//------------------------------// // Ch. 1: Zombie Wolf-bats? On Pumpkin Cake's Cute-ceañera? // Story: Nightingale, Neither Snow Nor Hail // by TundraStanza //------------------------------// --- A few months after the wedding between Princess Cadance and Shining Armor... A loner crawled along, scraping his belly against the dirt road. The one whom he thought loved him just threw him out of her life. His supposed parents had done the same. There were light-colored scrapes against his black chitin. He was out of luck and out of love, the poor changeling. "Hey! What are you doing out here on your lonesome?" He braced for another beating, sure that yet another pony would stomp on him while he was down. He shivered in place. He knew this was the end. Admittedly, he might have been capable of inflicting fang wounds. But in his currently weakened state, that wouldn't be enough to keep him alive. So, he laid there in the middle of the road, awaiting the inevitable squish like the bug that he must have looked like. "P-P-Please..." He wheezed a little. "Get it over with quickly." Much time passed in absolute silence. He peeked up with one eye, wondering what was taking so long. His other eye popped open upon seeing his hoof with holes being lifted by a solid hoof of a similar shade, lifting him up onto his own standing legs. He blinked uncomprehendingly at the gentle smile of the mare holding his hoof. "How did a cute guy like you get so scuffed up?" she asked, slowly lowering her hoof, giving him room to stand on all four of his. "I... I'm not cute." He looked down at the ground. He bit his lower lip. "I'm a monster... a love-sucking monster." Water started dripping from the edges of his eyes. "Hey, what's wrong?" She was either brave or foolish to stay near him. Why couldn't she understand what danger she was in? He had already caused enough problems with the ponies he once considered family. He didn't want to create a catastrophe with ponies that he barely knew. "I just..." He sniffed. "I just... want... to be... loved." The tears dripped even faster. "Why did I have to be a changeling? I didn't ask to be this... thing." He sniffed again and again, but the tear duct fluid just kept on streaming. Something else pecked his cheek. Grunting in a questioning tone, he slowly looked up just in time to see her puckered lips casually removing themselves from his face. He had no idea what was happening. "I think you're wrong about something." She turned around and took a couple steps forward. She turned her head back and said, "You are cute. Societal definitions of beauty are buffalo crap." With that, she turned her head forward and continued trotting away. He slowly reached a hoof up to his cheek. "Wha...What just happened?" --- One week after the restoration of the Tree of Harmony... "By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you stallion and mare." One ring was slid over her horn. The other was pre-attached to a small chain-link necklace and was placed around his neck. Rainbow Falls was simply beautiful at this time of day. Plus, it was quiet. Only a few friends were needed to witness this special moment. --- A few years later... "I've heard of zombie wolves," she commented. "And I've heard of vampire bats," he added. "But zombie wolf-bats?!" She wasn't sure whether to be startled or trying to whack some thesis pony over the head. "This is just ridiculous." He really wanted to face-hoof himself, but settled on pulling out his heavy sword. The sight before them was just as ridiculous as they had described. Rotting flesh surrounded them in the form of wolves. Each wolf had glowing red eyes, claws and fangs, and a pair of bat wings. Some of those wings were in better shape than others. Of course when fighting a dangerous enemy, beggars couldn't be choosers. She shook her head before sliding her katana from its sheath. "Ready to do this, sweetheart?" "Anytime, dear." He nodded and held his blade high. The pack of zombie wolf-bats snarled before pouncing upon their prey. A glowing white katana swung forth and around multiple times. Its partner sword slammed into the rest of the space with force to spare. Still, there was little sorrow remaining for the mindless brutes that only desired the meat locked within heads. But instead of their desired prize, the monsters would soon find themselves all over the ground in a mess of splattered limbs. What was causing them all to fall apart like this? Why, it was just the light and dark arcs being made by signature weapons. Cold spurts of red spilled with each strike. A few of the luckier beasts managed to scratch something with their paws. Yet, they too were quickly stripped of their afterlives in the physical plane of existence. Some of the pack had