//------------------------------//
// Bad Moon Rising 
// Story: A Warhorse In Equestria 
// by Revenant Reaper 
//------------------------------//

The unnatural darkness blanketing the Everfree seemed to encroach from all sides, creating a foreboding atmosphere for the herd of fillies and one battle scarred war horse that made best speed ever deeper into the deathly quiet woods. The further the seven equines went, the thicker the forest canopy got; cutting off a majority of what little light the moon offered and forcing them to move in a close, staggered formation in order to pass through the narrowing clusters of trees.

With her longer strides, Midnight found herself having to move at a slower pace in order to match her much smaller companions; something that also inadvertently gave her time to regain some of the vigour she had expended in combat with the manticore. It would seem that her very presence had a ripple effect on the local wildlife as well seeing as nothing had jumped out at them for the past twenty minutes or so, and the sole timber wolf they had caught a glimpse of had promptly bolted at their approach. Feeling a lot more confident at the distinct lack of threatening creatures, the herd of brightly coated ponies began to relax a little; save for their still vigilant and much larger armoured sentinel that is.

Having observed the dark-coated mare for a majority of their trek so far, Twilight was bursting with questions about her origins. Where had she come from? Why was she here in the Everfree forest of all places? What sort of life could make her inclined to such violence? All she had were theories, some more outlandish than others, and she was not a mare who liked to be without all the facts to hoof on a particular subject.

Seeing as there weren't exactly any convenient books she could reference, Twilight realised that the only way to get some answers about their mysterious protector was directly from the source. Stopping Nightmare Moon was far more important than the unicorn's innate curiosity, but she was definitely going to find out once this crazy series of events was over; preferably with a quill and notepad to hoof.

"Ugh, my eyes need a rest from all this icky muck!" Rarity's words broke the companionable silence and snapped Twilight back to focus on the situation at hoof; especially since the thicker undergrowth they were passing through dropped visibility down to barely anything, leaving only the sounds of their hoofsteps treading over a decidedly squelchy carpet of moss. "Well, I didn't mean that literally..."

Everypony present shared the glamorous unicorn's sentiment, glancing around nervously with straining eyes while imagined dangers preyed at their minds. Midnight felt decidedly uneasy as well at the sense of an imminent threat, but maintained an exterior sense of detachment so as not to panic her skittish companions. "Stand firm, little ones. Lady Sparkle, how much further is the castle we seek?"

Twilight could only groan in frustration as she struggled to put one hoof in front of the other without running into something in the near pitch black. "I can't even see my hooves in front of my face; we could be right on top of it and not even know it!"

With that declaration, the other girls added their own thoughts and more often than not bumped into each other in the process as they stumbled forth. Although she remained silent - her eyes having somewhat adjusted to the increasing darkness - Midnight kept her gaze sweeping over the terrain before them; a niggling feeling growing in the back of her skull that something truly was amiss. It was Fluttershy's sudden scream though that had the armoured mare bursting into action; putting her much larger body between the demeanour pegasus and the potential threat.

"Aren't ya overreactin' jus' a little? It's jus' mud."

Applejack's dismissal quickly turned to a yelp of fear however as she bumped into the reason for Fluttershy's wide-eyed terror. For thick oak trunks all around them now sported twisted effigies of faces with demonic eyes and gaping maws of sharp teeth; surrounding the herd entirely on all sides.

"To me! Stand together!"

The frightened fillies were all to happy to comply with the larger mare's booming command, huddling around her legs as they stared back at the treeline fearfully. With hooves set apart to better balance her weight, Midnight stared down the nearest monstrosity with the intent to counter once it attacked, only to look on as it did... precisely nothing?

Surely there were unholy magics at work here with the glowing monstrous visages on the tree trunks and sense of foreboding in the air that had the hairs pricking up on coat, but that was all it was. The only threat was to the mind; no different than dozens of displays of intimidation she had seen used before by both sides during the war in France.

