I stuck my night's first meal into the fire, letting the soft flames lick the skinned rabbit with heat as I stuck it in place. With a happy smile I leaned back, finally feeling used to my strange life for the first time in months. I had been stuck in these woods since some weird portal opened under me, and while I may enjoy camping this had been a bit more excessive than I was planning. With a small motion, I rotated the rabbit, trying to cook it evenly as I kept my ears open around me. I felt content as I watched the fire flicker and bark in front of me, with most of the creatures of the forest having a wonderful fear of fire I was relatively safe. Of course, I'd still never sleep at night again. The first time waking up beside wolves made out of freaking wood taught me that. I began bobbing my head as the urge to sing began to rush through me. Without much preamble, I broke out into song. I didn't worry about the danger, if only because the fire would stop anything the snares didn't.
***
Roseluck crept as silently as possible through the thick undergrowth of Everfree. She knew what the ponies in town thought of her, and she could hardly call them wrong. She was frightened by nearly anything, and she was jumpier than a rabbit on a trampoline. But she had good cause. With the massive amount of money one could make selling the flowers of Everfree, she was able to do basically whatever she wanted, her hours and income all her own choice. Of course, the trade-off was nearly dying of fright every time she had an order to fill. She stooped low and began digging in the dirt around a small patch of Poison Joke. She nearly jumped as a haunting tone began to slide through the forest. She could hear the voice pulling at her fetlocks, telling her to investigate.
She wanted to resist the urge, knowing that strange music in the Everfree was almost certainly a bad sign, but found her hooves abandoning their work before she could stop them. SHe felt fear grasp her heart as she went straight through the bushes, unsure whether the reasons for her movent were magical or curiosity given some morbid new form. She watched the area the song came from, finding the soft glow of a fire illuminating an area through another bush. As Roseluck's muzzle peeked through the only bush separating her from the unknown she managed to get her body back under her own control. And with a single glance, she was frozen with fear.
***
I finished the song with a bow, not even realizing I had risen to dance to my own tune. With a smile, I looked over the clearing and stopped at a bush within my soft firelight. I stared for a moment at the creature peeking out from the waist-high foliage. "Well, now isn't that odd?" I twisted my head back and forth, trying to figure out what to do with this equine head encroaching on my territory. I decided the age-old rule of fuck it was in full effect, moving back to my fire. "If you're here to eat me make it quick, I'm trying to relax tonight."
I heard an eep sound from behind me, followed by a rush of noises that told me whatever the creature was had decided to flee. At least until the twang of tense rope sounded from the same area. I sighed and looked forlornly at my now roasted rabbit. I picked it up and began leaving my little camp.
***
Roseluck hyperventilated as she was hanging in the air by her hoof. She had no way to cut herself free, and her bags which might have held hope had fallen as she was catapulted in the sky. She couldn't scream, she was to deep in the forest for a pony to hear her and it would only summon something after her blood if she did so. She realized quickly her only actual hope of escape was drastic. She raised her dull teeth to her hanging hoof and readied herself to bite down as hard as she could.
***
I stared at the small pony hanging from my snare. From her breathing, I guessed the force hadn't killed her, and the vines I had used for rope were holding firm. I nodded at my own craftsmanship as I watched the pony have a silent freak out. I watched as she looked between the vine to her hoof before clinching her eyes shut, and raising her mouth to her own limb. I quickly decided not to watch that. "Hey, if you can understand me please stop. I doubt watching you gnaw your own body apart to escape a snare would give me the most pleasant dreams."
The uncaring tone seemed to crack through her head, as she swung around frantically. I raised an eyebrow as she stared at me with fear-filled eyes. I snorted. "Seriously though, if you can speak then do it. You're wasting both of our times if I have to keep trying to figure out if you're smart enough to talk back or a dumb forest creature."
The pony let out a quiet squeak of noise before nodding. "I-I can talk miss forest creature. P-p-please DON'T EAT ME!!"
I flinched at the scream. "Quiet down, Jesus! Gimme a second to get you down, then you can come with me back to my fire and we're going to have a little talk." I moved over to the small knot holding her in place and marshaled my thought. I hadn't met a creature that could talk yet, but the fact it was a tiny pony confirmed a few of the things I had already assumed. I wasn't anywhere near home. So I needed to get info, and she was the one who would give it. I tucked my rabbit kebab under an arm, untying the knot with sure fingers. Without much ado I let it go, forcing her to the ground much quicker than she would have liked. As she rubbed her stomach from the impact I investigated her. She was still scared of me. The furtive glances and occasional twitches away from my much taller form told me that much.
