My Little Monster Hunter: Friendship Unite

by Crusader

Bedtime Stories

“But Mom, I’m not tired!” a young Twilight Sparkle complained. She quickly bounced up the flight of stairs leading to her room, as if to prove her point.

Star Sparkle smiled as her young filly outpaced her. As she followed Twilight up the stairs, Star’s lavender and white mane bobbled with every step. Reaching the top of the stairs, she found her daughter still bouncing around, seemingly filled with endless energy.

“Twilight, sweetie,” she said, patting Twilight’s head gently. “You know it’s already past your bed time.”

“But tomorrow is the Sun Celebration and you said that I could finally stay up with you and Dad this year!” Twilight said excitedly as Star Sparkle led her to her room. “You even said I could see the princess tomorrow if I’m lucky!”

“Yes dear, and that’s the reason why you’ll need some sleep. Your father and I would be very disappointed if you fell asleep halfway through the ceremony.”

“But maybe I should stay up tonight and get some practice for tomorrow night!” Twilight said gleefully, “Like you and Dad say, ‘Practice makes perfect!’”

“Yes Twilight, but I recall a wise pony once said, ‘To do your best, you must also rest,’” Star Sparkle smiled as she opened the bedroom door. Twilight was too young to use her magic efficiently on her own, so Star and her husband had to open the doors in their house for their young daughter when the occasion arose.

“You just made that up on the spot right now!” Twilight pouted as she entered her room.

As always, Star found that Twilight’s room was one gigantic mess. Pencils and notebooks were strewn over her small desk, as if a small tornado traveled over it. The waste basket beside the desk was covered in a mound of crumpled paper, most of them containing drawings of Griffon Airships that Twilight would occasionally see flying over the skies of Canterlot.

The only thing that seemed fully organized and tidy in the young filly’s room was the giant book shelf which stood next to her bed. Holding a multitude of books, from notes on various monsters to the tales of legendary Hunters, the collection was Twilight’s pride and joy. At least Star could depend on something to be always in order amidst the chaos.

Twilight, ignoring the mess, jumped quickly onto her over-sized bed, the hay mattress slightly bouncing under the weight of the young filly. However, Twilight could not maintain her protestations for long, especially so late in the evening. With her energy spent, she soon snuggled under a star adorned blue quilt, her head resting on a pillow made from Pegasus down.

“But then that makes me a wise pony does it not, Twilight?” Star Sparkle giggled as she tucked Twilight in for the night. “Now get some shut eye you silly filly, we’ve got a big day tomorrow.”

“W-wait!” Twilight said suddenly. “Where’s Sir Spike?!”

“Who now?” Star Sparkle smiled mischievously, “I don’t know anyone named Sir Spike...”

“Mom! YOU KNOW I CAN’T SLEEP WITHOUT SIR SPIKE!”

“Oh, that Sir Spike...” Star giggled. She playfully looked around the room, looking for Twilight’s stuffed toy. Checking the usual hiding spot behind Twilight’s bed, Star felt a pang of worry when the toy wasn’t there. After checking the behind the desk and bookshelf, Star suddenly realized that the toy was nowhere to be found in the room. After a few Moments, Star sighed in defeat, unable to find Twilight’s toy. “Um... Twilight sweetie?”

“Yes Mom?” Twilight asked with bright, inquisitive eyes..

“Well... I can’t seem to find Sir Spike...”

To the surprise of Star, Twilight giggled innocently. “Silly Mommy, Sir Spike is above you!”

“Wait, huh?” Feeling a soft tap on her horn, Star Sparkle looked up, coming face to face with a stuffed purple dragon with green spines covered in elaborate cloth armor. Seeing that the dragon was being levitated with magic with a familiar navy blue aura, she couldn’t help but giggle. “Okay Crescent, just how long have you been standing here?”

Turning around, she found a male unicorn with a navy blue coat standing at the doorway to Twilight’s room, his horn glowing with magic. His mane was heavily disheveled, with strands of his dark blue hair covering one of his golden brown eyes.

“Just long enough dear,” Crescent Sparkle laughed. “And how’s my little Twilight?”

