irritation churned at the center of her chest, but she ignored the sensation, feeling that there was nothing to fret over.

To be continued...

Instinctive Response

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Chapter Two “Instinctive Response”

The top of the building was nearly within reach, a few hundred meters to be exact. Spider-Mane proceeded his climb in leaps and bounds, tempted to give his burning muscles a momentary reprieve, but before such a thought could enter his mind, a streak blew by, whipping the stallion’s mane over his face. Spitfire reached the highest point of the building in what seemed to be a flash. The flag that served as the checkpoint flapped at the wind’s mercy, and touching the tip with her hoof, Spitfire’s wings retracted to her sides and allowed the Wonderbolt to descend into a free fall.

Exchanging glances, Spitfire passed her opponent, but Spider-Mane would only nod, firing a strand of webbing just underneath the flag’s position. He pulled himself onto the pole with a single jerk but remained perched on its side with his gaze centered on the descending pegasus. With her gained distance and building speed, there would be no way to catch up by merely falling after her. Planting his hind hooves further against the flag pole, Spider-Mane extended his two upper limbs and fired webbing from both onto the edge of the building.

Not wanting to relinquish either strand, the stallion climbed the pole reversibly until he reached the top. With a brief intake of breath, Spider-Mane leaped to the highest of his ability, ascending until his stretched webbing reached its limit to slingshot the stallion downward with the velocity of a bullet. As Spider-Mane neared Spitfire, he watched her wings extend, allowing the mare to further amplify her speed and keep her distance.

She pulled up, narrowly avoiding the concrete that awaited below, and Spider-Mane fired two strands of webbing and mirrored her actions, barely averting a plummet that would’ve otherwise turned disastrous. Flying at her top speed while he swung at his, the crowd roared with excitement as the competitors entered the final phase of the race only a few feet apart, with Spitfire in the lead.

Meanwhile, Discord floated aimlessly in the reaches of the astral plane, gazing intently at the race between the Captain of the Wonderbolts and Spider-Mane. However, in spite of the odds, Peter managed to keep pace with an elite flier pegasus thus far, with her holding a slight lead as they neared the final stretch. Yet Discord couldn’t fully pay attention to the race, alternating his crimson gaze between it and the script in his paw. He continued to draw a line through various sections with a red marker, all of which originally had to do with Twilight Sparkle.

“I still can’t believe it,” Discord murmured, exhaling once another section had been marked away. “Never in my wildest dreams did I think Luna, of all ponies, would approach young Peter Parker first. I had Rarity or Rainbow Dash as a contingency plan if Twilight didn’t act, but that blasted princess has just thrown my entire plan off sync! She’s been thickheaded and stuck in her ways for eons! How was I supposed to know that she would pick today out of all days to come out of her shell?” The draconequus growled under his breath, crumpling the modified script into a ball before setting it ablaze and tossing it behind his shoulder. Inhaling deeply before sighing, Discord frowned while an exasperated expression formed on his face. “I had my heart set on that Green Goblin plan, too.”

Discord’s eyes widened as an idea came into mind. “However, just the idea of Princess Luna potentially falling in love is a chaotic prospect in itself. That could alone could lead to some immense fun. I mean, it’s not like that princess has any idea what she’s doing, and she’s so stubborn that the journey will be haphazard and arduous at best.” The corner of his mouth curled into a smirk. “Maybe my original plan won’t be needed after all. I’ll have to improvise, but that makes it more fun.” The draconequus shifted his gaze to the pyrotechnics before he waved a glowing talon. “I’ll just give them a small push and see how this pans out.”

An array of pyrotechnics swarmed the course, profoundly surrounding the racers. Spitfire stopped in her tracks and flipped to the side, dodging the first wave, and Spider-Mane spun into a dive, threading the needle between a pair of fireworks before resuming his web-swinging. However, the crowd exclaimed at an unexpected development. Spitfire shifted her head, finding the explosive orbs’ flight path had abandoned their original skyward flight path, and they became heat-seeking missiles, following the streak the mare exuded.

Peter felt an alarm go off in his cranium. The pair of orbs he dodged returned from behind, forcing the stallion to sway his body to the side in order to dodge the first. Just as the second prepared to find its mark, Spider-Mane spun around, swatting the ball of light with his tail. The Wonderbolt performed a series of somersaults, but the pyrotechnics remained steadfast in their pursuit, zeroing in on what was soon to be a direct hit.

Suddenly, Spitfire approached the side of a building, and once the orbs were only a few hoof-lengths away, she flapped her wings with all of her might, pushing her body away as the explosives detonated on the structure instead. The shockwave knocked the mare off balance, pinwheeling through the air. However, she recollected her senses, finding her opponent landing on top of the first blimp. Instead of traveling underneath like he had the first time, Peter figured it would’ve been safer to travel overhead.

Spider-Mane proceeded to jump across the blimps like a series of trampolines, but once he landed on the third and final obstacle, Spitfire flipped over his head, dropping on the nose of their current obstacle. The finish line was just a few hundred meters ahead. Both ponies prepared to finish what they started, but one final pyrotechnic shot into the sky, its high-pitched scream serving as a battle cry. However, this ball of light was larger than the previous shots, meaning the force within was to be taken far more seriously, but something was wrong, evident by its erratic trajectory. It seemed to have finally settled on course, aimed for the front of the nose.

It was not to be. The ball lowered at the last moment, piercing the underbelly and burning through the top of the blimp. Spider-Mane staggered about, struggling to maintain his balance on the rapidly descending blimp. Spitfire hovered from her position, giving the stallion a concerned expression. She offered her hoof out, prompting the hero to reach out and accept the gesture.

“There seems to be a malfunction! Everypony in the immediate area evacuate!”

“There’s no way everyone’s going to get to safety in time,” Spider-Mane murmured, pulling his hoof away from the Wonderbolt. He peeked over the side, finding dozens of ponies scurrying from the area, but most were colliding with each other, confirming Peter’s fears. Shaking his head, he stole a glance at his friends before turning his attention back to the immediate danger those underneath him were in. “Sorry, girls. Duty calls!”

“Whoa! Wait! What are you doing?!” Spitfire yelled as the blimp crashed into various parts of surrounding buildings, shattering glass and pulverizing steel beams. “It’s dangerous! Let me get you to safety!”

“Don’t worry about me! I’ll stop this! Just get back!” Spider-Mane retorted, galloping across the blimp before the Pegasus could hope to argue. More glass fell in around her, forcing Spitfire to heed the stallion’s advice and retreat into the air. Spider-Mane neared the edge, his gaze centered on his two hooves. “I just hope I have enough webbing left to do this.”

Spider-Mane dove into a free fall, using a strand of webbing to pull himself to the underbelly of the blimp. With his back against the zeppelin, he shifted his gaze from the approaching ground to the surrounding buildings. Stretching his hooves so that they faced the opposite direction of each other, Spider-Mane launched two strands of webbing, both latching to different buildings. Straining, he pulled the strand together and formed a cohesive thread. The weight of the blimp was already wearing on the gossamer, stretching until it readied to snap.

However, Spider-Mane repeated his action several times at lightning speed, forming eight strands to create four threads, then thirty-two to sixteen. Only a few seconds remained until collision. Deliberately losing his footing, the stallion fell with his back facing the ground and gaze focused on the blimp’s underbelly, particularly the center of the web withheld the threads in place. With his hooves extended, Spider-Mane unleashed an array of webbing, covering a majority of the bottom side, but it served its purpose as extra padding, strengthening the bond of the many strands.

The blimp’s descent slowed to a steady halt, thanks to the makeshift web net it rested in. Once certain danger had been averted, the stallion spun around and extended his hoof, but nothing happened as his plummet grew faster by the second. Spider-Mane shook his hooves frantically to no avail. His cartridges were depleted, leaving him with no way to break his fall. By the time anypony realized the predicament the hero was in, it was far too late.

However, a streak of blue soared through the air, grabbing the stallion’s hoof before he could reach the ground. Peter’s masked eyes opened, furrowing upon noticing he was ascending. He shifted his gaze to the source, finding Princess Luna with her hoof holding his own as they flew past the obstacles and to the safety of a nearby rooftop. The alicorn gently eased the stallion down before landing next to him.

Luna edged closer to Peter, holding a concerned expression. “Are you all right?”

Peter nodded as he lowered his stance, taking in winded breaths. “Yeah. Thanks, Luna. That landing would’ve sucked.”

The princess let out a relieved sigh before she glanced at the street level. Celestia took to the sky, hovering directly over the blimp. Her horn emitted glowing energy, causing traces of magical aura to envelop the aerial vessel. The alicorn guided the blimp with the assistance of several pegasi away, lowering the object over a distant rooftop.

Meanwhile, Luna shifted her gaze back to the street, letting out a sigh as she watched the citizens clamor about. “I don’t know what happened, but we’ll look into it. I must applaud your efforts. A lot of innocents could have been injured if you hadn’t so selflessly jumped to their aid.” She furrowed her brow as a stern glare surfaced on her features. “You had no means to save yourself. Why did you do such a thing?”

Peter chuckled, shrugging. “Because it’s the right thing to do.” He paused, edging closer to the mare. “Besides, you were there to save me. I think it worked just fine.”

Luna’s eyes widened before she stepped back, flustered. She growled under her breath as a faint shade of pink filled her cheeks. “D-don’t make assumptions! I hadn’t intended to save you! My body just… reacted. You’re lucky!” The alicorn walked to the edge of the building, keeping her back turned to the stallion. “I won’t make it a habit to catch you. So don’t be careless the next time.”

The stallion shook his head at the alicorn’s harsh tone, managing a small chuckle under his breath. “If you say so.” He walked past the princess, lightly tapping a hoof against her foreleg before climbing down from the building. “Thanks, again.”

Once Peter was out of hearing range, Luna’s expression softened before she smiled lightly. “You’re most welcome.”

As those gathered dealt with the damage, Discord chuckled from within the reaches of the astral plane, stroking his goatee with a talon. “It would seem that this outcome has far more potential than I had anticipated.” The draconequus paused, furrowing his brow in thought. “Yes. This will do quite nicely, in fact.”

A couple of days had passed since the closing of Manehattan’s event. Due to circumstances beyond anypony’s control, the race was ruled a draw. However, there were no injuries to note due to the accident. Because of that and the draw, talks of a rematch were already spreading, and many were already anticipating the event.

Yet, there was another story unfolding from the event, one that left many with speculations. The ever reserved Princess Luna earned the attention of many after she intervened to catch Spider-Mane from a deadly plummet. She chose to ignore interviews, considering some pondered how the alicorn reacted as fast as she did. Luna paid them no mind, unable to rid her own questions from the depths of her mind.

Peter Parker had become an enigma of sorts for the princess, filling her with questions she knew not the answers to. She stared intently at the star patterned sky overhead before letting out a low sigh. For countless eons, Luna had a share of associates in her life, but none had ever penetrated her shield, staying at hooves-length for one reason or another. Luna was content with the circumstances prior to Peter’s arrival to Equestria, so long as she had her sister.

However, something was changing, and it came in the form of a nitwit. Peter was not from their world to begin with, but he somehow knew and understood the pain brought by darker powers influencing one’s soul better than anypony could in Equestria. Even then, the stallion never thought about her past, only seeing her present. Peter was ethical, unorthodox, and talkative, but Luna found his presence strangely refreshing, appreciating somepony that wouldn’t judge her.

The princess paused, chastising herself. She had her duties to attend to, yet her mind longed to be with Peter. Releasing an exasperated groan, Luna shook her head furiously. There was no reason for her to act so childishly. They were colleagues that just became friends, and to pry meant to jeopardize that. Luna exhaled, blaming her thousand-plus-year exile on the empty moon for her fractured train of thought and lack of social experience in dealing with a friend.

Unfortunately, the alicorn’s expression grew blank upon recalling once more that Peter was the only one to make her act this way. This matter was most irritating to decipher, much like that day when she watched him fall. Just the idea of watching one she cared for getting injured generated an unsettling irritation. It was similar yet different to the feelings she bore for Celestia, an adoration of sorts accompanied with something else.

Sadly, before she could hope to make sense of the spiraling emotions circulating through her, somepony walked onto the balcony and approached her from behind. Luna arched a brow and glanced to the side. She knew her sister’s hoof-steps, and these were far too heavy, cumbersome. The alicorn turned, inhaling sharply upon spotting the stallion that had been plaguing her mind as of late. At such an hour, she never imagined seeing him of his own volition.

However, Luna forced back any glee that threatened to rise, holding her (at this point) trademark glare. Her mind ran rampant with questions and frustration. The alicorn was on watch, and this fool made it into the castle without her knowing. Such carelessness and lax guard could not be forgiven on a task of utmost importance when it came to the safety of her castle and subjects. The mare glared at the horizon, as if to punish herself for performing so poorly while on duty.

“Peter Parker. Why have you come into the castle?” she huffed, irritation evident in her voice. “I am on duty, and you’re distracting me from that.”

Peter blinked, glancing about aimlessly. “Really? It looked like you were daydreaming. Don’t worry. I do that a lot myself.” He paused, tapping a hoof against his chin. “Then again, it’s after hours. So, would that make it nightdreaming? If you’re doing that, you should just sleep and dream like a normal pony.”

Luna never averted her gaze from the horizon. “Do you ever stop talking?”

Slow to respond, Peter’s brow lowered in thought. “I’ve been asked that a lot for some reason.”

“Perhaps you should take that as a hint as to why?” Luna exhaled, finally stealing a glance at the stallion from the corner of her eye. “Again. Why are you here, Peter Parker? My sentry of the castle grounds during the hours when it is weakest is no trifling matter. I have no time to dawdle.”

The stallion cleared his throat, scratching the back of his head. “I couldn’t really stop thinking about you.”

The entire world grew silent for the princess as her heart practically stopped. The comment was spoken with earnestness, yet Peter knew not the weight of his words. Luna inhaled sharply at the comment and her eyes widened. However, Peter coughed, as if realizing his own mistake.

The stallion sheepishly chuckled. “Sorry! I meant, uh, you saved my life and gave some welcome company the other day. I thought I’d repay the favor, but you’re usually either busy or sleeping. I asked Princess Celestia when was a good time, and she said I could drop by at any time during the night. So, here I am. A surprise visit, really. I figured night shift was pretty lonely for you.” He glanced off to the side. “I should’ve given you a heads up. That’s my fault.”

“Treason!” Luna exclaimed inwardly as her brow twitched involuntarily. Peter’s emergence made more sense now. Celestia had a hoof in the plot and made motions behind her back. Again. Luna grumbled under her breath, something along the lines of killing her sister in her sleep. However, she let out a defeated sigh before nodding. “Fine. You may accompany me during my watch, but I will vacate you from the premises should you become a bother or prove to be a distraction.”

“Sounds good! You won’t even know I’m here!” Peter cheerfully declared, his voice echoing throughout the vicinity. Luna could only exhale while the stallion waved a hoof dismissively as he sat on the railing next to the telescope. Luna readied herself to gaze back at the horizon, but a faint smell seeped into her senses. She glanced to the side at the stallion, arching a brow as he pulled up a container of freshly baked cookies. Peter grinned. “Cookie? Princess Celestia told me that chocolate chip was your favorite.”

Luna felt the temperature in her face rise at the gesture. On one side, she wanted to strike down her sister for setting this up, but the princess felt too giddy to even think straight. Luna exhaled, hesitantly accepting one of the treats before eating it wholly. She thought his notions were sweet, if not impractical, yet she reveled in the attention given, albeit inwardly. It would take time to understand the emotions churning within her and the stallion that unknowingly generated them. However, she felt some genuine happiness, for Peter actually wanted to spend time with her. She wouldn’t be alone tonight, and the princess loved the idea, though she refused to admit it outright.

Downing her cookie, Luna shifted her gaze to the horizon once more. “Thank you. That’s very… thoughtful of you,” she whispered, her tone barely audible as her cheeks burned.

Peter’s ears perked at the sound before he smiled in response, as if hearing her words. After a brief duration, the stallion chuckled. “Stop me if you heard this one before. A princess and a scientist walk into a bar…”

“Stop,” Luna blankly groaned, nearly regretting her own decision.

Meanwhile, Discord watched the pair from within the astral plain with a content grin before vanishing from sight.

To be continued...

Luna's Day Off

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Chapter Three “Luna’s Day Off”

A couple of weeks had passed, yet time stood still for the alicorn. She paid no mind to the hours, losing track of time constantly. There were distractions abundant, but Luna was perfectly content with the circumstance. The nightly watches weren’t quite as lonely now since Peter decided to accompany her daily. Granted, his idea of small talk was hours of insistent chatter consisting of the most anemic of topics.

However, that unusual aspect both intrigued and irritated Luna about the stallion. They could literally waste hours talking about nothing, but the princess never found herself bored, just perplexed. Most ponies could hardly maintain eye contact for long, let alone a conversation, with Luna, but Peter never minded her presence, speaking with equality and earnestly. He had little to no tact in his words, yet the princess almost felt herself growing more fond of the stallion, in spite of his many quirks.

Luna shook her head, freeing herself from her self-induced trance. She felt the temperature in her face rising again before releasing an irritated groan. This was truly maddening for the mare. She couldn’t stop thinking about Peter, and whenever he was on her mind, her thoughts always grew fuzzy. Luna still could not understand why she felt so giddy around one individual, but for the time being, she was okay with it, much to her own begrudgement.

Peter had already left an hour ago, and she already missed his company. Absence truly made the heart grow fonder. Fortunately, the sun had risen, and her watch was officially over. Luna exited the balcony, walking slowly through the throne room with an unreadable expression. Luckily, with a day’s worth of sleep, night would swiftly return, and she would see him again all the sooner because of such. Sadly, before the alicorn could make any progress, she bumped into something in the middle of the hallway.

Flustered, Luna instinctively shook her head. “My apologies! I did not mean to…” she trailed off, her eyes widening at the sight of her sister. Celestia held an all too knowing grin as she gazed at her younger sibling, and Luna cursed her own ineptitude once more, evident by the blank stare on her face. It seemed as if for every mental mistake she made as of late, Celestia was there and primed to bring it to mind. Luna inhaled deeply before sighing, readying herself to march past her sibling. She would not give her the privilege this time. “Good day, Sister.”

Celestia simply smirked at Luna’s hasty response. “Now, hold on,” she gently called out, prompting her younger sibling to reluctantly cease in her tracks. Celestia walked in front of Luna before sharing a glance. “There was something that I wanted to talk with you about.”

“What is it?” Luna questioned, furrowing her brow.

Princess Celestia’s horn glowed momentarily before a scroll materialized into existence mere inches away from her face, levitating in place via telekinesis. “You’ve been working nonstop since you returned from your exile. I believe you are long overdue for a little time off.” The scroll vanished from sight in a burst of light. “As of right now, you have the entire day and night off. Please make the most of it.”

Luna’s eyes widened at the statement before she shook her head furiously. “Involuntary vacation time?! Just what are you trying to pull?!” Her firm voice echoed throughout the throne room, but Celestia stood unwavered, never losing her smile. Luna’s brow twitched involuntarily at the sight. “Don’t make light of the situation! What of the nightly watch? Who will raise the moon?”

“I’ve had missives delivered days prior to the commanding officers of all guards stationed throughout of Equestria,” Celestia coolly declared, although Luna could sense a trace of sarcasm in that condescending tone. “They are instructed to conduct a coordinated military drill this evening of extended watch through the night, in the event of an emergency that would require delicate vigilance in the late hours.” The taller alicorn closed her eyes and innocently huffed. “Plus, I’ve raised the moon in your place before for centuries. I can do so again for a day or two.”

Luna sharply pointed a hoof at her sibling. “Or two?! You planned this without my consent! This is utterly spontaneous!”

Celestia simply nodded. “Exactly. That’s why I know you’ll make the most of your time.” She arched a knowing brow. “If I had talked to you in advance, you would have found an excuse to come into work on your off day. Again.” Before Luna could hope to interject, Celestia chuckled and walked past her. “Have fun now.”

Frowning, Luna stared intently at her sister. “What if I refuse?”

“Then, you obstruct the drill. It is to be done as if you were not present,” Celestia stopped in her tracks, chuckling. “...and I tell Peter your nickname back when we were in school. Which I’m sure he would get a kick out of.”

Luna stood still for a duration with an exasperated glare, watching as her sister exited the vicinity. Once alone, she let out a defeated sigh. Luna wanted to refute Celestia’s claim, but her sister had covered all her bases, leaving absolutely no room for argument. Celestia was not one to use threats but promises, and Luna did not want her old alias to see the light of day, especially to a stallion that talked as frequently as Peter. While she grew tired of the monotony of her duties occasionally, Luna never conceded to taking breaks, seeing the world was too dangerous to ignore.

With her long life span, she knew the types of dangers the world could experience. The alicorn grumbled under her breath, as if disagreeing with the sentiment to an extent. She was not as paranoid as some would think. However, Luna particularly didn’t have a social life outside of her job in spite of her royal status, and off days were subtle reminders of that cruel fate. Sadly, so long as she remained on duty, the princess would almost forget her own loneliness or how deep it truly ran.

However, that brought Luna back to her current situation. She had the entire day and night to herself, but she could not think of anything to do. The princess whined under her breath. Of course, she wanted to spend that time with Peter. Luna’s complexion paled at the thought while her cheeks blossomed to a bright shade of pink. Once again, that pony was the first thing on her mind, and she didn’t understand why.

“Most tedious,” Luna grumbled, shifting her gaze to the side. “I suppose there’s only one way I can go about doing this.”

Within the reaches of Ponyville, tranquility ran throughout the village. During the time of peace, the wielders of the Elements of Harmony sat within the Treebrary, exchanging pleasantries while eating a gathered lunch. However, one’s mind seemed distant, evident by her blank gaze as she stared intently at the closed door to the basement. Pinkie Pie tapped Twilight’s shoulder, freeing the unicorn from her self-induced trance.

“What’s wrong, Twilight?” Pinkie questioned, tilting her head to the side.

Twilight cleared her throat before shaking her head. “Nothing.”

Rainbow Dash scoffed, downing her beverage. “Parker’s still asleep? What’s with him lately? He sleeps during the day and moves around at night.” She folded her hooves and grumbled. “It doesn’t help that he hangs out with Spitfire a ton now, too. It’s like he's forgotten all about us.”

Growling under her breath, Twilight glanced to the side. “Peter’s been visiting Canterlot for the past couple of weeks just to see Princess Luna. Why? I don’t know.” Hints of irritation escaped from the mare’s voice as her gaze shifted into a glare. “He shouldn’t go to the castle so casually. The princesses have important things to do, and the last thing they need is for an idiot to distract them.”

Applejack furrowed her brow at the unicorn’s tone, waving a hoof dismissively. “Hold on there, Twi. Princess Luna saved Pete from a nasty fall in Manehattan. Ah imagine our partner is just thankful to her.” She shifted her gaze to the ceiling before folding her hooves. “Besides, Princess Luna has always been honest to a fault. If she didn’t want Pete around, she would have told him by now.”

Rarity hummed. “Well, the poor darling is relatively dense. Maybe he simply hasn’t caught a hint?”

Before anypony could utter a response, Spike dashed into the room from upstairs with a scroll in claw. Twilight arched a brow at the baby dragon, standing from her seat. “Oh, Spike! Is that a letter from Princess Celestia?”

Spike simply shook his head, glancing about aimlessly. “Actually… no. It’s a letter from Princess Luna, and it’s for Peter. She wants to meet with him as soon as possible.”

“Why?” Rainbow Dash blurted out, blinking.

