//------------------------------// // Chapter 04 - Merchant Ahead // Story: Their Very Own Suns // by Blank Page //------------------------------// The Baltimare weather team pulled back the thick curtain of clouds hiding the Mare in the Moon, signaling the end of the ‘night’.  The lamplit streets quickly began buzzing with life as ponies withdrew from their homes, eager to start the new moon.  In the market district, a proud salesmare had already finished opening her stall, hoping for business before her regular ‘customer’ arrived. Any other pony would have been mad to attempt to open such a simple, wooden stall on a street filled with grocers boasting fully established buildings, but the salesmare knew she wasn’t any other pony.  Proudly displayed before the stall were bushels of the very fruit that earned her nickname; fresh oranges imported from the Manehattan lighthouses. Over the years, fruits had become a rare commodity as farmers struggled to keep their livelihood under the harsh conditions of the never-ending night.  With the invention of the lighthouses, they could feed their crops valuable, artificial sunlight.  The Princess loathed the treasonous, infernal machines, knowing full well that her subjects would abuse it to escape her beautiful Night.  But if it stayed the farmers from pestering her to bring back their precious sun for their crops, she would begrudgingly allow them to exist. As it was, creating artificial sunlight was not cheap, and not every farm could afford to purchase a lighthouse.  As the Equestrians’ demand for fresh fruits dramatically rose and the supply drastically dwindled with each lost farm, the prices only shot higher and higher; except for the salesmare. Being the niece to one of the more ‘high-class’ agriculturalists of Manehattan had its benefits.  Her family had an abundance, and she could sell her produce cheaper than her competitors would dare, which normally implied customers would be more common. Which was true, the salesmare supposed, at least in the beginning of the moon.  She would always open shop as early as she could, often beating the weather teams before they rolled back the ‘night’.   And this moon was no different. The salesmare scrambled to get to as many ponies as her small, wooden stall would allow, knowing that this could very well be all her sales this moon.  There was a flap of leathery wings, and her few customers’ eyes shrank with fear at something behind her.  As the sharp clinks of metal on cobblestone approached, they turned and fled, leaving the salesmare with her self-proclaimed, most valuable customer. “Trying to get an early start on me?” Night Owl teased. The salesmare bit back the urge to roll her eyes and forced a smile.  “Darling, please, you know I always start the moon early,” she explained.  “It’s in my roots.” The Lunar Guard took his post next to her stand and leaned casually against it, delivering cold smiles to anypony that came too close.  The salesmare sighed in defeat as the guard scared off her customers.  While it was routine and to be expected by now, it did little to help the nerves of the citizens of Baltimare.  Only a few brave souls would dare venture to her stand while her personal ‘escort’ at post, but even they came few and far between, making it nearly impossible for her to run her business.  She refused to let it deter her, though; she was too proud to let a… minor inconvenience force her back home. “Saw you had a few customers before I arrived,” Night Owl mentioned without looking at her.  “You haven’t broken your contract, have you?” “Why, I would never!” she replied with mock hurt.  She let out a huff.  “To think, you would have the gall to imagine I would ever go back on my word.” “Just doing my job, ma’am,” the guard explained with a shrug.  “If you moved back to Manehattan, I wouldn’t have to be here.”  Under the light of the Mare in the Moon, he noticed the salesmare tense up.  He turned and proudly found her freckles cutely scrunched together as she scowled at him. “You know I can’t go back to Manehattan,” she seethed. “I do?” Night Owl asked in faux surprise.  He leaned in closer, sporting a smug smile.  “Care to remind me why that was again?” It was Night Owl’s philosophy of life that one should find the silver linings when forced to a job they do not like, and this was a prime example.  Joining the Lunar Guard implied more responsibilities, as opposed to the Royal Guard which acted as more of a ‘police force’ for Her Majesty Nightmare Moon.  However, being assigned to babysit a stray Manehattanite felt like a step down from his previous duty.  He missed the rush of the wind against his coat, the sight of hills and lakes beneath him as he soared through the night sky.  And now, for all intents and purposes, he was grounded; at least, until he could convince the salesmare to leave. But then came the silver lining or, more accurately, the beauty of his situation; the salesmare herself.  She had the true beauty and elegance of an honest Manehattanite, but he knew there was more to her.  He could hear it in her accent.  No matter how often she called it her home, her Manehattan accent felt more adopted than genuine.  