//------------------------------// // The Crystal Festival // Story: Night Patrol // by Foxgear //------------------------------// Night Patrol ch 8 By Foxgear Applejack and Luna trotted side by side as they indulged in all the crystal festival had to offer. There were games, food, and entertainment provided by various party ponies and Luna’s personal favorite, jousting! The Princess of the Night’s purse jingled with her winnings form said jousting having won a bet against Shiny Stone after the Captain of the Guard challenged her to a wager. Applejack was glad Luna was feeling better after last night. Both of them silently agreeing that nothing needed to be said. Luna shouted excitedly waving her loot in the air. “Hazah! Look at thy booty fair Applejack, see it bounce!” Applejack lowered her hat over her face as several ponies turned towards them. “Yes, Luna, Ah see it.” “Does thou wish for a crystal candy apple? I shall pay!” She smiled. “That would be great if it’s edible.” “Why of course it is! You shall see! Wait here, I will return.” Luna happy bounced over to the stall selling the apples. Applejack quickly looked around and tapped her hoof three times; Nightingale appeared from the shadows dressed as a regular citizen, “Report.” “Sombra is currently at the joust and seems intent to remain there for a few hours. Fury is keeping an eye on him as we speak and will update you if he moves.” “Good,” Said Applejack. “I don’t want that damned stallion anywhere near Luna for the rest of our stay if we can help it. How are things going with Dusk? Is she behaving?” Nightingale pawed at the ground, “Define behaving.” “What’d she do?” “Well…” (With Dusk) “I am Queen Shit of fucked mountain! All you recognize!” Dusk declared standing on top of the mountain of defeated foals. “No pony beats me at pie throwing!” “This is a pie eating contest!” The owner of the stall yelled. “Oh… oops…” (Back with Applejack and Nightingale) “Ah see,” Applejack rubbed her temple. “Wait, who taught her to swear?” “Ahh…” “Nightingale!” “Oh look Luna is coming back. Gotta go!” “You get back here!” Applejack yelled as the pegasus soared into the sky. “Gosh darn it, stupid pegasus and their stupid wings.” She grumbled softly as Luna come into earshot. Luna watched as Nightingale disappeared into the sky while levitating Applejack her crystal candy apple. “Was that Nightingale?” “Yep.” “She seems to be in a hurry. Is there something wrong?” “Nope.” “I see, and you are answering in one-word replies, why?” Luna asked taking a bite of her own candy apple. Leaving many crystal sprinkles dotting her muzzle. Applejack took a bite of her own apple before answering. Taking notes on the fruits texture and flavor. (It may look like a rock, but it tastes pretty darn good. Ah wonder if we can grow these back home?) “No reason.” Applejack replied licking her lips. “Where do you want to go next?” “To the joust, our luck has surely improved, and I wish to rub my winnings in Shiny Stone’s face once more.” “Ah don’t think that’s a good idea, Luna.” Applejack said tapping her hooves nervously. She was no good at lying, but maybe… “What if Sombra’s there? Ah, I'd rather avoid being near that stallion as much as possible.” Luna rested her hoof on Applejack’s shoulder. “We should not let that despicable Sombra ruin our day. The chances of us meeting him in such a large festival are slim, and even if he happens to be there, that doesn’t mean we have to sit with him. As royal guests, we will have our own private booth for viewing the competition. Surely that should ease your worries Applejack.” “Ah guess,” Applejack replied with uncertainty in her voice. She had an awful feeling about this. “Good, now let us be off!” Luna was right; they did have their own private seat high above the other ponies, giving them a pegasus eye view of the arena. Unfortunately so did Sombra and his booth was right next to theirs. However instead of talking to them, he would smile deviously in their direction every time Luna would make a bet, and then he would bet on the opposite pony. Their silent betting battle carried on for a long time. Bits were exchanged, lost, regained and bets were raised over and over again to ridiculous numbers. Applejack had never seen so much gold in one place before. She couldn’t wait for the end of the tournament so they could leave. She didn’t like the smile on Sombra’s face as he once again matched Luna’s bet. Below two mares prepared to joust. “Here were go ponies! The last joust of the day! Swift Kick vs. Roundhouse! The bets are locked with a 245 to 197 