The next day, Knighton grew anxious to see Princess Luna again. From that night, his heart thrived once again. All night he dreamed about Luna and nothing else. He was lying on his pile of hay in the barn, wondering about his future with the fair princess of the night. There was a knock on the door, disrupting his thoughts. He shook his head and returned the real world.

"Huh..? What…? Come in!" he exclaimed.

Sliding the door open came in Twilight and Spike. "Knighton? Are you in here?" she asked, peeking in.

"I'm here." Knighton replied, showing himself to her.

"Sorry if we were disturbing your napping." Spike said.

"I wasn't napping. Is there something you need?"

"Actually, no." Twilight replied. "The truth is, we got a letter from Princess Celestia, but it's addressed to you."

Spike walked over to Knighton, giving him the letter. "We don't know why Princess Celestia would send a letter to you."

"Perhaps it's the first assignment as a royal knight." Knighton answered. He opened the letter. "To my knight in shining armor…" he read. "This isn't from Celestia…" He shaped a smile. "This is from Luna!"

Twilight tilted her head. "This is the first time Luna sent us a letter." she said. "I guess she didn't know how else to send the letter to you."

"Ooh! Read more, Knighton!" Spike said, jumping up and down. "Tell us what she wrote!"

Knighton replied with a nod and continued to read:

To my knight in shining armor,

I wait to see you again, but I can wait no longer. My heart lusts to look upon your beautiful ocean eyes. The night we met felt magical to me. Being with you fills me with happiness and love. Please come to the Canterlot Palace tonight when the moon is full. I shall meet you in the royal courtyard, the perfect place for the perfect couple. It will seem like a thousand years until tonight.

Your love,

Princess Luna

"Aw! That's such a sweet letter!" Spike said. "Princess Luna must be head over heels for you!"

Knighton sighed happily. "As I am for her. I must go to the castle tonight and see her again!"

"Hold on a sec." Twilight intervened. "Spike and I used to live in Canterlot. We've seen the castle at night. It's heavily guarded. There's no way you could get in without special permission."

"Can't this letter be the special permission?" Spike asked, pointing to Knighton's letter.

"The chances of that love letter being an invitation to the castle are very slim." she replied.

"That's a chance I'm willing to take. Nothing will separate me and my princess." Knighton said in a bold pose.

She sighed, but smiled, seeing his confidence. "I have to admit, things do go well when it comes to love, just like with Fluttershy and your brother."

Knighton laughed. "Yes. They do make a cute couple, don't they?"

She giggled. "Yes, they do. Fluttershy seems so comfortable with him. It's as if he was meant for her. I hope it'll be the same for you and Princess Luna."

"Me too. Thank you for bringing this letter to me, both of you."

"No problem!" Spike said with a wink and a thumbs up. "Anything to help a friend in love!"

Knighton stood up and stretched out his tired legs. "Now, if you two will excuse me, I must get ready for tonight."

"But it's only one o'clock." Twilight said. "You'll have plenty of time to get ready for tonight."

"There's no trouble of getting a good early start, is there?"

She shrugged. "I guess not. Oh well, do what you want. We'll see you later."

"Yeah." Spike agreed, following her out. "Good luck with tonight, Knighton! Rarity's hoping that there's going to be a wedding!"

"Spike!"

"What? That's what she said last night."

Knighton chuckled. "If you see her, tell her I said don't give up hope!"

"The message will be delivered as soon as we see her! Bye!"

Alone, Knighton looked down at the letter and smiled. A letter from the princess herself… he thought. Can she really be my next love…? He glanced to his bag, where his late fiancé's bracelet was. Should I give it to her…?

. . .

Meanwhile at the castle in Canterlot in her room, Luna laid on her bed, cuddling with one of her large pillows. She rolled around with it, blushing and squealing. Her stomach with tickling butterflies. "Oh Knighton…" she sighed. "How I wait to be in your arms again…" She froze in place when she heard a giggled.

"Daydreaming about your coltfriend I see."