Relaxing her tense stance at that revelation, the war charger attempted to get the idea across to the ponies clustered against her side. "Little ones, there is nothing to fear! 'Tis but an illusion; mere trickery!"

Unfortunately they seemed far too terrified to listen to reason, though It was then with the sound of childish laughter filling the air that Midnight noticed she was one filly short of a full herd. Turning her head every which way, she soon spotted the strange poofy-maned pink pony stood several yards away; pulling faces and making odd noises at the possessed tree in front of which she stood. Apparently the fillies surrounding the armoured mare noticed too, seeing as the grip of terror loosened enough for them to take in Pinkie's antics with disbelief.

"Pinkie, what are you doing?! Run!"

Twilight's horror struck expression only elicited a soft giggle from said earth pony who simply shot back a smile over her withers. "Oh girls, don't you see?"

Seemingly from the ether around, soft upbeat music began to play; a bewildered Midnight attempting to find the source as Pinkie bobbed in time with the beat before suddenly breaking into song. What followed left the war charger stupefied as she stared on in bewilderment; the dark forces responsible for the creepy faces poofing away in the face of the filly's laughter, with the others joining in once they saw how effective it was.

Taking into account her earlier demonstrations of chaotic impossibility, Midnight was beginning to suspect that the pink pony really was some sort of witch; though seeing the six fillies rolling around on the grass in helpless giggles as the last of the malevolent presence dissipated away stilled her hoof. The filly had gotten through to the herd when Midnight herself could not, and since she was a loyal member of Lady Sparkle's retinue then the unnatural pink pony likely had no ill intent; especially considering how childish she was.

Still, the stories of devil worshipping crones spoken of by her former stable hands in hushed whispers on dark nights preyed on the mare's mind as the high spirited group picked themselves up and prepared to continue on. For now Midnight would reserve her judgement in respect of the filly's aid, but she was definitely going to keep a closer eye on the currently bouncing and giggling Pinkie Pie.

Said pony was now leading the herd in her own peculiar bounding way, allowing everypony to spread out a little as the density of the forest petered out into rough scrub and overflowing thickets. Or at least until she suddenly skidded to a halt without warning, the fillies following close behind piling up at the unexpected hold up with muffled grunts. Being used to the rapid manoeuvres required by mounted cavalry on the battlefield, Midnight simply veered off to one side and stood beside Pinkie as she stared at the frothing and churning waters ahead that neatly bisected the forest.

"How are we gonna cross this?" None of the other equines present had an immediate answer to the earth pony's question, though their attention soon shifted at the sound of hysterics coming from further up river.

Carefully pushing aside some bushes, the six ponies plus one war horse peaked through to see what was likely the cause of the hazardous rapids; for thrashing beneath the broiling waves was perhaps the largest creature Midnight had ever seen. A large tail as broad as she was tall repetitively slammed down upon the water's surface, connected to a long and winding purple-scaled, serpentine body that rose and fell in coiled humps above and below the waterline for as far as the eye could see. At the opposite end, an equally serpentine neck rose up to support a pair of spindly arms that clutched a large, distinctly reptilian head with a flowing mane of golden hair; mournful wails escaping from its fang laden, elongated snout.

"Forsooth! 'Tis a dragon!" The war horse felt a pulse of fear shoot up her spine at the sight of the towering monstrosity, before squashing it down in favour of righteous anger. "Flee children, I shall hold it off for as long as I am able!"

Fearing a repeat of the manticore incident, Twilight jumped in front of the armoured mare with hooves waving placatingly. "Midnight, please stop! He isn't hurting anypony, he's just crying!"

Midnight merely shot the much smaller unicorn an incredulous look as she tried to keep the potential threat in constant sight. "But Lady Sparkle, the beast could strike any-"

Whatever else she had to say was cut off by Twilight, whose violet eyes stared back at her own with imploration. "He's a sea serpent, and he's obviously upset about something. Please, Midnight, you promised you wouldn't fight unless it was necessary. Let me just talk to him, okay?"

