Prologue-The Life and Times of Moonlight Militia
I suppose the best way to start a story is to start it from the beginning, but I believe things are better when you start from before the beginning. You know, sort of establish things before they change. So I will start from when times were simple.
I’m an Earth Pony, born and raised in Canterlot by the captain of the guard himself, a brutish, angry, stubborn Pony who I don’t really aspire to become based on his rotten attitude. He expected me, as his firstborn son, to take the reins in his position one day, although as a Foal I despised the idea. He was killed when I was only five in a War between the Earth Ponies, the Unicorns and the Pegasus, took a nasty blast of dark magic in the heart, and rotted his body from the inside out, brutal. My Mother, however, was my true role model, she cared for me even though we had little money, was kind, loving and just overall more of a Father figure to me than my actual Father.
I gained my cutie mark when I was twelve, an image of half the sun, half the moon, with a sword striking down through the middle. I got this whilst training at the Royal Guards School, where I managed to upstage one of the teachers with my sword-handling skills. Despite this, I never understood what it meant to me, and I still don’t.
This is where we get to the Day of the Eclipse.
If you don’t know what that day is, it’s regarded as the day where Princess Luna overtook her Sister, Princess Celestia, by turning into Nightmare Moon. The battle was awful. My Mom and I watched it from our house, as it could be seen from miles around. We saw a bright flash of light in the sky, the final yell from Celestia before she hit the ground, and a crash of thunder, rain started to fall down. In the distance we heard the voice of Luna, except something was not right about it, it seemed more sinister, yet equally enticing.
She proclaimed that Princess Celestia was dead, and that she would be the eternal ruler of Equestria, under an ‘eternal night’. There was mass hysteria all across Canterlot, with the royal guard attacking Nightmare Moon, attempting to avenge their fallen ruler. It was no use. She used her mighty horn and wiped out each and every last guard. The tyrant then released her own army of Bat Ponies, so we had no choice but to run from the city. My Mom’s old, brittle legs couldn’t keep up with mine, and she stumbled, fell back and was ripped to shreds by a flock of three blood-lusting flying Ponies. I had lost both of my parents by the time I was fifteen.
I couldn’t sit to grieve over her loss, and I had to run as fast as my legs could take me. It took me all my strength and stamina to out run Nightmare Moon’s army. I also escaped from Canterlot and into the wilderness and fields in between Canterlot and the Everfree Forest. In the distance I could hear cries of death, blood being spilt, and above all else, the cackle of Equestria’s new leader, Nightmare Moon.
I wandered the empty fields for days, only ever stopping to eat some berries I found in the grasslands or drinking from a nearby stream. I got tired, weak and ill all within a matter of days. I use the term ‘day’ loosely, considering that daylight no longer exists with Celestia not being around anymore to bring up the Sun.
I stumbled across a small Slum in the middle of a Grass Plain. Only a group of five Ponies actually inhabited it, but they saw my critical state and they nursed me back to health. As time went on I went to live in this Slum, which was given the name ‘The Glimmer of Hope’.
Of course this was all roughly speaking 5 or so years ago. Nowadays The Glimmer of Hope houses up to fifty different ponies of different races, creeds, size and age. We feel like our group are the only Ponies left around. Considering now the only other Ponies we encounter are Bat Ponies out for our Flesh. I’ve lived through these dark times from day one, and I won’t forget what Nightmare Moon has done to my Mother. We have all tried to adjust to this lifestyle, but the only way we could actually make things normal again is to dethrone and kill the bitch herself.
One day, I will venture back to Canterlot and only leave when Nightmare Moon is dead.
That one day also appears to be closer than I, or anyone else, would’ve expected.
I’m Moonlight Militia, and this is my story.
I awoke in my small bunkhouse, gagging uncontrollably with an agony in my stomach, and that only meant one thing. I ran out of The Glimmer of Hope, down the hill, threw up into a nearby river, right outside the entrance to the Everfree Forest. Food poisoning is very common when a majority of the people who make the meals are either too young, not experienced enough, or have to cook for fifty four people at once, meaning a dodgy meal can occur every now and then.
I lay by the river bank, soaking myself in the mist that would splash onto my face and mane every now and again, which felt very relaxing. After a good while of being lazy and unwell on the grassy and sandy dirt, I heard more and more ponies appearing to get up and make noise. The Day (Or Night) was beginning.
Despite all the hustle and bustle coming from The Glimmer of Hope, I couldn’t help but feel demotivated to get up, fearing that I may be sick once more. A small frame of time passes, and I begin to hear footsteps approaching me, becoming louder and louder. Out of instinct that a Timberwolf had smelt my flesh, I pounced back up onto my feet. Fortunately, it was no Timberwolf. Instead it was Father Aegis, the old, yet wise, protector and leader of our little colony.
‘Moonlight, are you alright?’ He asked in his low register.
‘Yeah, yeah I’m fine, just feeling a little unwell.’ I replied, spitting the taste of puke out of my mouth.
