Chapters Dark Moon walked into the large throne room of the Canterlot castle and bowed when he saw princess Celestia. “Your majesty..” the pony said firm. “I am Dark Moon of the order of Aliko and one of the 5 nightmare swordsman."
Celestia looked at him with a rather serious expression. "You are here to escort the elements of harmony to lord Aliko." She raises an eyebrow. "I know you from somewhere. Do you have family around here?"
Celestia nodded. "Well that is good….. You should go and catch the train it will leave in half an hour."
Dark Moon nodded and walked out his cloak showing the shining sword under it. He walked casually to the train station where he got on the train; he then looked in the sky. "I should be there by morning." He fell asleep on the bench looking out the window.
*********The next morning***********
Dark Moon walked off the train and was saw a lavender unicorn mare walking twards him. "She must be Twilight Sparkle. She doesn't look that strong." He said to himself giving a nod.
Twilight walked over to the black unicorn with a dark blue mane. "Hello are you the one, the princess said was coming? I am Twilight Sparkle." She said smiling.
Dark Moon nods. "I am. I need the other elements here so I can take them to meet lord Aliko." The stallion said with a stern voice.
Twilight nodded. "We can go to the library and you can stay the night there then we can go in the morning."
Twilight nodded. "I can but first can you tell me who is lord Aliko? I have only found him mentioned as the one who created the Alicorn amulet."
Twilight sighed and turned. "Okay… I will get them here…" She said as she walked off. About 45 minutes later she returned with 5 other mares and a baby dragon.
Dark Moon smiled softly. "Good you are here. The train should be here in about 5 minutes we will go from here to Baltimare and from there to the fort on the edge of the hayseed swamp."
He turned as the train pulled up. "Well it seems to be time to go. It is a long ride and only one stop so if you have to use the bathroom go now." He watched as the pink earth pony seemingly vanished. "Please tell me she doesn't do that often?" he said with a raised eyebrow and a rather confused look.
The other mares looked at him and Twilight sighed. "More than you would think. Well anyways let's get on the train." She walked onto the train with the rest.
Dark Moon looked at them. "It's an easy job he said. Just a simple escort mission he said." He walked onto the train and sat in the booth with the others. "I am Dark Moon a member of the order of Aliko I should be fine uhhh..” he said rather unhappy.
Twilight looked at him and nodded. "I am Twilight Sparkle, This is Apple Jack, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Flutter Shy, And Pinkie Pie." She points to all of them then the baby dragon. "And this is spike."
Dark Moon nodded. "Okay then. I am going to escort you all to fort Hayseed. It is a long walk to the fort from Baltimare."
Rainbow Dash looked at him. "How do we know we can trust you. Do you have any proof?" She slammed her hoof down.
Dark Moon looked at her. "No you have no proof who I am or who I say I am. The fact is miss I have a job to do, that job…..get you there alive."
Dark Moon shrugged. "Well I specializes in Dark and fire magic I am also a swordsmen."
Twilight looked shocked. "What do you mean black magic isn't that illegal in equestria? King Sombra used it to enslave the crystal empire."
She nodded. "Okay then but I will have to let the princess know. I doubt she will overlook a whole order using forbidden magic."
Dark Moon rolled his eyes. "Great you're one of those ponies. Celestia is not as great as most think she is." He looked at all the mares who looked like he had just kicked their puppy.
Apple Jack looked at him. "I don't know who ya think ya are but ya can't just say that kind of things about the princess."
Dark Moon shook his head. "You seven have so much to learn about the truth. The first thing is about how powerful the enemies of Equestria really are."
Twilight looked at him. "Equestria doesn't have enemies. The treaty of Canterlot united the races in trade and recognizes the power of the princesses."
Dark Moon looked at her. "That only applies to those within the borders of our kingdom. What about the gryphon's in their kingdom or the dragons of Livyathan? Not to mention the others who are just waiting." He looked at all of them. "Trust me the war still rages and the order is the first and last line of defense." He turned and walked to the door of their booth. "I have said too much already that is not my place to say. I am going to sleep now." He walked out of the booth and to the sleeping car. Leaving the mares dumb founded and confused.
Author's Note
Okay this is the final edit. Huge thanks to my new editor Bright0Night.
Dark Moon woke up to the early morning sun and looked around to see that all the elements were sleeping quietly. He got out of his bunk and walked to the booth where he ordered a simple sandwich and a cup of coffee. He started to eat his sandwich, as he watched Apple Jack walk into the booth. "Wow this is the first time I have seen a pony I don't work with get up as early as me."
