Children of the Night

Chapter 11

Nightmares

Oh cursed Alicorn,

for war you're born,

Everyponies heart will ache,

from destruction in your wake,

Wounds you deal,

will never heal,

burn the land,

with your minions band,

Relentless you fight on,

untill you die or the fight is won,

Begone dark creature,

nopony likes you feature,

Kill you we will,

for you do only ill,

Run for your life,

it is peace we strife....

Celestia awoke damp from sweat. It had been hundreds of years, since she had dreamed of her mothers old nursery rhyme. She put a hoof up to her forehead. There had once been a much shorter Unicorn horn there. Now, there was an almost twice as long Alicorn horn...

„Cursed Alicorn....“

Celestia muttered to herself. Her kind had been considered almost like demons, back when she still was an Unicorn. The ancient civilization of Alicorns... The fourth race.... The cursed destroyers of the land, and who did not even consider other Ponies living beings. She had never known the Alicorns of old, but had heard stories from her mother, when she was still a foal. According to her, they had been a race of supreme magic users, who had hunted other Ponies for sport, and waged wars, just for the sensation of the fight alone.

The enraged face of her grandmother, who had banished her from the families house after her transformation. The fearfull faces of Unicorns that looked at her, when she was passing through the streets of Unipotolis. Ponies she had considered her friends, had started to avoid her. For Luna, it had been even worse. She didn't have that many friends, and the few she did mostly avoided her aswell. Luna had never heard the stories her mother had told her. Their mother had died, before she had been in the respective age. She did her best to shield Luna from the hatefull gazes, from former friends, but it had never been enough. Eventually her baby sister had found out about it, which made it even worse for her.

Allicorns were burdend with prejustice, even so the sisters had done nothing wrong. Even today, Celestia assumed that they were mostly asked to reign, out of fear of their power.... In the beginning of their reign, most Ponies had feared them. Only about two generations after they had been crowned, the Ponies of Equestria had begone to appreciate and love them. The rhymes about cruel and war waging Alicorns, dismissed as the Ponies now saw the the sisters ruled with fairness and kindness.

With a relucatnt hoof, she touched the necklace she wore. The seventh element of harmony.... The Alicorn Element... The one thing that most likely, was responsible for her, and Lunas transformation. It was the one thing she would never surrender, to the new bearers of the elements. Even though she had made Cadence and Twilight fellow Allicorns, they would NEVER have to endure the curse she and Luna did. The elements worked just fine without it, and the last thing Equestria needed, were more emotionally unstable Allicorns....

A knock on her door pulled Celestia out of her memories.

„Come in.“

She said, and in came Moonsinger, accompanied by guard captain Goldshield. While the captain bowed respectfully, the Unicorn wore an expression of annoyance and impatience.

„Your majest....“

„Celestia, we're already late! Everypony's just waiting on you, so why are you still in bed?“

Goldshield threw a disbelieving glance at Moonsinger, but didn't dare to speak out her irritation.

She was Princess Lunas daughter after all, so even if she did not bare Pegasus wings along with her horn, the mare was still part of the royal family, which she had sworn to protect. But it was not easy, not to loose her temper around the new „Princess“.... She was usually in good humor around Goldshield, but usually got pretty sour when it came to Princess Celestia and her plans. She obviously regretted having allowed the Princess to help in the planning. Ever since Princess Luna got captured, two weeks ago, she and her squad had worked hoof in hoof with the enforcers. It was important to train the many volunteers, from all over the garden, and it couldn't hurt to have the guard train some of them.

„I'm sorry Moonsinger, please wait a moment, I will be right with you.“

„About time, if you ask me! I'm not used to going out during the day, and I would prefer to hit the sack, instead of venturing through the forest to Ponyville.“

„Let me remind you, that it was YOU who insisted to come along. I have to reassure my little Ponies, that everything is going to be fine. Also will a personal visit from me, raise their morale. How is the training of the new volunteers going?“

Celestia inquired while getting ready.

„Your majesty... The volunteers progress is astonishing. In the last few days we have held sparing matches against them, and I am ashamed to say that we lost each one. They learn fast and work with a determination, I have never seen before in anypony else.“

Moonsinger turned to the still kneeling Goldshield and frowned.

