Twilight Sparkle has been a princess for over a month now. She has been studing everything she'ld have to know about being a ruler. But will her books help her with the unexpected news from Luna?
Twilight is now one of the four princesses in Equestria. A month after her corrination, Princess Luna calls her to a private meeting. What will happen once she hears what Luna has to say? What evil lurks around the corner? What ponies will she meet?
The sun was setting, once again ending the day. Ponies made there way through the streets of Canterlot, either going home or finishing their shopping. Some were just enjoying the last rays of sunshine before the sun disappeared for the night.
In the castle, servants still ushered about. Either cleaning, cooking, or tending to which ever princess needs them. One of the princesses, the youngest, was in the Sunshine Library. This mare was Twilight Sparkle, bearer of magic and princess of friendship.
She was sitting at a small desk by a window reading a spell book written by Starswirl the bearded. Around her were stacks of books piled high. The book shelves were almost empty because of the young princess. Twilight was truly enjoying being back in her old room.
Though while reading, she can never seem to notice anything or anypony else. The door opened just as the last rays of sun disappeared. A stallion trotted inside, his silver horseshoes clinking along the floor. He trotted up to the purple princess with caution to not disturb her.
"Let's see, to send a letter without the use of messenger flame you must first have a letter to send. Well duh! Next you-"
"Princess Twilight?"
"GAH!"
Twilight fell over, scattering her books and papers. The guard stared at the bewildered princess who was lying on her back. Her violet eyes stared back, this was not one of Celestia's guards, they wore golden armor. This stallion was wearing dark silver and blue armor.
He was a grey stallion, with turquoise eyes, his tail was silver-blue and he wore a matching helmet, to the armor, covering his mane.
'Who is this guy?' Twilight thought.
"Sorry for startling you, Princess."
The stallion held out his hoof which Twilight took in her own. Once she was standing, she began picking up the scattered papers while the guard picked up the books. It while since they were spread around the room. The guard placed the last book on the top shelf and landed on the ground.
"So who are you and why did you come here?"
The guard turned to face Twilight.
"I am a Lunar guard. I fly under the night sky and I serve Princess Luna."
Twilight stared at his wings, still open from placing the book. They were not ordinary pegasus wings, they were bat-like. Taking another look at the stallion, she saw he had fangs poking out of his mouth and his eyes were cat-like. He looked like one of the stallions who pulled Luna' s chariot on Nightmare Night.
"Princess, are you alright?"
Twilight's eyes turned to his, trying not to flinch at them.
"Sorry, it's just.....well....."
He immediately pulled his wings to his sides and bowed, keeping his eyes shut too.
"I'm sorry I make you uncomfortable,Princess. I am here because Princes Luna wishes to speak with you in the throne room."
He trotted to the door when a hoof tapped his back. He turned his head to see Twilight standing behind him.
"I'm sorry about my reaction, I just never saw a pony like you before. It's kinda fascinating, your wings....and....eyes...."
They stared at each other for a while then the guard opened the door. Twilight remembered Luna and trotted away from Sunshine Library to the throne room. A few feet away from the door the stopped and turned her head and shouted to the guard walking in the opposite direction.
Princess Luna flew into the the throne room of Canterlot Castle. She had finished raising the moon into the sky and setting the colors into place. Her horn glowed deep blue as she began lighting the dark sky with stars, shaping constellations across it.
The sound of hoof-beats echoed through the hall, Twilight Sparkle opened the double doors to the throne room and stopped. The usually white and golden hue was gone and replaced with blue and silver. She made her way to Luna trying not to stare at the walls.
"Twilight Sparkle, thank you for coming. I wish to talk with you, but are you ready for the next level of your studies?"
"I am."
"Good, I want you to go to the window and look at my night, tell me what you see."
Twilight turned to the still open window and stared at the sky. Her eyes studied each star and finally rested on the moon. She looked at Luna and answered.
"I see the stars and the moon and the light."
"Light? Explain this light."
"The light from the stars and moon are as bright as the sun, but are dimmer so one could look up and see the entire cosmos. The light also can guide those who are lost, bringing them back home."
Luna stared at the purple alicorn, this is what she was hoping for. Plus Celestia now owes her ten bits. She was ready for her new life.
"Twilight Sparkle you are, indeed, ready. Tonight you will change teachers, from my sister to me. Twilight Sparkle you are now my student."
Twilight froze, She, Luna, wanted her, Twilight, to become her student. It was so sudden! And why now? Why her? Why?
"This news is good news Twilight Sparkle. Me nor my sister are ill or have been threatened. We have been watching and waiting for somepony to take our places when the time comes. You will become my heir, your sister will become sister's heir."
Twilight thought. It made sense, in a way. She would be in charge of the night, moon, and stars. While Cadence would take over the day and sun. She would handle more than Cadence. Her name even sounded like the night.
"Where do I start?"
"I am pleased to see you're taking the news well. You will need a personal guard, do you have any suggestions?"
She began thinking again. Who?
"Starlight Moon, Princess."
"Then he will escort you to your newest room. Starlight come forth!"
The grey pegasus appeared in the doorway, looking exhausted. He trotted up to the pair and saluted with his wing.
"Starlight you are now to guard Twilight Sparkle with your life. Please take her to the Noctis Wing so she may rest."
Starlight nodded and turned to Twilight.
"This way, Princess."
Then the two left Luna alone in the throne room. She watched the sky, then looked to the door. And she smiled.
"Sweet dreams, Twilight Sparkle. Welcome to the night."
Twilight and Starlight trotted through the halls of the castle, Twilight tried to find /anything familiar. To her, this pegasus, no not a pegasus, this bat.......wait......what is he?
"Excuse me, sir, but what are you?"
The......he stopped and turned his head to Twilight.
"I mean...well....you look like a pegasus, but you have those wings and fangs."
"It's okay, Princess. We are like pegasi, in a way, but we share the wings and fangs of bats. My captain told us that we don't really have a term for it, but my sister calls us zaldia bats. Do you know what zaldia means?"
"Of course, it means pony. So your sister gave every zaldia bat their name?"
"Yeah, Princess Luna thought it was about time somepony came up with one and Princess Celestia added it to the encyclopedia. One of the other guards wrote a book, a children's book, about how we became zaldia bats by a magical bat making a blanket out of the stars."
"I hope you have a copy?"
"Of course. Our library has twenty of them. And it ha-"
Starlight was pushed to the marble floor by another guard in golden armor. Twilight offered her hoof to the zaldia bat, but he pushed it away and stood up glaring at the unicorn guard. He had deep blue eyes and bright yellow mane.
His coat was cream colored under his armor and his face wore a glare similar to Starlight's.
"Lunars are not allowed here, why don't you go back to your little hole in the mountain."
"Princess Celestia herself asked me to retrieve Princess Twilight for her next step in her studies. Now excuse me, I'm escorting her to the Noctis Wing."
"Ha! Like anypony would go into that dark hall! You creatures- "
His rant was cut off by magenta magic zipping his mouth shut. Literally. His eyes widened when he finally noticed the purple alicorn herself glaring at the unicorn.
"I don't like it when somepony insults my friend, so please never do that again. Now continue your patrol."
The stallion used his tan magic to remove the zipper on his mouth.
"As you wish, Princess. But remember the Celestial Guard will not take your orders anymore."
He trotted away shooting one last glare at the zaldia bat. Twilight made a mental note to remember his face. She turned to Starlight who was showing his fangs at the guard.
"Lieutenant Iron Flame, he's not the only Celestial Guard who went after us. Our captain, Fang Fury, ran into a few privates and they were trying to blow up the door to the Noctis Wing."
"What happened?"
"One flash of her fangs and flare of her wings, the group ran off. One tried to charge her, but the captain was escorting Princess Luna who came around the corner. If you saw an angry Princess, would you stick around?"
Twilight shook her head. She saw what happened when Celestia got angry, let's just say that the kitchen had to take five months to rebuild itself. And that included having unicorns.
They continued down the castle halls to the Noctis Wing where Twilight's new room awaited her. After twenty minutes of walking, Starlight stopped before five silver stars on the floor, Twilight however continued until she stood on the closest star and stared at the wall.
Starlight waved a hoof in front of her face and stared at the wall. Of course he knew why she was staring.
"Twilight?"
The alicorn looked over at him. He smiled to her.
"Do you see it?"
"Yeah."
"It's beautiful."
"Yeah."
The door to the Noctis Wing was made entirely out of silver and onyx. It had a sleeping dragon bordering a scene of ponies dancing under the moonlight. An alicorn was above them, raising the moon. Twilight could not remove here eyes from the sight.
She could hear the music playing softly. The ponies seemed to move around. The dragon's snore was loud and smoke rose from his snout. The alicorn was singing. She could hear the beautiful voice of the alicorn. Starlight moved in front of her breaking contact.
"The door is enchanted. Anypony who steps on the stars activate the spell, it hypnotizes them. Zaldia's are not affected by it. Unless Princess Luna expanded the strength of the spell."
Twilight nodded, the door's affect wore off. She stood up, apparently she was sitting, and moved off the star. Then she examined the words written on the door below the scene.
"That is dragon language, we read the writing in modern equestrian to open the door."
Starlight stood directly in front of the door, his hoof was on a small carved hoof in the center. His eyes closed and her began to speak, though to Twilight, he was singing.
"Under the moonlight, we dance and play, joining our dear mother. Under the stars, we jump up and sing to our sweet mother."
The door cracked and split down the middle. It pushed itself open and revealed a hallway lit with blue crystals. It wasn't marble like the rest of the castle, instead it was silver, blue, and grey. Twilight's jaw hit the floor, figuratively of course only Pinkie could drop her jaw that low.
"Welcome to the Noctis Wing, where it is always night."
Twilight woke to loud knocking on her door. After she was escorted to her room, she fell onto the silk covered bed and slept. Groaning she got up and opened the door with her magic. Outside her door was a zaldia bat with a pitch black coat, yellow cat-like eyes and deep grey mane.
"Good morning, Princess. I welcome you to our home, now it is your home too. Princess Luna, Princess Celestia and Princess Cadence are awaiting you in the dining hall. I must go now, I do not trust my princess with one of the privates."
With that the dark mare trotted away. 'That must of been Fang,' Twilight thought. She shut the door picked up her brush and began to dress for the day.
Starlight stood next to Twilight's door, he forgot his helmet in the rush to her bedroom. His silver-blue mane fell over his face, pleading for some grooming. He gave up trying to pull it back and left it hanging over the top of his eyes.
The door opened to reveal Twilight in silver shoes that gleamed in the light. Her crown was silver as well, complementing her pink, eight-pointed star gem. Starlight's turquoise eyes found Twilight's light purple ones.
Twilight stared at Starlight for a long time, Starlight stared at her for longer.
"Starlight?"
He blushed and looked away from her.
"Oh sorry. Shall we?"
The pair left the wing and were almost to the dining hall. All the way they talked about each other and shared stories. When they reached the hall the was a loud bang. Immediately, Starlight took a defensive position.
"Wait here, Princess."
Slowly he opened the door and three blurs came out of the hall, jumping on the zaldia bat.
In the dining hall Princess Celestia and Princess Luna spoke to each other while five mares and one dragon were excitedly waiting for their friend.
"And then we can go to the park and play all sorts of games!"
"Pinkie, darling, please settle down. I am excited to see Twilight too, but we can't make to much noise this is a surprise visit."
Pinkie Pie sat on the ground and stared at the white unicorn mare. Rainbow Dash, the blue pegasus, was napping on a makeshift cloud from all the steam the kitchen made. Fluttershy, the yellow pegasus, was standing next to Princess Cadence who was sampling the food a servant offered.
"This is really good, here Fluttershy, try it."
The little pegasus took a small bite and smiled.
"It's nice."
Lastly Applejack, the tomboy earth pony, was looking around the room frantically.
"Anypony seen the fillies? They disappeared on me!"
"Applejack, calm down. They are fillies after all, they will disappear from the warden."
"Rainbow Dash, I ain't a warden. I'm just trying to keep 'em from destroying the place. Come out right now, you little rascals!"
Pinkie's party cannon fired with a bang, launching three fillies at Applejack. The fillies ran from the orange mare after seeing her face and ran to the door seeing a face poke in.
The fillies looked up seeing the purple mare smiling down at them. Immediately they jumped at her and squeezed her tightly. Applejack came running out to them.
"Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle. You know better than to run out like that," she scolded.
"It's alright ma'am. They didn't hurt me at all."
That wasn't entirely true. He sprained his wing a little, but hey, he's in front of mares. Twilight got free of the fillies and helped her guard up. He, of course, said he was alright, but struggling like a turtle on its back.
Once he was up, they entered the dining hall where the other mares jumped to Twilight. Starlight stood to the side so the group could tackle her. 'Not this time.' He thought.
When she was done Cadence came over and they began their childhood greeting.
"Sunshine, sunshine Ladybugs awake Clap your hooves And do a little shake!"
Starlight couldn't help, but smile at them. Pinkie Pie appeared right next to him.
"Soooo, I'm Pinkie Pie. I never seen a guard like you. Except when Princess Luna came Ponyville in a cool chariot pulled by bat ponies. She was like 'Rawr!' But then she was like 'Huzzah!' And-"
"Pinkie Pie please don't harass my guard," Luna said.
After some more chatting they went to their seats. Starlight sat next to Twilight and Fang Fury appeared and sat next to Luna. A golden armored guard sat by Celestia and a crystal guard sat next to Cadence.
