It didn’t take long for me to regret the choice I had made. After helping Trixie get her cart and the three of us making our way into Hoofinton, Trixie offered to treat us to a night at the inn. After what we had gone through, I wasn’t about to refuse a warm, safe place to sleep and food not cooked over a campfire. I noticed my new appearance was getting more looks than I usually got.
“A bit late for Nightmare Night isn’t gentlecolts?” The barmare said with a lighthearted laugh as Star Swirl and I entered the Smiling Mare Inn as he seemed downright perplexed as to the nature of the joke.
“Yeah, but wouldn’t you know it? I go to try and take it off only to realize it’s my skin.” I tried to sound as cheerful as possible, getting a few laughs out of the drunk patrons along with a few chuckles from the more sober in the tavern area.
“Oh Onyxian, you’re such a foaler. The great and powerful Trixie would like to get a round of drinks and some food for herself and her friends.” Star Swirl and I nodded as the barmare pointed to a free table which we sat ourselves at.
“What is Nightmare Night?” I turned to look over at Star Swirl after he asked me in a whisper.
“It’s kinda like a harvest festival with traditions made around Luna after she was taken over by the Nightmare Force and imprisoned in the moon. Ponies wear costumes to protect their identities from Nightmare Moon’s gaze, play harvest-style games, and gather treats from their neighbors, some of which they put out as an offering to Nightmare Moon to convince her to spare them.” Trixie nodded her head as shortly after, three mugs of what smelt like cider were put in front of us.
“Here you go. Soup’s going to take a bit to warm back up.” I picked up the mug and took a sip and let out a chuckle.
“Good stuff, kinda reminds me of Ponyville.” Trixie perked up as the barmare had trotted off to tend to the other ponies in the room as Star Swirl took swig.
“Hmm good to know some things as I remember them.”
“You’ve been to Ponyville, Onyxian?” I chuckled and nodded my head.
“When I first ended up in Equestria, I was taken in by Twilight Sparkle. I’ve made friends with a lot of her friends there. I even own a house there. I’ve missed it a lot in the three months I’ve been away. but I think having a place to call home helps remind me of why I want to adventure.” Trixie and Star Swirl seemed confused.
“Is adventuring common Trixie?” Trixie shook her head.
“There are travelers such as myself and other ponies, but I’ve never met anypony that saw their profession as adventurer.”
“Well, it was rarely a profession in my time either, but we did have ponies that heard the call of adventure for a time.” I listened and took another sip from my mug.
“We had a concept like that where I am from though usually it was called the call to action. It usually meant becoming a guard or soldier.” Star Swirl frowned at me.
“I called it what I called it. It was often an important part of what drove a pony to become a hero or heroine. That’s not important anyhow. you were saying something about missing the place you think of as home in Equestria. I would expect you to want to return to it sometime soon.” I nodded my head to Star Swirl in agreement.
“I really would like to at least visit my friends again, though I did meet up with them in Canterlot for Hearts Warming a few weeks ago.”
“Ah Hearts Warming, now you’re speaking of a festival I know about. I always did enjoy Winter when I was younger. Anyway back onto the topic at hoof, would you wish to make your way back to this, Ponyville?” I thought about the question while the barmare brought out three bowls of soup for us and placed them on our table. We thanked her and I waited until she was gone before I answered.
“I don’t know if I should. Finding a way to seal the Nightmare Force should take first priority, but there’s a castle in the Everfree Forest that might have tomes that could help us to those ends. I guess we could go say hello while we’re there.” Start Swirl nodded his head in a fitting sagely fashion.
“That settles that issue then. I shall begin research there and you can let your friends know that you are well.” I nodded emphatically in agreement as we ate and drank, enjoying ourselves for a bit before Star Swirl asked a rather loaded question. “So, other than this Nightmare Force which I recall you saying once possessed Luna and a new holiday, what else has happened while I have been gone?” Trixie and I exchanged looks with one another not sure where to even start as I cleared my throat and began.
“Well, not being from Equestria myself, I only know Major recent events that have happened. Uh somepony finished the spell you started that causes ponies to exchange cutie marks.”
“Oh really? To what result, I wonder.”
“Well, it affected the new bearers of the Elements of Harmony and she managed to get their cutie marks back in order through their bonds of friendship which cause her to attain alicorn hood.” Both Star Swirl and Trixie looked at me with mouths hung open.
“Do you mean to tell Trixie that there is now a fourth Alicorn princess? Who is she?” Star Swirl looked like he might have done a spit take if he had had anything in his mouth at the time of Trixie’s question.
“Fourth! Equestria has a third?” I picked back up after their reactions figuring first to answer Star Swirl’s question.
