//------------------------------//
// A Change In Cat-titude 
// Story: Beyond My Grave: Nightlight 
// by AnnEldest 
//------------------------------//

"Ahhhhh!" The little dragon screamed. Spike ran out of the road as a carriage raced passed him.

"Get out of the way, runt!" Yelled the stallion that pulled the carriage.

Spike tripped as he threw himself onto the sidewalk. "What in Equestria just happened!?" Spike yelled as he sat up. He looked around to see crowds of ponies casually strolling by. "Big Mac?"

"Ahhhhh!" The deep scream of the stallion came flying at the young dragon.

"Woa!" Spike rolled out of the kill zone just in time for Big Mac to crash down hard on the cement. Spike stood up before he wiped himself down. "Discord," he growled. "Nice of you to put us right in the middle of a Canterlot busy street!"

"Yup," Big Mac groaned as he rolled to his side.

Spike looked up to see the large castle of Princess Celestia and Princess Luna. "Well, I guess we're here at least." Spike put his claws on his back and pressed hard until the loud sound of his spine cracking rushed out. "Ahhhhh," he groaned. "Let's just go warn everyone that inescapable death is upon us."

Their journey primarily consisted of Big Mac picking Spike off the ground. The little dragon tried desperately to hold on for dear life, but the ride was too bumpy and sporadic. Big Mac rushed up the stairway of the large castle as Spike held tightly to his main.

Once Big Mac had crashed through the doors, Spike jumped down for the stallion and ran over to a guard that stood in awe. The guard jumped back as Spike started waving in his face.

"We need to see Princess Celestia immediately!"

The guard stared for a second as Big rushed up behind Spike. "Umm, the princess is currently in a very important meeting right now. You'll have to wait…"

"Listen," Spike interrupted. "There isn't any time for that. I need to see her immediately!"

The guard stared as Big Mac rushed over and joined the begging section. "Listen I really ca…" The guard paused as he tilted his head. He squinted his eyes and narrowed his gaze to the little dragon. "Wait a minute, you're Spike the brave and glorious!" The guard jumped on his hind legs and flailed them around. "You're the dragon who saved countless ponies and helped save Equestria several times!"

Spike stepped back wide-eyed as his limbs went limp. He shook his head and groaned loudly. "Hey, listen!" He demanded as he grabbed the guard and settled him down. "What's your name?"

The guard swallowed hard. "Oh...I'm Moonlight Rider." He let his hooves drop down and let his excitement drain from his face. His cheeks went blood red as his eyes went open.

"Well Moonlight, I need your help."

"Yup."

Moonlight looked up at the Big Mac and then back down at Spike. He cleared his throat as mote blood rushed to his cheeks. "You….need….my help." He whispered the statement almost to himself.

"Yup," Big Mac interjected.

Spike grabbed the pony by the cheeks and brought the pony down to his level. "We're fighting bad guys here, trying to save Equestria, again, and trying not to die. I can see that you're very excited about all of this, but could you find the strength to help out your pals here?" Spike ended his speech with a big grin.

"Pals?"

"Yup."

"Yaaaa, I can help out my pals."

Spike smiled as he let go of the pony. "Thank you so much."





"Where are we?" Capper stepped over a large dead tree that stretched over the forest floor. He looked around at the creepy ambiance. Not only were the trees old, creaked loudly in the wind, and uncomfortably whistle the wind, but the floor was stained with shadows and the echoing sound of monsters sent shivers down his spine.

"It's the Everfree Forest," Discord answered as he stared at his fingers. "I wanted to be closer to our location last night, but it appears this is our limit." He turned around and smiled at the confused cat.

"This is where we were last night?" The cat's pitch went high as he turned to survey the forest. "No way," he protested. "This forest is a way for nightmare-inducing."

Discord chuckled at the newbie. "Well my furry companion," He said as he rolled his hand and bent down to the cat's level. "You'll learn that demons and ghosts pretty much outshine any horrible monstrosity that this pitiful forest has to offer."

"I'll have to take your word for it…" Capper froze as he squinted his eyes. "What did you say your name was again?"

Discord snapped his fingers and a full set of silver and gold knight armor wrapped around him. He lifted a large silver blade into the air as doves and flames shot out in every direction. "Why, it is the infamous Sir Discord the Gallant."

Capper stepped back and nodded his head. "Well, you surely present yourself as so."

"Well, what is yours?" Discord asked as he retracted his blade.

Capper chuckled as he shook his head. He looked up at Discord's display before he laughed out loud. With a deep sigh, he bent over and reached for his back. He grabbed his sword and drew it from its scabbard. "I am Sir Capper Dapperpaws, the goldenrod of the wind." His claim was backed up with numerous swings that concluded with him scratching his sword in a luminescent, and spark drove display. He withdrew his claws only to slam them down on the golden blade; unleashing a powerful shock wave.

Discord clapped in awe as he laughed along with the cat. "You have quite the charm, my friend."

"Well that's my game," he proudly owned up to as he put his sword back. Capper chuckled as he stood up straight. He shook his paws and rubbed the end of them. His claws sizzled as he retracted them. "Say, you're the Lord of Chaos aren't you?"

Discord took a bow. "Guilty as charged."

"I've actually heard stories about you, good and bad."

"Really?" Discord said with amusement. "Well, I'm humbled at the fact that ponies tell tales about me." Discord turned as he began to walk forward. "While we're on the subject, I have heard about you as well."

"Oh, you have?"

