Wolves of Night and Blade: Book I

by One of Nine

36. A Night of Terror

“That’s sixty down, and eighty-three to go.” I mumbled to myself, filling out the forms for new recruits and dismissing those who would not make it in the Guard.

‘How is it that this country wasn’t invaded already? I mean, seriously?’ Grumbled Moon, inwardly glaring at the stack of papers as if she were trying to set them ablaze. Which she probably could with what we had for powers.

“Dumb luck? I honestly am curious myself, but then… you already know this.” Despite my hand beginning to ache from all the writing, a smile edged itself onto my muzzle.

‘Yes, but despite all the work we’ve already done…’ My other half turned our head to look at the clock. “I feel like a snack and a break would do us good. Would you agree?”

I hummed to myself, leaning back in my chair. “Yes, I agree.”

My ears perked as Moon giggled darkly in her corner of the brain. ‘Speaking of snacks, Nightmare Night is a week away.’

“And you are not upset by it? Usually we just go to Ponyville to frighten the foals, then head right back here.” I looked over to the calendar, seeing that it was indeed close to the holiday, chuckling to ourself. “But hopefully Fang will join us. I think he would like the holiday.”

‘Even if this is our first time spending the holiday as a Warg? We didn’t get the best greeting last we went there.’

I huffed, slouching with a frown. “Yes. Hopefully, the ponies will be more accepting of us this coming weekend.”

-=One Week Later=-

“Ok, I’m coming out!” I called out to Fang, who waited on the other side of my dressing screen. Moon and I had chosen a costume that would fit our previous roll as Nightmare Moon, a Vampire, as Fang liked to call it. Dressed in a sharp black suit, red lining the high collar and down the coat. The white shirt underneath the coat having a large fluffy ascot. A tattered cloak gracefully falling down our back, the streams of torn fabric hiding my bat-like wings, an illusion cast thanks to Akiira. Moon had enchanted our eyes to have slitted pupils, a trick she said was fairly easy.

I stepped out to get a look at Fang’s costume, him doing the same with me. He wore an equally sharp suit, equally black and red, but lined with tiny gold chains, adding a sense of wealth along with the black cane he held in his right hand. Said cane was make from dark oak and had a thigh bone handle. His hands were indeed a strange sight, his fingers longer and spindlier, long, and black like scorched bone. He wore no mask, but a top hat that matched his coat, sat between his ears. His smile of approval made all four hearts flutter, each sending chills down my spine.

“Sweet costume!” His rich voice echoed alarmingly, sounding like a crackling whisper along with Balder’s vocals. A truly terrifying sound if I didn’t know who it was. “Love the cape.”

I giggled at his praise, placing a hand on my front, and replying with the accent associated with ancient Thestrals. “Vhy zank you, kind sir. Ve hope to entertain!”

His chuckle reverberated in his throat, his long hands clapping. “Very good on the accent, very nice.”

“And you look very sharp, but zere seems to be something missing… don’t vou zink?”

He looked at me oddly, then he smiled. “Oh yeah, sorry.” With a flare of power, his eyes and maw sparked a light, the green fire adding an air of undead to him. He then spun around, the skirt of his coat and tail flying through the air, the show ending as he crossed the distance between us. His smile broad as he bobbed his brows, leaning over me with a wink and a kiss to the cheek. A blush burned my face, my knees feeling weak as I took a step back.

His smile vanished along with the flames, replaced by a worried and sad sulk, stepping back. “I-I’m so sorry, I-I don’t—”

“D-don’t apologies.” I managed to whisper, looking up into his ocean blue and golden eyes, like a deep-sea set below a beaming sun. “If you must, please just ask.”

“Ask what?” His face shifted to confusion, but still plagued by worry.

“Do you wish to… to court me?”

He looked stunned for a moment, ending with him blushing and shifting nervously on his feet. “I… I w-would like t-to… but…”

“But?” I asked, stepping forward, hope blooming in my hearts.