It wasn't every day that all for alicorns were in one place, so the royal chefs made this breakfast extra special. They made croissants of all flavors, pancakes, muffins, fruit salads, waffles, scones, cookies, and a whole lot more.
The group sitting at the table made some requests, one was to bake a triple layered chocolate/strawberry cake. While they were eating, Twilight's friends pestered the alicorn where she was.
"So Twilight, who's this guy?" (Rainbow Dash)
"He is my personal guard. One of the Zaldia Knights." (Twilight)
"What's a zaldia?" (Pinkie)
"A pony who is part bat." (Starlight)
"Where were you last night?" (Spike)
"I was in my new room in the Noctis Wing. My studies were moved there." (Twilight)
"Do you like cake?" (Pinkie)
"Yes, I like cake." (Starlight)
"Do you think he would look good in a suit?" (Rarity)
"A suit?" (Starlight)
"Yes, your wings are giving me so many ideas! Are there any mares in the Knights?" (Rarity)
"Yeah." (Starlight)
"The dresses would be deep blue, silver lining, maybe some green. Yes! Idea!" (Rarity)
The pristine unicorn bolted from the room at sonic speed. Everypony, but Starlight was acting as nothing had happened.
"She just ran off like her tail was on fire." (Starlight)
"That's what Rarity does, find inspiration then run off before it gets away." (Applejack)
"But-" (Starlight)
"Don't question it. I have to live with it." (Sweetie Belle)
Starlight was going to respond, but a chef placed his food down and stared at him.
"Excuse me, sir, but we had difficulty with your food. Head Chef, Strawberry Cake, is not familiar with it. So he needs your opinion on this." (Chef)
Starlight gave a small nod and took a bite of the green and blue swirl on his plate. Nopony knew what it was, but to them it did not look edible.
Starlight turned to Twilight and stuck out a spoon of the goop. Twilight took it in her magic and politely tasted it. Fang gave a quick glare to Starlight.
Starlight gave a small nod and turned to the chef.
"Mister Cake didn't do to bad, though icing was a bit much. Next time put in some amber pieces, they really spice it up. Thanks Twilight." (Starlight)
The chef nodded and trotted off to the kitchen to an angry looking unicorn at the door. The rest of the group knew well that Twilight could name off what ingredients were in any food. So could Pinkie.
"Oooo, Can I get some?" (Pinkie)
"Wait, you eat gems?" (Spike)
"Yep. It's one of the many perks of being a Zaldia Knight." (Starlight)
"How?" (Twilight)
"We have stronger, sharper teeth than regular ponies. Kinda like a dragon." (Starlight)
"So, it's like you're part dragon too?" (Spike)
"Well in a way, but only my teeth." (Starlight)
The rest of breakfast went along just fine, until Cadence spoke up.
"Twilight, why are you in the Noctis Wing?" (Cadence)
"My studies were moved there." (Twilight)
"But why?" (Cadence)
"Yeah, Twilight." (Rainbow Dash)
"Come on sugar-cube, we wanna know." (Applejack)
Their eyes stared at Twilight awaiting her answer. The purple mare looked to Luna who seemed angry, but not at her. She, Twilight, turned to Celestia who, in her case, was losing her regal look. She didn't tell Cadence the big news yet.
"Twilight told me she was studying the books Celestia gave her when Luna came in her room telling her that she would now study in the Noctis Wing. A new level in her studies." (Starlight)
"A new level?" (Spike)
"Yes, she's going to now study the work of Princess Luna and read the books Celestia gave her." (Starlight)
This answer seemed to satisfy the group and Celestia breathed a small sigh of relief. After breakfast Twilight and Starlight went to the park while her friends trotted around Canterlot.
Starlight was sitting by the window reading a book Twilight gave him, Armor through History. Twilight was sitting at a small desk in the center of the Noctis Library.
The pair sat in silence for quite some time for the first few hours, but Starlight was growing restless. Like every other winged creature, he needed to fly!
"Twilight?"
"Yes, Starlight?"
She didn't look up from the book she was reading, so instead Starlight made a slight breeze with his wings. This made the pages of Twilight's book flip around.
"Hey! I was reading that!"
Starlight gave a toothy grin and flapped his wings harder. This time Twilight's mane was being blown around.
"Princess, can we go outside? We've been locked in here for hours."
"Fine, but you have to let me try a spell on you."
"Deal!"
The pair stretched their legs and wings and were about to leave when two zaldia bats entered the room. The mare was staring at Starlight with her green cat eyes. The white stallion tried to avoid the gaze of the princess.
"Hello." (Twilight)
"Good day, Princess." (mare)
"Is there anything that you need?" (Twilight)
"Yes, Princess Luna told us to deliver this letter to you." (mare)
Twilight took the letter in her magic, then took a second look at the stallion. He didn't have wings, instead he had a black horn on his head that split into two at the tip.
This was very peculiar to Twilight, she could handle seeing a bat-winged pony, but a pony with a changeling-like horn? Too crazy.
"Excuse me, sir? But what's with your horn? I thought Luna only had zaldia bats in her guard." (Twilight)
The stallion didn't speak he quickly covered his head with the mare's wing.
"Night Tale, the princess under Princess Luna's wing is asking you a question." (mare)
Night Tale lifted his head from under her wing and sighed.
"I am a zaldia fang. I am the Lunar version of a unicorn." (Night)
"Interesting, Starlight can you get my book?" (Twilight)
The zaldia nodded and retrieved the book from the desk.
"Species of Many?" (Starlight)
"That's the one." (Twilight)
"Princess, the letter is all we were here for. We will now take our leave."
The pair bowed and exited the library backwards, somehow fitting through the door. Twilight packed away the book in her saddlebags and they left for the park.
On their way to the park, the pair received many looks. Most ponies bowed as Princess Twilight passed by, but then spotted the guard with her. Nopony knew what he was or why the princess would be around him. He looked hideous! But as any good zaldia, he was used to this and ignored their eyes.
The two took a spot by a bench so Twilight could read while Starlight could hover nearby. But something was itching the bat-winged pegasus.
"Twilight?"
"Yes."
"Why didn't we fly here? You obviously did not like the attention from those rich, stuck-up ponies."
"Well......"
Twilight sat there, head blushing so much, she hide her face in the book.
"I can't fly..."
"What?"
"I can't fly..."
"I can't hear you."
Sighing she pulled her head up and looked at the bat.
"I can't fly."
She sat there waiting for him to laugh at her. A princess who can't fly! Ridiculous!
"Is that all?"
"What?"
"It's no big deal. You think I was born with these wings? I received them from Princess Luna when I became a member of her guard. You should have seen Night Tale trying to use his horn after that!"
The zaldia bat chuckled and the purple alicorn followed. At least there was one less pony who wouldn't laugh at her. But then the zaldia wasn't finished.
"I could teach you if you want."
Twilight stared at the stallion.
"You know what, bad idea. forget I said anything."
"No, no, it's all right. I need to learn."
The pair were in the air a few moments later. Twilight was tied to Starlight by a rope and trying to control her wings. Starlight pulled the alicorn from one cloud to another, allowing her to practice flight basics.
"Bad idea." (Twilight)
The weather pegasi passed by the pair pulling along a couple of storm clouds to lock away. But one cloud let loose a large lightning bolt at the princess. Causing her to jump straight to the nearest hooves. Which was Starlight's.
The mare pulling the cloud apologized and flew away, leaving the two to their own awkwardness. Twilight didn't like the thought of flying anymore, but feeling Starlight's hooves wrap around her made her feel safe enough to try again. Starlight took the chance to untie the rope.
"Hey Twilight, why don't you try being leader. You can pull me over to the cloud."
He gestured to a vacant cloud at least four feet above them. Twilight gave a silent nod and took of for the cloud at a gentle pace. Starlight watched her climb higher in the sky and touch-down on the cloud. He decided he should get up there before she noticed.
"That was a mean trick."
"At least you flew on your own. Imagine it, Princess Twilight Sparkle, the alicorn pulled by a bat-winged pony."
She gave him a punch in the elbow. But the two laughed anyways. Then as the sun placed itself for noon, the pair were lying side-by-side chatting.
"So Pinkie Pie thought you guys forgot her? And forgot the whole spy and sadness thing in a second? That is the most optimistic pony I have ever heard of."
"'That's what I think!"
The two laughed for some time, then Twilight lied her head on his shoulder. It wasn't unpleasant, but this startled the bat. He smiled, then he turned to his flying buddy.
"Hey Twilight."
"Yeah?"
"There is something that I want to tell you."
"Yeah?"
"Well I-"
A green swirl of smoke appeared in front of of his nose. It made a popping sound and a scroll sealed by a golden hoof print fell onto the cloud. Twilight immediately lifted her head and picked up the scroll. She gave it a once over and turned to her guard.
"My friends want to meet us at Minnie's Munchies for lunch."
After breakfast Twilight and Starlight went to the park while her friends trotted around Canterlot. The five ponies and dragon trotted through the streets gazing at the many shops They were on a mission from the pink party pony. And she was going make sure they complete it.
"So Pinkie, what party do you have this time?" (Applejack)
"It's been so long since we saw Twilight, I thought we could throw a Happy-Three-Week-Anniversary-Of-Being-A-Princess-Party!" (Pinkie)
"How do you come up with these parties?" (Rarity)
"They just come to me." (Pinkie)
The group continued down the road until they reached a shop filled with jewelry. They trotted inside and began looking about the shop, eying the many gemstones and jewels attached to silver or golden chains. Rarity wanted to get her gift first.
The snow colored unicorn wandered around the shop until she came to a certain pendant on a silver chain. The pendant itself was silver with curling black marks spelling out something. Rarity picked the pendant up in her magic and trotted to the sales-mare.
"Excuse me, what do these symbols mean?"
The mare dropped the magazine she was reading and stared at the pendant. Her eyes went wide as she looked at the symbols.
"You want to by this?"
"Well, yes. It is for my dear friend Twilight. How much is it?"
"This is very old, before the princesses time. It will be only ninety bits for you though. Consider it a gift at that price. I would have sold it for no less than twenty thousand bits."
"Thank you."
The unicorn pulled out the bits needed and the sales-mare placed the pendant and chain in a small black box. Then the group left the shop, but the sales-mare did not stop watching them.
Applejack wanted to go next for gift hunting. She looked all over Canterlot for a good shop, the best place she found was a book store. The group trotted inside and separated around the store.
The orange mare went down each row of books. Most of them looked brand new, but she knew Twilight liked older books. After asking the bookseller, she was standing in the dustiest row of books.
They had very few of these ones. So Applejack had to chose between a book about Starswirl the bearded or one with similar symbols to Rarity's gift. She stared at the symbols while the bookseller trotted next to her.
"Good day, madame. Did you make a selection?"
"Hi there. Ah can't chose between these two."
"Well let me take a look. Who are they for, may I ask?"
"You may and they are for my good friend Twilight."
"The princess?"
"Eyup."
"Well then I think this one will satisfy the princess."
He pushed the Starswirl book back on the shelf as carefully as he could. Applejack stared at the book in her hooves with curiosity. These symbols looked familiar to her.
"How much?"
"Just forty bits."
Applejack gave him the bits and trotted outside with the rest of the group. When she turned around the bookseller was by the window smiling at them. She gave him a small wave and he smiled bigger.
The next pony was Rainbow Dash, she wanted to look at the pegasi district for a gift. This meant only Fluttershy could go with her. The others would have to wait on the ground.
The pegasi district was a special place in Canterlot where only pegasi could enter. It was on a large cloud hovering over the local taverns and inns. The buildings of course were also made of clouds.
The pegasi there mostly unwind by flying fast or taking a nap on a cloud or shopping at stores that cater to pegasi needs. It felt like home to Rainbow Dash.
"All right Fluttershy, let's go gift hunting!"
The pair flew all over the small city to find the perfect shop for the purple alicorn. Then Rainbow Dash sped downwards with the yellow pegasus struggling to keep up. The prism maned mare landed on the soft pathway in front of a dark colored cloud shop.
Fluttershy crash landed next to her, head sticking out below the cloud city. She immediately pulled her head up after a stallion looked up to her and waved. She then hid behind her blue friend when she saw the shop.
"Rainbow Dash, why are we here?"
"To get Twilight's gift."
"But I thought mom said not to ever go to this shop. Remember."
"Well, I think she'll understand that we are older mares now and that it is for a friend."
"Okay."
The pair trotted cautiously inside the dark cloud doorway and were welcomed by a grey pegasus.
"Welcome to Shocky's Wild Experiments, the dark cloud of the sky. My name's Sparky Boom. How may I help you?"
"Where are your magic storm clouds?"
"Over by the window in the back."
Rainbow Dash proceeded to the storm clouds while Fluttershy hid under her tail. When the entered the area of the storm clouds, they were met with a pink heart hitting the floor.
"Stupid cloud. Jasmine you are one wild thing. I regret bringing you in from the north."
The voice belong to a white pegasus, well you could tell he was white. His coat was covered in multicolored scorch marks. His hooves had iron gloves on and his face wore a leather mask. (don't ask me where he got it.)
"Oh, hello there. I never get any new visitors here. Whatcha looking for?"
The blue pegasus looked around at the various clouds. Each one was labeled by color, shape, lightning color, and shape of the lightning. It was so beautiful, for a show pegasus, but for a weather pegasus like Rainbow Dash, these were illegal to use for anything except decoration at festivals.
"Do you have any clouds made by zaldias?"
