//------------------------------// // Night's Moment // Story: A World in Chaos // by Mocha Star //------------------------------// Night and Applejack glared at Discord as he knit from the red rope that bound Scootaloo and Night. Holding it up he smiled proudly; the shape of a tiny pony, mane and tail included. “I think it’s just the right size, don’t you? For the little Jackie inside you?” He pointed to Applejack as the knitting hovered in place. Flapping his wings Discord flew above them and sneezed. “Gasp, he said aloud. I think somepony is talking about moi.” With a blink he was sitting in a small single engine airplane hovering in place. “Ciao mi amore,” he waved as the engine revved like a race car before laying a heavy stream of bubbles behind him. A leather cap and goggles appeared on his head and a white scarf flew in the wind, waving behind him. “Uh, Discord?” Night asked with her head cocked to the side walking beside him as the noise came to an abrupt halt. The sound of tires screeching filled the kitchen before a parachute exploded from the back of his tiny plane. Discord flew, shouting loudly, from the airplane at a velocity then smashed through the kitchen door; a loud clamour echoed through the halls and back into the kitchen. Night and Applejack backed away and watched the plane lower to the floor and pop like a balloon leaving the room and door as they were before he arrived. “The bastards gone so let’s try and get Scoots outta there then find Rainbow,” Applejack said turning to the oven and galloping fast. Looking at it they gulped loudly before Night opened the door carefully. Both peeking inside they had a rush of calm and fear as the oven was empty; no body, no Scootaloo, no secret door. “Well cut, let’s go find somewhere else to look.” “Cut?” Applejack smirked. “Language of the biz, gotta stay in habit. Hey,” Applejack said turning away and walking away from the stove toward the large classically wooden door that led to the hall. The paneling and engraving of ponies across the center with various cooking utensils and etchings of popular foods around the edge was enthralling, even to Night. “I bet the time and bits they put into this door could pay a soldier for a month. Let’s get out of this stupid place and finish our mission.” “Yeah I know. I’ve gotta get somethin’ to eat though. Lemme stop at the fridge real quick.” Applejack turned and left Night at the door to make a quick food raid, only a few paces away. “Jack I’m not really into art,” Night said leaning forward looking closely at the door almost scrutinizing the details, “but this is one of the most amazing things I’ve ever seen. The detail is almost pre-Navin’chi and the cross hatching would rival Gra’th from the Griffon lands,” she said with an expert’s interest. “Jack, Jack?!” Night said excitedly calling below her. When did I start flying? I guess I may like art more than I admit. Looking around she noticed the fridge door was open so she flew down to the floor opposite of it and knocked lightly on the door. “What? I’m eating here,” Applejack said through bites. Night leaned around the door and looked at the pregnant orange mare laying on her side with fruits and vegetables scattered between her legs. Jack, smiling wide, bits of vegetables stuck between her teeth and a stem hanging from under her top lip almost flattened against her lateral incisor as she beamed happily. “This’ the best, freshest, most tasty food I’ve had in weeks. Ya want some?” She asked moving her rear legs back to give Night room to sit in the cool air with her. “Um, no. But thank you!” Night said smiling, “I’m really not that hungry. I’m trained to eat once a day after all. And not even that mom look will change my mind. I ate a big meal yesterday before all this mess so I’ll be okay until tonight. And no, not that flipping-” “Okay, okay Night. I got ya. Ya aren’t hungry, no big deal. More for us,” she smiled wide and leaned in to take a bite of a carrot she had been looking at on the rough marble floor. A slight trail of mucus stuck to the floor and led to Applejack’s mouth as she held the orange vegetable in place with a forehoof and chomped loudly. Three bites and the carrot was inside her closed muzzle crunching noisily as a content expression crossed her face. Night looked on in awe for a moment remembering pet cats she had when she was a filly growing up in Canterlot. Dig was his name and all he wanted to do was sleep and eat during the day and dig at night. Weirdest cat ever they said, but I loved him all the same. When him and Dug had their wedding and had kittens he sat and guarded them more than she did. He’d lay just like that and his kits would play around him. I’ll never forget how much I was laughed at for arranging a full wedding for two cats, but mommy and daddy were supportive and- Her thoughts stopped before she let nostalgia get the best of her. “AJ, we’ve gotta go. I’ll grab a bag and you can fill it up, we have to find Rainbow Dash before she hurts herself in this place.” Applejack rolled to her belly and pulled her legs under herself, with a light grunt she forced herself up in one movement and turned to Night. “Alright, I let my belly do the talkin’ when I have to eat ya know. So, let’s just get. I’ll be fine and so will she.” Night smiled as Applejack nudged the door closed. “So it’s a she? You’re sure?” “Nope, but most of Equestria’s ponies are female so by the odds…” “Well may the odds be our favor.” “Heh, yeah. Well anyway I haven’t