gathered at the end of the street. Even his power wouldn't be enough to wipe them all out without letting the rest deal some nasty bruises. He looked over at his wife hopefully. A small smile on her face showed that she understood. Her magical energy filled her katana, making it seem like the very spirit of winter. Adding to that power, he concentrated some of his internal love. A green stream of energy from his own heart bolstered her strength. Instead of charging the remaining pack, she swung her blade in a sideways arc. The gathered power shot forth faster than the naked eye could track. All of the zombie wolf-bats that were standing suffered a severe case of frostbite. Then, they all shattered into frozen shards all over the ground. The couple took a deep breath, and allowed the energies to even out. Their glows faded and allowed their weapons to resume their normal colors. "So, shall we head over to congratulate Pumpkin Cake?" she asked, looking at him. "Can we really wish her a happy Cute-ceañera without a gift to bring?" he asked her. "We can always offer her an all-purpose gift card." She patted something inside her saddle pouch. He gave an uncertain frown. "Giving bits seems a little insensitive for this kind of occasion." She chuckled. "Unless you have a better idea..." "I... guess I don't really." He reached up a hoof and scratched the back of his neck sheepishly. Almost as one, the two swords were shoved into their respective sheathes. --- Meanwhile... Sugarcube Corner was full of ponies and full of fun. Dancers were over here. Chatter was over there. Sweets were practically stacked to the ceiling. Not to mention, the pony of the day Pumpkin Cake was receiving congratulations from all ages and tones. It was great. So, it was a little out of place when one turned their eyes upon a lone pegasus filly sitting in the corner. Her faded blue feathers matched her droopy mood as they rested against the one chair in the entire bakery. Earlier, she had tried to have fun. Really, she did. It was just getting kind of late, and her parents were nowhere to be seen. They had agreed to come to this party together. Something punched her shoulder. "Ow!" Her hoof went up to rub against the new sore spot. "What the...?" "Come on, Nighty!" exclaimed a sort of endearing yet simultaneously obnoxious colt. "A cute-ceañera is no place to sit down. You gotta feel that special pounding in your heart with everypony." Nightingale sighed. "I know, P.C. It's just... my folks promised that they'd be here to take part in the event with me. I'm a little worried that they'll get tied up with the monster attack that everypony else is ignoring... again." "Maybe they should ask Auntie Pinkie Pie to help them out," suggested P.C. "Her group can defeat Everfree monsters like it's no pony's business." He then attempted a visual aid through his mix of made-up fight moves. His 'finisher' smacked right into a filly of the same age. Nightingale and P.C. opened their eyes wide when they realized what terrible act the colt had committed. The star of the occasion scampered off, running to her mommy. "Oh, geez." P.C. sweated as he galloped after her. "Sis, wait! I didn't mean to do that!" Nightingale smiled and shook her head. She was used to seeing those two siblings get into misunderstood troubles. Briefly, she turned her head to the display case for the sweet shop's usual items. At that angle, it also reflected her image. When she blinked, her eyes altered to a solid blue. --- "You can hardly even tell that her father is a changeling," said the father. A couple fast blinks of the baby's eyes proved otherwise. "Then again, I guess you can see it." --- The filly's eyes blinked again. The image reflected back the normal green eyes of a pony. Additionally, there were a couple of sapphire blue pony eyes right next to hers. Her surprise turned into an excited smile as she turned around. "Mama!" "Hi, Nightingale." Her mama leaned down and kissed her forehead. They hugged each other between warm hooves for a bit before the mother set her daughter down. She turned slightly to see the other set of blue eyes. "Hello, my little songbird." He leaned down and nuzzled her. "You're here, Baba!" She said, nuzzling him back. "I thought you'd have grown out of that by now," he commented while pulling his head back a little. "When do I get to be called 'Papa'?" Nightingale rolled her eyes. "When you go, 'Pop!' Duh." Her mama turned her head and smiled wryly. "You walked right into that one." "Yeah, I guess I kind of did." He shook his head, but smiled like a good sport. --- A paw glowed crimson somewhere under the cloud cover of the storm. It illuminated a gray, yet playful smile. "I'm almost sad to see this innocence crumble... almost."