//------------------------------// // Chapter 9: Walking With the Night(I Know You! Pt. 2) // Story: Red Dead ReDerption // by CompleteChaos21 //------------------------------// Chapter 9(I Know You Pt. 2): “Wake up Mommy! Wake Up!” An excited young voice shouted out with glee. Joan felt her bed moving and jerking about, somepony was jumping on her bed. “It’s morning time mommy. Wake up!” The young voice insisted. “Jackie…” Joan muttered out in a fit of tiredness. “It’s too early Jackie.” She said not even opening her eyes, and then she rolled over and off of the bed. Plopping onto the floor like Icarus with melted wings. She didn’t move but opened her eyes up. There bouncing in front of her was her daughter, her little muffin. “Alright Jackie…I’m up.” Jackie continued to bounce about happily her blonde mane swooshing around with every movement. Joan held up a simple smile towards her. She stood up and wrapped her hooves around the purple coated filly in a caring hug. “Good Morning Muffin!” Air rushed around her head, the musty atmosphere made its grim return. Joan sat up in the rickety old bed. The dream was over… A tan coated stallion pushed his way through the flowing door curtain; he was followed by Miss Rickets. “Good Morning to you Joan. I am with Miss Reyes.” A glowing piece of parchment floated its way over to Joan. The stallion said with his horn glowing, “My orders are to ask you to make your way to Hoofington and find the Lunar Republic. This letter will do all the talking for you. They may question you. And the best answer to give them is the honest one. I’m sure you are also wondering about…well about your end of the deal. No promise will be broken.” The stallion dropped the paper onto her lap and then he galloped out of the house. Lunar Rickets gave a nervous glance at Joan. She looked unsettled and she paced about the room a tiny bit as Joan began to rally up her things. She finally spoke, “Joan…I…I-I don’t think thou should’st go there.” Joan sighed, “But I have to.” Lunar’s face plummeted. She knew she had already lost this fight. She sighed as well, “Well…ok then. Joan, when thou gets to Hoofington. Look for a boarded up home. Enter its basement and thou shall find a blue door with a white moon.” She hesitated for a second but she soon continued, “The answer is ‘The Night’ just remember that…and…be careful of what thou shall see and be careful with what thou shall hear.” She turned quickly and exited through the curtain, a strong gust of wind following her as she left. ----- Hoofington was a large town, not big enough to be a city like Trottingham or Los Pegasus. But it was larger than Ponyville, much nicer looking too. The buildings were at least built more recently and the roads were very well defined, being that it was made out of the similar rock material that Canterlot’s streets were made of. Alleyways filled with drunken stallions, a rosy red colored brothel, shady gambling ponies, and the occasional blood pool. ‘Yep this is deffinantly Equestrian land.’ Joan thought. Deep into the older parts of Hoofington, Joan would find her way to the only house in the district that wasn’t a heap of rubble. The boarded up home Lunar had mentioned stood strong among the vine covered rubble of pre-Celestian settlement. A boarded door creaked open and a musty yet cool breeze blew from the edifice. Joan entered, it was dark and damp. Down crooked stairs and rough stone steps she delved into the building until she came upon the door Lunar had described. The door boomed out and a menacing voice spoke to her, “Who is the bringer of Shadows?” “The Night.” Joan spoke calmly. The white crescent moon glowed brightly and the giant stone door grinded open. The hallway was moist and water dripped from the rocky ceiling, Joan put a hoof through the door. *CLA-CLICK!* “What do we have here…” ----- “Joan Derpston, a name I have heard many times before. What is so important that you should come here…to our little home here.” Joan was lying on the stone ground her hooves tied together, a tall stallion with a dark muzzle draped in a dark blue cape and hood was standing over her. He had a menacing smile on his face and a devious look in his eyes. “I’m not surprised that you got in…but I am surprised that you found us. Everypony else in this sun drenched hole is persuaded that this home is cursed.” Joan remained silent and she didn’t even look at him. This infuriated the robed stallion, he reached for a knife he had under his robe, “ANSWER ME! Who are you with, and WHAT! DO! THEY! WANT!” The stallion’s eyes gleamed a red haze, he lifted his knifed hoof. “Master Night Stalker! Master!” Another robed stallion galloped into the room, he wore a dark purple robe instead though. He gulped in many breaths before he could speak again, “Master, we found this in the mare’s satchel.” Night Stalker lowered his hoof and trotted over to the other pony and he grabbed the letter from his hoof. He quickly read over it before rolling it back up, “Light Chaser, did you read this letter?” The stallion didn’t hesitate for a second and he quickly and fearlessly answered, “Yes, Sir! I was the only one, once I had read it I brought it immediately to you.” Night Stalker smiled, “Good that was the best decision, now, what course of action should we take regarding this letter?” Light Chaser thought for a quick second, “Well, the most beneficial solution to us would be to help Miss Rarity Reyes. I assume the dark secret she mentioned is “The Account,” if that spread to the Solar Empire our hides would be skinned and tanned raw!” Night Stalker nodded and Light Chaser looked towards Joan, “As for her, the letter did say to keep her alive. She is a true warrior of the wild. And Miss Reyes did say she would rather we befriend Joan instead of torture her.” Night Stalker smiled and lead Light Chaser out the door, some