Nightshade

When Nightshade awoke, the new day’s first rays of light were starting to peek over the horizon. Lucky was starting to move around a bit, but she estimated she still had nearly an hour before he could speak again. She was conflicted; she felt bad that she had harmed Lucky when he had just saved her life two weeks ago.

What else was I supposed to do? He was following me. For all I knew he could have been another degenerate looking to rob me.

She levitated a container from her table, opened it, and removed an assortment of flowers to have for her breakfast. After she completed her meal, Lucky began stirring around more and groaning occasionally. As his activity increased Nightshade grew nervous. She decided she should be prepared to defend herself just in case Lucky awoke in a violent mood.

She found some twine and bound his forelegs so that he couldn’t get up, and she set a dose of her paralyzing serum on a nearby table.

After a few more minutes Lucky finally came to and observed his surroundings for a brief moment before his eyes turned to Nightshade. She was trying to keep a brave face, but her insides felt knotted from anxiety.

“Er, good morning... What’s uh, what’s going on?” Lucky asked with apprehension in his voice. He managed to force a smile in his half-awoken state.

“Why were you stalking me?” Nightshade wasted no time in beginning her questioning. She wanted to get to the bottom of the situation.

Lucky hesitated for a moment before answering.

“S-stalking you? I wasn’t stalking you I-”

Nightshade cut him off.  “Don’t play dumb with me! I’ve been seeing a shadow following me since the night I got attacked in Canterlot. I finally catch it, and it turns out to be you. You’ve been following me, and I wanna know why!”

“Nightshade... be careful with that thing.”

In her anger, Nightshade had put her dagger up to Lucky’s throat without even realizing it. She put the dagger down, backed away, and sat back down on the floor.

Lucky sighed and shifted nervously.

“I suppose I can’t continue keeping it from you.”

Finally, some answers.

“It’s... my job. I’m under orders from Princess Luna,” Lucky began. “I’ve been assigned to be your-”

Nightshade interrupted Lucky once again.  “Yeah I’m just gonna stop you right there. If all you’re going to tell me is lies then you need to get out of my house.”

She picked up her dagger and cut his forelegs free from the twine.

Lucky stretched and stood up. He walked over and placed a hoof on Nightshade’s shoulder. She instinctively backed away and took a defensive stance. Lucky’s ears dropped and his demeanor turned solemn.

“I’m telling you the truth. It doesn’t matter whether you believe me or not... I’ll just leave now.”

Before Nightshade could say anything else he was out the door and flying into the air. She watched as he disappeared over the treetops. A sigh of relief escaped her as some of the tenseness from the ordeal faded.

Now he’s just making up stories to cover for himself... This whole thing is really creeping me out. I need to get some real answers. I need to find out why he’s following me, and I’ve got a good idea of where to start.

Nightshade arrived at Mist Chaser’s home and rapped on the door. She realized she had never been inside Misty’s house when they were younger; she had only ever seen it from the outside. Her feeling of uneasiness continued to grow as she impatiently waited for a response. She didn’t know if her friend might have had a part in the whole thing.

After a few moments she heard a soft click emit from the door and soon Misty stepped out to meet her.

“Oh, hey Nightshade! What’s up?”

“We need to talk,” Nightshade whispered curtly. “Inside.”

Misty seemed confused but she led her friend inside and closed the door. Nightshade began searching the unfamiliar surroundings nervously, making sure that no one else was in the house. It was a simple one room cottage like her own, but much more well-kept. Upon confirming that they were alone she sat down.

“So, uh... What was it you needed exactly?” Misty was clearly puzzled by her friend’s abrupt visit and behavior.

“I need to know everything you know about Lucky Star.”

“Oh? What about him?” Misty questioned.

“He’s been... following me. I don’t know why and I figured since you two appeared to be buddies that you might know something,” Nightshade stated accusingly.

Misty stayed silent. She seemed hesitant to say anything about him so Nightshade continued.

“He gave me some crazy excuse about orders from the princess or something like that.”

After a few more moments of silence Misty responded.

“He’s telling the truth.”

“Not you too,” Nightshade said with disgust.

“Have I ever given you a reason not to trust me Nightshade?” Misty pleaded. “Have I ever lied to you for as long as you’ve known me?”

Nightshade thought back. Misty had never been a dishonest pony for as long as she had known her, and was one of the only ponies Nightshade had ever trusted. She still couldn’t believe that Lucky’s story was true though.

“It isn’t anything against you, it’s just that his story is so...” Nightshade’s voice trailed off.

Misty gave her a sad look.

“If you want the full story you’re going to have to talk to him yourself, but I can vouch that everything he tells you will be the full truth.”

Nightshade felt guilty for treating Misty like an enemy as they used to be such close friends. She decided she should at least listen fully to Lucky’s story.

“Fine. Where can I find him?”

“He’s still keeping watch. He’ll be there when you’re ready to speak with him,” Misty replied.

Nightshade hugged her friend and started back towards her home in deep thought.

How could he be telling the truth? If the princess is the one ordering him to watch me then that still doesn’t answer why she’s doing it; and if I have earned the favour of a princess then how come ponies treat me like an outcast? Surely somepony besides Misty and Lucky know about it if it’s true.

