Discovery & Nurishment

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A sharp cry pierced the silence of the Castle Gardens. It was clearly that of a foal, yet the plea went unanswered. No pony knows how long he had been crying before he was eventually heard by a pair of female royal bat pony guards strolling around the Palace, to see the usual dark sky as this had been since a millennia. One of them had dark silver coat and sparkling black mane, the other had cyan coat and reddish mane.

"You heard that sound?" The one with dark silver coat ask the other "It looks like a foal's crying nearby..."

"I do..." the other replied as her ear perked up "I guess the sounds coming from that way..."

They both noticed that the source of that sound was actually hidden behind the bush. As they approached there, they saw that it wasn't a pony as they'd have expected, instead there was small hairless creature, crying and shivering in cold as he had nothing on himself such as a coat to protect himself.

"What is that thing?" The one with dark silver coat asked clearly annoyed by his cries "Its cries are hurting my ears!"

The other however seemed a bit more concerned about the creature, rather than his loud cries which seemed to be piercing through their sharp ears. "Don't be rude, Penumbra!" She scolded her "No matter what that is, but he's just a baby!" She said as she carefully lift the creature in his forehoof and softly pressed him against her chest while also covering him with her bat wing, and soon he ceased to cry, at which her friend gave her a look of disbelief.

"Eve, how can you do that?" The one known as Penumbra asked

"Well, I was taking care of my baby brother, since he was as small as this little one now..." she gave a shrug "It's cold outside, that's why he was crying."

"I mean how can you pick an ugly creature like him in your hooves," Penumbra asked "Who knows which kind of creature he is?"

At this Eve just gave her friend an angry glare and took a sigh. "I guess, it would be better, if we report this to Princess."

"Yeah, right." Penumbra nodded as they both headed towards the Palace.

Inside, several guards gave them nods of recognition as they passed, and soon they found themselves in front of a large throne. Sitting on the throne was a black alicorn figure with a starry flowing mane and tail, and light blue royal attire. Her eyes were cyan colored with pupils much like that of a cat's. On her flank, a Cutie Mark of the moon could be seen and when she spread her wings they were bat-like in appearance.

"What is it?" she demanded. "Why do you disturb me at this hour?"

They both passed glances to each other as one of them step forward. She was holding something in her hoof which was right now obscured by her bat wing over it.

"My Princess..." Eve said she kept her gaze low in front of dark alicorn "It's a baby creature we found... in the bushes..." she said and slowly uncovered the creature revealing this to dark alicorn.

The dark alicorn drew back a little in shock of what she saw, then said, "I've never seen such a creature before. Do you know why it was left there?"

"We don't know..." Penumbra then spoke as she came forward "We heard cries, and found him as he was lying there,"

"Let me see the child," the alicorn stated, curiosity getting the better of her.

Eve gave her a nod as she slowly approached her and hooved over the child to the dark alicorn Princess.

The alicorn lifted the child up with her magic and inspected him a moment, marveling at his structure. She had never seen such a bipedal like him before. She used her magic to peer into his mind, if only to see if there was anything she may be able to learn why or how he was abandoned near her palace. She couldn't see anything aside from blurry images of a few other bipedal creatures, and heard some disturbing voices, a few clear memories she could notice for some slight moments, were of a scenery of destruction, and of a creature's face akin to this but seemingly a female adult. Beside these, there was nothing much clear to see or hear.

"Whoever this child may be, he clearly must have survived through something catastrophic," the alicorn remarked. She then noticed something that she had overlooked in her curiosity. He possessed some kind of powerful energy, a kind of magic that was foreign to her, for it was not native to Equestria, or she'd dare to say of Equus either. A thought came to mind and she smirked.

"This one could prove to be of great use to us in the future," she announced. "He holds a hidden potential deep inside of him." She turned to the guards before her. "What are your names?"

"Evening Shadow, your highness." Eve replied

"And my name's Penumbra, my Princess." Penumbra replied a moment after her.

"Very well Evening Shadow and Penumbra," the alicorn stated, as she levitated the child back over to them. "You will care for this child and raise him here in our court, as if he were your own. He is of immense value to us all, and is not to be harmed. Let it be known throughout all our kingdom that any who dares to dispute over his presence or question me over this matter will be severely punished. Are we clear?"

"As you wish, your highness." Eve replied with a smile "I'll take care of him, and protect him with my life."

Penumbra just gave a nod at this, though inwardly she wasn't much glad over the decision of being an caretaker of this odd creature. Though she didn't have much choice here but to follow her Princess, so she just decided to play along, and passed a smile to little creature who was now asleep.

"So, what we'll call him?"

The alicorn thought hard for a moment, then decided, "Crius. His name will be Crius."

"My greatest gratitude, your highness." Eve gave a nod at this as she nuzzled the baby. "So, your name will be Crius." She smiled and then looked towards her friend. "I guess, he needs some clothes..."

"I see..." Penumbra said with a smile "I guess, I can prepare an attire for his size..."

"Do whatever is necessary," the alicorn ordered. "You will receive my full support should it deem necessary in my eyes. Now, leave me be. I will soon have representatives to approach me in regards to their settlements' needs."

They nodded to their Princess and went towards their own chambers. Eve was a little glad over this new duty assigned to her. It was rather nice change to her daily routine as a royal guard. But for Penumbra, that wasn't much to be excited about, but still she was curious to know what Princess saw in that creature to gave him such importance. But right now she had to prepare clothes for small creature, which was something she'd rather enjoy to do.

It's been almost more than twelve years since that strange creature was found outside the Palace by two Thestral royal guards. The same baby was later named Crius by Princess herself who saw the creature as a important means to empower her kingdom even more.

Since then Evening Shadow and her friend Penumbra were assigned to take care of Crius, as if he's their own child. Eve was especially had grown super close to him as his mother, while her friend Penumbra as an aunt, though she sometimes would act a little harsh but she cared for him all the same.

Since he was a little less than eight years old, Princess had assigned a unicorn teacher to help him with learning to control his magic. Also by the age or ten he was allowed to roam go out from the Palace whenever he pleases, but except for some certain times, but that was alright to him.

Today was Crius' thirteenth birthday, and he was given gifts by many of royal staff and their foals, and obviously Eve was happiest of all of them.

As the festivities were getting underway, suddenly the Princess herself, Nightmare Moon, entered the rooms and seemed a bit confused as to what was going on.

"What is all this?" she demanded.

"My Princess," Eve was a bit intimidated but composing herself she lowered her gaze and said.

"These are preparations for Cruis' thirteenth birthday."

Nightmare gave her a glare, then her gaze softened slightly.

"Well, then I will not deny him that which anypony else is permitted to celebrate," she remarked. "You may continue."

"Thanks for your kindness, your highness!" Eve slightly bowed to her as preparations were carried on.

Nightmare stood in the door a little longer, looking over the festivities with a seemingly indifferent eye, but inwardly she felt something about the party was bringing back an old memory of some kind. A memory of a time when she was... happy... She shook her head to try and rid her of these thoughts. She was never happy! And she had her sister to thank for that! Well, now Celestia was experiencing what she had gone through when she had been banished to the moon. At least now she would know what it felt like.

Still... she couldn't deny that the party did make her feel a tiny bit wistful.

In some moments finally the Crius was arrived in the party... in fact brought there blindfolded by two foals who were slightly younger than him. Both of them seemed to be female Thestrals. Both of them seemed to be twin, one had dark blue coat and shiny silver mane, they other one had dark pink coat and black mane. Both of them knew him as their cousin, as they both were the children of Penumbra. As Crius entered the room they saw that he was wearing a dark blue t-shirt, and a cyan jeans.

"Almost there," one of the foal said. "Ready?"

"Yes," Crius replied "I am ready!"

"Surprise!"

He was a little startled but then he looked around towards the decorations and realized that, this party was for him.

