He was still a baby when she found him.
Normally Princess Luna would leave him at an orphanage, or perhaps with the family of her guard, but something about this colt called to her. So she took him in, fed him, and treated him as her own.
Celestia might have teased her for taking in a stray pegasus colt, but she adored the little one as much as Luna did. At the very least, raising a little one was a nice way to pass the years by and kept Luna from worrying so.
She named him Star Shield, because he loved to watch the stars with her and was fascinated by her personal guard's shield patterns.
It came as little surprise that his Cutie Mark, when he finally took up lessons from her personal guard, ended up as a shield made of stars with the night sky as a background.
The years passed, and Star Shield rose through the ranks all the way to Luna's personal guard. No one raised a single complaint, because he worked hard to earn that spot, training nearly every day and well into the night...when he wasn't talking to his mother. Everyone believed he would one day become Captain of the Night Guard and take his place as Luna's protector...at least until the day that the Crystal Empire went missing and dissension rose in the ranks of the nobles after rumors spread of the fight between the royal sisters and the highly favored Lord Sombra.
Star Shield listened to the arrogant nobles who blamed Luna for the 'death' of the evil King Sombra and her own granddaughter. He growled lowly, and some of the nobles wisely started to back off...then they told Luna that they blamed her for treason against pony kind.
Star had enough.
"Arrogant whelps! Take care in how you address the Night Princess! She fought long and hard with her sister to put an end to the evil King Sombra's tyranny and his oppression of the crystal ponies! I was there! I saw how the crystal ponies were chained, their coats and manes a bare shimmer of what they once were! I saw how Sombra poisoned Princess Aria and turned the kingdom's magic against itself! King Sombra is a snake who uses honeyed words to turn Pony against Pony!" snarled Star.
"Everyone knows you're Luna's lapdog, Star Shield!" cried Sombra's mother, the head of the house of Ruby.
Star turned a cold cerulean gaze at the mare, but she held her ground. His silver coat was all but shining in his anger.
"Perhaps we should ask the House of Ruby how they could raise such a foul loathsome wretch in their bloodline?" he hissed back.
"Star Shield that is enough!" cried Celestia. She bore down on the nobles with an angry glare.
"The Night Court is dismissed until further notice," said Luna coldly, her rage and despair clear to all.
"Star Shield...thank you for defending me. But you know the fools will now target you as well," said Luna. They were in her room, and the stars shimmered outside.
Star Shield's silver coat had dulled a bit to a more silver gray. His midnight black mane, cut as many of the guard ponies were, lay flat against his neck. His cerulean eyes were sad and worried for his mother. He had even removed his armor.
"I know mother, but they would target me anyway. You know how many ponies see me as little more than your lapdog. You should hear some of the rumors about us," said Star.
Luna snorted. Some ponies were such gossip mongers. Really, the idea that Star Shield had risen to his position by joining her in bed!
"I agree son, but now they have a reason to target you specifically. Take care in how you act and be sure to remain within sight of as many witnesses as you can. Everyone knows that the common ponies adore you and no one would believe you are capable of treachery. You are the most loyal pony in the Night Guard."
Star Shield grew worried.
"What if they target the Night Guard and not me specifically?"
"I doubt that they would go that far," said Luna.
"These nobles are snakes. Remind me again why you allowed things to get this bad?"
"Because we didn't want to create dissension among the nobles... Celestia has had to remind me that they serve a purpose, but frankly I don't see one," said Luna, crossing her front legs.
Star made a face.
"That's because Aunt Celestia finds political maneuvers to be amusing."
Luna chuckled.
There was a knock at the door.
"Luna? Star?" said Celestia.
"Come in sister mine."
"I hope I'm not interrupting anything," said Celestia pleasantly.
"Just discussing this new rebellion amongst the nobles..." said Luna.
"About that... Sister, I think it would be better that you vanished for a while. Take some time off to grieve for Aria," said Celestia.
Star hissed.
"You want to exile her just to appease those cowards?" he said.
"Star!" said Celestia.
"Aunt Celestia, if Mother left at this junction, it would only give those cowards a chance to stir up dissent among the common and more ignorant of the ponies. Everyone adores you because you enjoy the public light, but people are uncomfortable around mother because she is more militaristic than you are! We don't need to invite disaster by having her leaving the public eye!" said Star Shield.
"I think you're the one stirring up trouble Star Shield. I sincerely doubt the nobles would go so far and risk my wrath," placated Celestia.
"And I tell you that Sombra's evil had to come from somewhere. He wasn't born a foul loathsome snake. He would have learned it from his house and they allowed such a thing to fester. If Mother leaves now, they could easily form fear from the fact she is more violent of the two of you and turn the common ponies against you," said Star Shield.
