Voice in the Night

by Allenator05


When All Seems Lost, Hope Remains

Luna woke the next morning feeling marginally better. She winced and held her head in her hands. She felt like her head was splitting open and the light caused a stabbing pain in her eyes. Luna screwed her eyes shut and covered her face with the pillow. This was worse than that one time at Prince Blueblood’s birthday party. After that night, Luna swore off Granny Smith’s Special Zap Apple Cider for good.

The pain slowly subsided and Luna decided she could make it out of bed. She slowly got dressed and made her way downstairs. She didn’t find Hildr, but she did notice a pitcher of water and a bottle of pills. Luna read the label and was relieved to find the pills were for headaches, aches and pains. She took two pills and drank some water. Luna was a bit disappointed when the effects didn’t immediately take place. Luna looked out the window and groaned when she saw the sun was barely over the mountains. Since she couldn’t sleep, Luna decided her time would be better spent doing something productive.

The Farm was a bit of a misnomer since no actual cultivation of crops was taking place. Luna walked amongst the buildings. Perhaps this place had been an actual farm, but it had since been repurposed to meet the people’s current needs. Instead of animals or farm equipment, the barn was now used for storage and a repair hangar for ships like Hildr’s. The large farmhouse in the middle sported an impressive array of antennae and sensor dishes. All of the buildings now served a purpose different than originally intended. At the far end was an open field bordered by a wooden fence. Past the fence was an ocean of prairie grass that stretched to the far off mountains. Luna noticed a large white triangular shaped object at the foot of the mountains. What purpose it served, Luna did not know, but looking at it gave her a funny feeling. Dark clouds seemed to permanently hang overhead and lightning flashed occasionally around the object.

Luna heard voiced behind her and turned to see a group of children approach. The all appeared to be of similar age. One of them carried an old ball with a white and black checker pattern. Luna watched with interest as the children separated into two teams and began kicking the ball back and forth. At this point, Luna noticed two goals set at opposite ends.

Luna watched the game unfold. A strange feeling stirred deep in her heard and she wondered what it could be. After a moment of contemplation, Luna realized the feeling she felt was wonder. Children, human or pony, fascinated Luna. She was constantly amazed the them. For instance, Luna had witnessed the true terror of Hildr’s reality and yet, here were children playing a simple game with little care for anything else. Luna wondered; how did they do it? Surely they were not so insulated as to not realize how precarious their situation truly was. How was it then, that they were able to look at the world in wonder? What did they see? Luna had always been moved by the simplicity and purity of children’s dreams. They had not yet become of age where the weight of the world began to set upon their shoulders, and the light slowly dimmed from their eyes. It pained Luna greatly to watch children grow up and face the reality of the world. More than anything, Luna wanted to protect children and their innocent dreams.

Luna was so caught up in her thoughts that she didn’t see the ball end up at her feet. The children gathered around at a respectful distance, unsure of what to do. Finally, one of the older boys spoke up. “Hello? Excuse me.”

Startled from her thoughts, Luna quickly shook her head and mustered a smile. “Hello little ones,” she said pleasantly.

The older children shared a look as if to say, “Who are you calling little?” The boy who spoken earlier said, “Sorry miss, but could we have our ball back?”

Luna looked down and saw the ball at her feet. Curious, she picked it up and looked it over. “If I may ask, what game were you playing?” she asked.

“Soccer,” the boy said. He looked her up and down and asked, “You’ve never heard of it?” Luna shook her head. One of the boy’s friends leaned over and whispered, “How does she not know what soccer is?”

The boy hissed at his friend and pushed him back. “Duh! Don’t you see her skin? She’s obviously an Awoken from the Reef.”

Frowning, a girl spoke up. “Yeah, but why would a Reef-born Awoken come here? It’s not like there’s anything of interest here.”

Hearing this, Luna spoke up. “I am not an Awoken, nor am I from the Reef. However, I am most curious about this soccer game. How do you play?”

The boy explained the rules as simply as he could. “Two teams try to kick the ball into the other team’s net. The only rule is you can’t use your hands or arms to touch the ball. First team to score three points wins!”

“Why only three points?” Luna asked.

The boy pointed toward the goal. “See those lights? That keeps track of the score.” The goal currently indicated two points. The boy took the ball, and with a smirk on his face said, “Watch this!” He put the ball on the ground, carefully lined up his shot, and gave the ball a good kick. The ball rolled and bounced across the ground and went in the goal. A tone sounded, the third light turned on, and fireworks exploded from the goal. All of the children began cheering and jumping around.

