A Wish Before Midnight

Chapters

Chapter 1: Present Day . . .
Chapter 2: A Tale Begins
Chapter 3: Fissures
Chapter 4: A Sun Sets
Chapter 5: A Misunderstanding
Chapter 6: Rodents
Chapter 7: Heated Reunion

Chapter 1: Present Day . . .

Chapter 1

A calm, chilly night is graced with the moon’s gentle glow above, as a quiet, shanty town lies below. However, nopony has gotten into their beds for their night’s sleep just yet. Mothers and Fathers, fillies and colts, the young and the old, gather in the center of town as the moon’s light is cast upon the fur of their coats. Each and every one of them kneeling down, eyes shut and heads hanging low. Around each of their necks, are necklaces made from string, and a wooden pendant in the shape of a crescent moon. Many stallions and colts are neatly dressed in their finest garb, and as for the mares and fillies, they are required to wear a violet sheet, decorated with patches of white cloth in the shape of stars sown into it. The corners of the sheets are tied around their necks so that the winds may lift it behind them, so that it may wave like a heroic cape. Not a word is spoken, the only voices to be heard are those of the trees rustling by the wind, and the chirping of crickets hidden within the tall grass. Within the crowd, one stallion is knelt with a trio of young fillies nearby.

The stallion, who is not of old, but not quite young, bears untrimmed facial hair, as well as an overly long, white mane. His coat is golden, and slightly opens his ocean-blue eyes to observe the three fillies. To be sure they are following the proper attitude during this time of night. The oldest, a rambunctious filly with a brick-red, braided mane, and sandy coat; appears to be concentrating the hardest. It brings a smile to the stallion’s face, as he can tell how deep in thought she is. Then, there is the slightly younger colt. Normally, everypony gets properly dressed and groomed for such an event, but he has never bothered once to neaten his wild, black mane and bronze coat. Compared to the oldest, he doesn’t appear to be showing nearly as much concentration. The stallion quietly sighs, as it hasn’t been the first time this colt hasn’t shown any sort of spirit during these nights. Lastly, he moves on to the youngest. A little filly who hasn’t had any experience in anything, yet he knows how faithful she can be. Her coat is as blue as the day’s sky, and mane is as white as his. He raises an eyebrow as he watches her, then smirks as she is in a rather peculiar stance. Her head is held up high as her tiny horn points to the sky, and her right foreleg is stretched out away from her body. The stallion then shuts his eyes, and allows his mind to drift.

Suddenly, the silence is broken by the deep, distant sound of horns. Everypony’s heads lift up as they all stare out in the distance, towards the tall, menacing mountain harboring an old, shadowed castle built into its side. The horns continue to blare their noise, and the crowd of ponies quickly disperse, trotting into their cabins. “It’s time children.” The stallion begins. “Let’s hurry back home.” He gathers and guides the three little ponies back to their cabin. They all huddle in the corner of the small living room as the stallion watches from the window. Every cabin he can see has one candle lit inside, and one by one, they are blown out to conceal everypony inside in darkness. The sounds of the horns disappears, and the stallion waits with his candle still lit. The oldest filly glances at the other two in fear, then turns to the stallion. “Uncle Cedric?” She begins.

“Shh. Stay quiet,” he says, still gazing through the window. He can hear the faint sound of a pair of winds flapping, and soon, a silhouette appears. A figure falls and lands, erupting a cloud of dust from the ground. Cedric watches the figure as hatred flows through him. The pony-shaped figure stands, looking around at the surroundings until it locks onto the stallion. He can feel the figure’s glare, and continues to look on with anger. The figure’s head tilts as if the pony is in wonder, and without an ounce of fear, he blows out his candle. Before another thought can cross his mind, there is a sudden knock on the door which causes the three little ponies to jolt from fear. “Kids! To your beds! Go!” Cedric whispers urgently. As they all hurry to the bedroom, the stallion remains in the living room, glaring at the door. The knocking continues, and he feels no other option but to answer. He hadn’t noticed before, but his heart has been racing, however, he casts it to the side and holds his expression with the same amount of anger as he had before.

Cedric grips the rope handle of the door, and pulls it open to reveal the shadowed pony at his doorstep. By the shape of the pony’s body, it’s clearly a mare dressed in a sort of black garb, with a collar composed of clumps of white plumage. Adorned on her head, is a sleek, black helm in the shape of a bird’s head and beak, making it impossible to see any part of her face. “Do you mind if I ask why you and your family are still awake at this hour?” The mare asks.

“My apologies. I’ve just been having trouble getting to sleep lately. As for my children, I’ve put them to bed hours ago as their curfew demands.”

“As you should. However, you are aware that the horns are a signal to keep your lights out. Isn’t that right?”

“Yes.”

“Then why would you feel it necessary to keep your candle it all the way until my arrival? Then, blow out your light once I notice you?”

“It was sincerely a mistake, I suppose my age is finally getting to me. My hearing isn’t what it used to be. The horns must’ve blended in with the sounds of the wind.”

“Is that so? Would you believe how you aren’t fooling me with your pitiful excuse?” Cedric glances down at a reflective part of the mare’s chest. A silver medal in the shape of a vulture with its wings outstretched is pinned to her garb.

“Well, I’ll tell you I wouldn’t believe that the Vultures’ Captain herself was visiting our town this night.”

“Oh, so you can tell?”

“Not only that, but there is only one pony I’m familiar with your admirable speed. Combined with that voice of yours, surely you must be Miss Rainbow D—” The mare grabs Cedric by the collar of his shirt with her hoof. His shirt tears, as her hoof is armored with a metal shoe lined with sharp claws. She aggressively brings him in closer as he stares into the lifeless eyes of her helmet.

“Never, call me by that name. ‘Captain’ or ‘Miss’ will do just fine.” She pulls her claws out from his shirt and moves away from his face. “I’ve had numerous reports from my other scouts who’ve come to patrol this village, and you seem to match the description of the repeat offender. If you are reported once more, I will personally fly down here to teach you why you do not disrespect a Vulture. Do we understand each other?”

“. . . Yes, Captain.” Without a final word or farewell, the Captain’s wings stretch out before taking off into the night sky. Cedric glances down at the tears in his shirt, then gently closes the door. His heart calms, and he sighs as he rubs his eyes. Making his way to the kids’ bedroom, he opens the door just a crack to find all three of them looking at him from under their sheets. Without a lit candle, the moon’s light reaching in from the window is enough to make out the fearful expressions on all of their faces. “I . . . suppose you’ve heard everything. So, it’s time to get you all to sleep,” he says as he enters their room. He begins with the oldest, untying her cape and fixing her sheets.

“Are you hurt?” She asks, noticing his torn shirt.

“No, I’m quite alright. Just rest easy. Did you send out your wish with as much heart as you could?”

“Yes, I did. Like always.”

“Good, keep it up. Remember, never assume she doesn’t hear you, becau—”

“Because she listens to all of us.”

Cedric smiles. “Precisely. Now go ahead and get some sleep.” He attempts to take the necklace off of her neck, but she presses the pendant to her chest to keep him from taking it.

“Could I wear it to bed tonight? I . . . I think it’ll help me sleep.”

“Of course.” She rests her head onto her pillow, and Cedric pulls the sheet up to her chin. “Goodnight, Aura.” With a kiss on her forehead, he then moves on to the little colt and begins fixing his sheets. “So, did ‘you’ send out your wish this night?”

“. . . Yeah.” He says, without even as much as a glance. “Why did you go and do that anyway?”

“What do you mean?”

“You just . . . stared at the Vulture. Why didn’t you just blow out the candle?”

“Because, I have no need to be afraid of them.”

“Well, you should.”

“And why is that?”

“Because, what you did was just—! Just!”

“Just what?”

“Stupid!”

“Hammer!” Aura yells.

“What?! You know I’m right!”

“He knows what he’s doing!”

“Then why were you the one that tried to get him to stop!”

“I-I was scared!”

“Exactly! So it was stupid!”

“Will you two please keep your voices down?!” Cedric interrupts, and the two children settle. “Aura, I appreciate your defense, but Hammer isn’t completely wrong. My actions could have had some severe consequences.”

“I told you,” says Hammer as he glares at Aura.

“But Hammer, there is something you need to understand. Just because the Vultures have authority over me, and can threaten me or toss me in prison, doesn’t mean I take pleasure in following their set of rules. You see, what they stand for, is to make everypony’s life miserable, not just in our village, but everywhere else as well. That, and to collect taxes; and if we can’t pay, then we are punished. Taken away from our friends and family to pay our debts. They stand for nothing ‘good’ in Equestria. Not them, not the Monarchy and nopony who is affiliated with them.”

“Then, what do you stand for?”

“Me? Well, I’ve only stood for one thing, ‘To watch justice prevail’. It’s what I and everypony else around me stood for. Now, that message has disappeared, and this is all that remains. Nopony nowadays is willing stand for justice. . . Not like they did before.”

“Uncle Cedric! Uncle Cedric!” The littlest filly begs for his attention as she restlessly kicks her hooves under her sheet.

“Just a moment, Gem,” he says to her as he turns his attention to her for a mere second before turning back to Hammer. “Do you at least understand ‘some’ of what I’m saying, Hammer?” Hammer doesn’t answer, and instead stares downward as he messes around with his sheet. “Maybe, you’ll figure out what you want to stand for. Considering there’s already so much goodness in you, I’m positive you’ll choose to stand for the right thing. . . Goodnight, Hammer.” Cedric brings the sheet up to Hammer’s chin, and gives him a kiss on the forehead. However, Hammer doesn’t seem to show any emotion. Cedric then makes his way to Gem, who is excitedly waiting. “Alright Gem, you sent out ‘your’ wish tonight?”

“Yeah!”

“And, could you tell me what exactly you were doing? You stood like a statue.” Cedric chuckles.

“If-If I stand like that, then she hears me better!”

“Oh, does she?” Cedric smiles.

“Yeah! It really helps!”

“Well, I suppose I’d better try it with you next time! But for now, let’s try to get some sleep, okay?” As Cedric begins to tuck her in, she immediately stops him by grabbing his hoof.

“Wait!”

“What’s the matter?”

“Can-Can you tell us the story again!”

“Really? Aren’t you just the slightest bit tired?”

“Nuh-uh!”

“Hmm . . . What do you two think? Should we make tonight another story night?”

“Yes! Please, tell us the story!” Aura begs.

“Please, Uncle Cedric?!” Gem joins.

“. . . Very well then! Come here you two, you’ll share Gem’s bed tonight.” Aura hops out of her bed and dashes towards them, climbing into Gem’s bed. Cedric turns to Hammer, who remains in his bed. “Hammer, please join us.”

“I’ve heard the story already, a bunch of times,” says Hammer.

“Come on, Hammer! Let’s go!” Gem cheers.

“Please, Hammer.” Aura adds.

“Hammer, please, for your sisters?” Cedric asks. Hammer turns his head to them, and with a short sigh, he climbs down from his bed to join Gem and Aura. “Thank you, Hammer.” Cedric brings a little, wooden stool over to their bed, and sits down to get more comfortable. “Now, let’s begin.” Gem and Aura nestle themselves in bed with excitement, as Hammer lies irritably. “A mere number of years ago, two Princesses ruled over our land of Equestria, the both of them sisters.”

“Just like us!” Says Gem as she leans against Aura.

Cedric smiles. “Yes, Gem, just like you and Aura. And they, along with everypony else, loved each other. . . They all lived in harmony. However, on a day that felt just like any other, something happened that would change all of that." Cedric's smile disappears. "An event that seemed to come out of nowhere. A war that would plunge the once peaceful land we call home, into a dark and seemingly endless abyss of despair. . .”