“Y-you’d be my first… I… I honestly have n-no idea what to—”

“Do?” I finished, closing the distance, wrapping him in a hug, and burying my face in his dark suit. He went rigid in shock. “As you know, you would be the same for me. So we are at the same point. But, if you would permit it, I would not be opposed to dating you.”

“Neither would I.” His arms slowly embraced me, his smokey pine scent surrounding me, bidding me to stay forever. “I just pray that I don’t mess up and embarrass you, I’d hate that.”

“If you mess up, I might get mad, but not for long.” Reaching up, I gently pulled his chin toward me, looking into his breathtaking eyes once more. “Besides, when this holiday is over, Moon and I would like to accept Christ’s offer. I would like to know Him, just as He knows me, though we fear that we could only know Him so much when compared to His knowledge of us.”

“You know that things won’t be the same. The world will hate you because you are of Christ, just as they hate Him.” He warned, not wanting me to suffer any more than I already have. But I knew…

“The world already hates me. What could they do to me?” My eyes began watering as I squeezed the Warg. “I have only friends that tolerate me. And Tia? What has she done to weaken their blows? You were my first true friend, but I know that in time, even you will pass on. I wish for a friend that I can abide with forever, one with no hate and fear toward me. I call you friend, yes, but we long for more than this. I wish for the love He gives, the forgiveness for my past, the peace for my soul, the kindness that shall overtake me, the compassion that was never shown to me, the responsibility for my own load, and the hope for a better tomorrow. I wish for all this; I wish to know Yahweh.”

“I never told you His name.” He breathed in surprise.

“The Holy Spirit told me; this I know.” A smile crawled along my snout, my tears now turning from sadness to joy. I whispered under my breath; the words directed toward the God of the universe. “Thank you.”

“Thank you, Lord of Hosts.” Whispered Fang, his soft words tickling my fur. “My Lord, I pray that you will guild Luna and Moon to you. I know that they’ve had a rough life and they need you. We all do. Lord, please, heal her wounds. I have witnessed her go through many trials, ones that I know you’ve kept her safe in. Please forgive her for her transgressions. Lead her not into temptation but deliver her from evil. For yours is the kingdom, the power, and the glory. In Christ’s name, Amen.”

Micah’s tears dripped atop my head, his tears meeting mine along my cheek. Soon after all this, we picked up Haven and headed toward the train station.

We three soon arrived in Ponyville, accompanied by Akiira (dressed as a knight) and Roret (draped as a mummy), Haven was dressed as a Princess. She had said that she’d wanted to dress as one for Halloween, but her previous caretakers wouldn’t allow her to participate. She had described a time she’d snuck out to enjoy the festivities, but was soon found out, and dragged back home. Well, I for one wasn’t going to deny her this joy!

Fang’s eyes and maw were alight with flames, walking tall and proud like a king with cane in hand. It was truly a thing that made me melt with delight. Of course, I kept up my act as a vampire too, keeping in stride with the Warg in a similar fashion. The ponies around us stared in wonder, feeding us many compliments on our costumes.

“Costumes, hm?” Smirked Micah, his distorted voice ringing like haunted chimes. “How do you know these are costumes? Perhaps they are our true selves?”

I giggled at his act, my laugh soon turning maniacal as I wrapped myself in my torn cloak, peeking over the rim with eyes glowing red. “Very true, my servant. Ve could be spirits of the night, and zey just vouldn’t know.”

With another cackle, my body exploded into a plume of black smoke and I was whisked away by the wind. I then rematerialized next to Haven, standing next to Akiira as she dug through her meager bag of candy. The little pup burst into giggles as I hugged her from behind, attacking her with kisses. “How’s my little princess doing?”

Haven then pulled away from my onslaught and turned to face me, her frilly white dress shimmering in the night wind. “I’m ok, Mom. Can you come and help me get more candy? My bag’s not even half way full.”

“Sure, Silver.” I smiled with a wink, walking beside my sister and daughter. I leaned over to Akiira, careful that our conversation couldn’t be heard over the giggling and laughing foals. “Getting many stares?”