Slow to respond, Spike reopened the scroll and scanned through the words before rolling the letter back properly. “Uh, she’s been forced to take the day off and wants to spend time with him. That’s about it.” The dragon shrugged before opening the basement and heading below. “I didn’t even know Princess Luna could send letters through me like Princess Celestia!”

Fluttershy raised a curious eyebrow. “Um, neither did I.”

“Maybe Princess Luna just never bothered, until now,” Applejack chuckled softly, straightening out her hat with a hoof. “Well, Ah’ll be triple dipped. It’s almost safe to say that our princess has taken a liking to Pete.”

Meanwhile, the sound of rummaging escaped from the basement before Peter raced into the room, pacing in place. “Geez! I’m glad that I brushed my teeth before I took a nap.” The stallion passed by the mares at his door, nonchalantly lifting the sofa where Rarity and Fluttershy sat high over his head with a hoof, earning a collective squeak from the two before he gently eased the furniture back down upon removing his knapsack from underneath. Once situated with the bag’s straps around his shoulders, Peter made his way for the front door and waved a hoof without looking back. “I’ll see you later, girls!”

Oblivious, Pinkie waved back at the stallion and giggled while the door closed. “Okay! Later!”

Rarity cleared her throat, blinking. “Gracious. He most certainly left in a hurry, didn’t he?” the mare declared with a knowing smirk as a wide-eyed Fluttershy silently nodded in agreement with her. “Then again, a true gentlecolt never keeps a lady waiting.”

While the others carried on their conversations, speculating what was transpiring between Princess Luna and Peter. Twilight sank into her thoughts once more. There was much that she wanted to say to the stallion since their trip to Manehattan, but he seemed too preoccupied to spare more than a passing glance or greeting, as if he was enamored with the alicorn. That unsettling irritation churning within her continued to swell, threatening to burst. Twilight angrily bit down on a cookie, hoping she could clarify this matter before it was too late.

Luna sat within the confines of the royal garden, never averting her gaze from the reflection in the water’s surface in the fountain. She had trepidation on whether things would go accordingly or not. Considering that the princess had yet to formulate a plan, it was safe to assume that her confidence suffered. Plus, Luna was not certain how Peter would respond or if he would accept the invitation in the first place.

Fortunately, before those doubts could morph into anxiety, Peter clumsily stumbled into the garden, after nearly tripping over a potted daisy plant. Luna inhaled deeply before letting out a sigh of relief. Peter had arrived within an hour from when the princess sent the letter. She was thankful for that, not wanting to be alone for the day, and her own heart rate increased, a sign of her building nervousness.

Luna pursed her lips and straightened her posture, not wanting to unnerve in his presence. “Peter Parker. I thank you for arriving in a somewhat timely manner.”

Peter chuckled sheepishly, scratching the back of his head with a hoof. “I would have made it sooner, but the batmobile lost a wheel and the Joker got away.” Luna’s bemused expression hadn’t changed, prompting the stallion to hastily clear his throat. “Right. No one on this world gets my references. Anyway. How are you? What made you take a day off?”

“Circumstances beyond my control forced my hoof,” Luna grumbled, glancing to the side before returning her gaze to the stallion. “I didn’t want to take the day off, but I had no choice.”

Peter hummed, tilting his head to the side. “Sounds cool, but why did you invite me? You’re the co-ruler of the world and a princess. You could go anywhere with anyone.”

Luna looked at a loss for words momentarily, evident by her widened gaze, but she huffed, frowning. “I am not too familiar with social activities during the day, but I do know most ponies work during these hours. I only thought of you because you have the time to spare.”

“I’m not proud to be jobless, believe me. But if it means I get to spend time with you, I’m okay with being a bum,” Peter chuckled, glancing off to the side shamefully. “I’ll find a job eventually. It’s kind of hard to get one without a resume, unless folks are accepting ‘weird alien dude’ as part of the background check.”

Wincing, Luna shook her head. “My apologies. I did not mean to--”

Oblivious, Peter waved a hoof dismissively and grinned. “Oh! It’s nothing! I wasn’t offended or anything!” As the mare stammered about, the stallion tilted his head to the side. “So, where are we going?”

Luna paused to consider the question, blinking after a duration. “I honestly do not know. As I mentioned, I am… not familiar with social activities ponies like to do during the day. I spend most days asleep.” Flustered, the alicorn groaned. “It’s a pathetic truth.”

“Not at all,” Peter earnestly declared, raising a hoof objectively. “You’re nocturnal. It’s like asking an owl to give a hoot during the day.” Luna, once again, stared blankly at the stallion, and Peter cleared his throat, avoiding her glare as he tapped a hoof against his chin. “Tough crowd. Anyway. I have an idea.”

“Really? What could it possibly be?” Luna questioned, arching a brow.

Luna sighed, shaking her head in defeat. “Unbelievable.”

The city was relatively quiet under the sun’s bright light, enjoying the warmth it brought. Even during the hours of the day, Manehattan was a peaceful city. It was a welcome change from New York, where crimes occurred every hour, but Peter sighed, admitting that such serene settings were boring at times. A part of him missed the never ending excitement, but the rest of him revelled in the peace, for it never lasted as long as he hoped. Fortunately, this side of town was relatively empty during the work day, meaning the paparazzi were far less likely to swarm Princess Luna.

Peter pointed at a neon-lit shop down near the street. “I scream for ice cream!”

Luna furrowed her brow. “What made you think of an ice cream parlor?”

“I only got to check out the place once, but it was pretty cool. I mean, the service was friendly and the quality was top-notch,” Peter stated, nodding. “Then, I remembered them saying it’s a nice place to relax. You hardly strike me as the partying type, and I thought you might appreciate the… serene settings.”

Luna’s eyes widened as a sense of warmth spread across her chest. Once again, this stallion considered her feelings above all else. It was a small gesture, but it meant significantly to the princess. She asked herself repeatedly as to why she was being swayed by his actions. Her question was clearly rhetorical, but Luna could only smile in response. It was strange, seeing one so powerful act so youthful and immature.

“Very well,” Luna muttered, glancing off to the side. “We shall try their services.”

Peter chuckled victoriously. “Sweet!”

The stallion walked up to the door and held it open for the princess, earning a small smile from the mare as she accepted the gesture. It had been ages since she saw somepony practice chivalry so earnestly. It had all but died in the passage of time, yet this outworlder seemed to carry on the tradition of holding a lady in high regard with respect and eloquence. Peter Parker continued to be a puzzle to her, one that perplexed and enamored her all the same.

Luna felt the temperature in her face rise once more as she accepted the gesture, walking inside the shop. “I thank you.”

The shop was empty with the exception of the cashier. “Welcome to the Parlor. May I take your order?” the mare behind the register politely greeted, never taking her eyes off her work.

Peter pulled out a stool by the main counter, sharing a glance with Luna. “Do you want anything? I’m buying.”

“Really? How? I thought you were without a job,” Luna questioned, arching a brow as she accepted the seat.

Peter shrugged, hopping into the next available seat with a smile. “I’ve been working part-time with Spitfire. After what happened with the Manehattan race, we’ve been keeping in touch. She was nice enough to put in a good word for me after I shared my identity with her. I’m… a freelance photographer. Again.”

The corner of Luna’s mouth curled into a smile, as if musing the comment. “You don’t sound thrilled about it.”

The stallion grumbled under his breath. “That’s what I did back at home, and I’m making even less now than I was back then! I didn’t think that was possible! It almost makes me miss my old boss and his flat-top.” He trailed off, pausing before waving a hoof dismissively. “Almost.”

Slow to respond, Luna considered the stallion’s words before nodding. “That’s okay. There was something my sister and I were considering. We’ll make our decision in a few days, but if things are well, you will find yourself in new and improved employment.”

Peter’s smile widened. “Really? That’s awesome!”

“Well, it would be a shame for somepony of your talent to waste away jobless. It’s hardly fitting,” Luna bluntly declared, frowning. “I can pay if it’s troublesome for you.”

Peter instinctively cringed. “You sure don’t pull your punches, do you?. And here I thought princesses were supposed to be dainty and eloquent. You’re probably the meanest of them all.” Waving a hoof dismissively, Peter reached for his knapsack. “I’m paying. It’s only right for the guy to take care of the girl on a date.” His eyes widened at a realization. “Uh… Are we on a date?”

Luna’s face burned at the comment, but she straightened her posture, huffing as she glanced to the side. “O-Of course not! Don’t be ridiculous! You are simply accompanying me to a destination of my choosing! That’s all!”

“Uh, I’m pretty sure that’s a date,” Peter chuckled. “Especially if I pay.”

‘Then I will not let you pay,’ she muttered in the depths of her mind, unable to get her mouth to repeat the same sentence. Peter’s light tone sent shivers down her spine. She wanted to object to the idea, yet there was a part of her that welcomed the proposition. Not wanting to argue with herself, the princess hesitantly nodded, folding her hooves in a huff. “Fine, but only because I allow this. I’ve exiled fools to the depths of Tartarus for suggesting less to me in the past.”

“Then that means you must like me if we’re not doing the banishment thing,” Peter coyly declared, arching a brow at the princess.

If one could scream to the heavens, Luna would. Not only did her sister best her with an elaborate set up, but she suffered another defeat at the hooves of a nitwit thanks to a poorly thought-out response. Due to her own incompetence, she was outed and forced to face the truth. It was easy to just teleport the idiot to Tartarus, but Luna couldn’t bring herself to do it, longing to stay in his company even if he irritated her to the ends of the planet. However, in spite of the shame brought by defeat, that familiar giddy sensation surfaced in the center of the mare’s chest.

Refusing to accept the circumstance, Luna sat in a flustered, defeated pout. “S-Shut up and order our food!”

Peter edged closer to the mare, grinning. “Why is it so hard for you to admit that you like me?” Luna sharpened her glare as her horn glowed with energy. Peter cleared his throat and eased back into his seat. “All righty then! Ice cream!” His eyes widened at a realization. “Oh! What flavor of ice cream are you getting?”

“I… don’t know,” Luna whispered, colouring. The princess furrowed her brow in thought. “I used to adore ice cream before my exile. Though now that I think about it, I actually haven’t had any since I returned.”

Peter tilted his head to the side. “Sounds like it used to be your favorite snack.”

Luna nodded. “It was. I’ll admit that I preferred ice cream, while my sister has a weakness for chocolate cake. Well, any cake actually.” The alicorn paused, cursing under her breath for the slip of the tongue. She glared at the stallion. “Keep that information to yourself. Should she find out I told you that, I will make you suffer in ways you can only imagine.”

Peter traced a hoof over his mouth. “My lips-- or muzzle? I don’t understand the specifics yet-- are sealed.” The stallion finally faced the cashier, who had yet to free her gaze from her work. “Oh! Sorry! I would like a large helping of cookies n’ cream. Two spoons, please.”

Nodding, the mare grabbed a container and dropped three scoops inside. “One large cup of cookies n’ cream. That’ll be…” she trailed off, finally looking up to see Princess Luna with a bemused glare, “six... bits. Oh.”

Peter took the container and nonchalantly dropped over a dozen bits on the mare’s frozen hoof. “Keep the change!”

The cashier’s eyes never stopped widening, and her mouth hung so low that it nearly hit the counter. Peter, with his spoon in hoof, shoved some of the cold treat into his mouth, sighing contently. He edged the container closer to Luna, pausing until the mare reluctantly lifted her spoon with her magic and scooped a tiny piece of the ice cream in her utensil.

The mare eyed the substance carefully. “Somepony actually broke cookies into pieces and melded it with ice cream? What manner of madness is this?”

“Don’t knock it until you try it. Some folks like french fries with ice cream,” Peter simply stated, downing more of the treat.

“That doesn’t sound any better, if I may be candid,” Luna groaned, inhaling deeply before sighing. She hesitantly eased the substance into her mouth, and her eyes widened as a sweet sensation channeled through her sense of taste. “T-this... this is amazing!” Luna downed more of the treat without hesitation, pausing to clutch at the side of her head as it numbed. She quickly recovered, pointing her spoon at the treat’s container. “How had nopony thought of this flavor before!? It’s delicious!”

“I prefer the term ‘spectacular’, personally,” Peter chuckled, sobering. “Oh, hey.” Luna paused, glancing at the stallion with her spoon in mouth. Peter’s smile remained intact. “Thanks for not banishing me. And if it’s any consolation, I really like you. Legitimately.”

Luna fidgeted in place, blushing. “And I really…” she trailed off, her better judgement winning over, “find your presence… tolerable, at the very least.”

Peter grinned. “I’ll take it.” The stallion smirked as the alicorn’s cheeks continued to blossom to a bright shade of pink. Fortunately, he would not press the matter for her sake just yet. “You know, you’re very cute when you’re mad.”

Luna rolled her eyes, refusing to meet his gaze. “Mind your tongue, clown. I will smite you.”

Both ponies ate in a comfortable silence, spending the rest of the day exchanging small talk about nothing in particular. Some would think it was a waste of time. Luna had her first off day in centuries, and she spent it talking with a loudmouth while eating ice cream. It was absolutely wonderful, and Luna wouldn’t change that for the world.

Meanwhile, Celestia stood along the edge of the rooftop across the street from the ice cream parlor with a wide smile before she vanished in a burst of light.

To be continued...

Night Shift Duties

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Chapter Four “Night Shift Duties”

Princess Celestia sat in the throne room, scanning through several documents. Much had transpired in the past few months. An Outworlder came into their lives and gave a positive reaction to those around him, especially to her younger sister. Whether Luna would admit it or not, she was slowly but surely changing with great hesitance.

However, there was more to it, and Celestia felt it was time to bring this to light. Peter had more than earned their trust, risking his life multiple times, but there was something that concerned the alicorn, a matter that needed to be discussed personally. She had already sent a letter earlier in the day, requesting his presence. If her instincts were sound, he would arrive shortly.

Suddenly, the large doors to the throne room creaked open, causing the alicorn’s ears to perk at the sound. The guards stared down Peter as he stumbled about, frowning at the considerably smaller stallion. However, Princess Celestia managed to smile and simply nodded, prompting the knights to exit the room without objecting. Once the throne room had been emptied, the alicorn placed all documents to the side.

“Good afternoon, Peter,” Celestia politely greeted, sitting with a firm and eloquent posture. “Thank you for coming to see me.”

Peter stretched his limbs high overhead as he approached the princess, pausing once they were hoof-lengths apart. “Don’t mention it, Princess Celestia. I’m just surprised that you summoned me.”

Celestia chuckled under her breath, shaking her head. “Please, Peter. When it’s just the two of us, speak to me as freely as you would with my sister. I’m not nearly as uptight as you may have already guessed.” Her smile remained bright and earnest. “Just ‘Celestia’ will suffice.”

Letting out a relieved sigh, Peter paused before nodding. “Thanks, Sunny. I’ll be careful though. Folks seem to think I have a complete disregard for authority.” He glanced to the side, shrugging. “Then again, I am a masked vigilante part of the time, so that may have something to do with it.”

“That’s not quite the way that I see it. I believe you were underappreciated in the circumstance,” Celestia firmly declared before lifting her gaze. “That’s actually what I wanted to talk with you about. Luna mentioned your… financial issues, but I have a proposition for you.”

Peter tilted his head to the side. “Huh? What do you mean? I always have financial issues. Next thing you’ll tell me is that the sky is blue and water is wet.”

Celestia chuckled at the stallion’s response. Ponies almost never talked to her so brazenly. She was co-ruler of the world, and those around her always seemed to walk on eggshells in her presence. While Celestia appreciated the respect given to her, she could feel at points that some would patronize her or come off as condescending just to avoid potentially stirring the ire of the sun princess.

It was almost impossible to speak casually with utmost honesty with anypony. Not even her students could bring themselves to do that. Celestia often pondered if she carried herself in such high regard that she was unapproachable, never wanting that to be the case. Unlike Luna, who was very by the book, Celestia was not nearly as formal, never afraid to speak lightly or, heaven forbid, with humor.

Yet, as Luna warned, Peter spoke with no tact whatsoever. Some would have taken it as a sign of disrespect, but Celestia found his demeanor earnest, albeit very unorthodox. However, there was high level of charm to the Outworlder. While still very considerate, Peter was still honest to a fault. The corner of Celestia mouth curled into a smirk. Not just that, but the stallion was also the only one that regularly earned reactions from Luna with his presence alone. To Celestia, Peter was a friend and a much needed distraction.

Chuckling, Celestia nodded with a smile. “Is that so? Well, it just so happens that I have a proposition for you. One that would not only be a solution to your ongoing financial issues, but greatly aid my sister and I.”

Peter arched a brow. “What would that be?”

“How would you feel about having the position as a full-time knight?” The alicorn retrieved a slip of paper via telekinesis, pausing to read through the wall of text. “You will have many benefits, such as free insurance, provided housing in Canterlot, as well as discounts to various establishments throughout Equestria.”

Peter’s eyes widened at the question. “Huh? Really?! Wow! I mean, that’d be cool, but I don’t think I’m qualified for the job.” The stallion shook his head. “I mean, I have no military experience, and I doubt there’s armor around here that fits me. I noticed that I’m way smaller than most stallions. Then again, it was the same way back on my world.” Peter arched a brow as he held a hoof inches away from his face. “The spider bite gave me powers, but I’m still the nerd from Queens. Nothing can change that.”

“There’s no need to be so modest,” Celestia softly declared, smiling. “You may not be properly trained, but Luna told me how you carried yourself during your second bout with the dragon. You’re very attentive, protective, humble, and your strength is mighty. I would be honored if you accepted this gesture.” She straightened her posture, levitating the paper closer to the stallion until he retrieved it. Celestia’s expression stiffened. “It’s not quite the same job as the guards in the castle or the knights stationed around Equestria. You have only one job.”

Blinking, the stallion held a bewildered expression. “Okay. Now, I’m curious. What exactly did you have in mind?”

Celestia chuckled. “Simple. You will be working the nightshift alongside Luna as her personal knight and guardian.” The alicorn stood from her seat, walking across the throne room. “As you may have already learned, my sister does not trust easily. She spends her nights alone, watching the land. Although there are guards stationed around the castle at every hour, nopony is positioned to watch over her. That’s Luna’s doing, seeing as she doesn’t like for anypony to get close.”

“Well, she’s no damsel in distress, that's for sure. Luna’s probably the only princess in history to suplex a dragon with magic,” Peter said offhandedly, folding his hooves.

Celestia stopped by the nearest window, glancing at the stallion from the corner of her eyes. “Perhaps, but Luna has always been like that, even before she grew as powerful as she is now. Even so, my sister is not invincible. I shouldn’t let her pride place her in danger that can be avoided with a bit of precaution.” The princess sobered, narrowing her gaze on the stallion. “For your presence to be so readily accepted by my sister speaks volumes. The fact that she’s made an exception for you means that Luna trusts you. The very same can be said for myself.”

“And here I just assumed that she didn’t like me that much. Can’t say that I’m blame her. I was unpopular in elementary school, middle school, high school, college, and my job...” Peter muttered nonchalantly, scratching the side of his cheek. “Okay. Never mind. I was just outright unlikable. You sure Luna’s not just hanging out with me out of pity? Is she really okay with this?”

Celestia responded with a bout of mild laughter “Of course she is!” Celestia hastily declared, waving a hoof dismissively. Sobering, the alicorn cleared her throat. “Luna doesn’t pity. She simply ignores that which doesn’t interest her,” Celestia grinned, arching a brow. “Please, Peter. You can sustain a livelihood for yourself and stay close to Luna. I know that you like her, and I can tell that she really likes you, too. You’ll be her personal bodyguard. My sister loves a strong stallion.” Her tone was playful, light. “You can certainly use this opportunity to impress her. You could even officially start tonight. Do you accept? ”

Peter paced in place, slow to respond. “Well, Canterlot does seem like a nice place, and I wouldn’t have to pay train fare every day anymore. Plus, it sounds like it’ll beat a photographer’s pay easily, and I won’t be freeloading off of Twilight.” The stallion paused, inhaling deeply before sighing and turning to face the alicorn. “Okay. I’ll do it. Can we just keep the identity a secret? I won’t be Spider-Mane as a knight. I’ll just be… Peter Parker, your friendly neighborhood knight and Luna’s glorified bodyguard.”

Celestia clapped her hooves together, squeaking involuntarily. “Good! Thank you so much!”

A low silence filled the air as Peter stared blankly at the princess, grinning sheepishly. “That was… different.”

Straightening her posture, Celestia cleared her throat while a faint pink glow filled her cheeks momentarily. “Even I am not above outbursts on occasion.”

“I never said it was a bad thing. That’s why I like you and Luna,” Peter declared, nodding. “You’re princesses but… normal. At least to me. Then again, I am a guy with radioactive spider blood, so my idea of normal is probably not what you’d expect.”

Celestia grinned under her breath. “I’m okay with that as well. I’ll tell you my sister’s nickname if you keep this between us.”

Peter snorted involuntarily as his head shot up sharply, chuckling. “Hoo hoo hoo! Now, that I’d love to hear. Deal.”

The alicorn walked to her chair, retaking her seat before sorting through the documents. “I’ve already made certain adjustments. After I show you your new living quarters just outside the castle grounds, we can get you situated and started tonight.” The princess trailed off, her eyes widening at a sight. “Oh, goodness.”

Peter tilted his head to the side. “Huh? What is it?”

Slow to respond, Celestia managed a smile as she narrowed her gaze on the stallion. Peter followed her line of sight, glancing to the side, and his eyes widened at the sight of an image materializing over his flank. An emblem of a spider, matching that of the insignia on his costume’s chest formed into existence. Peter could only blink at the sight as he tapped his flank repeatedly, learning the mark was permanent apparently.

Celestia grinned, nodding. “I believe you have found your calling in Equestria. Congratulations on earning your cutie mark.”

Peter sheepishly chuckled, taking hold of Celestia’s hoof with one of his own. “Well… thanks for helping me find my purpose.”

-u-

Inhaling deeply before sighing, Luna growled under her breath. She stood on the balcony, keeping her royal blue gaze fixed on the horizon. Thoughts spiraled through her mind as she repressed the violent urge to strangle her sister for her transgressions. As of late, Celestia had grown increasingly bold in oppressing her, but this was an act of treason of the highest order.

She went behind her back again. That was irritating on its own, let alone who Celestia involved. Luna did not need somepony watching her. The extra eyes were distracting, and it felt as if she was incapable of doing her job on her own. However, the fact that it was Peter, a bumbling excuse of a pony, made the situation unbearable. He was not fit for this duty, and Luna knew that her patience would not last.

In spite of her initial protests, Luna could not bring herself to scream. A part of her reveled in the idea of spending more time with Peter, and a sense of glee churned in the mare’s chest at the notion of knowing he was a resident of Canterlot now. Unfortunately, she could not remove her own frown from her face as Peter sat along the balcony railing, rocking in place. The fool was undisciplined, acting as if he wasn’t on the job.

“Where is your armor? A knight should always be in uniform,” Luna spat, growling.

Peter stretched his hooves high overhead. “There wasn’t any that fit me. In case you missed it, I’m smaller than most guys on this planet.” He paused, waving a hoof dismissively. “It’s no prob. It’ll take a little over a week, but I’m working on having something custom made to fit my size.”

As if accepting the answer, Luna narrowed her gaze to the horizon. “Good. At least you have taken some precautions. If you are to represent me, I must have you dressed accordingly. It is protocol.”

“Just nothing really bulky. I need some leg room. I’ll modify my costume to honor you,” Peter added, earning a hesitant nod from the princess. The pair sat in silence for a brief duration before Peter turned to Luna, oblivious to the mare’s disgruntled demeanor. “By the way, when is your birthday, Luna?”