It was uniquely blended with an accent he had heard from ponies in the Frontier; which led to him coining her as more of a ‘Frontier Belle’. Of course, he always pestered her to leave, but, call it three years of being stuck with her, he felt as if he would be empty without her if she ever did.  He would miss her golden mane done in a perfect updo, something she never changed since the day he was assigned to her.  He would miss the luxurious dresses she wore every moon, how they always complimented her orange coat quite nicely.  He would miss how her muzzle scrunched itself every time she told a lie, just like it was doing now. “Because,” she strained to say, glaring daggers at the guard.  “Manehattan already has enough oranges.  It’s simply in my family’s best interest to expand our business.” Night Owl gave a satisfied nod, and the salesmare deflated in defeat.  She quickly recovered, though, and forced a smile to invite all of Baltimare, for her aunt and uncle had taught her it was unladylike to mope. Her spirits lifted as her salvation came in the form of a familiar mare.  The salesmare gave a brighter, more genuine smile as the lavender unicorn timidly approached. “Good moon, Sparkler!” the salesmare greeted.  She noticed Night Owl stiffen next to her.  He glared scrutinizingly at the poor unicorn, but the salesmare was not about to let him chase off another customer.  “Oh, you look simply divine, dear; did you do something with your mane?” “O-Oh, hey OJ,” Sparkler squeaked nervously.  She tried to keep her eyes pinned on the salesmare and away from the guard sizing her up.  Oh, by the Moon, he looks like he’s about to tackle me.  She gulped down her fear and hoped the nervous sweat wasn’t too obvious in the moonlight.  “I actually just went to the salon yesterday,” she explained, brushing her mane in her hoof playfully.  “Short manes are in, so I figured I’d jump on the bandwagon.  Do you like it?” “You look absolutely marvelous.”  The salesmare turned her attention back down to her wares, adjusting them ever so slightly to ensure they were perfect.  “So, what brings you back so soon?” she asked with a warm smile.  “Did little Dazzler eat all the marmalade again?  Oh, that little sweetie has such the appetite.” “Actually, I’m here to confirm a little rumor I’ve heard,” Sparkler admitted.  Night Owl’s ears perked up, and he tried to nonchalantly lean in closer as the mares began to whisper.  “I heard you have your Auntie’s famous Clementine Cakes in stock again,” she said with quiet glee. “Oh, how did you know!” Night Owl had to catch himself from deflating with a groan.  He shook his head in disbelief and scanned the street, trying to ignore the rest of the mares’ silly gossip. The salesmare pulled a small box out from behind her stand and proudly displayed it to Sparkler.  “I only just received it from my dear Aunt Clementine yesterday,” she explained.  A small blush took over her.  “I must admit, though, I am guilty of stealing some for myself last night.  They’re just so delightful, I couldn’t help myself!” “As long as you saved some for everypony else,” Sparkler laughed.  She licked her lips as her eyes drooled over the scrumptious dessert.  “How much?” she asked, never taking her gleaming eyes from the cake. The salesmare hummed in thought.  “For you, darling?  Ten bits.” Sparkler’s jaw dropped.  “Only ten?” she asked in disbelief. “On the hopes that you keep this secret just a little bit longer,” the salesmare winked.  “I fear yesterday simply wasn’t enough for myself.  I might just spoil myself again for one more night.” Sparkler had her bits on the table before the salesmare even finished.  “Deal!” she squealed.  The cake lifted as she summoned it to her saddlebags, and she was sure to nestle it in gently.  “You’re the best, OJ,” she smiled.  “It’s a miracle you’re still in business with all these low prices.  You could easily charge more for this quality.” The salesmare waved her hoof dismissively.  “Oh, my family won’t be having a shortage of oranges any time soon, and preparing the dishes is no trouble at all.  Do come back some time!  Business was a pleasure, as always.” She waved as her customer disappeared into the night, sighing in content.  Night Owl allowed himself to relax and stretched out his wings.  He pried his helmet off and rested it on the salesmare’s stand.  It sat like a second pair of eyes, challenging another pony to approach, and nopony dared rise to defy it. The salesmare was tired of it, though, and she decided to play the guard’s game. “You seemed rather nervous when my friend came over,” she noted. The guard’s ear flicked, but other than that, he showed no signs of acknowledgement.  She wasn’t deterred, though. “Could it be that those silly rumors are true?” she pressed teasingly. Night Owl scoffed, but the salesmare noticed how he stiffened slightly.  “Please, what rumors?” “You know exactly ‘what rumors’.”  She leaned in with her hooves resting on the stall countertop.  Night Owl had never been more annoyed to see such a thrilled spark in a mare’s eyes.  “I hear there’s an army,” she whispered in excitement.  “An army of warriors traveling east, moving from town to town, and they would see to an end of this eternal night.” The guard rolled his eyes.  “Even if that was true, it’s nothing somepony like you should concern yourself with.  Traitors spring up every year like weeds.”  He puffed his chest out proudly, holding his head high.  “But Her Majesty’s Guard always roots them out.” “Except you haven’t been able to this time,” the salesmare said quietly with growing glee.  “I’ve heard they’re strange creatures from a distant land, that they’ve travelled all the way from the Far West, and the Guard hasn’t been able to stop them.” “You really should stop listening to rumors,” the Lunar Guard warned.  “I thought a mare of your status should be above such idle gossip.” “A mare of my status?” the salesmare scoffed.  “How quaint; I suppose chivalry isn’t dead.  But it would behoove you not to make assumptions of a mare.  You may have been watching me for the past few years, but you don’t know a thing about me.” “Oh, I think I know plenty about you, OJ,” Night Owl sneered.  A wolf’s grin split his face as he glared threateningly at the salesmare.  “Speaking of which, what sort of nickname is ‘OJ’ anyways?” The salesmare reared her head back in shock, thrown off guard from the sudden shift to the defensive.  Her muzzle scrunched after a small pause, and Night Owl knew he had her pinned. “It-It was given to me by my friends,” she explained nervously.  “Back at Manehattan.” Night Owl snorted knowingly.  “What friends?” he challenged.  “I read your file; you didn’t have any during your foalhood.  You couldn’t adjust to the Manehattan lifestyle until you were older.  In fact, you didn’t even start using that ‘name’ until you came here.” She shrank away behind her stall; the glee in her eyes replaced with a small fear and the shame that her name always brought.  “I-I have a file?” she squeaked. “Oh, that’s adorable,” Night Owl scoffed. “You think you can slip out of Manehattan without having a background investigation conducted by the Guard?” He leaned in closer; his wicked, knowing smile growing more and more. “I know just about everything about you,” he continued. “But in all the years I stood my post in this very same spot, I never knew, ‘why OJ?’”  He rested a hoof on the stall and shrugged.  “Maybe you're just trying to bury your roots. Perhaps it was to avoid confusion.  After all, how odd would it be for a mare with your name to sell oranges.  But how in Equestria did you come up with ‘OJ’ from App—” “Have a cutie, cutie!” Night Owl blinked at the tiny mandarin plugging his mouth, and the orange hoof connected to it.  The salesmare gave a broken chuckle and retracted her hoof from the guard’s mouth. “On the house!” she added with an unconvincing smile. Night Owl nodded victoriously and pried his prize out of his fang.  Challenging the competence of the Guard was more than enough to get under his coat, but bringing up the salesmare’s real name was even worse.  It would be enough to keep her quiet for a short while, or at least cease those incessant rumors spilling from her mouth. He wondered how she heard of them in the first place.  Even he hadn’t heard anything official from his commander.  If something as powerful as this terroristic force was really coming this way, surely the Princess would have told his commander, and he would have told Night Owl… right? The hours drug on, and neither the salesmare nor the guard spoke to another; their minds lost in other worlds.  There was an unusual lull in the market district during lunch, the salesmare noticed; at least, on their street.  True, her guard scared away most customers, but this street in the market district was popular for both the tourists and locals. Her ears perked up at the peculiar sound of thunder, and she looked to the sky.  Odd… there wasn’t a cloud to be seen.  Night Owl caught it, too.  It was quiet, but sounded close.  The few pedestrians on the street went to investigate.  As they reached the intersection to the next street, they paused.  Some of them stood in shock, unsure if what they were seeing was really true.  Others ran, wanting to be as far from the skirmish as possible.  The rest let out a cheer and raced to the see the source of the thunder. Night Owl peered at the small crowd suspiciously, hesitantly replacing his helmet over his head.  “I’m going to check that out,” he said, more as an afterthought.  He turned to the salesmare, and his eyes became sterner.  “Stay here,” he ordered.  “I’ll be back” The salesmare watched as he unfurled his wings and snapped into the air, angling and diving beyond the buildings behind her.  Anything calling for her guard to leave his post must have meant trouble, and any prim and proper damsel such as herself should know better than to go searching for trouble.  Then again…  nopony had ever accused OJ of being prim and proper. She broke into a gallop, or at least, as fast as she could as her dress would allow.  She rounded the corner, joining the ranks of the few gawking ponies overlooking a crowd.  She couldn’t believe her eyes.  The rumors were true. The Warriors of Sunlight were here. Night Owl couldn’t believe it.  There were two of them.  Two of them.  