It was only a matter of time before the creatures of the night rebelled again. Now old enough to witness Equestria's second catastrophe, Scootaloo begins to look for a long lost friend.
The First Rebellion happened in a night. It's been a year since the start of the Second Rebellion. It's been a year since Scootaloo saw her dearest friend leave to join the war. Now old enough herself, Scootaloo volunteers for the Equestrian Army. It's her last hope of finding her friend before the war takes a turn for the worse. The Army can help her outrun death, but she'll soon discover that nothing can prepare her for the pain. Meanwhile, the Enemy's numbers are growing. Hypnotic Note is one of the best fighters they have. However, jealousy leads to treachery, and Hypnotic finds himself cast out in the wilderness, betrayed by one of his own. Things change when he discovers a secret place, hidden by his species. The key to ridding the Enemy lies within one pony. The pony who started it all. The pony who is supposed to end it. Who is it?
The air inside the crude, wooden carriage was intoxicating; I could barely breath in the hot, musky stenches of sweaty ponies and the alcoholic beverages they brought with them. My stomach churned with every unsteady rock when the loose wheels hit against the sharp gravel, and thought of staying in this cramped place any longer made me want to vomit. For three hours it was like this, the smell getting worse and the road sickness more nauseating. I used whatever space I had left to push myself closer to the window, to try and get a feel, a taste, or anything, of a fresh breeze. Out of the three other travelers that came with me, a dirty, smoky-gray stallion sitting across from me, dared to take one look at me, and then lift up his satchel to remove a bottle of whisky. He grunted heavily, and once I made eye contact with him, he offered up the drink, a look in his eye that made it seem like he was testing me; funny, we hadn't even reached our destination yet, and I was already being tried.
“I don't drink...” I replied with the remaining strength I had, closing my eyes again while I waved him off. The other two travelers broke into a series of snickers. The smoky-gray stallion sighed and shook his head in disappointment, taking a swig of his treasure. He wiped his face with this other hoof, and then leaned forward to face me directly.
“Kid, you're young, and you're nothin'. Why the hell are you here?”
Complete silence. There was apprehension in the air, tense and conflicting, already overwhelming my stressed mind. The stallion's dark green eyes were fixed on me, as though he were in a trance, and I could feel the glances of the audience beside us, waiting, observing, judging. Humiliation reddened my ears, but I had to keep my cool; I had to be tough.
“All I'm doing is remaining loyal to Equestria and my family.” There, I thought, now eat it.
“They won't like that kind of mouth,” the stallion pointed out, shaking his head once again. “Heck, if you give 'em some of that talk, they'll make your life a livin' hell. First, they'll make a sport out of you, and then you'll find yourself bein' their next meal.” One of the other two passengers gave out a few mumbles of agreement, and then had a shot to confirm it. I felt anger boil up in the midst of my disturbed stomach and uncomfortable embarrassment. Heat overwhelmed my sweating coat of orange, my feathers ruffling unevenly. I didn't know where this was going, and that was the most frustrating part. What was the stallion trying to gain? An ego? The support of other ponies? Or could that condescending tone possibly be the implication of a lesson? The thought made me relax a bit, but I was still on edge, expecting the worst-case scenario to come.
“I may not look much,” I admitted, my purple eyes narrowing thoughtfully, “but I'm quick and clever. I've learned from one of the best fighters in all of Equestria, and none of those lessons have escaped me. I'll make sure none of them get in my way. If they do, I won't go down so easily!”
“Kid, remember where your loyalties lie!” the stallion immediately scolded, his eyes flashing in alarm. “We're being sent to our comrades, remember? The Enemy are those...things...those...creatures. If they kick your flank, it's so they can know you can be something to them. Don't go picking fights that are unnecessary!” I clamped my teeth together, taken aback by the suddenness of his response. No, that wasn't what I meant. I need their training, but I also need to prove myself to them that I can be a good soldier, despite my pitiful size. After all, I don't want honor, I don't want glory. I want Her. I just want to find Her, and then they can send me home. None of that was worth explaining to the fleabag in front of me; it's easier to believe that I'm an ignorant young foal who doesn't understand what Equestria is fighting for.
“Look, kid, I'm only ridiculin' you because you're young,” continued the stranger. “An old fart like me is an experienced veteran who knows what he's stepping back into. You don't. That's why I'm willin' to offer you my support. I will look after you as long as you continue to train with them, I promise. Name's Chance by the way.” He extended a hoof, the stench of unbathed hair and putrid alcohol wafting from it. There was a twist in my belly, but I ignored it and received the kind gesture with a new sense of gratitude.
“Scootaloo. My name is Scootaloo.”
Princess Celestia had raised the sun by the time the carriage reached the hidden campsite in the southern region of Equestria. The coach ponies stopped abruptly, whinnying their orders for the passengers to exit, as if they were on a strict schedule. I was the first one out, thanking all of the princesses for the fresh air the world supplied, and the fact that my stomach and my mind survived the long trek across the rough trails. Chance came out next, a cigarette stuck in between his teeth, his alcohol stashed away in a saddle compartment strapped on his right hoof. In the light of new day, I was able to see that his cutie mark was a silver horseshoe attached to several four-leaf clovers, and it made me wonder what kind of abilities my “friend” possessed. I would find out soon enough.
After the two other passengers hopped out of the carriage, the coach ponies gave out another whinny and charged off in a cloud of dust. I watched them leave, reminiscing the wonderful things I had left behind. Sundaes at Sugarcube Corner. Making plans at the Cutie Mark Crusader Treehouse. Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom, my best friends, always by my side. I struggled to swallow; it caught in my throat, and I had to take a quick, rasping breath to keep my watered eyes from spilling over. There was no more crying. I wasn't a filly anymore. The real world is here, without Sweetie Belle or Apple Bloom, and I'm going to find Her, and I am going to find myself.
