Night's Lament

"We need to know what's happening!" One of the stallions called out in the cavern to Midnight, his own purple armor gleaming as he looked at the crowd of scared ponies, two guards at his flanks staring to the crowd as well. The crowd all murmured with agreement, some speaking their own thoughts.

"We have farms up there! We can't leave them!"

"So we're trapped here?" Another asked.

Midnight held up his hooves, the crowd falling silent slowly. "The Elder has her reasons for the order, she is just looking for the welfare of the colony." He explained.

"We can't get any food if we can't leave!" Another piped up, the crowd growing louder and louder.

"We will come up with a plan!" He announced back. "Please! Just go back to your homes, continue with the day." He said calmly, almost pleadingly.

They all murmured uncomfortably and a few decided to leave, a handful of ponies lingering to see if any word will come out sooner. "You two stay here and keep them calm." He said to the guards by him. "I'm going to go speak to the Elder." He said, trotting away as he received a pair of nods from his colleagues.

The colony was tense, the market place had a low and worried hum to it, the many ponies merely talking about the blood moon. Midnight sighed as he trotted through the tunnels, a hollow echo ringing through the empty halls. Everywhere he went, a worried and tense feeling spiced the air, his own fur tingling gently as he himself was curious as to the meaning of the phenomenon of the moon.

The trot up the stairs to the Sepulcher was the hardest, the flames themselves had died down and the silence just seemed to become louder. He had never seen the colony in such a state, everything felt wrong and it scared him. He came up to the doors, one of them was opened partly allowing him to peak through. "Hello?" He spoke into the hall, his voice echoing loudly.

The Elder sat at the large table from last night, most of the lingering from last night. She glanced up at him, a sad look in her eyes that made Midnight cringe as he entered. "Captain Midnight..." She croaked gently as she stood up. "How may I help you?" She asked, pushing a plate away, letting it scrape and ring through the Sepulcher.

He made his way to the base of the stairs leading to the table. "Is everything alright?" He asked.

She smiled and snorted gently, sitting back down tiredly. "No... Nothing is good." She mumbled.

He sighed and bit his lip nervously, hearing bad news from her was something he had never heard before. "Many of the ponies are wanting answers... They're scared and the fact that this is being held from them is what is scaring them." He explained. "Please... Give me something to tell them."

She sighed, picking up one of the cups and simply began admiring it. "When the moon bathes in blood, its children weep as hell fire burns through mud. The largest sanctuary from our greatest adversary, will crumble and fall to dust." She recited like a sweet poem, her hoof running over the cup.

"The scrolls of the Eldest?" He raised a brow. "They're... They're prophecies are they not?" He asked.

"That they are. They also containing every duty, ritual and word of any Elder... I am not one to argue with Luna or her first chosen Elders... But this must not happen... We will be safe within the mountain until the next full moon." She said, placing the cup back down. "If we tell them there will be chaos... We just wait for the next moon... If it has cleared by then, we will be safe." She said sternly.

"But what about food!?" He asked loudly. "We'll starve."

She signed and banged her hoof on the table. "Some can go and collect food but no more!" She yelled in a scared tone. "We have to keep ourselves hidden." She repeated loudly.

Midnight nodded, looking back to the doors and he began to move off. "And Midnight." She said to him as he was leaving. He glanced over his shoulder back to her. "Look after Night... She has a long life ahead of her and I don't want her in trouble."

He smiled gently. "Once a troublemaker, always a troublemaker... I'll keep her close." He answered tiredly.

"Good..." She mumbled as he trotted off back into the colony.

As he left, closing the door behind him, he collapsed to his haunches, breathing deeply as he recited the words in his head. The prophecy stung as he repeated the words, causing tears to come to his eyes. He whimpered and shuddered as he began to think about the life they had here… And the fear of losing it. It all terrified him, keeping this a secret would hurt… He believed heavily in the prophecies and this one made him weep, his heart yearning for safety for his family… His daughter.

He had to tell Somepony.

"Damn... You did a good job." Blaze smiled as he looked at the four weapons, leaning neatly against the wall.

"Thank you..." He mumbled with uncertainty, glancing at them. "So... We all have to use one?" He asked.

"Of course! Nothing better than a bat barbecue." Blaze sighed, taking a breath of air as if it were an old memory. "I can smell those crisp leather wings now."

The Doctor shivered and looked away. "Okay... I’ve never... Killed any pony before..." He said, looking away from Blaze.

Blaze looked at him, shocked, even with concern, as if he heard a friend say they were a virgin. "No pony? Damn, when we're done here we'll find you somepony to sink a blade into." He said with a grin.

