//------------------------------// // Chapter 7: Daylight's End // Story: Apprentice of the Stars // by Vohira //------------------------------// Chapter 7 Daylight’s end When Twilight awoke, first thing she noticed was the gentle sound of a flowing river. Opening her eyes she saw that she was laying close to a river bank. Lifting her head up, she looked around. To her left she saw Applejack and her cousin, Braeburn. They were both asleep. On her right the seven saved ponies sat huddled together, whispering among themselves. “You’re finally awake Twilight, thats good.” Rarity's voice had a relieved tone in it. Twilight sat up and looked behind her where she finally saw her white friend. “How long was I out?” The purple mare furrowed her brows in thought. Why did she... Even before she finished that thought, it all came back to her in a rush of crimson stained memories. Twilight closed her eyes and she slumped to the ground, she shuddered as more of the memories came back. “Twilight, are you alright?” Rarity knew that this wasn't the best question to ask right now, but what else could she ask? “No,” Twilight whispered as she felt moisture gathering in her eyes. “What... what have I done?” Her voice sounded weak and she was on the verge of a nervous breakdown. Rarity bit her lower lip in worry. There really was no easy way around that question... well, she would try anyway. “You... saved... Applejack and other ponies.” The white mare tried to sound confident when she said that, but even she had a difficult time believing it fully. Rarity watched as a single tear trailed down her friends muzzle. “How is she anyway? And her cousin?” Twilight asked weakly while looking at her orange friend. “The wounds are nasty, it will take time before she will recover... there is just so many of them...” Rarity said worrying her lower lip. Twilight was fighting the overwhelming urge to just lie there and cry. She knew what she had done could not be changed, but it didn’t mean that the guilt she felt would lessen because of that. And then... Twilight began to think about how the diamond dogs treated the ponies, in what condition was Applejack when she found her... As she focused more and more on these kind of thoughts the less guilty she felt. So in a desperate attempt to rid herself of the oppressing guilt, she feed the smoldering ember of anger and hate for the diamond dogs. In the outside world, Rarity was starting to get really worried when she saw how Twilight muzzle expression turned from sad and regretful to cold and indifferent. “We should be on our way.” Twilight said coldly as she slowly stood up, she saw how her white friend made a step back from her but for now, she didn’t care. At that moment she noticed something. She wasn’t covered with blood anymore, somepony had washed her, and she had an idea who did it. “Thank you for cleaning the blood off of me Rarity. Now, get them up.” As she said that Twilight grabbed Applejack and Braeburn in her magic, and gestured with her hoof for the seven other ponies. Rarity just sighed heavily and did as Twilight told her. After some discussion, one of the rescued ponies began to lead them towards Appleloosa. Or in the general direction of it, as even he as he put it... ‘an experienced traveler’ that now mainly traded with the buffaloes, never went that far from the town willingly. But his cutie mark was the old fashioned marking for a rout on the ‘treasure maps’, a twisted line of dots with an ‘X’ at its end. So everypony hopped he had a good terrain orientation... ********** Sheriff Silverstar was getting worried, after four days the two mares still didn’t return. That baby dragon also was agitated by that. But what could they do, beside waiting? Well, something has been done, but it didn’t quite help the two mares. A day after the departure of Twilight and Rarity, Silverstar was shocked when he discovered that the baby dragon could send letters directly to the Princesses. Wasting no time after the discovery, he managed to convince the small guy to send letters to the Princesses asking for help, and as he wanted to get better result he begged the baby dragon to sign them as Twilight Sparkle. In the following day ten Royal Guards arrived, and in the night ten more Night Guards showed up. What he didn't know was that there were three reply letters sent to Spike. Said dragon was now sitting in his room staring at both letters. Dear Twilight, If I had known that Luna would send you on this mission, I would have never handed it over to her, I’m sorry for that, you deserve some rest from that kind of ‘adventures’. I’m sending my Royal Guards, they will take this case over. You can return to Ponyville, my guards will help you pack. Princess Celestia Spike glared at this letter, if he only had thought about writing to the Princess earlier... The reply from Princess Luna was just an information about ten Night Guards coming into Appleloosa, it was short and formal. But about two hours after the Night Guards arrived, came THE letter. Twilight, My Guards sent me a note about Royal Guards stationed in Appleloosa, then I’m guessing my sister has written to you something. Ignore whatever Celestia has written. I shall take care of this misunderstanding at an appropriate time. Princess Luna Spike didn’t know what to think about that particular letter. Also when it became obvious that the three mares were out of town, both groups of Guards became frustrated. One because they were too late to take over the case, second because they were too late to be of any major help. Surprisingly, no pony in both groups was in any hurry to send a note about their respective failures, if the lack of any other