Chapter 4
Hollow Shades
“I will come to visit you in your dreams, Pip,” Luna said with a smile.
Pip felt the cold night air wash over his coat. It felt colder than usual, though he suspected it was all in his head. The thought of leaving Luna’s side after being with her for the first time in years… He lamented the fact that he had to go, but he knew he couldn’t let her down, either. “I look forward to your visits,” he replied.
“I know I wasn’t able to present you with it myself, but… the chain that holds the Fragment of the First Night was my doing.”
Pip touched the chain around his neck and nodded. “I figured. Thank you. It makes it easy to carry the fragment.”
“I don’t have very many things from my mother or father,” Luna began, turning her attention to the sky. “However, the chain was once a part of my father’s ceremonial armor. I thought it appropriate that you have it with you.”
“I… don’t know what to say,” Pip awkwardly stated. “Thank you.”
The whistle of the train cut through their conversation. It was almost time to go. Luna turned back to Pip and pulled him close for a hug. Embracing her, Pip closed his eyes and enjoyed the moment.
When they parted, Captain Ghast was standing next to them with a blank expression on his face.
“My princess,” Ghast addressed Luna. “I have loaded the train with the armor and supplies you requested.”
“Very good,” she said to him. “Pip, I had armor made for you and the rest of the Star Guard. Although I don’t expect you to encounter much trouble on your journeys, you should remember that you represent Equestria and the other guard orders when you interact with foreigners. Remember to conduct yourself with dignity and honor.”
Pip bowed his head. “Of course, Princess.”
“Remember that the Nightmare Forces feed on bitterness, hatred and fear, Pip. The citizens of places where there isn’t much harmony will be in more danger than those who live quiet and contented lives. If you find an area of strife, the darkness is sure to be near.”
Pip kept his head bowed. He'd figured that was the reason that he had been sent to Hollow Shades first. Places like Ponyville didn’t have much strife.
“My princess,” Ghast interrupted, “Princess Twilight Sparkle is on board and waiting to travel to Manehattan. We shouldn’t keep her waiting.”
“Of course not…” Luna sighed. “Farewell, Pip. May the good spirits keep you safe.” She turned away and spread her wings. Ghast leapt into the air, and she followed, though she did so slowly and without conviction. Pip slowly backed up to the train door. Steamer, the earth pony train conductor, was glaring at him in annoyance.
“Wait!”
Pip glanced over his shoulder and spotted Thunder Clash flying over to the train. The old soldier pegasus landed next to Pip with a duffle bag on his back.
“We need to get going,” the conductor snorted.
Thunder Clash nodded once to Pip before jumping onto the train. Pip smiled and also climbed aboard, happy to have the old soldier along for the ride. Once everypony was on, the train began to pull forward. Its first stop was a junction, where Pip and the others would get off to take a second train to Hollow Shades.
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Ka-clack! Ka-clack!
The sound of the train speeding along echoed through the silent compartment. Instead of waiting with the others, Pip had taken this time to be by himself. The trip would be short, or so the conductor said, and he knew he didn’t have much time. Any second now, they would reach their destination…
Ka-clack! Ka-clack!
Pip trotted to the back of the train and inspected the equipment Princess Luna had given him. The armor she had constructed was made out of two materials: a black metal, similar to Luna’s crown, and silver. On the chest piece was a nine-pointed star inside the crescent of the moon.
Pip immediately recognized that one suit of armor was different from the rest. On the flank-area of the armor, etched into the black, was Pip’s cutie mark: a downward-pointing sword and star. His armor. Pip lightly touched it and smiled. Guard captains didn’t normally have their cutie marks on their armor, but this was no normal guard.
Too anxious to wait, Pip strapped on the armor. It fit him, but his bandages were noticeable and uncomfortable with the extra weight. Surprisingly, the armor felt like it weighed a few pounds less than the Night Guard versions, though Pip couldn’t be absolutely certain. Glancing over at the rest of the equipment, Pip realized their weapons had been brought along as well. He slipped on his claws: bladed hoof guards meant for close combat.