Chapter 2: A Tale Begins

A Wish Before Midnight

Chapter 2 – A Tale Begins

“The moon’s time in the sky had ended, and soon, the sun would rise to take its place.” Cedric begins. “Our Princess would soon bring daylight to the land, just as she had done every morning before. And, within the walls of her majesty’s royal castle, a special ceremony was to be had. A ceremony that would change three ponies’ lives for the rest of their days. . . Their rise to knighthood."

The sun peers over the mountain tops far on the horizon. The birds awaken and stir, fluttering in groups out from their homes in the trees to soar in the violet sky. The land is illuminated by the sun's lively rays as ponies, village to village, awaken in their beds to trot and peer out their bedroom windows; so that they too can gaze out at the sun’s magnificence. Within moments of the sun’s rising, villages and cities become vibrant with life, as every pony gallops in the dirt roads to begin their day.

Playing and conversing with their many neighbors and friends, they gaze to the source, the very reason the sun is able to thrive. The center of the Kingdom of Equestria, Canterlot Mountain, the home of the angelic Princesses themselves. Their throne, a castle that can scrape the very bottom of the passing clouds, a symbol that stands for everything good in their kingdom. Just gazing at it can fill anypony’s heart with pride, and joy.

Inside the regal monument, the Goddess of the Sun stands at the very edge of her balcony. A beautiful, white Pegasus adorned with a gem-encrusted crown and golden shoes. Her head held high, and horn aglow; her elegant wings outstretched as far as they can, her long, flowing, multi-colored mane, and her eyes gently closed so that she may remain in the deepest phase of concentration. As the sun reaches its highest point in the sky, turning the sky’s violet to a rich blue, the Goddess’ horn emanates a golden hue, shimmering with sparkles of white light. The sun halts, and the Princess rests her mind, opening her eyes so that she too can gaze and bathe in the sun’s glory. “Your majesty. . .” A voice softly calls from behind her. She turns her head to find one of her loyal knights standing in the middle of the doorway to her balcony.

“Yes, my knight?” asks Princess Celestia.

“Your newest knights are ready for their ceremony.”

“Yes, of course. . . Have our Knights of Harmony returned from their trip to the Everfree Forest?”

“I’m afraid not your majesty.”

“Very well. We mustn’t keep them waiting. Let us go.” The Princess and the knight leave the balcony, descending down to the castle’s main hall where their thrones reside. The windows inside the hall are high near the ceiling, leaving the bottom half in shadows. There, a lineup of three ponies dressed in their proper Equestrian knight attire, awaits. Their plated armor, the same as the knight beside the Princess, is golden, and their features are nearly hidden by the shadows. They stand with their chests puffed, and faces emotionless. At the sight of their rulers, they salute. “At ease, soldiers.” She begins. “And please, relax yourselves. This is a moment where your hearts can beat steadily. There is no need to be so stoic. Go on, take a breath.” Each of the three ponies breathe out, and ease the tension they’ve put on their legs. “Now, let us begin your ceremony to knighthood. Would the first in line please stand under the light?” The first pony steps to the center of the room where a veil of light is cast down from the ceiling, cutting through the shadows. Atop is a stained, glass window cast in the shape of the sun, painted orange and red. Enveloped in the rays of colors, the soldier looks on as the Princess stands before him. Everything about him is then illuminated, all except his mane which is hidden under his helmet just like the others. His steel-blue coat is now visible, along with his magenta eyes, as well as his rather thin physique when compared to the other two in the lineup. “Steadfast, soldier of the fifth regime.”

“Your majesty,” says Steadfast, as he kneels before her.

“It is quite an impressive feat you’ve accomplished. Making it all this way at such a young age. In fact, if my memory serves me right, the youngest that’s ever attended this ceremony. I can tell you’ve given your life to your career. ‘That’ is most admirable.”

“Thank you, your majesty.”

“You show so much promise, and I truthfully believe that with strength such as yours, in both heart and sword, many others will be inspired to follow your lead. I hereby dub you: Steadfast, Knight of the Sun.” Princess Celestia bows, and touches the tip of her enlarged horn to the top of Steadfast’s helmet. “Congratulations, Knight Steadfast, would you please rejoin your fellow comrades?”

“Yes, your majesty,” he says as he returns to the lineup.

“Would the next soldier please stand under the light?” The next pony then takes Steadfast’s place. A mare, who’s coat is of a vanilla color, and rich, yellow eyes. “Ah, yes, Arina, Member of the Royal Guard.”

“Your majesty,” says Arina as she kneels before her.

“I remember the day you first joined the Royal Guard, t’was so long ago. I could tell you’ve pushed yourself through great lengths to reach this moment. I must first express my pride in you for not letting your dream go. Your will is not so easily broken.”

“Thank you, your majesty.”

“Not only that, but I do not see very many mares attempting to put such time and effort into their career such as you. That alone is quite impeccable. You will become a role model for many other fillies who yearn to follow in your steps. Which is why I hereby dub you: Arina, Knight of the Sun.” Princess Celestia takes a bow, and touches her horn to Arina’s helmet. “Congratulations, Knight Arina. You may rejoin your fellow comrades.”

“Yes, your majesty. Thank you,” she says, returning to the lineup.

“And lastly, Bronze, Member of the Edge Royal Family.” The stallion leaves the lineup, and kneels before her. The light illuminating his coffee-brown coat, and shimmering off of his forest-green eyes.

“Your majesty,” he says.

“Bronze, son of Marigold and Silver Edge. I must say, it brings me so much joy to have the son of one of my most valiant knights finally become a part of this ceremony. I had in fact dreamt of it quite some time, as I could see the very image of your Father in your eyes when you were just a foal. However, I began to assume you had no interest in the idea of knighthood. I am ready to admit I was very much mistaken. You had risen through the ranks at a stunning rate. I’m sure your Mother must be very proud of your progress, and I’m sure your Father would show you just the same pride. . . I do hope my mentioning of your Father hasn’t caused you any sort of discomfort.”

“Of course not, your majesty.”

“Splendid. Then I hereby dub you: Bronze, Knight of the Sun.” She then touches the top of his helmet with her horn. “Congratulations, Knight Bronze. You may now rejoin your fellow knights.” Bronze returns to the lineup, and both Princesses stand before them. “As honorary Knights of the Sun, each of you must be ready for battle whenever you may be called upon. And remember, you represent what it means to be a part of the highest ranking knights possible. Each of you must now take a vow, to swear your loyalty to the monarchy, and to serve your kingdom with honor. Do I have your vows?”

In unison, the knights make their vows. “I vow my loyalty to the monarchy, and to serve my kingdom with honor.”

“Thank you, my knights. . . Well now, after all this excitement, I’m sure the three of you must have worked up an appetite. Follow me, I have a surprise for you all.” The three of them follow curiously behind the Princess and her knight down a series of red-carpeted halls. Upon reaching a giant, ornate door, everypony halts as the Princess’ horn begins to glow. The door is highlighted by the golden glow, and is slowly pushed open via the sheer strength of the Princess’ magic. As soon as the door is completely open, the Princess raises her hoof to present the room. “Welcome, my knights, to the dining hall.” Inside is a long table fit to seat many guests, and in their seats, are other knights adorned in the same armor as the three of them.

“Welcome, knights!” They all cheer as they raise their cups. The three, new knights, smile and proceed to gape in awe. Every window in the room is a stained glass depiction of royal figures and symbols nearly filling the entire room with color. Above the dining table, hangs a glass chandelier. The light bounces off of it and across the room giving it such a heavenly glow.

“Please, join us!” one of the knights calls.

“Yes, please do,” another knight adds. “We’ve been brimming with excitement to meet the newest additions to our regiment.”

“Go on ahead and sit with your new, fellow knights. I had hoped that my Knights of Harmony would be here to greet you three as well,” says the Princess.

“You mean, ‘the’ Knights of Harmony?” Steadfast asks in surprise.

“Indeed, however, it would seem they’re still out on important matters. They should return soon. Once they do, I will be sure all of you are introduced. Until then, please, have a seat amongst your fellow Knights of the Sun.”

“Yes, your majesty,” they say in unison.

The three knights join them at the dining table. Each and every one of them conversing, laughing, and learning about one another. “So, Steadfast, is it?” One of the knights asks. His voice is jolly and inviting, the same goes for the smile on his face, joined by the curly, orange beard stretch from the bottom of his ears across his chin.

“Yes, sir,” says Steadfast.

The knight chuckles. “There is no need to refer to me as ‘sir’. As of today, you and I are of the same status. Neither of us is more important than the other, we each share the same thread that holds this cloth together. Simply call me, Venice.”

“Ah, yes, understood.”

“So, the youngest member of our band of knights. Quite impressive indeed at your age. I remember, back when I was that age, I was still getting bashed by my trainers and smacked about with training weapons!” Venice laughs. “But no . . . you’ve somehow managed to pull it off. How did you do it?”

“It’s just . . . something I’ve wanted since my early childhood. I remember the first day my Grandfather took me on a trip to Canterlot Mountain. When I saw the Royal Guards patrolling the streets, and others taking off into the sky with their golden chariots to carry out their duties, I immediately was interested. From there, I wanted to learn more about their history. I wanted to learn about those who had their names engraved in history as warriors, as heroes. And, then I hoped that one day I could join them.”

“Well, Steadfast, I’d say that you are already well along that path. Considering you climbed your way to this spot, to bear that armor, and to sit amongst us; you should believe that you shall indeed join those names. I can already see the true knight in you.”

“Thank you, sir—Vince! Vince . . . I do apologize.”

“No worries, in time, all of this will begin to feel like home to you. . . Now, Bronze Edge.”

“Hm? Oh, yes, Sir Vince?”

“I’ve noticed you haven’t yet touched a spec of the meal prepared on your plate, are you feeling troubled?”

“No, of course not. I’m just not quite hungry, is all.”

“Well, I hope not. This is a time for celebration, and a gathering of new friends, not for sour thoughts. Anyway, I had never once dreamt that the ‘Edge’ family name would ever leave my lips again. And yet here you are, the son of Silver Edge himself. I can definitely see your Father in you. You carry that very same aura about you.”

“Thank you, Vince.”

“You know, it feels like it was just yesterday I was charging by his side into the battlefield.”

“Y-You fought with him?”

“Yes, indeed I did. Such a courageous and kind-hearted knight. And let me tell you, after observing him in battle, I knew I would never want to spar with that stallion. He would’ve pinned me down as soon as someone gave the word to begin! Ha-hah!” Vince takes a breath. “Ahh, yes. A good knight, your Father. His name will continue to live on, there is no doubt about that. As a matter of fact, I say we propose a toast.” Vince stands up from his seat with his hoof raised. The other knights at the table grab their cups with their hooves, and raise them up above the table. “To Silver Edge, a valiant knight, and a most trusted ally. And, to his son, Bronze Edge. If he were here to see you now, I ‘know’ he would be proud.”

“Cheers!” everypony says in unison before taking a sip from their cups. Bronze, seeming to be the least enthusiastic.

“Now, Miss Arina!” says Venice. “What be your story? Any sort of family influence on your journey to knighthood?”

“. . . No. None at all,” says Arina.

“Well, I’m sure your family must be proud to see how far you’ve come.”

“I don’t have a family.” Instantly, the smiles on everyone’s faces disappear. “I was orphaned at a young age.”

“My, I . . . You must forgive me. I hadn’t known—”

“No, it’s alright. I did know my Father, as for my Mother, I never did learn anything about her. However, I didn’t get to know my Father for very long. I lost him to fatal illness. . . I was taken in by a Foster Father, but. . .”

