Everfree forest, the castle of the two sisters. Three years after Tirek.
The foals of the local scout troop followed the mare in charge up to the castle as she spoke to them.
“Okay troop, here we have the castle of the two sisters.. can anypony tell me why it is still important?”
A young yellow mare with a orange mane started to hop up and down.
“Yes Book Lover?”
The foal then smiled, widely as she spoke.
“In recent years the elements of harmony where discovered here, Nightmare Moon was defeated and became Princess Luna again, also the Tree of Harmony was found in a cave underneath which became the Princess of Freinship's castle in Ponyville.”
The mare looked to her little scout and smiled, “Very good deary.. now lets go in where going to make camp here for the night.”
A young stallion foal shifted his forehooves, “Do we have to?”
“Yes little one, this trip is so we can learn more about our history by visiting a place that was a large part of it. It is also too late return to Ponyville, as the timber wolves are very active at night these days.”
Budda bump
As the pony troop set up camp in the main throne room of the old castle. Two of the young stallions with a mare decided to wander down a hall. One of them a unicorn leaving marks as they whent so they wouldn't get lost.
“Look at this place, it's amazing!” Declared the stallion with dark blue fur and mane, along with wings.
“I don't know Night Flight, I think it's spooky.” The white unicorn mare with a short blue mane just gulped as she looked at some of the armor standing near by.
The other stallion a earth pony with a light brown coat, just poked at some of the stone, “Oh I don't know Bright Light, a lot of love went in to the craftsmanship here...”
Night Flight smirked and flew up then dropped a rock next to the earth pony making him jump slightly, “Oh man.. scared you Strong Brick.”
Bright Light went over and bathe Strong brick with a soft white light making him relax, “Not funny.”
Budda bump
The three found a large door and Strong Brick managed to pry it open. “Pretty dark in there..”
Bright Light looked around her horn glowing brightly, “Weird we should be able to see a large area around us, but something is absorbing the light... Night Flight?”
Night Flight nodded and flew slightly in to the darkness, and let his eye adjust, “I can see some large crystals.. I think.. four of them in the walls... they seem to shine abit when you increase the light.”
Bright Light blinked a bit, “Weird.. never heard of anything ment to keep light out.”
Night Flight turned to face them so his head and forelegs could be seen, “Maybe this was a chamber where Luna worked... or became Nightmare Moon... OoooooOOooooo”
Both Strong Brick and Bright Light started to shiver at that.
Strong Brink just spoke up softly, “Nnnight Light, stop it... this place is spooky enough as...” Strong Brick then seemed to grow pale.
Night Light looked at there expressions, “What has you both so...” When he turned all he saw was something sharp come down on to him, and the others screamed as he was dragged off in to the dark, leaving the stains and stench of blood on the floor.
They bolted back to camp.
Budda bump
They came back to find the camp looking like a windstorm hit it. The mare in charge was standing defensively by the entry with only half of there number there. “There you are.... get over here where is Night Flight?”
Bright Light just cried when to stand next to her for support as Strong Brick lowered his head. The mare got the idea, “Okay where out of here... and going to report to the princess what happened.” With that she pulled out a crystal and they disappeared as a emergency teleportation spell went off.
Deep in the castle Night Light just looked in to the darkness of the chamber, eyes wide as a formless void, started to take shape like a heart of darkness before him. Then started to slowly form in the vague shape of a mare.
“Oh dear.. did I hurt you little pony.... maybe this will help...”
Night Flight screamed as he felt tendons rip and bones crack as one of his wings where pulled off of him slowly and rather painfully.
“Mmmm yes... your song of screams fuels me... thank you for helping with my rebirth..”
The now formed mare tooke tall before Night Flight, with fur of pure night, and a mane and tail that seemed to absorb all the light around it. It also had wings and a horn like a alicorn. Slowly dark blue armor strted to form around it and a large bloody scythe floated up next to it.
“Now then... say my name my little pony.... let me know that I have not been forgotten... even if I was cast out... from my host body...”
Night Flight coughed up a little blood and looked up at the mare before him, he shuddered as he remembered the stories, the look and how she thrived in the darkness and off fear. He then groaned out, in too much pain with with too much blood loss to resist her.
All he could do was say something under his breath which made her grin.
His eyes then rolled back as he fell limp.
The dark mare just grinned, "Oh no... not yet my darling..." She held up a hoof and a ball of shadows formed from her being and then floated over in to the colts mouth. Though there was no reaction the mare just faded away again in to the darkness.
It was dawn buy the time Twilight, Applejack and Dash arrived at the castle. Dash grumbling about how slow they where in getting there.
It wasn't long till they found the chamber in question, but unlike what they where told it no longer absorbed the light.
Dash poked at one of the crystals, “I think there cracked or not working anymore...”
Twilight looked at the design of the chamber, “There focusing crystals.. like there ment to focus everything they get in to the center... weird...”
It was Applejack that noticed what looked like a alcove to one side of the room and peeked in. She seemed to go green at what she saw, “Twilight sugah... your going to want to see this...”
Twilight shined a light in the area, then here eyes whent wide eyed with horror. Dash flew to a side of the room and proceeded to loose her lunch.
Applejack just moved her hat over her chest, “Celestia, may these foals find peace in the fields beyond...”
Twilight just grimiced, “It looks like... they where ripped apart...and maybe still alive when it happened.... what could have...”
Dash was looking rather green still when Applejack spoke up next.
“Well find the vermants that did this Shug, we always do. For now though.. lets get them home and buried proper.”
Twilight looked to Dash who was all to happy to leave and let the mayor know so arrangements could be made. Twilight walked closer to work a spell of teleportation when she looked back as she thought she heard something laugh then turned back to finish the spell taking her, Applejack and the bodies back.
