I smile softly as the fillies of our caravan gathered around the fire we had made. We are Țigan, travelling ponies that have been shunned for our traditions, as they were called taboo. I look up at the night sky, the light from the fire giving my light bluish purple coat an orange hue, smiling up at the moon shining brightly as the stars danced around it. I slowly drew my gaze from the stars and looked at the fillies gathered around the fire, waiting patiently for me.
I smile gently to them and ask softly, “Do you hear that?”
Each of them looked at each other and then shook their heads. I chuckled softly, turning my attention back to the starlight sky. I inhaled deeply, tasting the crisp night air. These are the nights I enjoy the most, the moon shining visibly along with some stars in the night sky, the gray clouds covering large areas here and there. I turned back to my audience and whispered softly, making them lean in to hear my words, “The night whispers to us, the stars and the moon watch us, guide us, whisper guiding words to us. You must only listen.”
One of the fillies raised her hoof. I nod to her gently and she asked curiously, “What are they sayin’ Noa?”
I chuckle softly. “I can’t tell you what they whisper to you. They whisper guidance to each of us. It may not be the same for everypony.”
Another raised his hoof. “What do they tell you?”
I close my eyes and inhale softly. Slowly I opened my eyes to the curious faces of the fillies around the fire. “They tell me-”
I’m interrupted by Twinkling Skies as she jumps out of the bushes, scaring the fillies as she cries out, “Boo!”
I join her in laughing and rise from the log I had been sitting on.
“Come children, it is time to sleep.” Skies said as she ushered them away from the fire and towards the tents. She glanced back to me and said, “Will you be joining us tonight Noa? Or is it another night of gazing up at the sky?”
I smiled at her and shook my head. “Something like that. Goodnight Skies.”
She nods and turns her attentions back to the fillies as the pushed the flap of their tent back. I smile and lift my wings, taking to the sky. I close my eyes as I fly straight up, piercing the cloud cover. I open my eyes, smiling at the view. I settle on a cloud and look to the moon, the cool crisp air feeling great against my coat. I relax and close my eyes, inhaling again as I listen to the whispering stars and feel the gentle caress from the moonlight.
“Soon my Princess, I will visit thee in Canterlot. Until then, my floare miezul nopții.”
I grit my teeth as I hear another angry cry. We had only been in Canterlot for a few minutes, and already we were being tormented with cries of “freak!” and “Gypsy trash!” from the ponies on the street. Mothers hurried their children along as we were screamed at. I walked closer to the back of the wagon, the flap opening momentarily to reveal a scared filly.
“Are they going to hurt us?” She asked fearfully.
I shake my head and speak calmly, “No my dear, they would not dare. They know I would buck them up.” I finished with a smile.
The filly smiles at my words and nods, “Okay Noa. Please don’t hurt them too bad.”
I chuckle, “No promises. Now close the flap dear, and please give the other’s my assurance. Nothing will happen to you.”
The filly nods silently and closes the flap of the wagon. I move away from the wagon and to Twinkling Skies. She nods to me and I smile. We walk besides each other for a while, ignoring the angry voices around us, watching for signs of more physical trouble.
Twinkling Skies glances over to me and says, “Go ahead brother, visit the Princess.”
I look at her shocked, “How do you-”
“Oh, you act like you’re the only one with wings.” She interrupted, raising her wings for emphasis, “Now go. You know where we are camped. And you also know that we will not stay there for your half, so don’t get into too much trouble.”
I smile and give her a nod before I take off the ground, my wings taking me over the wagon and guiding me to the castle gates, where there was guards stationed. I landed near them, though not directly in front of them, and checked my hooded cloak. It had distinctive colors and features, showing that I was a Țigan. Once that was fixed, I walked towards the castle, only to be stopped by the guards at the gate.
“What is your business here Gypsy?” The guard on the left said as he pressed a hoof against my shoulder, stopping me.
“I would like an audience with the Princess, and as I am a citizen of Equestria, I do believe I am allowed the right to have an audience.” I spoke calmly; while on the inside I was fidgety, hoping that they wouldn’t turn me away.