Luna’s brow twitched. This was getting rather redundant. He always pelted her with seemingly random questions, some more idiotic than others. The alicorn paused, her mind slowly registering the stallion’s question. Luna’s hoof shot out, smushing Peter’s head against the railing. She continued to press, despite the stallion’s strained protests, and the guards positioned below the balcony shared a glance and merely shrugged at the commotion. These sort of spectacles having become the norm since that particular pony started visiting.

“If you are to work under my wing, you must practice discipline!” Luna scolded, her pupils disappearing behind a bright light. “You are a knight. Start acting like one!”

Peter flailed his hooves about before easing into place, nonchalantly arching a brow as his face continued to be smushed against the railing. “Uh, Canterlot talk or Shakespeare in the park? Okay, I’ll try it.” He cleared his throat. “Nay, nay, my fair lady. Doth Mother know you weareth her drapes?” Luna offered no response as her brow twitched involuntarily. Peter hummed under his breath. “No? How about this? I refuse the invitation thou doth make to speak…”

Luna removed her hoof, glaring at the stallion while giving out a frustrated sigh.“Stop. Just… stop. Your Old Canterlotian is horrendous.”

“I thought it was pretty good,” Peter grumbled as he rubbed the aches out of his cheek. “You really need to lighten up and learn how to take a joke, you know? Our job is important, but it’s okay to have a little fun in moderation.” His eyes widened at a belated realization. “So, um, when is your birthday?”

Luna exhaled, lifting her head with a huff. “December 22nd. Why do you want to know all of a sudden?”

Peter shrugged. “Why wouldn’t I? Just wanted to make a mental note so I can get you a gift when the time comes.”

“I… appreciate the sentiment,” Luna whispered, feeling the temperature in her face rise before she cleared her throat, “but it is unnecessary. I have no need to celebrate birthdays anymore, given my long lifespan.”

He grinned. “Speaking of which. How old are you anyway?”

Luna’s eyes shot open at the offhanded question. Not ignoring his sixth sense for danger this time, Peter ducked underneath the mare’s swinging hoof, but the alicorn lost her balance, squeaking as her momentum shifted. She crashed onto the floor, landing in a heap, and Luna felt her pride diminish. She was not usually so careless to bumble in such a degrading fashion.

Just as she rolled onto her back and readied to pull herself back to a standing position, Peter took advantage of the situation. The stallion pressed his hooves against her own and pinned the mare to the ground. A look of disbelief flashed onto Luna’s face. Not only did she put herself in a precarious position, but this fool had the nerve to pin her down. Their faces were only inches apart. The princess could only growl as the stallion chuckled innocently.

If looks could kill, Peter’s life would have been snuffed out on the spot, evident by the widened gaze and flushed features the mare bore. She could not let this act of treachery stand. Luna’s horn glowed, but Peter gently slapped the appendage, earning a high-pitched ‘ow’ from the alicorn as well as causing its magic to short out. The princess struggled uselessly, cursing the hidden strength the unusually small stallion carried. This day was not one Luna wanted to remember.

“Again. How old are you?” Peter questioned, keeping his hazel gaze inches away from Luna’s royal blue irises.

Luna blankly stared at the stallion, unaware of the glowing pink tint in her cheeks. “A true gentlecolt would never ask a lady such a question.”

“Is it because your age counts into the quadruple digits?” Peter innocently asked, causing Luna’s mouth to twist into a scowl.

“You are so insensitive,” the mare grumbled, blankly staring to the side. A low silence filled the air as Luna attempted to squirm free to no avail. Her bemused gaze morphed into an irritated glare. “I should destroy you.”

The stallion grinned. “You’re just proving my point, you know? If you really wanted me dead, you would have done it a long time ago. It’s because you like me that I’m not already in Tartarus or sitting on the moon right now.”

Luna glanced to the side, avoiding Peter’s knowing gaze before her ears lowered shamefully. “Only because I allow it.”

“You’re really not helping your case with those responses,” Peter casually shrugged. “Just admit it already. You like me.”

Inhaling deeply before sighing, Luna closed her eyes and scoffed. “I like nothing.”

“Except your sister, ice cream, and maybe me,” the stallion grinned, causing the mare to exhale. She would not budge, refusing to yield to the Outworlder’s demands. Peter let out a mock sigh. “I can stay here all night, no problem. Super strength proportionate to that of a spider and all, but wouldn’t it be even more embarrassing if your sister found you like this?”

Luna gulped as her complexion paled. The idiot had a point. Celestia always teased Luna for a number of reasons. She would never let her sister live it down, seeing her so helpless and pitiful under the grasp of a babbling twit. There was a chance Peter would let her up, but Luna exhaled, knowing the stallion was as stubborn as she was. This further fueled her irritation. For the first time in eons, Luna was as helpless as newborn foal. She loathed this stallion at points. However, she hated herself as well, considering that a small part of her didn’t mind this compromising position.

Peter’s grin widened. “I’m waiting… Moonbutt.”

Luna’s eyes widened at the name. “How did you hear about that name?!”

“Celestia told me,” Peter bluntly replied, paying no mind to the mare’s increased whining. “I think it’s cute. I wonder what everypony else will think.”

Luna’s cheeks flushed to a shade of pink as a defeated glare surfaced in her eyes. “Fine. I yield, but I swear on my good name that if you tell anypony this, I will kill you.” Peter was digging his limbs into her body, causing the mare to grimace. She sighed. Countless eons. Only Celestia knew her true age, and Luna hated the constant reminders. The mare rolled her eyes, her face burning. “One thousand, six-hundred and eighty-three.” Luna slammed her eyes shut, waiting for the idiot to pelt her with laughter, but Peter simply relinquished his hold before taking a seat next to the telescope, leaning against the railing with his hooves behind his head. Luna furrowed a brow. “Aren’t you going to laugh?”

Peter shook his head. “No. I actually like older girls, and that’s way too many candles to put on a cake anyway. Unless you like the taste of wax in your cake, or would it be cake in your wax?”

Luna huffed a response, returning her gaze into the telescope. “Just mind your tongue. I won’t be as forgiving next time.”

Peter stole a glance at the mare from the corner of his eye, spotting the crimson blush on her face, and he chuckled before leaning closer, planting a soft kiss on the mare’s cheek. Luna’s mind spiraled into a frenzy as she stared wildly at the stallion. She wanted to chastise him for his action, opening her mouth, but no words came out, only a brief inhale. Peter nodded, easing back before standing upright and leaning against the nearest wall for support.

Everything was changing, and they knew it. However, both ponies would sit in a silence for the rest of the night, contemplating their own fates. Yet, the princess couldn’t fully contain her smile as the the spot on her cheek practically burned.

Meanwhile, Celestia watched the sight from inside the castle with a knowing smile. “Just a little more…”

To be continued...

What We Could Have Been

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Chapter Five “What We Could Have Been”

Rarity happily clapped her hooves together. “I can’t begin to explain how proud of you I am, darling!” She paused, embracing Peter before wiping a tear from her eye. “You’re a knight and you get to reside in Canterlot! I must admit, I’m touch envious.” Rarity eventually parted from the stallion, never losing her enthusiasm. “I’m just so happy that you finally found your place in Equestria, Peter.”

The stallion chuckled, having already packed what little possessions he had into his knapsack. “Thanks, Rarity. Princess Celestia thinks I’m worth the trouble. I’ll make sure that her trust was well placed.”

As if a thought came into mind, Rarity’s brow furrowed. “Just promise me that you’ll try to tidy up a bit.” Her gaze narrowed on Peter’s unkempt mane. “You are now a knight representing Princess Luna and Canterlot itself. It is your duty to look the part, dear. We can’t have you appearing like a meer country bumpkin.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Applejack sharply questioned, arching a brow at the unicorn as she approached. Once hoof-lengths apart, the blonde mare patted the stallion’s shoulder reassuringly and chuckled. “Don’t listen to her, Pete. Just roll with what brought you to the dance.”

Rainbow Dash huffed under her breath. “Anypony that can knock out a dragon in one shot deserves to be a knight. Just remember everything I taught you.” The pegasus hovered by the stallion before folding her hooves. “Speaking of, are you getting some cool armor?”

Peter shook his head. “Not right away. I’m not a fan of bulky armor, and I’m too small to fit anything they have available. I’ll be customizing my own variation over time.” The stallion raised a hoof, pointing it at the knapsack over his back. “For the time being, I’ll be wearing a couple of different variations of my classic costume. It’s just a little something to honor Princess Luna.”

“You are her knight, Peter. You’re supposed to honor her,” Rarity stated in a matter-of-fact tone, pausing before giving the stallion a friendly wink, “but it’s still a sweet gesture, darling.”

Rainbow Dash arched a brow, waving a hoof dismissively. “Who cares about sweet? If you’re gonna be a knight, you’ll need a symbol of battle!” The pegasus posed defensively in midair, smirking. “What are you going to fight with? A sword? A spear? Some magic?”

Peter chuckled slyly. “I’ve been thinking about that, too. I’m working on a little project. Once it’s finished, I’ll show you.” The stallion shifted his gaze skyward. “I’m going to follow an idol’s lead and fight with a shield.”

All eagerness left Rainbow’s features as a blank stare took form. “A shield? Seriously? If you ask me, that actually sounds pretty lame.”

“It’s way cooler than it sounds! Plus, I’ll even have a theme song!” Peter grinned, standing upright onto his hind legs before pointing a hoof dramatically. He cleared his throat while twirling his knapsack around with a hoof. “When Captain Equestria throws his mighty shield, those in his way must choose to fight or yield~!”

Without warning, Pinkie Pie slipped from her seat and burst into wild laughter while Rainbow Dash guffawed, falling from her place in midair. Trixie quietly entered the room, garbed in her signature star-patterned hat and cape. The unicorn merely arched a brow as Rainbow and Pinkie failed to contain their laughter. She made her way to the door and opened it, nodding once a chariot being pulled by two stallions drove up to the front of the Treebrary.

Peter’s eyes widened at the sight. “Hey, Trixie! Where are you going?”

Trixie retrieved a suitcase via telekinesis, levitating it outside before dropping it on the roof of the carriage. “Simple. I no longer have a reason to stay in Ponyville. If a bumbling fool such as yourself can become a personal knight, then the sky’s the limit for me.” A small smile graced Trixie’s stoic features. “I’ll start by resuming my career as a traveling magician. I have tricks in my reserve that can bedazzle any spectators. I’ll just… refrain from using tall tales.”

“Honestly, you have way too much talent to resort to lying,” Peter replied, walking to the mare until they were hoof-lengths apart. Both ponies shared a smile. “It’s been fun, Trixie. If you’re ever in Canterlot, I’ll try to catch one of your shows.”

Trixie smirked as she made her way to the carriage, pausing momentarily. “Please do. Maybe you’ll actually have a bit to your name by then.” Using a hoof, the mare tipped her hat to those inside the Treebrary before stepping into the carriage. “Goodbye, everypony.”

Once the door closed, the stallions galloped and led the carriage out of the village. Applejack huffed under her breath as she walked to Peter’s side, sharing a glance with him. “Ya know, I never thought I’d see the day when I would miss that pony.”

“Trixie was a little rough around the edges, no doubt about it, but she was fairly decent,” Peter whispered, shifting his gaze to the horizon.

Spike rushed into the living room, furrowing his gaze before joining the stallion outside. “Wait. Did Trixie just leave, too?” Applejack merely nodded, causing the baby dragon to let out a low sigh. “That’s a real bummer. It’s gonna be quiet around here without you two. I’m gonna miss the extra company.”

Peter chuckled under his breath, placing a hoof over Spike’s shoulder. “Don't let it get to you, kiddo. I’m just up in Canterlot. You can come visit me anytime if you need a break from the girls and need a little guy time. I’ll also try to swing by on my days off.”

Fluttershy quietly walked outside and weakly nodded. “Um, please do. You’ve been with us for a few months now. We’re really going to miss you, Peter.”

“Same here. It’s because of the support that you all have given me that I have this chance in the first place,” Peter softly declared, nodding before his eyes widened at a belated realization. He surveyed his surroundings with a furrowed brow. “It’s almost time for me to go, and I still haven’t seen Twilight today. Where is she?”

Rarity’s eyes softened at the remark, glancing aside. “The poor dear just hasn’t been herself lately. She hasn’t taken the news of your departure well in the slightest.”

“Really?” Peter lightly questioned, tilting his head to the side. The stallion inhaled deeply before sighing, stealing a glance at the watch on his hoof briefly. “Well, I’ve got a couple of minutes to spare before the train leaves. I’ll try to talk to her.”

Meanwhile, Twilight sat in the quaint silence of her room, gazing deeply at nothing in particular. Her mind was lost in a flurry, unable to settle. An unsettling irritation churned at the bottom of her stomach, making the simple act of breathing unusually challenging. There was so much she wanted to say, but fate deigned for her to sulk in silence.

Something lightly tapped against the door before it slowly creaked open, prompting Twilight to lift her weary gaze at the source. The emotions she bore swelled as Peter walked into the room, of agitation and something else she didn’t fully understand. The stallion cautiously slowed to a halt mere hoof-lengths away, acknowledging the mare’s uncharacteristic gloominess. There was something amiss, evident by the distance within Twilight’s gaze.

“Hey. Are you okay?” Peter earnestly questioned, unable to gracefully gauge the mare’s demeanor.

Twilight glanced to the side. “Why do you have to leave?”

Peter blinked, momentarily caught off guard by the question. “It’s a job, and I can’t spend my time freeloading here. I’d rather find a way to support myself if I can help it rather than be a squatter in someone else's home.”

Twilight shook her head. “You’re more than welcome to stay here, Peter. You’ve never been a burden to me.”

“I appreciate that, Twi, but it’s okay. If I move to Canterlot, I won’t have to worry about the constant train fares,” Peter whispered, brushing his hooves together.

Twilight quickly centered her gaze to meet the stallion’s. “I can pay for train costs. It’s really no problem.” Her voice quickened, as if falling into a panic. “Princess Celestia provides me with more than enough money to cover my expenses during my study here.”

Peter waved a hoof dismissively. “Come on, Twi. Really. I appreciate it, but Princess Celestia has already finished the accommodations for my new place in Canterlot. If I backed out now, it’d be disrespectful to her.” A long pause passed between the two with an uncomfortable silence. Before too long, Peter glanced to the side before pointing a hoof at the door. “I think I’ve finally found my place here in Equestria. Anyway, I need to get going. My train will be here soon. I’ll be sure to stop by whenever I’m in the area.”

Twilight bit her lip in frustration. The many conflicting thoughts and emotions that swam within her only stirred more as Peter turned to leave. The mare suddenly realized that it was now or never. While she herself didn’t quite understand her feelings fully, she knew that she may not get another chance after this moment.

“Wait!” Twilight blurted out, causing the stallion to turn back to her. “Please don’t go, Peter! I really want you to stay!” Twilight quickly took a step forward, bringing a forehoof to her chest. “I really enjoy your company. Things won’t be the same without you here. I… won’t be the same.”

Peter sheepishly chuckled. “You’ll be fine, Twilight. You’ll have more room in the Treebrary like you used to. I’ve only been here for a few months, but I’ll miss it here. You can even get your sofa back and put a bookshelf back in its place.”

“I don’t want a bookshelf! I want you!” Twilight exclaimed, pausing as the temperature in her face grew immensely. “I never really understood it until now, but I’m in love with you! That’s why I don’t want you to go. So please… ”

Peter’s heart practically stopped at the mare’s words, and he could only stare at her in silence for what felt like eons. A part of himself wanted to chastise his own density for failing to see what was right in front of him. However, the stallion bit down on his lip and shook his head. Had he heard this weeks ago, there might’ve been a chance he would’ve responded to those feelings in mutual earnest.

Peter glanced to the side, scratching the back of his head. “I’m really sorry, Twilight. That means a lot, really, but there’s someone else that I like.” A long silence filled the air for what seemed like ages. Twilight blinked in response before turning her head away. Letting out a defeated sigh, Peter frowned as he turned to leave. “I don’t want to miss the train, but I want you to know that we can still be friends.”

Twilight forced a laugh at the stallion’s reply to her feelings. “Just friends… ” The mare’s gaze narrowed, sharpening venomously as her gaze met Peter’s. “Did you ever once consider that I might’ve liked you? That maybe I’ve been trying to get your attention? The past few weeks, it’s been like I never existed to you at all!”

Peter craned his neck back as he blinked, taken aback by the mare’s suddenly now harsh tone. “Whoa. Where did that come from? You’re a great friend, Twilight.” He stood firm, holding a hoof out to the side. “I think that I finally found something I can be good at here in Equestria. If Princess Celestia and Luna believe in me, then I think I have a real shot at this.”

“You never thought about the possibility of us for a second!” Twilight exclaimed, sharply pointing a hoof at the stallion with a glare. She stood from her seat suddenly, gritting her teeth. Like the raging waters against a breaking dam, Twilight could no longer contain her emotions as she threw a hoof over her chest. “I love you! Is that really not good enough for you? Is Princess Luna that much better than me that you’re going to leave without ever giving me a chance?”

Peter’s eyes softened as he stared somberly at Twilight. He knew her position all too well, looking from the outside in at someone who couldn’t respond to the emotions given. Love was as unapologetically cruel as it was sensually satisfying. The stallion let out a defeated sigh. He was on damage control right now, and nothing he could say would salvage the situation. Peter could only turn and take his leave, knowing silence was the less damaging response he could give.

Twilight offered no response, unable to lift her gaze. The inside of her chest tightened as if her very heart was breaking. The corner of her mouth twitched while her eyes ached and grew moist. Fortunately, Peter sensed her distress and quietly exited the room. A broken heart was something that could not be so easily mended with words. It would need time and space to recover. That much he knew, at least. However, Twilight steadily fell into an abyss of despair.

The feeling of rejection was one the mare had never felt on a level even remotely close to this moment. Her chest ached with a heavy pain, as if her heart had been torn from her chest. Gritting her teeth, Twilight’s expression sank to depths matching the feeling in her stomach. The mare brought a hoof to her mouth, choking back a sob as her eyes burned with tears.

“It should’ve been me… ” she cried out weakly, her wavering voice cracking as tears streamed down her face. “This isn’t fair… ”

To be continued...

Defensive and Openings

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Chapter Six “Defensive and Openings”

Peter’s mouth hung open as he let out a low yawn. His body had yet to adjust to the night life since he started working as Princess Luna’s knight. However, his exhaustion came more from a side project than the job itself. He’d followed his own advice and requested that the smith forge him a shield.

Its design was simplistic, round, and compact. While forged from the strongest metals in Canterlot, the shield was firm yet surprisingly light in weight. An insignia of the sun stood at its center among its bright yellow and white design. After a quick process, Peter had a weapon ready for his knightly duties.

However, that was only the beginning. Having learned of the anti-magical properties of the crystals within the catacombs underneath Canterlot, Peter made it his goal to infuse his newly forged shield with the same repelling attributes. Acquiring the crystals was easy enough, but breaking down the crystals into a liquid form proved to be somewhat challenging. Fortunately, with perseverance, determination, and several cups of coffee, Peter eventually succeeded in the process.

The stallion soon set the shield within a pot over a flame, allowing the item to soak in the boiling properties of the liquefied anti-crystals. Yet, as he quietly sat in the confines of the cellar, his mind drifted to the last memory he had in Ponyville before his departure for Canterlot. Twilight’s tear-stained face and outpouring anger had plagued Peter’s mind for days, filling him with doubt. Though spoken out of frustration, there was truth in the unicorn’s words.

Luna was an eternal being, a princess, and undeniably the second-highest ranking official in the land just behind her older sister. Peter was just a college dropout trying to become a knight. To say that the alicorn was out of his league would be a massive understatement. Plus, there was a species divide between them, and sadly, due to his own density, the thought had finally crept into Peter’s mind.

“Why am I just now thinking about the fact that Luna’s a horse? The fact that it’s rarely occurred to me is enough to show how crazy I really am,” Peter whispered, staring at nothing in particular. He paused, folding his hooves. “Then again, I’m a horse, too, and have been for a few months now. It’s not all that different from being a human, minus the opposable thumbs.” Scoffing under his breath, Peter glanced to the side. “The ponies here are sapient and almost more civil than my own race was. So why am I bothered all of a sudden?”

Peter let out a low sigh. “That’s easy. Because you were so focused on trying to impress Luna that you didn’t stop and think about how she might feel. Twilight, too.” He leaned back into his seat, holding both hooves behind his head. “I’ve seriously gone over the deep end. I’ve got a crush on a pony princess with a bad attitude. Are you sure it’s not the grief talking, Peter?” The stallion blinked before shaking his head. “I’m actually pretty sure about it. Luna’s actually really cute, and she’s nice when the mood suits her. Besides, I can’t sulk over Gwen forever.”

After an awkward moment of silence, Peter rubbed a hoof over his eyes and groaned. “Peter. Stop talking to yourself in third person. You’re really starting to sound crazy.”

“I’m certain that you’re already mad, and I’m not one to make assumptions,” a firm voice declared from behind, causing the stallion to stammer about.

Peter nearly fell from his seat, spinning his chair around to find Princess Luna standing at the door to the cellar. “How long have you been standing there?”

“Not long. I only caught the tail end of your endless drabble,” the mare sternly stated, furrowing her brow as she walked to his position. “So, this is where you’ve been. I haven’t heard from you in a number of days.”

The stallion let out a relieved sigh before he turned his attention to the shield within the pot. “It sounds like you missed me.”

Luna scoffed dismissively. “Hardly. You have a job to attend to, and you’re already slacking after a few days. I just had to see if you were dead or if I am forced to personally relieve you from duty myself.” The alicorn glanced to the side, frowning. “Fortunately, my sister informed me that you were working adamantly on something in regards to your job. So, I am to here to check on your progress. What have you to report, Peter Parker?”

Slow to respond, Peter stammered before grabbing a pair of tongs to retrieve the shield from the hot substance. “Just a form of defense. I’ll be using a shield from now on.”

“As a form of offense and defense? That’s quite a clarity. Do you know how to wield it properly?” Luna questioned, arching a brow at the stallion.

Peter chuckled sheepishly, scratching the back of his head. “It’s… a work in progress, but I’m mostly self-taught.” The shield eventually cooled, allowing the stallion to slide a hoof behind its strap before waving it around. “I just have to see if this thing can disobey the laws of physics like its big brother used to.”

Luna shrugged, shaking her head. “That’s fine, I suppose. You seem to have an idea in mind, and your fighting style is unorthodox in its own right.” The mare cleared her throat, turning as she readied herself to depart. “Very well. Carry on, Peter Parker.”

“Wait!” Peter blurted out, causing the princess to cease in her tracks. The stallion felt a sense of trepidation swell at the center of his chest. Twilight’s words and his own doubts spiraled throughout his cranium for what seemed like eons before he eventually settled his nerve, pursing his lips. “There was something I wanted to ask you. If you’re not comfortable answering, feel free to ignore me.”

Luna blinked a response, unsure of what to make of the stallion’s hesitant tone of voice. Inhaling deeply before sighing, the alicorn’s eyes softened as she gently nodded. “Yes. Speak freely. What is on your mind?”

Peter hummed under his breath, as if contemplating his words carefully. “Do you hate it when we talk? I noticed that I tend to get on your nerves a lot.”

Taken aback, Luna’s eyes widened at the comment. The cynical side of her mind had longed for this moment. This seemed like an ample opportunity to rid herself of this pesky stallion’s presence for good. Things would be clear once more, not clouded by emotions she could never understand. Sadly, a part of herself pushed those thoughts to the side.

