//------------------------------// // The Summer Sun Celebration // Story: Night Patrol // by Foxgear //------------------------------// Night Patrol ch 33 By Foxgear The wind blew through her hair as she soared through the sky, playfully skipping across a patch of clouds, turning them into black thunderclouds. The ponies behind her crashed into them and were zapped, the lightning charring them black and frizzing their hair. She smiled, landing on a cloud to address the team of Pegasus. “A good run, but you’ll have to do much better to catch me,” Celestia chimed playfully, kicking some cloud in their faces. The Pegasus team was part of a new batch of recruits hoof-picked by Firefly for the latest group she was forming to replace the Shadowbolts. The pink and blue pony has yet to find a new name for the team, but inspiration would hit her any day now. “Back to your drills now, all of you. I have some things I must attend to.” Jumping off the cloud, Celestia glided down to the city of Canterlot, aiming for the newly remodeled training grounds. New recruits stopped in the middle of their drills to bow to her, a gesture she returned with a nod of her head as she passed. A feeling of disappointment welled up inside her as she looked at the ponies training hard to become cannon fodder for her. Harsh criticisms, but the ponies, mainly stallions, were part of the new Equestrian Royal Guard under the EUP intuitive. After Luna’s banishment, the council of nobles used public opinion to push the measure through legislation while she was in mourning for what she did to her sister and thus reluctantly allowed the legislation to pass. No matter how hard these ponies trained, there was still only one group she turned to for the darker, dirty work that comes with ruling a kingdom, her sister’s night ponies, the Night Patrol. For ten years after Luna’s banishment, they worked in the shadows doing the jobs she used to leave to Luna, such as monster-slaying and much darker things that the public would never find out about. Because of this, a stigma has been placed upon the remaining night ponies. They were feared and shunned and called cultists as the rumors of her sister’s dark side, Nightmare Moon, spread through the land. Seems before coming to do battle, Nightmare Moon had made a few stops along the way. First, she laid ruin to Griffonstone, and then the northern zebra tribes, the Minotaur clans, and even a few dragon herds. Her message was clear, fear her. Her crimes did not stop there, but there were far too many to count or try to suppress, and there was even a day, called Nightmare Night, where ponies would tell the false story of Nightmare Moon. A tale she let live for it took the light off her missing sister as the history books were slowly erasing Luna from their pages and were replacing her with Nightmare Moon. Celestia told the scholars her sister had died trying to stop Nightmare Moon, which was the truth, from a certain point of view, namely hers. It was all she could do to preserve her sister’s honor. Still, while many patrollers have chosen to retire or follow Sixes command, a few decided to help her directly. Kira Perfecta, now Queen of Nippon, ensured their alliance would be a long and prosperous one. Firefly was another, she was in charge of the Pegasus division of the EUP, and Nightingale would drop by to help with the training between the missions. Lately, though, the two have been at odds with each other, something she was planning to get to the bottom of today. “Why won’t you just admit it? You like it here!” Firefly’s voice resounded over the training grounds. Slowly the recruits and officers slithered away, giving their commander plenty of space. Peeking around the wall, Celestia was just in time for Nightingale’s rebuttal, the metal winged pegasus looking particularly angry today. “Why would I want to stay here and train a bunch of limb wing weaklings! They have no discipline! You want to call these guys Shadowbolts!” “They are disciplined,” Firefly retorted angrily through grit teeth, “Yes, they are not Shadowbolts, far from it, but they do have talent. If you would just stay and actually train them for longer than ten minutes, then maybe they could be bolts someday!” “If that’s the case, talk to Sixes or Fury. They could do it.” Firefly snorted and then sighed, looking tired and exhausted, “Everypony here is too afraid of Sixes and Fury, and they’ve stopped talking to me. I’m not even allowed to enter the castle anymore! They say I’ve made my choice.” “Because you did,” Nightingale said with a soft tone, “You chose to help train these EUP ponies, the same ponies that disrespected our princess, the same ponies that have done nothing but slander our princess’s name for the past ten years.” “I just wanted to help Equestria! Is that not what we were met to do when we joined Night Patrol?” Firefly asked with tears threatening to fall. Celestia decided it was time to intrude, giving both mares a shock as she stepped around the corner. “It is as you said, Firefly,” She said, approaching the two, “but times have changed. While I appreciate all that the night patrol has done for me these past ten years, I fear I have overextended their generosity with their willingness to follow my orders. The fact they wish to leave from service, while hurtful, is understandable.” “What happened to Princess Luna wasn’t your fault! She was your little sister…” “And that is why it is my fault, Firefly,” Celestia interrupted, “Our problems started long before we took