//------------------------------// // Chapter 8A // Story: The Home Coming // by brony114 //------------------------------// Nocturn Armor sat at his desk at the police station working alone at night. The rest of the island was once again having another beach party now large enough to meet Pinkie Pie standards. Nocturn was going through police reports that were submitted to him by his officers for that day when there was a sudden knock at the door, prompting him to look up. "Come in! " Said nocturne as he waited for the door to open. It was Twilight Sparkle that trotted through the door; she was sporting another flower in her ear and seemed to have come straight from the festivities.  she had a smile. " Good evening Captain. I was looking for you down at the beach. It seems like you're a busybody just like me. "  "Well someone has to run this precinct. " Nocturn shot Twilight a grin.  "Why don't you join me outside for a bit? It’s really nice tonight. " Twilight trotted up to his desk. Nocturn began standing up from his desk. "Well I guess now is as good a time  as any to take a break." He got up from his desk and stretched his back out. Then he and Twilight trotted out the door. Just outside the police station was a sitting area with picnic benches that the police used during their breaks to sit and relax. Twilight and Nocturn sat across from each other at one of the tables. The night was really nice with a cool breeze and the stars were out and shining with the moon brightly illuminating the land. The local weather team had done a good job of clearing the sky for the night's festivities which could be heard going on in the distance down at the coast. " So how is your talk with Hoofington today? Did he agree to the plan? " Nocturn stared quizzically at Twilight. “It went well. Actually, he was talking about summoning the city council members for an emergency meeting tomorrow morning"Twilight gazed down at the beach which was noisy with rabble-rousing.  Nocturn nodded with a smile of approval. To him, the idea of Hoofington being on board made him feel more at ease at their situation. After all, it was also Hoofington who helped to keep the island together with his logic and wit. This made Nocturne feel relieved to an extent.  " That's really good to hear," he said with a smile. "So how did your day go? Did anything else happen today? " Twilight looked straight into Nocturn's eyes. He responded with a smile and a shake of his head. "Nothing new happened today; everybody was calm today and there was nothing wrong with any of the warding pillars. It's almost creepy how calm today was in spite of everything that's happened recently. "  " Is that necessarily a bad thing?   " Twilight peered at Noc. " No no this is actually a nice change of pace from the past couple of days." Nocturn shook his head and sat a little bit straighter "Well, I for one am very optimistic about how things are going," Twilight said with a smile. Nocturn nodded his head and smiled. Twilight smiled back and stared off at the night sky admiring the bright stars… “ Wow what a pretty night. The stars are bright, even more so than in my hometown of Ponyville.” Twilight reminisced.   “ Oh, you don't live in Canterlot?” Nocturn looked at Twilight with confusion.  “ No, not anymore anyway. I had actually moved to Ponyville on Princess Celestia’s decree to learn about friendship. This was before I became an alicorn. It’s a long story.” Twilight  “Ok, you’re gonna have to tell me this long story of yours. How did you even end up in the Princess's circle?” Nocturn laid his head on his right forehoof to get more comfortable. Twilight giggled. Twilight regaled Nocturn in her life story for the next hour. He learned about her time as Princess Celestia's student, her time in Ponyville as part of the bearers of the elements of harmony, and her new reign as princess of Friendship. Nocturn was amazed at her exploits. “ That’s incredible, It’s like you’ve been shouldering all the problems of Equestria since you went to Ponyville.” Nocturn’s interest was evident.  “ I know, even I have a hard time believing that this all happened in the past two years.”  “ Seems like I’ve been missing all the fun.” Nocturn and Twilight chuckled. Nocturn looked up at the stars as he thought.  “ I can’t help but think, we might have been good friends if I’d never run away.”  “ Maybe, but to be honest when I was living in Canterlot, I wasn’t very social. I also can’t imagine what this island would have gone through without you here.” Twilight offered.  “ That… is very true.” Nocturn looked down at Twilight. Nocturn and Twilight smiled at each other Because they both understood they now had a more friendly connection with each other. It was then Nocturne noticed a light off in the distance toward the center of the island. It was a very familiar light though he hadn't seen it for a while now. Glinting off in the distance up further into the island was a flashing light, signaling SOS. Nocturn sighed uneasily.  “ Hey I need to go take care of something, I’ll see  you shortly down at the beach.” Noc turned to Twilight.  “ Is everything ok Noc? What’s that light up there?” Twilight peered past Nocturn at the flashing light.  “ It’s ok, I just have to go check up on somepony. You go ahead and I’ll meet up with everypony soon.” Nocturn insisted as he started to trot to the street that led up to the houses where the light originated.  “ Are you sure? It looks like some pony is in trouble.” Twilight stepped forward to follow Noc. Nocturn looked over his withers and sighed.  “It’s fine princess,  like I said, I’ll meet you at the beach. I just have to go visit somepony who needs me. It’s most likely not a big deal.” Nocturn gave her a smile. Twilight felt a twinge of annoyance but she relented. This seemed to be a personal issue that he wanted to keep personal. “ Ok Noc, I’ll see you soon.” Twilight shot back her own smile. Twilight gave Noc a hug before she started to trot away toward Seal way. Nocturn started to head in the opposite direction. He seemed to be in a hurry.  Twilight got to Seal way when Rainbow Dash fluttered down from the sky to meet her.  “ Rainbow? What are you doing here?” Twilight looked at her friend with concern. “ I just wanted to know what you two were up to since you both are conspicuously absent from the party.”  “ conspicuously? I was just thinking the same thing about Nocturn, so I came to check up on him.” Twilight said with mild irritation at Rianbow’s implications.  “ I can see that, so what's with the SOS?”  Rainbow added as she looked up to the center of the island.  “ It seems like another personal issue of his. He said it wasn’t a big deal.” Twilight began to trot but was stopped by Rainbow.  “ Then it wouldn’t be a big deal if we went to have a look,” Rainbow smirked.  “Rainbow, we shouldn’t be prying into his personal life anymore. You know he has a lot of trauma.”  Twilight argued. Even though everything turned out ok, she still felt guilt for causing Nocturn emotional distress by inadvertently forcing him to face his pain. “ Maybe, but should we take an SOS lightly? I also can’t help but notice, he isn’t good at asking for help, even when he needs it.” Twilight thought for a bit, then she relented. “ Ok but we’re only going to look.” Twilight began trotting in the opposite direction up the mountain followed by her friend.  Twilight and Rainbow could see Nocturn heading up the street and followed him.  It didn’t take long for Nocturn to make it up to the opposite end of Seal way where there were residential homes. At the very top was a two-story house with a thatched roof and palm log walls, the usual standard for all homes built on the island. He strode up the walkway that was flanked by many rosebushes and dug out his keys. He knocked and then entered the house. Noc was immediately greeted by Red who threw his hooves around Noc’s neck. The poor colt was sobbing. Twilight and Rainbow had snuck up to a window that looked into the living room. Twilight had cast a silencing spell on her and Rainbow to mask their presence.  “ Hey, Hey, what's wrong Red? Did you have another bad dream?”  Nocturn patted Red on his back and ran his hooves through his mane.  “ I’m sorry Noc, I had that dream the pirates were back,” Red said through sobs. “ It’s Ok Red, I promise you’re safe. Here I’ll get you some milk and I can help you back into bed.” Red smiled even though he had tears streaking down his cheeks.  “ Ok, Noc. Thanks. I’m sorry I called you up here. I thought I was a big colt, but I’m just being a baby.” Red gave Nocturn a hug.  “ No you’re ok Red; We all get scared from time to time. You can call me whenever you need me. I want you to call me.” Nocturn ruffled Reds mane, then they went to the kitchen where they got two glasses of milk and sat at the table. They both sat and drank their milk, this being an important part of the ritual of calming Red down whenever he had an episode. Soon they trotted to Red’s room where Nocturn began to tuck him in. Twilight and Rainbow couldn’t see Nocturn or Red, but they could hear their conversation.  “ Hey, Noc?” Red’s expression was one of trepidation. His eyes moved between looking at Noc and looking at the ground.  “ What is it, kid?” Nocturn asked.  “ Can….Can you….sing me my lullaby, just like big sis used to?” Red’s embarrassment was evident. Nocturn exchanged a look of confusion.  “ Red… I can’t sing like Aster.” “ Please? It’s ok if you can’t sing like her. I just … I miss her.” Noc could feel that one in his heart. He was then convinced. “ oh alright. I’ll do it, but no complaints about being off-key.” Noc said sternly. He was mostly joking. Red smiled. Nocturn took a breath in and then began to sing.  Your bright big smile to me Fills my world with joyful glee Like a summer day  Lying in hay Your smile makes my sadness go away As I watch you age and  grow My glee will overflow Gently soar like a butterfly Because You’re the apple of my eye My love for you I’ll show Your smile will shine with the glow Be Strong and proud like a Dragonfly Because You’re the apple of my eye   Your bright big smile to me Fills my world with joyful glee So fly high in that big blue sky Because You’re the apple of my eye. Nocturn finished the lullaby, one that Aster had always sung for Red. He recalled that she wrote it shortly after Aster and Red got settled in on the Island. She sang it to help calm Red after their ordeal of getting stranded.  “Where do you feel better?” Noc asked Red. Red enthusiastically nodded his head. This gave Nocturn a sense of relief that he didn’t mess the lullaby up too much.  “ Ok, then are you ready to go to sleep? Did you need anything else?” Nocturn pulled at the covers to adjust them to be cozier for Red.  Red gave a large yawn in response. This got a chuckle from Noc.  “ Hey, Noc… Do… do you think Aster would have been proud of me… my flying I mean?” This question gave Nocturn pause. Clearly Red was really missing Aster this night.  “What… Yeah… of course Red, I’m proud of you too.  You’re gonna get better and you’ll get that double loop down pat. I promise.” Nocturn said with a smile. “You really think so?” Red asked with further evident trepidation.  “ Definitely.” Nocturn never wavered with his smile. “ I really miss my sister, Noc.” Red’s lower lip pushed out and he began to tear up again. Nocturn felt his heart drop. He couldn’t stand watching Red suffer like this. Nocturn thought about how Red was just a colt and he shouldn’t have to feel this sort of pain. This drove Nocturn’s hatred for the pirates even further.  “ I know Red, I know. I miss your sister too.” Nocturn leaned down and nuzzled Red.   “ I want to be a really awesome flyer so I can make her proud if she’s watching.” Red smiled as some of his confidence came back. “ I’m sure she is watching us Red.” Nocturn smiled. “ you really think so?” “ I'm pretty sure of it Red.”  “ Ok, if you say so. Good night Noc.” Red slumped a little further in his bed. His eyes had instantly gotten heavier. “ Good night kid,” Nocturn replied as he watched Red fall asleep. Once he was sure the young pegasus was asleep, he trotted out the door and closed it.  Nocturn Armor trotted into the living room where he stood for a moment before he fell to his haunches. He couldn’t hold himself together anymore and tears began to stream down his cheeks in rivulets as his breathing became quicker and shorter. He reached out with his magic and levitated a picture of Aster from the wall. He brought it to his face and looked longingly into her image.   Why, why did things have to be this way? Everything was much less scary when you were here.  Nocturn thought to himself. Then he saw two pairs of eyes, a lavender and magenta set, staring at him from the window. Noc looked up with a glare.  Twilight and Rainbow Dash couldn’t help themselves either. They both started to sniffle after witnessing the display of brotherly love. Nocturn shook his head and easily placed the picture back on the wall. He then trotted to the front door to open it.  Twilight and Rainbow watch as he came out, closed, and locked the door.