"B-but won't I have already killed Somepony after this?..." He asked.

"What?! No, they're not ponies." He laughed. "It's just like burning chickens!" He said reassuringly.

"I don't think I've ever burnt a chicken..." He mumbled, Blaze laughing.

"It's the way they squirm and cluck that just makes me laugh." He said nostalgically. "You'll be a natural!" He said with a grin.

"Yeah... I'm sure I will...” He shivered back, unconvinced.

Night sighed and poked her food sadly her silver necklace hanging gently from her neck, the table quiet. "What's wrong Night?" Crescent asked, looking at her. "Is it still about your Rite?"

Night nodded solemnly and put her fork back down. "I haven't finished it yet... I'm going to be a filly forever."

Crescent smiled and shrugged. "Doesn't sound that bad, at least you still get to play." She reassured.

Night raised a brow. "You don't play with other ponies? Not even dad?"

Crescent smirked and gave another shrug. "Depends if you're dad has been good or not." She joked, knowing the filly wouldn't understand. Night thought and tried to understand her mothers words but slow hoofsteps soon broke her concentrated silence.

"Dad!" She said happily as she jumped out her seat and tackled his legs, not even budging him as she tried her best to move him. He smiled sadly and ruffled her violet mane. "Did you speak to the Elder? Will she finish my Rite?" She asked hopefully, looking up to him.

"I’m afraid not... It'll have to wait for now little troublemaker." He said, kissing her forehead. "Don't worry... You'll be able to do it when the Elder says it is time." He said through a pained smile, hoping that he could see her Rite completed.

Crescent got up and gave him a kiss on the cheek. "Did you speak to the Elder though?" She asked.

He gulped and looked down to Night. "I think that boy was looking for you Night... Why don't you go find him?" He suggested.

"Wait... Really?" She asked excitedly, her eyes glowing.

He nodded, sighing sadly. "Yes, he's in the library... Go... Go and see him." He said, flinching as his daughter trotted to the door.

"Okay! I'll... I'll be home soon!" She said happily as she trotted out, the necklace bouncing with her step.

"Be careful!" Crescent called out after her.

Midnight sighed and sat back into a seat as she left. He ran a shaky hoof through his mane, looking at the table. "What's wrong?" She asked, causing him to smirk.

"How could you tell? The hoof through the mane? Do I look sad?" He asked.

"You let your daughter go out to see a colt... That's unusual... What's up?" She asked as she sat next to him at the dining table.

"Have you heard of The Scrolls of The Eldest?" He asked, looking to her.

She nodded. "The scrolls that are given to every Elder?" She asked. "What about them?"

Midnight tapped his hooves on the table. "They contain the prophecies that Luna spoke before she was banished... Every one of them so far has been true and a new sign just came." He mumbled.

"The blood moon?" She asked. "What did she say about it?" She asked, leaning in, for once in her life she was actually growing concerned.

"When the moon bathes in blood, its children weep as hell fire burns through mud. The largest sanctuary from our greatest adversary, will crumble and fall to dust." He recited to her, shivering even at his own words.

She raised a brow. "That doesn't sound good..." She said with a mumble.

"Something is coming Crescent... And I'm afraid it's going to destroy everything we have." He whimpered, pressing his forehead to hers.

She sighed and wrapped her hooves around him. "Hey... We're hidden... We'll be fine." She whispered to reassure him, rubbing his back soothingly.

"We are the largest colony..." He whimpered, hugging her tightly. "The moon is a bloodied red and something is coming for us." He said hopelessly.

"And what is the captain of the Colony guard going to do?" She asked, trying to restore his sense of duty. "Is he going to let us die?" She asked.

He sniffed and wiped his eyes. "No... I... I'm going to increase patrols... Barricade the cave..." He said as he stood up. "We'll... We'll defend to the last.” He said, still a bit of uncertainty in his voice.

"And what do we say when we are afraid?" She asked.

"May the moon watch over us and may we find peace under its watch." He said, a bit louder. He sighed and kissed her lips softly. "Thank you... If you were in the guard I think I'd be calling you ma'am." He said with a small smile.

"Hey... I'll always be on top of you." She said with a playful wink.

"You dirty minded mare..."

"Swift?" Night called into the library, noticing a few more lanterns up around the library. She slowly trotted through the doors, immediately flanked by Swifts father.

"Can I help you?" He asked in a sad croaky tone.

Night jumped and looked up at him. "O-Oh... Sorry, I'm looking for Swift." She said nervously.

He sighed and nodded. "So you're the little filly he talked about." He said with a smile. "You three really scared me a few days back..." He said with a smirk. "You got me good."