"Happy Birthday, my son." Eve said as she came towards her son.

"Thanks, mom." Crius said in amazement as he hugged his mother, as she returns the hug, before softly releasing him from the hug.

"Now, enjoy your birthday!"

Eve said to him while he went towards a table where a few other young colts and fillies he knew as friends were all gathering around.

From a distance, Nightmare watched just outside the door, a wave of mixed feelings going through her as she watched. While she did not forbid the party and had even given them permission to conduct it, she felt somewhat saddened as well as angered at the sight of it. Sighing, she turned around and started to slowly trot away from the festivities.

Crius soon noticed that Princess was no more standing at the door, which made him a bit sad that why would she leave that party like this. So, he went towards his mother and asked her about this. "Mom, why Princess left?" Crius asked her "I thought she wanna join..."

"Oh..." Eve gave a small sigh. "The Princess has a harsh past. I don't know everything, but rumors say that she had a bad experience in her youth before she banished her sister to the moon. Whatever it was, all I know is that the Princess feels sad when she sees a party. Maybe because she feels left out. Who knows?"

Crius looked towards the door for the moment and then back to her mother, before saying. "I think, I should talk to her..." Eve just gave a small and confused shrug at this. She knew that Princess would never harm him, but still she didn't seem in a good mood right now. But then she sighed and passed him a nod.

"If you think you should, I guess that'll be alright." Eve said rubbing her hoof on his head.

Crius then passed a nod to his mother before going after Nightmare Moon, as he noticed her going towards throne room he went close to her and called. "My Princess,"

Nightmare Moon stopped in her tracks, not yet turning towards him.

"What is it, Crius? I am busy," she said, using a less harsh or intimidating tone so as not to scare him off.

“My Princess, I see that you are looking upset," Crius said "So, I was here to ask, would you like to join the celebration as well..."

Nightmare looked to him in surprise.

"What? Why would you invite me to such a trivial thing?" she demanded, sounding as if she was angered.

"Well," Crius was sounding a little bit sad in his tone "I thought you are upset, so I should at least try to make you feel better, after all you're my Princess, and I'm soon to be a royal knight, so... I guess, it's my duty to see if I could serve you in some way..."

This caused Nightmare Moon to pause for a moment as she pondered his words. He sounded sincere and truly wanted to help. Hearing that he wanted to serve her in even such a small thing was admirable to be sure.

"Alright," she finally answered. "I accept your invitation. I will come."

"Thank you so much," Crius smiled but composed himself to not to give an outburst of excitement "I'm grateful to you, my Princess."

So, they both headed back to the room, where at first all went silent to see their Princess entering the room, but in a moment Crius entered the room after her and told them.

"It's alright," he said "Princess is here to join in the celebrations as well..."

As they heard this most of them were even more surprised, until Nightmare herself decided to clarify this matter for herself.

"It is true," she announced. "Young Crius has extended to me an invitation to join you, and I have accepted his offer."

That was a relief for them and they carried on the party. Eve and Penumbra were really surprised that Princess had accepted Crius' invitation. Nightmare, on the other hand, was now a bit unsure of what to do. She was used to giving orders and knowing how to do her job. Joining in on something like a party was a new experience for her, and she did not know how to react. So she looked to Crius as if to ask him what to do, something that she inwardly hated having to do.

"It's alright," Crius reassured her "You can do whatever makes you feel happy, or at least less upset... I mean playing games, singing, or just unwrapping the gift," Crius said as he floated one of the gift towards himself and offered this to her. "Give this a try, my Princess."

Nightmare raised an eyebrow, but obliged and took the gift, slowly opening it with her magic. Inside was a kind of amulet, beautifully crafted from gold and silver, with a large red ruby set in the center as its stone. It was seemingly a small gift, but it did have a rather large impact on the Princess. For a long while, she stayed silent, simply staring at the amulet with an unreadable expression on her face. When she did speak, Crius noticed a hint of a thankful tone in her voice, even while she tried to sound professional about it.

"Thank you, young Crius," she said to him with a smile. "It is quite lovely."

"My pleasure..." Crius said while trying to compose himself. He was so glad at the thought that Princess was pleased by him.

Nightmare looked back to her gift and seemed to be lost in her thoughts once again. Such an act of kindness was alien to her, so much so that she was almost unfamiliar with the emotions she was feeling. Most if not all her subjects regarded her with fear or respect, never once taking the time to go out of their way to give her as small or as generous a gift. Yet this innocent minded creature whom they knew little about, even after bringing him in thirteen years ago, had taken the trouble to invite her to join his party willingly and to give to her a gift out of kindness and generosity. It may have been a small gift, but it had been given to her in one of the best of ways.

It was in that moment that Nightmare Moon felt within herself an emotion she had not truly felt for over one thousand years: happiness. True happiness.

"So, would you like the first piece of cake." Crius asked her as he headed towards the table and gestured her to join them, before adding "It's alright, if you're not willing to do as well, my Princess."

"Huh?" Nightmare looked to him and realized what he was saying. "Oh, no! I'd... I'd like a piece."

Crius once again offered her a piece before he get for him himself. Then after some moments it was only a matter of time when others started to have their fun in the party as well. Though they remained a bit precocious to not to upset their Princess.

Nightmare mainly stayed near Crius, for she did not seem to be comfortable around the others at the party. Not to say she didn't enjoy herself... at least a little bit. But after a moment, they were interrupted by a guard who came to inform Nightmare Moon about something. She grunted in anger, then turned to Crius.

"I'm afraid I must be going now," she told him. "My duties call to me, and I must not keep them waiting. Thank you once again, young Crius. I have a feeling that you will surpass all expectations in your future."

The Princess then turned and walked out of the room without another word, occasionally looking to the amulet that had been gifted to her as she exited.

Crius gave a smile and looked at her as she exited. Then he came back to his friends, as party was still continued for some a little more while after she left.

Call me... Moon

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"I apologize for asking you to arrive under such... undesirable circumstances, but it was the only means by which I could speak to you in private Evening Shadow," Nightmare Moon stated to the bat pony before her. The throne room was empty and peering through the windows of it, however slightly, was something neither of the two were used to seeing; sunlight. For Nightmare had received word from some ponies in a village far from the palace that they needed some sunlight upon their villages for a few hours if they wished to keep their crops from dying. She had reluctantly agreed to keep up the sun for three hours at least, which then led her to come up with a means to kill two birds with one stone; hence the reason for the meeting.

"It's... alright, your highness." Eve replied "What's the matter?"

Nightmare sighed. This was not an easy task for her.

“I am... confused," she admitted. "I don't know if what I have is an illness, a plague, or some hallucination given to me by an enemy. For many nights and what few days I've permitted, I have been unable to sleep. I eat very little, and one figure is constantly in my head." She gave a small growl of frustration as she spoke. "Your son, Crius. His face, his eyes, his very voice is stuck inside my head, every moment of every hour. Only his physical presence seems to cure it, and when he leaves they return once more as if to taunt me. It frustrates me to no end, yet ironically I do not wish for them to leave. I am restless, uncertain of what this means or why this is happening to me! And that's why I have called you, for I trust nopony else with this secret. Please... tell me... what is wrong with me?"

Eve was really surprised at the moment and a little confused as well. Everything Princess just pointed out seemed to implying towards only one possible answer, but was that really the case. It at least seemed so.

So, without making her much wait, she told her. "My Princess, what you're experiencing... is most probably the feelings the one have when they falls in... love..." She said as a smile appeared on her face.
Nightmare gave her a confused look.

"Love? I don't have love," she remarked. "I don't even know what love is!"

"Well," Eve's smile widened a little "It's not necessary to know what love is to fall in love with somepony..." she explained "Didn't you say you feel... better whenever he's around...?"

Nightmare hesitated, then spoke. "Yes..."