‘Ah, don’t worry. We’ll have some soup prepared for you when you get back.’ Father Aegis is the closest thing I have to a parent now. He’s certainly a role model for the fillies and foals, heck, even to young stallions and mares. He’s like a Father to us all.
‘You really don’t have to do that…’ I hesitated.
‘No, I insist. It’ll wash out any impurities in your system, you’ll feel miles better!’
‘Thank you, Aegis.’ I said with a slither of upset in my voice. Not that I object to having food, especially the gorgeous vegetable soup that Father Aegis’s Wife, Mother Tutelage, makes. I felt like I was becoming too much of a hindrance to the rest of the residents.
I was one of the original Ponies that made residence in The Glimmer of Hope 5 or so years ago (you lose count when there’s no Sunlight), so naturally I’m one of the oldest. Many of the older residents birthed offspring and other older members either died from Bat Pony swarms, Old Age or disease. As time goes by you end up forgetting how much responsibility you have to end up taking, especially in world as corrupted as this one.
I climbed back up the hill with Father Aegis, back into the Slums. The metal shacks were our only form of accommodation, housing up to 4 fully grown stallions and mares, or 8 foals and fillies. So many shacks have been built to equal the many guests we have now that The Glimmer of Hope has ballooned in size from about 3 square metres of land to a good acre of the field. In the centre, a massive bonfire roared constantly as the main form of heat and light source, only ever dowsed if a swarm of Bat Ponies were in the area. Torches were also anchored all around the camp. No doubt this brings a beautiful beaming orange Beacon to the everlasting night sky.
I sat down by the makeshift culinary table, whilst Mother Tutelage made her famous vegetable soup on some small cooking embers in a big rusted pot. The scent of it attracted residents from all across the camp, lingering for a taste. After about 15 minutes Tutelage gave us each our servings and said ‘Bon Appetite!’ and all the ponies wolfed down the basic, yet hearty meal. I took my time with the Vegetable Soup, whilst I was very hungry and the taste was an almost orgasmic assault on my taste buds, I didn’t want to risk puking it back up.
After I managed to get it down me, though, the Soup felt like it had cleaned my body from the inside out, and it had perked me up massively. My resting was short lived, however, as Father Aegis sat down beside me.
‘Moonlight, can you go into the Everfree Forest for me and get some Fire wood?’ He asked in a quiet demeanour.
‘Of Course, Aegis,’ I replied, as operations like these were commonplace for me to do. ‘How much will you need?’
‘Just take one of the Satchel Bags in our supplies shed and collect as much as you can.’ Aegis muttered, pointing at the slightly smaller metal structure that is the Supplies Shed.
‘You got it, Sir.’ We both gave a light chuckle as I got up and trotted over to the Supplies shed. The only things that were ever kept in this pathetic little cupboard sized house were a multitude of Satchel Bags, wooden shiv’s and tools, canned food and fruit and vegetables, and a fuck ton of cobwebs. I grabbed one of the musty, moth-eaten Satchel Bags and wiped off some of the dust with my hoof.
I put on the Satchel Bag, picked up one of the shivs in my mouth and walked out of The Glimmer of Hope, waving to the locals as I walked by them. I left through the entrance, down the hill to the stream that I was being sick only an hour earlier. I crossed over and headed into the ever terrifying Everfree Forest.
Despite me having to go into the Everfree Forest all the time, making me know the place like the back of my hoof, I still get very anxious whenever I enter. There’s hardly ever a time I won’t be attacked by a Timberwolf, or a Bat Pony, or a lone scavenger trying to take everything I have, including my life. So I always tread caution in these deep, dark woods.
Father Aegis asked for firewood and firewood he will get. There is a place where there’s an opening in the trees, and you can see the haunting moon shine overhead. That location always holds a generous amount of wood, from little sticks to massive trunks and logs. It’s my go to location whenever I’m assigned to do this sort of thing.
I get to the location, and I spot somepony else sitting on one of the logs, with their back facing towards me. This is a first, meeting someone outside the camp that seems to just be relaxing and going about their day, they look like they’re having a pre-prepared lunch. Do I approach them or leave them be? I decided that the former option could prove the most valuable, so I began shuffling towards them.
‘Erm… Hello?’ I awkwardly said.
The pony, dropped their food, jumped off the log, looked dead into my eyes and started galloping towards me. I tried to get away but it was no use. I was tackled to the ground and had a stainless steel blade held against my throat.
Fuck.
‘Who are you?! Do you work for Nightmare Moon?!’ The Pony, who I could now recognise was a Mare, yelled at me.
‘I’m just a simple Earth Pony! I don’t work for anyone! You’ve got me mistaken!’ I whimpered, my cowardly side getting the better of me.
‘Oh shit, sorry about that.’ The Mare released me from her clasp, and air rushed into my lungs. I was panting like a dog in the heat.
‘I didn’t mean to do that to you, guess you gotta watch your back in these woods, haven’t you?’ The Pegasus added on, giggling awkwardly.
‘Yeah, I understand. I thought I was a goner then.’ I chucked, and she joined in unison.