In the shadows some rather bright and sharp teeth formed a smile, then faded away again whispering to itself.
“Soon, soon my other other half and you will learn the truth.... but not yet....”
Author's Note
The idea for this story came is from a few sources. Art involving the struggle for balance in Luna's own mind between her normal self and her nightmare side played a main role in this one. I just hope others enjoy it.
It had only been a couple of months since what is now known as the indecent at the old castle. Since then some royal decrees came down from the princesses. In fact they where all posted in a letter for all to see outside every town hall of a village or town just outside or near the Everfree forest.
My dearest ponies,
It is with a sad heart that I have heard about the deaths of our old castle. After much talk about it and how the Everfree is constant problem for my little ponies we have decided on the following edicts. As The Princess of Freindship Twilight Sparkle, is the closest one of us to the Everfree these edicts are hers to enforce.
1) All items of historical value will be removed from the castle and placed either in Twilight's castle, or a museum to be constructed in Ponyville.
2) The castle itself is to be demolished then left to so the Everfree can reclaim the area. This was not done lightly as both myself and Luna have fond memories of our old home.
3) Passage through the Everfree will be done with escort from the Royal Guard, who will also maintaint guard posts along specific routes.
4) The primeter of the Everfree will be patroled, by the EUP, ince it is a larger area to cover then the trade routes.
5) All questions and concerns should be directed to Princess Twilight Sparkle who can relay anything requiring our attention to Canterlot if needed.
It should be noted that dispite thes edicts, those we are aware living in the Everfree, will not have there lives changed, nor will the Royal Guard interfere with there life. They will however be made aware of the guards precense in the Everfree to help protect there homes if needed.
I hope that this helps keep all of you safe my little ponies. As that is my only desire.
Signed, Princess Celestia.
Offically the deaths whre also noted as being atributed to a Timber Wolf that might have been living in the castle at the time. Still while the parents and close friends of those that deid still called out for justice and suffered horrible nightmares which Luna did her best to soothe, there was little else that could be done.
Bright Light at this time had earned her cutie mark which showed a street lamp on it surrounded by stars. She rather liked it a it complemented her name well. Though she did not like her job to much though. She had a good talent for lighting up the night and so with her graduation near, the mayor started training her to help out with keeping the street lamps charges to they could better light up the night.
Still she was good at her job, and did take pride in it as she noted how it made ponies feel a bit more safe at night knowing somepony was helping to keep things safe at night. Still when ever she passed near the grave yard she felt uneasy there. She hated how the streetlights barely lit the area there. She could also swear she saw movement in the shadows at times or even something growling at her in the night.
As for Strong Brick, he proved to be getting stronger almost every few days. In face when he whent to help out with applebucking season the apples decided to turn him away as he knocked down a few apple tree by accident. He however started getting interested in the EUP. Since they made a camp near by to help better patrol the boarders of the Everfree, he found himself always interested in there military work. Still that was neither her nor there for now. Right now it was that time of the month and the sun was at it's highest.
He ran in to the grave yard and found Bright Light standing there looking at him She huffed at him as she stomped the groun abit. “Your late Strong Brick.”
Strong Brick just panted slightly, “Oh give me a break Night Light, one of the guys wanted to teach me a new cadance song today. It's a fun one to let me sing it for...” He then looked at the hoof placed over his mouth.
Bright Light just rolled her eyes, “Later okay, you know we do this once a month.. but with you going all military on me we might just reduce it to once a year.. I hear the EUP isn't all big on leave time.” She then turned and looked to the grave near them.
Strong Brick just flattened his ears, “Sorry..” He also looked at the grave.
Here lies Night Flight, beloved son and friend of his schoolmates. He died to young may the Elysian fields welcome him.
Bright Light just lowered her head, along with Strong Back. Strong Back then got a idea in his head. He stood up straight and started to trot in place like a soldier.
Bright Light looked at him, “What are you..” That is when Strong Brick started in a cadance.
They say as a civie,
You never die alone
They say in the EUP
They will are likely to die alone
They say in the EUP
You will never be remembered
But we are the EUP
We will remembered
We fight for the fallen
So there memory will live on
Hoorah... hoorah
Let us remember
Let us never forget
The fallen, the fallen
For Equestria and for them
We march, we march
For we are the EUP.
Strong Back then looked at Bright light and flattened her ears abit, “Sorry.. I was told that is ment to honor the... ack!” He fell back as Bright Light hugged him.
“Okay silly colt that was very nice. Better then what I thought you might be learning from those EUP guys.”
Strong Brick then grinned, “Oh I got another one, Oooo there once was a mare from stallongrad...” Bright lgiht then moved a hoof to cover his mouth again.
“Don't ruin the moment.”
They both laughed abit then Strong Brick snuggled Bright Light a bit, “One of the guys gave me somebits when I told him about today. He said when we are done here to go to sugar cube corner and celebrate the happy memories of him.”
Bright Light just smiled, “Oh nice I like that idea.” They both then stood up and after saying there good byes to the grave started to trot off.
Strong Brick looked over and noted a tall pony walking among the graves, a unicorn with midnight blue fur, a red mane and golden eyes. “Hey Bright Light any idea who that is?”
Bright Light just looked over and shook her head, “Nope, must have just arrived, I hear some come back to visit the graves of there ancestors here, lets leave her be.”
As they left the mare looked over to them then noted she was alone. She moved to stand over Night Flights grave, and here eyes shifted to blue with narrow almost reptilian slits, “Soon my child... soon... “ She then moved a hoof to mark a line on the grave with a few others, before leaving.
Author's Note
The cadence is a variation of one I remember doing in my own military days around labor day, then again on veterans day when I was in the USN. Thought it might be nice to make a equestrian version of it.