“While you can be something of… a nuisance, I do find your presence refreshing,” she spoke through a soft and genuine voice, much to her chagrin. Against her own wishes, she carefully approached the stallion and paused once they were hoof-lengths apart. “I have spent eons on the moon, alone with my own thoughts, and my social skills have suffered greatly because of it. I’m… not easily approachable by those around me.” The latter of her statement was barely audible, spoken through a hint of a whisper. “In spite of that, you keep me company earnestly. At the very least, I am appreciative for that.”

If her mind could scream, every being in the cosmos could’ve heard her vividly in that moment. Even now, this stallion was causing her to act differently. Luna forcefully cleared her throat, glancing to the side as a pink blush stained her cheeks. This was unprofessional, but she had good faith in herself not to fail twice. To do so would stand as a mockery to everything she had established in her time as a princess and ruler.

“I have another question to ask,” Peter asked, raising a hoof and holding mere inches from his face. Luna’s head hesitantly nodded, prompting the stallion to exhale. “We’re from different worlds. Does that bother you about me?” His eyes softened. “You’re a princess, and the last thing you need is for a dork from Queens to weigh you down. You’re practically born in the sky, an angel in the clouds, and I’m just some ordinary guy on the ground reaching above his head.”

Inwardly, Luna’s mind dwelled on the question. This was a chance at redemption, one that the princess had sought. It seemed as if Peter’s doubts were echoing her own pessimism. Feelings could not rise between them. They were of different species from parallel words, and she had her duties as the Moon’s Guardian.

Peter’s confidence had finally wavered, a sign of weakness not suited for a knight, and Luna could not tolerate such a thing from one that was meant to represent her. This practically wrote itself as to how it couldn’t work. All Luna had to do was just echo the sentiment and confirm the stallion’s doubt verbally. Sadly, the alicorn’s own mind and will betrayed her once more at a stirring feeling inside of her.

Luna felt her chest tighten while the temperature in her face rose. “You consider me an angel?” Her tone was light, spoken with a gentle yet surprised air. It seemed as if the voice in the back of her head had grown mute. She could only focus on the kind words Peter spoke, a given complement for one who didn’t deserve it. Shaking her head, Luna brushed a hoof through her mane, narrowing her softened gaze on the stallion. “You are too modest, yet your words are genuinely spoken. Thank you.”

Blinking, Peter chuckled nervously. “I mean it, it’s the truth. You have the wings and grace of an angel. It’s easy to get the two mixed up.”

Slow to respond, Luna stared intently at the stallion, leaning on his words. Fortunately, she freed herself from her self-induced trance before forcefully clearing her throat. “I-I am a princess. I have a sense of dignity to maintain! You are horribly misguided as usual.” She deeply frowned at the stallion, unable to rid the pink blush from her face. Luna glanced to the side momentarily. “In regards to our species’ divide, it is there, but I care not for such a thing. Your heart is pure, and that’s all that matters.”

Peter’s eyes widened before a hopeful smile formed on his features. “Hold on. So, you really do like me?”

“O-of course not!” Luna hastily blurted out, her voice cracking. “I never said any such thing! You are a nuisance in need of pity! I only tolerate you out of pity! Nothing more.”

Peter edged closer to the mare, arching a brow. “Are you sure?”

For the first time in her life, Luna was pushed on the defensive. Her mouth had betrayed her mind twice already, yielding to the sporadic emotional side she had long buried eons ago. Luna could not risk saying something she’d regret. Magical particles from the atmosphere channeled into her horn before she sharply turned her head in the stallion’s direction. Peter’s cranium rang in response, causing him to instinctively raise his shield as the mare unloaded a barrage of beams at him before he shrieked involuntarily. The defense managed to deflect every shot, yet the force of each beam pushed his frame back until he was pinned against the wall.

Eventually, Luna yielded her assault before marching out of the room in a huff, her face still flushed. “Commendable work on your shield. I see it performs adequately.”

Peter hesitantly peeked an eye over the shield, chuckling nervously as the surrounding dust thinned out. “Well, somebody’s defensive.” A low sigh escaped from the stallion’s mouth before he managed a smile. “I guess that means I just might have a chance then, but I’ll need a little help from somepony that knows Moonbutt better.” He paused, tapping a hoof against the shield once an idea came to mind. “Of course! Her sister! Duh!”

Elsewhere, Celestia sorted through an array of documents with a furrowed brow. In all of her many years as princess of Equestria, she was never fond of the responsibilities regarding paperwork. While not outright difficult, it proved to be tedious, if only due to the thorough reading of each document required. Celestia possessed the endurance and patience to carry on without difficulty, but she still appreciated a break if it was presented properly.

Fortunately, as if the very heavens heard her plea, Peter peeked his head into the door of the archives before holding his gaze on the alicorn. “Hey, Princess Celestia. Do you have a minute?”

Celestia managed a smile as her horn glowed, hastily yet cleanly shuffling the documents into two separate stacks on the table. “Of course, Peter. There’s no need for you to be formal when it’s just the two of us. Just ‘Celestia’ will suffice,” she gently affirmed, earning a relieved sigh from the stallion. Once Peter had fully entered the room and closed the door behind him, Celestia simply nodded. “Your timing is impeccable. There was something that I wanted to discuss with you as well.”

Peter’s eyes widened at the comment. “Really? What’s going on?”

“I know you’re still in the transition of adjusting from Ponyville to Canterlot. I imagine it’s a lot to take in so suddenly,” Celestia stated, furrowing her brow. “That’s why I wished to ask how your departure from Ponyville went. You’ve been relatively quiet about it, and Twilight avoided the subject in our last letter. Did something happen?”

A somber expression surfaced on the stallion’s face. “It sounds like Twilight is still upset with me.” Inhaling deeply before sighing, Peter scratched the back of his head before glancing to the side. “Well, apparently Twilight’s had a crush on me for a while, and she really didn’t want me to leave Ponyville. I told her that I was flattered, but I didn’t feel the same way. We could still be friends. However, that didn’t go so well. Twilight… hated that.” The stallion soon shrugged and forced a laugh. “Let’s just say that I should stay away from Ponyville for a while.”

Slow to respond, Celestia pursed her lips before nodding. “Ah, I see. That certainly explains a lot.” The alicorn paused, shifting her gaze to the window across the room. “Twilight has only been studying friendship in Ponyville for over a year now, and she has yet to fully grasp how that works. Love is a tremendous step up from friendship, and it can overwhelm anypony, even one with a lifespan such as mine.”

“Yeah, but still…” Peter trailed off, failing to find the appropriate words.

Celestia shook her head. “Don’t blame yourself. I’ve noticed that’s a trend with you. You accept the blame for every little thing that goes wrong, even if it’s out of your control. However, all things considered, I believe you handled the situation about as well as you could.” The alicorn returned her gaze to the stallion. “This is something new to Twilight. Love is rewarding, yet devastating at the same time, but this experience will help her grow. Just give her some time.”

Peter’s eyes softened at the comment, but he managed a smile, nodding. “I hope you’re right.”

The corner of Celestia’s mouth curled into a knowing smirk. “I must ask. You must’ve had a good reason for turning down my pupil. Why is that? Could it be that somepony else has your eye?”

Peter’s complexion paled as a bead of sweat fell from his forehead. “Um, yeah. That’s actually what I wanted to talk with you about.” The stallion forced the lump in his throat down with a swallow. His heart rate increased, threatening to burst from his chest. “I know it’s probably a bad idea, and I don’t want to get exiled from Equestria. I mean, I just got here, and I don’t want to ruin a good thing all because I like someone I probably shouldn’t.” He glanced off to the side. “Is it hot in here? Am I talking a lot? I can’t seem to shut up when I’m nervous. I could really be--”

Celestia raised a hoof and chuckle, prompting the stallion to cease his rambling. “Peter. You have a crush on my sister, don’t you?”

Blinking, the stallion’s widened gaze lowered to the ground as his face burned. “I guess it is pretty obvious.” As if a realization came to mind, Peter’s ears perked. “Is this where I get the big sister talk where you scold me into submission?”

The alicorn let out a hearty laugh, shaking her head with a smile. “I don’t think that will be necessary in your case. You’re trustworthy and handsome enough.”

Peter raised his head, looking to the alicorn bewildered. “Hold on. Does that mean you’re okay with it?”

Her smile remaining intact, Celestia arched a brow. “Why would I not be okay with it?”

Peter raised a hoof objectively. “Well, for one thing, I’m not from your world to begin with, and I’m not even royalty. I figured there was a law stating that a princess must be married to a prince, or something like that.” The stallion’s eyes shot open at his choice of words, causing the flush on his face to deepen from a light pink shade to a deep crimson tone. “N-not that I want to marry Luna already! It’s way too soon! I haven’t even taken her out to dinner yet, although I would totally love to!” His complexion paled further, leaving his fur to resemble ice. “Why am I still talking? I’m just saying whatever comes to mind and--”

“Peter. Relax,” Celestia chuckled, leaning forward from her seat with her usual collected posture. “You’ve more than earned our trust at this point. I wouldn’t have offered you knighthood otherwise.” The alicorn paused momentarily, holding her smile. “My sister is quite taken with you. Quite frankly, I’m just happy to see her opening up to somepony. She can come off as a touch… prickly to those around her at first.”

Pausing, Peter inhaled deeply before letting out a relieved sigh. “Oh, good. I thought that Luna hated me most of time. Has she always been like that?”

Dismayed, Celestia shook her head. “Sadly, yes. Luna has never been social, by any stretch of the word. If anything, I’ve been her only true friend, and to this day, she doesn’t know how to embrace her intimate side.” The alicorn pursed her lips. “Luna is a kind-hearted pony, but everypony has ostracized her over the eons. She’s been alone, and I believe that she’s just… too used to it. This has led her to not being very honest or upfront about her more personal thoughts and feelings. That’s why she’s very resistant toward you. She just… doesn’t know how to let you in.”

“Would it be better if I just leave her alone?” Peter questioned, his voice filled with concern.

Celestia practically jumped from her seat, edging closer to Peter in a flash until they were mere hoof-lengths apart. “Of course not! Luna loves your company!” she exclaimed, towering over the stallion’s considerably shorter frame. Realizing how compromised Peter was, Celestia cleared her throat and backed away. “Anyway. Just stay the course, and give my sister some time. Eventually, Luna will open up to you. I assure that you will know when she’s ready. Until then, remain confident and just be yourself.”

As if a weight had been lifted from his shoulders, Peter nodded and smiled. “Okay. I’ll keep the pace. Hopefully, Luna won’t kill me before the end of it.”

“She won’t. I know my sister, and I can tell that you’re getting through to her,” Celestia politely yet firmly affirmed, glancing to the side momentarily. “But that doesn’t mean I can’t help give her a push.” The alicorn retrieved a scroll from underneath the table via magic, doing the same for a quill. “I can make a recommendation. Afterward, I’ll leave the rest to you.”

Peter tilted his head to the side. “A recommendation? To what?”

“A dinner date,” Celestia replied, levitating the letter to the stallion. Once Peter accepted the scroll, the alicorn grinned. “Be sure to show my sister a good time. Go ask her right now.”

“Wait. Now?!” Peter blurted out, blinking. “Isn’t she asleep right now?”

Celestia shrugged. “Perhaps, but you can catch her off guard with a sudden request. If you wait until night, she’ll find an excuse to not go.”

Peter forced the lump in his throat down with a swallow. “But she shot at me earlier. A lot. I’m pretty sure that she’s still bound to be trigger happy.”

The alicorn waved a hoof dismissively. “That’s only because you had a shield. Leave it in your quarters. Luna won’t attack somepony that isn’t armed.”

Groaning under his breath, Peter stared at the princess with a bemused expression. “You’re too nonchalant about this. I feel like a lamb being led to the slaughter.” The stallion exhaled, walking out of the room. “Okay, but if I get injured, I want my insurance to cover it.”

Celestia’s smile only widened. “He is just so delightful. I’m understanding more and more why you’re falling for him, Luna.”

Several minutes had passed, and the journey to Luna’s quarters was relatively quick. However, Peter simply stared at her door for what seemed like eons. A pair of guards stood with their backs turned at the end of the hall, each holding their stern gazes at the windows near their position while on patrol. Throwing caution to the wind, Peter knocked on the door with a blank expression. Nopony dared to approach Luna’s quarters for good reason, especially during the early hours of a day. It was no different than a death sentence, yet Peter was the one pony in Equestria stupid enough to chance fate.

To no one’s surprise, the door swung open before Luna stomped out, snarling at the stallion. “Who dares disturb my-- Peter?” Luna peeped, her booming voice dissipating to a squeak instantly. Brushing the sleep from her eyes with a hoof, the alicorn groaned under her breath, but her posture lightened, evident by her softened gaze once she settled it on the stallion. However, a mild glare resurfaced quickly. “Why are you here? We have to work tonight. You should be in your quarters resting by now.”

Peter inhaled deeply before letting out a relieved sigh. “Thanks for not shooting me on sight.”

Suddenly, the alicorn’s horn glowed while an exasperated glare formed on her features. “I’ll have you know that I’m still contemplating it. Whether I shoot or not depends on your explanation for disturbing me at such an hour.”

Stammering about, Peter raised his hooves defensively. “Simple reason, really!” The temperature in his cheeks rose, evident by the pink flush he bore. Retrieving the letter from his knapsack, Peter politely offered it to the alicorn. “I’ve managed to get an invitation to the Rose Diner, and I… uh, wondered if it would be okay if we went together. Like, on a… date.”

It felt as if the entire world grew silent enough for a pin drop to be heard. Luna’s eyes widened as her mouth fell agape. Peter slammed his eyes shut, waiting for the inevitable blast to wipe him from existence. However, the alicorn hesitantly pulled the letter from the stallion’s grasp. Peter opened an eye, noticing the deep blush glowing on the alicorn’s dark fur as she read the letter intently.

“How brazen,” Luna whispered, glancing to the side. Her heart felt light, threatening to drift into the clouds. Her mind screamed to take a stand against this lunacy, yet its voice couldn’t be heard behind the butterflies frolicking in Luna’s stomach. She had no defense. Again, she was left to her emotional instruments. Eventually, Luna nodded. “I… Thank you. I accept your proposal.”

Peter’s head fell to the side in a tilt, cracking his neck. “Wait. Really?” Ecstatic, the stallion bounced in place. “Awesome! It’s a date! We’ll go tomorrow night! I'll give you a chance to gather yourself!” Oblivious, Peter waved before trotting off. “See you tonight!”

Luna stared at the stallion as he walked into the distance, unsure of what to make of what just happened. However, the corner of the alicorn’s mouth curled into a smile as she brushed a hoof through her mane. She closed the door to her quarters, delving into the flurrying vortex that was her train of thought. Meanwhile, the two guards standing at the end of hallway exchanged glances, with one stallion placing a pair of bits into his cohort’s waiting hoof.

“I told you she’d say ‘yes,’” he chuckled, placing the bits underneath his armor.

The other knight grumbled, rolling his eyes. “She’ll still blast him. It’s not a matter of if but when. Just you watch.”

To be continued...

Trepidation and Acceptance

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Chapter Seven “Trepidation and Acceptance”

Several hours had passed. Peter had the entire day to mentally prepare himself for what would transpire, but it did nothing to remove the butterflies from his stomach. Tranquility ran through the atmosphere, leaving the once bustling city of Canterlot to quietly enjoy the nightlife. Considering they were about to partake in a high-class event, Peter went to Rarity for assistance. The mare was stacked, riddled with requests, but once she heard her cumbersome friend had landed a date with the princess, Rarity made it her mission to help him with his dilemma.

Rarity made certain he looked the part, but not too much so. On his hooves were a pair of snow-white cuffs, customized for solo wear, and a matching collar was daintily placed around his slender neck, accompanied with a crimson bow-tie. The stallion felt the temperature in his face rise from embarrassment. However, it was not from his current attire. Compared to the red and blue tights he wore on a daily basis, Peter found the collar and cuffs quite snazzy.

Rarity originally suggested that he comb his mane back into a ponytail, but such a style didn’t fit him. Not with a ribbon at any rate. While Rarity had picked out the pieces of wardrobe, Luna had not actually seen them on Peter yet, leaving the stallion to feeling a bit anxious. He worried she might not approve, causing some sort of distortion in the date before it could really begin.

His Parker luck was bound to ruin his day somehow. Peter brought his hoof over his mouth as he delved into the matter pulling at the back of his mind. From the very start, he admitted Luna was unusually gorgeous. However, whether in the body of a human or pony, Peter was still a nerd at heart, and would always be the same. Luna was a mare with a profound sense of dignity, poise, and phenomenal beauty.

In the end, the truth was obvious: Luna was way out of Peter's league, and he felt himself asking how he even made it this far.

The surrounding guards straightened their postures, prompting the stallion to turn his head. The main door to the chambers slid open, revealing a regal mare as she walked inside, and Peter's eyes widened, the sight of the mare's dark coat causing his heart to skip a beat. Luna stepped out with a blue dress wrapped perfectly around her body. Golden bands were placed over her limbs, matching her crown and earrings. Her skirt stopped just above her back hooves, revealing her light stockings, and a silky yet clear material rested firmly around her neck, covering her shoulders as well.

Peter brought his hoof behind his head, the blush on his face burning to a shade of crimson. If the truth wasn't already obvious, Luna's stunning appearance made it clear now as she arched a brow at the stallion. “You look beautiful, Luna.”

Brushing a hoof through her glowing mane, Luna attempted to keep her posture firm, but her burning features made it next to impossible. The alicorn had lived for countless eons, having received many such compliments from those around her over those many years, but hearing such words come from this simple stallion made her heart flutter. She mentally admonished herself for her behavior, finding it childish. One such as her should not falter, but Peter's genuine warmth and honesty fueled her yearning to embrace the stallion and not let go. Luna’s eyes shot open at her thoughts before she cursed her drifting mind. However, her sense of decency prevented the mare from doing something so rash.

“Thank you, Peter. I’m glad you actually look presentable today,” she bluntly replied, raising her head. Tuning out her mind's prattle, Luna magically pulled her ticket from within her dress and levitated it in Peter's direction. “Shall we?”

Peter walked over to the front door and pushed it open, smiling as he held it chivalrously for the mare. “Ladies first.”

Luna looked to the stallion and blushed. The feelings she held steadily swelled, causing the inside of her chest to intensely burn. As she trotted past the door, accepting Peter's gesture, Luna paused for a moment, stopping just outside of the door. Chivalry was a defining trait among knights before her banishment from Equestria, but Luna realized that chivalry had lessened significantly over the eons, becoming nearly nonexistent. The fact that an Outworlder held onto such a trait spoke volumes to the mare. He was practically aloof, yet there was a charming aspect to the stallion’s demeanor.

Lowering her guard momentarily, the alicorn glanced to the side while her cheeks glowed. “Thank you.”

A small bead of sweat trickled down the side of Peter's face as he escorted the princess to a carriage parked at the front of the castle gate. His body temperature felt as if it had reached a fever-pitch, and Luna's glamorous appearance only worsened his state of mind. Peter chuckled sheepishly out loud, unable to hide his embarrassment. His mind chided his behavior, noting that such outbursts would only hurt his chances.

The pony pulling the carriage glanced at the pair once they were within range. “Where to?”

“The Rose Diner,” Peter replied, opening the door for his date. Once Luna accepted the gesture and stepped inside, he made his way to the driver, keeping his eye on the payment pouch by his side. “How much will that be?”

“Fifteen bits…” the driver trailed off, giving the stallion a wide-eyed expression once his gaze settled on the alicorn. However, before he could think further about Princess Luna’s reasoning for the transportation, Peter paid the amount in full and joined the alicorn’s side. Once both ponies were situated, the driver shrugged and ran for the chosen destination, whispering under his breath, “I didn’t think she ever left the castle.”

Luna’s ears perked before she lifted her blank gaze. “I’ll have you know that I can hear you just fine, and that my business is my own.” She narrowed her gaze into a bemused glare. “I suggest you mind your own as well.”

The stallion gulped, nodding feverishly before galloping at full speed with the carriage in tow.

“Table for two,” Peter said, pleading that his diminishing nerve did not show in his voice. The waiter nodded simply, motioning for the pair to follow him. Being in a fancy restaurant, Peter couldn’t shake his nervousness free, and the stares of those around him only added to his tension. Not that he blamed them, considering he was just a normal stallion alongside the moon princess. As they approached their table, Peter nearly tripped over his hooves, but managed to grab the back of the chair Luna was to sit in to recollect his balance. The stallion grumbled under his breath. 'Smooth one, Parker. Very smooth.'

“Thank you,” Luna sweetly whispered, straightening out her dress accordingly as she sat at the table.

Though it was brief, Luna managed to steal a glance at Peter before he took his seat across from her own. He seemed rather flustered, evident by his restless body language. The stallion fidgeted in place, glancing about aimlessly. Strangely, a smile graced Luna's features. She watched Peter act carelessly around her over the course of the past few weeks, yet it was always genuine, for better or for worse. It was refreshing to see the stallion flustered for once. Luna’s demeanor lightened. For all intents and purposes, perhaps it meant that he couldn’t control his feelings any better than she could.

“What would you two like to start with?” the waiter spoke, causing both ponies to shift their gazes in his direction.

“Water… please,” Peter's mouth worked faster than his brain would have liked.

“I shall take water as well,” Luna simply stated, prompting the waiter to bow before heading off.

After a brief wait, the pair had a glass of water in front of them, but Peter downed his rather quickly, exhaling after. His body temperature refused to lower, and it felt as if his throat was drier now than it was before. Looking over at the ocean-gazed beauty sitting before him, the heat Peter felt intensified, causing small beads of sweat to form along his forehead. He was losing his cool before he could hope to gather it, and that was becoming a literal statement. Another waiter readied to pass, but Peter reached out, asking for a second glass of water.

Once the second beverage had been downed, Peter's mind droned. 'Will you get a grip? Seriously! Firelord didn't make you sweat this much, and he gave you third degree burns for crying out loud!'

The original waiter returned with a notepad in hoof. “What can I get for you to eat?”

Peter turned to the table where his menu sat, but his brow furrowed at the list of assorted words written in a different language. Fancy restaurants always had a habit of naming their foods in the most ridiculous things. Only one dish came into mind. Peter sighed inwardly, mentally agreeing to go for a pizza first thing in the morning.

“A salad,” he said weakly, pushing his menu away.

“I shall have the same with a glass of Chianti,” Luna spoke gently, handing the waiter her menu.

The waiter bowed politely. “Right away.”

Waiting for their orders to arrive, Peter felt his uneasiness return. This was certainly not his element. If he were anything like the billionaire playboy philanthropist, Tony Stark, Peter would’ve had an easier time fitting in. The fancy atmosphere seemed confining, smothering the stallion to the point where it was difficult to breathe. A defeated sigh escaped from his mouth. Luna's demeanor remained poised and leveled, making Peter feel a bit envious. Not wanting to ruin the night for her, Peter held his tongue.

Luna watched as Peter continued to fidget in his seat. At first, his nervous behavior was endearing, but it became clear something was bothering her date. He offered none of his witty banter, something Luna, much to her shame, admittedly liked deep down. It showed his confidence, and right now, the poor fellow was sorely lacking in that department. As of now, the stallion sharing her table was not the same one she was expecting. Something was wrong, and she knew it was best to ask what it was. However, their meals arrived, cutting the mare's thought process short.

“Peter,” Luna spoke out, her calm voice pulling the stallion from his self-induced trance. Her brow furrowed in questioning fashion. “What’s the matter? You're not being yourself.”

Peter cursed himself. As usual, the females of Equestria were rather astute when it came to reading his body language. As much as that thought horrified him, Peter was more willing to retort that he just couldn’t hide the truth well at all.

“Sorry, but I'm a bit nervous,” he said honestly, earning a baffled expression from the princess.

