Children of the Night

Chapter 7

Information and rumors

Celestia and Luna stood in front of six Ponies, alongside Moonsinger who had gathered the local lawenforcers. Luna knew all of them. There was Flametail, with his fire red mane and tail, which contrasted with his light green coat. She remembered that he always had been the most sensitive among all her children. Even she had set him off sometimes, with just a few words that she didn't mean like he understood them. Next to him, stood his biological brother, Starfire. The twins shared the same colorations, but couldn't have been more different. While Flametail, in his earlier years, could have been called a crybaby, so was Starfire the enthusiast who did everything to proove ponies wrong, who tried to pick on him for something. Instead of hiding somewhere in the garden, he would confront them head on.

"I am pleased all of you answered my summons."

Luna adressed her children. Their eyes sparkling with joy, at the prospect that they had pleased their mother. All were smiling, except Starfire. His eyes DID have the same expression as the others, but his face wore an annoyed frown. Obviously he could have taken it as an insult, if any of his brothers or sisters had NOT come here immideatly, once their mother called.

Celestia stepped forward, making the six Ponies loose the joyfull sparkle in their eyes, but no one argued. They knew who this Pony was, and that, due to their mothers teachings, they owed her a certain amount of respect.

"I am pleased to meet you all. I'm Celestia, and I would like to ask for your assistance in reclaiming the kingdom, your mother and I rule."

The group was dumbstruck as they heard her introduce herself without her title. It was only then, that they all noticed that she did not wear her crown. She was not asking them as a Princess, who could demand that her will be fullfilled, but she came to them on even ground. She adressed them just as one Pony to another. This gesture alone, let her rise in everyponys oppinion. They wouldn't take any orders from her, but this was the first step to better relations between Celestia and her sisters children.

All of them looked at Luna, as if asking what to say to this, or if she wanted them to reply positively. But Luna just shook her head.

"You have to decide this one for yourself, my children. Do you WANT to help Celestia, or do you want to turn her down, so she has to try find another way to drive the changelings out?"

Luna saw that nopony was about to speak up. They never had met Celestia before, and it surely was quite rare in the garden to meet a new Pony. Sighing she decided to let them vote instead. Back in the day, she had done that sometimes when her children had problems with a decission.

"Ok... Who of you wants to turn down Celestia?"

Three hooves rose into the air. This would be a tie Luna thought, but Moonsinger took things over from there.

"And who wants to help her drive these insects out from our former homeland?"

Again three hooves rose, or so Luna thought atleast, before she looked over to her daughter who had raised her hoof in agreement to the subject, a wide smile on her face. True, they had quite the way to go, Celestia and Moonsinger, but having breakfast together and having the chance to talk in great lenghth afterwards, had softend her daughter up a bit.

"Vote passed. Ok then you six, get lost. Get to the other branches and tell them to repeat the vote. Those who vote in favor of this, are to rally here in Gemini. Also, Starfire, stop by Moonlight farm and let them know that we will need way more supplies then usual."

Moonsinger ordered her squad, who was used to her sometimes rough tone. This didn't stop Flex, a blue earthpony mare, to ask a question.

"So what of those who do NOT agree with helping her? What are we to tell them?"

"Tell them that I am verry disappointed with them!"

Luna told Flex, before the earthpony flinched and then galloped off. The idea of disappointing Luna was obviously too much to bear for her. The other five, three Pegasi and two Unicorns, got to the their task. The Pegasi flying off, the Unicorns teleporting away.

"So, I think this went pretty well, don't you think so Celestia?", frowned Moonsinger, trying to hide her irritation.

"Well... They didn't seem to like me to much..."

"Can you blame them? You banished me to the moon, and it took me a thousand years to break the elements spell that bound me. What would you think of a Pony who took away our mother from us?"

"Yeah... you are propably right..."

"So "auntie", what do you plan to do now? I think most of the others will vote in favor of helping you, since it's also the kingdom our dear mother rules"

Moonsinger actually had started to call Celestia that shortly after breakfast, teasing her with her age, even so she herself was not that much younger then the Princess of the sun. Just as she had hoped, Celestia frowned a bit being adressed like that, even so she had told Moonsinger not to.

"Well.... I suppose we need somepony to leave the barrier and gather some information on the situation in Equestria. We must know what we are up against, not to mention to find out how bad it is."

"Oh I think there is somepony who actually can help you with that...."auntie". You know there are Ponies born here, but not all stay here forever. Some leave the barrier to live in "your" Equestria. They only return here once a month or so to replenish their spark of our mothers magic. Cause as you already know, without contact for too long, we die."

Moonsinger stated, while the trio left the town square. But she did not lead the sisters to the Inn in which they had stayed during the day, but to a small house at the edge of town. It looked like rarely anypony lived there. The garden was wild and the house was in a state, that demanded a reconstruction rather then a renovation.

"Moonsinger... So who lives here?"

"Not to worry mother. This house is used by several Ponies. Usually those born here in Gemini but decided to leave the barrier. Sometimes up to twenty Ponies share it, but mostly it's just two or three coming at once."

"But why didn't you keep it in a better shape? I surely taught you better when it comes to family."