“Just fine here, Dad!” Twilight smiled innocently. “Mom was about to tell me a bed time story!”

“Is that so?” Crescent asked in mock surprise. He chuckled at the sight of a shocked Star, who obviously wasn’t prepared for a bedtime story. “Mind if I join you two in the story telling?”

Star couldn’t help but sigh with relief. “Absolutely dear...”

Twilight expressed her delight by clapping her hooves together excitedly. “Yay! Story time!”

“But first things first Twilight,” Crescent Sparkle said as he levitated the stuffed dragon doll towards his daughter’s arms. “Perhaps it would be better for you to hold Spike...”

Twilight smiled as she carefully grabbed the toy from her father’s telekinetic hold and hugged it tightly against her chest. “Thank you Dad...”

“Now... what story to tell our little Twilight?” Crescent wondered as his eyes wandered across the bookshelf in Twilight’s room. “Have any ideas, Star?”

“Maybe we should ask Twilight...” Star offered as she sat on the edge of Twilight’s bed. “We must have read all of the books on that shelf a thousand times.”

Crescent nodded in understanding. “You do have a point, dear. Maybe it’s time Twilight took a hold of her own destiny...”

“S-so I get to choose the story tonight?” Twilight questioned incredulously, her eyes widening with surprise.

“Well... isn’t that what your mother said, Twi?” Crescent laughed as he ruffled Twilight’s mane playfully. “Besides, I don’t think I can take another reading of the ‘Hero of Kokoto.’”

“Okay Dad!” Twilight replied excitedly. “How about a story about the Princess Celestia? There must be a lot of stories about her!”

At the mention of Twilight’s question, both Crescent and Star became unnaturally silent. They eyed each other for a few Moments, causing confusion to form in Twilight’s head. “I-is something the matter? Did I say something wrong?” she asked worriedly. “Y-you don’t have to tell me a story about the Princess if you don’t want to... I’m sure a story about something else would be okay with you...”

“And why would we do that, Twilight?” Crescent asked his daughter. “Of course your mother and I would love to tell you about a story about Princess Celestia...”

“It’s just been a while since your father and I heard or told the tale about how ponies really made their mark in this world. Apparently, we both forgot how the story goes,” Star laughed softly as she made her way to the door. “Don’t worry Twilight, I’ll be back,” Star reassured Twilight as soon as she saw her daughter’s eyes start to well up with tears. After seeing Twilight nod in understanding, Star left her daughter’s room and headed down the stairs.

“Dad?” Twilight asked after a Moment of silence.

“Yes, Twilight?” Crescent replied.

“Do you think I’ll see the Princess tomorrow?”

“Of course you will sweetie...” Crescent said, ruffling Twilight’s mane once more. “Besides, she’s already met you before!”

“That's not what I meant Dad...”

“Oh?” Crescent was mildly surprised at his daughter’s response. She was always inquisitive about the world around her, but the same could be said about a majority of young ponies.

“I just want to see who the Princess really is. She’s always formal when she meets with you and Mom when I’m around, but I can see there’s something behind those eyes of hers.”

Crescent was thinking of a response to Twilight’s observation of the Princess, when the sounds of hooves on the stairwell broke his train of thought. “Sorry it took me so long to get the book!” Star Sparkle said as she entered Twilight’s room, looking slightly exhausted. A book hovered above her, held in place by Star’s levitation spell. A unicorn made of gold with an emerald eye was ingrained into the ancient cover of the book, piquing the curiosity of the young filly. “It was in a volume of assorted pony tales, but I finally found it!”

“Yay!” Twilight cheered excitedly as her mother placed the book gently on Twilight’s lap. As her mother and father started flipping through the pages of the book looking for the story, Twilight’s eyes widened with excitement. There were titles that Twilight could recognize, but a majority of them were unknown to her. Twilight made a mental note to ask her parents if she could read the book on her own later.

“Aha!” Crescent said after flipping through the pages of the book for the umpteenth time. “Here we are... ‘The Legend of Zelda’ “

“Dear,” Star said, clearly unamused by her husband’s poor attempt at a joke. “That isn’t the princess we’re looking for.”

