//------------------------------// // 1246 AA // Story: Chasing the Night // by Bright Keys //------------------------------// Concerning the alchemist that I persuaded Celestia to hire... The summer sun shone brightly on the town of Everfree, the Castle rising into the robin’s egg sky above. Ponies talked as they exchanged bits for goods. Colts teased fillies and chased them through the streets, the foals laughing and romping in the warm afternoon. As Painted Lily trotted slowly down the cobbled road, it seemed as if the entire world had forgotten the terrifying night that had swallowed the world only two weeks ago. “So it’s true?” she heard a farm pony ask, “Princess Luna is gone?” “Afraid so,” the salespony sighed, “Celestia banished her to the moon.” Painted Lily glanced at the speakers as she passed. She shook her head softly, her long, fuchsia mane falling about her face. The thought of it felt so wrong. One princess banishing another? How surreal. You’re not here to listen to gossip, Lily, she reminded herself, focus. The white mare looked up, trying to locate the proper street. She’d never been to the castle before, but with a job offer such as this, how could she refuse? Chief Apothecary. What an honor! She was surprised word of her talent had made it to castle seeing as she lived deeper into the forest where the best herbs grew. Turning up the road, she made her way up the slope towards the impressive grey bulk of the castle. She thanked the guard as they reached the meeting room and walked to the desk. “I’ll let him know you’ve arrived,” the stallion said, dipping his head. The door closed softly, leaving her alone with her thoughts and a luxurious, mahogany desk. Her horn flared with energy as she lifted her saddlebag onto the desktop. From it, she produced three stoppered bottles of pale, lavender liquid. The door opened again and Painted Lily turned to face it. She pursed her lips. “You.” The pegasus standing before her smiled, ruffling his wings in greeting. He wore a silver chain around his neck with a dark blue gem in the shape of the crescent moon. His ruffled, powder blue hair, his harvest moon eyes - she had forgotten them until now. “So you’re the one who called me here?” she flicked her ear in irritation. “Yes,” he said, smile still affixed to his face, “Painted Lily, right? I’m-” “Perilune, I know.” He paused, tilting his head, “Really?” “Yeah,” she snorted. He tilted his head further, scrunching his face to the side. “Your eyes…” he said slowly. “Excuse me?” “Do I… Know you from somewhere?” Lily raised her eyebrows. “Are you serious?” “Yes, I swear I know you from somewhere… I just can’t remember.” “Five years. When we were foals. Every night. None of this is ringing a bell?” The stallion stared at her for a moment more, his wings shifting absently. Suddenly, his smile widened massively. “Oh! Painted Lily! I used to visit your dreams when I was a colt!” “Now you remember,” she rolled her eyes. “Yeah! Oh, wow, I can’t believe it! What a coincidence, right?” He trotted into the room, approaching the desk. “These the sleeping potions?” He asked, looking at the three bottles. “Yes. That’s what you ordered,” Lilly said curtly, glaring at him. “The fastest a sleeping potion has taken effect on me was thirty seconds. If the rumors about you are true, then yours should work in ten.” Perilune took one of the bottles and uncorked it, taking a drop on his wing. He sampled it, and his eyes widened in shock. “Maybe less. I’d advise adding pegasus feather to these, but otherwise, I think you have yourself a job.” “Which one of us is the alchemist here?” she grumbled, flicking her tail sharply. “What exactly do you need sleeping potions for?” “My occupation requires that I be able to fall asleep at a moment’s notice. Especially since the… incident a few weeks ago.” “You mean Nightmare Moon?” she asked, eyes narrowing. “That’s not her name!” Perilune suddenly shouted, stomping the floor. He pulled back almost instantly, wings tucking in embarrassment. “Sorry. It’s just… a bit of a touchy subject.” Confused, Painted Lilly simply nodded. “Understood.” She trotted closer, lifting one of the bottles with her magic and then plucking a feather from his wing. Not a flight feather, of course, just a little one. Perilune winced slightly. “That should dilute it a little. It was a joke. Mostly.” “Hmph.” She didn’t look at him as she stirred the feather into the potion, crumbling it into little pieces. After stirring it for a moment, she set it on the desk again. “Now, on the subject of payment,” she began, looking sidelong at him. “Right. Fifteen bits for every sleeping potion, thirty for each spiritual revitalizer, and you choose the fare for if I get ill or injured. How’s that sound?” “You’re planning on getting injured?” she asked, a scowl tugging at her features. “Well yeah. I plan on fighting Nightmares, so I bet I’m going to get roughed up quite a bit and-” He suddenly cut himself off, his face showing that he had definitely not meant to say that. “Nightmares? You mean like-” she stopped herself before she set him off again, “The one from a couple weeks ago?” “No, like the ones that you dream about, the ones that… actually might be threats. It happens sometimes. Hence the spiritual revitalizer. I’ve fought a couple already, and the fights take a lot out of me.” Perilune said a bit sheepishly, rubbing the back of his head. “Uh huh.” Painted Lily said slowly, not sure what to say. “How often does this occur?” “Not that often, once every week or so.” Perilune hesitated for a moment, and just as Painted Lily was about to speak again, he piped back up with, “I should probably show you where you’ll be creating your brews and doing most of your work. As well as the home that has been set aside for you to live in if you’d like.” “Will there be any pay besides your out of pocket expenses?” “Well, as you can imagine, budgets are tight right now due to reparations and-” “Enough with the babble. Out with it.” “We were able to get you market space in the city square for a quarter of the typical cost.” “And what? I’m supposed to make brews wholesale while at the same time supplying to you?” “Equestria is entering a new age of expansion. There are plenty of ponies in the city who need potions.” “And what is the fee I’ll be paying for the space?” Painted Lily said, trying to keep her disappointment and frustration as hidden as possible. “Fifty bits per month.” Great.