“Dear Arina, my sincerest apologies. I did not mean to touch upon bitter memories. If you wish, we can discuss these matters at another time. You can speak with any of us, we are here to listen. But for now, let us cast these memories aside and focus on the present. All three of you have nothing but a bright future ahead!”

Back in the castle’s main hall, as the Princess walks up the stairs to her throne with the same knight by her side, the two, giant double doors at the end of the hall are pushed open. The hall floods with the deep noise of the heavy metal creaking. A group of four Royal Guard soldiers rush inside, galloping towards the Princess with distraught faces. “Your majesty! Your majesty!” they shout.

“What is it? What news have you?” the Princess asks.

Out of breath, the guards continue. “We were observing the Everfree from our outpost, and we-we spotted some sort of disturbance.”

“A disturbance? What do you mean? What did you see?”

“I-I don’t know. It wasn’t like anything I’ve ever seen. It looked . . . I-It looked like—” The guards words are interrupted as everyone in the room is thrown off balance. Scrambling about to stay on their hooves.

“The ground underneath them began to violently shake,” Cedric continues. “Fear overtook everypony in the room as the ceiling above them shed little pieces of rubble and clouds of dust that bounced off the tops of the guards’ helmets. The Princess’ heart quickly filled with dread, her mind running crazily as she wondered what could possibly be happening. With her Knights of Harmony nowhere in sight, and there being no time to waste, she hurried back to the dining hall to alert the Knights of the Sun.”

Chapter 3: Fissures

A Wish Before Midnight

Chapter 3 – Fissures

“The Princess flung open the dining hall doors, alarming every knight inside. She commanded they follow her outside, and without a second of thought, the knights hopped out of their seats. They galloped with the Princess out of the room as their armor shuddered loudly, and their minds ran crazily with questions. For they too had felt the ground shift beneath them.”

“Your majesty, what is going on?” Vince asks.

“I’m not too sure myself, Knight Vince,” says Princess Celestia. “However, I just have this horrible feeling. . .” The Princess discards her thought, and instead focuses on the route before her. Within moments, she and her knights enter the main hall, dashing down the long, red rung towards the doors leading to the outside. However, their race to the big, double doors is halted as the doors are pushed open by a group of ponies other than the Princess’ Royal Guards.

“No way . . . are they. . ?” Steadfast gawks.

“My . . . it truly is them,” says Bronze.

“The Knights of Harmony, to think we could be so lucky as to stand in their presence,” says Arina. Through the double doors, six mares dressed in silver, armored chest plates and shoes emerge. Two pegasi, two unicorns, and two ponies of the earth. The sunlight from behind them refracts over their armor, giving them a rather angelic glow. As they approach, it’s clear that each of them has a uniquely shaped and colored jewel embedded into the center of their chest plates.

“And look!” Steadfast begins. “Their armor is adorned with each of the sacred gems! Each one blessed to contain the very fragments of harmony itself.”

“You sure do know a lot about them,” says Bronze.

“Well, that’s just scratching the surface in understanding the purpose of being a Knight of Harmony. You see—”

“Could this, by chance, wait until later? I’m sure there are more important matters to be attended,” another Knight of the Sun interrupts.

“Oh, y-yes, of course.”

“Your majesty!” the leading Knight of Harmony shouts. The unicorn kneels before the Princess, sweat trickling down from her neatly trimmed, violet mane down her lilac coat of fur.

“Twilight, what news have you and the others brought?” the Princess asks.

“Princess Celestia. . .” the knight continues whilst regaining her breath. “During our exploration of the Everfree, we stumbled across something.”

“What did you find?”

“A series of tunnels running down under the ground. Upon our previous scouts of that particular area, we had never come across this entrance before. A pitch black pit that fell straight down into the ground. I-It would’ve been impossible to miss. After Rainbow Dash went down to explore, the ground began to shake. We shouted for her to come back, and as soon as she flew out from the pit, we hurried back here as fast as we could. It felt like the further we went the more intense the shaking became.” The ground beneath them erupts with violent trembling once again, alarming everypony in the room.

“Everyone! This way!” one of the Royal Guards shouts from the giant doorway. “You all must see this!” Immediately, the Princess, along with all of her knights, gallop outside the castle and stand near the rest of the guards who are gazing into the distance. From where they’re standing, they each have a clear view of the endless miles of forest below. “Just-Just watch. It happened again a moment ago. . .” The Princess and the rest continue to watch, anxiously waiting to see what has shook this guard to his core.

Out in the distance, from beneath the thick clusters of trees, an enormous, pure black, snake-like object flies up into the sky. “Th-There! There it is!” the guard panics. The Princess watches calmly, yet distraught. As for the rest of her knights, they begin to fill with horror while watching the snake-like object twist and twirl in the sky. Then, within moments, the object vanishes.

“. . . What was that?” Bronze asks.

“I-I have no idea. This is the third time I’ve seen on of those things, and they’ve each done the same thing,” says the guard.

“Whatever it is, I have a feeling it isn’t here to make peace,” says Princess Celestia. “Knight Vince, I am going to need you to gather search parties together to scout out that area of the forest. Find the source and what might be causing such an anomaly. I have a feeling it may be the same spot the Knights of Harmony—”

“Heads down! It’s approaching!” They all turn their attention away from the Princess to see another black, snake-like object flying at incredible speed towards the castle. It smashes into the higher level of the tower just behind them, sending masses of rubble to come hurdling downward. Many of the knights leap and trot out of the way of the falling rubble, however, some are struck by the debris and fall to the ground.

“Guard!” Princess Celestia shouts.

“Yes, your majesty?!”

“Go check on the wounded and bring them to safety!”

“Yes, your majesty!” The guard salutes as he leaves to tend to the fallen stallions. “Vince, bring the other knights to arm the crossbows and fire at any more of those creatures.”

“Will do!” Vince salutes.

“Knights of Harmony, follow me to retrieve your arms. We must make haste, if another one of those creatures hits the main tower, the roof may collapse.”

“Right!” Knight Twilight agrees. “Come on girls!” She and the rest of the Knights of Harmony follow Princess Celestia into the main hall, as Vince turns to the rest of his fellow knights.

“Alright, I need you four to arm the crossbows on the west side of the castle,” Vince begins.

“Yes, sir.” One of the knights salutes as he and three others leave for the west side.

“And as for you three, follow me to arm the crossbows on the east side. Now’s your chance to show us how good your aim is!”

“Yes, sir!” Bronze, Steadfast, and Arina salute in unison. Together, they all trot in the opposite direction as the other four along a bridge to a neighboring tower. Passing by several other guards, whom of which are heading to their own stations. There, two large, mounted crossbows along with crates of spare ammo await.

“Bronze, you and Arina arm one. Arina will feed you ammo, and you’ll fire at anything flying this way. Steadfast, you arm the other while I feed ammo to you.” On command, each knight takes their positions. Both Bronze and Steadfast’s hearts beating the fastest as they grip the firing mechanism of the bow with their forelegs, and heaving it backward to be primed for fire. “Look alive! I can see another one of those things!” Steadfast and Bronze watch as the snake-like object comes flying towards the castle, and Steadfast is the first to launch his arrow. It pierces right through the creature, causing it to disperse into a cloud of black dust that gently rains to the ground below the castle. “Hah! A fine shot!” Vince cheers as he loads in another arrow.

“I can see another on the way!” Arina shouts. “Be ready to fire, Bronze.” Bronze takes aim, observing the incoming object. As soon as he feels his shot is lined up, he releases the handle sending the arrow into the air. It destroys the creature, turning it into another cloud of dust.

“Well, I can see one thing’s for sure! You do have your Father’s aim!” Vince cheers. “And would you look at that? Yet another one of those over-sized, flying eels is headed this way! Let’s see who can hit this one first, eh?!” Both Steadfast and Bronze take their aim, both of them locked onto the creature. Simultaneously, they launch their arrows. Just before the sharp, metal tips of their arrows can touch the creature, it splits apart in two. The arrows fly right between them, allowing them to continue their course right towards them. Everyone’s eyes widen with shock, and their bodies freeze with terror.

“Quick! Reload!” Steadfast screams.

“There’s no time! Take cover!” Vince orders. With barely any time to react, the four knights attempt to abandon the tower. However, the snake-like creatures crash themselves into the body of the tower, causing the entire structure to shake and shift. As the bricks connecting the bridge with the tower crack and separate, Vince is the first the reach the end with Steadfast close behind. “Hurry you two! The tower is about to collapse!” Vince shouts to Bronze and Arina who have fallen behind. As the both of them gallop towards Vince and Steadfast, the roof suddenly gives way, sending both knights plummeting down inside. Their bodies tumble down a set of destroyed, brick steps and all the way down to the lower level of the tower. A large section of the wall and floor has been decimated by the creatures. Bronze nearly falls down the opening, but grips the very edge of the broken floor with his hooves. While Arina lands on a stable portion of the floor that still remains intact.

Unable to lift himself up due to the sheer weight of his armor, and the very aching of his body from the fall, Bronze turns his head to gaze out at the forest from the gaping hole in the wall. The ground quakes once again, sending trees in the distance to fall in rows. Bronze watches as the earth cracks open like an egg, creating a series of deep, dark fissures for the trees to plummet into. Bronze is then startled by a sudden, deep, groaning sound within the earth. In the distance, a thick cloud of blackness grows from the newly formed cracks in the ground. Turning his head away with fear, he notices Arina getting back to her hooves. “Arina!” he calls. “Help me up! Please!” Arina notices Bronze, and limps towards him. “Quick! I-I can’t keep holding on like this!” Arina stands over Bronze, and leans her head down closer to his as he struggles to hold on.

“Knight Bronze, do you believe in justice?” she asks while still in pain.

“W-What?!”

“I asked you, do you believe in justice?”

“Y-Yes! Of course I do!”

“Good. I’m glad you see it my way then.” Without even a second to work out the confusion in his mind from her question, Arina stomps onto his head, sending him plummeting down the tower. He lands on his back onto the floor of the lower level of the tower as Arina watches from above.

“Arina! Are you alright?!” Vince’s voice calls from above her.

“Yes! Yes, I’m alright!” she shouts.

“Where’s Bronze?!”

“He fell down this pit! I-It’s so far down! I don’t think he made it!”

“What?! J-Just . . . try not to think about it too much! We need to get you out of there, there’ll be time for mourning later! Here! Grab hold of the rope!” Arina leaves as Bronze urges his voice to cry out for help, but cannot manage a single sound. The tower begins to tilt, and Bronze’s body slides across the floor towards an opening in the wall. Unable to grab anything, gravity pulls him out from the tower and hurdling downward. He watches the tower fall before landing and tumbling down the mountainside.

His body slams into the thick trunks of trees, and crashes through clusters of bushes. His armor dents and scuffs from the rocky ground, and is dirtied from clouds of soil kicked up from his body. As his momentum slows, he tumbles into a long recess in the ground. In too much pain to move, he looks up to the sky as he lays in a shallow stream of running water. The earth continues to vibrate, and the groaning noise grows louder. Instantly, a rush of black particles fly across the opening of the recess like a sandstorm. Bronze watches as his vision darkens, and his consciousness dwindles.

“Bronze laid safe from black cloud that swept across the forest, but nothing could stop its course to Canterlot Castle. Every knight and guard watched, bodies frozen with fear, and minds unsure of what to do next. All they could do was watch . . . watch as their doom approached like a shoe to a helpless insect.”

Chapter 4: A Sun Sets

A Wish Before Midnight

Chapter 4 – A Sun Sets

“Hours would pass until Bronze awoke. His body still bruised and beaten from the fall, and to make matters worse, he finds himself disturbed by a most peculiar sound. The absence of bird songs and rustling leaves. . .”