"Zaldias? Hmm....I believe I have one made a long time ago. Made by the first zaldia in fact! Hold on for a moment."
The pegasus trotted into a hallway past the cloud he was scolding. Fluttershy was now standing and staring at a cloud shaped like a rabbit that was eating a lightning blot shaped like a carrot. Rainbow Dash had a stare off with Jasmine who changed into the shape of eyes.
The scorched stallion returned to the two with a small white cloud. The other clouds, who of course were alive, quickly flew behind the two mares. The white cloud had small black symbols like the others' gifts. It was shaped like a filly, exactly like a filly.
"All right. This is Night Star. She was created long ago to be a friend for our lunar princess. I was told to keep her safe by my father. She's been pas through generations of my family. Never thought I'd see the day she'd find a home.
Who did ya' say this was for?"
Rainbow Dash pushed Jasmine off her face and trotted to the filly cloud with caution. The filly looked up to her with black eyes. Rainbow stared at her. Up close she could see now that the filly, Night Star, was an alicorn.
"She's gonna be a gift for my friend. I-We think she would want a buddy to hang with while she's reading her books."
"Well then I'll give her to ya'. Free of charge!"
"WHAT?" (new voice)
The grey pegasus appeared behind Fluttershy and scared the magical storm clouds to hide behind the white filly.
"Father, this is the oldest and most valuable item in our shop and you're giving it up for free!"
"Sparky. This is a gift for Princess Twilight. Don't look surprised, Miss Dash. I knew who you were going to shop for, it's written on your face."
"Father, this is an outrage. I'm getting Ivory."
"Fine! Go get Ivory. But remember who pays for your stupid wonderbolt private lessons!"
The Sparky flew away from them and out the door with his dad shouting at him.
"What am I going to do with that colt? Any-who, I just need your hoof print on this paper and you can take Night Star to the princess."
He held out a clipboard and paper and Rainbow Dash kindly stamped it with her hoof. The stallion tied a small rope around Night Star's waist and gave it to Fluttershy to hold.
"This is in case you run into any stray winds."
Then the pair and cloud filly left the dark cloud shop. It wasn't long till they reached the ground where their friends were waiting. Once they landed Fluttershy had to keep the cloud filly held up high because of the pink party pony rushing to them.
"So, what did ya' get Twilight? A book about weather? A magic cloak that turns you invisible like Pony Potter? Oh! I know! A giant cloud that will rain her favorite drink!"
"Nope just a cloud named Night Star."
Rainbow Dash motioned the yellow pegasus to come closer allowing the rest of the group see the cloud filly. They ooed and awed at her. The little filly looked at the group surrounding her, her eyes changed from black circles to yellow eyes a regular filly would have.
"Cool! She can change colors!" (Pinkie)
"This is real interesting magic, dear. Where did you get her?" (Rarity)
"From the dark cloud, as my mom called it." (Rainbow)
"She's quite a cutey. Rainbow, is she the secret gift you've been planning for weeks?" (Applejack)
"Yep. Me and Fluttershy have been pulling our money together for her. Though the shop owner gave her to us for free. It was very......." (Rainbow)
"Strange?" (Fluttershy)
"Yeah. Strange." (Rainbow)
"Well, while we were waiting for you two, we went with Pinkie Pie to get this." (Rarity)
The pristine unicorn pulled out a purple bandana with red stripes. It was very large for Twilight's size and would be a small blanket instead.
"It was strange too! It took forever to get the shop lady to sell it to us! 'It is important to my family!' 'But it's for my friend!' 'I don't care!' She was a real meanie!" (Pinkie)
"Wow Pinkie that didn't seem so nice." (Fluttershy)
"I'm sorry, but she was real mean." (Pinkie)
"She was very rude about it after we convinced her it was an item on sale." (Rarity)
"She glared at me when I tried to reach for it! Like my hooves were gonna break it to pieces!" (Applejack)
"Applejack this 'bandana' is made from silk! Highest quality in the world, probably made by changelings as a gift. Remember what your friend told us?" (Rarity)
"Of course ah do! But my hooves are no more brittle than a pegasus. No offense girls." (Applejack)
"None taken, Jacky." (Rainbow)
"Well, to change the subject, it's near noon and Twilight promised to join us for lunch, but we never told her where." (Rarity)
"Maybe Spike can send her a message." (Pinkie)
"Good idea, Pinkie. Where is Spike anyways?" (Applejack)
"He was here when we left." (Fluttershy)
"Spike!" (Rarity)
The purple dragon was inside a jewelry shop, biting down on a pair of emerald earrings. Rarity rushed inside the shop and snatched the priceless jewels away from the little lizard.
"Spike! These are earrings, not a snack. I know you are hungry, but we must wait for Twilight at the restaurant."
"I'm sorry, Rarity. It's just.........I'm SO hungry!"
"All right then. I will buy these and you can finish the damage you caused."
She trotted to the counter and payed for the emeralds with the money left over from her gift to Twilight. Then she pulled the dragon out by the ear-fin and joined the rest of the group.
"Spike what were ya' thinking?" (Applejack)
"With his stomach." (Rainbow)
The baby dragon rocked back and forth on his feet while the others scolded him about the earrings. Finally when they stopped, they remembered why they needed the dragon in the first place.
"Spike can you send a letter to Twilight about the location for our lunch get-together? Please." (Rarity)
"Anything for you Rarity." (Spike)
After scribbling down the location and a few greetings from the mares, he held it out and set the letter on fire. It swirled as green smoke and flew off in the direction of the castle. Then the group proceeded to the location of the lunch get-together. Minnie's Munchies.
They couldn't see it, but the smoke cloud changed direction and headed towards the park.
Chapter 5: Meal with Friends and a Party To Attend
Minnie's Munchies was a local snack shop that catered to everypony that had an empty stomach and a full wallet. The owner was Daisy Chain, earth mare and the great-great-great-great granddaughter of Minnie Munch. Once you went in you came out with a full tummy.
One of her waiters, a green pegasus, was currently serving the group of friends who finished a long morning of shopping. But got distracted by a very cute rainbow mane.
"Rainbow Dash? Is that you?" (green pony)
"Yeah. I see you heard of me."
"Well yeah. We went to Junior Speedsters flight camp together, remember? I was the one giving you rotten eggs to throw at Billy and Hoops."
"Oh yeah! Thanks for that....?"
"Gale Gust."
"Great seeing ya' again, Gusty."
Rainbow Dash turned her head away from the old friend and Gale turned away to get back to a angry looking Daisy. Rainbow then ran a memory through her head and an old feeling came back to her.
"Oh hey, Gusty!"
The green stallion turned his head, his yellow frazzled mane flowing.
"Yeah?"
"Uh.....don't forget my hay fries! And tomorrow we gotta catch up!"
"Sure thing Dashy"
Gale turned back to Daisy who was bright red in anger. He immediately ducked for the kitchen where a unicorn mare pulled him inside. The group stared at Daisy until she went back to the counter. Daisy was thinking that Dash should pay extra for her hay fries.
"That was nice seeing Gale again."
"Yeah."
"Rainbow you never told us you had a coltfriend." (Rarity)
"What! No he's not....we're not......Ugh!" (Rainbow)
"You like him! You like him!" (Pinkie)
"Cut it out! He was a silly filly crush. I'm over it." (Rainbow)
"Then why did ya' say get together instead of hang out?" (Applejack)
The prism maned pegasus was about to shout again when Pinkie Pie ran straight at the door and high speeds even she couldn't go. And that's saying something.
Twilight and Starlight were just about take off when she remember their deal.
"Hey wait! I get to cast a spell on you."
"Come on, Princess. I'm hungry."
"Well you have to wait until I'm done. Now stand still."
The grey zaldia obliged, but was also muttering something under his breath. Twilight took stance on the fluffy cloud they slept on. Her horn flared in a magenta glow and the same glow formed around Starlight's torso.
"Uh, Twilight?"
"Sh. I need concentration."
Her spell began opening his wings and they glowed a bright white.
"Twilight?"
"Sh."
After a pop, Starlight was lying on his stomach panting for breath.
"Twilight."
The purple alicorn looked up and smiled at her work.
"Yes, Starlight?"
"What did you do?"
"Look for yourself."
The zaldia turned and his fanged mouth dropped. His bat wings were now covered in grey feathers. He turned to Twilight who was still proudly smiling.
"You....you gave me pegasi wings!"
"Well, yes. After the incident with Iron Flame, I think it's best to keep your wings hidden. Don't worry about it though. It's not permanent. It will wear off once the moon rises, kinda fitting don't you think?"
"This is a better try than Swift Hex. She nearly took off a dozen wings off the guards in an experiment."
"Maybe I can help her improve."
"Can we go now, Princess Twilight?"
"Alright, but don't spook Fluttershy again. She nearly fainted from seeing your fangs."
The pair took flight and glided to the small, family owned cafe and landed by the door. Twilight reached for the handle, but was pushed away when a pink blur crashed straight into both of them. The force sent them flying into three nobles.
"Well I say!" (mare noble)
"Excuse me ma'am, but you are on top of my treats." (stallion noble 1)
"You watch were your going or I'm going to-" (stallion 2)
The three pulled themselves up and stared at Twilight who was pulling a Pinkie Pie off her back. Starlight grabbed and pulled her off, but was soon caught by her hug trap.
"I'm sorry for my friend. She gets over-excited when not near all her friends at once." (Twilight)
"No need to apologize, dear Princess." (stallion noble 2)
"Quite right. We did not know it was you." (mare noble)
"Are you by any chance able to have a nice dinner with me?" (stallion noble 1)
The other two nobles looked at the cream unicorn stallion. Twilight shook her head politely and said no thank you. The stallion frowned a bit, but regained his fake smile. The second stallion decided not to ask the same question. The mare, however, stepped forward and smiled.
"You know, Princess. I am having a nice get together on my yacht this afternoon. I would thankful for you to attend."
Twilight looked to Starlight who was being crushed by the Pinkie hug trap. Then back to the unicorn mare smiling and staring with a hopeful look.
"I guess it will be alright, but my guard will be attending as well. most are pegasi and will patrol the skies around the yacht."
"Of course, Princess. Oh and my name is Scarlet Quill, by the way."
"A pleasure to meet you."
The unicorn mare ushered the stallions to move along and not gawk at the youngest princess. Twilight called off Pinkie Pie and they went inside where the others were receiving their food. Pinkie sat next to Fluttershy holding a rope which was going upwards instead of down.
"Fluttershy what's that?"
The yellow pegasus quickly looked to Rarity who had a small cloaking shield overhead. She in turn looked at Rainbow Dash who was chowing down on her hay fries which the owner made her pay for. She looked up seeing eveypony staring at her.
"What?"
"Twilight wants to know what the rope is for." (Rarity)
Rainbow looked at Twilight who raised an eyebrow at her. Starlight was too busy preening his new feathered wings. She swallowed and tried to play it cool.
"It's a surprise for later. I don't mean to brag or anything, but you are gonna be blown away by it!"
"Is it another tornado?"
"No."
"Then I can't wait to see it when you are ready to give it to me."
Twilight sat down next to Rarity and Starlight sat next to Twilight and eyed the area above them. Daisy Chain took immediate notice of the princess and trotted up to the group.
"Hello, Princess, it is a great honor to have you here. May I help you?"
"I would like this please, if you don't mind trying it."
Twilight held out a small slip of paper with a recipe for zaldia pudding. Daisy looked at the list of ingredients and smiled up at the alicorn.
"It would be a honor to cook for you."
She bowed and trotted backwards into the kitchen. Rainbow glared in her general direction. The group began to catch up while eating their lunches. Twilight tried to get Starlight to join, but it was impossible to get him to not stare at the ceiling.
"Starlight would you please eat."
"I'm sorry, princess. When a mysterious object is above, I can't ignore it until it is deemed safe."
"Back to princess again. You can call me Twilight."
Starlight looked at her and was about to say something when the earth brown mare returned with Twilight's food.
"Here you are, princess. Will there be anything else?"
"To be left alone." (Rainbow)
"Actually, yes. We would like to not be disturbed, if possible." (Twilight)
"Of course, your majesty." (Daisy)
She backed away, again bowing, and Starlight stared at her. She looked up and saw the cat-like eyes of Starlight and bowed lower. Starlight smiled at her, showing his fangs. She took cover behind the counter.
The group talked for a while and enjoyed the company of their food. Twilight snacked on the pudding specially made for night dwellers. Starlight said that if she was Princess Luna's student now, she better get used to the customs of the zaldia.
For about an hour they talked and talked. While they talked they had another round of food. Except for Twilight and Rarity and Starlight. The pristine mare's excuse was she needed to watch her weight. The other two were just full. Daisy Chain was delighted when the bill came.
"Here's the bill. So, who's going pay?"
That question made the group looked at each other and point hooves. Twilight ended it by saying she would pay. They protested, but Twilight insisted. After paying she and her friends walked all the way to the castle where they were met by Princess Luna.
"Twilight Sparkle, I have been informed you requested a pass on tonight's learning. Is this true?"
"Tonight's learning? I didn't know you wanted to start early, but yes it is true. I guess. You see, I've been invited to a formal party. And this is my first formal appearance as princess. Please."
Luna stared at the sky for a moment, gazing at the clouds being pushed by pegasi. She looked back at Twilight who wore a worried look. This is the princess who was in the moon for a thousands years, would she say no?
"Alright, Twilight Sparkle, but on one condition."
"Yes?"
"I will accompany you so that the lesson does not get not learned. It has been a long time since w- I have been to a formal gathering."