even got a name yet.” “How about Night Shift?” Applejack rolled her eyes and stopped them on Night, giving a smirk. “Right, how about not. It’s something for me to think about being the mom and all. Now I’m an element bearer, a movie director, and actress… My life is so full I really have to find a way to be a mom, a real mom, and not do what my advisers suggest. I don’t wanna be the one to send my little one to school across Equestria so she won’t distract me from my job.” “You’re Jack, the great philanthropist, I’m sure you can find a way,” Night said opening her left wing and draping it over Applejack as their sides bumped, “and no matter what, you’ve got us all here for you. There’s nothing that’ll stop us from helping you or your foal. Not even my god Discord.” Applejack pulled away stopping suddenly and faced Night. “Your god? You still believe in him?” Night looked at the floor and poked it with her hoof. An awkward silence built as she tried to find the right way to speak her mind. She raised her head and looked into Applejack’s emerald green eyes and felt a chill run down her flanks to her pasterns. “I guess I still do, but only from habit.” Night shook her head and sent her mane flying as she did, trying to clear her mind. “We had three hour prayers we’d have to do in his honor, tests of mind and body to endure, almost endless hours of recitation of his past acts and the world as it was under his rule. Once I was in they were the most dedicated ponies you would ever meet to the cause they believed in. No Celestia follower has the faith in her that they instilled in me for Discord, and now that I’m free of them I get to meet the creature I spent years being told was ‘god,” she motioned with her hooves as her ears swiveled around nervously, “and I’m supposed to kill him.” Her ears fell flat to her head as she winced. “Imagine you had to kill Celestia because she wasn’t what you thought but were always told to believe. What would you do, jump at the chance and denounce her or be conflicted?” Applejack walked close to Night and leaned in close to the mare letting her cheek brush hers in a light nuzzle. “Sugarcube, you’re right. I wouldn’t know what to do and would probably be worse off than you. I’ve had most of my life laid out for me since I was a filly, not everypony has what we have Night. We have to do better for them, whether it’s me helpin’ young’ns or you saving the world. All we can do is set the best example for the next generation and hope they don’t make the same mistakes.” Night had taken a step forward and was nuzzling Applejack back as her stress faded away. “AJ, how’d you get so good at comforting ponies?” “I’m a director, I have to know how to resolve conflicts. Plus you need to know the truth and the best pony to hear that from is a pony who cares about you.” Night sighed lightly, letting a light moan vibrate her throat and backed up. “I haven’t felt that calm in a while, thanks AJ.” A warm smile crossed both their muzzles as they turned and began walking side by side, Night’s wing over Applejack as they began a small conversation on what city has the best ice cream and pizzas. “Okay, we’ve been wandering for an hour -I think- and still no sign of anypony that isn’t painted into the floor. What do you think we should do?” “Night, I haven’t the foggiest. Let’s take a break, my lower back is startin’ ta smart,” Applejack said glancing at the marble floor. Two guards were standing beside each other ‘marching’ beneath the mares. “Where’s a good place to rest guys?” she shouted to the floor as the soldiers rounded them. One of the guards stopped and looked up to look at Applejack before looking ahead. The second guard stopped and returned as both mares watched. “It’s almost like watching a movie but the movie is from the top instead of the front,” Night whispered to Applejack. Yeah, but this wouldn’t get as much revenue and the no sound aspect would only work for a select few ponies. I’ll mull it over with my advisors, Applejacks thought maintaining her smile. The guards stood side by side and began to march ahead turning right at a corner. “I think we should follow them, most of these guards are pretty helpful.” Night nodded. “Yeah, it’s our job. We’re trained in a lot of things however a lot of times I really wondered if our job was defense and war or being armored butlers. Except for training days most of our lives are spent standing around looking mean, waiting to stand around and look mean, or helping lost ponies around the castle,” she said in a mocking tone to the high vaulted ceiling. “Look Sugarcube, I understand your job was tough but at least you had a good lot in life. Some ponies get their cutie marks and have to spend their lives digging in sand or pulling carts.” The guards stopped by a door and one pointed her wing to the door before they turned and marched away. “Guess this’ the room, what’s in here Night?” “I dunno, I spent most of my time on actual city patrols or guarding the delegates’ rooms. Roaming the halls to stay busy isn’t any of our idea of a fun way to kill time and, honestly, most of those stuck on hall duty are marginal soldiers or those under punishment.” “Marginal?” “Soldiers who do just enough to not get kicked out. In it for the benefits and easy work. A world at peace is a boring job for a soldier.” “Yeah, I can see that. Let’s see what’s in here. Maybe another fridge.” They both chuckled as Night opened the door and they looked inside the brightly lit room.