As much as the scarred war horse wanted to drive off this towering creature, her honour bound vow stayed her hoof from charging forth. No matter how badly she wished to do so. "I... As you command, Lady Sparkle."

With a weak smile and a murmured thank you, the studious unicorn trotted back to her other companions and the herd moved forward to converse with the tumultuous sea serpent. Despite Midnight's unease however, the river dwelling creature proved to be less than a threat; especially seeing as his primary concern was losing one half of his moustache to a 'tacky little cloud of purple smoke'. Applejack and Rainbow Dash didn't seem impressed, and neither was their armoured guardian. For a mare who had seen blood spilt upon dozens of battlefields and lives ended in some of the most horrific ways possible, missing facial hair was beyond insignificant.

Rarity however felt entirely different about the whole affair; launching into an overdramatic speech on the sea serpent's carefully managed appearance, which culminated in the effeminate-sounding creature bursting into tears once she reiterated how his image was ruined without his precious moustache. "I simply can not let such a crime against fabulosity go uncorrected."

With that declaration, the glamorous unicorn leaned forth and tore off a scale from his hide much to everyone's astonishment. "Ahh! What did you do that for?!"

Ignoring the pained serpent's outburst, Rarity kept the sharp-looking purple scale clenched in her teeth as she raised it up; swiping the makeshift blade down across her withers with a violent motion before anypony could protest otherwise. The assembled ponies gasped in shock while the sea serpent fainted dramatically, leaving Midnight to stare with confusion at the severed tail lying on the ground a few yards away, even as the white-coated mare spat out the scale and focused her horn on the inert mass of coiffered hair.

But while the others watched with interest, the displaced war horse could only goggle at the sight before her very eyes as the stubby appendage on the unicorn's head lit up with a faint blue glow and a similarly coloured, shimmering mass of sparkles enveloped the severed purple tail; slowly levitating it off the ground and fusing it with the stump of hair on the sea serpent's snout. "Sorcery..."

Midnight's awed whisper contained an audible tremor of fear at the spectacle she had just witnessed, for magic had been spoken of by both commoners and nobles alike back on her home world, and never in a positive light. Such power was considered devilry; strongly associated with witchcraft and evil intent. That radiant glow had come from lady Rarity's horn, similar to that of Lady Sparkle's... Did that mean then she too possessed such terrible power that could surely wreak havoc in the wrong hooves? Just what or whom had Midnight vowed to protect from harm?

That said, the two ponies had done nought of nefarious intent thus far, and had only used their magical abilities to aid rather than cause harm; unlike the villainous Nightmare Moon who sought to bring about eternal night. Perhaps then such otherworldly power was neither evil or benign; merely a tool to be wielded as the bearer saw fit. From what Midnight had witnessed thus far, Lady Rarity and Lady Sparkle were the complete opposite of the dark sorceress, and had given her no reason not to trust them other than their no doubt powerful magic.

"Are ya alright there sugar cube, ya look a little... strange?"

Blinking back to reality, Midnight startled a little at Applejack's concerned face right in front of hers, but was internally relieved that it wasn't one of the horned ponies that preoccupied her current thoughts. "I-I am well, fair Applejack. Merely... concerned..."

The farm pony followed the larger mare's gaze to the unicorns of their group and back with a raised brow. "What's the matter, ain't ya never seen magic before?"

Midnight shook her head vehemently. "Nay. Such unnatural power is unheard of whence I hail, save for in dark rumours of foul deeds."

Applejack adjusted her Stetson with a frown before carefully wording her reply. "Midnight, trust me when ah say there ain't nothin' to be afraid of. We all got a little magic in us; even us earth ponies use it to help grow plants and make us stronger. Jus' because folks think magic is a bad thing where you're from, don't mean that it's the same here."