up the crown. Problems I failed to address both as a ruler and an elder sister. That being said, I do wish to look out for those my sister held dear, so if you would please tell me what Sixes is planning Nightingale, I would greatly appreciate it.” The white Pegasus looked warily at the Sun Princess. The uncertainty in Nightingale’s eyes made Celestia heartache, for it was another reminder of the trust she had lost. “You know Sixes is looking for a way to meet Princess Luna again, correct?” Celestia nodded and urged her to continue, “Well… he found a way. I don’t what it is or the details, but I think Applejack knows.” Firefly chimed in, looking confused, “Didn’t Applejack retire?” Nightingale nodded, “Yes, she did, but that doesn’t mean she and Sixes don’t talk.” “I see,” Celestia acknowledged, “Thank you for your help.” Spreading her wings, Celestia took the sky and flew away from Canterlot. It’s time to pay Applejack a visit; hopefully, she was in a mood to talk. Applejack lay on a fluffy blanket soaking up the sun with one of her foals wrapped in her forelegs and another sucking at her teats. They were the newest addition to the Apple Clan. Both were boys named Apple Gin, her eldest, and Apple Whiskey, her youngest. Affectionately she rubbed her swollen belly, inside her third child and hopefully a girl this time. “Are you doing alright, Rawhide?” She called to her old comrade turned husband. They left Night Patrol together two years after Luna’s banishment. He helped her start her apple farm and finally proposed to her upon completion of the house and barn. The entire night patrol had shown up at the wedding, and Princess Celestia had wed them. Some would say it was a perfect wedding, minus the fact it was held in the barn on a cold rainy day. Celestia had offered to make it sunny, but they refused, liking the rain. Rawhide wiped the sweat from his brow and waved to her, “I’m fine, honey.” He quickly bucked a few trees, spilling the sweet fruit from their branches, “This isn’t as hard as digging through stone, but still quite the chore.” She smiled, knowing how tough apple-bucking could be. “Are Allure and Tough Hide coming by this week?” Another exciting event was Allure’s marriage to Rawhide’s brother Tough Hide, making Allure her sister in law. It was strange to be so closely related to unicorns, though their magic would sometimes be handy around the farm. Other than that, all in all, Applejack was happy with her life the way it was. Despite that, there was one little thought that lingered in the back of her mind. A one she was certain Rawhide also had too and that it was the idea that maybe they shouldn’t have left Night Patrol. A part of her could not help but feel she was letting the others and Luna down by retiring, yet she only joined so that her family could finally live in peace and settle down. Should she feel guilty for wanting to reap the rewards of her work? She sighed, rolling onto her back to look up at the sky. The moon was somewhere up there and on it, Luna. Applejack had a feeling Luna would be okay with her new life, but a part of her wanted to hear the Princess of the Night say it to her directly. It was impossible unless she decided to join in on Sixes’ crazy plan, and maybe she would have if she didn’t have three foals to look after. “I can’t believe he’s actually going to do it,” She muttered, resting her chin on the blanket. A shadow fell over her, a very tall shadow that could only belong to one pony. “And what is it that he is going to do?” Celestia asked curiously as Applejack looked up at the white Princess, the farm mare making no move to stand or bow. There was no need to, as they were beyond such things. “Ya came to ask about what Sixes is up to,” Applejack drawled lazily, already knowing the answer. “I am I that easy to read these days?” “No,” Applejack chuckled, “just a hunch. I can’t say I intend to tell you, though.” If Celestia was bothered by Applejack’s statement, she did a good job hiding it. The Princess’s mouth didn’t even twitch or frown after hearing the words; instead, she opted to simply continue smiling. “I see, and do you intend to join in Sixes’ plan to somehow live to see my sister again?” Applejack shook her head as she held her foals close to her body. “Could of, but Ah won’t, I got a different life now. It would be nice to see Luna again, but I’m happy here. Now, if you’ll excuse me, Ah gotta put these little guys down for a nap.” “Of course, sorry to intrude,” Celestia bowed her head and prepared to take flight, but a call from Applejack made her faultier mid-jump. “You’re welcome here anytime, you know that, right? Anytime ya need somepony to talk to or just to get a break from that stuffy city. You just fly on by, and Ah’ll have cider and apple pie waiting.” Celestia smiled, choking back tears, “I prefer cake.” “Ah, can make that too,” Applejack winked as Celestia took flight. She watched the Princess disappear into the setting sun, a frown forming on her lips. “Can you take care of these two, Rawhide? Ah got da go meet Sixes for his crazy plan to start.” “Leave it to me, honey, tell them goodbye for me.” “Will do,” She said, breaking off into a trot. She had to be at the castle before nightfall. The Castle of the Two Royal Sisters, once home to the two alicorn princesses, was now in a state of decay. Between the siege and the battle with Nightmare Moon, the expense to repair the castle would be too great. Some patchwork repairs were implemented over the years, but it was only a