Chapter 20
“Good work, everypony,” I said as the guards ponies gathered around, breathing heavily from the exercises I just put them through. The sun was meeting the horizon, signalling that the day is ending. The apple trees in the next paddock were devoid of apples, having been bucked out earlier today. Time to evaluate.
“Chirp,” I began, gaining the attention of the annoying green pony. “Your running is atrocious but you can at least throw a punch. Aegis!” I called out, grabbing a red pegasus’ attention. “Your fast and hit hard but can’t manoeuvre for shit.” I looked at the faces of the several ponies in front of me. “You all did good today but we have a very long way to go, dismissed.”
All the guards sighed heavily and relaxed, collapsing onto the ground as I grinned.
“Do you have to work them so hard?” I heard Sam ask me.
“I could have worked them harder.”
“Don’t work them too hard.”
“I won’t,” I said as I saw Applejack approach us. “Sup!”
“Hey,” Applejack called back. “Y’all get to the barn as soon as ya can, we got a surprise for y’all.”
“Sweet thanks,” I shouted in reply. As she left to do whatever, the others walked up behind me. “You know what this is.”
“Party,” Tony replied.
“Yay!” Cloe yelled in excitement.
I turn to the exhausted guards. “You all up for a surprise?” All of them groaned at the thought, “This is gonna be fun,” I grinned before we started to walk towards the barn.
“Prepare for a jump scare people,” I warn as we neared the barn. The world around it was silent. As we approached the massive front doors, we noticed they were left ajar, letting a small shaft of light inside. I went in first, slipping inside as quietly as possible. The massive room is completely black, the door not letting enough light in. Sam, Tony and Cloe slipped in equally as quietly and stood beside me. I nodded to each of them before taking a step further inside.
“SURPRISE!”
“Aaahh!” I screeched before falling onto my back.
“Ha!” Tim laughed out from the front of the mass of ponies, pointing a hoof at me. Anala was standing next to him with an amused smile on her face.
I narrowed my eyes at him as I rolled back onto my hooves. “You…” I trailed off, trying to find a proper insult to use. “You shmuck.”
“Surprise!” Pinkie appeared out of nowhere, startling me again. “Welcome to your ‘Welcome-to-Ponyville-and-thank-you-for-saving-us-all’ party!” Wow, epic party name.
“Thanks,” Tony said.
“Enough chit chat, lets PARTY!”
The party music began I took a moment to look around. There was punch and cupcakes on a table to the left of the barn door where many ponies congregated if they were not dancing. The massive speakers that were pumping out music sat at the back of the room, surrounding a DJ pony of some sort, probably the one called Vinyl Scratch but I can’t tell from this distance. The dance floor in the middle of the room was full of various ponies of all types, all having a good time.
Suddenly, a brilliant plan for payback hatched. “Excuse me for a moment,” I said before walking over to Tim, completely unaware of his approaching horror. He was talking to Rainbow Dash about my expression when the party started, getting a giggle out of the cyan pony. He seemed really engaged in this conversation. Now was my chance.
“Yatzee!” I shouted, lunging at him then grabbing him into a hug.
“Aahhh!” he shouted in surprise, “No, why?”
“You brought this on yourself.” Getting a groan of defeat from my friend. Mission accomplished.
Rainbow held her sides as she laughed at our antics .
“Aw, you want one too?” I asked.
Rainbow stopped laughing as suddenly as it started. “No!” she quickly and urgently, obviously not wanting to ruin her tomboy reputation.
I got off Tim and held my hooves out. “You sure you don’t want this hug?” I asked, smiling as she backed up.
“No,” she answered with a blush before realising her mistake. “I mean YES!”
I lowered my hooves. “Ok then,” shrugging before walking off to talk to Anala. I found her standing in a corner with Sam. I know how this will go, I better leave them be. I moved on to find more ponies to converse with, leaving Sam to his attempts at getting the girl.
I walked around, looking for something to do. Dancing seems like a fun idea, but I suck at it. Might as well be social. I went over to the food table surrounded by ponies. “Sup,” I greeted everyone, giving everyone a smile. “I’m Darkside.”