„Well of course they do! Why do you think so many came? It was because we sent out word, that our dear mother is in danger. Had we not put up an age limit, even teenagers would have tried to enlist! Rule number fourty-three: If you have a task ahead of you, study as hard as you can to accomplish your goal!“

While the two mares began an argument, that it was not just studying that was needed for the upcoming battles, Celestias gaze  fell on a book Moonsinger had provided her with. „Mothers rules, with examples and explanations“, was written on the cover. Celestia had read it eagerly, wanting to know more about the laws her sister had laid down. The realization had made her shiver. It was an altered version of the Unicorn Republics code of honor for high ranking officers. Some of the rules still were the same, while others had been altered in content and meaning. Most, on the other hoof, had only been altered in wording... Rule number three came to mind. In the original it had been:

„Dispose of an enemy quickly, so he doesn't have a chance to stab you in the back.“

While Lunas version of it was more fitted to her children. She put quite an emphasis on the fact, that only bad Ponies made others suffer. This was like a red string through all her rules. These Ponies had, without knowing it, held up the ideals of the Unicorn Republic she had once served. It was painfull to admit it, but the strict ways of the Republic may now come in handy for her own cause.

Once ready, the three departed for Ponyville. A strange nervousness struggled in Celestias gut the closer they got to their new „forward base“.

As they reached the settlement, Celestia saw Ponies left and right, building barricades and fortifying the town. All under the instruction of Lunas children, who had more experience with the Changelings, then any of them did. She had feared that they reigned over her Ponies, with an iron hoof, but they seemed to get along fine. She saw Ponies from both fractions talking to each other, and even laughing. The happy atmosphere could almost make her forget, that she would have to lead those Ponies into battle. As the first of them noticed the approaching Alicorn, they bowed respectfully. At least her subjects did. Lunas children mostly nodded, to show they recognized her, or waved a hoof in greeting.

Mayor mare galloped through the streets of Ponyville. Word had reached her, that Princess Celestia herself was in town, and nopony had cared to give her a warning. The town was in no shape to house royalty at the moment, nor at any point in the near future. As the Princess came into view, talking with some Ponies, she was already out of breath. Bowing before her, the mayor was more then ashamed of herself.

„Your highness! What an honor it is for you to grace us with your presence. Had you let me know beforehand, I would have had time to prepare something for you.“

„It is ok Mayor. I don't want you to waste any of the avaiable ressources on my behalf. A feast is the last thing we need now.“

„But your highness...“

„Now now...“

Celestia tried to calm the nervous mare.

„There really is no need for you to be this nervous. I am just here to see how preparations are going.“

„We have made great progress, your highness. The barrier is kept in place by several of our Unicorns in turns, the fortification efforts are going smoothly and Baltimare has sent us some engineers, to aid in constructing a wall around the town.“

„Baltimare? But I thought....“

Celestia looked at Moonsinger, who couldn't keep a grin off her face.

„You remember that you couldn't find me for three nights in a row? Well guess where I was.“

„You didn't.... Without consulting with me first?“

„Oh come on, as if it would hurt your cause. The battle was over in less then an hour and our losses were kept at a minimum. Even so they tried the same thing they did here in Ponyville, Frostmane has learned her lesson from her near defeat here.“

„How many Enforcers did you sneak out, from under my nose?“

„First of all, I didn't sneak anypony out. We left the barrier during nighttime, when YOU usually sleep. And we were about fifty thousand.“

„You took untrained volunteers into battle?“

„Not really untrained. They had already compleated their basic training with your guards.“

„How many casualties?“

„Thirty thousand Changelings, which is only a rough estimate, we didn't bother counting. Several injured, some heavily on our side, and about two hundred dead.“

„Had you...“

„No Celestia... Remember our agreement. You are a mere consultant. Even if you had planned the whole thing, it couldn't have run smoother.“

„Explain your methods.“

„I don't have to justify my actions towards you, Celestia, but I will tell you this: The Changelings are not the only ones who can use transformation magic.“

Celestias eyes narrowed.

„But that's Alli...“

But she did not finish her sentence. Celestia had noticed the confused look on the mayors face, seeing how casual Moonsinger was speaking to her. She adressed the mayor instead, but giving her niece a glance, that promised they would talk about this later.

„I think I must introduce my niece to you. She is my sisters adopted daughter.“

The mayor gasped and turned her bow to Moonsinger now.

„I am honored by your presence, Princess. May I be so bold, as to ask your name?“

Moonsinger frowned. She did not desire anypony to bow to her. Nor was she comfortable with the militaristic behaviour her new Enforcers were taught. Ranks and royalty had never ment anything in the garden. All this was threatening to gnaw at the verry foundations of her home. She sighed. It couldn't be helped...

Rule number ten: „A promise is a promise, no matter how uncomfortable it might be.“

She guessed that, as long as she was in Equestria, she would have to put up with being called a Princess.