"So, my Princess.. I guess... you're falling in love with... Crius..." She told her while lowering her gaze, not sure of what reply would she receive.

"Wh- what?" Nightmare exclaimed. "But is that even... possible? He's just a guard... and I'm the ruler of Equestria..." She sighed and smiled for a moment. "Yet, he's always so willing and ready to serve, both me and others without much concern for himself. Such a selfless warrior. Always looking out for the subjects... no matter what the costs..." She shook her head and growled again. "Arrg! I can't stop thinking about him! It's making me... it's making me..."

Eve pondered over this for the moment and then said "I can guess that's quite hard to understand... but... I am afraid that I can't do much to help you with this..."

Nightmare glared at Eve for some time, then finally sighed and hung her head in a defeated manner.

"Oh, what am I to do?" she asked aloud. "I've never felt something like this before. I want to say something to him, anything... but I'm afraid. And I don't why. I am the ruler of Equestria, the most powerful pony in existence! And yet... I fall prey to something as simple as this..."

She levitated something out from behind her and showed it to Eve. It was the amulet gifted to her on Crius's thirteenth birthday, four years ago.

"I haven't worn it, at least not out where everypony can see it," Nightmare explained. "But sometimes, when I'm alone... I put it on and it reminds me of him... from that night when he offered for me to join you all in his little party... I never had felt so... happy before then. And I can't bear to think how I'd feel if he ever- That is, if he-"

The alicorn couldn't seem to finish and from her eyes, some tears could be seen falling to the floor.

"I don't think... he would ever leave you, my Princess... at least not intentionally..." Eve's tone seemed to be reassuring "And, in my opinion... you should talk to him as soon as possible..."

"But how?" Nightmare demanded. "Look at me! You and I both know how my subjects see me! They fear me, hate me even. Rarely do they actually like me. What's keeping him from being the same? Besides... I'm old enough to be his grandmother- no, to be a goddess in his eyes. And he's barely matured by a few years."

Eve wasn't so naive to not realize this but still, she knew that she at least needed to talk to him.

"It's true..." Eve said "I know, that might seems like a problem... but I guess you should still at least talk to him... to at least resolve these feelings... I hope you'll feel better afterwards..." she tried to explain this to her.

Nightmare went silent for a while, then she nodded slowly. Afterwards she gave Eve a stern glance.

"Not a word about this to anypony," she warned. "This is to stay between you and me until the time is right. Understood?"

"Understood, my Princess." Eve gave a slight bow in respect.

"Good," Nightmare said, giving a small smile. "You may leave now. Thanks again."
She passed her a nod before she left to her chambers, still pretty amazed to think about this.

"It seems rather odd to think," she said and gave a little giggle "But apparently she have a really soft spot in her heart somewhere..."

The bipedal guard of Princess was strolling in a certain part of the Palace which was usually more calm and silent then the rest of the Palace. He was wearing royal attire of a knight, an armor of dark blue and sparkling black color, with with emblem of her cutie-mark on each shoulder as the sign of his loyalty to the Princess of Equestria.

Crius, was now a mature stallion as they would call him. Now he had his duties as one of personal royal guards of the Princess, as well as a Lunar Warrior. It was his duty to serve her and her kingdom in each and every way he possibly could, and he was proud to do so. But maybe inwardly he always seen Princess more than just a ruler, and instead of respecting her out of fear, he respected her for who she was. He could dare to think that he saw her as more of a friend than a ruler he serves... or maybe...

No... no further.

That was the point where he had to stop his thoughts from going more further. After all, he only was raised and lived to serve her as her and her kingdom as a knight, and that was more than enough for him... at least that's what he wanted to believe.

These thoughts were so frequent sometimes, that he couldn't help but question himself about these... but no matter what he never let them out of his control, yet.
As he thought about this, he heard hoofsteps approach and then the voice of the Princess herself spoke.

"Ah Crius, my favorite guard," Nightmare stated. "How fares the watch?"

"My Princess," Crius looked towards her and then in reassuring tone he told her "Everything's all right, you don't need to be worry about anything, your highness."

Nightmare smiled and raised a hoof.

"You need not be so formal to me... at least when we're alone," she told him.

"Oh," Crius gave a little blush at this "Alright... I will try, my Princess."
Nightmare nodded while keeping a straight face, though inwardly she thought his blush looked cute.

“Tell me, Crius, what do you think of me and my rule?" she asked.

"What do I think?" Crius repeated the question before replying "I have always thought of you as a great ruler, and I believe you deserve more sincere respect than other ponies might give you."

Nightmare gave him a smile. "I appreciate your honesty and loyalty Crius, but loyalty shouldn't always be what binds you to a ruler like myself. Should your ruler ever become one whom you would never desire to rule you, there's no shame in breaking any ties with him or her."

"I understand this... but I hope I never have to do so." Crius said with a determined tone. "I'd like to be sacrificed for you... rather than leaving you..."

Nightmare was a bit touched and also concerned to hear this; touched that he would go as far as sacrificing himself for her, but also concerned about whether such a time would ever come around. It was the concern that came through the most in that case. Crius was a loyal guard to the end, but what if that loyalty cost him too much? What if it cost her too much?

"My Princess," the concerned voice of Crius brought her back to reality "Are you feeling alright?

"Huh?" Nightmare looked to him and realized she must have shown her worry physically. "Just... thinking about some things. Some of them worrying... at least for me."

Crius looked at her for some moments before asking "May I ask, what's worrying you?"

Nightmare sighed as she consented. Now was as good a time to tell him as any.

“There are... many worries that I do not share with any of my subjects, let alone my staff or guards," she admitted. "Everypony thinks that my rule is unable to be quelled or overthrown, but the truth is that there is one I know of. But I've... kept them locked away, so nopony could overthrow me and bring my sister back." She kept talking, not entirely sure why she was being so open with him. "There's also... several others who may surpass my power and have simply stayed silent all this time, including one which my sister and I took down together before- before I... was banished to the moon. On top of that... I'm worried to lose some of those who operate within the palace itself whom I've started to... grow fond of. Especially you..."

"Especially me...?" Crius was now a little confused and unsure what to say.

"Yes," Nightmare replied. "When we first found you, it was always my intention that you would eventually become one of my guards, for even then I could sense the power you wield and the potential you held. But I never expected you to turn out how you did." She gave him a sincere look as she spoke. "You're the most loyal, most kind guard I've ever had in my reign as Princess. And I'd even dare to say... you're more than just that in my eyes..."

Crius felt a strange kind of sensation in his heart as heard this. Even though he wasn't sure what that feeling was, all he felt was a warmth which felt so nice and comfortable as a smile appeared on his face. "What can I say, my Princess... I am flattered... I'm so honored that you're pleased by my loyalty..."

"That's what I'm afraid of," Nightmare replied, turning away from him as she spoke. "I'm afraid that your loyalty is eventually what may... take you away from me."

"So... what you command me to do, my Princess?" Crius asked sincerely.

Nightmare looked at him and he could see tears in her eyes, something he had never seen from her before.

"Oh... why do you have to be so... wonderful?" she cried. "I haven't done enough... to deserve you..."

"It's not true..." Crius reassured her "You deserve much more, my Princess..."

He couldn't hold himself and extended his hand to wipe her tears softly before realization hit him and he quickly pulled his hand away from her face. "Forgive me, your highness." Crius said taking a composed sob himself "I just can't see you crying like this..."

"Don't apologize..." she told him reassuringly, smiling as well to further give reassurance. "You have done nothing wrong."

"Then please tell me, why were you crying... I can't stand myself seeing you like this..." he said with an almost sense of helplessness in his tone "What can I do to make you feel better..."

"I... I..." Nightmare Moon was unsure what to say at first, then finally came up with an idea. "Please just... stay and listen for a moment... There is something I need to say."