The first guard sneered and pushed against my shoulder, “You are a Gypsy, hardly worthy of the title of citizen.”
“But you are right, nonetheless.” The other guard said as he placed his hoof on his fellow guard’s shoulder. “Let him pass.”
The guard sneered at me but dropped his hoof. “Go right in, citizen.” He emphasized as he stepped back.
I sighed and started towards the doors, my hooves clinking along the stone path. I gulped as I walked towards the door, apprehension building. I pushed the door open and inwardly flinched. There was a line of ponies leading to the throne. Of course, Day Court, I thought. I sighed and joined the line. I could feel the weight from stares from other ponies as I stood there, shuffling anxiously. The line moved rather quickly and soon I was next. I moved forward, the guards straightening as I approached. I knelt before Princess Celestia, making sure that my cloak hadn’t slipped from where I positioned it.
“I would like an audience with the Princess.” I stated, my face still lowered as I knelt.
“You have an audience my child.” Princess Celestia responded calmly.
“I do not wish to offend you Princess,” I started, “I wish an audience with the Princess of the Night, Princess Luna.”
“I see. You do not offend.” Celestia said with a hint of a smile. “Princess Luna will be attending the Night Court. You are welcome to come then.”
“Thank you Princess, and sorry for any inconvenience.” I bowed my head and rose. I made my way out of the throne room, beyond the eyes from the other ponies. I pushed the door open and lifted off, flying towards where the camp was to be set up.
“I will be back Princess.” I said softly as I flew, the wind drowning out my words as it buffeted my face. I smiled as I let myself glide for a short time, enjoying the feeling of wind on my wings. It only took me a few minutes to get to the others outside of Canterlot. I landed along the road and started walking towards the others. I chuckled as the fillies ran over to me excitedly.
“Hello young ones. Why aren’t you helping set up the tents?” I asked, smiling as I gently bumped my head against a young colt.
“We want to know how your meeting went!”
“Tell us!”
I chuckled and shook my head. “Come on. I’ll tell you at the fire tonight. But first we have to help set up camp.”
They ran off to help the adults with anything they could. Very few of them actually have parents, most being orphans that we found among the streets and alleyways. We took them in and they became part of our family, they became Țigan. There was the ugly rumor of us kidnapping children, but that is what you get for helping homeless fillies and colts. I moved along, helping the others set up their tents as I worked my way to the wagon. Twinkling Skies had already converted it into a merchant’s cart and was helping a nervous stallion. He obviously didn’t want to be here. He was probably a stallion from Canterlot that had shouted at us, but business is business. I pushed by the nervous stallion, startling him, and climbed into the cart with my sister. I sat patiently as she attended the stallion.
“I-I need um... something for my sex drive.” The stallion sputtered out, quickly looking around him.
Twinkling Skies nodded and grabbed a vial from a shelf behind her. It was full of a greenish brownish liquid. “Take a swing of this in the morning and an extra one before sex. Your libido will be greatly enhanced.” She said mystically.
The stallion reached for it but Twinkling Skies withdrew the bottle. She raised her eyebrows and said firmly, “Payment first prost. Ten bits.”
“Of course, of course. Here.” He placed ten bits in her hoof and greedily snatched at the vial. Twinkling Skies chuckled as she let him snatch it from her, look around, and flee down the road, clutching the draught to his breast. She shook her head and said simply, “Prost.”
I chuckled and said, “Everypony is stupid it seems, willing to believe everything they hear. What was it you gave him exactly?”
She smiled mischievously and replied, “Apple juice with ground beet leaves.”
I shook my head. “You amaze me sometimes, sister.”
“And how was the visit to the castle? Everything you hoped for?” She asked, changing the subject.
I sigh softly, “It was day, so Day Court was in. I have to wait until the night before I can have an audience with the princess.”
She smiled broadly. “Good, that means you can go help with the elders.”