Chance gave me a light nudge on the shoulder. I turned around with him to find a large, white earth pony dressed in yellow, Equestrian armor. His blue eyes were deep like the oceans surrounding Equestria, no distractions pulling his attention away. While we had been focused on the vanishing carriage, he had approached us silently, and now he stood in front of us, his chest puffed, his chin high, his stature proud. I glanced at his flank to see his cutie mark: a spectrum of white to blank, with the emphasis of infinite shades of gray in the middle. A grunt from him made me look back into his mesmerizing eyes, and I could see that they showed little approval.
“So, these are Equestria's saviors? A bunch of drowned rats, waiting to be picked off by the Enemy?” the white stallion prompted, glancing at each of us carefully. When his eyes locked on me again, I felt myself shrink inside. He was so...intimidating.
“Which one of you is Chain Link?” he demanded.
“T-that would be me, s-sir...” said one of the other travelers, a pale blue unicorn with a metal chain-linked cutie mark. His silver eyes just couldn't seem to focus on his superior.
“Ah, a stutterer,” the Equestrian soldier remarked, scowling in distaste. The large warrior slowly stepped forward, dipping his head to come nose-to-nose with the insecure unicorn. His eyes were no longer an ocean, but a glacier of pure, chilling ice. “I don't like you, private. Dare say, I may even hate you. Speak up next time, lest you shall wish you had.” The unicorn's forced swallow was clearly audible, and beads of sweat fell from his cringed face. With a snort, the white stallion moved on.
“Who's Wind Runner?”
“Here, sir!” shouted the confident, second unicorn traveler. He had a reddish-brown coat with a cutie-mark that was a mixture of a whirlwind and a sweeping gale. There was the slightness of a grin plastered to his lips.
“I appreciate your willingness to outdo your companion, private,” the stallion seethed through his teeth, “but if you start acting like you're above everypony else, I'll make it my personal responsibility to humble you.” Wind Runner, for once, looked hesitant to act, and the grin went past a smile to a nonchalant expression. Part of me wanted to laugh because I was used to tough-talk, but there was this powerful aura that the Equestrian soldier gave off, something that was naturally forceful and dominant. It was equally amazing and terrifying. I'd rather not, if I could, try his patience, in case it set off his wrath.
“So Chance, you've come back for another round,” continued the soldier.
“Good to see you too, Gray,” my companion replied, unfazed by the rough tone which the white stallion spoke. Chance's dark green eyes were calm and leveled to that of his superior. “I see you've grown.”
“And you've gotten weaker,” Gray commented coldly, “but we'll get you back into shape in no time.” Chance chuckled and bowed his head in respect to his comrade. Next, the soldier turned to me.
“You must be Scootaloo,” came the authoritative voice. I forced myself to tip my chin up and meet those daunting, blue eyes, which now reflected a hurricane, dark and foreboding. Muscles tense and wings quivering in anticipation, I straightened my posture and tried to look as impressive as possible. I could only hope he didn't notice the trembling hooves, the sweat dripping from my face, or any other signs that made him aware I was nervous. Instead, the soldier looked down at me with a sense of mild curiosity and interest. His gaze searched me carefully, and I could almost swear that they seemed to soften, to take the edge off of his powerful demeanor. “Little pegasus, I've heard a lot about you.”
“What?” I said, stunned and frozen in place. If there was any lightness he portrayed, it was quickly washed over with a stone-like expression.
“Only speak when I tell you to, private,” the white stallion ordered, frowning. My ears turned red; I forgot. “Believe me,” Gray spoke again, “I'm shocked as well. Some of the most honorable and credible fighters within the army have uttered your name. Only Celestia knows why you've earned so much credibility.” Like Chance, I bowed my head down, offering my respect (and also to hide my embarrassment). There was a pause as we stood there, silent enough to hear one of the unicorns sneeze. Broken from his trance, Gray turned away from me and cast his eyes to the sun, which hung lazily in the distance of mountainous piles of sand.
“There will be time to talk later. If all that sitting time hasn't gotten to you, then follow me and don't get lost. I will leave you in the desert if I have to.”
We were in lands beyond the San Palomino Desert, yet the sandy terrain still remained, and our naked bodies were scorched with an unbearable, blistering heat. Minutes turned to hours as we followed our guide; he maintained a steady, quick stride, never stumbling, while the rest of us followed on like a drunken party. The heat exhaustion was taking its toll, and my dry mouth and weak muscles wanted nothing else but to stop and inhale a river. However, Gray Sphere, who I learned a little bit about by Chance, made it clear that if we didn't have what it took to reach the campsite with him, then we weren't worth the extra reinforcement to the army; heck, they would even leave us out to die in the desert if we didn't match up. Instinctive fear crept in at the thought. I forced it back as much as I could, trying to maintain a positive attitude. Chance encouraged me with little nudges and small talk, enough that my moral was raised and Gray Sphere couldn't notice. I was so grateful for his support, for his friendship.
“The camp is just up ahead,” Gray suddenly put in, never stopping to look back at the ponies who might be still following him. Hope fluttered in my chest, and I straightened my neck to try and get a glimpse of tents, of metal buildings, of soldiers, but there was only more desert, more waves of sand. I grimaced. Was his meaning of 'just up ahead' different than mine? A few groans from the unicorns in the back confirmed that I wasn't the only one who had those thoughts. Chance just laughed.
“It's a secret entrance,” my companion whispered in my ear. “The illusion keeps everypony from finding it on their own.” I gave out a sigh of relief. We were close. Shelter from the sun, food to fill our empty bellies, sleeping quarters, a hospital to help our pains and injuries. All of it would be there when we arrived.
Gray Sphere halted abruptly, and I would have knocked into him if it weren't for Chance, who snagged my tail at the last second and tugged me back. My front hooves slid from underneath me, and I fell face-first into the sand, the salty, dry material clogging my mouth and nose. I spat it out immediately, and noticed that the unicorns were giving me an amused look, though too tired to point it out verbally. Cross with myself, and once again grateful for Chance's rescue, I hoisted myself upright and carefully brushed off the remaining sand from my scorched coat. At least we were at the entrance.