Crius passed her a nod at this. "I am not going anywhere... don't worry..."

Nightmare nodded, then spoke. "For the past two years or so... I've started to have an issue in my rule. I've felt insecure, restless, and unable to concentrate like I should. It has nearly driven me insane at times, and I've felt that I'd fall apart." She looked into his eyes to capture his full attention. "But that all changes... whenever I'm with you. You make me feel calm, collected, peaceful... happy even. Ever since you've matured... I've been unable to stop thinking about you. You are like a spirit haunting my dreams, my thoughts, my mind... yet I don't wish for it to leave. The very sound of your voice has often made me want to give you the biggest hug I could possibly give... I had it explained to me, and yet I'm still not entirely sure what it is that I'm feeling. But whatever it is... I never want it to stop, never want you to leave me..." She then sounded sad again. "And that's why... I'm worried for you and your loyalty to me. I'm afraid that... one of these days... my reign will fall, or my sister will return and your loyalty to me... it'll cost you your life... and I'll be left without you. I can't bear to think of what may happen... if you're gone..."

Her tears had started to flow once more as she spoke, and Crius started to see a new side to the one he served. She was more vulnerable, broken, and defenseless; a sheer contrast to the one he knew to sit on the throne. It was like seeing her true colors being revealed right in front of him, for she was letting him know some of her deepest and darkest secrets. Trusting him with them, as she trusted him with her life.

Crius was a little confused and lost at what to say now as tears were now leaving his eyes "Trust me, my Princess... there is no moment in my life... no thought of mine which doesn't include you... your happiness matters more to me than anything in my life..." Then he did what he never expected himself to do, he wrapped his arms around her and grabbed her in a close compassionate hug.

Nightmare was stunned into silence by this action. Nopony had ever dared to even get within a few feet of her if they could help it, and yet here one creature had done just that and was even hugging her. It was so surprising that she didn't know what to do about it, only that she didn't want him to let go.

"If that's what makes you feel better, my Princess... then I will say this to you, please stop me if I'm wrong and try to forgive me if you could... I... I love you, my Princess, not just as your loyal Royal guard, but as a close friend, or maybe evern more..." after saying this Crius was silenced, as waiting for her reply and even ready for her fury or outburst. Instead, what he received after a moment of silence was her suddenly hugging him back, her large wings wrapping around him as she spoke to him.

"I'm not mad," she told him. "If anything... I'm overjoyed to know I'm not alone." She then added, "And between us... you don't have to call me 'Princess' in private."

"So... what should I call you then," Crius asked her respectively. "Your... name?"
Nightmare Moon paused for a moment, then answered, "You can call me... Moon."

"Moon..." He repeated this word softly as to feel this word's sweetness as he say this. "I love this, and I love you Moon."

"Love..." Moon spoke softly. "Is this... love then? It feels... wonderful..."

"I don't know... but some pony helped me to understand, and I am pretty sure this's love..." Crius told her "...and yes, that feels wonderful."

"Then I think... I love you too..." Moon replied.

Then they both just kept hugging each for some more moments while no one was watching, as Crius took a deep sigh of relief and caress his fingers through her flowing mane, and now that he felt this... instead of the feeling of coldness of night, he could felt the warmth and comfort as her mane was flowing through her fingers, and the feeling of her wings around him made him want to never let go of her.

Moon gave a blissful sigh as she felt his hands running through her mane, his touch sending pleasant shivers through her body.

"Mmm... that feels nice..." she told him. "How... are you doing that?"

"I don't know..." Crius replied with sigh of pleasure "I... just felt like doing this..."
Then after a moment of silent he spoke again. "Can we just keep hugging like this, for some more while... I just don't wanna let go yet..."

"Neither do I," she replied, her head resting on his shoulder. "And the staff shouldn't be around for at least another hour... We have time."

"So... we have a hold hour to embrace each other like this..." Crius said and let his excitement be felt to her this time "...works for me, that's unless you got tired or something..."

"I don't think I ever could..." Moon answered. "I could stay like this... forever, and would never tire of feeling your arms around me."

"Mhm," Crius said in reassurance as he nuzzled her mane continuously "Neither do I..."

Moon sighed happily once more, then she lifted her head off of his shoulder and they gazed into each other's eyes. She soon found herself leaning closer and closer to his face, and before they knew it their lips had connected in a small kiss.

Crius was never been that surprised before as he felt as if his heart exploded, twice, as he felt her lips touching his own as he blushed deeply and his eyes began to give a bright silvery glow. And soon the his passion overcame him and surprise and disbelief was replaced by the feeling to pure affection and pleasure, and he closed his eyes and returned the kiss while he made a blissful moan as he pulled her in an even closer embrace.

Moon sighed against him as he pulled her close, feeling a sense of security in his arms. Her heart was pounding in her chest and she felt that she could feel his own heart beating in rhythm against his chest. Like they were made to be together. She leaned into him some more as they kissed, trying to get as much out of it as possible and not wanting to stop.

Crius did the same as his senses were now completely unaware of anything beside her close embrace, and touch of her lips against his own, and heard nothing beside the her heartbeat within a seemingly melodious rhythm with hers.
The sound of a herald calling out to them brought them back to reality, and they pulled away out of surprise upon hearing the voice.

"Your Majesty, the representatives from Ponyville have come to speak to you!" the voice called.

"Uh... tell them I'll be with them shortly!" Moon called back, thankful that the herald had not seen them and had not bothered to try and look for them either. The herald, hearing this, seemed satisfied with the answer given and they heard him slowly trotting away. Moon growled in frustration.

"Sometimes I wonder how I have not yet put one of them in the dungeons yet," she muttered.

"I guess... it's all right, Moon," Crius said as he caressed his hand on her cheek "I know you've your duties to attend to... but don't worry my Princess," he said sounding once again formal as he nuzzled her "...your loyal knight will be always be right by your side."

"I'm thankful to hear that," Moon replied gently, then added, "If you'd like... we can continue this later... I've had representatives from Ponyville before, and they ask me if I can give them a little sunshine for their crops. While it's up, I usually retreat to my chambers for... obvious reasons." She gave him a smirk, which most would find unsettling and intimidating, but for him it looked ironically cute and playful. "Perhaps you could pay me a visit...?"

He looked at her for a second before passing her a smile of reassurance, as he caressed her mane with his hand and gave her a kiss on her forehead. "Mhm," he nodded "I definitely will."

Nightmare Moon smiled back and then reluctantly released him and looked formal again, though they both knew it was mainly for show at this point.

"I'll expect you at my chambers within the hour," she stated. "Dismissed."

She then trotted towards the throne room to complete her duties, giving him one more smiling glance as she left.

"Your wish is my command, my Princess." Crius said as she left and went back to his own duties of the day, while still looking in the direction where they were standing a while ago, and couldn't help but smile.

Nightmare Moon was now sure where she was going with those feelings of her, and she was so pleased to know that she wasn't alone in her feelings. But whatever would happen next there was one thing she was sure about: No one else would ever know about this.

Alone Together

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Nightmare Moon took a somewhat tired sigh as she trotted down the halls of her palace and to her bedchambers. Normally her halls were filled by the light of the moon, but for the next few hours sunlight would be pouring in to help her subjects keep their crops alive and feed the kingdom. Nightmare was not a fan of the sun, but neither was she a fan of losing her kingdom and its subjects. Besides, she had a valid excuse to leave the throne room now and it was not to sleep away the hours of daylight as the rest of the court presumed. No, it was merely an excuse to see someone close to her heart, and in a different light than the professional faces they put on in public.

Reaching her chambers, she opened the doors and stepped inside, locking them behind her upon entering the room. As she entered she noticed a bipedal creature standing there as if waiting for her. The creature had almost silver colored hairs, and was wearing a royal guard attire especially made to fit his body shape and standing near to her bed. He passed her a joyous smile as she entered.