I grimaced. I hated helping the elders. They were cranky and commanding, and it always seemed like you couldn’t please them no matter what. Not to mention they loved to talk about you as if you weren’t there. I groaned and said, “Come on, sis. Don’t punish me like this. What did I ever do to you?”
She smiled evilly and chuckled. “Someone’s gotta do it. Now go, before they decide on more to complain about.”
I glared at her. “I hate you, I just want you to know that.”
She laughed. “I love you too, now go.”
I stood up and pushed the flap on the side of the cart open and climbed out. I slowly walked to the elder’s tent, hoping for an excuse not to go there. Unfortunately, my luck was not so good, and I was outside their tent too quickly.
“Well do come in boy. You can’t help from out there you know.” said a voice from inside the tent.
I plastered on a smile and walked into their tent. I was greeted with the thick smell of essence and a large amount of smoke. I coughed and felt my eyes water.
“Oh look at him; he can’t even breathe in the essence. What a poor little pony.” said an old orange mare, smiling a toothy grin as she brought a pipe to her lips. “You will be able to soon, don’t worry un tânăr.”
Another elder, this one a dark yellow stallion, spoke, “Bahh. If he can’t breathe the essence yet I don’t think he ever will.”
“Now what do you know, Trick Light?” Another pony said this one a dark blue mare. “I remember when you first joined us. You coughed for days. And yet here you are, breathing in the essences just fine.”
They argued back and forth as I shuffled around nervously. I took a breath and started coughing again. They looked at me as I tried to catch my breath. My eyes watered as I calmed myself, my lungs aching already.
“Won’t you entertain us?” The orange mare said, clutching her pipe in her hoof. “You must do something entertaining around here. Entertain us poor old folks. We barely get to see anything entertaining anyway.”
I think I liked her most out of the elders. I nodded and smiled. “I can sing and I can speak poetry.”
She nodded. “Sing us a song then.”
I bowed my head respectively and began:
Bonfires dot-
“Please,” The orange elder said, interrupting me. “In the Gypsy tongue please.”
I nod. “Of course.”
I clear my throat, aware of the choking smell of essence and began again:
Foc de tabără dot dealurile
Figurile dans în jurul și în jurul
Pentru tobe că pulsul de ecouri de întuneric
Mutarea la sunetul de țigani.
Undeva într-o memorie ascuns
Imagini plutesc în fața ochilor mei
De nopți parfumat de paie și de focuri de tabără
Și dans până la răsărit următoare.
Eu pot vedea lumini în depărtare
Tremurând în mantia întunecată de noapte
Lumânări și felinare sunt dans, dans
Un vals pe noapte Luna noastre.
Cifrele de coceni de porumb îndoiți în umbră
A avut loc la înalt ca flăcările salt mare
Cavalerul verde deține Bush Holly
Pentru a marca în cazul în care vechiul an trece.
Eu pot vedea lumini în depărtare
Tremurând în mantia întunecată de noapte
Lumânări și felinare sunt dans, dans
Un vals pe noapte Luna noastre.
Foc de tabără dot dealurile de rulare
Figurile dans în jurul și în jurul
Pentru tobe că pulsul de ecouri de întuneric
Și se deplasează la sunetul de țigani.
În picioare pe podul care traversează
Râu care iese la mare
Vântul este plin de o mie de voci
Ei trec de podul și pe mine.
I finished softly and smiled to the elders who were silent for a few moments, but then Trick Light, the grumpy yellow stallion spoke, “Bahh, I’ve heard better.”
The orange mare threw her pipe at him and hmmphed. “You have a thick skull and horrible ears. Shut up you old crone.” She looked at me, ignoring his rebuttal. “That was just lovely. Thank you. May I ask your name again?”
“It’s Noapte Iubitor. But everyone calls me Noa.”
She nods. “Thank you for the beautiful music.”
“Hey boy, get me something to drink, my throat’s dry!” Trick Light called, interrupting the orange mare.
She glowered at him then nodded to me. “Go on Noa, this crone is easier to deal with once his whistle has been wetted.”