With that she flew to the Noctis Tower to search for a gown. Twilight smiled at the way Luna spoke, it was very comforting to hear it. After she went to see her friends to their rooms, she and Starlight went to the Noctis Wing to get ready.
Starlight was moved to the room across from Twilight so he could be closer by his princess. He brushed his fangs and combed his mane and tail. Then he placed his dark silver helmet on his head and smiled at his reflection.
"Looking good, handsome. I say you are the most gorgeous stallion in Equestria. Even that pompous Prince Blueblood is no match for you, you stud. I know I'm adorable, just look at my face!"
"Nah, I think you're a dork."
Starlight turned around to see his younger sister standing in the doorway of the bathroom. Her green cat-like eyes were gazing at him and she wore a big smile.
"Midnight! How many times did I tell you not to sneak up on me!"
"More times than you can count."
"Midnight!"
"Okay, okay. But your princess is waiting for you while you're talking to your insanity again."
"I'm not insane. Everypony does this."
"Yeah. Everypony who's either drunk or insane."
The green eyed zaldia left her elder brother alone. Starlight hurried to get his hoof shoes on and opened the door. Twilight was standing there in a dark grey dress. Starlight examined the outfit while she was distracted by the book in her magic; Night Skies and Stars.
It was a pretty dress. The skirt was folded into spikes along the edges and lined with dark purple silk. Her collar had the same silk along a v-necked torso top. Her sleeves were folded like her skirt, but had no silk. She also wore a star earring on her left ear. The only constant things were her silver crown and shoes.
Starlight felt a slight flutter in his chest, nopony made him feel like that before. Twilight looked up from her book and smiled at her guard. He in turn smiled back with his toothy grin. Princess Luna joined them shortly wearing a midnight black dress with dark blue highlights. Captain Fang was at her side wearing her deep blue armor with a moon painted on the chest.
The four of them took a chariot with at least a dozen guards escorting. They landed in front of a rather large airship anchored to one of the many docks for airships. The guards flew around the ship and began patrolling the sky.
The guest announcer took immediate notice of them trotted up the ramp. As soon as they were visible to the other guests on the deck he shouted as loud as he could.
"Presenting Princess Twilight Sparkle and Princess Luna!"
He didn't bother announcing the two guards. Everypony knew that any royalty would have a guard by their side. Scarlet Quill trotted up to them and led them to a snack table. In Twilight's mind, this night couldn't go wrong with a dozen guards and a all powerful princess.
A white pegasus trotted up to them as they each grabbed a sandwich from the table. The pegasus was a stallion and wore a brown tuxedo. A grey pegasus stallion followed him, wearing a scowl. The white stallion bowed to Twilight and Luna then nodded at Scarlet. The other just rolled his eyes.
"Princess Twilight, it's a honor to meet you, I am Shocky Cloud. This is my son Sparky Boom. Oh and please excuse my son, he's not good with manners."
Twilight smiled at the stallion and offered a small triangle sandwich. He took it in his hoof and laughed. Sparky wandered off and joined a group of wonderbolts currently flying around the sky above. Luna pulled Twilight over to the bow of the great ship.
"Twilight Sparkle, you know the constellations in our night, but do you know their stories?"
"Stories? Aren't they images from your mind placed onto the sky?"
"To control the night you must know the stories. It has always been that way. The stories will prepare you if one would escape."
"Escape? Is the night a prison?"
Luna chuckled at the thought.
"For only those who have done horrible deeds. But the great ponies take place among them as well. They stand watch over all the sleeping souls. My mother is there."
She pointed to the moon. Twilight stared at her like that is not possible. Luna smiled and started telling her the stories passed down from the generations. They were left alone for a good two hours, but royals can only be alone so long.
"Excuse me, princess?"
The royal pair turned to a earth mare bowing. She looked very scared, but who wouldn't when in the presence of two powerful rulers. Luna, being the older princess, nodded at the mare to stand.
"It seems that I have forgotten my duties. Night Court began an hour ago."
"Maybe we can ask for a private room and you can do court there?"
"Let's hurry Twilight Sparkle, I wish to get back to the lesson."
Scarlet was happy to let them use a room, she gave them the captain's quarters in spite of the captain's complaints. Scarlet thought that having two princesses preform royal duties on her ship should be spread. She wrote a small note and gave it to a pegasus who flew quickly to the city.
Meanwhile, Luna and Twilight sat down and listened to the yellow mare wanting to speak to Luna. Twilight had a quill and parchment ready for notes, much to Luna's amusement. She nodded to the mare and she began her talk.
"Princess Luna, my name is Strawberry Fields. I run my father's orphanage and I am requesting some funding to build a playground and have a music program for the children."
"And where is your orphanage?"
"A little ways away from Dodge Junction. Between it and Apple Loosa. We really need the bits so the fillies and foals can play safe. Being that close to the Badlands and all."
Luna nodded. Twilight remembered all the trouble three little fillies cause when not watched carefully. She observed them until Strawberry time was up and she had to leave. Luna sighed after the mare left, this was the second Night Court she had since she was back and she was not in practice.
"Twilight Sparkle, seeing as I am still teaching you, you are going to speak to the next pony."
"What? But I haven't read anything yet about court. I don't have any experience."
"Just try."
The next pony to come in was a grey pegasus with a pair of goggles hanging from his neck. Luna nodded to Twilight as he bowed to them. Twilight looked at the stallion and nodded.
"Princess, I am Storm Front from the Canterlot weather team. My friend is retiring and we request the use of magic clouds in our rainy day to remember him." (Storm Front)
"The rules clearly state that they are only to be used for a festival." (Luna)
"But he is the best of the best! He organized our team to keep the weather going and he is one of the Equestrian Knights." (Storm Front)
"Luna, I think we can come to a compromise." (Twilight)
"And that would be?" (Luna)
"We can have a festival celebrating pegasi and have the use of magic clouds decorate the skies." (Twilight)
"All pegasi? We were talking about one a second ago." (Storm Front)
"It is a great idea Twilight Sparkle and the only one that will allow a weather team use magical clouds." (Luna)
The grey stallion grunted, but settled for the festival. They chose that it would be held two days after the pegasus team leader retired. Twilight was proud of herself; finding the answer to a problem. It was her specialty. Storm Front left and about a dozen ponies replaced him through the night.
Luna decided that after the sixteenth pony, Night Court was closed. The royal pair trotted back to the party and were met by a silver-grey unicorn with a cream-colored horn. He bowed deeply to them and smiled.
"Ah, princesses, I thought I'd find you here. Nopony can resist a good party."
"What, pray tell, is thy name?"
"Ivory Tusk, my dear princess. Collector of rare and valuable items. I am also a great supporter of the Zaldia Knights, I wish I had a horn like theirs or their beautiful wings. But I am a day-goer by profession so I support by giving funding to training and research."
"You seem more supportive than anypony to my guard."
"Why can't I? Everypony has the choice of which princess to follow. I chose you, my princess."
To Luna, the stallion seemed very enthusiastic about her kind and her night, but did not do as others have done and change themselves in loyalty. Twilight thought that something was off about him. No pony can love a zaldia that much. Could they?
He stayed with the two night princesses until they finally decided to retreat to the castle. The guard flew with their rulers of the moon and made sure no stray pegasus got near them. Once they landed Luna and Fang flew off to the Noctis Tower. Twilight and Starlight walked to their rooms in the Noctis Wing.
Twilight, who took it upon herself to memorize the song, opened the doors to the wing. Starlight bid her farewell and went to his own room. Twilight undressed, placed her royal accessories on her dresser, then laid down on the silk covered bed.
Starlight sat on the cold floor and stared at his reflection in the mirror. His scruffy mane fell over his eyes and his fangs shined in the light.
"I should of asked her for a dance. Midnight was right, I'm a huge dork when it comes to this stuff. She's a pony princess and I'm just a zaldia bat. Not even Princess Luna, whose mother created us for her, would be with a zaldia hoof."
He sighed and held his head in his hooves. Even Luna wouldn't date a zaldia, any of them! Rumors go around that a stallion in Baltimare won her heart. Others say it was a long lost love from the Crystal Empire. Some say it's both. But what is a lowly bat to do about the mare he loved.
He looked up at the mirror.
"You're pathetic. Even Night Tale has more confidence. Tomorrow I will ask her about having a nice stroll or a plain dinner."
He saluted his reflection and trotted off to bed. Little did either pony know a certain cloud of mist was watching them. It slipped under Twilight's door and hovered above the sleeping princess. Then entered her dream land.
The dream land was a wide open space filled with colors and had a row of doors everywhere. It was so chaotic looking you would think Discord lived there. Twilight stood in the world and stared at each piece, her mind taking in all that she was seeing.
Luna materialized behind her, startling the young princess. She smiled and looked all around her.
"Twilight Sparkle, this is the dream world where we enter dreams of ponies and help them. You need practice with doing this before you can even raise the moon or move thy stars."
"Practice? How am I supposed to practice anything here?"
"These doors are the gateways to dreams. Each one I have recently labeled so we may know which one to enter before we get impaled."
"Which door do I- Hey!"
Luna had disappeared and a door stood where she was. Twilight looked at the label, 'Starlight'. She lifted her hoof and opened the door. The light blinded her a little, but once she was able to see she saw a park below like the Canterlot park.
She trotted around it until she spotted Starlight who was with a dream version of herself. The dream Twilight was laughing at him. Did he say something funny? Did he do something strange? The dream Twilight walked past the real Twilight, who blasted it into purple smoke. It was just a dream.
Twilight walked up to Starlight who was holding his head in his hooves. She sighed causing him to snap his head upward.
"Back to laugh again?"
"At what? You didn't say anything to me."
"Then you must be my good side. The other one just left."
"Well are you going to tell me what you told her?"
"Might as well, you are just my dream. And you are supposed to be the outcome I wanted."
He stood up and shook his head then sat on the bench behind him. Twilight sat down next to him thinking this was going to be strange. She was right. After they sat down, Starlight looked into her eyes and held her hooves.
"Princess, Twilight, I....I have been,,,,been thinking and I wanted to ask you........well if you wanted to go on a.......on a....."
"Are you asking me out?"
"I guess."
Twilight stared at him, the dream version laughed at him. He expects her to be the brighter side for reality. From what he's been through he deserves it.
"Starlight, tomorrow at eight I want you to meet me at Minnie's Munchies. Trust me I'm not a dream."
He stared at her in confusion and was about to speak when she blinked out of his mind. Starlight looked around to find her, but it was useless. Until he spotted her up on a cloud and flew after her. Luna smiled as the two sat together on the small cloud.
Twilight woke up to a zaldia fang standing over her with yellow eyes. He looked strangely familiar. Then he smiled a toothy grin, showing all his teeth. It was frightening to look at. She sat up in her bed and the zaldia smiled even bigger.
"Who are you? What do you what?"
"I am Sandmane, guardian of sleep. And I couldn't but notice you were not sleeping. So I had to check on you. You know a zaldia is better off at night. A day-goer like yourself is not allowing us to be nocturnal."
"What am I supposed to do?"
"Princess Luna uses a spell to give her a full night's sleep in a one hour nap. Or you can make other changes."
"Other changes? You mean......Wait, Discord?"
"Oh you're no fun!"
The zaldia turned white and Discord, lord of chaos, appeared.
"Twilight you are not much fun anymore. Even when we are about the same."
"We are not the same. You are a draconequus, I'm a pony."
"Yes, but what are you going to do about that guard of yours, he seemed pretty upset when he was staring in his mirror."
"Upset? I already know why, I think. So go back home."
"Suit yourself."
With a flash and a pop the draconequus disappeared leaving a parchment on the ground. Twilight picked it up and read it.
'The spell for the sleep hour is here, but if you want to go a different root, a changing spell is here. Don't worry, I can't even affect a spell made by the first zaldia.'
Twilight, now fully awake, opened and read the spells. The sleep hour seemed very simple, but the changing spell caught her attention. It changes the pony it's cast on into a zaldia. She stared at the spell knowing fully it may be a trick, but she thought of all the guard she had to keep up just to watch her.
She trotted out into the hall and entered Starlight room. She placed her horn on his head and gave him the sleep hour. Then she went to the library and read the spells over and over again. She had an hour before he woke up and had to come up with a decision.
Twilight raised her horn as it glowed its purple and cast the spell.
Starlight woke up a quarter to eleven and was strangely refreshed. He stared at the ceiling and listened, there was a noise in the hallway. He picked up a wing spear and peered out the door. A pair of yellow and red eyes were floating back and forth by Twilight's door.
Quietly, the zaldia crept out and readied his spear at the eyes. The strange orbs turned and a body formed around them. The draconequus folded his arms and grunted at the stallion bat.
"Finally! I need somepony to mess with! Lulu placed a magic lock on her room, Fangsy tried to arrest me again, and Twilight is in the library. So are you going to help me paint the throne room?"
He held up paint buckets by his tail and waved brushes under Starlight's nose causing him to sneeze.
"Where is Twilight?"
"In the library, on the floor. I think she collapsed after giving you and her a sleep hour spell. But I'm not sure. Any who, enough about her, I was thinking a nice hot pink with orange highlights. Hey where ya' going!"
Starlight flew as fast as he could. This was not good at all. First a floating pair of eyes, then Discord got into the Noctis Wing again, now the princess he was trusted with was collapsed an a floor. Fang was going to rip his throat for sure.