Suddenly, the ground shifted. I almost fell into the sand again, but caught myself just in time. Satisfaction rose from inside as I noticed that Wind Runner and Chain Link had fallen to their knees; I wasn't the only stumbling idiot. Sand began to slide inward toward the place right in front of Gray Sphere, building up speed and momentum. At the same time, the ground began to open up.
Twin walls of steel and platinum collapsed, letting the sand fly into the black pit. Thick bars of bronze and other scrap material unfolded from underneath the ceiling of the pit, lining up perfectly at an angle to serve as stairs. No rust tinted the edges, no malfunctions showed delay in the happening. It was a well kept place, I figured, that everything seemed to work according to schedule. Gray Sphere took one good look at us, then began to descend without a word. Chance gave a small shrug and followed, me close behind. The unicorns were reluctant at first, yet heard the doors begin to prepare to close, and hurried right along so they weren't left behind in the light of day.
I watched in deep concentration as the gears began to turn, steam breathing out of the wide, massive pipes that trailed for miles at the surface to the depths of darkness. One after another, the stairs slowly folded back to where they were stored, and the walls twisted and whirled up at a great speed. Sand shot up from cannon-like structures in places where they were unseen, and the walls closed, trapping the sand above so that the entrance was again inconspicuous. I was amazed. There I was, a simple pegasus from Ponyville, inside a concealed station where the rest of the Equestrian army was staying overnight. I took a deep breath as a realization struck me. Now the training would really begin.
We walked along the thin walkway, the railings missing from the sides. I glanced down over the side and into the pit, my stomach tightening as the space yawned further and further like a giant mouth opened up to gobble its first meal. I couldn't help but to let out a small whimper of uncertainty. Gray, though he didn't look back, glared. Chance didn't seem to notice, and the unicorns were so scared themselves that they couldn't find the confidence to joke about it. I felt small and hopeless. If I fell down, I would be just as dead as a unicorn or earth pony; I was considered a pegasus, but one who could not fly, so what point was there in being labeled as one? I shook the thought off. I had to be braver. She's counting on me.
A half and hour went by before the walkway stopped and connected to the balcony of the end wall. Three metal doors stood guard, a sign above each of them that had a picture of an earth pony, a pegasus, and a unicorn. Gray Sphere stopped us there, raising a hoof to show that he was going to speak.
“Making it this far is a sign of determination,” he explained. “This is what every member of the Equestrian Army needs in order to fight those filthy vermin. Despite a few shortcomings, you all pass that portion of the test.”
“Test?” Chain Link gasped, deep blue eyes stretching wide in terror.
“What for?” Wind Runner muttered angrily.
“Shut up!” Gray Sphere snapped, whirling around to face them. “You unicorns do nothing but ask questions, just like the rest of them magic-doers! I expect your full respect and concentration, otherwise I have permission to throw you in that pit there, understand?” The two travelers were subdued; they looked down at their hooves in shame. I pressed closer to Sharp, knowing that he was my only source of comfort in the insanity of these trials. Gray snorted once, and then breathed out slowly. “As I was saying, this is a test.
“We can't just let anyone into the Equestrian army. We need top-ranked soldiers, ones who have the determination, courage, and loyalty to fight for the safety of those who are innocent. Mares and stallions, healers and fighters, leaders and followers, we need all of them in order to achieve our cause. Princess Celestia is counting on us to end this war and destroy all traces of what was left of Nightmare Moon's incident. Those who aren't strong enough to handle such a big responsibility needs to be disposed of immediately. We hope that you made this choice because you absolutely wanted it. If you fail at being a good soldier, the consequence is exile, sacrifice, or death, all of which are equally tragic. I can only pray that you have made the right choice. You will unlikely survive.”
It still made me scared, knowing that I had made a decision like is. I wasn't stupid; I had read through all of the sacrifices I had to make in order to be a part of the army. My friends and family, my freedom, and my safety were left behind. Here, I have to take care of myself while continuing to search for Her, who's counting on me every minute I stand here. A new sense of hope overwhelmed me, and I stood up a little taller. It was all worth it. I was willing to die before I lose her. Gray Sphere knew it too, for he looked at me approvingly.
“Are you all still brave enough to move on to the next part of your test?”
“Yes, sir,” Chance exclaimed, raising his hoof to his head.
“Yes, sir!” I quickly shouted after, giving Gray the same gesture.
“Y-Yes, sir!” Chain Link stammered.
“Sir, yes, sir!” Wind Runner ended proudly, a cocky grin on his face.
“Good,” Gray said, nodding. He pointed to the three doors. “Each of you, enter the room of your race, and sit down at the seat. It will automatically lock you in place. Memories of former soldiers who have passed are stored in the head devices that will be attached to you. It is your job to watch the whole thing through, no matter how long or how traumatizing it is. If you manage to get through all of the memories I feel should be in store for you, then you get to go to the next part of the test.” With that said, the three doors swung wide open. “Go ahead. It's all or nothing.”
Chance bent close to me, his whisper urgent and full of worry.
“Kid, I don't know how to explain this to you. It won't be easy, but I know you can do it. Just remember that these aren't your memories. These are things that didn't happen to you. Think happy thoughts. Happy thoughts.” Gray gave a rough command, and Chance obediently trotted toward the earth pony door. I watched him leave, feeling fear and loneliness eat at my heart and brain. Trying to stay optimistic, I walked to into my room without thinking twice. The door immediately shut behind me, making me jump.
The room was small and dark. A single chair standing in a faint circle of light kept watch. I cautiously approached the seat, taking note of its worn-down condition of bent and splintered wood. Open mental bands were on the hoof-rests and the two front legs of it. A huge one, enough to cover my stomach, was curled around the backrest. It will automatically lock you in place. It made me wonder why security was needed, and then I remembered the advice that Chance was trying to give me. Happy thoughts, was it? Were these memories so intense, that ponies have tried to escape on their own? My body shivered. This wasn't going to be easy. I sat down in the chair, and like Gray said, the bands snapped over my hooves and stomach, preventing me from moving.
A beeping sound came, and a head device descended from the ceiling. I glanced up, my blood turning cold as it came closer and closer. Finally, I found it over my head, the thing covering my eyes, covering my mane. I heard gadgets turning from inside of the bowl-shaped thing, and, without warning, something struck the back of my head, and my vision went black.
