//------------------------------// // Ch4- Birth of a Race // Story: Tales from the Golden Oak Library // by Grenazers //------------------------------// Birth of a Race Long before Princess Luna's banishment to the moon. She and her sister, Princess Celestia, rule their kingdom of Equestria together. Both sisters have the share the same amount f responsibility with one another. Princess Celestia perform all her duties during the day, while Luna herself did her duties during the night. They kept up with this routine for the next hundreds of years, nothing changing much in between. Princess Luna sat alone on her throne, while a courier was telling her of some dire news. Recently a strange group of beast has been attacking her subjects. Everyday they get more bolder and started attacking larger settlements. These beast are also quite ferocious as not even her guard can stop them. She tried to take care of these beast herself, but they always disappear before she could even reach them. She at the end of her ropes. She doesn't find a way to deal with these creatures, more of her subjects will be harmed. That all of sudden he appeared. A stallion flew in through one of the opened windows and announce his presence to the night princess. Princess Luna turned to the stallion and notice some strange features on him. He had grey coat and messy blue hair. On his back, instead of bird wings this stallion had bat wings. His eats was also more fluffy at the tip and his yellow eyes were reptilian like. Luna asked who the pony was and he managed to get pass her guards. The stallion introduces himself as Nightwing and he just flew in here. She eyed the mysterious stallion and questioned what he wanted. He responded by saying that he was offering his service to the princess. He heard of the problem she was facing and he offers to take care of the beast. Sceptical, Luna questioned what he wants for his services. Nightwing only requested one thing, a foal. More specifically he wants the foal to come from her. Luna did not take this lightly. She was outrage by such a request, but was silence when Nightwing pulled out a severed head of the beast from his backpack. Her eyes widen upon seeing the beast and reconsider his offer. Deep in thought, Luna weighs her options. This stallion could have collected the head from a already deceased body. However, if his words speaks truth then Luna has finally found something to get rid of the beast. She told Nightwing that she'll accept his offer, but before she needs proof of his action. When the stallion pointed to the head, Luna explained that she wants a witness. She told the batpony to wait outside and that she will sent one of her guards to be his witness. Nightwing gave no objections and flew out the same window. Leaving the princess all alone in the throne room. Once he was gone, Luna cast a illusion spell on herself. The way it works is that while she looks the same, everypony else will see her differently. To everypony, she looked like a simple generic pegasus stallion guard. Making a quick check to see that her spell works, Luna flew out the window and met the waiting stallion. The both of them then took off, with Nightwing leading the way. The strange stallion led Luna all the way to White Tail Woods, there he instructs her to stay back and watch. She complied and observed as the stallion flew into the woods. Luna stood there waiting for the stallion. She waited for an hour and nothing happened. She was about to leave when suddenly she heard a loud roar from the forest. Out from the shadow a large furry beast jumped out, with a certain stallion on its back. The beast flail around, trying to get rid of his assailant. Unfortunately for him the pony held firmly on his back. All the while repeatably stabbing the beast with his dagger. The beast then resorted to falling on his back, hoping to crush the stallion behind him. Nightwing saw this coming and flew off, leaving his dagger embedded in its back. The creature fell and slammed the dagger deeper in its body, instantly dying. The batpony stood triumphantly over his fallen prey. He then notice the guard pony with his mouth agape. Luna stared in absolute shock at what she just witness. This stallion managed to slay this beast all by himself, a feat not even her own guards can do. She was brought out of her trance when Nightwing spoke to her. He pointed towards the dead beast and told the guard of his proof. The guard complied and inform him that he will tell the princess of his action. So disguised alicorn princess took flight and left, leaving the stallion with his prize. After the deal was made, Nightwing kept up his end of the deal and continued to hunt down the savage beast. Not wanting to keep her guards in the dark, she inform them of Nightwing and even sent some to assist the stallion on his mission. He decline at first, saying he works best alone. But, Luna was very insistent about it. Days passed and Luna got more reports of slain beast across Equestria. Nightwing was truly a stallion of his words. Then came day were Luna has to fulfil her end of the deal. She invites Nightwing into her bed chamber and they spend the night together. By next morning the lunar princess was pregnant. To her surprise, Nightwing stick around. Saying that he was keeping an eye on the mare bearing his child. Luna didn't tell anyone of her conception. The only pony who knew was herself, Nightwing, and