“Oh, yes, my mistake,” Crescent said as he rolled his eyes. “What’s a Griffon legend doing in a book about ponies anyways...”

“Yes, as your father and I were saying, Twilight,” Star said after giving Crescent a slight look of disapproval. “We found the story, but we’ll only read to you on one condition.”

Twilight nodded her head excitedly up and down, fully willing to take on the request. She was eager to hear the story that her parents went through so much trouble to find for her, that she didn’t want to turn them down.

“Once your father and I finish this story,” Star smiled. “You’ll go straight to sleep, got it?”

The young pony mentally sighed in relief; she had expected a much more difficult request. “Okay Mom!” Twilight smiled in return. “I promise I’ll go to sleep as soon as you tell me to!”

“You promise?” her father asked.

“I promise!”

“That’s good enough of a promise for me,” Crescent laughed as he nudged Star. “We better hurry up then Star, it’s getting late.”

“Okay, okay, just hold your horses,” Star teased. As she cleared her throat, Twilight braced herself for the words of a story she had never heard before.

“Once upon a time, in the magical land known as Equestria...”

* * *
… There were two regal sisters, both of them creating harmony for all the creatures on the World. Because ponies were the most magically skilled beings on the planet, the two sisters took it upon themselves to raise the two greatest beings in the skies.

The eldest one used her immense power to raise the sun, bringing forth the light-bearing day. Ponies laughed and played during the day, enjoying the warmth that the sun brought upon them. The youngest used her powers to bring the darkness of night, illuminated only by the silvery moon above. Despite sleeping during this time, most ponies felt awe as the moon and stars shone in the night sky. The younger sister, being a humble pony, felt like this was all she ever wanted.

And thus, everypony lived in harmony. Peace and happiness reigned and spread over the land, and every race under the sun and moon lived their lives to the fullest.

But not everyone it seemed agreed with ponies and the power they held. Creatures from a faraway land came to Equestria, a dark thunder cloud following behind them. They were nothing like any thing ponies had seen before. Wings so large, that they caused the wind to tremble with every beat, silencing even the loudest storms! Claws,scales and fangs so sharp, that they could easily cut and chew through the hardest metal and gemstone! Their eyes so menacing, that even a single stare would reduce the bravest stallion into a crying foal!

They called themselves Dragons.

The Dragons came to Equestria for a single purpose. They wanted the magic that the pony princesses guarded with all their might- the power to control the sun and moon. At first, the princesses tried to reason with them, asking for peaceful co-existence between the two races. But the Dragons leaders refused a compromise with ponies, and it soon became apparent to everypony in Equestria that there was no longer room for reasoning...

The Great Dragon war had begun.

The Princesses took it upon themselves to find the bravest and strongest knights in Equestria to combat the Dragon menace. After months of scouring Equestria, the Princesses found the ponies that would help lead them to victory. Two Unicorns, their mastery in magic unrivaled throughout the land. Two Pegasi, their speed and agility nothing like Equestria had ever seen. And Two Earth ponies, their strength shaking the ground with every footstep they took. Their search complete, the Princesses and the Knights began the journey back to Canterlot.

One by one, the knights hunted down the lesser Dragons, liberating pony towns in Equestria. With every Dragon slayed, and with every town saved, word of their deeds spread. The Dragons, who had initially underestimated this group, felt fear slowly build within them. In retaliation, they sent one of their own to scare the Pony population into submission. This Dragon was a monster, unforgiving and merciless, and not to mention huge. Easily towering over the city of Canterlot, it could have easily crushed the city that was home to the Princesses.

Somehow, the knights caught wind of the impending attack. They hunted the giant beast before it could reach the capital city of Equestria. Undaunted by the sight of the several armored individuals in its way, the giant Dragon ignored their seemingly petty attacks on its thick hide. But soon, it became harder to stay afloat, the beats of its wing crawling to a slow tempo. Forced to the ground, the giant steps that were once easy, slowly became painful and laboured. Its thoughts became nothing more than whispers in its head, its mind growing more silent as time passed by. Its vision became blurry, the city it was tasked to destroy slowly slipping into darkness. And its breathing became so difficult, oxygen refusing to enter its lungs, the laboured breathing echoing across the land. Soon, the Dragon let out a mighty roar, and fell to the ground with a earth shattering crash, where it took its final breaths.