At this Moonsinger frowned once again.

"We usually wouldn't have let them leave, but we came to.... an agreement. Aslong as they are not a strain on our society, they are free to come and leave as they please. We even installed a Portal in each of these safe houses that teleports them directly to Ponyville, which is the closest settlement to our forest. All we ask for in return, is that they take care of their houses by themself, or atleast ASK for our help. The problem is, that most of them have cut ties with us and don't ask in the first place so..."

But Moonsinger was interrupted, when a white Unicorn with blue mane and violet sunglasses opend the door, glaring at the group.

"Would you stop talking already? If you want something, then just knock, but don't stand out there talking about us as if we aren't here!"

Celestia was in utter shock, and so was the Unicorn when she recognized the two Princesses that accompanied Moonsinger.

As she realized to whom she had just lashed out, she bowed and muttered an appology.

"VINYL SCRATCH?"

"Yeah I know what my name is.... So your highness, what brings you to my humble dwelling?"

Vinyl sat on her haunches, obviously curious that the Princess of the sun would be in the garden of shadows, but also annoyed at the nightly intrusion, resulting in her tone being more of a taunt.

"Well... ehm ah...."

But Celestia was too shocked to see the Pony whom she had hired to provide the music at the Canterlot wedding, coming from a house that was supposed to house the Ponies who wanted to replenish their magical spark.

"Ehm... Vinyl? I think you broke her."

This statement from Moonsinger, made Vinyl return to her usual self and break out in loud laughter, as a grey Earthpony mare with black mane and a pink bowtie, stepped up behind her.

"What is all that ruccus about Vinyl? It's late, I want to get some rest."

But seeing the Cellist she had hired for the Grand galloping gala, was too much for Celestia and she fainted.

"Oh boy... This will certainly be interesting."

Vinyl said, walking back into the house, making Octavia give way while Luna levitated her sister inside. In the living room, she put her down onto an ancient looking sofa, that surely had seen better times.

"So Moonie, what brings you here tonight? Usually you just come by when I have my music too loud or when you....."

"That is totally not what I am here for Vinyl! We are here to see if you know something about how the situation in Equestria is. And who is THAT?"

Moonsinger aimed a hoof at Octavia who was trying to clean up the living room a bit, since she seemed to be emberassed haveing the princesses in this enviourment. Vinyl broke out in another fit of laughter, while Luna settled herself on the ground next to the sofa, a little worried about her injured sister.

"That is Octavia, my marefriend! I am pretty sure I told you about her before.... And there is nothing to be emberessed about that Bright Light bores you at times."

Vinyl winked meaningfull at Moonsinger, who blushed a bit. She surely didn't want her mother to hear this.

"So.... You want to know how the situation was shortly before Octi and I fled here...."

Vinyl became serious, waving a hoof to Octavia to sit down next to her. As she did so, Moonsinger nodded.

"The situation was.... bad, and I mean real bad... The changelings don't care if they hurt anypony. The citizens of Ponyville, and especially Big Mac, from the Apple family, fought back with great efford when the attack started. But even so they could only stall the result of the battle. Had they just surrenderd, many would still be alive, but I can understand why they didn't. Octavia and I, joined the frey at the verry beginning and got captured. Before they could Hornlock me however, I teleported us to the small cave near the forest which contains the portal that brought us here. After we passed through, I destroyed it. The others from Ponyville wouldn't have made it, and I couldn't save them. Before we managed to escape however, I overheard the guards. They were talking about the elements of harmony being captured by Chrysalis herself. What their fate might be, I do not know, but yesterday they still were alive. All I can tell you is, that all of Equestria has been overrun simultaniously. It must have taken an incredible amount of planning to have all of them attack at exactly the same time... I think they planned this ever since they failed to take over Canterlot the last time."

Vinyl Scratch took off her sunglasses, to whipe away some tears that had begon to trickle down her face halfway through her report. She had seen close friends of herself die in the battle for Ponyville. Berry Punch, Colgate.... Derpy Hooves.... All of them had fought to defend their home, but had been disposed of by the more experienced Changelings. She hated herself for having only saved Octavia, the Pony she loved so much. There had been so many others who had been captured rather then killed, but she didn't even try to save any of them.

Moonsinger listend to the story of a swift but effective attack made by the changelings. The verry idea frightend her. They had tried to get into the garden many times, but it always had been straight forward attacks. The one described by her mother and Vinyl just didn't seem anywhere near the usual changeling tactics she knew. Changelings attacking with an actual plan? That could be so damn dangerous, even for the garden. Chysalis knew of this place, so it was just logical that she would attempt to take this place next. Steps had to be taken. The situation was more dire then she had estimated. Appereantly the Changeling Queen had learned from past mistakes... This could proove a disaster. What if Chrysalis absorbed enough feelings to actually BREAK the barrier? She had tried that before but her power hadn't been enough at the time. If she suceeded, in her eyes, she would gain a new feeding ground for her subjects. The truth however was more grim. If Chrysalis brought it down, then all of them would die in only a few weeks time. The spark inside them would just wither away. Had this started out as a matter of recapturing Equestria, so it had now turned into a matter of protecting the verry existence of the garden.....