Pushing her dish to the side, Luna made certain her eyes remained locked on Peter's hazel irises. “That certainly explains your behavior. I assure you that you don't have to change yourself to impress me. To do so would be a disservice to the both of us.”

Peter's head and shoulders fell in a slump. “I just wanted you to enjoy yourself.” Shrugging halfheartedly, he glanced to the side. “I'm not good with dates, and I have a tendency to embarrass my friends. I was actually trying to avoid that tonight. You’re a princess. A very beautiful one at that. And it's really easy for me to mess this up for you.”

Luna blinked, inhaling deeply before sighing. “Peter, I would not have agreed to go out with you if I wasn’t keen to your presence.”

Peter tilted his head to the side. “Really? Does that mean you actually like me?”

Shaking her head, Luna found herself unable to suppress her smile. Just the question alone was enough to baffle the princess. Up until now, Peter had been playfully aggressive in his attempts to pry Luna’s true feelings out of her. However, as if the fates tempted her, the stallion’s bravado had faded to that of uncertainty. The thoughts in Luna’s mind continued to swell.

Luna pursed her lips before lifting her gaze. “I have a better question, Peter. Do you like me?” The princess frowned, as if disheartened. “You have heard the tales of my fall from grace. Why would you consider harboring feelings for somepony like me?”

Taken aback, Peter raised a hoof. “Why wouldn’t I? You’re the prettiest girl I’ve met in Equestria. I’ll admit, your attitude isn’t the best at times, but you’re cute when you smile. You’re strong, dignified, and elegant at the same time.” The stallion reached out, placing his hoof over the mare’s own. “What happened in the past doesn’t matter now. The only thing that matters is the present, and I’m looking at you right now. You’ve been alone long enough, and… I’d like to be there by your side.”

The heat within her chest had become almost unbearable, begging for some form of release. This was the opportunity she needed. Her breath grew shallow, matching the quickening pace of her heart. Her eyes ached once more. The stallion had spoken the truth from his heart, and now Peter needed to hear the truth in its entirety from her. Luna needed to let it be known just as badly. It was undignified, but Luna no longer cared at the moment.

“Peter, I like you the way you are. You're strong, kind, modest, funny, and… sweet,” Luna whispered, never averting her gaze away from the stallion’s hazel irises. The blush on her cheeks threatened to melt her very presence. With her free hoof placed against her chest, Luna allowed herself to be forward for just a moment's notice. “With you, I might finally get my time back and leave the grasp of loneliness behind. You see me for what I am, not what I was. That is why I feel so… strongly for you. I… I want you to be there with me, too.”

Slow to respond, Peter stared at the mare sweetly. During his time in Equestria, his friends had helped him move on from his guilt. Now, it seemed Luna was finally able to remove the last barrier that Gwen Stacy’s death left in the stallion’s heart. His mind huffed. Yes, she was a pony, but he had long since stopped caring about that. After all, Luna knew full well of Peter's origin, and she accepted him all the same, even admitting to her own growing feelings. With a new string of confidence, Peter felt his muscles loosen, all tension having left them blissfully, but his embarrassment remained intact, evident by the blush that formed on the stallion's face. Eventually, both ponies relinquished their hold on each others’ hooves.

Peter smiled warmly. “Thanks, Luna. Does this mean we’re an item?”

The princess tilted her head to the side at the comment. “An item? I’m sorry. I’m not sure I know what you mean. I am not particularly up to date on today’s sayings and idioms.”

The stallion blinked, scratching the back of his head with a hoof. “Oh, right. I forgot about that. All the more reason I want to be with you. Someone has to catch you back up with the times.” Flustered, Peter chuckled nervously. “What I meant is that are we… officially a couple? Like, as in a relationship?”

Luna’s eyes widened as her mouth fell agape, matching the blooming shade emitting from her cheeks. “O-oh. I… I suppose we are,” she trailed off, smiling unknowingly. Her heart skipped a beat. She wanted to bounce about like a filly, but she cleared her throat, managing to contain her swelling giddy emotions. Nodding, Luna placed her hoof on the menu and pushed it gently across the table. “P-Perhaps. We’ll see. May we start over? I want you to be yourself for the remainder of our date. That would mean so much, nor I will not tolerate any less from you.”

“That's a good idea,” Peter chuckled, giving an affirming nod. His gaze dropped to the menu before returning to the mare. “Think this place serves pizza?”

The nearby waiter shook his head. “Absolutely not.”

Luna cleared her throat, ignoring the glares of the elitists around her. “I can certainly ask if they can make accommodations.” She glanced to the side, sternly staring at the waiter. “Would you be willing to make an exception for one night?”

As beads of sweat trickled down his forehead as he straightened his posture. “O-of course, Your Highness. Right away.”

While the waiters and chefs conversated feverishly, Peter chuckled under his breath. “I think I could get used to this.”

Peter raised his hooves high above his head. The rest of the night went well in his eyes. The food was served well, though he couldn't help but find a plain, wheat pizza with mozzarella a strange, yet tasty, treat. Now, after a brief ride back to the castle, Peter and Luna walked through the castle with content smiles on their faces. It was well after midnight. At this point, it was only right for Peter to escort his date to her room.

Usually, both ponies would’ve started their night jobs. However, Celestia insisted that they take the night off. A low yawn escaped from the stallion as they passed by a pair of guards. They walked down the narrow hallway side-by-side, each hesitant to break the silence surrounding them. Eventually, the moment the pair reached the door of Luna's room, the mare turned to face the stallion.

“I can't thank you enough for tonight, Peter,” she spoke simply, her tone scarcely above a whisper. “It means the world that you… considered me.”

“That goes both ways. You’re the only one I want, and I’m lucky that you’re giving me a chance,” he grinned, causing Luna to mirror his actions. Peter brought his hoof over his mouth to stifle a second yawn. “It's getting late. We’d better get some sleep.”

Luna´s horn glowed with energy as she nodded, and the knob turned in response. “Yes…” However, the mare refused to leave her position, not wanting to part ways with her date just yet. Listening to her heart's pleas, Luna turned and rubbed the side of her head against Peter's own affectionately. “Please… Don’t leave me behind.”

Clumsily but firmly, Peter returned the embrace. “I promise I won’t, and I can prove it.”

Before Luna could piece together what the stallion's words meant, Peter tilted his head up and pressed his lips onto hers. The world itself slowed to a halt. Luna felt her strength abandon her, yet she melted into the act of affection. The princess leaned forward for a second further, savoring the taste her mouth was experiencing. Her mind faded into a flurry, unable to fully grasp the giddiness swelling in her being. Feeling her nerve slip, Luna hastily made her way inside her room.

“Good night,” she whispered sweetly just before the door finally closed, metaphorically ending the date.

Peter stood dumbfounded, bringing his hoof over the edge of his mouth. Lady Luck was truly kind to him today. With his infamous Parker luck, though, Peter knew it was only a matter of time before things would turn south (probably on both counts). Yet, with a stifled chuckle and confident stride, Peter walked back to his room with a new sense of optimism.

Once the stallion exited the hallway, the two guards shared a glance before one shot the other a smirk as he held out a hoof expectantly. The latter guard huffed, dropping a large bag of bits onto the other’s waiting hoof.

Princess Luna paced in place in her quarters with a wide smile. “I am in love.”

No matter how many times she thought the words or spoke them out loud, Luna still found herself confused at the prospect of feeling such an emotion. For eons, she knew only isolation and loneliness, having only ever experienced love for her sister. However, this was different. This was sensual, yet filled the mare with a sense of desire she had never felt before.

There was a longing emotion buried in her chest, and the entire aspect both confused and intrigued her all the same. Eventually, the mare threw herself onto the soft bed inside her personal quarters, allowing her face to sink into the nearest pillow. She lifted her head and watched the moonlight spill under the curtains at the window and exhaled slowly. The butterflies in her stomach refused to cease as she reflected on her night, reveling in the taste of her first and only kiss.

“I am in love,” she whispered, brushing a hoof over her lip.

Peter’s taste was still there, and she longed to feel more of that. Before long, the entire night flashed through her mind, of a stallion taking her out and keeping her company both earnestly and lovingly. Letting out a low sigh, the mare pulled herself from the comforts of her bed into a sitting position. It was no good, she eventually decided. There was no possible way that she could sleep with the way she felt at the moment.

Luna’s mind chided her childish behavior, but her fleeting heart cared not for such pessimism. She still felt giddy from earlier in the night, no different from a teenager having experienced puppy love for the first time. Luna had always looked down at such feelings from a distance, never imagining herself being in a position to experience such things personally. However, the fates would thrust the Princess into that very scenario, and ironically, it came from an absolute fool of a stallion.

Just the idea made Luna want to laugh. An aloof pony that didn’t know when to shut up was stealing her heart. And to make matters worse, Luna was perfectly content with it, yielding to his advances completely. There was an exhilarating thrill running through her. Despite the fact that the chilly night air was seeping through the open window in her room, a burning anticipation warmed her all over, enough to cause beads of sweat to form over her fur.

The princess climbed out of bed before drawing aside the curtains. She looked out at the locale of Canterlot with a somber gaze. With only a few hours remaining until sunrise, there was not a single pony out yet in the immediate vicinity, but Luna found plenty of other sights to keep her attention occupied, albeit briefly. From her position, she could just make out the curve of the stream along the outskirts of Canterlot. The mare could even spot Manehattan in the far distance, the city where she and Peter had first shared their feelings with each other.

Luna wondered if she would ever see Manehattan in the same light again. Personally, she was not a fan of large cities by any means, considering them too crowded for her liking. However, there was something warm she felt for Manehattan now, and only when she caught sight of her reflection in the nearest mirror did she notice the bright smile on her face. Her heart was pounding as she returned to sit on the edge of the bed.

“I am in love with Peter,” she reflected, a warm shudder passing through her body as she thought his name.

The sensation she felt seemed like it was expanding inside of her, as if she needed to do something to expel it. It was almost like frustration, only the sorrow or anger had been replaced with a raw joy. This was an alien feeling for Luna, considering she had lost herself to such negative emotions. Now, she felt like shouting as loud as she could in her patented Canterlot tone the sentence she had been repeating to herself.

She had never before encountered a positive feeling like this, and she was just as confused as she was happy. Falling backwards onto the bed, Luna stared at the ceiling while reflecting on the night's events. Suddenly, her eyes widened as she remembered Peter kissing her, blushing once she remembered closing the door in an embarrassed fashion like a flustered child. They had spent time conversing for hours during their dinner date and talked about all kinds of things, all while holding hooves.

Although they talked about nothing in particular, Luna only wished they had conversed further, suddenly finding the time she had spent with Peter precious. Blinking, the princess felt her eyes were again damp with joyful tears. Much to her chagrin, Luna had cried sporadically after the date’s conclusion. However, her sense of glee had not diminished in the slightest. With every tear she shed, the mare’s smile expanded.

From the window, the sounds of early morning came tumbling in with the first pale rays of sunlight. Luna blinked in the direction of the window, frowning. She had not slept at all, having lost herself in her thoughts for an entire night. Exasperated, Luna shook her head. She wouldn't be able to sleep right now with so much going on in her head, and the entire day was ahead of her. Perhaps with enough distractions, she could find a way to sleep in time for her impending nightshift.

Stirring, Luna traveled to the bathroom and cleaned herself appropriately, yet hastily, before leaving the comforts of her personal quarters. There were only a small number of guards going about their business in the castle. The princess stepped out into the pale light at the courtyard and glanced skyward. Only the tip of the shimmering sun was visible as it hung, framed between the tree lined horizon and a burning sky. Luna sat on the soft grass near a fountain, leaning her back against the marble while watching a pair of gardeners tend to the numerous patches of flowers and shrubbery spread over the village.

“You're up early,” remarked a soft voice from behind. Luna turned her head to see her older sister approaching her position. As of late, it had been a chore to interact with her sibling, but currently, Luna felt elated that there was somepony else here to talk to. In spite of their differences, they were sisters, and for the multiple eons that have passed, Celestia and Luna were best friends as well. Nothing would change that. Once hoof-lengths apart, Celestia slowed to a halt and smiled. “Couldn't sleep?”

Luna inhaled deeply before sighing. “Yes, I was finding it difficult to do so. I trust the night was relatively peaceful for you?”

Celestia found a place along the grass and sat down beside her sister, stretching. “It was, but don’t worry about that. I’m more interested in hearing how your night went.”

Glancing off to the side, Luna cleared her throat dismissively. “I had fun.” She paused for a second, closing her eyes before leaning her head back against the wall of the fountain. “I couldn't sleep at all last night when I returned.”

Slow to respond, Celestia studied her sister’s smile with an arched brow. “Huh. I see. Is that truly all?” Luna offered no response, pursing her lips. Celestia simply looked sideways at her sister before a mild chuckle escaped from her. “I can only assume the kiss you two shared is an indication for the impending future?”

Coloured, Luna’s eyes widened as she glanced at her sister. “Were you spying on us?!”

“Of course not. It’s my duty to watch over everything that transpires in the castle,” Celestia plainly declared, waving a hoof dismissively. Her laugh carried nothing but gentle humor. Luna stared at the alicorn with a bemused glare, forcing Celestia to clear her throat sheepishly. “I digress. I had no reason to spy on you or Peter. I just had a positive feeling on what the outcome of your date might be. So, thank you for confirming my suspicions anyway.”

“Ah… um…” Luna trailed off, her words having failed her once more. Eons together and a thousand years apart, and Celestia knew her sister better than she knew herself. Even embarrassed, the exhilarating giddiness wouldn't go away, and Luna found herself smiling brightly. “Sister… I am in love!” The alicorn’s voice echoed across the courtyard, catching the attention of the gardeners, but she didn’t care, evident by her bright and glittering gaze. “It feels strange, but exhilarating. I've never felt this before. Part of me is so happy, yet I also feel… scared? Is that normal, Sister?”

Celestia smiled fondly at the alicorn. “That’s only natural, Luna. Don’t concern yourself too much with it. Just take it one step at a time, and you’ll both be fine. Open your heart, but stay true to yourself.”

Luna blinked, narrowing her gaze on her sibling. “You speak as though you were expecting this.”

“You could say that. If anything, I was surely hoping for the best case scenario,” Celestia murmured, staring at the sun as it continued to rise above the line of trees that marked the forest along the outskirts of Canterlot. “Peter never hid his feelings, and I had my suspicions when it came to you. I believe the past few weeks have made it kind of obvious to me though.”

“It did?” Luna huffed, frowning. “How could you have been so sure when I was not?”

Celestia edged closer to the alicorn, smiling. “You’re my sister, that’s why. I know how you can be at times. Plus, it's always easier to spot when others are concerned.” The older alicorn sobered, shifting her gaze to the running waters of the foundation. “You’ve been happier lately, and I can tell that Peter has had a hoof in that. I just have to ask you: are you certain about this? Our lives are long, never-ending. Peter is a mortal, and in time, he will pass on like everything else.”

Luna offered no immediate response. Her sister’s words were spoken truthfully, yet warningly. They were alicorns, beings meant to live far beyond the normal standard of those around them. Only dragons could rival their lifespans, but they too age and eventually die. Nothing about Peter’s biology spoke against this. While he was extraordinary, gifted with many abilities some could only dream of possessing, the Outworlder turned equine was still only mortal.

Yet, Luna did not care about any of that. Peter had earned her trust and love, an achievement nopony had achieved until now. This happiness that she harbored was very real. It was true that Peter would eventually cease to live. However, one thing that Luna had come to learn was not to cling to the past. Time would forever move forward, never ceasing. The best thing she could do was embrace the present and make the most out of what was given to her.

Luna nodded firmly, placing a hoof over her warm chest. “I know, and I’m going to make certain to enjoy every second of it while it lasts.”

Celestia smirked at her sister’s simple response. “All right. As long as you’re happy, that’s all that matters to me. You have my full support.”

Both mares shared a brief yet loving embrace, rubbing the sides of their heads against each other affectionately. They eventually parted, allowing Luna to smile. “Thank you, Sister.”

Celestia suddenly grinned, arching a playful brow at the alicorn. “So… should I expect nieces and nephews from you two anytime soon?” The alicorn’s horn glowed before a plush toy of a spider materialized into existence in a burst of light, levitating into Luna’s grasp. Celestia’s laughter grew. “It’s pretty ironic. You’ve always had a strange fascination for arachnids. Now, your boyfriend has spider powers and vaguely resembles one. This is truly a match made in heaven. Perhaps we should refer to him as Lunar Spider now?”

Like lightning would strike a rod, Luna’s stern demeanor resurfaced with a bemused glare as she stared at the plush toy in her hoof. “You ruined it,” she blankly grumbled, standing from her seat before walking out of the courtyard with the toy in hoof. “You ruined it, and I’m leaving.”

Celestia watched as her sister departed in a huff, resting her chin on a hoof. “Some things never change.” Once she was out of hearing range, Celestia smiled warmly. “But I’m happy that somepony’s finally gotten through to you. Thank you, Peter.”

To be continued...

Seasonal Changes

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Chapter Eight “Seasonal Changes”

Nearly three months had passed since that fateful night. Although Princess Luna was not one to put her business out in the open, news quickly spread of her relationship with the young up-and-coming knight, Peter Parker. She had the paparazzi to blame for such, taking photos of the pair while they reveled in each other’s company outside of the castle. Not that the alicorn minded completely, having accepted that not everything was sacred anymore in the eyes of the media.

Luna blankly stared at nothing in particular. She could not simply intimidate them away, per her sister’s advice. It was their job to invade personal space. Peter agreed with such, having come from a world with similar practices. Granted, he was a prime example of media victimization, and his statements did little to nothing to diminish Luna’s disdain for the paparazzi. She had to protect her dignity, and simply blowing them up would be a considerable setback, desirable as the idea was.

To simply avoid prying eyes, Luna remained in the castle for her more intimate moments with her stallion. Peter seemed perfectly content with the idea, believing that personal affairs shouldn’t be out in the open. All things considered, he was vilified by the media, and his paranoia was perfectly understandable. For the sake of expanding sales, the media would create pretentious drama to captivate their audience. Even after countless eons, that much remained true for equine nature from Luna’s perspective.

The mare freed herself from her self-induced trance, gazing softly at the clear blue skies perched above her head as she sat in the tranquil settings of the castle’s courtyard. Her relationship with Peter had only grown, and Luna found herself enamored with the stallion even more now than she did at the start. They had learned a considerable amount of information about each other, whether it’d be a personal fear or something inconsequential as quirks. Apparently, Peter once had a crush on a school cheerleader during his early years in high school, and Luna was ticklish, much to her chagrin.

The last snow of winter had melted, thanks in part to nature’s intervention and the inhabitants’ roles in their Winter Wrap-Up session. Spring exploded across the land, passing through the veins under the earth and leaving blossoming life in its wake. The empty sky, bright and blue with the sun's undivided attention, allowed a glorious warmth to descend with the afternoon. The occasional gentle breeze was heavy with the sweet scent of pollen.

Luna gazed around in wonder as she settled amongst the short grass near the fountain, putting down the basket full of the fruit she and Peter had spent the morning picking. That had become a daily activity the couple did together, usually after a long night shift. They always had breakfast together before parting to either rest or gather their space until the night called for their duties once more. To say they spent time together was an understatement, and they understood not to overbear with one another.

Even after eons, the courtyard remained a truly beautiful location. Celestia had always ensured it was tended to by the best gardeners, and each gave their best efforts to maintain the area’s condition. Many rows of bushes and flowers, rich with their first harvest of spring, decorated both sides of the marble fountain at the center of the courtyard. The sounds of birds and other animals carried lazily across the air, adding a sense of serenity to the mare’s spirit as she watched her surroundings with a warm gaze.

However, a loud clanging sound echoed through her ears. Luna glanced to the side, quickly locating the source as a bright yellow shield bounced off the walls. The defensive weapon ricocheted about, going from the fountain, floor, and wall before returning to the wielder. Peter held out a hoof, catching the shield, and he flipped over the fountain, landing perfectly on the railing. His entire costume had been modified. All signs of crimson and white were gone, replaced with shades of blue, and it matched the fur tone of his chosen princess, a homage of sorts. The bright shield he carried perfectly contrasted the tone, as if night and day were welded into one.

Meanwhile, a pair of guards nearby watched the stallion and princess from the edge of the courtyard before reverting their attention back to the castle. One huffed under his breath. “I still can’t believe that pony has been Spider-Mane this whole time!”

“I’m not surprised. The mane and tail color kind of gave it away,” the other retorted plainly, shrugging. “It’s no big deal. We know that Peter Parker is a good kid, and the princesses trusted him enough to reveal his identity to the world a couple of weeks back, too. I’m just glad he turned his name to Spider-Knight. Something about Spider-Mane was just… silly.”

The first guard paused, as if contemplating his response. “I can see your point. I personally still think she’s out of his league, but I’ve lost enough bets to become a believer.” His ears perked at a realization before he arched a brow at his cohort. “Any idea why he changed his costume and started carrying a shield around? I actually liked the red and blue, as tacky as it was. It had a vintage feel to it.”

The second knight raised a hoof objectively. “Word through the grapevine is that he changed his costume’s colors to pay homage to Princess Luna, while the shield’s design pays tribute to Princess Celestia. Since he’s working at night, the color change helps him blend in, too. Plus, there’s another something about him wanting to move on from the past and whatnot.” The pair blinked as the shield bounced across the walls, ricocheting from the rooftop before guiding its way back to its wielder. “Now, as for the shield itself… I have no idea what that's all about.”

Slow to respond, the first guard straightened his posture. “I’ll say it for you. That shield doesn’t make a lick of sense. It doesn’t obey the laws of physics at all.”

The second guard glanced to his cohort with a smirk. “You’re just still upset about the time you got whacked by it on accident. You nearly got a concussion from it… on a glancing blow, no less. I’d say it’s pretty effective, if you ask me.”

“I’m not sure about that. I just--” the first guard paused once the shield soared past their position, slicing a tree clean through before it ricocheted back to its wielder. The armored pony cleared his throat as a bead of sweat fell from his forehead. “Then again, I think it suits Parker rather well.”

Back within the courtyard, Luna shifted her body until a hoof could hang over the refreshing water from the fountain. She lifted a knife and a small piece of wood from a nearby basket. Inhaling deeply before sighing, the mare turned the wood over in her magic for a few moments, admiring how the partly carved contours and natural grooves shimmered silver with the sunlight. Soon, it would be a replicate of Philomena, her sister’s pet phoenix.

Ever since Peter had spotted Philomena several weeks ago after a night shift, the stallion had become fascinated by the bird and the legend surrounding it. He claimed to know a woman that referred to herself as ‘Phoenix’, but it felt different to actually bear witness to an actual living embodiment of the creature. They were fairly rare and nearly impossible to domesticate. Philomena was a testament to this statement, considering it took Celestia some time to tame the bird.

However, according to Equestrian folklore, seeing one brought the witness a week of good luck, but catching and befriending one would bring the owner a lifetime of happiness. Luna hoped that by making a charm of one, some of that luck would be transferred to the owner of the wooden replica. She had only started carving four days ago, but progress had been good, considering the mare only worked on the project in spurts during the early hours of each day. At the rate of her work, Luna guessed that it would only take a few more days until it was complete.

She had only hoped her stallion wouldn’t pry the information from her regarding the surprise. Eventually, Peter tossed the shield once more, causing the item to reflect from the walls’ surfaces, but the defensive weapon veered off course on its way back to the stallion. Luckily, it crashed into the fountain, creating a large splash from the water. Luna never freed her gaze from her wood carving, generating a small bubble shield around her position. The water harmlessly deflected from the mare’s barrier, leaving her form dry and unhindered.