“What’re you doin’, son? Shouldn’t you be with your fellow guards?”
“Hm?” Pip turned and saw Thunder Clash standing in the compartment with him. “I was just inspecting our gear.”
“You have a responsibility to your team,” Thunder Clash informed Pip as he took a seat. “You’re their captain. You gotta watch them and guide them.”
“I don’t know what it takes to be a good captain,” Pip answered honestly.
“That’s why you have me here, isn’t it? I know what a good captain looks like. I’ll let you know when you’re messin’ it up.”
Pip laughed to himself. “T-thanks.”
Ka-clack! Ka-clack! Sccccreeeeccchhh.
The sound of the brakes caused Pip to stir into action. He quickly trotted through the train in order to get the others. He knew they should be suited up and ready to go once the train came to halt. As he opened the door to the passenger car, he realized they were all crammed around one of the train's tables, attempting to play pirate’s dice despite the constant shake of the train.
“Hey, guys,” Pip said.
“You’re cheating!” Scootaloo practically shouted, slamming her hooves down on the table. “You have to be!”
Marble shook her head. “I would never. Besides, one doesn’t need to cheat against you.”
Specter threw his head back and laughed, his leathery wings flapping in rhythm with his breathing. Rumble rolled his eyes and leaned heavily on one of his hooves, as though he had seen this exact scenario a million times.
“Er, guys?” Pip asked, attempting to clear his throat.
“A captain takes charge,” Thunder Clash said from behind him.
Pip turned to the pegasus and shrugged. “I was never looking to be a captain, Thunder Clash. I just wanted to protect Luna.”
“True leaders never ask for the position, boy. But you’ll lose it if you hesitate for too long. Everypony agreed to answer to your command. So command them.”
With a deep breath, Pip returned his attention to the others. They were still enthralled by their dice game. “Everypony!” he shouted. “Listen up!”
The ponies in the passenger car stopped what they were doing and turned to Pip. Holding his head high, Pip stepped aside and motioned to the back car.
“We need to suit up. The armor is in the back. I’m sure the conductor won’t wait all day for us, so grab your things and disembark.”
Mist perked up and immediately flew over to him. “We’ve arrived at Hollow Shades already?! I’m so excited! I can’t wait to show you all the best fruit trees! And all the best places to hide! And my family! It’ll be great!”
Equinox suddenly slouched in her spot, practically hiding herself from sight behind the cushions of her seat. The others quickly picked everything up and trotted to the back of the train to get suited up. Once they were gone, Equinox slid off the seat and walked over to Pip.
“I… would prefer if you didn’t mention anything that has happened with me,” she whispered.
Pip glanced at her ruined wing and frowned. “You know there’s nothing to be ashamed of. You got injured saving your sister from a King Basilisk. If anything, you should be proud and-”
“I’m asking you not to mention anything,” Equinox snapped, cutting him off. She glared, her slit-pupil eyes trained on him with intense focus. With a heavy sigh, Pip capitulated.
“Very well. I won’t mention anything.”
“Thank you.” Equinox quickly left, never glancing back or even looking up to meet Thunder Clash’s gaze.
Pip waited till she was gone before gathering his own things. Throwing his satchel onto his back, he disembarked from the train and stood on the platform, waiting for the others. Thunder Clash, carrying his saddlebag, accompanied him.
“They let me keep my Sun Guard armor when I was reassigned, but I couldn’t find it in me to bring it along,” Thunder Clash said, more to himself than anypony else. “I’m a little too old to be gettin’ into fights, but I don’t feel like myself not wearin’ it.”
Doing a mental count in his head, Pip realized that he had seen eight sets of armor in the train. He figured Luna must have ordered enough for the ponies she thought would be in the guard, but after Gloom left, there were only seven of them. Pip shook his head. He wouldn’t give a set to Thunder Clash. He knew it was a bad idea. They would just have an extra set, in case somepony needed a replacement.