“Surprisingly, no. They seem more focused on the festival than us.” She answered, fixing a leather strap on her arm. “Which is refreshing, as last time you came here, they weren’t too kind.”

“It still bothers me that the ponies of this town in particular acted as such. Claiming to be the friendliest town, then when one’s back is turned, scurrying away?” I sighed, momentarily glancing down at Haven. “I will be blunt; I am starting to see many things that Micah has pointed out. What with many ponies being self-centered and foolish, I dread to think of how this country has stood for so long. The selfish and prideful are in power, with the more moderate ponies being less so, but still living with blind eyes.”

“Living with blind eyes? Care to explain?”

“Hm, I guess… I should say that they care little for others unless it impacts themselves. For example, the buffalo and ponies of Appleloosa had lived in peace until the ponies planted their crops in the buffalo’s territory. This sparked a war, if one could call it that, leading to the Appleloosians and Buffalo fighting… with pies.”

“Seriously? Pies?” She cocked her head and gave me an odd look. “I bet the onslaught was delicious.”

“Mm…” I agreed silently, smiling as we neared a house with ponies handing out candy. “Being a peaceful people, the ponies are ill equipped when it comes to battle strategy.”

“Happy Nightmare Ni—” The lime furred mare blinked when she saw me, bowing so fast that her nose nearly hit the door mat. “P-Princess L-Luna!”

I inwardly rolled my eyes. “Rise, there is no need to bow. We are simply here to enjoy the holiday.”

“O-Of course, your Highness.” She then stood, reached behind the door, and pulled out a large bowl filled with candy. “Happy Nightmare Night!”

I nodded graciously and listened as Moon scoffed to herself. ‘Kiss up.’

I ignored her and walked with my relatives to the next house, looking across the crowd to find Fang’s top hat and flaming eyes. My eyes soon landed on him, his smirk showing like a blazing crescent moon as he followed us but a few feet away. Ponies parted in both awe and terror of the giant Warg, eyes and maw set ablaze in green fire.

“Princess Luna!” Shouted a mare’s voice to my left. Looking over I saw Twilight Sparkle racing up to us in a Starswirl the Bearded costume, yet again. Didn’t she wear that costume last year when I first visited?

“Happy Nightmare Night Twilight!” I smiled as I turned to face her, flexing my bat wings, and letting my cloak flutter in the wind. “Like the costume?”

“Oh, I love it!” Her eyes sparkled for a moment, something I’m sure Rarity would’ve been proud of. “Do you plan to participate in scaring the foals this year? Though…” She laughed nervously, scratching her neck. “Obviously not as Nightmare Moon.”

“What makes you think I would?” I queried with a coy smile playing on my muzzle. “That is, unless you would like Moon to come out and play?”

The mare made an effort not to gulp. “Oh no, no, no! T-That’s ok! I-I’m sure we can do fine without her help.”

A sudden shriek of terror erupted from a pink mare coming up next to Twilight, dressed in a professional cook’s attire, overly tall white hat, and all. Pinkie’s blue eyes bulged as she breathed fast, pupils going as small as pinpricks, and landing on Fang. The Warg in question was standing not ten paces away, giving her a very flat and annoyed look.

“You know, regardless of how one dresses on Halloween, a quick scare is fine, but I feel that a full-on freak-out is just insulting.” Came Micah’s distorted voice.

“Yeah Pinkie, I know you like intensifying the scariness of stuff on Nightmare Night,” Frowned Rainbow as she hovered above Twilight, dressed as a grey Werewolf with crossed arms. “But that was just mean.”

“I quite agree.” Rarity sauntered up next to the pink mare, clad as proper lady in a frilly purple gown, patting her friend on the shoulder. “Pinkie dear, I’m going to say this with all the love in the world, but… WILL YOU QUITE SCREAMING, YOU’RE GOING TO LEAVE ME DEAF!!”

“Rarity, while I too agree, please refrain from adding to the problem.” I cautioned after perking my ears back up from their downward positions.