Opening his eyes, he is met with the amber sky above as the sun descends behind the horizon. Bronze groans as he attempts to lean up from the creek as a sharp pain is shot throughout his body. Clenching his teeth and attempting to maintain a calm, steady breath; he climbs out from the creek. Dripping wet and nopony in sight, he knows he must find a way to return to Canterlot Castle. However, without any sort of transportation, and in no condition to hike up the mountain four hours, he presses onward into the forest by following the creek. Limping and stumbling through the grass, hoping to be guided to civilization. After several minutes of walking, he realizes the air is mysteriously still, and all the wildlife seems to have disappeared. Trekking further into the woods, he finds absolutely no signs of the earthquakes from earlier. The ground is intact, and there’s not a single fallen tree to be seen. Puzzled, he lets his wondering mind distract him from the pain.

Out of nowhere, the wind picks up with such strength. It blows crazily against Bronze’s side, who is having trouble keeping himself balanced. He proceeds forward, and the wind grows even stronger nearly pushing him over. He looks up to the sky, and there’s not one stormy cloud in sight. He stands even more confused than before, trying to deduce just why the weather is behaving so strangely. He turns his head in the direction the wind is blowing towards, and is overwhelmed by an odd sensation. All he can see is just a cluttered path further into the woods, but it feels as though something is beckoning him. He gazes back down his current path along the creek, and allows this strange feeling to overcome him. He changes course, delving into the mass of bushes and branches. The pain grows, making the distance between each tree feel like a mile to travel. On the verge of collapsing to the ground, his attention is captured by something in the distance. A sort of boxed carriage with six wooden wheels sits just ahead. Hopeful that perhaps somepony must be nearby, he forces himself to stumble all the way to the strange vehicle.

“Hello?! Is anypony here?!” he calls, but to no response. Upon further investigation, the carriage is composed of two halves. A smaller, compact portion in the front with a pair of small wheels. Along with a much larger, painted, wooden trailer in the back with two sets of big wheels. A series of ropes and pulleys are built into the top of the smaller compartment that seem to follow all the way inside the trailer. The side of which is decorated with paintings of stars and random wispy shapes, along with the words: ‘Watch in Awe’ on the upper portion, and ‘The Great and Powerful Trixie!’ underneath. “Trixie. . ?” he says to himself. “Just who exactly is that?”

“That would be me,” a voice says just behind Bronze. He jolts and whips around to find a mare standing before him, glaring with her violet eyes and a curious eyebrow raised. She’s dressed in a tall, pointed magician’s cap and a long cape decorated with the same starry pattern as the wagon. The vibrant, purple color of her attire stands out amongst the royal-blue of her coat of fur. “Might The Great and Powerful Trixie ask why you are gawking at her wagon?” She brushes aside the long, silver bangs of her mane.

“Umm. . . Y-Yes?”

“Then go on, explain yourself to Trixie.”

“Well, my name is Bronze, it’s a . . . a pleasure.” Bronze holds out his hoof, to which Trixie simply glances down at it then back up to him with the same glare. Growing uncomfortable, Bronze lowers his hoof and tries to gather his thoughts. “So, I was hoping you could—”

“The Great and Powerful Trixie is afraid she isn’t signing autographs at this moment.”

“N-No, that’s not what I was going to ask. I was wondering if by chance you could give me a lift back up to Canterlot Castle.”

“And why should Trixie waste her precious time with a request such as that?”

“Well . . . I-I’m a Knight of the Sun.”

“Is that so? Trixie would never have guessed. Trixie supposes the Canterlot smiths must be getting lazy based upon that armor of yours.” Trixie smirks.

“This isn’t a joke. I fell all the way down Canterlot Mountain because of the attack. It’s crucial that I return to assure that the Princess and everypony else is safe up there. I-I mean, you are aware of what we just experienced earlier in the day, correct?”

“Trixie isn’t too sure she follows.”

“What do you mean?! Didn’t you feel the earthquakes? Those strange sounds? The black clouds that attacked the castle?”

“. . . Ha! Trixie believes that fall must’ve knocked something loose in your head.”

“Are you saying you have absolutely ‘no’ idea what I’m talking about?!”

“In case Trixie hasn’t made that clear already, the answer is no. Now if you would step aside, Trixie is on a schedule.” She then attempts to walk passed Bronze.

“Well, wait-wait!” Bronze steps in the way. “Could you at least help me get back up to the castle?”

“Afraid not, sir knight. That would mean Trixie would need to go out of her way to do so, and it just so happens that her destination is in the ‘other’ direction. Besides, last she checked, Trixie is not a taxi carriage.”

“W-Well, what if I were to pay you?”

“Hmm . . . then perhaps Trixie could lend her services, but at what price?”

“Uhh . . . how much do you want?”

“Well, make me an offer, ‘sir knight’. Surely somepony as prestigious as you should have plenty at hoof?” A dubious smile then shines across her face.

“I’ll offer you—”

“Think well, knight. If Trixie’s ears aren’t pleased with your offer, then perhaps she just may change her mind entirely. Now, go on.” Bronze began to wonder if this is at all worth the trouble. He knows she’s going to want to hear a completely ludicrous number for such a simple task. For all he knows, the next town could be several miles away. He is in too much pain to make such a distance, and is in dire need to return to his post as quickly as possible. Feeling the need to seize this opportunity, he stutters out his offer.

“Uhh . . . t-two hundred bits?”

“Tell you what, sir knight, Trixie shall give you another chance. You didn’t quite disappoint Trixie, but she knows a knight such as you can do better. Make it three hundred, and you have a deal.”

“Three hun—!” Bronze stops himself, not wanting to anger her.

“Is there a problem, knight?”

“N-No, of course not. Three hundred it is.”

“Wonderful! Then shall we be on our way? Follow Trixie, she’ll take you to the back.” Trixie guides Bronze to the back end of the trailer, unhooking a metal latch keeping the trailer shut. The large, wooden hatch falls to the ground, revealing the dark space inside. “Go on, step inside. Be sure not to touch anything in there. Trixie is sure you understand the importance of other ponies’ privacy.”

“Yes, of course.” Bronze walks up the ramp and into the trailer. “Thank you, by the way.”

“Yes, right. . . Just remember what I said about privacy.” A pinkish glow erupts from under the brim of Trixie’s hat as the trailer door raises back up into place. Bronze, now surrounded by darkness, listens as the latch locks into place. He can hear Trixie walking all the way to the other end of the carriage, as she opens and shuts the door leading into the smaller compartment. A small, rectangular opening at the opposite end of the trailer allows a small pocket of light to shine through. Bronze approaches it, and finds it leads into the next compartment where Trixie takes a seat on a cushion in the center.

“Hey, just how long do you think it’ll take before we reach the castle?”

“I suggest you be patient, knight. I’ll inform you of when we arrive. Besides, your only worry should be fulfilling my payment.” Trixie then yanks on a series of levers that are built into the floor, and tugs on a handle hanging from the ceiling. Suddenly, the entire carriage wobbles. The wood creaks and tumblers along with gears turn within. Bronze can feel the wheels rolling over every bump in their path, and every branch grazing the outside of the trailer walls.

“Th-This is incredible! I’ve never seen a contraption that can move all on its own like this! Did . . . Did you build this?”

“Indeed, Trixie built this entire thing from scratch. However, it isn’t something Trixie is very proud of.”

“What? Why? This is revolutionary! How in the world did you learn how to build this?”

“Trixie comes from a family of inventors. . . They taught Trixie a few things.”

“Really? Well, tell me!”

“Tell you what?”

“Tell me more about your family! They must be undoubtedly brilliant.”

“. . . Yes, I suppose they are. Now, no more questions.”

“W-What? I was just curious—”

“And this is where your curiosity ends.” Trixie says nothing more, and confusedly, Bronze sits down with his back against the wall. Bending down reinvigorates the pain that has been slowly subsiding. Figuring he has a long ride ahead of him, he lays his head back against the wall as well. Minutes of the monotonous noises of the creaking wood slowly drive him up a wall as he yearns for some sort of conversation. However, he feels reluctant to even attempt. Knowing that it could perhaps anger Trixie even more so.

The sun has almost completely set, turning the amber skies to a rich violet, then to a deep shade of blue. The moon has now taken the sun’s place in the sky as its pure-white glow shines through the little opening from Trixie’s compartment. Still there are no sounds of a single woodland critter, which continues to bother Bronze. “It’s so strange,” says Bronze. “A forest is never as quiet as this. You couldn’t go a whole minute without a bird chirping or squirrel chattering. It’s almost like every animal just . . . vanished.”

“Trixie will admit, as many times as she’s ridden these woods, it never has been this quiet.”

“It’s been making me uneasy this entire time. I have this feeling that something . . . horrible must’ve happened. I know I didn’t imagine what I went through when it was still daylight. I’m telling you, this isn’t right. Something’s wrong—” A wolf’s howl interrupts Bronze, startling him since it’s the first animal he’s heard.

“Well, would you listen to that? Trixie supposes the forest isn’t mysteriously empty after all, and that fall must’ve made you a bit paranoid.”

“Wha— But it still doesn’t make sense how I hadn’t heard a single animal before!” Bronze takes a breath and rubs his eyes with his hooves. Crickets begin chirping outside, reassuring him that the forest is indeed not empty. He sits trying to settle the anxiety clouding his mind, and possibly accept that perhaps he is in fact ‘paranoid’ by Trixie’s words. “Maybe . . . Maybe I really am just overreacting,” he mumbles to himself. “Maybe it was just a dream or-or something. Maybe they were just showing me around the outside of the castle and I tripped and fell. Maybe I lost my balance and went over the side. I-I might have an intense fear of heights, and the mere sight of a long drop lowers the blood pressure in my head. . . Yeah, that could be it,” he says hoping to convince himself.

“Well, we’ve arrived.” Trixie breaks his concentration.

“Huh?”

“Must Trixie say it twice? We’ve arrived to the castle’s front gates.” Trixie gets up from her cushion, and leaves her compartment. She makes her way to the back of the trailer, and opens the door for Bronze. “Well? Aren’t you coming out?” Bronze carefully gets up to avoid any sharp pains, and steps out from the trailer onto the stone road leading to the tall gates. Beyond them, the glorious view of Canterlot Castle graces Bronze’s eyes. Every tower is intact. There’s not a single sign of the destruction brought upon by the strange, snake-like objects.

“Again, I must thank you, Trixie.”

“And Trixie will be thanking ‘you’ once you return with her payment. No need to worry, she can be patient.” She then turns her back to him, walking back to her driver’s compartment. “Trixie will wait here until you return. She knows you will hold up your end of the bargain, right?”

“Yes, how could I forget? Just give me a little time.” Bronze walks up to the front gates, which are guarded by two Royal Guards wielding spears that are attached to their waists by their armor. He tries to bypass them by reaching his hoof out to push the gates, but the guards block his way. Glaring intensely at him, sending a shock through his body.

“State your business, stranger,” one of the guards commands.

“What? What do you mean ‘stranger’? I’m Bronze, a Knight of the Sun. . . Couldn’t you tell by my armor?”

“I’ve never seen you around here before, can you confirm your date of indoctrination into knighthood?”

“J-Just today! Steadfast, Arina, and I were the only ones being indoctrinated today!”

“We’re aware of Knight Steadfast and Knight Arina, however, I do not remember a ‘Bronze’.”

“Oh, really? How about my whole name? Bronze Edge. Does that happen to ring any bells?”