I just don’t understand how all this could happen right under my nose. I never noticed anypony following me before that night in Canterlot... though I suppose I wasn’t quite as wary of ponies before then.

I need to try to calm down a bit before talking to Lucky again... I can’t believe I threatened him with that dagger. I didn’t even know I was doing it. Maybe a good night’s rest will help calm my nerves. Maybe.

She eventually reached her home, went inside, and barred the door behind her. As she lay down to sleep, she couldn’t help but remember what Misty had said about Lucky still watching her. It made her feel vulnerable and uncomfortable. She got back up and made sure that the windows were firmly sealed, and she slid a chair in front of the door. It wasn’t much, but it made her feel more secure. Feeling that she was safe enough to rest now, she lay back down and closed her eyes.

The next morning, by the time her daily routine was completed, she had worked up the courage to speak with Lucky. Still wary of his intentions, she took a small vial of her paralyzing agent with her just in case. She stepped outside into the sun’s warmth and called out to Lucky.

Naught but a few moments later, he emerged from some nearby brush and stood in the open, but kept a fair distance from her. Nightshade spoke first.

“It’s okay, you can come closer. I just want to talk.”

He took his time in approaching her, making slow, deliberate steps.

“Misty told me that I could trust what you said. So I want to hear the full story. Why are you following me?”

Lucky took on a bit of a braver demeanor.

“Alright, but no interrupting me this time.”

“I promise,” Nightshade agreed.

Lucky sat down closer to Nightshade and took a breath before beginning.

“Well, as you may or may not know, as Princess of the Night, Luna, has the power to walk among the dreamscapes of other ponies.” He looked at Nightshade expectantly. She nodded. “Quite a few years ago, she stumbled upon a nightmare. In that nightmare was a scared little filly, alone and searching desperately for her parents. At first, she passed it off as any other nightmare and didn’t think much of it. She eventually noticed that the filly had the same nightmare nearly every night however, and she grew curious.”

Nightshade’s memory went back to those nightmares she had as a filly. She remembered many times that she had awoken and wanted to go to her parents for comfort, only to remember that they weren’t there anymore. Tears began to form in her eyes.

“Luna asked some of the night guards to locate you and try to find a source to your nightmares,” Lucky continued. “They reported back to her about how your parents had died and how you were in an orphanage since you had no other family to take care of you. I suppose she took pity on you after hearing all the things you had been through. When you left the safety of the orphanage a few years ago she assigned me and one other guard to take shifts as your personal protectors, and since your talent appeared to be working with herbs and plants she provided you with the potion brewing job at the expense of her own personal coffers. Simply put, you haven’t been alone since you left the orphanage.”

After a few moments of silence Nightshade responded.  “If I’ve found favour in the eyes of Princess Luna, then why have ponies continued avoiding me? Surely some of them knew I was under her protection.” Despite how much of the story lined up with her life she still doubted its credibility.

“Well, I think you may have brought that upon yourself. You never would allow anypony to get close to you, so they just stopped trying. Plus, always travelling under the shadow of the night, making regular trips to the Everfree, and carrying a load of poisons around doesn’t exactly attract many friends, even if you have the best of intentions.”

Nightshade didn’t want to admit it, but the things Lucky was saying actually made sense. It explained why she had gotten the potion job so soon after leaving the orphanage, and why everypony avoided her.

“So, I’m not... cursed?” Her voice trembled at the last word as her emotions overwhelmed her. She began sobbing deeply. Lucky approached her and wrapped a hoof around her to try and help console her. She didn’t pull away from him this time; she buried her face in his neck and cried until she could speak once again. “Thank you. Thank you for everything.”

They had gone into Nightshade’s home and continued talking over a meal for what seemed like hours. Lucky continued explaining some of the details of his job and Princess Luna’s interest in Nightshade. He told her how Misty had been the one that informed the night guards about Nightshade’s situation and helped in the decision to supply her with protection and employment.

The longer they spoke the more comfortable Nightshade grew with him. She actually began considering him as a friend.

When the sun started to go down Lucky decided that he should head out for the night and allow her to rest.

“I’d better leave you be for now; I’m sure you’ve got a lot to think about. Just uh, call if you need me, heh.” Lucky stood up to leave.

“Will do,” Nightshade responded warmly.

He walked toward the door, which her back was turned to. A moment later she felt something warm press against her cheek and quickly spun around to see Lucky’s face close to her’s, the same strange look in his eyes as she had seen when he bandaged her the night she was attacked. A wave of heat ran to her face and she realized she must have been blushing harshly.

“I uh, sorry.” Lucky promptly turned and went out the door, shutting it behind him. Nightshade simply sat there flabbergasted.

I- Did he just?..

Even when she was young she had never even thought about such a thing happening to her. It seemed so far-fetched. She let out a childish squee of excitement at the thought, but soon regained her normal stoicism.

Don’t jump to conclusions Nightshade. You aren’t even sure that’s what it was. Plus, even IF it was, you don’t know if he actually meant anything by it... By Celestia I am gonna find out though.

She donned her saddlebags and headed out into the streets of Ponyville.