in favor of Swift Kick!” The announcer announced. He raised his hoof into the air, both mares stomped the ground to indicate there were ready. “Ready… joust!” Like her name, Swift Kick kicked off fast and hard barreling down the fenced path, her lance trained in on Round House. The two drew closer and closer the tension building with every hoof beat. When suddenly Round House fell on her side before the big clash, Swift Kick skidded to stop, confused. “Mares and gentlecolts, please wait well we figure out what’s going on!” The announcer said to the restless crowd. Up in her booth, Luna narrowed her eyes at Sombra. “What did you do?” She demanded, magic flaring around her horn. “Whatever do you mean Princess?” Sombra replied smirking. “My bet was on Round House, what possible reason could I have to sabotage her?” Luna growled and walked to the edge of the booth, so she and Sombra were only a few feet apart. “Really? Then why did that shadow jump out and trip her at the last second?” “Who knows?” Sombra replied looking innocent. She huffed and returned to her chair as the announcer spoke over the crowd. “I’m sorry mares and gentle colts, but Round House has appeared to have broken her leg. She can no longer continue. Swift Kick is the winner by default.” The crowd booed, displeased by the anticlimactic ending and the lost bets. Ponies were starting to get restless and began demanding refunds when Sombra spoke. “Ponies please do not despair!” He shouted amplifying his voice via magic. All eyes turned to him. “For your entertainment, I propose a challenge to Princess Luna to see which pony’s royal guard is better in three, one on one matches. Do you accept my challenge, Princess?” Luna felt the attention turn to her. Caught off guard by the challenge, and there was no way she could refuse. Not in front of this many ponies, if Luna did, it would make Equestria look weak. Regretfully she looked to Applejack, who was frowning, and mouthed “sorry” to her friend and cast the voice amplification spell on herself. “We accept! My champions come forth!” Applejack, Nightingale, and Fury gathered around her each one mentally preparing themselves for the battles ahead. “My champions are here, where are thous.” “I will keep them… hidden for now. They are rather exotic in appearance. I wouldn’t want them to wow the crowd before the competition has even begun.” Luna narrowed her eyes, but chose not to address the matter further, instead focusing on the crowd. “Very well, the matches will begin in thirty minutes. Please wait while we set everything up.” “Are we really doing this, Luna?” Applejack asked as she adjusted her armor. Glad she thought to bring her grieves, at least something felt comfortable, the crystal armor she wore felt stuffy and restrictive compared to her custom fitted night patrol armor, it made her jealous of Fury and Nightingale who had their own armor from home. Luna sighed. “I’m afraid so Applejack. We accepted the challenge. I wish it were me fighting rather than you three. It’s my fault for falling for Sombra’s ploy. You three be careful. Sombra may try to pull something during the matches and no matter what don’t die. That is an order!” “Understood!” The three saluted, each one smiling with excitement for the coming battle. Whatever the circumstances night patrol ponies don’t shy away from a fight! They would show Sombra’s goons just who they were messing with! “I will cheer for your victory. Good Luck my ponies.” Luna said flying back up to her private booth. Applejack, Fury, and Nightingale entered the arena. They drew lots to decide who went first Applejack drew the shortest so she would go first, followed by Nightingale and finally Fury, who was a bit muffled about being last. As Applejack took center stage in the large arena, Fury and Nightingale took their spots off to the side. Now it was time for Sombra’s challengers to enter. The announcer cleared his throat calling for the crowd to hush. “Mares and gentlecolts welcome to the first round of our special royal guard match off, on the right we have Applejack of the Apple Clan, fighting for Princess Luna of Equestria!” The crowd roared with excitement. Applejack meekly waved, feeling a bit queasy now that she was the one everypony was looking at to entertain them with violence. “And the challenger on the left side fighting for King Sombra of Maredor is the lovely and exotic Equus hailing from faraway lands.” Equus emerged from the shadows of the entrance hall, her gray striped body a marvel for the spectators. Zebras weren’t often found away from