The wind was cold. I opened my eyes, realizing that I was flying in tight formation with other pegasi, underneath a dark, starless night. The sensation felt so real, I almost forgot I had never flown before in my life. I tried to recall my memories. All of them were familiar, so natural in my mind, yet I couldn't connect with them to a personal level. I saw faces of ponies back at a campsite, eating stale cornmeal and cussing and drinking alcohol, acting like the night was young and all of their lives would stay young and strong. I was among them too, drinking my heart away, letting my thoughts jumble into oblivion. It felt so good and so bad. I felt so sober and so happy. I wanted to fly and at the same time remain on ground. There was nowhere else I wanted to be, except around that campfire with my good friends, all of whom I could recognize with a face and name: Crush, the killer of all simple joy; Platinum Lock, master of keys and setting opponents in “checkmate”; Fin, teller of wicked stories and giving the Enemy a satisfactory end; Light Dancer, the holder of matches and all things simple and creative. These were pegasi I had known for a very, very long time, even before we all decided to join the army together. Living up to Princess Celestia's wishes and serving Equestria was any young pony's dream, especially for stallions. I remembered that I was a stallion, and then the line of dream and reality crossed. No. That wasn't quite right.
Looking at the shadows that flew below me, recognizing them as the friends in my flashback, I realized that I knew all of them and knew none of them at the same time. My own memories floated back to me, like leaves on still water; I couldn't control their direction, but they were still there, waiting to be found. I grasped one of them. Of course, it had to be my purpose, and it was to find Her, no matter how much it took. But why? I willed myself to remember more. I grasped another. She was in the army, so I had to join the army. That's why I left, leaving everypony behind. I got into the carriage without looking back, and near the end of the miserable trip, that's where I met Chance. He became my protector. But why? He felt pity for me, but he knew my determination. He wanted me to succeed in what I was accomplishing, so he kept nudging me when I was having trials through the desert in finding the camp gates. And after that? We found the secret entrance, found the long corridor, was reminded of our death contract, and forced into separate chambers for testing. What was that Sharp said again? 'These memories are not your own'. The memory struck like cold ice on a hot burn. All of my other memories before my deciding to come into the army came rushing back, and I was myself again.
I was living in the memory of Lancing, a dead veteran from a past war between Princess Celestia and the Enemy right after Nightmare Moon was sentenced to her thousand-year exile. He was a strong and light-hearted pegasus with a reputation that spread like wildfire through the pegasi portion of the army. We were in flight with his closest friends, sent on a specific mission to find the dwellings of the Enemy, to locate their hideout. It was all going smoothly, but the weather was making it difficult to get the task done with efficiency. I watched through Lancing's eyes as mist began to roll in, covering the view of the dotted forest below. Lancing, or me, breathed a heavy sigh.
“You feeling bad, Lance?” Lock spoke into the headset device, his voice legitimately concerned. “Are you sure you recovered from that feather-flu?” I suddenly had the sensation of a clogged chest, which caused Lancing to cough back in reply.
“I insist, I'm fine. Gray even gave The Nod of Approval.”
“Come up with that yourself?” Dancer joked.
“Of course he didn't,” Crush snapped. “I started that and all of you know it.” If it were me, I would have commented on the pegasus' rudeness, yet Lancing said nothing in return. I could tell that it was a normal personality of Crush, and everypony was tired of fighting it. Even though it wasn't exactly true, since Lancing had personal proof in his mind of how things really went down, and everypony else did too, they still let Crush have it. They maintained a friendship without letting Crush kill the happiness they lived in. It was intriguing to me, how the relationships went. It felt so strange living in somepony else's head.
“Hey, you guys think the army will really ever use our recording devices?” Dancer's question broke my thought trance. My own heart twisted in sympathy, while Lancing's pounded calmly.
“They'd only keep it if we died on our mission,” Crush reminded tersely.
“You think that's possible?” Dancer persisted.
“Maybe...” Crush responded, his voice trailing off with a considerate feeling, one that was surprising for me to find in his voice, and it seemed to surprise Lancing too.
“I'd rather think on the positive side,” Lock put in before anypony else could talk. “We should focus on our task succeeding; not on the possibility of it failing.” No one spoke back, even joy-killer Crush. Lancing flew on, and I hung onto his thoughts and feelings all the while.
The mist was getting thicker.
“Now I can't see a thing,” Lock sighed in disappointment.
“Maybe it'll clear up further ahead?” Lancing suggested.
“Too risky,” Crush jumped in immediately, “If we go too far, then those vermin will notice us for sure. They know their territory far more than we do.”
“I'll have to agree on that,” Dancer said. “It'd be better if we tried to use the mist to our advantage.”
“But how?” Lancing pointed out. “We can't even see where we're going.”
“We'll have to get lower,” Lock decided. “Shall we, team? We won't go until everypony agrees.”
“Yea,” Crush said.
“Yea,” Dancer added.
“Yea,” came Lock's vote. So many thoughts jumbled through Lancing's mind, I couldn't keep track. He still felt unsure about it.
“What's it going to be, Lance?” I couldn't catch who spoke that time, I felt more detached from Lancing than I ever did from the beginning.
“Yea,” Lancing finally said. “No 'neigh-sayers' on this team.”
“Good,” Lock sighed with relief. “Down we go!”
A shadow of a pegasi dropped down, and the rest began to follow. Lancing, on the topmost level, ducked down and let his wings fold toward him so that he dropped. I could feel the wind turn from a gentle brush against my coat to a roaring sensation of wind-lash. We were gaining momentum and fast, but Lancing was skilled enough to recover from such a dangerous maneuver. His wings opened wide, and we were gliding, his shadow casted on a nearby cloud from the moonlight. Lancing glanced up, and I too noticed the outline of the Mare in the Moon. It had been such a long time ago since I had seen that sign, when I was just a little filly. I was about to think about the past when a feeling of dread washed over Lance, bringing me back to the recording. There was a dark feeling swallowing us in the air. I felt danger as much as Lancing did.