Discord turned and nodded his head. "Ya, with the whole Storm King incident. You helped save Equestria."

Capper chuckled at the thought as he smiled at the ground. "Ya, that was pretty cool actually."

"Cool?" Discord chuckled.

"Well I mean, we ended up beating him and helping a lot out." Capper smiled as he recalled all the memories. "And I used your dragon friend as a flamethrower."

"Ah yes, spike told me all about it." Discord rolled his eyes. "He wouldn't stop bragging about it."

"Well he was excited," Capper laughed.

"Big deal," Discord yawned. "You had one dragon flamethrower and last night I had three." Discord stuck his tongue out.

"Yes yes, you have quite the abilities, sir."

Discord looked back and gave a smile. "By the way what's your deal?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well, I'm guessing you got into this demon stuff quite recently. You seem strong, yet naive."

Capper nodded his head in agreement. "I mean you're not wrong. This is like my third day on the job."

"What job is that exactly?" Discord turned around and floated on his back.

"Well it's a long story but I'm something called a guardian and my job is to...well guard."

"Guard what?," Discord asked.

"I guess kind of everything."

Discord continued to roll around in the air. "Defender of the innocent I see. How'd you get wrapped up in that?"

Capper brought out his sword and held it out. "This gorgeous little beauty was my father's. It's now the only way to stop those things from devouring everything that lives."

"Those monsters from last night?"

"The Fallen."

"Discord laughed. "We were the only ones fallen last night, especially you, my friend."

"Hey! I saved you didn't I?"

"Yes yes, you did indeed….help us out." Discord flew around the cat and landed on his sword as a smaller version of himself. "Say, I remember Spike saying something about you being an orphan."

Capper spun around as he tried to find the source of the little voice. "Well, I wasn't fully aware that he knew that."

"He knows a lot of things." Tiny Discord walked up to Capper's shoulder. "But you said that this was your father's sword?"

"Ya, as I said, it's a long story."





"What do you think you two are doing?" The angry lunar Princess stood before two cowering creatures.

Luna had pulled the two frantic creatures aside out into one of the large castle gardens. She ordered that all guards leave them so that they could speak in peace.

"We were trying to warn her about…."

"You were spitting in her face while you went on about an army of demons and monsters eating everyone…"

"Listen Luna!" Spike yelled. "We have a huge problem with our hooves and we need Celestia's help."

"Celestia…. doesn't even believe in any of this." Luna got up in the little dragon's face. "You were wasting your breath trying to tell her."

"She was listening to us," Spike objected shaking sightly.

"She looked at you like you were a weirdo. I don't blame her since you were dancing around her throwing your arms everywhere."

"You really have a problem with us telling her, don't you?" Spike backed up as he gazed fixed itself on Luna's furry.

"Do you want her to lock you away for being a complete lunatic?"

"I thought you hated that word?"

"Yes, and it's downright degrading to be constantly called it." Luna's stance changed as she breathed hard. She took a deep breath so she wouldn't start freaking out.

"Look I'm really sorry for offending you…"

"You didn't offend me," Luna growled. "I just don't want you to get hurt."

"Hurt!?" Spike gasped as he backed up.

"Not what meant!" Luna growled as she shook her head. There was no way for her to make the little dragon understand. "Just… what was so important that you needed to freak her out with your nonsense?"

"Umm, what?" Spike stepped back. "Okay, I don't know what's your problem is Luna, but we've had a terrible last couple days and the last thing we need right now is for you to get up in our faces and treat us like crap."

"Nope!" Big Mac growled as he stomped his hooves.

Luna stepped back as the two stared at her with raging gazes. "Ya well, my last couple days haven't been good either, so."

"No offense Luna, but I would rather take your days over ours."

"Yup."

"Oh really," Luna scoffed. "Did you battle a giant ferocious monster?"

Spike and Big Mac looked right at each other. "Yup!" They said in unison.

Luna stared at them for a moment. "What the heck have you two been doing?"

Spike held out his claws and counted them down. "Fighting horrible monstrosities, trying not to die, and trying to save Equestria, again."

"Wait what? What in the world have you guys gotten yourself into?"

"Ya, we're really in over our heads with this. That's why we needed to warn Celestia."

"About what exactly?"

The situation was started to dawn on her. This sounded like it was going to be much bigger than she first thought.

Spike crossed his arms and lifted his head to the side. "Oh, now you want to listen to us."

"Ahhh, come one just tell me," Luna groaned.

Spike rolled his eyes as he uncrowded his arms. "Do you remember that cat that helped Twilight save Equestria against the Storm King?"

"Not really, n…" she froze as her eyes trailed off. "Capper?"

It had been some time since she saw him. It all started when Princess Luna got her powers stolen by Eris, Discord's cousin from another dimension. Without her powers, she enlists the help of Capper, Tempest Shadow, Trixie, and Stygian to infiltrates Eris’ palace and casino. They all promised to never speak of that event to anyone. She didn't know what Capper been doing much these days. In fact, she hadn't thought much of him since she last saw him. 

"So you do know him?"

"Ya, we've met." Her mind thinking back to it.

"Well, we met up with him again when he saved us from this big black demon thing." Spike's little arms helped paint out his images. "Turns out that he's a super cool demon slayer now, and he warned us about an army of demons that are coming to kill everything and anything."

Luna shook her head as her eyes went wide. "Umm, could you run that by me again?"

Big Mac stepped forward in front of Spike. "We're all gonna die."