“Edge. . ? As in the royal family name?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“. . . We’re going to need to have this confirmed. Follow us, I’m certain her majesty can easily sort this out.” The guards push open the gates, guiding Bronze all the way to the big double-doors that lead into the castle. They open the hefty doors, revealing the long, red rug leading all the way up to the Princess who is comfortably sitting on her throne as she chats with two other knights. The guards close the doors behind them, and allow Bronze to step in front of them. “Go on,” the guard orders. Bronze makes his way up the long flight of steps to the Princess and two knights as the guards follow closely behind. Upon reaching the top, Princess Celestia appears to be happily surprised to see him.

“Well, isn’t this grand?” the Princess begins.

“Your majesty,” says Bronze as he painfully kneels before her.

“I’m quite relieved to see you return, Knight Bronze. Guards, you may return to your posts. There’s nothing to be suspicious of here.”

“Yes, your majesty,” the guards say in unison. They bow to the Princess, and make their way back down the steps.

“I must say, Bronze, you’ve come at just the right time. I was just about to send these two to search for you.” Bronze looks up at the two knights as they turn around to reveal themselves, and to his surprise, appear to be both Steadfast and Arina. “We were all worrying about you, you’d been missing for quite some time.”

“Bronze, you look hurt,” says Steadfast. “What happened to you?”

“Oh, I uh . . . I don’t quite remember.”

“It looks to me like you must’ve had a nasty fall,” says Arina. Bronze turns to her as a bolt of curiosity shoots across his mind.

“How do you know it was a fall?” Bronze asks.

“Hm? Oh, I was just assuming. You just look like you took quite a tumble somehow judging by the condition of your armor.”

“Oh, right. . . Anyway, your majesty, I was hoping you could assist me with a dilemma.”

“And what would that be?” Princess Celestia asks.

“Well, while I was lost in the woods, the only way to get back up here safely was to hitch a ride. I was able to do so; she’s waiting outside. However, the cost is a little . . . expensive.”

“Do not worry, Bronze. Whatever it is, I’ll have it taken care of.”

Bronze takes a breath of relief. “Thank you. You have no idea how deeply worried I was when I agreed to the price.”

“You have absolutely no reason to be worried about anything. We’re all family, so we care for one another as such.”

“Knight Bronze, how badly hurt are you?” Arina asks.

“It’s bad, but . . . I can still walk.”

“Well, why don’t you go and let one of our nurses give you a check-up while we handle paying that pony? Hopefully none of your injuries are serious.”

“Yeah, that sounds like a good idea.”

“Good. I’m glad you see it my way then.” Those familiar words strike Bronze, and he turns to see a startling smile on Arina’s face. A smile that brings him to a boil with a mix of confusion and fear.

“W-Why are you smiling?”

“What’s the matter? Am I not allowed to be happy knowing that one of my fellow knights has returned?”

Bronze gets to his hooves, fury building inside of him. “No! You’re a liar! You know what I mean! Stop Pretending!” Arina looks on, bursting into a joyful laughter. “What’s so funny?!” Steadfast joins Arina in laughter as Bronze glances back and forth at them nervously. “Both of you stop! Stop laughing!”

“Well, Knight Arina, I suppose you’ve ruined the surprise,” says Princess Celestia.

“Surprise? Just what exactly are you talking about?”

“My apologies, your majesty. I just couldn’t resist,” says Arina.

“Now, there’s only one thing left to do. Lock him up,” the Princess orders.

“What?” Bronze gasps.

“Take him down to the dungeon while we decide what to do with him. I feel sorry for you, Knight Bronze. This could’ve gone so much smoother.”

“What are you talking about? What’s going on here?!” Steadfast and Arina attempt to grab Bronze’s forelegs, but he angrily pushes them aside.

“Don’t either of you touch me,” says Bronze; sweat beginning to form at the base of his forehead.

“Oh, Knight Bronze, you know better than that; don’t you?” Arina asks as she tilts her head slightly in wonder.

“I’m warning you two, back off.” Bronze takes a couple steps backward.

“I suppose you aren’t going to make this easy for us,” says Princess Celestia as she stands up from her throne. “As expected, of course. . . My knights, Bronze has disobeyed my orders by resisting arrest. He has officially broken his vow to swear his loyalty. Bronze Edge, I hereby strip you of your knighthood. Knight Steadfast, Knight Arina, send him to his cell . . . by any means necessary.” The Princess devilishly smiles. Both Steadfast and Arina smile as well, then draw their weapons.

Steadfast grabs a small golden rod from the side of his armor with his mouth. Deceptively small at first, but with a slight jerk of his head, the rod extends to a much longer, segmented pole. Each segment locks into place, and two mace-like protrusions project from each opposite end of the pole. Arina stomps all four of her hooves onto the floor as two horizontal, curved blades flip out from each of her armored leggings and lock into place. She then leans her head closer to her body armor, and pulls out another weapon with her teeth. A metal mouth guard with several small, jagged blades jutting out from it. Both she and Steadfast assume a fighting stance as Bronze, without a weapon of his own, looks on unsure of how to act. “Well, Bronze? What say you? Do you surrender yourself?” Princess Celestia scoffs. With no other alternatives, Bronze turns and gallops as fast as he can muster towards the big doors at the bottom of the steps. “See to it he doesn’t leave the castle grounds, my knights.” Steadfast and Arina bolt down the steps, chasing after Bronze. His sides sting with pain, but he pushes himself to continue. Taking a glance back at his pursuers, and how quickly they’re gaining on him, also feeds him the adrenaline he needs to try and pick up his speed.

Bronze pushes open the big doors and proceeds to dash down towards the gates. Casually walking back to their posts, the two guards from earlier turn and notice Bronze. Upon finding that he is being chased by the two Knights of the Sun, they ready their spears and charge down the path. Realizing he’s about to be sandwiched between the knights and guards, he has little time to decide how to escape. Watching the points of the guards’ spears, he ducks and rolls underneath their weapons. He tumbles into their front legs, causing them to stumble and trip over his body. They both fall face first along the path, and Bronze gets back to his hooves. Groaning from the agony, he looks back to watch Steadfast and Arina leap over the fallen guards to continue charging at full speed. “Of course. . .” Bronze sighs before dashing through the gates. Bronze is heavily relieved to see that Trixie’s carriage is still sitting outside down the path. “Trixie!” he yells. “Trixie, help!”

Trixie sticks her head out from a small window of her driver’s compartment. “What in the world is the matter with you?!” she shouts. “Do you have Trixie’s payment?!”

“Forget about that! Let me inside, and get us out of here!” Trixie looks passed Bronze, finding that he is being chased by two other knights. Her mind suddenly running crazily, she trots outside to unlock the back door that leads into the trailer. Beckoning him to hurry inside, she watches as several guards line up far behind Bronze and the two knights. As she squints, she is stunned to find that each one is wielding a golden crossbow that is welded to their armor.

“Well, hurry up then! Is that really as fast as you can go?!” Trixie yells. Bronze climbs inside the trailer, and using her magic, she slams the door shut and locks it tight. Hurrying back inside, her limbs tremble as she pulls every lever to get her contraption running. As the pulleys start to activate and the gears start to turn, an arrow strikes the side of her compartment causing her body to shudder with fear. Instantly, several other arrows hit and even puncture the side of the trailer, alarming Bronze. The wheels of the carriage slowly gain speed and roll down the hill, pulling Bronze into a sense of security. However, his moment of serenity is ruined as a blade cuts right into the wall of the trailer. Bronze steps away from the wall, watching the same blade stab and slice into the wood until a jagged hole is made. He can see Arina hanging by the wall outside as she peers into the hole with that same wicked smile of hers.

“I must say, Bronze. . .” Arina begins. “I’m surprised you survived that fall. Don’t worry, I can easily fix that.” She proceeds to slice into the wood, and kicks the hole to break it open even wider. Shards of the wall fly across the room as Bronze guards his face with his foreleg. Arina climbs through the hole and steps to the floor, assuming her fighting stance.

“What do you want from me?! I’ve done nothing to you!” Bronze fumes.

“Not true. You bear that accursed family name. The name that’s caused me so much pain in the past, and I’m going to make sure that name is forgotten. I’m going to take pleasure in this. Slicing you to pieces is going to be so much more enjoyable than watching you fall to your demise. So, in a way, I’m glad you survived. I can spill your blood with my own blade.” Arina steps towards him, swinging her two front legs at Bronze’s throat. Ducking and side-stepping her swings, he finds he must continue the rhythm of his dodges as her movements are so fluid and consecutive. Arina’s constant attacks pressure him to jump and retreat all around the room. “What’s the matter, Bronze?” she asks in the middle of attacking. “Surely the son of ‘Silver Edge’ himself can put up much more of a fight than this. Neither he nor you deserves to wear that armor!”

The carriage is now travelling at tremendous speed downhill, and every bump in the path disrupts the entire trailer throwing Bronze and Arina continuously off balance. Still without landing a single hit on Bronze, she pulls back out her bladed mouth guard. Attacking much more ferociously, she manages to graze her leg blades across Bronzes armor; she even slices across his cheek. Blood quickly drips from the deep cut as he tries to cover it with his foreleg. He can feel a rage building inside him at the sight of his own blood, and this time, goes in for the offensive. Throwing several kicks and swipes in her direction, she manages to doge or repel his armored legs with her blades. Wanting to end this fight at this very moment, he unexpectedly charges headfirst into her body. She staggers backward near the hole she created in the wall, and taking advantage of the opportunity, he turns and winds up his hind legs. Arina watches for a brief second before his golden shoes bash her chest. She is propelled backward, and is launched through the hole in the wall. Bronze peers through the hole and watches Arina, along with a few pieces of broken wood, crash and tumble along the grassy ground. He catches his breath, and falls to his knees to finally give his aching body a rest.

“W-What was all that commotion?!” Trixie questions. “Nothing had better be broken back there!”

“It’s—” Bronze takes a breath. “—already too late for that.”

“Together, The Great and Powerful Trixie and Bronze continue to travel down into the forest. With Arina left far behind, no sight of Steadfast, and the distance between them and Canterlot Castle growing; the night deepens. The air cools, and stars speckle the sky. A spectacular sight that enlightens Bronze with a comforting vibe. Still he continues to wonder just why his fellow knights, and even the Princess herself, would turn on him so suddenly and disturbingly. He searches desperately for some sort of answer, but cannot come up with anything. As for his next destination, he also feels at a loss.”

Chapter 5: A Misunderstanding

A Wish Before Midnight

Chapter 5 – A Misunderstanding

“The carriage had been traveling at a very calm pace by now. The rhythmic wobbling of the trailer had been easing Bronze. He could feel himself dozing off as his body begged to be carried off to sleep. For just a brief moment, he closed his eyes. Then, as his world faded to black, a faint voice called to him from what seemed like deep within a valley. A soothing, feminine voice. . .”

“Bronze. . . Can you hear me? It is crucial that we meet. . . First, you must find—” One of the wheels of Trixie’s carriage rolls over a hole in the ground, jarring the entire trailer and stirring Bronze awake. The trailer comes to a stop as Bronze realizes the entire room is on a slight tilt. The trailer door is unlocked and falls to the ground to reveal Trixie with an aggravated look on her face.

“It looks like one of the wheels has broken, so—” Trixie notices the large gap in the wall of the trailer. “Trixie had not known how bad the damage was. Now that she’s seen it . . . she supposes that will need to be repaired as well.” She takes a breath to calm herself. “Unfortunately, we will need to set up camp here. You will assist Trixie in gathering firewood.” Trixie leaves the doorway, but quickly returns. “And by, ‘Assist Trixie in gathering firewood,’ she means for you to go off and do it yourself.”

“W-What? You’re not going to help?” Bronze asks.