“Maybe we should gain higher ground,” Lancing advised cautiously.
“Are you chickening out, Lance?” Crush taunted.
“No, guys, I mean it.” Lancing let his voice go into a plead. “We shouldn't be down this low.”
“We all agreed,” Lock began, but was immediately cut off.
“We can't stay here!” came Lancing's wail.
The rest turned quickly into a nightmare.
Screeches sounded in the air, sending the darkness further into Lancing's fragile mind. I held my breath as well as he. Everypony remained silent, then Crush began shouting warnings into the headset, warnings that Lancing couldn't catch it was so muffled. Panting sounded into the speaker, and I could feel Lancing's heart begin to pound wildly. Everypony was surrounded in silence and disguised enemies.
The first attack came swiftly and without warning. A pegasus below was thrown to the side by a quick moving shadow, one with the outline of sharp-edged wings, furry ears, and razor sharp teeth and hoof-claws. It screeched as it grasped onto its victim, sending its fangs deep within the pegasus's neck. An agonized yowl ripped through the headset, and my blood turned cold as I clearly saw the throat of the pegasus torn out, crimson liquid flying through the air. Lancing knew who it was: Light Dancer. The kind-hearted pegasus was mercilessly torn to shreds by the claw-like devices attached as bracelets to the upper part of the creatures' hooves and the thorn-sharp teeth. Devastation and fear drowned Lancing and I was sucked into his living hell. We were both choking on heart-wrenching emotion.
Would you like to leave the recording now?
I caught the question and remembered what I was here for yet again. I would have said 'yes' in a heartbeat, to prevent myself from losing any more of my innocence, yet I thought of Her, and I remembered the promise that we made to each other. We would find each other, no matter what happened during the war. I was only a filly then when I had last seen Her, and I remembered standing on her porch, begging her not to go. She smiled that confident-full grin of hers and ruffled my mane lovingly. She hugged, she commented on the growth of my wings, and left on the same carriage I took to go and find her. Now older and wiser and having left my filly-hood behind, I was ready to see her again. She needed me and I needed her. This was the only way. I couldn't give up now. So I denied the request, and the recording continued to go.
The Enemy was swarming the air by this point, just a cloud of heinous beasts that were ready to dive and kill. The worst part was there was nowhere to run. The little team was quickly surrounded.
“Fly up! Fly up!” Lock gasped into the headset, and a slim shadow of a pegasus darted upward. He was met with another attacker, one with a giant knife on its hoof-bracelet. The “vermin”, white fangs glistening in the moonlight, cast its weapon deep into the chest of the pegasus, biting down against Lock's neck at the same time. There was no sound. No scream of agony. Lock went silently, yet when his form was released, blood trailed from his chest wound and neck and fell down with him, his corpse casted away like it was a rag doll refused to be played with again. Lancing cried into the night, and I felt every tear on his cheeks. Crush's orders were white noise in the thoughts that weighed on Lancing's mind. It was all chaos.
Crush was met with multiple creatures, most of which he was able to kill with a dagger he had hidden in his pack. However, more and more of them swarmed, and he was swallowed up in the cloud of beastly ponies. Lancing could hear the sounds of pain that resulted from Crush's new injuries, yet Crush didn't let the wounds get to him. His voice was low and clear onto the headset.
“Do not go gently, dear friend. We will be remembered—”
The rest was fuzzy noise.
“No!” Lancing shrieked. “No, no, no!” He turned to flee, but the Enemy was already onto him. They covered any entrance of escape, and there he hovered, waiting for his death to come. “Just kill me!” Lancing spat at them. “You monsters! You murderers!”
“This is war, foolish day-pony!” a creature snickered from the crowd. “More of your kind will soon suffer to die, and then our beloved mother will be brought back. We will claim the everlasting night, and victory shall be ours! This is only the beginning!”
Lancing opened his mouth to reply, but something sharp nipped at his neck: teeth.
Would you like to leave the recording now?
I wanted to. Badly. With all my heart. But the memory of Her kept me going.
Lancing was thrown to the side, the poison entering his body. His whole body jerked in reply, and his blood turned to flames. I screamed alongside him, trying to escape the prison of which I had been locked into. Pain. So much pain!
Would you like to leave the recording now?
Why would the question come so early?! I tried to find the answer, but was distracted by another source of agony: a large dagger driven deep into Lancing's side. I cried as much as the stallion, feeling every inch of it, as though I were having those injuries as well. Something moved in the corner of Lancing's vision, and we saw the Enemy flying up, chunks of pony remains clamped tightly in their mouths. One held the pegasus' head, another with the body, and the last with a torn out spine, drizzled in pony blood. Lancing barfed. The remains were that of Crush. His eyes were spilling out of his sockets, his tongue slipping from his mouth from the knife-made cut. I willed to look away, but couldn't. Lancing was in control, and the disbelief and horror and anger was so shattering that all he could do was freeze. More creatures latched onto him, driving their fangs into his hooves, his stomach, his flank. More poison entered, and I thought I would surely die alongside Lancing.
Would you like to leave the recording now?
Was there really more? I waited, dreading my decision, yet I knew it had to be over soon; Lancing was pinned at all sides, and the poison numbed out. His whole body was twitching, his muscles aching. The creatures stopped attacking; they watched with an amused look that made me and Lancing sick. A gentle hoof touched our stomach, and a single bat pony hovered in front of our face, slitted eyes glowing in the mysterious lighting of the moon. Its voice was silky and rich.
“Join us...” Lancing tried to respond, but an overwhelming sensation drew over him, and the recording faded to nothing.
I was drenched in sweat when I awoke from the terrible, morbid memory. My whole body was trembling, yet the pain was gone. I knew I wouldn't be able to walk for days, but there I was, sitting in that same chair within that little room. The headpiece had drawn back into its original position, yet the straps remained where they were, not letting me escape.
“Chance!” I shouted, hoping the earth pony would hear me, but my own voice echoed back at me, and I felt more alone than ever. The technology above was shifting gears. I glanced up, and my stomach dropped deep when the headpiece began sliding down again. There was another recording coming.
