//------------------------------// // Leave Them Behind // Story: Children of the Night // by Wolfen Spirit //------------------------------// I awoke to the sound of pacing outside my bedchamber. I moved out of bed and quickly combed through my orange bedridden mane. When I was presentable I opened the door slowly, surprised at who stood there. "Flare?" I giggled as I saw his bedraggled appearance. "Oh uh... Cougari! I mean Gari... uh I think. Hi... uh..." I let out another spurt of laughter at his awkward approach. He releases a smile. "Hey Cougari." He finally settles with. I nod my head in greeting, not trusting myself to speak as I take in his appearance. I float my manebrush over and hand it to him. He frowns as he looks at it. "Why are you here?" I speak up as he grabs the brush and runs it through his mane. He cracks another sheepish smile. "I was instructed to leave, but I couldn't without saying 'bye to you." A faint blush covered my cheeks. "Oh. Uh, okay. Goodbye Flaring Song." "Goodbye Cougari. Promise you'll visit me if you have any time. I could show you around Canterlot, or something..." His awkward return of the brush and the way his hoof scuffed the ground made me smile broadly, and against my better judgement, I agreed. As I watched him walk off, I realized the time. It was late into the night, and knowing the White Princess had questions for me, I walked to her chambers, albeit I got lost every few turns. Thankfully, the door was open and the faint glow of candlelight filled the room. I stepped inside, "Aren't you supposed to be asleep Princess?" I hear faint chuckling at the back of the room. "Yes, I suppose. But I was waiting for you. Come here Gari. Let us watch the stars." I narrowed my eyes, my adaptation to nocturnal vision cutting through the dim light. "Princess... I just have time to answer your questions. I apologize." As I approached the alicorn I watched her sigh and turn to me. "Gari, the questions I have to ask... are about your home." I kept my expression guarded as she approached. "As in... where do you come from?" I frowned as I answered, "Somewhere." The Princess' eyes widened at my short reply, but she asked another, "What is your relationship with Princess Luna?" I let out a short breath, "She's my teacher." "Where exactly do you live?" "In the castle at the moment." I smiled a bit, enjoying this. I knew not answering the Princess was treason but I didn't care. Her questions were unjustified. "Where did you grow up?" "With my family." "Where is your family, friends, neighbors, and life before you came to Canterlot located." I could tell she was losing patience, so I took a step back. "Altogether. Princess Celestia, I apologize for not answering your questions the way you want me to, but I never will. So, if that's all, then..." I turned and walked away, chin up and eyes almost closed. "Gari... I just need to know... because" She sighed, and I stopped in my tracks, not turning around. "I need to know because I think I could help you, all of you." "Thank you your Highness but, I disagree." ^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~ It was past midnight, almost dawn when I left my room again, this time running into one of the night guards. They are pretty strange looking, thanks to the enchantment placed into the armor. The leathery bat wings protruding from either side of the saddle-like plate of armor protecting their sides. Their fangs glisten as they talk and their tufted ears signify their bat-like qualities to a point. But, then the pony qualities shine through. The hooves, to the fur. The only difference is the cat like eyes they posses. It's all an enchantment, or they would like you to think that. The species is Thestrals. AKA bat pony. These creatures are very much real, but not at all scary. The one I ran into was one of the two new recruits, by the name of Nyx. Soon after, the other came clumsily crashing in. His name was Erebus. These two were twins,both having the same black fur and purple wings. The only difference being the eyes. Nyx had purple, like her wings. Normal for the eyes and wings of bat ponies to correspond. But, Erebus had a strange color altogether. His eyes were the color green, a rare color in all Thestrals. So, of course, when I saw them I was pretty jumpy, even if they were the only ones who understood my nocturnal life. I smiled brightly at the pair, "Hey guys! You on duty tonight?" They nodded simultaneously, Nyx giving me a friendly nod while Erebus smiled back. "Yeah! We were assigned to be your guards tonight." Erebus spoke with a slight hiss to his voice. I frowned at the news. Not because they were my guards, but because I had guards in the first place. "Thanks Erebus, Nyx." I nodded. "But, I really don't need guards." I spoke to them lightly. But, Nyx spoke up in refusal. "That is what we said, but even we can't deny the request of Princess Luna." My eyes widened, scanning the area quickly before stepping towards the two. "Repeat what you said." I ordered, my voice low. "Princess Luna requested us, as in specifically, to guard you until you leave. From now on, we are your personal guard." Nyx informed me with conformation in her voice. I nodded, still a little perturbed. "I... Uh... Okay, I guess if Princess Luna commanded it." She dipped her head and told them to follow her. She walked in the direction of her room. ^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~ I stared out my Diocletian window, having perfect view of the Canis Major constellation, I traced the outline with my eyes. I felt stupid. I could have avoided this whole thing. The drama, the "meeting other people", and certainly the Princesses, if I just stopped asking questions. But I was too far. Too far in to stop now. And my questions... Now I was certainly not going to leave them behind.