//------------------------------// // A sign for some. // Story: Day & Night // by Reminisce //------------------------------// Five days later The Buffalo migration was long and tedious for the exhausted butterscotch Pegasus. Almost an entire week-long journey through the southern plains and a few towns. There were a couple times where she had to quell some unfavorable confrontations between pony passing by and the Buffalos. Despite the effects of her element, she never really did like talking to ponies all that much, she much rather spent her days with her animal friends back outside of Canterlot… The ones in the royal garden were nice and all, but they weren’t really all that friendly. Took her nearly a year for them to even accept food from her hooves and not a silver platter. No matter, now she was at the Buffalo's last stop south of a small gorge they called Hoofbottom.  With tired eyes, the Pegasus scanned the luscious fields of grass and flowers. She knew it would more than suffice for the Buffalo tribe for at least two months, so one wouldn’t even be a problem. The tribe had already pitched their tents in the morning, and now they were sitting around the bonfire they started at the center of the camp. A small Buffalo calf looked back to see the Pegasus watching from a distance, setting a small smile in place, the calf waved the mare to her, inviting her to a free spot next to her. With no hesitation, the tired mare smiled back and slowly made her way to the warmth of the fire. She could clearly tell the grand elder was getting ready to tell an old tale from the past, it was the job of the elder to share stories of the past. As they were the oldest of the tribe and their experience was revered by all others of the tribe, for their teachings were almost as good as law. Not even the Chief dared to question their elders' knowledge, the Pegasus had learned many interesting things from the Elders tales as well. With the mare seated next to the young calf, they both smiled at each other.  “Thanks again Fluttershy, we know you don’t have to do this every year… But I just don’t see how we’d make it without conflict if you weren’t here.” The calf said with a gentle smile playing across her lips. “Oh… It’s no problem, really.” Fluttershy meekly responded, flustered from the heartfelt praise. She knew many of the tribe felt the same as the calf did, but honestly, she couldn’t let them make the journey through several towns alone even if she had to. Ponies could be mean, and well it was a mean thing to think, but she knew it to be true. “Now younglings, are you all prepared for tonight's tale?” Everyone nodded their heads, growing more silent as the seconds passed, allowing the Elder to collect his thoughts as he scratched his old grey beard. “Yes well, this was a tale that was passed down from my grandfather of another tribe and I doubt I’ve told this one yet in my time.” The Buffalo’s all shared curious glances, if it was one he had been withholding, surely there would be a good lesson to learn from it. Even Fluttershy sat in rasp attention as she brushed her long pink mane out of her face. “A long time ago, even before I'd dreamt. My grandfather was an adventurous bull and explored regions most tribes wouldn’t dare step a hoof in, many considered him foolish, others thought he was the bravest bull to ever be born. But my grandfather knew nothing of the talk at the time, his heart had told him to roam alone till he found his truth as we all must do. His travels had taken him far and wide. The few times he’d travel with tribes, he’d tell stories of dragons with guarded knowledge that outweighed any treasure, sea creatures that could even consume the mountains themselves. His stories were truly otherworldly to most buffalo, and many were astonished that he had not found his truth yet.” The elder stopped for a second, contemplating where to pick up. “It took an entire three years, but he soon found his truth at the one place he’d never expected. The Everfree forest, one of the most cursed lands that we Buffalo had ever seen. My grandfather said he was traveling for provisions when he heard conflict near the Everfree forest. Despite what many had thought, he wasn’t the strongest of Bulls, he knew the dangers of stepping into an active conflict. Still he moved towards the noise, he had no idea what possessed him to step in the direction he did. No matter, it was at that place he found his truth, for above the forest in a secluded area was one of the most amazing displays. Two ponies of the likes of which he had never seen before were in a struggle for superiority in the air. At first glance he had thought they both were mere pegasi settling a disagreement with a fight… No, as he got closer to the conflict, stepping into the forest he could clearly see their wings. They were leathery, thin, and had sharp protrusions at the end, he had no idea what to call them. But at that time it didn’t matter, he could also see their glowing eyes, sharp and solely focused on each other. They had the intent to kill…” The elder tapered off, gestering for some water, which a youngling quickly jumped up to go fetch. Fluttershy was