“Yes, that is Princess Cadance, the new monarch of the Crystal Empire. To answer your question , Trixie, the new alicorn princess is Twilight Sparkle.”
“WHAT!?” Trixie seemed absolutely flabbergasted by news that her one-time rival had risen to such great heights. “Trixie doesn’t think that was a very funny joke, Onyxian.” I shook my head at her attempt to disbelieve me.
“It’s not a joke, she really is an alicorn princess. The Princess of Friendship.” Trixie’s mouth fell open again.
“And you have seen this with your own eyes?” I nodded my head slowly.
“When I first ended up in Ponyville, I stayed in the library with Twilight until I was able to buy land and build my house. She’s an alicorn now, wings, flight. and about half a head taller than almost everypony in Ponyville. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.” Trixie collected herself and gave a slightly haughty laugh.
“No worries, The Great and Powerful Trixie shall just have to push herself to new heights to match that of her rival’s.” Star Swirl gently patted her shoulder.
“That is a good goal to strive for, but striving for power with selfish intent can be a dangerous path. One doesn’t always require power to see their true goal through.”
After a bit more lighthearted chatting, we finished our meal and retired to the room Trixie had so graciously bought for us. As Star Swirl began to settle down I looked over at him from the twin-sized bed I had taken.
“I’m sorry I brought you back.” Star Swirl turned and looked at me with a weary smile.
“Well, it’s not like you brought me back back kicking and screaming.” I’m sure I had a rather confused look on my face as I felt my left ear drop.as he answered my unasked question. “It was more of a call for help and an outstretched hoof for me to take hold of. I sensed a good nature behind you when you called and your great need before I let you bring me back.” I sat back in thought.
“So it’s more like a raise dead spell then create undead. Then how did I do it without your body?” Star Swirl quirked an eyebrow at me.
“Bringing the dead back to life is a spell where you are from? That’s certainly impressive.” I turned on my side and enjoyed the soft down pillow.
“It’s hardly a common spell. I’m just confused because my magic is naturally focused around the Earth. Where does raising the dead fit into that?” I heard Star Swirl make a thoughtful grunt.
“Hmm, are your dead given to the Earth like in Equestria?” I opened my eyes and sat back up.
“Are you saying I might have access to the metaphysical nature of Earth as well? Wait, wouldn’t death be a dark aspect of Earth? That would explain why anywhere I cast magic leaves soil that smells like a compost heap.” Star Swirl sighed lightly taking off his hat and cloak before sitting on his bed.
“Your magic feels different from what I would know as dark magi, but I feel you may not be too far off your mark as to what kind of magic you might be naturally talented in.” I felt a bit better and laid back down before hearing Star Swirl speak. “However, it does share some similarities with it. Rest well, Onyxian.”
Once asleep, I found myself facing a rather unwelcoming dreamscape and that dark voice once again calling to me.
“Hello again my brave, Onyxian. My would be warden.” I turned to see the Nightmare Force smiling as she trotted to me in a strange slinky fashion. “Welcome back.” I tried to speak but felt my voice gone as I simply narrowed my eyes at her in a mute show of displeasure. “Oh not so talkative this time around are we?” Well that’s fine, I'm sure I'll have a lot to talk about with Luna when she gives us a little visit.” I reached out and struck her again with my fist on her cheek glaring daggers at her. “Goodness, you are so very protective of her. I’d almost call it romantic. How do you think she’s going to feel when she learns that you have me inside you?”
“You...won’t HURT MY LUNA!!” I forced the words out hearing them echo across the dreamscape as the Nightmare Force and I looked at a ripple in the air that usually heralded her visiting as I lunged at the shadow tackling her to keep from making some kind of attempt at Luna. The look of confusion on her face turned to horror as I looked back to her still having to fight for my voice. “Run- sorry-forgive-me.” The Nightmare Force laughed still pinned under me as I continued to slam my fists against her head.
“Look how he fights for you. Isn’t he wonderful?” I stopped her laughter by trying to strangle her with my bare hands.
“Leave- Luna- alone.”
“Onyxian, I’m sorry,” I turned looking back at her, a wave of sadness flaring from me.
“I- love- you.” I watched Luna fade away as the Nightmare Force smiled her wicked smile at me.
“She’s abandoned you.”
“LIAR!” I grabbed her by her muzzle and mane twisted her head until I heard her neck snap.
Darkness thankfully filled the rest of my slumber and I woke up feeling at least somewhat rested. I didn’t pay much attention during breakfast and only came back as we were parting ways with Trixie. When we exchanged a farewell hug, she leaned in and whispered.
“I know the nightmares are rough. If it’s any comfort, I’m cheering for you.” I hugged her a bit longer before letting her go as Star Swirl and I began our journey back to Ponyville.