Requiem; And ending to book 2 in sight~ · 4:36am Sep 15th, 2015
Hello all!
Nightie here with the last New Beginnings blog update! As many of you know, New Beginnings is the 2nd in a trilogy that has become the Fallen Equestria series, one that I've been happy to write for you. But alas, all good things must come to an end, and we are nearing the final chapter of the book, to open for the series finale~ Heart of Darkness. I've been somewhat inspired lately, and began writing bits here and there on both the new chapter, and the grand opening for the final book. First, I want to take time to thank the readers that have stayed this long with the series. I know I tend to take a lot of time between updates, and for that I do apologize. Life does get in the way quite often for me, and I find I barely have time to speak with my friends anymore, let alone come home and write more when I'm simply too exhausted from work. But I do promise you, your wait will not be in vain. I've rearranged my schedule a bit over the next few weeks, and while I'm on my vacation coming up, I will be sure to take some time between sight seeing and resting to sit down and tap away on this keyboard. Furthermore, I would like to announce a bit of truth too.
I was having a very difficult time with the previous chapter, Autumn Heat...so much in fact, that I would spend hours literally sitting in front of a blank screen, struggling to come up with a single paragraph, let alone a full scene. Much of what you had just read, was the very noble and dedicated efforts of three of my dearest friends, working off of my scribbled notes and helping form the entirety of the chapter. That's right, it was ghost written by a certain Aussie and a very sweet girl named Kimmy, as well as the mastermind behind Cadence, John. (Sledgehammer, as you better know him.) It was thanks to their efforts, that I was able to have it all come together to deliver this mind boggling mess that strangely enough...actually was very well received. So much that I've gotten eleven notes in my inbox, and one brave commentator asking for a complete, highly detailed clop chapter that entails the events after the pilot was captured. Being that I'm actually inspired to write again, and the horrid thing that is writers block finally packed it's damned bags, I'm proud to announce that I believe I can deliver on that request, and will likely add it as a bonus chapter after the conclusion showdown, after Requiem. Once I can finally get in contact with Zamariac, I'll do my very best to see to it that one is written.
Now onward to answering a question, before you ask. Firstly, New Beginnings being completed is not the end where you and I part ways. I fully intend to finish the series, and I think I'm well enough inspired to make it happen. I do have the completed timeline of the story, as well as the full cast planned out already with very detailed notes. Again, I will warn you: The series takes an extremely dark turn. It won't be the happy sunshine and rainbows that you've seen so far. There won't be any sex, and there won't be any real joyful moments. The series ending is going to be one blood soaked chapter after another, with heavy themes of seriousness, heavy gore and death. Lines will be crossed that probably shouldn't be, and there will be surprises along the way, such as an R63. I would also like to point out if you haven't caught on yet, Macha will be making her grand appearance once more. ...I promised you a completely original villain, and I absolutely will make good on that word. Everything up until now has been the build up for this, and you've already seen first hand her handy hoof work on Elysium against Nehimane. I won't spoil it further, but you know what you're getting into. If you prefer the happy ending method, the final chapter "Anduril" is where you should stop, so you leave with a smile...but....if you are brave enough, why not stay in wonderland... take that red pill, and see just how deep the rabbit hole goes.
There will be bonus content after the final chapter of New Beginnings, being the soundtrack list, deleted scenes, and request scenes that you, the readers request in the comments. It can either be an expansion to one chapter, or it could be something completely original and fresh that you want too see how it would play out. You get three choices, so list your ideas below as well, and I'll pick my three favorites.
Now with no further delay...here's a snippet of the upcoming chapter in production: Requiem. Please comment, rate, rage, and review your thoughts, I'd love absolutely any feedback you're willing to give.
Nightie
Chapter Fourteen: Requiem
The pilot sighed quietly, enjoying the peaceful autumn morning upon the balcony of Luna's chambers. The sun had just risen only an hour prior, the man awake and sipping at the cup of coffee made just for him by none other than Nightmare Moon. The morning had started off rather unusual, but delightfully so. Behind him, soft sounds of slow, gentle breathing is the only melody to grace the air. He turns his head and looks into the bed chamber, seeing his beautiful fillies sleeping peacefully with their mother, nestled safely under her outstretched wings as they sleep in this day.
Beside him, a black alicorn rests upon her rump, keeping silent vigil beside her master. She waits quietly, eagerly awaiting any opportunity to serve him in some capacity or fashion. She tenses up for a moment as he moves, ready to spring to her hooves if he leaves the balcony. When she sees he remains seated, and returns his attention to the cup of coffee and watching the activity of the palace grounds, she relaxes once more, licking her lips in anticipation.