completely stunned, nopony had ever gotten hoof lengths close to the cursed forest, but a Buffalo? It was almost unbelievable to hear, and the description of those two ponies sent chills down her spine, she almost didn’t want to listen any more. But it would be disrespectful to the elder and the tribe if she’d try to excuse herself. Still she kinda did want to hear a little more about the Night ponies, after all Twilight always did love studying them or what she has heard about them. So maybe it wasn't all bad; No sooner as Fluttershy had steeled herself to stay, the young bull returned with the water for the elder. The grand elder took a long drink before looking down into the fire to continue. “My grandfather at the time had no clue on how far he had managed to make it into the forest. He told me that it seemed like there was nothing remotely around, not even a single bug to witness the struggle in the air. As soon as he got close, he could tell they both were vastly different in age. One of them was an old gray bat like mare with an extravagant black tattoo covering the entirety of her back and it spread all the way to her neck. The other was a young bat-like stallion, he had no tattoos, but many fresh wounds. The stallion was clearly at the disadvantage despite being much younger, obviously experience trumped whatever advantage he could have had. My grandfather thought of intervening, however he knew it would surely end in his demise, so he laid in wait, watching the conflict unfold… He never told me the details, but the only blow the stallion was able to land apparently was enough to cripple the older mare, sending her to the ground in a heap. Grandfather thought surely then the conflict was over, yet that was before the older mare was shouting obscenities at the still airborne creature. Apparently she was a teacher and he was a student, their fight was a right of passage for the young one, but he had reservations about finishing what he had started. That was until the older mare spoke of loyalty, she spoke of it as if it was a part of her very being. My grandfather was so enthralled by her speech that he rose from hiding, still unnoticed by the two.” The little calf looked up at the mare next to her questioningly, as if she was able to interpret what the elder was speaking of. Fluttershy on the other hoof hadn’t noticed because she was doing nothing more than listening. All her other senses meant nothing, she only needed to hear what happened next. “Whatever she had specifically said had lit a fire in the young stallion, because he flew down to face his former teacher. With only a few words between the two, the young stallion gripped his teacher by the neck and sealed her fate. Completing his task, he turned towards my grandfather. Still talking in the speech, he hadn’t even flinched when he was caught. Instead he repeated the dead mare's speech once, twice, even three times… Accepting it as his own, he had found his truth. He was afraid to stay in one spot, to dedicate his life to a collective future with a tribe. He was afraid of being responsible for others, dying without completion. His one truth was he needed to be Loyal to more than himself, life and blood did not matter if he had devotion to others he walked in direction with. He had learned that from the mare's dying words…  "We both live inside bodies that will decay. Do not throw away my effort child, I spent my life watching you grow, I trained you for this day… Do not taint it, show me your strength! Because my time matters not, I no longer care about possessions or status. I want to put things right, continue where I left off, become the one thing I taught you to embrace: Loyalty!” The elder ended his story there, leaving many around the bonfire in awe of his story. Every Buffalo knew of loyalty, it was one of their founding virtues that keeps their tribes together. To think a bull could experience such a thing near the Everfree was otherworldly to them, however Fluttershy knew the elders tale was a recount of a Lunar element. She never really thought too much of their existence, it was really scary, but she had learned about them and she could put two and two together. The mare that died was the element of Loyalty, but she didn’t understand why she had to die, it was brutal and made no sense in her mind. Watching the elder leave the bonfire for his tent while the others began to chat and discuss the story, the butterscotch Pegasus decided to follow.  