The other members of the Star Guard exited the train with their supplies in tow. They were wearing their armor and carrying their weapons, but there were extra things Luna had given them to complete their mission, including a letter from her explaining their mission and some bits they would use to get around and live on.
The void-black and silver armor was sleek, durable, lightweight and reinforced in areas to protect vital body parts. Pip thought they looked like a professional force, but he knew they were all amateurish at best.
The platform they were standing on was barren, and the moment everypony was off the train, the engine started up and pulled the cars away, leaving them alone in the middle of a dense forest. It was only a few hours before daybreak, and the only movement among the trees was from owls and lizards. With the Fragment of the First Night close to his chest, Pip could see clearly through the darkness. He took a moment to admire the night with this new perspective.
“Well?” Specter asked as he hovered in the air next to Rumble, supporting one side of the extra equipment crate. “Are we going or are we going?”
“Er, right. Sorry,” Pip nervously laughed. “How do we get to Hollow Shades from here?”
“This way,” Equinox replied, motioning with her head to a small trail leading away from the platform. Unlike everypony else, she was wearing a heavy cloak over her armor, obscuring her face, back, and wings.
Pip trotted out in front and led the way through the dark forest. Until his Night Guard training, Pip had never even heard of the town of Hollow Shades, but now he knew it was the city that most bat ponies called home. He could see the appeal; the further they traveled into the forest, the thicker the canopy overhead became, eventually blocking out the sky completely. Since bat ponies couldn’t see in the light of the day, it only made sense that they would want a home where the sun couldn’t necessarily reach them.
As time marched on, Pip began wondering just how long a trek this would be. Before he could voice his concerns, bright lanterns hanging from the trees came into view. Though he didn’t need them to see, Pip knew they were a sign of civilization.
“Howdy, travelers,” a voice echoed off the trees.
Pip turned to see a small stand and building constructed next to the road, but far back enough to be hidden by most of the trees. “Hello?” he asked.
An earth pony, old enough to have wrinkles, but young enough to keep his tall stature, walked up to the stand and smiled. He was light blue of coat and dark blue of mane. “Not many ponies come to these parts unexpectedly. What can I do you for?”
“This is the way to Hollow Shades, correct?” Pip asked.
“Hollow Shades is the only town I know of in these woods, that’s for sure.” The earth pony frowned. “You know they don’t let outsiders in, right? I’m the last day-pony outpost. I act as a broker for bat pony trades. If you’re lookin’ for goods, you can trade through me.”
“We’re not all outsiders,” Mist offered, flapping her wings. “Besides, we’re on a special mission from Princess Luna!”
Thunder Clash shot her a glare. “Maybe you should let Captain Pipsqueak handle the talkin’, girlie.”
Mist ducked her head down. “Right. Sorry.”
“We’re the Star Guard,” Pip informed the earth pony. “We were sent to-”
The merchant’s eyes went wide. “You’re the Star Guard? Every trader from Canterlot has been gossipin’ about you! You all are the ones who’re going to stop everypony from transforming into nightmare creatures?”
“Er, you know about us?” Pip asked with a nervous laugh. “Like, ponies have been talking about that?”
“Definitely! After what happened in Canterlot, how could you not be talking about it?! I heard there was a mare who transformed in the Crystal Empire! Every which way you turn everypony is afraid that they’ll transform! You got a lot of work on your hooves, son.”
“Y-yeah…”
The earth pony glanced from each recruit to the next. “So how’re you going to go about stopping nightmares? You got tools or special magic? I don’t see any unicorns with you…”
“It’s, uh, complicated. Thank you for the directions.” Pip turned and continued forward. The others followed him, though they seemed confused by his abrupt goodbye. The earth pony waved to them as they left.
We don’t have any unicorns with us…
Pip had never even considered the lack of unicorns as a problem until the merchant had mentioned it. They didn’t really have anypony that could manipulate magic… Pip sighed. The only ponies Pip knew of who could manipulate magic and had encountered the nightmares were Rarity and Princess Twilight Sparkle. Unfortunately, they were on a diplomatic mission to the Griffin empire and were unavailable.