stopgap. Their home was crumbling. Applejack found it too painful to keep living in the castle after the battle. However, she did visit Luna’s room from time to time. Making sure the spell she cast to preserve it was still intact, and sometimes the sun princess would just sit on the bed and pretend to chat with Luna or recall memories. Celestia was not the only one who frequents the castle. In fact, many still lived there. They were the night ponies, formerly of Luna’s Night Patrol; they now lived separated from the rest of Equestria. They have long since withdrawn from their roles as Equestria’s heroes to their secret saviors, with their only goal being to return to their Princess’s service. “Sixes, Sixes, are you here?” Applejack shouted through the catacombs of the castle. Her heart ached at how cold it was down here now. The fires that once burned to create the patroller’s armor and weapons have long since been extinguished. Actually, it looked like a lot of the equipment has been destroyed by Sixes himself, if the enormous chunks of black molten rock were anything to go by. “You’re late,” Sixes said from the darkness, making Applejack’s hair stand on end. She hasn’t seen Sixes much in these past years, and maybe she just never noticed before, but the dragon pony was covered in scars, more scars than she remembered at least. Applejack huffed, “Sorry for getting pregnant. Not all of us can have magically made children, you know.” A smile appeared on the grim rinin’s face as he walked over and hugged the farm mare, “I know. I’m glad to see you too, how are the two little ones? Rawhide teaching them to swing pickaxes yet?” Aj laughed as they separated. She loved the big goofy grin on Sixes’ face. He hasn’t smiled much since Luna was banished. The fact her kids were the cause of it only made her happier. “He’s trying, but with not much luck, I’m afraid. Whiskey wants to breathe fired like “Uncle” Sixes.” “Oh, really,” Sixes laughed, “Well, I’m sure he’ll grow out of that.” The two of them shared a laugh together, each remembering happier times. However, it quickly faded, and they were left standing in silence. Awkwardly they shifted in place, uncertain what to say next. “We should go. The others are waiting,” Sixes lead the way towards the tunnels leading deeper underground. The tunnel was new, Applejack noted as they descended lower and lower. At the bottom of the tunnel was a massive door swung wide open, leading to a room made of marble. Inside Allure and Nightingale waited, beyond them another door where Fierce Fury stood guard, behind him in the shadows of the room beyond was the rest of the Night Patrollers. “Everything is set,” Starwind said, hobbling out of the room. He was so much older now, his mane now completely gray. His face was wiry and thin from countless days and nights searching for his daughter Dusk, who was trapped somewhere beyond the veil of time and space. “All that’s left is to set the keys, and the spell will activate.” Starwind passed Sixes and Fury a green potion, and the two drank it, their faces distorted in disgust at the vile liquid traveled down their throats. “Are the key bearers ready? Do you have you selected your keys?” The old inventor asked the three mares. Allure, Nightingale, and Applejack nodded, and each of them presented an item to Starwind, earrings, a medal, and a hat. Starwind nodded, “Good, good, any last goodbyes?” Nightingale pulled Fury off to the side and began speaking in hushed whispers to the red rinin, leaving Allure and Applejack to try to stop Sixes one last time. Sixes’ plan was simple. Using a specially made potion created from cockatrice eyes and several other equally gross ingredients, Sixea and all the ponies that chose to join him would be turned to stone, thus preserving them through the centuries till Luna was set to return. The other room was actually a vault made to keep all the elements and any foolish beings from coming and smashing them to bits, which is where Applejack, Allure, and Nightingale came in. The three items they brought would be the keys to opening the vault door. The keys would be engraved with a special seal that perseveres them and ensures they would always come back to a relative of their owner so that when the time came, Luna could find them and set them free. The plan was crazy, without a doubt, but what had Applejack and the other two worried was that Sixes didn’t want Celestia to know where to find them under no circumstances. “Are you sure you what to do this,” Applejack inquired for what must have been the thousandth time. “Not telling Celestia, I mean? What if the clues are destroyed, or Luna is unable to be cured? You’ll be stuck in stone forever!” Sixes inhaled and breathed out slowly, smiling softly, “Celestia has come to rely on us a lot these past few years. She needs to get used to us not being around. We cannot tell her where to find us because I’m afraid that she would use her powers to break the seal and set us free too soon if she became desperate. Starwind is the only pony who can make that potion correctly, and he won’t live forever. We won’t be able to do this again.” “I understand,” Applejack said sadly. She had one card left, time to play it. “What about Crusader? I know you two have ever really connected, but he’s still your son. Can you really do this knowing you’ll never see him again?” Sixes appeared to be taken aback by the question, giving Applejack hope that he would reconsider. Her hopes were quickly dashed aside by Sixes’ sad chuckle. “Crusader