The large Buffalo entered his tent, stretching his old legs from sitting so long. He would have begun to take off his head dress, if it wasn’t for the presence of a small pony sitting awkwardly outside of his tent. “Young one, you may enter,” he said. In response Fluttershy only eeped because she hadn’t entirely decided on whether or not she actually wanted to talk about it. Now she was caught, and had no other real option, so admitting defeat she quietly stepped into the tent, shrinking under the old bulls gaze. “I only can assume you have more questions about my grandfather's tale?” The old bull asks, giving Fluttershy a kind smile. “Umm, yes Mr. Elder sir.” Fluttershy quietly responds. “Ha, Mr. Elder is my father's name, young one you may call me Split Hoof.” The old bull chuckles lightly. “But ask away, my child.” “How long ago did that happen?” “Eh, it’s hard to tell in my old age. My grandfather told the tale to me at least forty years ago, and he said he was nothing but a naive bull at the time. So I'd put it roughly seventy years ago. He never did tell me what happened when he got discovered, but whatever transpired made him a better bull for the tribe.” Split Hoof finished. “Oh ummm… So he didn’t get attacked or anything, that’s good to hear.” Fluttershy visibly lightened at the thought, just maybe the forest might not be as evil as she previously thought. “Now child, I didn’t say that… He simply wouldn’t speak of it, but I’m wise enough to know what he saw was what you ponies call a Night Child. More specifically that was a dark element's demise he had witnessed, you are the only element we’ve had the pleasure of meeting, but the tales you ponies spin reach far beyond your ears.” He concluded, while putting his head dress in it’s designated spot in his tent. The timid Pegasus didn’t respond, she didn’t know how to even if she wanted to. Instead she just looked down at her hoofs in concentration, she knew of Twilight’s mission and she didn’t like it one bit. It was very dangerous and dark in Everfree, and now that she’s heard a tale of the Lunar elements from only a mere seventy or so years ago, she hoped everything went fine. Standing up now, Fluttershy silently thanked the elder for his knowledge before departing from the tent. The night had already slowly crept up on the camp and it was a little hard to see, thankfully the bonfire was still well lit.  Looking up to the sky, she instantly noticed something off. There was no moon, nothing but darkness filled the sky… Fluttershy had no idea on how to take the image she saw before her, it was strange and eerie. She turned to see many of the Buffalo were noticing the strange sight too, many of them murmuring to each other about what it meant. How long had the moon not been there, she hadn’t even bothered to look up before now she couldn’t stop. There was something trances inducing to it, it was almost like she wanted to just lay down and sleep… vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv “Wah, where am I!” A confused Rarity called out in the darkness. “Where are we, you mean…” Twilight corrected matter of factly. Rarity simply rolled her eyes in response. Wherever they were it was darkness, that’s the only way it could be explained. The two Elements stood together unsure what to do. That was until another figure appeared beside them. It was Fluttershy, her sleeping form was laid gently next to the other two Unicorns causing them to look concerningly at the content mare. Rarity gestured to Twilight to wake her up, and Twilight quietly pointed to herself with a ‘why me’ look on her face. With much little option because Rarity backed up a bit, Twilight relented and lightly prodded the sleeping mare with a hoof. Fluttershy had always been a light sleeper, and when the foreign hoof poked her, she woke with a shriek.  “What happened, why is everything dark, am I dead!” Fluttershy frantically yelled quietly while looking back and forth. Her fears slightly diminished when she saw her other two friends in the same predicament.  “I don’t think we’re dead… At least I hope we’re not.” Rarity stated, still unsure herself what’s going on.  Twilight on the other hoof stayed very quiet, probing the magical aura around her. It felt very strange to her, almost liberating, like she didn’t have to worry even though they had no idea where they were at. That was until another sleeping form slowly appeared before the three, and it was none other than the princess herself. Celestia, just like Fluttershy, gently landed in the darkness causing the other three to gasp, now they were very alarmed at what might be happening. But none of them had to prod Celestia awake though, for she awoke as soon as she landed. Giving a tired yawn and a stretch, she looked almost unimpressed with their current location. “Princess!” Twilight shouted protectively, while rushing to the Alicorns' side along with Rarity and Fluttershy. “Calm down my little pony’s, I know what this is…” Princess Celestia responded, looking around for any details. “It’s a sleep Illusion spell, this part of it is simple, but I was quite impressed with the base. Clearly the caster had been preparing this one for a while.” “Base, wait you mean the moonless night?” Twilight questioned. “Well I was getting my beauty sleep, so moon or no, I’d prefer to not be here.” Rarity added in. “Yes Twilight, clearly that was a set to ensnare us into slumber. Then all that had to be done was transfer our sleeping minds into this blank dream state…” Celestia concluded. Fluttershy didn’t say anything while they were talking. She was just noticing the slow change to the darkness, there was grass now and a sky was starting to appear. She could even hear the chirping of birds and the chatter of squirrels as trees started to form in the distance around them. Normally if something like that was happening surely