“Look! Look! There it is!” Mist gasped in excitement.
Shaking away the negative thoughts, Pip glanced up and saw a wall of leaves. There were massive willow trees growing at the heart of the forest, and their long, whip-like branches were hanging down onto the path, creating a barrier. Standing on the trail right in front of the willow tree barrier, were two bat pony guards. They weren’t a part of the royal guard… just generic city guardsponies.
“Halt!” one of the bat ponies called out. “Who are you and what do you want? Day-ponies aren’t allowed beyond this point.”
Everypony turned to Pip. With his head held high, he stepped forward. “We’re the Star Guard, sent by Princess Luna. Step aside, so that we may help the citizens of Hollow Shades.” He felt nervous and anxious for some reason, almost fearing the two guards would laugh at his proclamation.
For a moment the guards were silent and exchanged knowing looks.
“The soothsayer has been expecting you,” the guard finally replied. “Follow the path to the edge of town and speak with her first.”
The two guards pulled back a portion of the willow leaves, creating an entrance much like that of a tent. Pip stepped through, followed by the rest of the Star Guard. Once inside, he was awestruck.
“Welcome to Hollow Shades,” the guard said, closing the curtain of leaves behind them.
The city of Hollow Shades was vast and built vertically. There were trees, much like redwoods, with trunks the size of buildings themselves. Built around, into, and between the trunks were houses, bridges and multi-story structures. The canopy, so thick one could not see the sky, was filled with firefly nests. Fireflies were dancing through the sky and landing on the leaves, giving the place a slight hint of light while making the canopy appear like the night sky. With each firefly a star…
Pip stepped forward and saw that there was a river running through the city. Its calming trickle added to the mystery and wonder of the town. Although most of the houses were built up among the trees, there were some stone buildings on the ground, including a few stone bridges over the river.
Bat ponies were flying about, content to live their daily lives. Shaking his head, Pip pushed forward. He didn’t have time to gawk and stare. Following the path, as the guards had instructed him, Pip went straight for the soothsayer’s dwelling.
“I’ve… never actually been here,” Thunder Clash muttered aloud as he flew.
“It’s really nice this time of year,” Mist cheerfully stated. “So many fruits in season!”
Specter shrugged. “It’s fine. I guess.” Suddenly, Specter almost dropped his side of the equipment crate. Rumble was too busy staring at the fireflies to pay attention, and had run into a large tree trunk.
“Stay alert,” Pip told them. “We represent Princess Luna. We don’t want to disappoint her.”
Rumble flushed with mild embarrassment. “It was my fault, Pip. I just… I’ve never seen so many fireflies before.”
“Sir,” Thunder Clash corrected. “You call your captain sir.”
“Er, oh, yeah. Sorry, sir,” Rumble muttered.
Pip almost wished he wouldn’t. It felt so… awkward. However, it wasn’t the time or place to argue about it, not with so many bat ponies suddenly paying them so much attention.
“What are they doing here?” a bat pony murmured from above.
“I don’t know,” another replied.
“Shouldn’t the guards have stopped them?”
“They aren’t scared?”
“What if one of them turns into a nightmare while they’re here?! We should throw them out!”
Pip crossed over the arched stone bridge and stopped once he reached the highest point. The water… it was glowing a bright and vibrant turquoise, illuminating everything around it with its soft light.
“What’s going on with this water?” Scootaloo asked with a nervous laugh. “Is it… infected with something?”
Equinox kept her voice low as she answered, “No. The water isn’t glowing, it’s the rocks underneath. They wash downstream from a cave further up into the mountainside. It’s considered bad luck to take them out of the water, but some bat ponies collect and sell them regardless.”
Scootaloo smiled at the glowing river. “It doesn’t hurt bat ponies' eyes to look at it?”
“Of course not,” Equinox said with a roll of her eyes. “Bat ponies aren’t that sensitive.”
Although the water and the stones were interesting, Pip pushed them from his mind. He continued on his path through the town, aware of all the whispers and stares that were being directed towards him. Bat ponies were grabbing their children and ushering them inside; some were even grabbing weapons and staring from the nearby branches.