Apple Jack nodded. "Well ah work on my farm so ah am use to getting up early. So how did ya get your job? If you don't mind mah asken."
Dark Moon sipped his coffee and sighed. "Well from the time I was born to about the time I was 4 I lived with my family in the everfree forest. My family was deep into dark magic and it threatened to go out of control. Because of this they were killed and I was spared."
Apple Jack nodded. "Oh…..uh…. ah haven’t a clue what to say about that. Ah am sorry about your family but why would you go dark magic if it was the reason your family got killed?"
Dark Moon took a deep breathe and let out a long deep sigh. "At first I did it to get my revenge... but then I learned that if I went down that path I would be no better than them. So then I dedicated my life to protecting Equestria and my new family I found in the order."
Apple Jack nodded. "Ah see, so you want to protect what you hold dear. So can you tell me anything else about the order?"
Dark Moon rolled his eyes. "I could but it would be easier to explain things when we got there. How's this if you or the girls have questions after the day there I will answer as many as I can."
Apple Jack nodded as the rest of the girls and Spike walked in. "Okay then ah will make sure to take that offer." The train stopped and they all got off.
Dark Moon looked at the group. "We have two options we can get some breakfast and then walk to the fort or we can go and catch the ferry and get there in time for a late lunch."
The group thought and talked about it then Twilight looked at him. "We can take the ferry. We all agree that we want to see what all this is about."
Dark Moon nodded. "Okay the new one should be leaving in 15 minutes."
He started to lead them to the docks and the wind blew lifting his cloak showing his sword in its scabbard on his back.
They got the ferry and Twilight looked past the bay and into the sea. "So this is the sea. I have only see it from far away and in books." The rest of the group looked in awe at the large body of water.
Dark Moon looked at them. "I look at it and think of the danger that is just across it. It is said that the changelings came from there and look how that ended up if only we had found that hive before the queen escaped." He slammed his hoof on the railing.
**************3 hours later***********
The ferry pulled up to a dock in front of an opening in the woods leading to the swamp and the group got off. Dark Moon looked at them. "Well here we are follow me." He lead them down the path to a large clearing. He turned to them at the foot of the path. "Here we are."
Rarity looked at him. "Umm darling that seems to just be a clearing. I mean it is a nice clearing but just a clearing."
Dark Moon looked at them. "Just follow me." He walked into the clearing and vanished as soon as he walked into it.
The group looked at each other and followed, then looked at awe at the large fortress they were now standing in front of.
Dark Moon smiled. "This is fort hayseed the main fortress of the order of Aliko and the first line of defense from threats from across the sea."
Twilight nodded. "It seems to me that the power needed to perform a cloaking spell for this size would be beyond the realm of a single unicorn or even a small team for that matter."
Suddenly they heard the sound of wings flying in the fort and Dark Moon smiled. "That is because a unicorn doesn't maintain it."
A black alicorn walked out of the gates and looked at them. “Dark Moon it is good to see you got them all here safely and I hope that you didn’t scare them too much.”
Dark Moon chuckled. “Of course not old man I mean not as much as I could have.” He walked into the gates. “I need to go wash up and get a drink.” He walked into the fort and vanished behind the wall.
The alicorn looked at the group of speechless mares. “I am lord Aliko leader of this order and master of all in the darkness. Now if you will follow me I have much I have been asked to teach you and not hardly enough time to do it.” He turned and lead them into the fort and into a throne room that was smaller than the one in canterlot and not as greatly adorned.
Author's Note
A huge thanks to my editor Bright0Night.
Dark Moon stepped into his room and looked around. He had a room for one because of his rank and ability. “Ugh I hope that she forgot that I said I would answer her and her friends questions.” He took his cloak and sword off his back and walked over to his bathroom and started the shower with his magic. “I do however hope that this will teach them that not everything is as it seems.” He stepped into his shower and let the water consume him.
********************************************************************************************************
Aliko sat in his throne and looked at the group of mares standing in front of him with a young dragon. “So you are the newest bearers of the elements of harmony? I must say that was some good work with Luna and Discord. However you still have much to learn about the true threats to Equestria.”
Twilight took a step forward. “I have a question. I have been studying for years and I am the princesses own student and I have never even heard of this order or you really. I mean only thing I know is that you created the Alicorn Amulet.”