the butterscotch Pegasus would have already started to wilt. Yet what was happening caused her to feel very at ease, the sight of the calm sky, and the nice trees were very pleasant to look at as well. There wasn’t a dark spot in her dreaming mind at the moment. She could see a few squirrels playing with each other, wrestling for a nut. It was very funny considering one was doing its best to dodge every squirrel with a large nut in its mouth. Fluttershy laughed lightly at the amusing sight, causing the other three to look at her questioningly. Only then did they notice the area had changed somehow. “Now that’s a cute laugh if I ever heard one!” A bubbly carefree voice said, seemingly from all around. That was until a shadow that they had missed, manifested into a bright pink bouncing pony with a puffy mane and tail. Twilight immediately recognized the pony as the one she met at the forest's edge, Pinkie Pie. She was completely taken back by her change of hair, and mood however… What she saw before her didn’t even have the carnivorous teeth, it was much like theirs. Fluttershy stopped laughing and flinched back at the sudden appearance. So did Rarity in a way, she just seemed more shocked than anything. Twilight and Celestia on the other hoof were looking at the mare quizzically.  Celestia decided to play the situation carefully. “Hello, this is quite the talent you got here, may I ask your name and why you’ve decided to bring us here?” “Yeppers, I’m Pinkie Pie and this isn’t my talent silly! I make ponies laugh, you know like Ha ha hee hee laughing, but I guess you could call this a talent. But I was told to let you know we’ll be accepting your invitation!” The pink mare popped up like a spring, confetti exploding seemingly out of nowhere behind her.  Celestia’s eye brightened at the confirmation, also she was the element Twilight had encountered… Or at least an aspect of her, because she didn’t fit any description of her students' report. Either way, she could recognize her sister's style of theatrics anywhere. “W-why are we here?” Fluttershy croaked. “Because, your pretty princess said any sign would be received well! So I thought, what would be the most supertastic way to accept an invitation… And then it hit me, a little show of sorts. You know like what we’re all about, the big bad forest.” Pinkie gave a fake pout at the last part. “This is how I express my element, I watch over little one's dreams, make sure they wake up with a huge smile on their faces!” Celestia stood tall, standing between her ponies and the Lunar element. “Yes, but I still recognize this magic as that of my sisters, she was the only one alive able to perform such an intricate spell.” Twilight understood now, the tattoo had little do with the elements. Otherwise they’d have something similar as well, no those tattoos were magical connections to something much more powerful. Probing the space around her she could faintly feel an aura emanating from the pink mare that was reminiscent of their princess in a way. Truly there must be more to her abilities than just carrying out the duties of laughter, why hasn’t she seen the mare in her dreams, why only foals. It was almost like she was telling half truths or not really thinking about it at all, which again was strange considering how methodical the mare was near the forest before.  “The council said I could do it, sooo I do my bestest you know!” “Council?” Celestia asked curiously. “Uh huh, the Council of Speakers! They're like a bunch of really really smart ponies that make all the big decisions ya know… kinda like what you do, but with more democracy!” The pink mare enthusiastically replied. The last part of her response had Celestia raise a brow. Seeing the situation slowly devolving, Rarity knew it was high time to catch up. The ivory Unicorn could tell Twilight was clearly lost even though she had previous experience with the mare, and the Princess was being a bit too cordial with the conversation at hoof. Then there was Fluttershy, the poor mare was entirely lost in translation at this point, for all the progress she’s made; moments like these consistently slip through. “Now darling, I’m a mare for a good surprise every now and again. Really I am, and I thank you for such an enthusiastic display. But if you're visiting, I think we might need to leave and prepare for your introduction, don't you think?” Rarity’s emphasis on ‘your’ wasn’t lost on the mare as she began to bounce circles around the four. “Welll, there will be two of us at least. You’ll get to meet Applejack, she’s the element of Honesty! So I’d be a double party if you know what I mean!” Pinkie exclaimed. “What about Loyalty?” Twilight asked the question, and Fluttershy looked up strangely at the mention of Loyalty as well. Pinkie’s brow furrowed in concentration for a second, but then she answered with a shrug. “Eh.” Everypony looked around in renewed confusion after the mare's statement, however Pinkie’s smile only grew. As her face became increasingly bright, the dream state around them began to collapse. Darkness enveloped the four trapped ponies as all they could see in the end was Laughter's bright smile.