Night Patrol 2: Awakening

by Foxgear


Foriegn festival fun

Night Patrol 2: Awakening chapter 8
By foxgear


The air was electric, cheering crowds, vendors shouting about their fresh and tasty wares and the ringing of steel as two ponies clashed in the ring at the center of it all. This was the Nippon sword pony tournament. The final match was between Kaki Blossom and another rinin name Korok. The dragon ponies circled each other, swords gripped in their claws and fangs, dancing the deadly dance.

From up above the guest of honor, Princess Luna of Equestria watched with baited breath and frayed nerves. At the offer of Emperor Kusanagi, she indulged herself in the Nippon festival, delaying her departure to home if for nothing else but the smile that Kusanagi youngest daughter Miso projected. The pure innocence of it captured her heart, while the excitement of throwing down bets on matches captured her wallet. For the past twenty matches witnessed today Luna and Kusanagi have been in constant feuds over who was going to win.

Each ruler had made a pick of their chosen warriors before the matches even started. The game was a bit rigged in Kusanagi favor as he knew all the warriors, thus he could pick the most skilled right away. However, he did not decide the order and some of Luna’s picks had proved to be up to the task. Their ferocity in battle seemed to grow once they knew the Princess of the Night had placed her bet on them. Making for some unexpected turn outs.

The score between the two rulers was currently an even ten to ten. This final match would be the determining factor.

“Kick his butt KAKI!” Miso shouted excitedly bouncing all over the viewing box. Kaki performed an impressive spinning maneuver that knocked one Korok’s swords from his claws.

Korok was Luna’s bet.

“You can recover! Use your fire!” Luna screamed in support of her champion.

Funny enough despite being a ‘sword’ tournament, there were no restrictions on rinin using their breath magic or earth ponies using their enhanced strength or anything of the sort. Nippon ponies believed a true sword master can overcome any challenge.

Korok seemingly took Luna’s advice and ignited the entire field in a blaze of fire. The temperature rose dramatically, Korok took the air waiting for Kaki to emerge. Being a rinin herself the flames were not actually hurting Kaki, but everyone pony knew Kaki didn’t like ruining her kimonos. So, when Kaki didn’t immediately fly out the fire it caught every pony off guard.

“I believe I have won this round,” said Luna holding out her hoof to except her bits.

Kusanagi smirked, crossing his forelegs over his barrel, “The match is not over yet Luna, but it will be.”

Luna diverted her eyes back to the arena as the flames died away. In the center of the arena stood Kaki completely shell shocked. Wordlessly she looked down at her naked self and then to the pile of ash that had once been her Kimono, her face was flush from the heat and embarrassment. The pink tone of her cheeks bending by her pink skin. That embarrassment turned to anger when she looked up at Korok.

“Uh oh…” were Korok’s final words as Kaki came spiraling up in a fury of blades and blue fire hitting Korok like a hurricane. The screams of the rinin stallion echoed through the arena, the audience wincing as the blue storm that trapped him continuously pounded him without mercy. When the storm ended, after five full minutes, Korok was sent crashing to earth. He was completely covered in bruises. Kaki had not slashed him but bashed him.

The referee called the match and Kaki descended, clad in Korok’s olive Kimono having at some point disrobed him during her rampage.

“Kaki is a bit shy, she doesn’t like to be seen without clothes,” Kusanagi informed Luna before leaning over with his hoof out. “Now I believe it’s your turn to pay up.”

“Fine,” grumbled Luna levitating a bag of bits into Kusanagi’s claws. As father and daughter celebrated their winnings Luna took out her program and began scanning the names for the tank dueling competition. The tank teams were listed as well as the model of the tank they piloted. Luna was determined to win her money back!

There were six teams for the tank dueling. The battle was a free for all with all six teams fighting at once. She’d only have three choices. However, there was one team she for sure wanted, Momo’s, she found the pink triplets name and no pony else’s.

“Momo blossom still doesn’t have a team?”

Kusanagi stopped his playing with Miso and took his own program to confirm, “Seems so… not that it matters. The rule allows for only one operator, it just makes it harder for said pony to win. Single operating tanks are impossible to make, though some have tried. Shame her sisters are unable to help.”

“I heard Momo and Sakura talked about that when Sakura took me to visit Momo’s tent. Sakura said she would be on duty, but surely Kaki would be able to help? She is done with her competition for the day is she not?”