Midnight honestly felt a little better for hearing the orange-coated pony out; the knowledge that the closest analogue she had to a normal equine in this strange new land had access to even a sliver of that awe inspiring power calming her nerves. At least now she knew that should the worst come to pass, the horned mages couldn't conquer the land without her close cousins putting up stiff resistance. "My thanks for thy wise counsel, fair Applejack. I should not have judged thy companions' motives so harshly when thou art the one who placed such trust in mine own."

Applejack flashed the war charger a genuine smile as a small chuckle escaped her lips. "Don't you worry none, partner. Now c'mon, let's get across while we still can."

Enamoured with his repaired moustache, the flamboyant sea serpent had ceased his thrashing tantrum and the waters had calmed to small ripples that ran across the surface. By way of apology, the aquatic creature contorted its coiled body around to form a series of stepping stones for the ponies to leap across single file to the far bank. When it came to Midnight's turn however she hesitated, seeing as she was still wary of such a large being and because she doubted that he could support her considerable weight.

Instead the war horse opted to ford the river herself, managing to find a relatively shallow section that left most of her body submerged up to the neck; the heavy armour weighing her down considerably when water pressure was added on top. On the plus side, once she had finally hauled herself up on to the far bank, a vast majority of the caked blood and encrusted dirt had been washed away by Midnight's impromptu bath, and more importantly cleaned out her many wounds.

Waving goodbye to the much happier sea serpent, the mixed group of equines continued on into the depths of the Everfree forest once more. The further they went however, the darker and more denser the vegetation became; forcing the ponies to advance single file behind their much larger escort as she used sheer brute force to carve a traversable path through the undergrowth. Much to Midnight's annoyance however, the pink witch had somehow migrated to perch atop her saddle in a very human manner while bouncing in barely contained excitement.

"Weeeee! Giddy up pony!"

The black-coated mare bit off the sharp rebuke before it could leave her lips, instead focussing on the task at hoof while stewing at the fact the unnatural pony was occupying the seat reserved only for her knight. The bristling annoyance did not go unnoticed by the others though, with Twilight opting to divert attention from the oblivious party pony and simultaneously sate some of her own curiosity.

"Midnight, can I ask you something?"

A rattle of armour proceeded a pair of muddy amber eyes looking back at the purple unicorn, the dried blood still coating Midnight's shaffron causing an involuntary shudder to run down the shorter mare's spine. Friendly or not, that image still scared the Tartarus out of her. "I shall answer what I can, Lady Sparkle. Though my knowledge is somewhat limited, and I have a few queries of mine own."

Twilight groaned aloud at the unnecessarily formal title that the bigger mare just insisted on using all the time. "A question for a question sounds fair, but please just call me Twilight like everypony else. 'Lady Sparkle' just makes me feel uncomfortable."

Before Midnight could respond however, a chipper sounding Rarity broke in to the conversation. "Speak for yourself, darling. I think it's wonderful that somepony finally sees me as the vision of grace and beauty that I truly am."

While the glamorous white unicorn was posturing, Rainbow Dash decided to add her five bits too from her position on the ground, seeing as flying in such a cramped space was just asking for trouble. "Yeah, and I kinda like mine. 'Captain Dash: Wonderbolt extraordinaire'."

"Hoo boy..." Applejack rolled her eyes in exasperation at the boisterous pegasus' antics, while Twilight clear her throat in annoyance.

"As I was saying..." Regaining her composure, she continued. "I wanted to know a little more about you, and where you're from."

Midnight inclined her head in affirmation but otherwise kept her eyes on their environment as she replied. "Very well... Twilight. What wouldst you like to know?"

A particular gleam lit up the studious unicorn's eyes; one that her number one assistant would find very familiar seeing as it usually proceeded either a binge research session or a new source of knowledge that would likely keep them both up all night. "Well first of all, where are you from? You said you were in a 'foreign land', so I assume you're not from Equestria originally."