their homeland. (A Zebra? Why would such a noble creature side with Sombra?) Luna wondered as the striped mare approached the center. Zebras were much like earth ponies, but with their own unique brand of magic, that usually involved rhymes and potions and judging from the numerous pouches dangling from Equus’s neck, she had quite a stockpile with her. “Uh, howdy, let’s have a good clean match.” Applejack extended her hoof for the other mare to shake. The night patroller had to crane her neck upwards to meet Equus’s eyes. (Boy howdy she’s tall!) Equus looked curiously at the extended hoof before finally shaking it. “And the same to you little Jack, for I hope you can do more with your hooves then talk smack.” “Ah ain’t talking any trash, so you best take that back!” Equus chuckled. “It was a joke little filly, no need to be so silly, silly filly Applejack.” Applejack huffed and stepped away from the zebra as the announcer prepared to start the match. “Competitors are you ready? On the count of three, you may begin 1…2…3!” Applejack wasted no time and charged Equus head-on with the horn of her helmet, Equus side trotted allowing the Applejack to charge past her. Skidding to a stop Applejack turned sharply and charged again. “You will have to do better than that little pony!” Equus taunted ready to side trot again. As the blonde mare approached she suddenly changed directions sliding around Equus in a semi-circle creating a barrier of stone spikes around her. “Impressive little pony.” “Hah, you haven’t seen nothin’ yet!” Applejack said brimming with confidence. Rearing up on her hind legs, forelegs aglow with orange magic, Applejack slammed her hooves on the earth creating a chain of stone spikes that attacked the zebra. Calmly Equus reached into one of her many pouches, retrieved a green powder and blew it into the air towards the attacking spikes. A loud noise like thunder echoed as the powder connected with the stone spikes sending harmless pebbles flying everywhere. “A nice trick, but mine is better.” “We’ll see about that.” Applejack replied hotly as they began to circle each other green eyes meeting yellow. Both combatants picked up speed circling closer and closer to each other. Applejack and Equus slammed into each other, the crowd wincing as the sound of cracking bone could be heard. Stumbling on her hooves, Applejack dry heaved while quickly unbuckling her armor, revealing a rapidly forming bruise along her ribs. (What happened? It felt like I hit a wall of steel! She isn’t wearing any armor either, so why isn’t she hurting?) Equus smirked and held up a bottle of purple liquid. “It’s call turtle’s shell, one drink can make the user's skin as tough as a turtles shell, pretty good no?” Applejack wheezed holding her side, “More like (gasp) underhooved if you ask me. Don’t think that will be enough to bring me down.” “Of course not Applejack, I have many more options to try, so please try not to die.” “Dying is one thing Ah don’t plan on doing for a long time, at least not till I’m old and grey with a ton of little filly and colts running around.” Applejack said shakily standing on her hooves. The pain in her side was getting worse, and it was distracting. She had to be focused for this next move to work. “Now come on, give me all ya got!” Equus snorted with amusement, “Very well.” She held up a red potion. “This one gives you the strength of five stallions. This will be over quickly” Equus popped the cork and drank the potion down in a single gulp. Her muscles bulged, expanding and strengthening to that of stallions and then even more than that. When Equus’s muscles stopped growing she appeared to be more bulk then zebra. “Come on then! Come at me!” Applejack taunted as the Zebra come barreling towards her, seems the potion also gave her a speed boost, but it was no matter. Charging her apple bucking legs with as magic as she could Applejack waited for the right opportunity to attack, too early and she would miss, too late, and she’d be run over like grass against a stampede. (NOW!) Turning one hundred and eighty degrees Applejack pulled in her powerful hind legs and kicked Equus right in the face! The crowd winced as hoof met skull and the monstrous zebra was knocked aside, bouncing hard against the ground before coming to complete stop. Equus lay unmoving in the dirt covered in her own blood. “Medic! We need a Medic in here!” The announcer called two ponies with red crosses for marks quickly picked the zebra up on a stretcher and carried her off. “The winner of the first round is Applejack by knockout