The pristine mare caught herself and gathered her posture, looking at me with an apologetic expression. “A thousand apologies, your Majesty.”

All eyes turned to Fang as he let out a chuckle, winking at me when his sentence finished. “M-Make it seventy times seven and you’re forgiven.”

I couldn’t help but giggle at his remark, attempting to stifle it through a soft cough.

Micah’s cheer was interrupted by a soft buzzing in his pocket. Reaching in and pulling out his phone, he pressed a few buttons before looking to me with a smile and bob of his brows. “It’s time.”

“Uh, time for what?” Asked a confused Rainbow.

“You shall see.~” I sang, breathing out and getting into character, standing with poise that made Rarity visibly envious, I strode over to Fang. “Come, ve have work to do.”

Before anypony could question us, an explosion of smoke consumed us, and we vanished. Our forms soon returned to the land of the living, deep in the Everfree. With a flash of lightening and a whirlwind surrounding us, we came to stand before a demolished Nightmare Moon statue. Stone fragments were strung throughout the grassy plane, a gathering of colts and fillies in various costumes had come to the former statue, all staring in terror and awe at its remains.

“Oh, look Mistress, we seem to have stumbled upon this rumble.” Said Fang, or Count Grimm, gesturing to the broken statue. His flaming eyes soon caught sight of the foals. “Ah, but we have also come across these little equines. How… quaint.”

I looked upon them with false disinterest, my slitted eyes glancing over each of their trembling forms. “So it vould seem, Grimm. Tell me little ones, vhere could ve get a bit to eat?” My long fangs gleamed in the moonlight, like silvery scythes seeking blood to drink.

“Actually, my lady, wouldn’t they suffice? After all, they are young and full of youth. Why not drink from them?” Fang’s fiery eyes flickered, narrowing in a dark smile.

I inwardly marveled at his acting prowess, abet it was over the top and cheesy, but good. “Hm… true.”

The colts and fillies gasped, backing up a step. I noticed a few looking ready to cry. “Unless…” They looked up at me with hope. “Zey find something as sweet as the nectar in their veins to satisfy me. But if not, zen I shall suck them dry like prunes.”

The foals gasped even harder; some I could see were sweating. A growing silence threatened to suffocate all present, save one.

“GIVE HER ALL THE CANDY!!” Shouted a filly in the back. In a flash, all colts and fillies dumped their bags at our feet, racing back to Ponyville seconds after. Their screams soon died away, a soft whine rumbling in my throat.

“You don’t think we were too scary, do you?” I asked Micah as I stepped down from the former statue’s base.

Fang looked at me in concern, the flames vanishing as he removed his hat to scratch his scalp, his voice returning to normal. “I think we may have gone overboard. I mean, it’s close to the original Nightmare Moon tale for the holiday. Why not change it slightly so it fits your new look? But I wanted to keep going, I wanted to at least get to the end of the script.”

My nose twitched, the scent of vanilla and rich dirt wafting through the wind. I turned to find Pipsqueak rushing up to us, dressed in his pirate costume from last year. The white and brown colt gasped for breath, bracing himself in his knees before speaking. “Hi Princess Luna! Heh, that was great! I haven’t been so scared in my life!”

“I’m glad you liked it Pip. You didn’t think we were too scary, did you? We fear that we had gone overboard.” I fretted, breathing to settle my nerves.

“Nuh-uh, you were both great!” He then did a double-take when his eyes spotted Fang, the Warg casually leaning on his cane. “Whaw! Are you that Obsidian Fang guy?! You’re awesome!”

Micah chuckled as Pip did a little dance of joy, standing tall and twirling his cane. “That I am. And I understand that you are Pipsqueak, right?”

“Y-Yeah! How’d you know?”

“It’s a secret.” He smirked with a wink.

“Whoa… so cool.” Smiled the colt dreamily.

I couldn’t help but giggle at this. “Looks like you have a fan.”

He smiled at me, sending butterflies fluttering in my stomach. “Awesome. But getting back to our previous conversation, you think we should finish our skit in town?”