“The soothsayer will be understanding,” Mist said. “She can see the future!”
Thunder Clash shook his head. “Nopony can see the future, save Princess Celestia.”
“But she talks to the spirits and fates!”
“She makes you think she talks to the spirits and fates,” Thunder Clash replied with a defensive snort. “Just because there is magic in the world doesn’t mean anything is possible.”
When they finally reached the end of the road, Pip saw a large ground-based dwelling made of stone, red wood and black jade. There was another guard waiting outside, but after one glance at Pip and the others, he stepped aside and motioned for them to enter. Pip nodded to the guard and continued in.
The front room was large and circular, perfect for hosting ceremonies or sermons. All manner of plants and stones could be found on the shelves that lined the walls, and for a moment, Pip was reminded of Zecora’s hut back in Ponyville. At the far end of the room was a fireplace and a long table.
Everypony stepped into the room, but there was nopony else to greet them.
“Hello?” Pip hesitantly whispered. The longer he looked around the room, the more he realized that some of the objects on the shelves weren’t stones at all… they were bones.
“Um, what is the table for?” Rumble asked, setting down the equipment crate on the floor.
Specter snickered. “That’s where we sacrifice day-ponies!”
“R-really?” Rumble asked, his legs locking up and his voice trembling. Specter began snickering even louder.
Thunder Clash rolled his eyes. “Grow a spine, boy. You know that’s not true. And even if it was true… Look at yourself! It would take a few good bat ponies to bring you down! And you got the rest of your team!”
“It’s not true,” Mist said, trying to reassure everypony. “Definitely not true. It’s against the law for bat ponies to drink the blood of other ponies, remember? Nopony has a sacrifice table. Right, Equinox?”
“Yeah…” Equinox muttered half-heartedly as she glanced around the room.
For some reason, Pip was suddenly a lot less sure about Mist’s assertions.
Marble, who had been silent for the entirety of the walk, suddenly yawned. “I’ve seen scarier. This soothsayer is going to have to try harder if she wants to compare with nightmare world. As it stands right now… this place is dull.”
“Everything is dull to you,” Scootaloo quipped.
“My home is dull?” a shrill elderly voice cut into the conversation. “What rude guests I have this night.”
Pip motioned for everypony to be silent. He looked around the room and spotted an old crone of a bat pony by the fireplace. There was no door by the fireplace… how had she appeared there? Had she been hiding this whole time, or had he simply not seen her enter?
“Um…” Pip began, searching for the right words. None came. “Er… I’m…”
“The Guardian of the Night,” the old bat pony muttered. She stepped forward and glared with bright red eyes. Her coat was gray and her mane white. Her leathery wings were filled with rips and holes, and on her flank was a cutie mark of bones with writing upon them.
“Yes,” Pip replied. “Luna- er, I mean Princess Luna gave me that title. I’m really just Captain of the Star Guard. I’m here to help the bat ponies of Hollow Shades fight off the Nightmare Forces.”
“I am the soothsayer of this town. You may call me Whisper.”
Pip bowed his head to her. “In order to help the ponies of this town, I’ll need to stay here for a while and search their dreams. I was hoping my guards and I could have a place to stay and-”
“Dreams are sacred,” the soothsayer hissed. “You cannot invade them without permission!”
“I… kinda need to,” Pip said with a hesitant laugh. “Ponies are in danger. The Nightmare Forces whisper to them while they sleep.”
“Hmpf! We shall see what the oracle bones have to say about this!” The old bat pony walked up to one of the many shelves and began grabbing bones, a quill, and ink. She returned to the table in the room and threw down the shell and skull of a turtle. With the quill in her mouth, she quickly wrote upon the bones.
Pip stepped up to the opposite side of the table and lifted an eyebrow. Being a herbivore, it disgusted him slightly to see the remains of animals. He didn’t comment, however. He knew that bat ponies had fangs and drank blood.
“What are you doing?” Pip nervously asked.