And yet they were holding their own against the Royal Guard.  Granted, one was a Giant of a kind he had never seen before, but this mare was all the help he had.  How were they able to stand their ground against them?  The ring of onlookers crowding around them didn’t help, especially since the traitors to the throne seemed to have won them over.  Night Owl would have to be sure to remember their faces after this was brushed up. Twilight’s heart was racing.  It had been two weeks since Meadow Grove, and somehow word of their travel had spread, often to towns before they even arrived.  Solaire had taken her under his metaphorical wing, teaching her what little combat he could in between towns.  She couldn’t learn much without tomes of combat magic, and she felt queasy every time she picked up his sword.  They were baby steps, Solaire knew, but she was showing improvement. A pegasus and thestral dove for them, the lances connected to their armor gleaming in the moonlight.  Twilight let out a panicked squeak and ducked, and Solaire covered the distance, bringing up his shield between them.  Their lances scraped against his shield as he swung it to the side, and their sides were left exposed.  Solaire drove the pommel of his hilt down on the thestral’s helmet, and he collapsed in a heap.  The pegasus recovered in time, breaking off from his fallen wingpony and taking back to the skies. Twilight glanced up with a sheepish smile, and Solaire looked down with warm eyes.  True, she was improving in combat, but it appeared they would have to work on her courage next. Another cheer erupted from the crowd as the third guard fell unconscious before their eyes.  Excited murmurs electrified the air as veterans of the onlookers brought the newcomers up to speed.  It felt like a dream; a wonderful, beautiful dream threatening to become reality before their very eyes. Blue fire slung across the sky from one of the guards.  Twilight quickly snapped to attention, sliding beneath Solaire’s legs and summoning her ward.  The spell spattered against the magical shield.  Droplets of blue flame fell around her, licking at the cold asphalt at her hooves. The air crackled behind her, and golden light flooded the street.  The opposing mage’s eyes widened in dread.  The onlookers watched in amazement as the Giant hurled lightning from his hands and cheered over the thunder as he struck down another guard. Night Owl didn’t have any weapons.  He was just supposed to be standing guard over a mare, making sure she didn’t spill any information about Manehattan.  He had already seen two armed guards fall at the traitors’ hooves.  Going in emptyhoofed was mad, but he had a duty to perform, whether his guts screamed at him to fly away or not. The Giant was the biggest threat; the mare only seemed to be defensively supporting him.  He shot to the air and dove low, skimming over the heads of the crowd.  The Giant had his shield raised and his back turned to him as he focused on another guard.  His sword was held low and slightly behind him as he braced himself, but, to Night Owl’s relief, he wasn’t anticipating an attack from behind. Solaire jerked forward as something snatched his straight sword from behind.  His eyes traced a thestral as it shot past him and took to the night skies, the cross guard of his stolen weapon caught in its mouth.  His original opponent rammed into his newly exposed chest, and Solaire found himself sucking in his breath as the stallion tackled him to the ground.  He grimaced.  Such a lack of honor, these foes. Night Owl lightly tossed the sword in the air and bit down on its hilt.  His heart was racing.  How long had it been since he had flown like this?  The Giant’s mage ejected his brother in arms off her companion and helped him recover.  If ever there was a time to strike… Twilight’s eyes shrank as the thestral pulled in his wings and dove for them.  Solaire’s sword was glinting in his mouth with ill-intent for its owner.  She felt her heart stop. No.  Not again.  She was not going to freeze up.  With determination burning in her eyes, she bowed her head and reached out with her magic.  The sword hummed in the thestral’s mouth with purple light as it resonated with her.  With a wrench from her head, it jerked free from his mouth, and the guard careened to the side from the sudden pull and crashed before the crowd. Twilight’s stomach turned as the summoned sword drew closer, and she melted in relief as a hand graciously plucked it out of her magic.  “Thank you, Twilight,” Solaire nodded kindly before turning back to the fray. Night Owl groaned, massaging his ringing head.  He really didn’t like fighting unicorns.  He spat and rolled to his back… and found a rather familiar mare staring down at him with mischievous eyes.  The salesmare could hardly contain her devilish smile, and she turned her back to him and reared her hind leg beneath her dress. Night Owl blinked.  “Um… Applej—” A sharp crack cut him off as her hind leg struck his muzzle.  The salesmare craned her head back, admiring her handiwork.  Her guard’s eyes were spinning from the blow, and his head finally collapsed on the cobblestone. She eyed those watching her and raised a hoof to her mouth, feigning innocence.  “Oops,” she shrugged. The crowd was becoming anxious.  Seeing the salesmare strike down a guard sparked something inside them all as a revelation dawned upon them.  They all wanted these Warriors to defeat the Guard.  While they were holding their own now, they were still outnumbered.  Why not help them? It started with a tin can, ringing out as it struck one of the guard’s helmets like a bell.  The fighting grinded to a stop, and a wave of unease washed over the guards as they took in the newly tense air.  A line of bystanders broke from the crowd, positioning themselves between the Royal Guard and their targets.  All eyes were on them, and they all dripped with rebellion. The captain of the Baltimare Guard felt his eye twitch.  What were these civilians thinking?  They were protecting them of these terrorists, these traitors to the throne.  The crowd slowly closed in around them, armed with an artillery of rocks, fruits, and litter.  The Warriors stood stunned and the sudden shift in the tide.  The Guard was outnumbered and slowly losing their ground.  They weren’t armed to take an insurgency of civilians, of families and friends. The captain gritted his teeth.  “Fall back!” he barked.  The first barrage from the civilians had fired, and the Guard shielded themselves from the harmless artillery.  “Fall back!” he called again.  “Regroup at the base!” Twilight watched in amazement as the guards ran away and as parts of the crowd gave chase.  Something swelled in her chest; a sense of pride.  This was the first time somepony had intervened, let alone an entire crowd.  She looked to Solaire, as if for answers, and he smiled warmly back. “You did this, Twilight,” he whispered softly.  “You have inspired these people to stand for themselves.  You’re making a difference.” Twilight couldn’t contain herself any longer.  She leapt up and wrapped her hooves around Solaire’s chest.  “We did it!  We did it!  We did it!” she squealed in delight.  Solaire gave a hearty laugh and spun, holding the mare in his arms so she wouldn’t fall. A cheer erupted from their audience, and the marketplace was filled with a thunder of hooves clapping against the cobblestone sidewalks.  As it slowly calmed, the Warriors noticed many of the ponies were watching them expectantly. “I do believe they are waiting for a speech,” Solaire whispered to his companion. Twilight looked up and back to the cheering crowd.  She took in a breath to calm the jitters taking over her and nodded.  “O-Okay…  I can do this,” she said to herself.  Solaire let her drop back to her hooves. “Just like we practiced,” he reminded with a wink.  “Strong, and confident.  Let them hear the great news you bear.” Twilight smiled, and her eyes flicked past her companion.  “Think you can get me on that awning?” she asked. Solaire followed her gaze and chuckled, sheathing his sword and getting in position.  He brought up his shield with both hands and nodded to his summoner.  “Whenever you are ready!” he called. Twilight broke into a gallop, leaping into the sun painted on her companion’s shield.  Solaire pushed up the moment he felt Twilight’s weight and sent her into the air.  It almost felt as if she was flying, and she allowed herself a small giggle as she flew.  The awning dipped and bounced beneath her as she landed, and as she steadied herself, she cleared her throat and spoke for all of Baltimare to hear. “Good afternoon, citizens of Baltimare!” she called proudly.  “I am Twilight Sparkle of Canterlot!” “And I, Solaire of Astora!” the Warrior chimed, raising his sword. “—and we are your Warriors of Sunlight!”  Twilight paused, allowing her audience to quell as another cheer encouraged her on.  She took in a breath and glanced down to Solaire.  He smiled with his eyes and made that strange gesture with his thumb sticking out of his fist, one he explained meant good will from his world.  She smiled in appreciation and continued. “For too long has this Nightmare plagued Equestria!  We’re here to show you that you do not have to be afraid; that you can stand up for yourselves, something you have all so bravely proven yourselves already,” she smiled.  “This ‘eternal night’ has lasted long enough!  Solaire and I are on a quest; a quest to bring back the sun and Equestria’s rightful Princess.  With your support, we will break this curse, we will bring Equestria the morning it has waited so long for, and we will bring an end to this Tyrant’s rule!” Solaire lowered his sword to the audience’s applause and raised his shield to take its place, and the ponies’ thrill seemed only to amplify at the sight.  Whoops and hollers welcomed the painted face, and above it all, a stallion’s voice broke over the cheering, “Praise the Sun!” Twilight hopped off the awning and into Solaire’s expecting arms, grinning from ear to ear.  The crowd continued to chant, and Solaire felt something warm glow inside him.  He looked down to the mare smiling in his arms.  “Where to next, my friend?” he asked warmly. Twilight thought he’d never ask.  She rolled out of his arms and pointed skyward in a direction she hoped was the right way.  “To the library!”