I hummed to myself, looking to Pipsqueak after a moment. “Pip, how would you like to help us with the rest of our show?”

The colt gasped in glee. “I’d love to Princess! What do I do?”

-=In Ponyville=-

“Princess Twilight! Princess Twilight!” Shouted a pink filly as she raced up to the alicorn in a panic, her princess costume in tatters.

Said princess silently groaned, putting on a fake smile as she turned to greet the filly. “Dimond Tiara, Happy Nightmare Night!”

“Yeah, sure.” The filly danced in place, her panic mounting before she burst. “PRINCESS LUNA’S OUT OF CONTROL! SHE THREATENED TO EAT ME! SOMETHING ABOUT THE NECTURE IN MY VEINS!”

Twilight looked at the filly skeptically. “I highly doubt that. It was no doubt in the spirit of the holiday.”

Dimond gawked at the alicorn before her. “Did you not hear me?! SHE TRIED TO EAT ME!”

“Just like last year?”

Before the filly could respond, she and everypony in town began to notice a thick fog settling on the area. Everypony suddenly felt strangely drowsy, yet this weariness soon left them.

“HAIL TO THE VAMPIRE QUEEN, AKELDAMA OF THE RED EYE!” Came a crackling, creepy voice from overhead.

A dark shadow pasted over the town, and as everypony looked up, they collectively gasped at a mass of shrieking bats descended through the night air. Upon touching down in front of Townhall, the bats dissipated to reveal Count Grimm standing with his cane in his hands, flaming claws gripping the boney knob. Behind him stood the dark shape of Vampire Luna, her eyes now red and slitted, holding a limp Pipsqueak in her arms as blood dripped from her lips.

The ponies all froze in horror, all eyes locked onto the smiling Vampire, her leathery wings slowly spreading.

Without a word, Grimm raised his cane and smashed it against the dirt below, and the earth shattered with the sound of glass. The shrill noise echoed in the ponies’ ears as they fell through void, Grimm laughing maniacally high above, standing on nothing. Twilight shivered at the sound. She’d heard villains laugh before, but this was different. The mixed voices of both Fang and Baldur, adding the echo of the void made her skin crawl.

The mare struggled back to reality… if it really was reality. On and on they all fell for miles, screaming to their hearts’ content before all hit a massive spiderweb. Twilight saw Rarity struggling in the web, frantically pulling at the webs to try and free herself. But she need not, as a second later, the webs disappeared, and they were all dumped in a thick snowy forest.

In the distance they could see a billowing column of smoke. Hoping for fire and warmth, many started that way.

“Come on everypony!” Called Mayer Mare in her witch costume. “Wherever we are, we need warmth!”

Just then, Twilight noticed the smoke was getting closer, yet she hadn’t moved. “Wait! Stop!”

But just as she shouted, a tall slender monster lumbered out from the brush. Skin red as blood, hard as stone, and veins glowing and flowing with lava. Twilight looked deep into its flaming eye sockets, fear gripping her. She turned to try and flee, but something else blocked her path. Another monster stood but a few inches from her, its face hidden by a burlap sack mask, dressed in a red plad shirt and dirty blue pants, and a wicked scythe in its hands. Too fixed on her own monster was she, that she failed to see monsters surrounding the town’s populace.

“Take that!” Charged Rainbow Dash, striking a huge creature made from black metal, its angular face shimmering in the light of its solid red eyes. A large spear in its two-thumbed hand. The monster hadn’t even grunted from her hit.

“Shadows are everywhere, and where they are… So. Am. I…” Rumbled the giant mechanical monster, its red eyes glaring at the pegasus. “Even my shadows can not hide your fear…”

Rarity backed away from a slender, faceless creature dressed in a fine suit. A red tie wrapped around its neck as its long hands stretched out to grasp at her in silence. Pinkie bounced around a giant mantis unafraid, playfully screaming as the monster lunged at her with its sharp forelegs. Spike looked a black alicorn in the eye, her slitted blue eyes glaring as her silver and purple mane and tail flowed in the wind.