She blushed gently and raised a brow. "Swift talks about me?" She asked.

"Oh yes! Can't shut him up." He smiled. "I’ll call him for you." He said, looking out into the library. "Swift!" He called loudly, his voice echoing through the library. "You have a visitor!" He yelled.

His voice rung out, Night looking up at him in amazement and the quick galloping of small hooves could be heard, the bright purple glow of Swifts eyes as he came into view, Night smiled wide as she saw him.

"Night!" He said happily as he skid to a halt, panting gently. "What are you doing here?" He asked. "N-not that I mind." He said with a small blush.

Night giggled, shuffling gently, Swifts father trotting away to leave them. "My dad said you wanted to see me." She said.

He raised a brow. "No I don't... I mean I do! But... I haven't seen your dad since last night... He kinda scares me." He said with a smile.

Night laughed and nodded. "He's like that... Wait so why did he send me?" She asked.

Swift shrugged. "Who knows...? It gives you some time off... Want to... Go read? Or walk?" He asked awkwardly.

She smiled and trotted up to him. "Reading sounds nice." She smiled.

He nodded excitedly. "Sure! I Uhh... Come with me!" He said excitedly as he led her towards one of the tables by the bookshelves, holding her hoof. "I... What do you want to read?" He asked.

"Anything!" She said happily.

He nodded and shuffled awkwardly, trotting around and tapping books near to them. "I... I'm not sure what we could read."

"What about your favorite?" She asked.

He smiled and raised a brow. "Really?"

She nodded happily as she sat down at the table. "Only if that's okay with you."

"Sure! I'd love to show you that!" He said happily before trotting off and returning with a large leather bound book. He plonked it on the table with a thud and sat next to Night closely, smiling as he felt their wings rub gently against each other.

The book was entitled "The Guard And The Silver Moon." Swift smiled and opened up the book to the first page, a colored picture next to the paragraphs of text. "My dad always read this to me." He said. The picture was simple, a bat guard in the traditional purple armor, looking over a small colony from atop a hill. The colony was outside, their houses built from wood like they used to be, before they were forced underground.

"It’s a big book." She commented as she ran a hoof over the spine of the book.

"Big book, big brain." He said with a smug grin.

She looked at him with a smile. "Oh? So I must be stupid."

His expression faded and he looked shocked. "W-wait no that's not what I meant..." He said loudly, cut off by Night raising a hoof.

"I'm pulling your wing." She smiled.

He sighed and shook his head. "You really are a trouble maker."

"You better believe it..." She said with a happy sigh, leaning into him, giving him a soft nuzzle.

Blaze hopped around outside with the weapon on his back, the fluids inside the tanks sloshing heavily as he laughed like an insane, murderous filly. "This is going to be so much fun!" He squealed strangely.

Savant, Boulder and the Doctor all stood by, watching him oddly, Savant sighing and shaking his head. Boulder strangely laughed and bobbed gently, wanting to join in... The Doctor just looked away. "Stop that... You might explode." Savant warned, his white coat clinging around the metal weapon.

Blaze stuck out his tongue. "Who says!?" He asked in protest.

"I did! This is the third time now." The doctor spoke up, his light yellow mane covering his eyes. "It is extremely volatile." He stated.

Blaze signed and growled gently, frowning. "You're all boring... Where's the fun in running around if you're not going to explode?" He asked rhetorically.

"Uhh... Getting to step on bats?" Boulder asked in his deep voice.

"Spot on Boulder! Spot on." He smiled.

Savant sighed and looked out across the land. "We had better get moving." He said, the snowy mountains in the distance glaring back. "It's a long walk and I'm not one to just stand around." He said brushing his orange mane back behind his ears.

"Onwards and forwards!" Blaze announced, pointing towards the mountains with a grin.

Boulder trotted ahead with a loud chuckle, Blaze following, Savant and the Doctor trotting side by side.

"Do you... Do you get the feeling that this might be wrong?" The doctor asked. Savant looked to him, staring at him.

"Have we ever done anything right?"

"Captain?" One of the top guards asked as he looked down at the request. "You want us to barricade the colony?" He asked, looking over the page. "And increase patrols? I don’t usually question orders but are we expecting an attack?" He asked with a raised brow.

Midnight sighed, looking over a map of the tunnels on a table in his office, the barracks on the other side of the door behind the guard. "It's a hunch... The Elder agreed with this... It's just a precaution." He said looking up from his page.

"But a precaution from what?" He asked. "The blood moon?"

Midnight sighed. "We're just being careful."

"I've read the scrolls before sir... My mother was an acolyte." He said.

"Then you are aware of what is to happen?"

The guard nodded silently.