Chuckling sheepishly, Peter walked over to the fountain and retrieved his shield. “Sorry, Luna. I’ve still got some kinks to work out.” He slid the shield’s strap around a hoof. “Toss. Throw. It’s all in the mind.”

Luna looked up with a smile. “The fact that you manage to manipulate the shield’s trajectory to such ludicrous levels speaks on your ingenuity.”

Peter’s eyes widened at the statement before he brushed a hoof over the sun insignia at the center of his shield. “Ah, that’s nothing. It’s a combination of the metal and anti-magical properties that allows the shield to absorb and deflect practically all kinetic energy. That’s why the thing can ricochet off multiple targets with only minor loss of velocity.” The stallion pointed a free hoof at his own horn as it glowed momentarily. “Plus, I imprinted my own magic into the shield, and it recognizes my signature. That allows it to come back after I throw it, sort of like a boomerang on steroids.”

“In any case, it is most certainly impressive,” Luna murmured, furrowing her brow.

The stallion laughed happily and flicked a few beads of water at the mare. “We have the day and night off. Are you sure that you don't want to head down to the lake for a swim?”

“Tempting, but no. I really want to finish this today if I could help it,” Luna gently whispered, inclining her head towards the wood hovering in her magical hold. “I shall never complete this if you keep distracting me with such pleasant sounding offers.”

Peter grinned and placed a hoof onto the mare’s shoulder. “There’s nothing wrong with a little procrastination. You've always got tomorrow or the day after that. When you’re a princess, there's no deadline with these sorts of things.”

A light laugh escaped from the mare’s mouth. “Is that why you’re always late for whatever you’re meant to do?”

“I’m not late for everything,” the stallion pointed out, gazing across at the princess. “I’m just slower than most.” The pair sat in a comfortable silence while Peter watched Luna guide her knife gently yet firmly across the wood with an unmatched eloquence. The stallion soon furrowed his brow. “I’ve been meaning to ask you. You’re probably the only royal figure that I know that carves wood in her spare time. Where’d you pick up the hobby?”

Luna paused momentarily, glancing at the stallion from the corner of her eye. “I’ve lived for countless eons. I have many talents learned in my spare time. As I’ve learned, one must improvise when the time is given.” The mare tilted her head to the side, glancing at the wood from multiple angles. “I suppose I picked up on the hobby during my many hours alone. It helps ease my mind.” Managing a smile, she grinned. “Fortunately, I have you for that now.”

“Glad I can be a distraction,” Peter chuckled, prompting the princess to return her full attention to the wood carving.

The stallion soon removed his mask and costume, freeing his mane from his fur. Like the sun that shimmered silver on the wood, the droplets of water glistened beautifully on his toned body. While Peter was considerably shorter than the average stallion, he made up for it with a very athletic physique. Luna learned of that quite intimately over their months together, and her mind tended to drift, yielding to more animalistic instincts. It was a trait unbefitting a princess to sound even remotely vulgar, but the mare didn’t mind as much, considering Peter never judged her.

After the stallion placed his costume and shield to the side, he retook his seat beside the princess. However, Peter arched a brow upon noticing Luna watch him diligently. “Hmm? What’s up?”

Luna met his gaze and smiled demurely. “Nothing; I was admiring how attractive your body is.”

Peter blushed visibly, stammering. “Hey! You can't go saying stuff like that without warning. You'll embarrass me.”

Luna laughed triumphantly. “It was a compliment. Please take it as such. You say the most embarrassing things, and I implore you for it.”

Chuckling, Peter was silent for a moment before smiling. “Fair enough. I'll have to return the compliment at some point.” The stallion leaned across the fountain, kissing the mare briefly yet affectionately. Once they parted, Peter hummed. “As a matter of fact, when we get back to the lake, we can do that thing again–”

Luna’s hoof struck the stallion’s side, causing his words to fall into his throat with a sharp ‘ow’. Feeling her face glow, the princess feverishly cut away at the wood. “Hold your tongue around the guards. They listen.”

In the end, Peter always won when it came to making the other embarrassed. That was not a contest Luna would triumph in, and she knew it. The stallion laughed at her flushed expression and looked down at the wood. “Okay. I get that you’re into wood carving, but you still haven’t told me what that’s going to be.”

Luna looked across and flicked him gently on the muzzle with a hoof. “Be patient, beloved. You will find out when it's finished. I intended to give this charm to you once it was completed, and I will not spoil anything until then.”

Peter smiled at the rebuke. “All right, all right. You win. I guess I can wait.” Letting out a low yawn, he stretched out across the fountain’s railing before lying down and resting the side of his head on Luna's flank. “I’m pooped. I guess I overtrained myself again. Don’t mind me. I’ll just rest here for a bit.”

“Very well. Although I question why you insist on using me as a pillow,” she added with a laugh, arching a brow at the stallion.

Peter stuck his tongue out at her before rolling onto his side. “Your butt’s soft and warm.”

Luna rolled her eyes. “Such a crude response.”

The stallion nudged closer to the mare, closing his eyes while smiling warmly. “That, and the night is the warmest part of the day for me. I prefer to keep my head as close to the moon as possible. It’s as close as I can get to heaven.”

Luna felt her face burn. “Now you’re embarrassing me.”

It was such a gentle and beautiful smile, that Luna felt an incredible yearning to embrace the stallion tightly and not let him go. Such words were trivial and empty from others, but whenever Peter spoke, there was almost a sense of earnesty. She put aside the knife for a moment so she could stroke his unkempt mane with a hoof. The action was brief, but its meaning was clear. Words weren’t always needed as Luna had come to learn, and sometimes their actions spoke louder.

Peter lay silently for a moment, looking up at the sky. “Back on Earth, I never had a chance to just sit back and relax. We've done absolutely nothing today, but it feels like we've done everything. It just… feels right.”

Luna resumed her carving, nodding. “I concur. The nature of spring and Equestria’s time of peace has allowed us to spend so much time together in such a manner.”

Peter closed his eyes. “Yeah,” he whispered sleepily. “Wasting time is much better when you're doing it with someone, especially with a girl you love.”

Luna smiled contently at his words before plucking a stray shaving of wood from his mane. “Days spent with you are never wasted, Peter.”

The young couple continued to sit in silence, but little did they know, they earned the gaze of a light amber mare in the vicinity. She brushed a vivid crimson and brilliant yellow strand from her face with a hoof. The mare’s moderate cyan eyes shone as an opportune smirk formed on her face before she trotted out of view.

Meanwhile, Discord sat in the reaches of the astral plain with a furrowed brow as he watched Peter and Luna. “I must say that this is quite surprising. Becoming a knight, revealing your identity to the world, and winning over the ice queen’s heart? Those are truly some commendable feats, Peter Parker.” The draconequus straightened his posture, pulling at the hairs of his goatee with his talon. “Sadly though, the world is so boring right now! It's too heavenly! I need some excitement! I need--!”

His eyes widened at a realization. An ill wind brushed across his fur, prompting the draconequus to glance to the side. Waving his paw, Discord faded from sight in a burst of light before materializing into existence along the outskirts of Ponyville. He arched a brow at the source, narrowing his gaze on Twilight Sparkle’s home. Discord folded his paw and talon before sitting in midair on nothing in particular.

“Ah, that’s right. Young Twilight Sparkle has been a shell of herself since Peter Parker left Ponyville. That certainly is chaotic in its own right, but why is there such a malevolent air about the place suddenly?” Discord whispered, fading into the tree. However, his crimson gaze widened upon spotting a jewel encased behind a glass dome at the center of the room. A metallic alicorn design rested above a ruby diamond, forming an emblem of sorts. Discord blinked at the sight. “Oh my goodness. Now, how on earth did Twilight Sparkle come into possession of that?”

Examining the amulet closely, the draconequus smiled before shrugging. “Well, no matter. At least things are finally about to get more exciting around here.”

To be continued...

Shades of the Past

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Chapter Nine “Shades of the Past”

The moon shone brightly across the night sky. The hours were late, and most of the Canterlotian residents were sound asleep. However, the denizens of the royal guard, including its princess, were ever vigilant. Deep within the confines of the castle, a pony snuck through the halls, garbed in a black cloak of sorts. Their bright amber gaze shifted about alternatively as she snuck past each guard in the vicinity, staying out of sight and mind.

One guard approached the pony’s position as she neared the item safe room, shifting his gaze in their direction. Suddenly, the individual faded from sight in a blur, materializing into existence inside the room before the guard could spot them. They waited patiently for the guard to leave his post, exhaling once the armored stallion left. Once certain they were alone, the cloaked individual’s horn glowed, removing a crimson book from the nearest shelf.

In turn, this prompted a hidden mechanism to click. A door within the wall shuffled before sliding open, revealing a hidden room. The pony chuckled under their breath as they entered the area, settling their gaze on an assortment of jewels. Each held a specific design, matching that of the current wielders’ cutie marks. However, at the center was a crown, bearing a symbol reminiscent to that of Twilight Sparkle’s mark. With a confident grin, they extended a hoof and readied to claim the crown.

“I highly doubt this is legal,” a male’s voice declared, giving a soft set of knocks behind the pony. They turned to face the source, spotting a stallion garbed in a dark costume while holding a bright shield in hoof. “I know having a desk job can suck, but it beats stealing. I mean, you probably make more than I used to, but that’s not saying much.” He cleared his throat, nodding. “Anyway, step away from the crown, and nopony gets hurt. Capiche?”

The cloaked pony was slow to respond, removing their hood before facing the stallion. “Don’t you understand?” they spoke in a feminine voice. A flow of brilliant crimson and gold fell over her shoulders. Suddenly, a mare stared intently at the stallion with a furrowed amber gaze, her fur as reminiscent of a sunflower’s shade. “This crown was rightfully mine to begin with.”

Peter raised his hooves defensively. “Please. Don’t do anything you’re going to regret. I’ll cut you some slack and count to five, but if you’re still here by the end of that, you’re going to go from being a guest to an intruder. One--”

Suddenly, the mare unleashed a magical bolt at the stallion before he could commence his count. Yielding to the pulsating throb echoing across his cranium, Peter instinctively reacted and sidestepped the projectile, tossing his shield across the room past the mare. She briefly chuckled as the weapon missed, readying herself to retrieve the crown. However, the shield ricocheted off the walls in rapid succession before colliding into the back of her head with a crack. Her eyes rolled into the back of her head as she fell in a slump, and the shield bounced, falling perfectly into Peter’s waiting hoof.

“Five,” Peter muttered blankly, kneeling next to the unconscious mare. The stallion could only shake his head and shrug. “Why do they always like doing things the hard way? I’d rather not be known as that guy who gives girls concussions with a shield. Just who is this girl anyway?” Finally, after a brief minute, a pair of knights reached the edge of the door and shared a glance with the stallion. Furrowing his brow, the stallion tilted his head to the side. “Hey, would you guys grab Princess Luna for me?”

“Yes, sir!” one of the guard firmly replied, raising a hoof over his forehead in a salute.

Peter chuckled sheepishly. “At ease, guys. No ‘sir’ is needed when you talk to me.”

After a brief duration, the alicorn entered the room with a furrowed brow. “Peter, what is happening?” She paused upon spotting the unconscious, cloaked mare on the ground. “An intruder? How could I have missed this? What was she doing?”

“No biggie, it happens to the best of us. Anyways, she probably used her magic to cloak herself or whatever,” Peter dismissively claimed, shifting his gaze to the crown. “Sunshine here was trying to steal the crown. She even said it was rightfully hers before attacking me. I acted out of self-defense and tossed the shield. Hopefully, she’s not concussed.”

Frowning, Luna shared a glance with the stallion before her demeanor softened. “You caught wind of a disturbance and prevented a potential disaster. I thank you, beloved. I chose my knight well,” she added sweetly, earning a smile from the stallion. Sobering, the princess returned her gaze to the mare, staring intently at her fiery mane. “My sister once spoke of a pupil with a mane such as this. If this mare spoke of the crown as if it was meant to be hers, she could very well be my sister’s apprentice prior to Twilight Sparkle.”

Peter nodded. “It’s a guessing game right now. If we’re getting answers, we’d better wake Celestia and see if she recognizes our guest.”

“I don’t believe this,” Princess Celestia whispered, pacing in place. Large bags formed under her eyes, seeing as she was woken abruptly, but the alicorn could barely steady her nerve, having heard what had transpired. Per Celestia’s request, the intruder was moved to the archives under Peter Parker, Princess Luna, and her own supervision. ...after the alicorn brushed a hoof over her eyes and groaned. “It really is her.”

Peter furrowed his brow, sitting upright on the nearest table. “So, she really is your apprentice? Who is she?”

“Former apprentice,” Celestia emphasized, her gaze softening. “Her name is Sunset Shimmer. She was one of my best students. Extremely talented and gifted, but we had… disagreements on her learning progress.”

Luna blinked, tilting her head to the side. “I have not heard of this. What happened, Sister?”

Celestia inhaled deeply before sighing. “Sunset Shimmer was an exceptional student at the School for Gifted Unicorns. With her unprecedented potential as a filly, I was confident that she could reach unbelievable heights in her adult years if properly guided. However, after I deemed her my apprentice, things began to change over the years.” The alicorn walked over to a desk, lowering her head shamefully. “She grew brash and arrogant with the rate of her progress, always believing I was holding her back unjustly. With her mindset, Sunset knew it was only a matter of time before she became a princess and alicorn.”

“A sense of entitlement? That can be pretty dangerous,” Peter declared, folding his hooves.

Slow to respond, Celestia nodded. “Exactly. I knew she wasn’t ready. Sunset simply believed power was everything. I refused to make her a princess, not until she learned what true power was, and the responsibility that came with it.” The alicorn shared a glance with the stallion and her sister. “Sunset refused to listen. She wanted to gain absolute power by any means necessary, even studying dark magic spells. Once I learned of that, I sought her out to punish her, but she ran away into a portal, saying that if I couldn’t make her a princess, she would find a way to become one herself. That was the last time I saw her.”

Spinning his shield upright over a hoof, Peter hummed. “Kids are a rebellious and stupid bunch. You can’t blame yourself for what happened. I wish I listened to my uncle back in the day.” As if a realization came to mind, his eyes widened. “Hold on. A magic portal? Does it lead to Neverland or Wonderland? Disney might sue her, if that’s the case.”

Luna huffed. “Such potential lost to arrogance. It’s certainly a good thing that Peter stopped her before she could escape into the portal.” Shaking her head, the alicorn raised her hoof and shared a glance with the stallion. “And no. There is a magical mirror that holds a portal nearby. It leads into a neighbor dimension, a world similar yet different from our own.”

Peter blinked. “And something like that is just out in the open? What’s stopping anypony from just walking in and out of it on both sides?”

“The portal opens and closes on its own. Otherwise, it’s just a simple mirror,” Celestia replied, pursing her lips. “It's only open for a few days, and it's closed for many months before the next time it's opened.”

Luna slowly nodded. “Then, she must have been waiting for the right moment to use it. Thankfully, Peter was on watch to stop her.” Luna frowned, glancing down to the captive mare. “Had she escaped, we would have been in a rather compromising position.”

Celestia managed a smile. “I must echo Luna’s sentiment and thank you Peter. We might have lost the Element of Magic if you hadn’t intervened.”

Peter simply shrugged, placing his shield down before leaning forward in his seat. “Just doing my job. Besides, it’s not too often that a guy is thanked for knocking out a girl with a blunt object. I was actually expecting a reprimand for excessive force or something.”

Sunset steadily stirred as her eyes fluttered open. Everypony in the room shifted their collective gazes at the mare, furrowing their brows respectively. She readied to respond, only to brush a hoof over her horn. A ring was wrapped around her appendage, layered in jewels, and Sunset simply growled in response before shaking her head groggily.

Luna scoffed. “Escape is futile. The ring contains your magical power. Try anything, and I’ll ensure my knight reintroduces to you to his shield.”

Peter groaned under his breath. “I don’t condone mare violence. Stop enabling me. Otherwise, ponies will get the wrong idea and assume I beat you with a shield when I don’t get a sandwich.” He paused, glancing off to the side. “Then again, it could be a cover up. I mean, you are the abusive one. I always get beaten or scolded, but you’re a princess. They’d never accuse you. I swear there’s such a double standard in this world. Why can’t anypony see that princesses are the dangerous ones? #ColtfriendsLivesMatter.”

“Silence!” Luna exclaimed in a distorted voice, having listened to the stallion’s rambling long enough.

Clearing his throat, Peter’s complexion paled as he ignored Luna’s piercing gaze. “Yes, dear.”

Sunset Shimmer glanced about her surroundings. “Well, this obviously isn’t the dungeon, so what do you want?” she bitterly whispered, growling.

Celestia closed the gap between herself and the mare with a softened gaze. “I want to talk, Sunset.” The mare’s demeanor lightened upon sharing a glance with her former mentor, but she soon frowned, glancing to the side. However, Celestia never averted her gaze from the unicorn. “Why would you try to pull a stunt like this?”

“That crown is mine anyway, and you know it!” Sunset exclaimed, pointing a hoof angrily at the alicorn. “You never thought I listened, but I knew a lot more than you think. You were thinking about replacing me with that other student of yours. You gave her the crown without a second thought, and you were going to make her a princess soon!”

Peter furrowed his brow. “Hold on a minute. You had two apprentices at the same time? How does that work? It seems like they barely knew about each other. I don’t remember Twilight ever mentioning her.”

Celestia nodded. “This is not the first time I have taken on more than one student at once. Sunset Shimmer and Twilight Sparkle were always within the same vicinity as one another, but they never expressed an interest in the other’s presence. At that point, Twilight was too fixated in her studies to notice anypony, and Sunset was too arrogant to ask who my other student was, even after I mentioned the other to both respectively.” The alicorn exhaled. “Honestly, they were both too focused on their own worlds to acknowledge each other, so to speak.”

Sunset scoffed, waving a hoof dismissively. “She simply wasn’t worth my time. I had better things to do.”

“Yet, you still felt threatened by her presence it would seem,” Luna interjected, narrowing her gaze. A low silence filled the room as the younger alicorn frowned. “Surely, that is what pushed you to make such a rash decision?”

Celestia huffed, walking up to the mare with a stern gaze. “You want to become a princess, but you’re of the mindset that you are ready. All evidence points to the contrary currently. You were willing to steal and betray me to achieve your goal. I’ve told you countless times that I can’t make you a princess. That power lies within you, and you have to learn from within. For eons, that has been the case.”

Sunset’s demeanor softened, evident by her lowered ears. “So, you really… weren’t lying?”

“Of course not. It’s never been within my power to ascend a pony to alicorn status. Only you can do that, with the right circumstances, and right now, your heart isn’t ready,” Celestia whispered as all lightness had left her voice, giving it a firm and stern tone. “Is power worth so much to you that you’re willing to disregard everything and everypony around you? If so, you have learned nothing under my care.”

“I don’t get it! You always go on about that!” Sunset exclaimed, holding a hoof over her forehead. “What haven’t I learned!? My skill is at the greatest it has ever been! You even admitted yourself that I’ve learnt more about magic than most could in a lifetime! I’m one of the most powerful beings on the planet!” Screaming at the top of her lungs, Sunset pulled at the strands on her mane. “What more do you want from me!? What do I have to do to prove to you that I was ready? That I am ready!”

Peter scratched the back of his head, hesitant to respond. “Power isn’t everything. Just because we have the power to do something, doesn’t mean we should do so. We have to gauge each situation and find a sense of balance.” The stallion tapped his hooves together. “I think you’re so focused on actual power that you forgot about everything else. The ponies around us are important. Celestia was never holding you back. If anything, she was just saving you from yourself.”

Taken aback, Sunset glared intently at the stallion. “Oh, shut up. What do you know?”

“Well, Sunshine, I know if Celestia made you a princess and alicorn right now, you’d probably be a power-hungry mongrel bent on world destruction or a loathsome jerk. Probably both,” Peter blankly declared, brushing his chin with a hoof. “Plus, you’re not really friendly. If you were a princess, you wouldn’t be held in very high regard with the populace. You’d just step over everypony because you can. You’re no different than a schoolyard bully, overcompensating for your own shortcomings.”

Luna blinked at the stallion with a widened gaze. “I wasn’t expecting such a blunt response from him. I’m… pleasantly surprised.” The princess inwardly eyed her stallion with a quiet gaze, unaware of the glowing tint beaming on her face. “Am I having an influence on him? He’s hardly been so… upfront. It’s surprisingly… attractive.”

“As if you’re one to talk!” Sunset lashed out, never shifting her glare from the stallion. “The only reason you’re in any position of power is because of your strength!”

Huffing, Luna stepped in front of the stallion while facing the mare. “I chose Peter as my knight not just for his physical strength but also his strength of character, something you thoroughly lack. I never would have fallen in love with Peter if he was a power-hungry brute that’s willing to throw away anything precious to him.”

Blinking, a pink flush filled Peter’s cheeks as he choked back a sob. “I think I’m going to cry-- Ouch!” He cried out, clutching at his hoof once Luna stomped on his limb furiously.

Before Sunset could hope to respond, Celestia raised a hoof. “No. My sister has a point. We entrusted Peter with knightly status because we trust him. He has proven to be kind to those around him, and in spite of his status and power, he treats everypony equally. That is something you have lacked, Sunset.” However, her expression softened. “Yet, I can’t give up on you. I know you’re capable of learning from your mistakes. You’re still my student, after all.”

Taken aback, Sunset inhaled sharply. “Wait. You’re taking me back?”

“Yes,” Celestia said simply, managing a small smile. “But only if you are willing to give my lesson a try. I want you to learn why integrity and friendship are important to the foundation of a princess. If you can manage to learn that, then I believe with all of my heart that you will be truly ready for your next step. Ascension comes from within. You will know when you are ready.”

For the first time all night, a confident grin surfaced on Sunset’s face. She soon nodded. “That sounds easy enough. How hard could it be?”

Luna furrowed her brow. “Are you certain, Sister? What’s stopping her from attempting to steal the crown again?”

Peter tilted his head to the side and hummed. “She doesn’t have a choice. I’m sure trying to steal an Element of Harmony is no minor criminal offense. If Sunshine here doesn’t take this new offer, I’m willing to bet she’s looking at some serious jail time.”

Celestia nodded. “It’s exactly as Peter suggested. So, the choice is yours, Sunset.”

Inwardly, Luna blankly stared at Celestia while shifting her gaze to Peter. Suddenly, a heavily bemused expression surfaced on the alicorn’s face. “Faint intimidation. I see my sister’s… trollish antics are rubbing off onto him as well. I can’t say that I very much like that idea...”

Meanwhile, Sunset scoffed a response. “So, he’s not as dumb as he looks. Fine. I accept.”

Letting out a relieved sigh, Celestia chuckled. “Very good. Thank you, Sunset.” Once Sunset stood from her seat, the alicorn closed her eyes. “Your socialization skills leave alot to be desired. If you are going to become a princess, you must learn to practice and learn how to interact with those around you. Peter is a prime example of a pony that treats everypony with kindness and respect. You would do well to learn from him.” Suddenly, she raised a hoof objectively. “So, I want Peter to escort you on a pilgrimage around Equestria. Learn from each other’s interactions over the coming months, and once you both believe you are ready, return to Canterlot.”

“What!?” Peter and Sunset blurted out in unison, their eyes widening.

Sunset frowned. “You have got to be kidding me. I’m not going anywhere with that shield-tossing maniac! He’s insane!”

Peter quickly shook his head. “Oh, come on! Clearly, Sunshine’s disposition would have a negative effect on me if I hung around her too long. Don’t I at least get a say in this? What do I have to learn from this?”