Luna bolted up, finding Celestia standing under the lintel of her chamber doors. "He's not my coltfriend!" she exclaimed, hugging the pillow tight. "Well… not yet…"

Celestia sat with her on the bed. "I'm very happy that you're moving on with your life after what happened." she said.

Luna looked away and frowned. "Yes… but I'm… still very sorry about what happened a thousand years ago…"

Celestia pulled Luna into a soft embrace. "It's okay, sweetie…" she whispered, patting her little sister's back. "I have forgiven you. All you can do now is move on. Think about your future."

Luna looked up and smiled. "I have been thinking about my future," she said. "a future with Knighton."

"Like getting married and having a family?" Celestia asked.

Luna nodded, her cheeks turning. "Yes…" she replied. "Is it alright to think about that?"

"Of course it is." Celestia answered. "It's a lot of fun thinking about stuff like this about the pony you love, isn't it?"

"It certainly is..." She hugged the pillow tighter. "Will you make sure to tell the guards to let Knighton in when he comes tonight?"

Celestia nodded. "I will let them know immediately." She stood up from the bed, giving Luna a relieved smile. "I'm grateful that you have finally found happiness again."

Luna smiled back. "Thank you, sister." As soon as Celestia left, she got back to cuddling with her big pillow. "Oh Knighton," she said to the pillow as if it was him. "I just want to see you again right now!" She looked out her window, seeing the sun still high in the sky. She let out a groan, laying back on the bed, holding the pillow over her eyes. "Why did I set the time of the meeting for tonight…?"

As the hours slowly passed, the sun was finally setting. Soon it was a little after dark. More guards were summoned to watch the perimeter of the castle. Being responsible for raising the moon, Luna flew out of her room up high into the sky. She hovered over all of Equestria, flapping her wings in place. Her horn glowed as bright as a distant star. With her given talent, she raised the moon from the east and placed it high above the land.

. . .

Back at Sweet Apple Acres, the knights had turned in for the night. Knighton however was waiting or his comrades to be completely out cold until he could leave without waking them up. Rhayader's snoring grew loud. Tim to make a quiet getaway. Usually his snoring woke them up if they weren't officially asleep. Knighton got up and crept to the barn door. He left the barn closed the door behind him. He looked up and stared at the moon, almost seeing Luna's face. He wasted no time getting to the train station to catch a late ride.

The train came to halt at its next destination: Canterlot. Knighton got off the passenger car and strolled through the busy streets. Much of the high class society was more active during the night time. He found many of the fancy restaurants full of mingling and dancing. He pushed himself though the crowds, unable to keep himself from bumping into others.

He approached the castle gates where two heavily armed guards stood before him. They held up long halberds.

"Halt!" shouted one of the guards. "State your name and business!"

Knighton cleared his throat and pulled out Luna's letter. "My name is Knighton." He started. "I am one of Princess Celestia's royal knights. I received a letter by Princess Luna, wishing for me to come visit. I am expected."

The second guard approached Knighton and looked at the letter's signature. "That's the night princess' signature, alright." He confirmed. "And yes, she is expecting you. Allow me to escort you to the courtyard."

Knighton nodded, putting away the letter. "Lead the way."

The guard led Knighton through the gates, following a row of lit torches. They approached a sign post with multiple labeled arrows pointed in different directions. The arrow labeled Royal Courtyard pointed west near the castle's outer walls. They followed the sign and came to the entrance of the courtyard. The guard stepped aside and let Knighton out first. He froze in place and found himself in what he imagined to be paradise: the light of the full moon illuminated the entire courtyard. The dew within the grass and leaves sparkled by the light like dancing stars that fell from the sky. The courtyard was filled with various flowers of many colors, trees grown around the courtyard's walls with abundance of fruit. The wind softly blew through, shifting the leaves and bushes. In the center of the courtyard, sat a large active fountain with four sculptured ponies carved in stone standing on pillars above the running water. Two of them held large jars with pouring water. The other two stood on their one hind leg and the other held outwards like a ballet pose, squirting water from their mouths. The fountain was the floral's source of fresh water.