Talon eyes her out of the corner of his vision, while taking a sip of the delicious elixir that was coffee. Setting down the cup on the table, he lets out a huff of breath. "You seem tense Nightie...what's wrong?" He asks, turning his gaze to her. "Is something on your mind?"
She freezes in place for a moment, chewing her cheek within her maw briefly while she contemplates a response. The alicorn folds her ears back against her skull for a moment as she looks away, then quietly speaks under her breath. "Master..it's...it's just..."
The pilot focuses on her now, turning all of his attention to her. "Nightie...whatever it is, let's talk about it...you don't think I'm upset about yesterday, do you?" He asks, uncomfortably adjusting his position in his chair. His hips and back are still sore from the beating he took only a few hours prior, after becoming the favored toy of five frisky alicorn's and one Earthen Mustang under a spell of lustful death.
The nightmare alicorn nods slowly, her ears swiveling about as she lets out a quiet sigh. She turns her gaze to him briefly, and nearly flinches as he reaches out to touch her. His hand comes to a rest upon her neck, his gentle touch stroking her slowly, reassuringly. It takes all of her will to remain in place, resisting the urge to leap upon him and embrace the pilot within her large, raven black wings.
"I'm not upset. I kind of figured it was some kind of accident. Morrigan seemed too amused by the situation to do anything about it, and I'm pretty sure there isn't a single guy around the city that's complaining right now. ...well, other than having a sore back from it. I have to admit though...Luna's cycles were never that bad, even her actual summer estrus. I can't even begin to imagine what you were all going through." He comments with a smile. Talon pats her on the side and returns to the chair, grasping the cup of coffee within his hands once more, enjoying the last bit of the delicious fluid within the mug.
Nightmare looks to him with surprise, blinking in confusion. "Master...you're sure you're not at all angry? We...I was..." She stutters, finding it difficult to voice her thoughts. "I...I never meant for it..."
"Nightie, relax. It wasn't that bad. ...well, being chased around by sunny butt and all...can't say I enjoyed that part. And I really don't know what to say about Cadence. The fact that Twilight viewed it more as a science experiment, actually taking notes during the whole thing was what got me weirded out." He replies, setting down the now empty cup upon the table again. He turns and looks to her, a smile upon his features. "I understand that you were unable to control yourself. I get the fact that there was weird space pony magic that I can't even begin to understand at work. Just do me a big favor...next time you start to get that feeling again, don't hide it from me because you're afraid of what I'll say. It's perfectly natural for your unique physiology to have the extreme drive and need to do that when the time comes. I'm sure there was a time when my people were the same way, thousands of years ago. It's nature. You can't fight your biology."
The nightmare alicorn nods slowly, her teal orbs locked onto him with curious wonder and hope. A small, gentle smile crosses her muzzle in understanding, her heart slowing down as the panic fades from within her. She nods happily in understanding, sensing that he was speaking his heart, and that her master had held no contempt for her actions.
The pilot begins to rise to his feet, causing the alicorn to spring to her hooves. "Master, where are you going?" She asks in a hushed voice, backing up slightly, her hooves dancing in place with anticipation. "Is there something you need?"
Talon stops, turning to look at her. "Well...I was just going to get more coffee. The twins and Luna are still asleep, and it's rare that I get a quiet morning like this one. I figured I'd enjoy the peace for a bit longer." He says taking a step. He winces as the dull ache in his lower back throbs, shaking his head and grunting in pain.
Nightie steps forward, raising one of her fore hooves and pushes him back to the seat very carefully. "Let me get it, please!" She speaks up with some excitement. "Please, continue to rest, I'll return with it in just a moment." Alighting her horn, she grasps the mug within her telekinetic hold. Her magic flickers briefly, before she's able to maintain her grip upon the cup. Her power hasn't been completely restored yet, her body still adapting to the purely light magic. The alicorn flutters her wings with gentle shakes, some loose feathers falling away and to the ground as she turns and walks, exiting the balcony and entering the chambers quietly. As Nightie disappears, the pilot leans down and picks up one of the feathers, studying it with curiosity.
He notes the feathers from Nightmare Moons wings are somewhat different than those of Luna or Celestia. Unlike those two, the shine upon the sleek black feather is not due to material and fibers, but more to a slick, somewhat sticky form of oil in a light coating. He holds the feather up to the sunlight, looking at it carefully, noting one very strange fact as well...Light does not penetrate it at all. Not a single speck of light passes through even the spaces between the fibers, the feather completely opaque and as black as the deepest expanses of ocean at night.