or possible fatality. Please wait as we have a short intermission.” Applejack stumbled to the sidelines feeling sick, hadn’t meant to hurt Equus so severely. (Ah’ve slain mah fair share of monsters, but a fellow Equine?) The mere thought of perhaps killing another pony made Applejack sick to her stomach, and this time she did throw up. “You ok Captain?” Nightingale asked uncertainly as she helped Applejack to the sidelines. “You need some water or do you need a medic? That wound looks pretty bad.” Applejack numbly looked at her side noticing just how bad it was. Not that she had time to actually look at it before, it felt worse now that she could see the damage done. “Ah guess I wouldn’t mind a drink and a doc. Looks pretty bad doesn’t it?” She chuckled nervously as an image of what she did to Equus played over and over again in her head. She cringed remembering the feeling of bone breaking beneath her hooves. Imagining bits and pieces of the zebra’s skull shooting into her brain. The image made her shiver. “Will the competitors for the next match please enter the arena?” “Looks like I’m up. Wish me luck!” Nightingale said heading out, stopping short when Applejack called out to her. “Wait Night.” “Yes?” Applejack rubbed her foreleg nervously. “Be careful, OK. Luna knows what you might be up against out there.” Nightingale smiled and nodded wordlessly to her comrades and entered the arena. She took to the center, the announcer yelling her name and such to the crowd. She ignored him. Looking instead at the darkened corridor where her opponent was supposed to emerge. The announcer said something and the sound of muffled hoof steps could be heard from the dark hallway. Nightingale crouched into her battle stance, preparing to take flight as soon as the word to start was given. A figure emerged from the shadows. Nightingale blinked making sure her eyes weren’t playing tricks on her, her opponent was her? Standing across from Nightingale was another pony, a pegasus, with the same blue mane and white coat as her. A carbon copy of her if there was ever such a thing. “What the fuck?” “Surprised?” The other pony replied, her voice the same as Nightingales. Nightingale stared at her doppelganger, her thoughts running wild. (Is she my long lost twin sister or something? An evil magic clone? My daughter? No, no that last one is impossible, I’m way too young, and it’s not like I’ve ever been with a stallion. The sister thing is possible, but unlikely, so that leaves…) “Begin!” “You’re not taking over my life you evil monster!” Nightingale yelled tackling her doppelganger. The two rolled on the ground exchanging blows, till finally one of them managed to force the other off. “Ha, you suck at fighting! Whoever cloned you, trained you poorly. Now I’m gonna buck you up hard!” “Oh at least take me out on a date first, its only proper,” The doppelganger said, making Nightingale blush and stumble in her attack. The doppelganger chuckled as Nightingale readjusted herself. “I see some pony still hasn’t experienced the touch of a stallion. I feel bad for you.” “S-h-ut, shut up!” Nightingale stuttered, blushing so hard her entire face turned red. The doppelganger laughed taking flight. “What an amusing child. Follow me if you dare virgin.” “I’m going to bucking kill you!” Nightingale gave chase, chasing the doppelganger into the clouds. She landed in the middle of a giant muffin shaped cloud losing sight of her twin. She snorted angrily stomping her hooves against the clouds, thunder rumbling as the peaceful white clouds darkened to match her mood. “Come out and fight me!” A sultry chuckle echoed through the cloud as a tall shadowy figure trotted out from the fluff. The creature was equine in appearance with a black coat, bug-like wings, and a long crooked horn upon its head with hooves that looked like swiss cheese. The creature parted their lime green mane as smaller insecticide like equines emerged around them. “What-what are you?” Nightingale asked warily she looked around for an escape route. All available paths seemed to be blocked except for beneath her, but who was to say more weren’t waiting below? She had to get out of here, but first, she wanted to find out what was going on. The tall creature laughed flicking her mane as she walked towards the pegasus. “I am Queen Chyrsa, Queen of the Changelings. The adorable little creatures you see before you in case you didn’t know.” Nightingale dug her hoof into the cloud preparing to dive, “Never heard of you. You some kind of alicorn rejects? You sure look the part. What do you