Celestia grinned. “Simple. You are a kind-hearted pony, but if you are to become a great knight, you must practice fortitude and patience. You have a great resumé dealing with unreasonable ponies for short durations, yes. However, we must learn how you cope with long-term situations. This will provide some good practice for you, especially if my sister becomes unbearable for a course in the near future.”

“...and there it is,” Luna blankly muttered as she deadpanned, her voice inaudible through a faint groan. “I knew part of this had to do with me.”

Sobering, Celestia cleared her throat. “In all seriousness, this exercise shall shape both your diligence and tolerance as a knight. You will partake in many missions that don’t necessarily require brute strength, but strength of character. We have chosen you out of trust. I simply ask that you repay that in kind.”

Frowning, Peter glanced to the side. “Luna? Are you okay with this? I’ll pretty much be gone from Canterlot. We… won’t see each other for a while. It could be weeks or months.”

Slow to respond, Luna lifted her gaze before nodding. “My sister is right, Peter. Sunset needs to learn strength of character, and I firmly believe you are one of the only ponies in Equestria that can help her with this lesson.” She placed a hoof over her heart, smiling sadly. “I’ve spent eons alone on the moon and land during this lifetime. Waiting for you, whether it be weeks or months, is but a grain of sand in a hourglass to me. Absence makes the heart grow fonder. Yet, I trust that you’ll succeed and come back in good time.”

Dismayed, Peter shook his head, but he managed a defeated sigh before taking hold of his mare’s hoof with his own. “All right. If you believe in me, I’ll try my best. I’m not happy about it, but I’ll do it.”

Luna soon lowered her body, rubbing the side of her head against the stallion’s own affectionately. “Thank you, Beloved.”

Celestia clapped her hooves together. “Excellent. You two will depart first thing in the morning. We shall remove the restraint ring from your horn only then, Sunset. I’d rather you not leave with regrets again.”

Sunset huffed, bemused. “Whatever. I’ll deal with it.” The mare walked past everypony in the room, pausing to share a glance with the stallion. “Just don’t slow me down.”

Exasperated, Peter rolled his eyes. “Oooh, I can tell she’s going to be oodles of fun.”

To be continued...

Observing Sunset

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Chapter Ten “Observing Sunset”

Sunset was not particularly thrilled about her current circumstance, being confined to a pony’s side, but it was made outright unbearable since he was a talkative idiot. Surprisingly, Peter wasn’t quite as enthusiastic about the situation either, having been taken away from his marefriend. Yet, he went along with Celestia’s advice, escorting Sunset around Canterlot, Ponyville, and other locales in Equestria with a smile. Sunset bemoaned at the aspect of being stuck with this pony for three months, but she took it as an opportunity to learn about him, should the opportunity rise to take the crown again.

Peter never realized it, but ever since they left Canterlot together, Sunset Shimmer had been watching him out of the corner of her eye diligently. If it had been up to her, she would never have given her associate a second glance. In her opinion, interaction with ponies had nothing to do with the study of magic. Ponies were troublesome, and very few of them interested Sunset in any way. Peter came off as aloof and dimwitted, further fueling Sunset’s curiosity of how the stallion managed to become a knight in the first place.

Sunset’s demeanor softened. Maybe there was something to learn. If Peter could become a knight, there was hope for her yet to continue her studies, and considering Celestia spoke highly of this crazy stallion, Sunset was ready to study his every action to get what she wanted. She had a motive. Now, she just had to practice patience.

The first time Sunset noticed Peter was in Ponyville, the stallion spoke sporadically with a pink mare. They were pulling some sort of prank on another mare with a rainbow mane. It was juvenile, considering his knightly status, but everypony seemed to laugh genuinely, even after the one called Rainbow Dash tackled him to the ground and locked her hooves around his neck from behind in a submission hold. He was a knight, yet everypony in the village spoke to him freely. There wasn’t a hint of intimidation to be felt. Peter was just a normal pony to everypony in the village, in spite of his heroic feats and knightly status.

Sunset groaned inwardly. She couldn't really remember what it was anymore that made her sink into this soliloquy, only that it was big enough to shake her from her daydreaming momentarily. The mare had no idea what to make of the loudmouth, and she frankly didn't care. This had nothing to do with her wanting to become a princess or alicorn. The pranks were only a means to get attention. Sunset immediately blocked out everything and returned her gaze to a book she was reading.

The second time Sunset noticed Peter, it was only to realize that the stallion had the attention of every single pony in the vicinity. The local klutz named Derpy Hooves had lost her grip on a rope holding a suspended piano in midair, causing the item to fall quickly towards the mare. It threatened to crush her being, but a bright yellow shield soared through the air, shattering the piano into dozens of pieces of broken wood and assemblies before it could connect with the mare.

Every eye was on the stallion as he caught his shield and helped Derpy back onto her hooves. The mare embraced him, uttering countless phrases of gratitude while tightening her hold. However, the piano and its owner weren’t quite as enthused, distraught over the prized possession that was destroyed. Yet, Peter simply reached into his knapsack, offering the pony a bag of bits to cover the damages. From her distance, Sunset could see that what the stallion offered was more than enough to pay for three pianos. He even spoke up for Derpy’s mistake, ensuring the mare was forgiven and allowed to keep her job.

Once they departed from the village, Sunset couldn’t help but ask why Peter spoke highly of Derpy. She was accident prone and bound to make another mistake sooner than later. Oddly enough, the stallion waved a hoof dismissively and simply replied that everypony deserves at least one second chance, especially if they have good intentions. Sunset simply dismissed the comment with a huff. Unbeknownst to Peter, Sunset’s attention was definitely and firmly focused on him.

She couldn’t quite figure him out. Was he forgiving or just naive? Perhaps she had more to learn than she originally believed.

The third time Sunset noticed Peter, it wasn't actually the stallion himself that she was watching. As they passed through Manehattan, Sunset listened to a pair of spectators chatter about the knight. He revealed his identity to the world, going from a no-name to a celebrity overnight. Plus, Princess Luna deemed the stallion her personal knight, a considerable feat since the mare was not particularly known to be open or friendly.

A pair of spectators seemed like they were not in a fond mood. Judging from their freshly-pressed dresses and permed manes, they were high-class. They went on, saying it wasn’t right that a country bumpkin slithered his way into Canterlot and rose above the ranks of most aristocrats in the world in little to no time at all. To Sunset’s astonishment, Peter passed by the mares, not paying their words any mind, and they immediately fell silent upon receiving his gaze.

The stallion simply shrugged and joined back with Sunset. When he glanced over, he saw that their body postures were stiff and faces dark. He soon chuckled sheepishly, lightly informing the mares that they had every right to feel the way they did. Even now, he didn’t believe the position he was in, but the stallion offered a vow to protect the land, the princesses, and all inhabitants as long as he drew breath. The high-class mares simply shared a smile as he left their vicinity.

Sunset’s demeanor softened once more. Peter would never abandoned his roots, holding a sense of humility and humbleness that made him approachable by everypony. Her mentor always carried herself as such, hence why they had a firm relationship. With a simple nod, Sunset took note. If she was going to become a princess, maybe it was time to lighten up.

-u-

For a while afterwards, there weren't any specific moments that Sunset noticed Peter, and that was most troubling, even as they traveled to Saddle Arabia, the Crystal Empire, and Baltimare. Still, she never went out of the way to watch him. That would have been too troublesome, seeing as Peter was a very energetic individual. Still, her mind simply collected what information it could about the stallion.

Peter never brought attention to himself. He was an outworlder, but the stallion acted no differently from anypony else. He was quirky, talkative, and surprisingly dorky. Sunset learned through many conversations that Peter was a college pony that was often picked on in school. With his strength to shatter stones and defeat dragons effortlessly, it was a wonder that Peter simply kept his powers hidden to preserve a sense of balance.

Then, she learned of his philosophy: with great power comes great responsibility. Just because he had his abilities didn’t mean he should use them freely. Sunset found herself irritated the more she watched him. Peter was reminding her more of Celestia, an all powerful pony with a very laxed persona. They both only wanted to make the world a better place with their power, but they held onto their morals. Power wasn’t everything to them. For Celestia, her pupils and sister were more important than her own status as princess.

That was the fourth time Sunset noticed Peter. She asked why he wanted to become a hero and knight. With a somber gaze and empty smile, he simply replied he wanted to make his late uncle proud.

The fifth time Sunset noticed Peter, everything changed. There was almost a tangible feel to it in the air. They had stopped momentarily and talked. Peter asked about Sunset and why she wanted to become a princess as fast as she wanted to. To put it simply, she felt that she was ready and felt Celestia was holding her back.

Surprisingly, Peter didn’t berate her, even after she attempted to steal to further her agenda. His response, as always, was simple yet effective. Sometimes, it’s not a matter of how fast one reaches the goal. Celestia had eons of life experience to know if Sunset was truly or not. Afterwards, Peter added that children don’t always agree with their parents, but by the end of the day, a mother only wants what’s best for their daughter.

If Celestia didn’t care, she wouldn’t have bothered in the first place or given Sunset a second chance after she ran off. There was that sense of optimism once more. There was truth to his words, as simply as they were stated. It boosted her confidence just a little. It was then that she came to realize that this wasn’t a form of punishment from her mentor, but a lesson; and Sunset was finally beginning to learn what Celestia had been preaching her entire life. The fact that it had to come from a motor-mouthed stallion spoke volumes.

For the first time since they met, Sunset uttered a soft yet genuine, “Thank you.”

After that, Sunset stopped counting how many times she noticed Peter, because the stallion suddenly exploded into this noticeable pony in her eyes. They returned to Canterlot with lighter dispositions, but per Celestia’s advice, she continued to observe his actions. As if the world had been holding him back, Peter embraced the ever stoic Princess Luna openly and gave her a warm kiss. Rumor had it that Luna was one to blast her oppressors with lightning should they cross her, but the princess faltered, holding a visible pink flush on her dark blue features. Peter just had that effect on ponies, as Sunset concluded.

For a few months, Sunset steadily opened her heart. Somehow, Peter’s energetic charm warmed her over. She was mellow, finding a way to keep the stallion grounded. Their hesitant alliance soon morphed into deep friendship. Peter personally admitted that he had a soft spot for redheads. The pair often chatted during the day. Sunset acted as an advisor for the knight, escorting him on his missions and lending advice. She was intelligent and a prodigy. Soon, Celestia moved the mare into Canterlot as a permanent resident to help her further understand the depths of friendship, and Sunset had retaken her place as Celestia’s pupil.

It was thanks in part to an aloof stallion. This conviction in Peter was startling. The way Sunset often spoke of and praised the stallion, it was almost as if she was willing to die for him. Granted, they were often on the frontlines together, and they had often saved each other’s life. It still sent a thrill of fear through Sunset, who told herself it was only because Peter was a complete idiot who couldn't handle that kind of respect. The truth was, from the gazes they shared, Peter knew exactly how Sunset saw him, and was going to do everything he could to continue to deserve it.

In the span of a few months, they filled a gap in each other’s heart. They shared a close platonic friendship, and both were perfectly content with the fact. Sunset filled in the void Gwen Stacy left as a friend, and Peter practiced patience when nopony else would. They both vowed to protect each other, both physically and emotionally. Peter would protect Sunset just as he firmly did for Luna and Celestia. As a knight, he was bound to the princesses. Once Sunset claimed the title, that vow would be solidified.

-u-

Sunset watched quietly from a distance as Celestia stood before Twilight Sparkle. The unicorn shouted at the top of her lungs, pointing a hoof angrily at her mentor. There was a twinge of guilt pulling at Sunset’s chest as she watched the spectacle. Twilight accused Celestia of leaving her just like everypony else had recently, considering she retook Sunset back under her wing. There was anger and paranoia in her voice. It was as if Sunset was looking in a mirror reflecting the past, of a time she mistrusted Celestia.

With tears in her eyes, Twilight continued to lash out at everypony around her. Celestia was ‘replacing’ her as a pupil, Luna took away something that was ‘rightfully’ hers, and Peter left the ‘nopony’ for royalty. Twilight was an emotional wreck, evident by her bloodshot eyes and venomous scowl. The unicorn cried out, claiming that she’ll never forgive any of them, and she charged out, vanishing in a burst of light.

Celestia could only inhale deeply before sighing, shaking her head sadly. Peter mirrored the alicorn’s actions, frowning. Sunset simply placed a hoof over her mentor’s, earning a small nod from Celestia. They both understood this pain of anger and regret. However, they could hope that Twilight would learn from her mistake as Sunset did. Sadly, that was not meant to be right away. That was the last time anypony saw Twilight. She left Ponyville without a trace, leaving her friends and Spike behind.

Nearly a year had passed since Sunset and Peter were assigned together. The coronation had been completed, and the headlines were already spreading. There was a new alicorn princess in Equestria, and her name was Sunset Shimmer. She hailed from Canterlot as the new wielder of the Element of Magic, succeeding the former Twilight Sparkle. Having escaped the paparazzi, the former unicorn embraced her mentor and reveled in the present. Her mane grew in length somewhat, holding a glowing yet luminous glitter. They spent years apart due to her arrogance, but here they were united, as if nothing had transpired.

Soon, the alicorn shared a glance with the stallion across the room, who stood upright clapping his hooves. Sunset managed a smile, nodding. She did meet her goal, but there was much to learn still. With a stallion as unusual as Peter, enlightenment would be challenging but ultimately rewarding. She would continue to observe him. Not as a study subject, but as a best friend.

To be continued…

A Dream of Reality

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Chapter Eleven “A Dream of Reality”

The milky orb in the night sky shone brightly over the land. Luna stood on top of the castle balcony with her gaze fixated into the telescope. It was her duty to ensure nothing escaped her watchful eye. However, a faint rumble reached the mare’s ear. She glanced to the side, blankly staring at the source of the sound.

Peter sat by the railing, sleeping soundly. A strand of drool hung from the stallion’s open mouth, and Luna held a bemused glare. Her chosen knight and great hero fell asleep on the job at the start of their shift. It was laughable, but a softened gaze surfaced on the mare’s face.

Just earlier in the day, Peter was called to assist with a matter within the Crystal Empire. Sombra had returned, hiding the Crystal Heart away. Peter fought the dark entity on his own, buying Sunset Shimmer and the other wielders of the Elements of Harmony time to locate and reactivate the Crystal Heart. Sombra was vanquished, and the residents of the Crystal Empire returned to normal.

At the worst, Peter had his share of bruises, but his rapid healing factor took care of most of the visible damage. However, that did nothing for his exhaustion it seemed. Yet, Luna managed a smile before simply shrugging. Peter practiced great character by attempting to work in spite of his evident exhaustion. The princess let out a small sigh before she returned her line of sight to her telescope.

However, the mare paused as a thought crept into her mind. She stared intently at Peter for what felt like eons. Her lover looked at peace, leaning next to her side without a care in the world. She glanced back to the outside world before returning her gaze to the stallion. She had her own jobs to attend to, but the mere thought brought forth a grave realization, evident by her widened blue irises.

Peter had become an intricate part of her world, both physically and emotionally. She had opened her heart to him, finding love for the first time in her long life. Despite Peter’s charm and playful demeanor, Luna usually found a way to remain professional and diligent in her duties. Sadly, Peter was very good at providing distractions, and it clouded her thinking process.

Luna cursed under her breath. How could she have forgotten something so flagrant? It was part of her duty, and yet, it never crossed her mind in regards to her lover. Luna could only shake her head shamefully. Somehow, she had never ventured into Peter’s dreams since he came to Equestria or after they formed a relationship together. The alicorn arched a brow as she inwardly questioned herself.

While Peter was relatively laidback, there was a good chance he would consider such a thing intrusive. In many ways, it was, but Luna never thought twice about it in her many eons. It was her job as Princess of the Night to watch over the land and its inhabitants, including their dreams. She had the ability to protect them from nightmares and help her subjects with the troubles that caused them, as well as defend against the rare supernatural afflictions to the dreamscape.

Considering that she herself lost herself to such a supernatural affliction once in her life, one would think the princess would hold firm and never lose sight of the goal. Luna groaned under her breath. This was exactly what she was afraid of, prior to her falling in love with Peter: losing focus carelessly. Shifting her gaze about aimlessly, Luna knew she had to make up for such a mistake. However, that same hesitance reemerged.

What would Peter think if she intruded? It could hamper their relationship, and the idea of her losing her beloved because of her own carelessness sent a nervous chill through the alicorn. However, cooler heads prevailed before Luna simply considered the outcomes. Peter had never shown any signs of distrust, and if he had questions in regards to her intrusion, she would just be upfront as usual. If anything, the stallion somehow appreciated her blunt and outspoken honesty, whereas it tended to alienate everypony else (with the exception of her sister, who simply accepted it for what it was over the eons).

Soon, a blank expression surfaced on the mare’s face. While she had her doubts, a sense of cynicalness returned. She wasn’t just afraid of what Peter would think, not completely. The mare frowned, not sure if she wanted to see what Peter was dreaming about. His mind ran with many thoughts, evident by his ever-running mouth. However, in spite of his relative innocence, Peter was a male, and some of his innuendos reinforced that. They were in a relationship, and Peter was quick to remind Luna of such openly, both emotionally and physically. The princess whined under her breath. Those hooves of his had habits of being… touchy, as she intimately learned.

Luna’s face flushed to a bright shade of pink after a duration. It didn’t matter. She had a job to do, and nothing would stop her. If Peter had complaints, he’d take it with her. After all, she outranked him, and talking back to her would be deemed as insubordination. He’d accept the circumstance and love it. Her irises fading behind a blinding light, the mare’s body vanished from sight before she dove into the stallion’s mind. The images of his thoughts took shape, morphing into a form of reality.

Suddenly, the surrounding area’s distorted image cleared before Luna found herself standing within the reaches of a building. The alicorn paused, eyeing her surroundings. Many lockers were spread along the walls, as well as choice banners hung overhead. Suddenly, a bell rung profusely through the halls, prompting many of the surrounding doors to swing open. Luna levitated towards the ceiling, fading from sight in a burst of light, but she watched from the comforts of the dreamscape as many bipedal creatures, each wearing various sets of clothing, rushed out of the hallways.

Soon enough, Luna recognized the settings in spite of the bipedal creatures roaming about. This was a school, and it seemed to be the end of the day for these students, evident by their excited demeanors to exit the premises. A sense of curiosity overtook the alicorn. She had not sensed Peter’s presence in any of the crowds. Inhaling deeply, Luna’s eyes emitted a bright light before she shifted her gaze. Suddenly, she paused upon spotting an open door at the end of the hallway. A warm and familiar aura hummed from the area. Peter was there, and he was alone.

Luna gracefully lowered herself to the ground once certain nopony would spot her. She soon entered the room with a furrowed brow, quietly closing the door behind her with a furrowed brow. At the end of the room, a lone individual stood with his back unknowingly facing the mare as he brushed an eraser feverishly against a chalkboard, wiping about the collected row of formulas and equations. He wore a bright grey, button-up shirt with matching pants bearing a considerably darker shade of the same color. Luna narrowed her gaze, recognizing the individual’s unkempt, chocolate brown mane.

In spite of his lack of fur, revealing his light skin, the princess smiled. “Peter?”

The male paused before glancing at the mare from the corner of his eye, revealing a large pair of glasses over his face. “Luna?” There wasn’t apprehension in his voice, only genuine bewilderment. He blinked, staring at the pony who stood tall enough to reach his chest. “What are you doing? How…?”

She raised a hoof objectively, smiling. “At ease, my love. You are dreaming. I simply entered your dreams once you fell asleep on the job.”

“I fell asleep…?” Peter lightly questioned, blinking before chuckling sheepishly. “Oh, yeah. That’s right. I guess I was a little tired.” Sobering, the young man held an unreadable expression towards the mare. “I hoped that power nap earlier would have helped, but it seems it didn’t do any good at all. Sorry, Luna. Don’t tell me that you’re here to fire me for sleeping on the job.”

Luna shook her head and laughed lightly. “Of course not. An apology is not needed. I’ll practice leniency on the grounds that you aided Equestria greatly today by helping defeat King Sombra.” The alicorn glanced to the side. “So I suppose I’ll let you pass with a warning. This time.”

Peter folded his arms before sitting on the edge of the desk, arching a knowing brow at the pony. “Sarcasm? Heh, it sounds like somepony’s making some progress. Is that the only reason you’re cutting me some slack? I thought it might have been my good looks that swayed you.”

“H-hardly,” Luna stammered, glancing to the side momentarily. “Should I practice leniency often, you’ll take advantage of it. Somepony has to keep you in check, after all.”

Shrugging in a mock-hurt fashion, Peter simply chuckled under his breath. “Fair enough. Celestia told me that this is part of your job. I’m just surprised it took you this long to peek inside my head.” He brushed a finger across his cheek. “You picked a good day. It’s usually a dream with me on an island filled with lonely supermodels.” Faster than Peter could react, Luna aimed her glowing horn at his torso, holding an icy glare. The young man held his ground, chuckling nervously before he waved a hand defensively. “Too soon?” As if accepting the apology, she lowered her defense, allowing Peter to gently yet playfully slap the mare’s flank. “You fill out a bikini better than them, anyway.”

The flush on Luna’s face practically glowed, as feelings of offense, anger, and flattery rushed her mind simultaneously. Even now, she wasn’t sure how to feel. “I’ve only done that once for your amusement. You are truly a dog at times.”

“Woof,” Peter replied, smirking. He closed his eyes and sighed. “Am I really a dog? You’re open-minded enough to humor me. Remember the thigh-high socks? I do.” The reality behind the young man distorted, revealing an image of a recent memory. Luna blinked as she watched herself layed across a bed, bearing a sultry gaze. The sky blue-colored socks covered most of her legs, yet they amplified the depth of her flank. She cared not, evident by the want in her eyes. Peter’s smile widened. “My pervy, pervy princess. Meow.”

Luna frowned at the image of herself, blushing. “How despicable. You should have some class and dignity.”

“Why make me wait, Peter? Waste not my time and take me!” the illusion version of Luna growled, prompting the actual princess to blast a beam through the cloud.

The image dissipated from existence, but the crimson blush on Luna’s face seemed permanent. “Should those memories reach anypony’s ears, I’m mind-wiping you! With your growing idiocy, that’ll probably be an improvement on a grandiose scale!” She huffed, resisting the memories and pleasure that day brought. “I’m becoming an animal because of you. How low have I fallen?”

“Not low enough, judging from your smile,” Peter grinned, lowering until he kissed the back of the mare’s ear.

Slow to respond, the princess stole a glance at the chalkboard. “Then, I’ll count your blessing that I won’t need to smite you.” She eventually turned her head to the side, narrowing her gaze on the allotted collection of empty chairs scattered across the classroom. “I’m surprised. A school teacher? Is this a random dream or a concealed desire? Care to talk about it?”

“It’s silly,” Peter murmured, returning his own gaze to the chalkboard before grabbing the eraser.

Luna closed the gap between herself and the young man, holding a stern yet gentle expression. “Feelings spoken from the heart may be silly at times, but they are genuine. You’ve always made me smile because you live your life in such earnestness. It’s one of the reasons why I’ve fallen in love with you.” The temperature in her face rose, evident by her blooming cheeks. She had grown more comfortable saying those wonderful words, and their effects only grew in time. Clearing her fuzzy thoughts, the alicorn bit down on her lip. “You have me saying s-silly things. Just tell me what is on your mind.”

Pausing, Peter arched a brow before smiling. “It’s hard to resist you when you’re acting so cute.”

Frowning, Luna blankly stared at the young man as her cheeks continued to glow. “I hate you.”

