//------------------------------// // War of Shadows - Chapter 117 // Story: Diary of the Night // by CalebH //------------------------------// I go to meet with General Night Watch but I pause outside the war room to listen. “Please, father you must listen,” a mare begs. “I am a general and your commanding officer; you should address me as such,” Night Watch answers coldly. “I am in the royal guard. The Princess is my commanding officer. I didn’t come to ask ‘the general’ something I came to ask my father.” “As your general and as your father I say no! Perhaps he is loyal to The Princess over the sun-hag but still his blood will not taint our line. We are pure! We have held strong for a thousand years because we are pure. I will not be the one to let that end.” “You would do well not to insult my sister,” I say as I open the door, “she has ears everywhere and I have ever been…protective of her.” “My apologies,” he says in a deep bow, “I did not realize you were near.” “Tell me general,” I begin, “Am I tainted? My sire was a unicorn; the very first of unicorn kings no less. Even now, centuries after he has turned to dust his blood runs strong in my veins. As does my mother’s, a pegasus. In fact it may be argued that I am more unicorn than night pony. It was from my father’s side that I first saw members of your tribe. Your ancestors came and bowed low before his throne, begging for a place in his kingdom, to be under his guidance and protection. “It was at my request that he said yes and when I stood in defense of Equestria your ancestors remembered the debt they owed and pledged themselves to me along with ponies from all other tribes. “I am the night and you are my children but not by birth, it is because we have chosen one another. The purity of the night ponies is not in their blood but in their unswerving loyalty to me. A loyalty Moon Shadow has shown since her birth and a loyalty that Morning Star has shown since he vowed himself to me. He may not have wings or fangs but he is a child of the night. You have done well to keep the night ponies as one for a thousand years but now you must trust me.” Night Watch opens his mouth as if to speak but words seem to fail him. I do not need to hear his voice to know the doubt written across his downturned face. “You have held faith for a millennium,” I say softly, trying to find that motherly tone that is so easy for Celestia, “So long and with such fervor that you have lost sight of what your faith was in. I am back child. I will not lead you astray and I will not abandon you.” “But you did,” He says, “A thousand years ago you led an army that did not return and now you are here, a legend from my foalhood, asking me to forsake all I know and follow you. But you did abandon us and you led us astray.” “Come here child.” It is not often that Celestia or myself will touch another other than in greeting. But I must confess that it is for my own comfort as much as his that I draw him into an embrace. “I was wrong and so very, very foolish. My actions have no defense and I can only beg forgiveness from the children my madness had left behind. But it is not for myself that I ask. Equestria, my sister, your fellow ponies need you. “Equestria has stood without the tribe that protects it for too long. We beg you to return to us.” He wraps trembling hoofs around me and for a time he returns the embrace. Once his shaking has quieted I release him. He gives me a quiet thanks before turning to Moon Shadow. “If he hurts you I’ll kill him.” It gives me hope. Perhaps once this threat has ended the night ponies will find a place in the new Equestria. -L