To the surprise of all, the knights had done the impossible. They had slayed the fabled destroyer of cities. Soon, everypony in Equestria uttered two words that brought inspiration to ponies and dragons, and fear to the Dragons.

Monster Hunters.

And thus began the fall of the Dragons. Unprepared for such resistance, the Dragons began their untimely retreat from the land. Any Dragon foolish to stay in Equestria and fight the knights would only find themselves meeting death. Soon, after months of fighting, the Dragons ceased to exist in Equestria. The Great Dragon War was over.

Yet as Equestria prepared to enter a Golden Age of peace, fate, it seemed, was poised to challenge that change.

Something happened within the Princess of the Moon. At first it was simple resentment. But resentment slowly turned to distrust of her own sister. Her sister could only watch with sorrow in her heart as her sister slowly became more distant, darkness growing within her soul. One day the moon refused to lower to make way for dawn’s light. Her sister, distraught, tried to reason with her. But it was too late... the Moon Princess had become the entity known as Nightmare Moon. Equestria, and soon the Planet, was cast into eternal darkness. Without the light to banish them, creatures of the night crept from the shadows, free to terrorize in the unnatural umbra.

With no one left to turn to, the Sun Princess called the Knights to unite under the flag of the Kingdom once more. With the Sun Princess galloping by their side, the Knights set out on a quest to find a set of legendary objects of powerful magic that were only to be used in dire time of need. Magic that, according to the Princess, could defeat Nightmare Moon.

It was these magical objects that summoned the Knights themselves when Equestria needed them. They called these objects the Elements of Harmony.

After a perilous journey, after facing trials that were poised to break the bonds between the Knights and the Princess, they finally managed to do the impossible yet again. The Elements of Harmony were finally reunited. With fiery courage burning in their hearts, the Princess and Knights decided it was time they went to the ancient castle where Nightmare Moon resided, to end the eternal night once and for all.

Using the magic of the Elements of Harmony, the Princess and Knights battled Nightmare Moon within the ancient structure. With victory near, the Sun Princess tried to banish the spirit of evil that gripped her sister’s heart. To her dismay, the being known as Nightmare Moon merely laughed off her foolish attempt. Summoning magic of unknown origin, Nightmare Moon loosed a spell that would have surely ended the Sun Princess.

But something happened. Without warning, the Elements of Harmony shielded the Princess from the blast of magic that would have ended her life. The Princess had managed to muster the power to control all the elements at once! The Knights could only watch in awe as the Princess used the Elements. Radiant with unfhantomable power, the Princess unleashed a spell that engulfed Nightmare Moon, who slowly vanished from their sight. The Sun Princess had done the unthinkable to her sister.

She banished her to the moon.

With her Sister no longer by her side, the Sun Princess took it upon herself to raise both the Sun and Moon for every one in the land. Peace and happiness returned to the land...

* * *

“…And harmony has been maintained in Equestria ever since...” Star, despite finishing the story and closing the ancient tome, continued to stare at the gold unicorn of the cover, her image reflecting off the gold and emerald. “Wasn’t that a wonderful story Twilight?”

“Shh...”

Looking up from the book, Star could see the reason why her husband had hushed her: their daughter was peacefully snoring under her quilt, a small smile adorning her young face. “Sir” Spike was being carefully tucked under her arm by Crescent, the doll easily slipping under the sleeping filly’s foreleg. She nodded at Crescent, who returned the gesture, and they both left their daughter’s room in silence.

“Tough day at work dear?” Star asked curiously, watching Crescent struggling to stay awake as they trotted towards their bedroom, “You look kinda worn out.”

“It’s just that I HATE Rath mating season when you’re not by my side. It’s completely unbearable when I do it alone.” Crescent sighed as he unlocked the door to their bedroom. “I swear those Wyverns really get feisty when it comes to this time of year...”

