//------------------------------// // Chapter Twelve, The Road // Story: Nocturne // by Pony Boy //------------------------------// Nocturne Chapter 12 The Road The group had left just before sunrise. They had been traveling for about half an hour and the sun had just begun to rise. The cool morning air could wake up even the sleepiest of fillies. The morning birds sang their songs, and the cicadas hummed their tunes. If you looked back, you could still see Pony Ville’s windmill, but just barely. “So, Pinkie, just who is this friend you have?” Apple Jack’s voice rose as the current trip had been, for the most part until this point, wordless. “His name is Black Mane, but - ” Rainbow Dash suddenly interrupted Pinkie- “Whoa, whoa, whoa, THE Black Mane? The Black Mane that terrorized the Mareibean?” Rainbow Dash interrogated. “Yes, but he’s changed! Now he isn’t all ‘Argh! Give me all ye’ booty!’” Pinkie answered, defending her friend who is not present. “I admit, getting help from a pirate has notorious as Black Mane isn’t exactly number one on my list of comfortable things,” Rarity began slowly, “but if Pinkie trusts him, I think we should give him a chance.” “Honestly, we don’t have much of a choice either way, girls,” Twilight started in a monotonous tone, “Either way, we would have to find someone who could track down the Elements, and it would likely have been someone who can’t or won’t do it legitimately.” All was almost uncomfortably silent after Twilight spoke, but every pony new she was right. As the seconds ticked to minutes, minutes to hours, the sun began to set. “Are we almost there? My hooves hurt, and I think I have a sun burn…” Rarity began complaining. “Don’t you ever stop whinin’ Rare?” There was a short silence. “Let’s not get into that again, please.” Rarity said with all of her dignity Shortly after Rarity said that, Dodge City rose up on the horizon. “Thank Celestia we are here, I don’t think I can walk much further,” Apple Jack spoke what was on every pony’s minds at that point. “Apple Jack? Is that you?” A familiar, proper drawl called out. The six friends looked around as to find the source of the call. Within seconds, a mare with a red mane and tail primped up more than Rarity’s came prancing out of the saloon. It was Cherry Jubilee. “Miss Jubilee, what a pleasure to see you.” Apple Jack said this as if it was a surprise to see her, it wasn’t though. “As it is to see you dear. What brings you over to my neck of the frontier?” “Celestia has sent us out to defeat Nightmare Moon.” Apple Jack stated simply and shortly. Upon hearing this, Jubilee’s face fell, her eyes widened, jaw dropped, skin crawled, and heart sank. “So it’s true…” the terrified mare muttered under her breath. She began to mutter silently under breath, look from place to place quickly, and sway back and forth like a strong breeze was about to sweep her off her feet. “Some pony catch her, she’s gonna - !’ Rainbow Dash called out as she saw her start to fall. No pony could catch her in time. Jubilee hit the ground. Her eyes were still open and she was muttering something no pony could make out. “Let’s get her to her house, I guess…” Rainbow Dash sighed as she picked the mare and put her on her back. When Jubilee came to, she was on her couch in her living room. “Wha… what happened?” The mare had a befuddled look on her face. “You passed out, I think, after we said Nightmare Moon is back.” Fluttershy answered softly. “I had heard rumors, but I thought it was just a bunch of pony feathers, nut now… I just don’t know.” Jubilee seemed collected now. “That’s why Princess Celestia sent us out; to stop Nightmare Moon.” Twilight leaned forward a bit in her seat. “I appreciate it girls, I sure do. I bet every pony else is, too.” Jubilee’s voice made a compliment more of a gold medal than words. “Well, we better get walking now if we want to get to the port by morning.” Apple Jack stood and adorned her saddlebags. “Whoa, no, no, no. No heroes of mine are going to come by my house and leave without my hospitality.” Apple Jack slowed at the door. “All six of you are staying for the night here.” Apple Jack’s look gazed toward the ground, and she placed her bags on the floor next to the door. “Now that is settled, it’s time for dinner!” Jubilee cried excitedly. The banquet brought out was for the most part cherry based: cherry pie, cherry fritter, cherry sarsaparilla, cherry jam, jelly and preserves, cherry Frisch, and all the like. “So, darlings, now that Nightmare Moon has returned, is Luna…?” Jubilee started. “Nightmare Moon and Luna are two different mares, now,” Twilight bitterly answered Jubilees unfinished question. “Ahh,” Jubilee retorted, “So we don’t have too much to worry about?” Jubilee questioned “Actually, Miss Jubilee, Celestia fears that Nightmare is stronger than before,” Rarity gave the red headed mare another reason to lose consciousness. “No offence, dears, but how do you plan on defeating her if she is stronger than the last time?” Jubilee asked the question that the six have been asking themselves since they received their task from Celestia. “That’s why we’re going to get the Elements of Harmony, to stop Nightmare Moon once and for all,” Apple Jack spoke with Rainbow Dash’s confidence. “Y’all are very brave, I want y’all to know that,” Jubilee complimented. “Thank you…” Twilight said as if the compliment was for her alone. Twilight stood and walked up the stairs to the bedrooms. Jubilee’s eyes followed Twilight and once she believed Twilight to be out of ear shot, she whispered, “She isn’t being herself, has something happened?” At that moment, every pony’s blood went cold. Though Shining Armor wasn’t related to any of them, they considered him a brother, so no pony wanted to retell what happened. “Her brother Shining Armor, the captain of the Royal Guard was captured by Nightmare Moon,” Fluttershy spoke quickly to end the silence. “Oh, my gosh, that is horrible!” Jubilee yelled silently. There was another short and uncomfortable pause. “We better make sure that Twilight’s alright, come on, girls,” Apple Jack got up and too, walked up the stairs, followed by Rarity, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, and Rainbow Dash. The door to the room was closed. Apple Jack knocked, “Twilight, you alright?” she asked. Twilight opened the door and immediately walked back to the bed she was laying on and buried her head in the pillow. “Twilight, are you alright?” Apple Jack asked. “What do you think?” Twilight responded, muffled by the pillow. “I know what you’re thinking, and we will stop Nightmare Moon.” Apple Jack tried to comfort Twilight. “How do you know?” Twilight lifted her head from the pillow. “While we go out wasting time looking for the Elements, we’re fighting a losing war. For all we know, this is the only place not taken by Nightmare, and all the while, Shining Armor is being tortured by Nightmare!” Twilight slammed her head back on the pillow. Apple Jack sat at the foot of the bed, “Look, we will beat her, we’ve done it before.” “Yes, yes, every pony keeps saying that…” Twilight said with disdain. “Look, let’s just get some rest, then we can go off and keep looking for the elements,” Rainbow Dash said. “I agree, I’m tired from walking,” Rarity agreed. As every pony climbed into bed, Pinkie called out silently, “Hey, Apple Jack, you’re not going to sneak away in the middle of the night this time, will you?”