The armoured mare hummed in interest before replying. "Equestria is the name of this land then?" With Twilight's confirmation, she continued. "Very well then. As I have said afore, I hail from the province of Wiltshire in England; a nation surrounded by the sea. 'Twas there I was born and raised; toiling upon the land until the day I learned of my true calling."

"'True calling'?"

Midnight smiled wistfully at Dash's question. "To ride the fields of battle and rend England's foes asunder."

Fluttershy gasped at the declaration, while Applejack sounded more than a little uncomfortable judging by the tone in her words. "Not sayin' we ain't plum grateful fer yer fightin' abilities, sugar cube; but didn't ya like workin' on a farm?"

The war charger shook her head at the farm filly's words. "'Twas all I knew since birth. When I was chosen to serve as a noble's steed, a world I never knew was revealed to mine eyes. Since then, I have not looked back... Though, I miss it sometimes."

Rarity gave the dark-coated mare a puzzled look. "Darling, I'm a little confused. If you miss your old life, then why stay as you are? Why not go back?"

Had any of the ponies been in front of Midnight, they would have seen a twinge of regret before she managed to school her features once more. "You misunderstand, Lady Rarity; the decision was not mine to make. I was taken from my home to be trained in the art of war; to serve at the fore of the greatest conflict of all time until victory, or... my own demise."

The Equestrian mares were understandably shocked, stunned speechless even. How could anypony do this to a mare? Without a choice, she was little better than a conscript at best, and a slave at worst; doomed to fight for the rest of her life. What kind of rulers did her country have where ponies could be plucked from their homes and forced to fight against their will?

Surprisingly enough, it was a justifiably upset Pinkie who recovered first; reaching forward in the saddle to hug the war charger's armour clad neck with a deflated mane and teary eyes. "What kind of meanie pants could do that to a pony?!"

Midnight sighed in exasperation at the overly emotional response. Was war such an alien concept to these children that they could not foresee the need for additional bodies to bolster the King's armies? "One who holds a far higher station than a commoner such as I. It is a noble's right to take what they will from those below them, so long as it is in the name of the crown's service."

With abject horror and fascination, Twilight fervently regretted not having a quill and scroll close to hoof before asking any questions; the scarred mare's answers providing a disturbing yet interesting insight into how a foreign power worked. "Sorry to interrupt, but what did you mean by 'steed'? I've never come across the term before."

Back in familiar territory now, Midnight brightened up considerably. "It is what I am; a mount for a knight so that he may ride into battle."

Applejack wrinkled her brow in confusion. "Why in the hay would ya let another pony ride on yer back when ya fightin'? That don't make no sense."

The black-coated mare choked up for a moment at the mental image before bursting into laughter. "Oh fair Applejack, truly thou jest! We war chargers carry upon our backs a knight of the realm; a human, not a-a pony! No noble worth his salt would even consider mounting a pony for battle!"

"So, wait..." Dash's brow furrowed. "If you're not some super-sized pony, then what the heck are you?"

Midnight merely smiled at the pegasus' question. "I... am a horse. Equine like thy self, only of far greater scale."

Twilight listened with avid interest as the armoured mare tried to explain to the rest of the group about how a human knight and their equine partner would work in tandem on the battlefield, almost as a single being. Almost like... a form of symbiosis, the studious unicorn realised with a glimmer in her eyes. A partnership between two varying individuals of different species whose differing strengths made up for the other's weaknesses, forming a whole that was far greater than the sum of its parts.

She honestly wanted to know more, especially about these 'humans'. But before Twilight could ask, the war horse had broken through the edge of the treeline and revealed their intended destination; the broken and decaying ruins of an old castle, lit from behind by a high moon on the far side of a mist enshrouded gully.

"There it is!" she exclaimed. "The ruins that hold the Elements of Harmony. We finally made it!"