As the pilot is rubbing his index finger and thumb pads together, studying the oil, he hears a mare clear her throat, coming to a rest beside him. "That's called preening oil, Talon." Celestia comments, letting out a calm, gentle sigh. Her feathers are ruffled, her mane and tail not the wavering, ethereal banners that they usually are, but normal hair that lays limp against her form in long, multi colored strands of silken ribbons. Her mane and tail are a tangled mess.
If he as startled by the elder white alicorn sneaking up on him, he made no effort to show it. Talon looks up at Celestia, who leans her head down and nuzzles him lovingly. "Did you sleep well, Talon?" She asks, a gentle, content smile upon her muzzle as she backs her head away, the mare resting upon her rump against the marble floor of the balcony. "I know I sure did. I almost didn't want to get out of bed to raise the sun this morning."
"Yeah, for what little sleep you nutty space ponies let me have, I slept just fine." He mutters, turning his attention back to the feather. "Preening oil? I've never seen this on Angel's feathers before...or the twins for that matter." He comments. The pilot turns his gaze to Celestia's wings, then without warning, reaches out and plucks a random feather from her. She flinches in surprise, before glaring at him. He ignores her smoldering stare, grinning as he holds both side by side. Much to his surprise, he noticed the same oil coating upon her feathers as well.
Celestia sighs, forgiving the pilot without a second thought as she smiles, watching him study the feathers. "That's because you manage their care so well. When we preen ourselves, that's what comes out of our saliva as an after affect. And judging by the amount on that black feather, that means the owner of it was looking to impress some pony with her plumage. It's a known fact that pegasi use their wings as a form of communication, attracting the opposite sex with their shine isn't out of the question."
The pilot nods, not looking at her. "I get that, but this feather belongs to Nightie...not a pegasus."
Celestia laughs quietly, resting her fore hoof upon his arm. "I was getting to that. The fact that there's so much of the oil upon that feather, means that Nightmare Moon was looking to impress you. Not just sexually, but to be noticed. Any mare takes pride in their wings especially. Luna doesn't use her oil anymore in heavy coatings, because she knows you will always love her no matter what. Now whenever she does, it's just to maintain her feathers. Looking at that one, I'd say Nightie was wanting all of your attention she could get."
He nods in understanding, setting the feathers down. "Is that the reason? Why though? If she needs something from me, she's more than welcome to ask. Morrigan briefed me on everything regarding her redemption, and I'm aware that she's fully in my care...though I can't say I agree with any of it. This is a fresh start for her, she shouldn't be relegated to anything like this, let alone viewing me as some form of master. None of you, especially her are any form of slaves or pets. If anything, I should be in service to all of you. Since I've come to Equestria all those years ago, I was taken in, clothed, fed....you repaired my aircraft I don't know how many times over, and moved your lives around mine in ways I can't even begin to describe."
The elder white alicorn nickers quietly, lowering her muzzle down to his sitting height and plants a gentle lick upon his cheek. "That's because we loved you from the moment fate brought you here, commander. You were everything Luna ever needed, all in a single answer. You fought for us, you were our strength wen we were weak, and above all else, you died to save us. I know in my heart...that I couldn't possibly continue on if you were not here. I still don't know how I personally managed before without you."
Celestia breathes deep the calm, cool autumn wind of the city, a warm smile as radiant as the morning sun upon her lips. "Without yo being here, we would have never had the advances that we do. You brought with you revolutionary ideas that changed how we see things. Your machine brought advances in technology that have saved and bettered countless lives, weapons that defend that very way of life, and principles that pony society were slowly losing over the years. We as pony kind have never been so peaceful, and so fulfilled. Our economy is stable and strong, thriving and providing even the most destitute of areas with quality education, cutting edge medicines and jobs. We can safely say that since the last census, the country has been in the best shape it has ever seen since the reign of Discord. It would have taken Luna and I another thousand years to bring any of this about, yet it was done in just a few years thanks to the wonder that is humanity."
"Not all humans are as good as you think..." He says quietly. "On my old world, it was weapons like these that had brought about power struggles over resources, wars that were meaningless, and death upon innocent people. Humans had their good and bad points...and sadly I have to keep reminding you that we're not nearly as wonderful as you may dream. Even my country that I had come from had its darker times, and very dark, blood soaked chapters in its history. "
"But it's the fact that you didn't bring about any of it is why we love you, Talon." Celestia admonishes with a loving gaze, smiling sweetly to him. Her ears are turned outward and low, her eyes lidded and showing she's relaxed. "You had brought with you uncorrupted morals, an unwavering faith in love and light, and a good intended purpose for that very war machine. You turned something that was meant to be a tool of destruction into a symbol of peace and prosperity. These machines that we have now..." She says, motioning with her fore hoof to the flight line below. " Have become so much more than they were ever imagined form on Earth. They bring goods and items to far away places that need them. They defend the skies from threats by the griffon empire and zebradic nations. Enemies that once preyed upon my ponies now run in fear when they hear even the faintest whisper of a banshees cry. Mothers now know they can allow their foals to play outside in complete safety, because somewhere, some place, one of our many legions of the ERAF are protecting them from anything. Even the EverFree has become tame, without a single incident in years from a monster attack on Ponyville. Believe it or not, the ponies of Equestria are very grateful that you were brought to us."