"You have your orders... Go... May the moon watch over us."

"And may we find peace under its watch." He finished before trotting away from the table and back into the barracks.

Midnight sighed and fell back into his seat, rubbing his forehead, groaning gently. "I really hope the moon will..."

"The guard ran up the spiral stairs, pushing the door open and coming face to face with the most beautiful mare he ever saw." Swift continued, Night resting her head on his shoulder. Night smiled as she looked at the picture of the mare, wearing a silk white dress, the bright moon behind her which brought out her golden eyes. "Kinda looks like you." He said with a chuckle.

Night giggled and blushed, nudging him gently. "You think so?" She asked, looking up to him.

"Of course!" He said with a smile.

"Well... The guard is very much like you." She said with a smile.

He laughed and shook his head. "I'll never be that strong... I have to look after the library." He said with a hint of sadness.

Night frowned and nudged him. "You can do whatever you want! You could even become one of the Elders female acolytes." She giggled.

"Ha... Ha." He said sarcastically, pushing her with a smile. "Maybe you could become... An Uhh..." He said as he tried to think.

She laughed and nudged him back. "Haha, can't think of anything?"

"What? It's not my fault that mares can do anything a stallion can." He said with a frown.

Night grinned, sticking her tongue out at him. "Lucky us." She teased. "Can we continue reading?" She asked.

"Why don't you continue it?" He asked.

She smiled and sat up, looking down to the book. "The princess looked shocked, moving away from Swift the night guard...” She joked. "She moved to the curtains and hid behind them, peaking at the guard in the room." She continued to read, smiling gently. "She's really shy isn't she?" She commented.

"Wouldn't you be afraid if a guard came into the place you've been held for years?" He asked.

"Of course not! I would run away with him." She responded with a smile.

"Everypony is different." He smiled, kissing her cheek hesitantly.

"Sir... The preparations have begun, much of the colony is curious if not scared... They're going to need an explanation."

Midnight sighed and nodded. "They do... Gather the colony in the market... I’ll be through shortly." He said, watching the guard leave. Midnight grumbled and rubbed his face stressfully. "Luna strike me now." He muttered before trotting out of his office and through the barracks, none of the guards present as they prepared for the prophecy of the Blood moon.

He began to make his way to the market place, his hooves clacking loudly. He moved through the empty tunnels, the feeling sending shivers down his spine and the low murmur of some ponies could be heard in the markets. He trotted out, seeing a small crowd, a few ponies stood around their stands or sitting on small ledges of rock. They all looked to him as he entered and he sighed as he stood out in front of them.

"I am sure you all have questions!" He announced, his voice silencing the crowd. "I understand you are scared, concerned and worried for us." He said, gulping as he searched for words. "The blood moon on which we have all seen has been Prophesized." He said, a loud murmur beginning between them all.

"It speaks of a dark time, we are merely taking precautions to ensure your safety." He said, hoping to calm them down in any way possible. "Please... Let the guards work and we will tell you when this is all over... Thank you." He said as he began to trot away, an eruption of questions and doubts filled the room, echoing around the cavern as he trotted away, having no other comfort but the truth to comfort them.

The base of the mountain was cool, a small breeze blowing passed the four ponies. Blaze smiled, sniffing the air as they approached, the berry crop causing him to smile. "Looks like we found something interesting." He said as he trotted over, picking a berry and eating it. He looked back at them, nodding his approval. "Very nice." He said before he gripped the rope with his teeth and pulled down on it, letting out a spew of flames onto the crop, instantly sending out a flurry of black smoke that rose quickly into the cold air, the intense heat making his orange body glow brightly.

He sighed and smiled at the rest of them, Boulder clearly smiled while the Doctor and Savant shared the same neutral expression as they merely began to look around. Blaze sighed and trotted with them. "It is a work of art." He mumbled as he stared at the mountain. "They've probably dug the whole thing out... How many do you think there are?" He asked Savant.

"More than I'd like to count." He mumbled as he thought of the action they were about to do.

The blazing fire continued, the loud crackle was like music to Blazes ears as he began to search the side of the mountain with a smile. "Almost a shame that we have to kill them all." He said as his hoof ran over the rock face. He kept silent, the others following him closely, the fuel sloshing round in rhythm with his steps.

His hoof came across a surface which stood out from the mountain. The majority of the rock face was smooth but he came across a wall of seemingly rough rocks, all placed up to form a wall, hiding some sort of passage. Blaze grinned and used his magic to force it down, the rocks crumbling away easily, forming a small slope downward into the mountain.

He turned and faced the others, a wide smile on his face. "Looks like we found the belly of the beast."