When I managed to inspect the pony, she appeared to be carrying a lot of things with her. She not only had a larger Satchel Bag than I did, packed to the brim, she also had a belt with additional pockets and weapons hooked onto them. She was an average sized Pegasus with a Dark brown pelt of fur, and she wore a pilots cap, goggles and all, with what appeared to be a blonde mane sticking out from underneath.
‘The Names Gidget,’ she spoke in a neutral Broncdon accent, unlike anyone else in Equestria. ‘Gidget Sparkster. What about you?’
‘Moonlight Militia, pleased to meet you, Gidget.’ I offered her my hoof, she shook it reluctantly.
‘So, why exactly are you out here in the first place? The Everfree Forest is not a safe place to be.’ Gidget gave a cheeky look at me as she asked that.
‘I’m out here collecting Firewood. What about yourself?’ I replied, giving that same look.
‘Same, well that and finding some berries to be cooked at camp tonight. The lack of sunlight, it makes them so rare…’
‘Wait,’ my ears perked up and my eyes widened. ‘There’s another camp?!’
‘What do you mean there’s another camp? I thought there was only one camp.’ Gidget seemed to be just as shocked as I was at this revelation.
‘I come from a camp that’s essentially a slum in the middle of this forest and Canterlot.’ I explained to the dumbfounded Pegasus.
‘I’m from further down south, in Ponyville, a place called ‘Sweet Apple Acres’.’
‘Wow, I’m shocked.’ I said in almost a whisper. I truly was shocked. I had spent all this time believing that we were the only camp left in Equestria that Ponies could flock to.
‘We have a massive plan in store, a few of us are gonna travel to Canterlot and kill Nightmare Moon!’ Gidget said with a menacing look and tone.
Those words made my mind explode. Finally I could avenge my Mother and join these renegades on the path to kill such a foe! Would Gidget allow me to join her team of rebels?
‘If you want me to tag along, I’d love to kill that fucker after all she’s done to us.’ I said in response, the anger in my voice coming a little more than I would’ve liked.
‘I’ll have to check with the boss…’ The Pegasus replied hesitantly. ‘The More the Merrier, there’s only five of us going out anyway. You wanna walk there with me?’
I remembered something I had to do first.
‘Yeah sure, just let me go and tell the leader of my camp about it.’ I said with a tinge of sadness in my voice.
‘Sure, I’ll wait here while you go.’ Gidget gave me a genuine smile to confirm that she wasn’t just being a liar like some rogues can be. So I collected my firewood and galloped back to The Glimmer of Hope.
I sat myself down with Father Aegis and Mother Tutelage in their little metal shack, and I feared for the worst.
‘Guys, I’ve made my decision to leave the camp.’ I said shyly.
‘I see.’ Aegis said, his emotion hardly shifting from a deadpan look.
‘Why, Moonlight? I thought you liked it here.’ Tutelage asked.
‘Well, I do and I always have done, especially coping with the loss of my Mother. However, I have been thinking about what I could do, and I want to join the Resistance to take down Nightmare Moon.’
‘That’s ridiculous, you could die out there!’ Aegis piped up, turning angrier by the second.
‘Yeah, but it’s better to die trying than to just sit on my flank and do nothing.’ I raised my voice to match his. Other ponies started to look in
our direction as the conversation began to get heated. Father Aegis managed to calm down before any real conflict broke out, however.
‘Moonlight, I hope you succeed in whatever you may do, but please don’t forget where your home is, promise that?’ As he spoke his voice began to start cracking in sorrow, and a single tear was gathering in his eyelid.
‘I promise, Father.’ I nodded at him. He got up and embraced me very roughly, like a true Father would’ve, and should’ve treated me. I hugged him back, and realised what a massive decision I had decided to undertake. Tears streamed from my eyes, but I tried to wipe them before they appeared as too obvious.
Mother Tutelage packed me a Satchel Bag, filled with food and water for me, also a few wooden tools as well for safe keeping. I said goodbye to everypony in the Camp, one by one, until I got to Father Aegis last, who I gave a hug to, just as strong as the one he gave earlier.
And thus like before, I walked out the massive steel entrance, and down the hill, over the river and finally into the Everfree Forest. I turned around and saw all the Residents of The Glimmer of Hope still waving at me, so I waved back. Half a Minute or so later I turned around once more and returned into the Forest and The Glimmer of Hope was gone, hopefully not for good.
I saw Gidget sat in the same place she was in our first encounter, except she was facing me, grinning, and not looking anywhere near as threatening.
‘Are you gonna lead the way?’ I asked the Brown Pony, to which she looked relatively surprised.
‘Wow, I’m surprised you came back, I thought you’d have fucked off forever.’ She said with a giggle.
‘I felt the same way.’ I added with a smile and a raise of my eyebrow.
And thus, with a raise of her hoof in the general direction we were going, we walked deeper into the Everfree Forest, towards Sweet Apple Acres.
Author's Note
And thus the adventure begins! Tell me what you think of this one guys. Thank you for reading, and I'll see you all in Chapter Two!! 
-TheOldRedHills