“No...” I whispered, remembering Lancing's experience. All of them would be about pegasi dying, and I would feel and see everything. But the real question was: How many would I have to go through before qualifying this part of the test? I shuddered, yet I dared not say anymore. Gray would kill me if I didn't pass, and if he didn't, somepony else would. I let the headpiece settle in place again, and I braced for impact, which came at the back of my neck. I let myself fall back into the darkness, the last thoughts in my head being of Her.
Ever since the Second Rebellion began, Canterlot's atmosphere changed drastically. It used to be a place of grandeur, a place of high-class worship and luxury. Ponies from all over Equestria gathered under this capital landmark. Ideas were exchanged. Goods were traded. Entertainment was provided. There were even schools to provide high-quality education for talented young ponies with minds that were capable of shaping a better future. Despite the shops, the historical sites, the parties, and the grand events hosted for each major holiday, the castle was the most desirable place to be. The Royal Guard were kind and hosting. The gardeners provided endless amounts of stories and would often give tours to small groups of students or families. The maids, though rarely seen outside, were excellent servers to diplomats, scholars, town leaders, and other officials who would have private meetings within the castle court. And then there were the princesses. Everypony wanted to catch a glimpse of one of Equestria's fine rulers, though Princess Celestia was usually the alicorn that made herself presentable. Nonetheless, Luna, Cadence, and Twilight were all highly valued to the service they provided for the nation.
Nowadays, Canterlot is shrouded in a dark, stormy gray. The residents of the grand city are shut inside their homes; very few merchants have their stands open in the shopping districts, whereas food is still accessible. However, many members of the Royal Guard patrol the streets, and anypony they find walking in the openness is immediately cornered and questioned. Most are just regular citizens trying to find a way out of Canterlot. There has only been one amongst the solemn, tense city who has revealed herself as a perpetrator.
That was what today's meeting was about. They insisted I join.
I stood in front of a wide, spacious mirror, staring at my groggy reflection. Bags hung underneath my turquoise eyes, and my long, luscious locks of blue starlight hair were lazily waving to the floor. Tired. I was so tired. My hooves felt detached from my long legs. The wings on my back just didn't seem to stick to my sides. Why was I going to the meeting again? Celestia hadn't offered an explanation when she extended the invitation. She just said it was important. I yawned. It better be important, if I'm losing sleep over it.
“Um, Princess?” a masculine voice called out from the hallway. “Are you okay?” The magic holding my brush fizzled and broke, causing the brush to clash in front of my hooves. I jumped at my clumsiness and gritted my teeth in frustration.
“I'm fine!” I called back, trying to work my magic again. “Just a little slow!” The brush carefully floated again, wavering, but slowly climbing to where the first strands of my hair loosely lay. My eyes narrowed. My tongue slipped from out behind my lips. Those hard, ropey sticks of comb were so close...so...close. An inch away. A centimeter away. A millimeter. My eyelids drooped and my mind went numb. The brush fell again, and the clatter made me jerk awake a second time. My heart began to pound wildly, anger boiling through my body as fast as the blood was pumped. I raised a hoof, ready to smack it against the brush, when a strong, hairy hoof caught it just in time. I glanced over.
A handsome stallion stood right by me, his face twisted into an expression of fear and relief. The thick, gray coat he wore was neatly washed and groomed, including his fuzzy ears. Black hair tumbled from his head and neck, and a single white spot could be traced on the right side of his mane. Dim, golden eyes drew away from my hoof and melted into my own turquoise ones. I stared back at him, right into his pupils, which were slitted like a cat's. His embarrassed smile revealed an even set of white fangs. The leathery wings on his back twitched, as if they were uncomfortable, but quickly folded and settled again. The stallion closed his eyes, bowed his head, and pulled his hoof away respectfully.
“S-sorry, Princess,” he stammered. “I know you didn't want me to come in, but I just...” His voice trailed off in hesitance. My face warm, (mostly from having a tantrum in front of him) I reached my hoof toward his face and pressed it underneath his chin. He stiffened under my touch, but was obedient as I lifted his face towards me again. Those beautiful, golden eyes were bright in anticipation. My muscles softened into a slight grin.
“Don't be,” I whispered. His face reddened, and he slowly backed away from my hoof, trying to compose himself. I couldn't help but to let out a small chuckle; the way he looked, how he was so uncomfortable, was priceless. Of course, that had always been his personality: shy and reserved. But he was also loyal, which was what made him one of two of my Royal Guard.
“Uh, the meeting will start soon,” the guard informed, casting his eyes down. “Do you...need any help?” There was a lightness to his tone, as though he were hopeful. I considered his offer, remembering my failures with simple levitation spells. Finding my mischievous side, I nodded slowly and stood up. Turning my back to him, I sat down on the cushion and pushed the brush towards his hooves. Through the mirror, I could see his shocked face; he had seen the back end of one of the princesses.
“Please, brush my hair,” I said. He stood there for a moment, dumbfounded. It wasn't until I cleared my throat that he found his legs and came closer toward me. Sitting awkwardly by my side, brush in mouth, he carefully found my starlight strands and pulled them through the brush. The sensation was careful, precise, and particularly pleasing to the ends that attached to my scalp and neck; it felt as though I was getting a massage. The tangles were worked out, and the smoothness seemed to awaken the alicorn magic within me, for my mane began to sway with greater intensity. The guard's tenseness faded as he was focused on the task entrusted to him. He seemed to be lost in thought, the way his golden eyes traveled from hair to hair, as though it were a routine. It made me smile, seeing his ease. True, it was fun to make fun of him at times, but it was also fun to see him be happy. If only I weren't an alicorn princess, I would have asked him out.
“That's enough,” I declared, feeling the sleepiness fade from my body; I was completely refreshed. The guard stopped, blinking in surprise. Realizing once again what he was doing, he stepped away to give me some space. That side of me suddenly felt cold, where the warm air between us had faded. It was like a lingering touch, one that made you think about it for a while. I shivered as I found myself fantasizing, then pushed away the thought. “You are dismissed.” He stuttered as he bowed his head.