Luna’s heart became full to overflowing with joy, watching the children celebrate. She then became sad and asked, “Do you not know of the troubles going on in this world around you?”

The children calmed down and looked at each other. “A lot of the adults don’t think we understand because we’re just kids,” the boy said. “We all know that the adults are fighting to keep us safe.”

“Doesn’t that bother you?” Luna asked.

The boy shrugged. “Sure it does. We know that we don’t have a lot and sometimes, there isn’t enough to go around. Some of us don’t even have parents or anyone to look after us. All that stuff that happened to the City shows that none of us are safe. Anything could happen at any time, so we have to make the best with what we have.”

“Plus the Traveler protects us!” the girl spoke up. “And the Guardians too!”

“I heard that this one time, a single Hunter took on an entire Cabal base on Mars. By herself! Isn’t that crazy?” one of the boys said.

“Well I heard from someone that the Doc lady here at the Farm used to be some kind of crazy Warlock that would burn down anything that got in her way,” the girl said.

The boy scoffed. “Our Doc? What can she do? All she does is sit in the clinic all day and do work. She has that crazy Hunter run errands for her. She doesn’t sound so great to me.”

“Yeah,” his friend agreed. “I heard that story about the Warlock too. People used to call her the Valkyrie, but she vanished a long time ago.”

The girl frowned and Luna gently patted her on the head. “Fear not, you one. Whether it is true or not, tales of the bravery of others often inspires us to be better ourselves.”

The children ran off to keep playing their game and Luna stayed to watch. That was where Hildr found her several hours later. “Good morning,” she said. “How was your night?”

“Terrible,” Luna replied. “I tossed and turned, hardly slept, and woke with a fearsome headache.”

Hildr grinned and gave Luna sideways look. “And yet you can’t seem to keep that smile off your face,” she said.

Luna turned to Hildr. “Is that so?”

Hildr shook her head. “I take it you found something interesting?”

Luna nodded and pointed. Hildr watched the children play for a few minutes. “What makes it so fascinating?” she asked.

“How can they run and play and seem so happy when everything around them is so dark and terrible?” Luna asked. Hildr saw her eyes were sparkling and full of amazement. “I have always been fascinated by children, so young and full of life without the world to burden them. They are so small and fragile, yet more aware than we realize. Just now, when I was speaking to them, they seemed wise beyond their years.”

Hildr thought for a moment. “That might be true,” she said with a shrug. “It is true that anything that affects the adults hits the children twice as hard. Most of the children here are orphaned or have only one surviving parent. It is very rare to have both parents still living.” Hildr looked back to Luna. “These children, and others like them, lead rough lives. Few will survive to adulthood. When times are lean and resources are scarce, orphaned children aren’t given a second thought. They have to fight for everything they have, often harder than the adults. The world can be pretty scary for a child.”

“Then I will fight for them,” Luna said. Hildr saw the steel in Luna’s eyes and was impressed by her resolve. “It won’t be easy you know,” she said.

“It does not matter to me,” Luna said, shaking her head. “Children are our future. Without them, what hope do we have?”

Hildr smiled. “I said you need to find joy in your life, some kind of purpose to put your energy into.” She nodded to the children and added, “I think you have found it. Hold on to this Luna. I can’t guarantee that your problems will disappear, but finding hope in the things that bring you joy will help when the dark times come.”

Luna looped her arm through Hildr’s and leaned into her. “Do not forget good company and council,” she said.

“Especially that,” Hildr agreed. “I have business to take care of, so I’ll leave you here.” She patted Luna’s arm and went back to the clinic.

Luna spent the rest of the day with the children. They warmed up to her and invited her to join in their game. Luna ran back and forth and had a good time, temporarily forgetting her worries. Perhaps those carefree days she once shared with Celestia weren’t gone forever.

Hildr went back that evening and found Luna kicking the ball by herself. Her footwork was still clumsy, and the ball got away from her more than once, but she kept at it. Hildr was amazed by the heavy concentration Luna showed. As she was dribbling the ball, it rolled off the side of her foot and found its way to Hildr. She picked up the ball and spun it on her finger. “You’ve been busy,” she said.

Luna walked up to Hildr and put her hands on her hips. “I would appreciate it if you would return the ball back to me,” she said.

Hildr smirked and tossed the ball to Luna who trapped it with her chest and began juggling the ball with her knees and feet. Finally the ball dropped to the ground and Luna trapped it with her foot. “I have been thinking that I would like to take this game back to Equestria,” she said and wiped her brow.

“Well I’m sure that Sunset Shimmer will be more than happy to loan you an actual rule book,” Hildr said.

