//------------------------------// // Chapter 1 // Story: The Star Knights // by Rexus //------------------------------// We all have We all have a set path. A set destiny. We will make mistakes. We are all only ponies. When Luna was banished the land of Equestria fell on hard times. Crimes increase dramatically at night with the protector of the night gone. Bad ponies everywhere took advantage of the defenseless ponies. One group set forth to steal for the good of the ponies only stealing from thieves and cheats themselves. These were the future heroes of Equestria. Canterlot was the most affected city during Luna banishment. With court Nobility in the castle stealing from the common pony was easy. One pony had stolen everything from a small apple farm in Ponyville. Leaving the family to have to raise prices on their product the make ends meet. Two ponies sat outside of the heavily guarded castle. They watched the traffic in and out of the castle. So far neither pony saw away in that didn't require using brute force. The first pony was a unicorn stallion with gold colored fur and grey mane wearing a grey vest. He didn't have a cutie mark which did catch a lot of wandering eyes but without a cutie mark nopony knew your identity.  The second pony was a Pegasus mare. Her fur color was light blue and her white was green. She was wearing a white dress which helped her bling in to the nobilities. The stallion looked toward the mare. “Lumi” he spoke. She looked towards him. She had fear in her eyes. “Northern, couldn’t we just do a smaller one. The coward hides behind the princesses guards.” she said to him. This was dangerous because if they were caught there was no telling what would happen. “Lumi we been over this with midnight.” He got up off the ground and began walking towards the outer edge of the city. “ he stole the deed the the apple family's home. Even if we did get the money to help them he can do anything with their land and possibly hurt their farm.” “But Northern, If we get caught that is it for us.” Lumi said with obvious hysteria. “Celestia could have us banished or executed. i dont think im ready to…” “Illuminate stop, just stop…” Lumi stop. He only used her full named when he serious. “ I know the risk of what we are doing but if we just let him get away with this. Also i have a plan if we get caught.” “And what pray tells is your plan.” She asked with growing curiosity. “I turn myself in to Celestia.” he smiled She blinked at him. “WHAT!!!!!” she screamed “Are you a MADPONY?” “I’m not the one screaming my head off” “WHY would you do that?” “Well you know the bounty on my head in increasing daily” he turned towards the castle. “And Celestia herself is interested in my capture.” He smiles “Also I would get a chance to get you all diplomatic immunity for my surrender.” “But... But...” “Alright, let get some sleep we got sometime before we start.” Turning down a back alleyway into a old uncovered manhole. Lumi hurried into the hole as it closed behind her. She felt uneasy about north decisions to surrender if caught. As they went down they reached a open where that lead to the slums of Canterlot many ponies walked with rags on. Lumi though back to how she knew this world all too well as she took off her dress. She looked up for north to see him walking the street and into a small building. She followed him into the building soaring through the stale air. “Brother, what going through your head now.” She thought as she reached the open door of the shack. “Hey Illuminate.” She looked up to see a bat pony staring at her with big golden eyes. She smiled at him but couldn’t hide her troubling thoughts. “What’s wrong?” “My brothers crazy” She said with a silent hiss. “Ok, so what did he do now” He said while she sat beside him. “Pull a prank or faking taking thing serous.” “That’s just it” she said coming to tears. “He said he would give himself up if we got caught to make sure we got away.” She was being the cry now. “And he was being serous, doesn’t he know that they would kill him.” “I think he knows” Midnight said with confidence “I mean look who he trying the protect me, you, Tumble, Jet and Rhythm.” “Yes” A small scratchy was heard in the doorway. Midnight looked toward the door way a saw two small faces staring at them. A small grayish blue diamond pup and a little zebra filly stared waiting for the adults to answer. Midnight stared trying to figured how long they had listening. “Oh no I was just talking to Lumi here” “Why did our names come up, did we mess up” The zebra filly spoke in small rhymes. “No, No, we were just talking. You can both go play, but be safe.” The two took off while laughing. Midnight watched as they left going to play with the other kids. “You know I don’t think he was just up and abandon them.” Midnight said remembering the day they found them. “I know he wouldn’t just abandon you. I know he has some sort of way out he just keeping it secret.” Yeah, Y’know, we should get some sleep. Lumi said getting up to leave. “We got a big day ahead of us.” “Yeah your right. See you later Lumi.” Midnight said as he watched her leave. “You better not get caught again north. I don't think can illuminate or the kids could handle it again.” “Hey wats up?” Midnight looked up to see a tan stallion standing at the door. “Oh hey Tumbleweed where did you come from.” “I just came from eating, and you didn’t answer my question” Tumbleweed said With growing frustration.   “It’s about Lumi’s brother”   “Wait, what happen? Did he get hurt, captured?” The stallion eyes growing wide with fear of what could have happen to North.   “No that just it she knows he might give himself up to Celestia to save us if all goes wrong.”   “Oh man” tumbleweed said in a low voice. He looked back outside to the filly and pup playing with a small ball. “What about those kids. He wouldn’t just up and leave them will he? He’s like their dad.”   “That’s what I said but with more being at stake here…”   No, don’t start with that more at stake horseapples. It just like the rest of what we have done. We get in, get the good, get out and return it to its rightful owner.” Tumble looked at the bat pony to see he was still upset. ”Well don’t over think it okay. Just rest up we got a long night.   “Alright see ya Tumble”   “Yeah see ya and buck up bubby”   They all took to their respected living areas to rest up for the biggest day of their lives.   Unknown to them the mention stallion sat on the roof of the shack watch the kids play. And listen to his friend’s conversation. He could hear their whispers all with the same thought on their minds.   North what do you have planned?   “To fix everything my friends” he said looking towards the stars hearing millions of wishes being made for a better life.   “To fix everything.” He whispered horn and eyes glowing brightly in the night.   He stopped.   The city stopped.   Celestia stopped.   All to watch the spectacle of falling stars that had not been seen since Luna banishment.