Twilight closed her eyes as the scythe’s blade came between her eyes, rising above her head to strike. She waited for the end.

“HAPPY NIGHTMARE NIGHT!!” All the monsters screeched at once.

Then everypony woke up. The Princess of Friendship looked around, finding everypony present, at least that she could see.

“T-Twilight? What was that?” Asked a perplexed a pirate Spike, rubbing his head as he looked around the area. Twilight didn’t hear him and looked around once more, asking if her friends were okey.

“I’m alright Spikey, but for the life of me, I thought it was all real and I was going to...”

“Kick the bucket?” Finished Dash, hovering in the air once more, forcing herself not to shiver. “Yeah, I thought we were up against real monsters there. B-But of course, I wasn’t scared! What do you think it was Twi?”

“I don’t know, Dash. But I’m sending a letter to Princess Celestia to ask, maybe she knows.”

“M-Maybe we should ask Princess Luna?” Questioned Fluttershy, nervously pushing her thumbs together, dressed as a vampony.

“Oh!” Exclaimed Twilight, turning around to look for the Lunar Princess, but found no-one. She was gone, and the other Wargs with her. “I-If she were here…”

-=Canterlot Palace, Luna’s Bedchambers=-

“C’mon, c’mon… NO!!” Moped the Lunar Princess as she slumped in her seat, still holding the controller in her claws.

“How many this time?” Came my voice from behind as I popped another butterscotch into my mouth. Luna and I had come home after the festival, got Haven ready for bed, and said goodnight to Luna’s sisters.

“Shut up… I died to a huge spider mob. If you must know.” She grumbled, fishing a jolly rancher out from our shared bowl of candy. “I mean, how can there be so many? And how have you not died yet?”

“Practice.” I smirked, sticking my tongue out at her.

Luna rolled her eyes. “Yes, the method for all warriors… even virtual ones.”

My smile turned slightly more serious, thinking back to that happened back at the Festival. “So… a forced dream scape, and one with the whole town in it? That was pretty cool, Luna. Where’d you learn it?”

“Roret and my mother taught me.” A genuine smile graced her lips as she clicked on the respawn icon, her blocky avatar spawning in the bed she’d previously crafted. “It was during one of our nightly sessions.”

“Oh, nightly sessions, huh? You getting private lessons from your mom? That’s cool.” I picked up the spare controller next to me and signed in, spawning a Tron-like avatar near Luna’s new base. “Do you think I could come? Though, I don’t want to barge in if you and your family are spending time together.”

“No, I think my mother would like to get to know you better.” She licked her lips, biting her lip nervously after. “But… I still have yet to meet my father and my other siblings… and I will admit, I’m… uneasy about it. What if they don’t accept me? What if they believe in something different than what I’m committing myself to? I don’t think I could live with myself if—”

“They’ve missed you for a good four millennia, I’m sure they will accept you regardless.” I then pulled my chair forward, so we were sitting next to each other. I pulled her into a sidelong hug, her head resting against my chest, forgetting about the game for a moment. “Tomorrow, you will be apart of God’s family. So regardless of whether they recognize you or not, you will always have a family to fall back on. I don’t mean this to discourage you, but to hopefully empower you. God made you special, and He loves you very much… and you just died to a creeper.”

“W-WHAT?! AW, C’MON!”

Author's Note:

Wow! Only a single week and another chapter posted!? Well... that's what happens when you're unemployed; you get more time to work on your hobbies. But, I still need food on the table and a roof over my head, so... TO THE COMPUTER!!

And finally... IT IS HERE!!!

Comments

[InfernoRage008]

Ah, a nice Halloween chapter. I like how they point out the flaws the ponies have when it comes to those outside of Equestria, along with how they haven’t been conquered.

[Panzerpony]

They have FINALLY decided to be together as a couple. Bravo! Can't wait for the next chapter.

[Cursebringer]

10509975
Yes I completely agree with you and always fount that weird.