"My Princess, you're here." The bipedal creature said to her, and though he was still being a little professional, but she realized that he was just being playful for now.

"Of course," she answered him. "I always intend on arriving when needed." She then smiled, and dropping all forms of professionalism or formality, she gave him a big hug. "Crius, my beloved..." she said softly to him.

"Yes, my beloved Moon..." he replied to her returning the hug and sighing in utter comfort.

"It's so good to be alone with you once again," the alicorn answered. "However brief, it is when I'm with you that I am at peace. I cherish these times together..."

"I cherish my every moment with you too, Moon," Crius replied to her, slowly stroking her glorious flowing mane in comforting and pleasing manner "Whether alone or not..." he said taking another sight of pleasure "...though being alone with you my love, gives me a chance to show you my affections for you... and I savor the each and every moment of this time..."

"As do I," Moon nodded, though something nagged her in the back of her mind in response to this statement. For several months, Moon had been struggling with a saddening realization: She was immortal, but Crius was not. One day, he would die and she would be alone again. If only there were some way to keep her beloved with her always...

She pushed those thoughts aside and focused on the present. She would keep searching for a means to save him from such a fate, but for now she would cherish every moment they spent together.

Crius slowly pulled away just enough to look at her face into her eyes as he leaned closer to her and planted a kiss on her forehead near the base of her horn, and then began to nuzzle her affectionately, while still wrapping his arms around her as much as he could and while also kept stroking her mane as his cheeks began to glow slightly red. She gave a happy sigh and nuzzled him back affectionately, while her wings spread out and embraced him as well.

Crius smile widened a little as he did so, as he also began to caress her coat along with the strokes in her mane, before he slowly leaned in for a kiss, slowly nearing his face to hers before finally their lips were connected, and a her lover made a gasp of bliss against her at this. She let out a small moan against him when they kissed, but she didn't allow it to last for very long before pulling away. The reason for this soon became clear when she spoke.

"Bed... more comfortable," she said softly.

"Mhm, of course," Crius gave a nod at this as he slowly pulled away from her, releasing her from the hug at the moment as they both climbed on the bed and Crius passed her another smile. Nightmare Moon smiled as well, then her horn glowed and she slowly removed her royal attire and laid them aside before then helping to remove his own armor; his weapons had been left near the door.

"Thanks, my Princess," Crius couldn't help but gave slightly flustered look at this but was also feeling much lighter without his armor on, and now that he wasn't wearing any solid metal garments he was feeling much more comfortable.

"So, should we... carry on with the kiss, my beloved..." he asked her politely.

"Whatever you wish, my darling," Nightmare answered him.

Crius smiled widely as he once again brought himself closer to her as he began to run his hand through her mane affectionately, and slowly as he leaned towards her once again connecting his lips with hers, as he made another gasp while doing so, and also bringing his other hand to caress over her back with a passionate manner.

Nightmare shuddered pleasantly under his touch and also gave a moan against him as she kissed him. Her wings started to caress his body in a soft and soothing gesture, as one of her hooves moved to his chest and started trailing small circles. It was a rather new and truly a really pleasant feeling for him as he felt her hooves moving across his chest in a circular motion.

It was then when Crius made a sudden sigh of bliss against her lips and deepened the kiss, feeling a waves of utter and pure bliss went across him as if to encourage him, as he soon became more passionate in his manner.

I love you, Moon.

I love you too, Crius, the alicorn answered back telepathically, moaning out loud against him.

Crius, feeling her joyous moan against his lips along with her other affections, carried on with his own affections without holding back as he felt his tongue colliding melting with hers, that was the first time he had dared to go that further and he was so relieved and happy to know that she wasn't upset at this act of passion, but instead seemed to relish this feeling as much as him or even more.

Crius then slowly began to move his hand along her back and tenderly brushed against her sensitive spot before he began to stroke that spot with a similar manner as her adding to her pleasure. She gave a loud moan against him, her wings now starting to flare out reflexively as she continued to rub her hoof on his chest. Her horn glowed she used a phasing spell that removed his shirt subtlety. He didn't even realise it until he felt her hooves against his bare skin.

Crius gave an audible sigh at this as he felt her hoof against his bare skin. It was then when he moved one of his hand down to her spine feeling and mentally adoring every slightest of her existence as he did so before stopping before reaching the base of her tail almost reflexively before slowly bringing his hand back to her mane. The alicorn shuddered under his touch, clearly enjoying every second of his affections. Despite this, she was still forced to break their kiss simply for the need of oxygen. Moon breathed heavily, looking pleasantly flushed. Before today, they had never kissed each other so passionately and with such a fiery lust. It had been a big surprising, but she loved it.

Sweet Darkness, that was... amazing!

Crius could also feel how amazing that moment was, as the feeling and taste of that passionate kiss lingered within his senses as he licked his lips slightly as to relish that taste once again.

It was... I don't have any proper words to define this.

Moon gave him a smile, but then seemed to feel a little nervous. Crius noticed this as soon as he opened his eyes once again and read her expressions. "Is everything alright?"

"I'm... a little scared," she admitted, something she'd never say to anyone else aloud. "We... never have gone... this far. I don't know how this will go... and it scares me." She placed her head on his shoulder for a moment as she continued. "There's so much at stake... I don't know if I should take the opportunity or not... or if it's just a dream..."

Crius wasn't sure how could he answer this statement so he did what he knew best, to comfort her. He began to stroke her coat while nuzzling against her flowing mane. Then he sighed in comfort.

"It's alright," Crius said "It's not a dream... that much I can assure you. I won't go anywhere ever. I'll be always by the side of my beloved Moon."

Moon managed to smile again hearing these words and nuzzled him back affectionately.

"Thank you, my love..." she whispered, then added with some nervousness still apparent, "But... how far does this go?"
Crius made a thoughtful expression at this for a moment before he replied her. "As far as you feel comfortable with, Moon." He replied her with sincere tone. "If you feel that's enough, I deeply respect that." He said to her caressing her cheek affectionately, passing her another nod. "Otherwise, I will happily obliged to your desire."

Moon felt a sense of pleasure come over her, as well as reassurance by what he said. In truth, she wanted to let him go farther, and knowing she was in charge of this gave her a sense of security. Besides, Crius was a sweetheart who'd never go farther than one was happy with.

"T- then... show me..." she whispered. "I will... allow it... this time..."

"A- alright," Crius blushed deeply as he heard this giving her a slightly confused look. It was the first time she actually said that to him, so he was little nervous.

But the moment he stared once again deeply in her eyes, the passion within washed his nervousness away as a warm smile came upon his face and he gently took her in a hug and clenched her but carefully enough not to cause any discomfort, before he released her tenderly and slowly leaned in for another kiss, as he used one of his hand to stroke her mane, and the other to caress her coat moving in pleasant manner.

Moon moaned against him and rubbed circles around his chest again, this time faster and with more affection and passion behind it. It was clear that she was encouraging him now.

Crius obliged to her encouragement and slowly deepened the kiss, which she let him do without any hesitation. Once again, he was in his small heaven of pleasure. Then slowly he moved the hand in her mane towards her sensitive spot between her wings, and the other hand slowly began to move lower on her spine once again feeling and adoring the every slightest of her entirely glorious existence, but then he stopped but didn't brought his hand back this time, instead he began to run his fingers through her coat.

Do I go further, my love?

Mmm... yes... Moon answered telepathically while moaning against him. Keep going...
Crius mentally nodded to her demand and obliged to this as he slowly brought his hand to the base of her tail, while the kiss and the movements his hand which was already between her wings became more and more passionate with every second. She gave some more moans against him, mentally marveling at how pleasant she felt. Just then, her nervousness all but fell away. She wanted him and he clearly wanted her as well. She wanted him to continue on in his actions towards her, and on top of that she wanted him to go further.