“If Trixie remembers correctly, she hasn’t yet been paid. Plus, you’ve made things worse by destroying her wall. So, to answer your question . . . yes.” Bronze sighs, giving in to her demands. He agonizingly gets to his hooves, and leaves the trailer. “Here.” Trixie uses her magic to strap a cloth satchel around his waist. “Be sure to collect enough.” Bronze glares at her, but she only returns with an infuriating smirk. He heads into the woods, collecting as many broken branches from the ground as he can. Figuring it should be fairly simple to collect some branches, surely it shouldn’t be too difficult. However, there appears to be a mysterious lack of fallen branches.

He delves deeper into the woods, scanning the ground for any debris. Until he is stopped in his tracks by a startling sound. A growl erupts from within a cluster of bushes, and with it the branches rustle as something moves about inside. Bronze finds himself gazing into a pair of small eyes that glow in the darkness. He freezes as the animal approaches him; a coyote showing off its rows of sharp teeth. Bronze shuts his eyes as it circles around him, sniffing the surface of his armor. He sits with his heart trembling, and listens as the bushes rustle. Opening his eyes, he watches the coyote stand a short distance away. The growling has ended, and becoming more and more anxious, Bronze gets up and trots back in the direction of Trixie’s carriage. Patiently waiting, Trixie confusedly watches Bronze breathlessly trot out from the trees. “What is the matter with you?” Trixie asks. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

“Huh?! N-No, there was a-a coyote.” Bronze gasps for air.

“That’s all? You, a knight, got scared of a mutt? I hope you realize, but a coyote has never attacked a pony. Not once.”

“You don’t understand. I hate coyotes, wolves, dogs . . . anything like that.”

“. . . How much firewood did you bring?” Trixie peers into his bag, and glances back up to him with disappointment written across her face. “So, ‘that’ is all you found?”

“Well. . .”

“Give Trixie the bag,” she demands as she removes the satchel from Bronze’s waist and straps it to herself. “Trixie will return momentarily, and you will keep watch of her belongings until she returns.”

“Right, will do. . . Be careful.”

“You needn’t worry about Trixie; she can handle her own.” Trixie wanders into the woods, disappearing from sight. Left with nothing else to do, Bronze returns to the trailer to take a better look around. With the moonlight peering through the broken wall, he can see a large, red curtain that’s been drawn all the wall the end of the trailer. Other than a tall, wooden cabinet next to a storage chest in the corner of the room, the trailer is otherwise empty. The chest is bound by a rusty, metal lock. However, the cabinet door is slightly ajar due to the intense gyrating of the carriage from earlier. Bronze grips the handle of the cabinet door, reluctant to pull it open. He understands the meaning of respecting other ponies’ privacy, but his curiosity is overwhelming.

“I’ll just take a peek. . . It won’t hurt anything,” Bronze whispers to himself. The door quietly creaks as he pulls it open, revealing a slew of miscellaneous objects. The bottom shelves inside the cabinet are lined with piles of tools. The next shelves are stuffed up with sheets of different colored cloth alongside stacks of spools of thread. Above those is a shelf of candles along with a few books of matches. Then, the topmost shelf; the dust of which gives off the impression it hasn’t been rummaged through in quite some time. First, a stack of three old books. Bronze gets to his hind legs, pulling the top book from the stack with his teeth. He opens the cover as the first page reads: Spellcasting and Enchantments Volume 3. Below that is a stamp that reads: Garden’s Creek Library. Unfamiliar with the name of the book or place, Bronze wonders just how long this book has been sitting in Trixie’s cabinet. Considering the yellowed pages and the amount of dust, surely it must be way passed overdue. He places the book back, and moves on to the little brown sack. It almost appears empty, but upon touching it with his hoof, he can feel a sort of lump underneath the cloth. Untying the string keeping the bag sealed, he finds a peculiar-looking stone. A small, transparent, purple gem so sleek it glistens in the moonlight. Baffled by what purpose it must serve, he figures it might just be some kind of rare mineral of some kind. However, not one he’s ever seen before. Stuffing the stone back in the bag, he moves on to the last object on the shelf. A rather child-like instrument; an old xylophone and balled wand sit neatly in the corner. He takes it down from the shelf, inspecting it all over. Though, he finds absolutely nothing special about the toy.

“Find anything interesting?” Bronze’s heart jumps as the words are spoken right behind him. Nearly dropping the toy, he fumbles around until he gets a better grip as he stares directly into Trixie’s menacing glare. “Trixie supposes you have a knack for snooping through things that don’t belong to you!” she scolds as she rips the xylophone from his grasp and places it back on the shelf.

“I-I’m sorry! I was just—”

“Doing exactly what you shouldn’t!” Trixie slams the cabinet door shut. “It’s no wonder those knights chased you out of the castle! You’re a criminal aren’t you?!”

“What?! No, of course not! I’m nothing like that!”

“Well, clearly you have your mind set on stealing something of mine!”

“No! Y-You’ve got it all wrong!”

“Trixie doesn’t have time for this.” A pinkish glow erupts from underneath the brim of Trixie’s hat, and the same glow envelops Bronze’s armor. Glancing down to notice the glow around him, he is violently thrown across the room and outside the trailer. He tumbles across the grass until he is stopped by a tree trunk. Trixie casually steps down from the trailer, watching Bronze struggle to get to his hooves. “Trixie should have left you behind, let those knights take you in.”

“Wait. . . I’m not a criminal; I swear! Just listen for a moment!”

“Trixie doesn’t need to hear anything you might have to say.” Several stones lift up from the ground by Trixie’s magic, and Bronze begins to panic. One by one the stones are thrown in his direction, each one missing as he dodges and leans out of the way.

“This is insane!” he shouts in the midst of the first couple of stones coming his way. “Look, I’ll just leave! You’ll never see me again!”

“Oh, no. Trixie isn’t going to just let you off the hook that easy. She’s going to make sure you fully understand why Trixie isn’t one to be toyed with.”

“I wasn’t trying to steal anything!” She ignores his plea, and instead lifts a large, fallen tree branch from the ground with her magic. “. . . Trixie, I don’t want a fight.”

“That’s too bad,” Trixie pouts. “Because you’ve got one.” It’s clear to him that there’s no way of talking it through with her, he nervously scans the ground nearby for something to defend himself. He spots a long tree branch, and grabs it with his teeth by the middle. With an awful taste in his mouth, and concerned with the sheer size of Trixie’s branch compared to his, he readies himself regardless. The levitating branch swings without recourse, as Bronze does his best to utilize both ends of his to block. Considering there isn’t another pony wielding the branch, it’s difficult for him to adjust. Bronze cannot find a clear way for him to in fact win this fight besides taking Trixie herself down. However, he can’t find a way around her weapon. He can feel his jaw tiring, and his teeth aching. Realizing he’s losing his energy to fight, Trixie approaches whilst still swinging her weapon relentlessly. Trying his best to stay on his hooves and grip his branch, Trixie’s final swing snaps his in half. With the other half still in his mouth, he attempts to continue his fight. However, after merely a couple more swings, Trixie manages to land several bashes to his armor. Bronze drops his branch, and Trixie sweeps hers under his legs causing him to fall on his stomach. Trixie walks over, towering over him. “You see, this is why Trixie remains the ‘Great and Powerful’. Surely the Princess will pay a great reward to have you turned in.”

“D-Don’t. . . You don’t understand.”

“Trixie is tired of listening to you talk.” A sudden creaking of wood followed by rustling in the bushes near the carriage Trixie catches her attention. She scans the woods around the trailer, then turns back to Bronze. “Trixie is going to go investigate that sound, and as for you. . .” Trixie winds up her tree branch, and breaks through the wind as it hurls towards Bronze.

“The branch whacked Bronze straight on his helmet. The hit was so powerful you could hear the vibrations of Bronze’s helmet echo for a short time. The world instantly went black, and Bronze would reawaken to something startling, yet peaceful. There wasn’t a single sound in the air, and all the pain in his body had vanished. He lifted his head out from the grass, and gazed ahead at a gorgeous view. His body laid at the bottom of a deep valley. Shadows laid like a mist at the very bottom, while the moon hung right above the valley as its light graced the canyon walls. At the very end, he could make out the blurry outline of a figure. Before he could make out a single detail, the world vanished, and awoke for the second time under the warmth of the morning sun. However, he found himself in a much more worrying situation.”

Chapter 6: Rodents

A Wish Before Midnight

Chapter 6 – Rodents

“Bronze opened his eyes to the harsh beams of sunlight. His head ached immensely once the light reached his irises. He took a good look around him, and the area seemed quite familiar. The same broken branches immediately reminded him of the altercation between him and Trixie. He lowered his head from exhaustion, and found himself tied to a tree by a long, red curtain. He struggled and struggled, but there was no way he could free himself. . .”

Bronze thrashes about in the hopes that he can loosen the curtain, and quickly gives up as soon as he notices he’s making no progress. “I’ve tried that already. . .” A voice mutters behind him.

“W-What? Who’s there?!” Bronze asks as he glances to his left and right attempting to get a view of the stallion who’s speaking. However, the thick tree trunk they’re tied to obstructs his view.

“Look, don’t freak out. I’m in the same situation as you.”

“Who are you? Why are you here?”

“I’m just a local from town. I was just taking a stroll through the woods, looking for any fruits to pick, until I heard the commotion. I hid in the bushes, trying to think of what I should do. After that mare knocked you out, she came right after me when I accidentally made a noise. I tried to run away, but as you can tell . . . it didn’t really help.”

“Oh . . . I’m sorry you got involved in this. All sorts of crazy things have been happening lately.”

“Well, since we’re going to be tied up with each other for a while, I might as well introduce myself. My name’s Awry, the town ‘fruit-picker’ I suppose.”

“It’s a pleasure, Awry. I'm Bronze, Knight of— Actually, I suppose I’m a knight no longer. My knighthood was redacted just last night.”

“Oh . . . is it because you lost to that mare?”

“No, no, i-it’s hard to explain.”

“Just who was that anyway? Are you and her together or something? Like . . . ‘together’ together?”

“What?” Bronze looks completely baffled. “No, not even close. I’m starting to get the feeling she’s just gone completely insane.”

“Oh, good. I was going to say you really picked a nutty one. But, since you’re not together, I guess it’s alright to say it. . . She is a real nutty one.”

“Ugh, where could she have gone anyway? Her carriage isn’t here, so she could be miles deep in the forest by now.”

“I don’t think so.”

“Why’s that?”

“Well, when she lifted me up by my waist-bag, she tried to scare me by saying that she would tie me up and leave me for trying to interfere. Then, she said that she was going to head to the nearest town to get her wheel fixed.”

“Surely she must’ve done it by now.”

“Oh, no. Trust me, I wasn’t scared then, and I'm not scared now.”

“No, not that. I meant she must’ve gotten her wheel fixed by now.”

“Oh, well of course. . . Also, I think she said she was going to get us turned in to the Princess.”

“What?!”

“I know, it’s odd right? I mean we haven’t done anything wrong. Plus, you were a knight. What is she going to get by turning ‘you’ in?”

“You don’t understand, I lost my knighthood for a reason! I failed to follow orders-and resisted arrest! She has a ton to gain by turning me in!”

“Ah, I see. You’ve gone rogue, huh? ‘Down with the Monarchy’ and all that, right?”

“No! That’s not it! Look, we need to get out of this.”

“Really? No, let’s stay. It’s nice and cozy here.”

“Enough with the sarcasm! Now, have you tried biting through this?”

“I’ve tried biting, squirming, pulling, intimidating, decorating—”

“Alright, I get the point. . . Do you have anything useful in your waist-bag?”

“I would, only problem is that she took it and threw it in the back of her carriage.”

Bronze sighs from frustration. “There has to be some way we can get out of this. Take a look around. Do you see anything useful?”