Coming out of the same entrance was Princess Luna with one of her personal night guards. She stood tall and proud with her chin up. The light of the moon illuminating her forever flowing and glistening mane and tail.

Knighton turned and grinned, approaching her. "Luna! You're here!" Before he could say another word, she raised her hoof.

Luna glanced at the guards with half-closed eyes. "Leave us please." she said. She looked up at the guards watching from top of the outer walls. "That goes for all of you too!" she shouted. "I do not want any disturbances for this evening!" The guards remained silent and obeyed. All the guards who watched and surrounded the courtyard left the princess and the knight alone. Once they were all gone, Luna looked to Knighton, still with half-closed eyes and a straight face. There was an awkward silence between the two. She found Knighton with a tilted head and a confused expression. There was a sudden build up inside her, forcing her to crack a smile. It was followed by a snicker, and then by laughter. Her smile was bigger. She looked to him and lunged forward, toppling him onto his back. She deeply nuzzled his muzzle. "Oh Knighton!" she cried, pulling him into a tight embrace. "I missed you so much!"

Knighton regained his sense of what was happening in the last fifteen seconds. He wrapped his arms around her and nuzzled her mane. He smiled, feeling Luna's soft and warm coat. "I missed you too…" he whispered.

They got up on their feet and stared into each other's illuminating eyes.

"I want this night to be perfect." she said soothingly. "We'll have the night all to ourselves. And no one to bother us."

"I want to thank you for inviting me here tonight." he replied. "There's nothing I'd rather do more than to spend an entire night with you."

She bit her lip as her cheeks lit in red. "Shall we take a little stroll?" she asked.

Knighton answered with a nod. Together they wandered through the courtyard, staying on the bridle path. They listened as the music of the night played: an orchestra of gentle winds brushing against the bushes and leaves, a choir of crickets and frogs sang in harmonic bliss. More dew appeared within the grass as the night air grew moist and cool. The dew glittered brighter under the moon's light. Eventually, they went off course and wandered through the gardens. Knighton grew up around flowers when his mother would grow and replant them on every window sill in their house. He loved how flowers smelled. He leaned his muzzle into a small group of roses, sniffing softly. He let out a quiet sigh with memories flooding his mind. Luna watched and smiled. She glanced over and picked a bright yellow flower that looked like it was glowing moonlight. "Here, this will look nice in your mane." she said.

He looked over with a muzzle covered in pollen. "What is it?" he asked, sniffling.

"This is a moonflower." she replied. "These are my favorite." She slipped the flower stem in his mane.

He chuckled. "Thank you, Luna. This is a very beautiful flower." He kissed her cheek.

They walked a little while longer. Staying close, Luna looked up to him. She felt an unusual warmth fill up inside. The warmth ran down her feet, making them tingle. Her bond with Knighton was growing. For the first time in a thousand years, she felt safe. She looked away, fighting with her inner conflicts.

"Luna." he said.

His voiced snapped her back, turning back to them as they paused their stroll. "Y-Yes?"

"What's it like living here?"

She looked down, her mane covering nearly half her face. "It's… good here." she replied. "But…"

"But what?"

"It also feels empty here…" She lowered her head, letting out a small sigh. "There really isn't anyone here to talk to. My sister is the only one I can really talk to. When the servants and guards look at me, I can see fear in their eyes. They still see me as the evil mare I was before…" She placed a hoof over her chest, sniffling. "I'm tired of being feared by others. I don't want to be shunned again…." She let out a small whimper wept. She kept her head down as tears rolled down her cheeks, dripping onto the ground below her. "I don't want you to be afraid of me either… You're the second pony who has ever accepted me…"

Knighton watched her collapse to the ground, covering her head with her forelegs as she went from weeping to bawling. A pain grew in his chest. His breath shook, almost to the verge of tears. He crouched down and gentle bushed her mane away. He carefully scooped her chin up, finding her cheeks soaked and her eyes faintly red. He kept one hoof under her chin while he wiped her tears away with the other. "My dear princess…" he said softly. "I have never seen what you were a thousand years ago. I have only heard the stories. I have no reason to fear you."