“Yes, Princess. I will wait outside the door until you are ready to be escorted.” The guard trotted quickly out of the room. I watched, wishing he had protested against my wishes. The way he said 'princess' was so...low, as though he could never amount to my level. What was I kidding? How can anypony match up to an alicorn? Still, he's so kind, so loving, so perfect. His affections toward me are clear, and my affections toward him are...less defined. Nonetheless, I feel them, and I wish I could settle down with him. Alas, pure alicorns never have companions; they just have partners, and I would never do that anypony, especially him.
Pull yourself together, Luna! I scolded myself, looking away from the door and back toward the mirror. The first thing I noticed was my mane, so beautifully neat and wavy. Smiling, I adorned my head with a black crown, drew a crescent-moon necklace over my shoulders, and slipped into silver shoes. Applying a little bit of eyeshadow, I fixed the features that would give away any signs of sleep-depression, including my wings, which I quickly preened. Satisfied with my appearance, I opened the door to my Royal Guard and his twin brother.
“Are you ready, Princess?” the black-maned guard prompted, smiling weakly.
“Everypony is waiting on you,” said the other bat pony guard, his darker pair of golden eyes narrowing on my thoughtfully. I gave each of them a nod of my head.
“Yin, Yang, please lead the way.”
They are identical twins, my only Royal Guard. Their existence and destiny are revolved around the renown Yin-Yang Symbol, which can be seen through their mane and personalities. Opposite to Yang's black and one white spot mane, Yin has a headful of white hair with one black dot on the left side of his head. Yin has a temper that's hot and fiery, and is also known for seizing power and authority; he is one of the most masculine ponies I know. Yang, though stunningly similar in looks, is more feminine and cool, something that I like in him. Nonetheless, both have pledged their loyalty unto me, and are equally skilled in the royal guard trade. I wouldn't know how I'd cope without them.
“Here we are,” Yin announced, waving his hoof to the tall, closed doors of the throne room. A pair of gray unicorn stallions were standing by them, stationary and holding the straightest of faces. I didn't hesitate to leave my guards behind and to approach Celestia's. They didn't even break their stare of concentration to acknowledge me with a look.
“May I go in?” I asked.
“The meeting has already started,” one of the unicorns explained. “But they are still expecting you, Princess.”
“Very well,” I sighed, and entered the room.
I had heard voices on the other side, but when my presence was known through the creakiness of the opening doors, all conversation was dropped and all eyes were turned toward me. Remembering what it was to be princess-like, I walked gracefully past the long, wooden table set up for advisors and officials with valued opinions. Five ponies took place at the table, casting me curious, and some furious looks. Keeping my chin up, I ignored the silent accusations and approached my throne seat, which was placed by Celestia's grand seat at the other end of the large room. Celestia herself was seated with her normal, radiant appearance. When her eyes settled on me, they sparkled in delight, as though the sun itself was casting its approval on me. I smiled back at her, and giving an apologetic bow of my head, I sat down and observed the members whom were attending.
There were two earth ponies, one unicorn, one pegasus, and a zebra. As their attention drew away from me, their arguments started up again.
“I'd say we torture the creature for information,” a scarlet earth pony stated, a dark look in her stormy-blue eyes. “If she knows something about the Enemy, we could use it to our advantage.”
“Hah! Are you kidding? These creatures would kill themselves before they offered up a word about their hive!” the silver pegasus laughed. “It would be best to kill her off; she knows too much about Canterlot, now that we've given her the grand tour of the place.”
“We've never executed a pony before,” the unicorn reminded sensibly.
“There's always a first for everything,” a bright yellow earth pony shot back. “We've never had a war this serious since the yaks millenniums ago.”
“But what shall we do?” the zebra piped up, looking troubled. “I am out of ideas too.”
“The real question is,” the pegasus said, a scowl on his face, “is she even a pony?” I flinched at such an insult and felt my temper begin to boil. Lightning flashed outside, causing my eyes to glow a kindling white fire. I was ready to unleash my voice, and my wrath, upon the ponies there, but a strange sensation tugged at my heart and mind, bringing me back to reality. Looking over, I saw Celestia's horn glowing a faint shade of gold. Her eyes, stressed and worried, were searching my face for any signs of pain or suffering; I was okay. Letting out a deep breath, I composed myself. Normally, I would never grow angry at a counsel. I had gotten used to the insults ever since I returned from becoming Nightmare Moon, but this question had struck a special nerve. There was something these ponies did not know about the bat pony species, but even if I tried to explain it, they wouldn't understand. Even Celestia had difficulty finding empathy in the matter, but she was still supportive of my emotions.
Thankfully, I wasn't the one who had to respond to that comment.
“Of course she is a pony,” the unicorn scoffed.
“How do you know?” the pegasus demanded.
“I've done my studying. In fact, I went ahead and took a blood sample from her while she was asleep. I think you'll find it quite interesting, what I've discovered.” The unicorn pulled out several papers of what looked to be DNA tests. The other four ponies pushed against their seats as they tried to get a better look. Meanwhile, my heart was pounding; I knew what would be on that paper, and I dreaded the words that were next to come out of the unicorn's mouth.
“As you can see, my comrades, bat ponies are really ponies, because they have the DNA of a regular pegasus pony.”
“WHAT?!” the silver pegasus exclaimed, his pupils growing smaller and smaller in horror. “Impossible! That's just a bunch of horse apples!”
“The test says is all, Pin Prick,” the unicorn replied sourly.
“She is right,” the zebra confirmed. “There's no need to start a fight.”
Celestia stood up when Pin Prick was about to make another remark, and immediately, everypony looked at her, awed by her grand appearance. I watched my older sister carefully as she walked down from her throne. Her wings were outstretched to their full width, which was equally amazing and terrifying for a regular pony. Chin held high, Celestia stopped in the light of the nearest stain-glassed window, as though she was bathing in the creation of her destiny, the sun. Everypony was silent, waiting for her to speak.