He sighs shaking his head. "I don't think you get my point, sunny butt."
"But I do, Talon." She says, her voice showing signs of strain and urgency. "It's much more than that too...you also gave us all the greatest gift that not even our mother could give. You had not only tamed the night with your love and compassion...but you had given Luna a reason to live. You had saved us all from our greatest threat...Nightmare Moon. My only solution was to send her away for a thousand years, to try and weaken her hold on Luna...I had failed. You however...you had taught them both what true love is. You purified her, and you had changed something so evil into something that can only be described as love in it's purest form."
The elder white alicorn grasps the black feather from the table within her magic, holding it up to him. "Talon...The Nightmare Moon of my past was a vicious killer that had thought of no one and nothing other than the absolute and total annihilation of all life, she was the deepest part of hate that ever existed. But this...this is more than enough proof to show that you changed that. No mare would ever go through this much trouble to show affection, if they didn't honestly feel love and adoration. That Talon...is my point. That...is why we love you."
The sound of muffled hoof steps reaches their ears, the pair turning their attention to the balcony entry. Nightie has returned with the cup of coffee held within her flickering magic, the black alicorn eyeing the cup warily as it hovers shakily in the air, bound for the table. Her neck and sides appear to have a small sheen of sweat building upon her fur, the alicorn clearly struggling with her magic for even such a simple task. Right when it appears she's about to lose her grip, Celestia smiles gently and alights her own horn, the gentle golden glow of her magic securing the cup effortlessly and stabilizing it. Nightie sighs with relief, as the coffee is then given to her master without incident.
The elder white alicorn eyes the reformed Nightmare Moon, her eyebrow raised with concern. "Still having trouble, Nightie?" She asks, rising to her hooves and gazing at her herd mate. "You seemed to be having some difficulty adjusting to your new body still."
"It's nothing I can't manage, dawn bringer." Nightie sneers out, before she can catch herself. The pilot and white alicorn eye nightie with surprise, before she coughs with a shocked blush, then averts her eyes away. "I..well..."
Talon shakes his head, and sips the cup. The coffee is once again near perfect, if a bit bitter. He smiles as he looks at the dark gold liquid, the thought of just where the hell the alicorns keep finding milk from crossing his mind briefly. "Nightie...it's probably like Twilight said yesterday, that your pathways just haven't fully established themselves yet. Morrigan and Luna also mentioned that you would have difficulty for a few days until you have your magic flowing properly. I wouldn't worry about it too much. Besides, sunny butt was only trying to help."
Celestia gently bats the pilot with her wing, a wry smile on her lips at the comment. "Your beta mare or not, that's still princess sunny butt, Talon." She nods and turns her magenta gaze back to the nightmare alicorn, who seems to be chewing her inner cheeks angrily. "Nightie, it's alright. You may be an adult, and still a very powerful alicorn...but you're still adjusting to a new life, and filling in a new body. Don't discredit yourself. Give it time, you'll be back to shape shifting and tossing out lightning in no time."
Before Nightmare Moon could speak, Celestia yawns loudly and stretches out her wings to full spread, the mare shaking out her plumage and returning blood back to her flight surfaces. A few loud pops and clicks are heard, followed by one very satisfied grunt. "If you two will excuse me, I'll be returning Twilight and myself to our chambers, so we can bathe and meet with you at breakfast." She folds her wings back in, running her hoof through her tangled mess of a pastel mane. "And wash my hair...it's amazing the sheer hell estrus can play on a mares mane." Talon and Nightie nod, the black alicorn stepping out of Celestia's way, the white mare disappearing into the darkened chambers.
I don't know if I would call what I did brave, all I did was ask if it was possible
Also I feel as if I should let you know that I don't plan to read your third story. The reason for this being that I don't enjoy reading stories such as what you have described. To be honest I had to force myself to read through the sad scenes in your first story.
I fully understand, that's why I listed that disclaimer. Honestly I myself was never a fan of horror or sad movies of any kind, and really if the demonic arc wasn't so well received, the trilogy probably would conclude on retirement, rather than where it is heading. I might make an alternate timeline down the road that continues after new beginnings, to pursue that idea...it could be fun.