She took a quick breath as more tears ran down from her eyes. "Y-you mean it…?" she asked, sniffling.

"Of course I do. I don't wish to see you trapped in isolation any longer. I'll always be by your side. I will never betray you. I'll always care for you."

She wiped her tears, sniffling once more. With little strength she had left from her breakdown, she stood back up. Her legs trembled underneath. She leaned in, burying her face into his chest. "Thank you…" she whimpered.

Knighton held her close, letting her weep a little longer into his chest. Her tears soaked his coat, but he did not care. He rubbed the back of her neck, nuzzling her mane. "Deep breaths, Luna…" he whispered.

She coughed a little, trying to follow his instructions. The aching inside her chest eventually went away. She was able to take clearer breaths. She pulled her face from his chest and looked up at him. Her cheeks were slightly moist, but her eyes glittered like a thousand stars, staring into his. "Knighton…"

"Yes?"

She looked away for a moment, then back. "Will you… kiss me…?"

He raised his brows. "W-what…?"

She placed her hooves on his chest. "I-I know it sounds like a strange request since we've only known each other for two days… but I wish to share a tender moment with you…"

Knighton stared into her lusting eyes and glanced at her small blue lips. "How could I say no to the most beautiful mare in all of Equestria?" he said, placing his hooves on hers.

Both ponies closed their eyes and leaned in carefully. Not a moment too soon, their lips were locked. The kept their kiss still. Within each other, adrenaline rushes though. Knighton felt his legs go wobbly, but managed to keep them still. Feeling the warmth of her moist lips dried up the inside of his mouth. He pulled Luna's hooves into a tighter grip to his chest. For Luna, feeling warmth from his lips made her woozy in the head. But both felt the love they had for each other. They broke the kiss Luna let out a heavy sigh followed by shuddering, wearing a quivering smile.

"That was wonderful…!" Luna said, feeling lightheaded.

Knighton chuckled, his cheeks covered in a big blush. "That was a very nice kiss."

She leaned her head into his neck. "Thank you so much for coming tonight." she said. "I enjoy being with you so much."

He gently rested his chin in her mane. "As do I Luna."

Feeling exhausted over a kiss, they bought themselves to the fountain and sat on the wide edge. They looked at each other's reflections wiggling by the ripples of the water.

"Knighton? After that kiss, don't you think we're rushing this relationship…?" she asked, playing with her front hooves.

"I don't think so." he replied, smiling. "You ever read any of those fairy tales with knights and princesses falling in love at first sight?"

"Yes, I have."

"Our relationship is like that." He said, nuzzling her, making her giggle. "I have no problem with it at all."

She scooted closer to him until their bodies touched. She wrapped his arms around him, cuddling close.

Knighton wrapped his around her back, letting out a deep sigh, burying his muzzle into her mane.

They looked up at the moon shine brightly upon them and the glistening stars. Their eyes caught a shooting star flying across the sky.

"A shooting star!" Luna said, pointing it out. "Make a wish!"

"Let's share it." Knighton suggested.

They closed their eyes for a minute and made their wishes. They opened their eyes and looked at each other, smiling and hugging tighter.

"I hope your friends aren't worried about you." she said.

"They're all asleep." he said. "They can't even wake up from Rhayader's snoring."

She giggled. "Celestia's usually asleep at this hour. Besides, if she were to wake up, she would not have a problem with me staying up this late. I am the Princess of the Night after all."

He smiled. "That's true, and a beautiful Princess of the night you are."

She blushed. "Thank you. And I think you're the most handsome knight I have ever met."

"I thank you too." He placed a hoof on her cheek and gently stroked it.

She placed her hoof on his. "Knighton," she said to him. "my knight of red. Another chance I got to meet you again. Your care for me has made me feel loved and well known. You do not fear me for my troubled past. You complete me, you've me smile, and you've made me happy again. You are my sun as I am your moon. I want to be yours, now and forever. I will tell you this, and I will tell you now…" She took a deep breath. "I love you, Sir Knighton… I love you so with all my heart."