Aliko nodded. “Well Ms.Sparkle that is because long ago just after the princesses and myself came to power we were at war to protect the newly founded Equestria. We had a great army in our command and we had to fight to protect our land. Once we had driven out the invaders and the treaty of Canterlot was signed uniting the rest of the races that were left we chose to disband our army and whoever was willing I took with me and we made the order of Aliko. As for me I am just a simple alicorn who wishes for the safety of this kingdom.”
Twilight nodded. “Okay but who exactly are the enemies of Equestria? I mean Dark Moon said the Dragons and Griffons, but he must be exaggerating right? there is no way that two entire races are trying to destroy us.”
Aliko looked at her. “No he was telling the truth. However for now there have not been many attacks on us let alone a full on assault. The dragon clans are just as fine as attacking each other for power as they are other races and as for the griffins they seem to be waiting and playing their war games and strategy planning.”
Twilight nodded. “So what are we supposed to learn from all of this, if we are in no danger?” She took a step back and shrunk a little when Aliko’s gaze pierced through her. “I mean there is not really any danger right?”
Aliko shook his head. “Of course there is danger. I would have thought that the attack at the royal wedding would have taught you that.”
Twilight gulped and sighed. "Wasn't that just a rogue attack? I mean who would really try to attack the capital?"
Aliko chuckled. "Well your brother alone is a target. He is one of the few ponies who knows of our existence and has the information to bring us down. There are four main forts that contain about 90% of our troops. The other 10% is scattered around the kingdom and a few other places."
Twilight nodded. "What about the alicorn amulet? I read that you made it, why would you do that?"
Aliko nodded. "Ah yes. That was made a long time ago when we didn't have enough of a fighting force. It amplifies the innate ability of ponies. It was deemed too unproductive though and put in the vault as one of the 20 great artifacts of the order. When sombra be trade our order he took that and a few other artifacts with him."
Twilight looked at him with a newfound spark in her eye. "What are the others? I mean they seem like they would be powerful."
Aliko chuckled. "Some are……. and some are just things significant to our order. But don't worry too much about them as for some things are best left secret."
Twilight pouted and noded. "I understand. There are somethings that the princess won't even let me know."
Aliko laid his head on his hoof. "Yes she is good at keeping secrets. But anyway you 7 are here to learn and that is what you will do. I will have each of you meet with a member of the order to learn a part of it. You will meet them at breakfast except for you young dragon.” He pointed a hoof at spike. “I have talked to an old friend of mine and he will be here later to pick you up for your own lessons at the request of Princess Luna.”
Twilight looked at Spike then Aliko. “What do you mean pick him up will he not be here with us? Who is this friend of yours exactly?”
Aliko smiled slyly. “A friend of myself and the princesses. He is almost as old and powerful as Luna. He is also kind of member of the order ”
Spike looked at him. “I’ll do it! I want to learn as much as I can.” He smiled cheerfully.
Twilight looked at him. “Are you sure Spike? You won’t be around us for a week and who knows what this pony is like.” She smiled weakly.
Spike nodded. “Eh it is only a week how bad can it be? I am sure I will be fine.”
Aliko chuckled. “You have spirit young dragon. I hope that you will not break under the training that will be expected of you.” He waved his hoof and the door opened. “You will be shown to your room by a member of the order.”
The group walked out to see a small earth pony colt just a bit older than the cutie mark crusaders. “Hi I am Water Trickle I will take you to your rooms.” He turned and started to walk down the path.
Twilight looked at him. “Wait you're a member of the order? Mostly everyone I have seen has been older than us.”
Trickle looked back at them. “I am not a full member yet I am still in training. I am interested with small things like this around the fort. But one day I am going to take over as one of the 5 nightmare swordsman just like Dark Moon!”
Rarity huffed. “Why would anypony want to be like that rude, mean, selfish pony!”
Trickle looked back at her. “He is a hero. He once fought three manticores at a time just to protect a few lumberjacks who were in the swamp. Not to mention he always has time to talk to my class and answer questions.”
The group looked at each other hardly able to believe what they were hearing. They got to the large room with 6 beds. Trickle looked at them. “Well I will be going now.” He walked away and met with a few other young ponies.
The rest of the day went by with the six ponies and the dragon just sitting in their room not sure what to do at this strange place. Eventually they all went to the beds they picked out with Spike falling asleep at the foot of Twilights bed.
Author's Note
A huge thanks to my editor Bright0Night. Also I know that ending was kinda weak but I couldn't figure out a good way to end it.