a few of her trusted guards. It was during this time, that the two actually started bonding. Sure Nightwing would be sent out and assist the guards, but he mostly stand by the side of his lover. Luna was finally able get to know the mysterious stallion more from their talks. Apparently Nightwing one of a kind. He was the only batpony in existence. He explained that he has no idea where he came from or how he was created. His earliest memories was being at a orphanage. He was an treated like an outcast from the kids because of his unusual appearance. Because of this Nightwing has always felt alone. Luna understood feeling very well. She herself is always alone at night. With her subjects and sister asleep, she felt lonely during her silent nights. Finding a common ground their relationship grew even further. The two then became more romantically involve with each other. Finally the day came and Luna was about to give birth. She laid on top of bed, with only Nightwing and doctor in the room. Nightwing stood next to her, he was currently calming the princess down, trying to make her relax. The doctor perform his duty and told the princess to keep pushing. When the foal came out, both Luna and Nightwing sigh in relief. However, the doctor inform the two that there is more. This surprises the two and waited for the next foal. The doctor pulled two more foals out from the princess. The doctor held the three foals up and displayed them to the couple. Luna stared blissfully at her three foals and order the doctor to bring them to her. Nightwing was both shocked and happy at the same time. He was only expecting one foal, but three, truly this was good day. He inspected the three foals, who Luna was busy snuggling them. Looking closer he could see that two of them were colts and third one was a filly. They stay together for almost a month now. Until the day came where he and the foals has to leave. She knew this day would come, but still she feel sad about it. Nightwing was going to take his foals raised them himself. Luna objected to this, but her lover reasons that she still have her duties t her country and how they can't keep their secret for long. With that Nightwing took the foals and disappeared into the night. Leaving Luna all alone again. Many years passed after that event and she has heard no words from that stallion or her three foals. To say she was sad would be a understatement. However, she hid depression and continued on with her princess duties. Eventually memories of Nightwing slowly disappeared, becoming nothing more then a nameless stallion she vaguely remembered. But, then some extraordinary happened. One night while she taking a stroll she was greeted by a group of batponies. According to them, they came to offer their services to the princess. Confused she asked why they would want to serve under her. They responded by saying it was request their great grandfather. When she ask who he was, they said it was Nightwing. This instantly triggered a flashback and Luna remembered everything about that stallion. She further learned that these batponies were all descends of him. Apparently he and the foals started a small colony. Her three children grew up, found mates, and produce offspring. These later became part of the colony, further increasing the batpony population. Once they were enough of them, they went onto fulfilling Nightwing's last wish. He wanted them to repay the help Luna did for him by offering their services to her. Luna was astound by this, never had she imagine that Nightwing would do such a thing for her. She happily accepted their services and soon the role of the night guard was slowly being replace by these ponies. From that day on, Luna sat on top of her throne, surrounded by her children. Finally was no longer alone, for now she has an entire race that dwells in the night. “Wow, now that was an interesting story.” Twilight spoke. “What do you girls think?” “I think it was great!” Sweetie shouted. “There's some holes in that story.” Applebloom pointed out. “What's a hand?” Scootaloo asked. “What do you like about it Sweetie Belle?” Twilight asked, ignoring the hand question. “What I like is how Nightwing was a knight in shining armor. He swooped in saves the day and even sway Princess Luna herself!” Despite Sweetie's enthusiasm, her orange pegasus friend was not so sure. “I don't know, I just don't think Luna would that easy to sway.” She commented. Sweetie then glare at Scootaloo. “And why is that?” “Well because Luna is a thousands of years old! You think she won't be that easily swayed by this guy.” “He's not some guy! He is a stallion that won the heart of a fair princess.” Sweetie retort. Before this argument could escalate, Applebloom stepped in. “girls please calm down, it's just a story, it's not real.” “She's right you know.” Spike added. “These are just how they were written. The author just didn't put much thought into it.” Twilight watched the four converse with each other, glad that they settle it without her budding in. Taking a look at her clock, she was surprise to see how much time has passed. “Girls!” She said loudly, earning her their attention. “It's getting late, you all should be heading home now.” Realizing how late it was, the crusaders all rushed to the door. They all said their goodbyes and left. Twilight watch the three fillies run off in the distance, always happy to help them out.