more mumbling went on from the door side but it was too muffled to make anything out. Joan sighed and listened to the steady beat created by dripping water. Finally Light Chaser reentered the room carrying her satchel and weapons. “Miss Derpston, our deepest apologies for our…umm, ill treatment of your being. Take this poster and give it to Miss Reyes, tell her that the Night will always be on her side. Joan took the poster in hoof, upon it a Crescent moon with a white star in the middle of it lay above a blue alicorn and many different ponies stood before the almighty looking mare. “Who is that, the alicorn on the poster?” Joan asked. Light Chaser smiled warmly and led her to the next room over. Several pictures of the Night colored alicorn stood on the walls. “That alicorn is the leader of our faction, of our resistance, she is the leader of darkness, and the Princess of the Night. She is Princess Luna!” Light Chaser bellowed out as he caused blue fire to erupt from torches on the wall. “We fight for her legacy, so that the night may rule on…sadly she was banished unrightfully by her corrupt sister almost a thousand years ago to the moon. Legend has it that she will return in the form that she left us on the 1,000th year. When it comes we will fight for her!” Joan surveyed over the various portraits that were hanging delicately on the wall. The smell of night time filled her senses. The largest painting was that of the infamous Nightmare Moon. Joan studied this portrait the longest. “Many will know only of the Nightmare…” Light Chaser sadly stated. “The princess was driven into that form. Madness overcame her, and over 1,000 years many have forgotten her…” ----- The sun was starting to make its late night descent, Joan was told that a route heading south of Hoofington would wrap around the hills she had gone through to get there, she wouldn’t get home any faster but she wouldn’t be as drained from the climb. The path began to wind around a bend when a small leveled piece of land came into her sight. The miniature plateau was being occupied by two bodies, a small campfire at their feet. “Welcome to Nuevo Equestria, Joan.” The suited stallion said, his strange blue aura glowing from the fire in the setting sun, shadows streaking across his eyes. “It’s always good to see an old friend.” A strange dark tone vibrated out of his voice. Joan paused for a second staring at the strange stallion, she moved slightly towards the fire, the sound of the fire cracking and Joan’s weapons clinking together, “Where, do I know you from.” She said confused, something seemed familiar about him now that they had their second meeting. The other creature there was a young donkey, he would have been considered very attractive amongst mules, he sat and sighed with a melancholic expression on his face. The strange stallion chuckled, “Why Joan, you’re famous. You’ve chosen to side with both factions in a civil war that started for reasons you know nothing about. You come in and shoot up your own allies alongside your own allies. Yet, you’ll save a sad soul of a drunkard.” He proceeded to stare into the fire smiling blankly. “And who are you to judge me?” “When the appropriate time comes, we will all be judged.” He looked up from the fire and took a single step towards Joan, cocking his head to the side and smiling at her. “You know, I admire you, Joan. I hope my daughter grows up to be just like you.” Joan looked away from the stallion, she sighed lightly, “For your sake, I’d hope she don’t.” Joan looked back at the stallion, the wind bellowed powerfully at the three standing there, the strange stallion seemed unaffected by the wind. “You can kill so easy, yet you will save the life of a lowly drunkard.” He paused briefly, then smiled, “Interesting.” “I’ll let the princess judge my moralities, friend. She seems to be doing so already!” Joan shouted out quickly, but her voice lacked any venom. “Yes you will, and so she shall. I’ve heard theirs an old mare living south of here, really close to the badlands. No one sees her much, nor does anypony care much. Why don’t you pay her a visit and let her know things aren’t so bad. Or you could spare her of seeing this world in its ‘current’ state.” The stallion proceeded to sit next to the fire, “See you around, Joan.” Joan whispered quietly, “I hope you don’t.” The donkey had walked over and slouched himself against the wagon nearby, Joan walked towards him. “What’s wrong with you?” He sighed, “Been searchin’ and been about everywhere. Still can’t find her.” Joan instantly knew it was a women problem. She asked, “Do you still believe she’s out there?” “Sometimes I see her face in the clouds.” He looked towards the orange flavored sky. Joan began walking away, but she turned back giving the donkey a simple look. “Been there before, friend. There is always hope.” ----- The sun still shown slightly as she continued down the winding path. A shallow dirt road jutted out of the main dirt path, in between two large rocks was a dinky home with bullet holes and holes of rot in it. The home itself from Joan’s location was a musty smell of decay. A lone palm tree stood next to the home. She looked upon the home and strangely felt welcomed, so she walked towards the front door. She gave three quick knocks, but before she could put her hoof down the head of a young but weak looking unicorn mare popped out slowly. “Yes…who are you?” She coughed lightly, “what are you doing…here…” “I was just…uh passin by, and I saw your home. And I…just felt it to stop by. Umm what’s wrong with you?” Joan said unsure of how she’d gotten into this situation. “Sickness.” She coughed again, “I’m a writer from Canterlot, came here for a vacation, can’t leave…too weak.” She heaved as a heavy cough riddled her body. Her bright maroon hair shifted in front of her face. “What do you want?” She