I thought back to every con I ever pulled, and let a predatory smile form on my face. I could use this. I could use this oh so much. "Come along little one, we have oh so much to talk about. Like why you stumbled upon my little camp, and why I should let you leave here alive." I turned around, taking the first gambit of my newest game. I began walking away without looking behind me. "Oh, and please don't run." I paused, hoping she would take it as a menacing pause instead of my mild scramble for a lie. I paused at the memory of the wooden wolves and let out a small laugh. Magic was here, and I was going to fake it like the best of them. "The night always takes its due, and you are now indebted to it."
I could tell my gambit worked as hooves hurried to keep up behind me as I pulled my rabbit free. Taking a bite as I walked, I moved to sit back at the fire. Turning my head to her, I pointed with my kebab. "So little one, who are you to intrude upon my home, especially during my time?"
The pony flinched back, though I was surprised that it was more from the rabbit than my veiled threat. "I-I'm Roseluck, and I was looking for some plants to sell." I took that information greedily. If she sold it then there was civilization somewhere nearby, which was better than what my dark mind had been dreaming. I took another bite of rabbit and realized the first thing I wanted from a town was some salt. Roseluck looked at me. "U-uhm, do you have a name?"
I smiled, showing teeth that made Roseluck flinch back yet again. This was my preferred environment, about to spin so many lies that the truth is not only hidden, but it's presence was utterly unnecessary. "Everything has a name Rose-y. I have been called many things, Blackwatch, Sithis, The Weary's Rest, Noctis, Eventide, Malam. All of these and more, but you may call me by my simplest name. I am the Night." I let a short half bow come from my seated position. "Always a pleasure to meet something new, though whether to eat or chat I have yet to decide."
Roseluck stiffened, but after a moment relaxed. She smiled wide. "If you're the night you can't hurt me! Princess Luna would stop you!" I paused. So there was a princess and one who probably controlled the night. I quickly shifted my expression the best I could without more information, going for mild disdain. Roseluck noticed my tighter expression. "Yeah, because she rules the night. So she wouldn't let you."
I stayed silent, using every ounce of self-control not to curse. There was a princess of the night. One who might very well be the actual goddess of night. I could collapse my lie now, cutting losses and trying to salvage my information digging with a new angle. But a small aspect of my past fought through. I was a con-artist. I took hopeless situations and turned them into fortunes, not the other way around. I spun my kebab in hand. "Tell me little pony. Is Princess Luna here?" I put as much disdain as I could behind the princess's name, and was rewarded with a shake of Roseluck's head. "That is because nothing controls the night. She may marshall it, she may even be able to master its various powers. But I am the night. No strings to hold me back, nor rules to make my life any harder. None may call me their subject or their servant. Remember that, before I decide a more physical lesson is in order."
Roseluck crawled back, placing the fire between us. "O-of course miss."
I nodded, resting beside the fire. "But enough of the dull matters of order and prompt. Tell me, why journey into such a dangerous place for your wares? Surely you could grow whatever you needed."
Roseluck shook her head. "No, the Everfree's the only place most of these plants grow."
She wasn't being very forthcoming, causing a frown to cross my features. "How strange, yet understandable. Well then, I suppose that is the best I can ask for." I speared the stick of my kebab into the ground. "Well, then Roseluck. I believe we can reach a deal. I will escort you back to your town, and in exchange, if our paths cross again you will speak to me. I care not what subject you wish to converse upon, but this dreary immortality bores me." I paused. Details were the heart of deception. Saying you did something hard was easily dismissed, but add enough seemingly pointless details and it sold much more easily than rote repetition. "Heaven knows I can't speak to my absolute dolt of a brother." I threw my arms to my side as if dismissing an offensive thought. "Bah! All about order and the," I made air quotes with my fingers. "Bright side of life. After so long seeing mortal missteps he still thinks your all so thrice-lit nice."
I grabbed a stick of the fire that was thick enough to use as a makeshift torch for a few hours. After raising it above my head I looked at Roseluck, who seemed to be staring at me with wonder. "Well? I have no clue where your little township is, and I assume you wish to make it home before day breaks and I must retire."
Roseluck bolted up. "YES! I'll take your deal!" With that, she began to briskly move from my fire as I kicked some dirt on it. Guess I was starting the night early.