As they entered the room, Star could see the first rays of moonlight seeping in through the large glass door that led to a balcony outside. The moonlight illuminated their room softy, giving both of them a reason to keep their magically powered Prishroom lamp off.

Compared to Twilight’s room, the room occupied by her parents could be viewed as a vertible sanctuary for their possessions. Papers and books, pencils, quills and ink bottles were stored and piled in their respective shelves and boxes. The king sized bed that lay near the glass door had its covers neatly made, tucked in the corners of the bed.

“The wonders of parenthood...” Star muttered as she watched Crescent brush his hair, “just wait a few more months, and I’ll be back on the field with you again.Besides,” she giggled as Crescent inserted a roller into his fringe, “Astronomy and categorizing books in the Canterlot Library are getting on my nerves. Dodging falling books isn’t the same as dodging giant ice balls.”

“Well, I’ll be counting on it Star,” Crescent laughed as he jumped onto the bed that he shared with his wife. “Heck, I think Princess Celestia might be glad that the White Flame and the Blue Thunder will once again wreak havoc on the hunting grounds.”

“Last time you told her that, we almost got kicked out of her office by her guards!” Star giggled at the memory. Crawling into the covers of her bed, she snuggled up close to Crescent. “You’re just lucky the Princess has a sense of humor.”

“I’m also lucky that I have a wonderful wife right beside me...” Crescent said softly.

“...who will kick his flank if he doesn’t get some shuteye,” Star smiled back, sending shivers down Crescent’s spine. She could be so deadly with that soft look on her face.

“Okay, okay, I’ll get some shut eye,” Crescent whispered quietly. “But first close your eyes...”

Star rolled her eyes and laughed, “You’re not planning to kiss me while my eyes are closed are you?”

“Guilty as charged,” Crescent sighed, his brilliant plan ruined.

To his pleasant surprise, he felt Star sliding closer towards him, his golden brown eyes reflecting dimly in her aqua-blue irises. “You know... you could of just asked...” she whispered playfully.

She inched even closer to him and firmly planted her lips onto his. “Now get some sleep!” Star chided as soon as their lips parted, “I don’t want you falling asleep like some newborn foal in front of the princess, okay?”

“You know you could have just asked,” Crescent grinned as he nuzzled his wife tenderly.

Star could only grin back, “Yea, yea. Good night dear...”

“Good night to you too...”

As soon as he was sure Star drifted off to sleep, Crescent silently slipped out of bed. Walking towards the balcony, he opened the door and stepped out into the cool night air.

The skies over Canterlot were clear that night. Crescent felt the sight of the city that lay beneath the castle was breath taking. The dimmed lights scattered about the city gave off an ethereal glow, mimicking the starry sky above. Looking up, he paused to take in the subtle scintillations of the stars, pinpricks of whites and yellow in an inky well of night. The moon shone brightly, its silvery light bathing the Equestrian country side. Crescent smiled at the sight. It was certainly beautiful, but it was not the reason why he was staring at the sky at that hour. His eyes shifted towards the most prominent feature on the moon.

Most ponies called it the Mare on the Moon. A large group of Lunar Maria that formed into the shape resembling that of a Unicorn mare. Theories popped up over the ages, trying to explain how the shape on the moon came to be. Crescent was sure he had heard them all. Still staring at the Mare in the Moon, Crescent let out a quiet sigh.

“It’s been almost a thousand years,” Crescent said quietly as he continued looking at the Mare in the Moon. “Just how long do you plan on staying up there, Princess Luna?”

Comments

[Empress Pinkamena]

The visualizations flow smooth like silk once they do flow, as some of the sentence's structures inhibit the flow, but then the visuals pick up as crisp as before. The words used are perfect in conjunction with the visuals and you've actually managed to keep Twilight canon in not only her place in MLP but no doubt Monster Hunter as well. The humour was lovely and most of this chapter was splendid. 4/5!

[MyInnerWeirdo]

Wow, this story is fantastic! I look forward to reading more!