Taking the leap of faith, she made her horn glow, as her aura slowly took one of his hands and guided it to her underbelly, just underneath her neckline, giving a small gasp when she did so. He gave a smile sigh against her as he felt her soft underbelly touching his hand due to the pleasant surprise of this newly feeling.

Umm... this's so marvelously soft, Moon, he moaned blissfully before he slowly began to tenderly message her underbelly with gentle but affectionate movements of his hand. It feels so... lovely, he moaned once again.

You really... Like it? she inquired with a soft sigh.

I... I love it, my love, he replied as he gradually made his messages against her underbelly more affectionate.

Moon gave another moan, feeling her whole body shivering now, and then she thought, It... feels divine, my darling.

I aim to please, my love, he replied as slowly parted his lips, so he could catch some breath, still carrying on with his affectionate massages, and looked into her lovely eyes once again, which were gleaming with a sense of pure passion at the moment she opened them once again.
Moon seemed lost in his eyes, staring deep into them with a loving expression. She then gently pushed him down onto the bed, lying on his stomach while her usually flowing mane now spread out around his face, creating a small enclosed canopy for both of them. She smiled lovingly, then said softly, "Perhaps I should return the favor to you..."

Crius didn't say anything at all at the moment, but only passed her a heartwarming smile along with a deep blush, before he managed a reply and his eyes slightly teared up with the immense feeling of love and bliss.

"I want to be yours for the rest of my life, my love."

"As do I," Moon agreed, then she slowly made her horn glow softly and darken the room considerably. When she was done with that, she then started to move her tail downwards below his waist while giving him a knowing smile.

Crius just stared at her for a brief moment before he gave a slight gasp as she made her move before blushing a little more and passing her his own knowing but reasonably nervous smile.

"You, feel sure...?" Crius asked, though his tone was reassuring to her, enough reassuring to let her know that he also wanted this as much as her.

"I am..." Moon assured him, and then placed a kiss on his neck. "I... have wanted this... for a while."

Crius gave a slight moan in bliss at this, before he returned the favor by stroking her mane and passionately massaging her spine all the way to the base of her tail. "I... me too, my love..."

"Crius..." She managed softly, then mashed her lips against his deeply and intensely. Don't hold back... I'm yours, my love...

Crius gasped against her before he returned the kiss and welcomed her instant and immense passion without holding back at all. So am I, my beloved...

Goodbye Moon?

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Nightmare Moon sighed in defeat and hung her head as she approached her throne room to start her... night of royal duties. She was upset, because of something she had been looking into ever since falling in love with her Captain of the Royal Guard, a nagging problem that showed no signs of changing: her lover's mortality. She was immortal, but he was not, and she couldn't bear the thought of him eventually having his mortality catch up to him. For years, she had attempted to find a remedy for this, but with no luck. It made her sad, yet determined as well.

"I will keep trying ," she said aloud. "One way or another, I won't let you die while I live on, Crius..."

Crius sighed in relief as another session of the his regular duties as the Captain of the Guards come to end and now he had to be attend at the throne room for another and most important duty, to stand by the side of her highness, as her personal royal kinght (at least that's what others believed). He smiled gleefully and headed towards the throne room, looking glad and as formal as he usually looked during attending the throne room.

"I'm here, my Princess." Crius greeted her as always, as he stood beside her throne.

Nightmare Moon smiled at the sight of him. :-: "Anything to report Captain?" she asked formally, though it was more out of playfulness than actually being serious, since there was currently no one in the room with them.

"No, my Princess." Crius smiled back at her and reassured "... there's nothing important to report today."

"Good to hear," she nodded, then dropped the act and asked with a smirk, "Did you sleep well last night?"

Crius gave a nod at this and passed her a knowing smile in response and dropped his act as well. "I did... did you, my beloved Moon?"

"Mmm... I did. It was quite lovely," she answered with a nod. "You were... amazing as always."

Crius blushed a little at this compliment before he passed her a smile. "I... I try, my beloved," he then added. "...a glorious mare like you deserves the best after all..."

Nightmare Moon blushed in embarrassment. "I'm not that glorious, Crius. I didn't even take the throne fairly."

Crius was silent for the moment as she said this before he gave a reply. "My love, why... do you always blame yourself for that fateful event..."

"Because I am to blame," she stated bluntly. "I made a rash decision that could have been averted. And it... It cost more than it was worth..."

Crius, as thankfully there was no pony at the court that moment, turned himself towards her and passed his hand through her mane.

"It might be true, but your sister wasn't free of blame, my love... so you wasn't alone to blame... no one would have done any better in that situation... and even so, I realize that I can't justify this... but as your loyal servant and even more, myself, my heart, and my love only belongs to you..." he tenderly brushed his hand over her cheek "I live for you, my love... I won't dare to think to otherwise..."

Nightmare couldn't help but smile at him then.

"You certainly know how to cheer me up," she told him with a smile.

"I try my best," Crius said and passed her a smile of reassurance.

Nightmare smiled wider, but then suddenly something streamed into the room and into her face that they didn't see often unless scheduled to help crops grow; sunlight. A beam of it hit her face and she gave a kind of his while using one of her wings to shield her face. :-: "What?! I didn't raise the sun yet!" She hissed; she really didn't like the daytime too much, mostly because she was the alicorn version of a thestral.

Crius got a worried look at this, as he somehow realized that something was definitely wrong. He brought himself in front of her to block the ray of sunshine coming at her face and asked with concern. "My Princess, how's this possible?"

"It shouldn't be," Nightmare explained. "Unless..." She suddenly looked scared and told him, "Call the guards! She's back!"

But no sooner had she spoken than an explosion sounded outside the palace and one of their pony guards (Crius remembered her as Rainbow Dash) rushed inside with a frightened expression.

"Your Majesty!" She shouted. "Some crazy fiery alicorn lady is blasting through my warriors! She's coming for you!"

"What?" Crius asked as his concern changed to a look of realization as he ordered Rainbow Dash. "Try to stop her, however long your fighters can, I'm coming," he said and looked towards Moon once again with a expression of determination. "My Princess, no pony will lay a hoof on you as long as I'm living..."

"No," Nightmare suddenly said firmly. "You won't stop her. Not as you are. I need you to do something for me, Crius."

"But..." Crius sighed before passing her a nod. "Tell me what I need to do."

"In my chambers, there's a secret tunnel underneath my bed. Inside... Are the keys to ending my reign," she explained. "But they're also what you need to stop my sister. But they don't always work on their own. It requires at least six creatures to activate... Or one who possesses all six qualities needed to activate them."

Crius was silent for a very brief moment before he gave an expression which seemed both a little hesitant and somewhat unsure.

"So, what do I do when I find them...?" Crius asked, his tears threatening to escape his eyes "Do you believe, I alone would be able to use them?"

"I hope so, Crius. I hope so," Nightmare said. Just then, another explosion rocked the place and they heard maniacal laughter.

"Where are you, Lulu?!" It taunted in an insane sounding voice, almost laughing. Nightmare gritted her teeth, then looked to Crius. "Go, quickly. I can hold her off long enough for you to get into the vault. It's me she wants, so she won't follow."

"But... but what about you...?" Crius asked still hesitant a little to leave her alone to fight with the maniac alicorn.

"I'll be fine. Now go, while you have time!" She insisted.

Crius gave a hesitant nod at this before giving her a kiss on her forehead. "I'll be back as soon as possible, my love," then he turned around and rushed outside the throne room, and headed towards her chambers.
Inside the chambers, he now noticed something with the daylight shining in that he hadn't noticed before: a hatch under the bed. Then he slowly moved the bed aside so he could see that hatch even more clearly. Sure enough, there was the tunnel Moon told him about, and now he just had to find those artifacts which he needed to stop maniac alicorn.