said weakly. “What’s the…the uh, the main problem?” “I got sick, which made it hard to work. Can’t buy medicine to make it better, cause I can’t work.” She coughed weakly, “I can still travel to Hoofington, it’s the closest settlement, but I have no money.” She coughed heavily again. “Well…” Joan hesitated for a second, then she opened her satchel with her wing. The Lunar Republic members hadn’t stolen any of her supplies, this included the several bags of bits the Celestian Government had gifted her. She picked a bag out and placed it in the door well. “That should be enough for you.” Joan gave a calm smile, she wasn’t the generous type but she felt good helping considering this was blood money nonetheless. The unicorn could barely pick up the bag with her magic but she did. She smiled weakly but a bright essence of hope beamed from her, “I have something that I can’t use anymore. It should be yours.” She stepped back into her home. Joan to notice of the sign that was to the right of the door next to the smashed up window. “Lauren’s House,” was displayed on a moldy piece of oak. A few minutes passed, the unicorn hadn’t returned so Joan decided to see if something had happened. When she entered that home was silent, a single room. That was it. A small table with a typewriter on it held a note. ‘My sincere apologies, I feel to much hope in my body that I decided to leave immediately to get my medicine. The chest at the foot of my bed is unlocked, take from it what is inside. I am sure it shall provide aid to a person of your caliber. Thank you for this wonderful gift. May the Sun and Moon provide peace to your soul.’ The gray mare looked to her left, the bed was a simple wooden frame that had been rotting away and a dirty mattress lay on top of it. A medium sized chest, it clicked open easily and creaked open sending small dust particles a flutter. Inside was a weapon, a gun like Joan had never seen before. It contained two short barrels and a small box of ammo was lying next to it. They were shotgun shells. Joan had only seen single and long barreled shotguns before and they were only gifted to high-ranking Royal Guard officers as a sign of rank. She grabbed the weapon and placed it in her satchel with the handle poking out and placed the ammo on her bandolier. She looked back at the typewriter, the note was gone… “Well, thanks…” ----- Celestia’s burning sun had finally set and her cool moon had risen, with it a calm and cool feeling spread over Joan as she made her way to Cloparosa village. She had delivered the poster to Miss Reyes and her exuberantly thrilled squees of joy had awoken the rebels out side her manor. Now she had to confront a certain somepony. “Joan, good to see you have returned with only the dust of the land upon thine warrior’s shoulders.” Lunar Rickets said with glee in her voice. Joan’s face replicated the scowl she had shown many a times before. “Quit lying to me. I know who you are! I thought I could trust you but like everypony else in this sun soaked land you’ve lied to me!” Her sharp words cut into the flowing blue mane of the moon colored mare. Her hair dropped to the ground and she seemed mildly taken aback. “What art thou talking about…?” She said with an obviously faked confusion. “So hard to find an honest horse in this place. The moon does well to hide herself when the sun is shown on her, ain’t that right, Princess?” Joan said with a small frown and squinted eyes. Lunar looked around biting her bottom lip nervously, “I knew this would happen. If you weren’t killed I’d knew you’d find out. Thou hath done well to uncover me.” She looked shamefully at the ground, her hat became engrossed by a blue light and it lifted itself off her head to reveal her horn. “It is I, the Princess of the Night, Princess Luna.” She looked up towards the moon that she had not raised in almost a thousand years. Now that the truth was out Joan’s expression lighten while she still frowned upon her friend, “How are you even here, I thought you were banished to the moon?” She asked. “As long as harmony covers this land, no nightmare shall conceive her plan.” The princess placed her hat atop her head again, but she continued to stare down the moon. “I am using all the magical power I can muster to be here. And the reason I can do this is because of how much disharmony claims this land plus the distance it is away from my sister.” Joan shrugged, believing that she had understood all that, “What about the Nightmare?” Luna finally unglued her eyes from the moon, “The nightmare…is my strongest form, an unsatisfied evil that I must feed lest it force itself upon my body and take away all my senses. At the time I cannot go into such form,” Joan had begun walking towards the village and Luna followed, “if I were able to it would have done so long ago when the disharmony started. Once that form comes I won’t be able to stay in Equestria for much longer.” The two entered the village and Joan saw a surprisingly familiar face. “Hey, Joan isn’t that-” “Why if it isn’t Miss Joan, our secret Nuevo agent.” Captain Redbloods said in his well mannered yet snooty voice. “Just in time too. We were about to go capture a traitor who is residing not far from here. Care to join us. They’ll plenty for our taking.” The captain’s uniform had been decorated with a new medal, most likely for bringing in that haul of prisoners earlier in the week. Joan quickly faked a yawn and placed a sleepy expression upon her face, Luna had disappeared somehow as well. “I’ve been running around looking for info about Schizo all day. Think it’d be fine if I skip this one.” Joan turned and began moving away before she felt the heavy smash of a revolver butt against her skull. Her eyes shot every which direction extremely derping her face. She finally collapsed and was out. “Too bad, you’re coming with us anyway.”