"Actually I agree with Star on this point sister. Evil such as Sombra isn't born, it's created. I know you enjoy those little political games among the nobles, but this is a far more serious matter than your usual games with them," said Luna.
Celestia couldn't believe she was being tag teamed against. Surely Luna must see that if they didn't soothe the nobles down now things would only get worse!
"Aunt Celestia, how long has it been since you were around the common ponies without the guard? You've been around nobles for so long that you've forgotten who it is you really rule," said Star Shield.
Celestia seemed to take that under advisement.
"Sister, I would be willing to work during the Day Court while you speak to the everyday pony. Since I have no intention of allowing the nobles back into the Night Court until this issue is resolved, I can handle the day courts."
Celestia sighed, as it was clear neither of them would budge on this matter. Perhaps she could have a few days away from the monotony of the Day Court to talk to the common ponies without her guard knowing.
Celestia told her guards the plan, and a few days later Luna could be seen yawning while her sister walked around the more common ponies under a disguise.
Several of the nobles spoke of how Luna planned to overthrow Celestia by taking her place at court, but only the most gullible had believed that lie.
When Celestia returned to Day Court, she was less than happy with what she had discovered.
Everyone feared Luna and her 'lapdog' Star Shield when he wore his armor. They were terrified of Luna's night, which made absolutely no sense at all. To make matters worse she overheard several rumors, all painting Luna in a rather unflattering light and some even trying to stir up hostility against her.
Despite their efforts otherwise, Luna and Star Shield found themselves on the wrong end of a coup.
Luna was forced into exile and Star Shield thrown out of the Night Guard by the foolish nobles who sought to throw both sisters off their thrones.
Luna stared at where the Crystal Empire once stood. Memories of Aria were still fresh in her mind. Star Shield lowered a blanket over his mother's back.
"I'm fine Star. I cannot believe that those nobles would dare do something so foolish!"
"It's only temporary mother," said Star.
"Still...Celestia should have dealt with those arrogant nobles as soon as this became an issue!" said Luna angrily. She looked at Star Shield and her eyes became even more sad.
"All that hard work you put into your training...and the loyalty you gained...it was all ruined by those damn nobles."
"Yes, but this does present an opportunity. If Celestia is unwilling to deal with those damn nobles once and for all and put them in their proper place, then I should do it myself. She is far too soft hearted to deal with this nonsense."
"What are you planning Star?"
"Honor duels. Celestia can't interfere if I were to kill those idiots in an honor duel and the other nobles wouldn't have a leg to stand on once they figure out what I'm really doing."
"Selective assassination. Subtle," said Luna dryly.
Celestia was at her wits end. Nobles were dying off left and right in honor duels...only she had no idea who was causing it. Finally she decided to investigate personally by visiting the next noble on the list...the house of Agate, supporters of the House Ruby.
"I challenge the head of house Agate to an honor duel!" called out the assailant.
She knew that voice, despite not having heard it for three months.
Star Shield was the mystery killer. Suddenly the list of dead houses made far too much sense.
The head of House Agate came out and openly refused his challenge.
"Hmph. I see the supporters of Ruby have no honor. Just what I expect from a simpering coward!" called out Star Shield.
Celestia watched in horror as Star deliberately baited Agate into an honor duel with many well chosen barbs. When he killed the older pony, Celestia stepped forward, sorrow clear in her face.
"Star Shield, why are you doing this? Why are you killing all these ponies?"
"The nobles are a cancer Celestia. I am the one who will wipe them out," said Star Shield bluntly. He held no remorse for the lines he wiped out entirely. His voice was as cold as the nights in what remained of the Crystal Empire, and his eyes held no warmth.
"You have to stop this Star Shield. What would Luna say if she learned you became a murderer?"
"Like you care about your sister. You should have stepped in after Sombra's treachery was discovered and dealt with these wretched nobles. They need to remember that their place is under the Princesses, not as rulers," said Star Shield harshly.
"Star Shield, this is little more than cold blooded murder," said Celestia.
"This is justice. Justice for all the Crystal Ponies because you never stepped up to put a stop to this sooner. Luna was always against Sombra's marriage to Aria, but you refused to see the rot that has set in your precious noble society."
Celestia was appalled by his words. How dare he pin the blame of Aria's death on her?!
"Star Shield!"
"Save your lecture for someone who will believe it," he said angrily. He flew off before she could stop him.
Star Shield was in a secluded area where the hot springs were just barely tolerable. He heard someone walk up and didn't have to guess who it was.