Then without wasting any time, he went inside the tunnel and started to look for those artifacts. The tunnel led onwards for several yards, then stopped at a pedestal where a locked chest stood with a key next to it. The chest was pulsating slightly as he approached, as if beckoning him to approach.

"That must be it," Crius said as he approached near, and grabbed the chest before opening this to look inside. Suddenly, six colored gems floated out of the chest and floated about him, pulsating brightly. He was seemingly confused at this, not sure if these artifact were supposed to do this, but he had no time to lose at all, and he had to reach back to Moon. Then suddenly an explosion rocked the tunnel and some debris fell around him too.

"Moon!" Crius shouted and instantly rushed outside the cave and towards the throne room, not caring for anything else now. It was then when he noticed that the six artifacts were still revolving around him pulsating brightly, but right now his mind was only focused on one thing.

"I'm coming, my love."

Rushing into the throne room, he saw Nightmare in a tense magic battle with a white alicorn with red armor and crazed orange cat eyes. Her mane and tail were made of fire, and she seemed to have the upper hand in the fight, as confirmed by Nightmare being knocked to the floor by her magic blast.

"Moon!" Crius shouted her name once again as he ran towards her and knelt beside her to confirm her safety, while the artifacts were still revolving around him. Then he gazed upon the fiery alicorn and warned. "Stay away from her!"

The white alicorn gave a crazed laugh and looked to him. "Stay out of this, child. This is between family."

"Or what?" Crius asked, charging his magic as his eyes began to glow with a bright light.
The alicorn laughed. "You think those tiny trinkets can hurt me! I'm Daybreaker. The might of the sun is at my beck and call! You can't stop me!"

Nightmare managed to recover and looked weakly at Crius, pleading him to leave.

"She's too... Powerful... You can't take her alone..."

"I have the artifacts and my magic," Crius said in reassurance. "I am at least enough strong to protect you, and," he said and gave Daybreaker a furious look standing straight in front of her, and charged his fists as artifacts pulsate even more brightly. "...even if I've to die like this, I have no remorse... at least I'll be dying for my love."

"Love?" Daybreaker laughed again. "Then I'll be taking my revenge in a far sweeter fashion!"

She then fired a beam at him at full force. Crius charged his magic as we to shoot his own magical beam at him, hoping for the artifacts to make his magic strong enough to fight her. Their beams collided midway, neither seemed to get an upper hand on each other, and so their beams ended after a moment. Daybreaker smirked and started to put more effort into her next attack... But before she could do much more to increase her power, Nightmare flew up and tackled her to the ground.

"Crius, take the shot now!" She shouted, firing a beam just in time to block one Daybreaker fired.

"What?!" Crius asked in shock as his ceased charging the magic for the moment. "No! You'll be hit as well!"

"You have to! It's the only way!" Nightmare pleaded.

"No! You will not banish me again!" Daybreaker shouted.

"I'm not banishing you; I'm restoring you," Nightmare told her, then to her lover, "Take the shot."

Crius almost as if holding back a sob, hesitantly obliged to her shedding tears to no end as he did so. Soon, a collective magical beam from all the artifacts was shot towards the two alicorns in front of him. The beam surrounded them both and Daybreaker gave a scream of rage.

"No!!" She yelled, while Nightmare looked over at Crius as the light started to become blinding.

"Goodbye... my love," Nightmare said to him, smiling as tears streamed down her cheeks. "Don't forget me..."

The light then became too blinding to see and a burst of energy rocked the palace. Crius gave a nod to her as he closed his eyes and tears began to flow even rapidly at this, and he couldn't help but gave an audible cry. "Moon, my love... I'm sorry..."

The entire room filled with light and then it abruptly ended. When he could see again, two completely different alicorns were lying on the floor before him. While roughly the same colors, they clearly were different, especially since the white one now had a rainbow colored mane and tail, while what used to be Nightmare no longer looked like a thestral. They looked about in confusion and rubbed their heads.

"Where are we?" The white one asked aloud.

"Sister?" Luna asked as she came to her senses fully.

"Luna?" The white alicorn asked in surprise. "Is it really you?"

"Yes," Luna gave a nod at this in and assured that she was really herself. "It's me, Tia." She replied before looking upon the creature who was standing in front of them looking at them with an broken-hearted expression, tears still falling from his eyes as he was just staring at them, especially Luna without uttering any words.

"Are you the one who saved us?" "Tia" asked him.

"You... you can say that," he replied while looking at Luna fully once again, before breaking the eye-contact with her and gesturing towards the emblem (which was the cutie-mark of Nightmare Moon) on the chest plate of his armor. "For me, I was just obeying the commands of my Princess..."

Luna didn't say anything at this, though it seemed she understood the sorrow behind his words. Tia looked over at the emblem, then to Luna, then back to him.

"Luna," she finally spoke without taking her eyes off Crius. "What does he mean?"

Luna took a sigh as she began to explain as much as she could. "Crius was... Captian of the Nightmare Moon's Royal Guards... as well as-"

"It doesn't concern you whatever I was to her highness..." Crius bitterly said before he removed his armor aside from his chest plate. "It's your Palace now, may your kingdom prevail... I will be on my own way..."

Crius went outside the throne room, holding back his tears and his sobs as he did so, leaving both sisters to themselves. The two sisters looked after him, then Tia sighed.

"It seems we have much to think about... and to set right," she remarked.

Luna gave a nod at this. "Yes sister," she agreed before sighing herself once again "Poor Crius," she said in sympathy. "It must be really... I don't even have the words to describe how he must be feeling right now..."

"Well... I wish there was a way to help him nonetheless," Tia said.

Luna gave a nod in agreement. "I wish for this too..." she said, even though she never wanted to turn into Nightmare Moon ever again, but still she really wants to help that poor creature.

"Let me out!" a voice suddenly called in Luna's mind. "I can't stand it! He needs to know I'm still alive!"

Luna was surprised to suddenly heard this voice in her mind. "Who are you?" She said looking around as if to make sure she was hearing the voice in her head, vaguely recognizing the voice.

"Luna, who are you talking to?" Tia asked her.

"You know who I am, or are you so quick to forget?" the voice declared.

Luna's eyes widened at the realization as she recognized this voice clearly now. "Nightmare Moon," she said slightly looking at her sister "But how... how could you be...?"

"I'm a part of you, brought to life by your darker desires, in case you have forgotten!" the voice of Nightmare stated, then in a softer tone, "Though... after what you may have seen me do in your absence... I guess I'm not even that anymore."

Luna pondered over her words for the moment before she managed to ask another question. "Then what are you now?" She asked, this time her tone was much softer than before as she spoke.

"Luna?" Tia asked. "What is she saying?"

"I don't know anymore... but I know that I'm not what I was when I took control the first time." Nightmare said. "And I will not become her again. All that matters to me now is him..."

"Him?" Luna realized that who she was talking about. "You mean... Crius?" She said thoughtfully and then looked to her sister. "She wants to be free and... reunite with Crius again... She even said that she's not what she used to be anymore..."

"Luna, it could be a trick," Tia warned. "You know what she did to us both..."

"I know..." Luna said with a nod. "But... she seems to sound sincere... I mean she really wasn't like that when she first took over my being..." she than paused for a brief second. "...she seemed changed..."

"Then you truly think that this... Crius had to do with it?" Tia asked.

"Luna... let me speak to her... through you," Nightmare pleaded. Luna really didn't wanna lose herself to the monster once again she was just redeemed from, but something within her reassured her that she could trust her at least for the sake of helping a sad soul, they had witnessed.

"Okay... you may talk to my sister..."

A slight mist came over Luna then, but the only change that came over her were her eyes reverting to Nightmare Moon's eyes. She gave Luna's sister a sincere look and then spoke.