He bolted in the door and stood over Twilight. She was on her back and her mane was frizzed covering most of her head. He checked her pulse, she's still with him. He tapped her shoulder, but she didn't even stir. He ruffled her mane, but didn't wake.
Starlight sighed and stared at the clock then back at Twilight. She seemed to be in a coma, now he was in trouble. He went through all the possible ways for Fang to kill him when a hoof touched his head. Looking back at the mare he saw she was wide awake and smiling.
Twilight stood up and trotted to a small mirror by a stack of books. She brushed her mane and stretched her legs. She was going to turn to him, but the zaldia spoke before she could.
"Twilight, what happened?"
Her smile wavered and she looked down.
"Starlight, I....I've been thinking and Discord did have a point."
"Discord! You aren't going to change to the chaotic side are you?"
"No, he just brought up a good point. I am a pony who lives in the day, while I'm in the day I bring my nocturnal guard into the light."
"I don't mind being out in the day, really."
"But you aren't supposed to be out during the day. In Species of Many it clearly states a zaldia bat, hoof, or horn caught in daylight can be blinded by the bright light of the sun."
"That's a book. I have been in the sun loads of times."
"You're lying. I know when you're lying."
"Okay, I only go when you go, but that doesn't explain why you are in the library on the floor."
"I cast the sleep hour spell on myself after I tried a new spell. I think Discord took it from Fang's office."
"Fang's office? Discord? New spell? Did it happen to have little black symbols on it?"
"Starlight, you must understand my reasons. If I'm going to take over Luna's night then I'm going to be what dwells in the night."
She turned finally revealing her horn which was twisted in a small circle at the top leaving off with a point, but remained the same color. Then she opened her wings showing that they were bat-like, but with more graceful folds like Nightmare Moon's. But her eyes were the most significant.
They were now not like a cat's, but a dragon's slit eyes. Starlight was stone on the floor. It has been a thousand and one years since a zaldia queen was present amongst the zaldias. Nightmare Moon had been the most recent. The oldest was, of course, the first zaldia in the world.
"Twilight."
"I know this is a lot to take in, but I had to do this. Otherwise I wouldn't be able to do anything during the night. And since we are both fully awake like everypony else, I think I should get to studying the stars and stories."
Twilight pulled out a dusty, old book and a telescope, then stood by the window. She motioned him to follow and they flew off into the night. They flew for some time until they landed on the balcony of her old room. She set up the telescope and book and gazed at the many stars in the sky.
Starlight could only watch as she peered into the lens and scribbled down notes. This was the biggest change Equestria's ever seen and it won't be happy. He smiled and remembered why she did it, because she cared for him. He thought of the dream he had and realized what his good outcome meant.
The pair were heading to the Sun Wing because they got bored of sitting on a cold roof top for two hours. They both knew fully how any of Celestia's guard would react when they saw her, so Twilight placed a invisibility charm on themselves.
They were in silence because of Twilight's spell, the one in the library. She was the only princess since the first one to actually change herself to be a part of the night. Starlight stood closer to her feeling more welcomed by her appearance.
Twilight stopped and pulled Starlight over against the wall. A guard in golden armor was coming up the hall and he seem angry looking. Twilight heart skipped a beat when he stopped right in front of them. He looked in their direction, but did not say a word.
Three other guards in gold trotted down the hall and greeted him.
"Hey, there you are." (Guard 1)
"Come on we've been waiting on ya'!" (Guard 3)
"Keep it down or we'll all be in trouble." (Guard 2)
"I'm coming. Let's hurry up, I wanna take out those bat things as much as everypony else." (Staring Guard)
Twilight and Starlight looked at each other and followed the group of guards. They followed them down the halls they already walked through and finally ended up in front of the silver doors. They saw there was another guard placing explosives around the door. They saw it was Iron Flame grunting as he worked.
"Sir we are ready for the attack." (Guard 2)
"Great, stand back and watch as we finally find out what's behind this door." (Iron Flame)
The four guards went to the far wall almost hugging it while Iron Flame pulled a wired and box with him. Twilight had seen enough. She trotted to the star on the ground and unraveled her spell. This gave the guards quite a shock.
She bared her fangs and flared her wings causing them to fall on their knees.
"Princess, oh princess, what did they do to you!" (Guard 3)
"Can we cure you, princess? Please tell us!" (Guard 2)
"Yes, yes! Let us help you, princess! We can go straight to Princess Celestia at once!" (Guard 1)
That guard ran off to fetch their ruler when Starlight popped into existence, flaring wings and baring fangs. The guard immediately collapsed and ran back to his fellow guards-ponies. Twilight stepped forward and out her fangs away, so to speak.
Her draconic eyes stared at each of them and finally she spoke.
"You may not see beauty in a zaldia, but you must get used to seeing them. We are not monsters that hide under beds, we protect ponies at night when they sleep or if they take an evening walk. Nopony will stop us from doing our nightly duties. Not even a pack of foolish young recruits.
Iron Flame, you must be very proud of yourself. You were about to open the doors by explosion and destroy half of the wonderful place inside. And not only that, The five of you could have brought up a war against us and we all know that Celestia will not allow this."
The mention of Celestia made them cower, Iron Flame didn't give in.
"All right then, princess. How do we know you're speaking any truth out of that snake mouth."
"Because I have more than a thousand supporters. Both zaldia and pony, you must think what would happen when a war breaks out and ponies wonder who started it? Who was the cause of our troubles? Then you are found out and placed in a cage, in a dungeon, in a forest, far from home, and surrounded by dragons."
Iron Flame raised his hoof, but Starlight got between him and his target. The zaldia fell over on the ground so hard his helmet came off. Twilight turned to Flame and grinned.
"What's with you? I just punched your guard."
"Yes and Fang does not like you."
Flame stared at her in confusion then yelped as a pair of fangs came upon his leg. Turning around he saw the zaldia captain, pulled his leg free and ran like he was on fire. The other guards followed in suit.
"Come along, my queen," She said picking up Starlight.
"I'm not a queen. I'm a princess, I'm nowhere near that at all."
"You are a queen to us now. Nopony, not even Luna, would go as far as you did. We now have a true leader to follow, thank you, Queen."
"What happens to Luna?"
"She will still move the night and live in Noctis, but the guard will only take orders from you."
Twilight and Fang placed Starlight in the medical wing of Noctis and trotted to the library. Fang said she was not going to leave her alone until Midnight came. Twilight stared at the clock counting the minutes.
"Princess Luna, young Sparkle preformed the spell. Now are you going to play?"
Luna stared at Discord who was clapping his claws and smiling ear to ear. She let out a sigh, He did do what she wanted him to, but a play-date with Discord spelled trouble.
"I will honor our agreement, Discord. And you remember what to do next?"
"Of course! Lulu, do you really think I would miss the opportunity to give her the news? Never! Besides she can't hurt me without that element of hers."
"Discord, you know who she is don't you?"
"A zaldia queen. I read that silly book about how the batties came to be."
"You did not finish it did you?"
"Why would I spoil the ending? I hate endings."
Luna pulled out a dusty book and showed Discord a certain page from long ago. He took out a pair of giant glasses and read the page. His smile faded and he toppled over on the ground.
"You can't be serious! She's the...the.... Oh my, I must say this changes everything! I need to find a red stone, no a blue rock, and a case of mountain troll tears! But first I need to conclude our deal!"
With that, the draconequus grabbed her hoof and ran out the window.
"Come on Lulu! We are going to pull off the best prank ever on old Sun Spot!"
Celestia watched as Luna lowered the moon from the Solar Tower, Luna seemed exhausted from the night. After she had left to her chambers Celestia rose up dragging the yellow orb with her. The stars moved away as the sun rose higher and higher into the sky.
She placed it in the center to give everypony light. Then, as she released her grasp on the sun, a grey blur flew past her. Celestia stared at the blur as it sped off to the gardens. Then turned back where it came from, lucky she dived in time to avoid the dozen blurs speeding after the first.
Celestia then turned and followed them to the gardens where many zaldias had gathered already. She quickly disguised herself as a zaldia bat and landed next to a mare who seemed excited.
"Is it true? Do we really have a queen?"
"Fang said it was true, so it must be true."
"What about Luna? Will she send our queen to the moon?"
"I hope not."
"Silence young ones, our queen wishes to speak." (Fang)
Everypony turned their attention to the captain who was landing on a fountain. Shortly after, Twilight escorted by Midnight and Starlight, who recovered with a spell, landed in front of the crowd. They bowed to her making themselves as low as possible.
Celestia watched as her prized pupil opened her wings and eyes. They were now in the form of Nightmare Moon's, one that deeply shocked Celestia. For a split second she thought Twilight had turned to the darkest shadows, but then remembered what her mother told her.
"Hello everypony, I am Twilight Sparkle. Last night I was trotting through the dream world when I thought came to me after seeing a very interesting dream. Princess Luna will pass on her night to me when the time comes, but how can I rule over the night without becoming apart of it?
What if my sister-in-law, Cadence, needs me to take over the day? So I thought of the solution, during the day all zaldias will appear as normal ponies, at night you will change back to a zaldia. I myself shall demonstrate."
Twilight's horn shined and formed a sphere around her. She levitated a few feet then with a pop dropped on her hooves as her alicorn-pony self. The crowd stared at her in confusion, Celestia looked at her with a smile.
"So what you are saying is if you are going to do something in the day, we can still guard you?"
Twilight looked at the zaldia hoof in front of her and nodded.
"Well sign me up! I will always follow my queen."
The others muttered to each other then applauded their leader. Twilight smiled and gave Fang the spell so she could have a zaldia horn cast it. Twilight and Starlight moved away from the crowd and trotted off to the castle. Celestia motioned to follow, but was blocked by Fang.
"Sorry rookie, queen is not to be disturbed at all."
"Well then I shall go speak with Luna about all this."
Before Fang could stop her, Celestia jumped into the air and flew up to the Noctis Tower.
Meanwhile Starlight, now a pegasus, and Twilight flew off to meet her friends in the park. Twilight landed perfectly on the ground while her guard landed in a tree.
"Are you okay?"
"It's been a while since I had feathers. Kinda tickles."
"You'll get used to them."
Twilight pulled him down with magic making him land on the ground with a thump. Rainbow Dash appeared next to him on the ground, apparently she was sleeping in the tree. Fluttershy picked her up while Starlight stood up slowly.
"Hey I was nap----Oh it's you." (Rainbow)
"Nice to see you too." (Starlight)
"I'm sure she just grumpy from being knocked out of a tree." (Twilight)
"You would too if you napped on the top branch. Hey where's Scoots?" (Rainbow)
No later than that a orange filly dropped onto her back still asleep. Rainbow looked over at the filly and smiled.
"Never mind."
They spent the day talking and picnicking with her friends, but Starlight couldn't stop thinking of his dream. He was sure it was just the good outcome in it, but after hearing Twilight's speech he knew it was the real one. Then another thought rolled into his head.
"Hey Twilight?"
"Yes."
She turned from her conversation with Rarity to Starlight who was shaking a bit. He straightened himself and made the 'this is a time of truth' face.
"I need to speak with you alone. It is very important."
"Alright, lead the way. We'll be back soon girls."
They trotted over to a bench near some trees to block themselves from view. After sitting down Twilight looked at Starlight who was still standing.
"Aren't you going to sit?"
"No, I need to stand for this."
He looked around to be sure nopony was listening then looked straight into Twilight's eyes. He forgot his worries and spoke.
"Twilight, I have been thinking a lot lately and that since this should as good a time as ever. Do you think you would want to....I mean....well I..."
"You don't have to say anything. I already know."
"Y-you do!"
"Of course. Your dream was the only one I was allowed to be in. And I already have an answer."
Starlight gulped. It didn't look good. The bad Twilight started like that too.
"Yes."
"What?"
"Yes."
"You...you really want to...I mean..."
"Calm down, you look like you're going to faint."
"Only from happiness."
They rejoined the mares who were staring at a shadow in the sky. Twilight sat next to Fluttershy and looked up. The shadow seemed to be getting closer and closer and closer, until...
"Everypony duck!" (Pinkie)
The shadow spiraled down to the ground behind them, showering dirt on their coats. Rarity pulled out her fainting couch and fell onto it. Twilight trotted to the hole made by the object. Lying in it was a zaldia hoof. She levitated him over to the picnic blanket and wrapped his front leg in bandages.
"What happened?" (Twilight)
"The unicorns, they blasted us while we used the spell you gave us. They said we are not worthy of the night!" (Guard)
"Were they in gold armor, Obsidian?" (Starlight)
"No, they were regular unicorns. They had a strange symbol on those necklaces they wore." (Obsidian)
"What was it?" (Twilight)
"It was...THAT!" (Obsidian)
Obsidian pointed at a group of unicorns and pegasi standing behind them. Immediately, Starlight put himself between Twilight and the offending ponies. He bared his teeth which grew fangs in defense. The leading unicorn, wearing a cloak over his head, trotted up to him. The symbol on his necklace was a bright crescent blue moon with a silver star in it's curve.
"My queen, we are honored with your presence." (Stallion)
"Go away. I am not your queen. You are not welcome here." (Twilight)
"My queen, we only wish to rid the vermin you have. He is not worthy to live." (Stallion)
"What makes you think you can say who can live!" (Rainbow)
"Our birthright. We are Nocturne, ponies under the moon's light. We are guided by Blue Moon, we are the true zaldia." (Stallion)
"You are not children of Blue Moon. She created the zaldias to guard her, you can't even see in the dark without a torch!" (Starlight)
"Poor bat. He lost his sense of direction. You are impure, unfit to be under the new queen's wing." (Stallion)
"Enough! You ponies have know idea what you are saying! I would never let you under my wing even if I was dying and never ever have you in my sight! Now go before I call Luna to send you to the moon!" (Twilight)
"Very well, my queen. We will leave, but we will be watching. You will soon see the true light." (Stallion)
The leader set off a smoke bomb and disappeared. Twilight and her friends went to the castle to see Celestia and Luna about the strange ponies. Midnight met them at the doors to the throne room, apparently with a broken wing, and took Obsidian to the hospital wing.