is better off without me around. He and Celestia have connected like an actual mother and son. I’ll just muddy things up if I say around because at the end of the day. No matter how wonderful a parent Celestia may be, or how beautiful and kind she is, she is still not the mare that stole my heart.” Applejack backed away, finally admitting defeat. On the other side of the room, Nightingale, with her head hung low, walked back to the group, and Fury took his place beside Sixes. “The time has come,” Starwind said as the moon raised overhead, the light of the moon shining through the glass ceiling above, creating a bunch of girths on the floor. “Sixes, Fury, go into the chamber, Allure, Nightingale, Applejack, hold up your keys.” They all did as instructed, and once the two Rinin took their spots inside, Starwind began to chant. “Warriors who seek to see beyond the veil of time and travel to places far from thy home, to wait for the Princess who will set you free. Let your coats harden like stone, and your bodies be cold as the northern snow, let time not touch you till the three virtues break your seal. Sleep now till thy time come to awake, and do not worry about your fate!” Starwind struck the ground. Inside the vault, the ponies inside did their best not to panic as stone grew across their bodies. Many tried to stay perfectly still, wanting to keep their dignity, less they are stuck in some awkward pose. Sixes smiled and spoke one last time before becoming completely locked in stone at the head of the herd. “See you in a thousand years, my friends.” Were his words. The three keys glowing brightly with magic floated away from the three mares and circled in front of the doors, slowly closing them. The white stone doors slid shut, sealing the prettified ponies inside till their Princess came to free them. It was a heart-wrenching moment for the three key bearers, and all three of them shed tears holding the keys tight against their breasts. Their fears getting the better of them as they imagined what could happen to their frozen friends in the next thousand years. What if the castle collapsed: What if the keys are lost in time? What if Luna doesn’t wake them up? They may have just sent three hundred and fifty of their friends and comrades to their deaths! “Have faith,” Starwind said, snapping the three out of their spiral of doubt, “Have faith it will all work out for them. Trust in them, trust in yourselves, and trust in Luna.” The old inventor hobbled past the mares, “When you’re ready, I’ll seal the door behind you.” Applejack nodded and looked to Allure and Nightingale, each of them sharing the same look. They did their best, but it wasn’t enough to stop Sixes from doing this. “I suppose this is it then, huh?” Nightingale said, “No reason to stick around here, I guess.” “What is your plan from here on out, darlings?” Allure asked. “I, of course, am taking up residence in Canterlot; I’ve started a new business in fancy attire there. I must say it is rather nice not to be in the sweltering heat anymore. But what are you two going to do?" Applejack chuckled, “Ah’m gonna do what I’ve been doing, farming and raising my kids, nothing much else to do. What about you, Night? I thought you of all ponies would be joining Sixes.” The winged metal pony snorted, seeming amused by the statement, “It was tempting, but… I’ve decided to fly around the world. After seeing the Crystal Empire, I wanted to go out and see the rest of the world and all it had to offer when I lost my wings. I thought that dream was gone, but now… well, I guess I have the time to do it, so that’s what I’m gonna do.” “Well, you don’t be a stranger now. Make sure you come and visit from time to time.” Applejack said, embracing the Pegasus, “Don’t forget about the friends you still have here.” Nightingale smiled and nuzzled closer, hiding her tears in Applejack’s mane, “I won’t. I promise.” With nothing else to say or do, the three mares left the chamber. Starwind sealing the door behind them till the time came for Luna’s return. Their lives as warriors were over, but they still had plenty of life to live, family to raise and love, and dreams to strive and fight for. As they exited the castle for the final time, they all looked up at the moon and gave their Princess a final salute. Luna skidded across the white rocky landscape, firing several beams of magic and receiving several in return. She was completely covered in blood and bruises, so was her opponent, her evil self, Nightmare Moon. They’ve been fighting for… well, she’s lost track, but she could tell the time was soon upon them. The stars were shining brighter than ever, meaning she would be released soon. Now it was only a matter of who would be in control, her or Nightmare. “Give up! I’ve won 5901299 or our 9918421 bouts to this day!” Across the cratered battlefield, Nightmare Moon laughed, “Foolish Luna! It is not the number of wins, but who wins the last battle. I have been conserving my strength for just this moment, the time of our release! Meanwhile, you have wasted your time and energy, winning pointless victories. Look at how tired you are! This battle is mine!” Luna gritted her teeth and fired as Nightmare charged. In the deep darkness of space, the stars shined brightly, their light engulfing the two ponies, but when the light died, there was only one. Nightmare Moon reigned victoriously! With an evil smile, she spread her wings and descended to Equestria. It’s been a thousand years, time to pay her sister a visit!