//------------------------------// // The Night That Changed Equestria Forever... // Story: Shadows of the Blackest Night // by Talguy21 //------------------------------// The Night That Changed Equestria Forever... 1005 Years Ago... A dark night loomed over Everfree Castle. Its denizens, save for a select few unlucky guardsponies, had all long since retired for the night. At least, that's how it would appear on the surface. For unknown to the many, there was activity in the catacombs beneath the castle. A pony in a cloak walked cautiously to one of the entry points, a small indentation in a stray rock in the castle courtyard. The pony's amber eyes shone in the moonlight as he put his hoof in the indent and twisted it in a very complex series of twists. When he withdrew his hoof, his ears perked in response to a near-inaudible click. Pushing firmly on the rock surrounding the depression, a small doorway parted in the rock, just barely big enough for the stallion to squeeze through. Entering it, and shutting the door behind him, the pony entered a narrow corridor, too dark to see clearly. Having been down here countless other nights, however, the stallion proceeded into the darkness without a thought. His wings brushed against the sides of the tunnel, irritating them, but little more through the cloak. He'd have to preen them later, without a doubt, as he always had to. After several minutes of walking through the corridor, it had twisted and turned so much that not even he was sure where the path truly lead. At long last, the tunnel showed a light. As it started to widen, a single torch on the wall preceded a doorway, carved into the stone. Beside it stood another Pegasus in the armor of the Night Guard, with a red moon emblem attached to the chest plate. Upon seeing the pony, the guard saluted. "Captain Blackest Night, sir!" he announced, receiving a nod from his captain. "Her majesty awaits you in the chamber with the council." Blackest Night pulled back his hood, revealing his grey coat and light purple mane, matching the guard detail for detail. After all, the enchantment on the guard's armor was modeled after him. "Thank you, Lieutenant." He replied. "At ease." The guard fell back into his post, relaxing slightly but obviously still alert. Night passed by, and ducked into the doorway. What awaited him inside was in stark contrast to the bare rock tunnels leading him here. A large, domed room stood before him, with a ring-shaped table at its center and a clear view of the shining full moon through a small hole in the ceiling. The ceiling was supported by a ring of pillars around the edge of the room, rising at a slanted angle to meet in a ring surrounding the hole. Seated around the table were four unicorns and her majesty herself, Princess Luna. Each, save for Luna, wore dark robes with the Red Moon symbol sewed into the chest area. The princess was without her regalia, instead sporting a cloak much like Night's own. The room was all but silent as Night took his seat nearest the doorway. Luna looked to her captain with an enthusiastic grin. "You join us at last, dear Captain!" She exclaimed. "This is most perfect timing, as well, as my moon will crest in the sky in a few minutes." She rose, and each of the unicorns did, in turn. "Councilmare Silvermoon, if you please." The mare closest to Luna nodded, a sleek unicorn with stark white fur and a mane matching her name. Her sparkling golden eyes lit upon Luna selecting her, and she cleared her throat before speaking. "As you'll all recall, we've been making preparations for the Nocturne Army for months now, to secure our beloved princess' right to her throne." Murmurs of acknowledgement circled the table, and Silvermoon grinned. "We are finally nearing the final phase of the operation. Her majesty has finished the spell required to achieve our goal, and our inaugural use shall be tonight." She swept her gaze around the table at her colleagues. "Has everypony reviewed the spell?" Several agreements arose from the assembled unicorns. "And so every piece is ready." She then turned to Blackest Night, her expression hardening into a somber state. "And Captain-" she continued, her voice faltering ever so slightly. "-are you ready to do what must be done?" Night nodded firmly. "I'll do whatever it takes, for my princess." he replied. "Very good." Silver continued, before beckoning to the space inside the table's perimeter. "Then, please, if you would assume your position at the center, we shall begin-" she steals a glance at Luna. "-with your blessing, of course, your majesty." Luna smiled wryly. "You need not ask. We all know what we must do." Luna said. With a nod from Night, he threw his cloak aside and carefully flew to the central ring, where chalk lines had been drawn in complex patterns. "Councilponies, initiate the ritual." Luna commanded, and immediately, their horns lit, red, purple, gold, and silver, before magic arced from each into the circle around Night's hooves. The chalk on the floor lit with a brilliant white flash, before everypony could feel the energy begin to permeate the room. At that moment, the moon wholly filled the hole in the ceiling, casting its light onto Night in its entirety. It was then that Luna's horn lit, and a dark blue stream of energy shot out and struck Night in the chest. The stallion cried out in pain, but stood firm. The beam then widened to engulf Night, obscuring him from the sight of the casters. All that could be heard above the roar of magical energy was Night's screams. After a minute or so of sustained casting, the moon shifted out of alignment with the room, and the spell cut off, save for Luna, whose eyes had become a solid white glow, and her magic had gone all but white around the edges. She finally relented, snapping from her trance, as the remaining energy circled her captain before dissipating with a crack. The stallion had apparently been lifted from the ground, because he fell to the floor with a thud. One pony gasped, pointing with a crimson forehoof at Night. At the stallion's sides lay a pair of ebon wings, leathery like those of a bat. The pony rose, moving to the fallen captain's side, before inspecting him more thoroughly. The red magic of the unicorn lifted his lips slightly, revealing a sharp fang where there wasn't before, and checking his eyes revealed slitted pupils. Though he was unconscious, the stallion's already powerful frame had grown ever so slightly more defined, and he was otherwise unharmed. "It is as you predicted, your majesty," The councilstallion reported. "He has obtained features of a bat, and might well have grown in strength as well." The councilor bowed his head. "I had my doubts, your majesty, but it seems you may get your soldiers yet." Luna smiled as a mother would upon Night's unconscious form. "Then it appears the first Noctral has been born."