“My little ponies,” the white alicorn hushed them all with a smile. “I appreciate each of your input.” Her long neck bowed as she matched the smaller creatures to their height.
“Pin Prick, it pleases us to know that you can address the things that need to be said, as harsh as they can be. You have provided excellent counsel to this meeting.” The silver pegasus, humbled by the remark, cast his green eyes down.
“Velvet Dawn, you've spoken of methods of torture. I would like to report that we have one more method yet to try, but if it becomes desperate, then it is our last hope. We thank you for your input and your concern for Equestria.” Velvet blinked in surprise, interested at what Celestia was proposing, but she waited patiently as the princess when down the line with her compliments.
“Lemon Drops, we'd like to thank you personally for your contribution to the organization of Equestria's Army. We know we can count on you for anything.” The yellow earth pony nodded his head briefly in acknowledgement, though his facial expression didn't change.
“Zecora, you have saved Ponyville, nay, Equestria many times and again. Your wisdom is much valued, and we're glad that you could have come to Canterlot to be a part of the counsel.” The shaman zebra smiled thoughtfully.
“Last of all, Moon Dancer. You have provided valuable evidence towards curing the poison of the creatures of the night. You remind me of my former student, Twilight Sparkle. There are many opportunities here for you to come again, if you are interested.” The yellow unicorn brightened when she heard the name 'Twilight', and her purple eyes seemed to sparkle from the recognition. Celestia gave Moon Dancer a wink, then looked over her shoulder at me. She gestured to me with a grand, horizontal wave of her hoof.
I stood up obediently, minding my posture.
“We thank thee all for coming. The Princess of the Sun and Night are grateful for all of thy services here today.” It was a small speech, miniscule compared to Celestia's individual conversations, but it seemed to please everypony just the same. As all of them stood up from their seats, expecting the counsel to have been dismissed by these phrases, Celestia cleared her throat to get their attention.
“As I have mentioned,” she continued, “there is one more method we have yet to try.” Her neck straightened, and her pink eyes flashed towards the doors at the end of the throne room. “Guards, bring in the prisoner!”
A second after the order, the tall, white doors folded back with a massive creak, revealing the five ponies waiting on the other side. Yin and Yang were among them, standing in their black and purple night-armor with the stature of a regular royal guard. They were off to the side as observers, but the moment the doors opened, their eyes looked past the counsel table to where I stood, making sure I was safe. Beside them, and the center of attention, were the two unicorn guards guarding the entryway. They held spears, each with one hoof, pointing it threateningly at the fifth and final pony standing in between them. The end of their spears were jaggedly pointed in the shape of a semi-sun, and little sparks of electricity jumped out of the sharpest edges. The pony in the middle flinched at every spark its eye caught, and its leathery wings flickered in unease.
She was a bat pony. Her coat was an average gray, but it was significantly shorter than most of the fluffy night creatures, especially at her ears. The hair of her mane was fine and short on the top of her head, but it split at the middle of her scalp and fell into long, blue strands at her sides. A pair of silver, cat-slitted eyes glanced to and fro at the scene displayed before her, nervous and confused. They traveled from face to face, starting with the ponies at the table. Velvet Dawn, Lemon Drops, Pin Prick, Zecora, Moon Dancer...and then they fell upon Princess Celestia and froze.
“NO!” she shrieked, tumbling back. An electric spear prodded her on her back before she could continue, and the bat pony wailed as her muscles spasmed uncontrollably, tossing her forward. “NO! The Sun Bearer has me! I refuse to move! Somepony help me!” My stomach churned. Even after all these years, that was still the attitude they have. Celestia and the sun were the enemy. The moon and the night were the kingdoms of paradise.
“Get up!” one of the unicorn guards snarled, taunting her with the end of his spear.
“Please, no!” the bat pony sobbed. “Just kill me already! I want to die!” The unicorn prepared to touch her again, but Celestia raised one of her wings, and he stepped away. Yin and Yang stared uncomfortably at the bat pony beneath them; watching one of their species be tortured and them being untouched felt so wrong.
I lost sight of the bat pony prisoner as Celestia walked past the table to approach the miserable creature. My curiosity overwhelming me, and having deep concern for the pony I felt responsible for, I stepped down from my throne to get a better look. Celestia spared a few feet, not wanting to invade the pony's space any more than she had to. Meanwhile, the prisoner was curled up in her own little ball, heaving and panting from a mixture of fear, exhaustion, and dread. She looked pathetic and unwell, the way she was trying to soothe herself into a world that didn't exist. I felt deep compassion for the lonely pony, who had nothing but interrogation since she stepped through Canterlot's walls. I could only hope that Celestia was still as merciful as she usually was. But with the tension of the war, I didn't know what my sister would do.
“Arise, my little pony,” the alicorn beckoned, her gaze sorrowful. The bat pony shook her head furiously.
“I am NOT your little pony!” she cried. “I belong to my queen! I belong to the night!” I stiffened, frozen in place.
“She is here,” Celestia whispered. “Just look over there, beyond the table. Your queen stands.”
“It's a ruse, a trick!”
“Open your eyes. It's real.”
“NO...No....no...” The bat pony couldn't help but to take a peek. When they rested upon me, they stopped having motion altogether. The eyelids stretched back into a wide expression. The pony's mouth parted open, revealing her yellow, unkept fangs. A banshee-like scream poured out from her lungs, and most of the ponies stuffed their hooves into their ears to spare their eardrums. I just stared at her, not knowing what else to do. Would she accept me, knowing that I am no longer the pony she hoped I was?
No, that was not even a consideration.
“My queen! Your grace! You are dead! There is no point! The Sun Bearer has won!” The bat pony's eyes were pouring with tears of sadness, tears of despair. “You have kidnapped my kind!” A hoof gestured back to Yin and Yang. “You have forsaken ALL OF US! There is no Queen of Nightmares! There is only Queen Ivy, ruler of the bat ponies, captain of all fleets!” She trembled with a ferocity that appeared demonic. “Kill me! KILL ME! Oh, KILL THE LOWLY EARLY BIRD!”