Luna was sitting with Fang who stared at every corner in the room. Celestia was staring out the window towards the gardens that laid in ruins after a large fight.
"Celestia, there were-"
"I know. They caused quite a bit of damage to the gardens and made an attempt on Luna's life. These ponies, Nocturne, are a group from long ago, before Luna and I took the throne. I hoped we would never see them again."
Luna trotted over to Twilight, her wing folded over the young alicorn. Luna looked up to her elder sister.
"Perhaps I should tell her of the Nocturne, my mother was the victim of their worship." (Luna)
"Of course. Blue Moon suffered much from them." (Celestia)
"What's going on?" (Rainbow)
"Yes. We thought, like all ponies, you had a mother and a father." (Rarity)
"We were raised as sisters from the last alicorns." (Luna)
"But your alicorns right now." (Pinkie)
"It is very complicated. But Luna and I appear as alicorns, we were created to hold the place until the real leader takes the throne." (Celestia)
"Then what are you?" (Twilight)
Luna stood next to Celestia and bowed. Her horn glowed and a white light enveloped her entire body. The ponies had to shield their eyes from the bright light filling the room. Luna disappeared leaving a crystal, actual crystal, blue pony standing wings flared and horn glow fading.
Everpony, except Celestia, was wide eyed and mouth dropped. Pinkie fell over on her face from the weight of hers. The crystal pony turned to Celestia, who was beginning to glow as well. After another blinding light a pink crystal pony stood tall.
"Princess?" (Twilight)
"Twilight, we are made entirely out magic crystal found with the crystal heart. We were created by Golden Apple and Blue Moon to protect Equestria from any creature. Luna was raised in the night while I was raised in the day. Our mothers gave us their magic so we could grow.
We are the only living children of the last alicorns. You and Cadence are the first alicorns since Discord removed the real sun and moon from the sky." (Celestia)
"Nocturne wanted to destroy me in hopes of bringing my mother back, but failed when her guards, the zaildas, interrupted the spell. We believe now they wish to use you to bring back Blue Moon." (Luna)
"Use me? Blue Moon? I'm sorry, but I don't understand. How? Why? What?" (Twilight)
"Twilight, be calm." (Celestia)
The two crystal alicorns flashed brightly again and the royal sisters stood once more. Celestia waved a hoof and a small tree appeared. Luna waved a wing and a bush appeared. Twilight stared at the two items, but neither did anything significant.
"Celestia, what are these supposed to be?" (Twilight)
"They were the keepers of the tree of harmony. The tree is a pegasus named Sprout, the bush is a earth pony named Ferngully. they are the only ones who could help us against Nocturne." (Celestia)
"How in the hay are two plants gonna help us?" (Applejack)
"They are the only beings who have the knowledge of Nocturne and they may be a great use to you Twilight." (Luna)
"Pardon me, princess, but how are we to believe any of this is actually real? You can change yourselves into anything you wish and could have brought us two plants from the garden." (Rarity)
"A very fine point, Rarity. We could be playing a joke, but would that be appropriate after have a multitude of unicorns injure sixteen zaldias?" (Celestia)
The room was silent. Any doubt flew out the window and into the sun. Twilight felt guilt being the one to bring the zaldias outside. She trotted forward to her mentor and looked back at her friends. Her eyes fell on Starlight who was nervous being close to Celestia.
Twilight then looked down at the tree and bush, both had black symbols around the bases. The purple alicorn nodded to the two sisters, Luna picked up Sprout while Celestia levitated Ferngully. The two plants circled, but did nothing significant.
"The keepers are sensitive to things that harm plants, so try not to step hard on grass." (Celestia)
The plants circled around Twilight causing Starlight to reach out for her. The tree suddenly smacked his hoof with a branch and waved a twig like a mother scolding a child. The bush grew bigger into a topiary in the shape of a pony. The tree glowed and grew to the size of a full grown apple tree.
Applejack gasped at the size the apples were, big as a cow. Twilight couldn't move from her spot because even the two plant-ponies were growing larger and they flew around her faster. When suddenly the tree engulfed her in its leaves.
Starlight and Fang darted around the thing trying to find their queen, Fang spotted her tail and pulled. The plants stopped moving and settle on the floor. Fang and Starlight, now joined by Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy, kept tugging on the tail, but could not make it budge.
"Sprout, stop kissing the magic leader! She might turn you to stone!"
The voice was so loud that the pegasi and zaldias toppled over from its sudden appearance. A light brown mare with a grass green mane was staring angrily at the tree. Twilight was dropped to the ground, a dark brown pegasus with a forest green mane followed, landing softer than the alicorn.
"Fern, you know I haven't seen another mare besides you in our sleep! I'm a little flirty right now. Hello, who is that pink maned beauty?"
Fluttershy ducked behind Fang while Starlight helped Twilight up. Then he took a branch from the tree and snapped it off.
"Hey! Are you crazy! That's my tree you hurt you...you...what in Infernus is he?" (Sprout)
"That's a zaldia bat, royal guards to Blue Moon and her daughter. Remember, Lulu, little filly, always tugging your tail." (Fern)
"Excuse me, but I would like an explanation for your behavior towards the queen." (Fang)
Sprout turned to the captain who was barring her fangs and posed ready to attack the pegasus. Celestia trotted up the tree-pony and smiled.
"Sprout, Fern, it is good to see you again." (Celestia)
"Tia, my how you've grown! Look at your mane, no longer a pink curl. Lulu, you look gorgeous. Just look at your beautiful face, full of life!" (Fern)
"Tis good to see you Fern. Sprout I hope you are not going to try that again on Queen Twilight Sparkle, the magic leader." (Luna)
"Lulu, with the way you look, I'd say that you and I need to get out tonight for a nice little-" (Sprout)
"SPROUT! That is Princess Luna you are speaking to! Would you like to have Blue Moon come down on you and send you to Tartarus!" (Fern)
Luna sighed. She pulled Fern close to herself, her eyes saddened from memories.
"Fern, old friend, mother is no longer here." (Luna)
"Oh Lulu. She was a great mare." (Fern)
"Full of spunk and life. And what about your mother Tia?" (Sprout)
"Gone as well." (Celestia)
"Ah, Goldy. You were the best mare I was ever with." (Sprout)
Fang glared and the tree stallion. Twilight moved away from Starlight despite his pulling and levitated a apple from the tree. She examined it for a moment then turned to Sprout.
"Celestia said you had knowledge of Nocturne." (Twilight)
"Indeed. They caused our queens much pain and sorrow." (Fern)
"Can you come with me? I would like to know more." (Twilight)
The plant ponies stared at each other then nodded. The young alicorn tried hard not to squee in excitement of new knowledge. Twilight and Starlight, with Fern and Sprout in tow, trotted off to the Noctis Wing. The group of friends were left with exploring the city or the castle.
In the Noctis library, Twilight was writing furiously in a notebook as faster than the two plant ponies could talk. Sprout was out of breathe by the time they were done.
"Now that you know the pony tribes were placed, thrived and got along, would you like to hear about Nocturne?" (Fern)
Twilight looked up from her book clearly lost in the words. Starlight sighed and turned his head to them seeing nothing interesting outside.
"Sorry, I just had to ask." (Twilight)
"Now where to begin? Oh yes. Around the time the Crystal Empire disappeared, the two Queens returned home after failing to stop its disappearance." (Fern)
"Celestia and Luna were fillies during the time, running around, causing mayhem. But they had pure hearts and always did what was right. It was from them that Blue Moon and Golden Apple heard the rumors of a cult named Nocturne forming." (Sprout)
"I remember Luna running up to Bluey about strange unicorns outside the castle claiming to be her children. After we went outside to see them, they started chanting and Luna was held in a sphere of stars. Blue commanded them to release her daughter, but they said she was impure, not her true child.
Blue had no choice but to hurt them. She fought against the unicorns' black magic for hours until she collapsed onto the ground. I stood over her as a shield until Goldy showed up and sent them to Tartarus." (Fern)
"Blue was in bandages for weeks with five zaldias by her side at all times. It was later on we learned those unicorns were not the only members, when one tried to take Luna's life." (Sprout)
Sprout got to his hooves and trotted to a nearby pillow and dropped his head into it. Fern turned to Twilight after watching her companion.
"He was looking after Princess Luna when they knocked him out to get to her. Bluey managed to rid the cultist before he could use his knife on her." (Fern)
Twilight nodded and looked back at the pegasus, he was sniffling into the plush pillow. Starlight got up and placed a wing over him. It was always upsetting to know you couldn't do anything to help.
"This is going to be the best party EVER!" (Pinkie)
After asking Celestia, the group of friends began decorating for Twilight's party. Rarity was busy designing outfits in her room. Pinkie was firing her blue cannon. Applejack was making all types of treats in the kitchen, while trying to ignore the head chef.
Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash were putting up the streamers in bright silver, purple, blue, and pink. Night Star flew around the room watching the three ponies work. She stared at the pink pony on the ground for a moment before landing softly on the party cannon.
"Oh hi there Nighty! Whatcha want?" (Pinkie)
The cloud's yellow eyes just stared. Then the floating wisps of cloud disappeared from the filly, leaving a powder pink coat and cyan mane. The earth mare giggled at the sight.
"Aw. You wanna be a pony!" (Pinkie)
She picked up the filly and squeezed her in tight hug. The cyan pegasus began descending towards the pair while Fluttershy finished placing streamers.
"Pinkie Pie have you seen th-?" (Rainbow)
Rainbow Dash stopped her flight after spotting the filly with a rope tied around her waist. Fluttershy landed to see why her friend stopped. Without talking, Dash trotted out of the room and came back with a flustered Rarity.
"Now what is all the fuss about?" (Rarity)
The pristine mare looked over to Fluttershy who had the pink filly lying next to her. After a small bright light from the filly, a pink strip ran through the cyan mane.
"It's Nighty! She wanted to be a cute little pony!" (Pinkie)
Rarity wasn't as skilled in magic as Twilight was, but any unicorn could see the remains of a spell.
"Night Star looks like a pony. It may seem the poor dear was hit with a morphing spell." (Rarity)
"So we have a thousand year-old filly now?" (Rainbow)
"A thousand and one hundred year-old alicorn filly, to be precise." (Nighty)
The group looked towards the powder pink alicorn on the floor. Her yellow eyes moved from one pony to the next.
"Can I see my new mother?" (Nighty)
"New mother?" (Fluttershy)
Her eyes turned to the yellow pegasus.
"Yes, I heard somepony saying I was a gift for a princess. I would like to meet her." (Nighty)
"Well sweetie, you'll just have to wait. I'm not even sure you're real." (Rarity)
The filly fluttered her wings in response to the unicorn. Then turned away, walking towards the other gifts. One was silver pendant, that was the one that caught her eye. Gently, she picked up the necklace and frowned.
Fluttershy sat down next to the filly and placed a wing around her. She noted tears forming in those yellow eyes.
"It says Blue Moon, Queen of the Night." (Nighty)
"Was she your mother?" (Fluttershy)
Night nodded and wiped her eyes.
"I miss her. I miss my sister. I miss my home." (Nighty)
"Did she turn you into a cloud?" (Fluttershy)
"No, mother would never hurt me. I think my aunt did." (Nighty)
"Your aunt? Why would your aunt do that?" (Rainbow)
"I think to keep me safe. I miss her too." (Nighty)
The cyan pegasus sat on the other side of the filly, the remaining mares sat behind them. All of them gave comforting words and petting her mane. After twenty minutes Pinkie broke the silence.
"Hey! Doesn't Nighty look kinda look like Twilight?" (Pinkie)
The mares looked at each other then at Nighty. Now the noticed she did have the traditional Sparkle strip in her mane and her face structure was similar to the purple alicorn. Even her voice, though young and higher in pitch, sounded like Twilight's.
"Maybe Twilight's family descended from Miss Blue Moon." (Rarity)
"Maybe or Twilight is a time traveler that went into the past and is secretly a alien in disguise!" (Pinkie)
"I don't think so Pinkie." (Rainbow)
"Maybe Twilight should know about Nighty." (Fluttershy)
"Then you should take her. Night Star seems more comfortable with you." (Rarity)
The yellow mare flinched. Nighty adjusted herself to the mare's movement.
"Go on Fluttershy. It will be alright." (Rainbow)
Fluttershy trotted down the halls following a golden armored stallion. Nighty stayed close to Fluttershy as he lead them to a large silver door. The guard stopped then turned to the pair.
"This is where I leave you. No Celestial guard allowed. Good luck getting in." (guard)
He trotted away to get back to his post. Night Star looked at the writing on the door and turned to Fluttershy.
"I think I can read it. Stand back just in case." (Nighty)
The pegasus nodded and backed away from the door, but was stopped when she heard an enchanting voice.
"Under the moonlight, we dance and play, joining our dear mother. Under the stars, we jump up and sing to our sweet mother." (Nighty)
The door split in two revealing the great Noctis Wing. Fluttershy trotted with Night pass the door and into the large hall. They walked for a few minutes until they found a silver armored mare. The mare had deep red eyes and a dark green coat.