Her words of passion and her confession of her love filled Knighton with joy. His heart was lifted up as a large smile formed across his face. He too wished to confess his love for her. But his heart grew heavy and pulled him down. His smile dropped to a frown. He sighed.

"I wish to confess my feelings with you too…" he said. "But there is something else I must confess first…"

Luna's smile dropped to a frown also. She bit her lip. "W-what must you confess…?"

Knighton slipped his hoof into his bag and pulled out the turquoise bracelet. "This bracelet belonged to a mare that I loved before I met you."

Luna looked at the bracelet with brightened eyes. "It's beautiful…" she whispered. She looked up at him. "You were in love with somepony else?"

"Yes, but it was only for a short time." Once more, Knighton's chest felt tighter and tighter as he continued. He told Luna about his fiancé and how they were to be married when he would return, and revealed how she was tragically killed when the dark army attacked and destroyed her town.

Luna stared at Knighton with widened and teary eyes as she listened to his horrifying tale, holding her hooves over her mouth.

"And this is all I have left of her." he said, sighing heavily.

Luna remained silent for a moment, and broke down once more in front of him. She out a quiet sob as stream of tears down her face.

"I am so sorry…" she whimpered. "It must've been terrible for you…"

"Yes…" he replied. "Which brings us back to the bracelet. Before her death, she said to me, 'If something should ever happen to me, I want you to take this bracelet and give it to your next lover. Don't think of this as leaving me for another. Think of it as a symbol of undying love'." He jiggled the bracelet in his hoof. "I thought I could never love again after what happened to Angel Wings." He looked to Luna and grew a small smile. He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close to him. "But now I feel the hole in my heart has been filled again."

Luna dried her eyes and looked up at him. "Really…?"

He nodded. "Luna," he began. "my Princess of the Night. You have made me whole again. You shall not live your life alone and in sorrow as long as I am around. I will protect you always. Nothing will ever come between us." He took her hoof and carefully slid the bracelet around Luna's front left ankle. "It is now my turn to tell you… that I too love you, Princess Luna. I love you to the moon and back."

Luna's ears could not have been deceived when hearing his words of passion to her. She looked down at the beautiful bracelet around her ankle, seeing it shimmer under the moonlight. She let out the happiest sigh she had ever made as her eyes filled with tears; not tears of sadness, but tears of joy.

Knighton wiped her eyes and kissed her deeply. Luna moved into the kiss as she felt their warm moist lips smother. Luna leaned her head into his chest once the kiss was broken. Out of nowhere, she started to hum. Knighton listened closely and closed his eyes. Her humming grew louder and formed into words:

Kiss me too fiercely, hold me too tight

I need help believing, you're with me tonight

My wildest dreamings, could not foresee

Lying beside you, with you wanting me

And just for this moment, as long as you're mine

I've lost all resistance, and crossed some borderline

And if it turns out, it's over too fast

I'll make very last moment to last

As long as you're mine…

Knighton stared down at Luna with a huge smile and gave her a kiss. Much to Luna's surprise, he too began to sing:

Maybe I'm brainless, maybe I'm wise

But you've got me seeing, through different eyes

Somehow I've fallen under your spell

And somehow I'm feeling, it's "up" that I fell…

Luna and Knighton held each other close, their voices joining together:

Every moment, as long as you're mine

I'll wake up my body, and make up for lost time…

Say there's no future, for us as a pair…

And though I may know, I don't care…

Just for this moment, as long as you're mine

Come be how you want to, and see how bright we shine

Borrow the moonlight, until it is through

And know I'll be here holding you

As long as you're mine…

Once their song had finished, they laughed and kept each other in a long warm embrace. For the rest of the night, they laid under the moon and stars in the flower field, cuddling close to one another. It would be another night to never forget, for it was the beginning of their dreams of unity to become a reality to their world.