“I am,” Kaki said walking onto the view deck in a new kimono, this one blue with pink flowers on it, “But I must rest for my matches tomorrow and riding in those iron machines can be very taxing. Also, I have no interest in my sister’s… hobby… it is her endeavor and it is her responsibility to prepare for it. Sakura and I made it very clear she could not rely on us for this as she wontons to do.”

Kaki took the empty seat on the left side of Kusanagi giving the king a short bow and Miso a brief smile as the little filly hopped onto her lap, chatting excitedly about how awesome her match was.

“Miso has grown rather fond of Kaki since Sake… left… and Kaki has taken on the role of a subordinate older sister to Miso.” Kusanagi whispered to Luna. Who could see for herself that the two were close and that the real reason Kaki wasn’t helping Momo was in her lap.

(Love is certainly one of the cruelest emotions.) Luna mused thinking back to the days when she and Celestia would pine for their mother’s attention. She hoped Kaki’s kindness doesn’t place a wall between her and her sisters. (Then again maybe if Celestia and I had taken more time apart from each other we would have turned out better. Such is the sadness of what ifs.)

“I have made my selections! You may have the rest, Princess.”

“Wait, what!” Luna grabbed the program that she and Kusanagi had marked their champions on. Sure, enough he had already marked his, leaving her with Momo and two other mystery teams. Sure, they were all mystery teams to her, but at least she could have picked a good one by chance! She couldn’t do that now!

“How do you stand before your mother’s grave with deceitfulness such as this!”

Kusanagi gave a hearty laugh, “Who do you think taught me to be so devious?” A punch in the shoulder was his reward for his snark. “You’re lucky you have diplomacy immunity, something like that could land you in jail normally.”

“And here I thought I was a friend,” Luna feigned hurt. The two rulers shared a laugh together, right now they were not two foreign rulers, but friends enjoying the moment like every other pony. A rare and truly underappreciated thing for pony’s of their station.

Speaking of friends.

(I wonder how the others are doing?) Luna thought as she refilled her cup of sake as the announcer stepped out onto the field. The tank dueling was about to begin and she couldn’t wait!


In the streets of Nippon walked Spitfire and Goodnight. They were given leave for the day by Princess Luna to go enjoy the festival and they did just that. They were ordered to after all. Thus, they dawned their kimono’s and entered the city together. Just them and the ninja ponies following their every move, not that they knew they were there.

“The tank thing is about to start, let’s go check it out!” Spitfire said eagerly as she ran towards the maintenance area for the tank compotators, Goodnight hot on her hooves. As they flashed their royal passes, a gift from the king himself, they overheard the sounds of an argument near one of the tents.

Momo’s tent.

Curious as to what was going on the two foreigners snuck closer for a better listen. Stretching their heads around the corner they saw Momo in some sort of skin tight green suit with their ever-present greasy green bandana glaring daggers at her triplet Sakura, who wore her blue armor, which was the only way they could tell either of them apart.

“Come on Sakura! I really need your help this time! Look no pony will even notice it’s you if you wear the helmet and suit!”

Sakura just rubbed her temple, letting out a groan of displeasure at her sister, “Momo, I told you, I can’t help you with the tank dueling I’m on duty! I’m supposed to be guarding the west corridor and I’m here!”

“Because you wanted to help your little sister?” Momo replied cheekily, earning a heated glare from Sakura. “Ok, I’m sorry I tricked you here!”

Sakura jabbed her booted hoof hard against Momo’s barrel, “You lied! You said you saw some suspicious ponies and I came here because I trusted you. I know it seems like I goof off on duty, but I do take my job seriously Momo! You are on your own! I’m going back to my post and I don’t want to see you until the evening!”

“Does that mean you you’ll forgive me when you get home? We live together and you know I don’t like having awkward silent meals! Please answer! I don’t like awkward moments like this either! Sakura!” Her fellow triplet refused to turn around and eventually disappeared into the crowd. “Great… now want am I going to do?”

“We can help,” Spitfire said appearing in front of Momo with a wide eager smile.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea captain…”

“Quiet Goodnight, the superior officer is talking.” She shushed. “So Momo was it? My friend and I couldn’t help but overhear you need some teammates and just so happen to be looking for something fun to do.”

“No were not!”

“Don’t listen to him, he would be excited to volunteer. Just show us what we need to do and we’ll be set!”

Momo hesitated, “I don’t know… I appreciate the help, but you two are foreigners. Foreigners part of foreigner leaders guard, Princess Luna’s no less. If anything happens the King would have me drawn and quartered!”