Once Whisper was done writing, she put down the quill and gathered up the bones. “We shall see what the fates decide.” Turning around, Whisper threw the bones into the fire, the blaze briefly flashing with extra heat.
The other ponies in the room slowly inched forward, craning their heads to get a better view of what was going on. Everypony except for Thunder Clash. He was rolling his eyes and hovering in the corner of the room with his forelegs crossed over his chest.
Whisper took a pair of metal tongs and slowly removed the bones from the fire, placing them upon the stone floor. They were cracked from the heat. Once all the bones were out, she leaned over them and squinted.
“The fates… are talkative this evening…” she muttered.
“The fates?” Pip asked, not entirely sure what was going on.
“The fates,” Whisper pointed to the cracks in the bones. “They have much to say. I see here… that you are on a quest. One started millennia ago.”
Pip perked up. How did Whisper know about Luna’s father?
The soothsayer continued, “It would appear that you are destined to retrace the steps of the last pony to tread this nightmare-lined trail… But will you suffer the same fate? It appears that this cannot be answered at this time…” She pushed the bones around and continued to stare at them intently. “But one thing is for certain. You are needed here. Your powers… unique… and unobtainable… You must search the realm of dreams.”
Thunder Clash snorted. “You could have just said yes and saved us all of this overdramatic poppycock.”
Whisper looked up from the bones with a hate-filled gaze. “You do not believe in the word of the fates!?”
“I believe you might be senile.”
“Thunder Clash,” Pip barked. “Aren’t you normally the one that understands protocol?!”
Thunder Clash landed and hung his head. “I apologize. It wasn’t my place to speak.”
“I’m so sorry about that,” Pip said to Whisper, sheepishly rubbing at his mane. “We really didn’t mean any disrespect.”
“I know you didn’t, child,” Whisper said in a kinder tone. “The fates would have warned me of any malicious intents. No… I have seen something here. The fates are trying to tell me something that involves you and your Star Guard.” She quickly trotted over to the wall and pulled a book from one of the shelves. She returned and placed it on the table. Pip glanced at it as she slowly turned the pages.
“Long ago, the Guardian of the Night led the first ponies of this town here… He was leaving, and left us with something to protect…” Whisper flipped to a page and stopped, showing the illustrations to Pip. It was a picture of an alicorn ushering ponies into a forest. Pip gently touched the page. It looked like Luna, though the drawing was crude and worn with age.
Another fact caught Pip’s attention. “These don’t look like bat ponies.” The pictures were of earth, pegasus, and unicorn ponies.
“This was before the Curse of the Moon.”
“But the curse isn’t real,” Pip quickly stated. At least, he thought it wasn’t real…
“It doesn’t matter,” Whisper said, slamming the book shut. “What matters now is that I no longer have to protect the Guardian of the Night’s keepsake. It is yours to claim.” She trotted over and pulled a small box from the shelf. When she returned, she opened it to reveal a small, leaf-thin piece of silver. On one side was part of a drawing, and on the other was writing.
Pip turned it over in his hoof. It was small, half the size of his hoof, and practically weightless. “What is it?”
“I don’t know. But now it is yours.”
Pip placed the thin silver piece in his satchel. “Do you… know what happened to the last Guardian of the Night?”
Whisper shook her head. “I’m afraid something terrible happened, child. Something terrible…”
“But you don’t know the specifics?” Scootaloo suddenly interjected. “Like, what happened exactly?”
“I’m afraid I do not know.” The soothsayer turned and grabbed the quill. She began writing something on a blank piece of parchment.
“Wait.” Pip held up a hoof. “You said I was destined to follow the same path as the last Guardian of the Night? But you don’t know whether it’ll end the same?” Pip nervously kicked at the ground. That was… ominous. What had happened to Luna’s father? What if I need to know in order to avoid it? What am I going to do?
“Here,” Whisper muttered, pushing over the parchment. “Take this note with you to the largest building in the center of town. There you will have a place to sleep. Stay as long as you need to rid the Nightmare Forces from Hollow Shades.”