Twilight woke up early in the morning and yawned using a quick projection spell to see the time. “Oh no girls wake up! We are running late!” She got up fast not even noticing that Spike was missing from the room. She ran around pulling on the tails of the other mares to get them out of their beds and getting a quick comment from Rainbow Dash. They walked out the door and followed a few ponies to a large building on the other end of the large fort. Twilit used her magic to open the door showing a large group of ponies eating. Flutter Shy gasped softly and quickly hid behind her mane at the sight of all the ponies almost equaling the population of Ponyville.
Dark Moon looked over as the door opened and sighed. “Oh the Elements are here. I wonder if they saw Spike leave with Tu’gorn last night.” He said to himself and walked over to the group. “Good morning girls. I will show you to where you will be learning this week….. But first I need a cup of coffee.” He walked over to the counter and used his magic to get a cup full of coffee before his horn flared to warm it up.
Twilight looked at him then around. “Wow nice heating spell. I use Spike most of the time.” She looked around then at the girls. “Have you seen Spike?”
They all shook their head then Dark Moon looked at her. “He left last night with his teacher. Don’t worry he will be taken care of.”
*********************************Meanwhile at a cave where spike is********************************
Spike looked up at the large dragon as it started to make a large fire ball. “Why did I not listen to Twilight.” He ran out of the way as the fire ball flew past him.
****************************************Back where the others are***********************************
Twilight sighed. “Okay then.” She looked around. “So where do we go to meet with the ponies we have to learn from? I am sure we all want to get started.”
Rainbow Dash huffed. “But I want something to eat first.” She hovered over the group and looked around the hall.
Twilight rolled her eyes. “Fine go and get something but you can eat it on the way to the meeting place.” She watched as Rainbow went to the counter and got a bagel.
After Rainbow got back Dark Moon lead them to the back of the dining hall. “Okay Pinkie Pie you stay here and Sharp Knife will be with you in a moment.
Pinkie Pie nodded and bounced where she was. “Okay!!” She kept bouncing as the rest of the group walked out of the dining hall.
Dark Moon looked around. “Hmmm who should I drop off next.” He looked at the mares and started to walk, stopping in a grass training field. “Rainbow Dash stay here and captain Sharp Wing will be here to get you.” Rainbow nodded and sat on the grass eating her bagel.
Dark Moon walked over to a large temple. “Twilight just go inside and meet with Quick Ward he should have his muzzle in a book.” He watched as he walked in before heading away to a small outdoor forge. “Rarity you will be with master Heavy Hoof.”
Rarity nodded. “Of course darling.” She sat on a bench as Dark moon and the two other mares walked away.
Dark Moon walked to the medical tent. “Flutter Shy you will be here with Dr.White Wing. Your lucky this is an easy job since there is no real battle going on.”
Flutter Shy nodded. “O-okay then.” She slowly walked into the tent.
Dark Moon turned to Applejack. “Okay you are going to the farming center just on the other side of the fort.” He turned and started to walk with her humming softly as he goes. A few minutes later he walked out the back gate with her, to quite a few large farming fields. “Here we are. Just stay close to that shed and Soft Plow will be with you in a few minutes.” He watched as she walked over to the shed before turning and walking away.
Dark Moon walked into the fort and headed to a large training field watching a group of the newest recruits as they moved in the uniform pattern of the training session. “Hmm they need to move faster and hold their arms up a bit more.” He said to himself as he waited for them to end their session so he could practice with his magic.
After about an hour of waiting, he watched the group walked off the training field and he walked into it. He slowly used his magic to pull out his sword and put it in his mouth before he started to swing at a solid wood training dummy putting deep gashes in the wood of it. After he had all but destroyed it he flared his horn and the wood started to burn in a bright orange flame before he put his sword up.
He sighed and turned away walking back to the bench and sitting down on it watching as the flame burned softly. “I feel like there is something coming our way don’t you old friend?” He turned to look at the small pegasus stallion next to him.
The pegasus nodded. “Yes I do. Also why did you drop that rainbow mare off with me? She is loud and annoying.”
Dark Moon chuckled. “Simple Sharp I did it because she is loud and annoying.” He got up and yawned. “I need to shower and you need to go and watch over your charge, we wouldn’t want lord Aliko to know that you left her alone.” He turned and walked away.
Author's Note
Big thanks to my editor Bright0Night.
