//------------------------------// // Ch. 2 Reaper // Story: Reaper // by CherryTune //------------------------------// *Reaper* Luna wakes up for the night shift. She goes to the throne room and Celestia was finishing up with Twilight, Starlight, Trixie, Starswirl and Zecora. Celestia dismissed the participants in the room,the crowd dispersed, and Twilight and her friends stayed in the castle for the night. Celestia turned to Luna in the now empty room. “Preparations for our stand at the burial ground are steadily coming together. Will you be ok tonight Luna?” Celestia asked. “I’ll be fine Tia. Get some sleep and I will watch the night.” Luna responded. “Goodnight Luna.” Celestia said. “Goodnight sister.” Luna replied. Celestia turned in as the night watch relieved those working the day shift. Luna rose the moon and wandered the halls acknowledging her guards as she passed. “Hello Luna.” a voice range out. “Who’s there? Show yourself.” She commanded. “We have not met, but I sensed your darkness a thousand years ago. It was strong, it was powerful, it was… so familiar.” The female voice continued. Luna looked stoically through the darkness, unafraid and unamused. She caught a glance of a smoke like figure dart through the shadows. “You have no business here, leave at once.” She demanded. The smoky figure laughed and said “I do hope all this mess blows over. My master has plans for you, and I fear these spirits will just get in the way.” Luna shot a magic bolt at the figure and it dissipated flowing out of a nearby window. “Reaper sends his regards.” it said. Cherry Tune and Moonlet came rushing in around a corner “Princess Luna, is everything alright?” Moonlet asked. Luna glanced over and said “Moonlet, inform Nightfall that he is to add a few more patrols to the castle perimeter.” “At once Luna.” Moonlet responded before trotting off. “Cherry Tune, I have a special task for you.” Luna said. Luna and Cherry head to the reserve armory and dig through very old, very dusty armor from the Castle of the Two Sisters. The armor was transferred from the old castle after Nightmare Moon was banished. They locate Celestia's and Luna's old armor and spears. They were armaments from the battle against Sombra and were no longer needed when they found the elements of harmony. Since their connection to the elements was broken Luna thought that they may need it for the battle ahead. Cherry Tune takes the weapons and armor and repairs dents, scratches, replaces worn leather and straps, and crafts new scabbards for the spears. She also obtains simple robes for the princesses. Luna takes the armor to the night captain Nightfall. An earth stallion who ran a shop at a train rest stop between Canterlot and The Crystal Empire. Luna instructed that these remain available at a moments notice. He acknowledges and puts them in the immediate armory. Nightfall gives command of the night guard to Moonlet as by midnight he must sleep if he is to run his shop. Moonlet takes command of the night guard and the evening goes by peacefully. Luna, Moonlet, and Cherry Tune take their break and Luna confides in them. Luna begins by saying “Moonlet, as Nightfall is the commander of the night guard you will relay this conversation to him when you see him tomorrow night.” “Princess?” Moonlet asks. “Also to the two of you and Nightfall you must keep this to yourselves.” Luna continues. “You’re kinda worrying us Luna.” Cherry Tune said. “I’m sorry, but I fear that the days ahead will be very dark. The spirits we must face in the near future are powerful. Those that volunteer will most likely perish just like the ancients who fought the spirits before us.” Luna said. “If I can’t hold Twilight's shield who knows what could happen to you.” Luna continued. “We’ll be fine!” Moonlet said. “Yeah, we joined the guard for the very purpose of protecting Equestria" Cherry Tune said. "We might not be princesses or royal guard or a group of friends whose destinies were entangled before they were born! But we’ll make our differences our own way!” Cherry Tune continued. “Luna, we’ll be out there with you!” Moonlet said. “Still be careful though. Moonlet when I learn Twilight's spell I’ll teach it to you so that if the worst happens you can protect as many around you as you can.” Luna replied. “But I am not a powerful magic user, I just cook decently.” Moonlet says “Moonlet, try for me... please.” Luna pleads. “Yes princ--, Luna.” Moonlet replies. The remainder of the night went along smoothly. Luna continued her patrols in the dream world for the night and Moonlet and Cherry continued their duties. The two mares discussed their meeting with Luna among themselves. “It’s not that I don’t absolutely adore Luna and I am grateful that we became friends. But I don’t know what she sees in us that we mean so much to her.” Moonlet said. “I understand where you are coming from but maybe the nights get lonely and the addition of the new night guard gives her that feeling of friendship she might not always get alone at night.” Cherry said. “I mean, do you think that if any other pony happened to show up at the fountain that night she’d just make friends with them instead of us?” Moonlet asked. “Possible, but remember she said she heard us laughing at my terrible banjo practice and that’s why she came down.” Cherry reassured. “Nopony else on nights makes as much noise and laughter as us two. And when Nightfall gets involved its even more crazy!” she continued. “That’s true I guess. Maybe I am just worried that we’re just some random ponies that’ll be a faded memory as time goes by.” Moonlet said. “Don’t you think that eventually she won’t need us anymore?” Moonlet “Well, as her friends we need to be there for her and if we fade out then we fade out and we should be happy that she found even greater friends!” Cherry said cheerfully “Cherry how do you make to most depressing notion sound positive?” Moonlet asked. “Because, regardless what happens with us and Luna we still have each other.” she said “…….. and Nightfall.” She continued while chuckling. “That’s true! Thank you Cherry for making me feel better. You didn’t have to play me that terrible song you normally do either!” Moonlet said. Reapers minion watches from the shadows and after she sees enough, she flies away from Canterlot into the mountains. Reaper floats by and asks, “How’d it go Phantom?” “I’d say it went quite well. She knows you’re watching and I sense she is starting to doubt herself, if she wasn’t already.” Phantom said. “Let’s hope these ridiculous creatures can force my brothers and sisters back in there hole.” Reaper says. “I’d rather like a chance to take the power of Nightmare Moon for myself.” He continued. Phantom says “Master I found out that there’s another princess. Her name is Twilight –“ “Sparkle.” Reaper interrupts. “Yes I am aware. Let us take a look at her castle while she’s away.” He continues. Phantom and Reaper head to Twilight's castle. They search her library paying no mind to the sleeping dragon in Twilight's room. Reaper finds history of her friends and power, as well as all the foes she’s vanquished. He discards those books with disgust and locates an old dusty book Twilight brought from Klugetown after the Storm Kings defeat. It told of an ancient castle built by travelers escaping a growing cold caused by the Windigoes. The castle and surrounding village did not fare well in the arid climates and the castle and village was eventually abandoned. “That’s where we need to go Phantom.” Reaper says. “Go to the badlands and locate this castle. And tell me everything you can about this Klugetown.” He continues. “Of course master.” Phantom replies. “I shall meet you there once I find out how my siblings fare against this… Princess of Friendship.” Reaper laughs. End Chapter