The thought had never occurred to Luna and she considered this for a moment. “I suppose that would be reasonable,” she said.

Hildr turned back the way she had come and gave a little wave for Luna to follow. After a moment of hesitation, Luna kicked be ball into the closest goal and followed Hildr. Down by the dock on the shore of the lake was a recessed seating area with a large fire pit. Hildr added some wood and gave the fire a little boost with her Light. Soon the fire was crackling happily. Hildr sat down and patted the seat next to her. Luna sat down and stared into the fire. Today had been a productive day, Luna decided, but now that night was coming, she started to feel apprehension about what was to come.

Hildr sensed her unease. “How are you doing?” she asked. She reached into her bag and pulled out a large thermos. Hildr unscrewed the top and Luna smelled a delicious soup. Her stomach gurgled in approval. Hildr laughed and poured some soup into a bowl and handed it to Luna. Before she could ask, Hildr handed Luna a piece of bread. “This soup is best if you dip the bread and eat it that way,” she said.

Luna did as instructed and found the bread enhanced the flavor of the soup. She quickly devoured the bread and drank the remainder of the soup. Luna put her bowl down and licked her lips satisfactorily. “I don’t think I’ve ever had a more delicious soup,” she said.

Hildr smiled and shook her head as she handed Luna a napkin and a cup of water. “You don’t have to lie for my sake,” she said.

“It was the honest truth,” Luna insisted. Hildr slowly ate her soup and chewed on her bread, lost in thought. Luna sighed and sat back contentedly. “Long ago, before my sister and I were princesses, we often spent our nights much like this one.”

Hildr looked at Luna out of the corner of her eye. “You mean on the shores of a lake on a doomed planet?” she asked.

Luna shook her head. “Around a fire, under the stars, with pleasant company.”

Hildr shrugged and continued to stare into the flames. “Listen Luna, I’ve been doing some thinking.”

“Oh? About what?” Luna asked.

“About what I said to you the other day,” Hildr said. “I don’t have the proper medication to treat your depression or the other things, but if it’s what you want, I think I know where to get it.”

Hildr’s words left Luna at a pause. She had been hurt and upset when Hildr said she didn’t have the medication, but now that there was a chance, Luna didn’t know what to think. Hildr had stressed that there were risks involved, but did the benefit outweigh the cost? Luna wasn’t so sure. “How much trouble would it be for you to obtain this medicine?” Luna asked carefully.

Hildr sighed. “I could go to the City and ask there, but I think my best chance would be to visit the recently uncovered Clovis Bray facility on Mars and search the database there.” Hildr turned to Luna. “We don’t have to go. I can ask Nyx to go instead. She wouldn’t mind.”

Luna thought carefully. Surely there was no harm in looking right? And if the search was unsuccessful, there was no harm done. “I suppose that would be okay,” Luna said finally.

Hildr nodded and stared down at her feet. “I’m sorry I haven’t been much help. Like I’ve said before, my specialty is battlefield trauma and first aid. I can fix people’s bodies, but I know next to nothing about what goes on up here.” She tapped herself on the temple to emphasize her point. “I’m flattered you came to me anyway.”

Luna stared at Hildr in shock. “Who are you and what have you done with Hildr? Certainly you are not the same woman who nearly burned down Canterlot Castle out of frustration, are you? Perhaps you are the one not right in the head.” Luna stood up and looked around. “Hello? Anyone? We require a doctor!”

Hildr rolled her eyes and pulled Luna back to her seat. Luna giggled and gave Hildr a playful shove. “But seriously, what happened to you?

Hildr raised an eyebrow in Luna’s direction and said, “I thought we were talking about your problems.”

Luna snorted. “How the turns have tabled,” she said and folded her arms.

It took Hildr’s brain a split second to interpret what Luna had said before she burst out laughing.

“What? What did I say?” Luna asked, clearly confused. “Did I not say that right?”

“No! Not at all!” Hildr gasped and nearly fell out of her seat.

Luna frowned and took on a dignified air. “I believe you have had your fun now,” she said sternly.

Hildr sat up and wiped the tears from her eyes. “Okay, you win.”

Luna cleared her throat and smoothed out her jacket. “I too have thought about what you said, about finding joy and happiness where I can,” she said.

“So what’s your plan?” Hildr asked with interest.

“My sister has a school for gifted unicorns. I wish to start a school as well, only my school will be more like a home for the young children who have one parent, no parent, or are simply very poor.” Seeing the look Hildr was giving her, Luna continued. “Before you say anything, I am ashamed to admit that there are those in Equestria in these exact circumstances.” Luna’s face fell and she held her hands to her heart. “Being gone for so long meant that I have missed out on a great many things. Caring for children is one of them. I have come to realize that my protective instinct is very strong, and not having children of my own, per se, has left an interesting void in my heart.”