"Celestia, I admit I have done some horrible things to you and your sister. I took over her body, banished you, ruled with absolute control... there's no excuse for what I did. But I don't care about ruling Equestria or getting revenge anymore. All I care about now is Crius. Please... I just want to be able to see him again, hold him... love him..."

Luna, as she heard Nightmare Moon saying this, her eyes began to shed tears on their own as she was able to feel the the truth and sorrow behind her words. Celestia was taken aback by all this, and seeing that Luna was crying a little told her how sincere these words were.

"I... I don't know what to say," she managed. " I'm... truly sorry, Nightmare Moon."

"I am too, but I don't know what to do now," Nightmare said. "I want to see him again... But it would mean only one of us can remain."

Upon hearing this, Celestia got an odd look. "Maybe both of you can still exist... "

"Nightmare, there's one way though," Luna's voice was heard to Nightmare.

"There is? What?" Nightmare sounded hopeful.

"Yes, but it's risky and requires the consent of both parties," Celestia told her.

"Anything. I'll do anything to be with Crius again," Nightmare replied.

"It's a soul separation spell..." Luna explained to her. "It will separate us from each other as two different beings..."

"But what's the cost?" Nightmare asked her.

"It's not safe, and there's a chance that you'd be destroyed instead of being separate from myself..." Luna told her sincerely.

Nightmare went silent for a long while, weighing the options. After a long while, she said, "I'll take it. I accept the risks."

Her eyes reverted back to Luna's eyes as she had her control again, while Celestia looked to her sister. "Lulu... Are you going to take the risk too?"

It didn't take Luna much time to give her reply and after few seconds she managed to say.

"Yes, sister," Luna gave a nod at this. "You have my consent as well..."

"Then... Hold still please..." Celestia told her, then aimed her horn at Luna, and fired a beam into her. An agonizing pain rippled through them as a result and both alicorns in the same body gave a scream. At first, it was synchronized, but then separate as a bright light engulfed them... And they could hear Nightmare gasping besides Luna, fully visible and functional as if she had possessed Luna again... Only Luna was standing beside her.

Luna was still gasping as her pain slowly subsided and she looked towards Nightmare, feeling a relief that spell was successful.

"I... I'm... me..." Nightmare said in disbelief, then laughed joyfully. "I'm my own pony now!"
Luna couldn't help but gave a smile at this as well, despite how much pain she had caused her in the past.

"It's... good, for you..." Luna said to her, rubbing her hoof on her head before her horn glowed slightly, not in a threatening way, but only as a warning, followed by the same action by her sister as well. "...so I hope you don't try something."

Nightmare gave a shrug at this and nodded, then remembered.

"Crius! I have to find him!" She exclaimed, then realizing it was still day she looked to Celestia. "Uh... You think you can lower the sun for me please? I don't do well in the daytime."

Celestia gave a small giggle and then with a glow of her horn the sun set. Nightmare gave a quick thanks and stopping long enough to pick up Crius's discarded armor, she dashed out of the palace. Luna gave another smile at this, hoping that she may be able to find him soon.

"Well... I hope they'll stay happy together," Celestia remarked, then looked at the room and snorted. "She could've at least kept the windows the same... They were so pretty..."

Crius was sitting at the bank of the river, in the rather less darker portion of the Everfree Forest, looking really sad and heartbroken as he caressed his hand on the emblem of his chest plate while the images of his time in Palace with his adoptive family and especially her beloved Princess flash in front of his eyes. It was then when he noticed that sun was set and his surroundings started to get darker. A smile crossed his face almost reflexively as he noticed the night sky.

Then uncontrollably tears started to fall from his eyes and he began to cry, while clenching the chest plate in an embrace as his life depended on it.

"I wish, I could see you once again, my love," he sobbed. "Even if for one last time..."

"Crius!" He suddenly heard her voice calling out. "Crius! Where are you?!"

"M- Moon?" Crius raised his head almost not believing what he just heard, but his heart told him that she was indeed calling his name. A huge smile crossed his face, and almost instantly replied to her calls. "Moon! I'm here! Where are you?"

"Up here!" He heard her call and then he saw her image flying above him before coming in for a landing in front of him, the moonlight gleaming off her. It seemed impossible to him, and yet here she was standing as plain as day in front of her.

"Moon," Crius said as he came closer to her, hesitantly but surely surprised with joy to no end at seeing her standing in front of him. "Is it... really you?" He asked and, as if to confirm that she was real, he caressed his hand over her cheek as he was broken to tears, but this time they were the tears of joy. "Tell me, I'm not dreaming..."
"It's not a dream... It's really me, my love," she assured him, then she stood on her hind legs and hugged him tightly, nuzzling him affectionately while silent, yet happy tears flowed down her cheeks.

Crius let out some sobs as returned the hug and nuzzled her back as he began to stroke her mane once again and a feeling of utter comfort and relief went across his soul. "Moon... I thought, I lost you forever..." he sobbed as tears flowed down to his cheeks as well. "I... I thought... I would... never be able to see you again, my love..."

"As did I..." She agreed, then added, " But I managed to make an arrangement with the two Princesses... They separated me from Luna, so I'm now my own being. "

"So... you're yourself now," Crius said to her passing her a smile "So... they won't be coming after you anymore..." Crius asked her, now he had ceased to sob and was caressing her cheek affectionately as he nuzzled her.

"No more... Although, this probably means I won't be in charge anymore," she told him, then showed him his discarded armor piece he had left behind and that she had been floating in her aura for a while now. "I could still use a guard, however," she teased.

Crius smile widened as he passed her a nod at this. "Of course, my Princess," he replied sounding playfully formal now, and a tearful smile can be seen on his face. "I'd be honored..."

Nightmare smiled widely at him, then unable to keep back, she kissed him passionately where they stood. He returned her the kiss at instantly with equal passion as well as using his hands to stroke her and caressing her coat both tenderly and passionately.

"Love you so much, my beloved... please never leave me again..."

"Never," she answered, for once not concerned about his mortality as she sighed aloud. She was focused entirely on the present, and not letting anything interrupt it. Crius smiled against her as before he deepened the kiss and gently clenched himself even closer to her adoring and feeling absolutely comfortable in her warm embrace, while going slightly further with his affections and began massage his hand all over her back while caressing in a circular manner at her sensitive spot between her wings.
It feels like I'm in heaven.
Nightmare gave a moan against him, then pulled out of the kids to say, "Before this goes... far, is there anywhere you know we could go to?"

Crius gave a slight blush at this as he seemed slightly lost here. "I honestly have no idea," Crius said looking a little bit embarrassed.

"Uh... Maybe I can help?" a voice spoke up and they turned to see Evening Shadow, Crius's adoptive parent, looking at them with a smile. "And I just say, you look cute together."

"Uh... Thanks," Nightmare blushed.

"I... yeah, thanks mother..." Crius said sheepishly. "It's nice to see you again..."

"Nice to see you too, son," the thestral nodded, then she aid, "Not far from here are some caves my thestral friends occupy. One of them is unoccupied and you may stay there until you can find a permanent lodging. I can take you there if you want, but it requires a bit of a flight."

"I guess that'd work..." Crius gave a blush at this as he looked at his beloved Moon.

"Thank you, Evening Shadow," Nightmare nodded.

"My pleasure, Princess," the thestral replied, then spread her wings. "Shall we be off?"

Nightmare gave Crius a smirk as her own wings spread out and she lowered herself to the ground a bit. "Hop on," she said.

"Hmm, alright beloved," Crius felt slightly awkward at this, before he passed her a nod and climbed on her back, resting his hands on her withers. "I hope... I'm not too heavy, my dear..."

"Not at all," she assured him, and to prove her point she lifted up into the sky easily as Evening Shadow did the same, then took a steady flight towards the east.

The Servant of Nightmare

by AdmirerofHeartstrings

Discovery & Nurishment

Call me... Moon

Alone Together

Goodbye Moon?