The guard eyed them and bared her fangs. Her front hooves were deep black and looked liked a pair of slippers. Fluttershy felt the young alicorn under her body. She glared at the mare.
"Hey! What do you think you're doing! Scaring a poor defenseless filly like that, you should be ashamed of yourself!" (Fluttershy)
The guard was taken aback by the yellow mare's statement. Then looked down to see the filly hiding under the mare. She took quick notice of the slight curve in the filly's horn and the folding pattern on her wings.
"My apologies, you must be one of the friends the queen spoke of. Please follow me, I'll take you to her." (Guard)
Fluttershy happily followed the mare to the Noctis Library. After more walking they came to a wooden door labeled library. The guard knocked on the door until a brown mare opened the door.
"Hello, may I help you?" (Fern)
"I have a mare here to see the queen. She is one of her friends." (Guard)
"Hold on." (Fern)
The mare closed the door and a few seconds later the door opened to reveal the purple alicorn. Though due to the darkness in the Noctis Wing, the mare had returned to her zaldia form. This caused Fluttershy to jump behind the guard.
"Fluttershy? Are you okay?" (Twilight)
The pegasus poked her head out from behind the guard.
"Twilight? What happened to you?" (Fluttershy)
"I used a special spell on myself to help in my studies. Wait, how did you get in here?" (Twilight)
The pegasus trotted up to her friend with caution, the filly hidden under her moved with the mare. When Fluttershy was a foot from Twilight she spoke.
"That's kind of why I'm here." (Fluttershy)
The two mares went into the library leaving the guard to return to her post. Starlight stared at the mare with his queen. Fern was writing in a notebook. Sprout was sitting by the window. Fluttershy shifted uncomfortably in place.
Twilight sat on a cushion and motioned the pegasus to one next to her. Fluttershy didn't move.
"Twilight, while we were setting up for your surprise party, well, one of the gifts started, um,started..." (Fluttershy)
The purple mare noticed movement under the shy pegasus. A filly, smaller than Sweetie Belle, was trying her best to hide in the long pink mane. When she noticed Twilight's eyes she came out of the tangles of hair and stared at the zaldia queen.
Starlight stood next to Twilight, watching the pink filly. Fluttershy smiled a little at Nighty.
"This is Night Star. She was, well, she was a magic cloud, but now she is a pony. She also believes that, well um, you are goingto, um, be her mother." (Fluttershy)
"What was that last part?" (Twilight)
"Um, Nighty thinks you're goingto be her mother." (Fluttershy)
Nighty's eyes turned to Starlight, his wings started twitching. Her pupils were slowly retracting to the center of her eyes causing them to look draconic. Her horn was curved slightly The filly tilted her head at the stallion.
"Starlight!" (Twilight)
The zaldia jumped a bit then turned to the queen.
"Yes, my queen." (Starlight)
"I said to please watch Night Star while I talk with Fluttershy." (Twilight)
He nodded and watched as Twilight brought the pegasus through a door leading to a study. Starlight then turned to the filly he had to watch. She was now moving her wings experimentally.
"What are you doing?" (Starlight)
The yellow eyes turned to him again, the pupils now a perfect slit.
"I wanna see your wings please." (Nighty)
"Well I wanna now how you are a zaldia." (Starlight)
"What's a zaldia?" (Nighty)
Starlight stared at the filly. Almost everypony in the world was aware of the zaldias, why the little filly wouldn't he wasn't sure. He held his wings open for the filly to see.
"I'm a zaldia. A pony who is nocturnal and follows the zaldia queen. Right now that is Twilight Sparkle." (Starlight)
"So, my wings are like your wings?" (Nighty)
"Your eyes too." (Starlight)
He pulled Night Star to the mirror so she could see the change for herself. The cyan maned filly gasped at the sight of her reflection. Starlight smiled at the little filly, she was just adorable.
"Do you know why you're a zaldia?" (Starlight)
Nighty looked up at the grey stallion.
"I guess because my mommy was one." (Nighty)
"Who's your mom?" (Starlight)
"Somepony special." (Nighty)
Starlight was going to respond when Sprout pounced on Nighty. The brown pegasus picked up the alicorn filly and placed her on a sitting cushion. Starlight immediately placed himself between the two.
"Why did you do that?" (Starlight)
The pegasus looked behind the grey zaldia at the pink alicorn. Starlight opened his wings to block her from view. Fern stayed where she was, watching her companion.
"I don't know." (Sprout)
Twilight and Fluttershy trotted from the study towards the two stallions. Starlight sat beside the filly while Sprout went back to his window. The purple queen and yellow mare sat in front of the two. It was a few minutes after Twilight spoke.
"Night Star I..." (Twilight) She took notice Nighty's eyes.
Fluttershy placed a wing around her friend, the purple mare did theorize about the filly's origin from her age and the spell used on her.
"I have discussed with my friend about your circumstances right now and I have decided to take you under my wing for now." (Twilight)
"So you'll be my new mommy?" (Nighty)
Twilight stared at the cyan maned filly, her wings twitching nervously. Starlight felt the silence to be very awkward. Fluttershy spoke.
"No, at least not yet. Sometimes ponies aren't ready for that kind of responsibility until a certain age or phase. But Twilight will still care for you until she's ready." (Fluttershy)
Nighty nodded to the yellow mare. She understood a bit of what the pegasus said, but she still felt like it was a no. After a few minutes, Fluttershy left with the to plant ponies to the ballroom while Twilight and Night Star got to know each other. Starlight sat near the pair watching them with a smile.
Deep underground in the catacombs, four cloaked ponies stood in a circle. Each was a unicorn holding a star-shaped crystal in their magic. In the center of the circle was a pool of night blue water, it shimmered from the glow of the horns.
A unicorn stallion stared into the pool, waiting for a sign. The ponies around him chanted while pushing the star crystals toward the water. Moonlight leaked into the cavern through a small hole in the ceiling, pointing to the pool's center. The crystals reached the light as the ponies chanted louder, the water began to stir.
Slowly the water rose into the beam of light, darkening it. The four crystals circled around until a bright window opened up. The stallion stared at the window, the moon and star glowed brightly on his amulet. Then a light purple head appeared in the window.
The mane was deep purple with a pink stripe, a large horn with a crooked edge poked through the hair. The stallion smiled at the mare.
"My queen of queens, ruler of the moon, light in the dark, I wish to speak." (Stallion)
The mare's eyes opened revealing yellow, draconic slits. A scowl formed on the mystery mare's face as she pointed a hoof at the cloaked pony.
"You are not allowed to summon me, Ivory. You and your idiotic cult know that I will never become the queen of queens." (Mare)
Ivory Tusk removed the hood of his cloak still smiling at her.
"My dear queen, your children only wish to free you." (Ivory)
"You are not my children! You are insane ponies who wish nothing more than eternal night and the destruction of my daughters!" (mare)
"My queen, please. Your daughters are nothing more than a pair of earrings and a miserable orphan." (Ivory)
The mare's wings flared behind her, lightning struck the ground in front of Ivory. He jumped back in response then glared at the mare.
"I only spoke the truth! The crystal was never meant to live! The child was abandoned by the father! You deserve better than that." (Ivory)
The surrounding unicorns prepared to pull the crystals away and close the window. Ivory held his hoof up to stop them.
"My queen, Blue Moon, I apologize for my outburst. I don't think you know this, but I am not a true unicorn. I was born an earth pony among the Canterlot nobles. Ridiculed for the lack of a pair of wings or a horn, I was brought to the Nocturne.
They summoned you and you blessed me with a horn. You are in a way, my mother. I just want to be, like all the others, a loyal child." (Ivory)
Blue Moon stared daggers at Ivory. He was becoming desperate, his attack on the castle must have failed. There is no possible way for her sister's spell to be undone. Not even their most powerful unicorns can break it. She looked at the unicorn on her right, causing them to flinch.
"I do not need more children. Ivory, if you want me to be happy then go and use your magic to help others." (Blue)
"I am helping, my queen. My brother has informed me earlier that the cloud has broken." (Ivory)
The silver-grey stallion smiled to her, awaiting her response. Blue Moon however laughed.
"Is something the matter, my queen?" (Ivory)
"Night Star is safe from you." (Blue)
"And why do you say that? we know where she is and how to capture her so that she can take your place." (Ivory)
Blue Moon's horn glowed, conjuring a eight point star in front of her.
"Do you know what this is, Ivory?" (Blue)
"Of course, my queen. It is the symbol of the magic leader, the one who is destined to lead those around her, the one true queen. But she cannot exist, nopony is that powerful." (Ivory)
"That is were you're wrong. My sister and I already sensed her presence, she is here." (Blue)
"You do not mean.." (Ivory)
"Yes. Queen Twilight Sparkle, you've already seen her and yet you were blind to who she was. You will never win against my heir." (Blue)
With that the four unicorns removed the star crystals and the connection was lost. Ivory Tusk stood still, mouth agape. He had been blind to not see the eight point star on the new princess's flank. Nothing can stop magic that strong, but......
"Hmm......Prepare yourselves, my brothers and sisters, for a development has arisen. We can still free our mother! And now we can free her without shedding blood! We will return the real celestial orbs to the sky and bring back the queen! All hail the Moon!" (Ivory)
Princess Luna stood on the tallest tower of the castle, smiling at the moon. She knew for a fact her mother was smiling back at her. She always knew. Unfortunately she couldn't smile at her aunt without burning her eyes. Sighing she got up from her perch and flew downwards, landing swiftly on a balcony. Fang Fury stood near the balcony's edge, Luna smiled at her captain.
"Princess, you were with her again, weren't you?" (Fang)
Luna sighed.
"Yes, I was." (Luna)
Fang turned around to her princess. Luna grew tense her gaze.
"Princess, you know what this means. Having the Magic Leader be the zaldia queen?" (Fang)
"Yes I do, but I don't think she is ready for that spell." (Luna)
"But she could create-" (Fang)
The zaldia bat was cut off by a silver armored zaldia bat running towards them. He quickly stopped and bowed to Luna before speaking to them.
"Princess Luna, I have come to inform you that Princess Cadence has declined Celestia offer. She said she had the Crystal Empire to run." (Guard)
Luna looked towards the moon with a smile.
"Princess, what does it mean?" (Guard)
The deep blue alicorn flared her wings, startling the guard. Fang looked towards the moon following her princess's gaze. The silver surface seemed to smile back at the ponies below.
Twilight smiled at the room she entered. They decorated the entire ballroom in her colors and invited all the Noctis guards, her family, and many nobles from around Canterlot. Starlight stood by her right in his silver armor minus the helmet while Night Star, wearing the silver pendent and disguised as a unicorn, stood at her left.
Many ponies turned in response to her appearance, but the music had stopped. Twilight was a zaldia at the moment and nopony expected to see that. Even her friends stopped to stare at her. The moment seemed to last forever until three alicorns came up behind her.
"Hello everypony." (Cadence)
"Greetings, mares and gentlecolts." (Luna)
"Good evening everypony. I will make an announcement later tonight, but for now enjoy the party celebrating Princess Twilight's three week anniversary of becoming apart of the royal court." (Celestia)
This calmed ponies down and they returned to what they were doing before. The royal sisters wandered off into the crowd while the pink alicorn stayed with Twilight. The sister-in-laws stayed with each other until they met up with the unicorn in purple armor.
"There's my two favorite mares." (Shining)
Twilight stood still as her brother circled around her, taking in her new appearance. Starlight did his best not to hit the stallion.
"Wow, even your eyes are different," he said stopping in front of her.
"And I still believe it was the best decision." (Twilight)
"Shiny! How was your train ride?" (Cadence)
"It went well, except for the colt that mistook me for a farmer." (Shining)
"A farmer? How can anypony mistake you for a farmer?" (Twilight)
"Because of big and strong he is!" (Cadence)
This caused the mares to laugh leaving Shining in confusion on why that was funny. To change the subject he turned to the filly next to Twilight.
"So who's this little filly?" (Shining)
"Oh this is my apprentice, Night Star." (Twilight)
"Isn't she adorable Shiny!" (Cadence)
"Yeah, she is pretty cute." (Shining)
The blue-maned stallion watched as his wife lifted the pink filly and squeezed her in a tight hug. The couple had been hoping for a foal of their own for a while, but they weren't graced with one yet. Cadence finally released the filly who quickly hid under Twilight.
"She's really shy with new ponies." (Twilight)
Starlight spotted his younger sister among the sea of ponies. She was currently hovering a few inches next to the rainbow-maned pegasus. The siblings caught each others gaze, Midnight sent a toothy grin to her brother. Starlight kindly returned with his own. She tilted her head to her left and winked.
The bat-winged stallion got the message, take a chance. He couldn't do anything at the moment though, Twilight was occupied with her family. The only thing he could do was make sure she was safe.
After an hour or so, Shining Armor and Cadence were on the dance floor. Twilight was speaking with Scarlet Quill about some book, he didn't really pay attention to the conversation. Night Star was hiding under his belly from the prying eyes of ponies.
The zaldias attending the party were mostly grouped away from the day walkers as they called them. They were currently standing on the edge of the group when a hoof tapped his shoulder. Starlight turned his head to see a cream-colored head and bright yellow mane.
"What do you want Flame."
"Look moon lover, I'm just here because my commanding shouted at me for trying to blow a hole in the castle. If you will let me, I would like to apologize to the princess."