Luna looked away out of embarrassment. “I think that I would like to have children of my own someday, but how can that be a possibility with Nightmare Moon still whispering in my ear? I am afraid that I might do something unspeakable. Is it wrong for me to think this way?”

Hildr shook her head. “No Luna, you are not wrong. Long ago, if it was decided the mother was unfit or unable to properly care for her children, they were taken away and sent to live with relatives or new families.”

Luna gasped. She felt like she had been slapped in the face. “How barbaric! How could such a thing even be allowed to happen?”

Hildr calmly looked Luna in the eyes. “Like I said Luna, it was in the best interest of the child. Doesn’t every child deserve to grow up receiving the love and care he or she needs? And it is a proven fact that children who grow up in a stable environment with both parents have better success in life.”

Luna carefully considered Hildr’s words. “By that logic, if I was ever to have children and something happened to me, they would be taken away? For their own safety?” she asked. Hildr did not reply and Luna angrily shook her head. “No! If anypony tried to take my children, they shall fear my wrath and rue the day!”

Hildr put a hand on Luna’s arm. “Hold on to that feeling and never let it go,” she said. “Remember that, and become a guardian to all the children of Equestria.”

Luna looked down at her clenched hands and slowly opened them. “There is something else I should tell you,” she said and went on to tell Hildr about her dream. “She is right,” Luna said when she was done. “Nightmare Moon will always be lurking in the darkest corners of my heart.”

Hildr thought very carefully. Normally, it wasn’t a good idea to enforce or encourage someone’s delusions or illness, but Luna was not a normal person. Looking at her now, it was easy to forget Luna was a powerful pony princess. “Luna, are you afraid of Nightmare Moon?” Hildr asked.

Luna hesitated before speaking. “I am not so sure anymore,” she admitted. “It is true that I as Nightmare Moon have committed terrible acts, but I have learned some things as well.”

“Like what?” Hildr asked.

Luna thought carefully. “I believe, no, it is true that Nightmare Moon is…my true self? No, that is not correct. What I mean is, if I were to let myself go completely, and not hold back, Nightmare Moon is myself at full power. But having such power is a fragile thing. It would be easy to use too much force, and if not properly controlled, there would be dire consequences.”

“Like eternal night?” Hildr asked with a wry smile.

“Exactly,” Luna agreed. “Luna and Nightmare Moon are two sides to the same coin. Denying her would be denying half of myself. How can I live as half a pony?”

“That is a dangerous way of thinking,” Hildr warned. “Humans have good and bad sides too. Sometimes, the bad outweighs the good. Nothing good ever comes from that.”

Luna nodded her head. “I understand there is a risk involved.” She sighed and looked into the flames. “I am not my sister, nor do I wish to be. I cannot do the things she does. She is the bright and shining example to all, while I hide in the shadows unseen.”

“I see you,” Hildr said softly. “Just as there are things only Celestia can do, there are a multitude of things only you can do. I have said it before and I will continue to say it, the reason the ponies of Equestria sleep so well at night is because they have powerful protector watching over them, and may the gods have mercy on those who would cross you and wish to do harm.” She let out a tired sigh. “However, in order to fight monsters, you have to be careful not to become one yourself.”

Luna said nothing. She could feel Nightmare Moon’s eyes burning holes in the back of her head. “I do not wish to become a monster, and I hope that is not the case. However, I will do what I must to protect Equestria and my ponies.”

“Good,” Hildr said sternly. “If I ever hear that you’ve gone completely to the dark side and started a reign of terror, I will find you and end you myself.”

Luna’s anger burned as she looked into Hildr’s unrelenting gaze. Who did she think she was to threaten her like that? Did she forget to whom she was speaking? Luna’s pupils briefly turned to slits and the atmosphere between them suddenly turned chilly. The sounds of nature grew quiet as Hildr and Luna’s overbearing pressures clashed and caused tiny sparks to appear.

Luna squeezed her eyes shut, then threw her head back and let loose a hearty laugh. Hildr became confused, then slowly smiled and shook her head. “Why so serious?” Luna asked while holding her sides. When she had calmed down some, she added, “I would expect nothing less from you.”

“Just don’t kill everyone before I get there,” Hildr replied.

“I make no such promises,” Luna replied with an evil grin. Afterwards, they walked back to the clinic and said goodnight.