„My name is Moonsinger. Please rise, it makes me feel.... strange.“

The mayor sprung to her hooves immideatly. She was clearly uncomfortable with the tought of making royalty feel srange. It was then, that the mayors muzzle dropped, and her eyes widend. As Moonsinger followed her gaze, she saw the other mare was looking at her cutiemark.

This was a complication, that had to be expected.... These Ponies never had seen her, or had heard of a Pony that was NOT an Alicorn, that shared a Princesses cutiemark.

„Please.... This is nothing. Please don't assume...“

„So we have to thank you for the past nights, Princess Moonsinger?“

The mayor asked, once she had regained some of her composure.

„Not really... My special talent is...“

„It was I who raised the moon in my sisters place.“

Celestia interrupted. Either she did not want Moonsinger to talk about her talent in public, or she tried to get the attention back to more pressing matters. Either way, Moonsinger was gratefull for it. Even most of her brothers and sisters did not know her special talent, and she didn't really want to discuss it with a pony she had never met before.

„Anyway, Mayor mare... We need information.Mostly about the volunteers from Ponyville, and the current supply situation. Can you provide the respective Doctuments and bring them to the library? I think Twilight would not mind if I use her house while I am here.“

„Of course Princess... but you might want to know something first...“

„Which would be?“

Moonsinger said, stepping forward, looking concerned at the mayors urgent tone.

„The barrier.... it only keeps the changelings out... yesterday we found... Spike... collapsed just behind our borders. He has appearantly escaped the Changelings, when he was seperated from Princess Twilight and the other elements of Harmony. According to his story, he has been on the run ever since. He had no other place to go, so he made his was to Ponyville, which took him almost three weeks on foot. The poor little guy has locked himself in the library, crying over his friends fate. I think he is blaming himself, for not staying and fighting.“

Moonsingers eyes began to glow, as she once again lost control over her emotions. She stomped a hoof so hard on the ground, that it disappeared several inches into the asphalt.

„That coward left behind his friends, and ran for his own life? That is...“

Celestia laid a hoof on Moonsingers shoulder to calm her, while the mayor was reminded of the time Princess Luna had come to Ponyville on Nightmare night. She was cowering in fear of this new Princess, and the feeling was the same she had felt back then....

„Moonsinger... Spike is no pony. He is just a baby dragon. I can only imagine how terrified he must have been during the intial attack on Canterlot. I am sure he himself would have loved to fight to the end, if he had the strength or the courage to do so. My student, Twilight Sparkle, is like a big sister to him after all.“

Slowly, Moonsinger calmed down. Twilight Sparkle? She knew that name. Her thoughts drifted off, to a day almost ten years ago. Back then, she had been on her way to Ponyville to sell some of the products the garden offered. They couldn't produce everything on their own, so they had to venture out sometimes to trade with the daylight Ponies. She remembered that she had seen a Timberwolf chasing something through the bushes, but didn't care to investigate. Only when she had heard the scream of a filly, she had thrown the baskets she had carried aside, and hurried to the place the scream had come from. The scene, she would never forget. A little lavinder Unicorn filly with a purple and pink mane was cowering beside a rock wall. There was nowhere for her to run, and she seemed to be too young to know any defensive magic. The filly was crying in fear, and it almost tore Moonsingers heart out to hear that sound. She had lost her temper then, and used all her strength to attack the predator. The fight had been over quickly, and the Timberwolf fled after only seconds. Most of the forests predators knew, that it was a bad idea to mess with the children of the night.

Moonsinger had then tried to console the filly, to no avail. She just wouldn't stop crying. All she had been able to get out of her, had been her name and that she had entered the forest on a dare.... Moonsinger smiled at he filly as gently as she could, and levitated her to her back. She did it the same way her mother had done it with her, so many years ago. The young one did not yet have her cutiemark, but Moonsinger did not care for such things. What had mattered to her had been, that the filly had calmed down once on her back. By the time she had brought her back to the frantic caretaker from her magic kindergarden group, the filly had been fast asleep... In the end, Moonsinger had not sold a single thing.... She had forgotten her baskets in the forests and hadn't been able to find them later....

A smile played around her muzzle. So she had become Princess Celestias personal student in the end.... She turned to Celestia.

„Is that Twilight Sparkle a lavender Unicorn, with a two toned mane and tail?“

Celestia looked shocked but recovered fast.

„Y....Yes... she is.... Well she is an Alicorn now...“

„I would like to see her again...“

„You know her?“

„It's a boring story... but in short, yes I do....“