letters from the Princesses was any sign about it. ********** Now it was the sixth day after Twilight and Rarity left, and the only thing to do for Spike was watching the never ending, somewhat friendly rivalry between the two groups of guards. The baby dragon was amazed at how many challenges, even insignificant, the guards could came up with... The sun was low on the sky when one of the pegasi Royal Guards spotted a group of travelers heading for the small town. Immediately he turned around and flew to one of the abandoned buildings, now serving as a barrack. In the traveling group, all nine ponies were walking by themselves, well almost. Applejack and Braeburn finally woken up. The orange farm pony was leaning heavily on Twilights left side, and her cousin was leaning on their guides right side. As they walked Twilight couldn’t help but remember the words Applejack had said to her, when the orange farm pony stood up on shaky legs. Of course Rarity scoffed at her for being stubborn but she knew it was useless in the end, Applejack would do as she pleased. “Thanks, sugarcube for saving me... Ah’m grateful... But what you did... was wrong, Twilight.” Her voice was so much weaker than it normally was. Those words and the disappointed look that Applejack gave her almost broke the emotional dam, that Twilight build around the feeling of guilt. She had hidden it behind anger and hate, but as the days passed it was harder to hold to these dark emotions. Twilight said nothing then in reply in fear that she would break down then and there. So in silence they walked towards the small town ever since. Because of that the tension in the group was high. When the traveling ponies reached the town they were welcomed by the sight of twenty guards. The twenty ponies immediately rushed to them to help them. Twilight and Applejack got help from the Night Guards, the rest was taken care of by the Royal Guards that seemed adamant on helping them all. The white pegasi in golden armour tried to secretly scowl at the Night Guards for getting to Twilight and Applejack before them, and they failed as Twilight saw the looks. But she didn't say anything as she was surprised that any guards were here in the first place. Thinking furiously, while she was lead to one of the buildings, she came to one conclusion that could explain the presence of the guards, Spike. “Commander Twi-” One of the darker pegasi tried to get her attention. And he succeeded, but not in the way he wanted. “Not here, not now.” Twilight gave him a cold glare, that promised nothing good. Her promotion was still a secret after all, and saying it out loud on the main street of Appleloosa was not something she appreciated. The purple mare saw how Applejack was taken to the local doctor by her guards. And she was lead to one of the abandoned building that was turned into temporary barrack. Inside she turned to face the dark ponies. “What are you doing here? On whose order?” Twilight needed to know. Also this situation was a good distraction from thoughts about that... incident. “Yours, Commander. Princess Luna received a letter signed by you, with a request for backup.” Said an older pegasus. Twilight scowled. “I did not request backup. But do not worry, I will take care of this misunderstanding myself.” As she said that, Twilight saw how some of the gathered guards shuddered at her words. “Pack your things, you’re leaving this night. If the Princess asks, I will explain everything when I return.” After she said that the Night Guards saluted and began to pack. She on the other hand needed to talk to a certain baby dragon. Said baby dragon was disgruntled as he couldn’t get close to Twilight and his friends with all the guards around them. Spike just saw them too late, when the guards gathered he thought it was for another stupid competition, he was wrong. But just knowing that Twilight and the rest finally returned was good enough for him. So he went to his room and waited. He knew Twilight would come to him. And not even fifteen minutes passed he heard footsteps on the stairs. “Hello Spike.” Twilight said as she opened the doors to his room. “Twilight! Finally, I was getting worried...” He stopped talking when he saw her cold look. He gulped loudly, when she walked inside the room and closed the door behind her. “Before you ask I’m fine. Now, would you like to explain to me why there are both Royal and Night Guards in this town?” The purple unicorn narrowed her eyes as she looked at Spike. “Well... It kind of wasn't my idea...” So spike explained about the sheriff and the letters, he then showed them to her. When Twilight saw the letters she was displeased, with both Spike and Celestia. Well maybe less with Princess Celestia, she was just worried about her, and she still was a royalty so she had the power to order her around... at least until the official promotion. After a while Twilight looked at Spike. The baby dragon recoiled when he saw the irritation and disdain in Twilight’s eyes. He had the sudden urge to curl into a tight ball, but he didn’t do it. “I am disappointed with you Spike. You will explain what you did to Princess Luna and Princess Celestia. We will see what they will say about this.” She said, crumbled the letters and left his room, not seeing the mortified expression on Spike’s face. Spike wasn’t sure he wanted to know what happened in those six days to make Twilight act as she did. For a good hour he sat in his room looking at the crumpled letters trying to understand this new Twilight, and failing. When Twilight made it to her room, she magically locked the doors and made the room sound proof with a Privacy Bubble spell. Then she went to her bed... and