“Umm . . . no, I . . . Uh-oh.”

“What do you mean ‘uh-oh’? What’s there?”

“Squirrels. . .”

“I told you already, enough with the sarcasm.”

“No, I’m not joking! There’s a few . . . never mind there’s . . . oh, that’s a load of squirrels.”

“Awry, focus, we need to find a way out of here fast.”

“They won’t stop lookin’ at me. I-I’m starting to think they’re hungry. . .”

“Wait a minute . . . Awry, I think this is an oak tree.”

“Fabulous, you know your trees. I wish I had a gold star for you.”

“No, hold on! This might sound crazy, but I think I’ve found our way out of this.”

“Well, go ahead and say it! I’m starting to think these squirrels want blood.”

“If we can knock down some acorns, some might fall around us or even onto the curtain. The squirrels will hopefully come to us—”

“What?!”

“—then they’ll climb onto the cloth, and their claws should cut through making it easier for us to break free!”

“Ha! And I thought I was the one making jokes.” Bronze leans forward as far as the curtain will allow him, and slams his armored back onto the tree trunk. “Woah! What are you doing?!”

“Trying to get some acorns out of this blasted tree!” Bronze slams his back into the tree once again.

“Oh, you were serious? I’d be calling you nuts, but that would have to be the dumbest thing I’ve ever said. Also, their stares are starting to creep me out. So, I guess we’d better feed these little rodents.” Awry joins Bronze in slamming the tree trunk, and within seconds, acorns rain down from above. Landing atop their heads and bouncing off the ground, acorns surround the two of them. However, the squirrels remain motionless. “. . . Umm, I don’t think they—” They all then scurry across the ground at lightning speed towards Awry, who screams in horror as they all grab an acorn and climb onto the curtain. Like a horde they claw and tear at the curtain as they ascend up the oak tree. Once the last squirrel takes its share of the fallen nuts, Awry finally ends his constant screaming.

“So, you weren’t scared of Trixie, but those squirrels really got to you; didn’t they?”

“Look, Bronze, you don’t know what it’s like to have fifty of those things coming at you. My whole life practically flashed before my eyes!”

“Alright, well did it at least work?”

“Oh, it worked. . . A little too well.” Awry starts biting and ripping the curtain. Shreds of red cloth are tossed into the air, and Awry breaks free from tight grasp of the curtain. “Tada!” He makes his way around the tree trunk to meet Bronze, allowing him to finally get a good look at Awry. He’s a rather young stallion with a messy, greasy, brown mane with bangs that cover his entire forehead. His fur coat is of a dark gray color, and is adorned with a filthy, torn, navy-blue jacket with several pockets. Judging by the amount of dirt on him and his clothing, Bronze figures he must be one of the ‘less fortunate’ ponies. “Here, let me help,” says Awry as he loosens up the curtain. Bronze gets to his hooves, pressing his forehead to hopefully ease the headache he’s developed. “You don’t look so good.”

“I know. These passed couple days have been a little rough, but I’ll be fine.”

“So . . . what do we do now?”

“Well, now we need to find Trixie before she gets any closer to Canterlot Castle.”

“Why? I mean, we’re free. So, let’s just get as far away from here as we can.”

“And you think they’re just going to forget all about us? If they don’t find us here, they’ll just put us on Equestria’s ‘Most Wanted’ list. Every pony of authority is going to be looking for us, and when they find us, believe me when I say you don’t want to know what they’ll have in store for us.”

Awry nervously clears his throat. “. . . So, back to your plan then.”

“Now, considering she took her carriage despite having a broken wheel. . .” Bronze walks over to where Trixie’s carriage used to be. “It looks like she’s left quite some nasty tracks behind.” Awry gazes down the path, his eyes following the deep tracks in the soil all the way down.

“Oh, so we follow the tracks!”

“That’s correct.”

“. . . I guess I’ll lead the way.” Awry walks ahead of Bronze as he attempts to follow behind with a slight limp. Following the tracks, the both of them remain silent for quite some time. Again, Bronze is disturbed by the complete lack of birds and their chirping. Along with the lack of wind, the only sounds to be heard are their hooves stepping onto the dry soil. He constantly looks up to the trees, examining them for any birds.

“Awry?”

“Yes?”

“Have you noticed that no birds are singing?”

“Uhh . . . now that you mention it, I suppose so.”

“Isn’t it strange? Where could they have gone to?”

“Beats me.”

“A-And the deer, the rabbits, everything. They didn’t just vanish, because we saw all those squirrels earlier.”

“Sounds like quite the mystery.”

“Aren’t you at least curious?”

“I’m sorry, Bronze, but the animals aren’t really at the top of my ‘list of concerns’ right now. If anything, I’m more curious about those earthquakes we had.”

“So you felt them too! Ha! I knew I wasn’t losing my mind!” Bronze celebrates.

“Yeah . . . I think just about everypony in Equestria felt them.”

“And did you see that black wave that swept across the forest?”

“Uhh, nope.”

“What do you mean, how could you ‘not’ have seen it?!”

“Because I was trying to get back to sleep after those earthquakes.” Bronze rubs his eyes as he can feel his headache worsening from Awry’s response.

“Hey, Knight Paranoia! I’ve found your rabbits!” Bronze’s eyes fly open as he watches Awry beckoning him further down the path. He hurries to his side, and as Awry points to a set of bushes, he notices a family of rabbits huddled together inside. “There, mystery solved.” Awry turns to continue down the path.

“Hold on. . .” Awry stops, turning back with a sigh. “Try luring them out.”

“Honestly? I thought we were on a bit of a tight schedule with the ‘soon to be Most Wanted’ thing.”

“It’ll take one second. Just try.”

“Oh, boy. You have a thing for rodents don’t you?” Awry walks over to a bush behind them, collecting a few berries from the branches. He sets them down in a pile near the bushes.

“No, put them a bit further away so that they’re more in the sunlight.”

“. . . Alright then.” Begrudgingly following his orders, Awry moves them and kneels down to get a better view of the rabbits. “Come on then you big-eared freaks. Get these berries so we can keep walking and do what we were supposed to be doing.” The rabbits simply stare at them, not moving an inch. Bronze watches them in confusion, and Awry watches Bronze in the same manner. “Have you ever considered that perhaps they’re just not hungry?”

“Impossible, animals are always hungry. Those squirrels; it’s like they haven’t eaten in days. The way all collectively stormed towards us to get their food, it didn’t seem normal.”

“Okay, so what’s your point?!” Awry, now getting impatient.

“My point is that ‘something’ is keeping these rabbits from getting those berries!”

“Oh, for goodness sake!” Awry gets up, continuing down the path. “Squirrels and nuts, rabbits and berries, who cares?! Forget this, I’m just gonna keep walking.”

“Wait!” Bronze watches as Awry walks down the path, but is reluctant to leave. He stares intensely at the rabbits, eagerly waiting for them to attempt to go for the berries. Suddenly, a sliver of sunlight penetrates through the bush, and the rabbits quickly crawl backwards to stay within the shade. Bronze stares, puzzled by their need to stay out of the light. Before a single thought can cross his mind, Awry calls to him from far down the path.

“Oh, Knight Paranoia! I think you’re going to find ‘this’ a whole lot more interesting than your rabbits!” Bronze gets up, hurrying over to Awry as quickly as his limp will let him. Awry is smiling as he points down a fork in the path, and Bronze looks as his eyes are presented with a hopeful view. A village; smoke leaving the chimneys of cabins, and townsponies that bring it to life. More importantly, they can see Trixie’s wagon in plain sight.

“Neither of them wanted to waste any more time, so Awry and Bronze galloped towards the village. However, Bronze couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling he had when he was watching the rabbits. Their lack of energy, and desire to escape the sunlight puzzled him deeply. However, there was no time to dwell on such thoughts. They were lucky to find Trixie’s carriage. Next, they just needed to find her, and hope her temper didn’t get the best of them.”

Chapter 7: Heated Reunion

A Wish Before Midnight

Chapter 7 – Heated Reunion

“Bronze and Awry approached the lively town. There stood a large, wooden sign that read: Welcome to Blooming Brook. Mares and fillies dotted the surrounding fields of tall grass. They harvested peculiar-looking flowers of a pleasurably blue color. They examined Trixie’s wagon. It appeared that the wheel had been fixed, but she was nowhere in sight. Awry searched inside the trailer, but couldn’t find his waist-bag that she had taken from him. The streets were lined with independent business stands that sold all sorts of goods. From fruits and hay, to tools and trinkets; Awry and Bronze would have to search through them all. However, neither of them could shake the uneasy feeling in their stomachs as they wandered the streets. For every citizen couldn’t keep their eyes away from them. . .”

“Why do they keep looking at us funny?” Awry asks, growing uncomfortable as he absorbs the townsponies’ awkward stares.

“I think it’s me,” says Bronze, feeling the same discomfort. “They must be wondering why a knight is walking around their village.” The ponies begin whispering and chatting amongst themselves, but without taking their eyes off of them. The two stallions do their best to ignore them, but are suddenly halted by another stallion in a bowtie.

“Well, hello there!” the stallion cheerfully greets.

“Yes, hello,” says Bronze.

“My apologies, sir knight. None of us were informed you would be showing up on such short notice.”

“You . . . knew I was coming?”

“Yes, of course! I do believe that Miss . . . Trixie, was it? She wrote that urgent letter not too long ago.”

“Trixie?”

“At least I do believe that was her name.”

“Ahh, yes. And you are?”

“I am McClove, Mayor of Blooming Brook. I was the one who signed the letter.”

“Oh! Yes, that’s right! It’s all coming back to me now. Forgive me, I was in a bit of a scuffle on the way here.”

“I can tell, and a very heated one it seems. Well, you’re in luck! We produce some of the finest medicine in Equestria. Our village is home to a very special plant that only grows—”

“Very interesting,” says Awry as he rolls his eyes.

“Ah, and who is this you’ve brought along with you, sir knight?”

“Oh, him?” Bronze asks. “He’s just a miscreant I bumped into along the way.”

“Hey!” Awry wails.

“Yeah, he’s got a bit of a mouth on him. Although, for all the trouble he’s caused, I’m sure a quick visit to the Princess will change his tone.”

“Oh, very funny.”

“I’m sure it will. Filth such as him belongs in a cell.”

“Harsh.” Awry mumbles to himself.

“Now, let me take you to Miss Trixie. She’s been patiently waiting your arrival.”

“Oh, that would be splendid,” says Bronze as he and Awry follow Mayor McClove further into town. He brings them to a larger business stand compared to the others. It’s shielded from the sun by an outstretched, tarp awning. Inside, all sorts of tools and other repair equipment hang on the back wall behind the counter. Standing on one side of the counter is the merchant, chatting with the mare on the other side. Instantly, Bronze and Awry recognize her purple cape and hat.

“Miss Trixie, the Royal Knight of the Sun has arrived,” says Mayor McClove. Trixie turns, and her jaw drops once her eyes meet Bronze and Awry both standing before her.

“Yes, Miss Trixie, I’m here to solve your issue,” says Bronze in a sarcastic tone. “Mister McClove, if you would give us a moment?”

“Ah, yes, of course,” says Mayor McClove as he shows himself out.

“. . . How did you get free?” Trixie asks overwhelmed with anger.

“That doesn’t matter right now. We need to talk,” says Bronze.

“And why did you bring along that freeloader?”

Awry groans. “Seriously, what’s with the name calling. . ? Hey!” Awry raises his voice, noticing something resting on the countertop near Trixie. “That’s my bag! Give it here!” After shifting her eyes to Awry and Bronze, Trixie grabs the bag with her teeth and charges her way through the both of them. Awry stumbles, falling onto his behind while Bronze grabs hold of a wooden beam holding up the tarp to keep his balance.

