We can always meet in dreams
Author's Note
This is not a story meant to be understood by anyone not familiar with Equestriamuck. This is a tribute to my friend, Firefly, who's player died due to health complications. She was a member of Princess Luna's night court, (which was more or less a group of very talented writers) and always a pleasure to talk to, or scene with. This is to you, Firefly- for we may always meet in dreams.
We can always meet in dreams
It was a clear night outside, and the stars twinkled just so overhead. The air was brisk, just upon the cusp of chilly, with a crisp breeze that carried the flavor of the night to the ponies that called darkness a comfort.
Few that there were.
But those that did, caught the eye of Princess Luna, and those that kept it, caught a smile. There was a small band of ponies, ever so much smaller than the Sun Guard to protect Princess Celestia. Ever so much quieter than the flashy brass of polished medals, and ironed uniforms. They were the Night Court, according to the few scant records in the castle that confirmed their existence. The town knew them as other names; The Children of Darkness, or Seekers of Starlight- but everypony knew who they worked for. They were Princess Luna's personal entourage. Specially chosen and uniquely gifted, they seemed much more akin to a small family then any sort of titled officials; So when they lost one of their own to battle- it seemed to devastate the group to the core.
The rumor fed off of hushed whispers, and exaggerated yarns. Firefly, Squire to Princess Luna, had died in battle. Against a dragon. Several dragons. Defending the kingdom from several dragons and a hydra. During a changeling incursion. While eating a burrito. The stories nourished, and grew and prospered, both in great halls, and quiet bars. And while the kingdom knew the loss of a warrior, The Night Court grieved the loss of a loved one.
Weeks had slipped by. Hard ones. Choked ones. Struggling tear felt ones, but they had come and gone. The youngest member of the Night Court, and a mere filly at that, was sound asleep in her bed when Luna crossed the thresholds of reality to step directly into her room.
Diamond Dancer was buried under blankets and pillows, leaving just the darkened outline of her snout visible to the Princess. Her lips were twisted into a quiet little pout, and she twitched her legs in her sleep, as if running. Whatever she was dreaming, Luna decided, was going to have to wait. There were things to be done, and very little time to do them in.
"ERRANT! YOU ARE LATE!!!" Her voice boomed, resonating through the house and forcing Diamond into an upright jolt of panic. She wasn't fully awake, nor were her eyes open, but the Royal Canterlot Voice had served it's purpose.
"No! Nonononono, I'm, I'm up. I'm 'wake. I'm up, I'm up. Ummmm, no, I was totally, just, on my way over...to...da ding." Diamond stammered into the murky darkness of her room. Princess Luna did not seem amused. She threw out an ebony wing and with a flick of her feathers, hefted the window of the filly's room to usher in a frigid blast of the night's air.
"Thy presence is required at the Garden of Shadows. Pray thee follow. Do. Not. Tarry." Were the princess's final words. Her wings snapped open and she shot into the midnight air like a rocket. Diamond could barely keep up, immediately stumbling out of bed and throwing her little silver wings into overdrive to try and follow her mistress.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa!! I'm comin! I, gots, lil', wings! LIL' WINGS!!! Aww, come on!!" Diamond squealed, trying to match each stroke of Luna's flight with her own.
The Garden of Shadows was the old castle. The one that appeared in the legends and the tales of yore, before the Nightmare Moon incident. The place the night court gathered, and missions were given. To most ponies, it was an unforgiving place of gloom, with a din of despair hanging in the air. To Luna's followers; it was cozy.
Tonight, however, it was different. There were darkened ribbons, strung from the cracked and crumbling walls, and the pungent scent of royal delicacies trickled through the air. There were banners with three blue lightning bolts depicted on the fabric strewn about the walls and a strange, but haunting nocturne rippled quietly in the background.
Nettleglum was there, of course standing staunch and silent as always. The Night's Stewart was an odd one, even by the standards of the Night Court, but Nettleglum had managed to worm her way into their hearts regardless. That or there was something in the tea. (It was probably the tea). She let her glance spill over towards Diamond when she arrived, and her lips twitched into almost something that could possibly maybe be confused for a smile.
Slowly, ever so slowly, did Diamond come to realize it was a party. Not a 'Pinkie Pie Party', with the wild songs, games, and celebration, nor any sort of gathering any 'normal' pony might consider a party...but it was a party none the less. Quiet and subtle, somber and low key, like the night itself. The type of party Princess Luna would throw.
However, the dim music and the excitement of the 'party' all turned to background noise- buzzing and pointless. It was all absolutely pointless to the tiny filly, when she heard the hoof-steps, walking with the odd, echoing clip-clops of her armor bouncing around the hall. The sound of somepony who wasn't used to wearing formal attire, with Her wings were preened to perfection and her sapphire mane had been combed and styled. Her fur was groomed- a vivid bright pink, and her teeth gleamed with a brilliant luster to rival even the rarest of crystals. And the moment Diamond Dancer saw her- none of that meant a thing to the filly.
"FIREFLY!!!" The filly screamed, launching herself across the room to meet with a bone crushing hug. Firefly grinned quietly, and ruffled her hoof across the Errant's spiked mane.
"How art thou, Diamond Dancer? Its been far to long since last we crossed paths." Firefly giggled. Diamond buried her nose into Firefly's chest, reveling in the sensation of the hug, and the return of her departed friend, before she slowly pulled away, her eyes widening and her expression twisting into uncertainty.
"H, how...how is dis happening? Dis can't be happening..." She sputtered, turning to glance over her shoulder at Princess Luna- who only offered a ghost of a smirk. She'd figure it out eventually...
"...I'm dreaming. Dis isn't real." Diamond said slowly. Admittedly, Princess Luna did not expect Diamond to come to the conclusion so fast- but she let her smirk flicker into the ghost of a smile. Diamond took a step back, eyeing Nettleglum, who slowly took a sip of from a cup that seemed to appear magically in her hoof. Suddenly, Princess Luna was there, resting her wing across Diamond's shoulders, smiling quietly.
"And since when does 'reality' have any basis on enjoying a dream, Errant?" The princess asked, and suddenly, it all came rushing back. In loops and spirals, and leaps and lunges. All the things she wanted to say, the questions she wanted to ask, stories she wanted to hear, and all the time to ask, tell and listen.
She was dreaming!
Firefly grinned and hugged the little filly close. They were a family again- and they always would be. Asleep or awake, it was a bond of darkness that knew no depth. A needed reminder of their unity that transcended silly things like death.
So they talked without time. And danced on the moon. And played with the stars. And ate until they couldn't eat another bite, and lost themselves to memories. And when Celestia's light finally arrived, casting the darkness from the Garden of Shadows, and drawing dreams to end- it was ok. They were together, even if separated. They were the Night Court, and always would be.
And when Diamond awoke, buried under blankets and sheets, pillows and covers, her room sparkled with Celestia's glow. Not that it held a candle to the glow now set within her heart. And on her night stand, framed and perfect- was a picture she'd never seen before, but a testament of the power of the night itself; for they could always meet again in dreams.