Spitfire waved off her concerns, “Ah don’t worry about it, the Princess would be cool with it, even if something happened. It’s not like this is a fight to the death, right?”

“Um… no, not officially, but it happens sometimes. You’ll have to sign a waiver.”

“If you have the paper, I have the ink!” The Wonderbolt captain said pulling an official Wonderbolt pen from… somewhere.

Momo looked anxiously between the two, debating what to do, with her competitive nature winning out in the end. “Alright, I’ll get the waivers from inside.”

Once Momo wandered inside the tent Goodnight got in Spitfire’s face. “What the in Celestia’s name are you thinking captain? I shouldn’t need to tell you how stupid this is! Why in the hell would YOU a Pegasus want to be trapped inside that metal can? Also, why did you drag me into this?”

“I thought bat ponies liked enclosed spaces,” She replied, earning a flat look from Goodnight.

“We do, but that’s not the point here and you know it.”

She nodded, looking longingly at the tank, “I’ll admit, this isn’t a long-held dream or a filly fantasy from foal hood, in fact, this is my first time seeing one of these things. Still, I want to drive it. Do you remember Goodnight? Do you remember asking where the word tank came from? It’s in our language, but not our history, no it was erased from our history. This thing, this tank, was originally made in Equestria. Call it national pride, but I think as Equestrians we should take this chance to pilot it.”

Momo emerged from the tent with the waivers in mouth, “Here you two, just sign here and I’ll show you what I need you to do. I also put these on.”

“Is there a reason we need helmets and protective gear?” Goodnight asked warily while Spitfire eagerly put her tank suit on.

“Normally no pony gets hurt during these duels because the non-piercing rounds we use, but sometimes things happen, like the interior of the tank explodes and sends shrapnel everywhere... look just keep your helmet on and you’ll be fine… maybe.”

“Right… um, Captain, I’m having…”

“Put the helmet on and get in the tank, Goodnight.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

--break

The energy in the Nippon arena was electric as the pony crews made the final touches for the tank dueling stage. Large dirt mounds, stone walls, shrubs, trees and even a small river and three bridges were made in record time as the Nippon earth ponies used their magic to shape the land to their will. From up above a Pegasus mare donned in ceremonial dress descended from the sky and took up position in the cloud resting above the arena.

The Pegasus cleared her throat as a microphone was set up for her use, another pony placed a sheet a paper before her and left as the lights turned on her.

“Good evening Mares and Gentle colts! I am tonight’s hostess for this year’s Tank dueling match! Ginseng!” The crowd erupts into cheers. “Good, good, I’m glad every pony is excited! Now let’s begin by introducing our six tank teams!”

A Pegasus flew up and gave Ginseng another note. She took it with a smile, quickly opening it and reading it, “Hmm… seems there has been an update on the teams. Oh, Momo found some teammates. That’s good. Hopefully, she didn’t just pick some random ponies off the streets…” Ginseng stop mid mutter, realizing she’d been talking in the microphone the entire time. “Oops… sorry, Momo! Um… let’s introduce our teams! For those new this years, teams are named after the first letter of each member, the leader being the first initial.”

“Piloting an NT-8, Team H.N.T.I!”
“Piloting an AT-12, Team Y.O.A.I!
“Piloting a PMK-8, Team Y.U.R.I!”
“Piloting an AT-35, Team E.C.C.H.I!”
“Piloting an AN-4, Team C.L.O.P!”
“Piloting a classic AT-1, Team M.S.G!”

The crowd went wild as the tanks rolled out, the team leaders waving from the top of their tanks.

King Kusanagi poured over the updated list of teams. His gaze fixed on the two new names next to Momo’s. His brow creased in confusion as he read the teammates and then the team name. This caught the eye of the mares sitting around him including the Queen Haibara, who had come to watch the match with her husband. She was the first to ask what had him so puzzled.

“What is wrong dear?”

The king snapped from his thoughts, giving his wife a gentle smile, “Oh nothing serious my love, it’s just I find Momo’s teammates names… strange.”

“What is so strange about them?” Inquired Luna taking another look at the list. The names Oyasumi and Kushi Kasai were listed next to the triplet. They seemed like normal Nippon names to her. Though they didn’t match the team initials, maybe it was a typo?

“Well, I find it strange that Momo would find two ponies with the same names as your guards is all. See here, Oyasumi is pronounced Goodnight in Equestrian, and Kushi Kasai is Spitfire. Rather ironic really.”