Twilight walked into the temple and looked around seeing lots of unicorns and a few earth ponies walking around in robes of different colors. An older blue unicorn stallion walked up to her. “Hello you must be Ms.Sparkle, I am Quick Ward,”
Twilight smiled at him. “Hi you can call me Twilight if you want.” She looked around taking in all the artwork. “So what do you do here?”
Quick Ward thought for a second before looking to the ponies walking around. “Well we here at the temple study magic for advancement. I lead the temple staff in their research and sometimes lead a class or two. So would you like a tour I am sure there are some things that will interest you.”
Twilight nodded. “That sounds great. I have seen a few things that seem interesting.” She turned and started to follow Quick Ward as he led her down a hallway. Looking around at the sculptures and paintings. “Wow you have a lot of art here.”
Quick Ward nodded. “Of course. This fort is the first fort our order had after the diffusion. It was a fort for the equestrian military before that.” He led her to a library. “I figured that since there was no class today I would show you around the library. We have text on the older magic of equestria, history books from before the rise of nightmare moon, and books on alchemy and potion making.”
Twilight thought. “I was wondering about dark magic. Dark Moon said that most unicorns of your order can use it to some degree.”
Quick Ward nodded. “That is true we teach most of the unicorn foals how to at least control it so we don’t have another sombra, he was once one of our order in the northern fort until he fell.” Quick Ward lit his horn with a pale blue light and levitated a few books over to the table next to them. “Here are some of the basic texts on it. I would ask that you don’t try it without telling me.”
Twilight nodded and used her magic to open the first book. “Okay I will.” She starts to read then looks at Quick Ward. “I have seen a few references to the 5 nightmare swordsman I know Dark Moon is one but what are they?”
Quick Ward smiles. “They are the five best sword fighters in the order. We have a few different groups like them.” He sits on a pillow. “But as for the 5 nightmare swordsman. One is Dark Moon, he has the black blade of monochrome. Three of the others are at the different forts and the fifth is out on a mission.”
Twilight nods. “Oh okay. Well is there anything that I should know about the orders magic?”
Quick Ward smiles. “Well we use dark magic as you know. We also have a great knowledge of magic circles and elemental magic. We have a lot of unicorns who get their cutie mark for fighting combat magic.”
Twilight nods. “Oh okay then.” She levitates a book over to her and starts to read it.
Rainbow Dash hovered in the field that Dark Moon had left her in and looked around when suddenly she saw a small red pegasus stallion with a green mane he had on what she recognized as wing blades. He looked at her. “I take it that you are Rainbow Dash?”
Rainbow nodded. “Yeah I am! I am the best flyer in Equestria!” She smiled and struck a pose in mid air. “I am going to be the best wonder bolt there is!”
The pegasus chuckled then started to all out laugh. “The wonder bolts! Those flight camp washouts wouldn’t know a good flyer it I bucked them in the face.” He smirked. “But if you really think that you are the best flyer in Equestria why don’t you prove it right now?”
Rainbow gritted her teeth. “Okay you are on! But if I win you have to take back what you said about the wonder bolts.” She moved next to him. “So where are we going to fly too?”
The pegasus pointed at a cloud just outside of the fort. “The first one there and back wins.” Before she could even agree he was up in the air and halfway to the cloud.
Rainbow grunted and coughed at all the dust he had kicked up before flying after him almost getting to him as he reached the cloud and turned back. She touched the cloud and flew after him again but before she could get up with him he started to go faster and hit the ground leaving four craters where is hooves where. She landed next to him. “You cheated! You never said that we were starting!”
The pegasus chuckled. “I figured that if you really were the best you would be able to catch up with me. I even had on my weighted wing blades.” He unhooked one and it fell leaving a good inch deep hole in the ground where it landed and then he unhooked the other one letting it fall on the other side.
Rainbow looked at him and her eye twitched. “Just who do you think you are anyway!? You just show up insulte my heros and then cheat in a race with me!”
The pegasus smirked. “I am captain Sharp Wing leader of the pegasus forces in this fort. I am also one of the top flyers in the order. Now before you make more of a fool out of yourself why don’t you do 20 laps flying around the fort at your top speed and if you slow down even a little you have to start over.
Rainbow huffed and took flight starting to fly as fast as she could around the fort a rainbow trail following behind her as she went. “Bucking ass hole thinks he can just go around telling me what to do because he is a little faster then me in one stupid race.” She looked down and saw that he was talking to Dark Moon. “Oh look he is friends with that ass hole.” She finished her first lap and then started on her second not slowing down at all.