"How did it go?" asked Luna quietly.
"I hate this. All this sneaking around when we should be declaring war openly. To make matters worse Celestia has finally caught on to what I've been doing."
"It was going to happen eventually. Ponies have become far too soft," said Luna. Her eyes were cat-shaped, not the round that they used to be.
After every death, Luna would talk to him and clear his mind. Star Shield hated killing more than anyone, but this was a necessary evil since Celestia didn't have the stomach to simply banish the nobles like she should have once the dissent was out in the open.
The selective assassination was their way of forcing the issue once and for all. Either Celestia grew up and realized that it was never going to calm down, or Star Shield dealt with the nobles in a more permanent fashion. Either way things were coming to a boil.
"How bad is it tonight?" asked Star.
Luna's dreams had become nightmares of late, meaning she had trouble regulating the dreamscape. As a result her appearance was slowly changing into something more sinister.
"It's only getting worse. At this rate I'll lose my sanity to these wretched nightmares..."
"Perhaps we could get rid of a few by sending the image of what really happened to the Crysal Ponies to the remaining nobles?"
Luna sighed. He had made this suggestion twice before. She had disagreed on the grounds that it might do more damage.
Star Shield got out of the pool and shook his coat. Water flew through the air. He looked at his old armor with a sad sigh.
His once magnificent armor had become dented and painful to wear from all the honor duels he had fought in. Soon he would be unable to don it at all.
Luna cleaned the water with a spell. It wouldn't do to have it fouled by the blood of ponies. Even ones as useless as the ones Star Shield killed.
Star Shield was ambushed by the Day Guard, as the Night had refused to listen to Celestia's order once they knew what was really going on. He was thrown into the unused caves beneath the Canterhorn since Celestia didn't want anyone to know the truth.
Luna was absolutely furious her sister had captured her son.
So much so that she finally did what Star Shield had long suggested...sending the true end of the Crystal Empire to every pony in the capital, baring Celestia and the Night Guard. She even included the entire incident at the Night Court where the nobles who still foolishly believed Sombra to be an innocent to every common pony.
Many a pony tried in vain to awaken, but were unable until Celestia rose the sun the next day.
To further prove her point, Luna kept up the visions of what had been truly going on for the next month, unaware of the physical changes that were on the verge of occurring.
Finally she descended on the Castle to make Celestia pay for Star Shield's imprisonment.
Her grief had grown to the point she could no longer see reason as she refused to submit to the day and allow her sister to raise the sun.
"There will be only one Princess!" shouted Luna.
"Sister, please!"
"I am no sister of yours, Celestia. You protected those vile fiends who threw us out and refused to listen to my champion. I will never allow the sun to rise!" she declared, shadows gathering around her.
There was a crash of great thunder and where Luna, Princess of the Moon had stood was now a mare of pure darkness...Nightmare Moon.
Star Shield, who had found a little used exit in the caves, managed to land shortly after the transformation having seen the clouds gathering.
Nightmare Moon saw her son, her champion and sent her magic at him.
Star Shield didn't resist the change. He trusted his mother to the moon and back.
Where his coat had been a beautiful star silver, it was now a night black. His mane and coat had switched colors and his armor was changed. Before it had been dented from all the fights, but now it shone like stars. He grew in size, easily matching Luna's former one. His eyes, once a calm cerulean, became as cold as the night under a full moon.
He reared up, and his sword, which had been locked up in the castle treasury upon his dismissal from the Guard, returned to him. On one flank was his sword, the other held a shield made of the night sky itself.
He was the Night's Champion.
Celestia watched in horror at the transformation of Star Shield and Luna. She had no idea that their anger had grown so much. As Nightmare and her champion descended upon the unsuspecting nobles (what were left) she realized that she had to stop them.
She flew to challenge them, ignoring Night's Champion and going for her sister. Night's Champion bucked her, hard, breaking several ribs. Nightmare slashed at her, sending her careening towards the castle.
Celestia landed painfully on the cobblestone floors. She had only one chance...she had to use the Elements of Harmony.
Night's Champion and Nightmare Moon were hit by the rainbow colored energy...except something unexpected happened.
While Nightmare Moon was sealed in the same moon Luna so loved, Night's Champion reverted back to Star Shield...then regressed back to the form of an infant. Celestia watched as her nephew began to fade before his form vanished entirely.
She knew that her sister would one day break free...and that new Element bearers would be chosen. However she had no idea why Night's Champion had reverted to his original form before vanishing.
She had no idea of the ramifications that would be felt for exposing Star Shield/Night's Champion to the Elements of Harmony while his powers were in a state of flux...