Luna’s eyes widen as Momo’s team rolled into position, her eyes narrowing on the two helmeted ponies that stood on the tank with the triplet. “Yes, ironic.”


“She totally knows it’s us.”

“You’re just being a worry wort Goodnight! Just keep waving and pretend you don’t know her.”

“Spitfire, she’s looking right at us, also she just teleported this note to me.” Goodnight raised up the note with Luna’s seal, complete with both of their names on it. “I have money put on you, if you win I will forgive your foolishness, lose and you’ll be keeping toilets in the barracks. Is what the note says.”

Spitfire took the note, reading it for herself, seems the stakes have been raised. She has not cleaned the toilets since she had been a recruit and she wasn’t doing it again!

“So Momo, what are our chances of winnings with this thing?” She asked the Nippon mare, who gave a warily smile as she rubbed her leg nervously.

“Well…”

“All teams prepare for combat! T minus one minute!” Ginseng yelled.

The three ponies quickly rushed into the cockpit taking their positions. Momo took control of the cannon, Spitfire oversaw driving and Goodnight’s job was to keep the cannon loaded.

“You two remember what I told you? Just listen to my commands and we’ll make through this. If we get hit don’t get to rattled this thing maybe be old, but she’ll survive a few hits.” Momo said as she adjusted her sights and made sure her stomp trigger was clear. She licked her lips as she peered through the cannon’s telescope staring at the team positioned across from them. “When the bell rings reverse, and turn right Spitfire, Goodnight load a green tip round and then a blue after that.”

“Roger!” The two replied.

The tank’s engine’s rumbled as the twin gem turbines revved to life. The loading door of the cannon slammed closed and they all waited as the final countdown began.

“5…4…3…2…1…0… BEGIN!”

“REVESERE NOW!” Momo screamed firing the cannon at the ground! Dust filled her scope as the tank lurched backward. Spitfire masterfully maneuvered them around the wall just in time for an enemy shell to come screaming past them! The sound of rubble pelting against the side of the tank echoed throughout the metal hull of the tank.

For a moment, all was quiet as every pony took a moment to catch their breath. The only sound was the rumble of the tank and their own heavy breathing or rather Momo’s. Spitfire and Goodnight, while excited, were professionally calm and waiting for orders.

“I’m guessing this is your first time being in command kid?” Spitfire asked as her hooves twitched on the controls, wanting to keep the tank moving, but she couldn’t see a thing. Behind her Momo nodded, looking on the verge of being shell shocked.

“Yeah, it is…” Momo admitted shamefully.

Spitfire smiled and nodded, “It’s ok, I was the same way on my first mission. Now pull yourself together and tell us what to do! We’re sitting ducks here!”

Momo nodded firmly, steeling herself and calming her heart rate. Just in time as the sound of enemy tank creaking up being them could be heard.

“Turn into the wall and rotate turret!” Momo ordered. The tank rumbled into action barreling through the stone wall with ease, the scream of a shell passed by, the sound of metal hitting metal made all of them grateful for their ear protection. “It’s just a scratch! RETURN FIRE!”

The cannon roared and the blue tipped round hit the ground creating a wall of ice to slow the other tank’s advance. Rotating the turret back to forward position Momo called for a red tip round to be loaded as they moved into the center of the field. All around them explosions reigned as the other teams duked it out. Everypony was probably trying to take out whoever they found first. Meaning the tank behind them was their primary opponent for the moment.

“Turn so the front is facing the way we just came and press the rear against the wall but don’t knock it down. We need it to cover our ass for the time being. One or two good hits in the rear and the engine is done for!”

A loud CLANG resounded through the tank. Momo peered through her scope spotting the enemy tank in her sights. It was the NT-8, Team H.N.T.I’s tank. At the edge of her field of vision, she saw the piece of the plate they shot of the front of the tank. They wouldn’t be able to take many more of those, even in the front armor.

“Fire! Keep loading reds!” Momo screamed as she zeroed in on the NT-8. She fired. The shell bounced off the NT-8 angled sides, doing no visible damage. “Reload!” Her leg jittered nervously as she waited for the next shell to be loaded. In the scope, she saw the NT-8’s barrel adjusts for another shot, the NT-8 had a bigger cannon, but it took longer to reload due to the heavier rounds.

“Loaded!”

