A Wish Before Midnight

A Wish Before Midnight

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. . .”