started to cry, all of the guilt and sadness she had suppressed for days hit her with full force. ********** A day later Twilight was sitting on the balcony of her room in the Everfree Castle, looking at the clear night sky. She was in a hurry to get here, give the report to Princess... and just be left alone with her thoughts. She didn't want anypony to see her while she broke down. She knew that Rarity, Applejack and Spike were probably still in Appleloosa. Twilight left a note with Spike for the girls and just left. It was rude, extremely so, but she wanted to get away from that town. She would apologize later. Twilight looked at the barely raised crescent moon in the sky. She was sure that Luna was worried about her. She saw it in the Princess's eyes when she gave the report. The purple mare knew that the dark alicorn saw what she tried to hide. She couldn’t sleep as nightmares plagued her dreams. It started at the plains, but she hid it with simple illusions, so that no pony would see the dark circles under her eyes. Tonight would be the third night she will be not sleeping, she knew it. And as it was, she could probably fall asleep on the stone floor of the balcony and it would still be the best sleep she had in days. And the ball and her promotion were only three nights away... Twilight turned around as she heard hoofsteps inside her bedroom. Princess Luna was calmly walking towards her. Luna was worried about Twilight, but she didn't show it openly earlier. When the purple mare gave her the report of what went on during the mission, she knew that things would never be the same. She wasn’t horrified by the genocide of the diamond dogs pack. Far from it, as she didn't have any love for those creatures... But Twilight - a pony that never killed before - had suddenly wiped out an entire pack of those things. The Princess sat down beside the smaller mare and looked at her, at her state. She sighed. “You must sleep Twilight. What you are doing will only harm you, besides you have a promotion ceremony in a few nights.” The Princess's voice was soft as she gently nuzzled the top of the smaller mare's head. “I just can't... the memories. The things I have done...” Twilight shuddered involuntarily. “The nightmares never truly go away... But you have to accept what you have done to those diamond dogs, Twilight. You can't run away from your deeds and their consequences.” The dark alicorn said silently. And the consequences would not be pleasant for a pony like Twilight. If Luna had to guess, in the next few days all of Equestria will know about what she had done. Ponies would fear Twilight, at least those that didn’t know her before this mess. The purple mare leaned in closer to the Princess as tears began to fall from her eyes with accompanying quiet sobs. “Shh... Twilight. It will be all right, in the end.” The princess whispered. “Celestia, my parents and my brother... my friends... they will think... that... I’m a monster.” Twilight said between her sobs. “They will understand eventually, now... let me help you with your sleeping problem. Just this once.” Before Twilight had a chance to respond, Luna put one of her wings around the distressed mare and began to sing the only song she remembered from a time long past. Her voice was quiet and forlorn, and as she sang she laced her words with magic, to help the poor mare sleep peacefully tonight. Ask not the sun why she sets, Why she shrouds her light away. Or why she hides her glowing gaze, When night turns crimson gold to grey. For silent falls the guilty sun, As day to dark does turn. One simple truth she dare not speak: Her light can only blind and burn. No mercy for the guilty, Bring down their lying sun. Blood so silver black by night, Upon their faces pale white. Cruel moon, bring the end, The dawn will never rise again. Twilight even in her state tried to decipher the meanings. But the gentle and sad voice of Princess Luna enamoured her. Her sobs stopped and in the end she had finally fallen asleep. After a moment she lifted Twilight with her magic and levitated her to hers bed. When Luna was sure that the purple mare was truly asleep, she quietly left the room. She decided to go to the garden. Slowly she came to the centre and looked up, at the statue of Nightmare Moon. It brought more sad or painful memories than it brought good ones, but she wanted it here. The Princess of the Night sighed heavily. Twilight’s life would become far more complicated from now on. Especially when Celestia would get the report on exactly what happened in Appleloosa. And what happened there was the worst massacre this land had seen in a millenia. Her sister for many had only eternal patience and calm demeanour. But Celestia could become passionate and driven by emotions about certain things. She had to take it as an option, that her sister would blame her for Twilight's actions. Feelings after all could confuse even the brightest and sharpest minds. Luna only hoped that her sister wouldn't do something that they would both regret. ********** A/N: This chapter was surprisingly hard to write in some ways. That’s why it’s shorter, I didn't want to force something into it just for the sake of it’s length. As a peace offering for such a short chapter I offer you a glimpse into the future... My plans as of right now: Next comes The Ball, then probably some more mushy stuff, after that another small adventure arc, and after that... starts the juicy stuff that's directly connected to the cover art. At least that’s the plan for now, it could change. Also the song is not mine, and a virtual cookie for those who instantly knew what it was. And now the link to the original: Click Me!