Aiming lower Momo yelled for Spitfire to move and circle around the NT-8’s side. The move would expose their track, but they would have a chance to get their enemy’s tracks too. The little AT-1 zoomed around the lumbering NT-8, Momo rotating the barrel and firing point blank into the enemy’s tracks! Metal threw up in the air and pelted the side of the AT-1, but the NT wasn’t moving anywhere. The sound of the breach closing gave Momo the signal for her next shot, which was right in the NT-8’s engine.

“First kill,” She said with a smirk as she blasted the enemy’s tank’s rear. Leaving a nice round hole in its back end. Black rose up, followed by flames forcing the crew to evacuate. A team of rinin and Pegasus quickly flew down and picked the defeated tank team.

Momo took a moment to relish her victory, but two hard hits from behind quickly brought that to an end. Whirling the turret around she saw the AT-35 at the end of the alley. Another shot rebounded off the side plate of their hull and the controls began to spark.

“Get us out of here!” She yelled to Spitfire who took them around the downed tank, only to run into the other remaining tank! The massive PMK-8! The lumbering green machine was more like a battleship on land then a tank and its sights were set on them!

“BRACE FOR IMPACT!”

Three subsonic rounds hit the AT-1, the shells were so powerful that the dents reached all the way to the interior of the tank. Goodnight stared wide-eyed at the three dents that formed just a mere few inches from his head.

“Holy sweet Celestia!”

“I know, I know! Just load me up and keep loading, we don’t have much time!” Momo screamed as she lined up a shot. Knowing the PMK-8 like she did, she knew how slow it’s reloading speed could be. Ten seconds, they just had ten seconds.

The loading door closed, she stomped her hoof on the trigger, her shot flew under the PMK’s barrel. She adjusted her sight up aiming for the barrel itself. The only cinch in the PMK’s armor that her rounds could penetrate. The loading door slammed closed again and she fired, the round skimming the top the barrel this time.

Momo cursed under her breath, “Shit, brace for another barrage!”

The PMK zeroed in letting loose another barrage. One round blew their track armor apart, along with the track leaving them immobile, another blew a piece of the turret off and the third round went low and blew up in front of the tank, creating a smoke screen.

“Crap, crap, crap! I’m blind!” She growled trying to see through the smoke to no avail.

“Move!” Spitfire said suddenly getting Momo out of the gunner’s chair. “Goodnight load a blue, a green and then a red! Double time!”

“Yes, ma’am!”

Spitfire stomped her hoof on the trigger, shooting at the ground and creating a wall of ice with the blue round. The wall shattered as the PMK’s rounds hammered it. Next Spitfire fired the green round, the round creating a vortex of wind that cleared her field of vision. She zeroed in as Goodnight slammed the red round in the chamber!

“Eat this!” She stomped on the trigger and watched with Pegasus sharp eyes as her shot flew as if it was in slow motion. A smirk danced on her lips as she calculated its trajectory, which was the hole of the tank’s barrel. For a moment nothing happened, the round simply disappearing into the narrow void, but it wasn’t long before the PMK’s crew came scrambling out of the hatches with flames chasing their tails.

“YES!”
“Yahoo!”
“YEAH!”

The three celebrated their victory over the goliath only for the ‘creak, creak’ of the forgotten AT-35 to remind them they still had one more enemy remaining. Spitfire turned the turret just in time to see the barrel of the AT-35 pointed right at them!

“Brace for impact!”

The cannon of the AT-35 roared blowing the armor off their backside clean off! The gem engine whined and moaned as scraps of metal tell between the gears and shafts making a horrible grinding noise as smoke bellowed up from the ruined hood. Inside the cockpit, the gauges went wild, the needles quickly climbing into the red as a loud buzzer screamed into everyponies’ ears.

“What is that noise!” Spitfire demanded as she pressed her hooves against her ears, trying to block out the noise. Goodnight was doing the same, his bat ears making him even more sensitive to the annoying buzzing.

Momo rushed to the controls, twisting valves, pulling leavers, and punching the console to no avail. “Damn! The engines are cooked! It’s only a matter of time before we catch fire!”

From the back of the cabin, black smoke was already pouring into the cockpit, causing everypony to go into a coughing fit. Through watery eyes, Momo looked at the two coughing ponies and made a choice. She reached for the latch on the door, willing to admit defeat for the safety of the two ponies that helped her, only the latch wouldn’t release!

“Shit shit come on! Don’t do this now!” She screamed using all her strength to push against the hatch, but it wouldn’t budge! Something was blocking it! “Stand back! I’m going breath fire!”