Everyone suddenly gasped in surprise before running off, leaving me standing next to the table by myself. Wow, that’s just mean. I left the table, saddened by these events. Better be less social or I’ll end up scaring everyone here. I moved over to the corner of the barn to sit and think. Why do these ponies fear me? They probably saw me with the guards earlier. That ain’t a good impression at all.
I sighed sadly, wondering how I could do to be less intimidating.
“What’s wrong, dear,” a voice interrupted my thoughts before they could start. I look up to see a really concerned Rarity, ain’t she a nice.
“Hey, what brings you to my little corner of thinking?”
“You seem sad,” she answered.
I dropped the small smile that had appeared on my face earlier. “Yeah, I guess I am, but it doesn’t matter.”
“But of course it does, dear,” she said as she took a seat next to me.
I smiled again. “Thanks for being concerned but don’t worry about me, I’ll be fine.”
“Now don’t take me as a silly filly,” she replied seriously, “You are far from being fine anytime soon.”
I sighed in defeat. “I’ll get over it, I always do.”
“Well, what’s made you so upset?”
I grinned. “It’s nothing now, having company fixes everything.”
“That’s good.”
“Indeed it is.” Then I remembered my promise.
Rarity noticed my wide eyed expression. “What’s wrong?”
“I just remembered a promise I made,” I answer before turning to the barn door, seeing the night sky in all its glory through the party. “I’m so sorry to do this, but I must go.”
I ran out the door at full speed before taking flight. I forgot about my promise to the princess for a moment there. That’s not good. I kept flying until Twilight’s library came into view, indicating that I was going in the right direction. I went to land on the hill that we always meet on, only to crash into the dirt face first. I slid to a halt hearing delighted laughter. As I struggled onto my back, I saw a laughing Luna. What a cute smile.
“Am I late?” I asked her as she continued to laugh at my misfortune.
She kept giggling for a moment before she answered. “No, you are not.”
“That’s good,” I said as I attempt to get to my hooves. My face was hurting something shocking. “There anything on my face?”
At this, she leaned uncomfortably close to examine my face. I slowly backed up, trying not to be awkward about it. Luna frowned, pulling her face away from mine. “You’re bleeding,” she finally answered.
“Well that’s better than I expected,” I mumbled to myself.
“Shouldn’t we get you some help?” Luna asked, a concerned look on her face.
“Nah, I’ll be fine,” I answered sitting down “So, how was your day?”
Luna seemed to be uncomfortable for a moment. “I, uh…” she trailed off as she sat down next to me.
“Wait,” I say, thinking of what she is implying. “You’re nocturnal.”
Her head lowered. “Yes,” came her answer.
“That explains it, you’re also lonely.”
She nodded her head in acknowledgement. I furrowed my brow as I thought of a way to help. As an idea came to me, I stood up and offer Luna a hand, I mean hoof. “Come, I have the best idea.”
The Night Princess hesitated before she took my hoof and stood up. I started walking to the party. If I want my idea to work, we would need resources.
“What is this idea?” Luna asked as she walks beside me.
I open my mouth to answer, only to be interrupted by a voice. “Hey guys,” the voice said, making me look for the owner. I groaned when I learnt who the owner is.
“Check this out,” Cloe shouted over her shoulder as two other ponies appeared. I groaned more, realising the shitstorm to come.
My friends d’awed at the sight that beheld them, getting me to blush a little. I looked at Luna, who has a very visible blush on her face. “So do I have to slap a filly?” I ask aggressively.
“Aw, you love us,” Cloe said, getting a smile from me.
“Damn you and your truths,” I said in retaliation before I moved onto the matter at hand. “Anyway, I need your help.”
“Aw, he needs a wing man,” Sam called out, getting more d’aws from the others.
“No,” I began, “I need twelve sticks, fire wood, four bags of marshmallows and a fez.”
They gave me a quizzical look. “We’re doing an all-nighter.”
“Ohhh…”