"If you're gonna do that then you should call her by her proper title."
"Proper title?"
Twilight was just discussing the theory of quill styles affecting the reader's mind when the sun Lieutenant came up to her bowing. The purple mare gave him an icing glare as he raised his head.
"Yes Lieutenant Iron Flame."
The cream unicorn gulped as he noticed cat-slit eyes watching him. If what that guard said was true then he better not insult her or else those beady eyes would tear right through his throat. He kept his eyes level with the royal mare so to seem less of a threat.
"I would like to sincerely apologize to you, Queen, for attempting to destroy the home of you and your fellow zaldias."
Most of the eyes widened at the Celestial Guard. Twilight's draconic eyes studied his face until speaking to the unicorn male.
"You, Iron Flame, are forgiven, but you have to now spend the rest of the evening with..."
Twilight turned to the crowd of zaldias searching for a volunteer to take the offending stallion. Unfortunately nopony wanted to spend the rest of the night with the guy. Suddenly a pink hoof went into the air, Twilight couldn't help but smile.
"Pinkie Pie."
Iron Flame looked over to see a pink earth pony wearing the torso piece to a Lunar guard armor. (Though it seemed it was more for a pegasus stallion than a earth mare.)
"Hi I'm Pinkie Pie! Tonight I'll be your guide to the magical world of bat ponies!"
The bubbly pony grabbed the unicorn by the hoof and pulled him off to who knows where. Scarlet giggled behind the purple queen.
"You must tell me what that was about."
The red-maned mare smiled at Twilight.
"Another time, right now I want to check on my apprentice."
She passed two zaldia horns laughing about the Lieutenant. Starlight smiled toward his queen, who gave a smile in return. Twilight lowered her head to check on Night who was still under the stallion.
"Twilight."
Starlight lowered his head to be at her eye level.
"Yes?"
"Well since we missed that dinner thing, would you like to dance?"
Twilight stared at him while her mind processed what she heard. But she felt bad for missing the dinner it wasn't to hard to answer.
"Sure."
They stood on the dance floor moving to a great party song. The song stopped and was replaced by a slower one, that's when everypony who didn't have a dance partner trotted off to do something else. Twilight placed her front hoof around his neck as he did the same.
The moved with the music unaware that the other dancers had stopped to watch the pair. Midnight and the other zaldias watched their queen dance with the guard with joyful thoughts. Shining and Cadence leaned against each other believing Twilight found somepony special. Rarity went through wedding dresses in her head, just in case.
It was only when Twilight noticed the watchful eyes that they stopped dancing. She was blushing red when Starlight opened his wings. He whispered something to her and she nodded. She almost forgot the demonstration. Now was a good a time as any.
"Attention everypony, please prepare yourselves for the children of the moon will begin now."
Then she disappeared in a flash, bats flying away from the spot. The zaldia bats immediately took off, circling the room. The zaldia horns made a circle in the center and began displaying conjuring magic; bringing dancing skeletons, flying bats, shooting stars, and the shining moon. The zaldia hooves marched around the horns displaying their changed front hooves that left cracks in the title as they walked.
They continued this until the bats swarmed in a tornado in the center of the circle Another flash came inside the tornado then the guards stopped, not moving an inch. A purple form was within the group now, her horn glowing. The glow grew until it was the size of Sprout's apples, It took the shape a tall, lean zaldia queen. Her coat was light purple, mane of deep purple & bright pink, and eyes of yellow.
"Praise be to Blue Moon."
"PRAISE BE TO BLUE MOON!"
The zaldias shouted with all their might as Twilight appeared in a shower of stars. She landed softly in front of the three princesses. Celestia smiled widely. Luna had tears in her eyes. And Cadence was in awe of the unicorns' magic. The youngest alicorn turned and bowed to the purple image, followed by the rest of the zaldias. The Blue Moon image nodded and exploded in a shower of blue crescent moons.
The music began again as the demonstration of zaldia magic ended. The queen of bats brushed a hair back in place as her guard returned to her side. Luna was the first to speak.
"Twilight Sparkle, that was a truly magical performance. I my mother would be happy to know she is still remembered."
"I don't think a mare like that could be forgotten. After all the research I did, I can conclude that she is a astounding queen."
Luna nodded thinking of when she saw her mother raising the moon. Candace nodded as well then turned to Starlight.
"It was quite impressive tornado."
"We have practice making tornadoes without causing destruction."
"I believe it's time I gave my announcement."
Celestia turned away to an awaiting podium. Once she was ready she tapped the floor twice gathering the ponies attention. Smiling she took a deep breath and spoke.
"Good evening my little ponies, this has been a wonderful party organized by the bearers of the elements of harmony."
The crowd clapped their hooves on the floor in agreement.
"This party is not only celebrating Princess Twilight's ascension to royalty, but her new role as the Queen of the Zaldia."
Everypony looked slightly confused but still clapped while the night guard immediately stomped their hooves. Twilight blushed from the attention.
"She has accepted the role that my and Luna's mothers left for us. My sister and I could not fill because we did not, and never will, possess the power of Magic. And that is the magic of Friendship's Light."
The crowd cheered. Pinkie Pie fired her confetti cannon, a smaller cannon compared to the party cannon, into the air showering ponies with colorful paper. Those ponies shook their manes in frustration.
"Twilight, my faithful student, will be Equestria's new leader when the time comes. Please everypony enjoy the rest of your evening."
Everypony stomped. In the excitement only the pink filly noticed the night blue mist that slipped around the hooves of the older ponies. Night Star moved away from Fluttershy and towards the window. Looking out she saw a group of cloaked ponies staring back up at her.
One of them gave her a toothy grin. This one had a glowing horn with the same night blue flowing from it. The filly ran from the window towards her queen.
"Twilight!"
She pulled on larger pony's wing causing said pony to yelp. Twilight looked down at the disguised alicorn.
"What is it?"
"There's....there's-"
*BOOM*
The mist materialized into eight unicorns in black cloaks. Before any of the guards could react, the mist swirled around them and trapped them in a magic bubble. Starlight, being the only guard not in a bubble, placed himself between the Nocturne followers and Twilight, wings flared.
"Welcome ladies and gentlecolts. We are sorry for being so late."
The speaking follower lit his horn, chains appeared on the quests' hooves.
"We had much to prepare for."
Celestia flared her wings in response. Luna lit her horn, preparing for any attack. Cadence attempted to free the guests from the silver chains. Twilight tried not to panic from the shock. The unicorn took a step toward the zaldia queen.
"Stay back."
"Or what? You'll bite me?"
"Don't tempt me."
The unicorn scoffed at the bat. He took notice that the guest ponies had ran from the room. The chains had disappeared from their hooves.
"All I am here for is a special, little pony. One who has slipped by us for centuries. One who could open the Spectral Gate."
Luna conjured a bow and fired a magic arrow that sped past the unicorn's head. It landed on one of the cloaks of a Nocturne causing them to fall over. The pony was revealed as a grey pegasus pegasus though his wings were not grey, they were a cream color. His hair was a mix of blue and black and he wore a Nocturne necklace.
The pegasus pulled himself up and growled at the blue alicorn. Rainbow narrowed her eyes on the pegasus.
"Well, well. The crystal creature can fight."
"You will leave this place, Nocturne beast."
"I'm afraid we can't leave until-GAH!"
He didn't get to finish because a bright light blinded him and everypony in the room. After the light subsided, many ponies gasped at the sight. An earth mare, standing on her back hooves, appeared seemingly out of nowhere. Her front left hoof was raised and glowing a bright blue.
"You seem confident."
"It won't help you in a fight."
Sprout appeared behind the unicorn who had stumbled to the ground. Now the Nocturne followers were surrounded. The element bearers, the royal sisters, princess of love, queen of zaldias, the night guard, and the plant guardians readied themselves in case the followers attacked.
"Tell me, how does a lowly plant carer get a cutie mark of gemstones?"
The cream-winged pegasus stepped forward causing Celestia, the closest pony to him, to light her horn. Fern stared at him for some time before responding.
"I don't have to answer to a fake pegasus."
"Fake what now?"
Rainbow Dash looked over the wings of the stallion, they were shaped and folded like pegasus wings, they only differed the color. The leading unicorn rolled his eyes. This has gone on for a bit too long.
"Well this little trip has not turned out the way it was planned. So..."
Two of the followers flared their horns, each grabbing a pony from the circle. Then the dark blue mist circled and covered the followers. There was a flash and they were gone. Everypony looked around them assessing who was missing. Ferngully and Fluttershy.
"I'm gonna pound that creep!" (Rainbow)
"Right now, Dash, we have to find the varmints." (Applejack)
"It will be difficult. The Nocturne never revealed where they make home." (Luna)
Starlight stayed close to Twilight until he noticed Sprout staring at the scorched ground. He slowly trotted up to the pegasus, he was pawing at the ground.
"Sprout. We will find them."
"I know. It should of been me."
"What do you mean?"
"She doesn't deserve to be taken by those monsters. It should have been me."
The zaldia guards flew off into the night through the open window. Fang and Midnight approached their queen.
"We have sent the guard in search of the cult ponies. They'll be in Infernus soon." (Fang)
Twilight nodded with a grim look. Could the night get any worse?
Fluttershy flinched when the door to her cage opened. A dark green unicorn trotted inside and tossed a plate on the floor. With a grunt he left the trembling mare in the locked in the iron cage. She looked down at the plate of mashed oats, some of it was scattered on the cave floor. Even though they threw the food and were rude to her, she always said thank you to the ponies who fed her.
The canary yellow pegasus knelt down and ate a bit of the meal. Then looked through the bars, four unicorns stood in a circle around a glimmering pool of water. Each one pushed a star-shaped crystal into the moonlight pouring through a hole in the ceiling. The water rose up making a pillar of night blue water.
A head of a alicorn appeared in a window of light, Fluttershy recognized it as Blue Moon. She flinched when the draconic eyes looked her way. The shy pegasus stared as her kidnapper walked up the window.
"My sweet mother, as you can see we have brought a bearer and one of the fake ponies. One of them will lead us to the Harmonic Cave so we can free you."
The voice that answered was like the sound of music.
"Ivory, I do not wish to be free, I wish for you to end this nonsense. You are not my children, you are buffoons."
"My Queen, we only wish for you to walk on the ground once more. Breathe the air, feel the earth beneath your hooves-"
"I do not need these things! I have fulfilled my duties in life as has my sister. We do not need anything, but the knowledge that our daughters are alive and well!"
"Please, mother! Your children only wish for your beautiful night once more. Sister, bring forth the pegasus!"
Fluttershy flinched when her cage door opened, the iron bars screeching slightly. Another pony with a cloak, a unicorn, pulled lightly on her pink mane to guide her to the pool.
"Here you are mother, the bearer of kindness. If you wish we will leave you to speak alone."
"I do wish. Now get out of my sight."
The Nocturne followers bowed and left the room. With a nod the four unicorns placed an enchantment over the crystals before leaving themselves. After they left the lavender alicorn looked back at the pegasus.
"Do not be afraid element bearer, I mean you no harm."
Fluttershy nodded slowly.
"Is my child well, bearer?"
"Night Star? Oh yes, she's doing very well. Twilight is taking care of her."
"Twilight. Is that the name of the magic leader?"
"Twilight Sparkle ma'am."
"Hmm, bearer, can you send a message to Twilight."
"How can I? There's no way out of this cave."
"Bearer, just because my hooves don't touch the ground does not mean my magic has no affect on it. Hold still now."
A golden glow appeared around Blue Moon's horn and she lifted the pink haired pegasus. Fluttershy was enveloped in a sphere of magic and began to shrink. The purple mare sighed as she dropped her spell.
"There you are, now find my friend and run. Run to the magic leader and tell her that the tree of harmony can not fall into their hooves."
Fluttershy gave a small nod to the larger mare then flew for a tunnel behind them. Yellow eyes followed her until she was out of sight. Blue Moon smiled lightly and light her horn. The window closed as Nocturne followers ran in the cave shouting.
Fluttershy dodged the passing pony by clinging to the cave wall. She sighed quietly then carefully crawled towards the cell door. Looking inside she saw Ferngully praying to something.
"Please great lunar queen, let me and my friend be freed from this place."
"Excuse me."
The brown mare's ear flicked at the noise, but made no attempt to respond.
"Fern, over here."
This time she turned her head and her eyes widened. Slowly she walked to the cell door and stared at Fluttershy.
"Fl-fluttershy? Is that you?"
The pegasus nodded with a small smile.
"Do you think you can get this door open?"
"Maybe."
Fluttershy hovered near the lock then stuck her hoof in the keyhole. She shifted it around until she heard a clicking sound. Fern pushed the door lightly and the lock fell off.
"Come on Fluttershy. We must get back to the queen."
With that the two ran down the empty tunnel to find the way out. They took a sharp turn to avoid being spotted by a passing unicorn. Fern paused slightly when she noticed the second pony with them. The red maned mare was a earth pony with a scar on her back. Squinting in the dark she saw the scar was where a wing would join to the shoulder plate. Why would anypony remove what makes them special? Fern held her breath as they passed their hiding place. Fluttershy, being the size of a breezie, was on top of Fern's head hiding behind her ear. She was shaking from the surprise appearance of the two cult members.
Fern stretched a hoof out carefully to not make any sudden noises to bring back the cult ponies. Fluttershy clutched her left ear as Fern proceeded down the tunnel. It was a very long one too. Every now and then they ducked way to be sure no memember caught them. It's gonna take a while to get out of this place.