The two Pegasus screamed, “What!” As Momo reared back and let loose a stream of pink flame on the door, turning it red hot. The temperature in the tank spiked and she pressed her attack, hoping the door would reach it’s melting point before it became too hot. The latch began to warp and twist, but before it could truly fall off Momo broke into a coughing fit, killing her attack. She fell to the floor of the tank as black smoke surrounded them. She tried to stand and use her fire again, but there was no longer enough oxygen. There was barely enough oxygen breath, let alone make fire!

A feeling of light headiness overcame her and she fell to the floor beside Goodnight and Spitfire, both were taking light shallow breaths to preserve as much oxygen as possible. Thought it might be too late Momo noted as her eyes fluttered between open and shut. Flames were already eating through the engine block and working their way into the cockpit.

“Sorry I dragged you two in this,” She said as her vision turned completely black and a feeling of weightlessness overcame her. At first, she thought they had died, the flames consuming the rest of the oxygen and suffocating them in a haze of black smoke. However, as the seconds passed she noticed she could fell the wind in her mane, and the noise of ponies cheering.

Momo inhaled deeply, taking in massive amounts of fresh cool air as she snapped back into the world of the living. The first thing she notices was Spitfire and Goodnight floating beside her, both greedily sucking air like it was going out of style. The second was the blue aura that surrounded them all. She looked up to see Princess Luna floating above her, carrying them all in her magic. She looked down spotting the fireball that had once been her tank. She had been saved, no they had been saved, by the Princess of the Night no less.

“Thank you…” Momo croaked out, her throat dry from the smoke and heat. Luna smiled as she floated them down to the medics waiting for them.

“I think that’s enough excitement for today,” Luna winked as she handed them over the medics.

Momo smiled as she rolled on her side, rubbing her cheek against the soft bed sheets, “Yeah… (cough, cough) … me too.”

As the three were carted away Sakura and Kaki flew down offering their thanks to Luna, who merely motioned for them to go after their sister, which they did promptly. Their concern bringing a bittersweet smile to the princess’s lips as she followed after Spitfire and Goodnight.


At the edge of the Nippon city, a shadowy figure crept along the shadows. Bright raspberry emulated through the darkness as their owner did one final check of her processions before leaving the city border.

“You’re leaving Daring?” Night Glider said emerging from the darkness with a frown as she took in Daring’s attire. Gone was her Wonderbolt uniform, in its place was an olive green shirt and tan hat.

“Whoa! Sweet teats of Celestia! Don’t sneak up on me like that! What are you half ninja? I didn’t even hear you.” Daring said looking around to see if any pony else was around. Hearing nothing, she cautiously laid her wing around Night Glider and pulled her close as she walked so they could speak softly without being overhead. “Yes, I’m off on my mission for Celestia. Why you want to come with me?”

Night Glider shook her head.

“Good, I wasn’t bringing you anyway. Not that you didn’t really show your stuff in the castle against those metal ponies, I just work better alone.”

Night Glider frowned as they reached the North city gates, which were strangely deserted of any guards, or any pony for that matter. She looked to Daring to ask what was happening, but Daring silently shushed her, while tapping her wing against her back to message that they were being watched.

“This is where we say goodbye Night Glider, I’ll stop by and see you when I get home. Take care, I’ll be sure to show you any cool treasures I find!”

With those parting words, Daring flew off into the night. Leaving Night Glider standing awkwardly at the gates as two shadowy figures gave chase after the rogue Wonderbolt. She stood there for a full minute before walking away. Feelings of uncertainty whirling through her mind.

She had wanted to go with Daring, but she also wanted to go home. Seeing Nippon was a grand and wonderful experience, but she longed to see her family waiting for her and to tell them of her adventures. Then she’d be ready to leave home again.

“Night Glider,” A voice called out to her. The dark blue mare turned to see her similarly blue shaded princess trotting up behind her with Goodnight and Spitfire asleep on her back.

“What happened to them?”

Luna smiled and laughed, “They had a little too much fun, but they are not seriously harmed. They will recover just fine on the voyage home. Come, the ship is waiting for us.”

Night Glider glanced towards the dock and towards the direction Daring had gone, “Princess…”

“I know,” Luna said stopping in her trot. “She has her own mission now, but you still have yours, now come Night Glider. I have no wish to leave you behind, but if you feel the need to stay, I will not be looking back if you do.”

Luna resumed her trot to the ship, Night Glider hesitated, looking towards the north one last time before heading south with her Princess.

It was time to go home.