“That means ‘I love you’ in Luna’s language, right?” Peter grinned before gently placing the eraser down and sobering after a brief duration. “I guess I’m a little homesick.” Luna’s eyes softened at the comment as she quietly watched the young man lower his head. “Just before I was pulled into Equestria, I was in college. I always wanted to be a scholar and a teacher someday, but the Spider-Man part of my life made it difficult to focus on the studies and… everything else in my personal life. I was actually on my way to failing because of it. In a way, Twilight kind of saved me before I could get my final grades for the semester. With as many classes as I missed, it’s a no-brainer what the results were going to be.”

Luna tilted her head to the side. “In a sense, I’m not entirely surprised. You are very intelligent for your young age. Honestly, I could offer you a recommendation to any school in Equestria. With your intelligence, I’m sure you could earn a degree in good time.” The alicorn paused, furrowing her brow. “Have you ever reconsidered resuming school?”

Peter shook his head. “I thought about it, but I have too many responsibilities now.”

Luna edged closer to the young man until they were inches apart. “...but are you happy?” Her usually firm voice wavered, lowering to a gentle tone that barely registered as a whisper. Luna’s gaze lowered to the ground. “I love having you by my side, but I will not confine you against your will.”

The young man blinked, staring at the princess with a widened gaze, but he managed a smile, reaching out before sliding a hand behind Luna’s ear. “Against my will? Luna, I’m the happiest I’ve ever been because of you. I’ve spent months away with Sunset Shimmer. Trust me, I’m perfectly content staying here with you.”

Luna instinctively leaned into Peter’s hand, unaware of the pink flush burning on her cheeks. “Are you sure?”

“It’s in the past, Luna. I’ve spent most of my time in Equestria clinging to the past, letting my guilt take over my life,” Peter sternly declared, planting a kiss between the mare’s eyes before stepping back. “I’m focusing on the present now, and I know what my future is. My future is you. Sometimes, life throws a curveball. We have to adjust with what’s given to us. I’m a knight now, and I couldn’t be happier. Believe me.”

Luna pursed her lips, unable to contain a warm smile before she eventually nodded. “Very well. Your mind is already set. I won’t say any more.”

The alicorn turned to leave, but Peter reached out, prompting her to stop. “Hold on, Luna.” Pausing, the young man scratched the back of his head once the princess arched a brow in his direction. “Something’s been bugging me. When you dive into someone’s dream, can you shift into what the dreamer imagines you to be?”

“Only if I allow it. I am intangible and can adjust to fit the dreamer’s vision,” Luna simply replied, pausing briefly before narrowing her gaze. “...Why do you ask?”

Peter walked up to Luna, extending his hand to the mare. “This is the first time you’ve seen me, right? I mean, as a human. This is what I looked like before I became a pony.” A small smile graced the young man’s face. “Are you weirded out yet?”

Huffing, Luna lifted her head and turned to the side. “Hardly. I’ve seen many things in my long lifetime.” Inhaling deeply before sighing, the princess nodded. “As I have told you before, I love you for your heart. I care not for your past. I only love you for who you are now.” Luna bit down on her lip, avoiding Peter’s gaze. “D-don’t make me repeat myself again. Is that understood?”

Chuckling, Peter patted the top of the mare’s head playfully yet affectionately. “Yes, Ma’am. I get it.”

The princess murmured under her breath, frowning. Peter soon stepped back, closing his eyes briefly. Suddenly, the area around Luna distorted, causing her body to vanish from sight momentarily. The area soon morphed before a woman rose from the alicorn’s position. Her dark blue hair was brilliantly combed, reaching her lower shoulders. Standing upright, she was practically the same height as Peter, if not an inch taller.

Her slender figure stood eloquently in her dark business suit and skirt combination. The corner of her lips curled into a smile before she pressed a hand against the young man’s chest, easing him down to a sitting position. She eased into his lap, rubbing one hand through Peter’s hair while resting the other over his shoulder. The pair sat in a comfortable silence with their gazes inches apart from each other.

“Luna…” Peter whispered, trailing off.

“Is this how you imagined that I’d look as a human, let alone a teacher?” Luna questioned, never averting her gaze from Peter’s hazel irises. Strangely, the young man never offered a response. The temperature in his face rose considerably, evident by the pink flush filling his cheeks. The corner of Luna’s lips curled into a smirk. “Speechless? Why is that?”

Suddenly, Luna inhaled sharply as she felt Peter’s hand fell over her bum before gripping it soundly. The young man smirked quietly. “That’s all I needed to know. Whether you’re a pony or human, I know you’re the most beautiful girl in existence.”

Luna’s mind grew fuzzy. “Are you being romantic, lewd, or… both, somehow? I can never quite figure you out. I suppose that’s just one more of the things I love about you.” Casting her pride away, she yielded to the young man’s advances, allowing his hands to explore her body further. She was going to melt in ecstasy, yet her smile seemed permanent. “Shall I wake you up now?”

Peter leaned forward, pressing his lips against Luna’s before parting. “Doesn’t matter. When I’m with you, I’m always in a dream, and I haven’t woken up yet.”

To be continued...

Ties that Bind

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Chapter Twelve “Ties That Bind”

Peter glanced to the side. “Hey, Luna? Do you like the snow?”

Princess Luna shifted her attention away from the telescope, only to glower at Peter. Three years had passed ever since she started dating the aloof stallion, and nothing had changed. He volunteered to keep her company during her night watch as usual, but Luna questioned her own wisdom for accepting the gesture tonight. Yes, it was sweet, and Peter's company was always enjoyable.

However, she had a job to do, and her coltfriend was in a strangely talkative mood tonight, at least more than usual. Equestria needed her watchful eye to remain vigilant, but Peter's insistent pestering was proving to be rather distracting. A low shudder escaped from the mare, involuntarily. Small flakes of snow danced on the breeze in their descent, landing on her body.

It had been going on like this for the entire duration of the day. Snow was always a work hazard. Granted, Celestia urged her sister to avoid working on such cold days, but in Luna's eyes, enemies could take the time to attack when somepony least expected it. It was her duty to protect her kingdom, and nopony would find a way through her defense, whether it was through rain, sleet, or snow.

Unfortunately, Luna's mouth betrayed her mind. “Yes, it's quite beautiful. Why do you ask?”

Luna blankly stared to the side, chiding herself. Once again, she humored the fool. While they were closely acquainted, so much that Luna deemed Peter her coltfriend and personal knight, it should not have affected her way of thinking. Yet, it did. Whenever she was around him, her heart felt light, like the clouds overhead. Peter treated her like an equal, something that everypony else couldn't bring themselves to even attempt. While it was to respect her royal status, it was also out of fear, for the memory of Nightmare Moon remained fresh in their minds.

Peter was different however. Her tainted legacy meant nothing to him. In his eyes, Luna was his lover, and that meant the world to the princess. Her lover was a naive fool, but he was invaluable. Shaking her head, Luna placed her eye back into the telescope, attempting to shift her focus back into her work, where it belonged.

“I was just curious. You've been standing here all night in the snow,” Peter lightly replied, furrowing his brow.

Luna huffed. “It is my duty to watch over the land. You know that, and it is yours as well. A little snow is no excuse to slack off.”

Such a distraction. How could he not take a hint? Was he just antagonizing her again for the sake of humor? Considering how close he and Celestia had grown, Luna wouldn’t put it past either pony to consider such a dastardly act.

Peter grinned. “Yeah, I know, but aren't you cold? I mean, even with fur, it's pretty chilly out here.”

The mare exhaled but shivered at the same time, letting out a shudder. He had a point. Luna's expression turned blank as she cursed the frailty of her body. Despite eons of growth and experience, she yielded to the cold like anypony else. Peter gave no verbal response, only furrowing his brow at the stubborn princess. Luna refused to look in his direction. No doubt he was scowling at her with his eyes. She was co-ruler of the land. Never would she allow somepony, aside from her sister, to scold her. Sadly, her vulnerabilities continued to surface, evident by a pair of stifled sneezes.

With a quick swipe of her hoof, Luna cleaned her snout, all while avoiding Peter's gaze. “I assure you... I am fine.”

However, Luna's eyes widened once a warm cloth fell around her neck. Peter placed his jacket on the mare's back. In spite of her harsh thoughts, her stallion willingly gave her his clothing, sacrificing his warmth for her. Luna's cheeks flushed, growing as hot as the sun, despite the cold climate, and her conditions only worsened once her blue irises found his wide smile. Luna's body suddenly stiffened. Oh, how she loathed feeling so vulnerable.

Peter began running his hooves along her limbs in an attempt to warm them. “You don't always have to put on the tough girl act, you know. I mean, it’s your birthday, and you haven’t even given it a second thought.”

Luna’s eyes softened. “You remembered.”

Chuckling, the stallion nodded. “Of course I did. There was something that I wanted to give you.” He reached into a pocket on the jacket, retrieving a small box. “I always say that you don’t have to act tough with me. No matter what happens, I’ll always love you the same way. So, maybe…” he trailed off, groaning as his words failed him. Peter simply scoffed at the thought, offering the small box to the alicorn. “I’m not good at mincing my words anymore. I have you to blame for that. Just open the box, and you’ll see what I’m trying to say.”

Luna merely arched a brow at the stallion, using her magic to open the box. However, her blue eyes shot open at the sight that awaited her. A clear diamond, sharply yet carefully crafted, bore the shape of a crescent moon. However, a second, smaller jewel rested alongside it. It was of a black gem, crafted into the shape of a spider. Both items were conjoined, as if unified, and a small folded letter was pinned to the box. Luna gently placed the item down before opening the letter.

It simply read, “An eternity is a long time to be spent alone. While my life is short, I know who I want to share it with. You are the bright moon in my life, chasing away the darkness while lending my heart warm and loving light. My Princess Luna. You graced me as your knight. Now, will you also give me the same regards as…”

“You fool…” Luna muttered as her eyes widened. An expression of genuine surprise and shock surfaced on the mare’s face, struggling to finish the letter’s lasting word. “My… husband?”

Peter pursed his lips and simply knelt, taking hold of the mare’s hoof. “My wife, hopefully. Will you marry me?”

She pulled her hoof away, causing Peter to glance up at the princess with a puzzled look on his face. Before any negative thoughts could enter his mind, Luna rubbed her head against the side of his own affectionately, keeping it there for several moments. Peter was invaluable, and she did not want to let him go. Eons worth of loneliness seemed like an all-too distant memory, giving way for the fleeting warmth that threatened to consume her. Eventually, reality set in, and Luna simply nodded a response, never ceasing as tears poured from her eyes. Not even the pouring snow could repel the heat burning within her. Luna soon lowered, capturing Peter’s mouth with her own for an impromptu yet passionate kiss. It would not be the last, considering how bright the future look.

She was a fool, too. A fool in love, and Luna couldn't be happier.

News of Princess Luna’s engagement with Peter Parker had quickly spread throughout all of Equestria, and a date for the reception had been booked. Now, everypony within Canterlot scrambled to ensure that the castle was prepped to the bride’s liking. Celestia helped with the details, using knowledge of her sister’s preferences to her advantages. Times during the preparations were equally parts wondrous and stressful.

However, that quickly changed to the latter as the rehearsals continued. The night before the wedding turned out to be less joyful than she had hoped. Missing persons, sudden changes of plans, and unfortunate events didn't sit well with the intricately planned out schedule she'd painstakingly written up before hoof. In the back of her mind, a small fleet of fear wrecked havoc, able to only be subdued, yet not silenced, like guilt the subconscious cannot wash away.

Holding a hoof over her chest, that certain subject had not left her mind. In less than twenty-four hours, she and Peter would be forever linked in holy matrimony. Yet, there was trepidation plaguing her thoughts. She knew how long eternity truly was, and one pony’s life was just a blink in the flash of time in comparison. There was a means to counteract such fate, but it could prove to be detrimental, leading way for more irrational conclusions farther down the road.

The mare exhaled, shaking her head. It was fruitless to even think about it, considering her decision had already been made the day prior, and the princess had yet to recover from the incident. She had lost a part of herself, yielding it for her beloved, and now, her life was changed forever, open to both bliss and vulnerability. By the powers of fatigue and caressing of soft pillows on her flushed cheeks, Luna found herself in the embrace of slumber within a matter of minutes after returning to her room.

Luna laid in bed for some time with her back to the door, curled up under three layers of blankets and sheets. Celestia simply smiled at the sight from afar before closing the door to Luna’s private quarters. Her sister made a life-altering decision from the heart, showing unmatched trust in her soon-to-be spouse. They would always be sisters, as nothing would change that, but tomorrow was the dawn of a new era, for both alicorn sisters.

For Luna, her loneliness would be exorcised, and Celestia would let her sister go. She was no longer her sister’s protector. From this day forth, Luna’s knight would be her rock, shield, and heart from now on. With a content smile, Celestia departed as a lone tear streaked down her cheek. Luna’s only visitor was the kiss of night by the creamy, white moonlight. She welcomed it.

The next morning, chaos ensued as ponies ran from room to room, preparing for a great union. The bridal wing was kept off-limits to those not participating. In addition, all males were being exiled from Luna’s room, especially Peter. Equestrian tradition considered the bride and groom seeing each other before being formally given by an ordained entity of bad luck, and the tradition passed on to the residents of Canterlot as well. The legend had been passed down from generation to generation. Though not all were superstitious, none wished to offer their wedding as a test subject, considering Luna had been rather unstrung (understandably so).

However, there was a slight dilemma. Luna originally had her wedding dress fitted, thanks to Rarity’s keen eye, but her measurements had drastically changed in the coming days, forcing the fashionista to improvise. Fortunately, Rarity would not rest, evident by the large bags under her eyes, until she had completed the task. As the unicorn put on the finishing touches to the dress, Celestia walked into the room before sharing a glance with her sister. The alicorn was considerably much shorter in stature, practically the same height as a normal pony. Her aura-like mane was gone, replaced with luscious, bright blue locks.

In spite of the inconvenience of her bodily change, Luna maintained a bright sense of happiness. This day was special, and nothing could ruin it. With a content smile, Celestia only supported her sister’s decision. Soon enough, Rarity approached the younger alicorn with her dress, prompting the pair to begin the fitting process. The most important part hadn’t begun, and the butterflies had already reemerged in her gut.

Meanwhile, Sunset Shimmer accompanied Peter as he began preparations, and they were later visited by Fancy Pants. His suit alone took much longer than it should have, thanks to Peter having absolutely no idea how to properly wear ribbons and ties. Sadly, he ended up ruining it with a row of knots, which took Fancy Pants an entire hour to untie. For all his heroic talents and time spent in Canterlot, Peter still lacked the air of nobility. Although many admitted that was part of his charm, hence why everypony remained patient with the stallion, in spite of the clumsy setbacks.

The following day, all preparations were met, and the wait was finally over. After a meal, she slipped into her dress. Hair, makeup, and subsequent accessories succeeded like clockwork. Everything happened so fast. Before she knew it, Luna was standing on a plush carpet at the entrance of a long aisle within the castle gardens, facing a hundred or more ponies while holding a bouquet of flowers under the clear blue sky, may the stars have mercy. Then again, she had her sister to thank for such a beautiful day.

Looking straight ahead, she saw familiar faces smiling with joy, and eyes on the brink of tears, tissues capturing them. Rows of witnesses were awaiting her arrival and turned to stare in awe. Gentle breezes wisped through the air, and her veil danced in the wind... but to her, everything seemed ethereal, like a blissful dream. Inwardly, to her left stood nopony, just as her right. The princess ventured down the aisle alone, which was no unfamiliar feeling, but it would be one of the past.

Never again would she be alone.

Her steps were graceful, and her head high, giving off a sense of victory with confidence, as an organ flared through the air of its majestic tune. She looked straight on, eyes unmoved, though not much could be seen from behind the chest length, semi-sheer veil hanging from her tiara. The dress was lightweight and hugged her curves, caressing her elegant figure. She continued to look straight ahead, avoiding eye contact.

Peter stepped forward to meet her, taking her hoof in his. “You look so beautiful,” he mused, narrowing his gaze with a smile, “You’re still a little taller than me, but you’re much lower to the ground.” His eyes softened momentarily. “What’s done is done, but are you sure you’re okay with sharing your essence with me? You’ll be very vulnerable now, and… you may never be as strong as you used to be. I mean, we’ll both live the rest of time together, but…”

A murmur glided over the witnesses as well as those standing at the altar. However, a smile could be vividly seen underneath the bride’s veil. “I’ve never been more certain about anything in my life, Peter.” She simply nodded, caressing the stallion’s hoof. “You will fill the void in my life. I’ve spent eons being alone. Power is meaningless if there isn’t somepony worth fighting for. Now that I have you, I have no intention of letting you go. We’ll spend eternity together, and if I have to sacrifice a part of myself to sustain that, then so be it. I’ll make this decision countless times all over again if I could.”

“I’d say my sister’s mind is set,” Celestia reaffirmed, grinning as Peter nodded a response. The princess cleared her throat before her horn glowed, levitating a large, hardcover book that looked older than she was before the pair. Once the book opened, the alicorn sobered. “Shall we begin?”

Luna nodded. “Yes.”

Celestia began with the blessing, speaking first in ancient Equestrian before translating into a language all could understand as she read from her book. Then came the exchanging of the vows as the bride and groom turned to face each other. Peter fiddled in his pocket and pulled out a wrinkled piece of paper covered with scratch outs, tears, and water stains. He had no time to rewrite a revised copy, for the letter itself took much longer than expected. Though its appearance seemed worn and distraught, the words it contained were beautiful and everlasting. Luna returned the favor with her vows, with promises of her own.

“May the stars bless you,” Celestia sweetly declared, “If there is anypony who has a reason to object to this union, speak now or forever hold thy tongue.” Nopony spoke or gave reason to interrupt this long awaited union. A sense of relief took over. Luna and Peter could finally relax. There was nothing else to worry about. They would be sworn to each other, and the journey of the rest of their lives would finally begin. Soon afterward, Celestia’s smile widened. “Peter Benjamin Parker-- Spider-Knight--, do you take this mare to be your wife for as long as you both shall walk this life?”

Peter nodded, never averting his gaze from his soon-to-be wife. “I do.”

Celestia shared a glance with her sister. “Now, I ask the bride. Princess Luna, do you take this stallion to be your husband for as long as you both shall walk this life?”

Luna inhaled deeply before smiling brightly. “I do.”

Celestia choked back a sob, but she maintained a firm demeanor, nodding. “Very well. Groom, you may present your bride with your ring. With this ring, you bind your life to hers, as she already did by sharing her essence with you. This contract will last for the rest of your lives.”

The best mare took her cue as Sunset Shimmer held out a pillow holding a small ring. Her eyes swelled up as tears congregated on the edges of her eyelids. She sniffled, eager to blow her nose, but her hooves stayed out stretched until Peter retrieved the ring. Peter caressed Luna's horn, massaging it as he prepared to finalize the ceremony. Now was his time. He prepared for weeks as he fought anxiety, and the nervous feeling that made him feel nauseous to the point of vomiting.

In spite of his many near-death encounters as Spider-Man and Spider-Knight, he never felt this uneasy, and he hated it, finding a showdown with Thanos much easier on the nerves. He knew all of it was in preparation for this very moment, but it was worth it. Now, in this moment, he was finally ready. Peter slid the custom made wedding ring on Luna's horn as if he had practiced it to perfection. The fit was snug, modeled to her form, and with this act, the contract was signed.

Celestia held her gaze on the couple before shifting it to the surrounding crowd. “By the power given to me in the name of Canterlot, I now pronounce you husband and wife. Everypony, please stand and acknowledge the union of Peter Parker and Luna Parker.” The crowd stood to their hooves, and a roar took over the land. Thunderous applause and cheers filled the area. “Peter, you may kiss your bride. Today, for the first time, you kiss her as your wife.”

The stallion smirked, anticipating this to be his favorite moment of the day. It wasn't the prospect of kissing Luna that excited him. He received such displays of affections all the time. It was the idea, the knowledge, and the understanding that he would kiss her for the first time as his wife. Their union had been marked for quite some time, but today, it was official. It made the kiss of the rest of their lives that much more joyous. It sweetened the kiss and made it taste like her lips had been dipped in sugar and honey.

Peter lifted the veil gently to reveal the mare’s beauty and moved in until his lips met hers briefly yet affectionately. He brushed his hoof against her cheek for a moment, sending a chill down her spine, and she blushed for a moment, evident by her glowing cheeks. Luna's lips tightened and twisted slightly, half annoyed at the idea of Peter teasing her. She'd been waiting for such a kiss for the same reasons, and the stallion had the gall to tease her during the wedding ceremony. How unprofessional, but when it came, it was everything they'd expected and more.

All the anguish, anger, and pain she suffered through over the eons had been cleansed, like a panacea for poison. As husband and wife turned to face the witnesses, the bridal party beamed and finally let their tears of joy flow like streams. Everything leading up to this very moment had been a journey for them all, but in the end, each found contentment in knowing it was all worth it. They'd fought hard. This was the last battle, but the war, the journey through forever, had just begun.

Another day was marked in history. Princess Luna and Sir Peter Parker were joined in holy matrimony. This moment was one of the most special ones they would ever experience. It was a milestone reached after chipping away at the numerous roadblocks they had faced with the sole purpose of halting progress. At certain times, they felt as though they were armed with nothing more than wooden sticks, in spite of their great individual strengths. Other times, they had nowhere to turn to but themselves. Now, it was over. It was time to enjoy life. It was time to never look back.

The past was dark and blurred. The future was so much brighter.

Deep within a dark room, a unicorn paced in place. “They took everything from me. My teacher. My friends. My love. She ruined everything.” Stepping from the shadows with a black and crimson amulet around her neck, Twilight laughed wickedly as her horn emitted crimson energy. “Now, I’ll make them all pay.”

Elsewhere, within the reaches of the astral plane, Discord watched with a furrowed brow. “I must admit that the long dry spell to peace and order has been challenging.” The draconequus straightened his posture upon settling his gaze on Twilight as she continued to scroll through walls of texts in her many books, most containing the forbidden arts of dark magic spells. Shrugging, Discord simply nodded. “However, it would be foolish for me to intervene at this point. My plans for Peter Parker have yet to be adequately rebuilt from Princess Luna’s unforeseen intervention. Besides, Twilight will soon throw everything into chaos herself without my help.”

Just as the draconequus snapped his talons and faded from sight, a bright light distorted into existence near the unicorn. Suddenly, a broken fragment fell from the light and pierced the ground upon landing. Twilight walked towards the fragment, eyeing its glowing surface with a narrowed gaze. She lifted the stone via magic, and its energies dissipated, fusing with that of her own. Tremors shook through the entire vicinity while Twilight’s irises faded behind a blinding light. Soon, the unicorn cackled maniacally as the fragment faded from sight.

-u-

“Every single thing you do matters. You have been created as one of a kind. You have been created in order to make a difference. You have within you the power to change the world.”

― Andy Andrews (The Butterfly Effect)

“The moon is a loyal companion. It never leaves. It’s always there, watching, steadfast, knowing us in our light and dark moments, changing forever just as we do. Every day, it’s a different version of itself. Sometimes weak and wan, sometimes strong and full of light. The moon understands what it means to be human.

Uncertain. Alone. Cratered by imperfections.”

― Tahereh Mafi

The End

...Spider-Knight will return.

Spiders and Magic: What If Luna Revealed Her Feelings Before Twilight Sparkle?

by Maximus_Reborn

Bridge Between Worlds

Instinctive Response

Luna's Day Off

Night Shift Duties

What We Could Have Been

Defensive and Openings

Trepidation and Acceptance

Seasonal Changes

Shades of the Past

Observing Sunset

A Dream of Reality

Ties that Bind