even do besides look ugly?” Chrysa’s horn glowed green as her fury boiled over, “Nothing worth explaining to a dead pony.” (That’s my cue!) Digging into the clouds, Nightingale dived down as a green beam of magic shot through the black fuff behind her. Several of the smaller changelings gave chase, but she easily outflew them and disappeared into the stormhead. (Damn, how many layers deep is this cloud?) She tasted the air, it was filled with moisture, a storm front and in her anger, she foolishly flew into it without keeping track of just how far she flew in. Storm fronts were miles wide and high. Of course, logically all she needs to do was fly up or down to get out, which was easy enough except for… Thunder and lightning roared and flashed, shaking her to the core as electric energy arced through the clouds haphazardly. She peeked down the eye of the storm, lightning dancing everywhere. Going straight up or down was no longer an option, especially with those changeling things hunting her. A shadow of movement caught her eye and Nightingale swiped around to face whatever it may be, she relaxed her aggressive stance when she discovered it to be her doppelganger. “There you are! Listen we have to call off the fight for a little while. There are some strange ponies up here, and we need to get back down and report to our… hey, are you all right?” The doppelganger didn’t speak, she just kept moving towards her, Nightingale stepped back away from her clone, her instincts screaming at her to stay away. “Hey, are you listening?” The other her doppelganger hissed and leap at her. Nightingale dodged and kicked her with both back hooves in the flank sending her flying into an arc of lightning. The doppelganger screeched a death wail as electricity jolted through her veins and she fell to the ground motionless. Nightingale hesitatingly shook her, but she didn’t wake, and she never would. Her heart had stopped. “Oh no…” Nightingale gasped stepping away from the corpse. “I-I-I didn’t, I would never…” Tears rolled down her cheeks. She’s never killed before, not even a monster, but now she’s killed a… Nightingale couldn’t finish the thought as the need to relieve her stomach overtook her. “I’m sorry.” She said to her fallen opponent after wiping the vile from her muzzle. “This isn’t how I wanted to win.” After a moment of silence for the fallen warrior, Nightingale walked away to continue her descent to the ground. She needed to get down to Princess Luna and tell her about the strange creatures she saw. As she approached the edge of the eye a flash of green caught her attention. Nightingale looked back at the corpse of her fallen opponent which had changed into a dead changeling. “What’s going on?” She approached the strange corpse but stopped halfway when three more changelings dug through the clouds, and they didn’t look pleased. Not pleased at all. In fact, they seemed outraged, probably because she killed their friend. “Hey… this is not what it looks like.” Nightingale said walking back to the eye of the storm. “Seriously it was an accident!” They didn’t seem to be buying her story. The three changelings charged at her and Nightingale had only had two options; fight or flight and she choose flight! Rearing on her hind legs Nightingale jumped down into the eye of the storm, dodging lighting arcs and fighting headwind. The creatures didn’t follow her thankfully. Instead, they screamed, at first she thought it was out of anger for her escape, but it turned out to be a cry for help as more appeared. A lot more, dozens to be exact! “Oh, buck!” She screamed as the black swarm descended upon her. They charged fearlessly through the wind and lightning, barreling down on her like locust. Nightingale flew faster, staying just ahead of the swarm. She wished for her goggles right about now, it was hard to see in all this wind blowing in her face. Though watering eyes she saw three black specs flying towards her. She thought she was beginning to black out, but as they specs grew closer they became more detailed, and she could make out the insectoid features of the changelings. Unable to slow down with the enemy at her back and enemies at her front, she knew it was time to fight! Reaching out with her hoof Nightingale grabbed a bunch of clouds, fluffy white turned to black as she poured her magic into the fluff and reared back her hoof and slammed it into the nearest changeling! “Thunder Hoof!” She shouted triumphantly as lightning discharged from the cloud, electrocuting the changeling! “Aha! Take that you varmints!” Nightingale