I chuckle and exit the tent, inhaling deeply, the crisp clean air filling my lungs. “Thank Luna for fresh air.”
I headed towards the cart where my sister was helping more ponies, noting the sun setting. I stuck my head into the cart, noticing the pile of bits next to my sister. I smiled. If anyone knew how to make bank off of other’s insecurities, it was her. Instead of bothering her, I grabbed the bottle of rum from the corner with my mouth and pulled my head back. I carried it back to the elder’s tent and entered. My eyes started watering but I ignored it. Giving the bottle to Trick Light I turned to the orange mare and say, “I have to go, I have somewhere to be.”
She nodded. “Go ahead. We will be fine.”
I bow respectively and leave the tent. I inhale the clean air again and take to the sky, heading back to the castle. The moon had risen while I was inside and the stars shone brightly as I flew through the sky. I landed next to the guards and adjusted my cloak. They were the same guards as before.
“So, it looks like the citizen is back. Did the audience go well?” the sneering guard asked.
I ignored him and said, “I seek an audience with the Princess.”
The guard that had been doing the talking opened his mouth to speak but the other guard stopped him with a hoof. He turned to me and nodded. I bowed my head respectively and moved into the gate, between the two Royal Guards. I followed the same path as earlier and opened the doors. There was barely a line to wait in as it seemed there was only a small family of ponies. I walked up to them, ignoring the stares from the nobles. The family finished their audience as I approached and started walking towards the door. I ignored the snide remarks whispered from the family as I knelt before Princess Luna.
“What is it you wish to bring before me peon?” Luna asked, her voice booming.
“I wish to simply offer you a song Princess.” I replied head bowed.
“I...” Luna gaped then closed her mouth. She nodded. “Please proceed. We wish to hear thy song.”
I cleared my throat and started to sing softly:
Bonfires dot the rolling hills
Figures dance around and around
To drums that pulse out echoes of darkness
Moving to the Gypsy sound.
Somewhere in a hidden memory
Images float before my eyes
Of fragrant nights of straw and of bonfires
And dancing till the next sunrise.
I can see lights in the distance
Trembling in the dark cloak of night
Candles and lanterns are dancing, dancing
A waltz on our Luna’s Night.
Figures of corn stalks bend in the shadows
Held up tall as the flames leap high
The green knight holds the holly bush
To mark where the old year passes by.
I can see lights in the distance
Trembling in the dark cloak of night
Candles and lanterns are dancing, dancing
A waltz on our Luna’s Night.
Bonfires dot the rolling hillsides
Figures dance around and around
To drums that pulse out echoes of darkness
And moving to the Gypsy sound.
Standing on the bridge that crosses
The river that goes out to the sea
The wind is full of a thousand voices
They pass by the bridge and me.
I finished and smiled softly to myself. There was a stunned silence, and then Luna spoke softly.
“We wish to know thy name. Thy song was.. We found your song beautiful.”
I raised my head and smiled softly. “Thank you Princess. My name is Noapte Iubitor. In the Țigan language, it means ‘Night Lover’, but everyone calls me Noa.”
She tilts her head. “Țigan?”
The royal guard to her right coughed and said, “If I may. He is a Gypsy, a travelling pony with no home that abducts children from the street and prey on the insecurities of other ponies. I believe Țigan is what they call themselves.”
“Actually,” I spoke, gritting my teeth. “We don’t abduct children. We take abandoned and homeless fillies in, feeding them and providing shelter. They are free to leave anytime, though most stay and become Țigan. We don’t abduct them, we save them.” I smiled and continued, “The other part however, is completely true.”
Princess Luna looked to me then the guard and back. She nods, “We quite enjoyed thy song Noapte Iubitor. We would greatly enjoy if you stayed with us, and sang more to us.”
I smile widely. “I would love to Your Highness. And please, call me Noa.”
Author's Note
The song is all souls night by Loreena McKennitt. You should check it out to understand the feel the song is supposed to give, though its slightly edited for our Princess of the Night. :) I hope you enjoy and please comment! they are welcome.