“Trixie!” Bronze shouts. “Awry, get up!” Bronze limps back into the crowded streets, spotting Trixie’s cape waving as she gallops away. He pushes and shoves his way through every pony that stands in his way, but doesn’t seem to be getting any closer as she’s able to maneuver passed everypony without a hindrance. She turns a corner, and Bronze follows far behind as she gallops down another street. It seems he isn’t going to catch up at the rate he’s going, and his aching bones don’t make it any easier. He comes to a gradual stop to catch his breath as he watches Trixie gain even more ground. Just as he is about to lower his head in defeat, somepony leaps out and tackles Trixie to the ground. Regaining hope, his eyes dart around at the various business stands, and one in particular catches his attention. An older stallion in a straw hat sits under the tarp awning, surrounded by barrels of farming tools for sale. He walks up to the stand, grabbing one of the many pitchforks from a barrel. “You wouldn’t mind if I borrowed this for a minute, would you?”

“Oh! Uh, no! You go right ahead, knight.” The merchant stutters.

“Thanks.” Bronze attaches the pole of the pitchfork to the metal ring built onto his armor designed to hold a spear. With the pitchfork locked into place, he hurries towards the newly formed cloud of dirt that’s being kicked up by the struggling ponies. He then finds Awry desperately trying to rip the waist-bag right out of Trixie’s grasp. He manages to break his bag free, and quickly gets up and backs away to strap it around his waist. Trixie gets her bearings, and stands to realize she's in a situation she cannot escape from. Both Awry and Bronze ready themselves, as they observe Trixie for any quick movements. Her hat has fallen off of her head during the scuffle, revealing her horn and the silver locks of her mane.

“Well, what do you two plan to do?” she asks, attempting to catch her breath.

“We just want to talk, Trixie. Sort things out,” Bronze negotiates.

“There’s nothing to talk about. Trixie should do away with the both of you right now.” A crowd of townsfolk begins to form around the three of them, watching their argument unfold.

“Look, we’re not thieves. Okay?”

“Yeah, seriously. You’ve got some anger issues,” says Awry.

“Don’t you dare speak—! What is that?” Trixie asks as she spots something lying on the ground near Awry’s hooves. He glances down and finds a little, brown sack which he hurriedly picks up and stuffs into his bag. “Trixie demands you hand that over this instant.” Trixie fires a glare that pierces right into Awry’s eyes.

“What’s the matter with you? It belongs to me.”

“No it doesn’t. You stole that from Trixie’s trailer!”

“You’re crazy! I stole nothing!”

“Liar!” Trixie shouts nearly at the top of her lungs.

“Let’s calm down for a moment!” Bronze interferes. “Awry, just show her what it is, and prove to her that it’s yours.”

“I shouldn’t have to,” says Awry. “Besides, when did you start taking this freak-in-a-wizard-costume’s side?”

“Trixie isn’t going to ask you again.” Awry can truly see the fury in her eyes, as well as the bright, pink light erupting from her horn.

“Alright; alright. . . I’ll show you.” Awry reaches back into his bag as rage continues to build within Trixie. “Here, look.” Both Trixie and Bronze wait as Awry is taking an oddly long time to retrieve the brown bag. Instead, he hurls a small, plastic bag filled with some black fluid towards Trixie. The bag pops as soon as it meets the point of her horn, causing the fluid to coat her entire face. Spitting and wiping the fluid from her eyes, she proceeds to glare at Awry.

“Awry!” Bronze shouts. “What’s the matter with you?!”

“There, you happy?” Awry asks.

“What is this?!” Trixie asks, still trying to get the fluid off of her face.

“Just a little something I whipped up in case a unicorn such as you would ever cause me trouble.”

“Ha! You think some mud is going to save you? Oh, you have no idea what I have in store for you.”

“Go ahead, do your worst. I’m ready to accept my punishment.” Awry lowers his head in shame.

“With pleasure.” Trixie attempts to concentrate her magic, but nothing happens.

“Don’t keep me waiting now. You’ve built it up all this time; I hope you’re not going to let me down.”

“What’s the meaning of this? Why can’t I cast my spell? And why can’t I get this disgusting stuff off!” she wails as she tries once again to rub off the black fluid.

“I know! It’s wonderful, isn’t it? I’m sorry to say, but it’s going to be a pain to get it off once it dries. Don’t be upset though, I think this look suits you.”

“Awry, what did you throw at her? We don’t want to hurt her!”

“Relax, it’s not gonna hurt. It’s just going to give us complete control over the situation now.”

“So, that little bag really wasn’t hers . . . right?”

“Uhh. . .”

“Awry!”

“Well, I might have fibbed just a little.”

“So she’s right. You did steal it, which would make you a thief!”

“Yes to the first, but I disagree with the second. I wouldn’t label myself as a thief, I’m just a pony trying to make a living.”

“I thought you were a fruit picker.”

“I know, and it’s adorable that you believed that right away. I made it up on the spot, and you bought it!”

“You lied to me, Awry.”

“Uh, yeah. Did you ‘just’ put that together?”

“I don’t like liars, especially ones who steal from innocent ponies.” Bronze steps forward, pointing his pitchfork in Awry’s direction.

“Woah, woah-hold on a second. So, she ties you to a tree—ready to turn you in—and now you’re going to defend her?”

“Hand over the bag, Awry.”

“Think about this. I used to have quite a stack of bits in this bag, and now I see that most of them have gone missing! I suppose ‘somepony’ had to pay for that wheel. I guess that means there’s ‘two’ thieves among us.”

“Quiet you!” Trixie shouts. In a matter of seconds, all three of them come together in a mass of screaming and shouting. Bronze threatens Awry by pointing his pitchfork towards him, as Trixie continues to relentlessly attempt to rub off the dried fluid.

“Alright, enough!” Bronze yells, silencing the other two. “Awry, I’m going to give you one chance.”

“Oh, lucky me,” says Awry.

“I’ll put away my pitchfork, and you just give me the little bag. After that, you can go about your business, and I’ll ensure you don’t get into any further trouble.”

“. . . Fine. This is clearly more trouble than it's worth.”

“Alright then.” Bronze raises his spear until it locks into an upward position away from Awry. “Now, the bag.” Awry walks closer to Bronze, and reaches his snout into his bag. In one quick motion, Awry pulls out a small flip knife gripped in his teeth, slashing across Bronze’s cheek. Following it up with a swift kick with his hind legs, he sends Trixie to the ground. With the both of them preoccupied, Awry makes a dash through the village to escape. Once Bronze and Trixie get themselves together, they immediately gallop after Awry who is nearing the fields of grass that lead to the woods. However, before he can even touch a blade of grass, a golden carriage swoops down from above. Gusts of wind force Awry to shield his face and back away. Bronze and Trixie stop, watching from afar as Awry meets the two, winged Royal Guards who are pulling the carriage’s weight. In the passenger seat, a familiar face to Bronze.

“I am Steadfast, Knight of the Sun,” says the familiar knight as he looks down to Awry.

“Ah . . . yes, well . . . nice to meet you.”

“We were summoned here on important matters. Where is the mayor of this village?”

“Uh, you know, that’s a very good question.” Awry then turns back to the crowd of ponies in the streets. “Hey! Where’s Mayor Mc . . . whatever his name was?!”

“Here! I’m here!” Mayor McClove calls as he trots towards them.

“Yeah, there he is! Well, I’ll just be on my way and—”

“Remain there.” Steadfast commands.

“Or I’ll just stay here, I think that’s a better idea.”

“Mister Mayor, we’ve received your letter detailing the whereabouts of a certain wanted stallion.”

“Oh, yes. Well, you would have to ask Miss Trixie, she’s the one who had me send out the letter,” says McClove.

“Is that so?” Steadfast gazes out into the distance, and spots Trixie’s carriage sitting right in plain sight. “And who would that vehicle over there belong to?”

“Hm? Oh, that’s—”

“Mister Mayor, are you aware that vehicle is that same one used to aid the ‘wanted stallion’ in question? And that the driver of said vehicle, in consequence, is just as wanted?”

“You see, I-I didn’t—”

“That makes you wanted as well, Mister Mayor. Harboring criminals in your very own town. Don’t the lives of everypony you watch over matter to you?”

“Of course they do!”

“Well, then I’m sure you and I both know the only solution to this problem.” Steadfast steps out from his carriage, glaring down at Mayor McClove. “You, along with the other two, must be taken in before her majesty.”

“. . . So, this means I can go, right? I mean, clearly I’m not involved in any of this,” says Awry.

“Yes, in fact, I want you to leave immediately. Your stench is beginning to get to me.”

“Woah, hey . . . I try to keep my hygiene up to par just like everypony else—” Steadfast grabs and extends his golden pole, swinging it towards Awry. He ducks, however, Steadfast wasn’t aiming to attack him. The end of his weapon has snuck under the strap of Awry’s waist-bag, and lifts him up off of the ground as he struggles to free himself. With the both of them now meeting eye to eye, Awry can feel gravity tugging down at his heart.

“When I say, I want you to leave immediately. I mean, immediately.”

“You know, I was thinking the exact same thing!” Awry nervously smiles. “I’ll just show myself out right.”

“No, please. Allow me.” Steadfast reels back, forcefully swinging his weapon. Everypony gathered at the edge of town gasps as Awry is sent into the air until he tumbles into the grassy fields. Bronze watches Awry’s body roll and bounce in the grass like a doll, while a fury builds inside of him. He turns to Trixie, who he finds has somehow left his side. “Now, as for you, Mister Mayor.” Steadfast turns to McClove, who is trembling with fear. He grabs him by his bowtie, and brings him in closer. “You are going to bring me to the owner of that vehicle, now.”

“Steadfast!” Bronze yells as he makes his way through the townsponies.

“Well, just the stallion I was hoping to find.” Steadfast grins.

“Let him go.”

“Why should I? He’s scum, just like you. He deserves to be punished.”

“What’s happened to you, Steadfast? Has knighthood truly gotten to your head?”

“If you mean ‘the strength of my loyalty to her majesty’, then yes, I suppose it has.”

“Listen to yourself! Where’s that kind-hearted kid I met just days ago?! Now you’ve stooped so low as to threaten innocent civilians?!”

“Whatever it takes to please her majesty, I will ensure that her orders are fulfilled. Besides, that ‘kid’ is no longer with us.”

“What is that supposed to mean?”

“It doesn’t matter.” He smiles. “I’ve waited such a long time for this opportunity. To breathe this air, walk this ground, and to stand before the last branch of the ‘Edge’ family name. Typical that ‘you’ would be the one to stand in our way.”

“Look, I don’t know what Arina’s told you, but you have to understand she’s not what you think she is.”

“Bonze, there’s still so much you don’t understand. Why don’t you, the mayor, and whoever helped you escape just the night before come with me to the castle. It’d make this entire situation so much simpler.”

“I’m sorry, Steadfast, but I’m not going anywhere. Neither is anypony else.”

“No, I’m sorry, Bronze. Sorry that you have to fill the shoes of a ‘true’ knight. It’s a good thing your Father isn’t here to witness this.” Steadfast readies himself for battle with his weapon gripped in his mouth and a grin on his face.

“Bronze planted his hooves firmly on the ground, glaring directly into Steadfast’s eyes. It felt like nearly every bone in his body was in pain, but just as he’s forced himself to do on many other occasions, he set his pain to the side to focus on what’s been put in front of him. With the odds stacked against him, he allowed his anger to take control of him. Just as Steadfast mentioned his Father, his anger grew even more so.”