whooped punching another changeling with the storm cloud. “Varmints? Captain Applejack must be rubbing off on me. Next thing Ah’ll be saying Ah like she does… and I’m already doing it, great…” Nightingale fought her way through another group of changelings, more and more of the vile black creatures fell to her little thunder cloud making the others weary about attacking her. (My cloud is almost gone!) She noted looking at the small black pile of fluff on her hoof. One more zap was all it had left. A light appeared up ahead, it was the bottom! Excitedly Nightingale flew at top speed to the opening, hoping the changelings wouldn't follow her beneath the clouds. Even if they did, she would have help. “Not so fast little pony!” Chrysa, the changeling Queen, said appearing in front of the opening, horn primed with magic. “You’re not going anywhere!” Nightingale pulled back her hoof with the storm cloud and shouted: “We’ll see about that!” She dived for the Queen. Meanwhile down below Princess Luna searched the skies for her faithful patroller via opera binoculars commandeered from a fellow viewer. “May I please have my binoculars back your majesty?” Luna turned to the pony, her expression grim and said, “No.” “I see, carry on then.” Returning to her task, Luna growled having found no sign of either pony in the sky since they flew into the clouds over thirty minutes ago. The announcer tried to send up referee ponies, but the incoming storm front made it too dangerous to enter. Lightning flashed in the sky, and the crystal unicorns summoned a dome over the arena to block the rain. Crystal ponies loved festivals and will do anything to keep them going. Not even bad weather could stop a crystal festival. Luna was ready to fly up herself and look for Nightingale, regardless if it would disqualify her when a bright flash of blue and green appeared in the sky. The crowd awed at the display, but Luna’s attention was on the failing spec. “Nightingale!” Nopony saw the princess disappear via teleportation spell till she was already halfway to her falling subject. She caught the pegasus on her back and was happy to see her still breathing. From the clouds emerged Nightingale’s opponent, who looked exactly the same as the pegasus down to the mane and tail, if not for Nightingale’s armor they would indistinguishable, but Luna knew there was something different about the other pegasus. Something she didn’t like. “Back off!” She ordered, the clouds thundering with her voice. “You have won this bout, now reveal thy true self!” The pegasus laughed. “And spoil the fun? I think not.” She flew down to the arena where the announcer declared her the winner. Luna flew down and handed Nightingale off the medics. She pulled Applejack aside. “Watch over Nightingale. I fear for her safety.” “Against what?” Applejack asked. Luna frowned, unsure of how to answer. “I don’t know Applejack. I truly don’t, but I fear something bad may happen if we don’t stay alert.” “Gotcha, don’t worry Luna Ah’ll keep her safe, she is a comrade after all.” “More importantly than that Applejack, she is a friend, and we keep our friends safe.” Applejack nodded and trotted after the medics. Luna began to walk back to her seat, stopping next to Fierce Fury, who was ready to fight. “Be careful Fury, something is a mist. I want you to show them what happens to those who hurt our friends.” “I intend too.” Fury replied darkly as the announcer called him out. “Our final champion fighting on the side of Princess Luna, Fierce Fury!” Fury stepped into the arena walking tall and proud, showing off every aspect of his dragon/equine features to intimidate his opponent. The crowd swooned over him. Excited chatter filled the air as the bets shifted in his favor. “Quite the specimen you have Princess,” Sombra said as Luna landed in her seat. “I imagine you must keep him close when your heat rolls around.” Luna growled, but ignored him, as Sombra continued to blabber on, “I too have a fierce warrior in my guard, and you may find him familiar.” A hush fell over the crowd, many gasping as Sombra’s final champion emerged from the shadows. Luna looked wondering what the all the fuss was about and she too was stricken with silence as she gazed upon Sombra’s final fighter. “And fighting on the side of King Sombra, Blood Moon!” A blood coated stallion with leathery wings and ears took up position across from Fury. There was no doubt in Luna’s or any ponies’ mind of want he was, he was the shadow of the night, the equine devil, a bat pony! (A bat Pony? One of my children? Fighting for Sombra?)