The Shadow of the Moon

The Shadow of the Moon

Act 1: Drifting

Chapter 6: Enjoy the Small Victories

A sharp jolt brought me back. It felt like my head was swimming and everything hurt. Next thing I knew I was walking down the Canterlot streets about a block from the orphanage. All around me I heard ponies gossiping in their aristocratic voices, and today’s gossip was no different from the past two weeks’ worth. Everypony was still talking about the royal wedding, even more so now since it was taking place far above our heads. I took a seat at a street side restaurant and a waiter soon appeared.

“May I take your order, sir?” he asked haughtily.

“I’ll just take the hayfries with some water please,” I order.

“Very good, I’ll be back momentarily,” he said as he went off.

I never understood why the ponies here believed such pomp and circumstance was required for everything little thing.

“Your order, sir,” he said as he laid it down in front of me.

I gave him a few bits to cover the food and thanked him.

I sat there and munched on my hayfries, listening in on the conversations around me.

“Oh darling, I just wish I could be up there. Can you imagine how beautiful the brides dress is going to be?”

“Oh just know. I heard that it was made by that fashionista down in Ponyville.”

“Ah yes. I have several of her dresses.”

“Oh dear, they must be lovely.”

“Indeed they are.”

“My cousin was actually invited to the wedding.”

“You can’t be serious. How did she ever get one?”

“She cuts the groom's mane from time to time.”

“Is he as gorgeous in body as I hear?”

“Much more so.”

Then the two giggled as pompously as they could. I finished off my hayfries and water and left. I stretched my legs and wings. As I was stretching I looked up and saw numerous black dots surrounding the purple dome protecting the city. I walk over to the two mares I was listening to a few seconds ago.

“Excuse me, but do you two see those dots above the force field as well?” I ask them politely.

“If there was anything to worry about then the guards would already be taking care of it,” the first one replies.

“Right, sure. Thanks,” I say unconvinced.

I looked back up and the small black bodies were now ramming the barrier and cracks were beginning to show. I took off running the orphanage. Several ponies yelled at me telling me to slow down and watch where I was going, but I paid them no mind. I had somewhere to be before things went south. There were many young foals at the orphanage and if this was an attack, then they needed to be hidden and protected. I was almost there when the first attacker impacted in front of me in a big green crater. I jumped over the black bug pony and kicked it in the head for good measure. Then they started raining down. Numerous green rockets slammed down around me. I abandoned running in favor of flying which was much faster. I swerved and darted until I reached the door. I barged in and slammed it shut.

“WHAT ARE YOU DOING,” the administrator yelled at me.

I kicked over a large desk and put it in front of the door to brace it shut. “I am …building defenses. ..We are…under attack,” I manage to say between gasps.

As I finished speaking, a blast from another one of those black bug-looking creatures was heard out in the street. I began grabbing coffee tables and bracing them again the windows.

The administrator huffed heading to one of the windows I hadn’t barred, “We are not,” she drew back to the curtain to see an ugly black face staring back at her with its teeth bared, “OH MY CELESTIA!”

She threw the curtain back and fainted. I lunged across the room and drug her back away from the window. Just as soon as I had done so, the window was shattered as the bug-pony came barging through. I flared my wings. Even though I wasn’t much more than a young colt, I was still strong for my age. The creature advanced on me. As soon as he was within range I swung my hindlegs around and kicked out with all my might. I felt them connect with its face and it crumpled to the floor. I lifted it up on my back and stumbled to the window. Getting level with the window sill, I slid it off my back and rolled it out the window. Above me, more windows shattered and the screams of my fellow orphans filled the air. I could hear the sound of hooves running around and things crashing and falling. Several came running down the stairs and into the lobby. I grabbed another coffee table and placed it over the broken window. More terrified ponies entered the room trying to runaway. Some had the foal from the nursery on their backs. They would drop them off and head back for more. I looked over them and saw a small filly, barely out of diapers crying. I went over her and knelt down.

“W-w-w-hat ith g-g-gwoin-g-g on,” the little filly choked out.

“We are currently under attack but it will be okay. How about you and some of the others your age go and hide in the broom closet. Okay,” I tell her softly and gently. She nodded her head, grabbed a friend and waddled over to the closet. I look around seeing who else made it down and saw that most everypony had. Now they all were talking loudly, or sobbing and crying. They were terrified. That wasn't to say I wasn’t too but things needed to done and I couldn’t break down yet. I run over to the stairwell and saw a few black bug ponies coming down. Realizing that anypony that hadn’t made it down was probably already captured I ducked out the door and slammed it shut.

“QUICK, GET A COUCH TO BRACE THIS DOOR,” I shout at the crowd of ponies below me.

Some of the older colts that heard me grabbed one and jammed it against the door as soon as I got out of the way. I scanned the crowd looking for one of the older fillies that I had seen help in the nursery before. I scanned the crowd for her white mane and pink coat. My eyes stopped when I found her in one corner with more of the smallest colts and fillies snuggled up against her. I trotted over to her.

“Hey, I’m glad I found you. Could you-,” I began.

She looked at me and spoke softly but sternly, “Look, I’m sorry I can’t help right now. I’m a touch busy at the moment.”

I take a deep breath, “I know. I wanted to tell you that yourself and the young ones can probably squeeze and hide in the broom closet where it will be safer. Can you take care of them in there?”

“Oh, uh, yeah, sure. That would be perfect. Thank you,” she said before she began herding the small foals to the closet. She stopped for a second and looked back at me, “Sorry for snapping at you.”

“It’s fine,” I tell her, “When you get to the closet, just throw all the brooms and anything you find out here. We may need to use them. Also drag the administrator in there. She fainted and leaving her out here wouldn’t do us any favors when we have to fight back.”

She gulps and nods her head. She begins to direct the foals towards the broom closet. At this moment several bangs could be heard as the bug creatures tried to bust down the stairwell door. I pump my wings so that I was above everypony else’s heads.

“LISTEN UP,” I shout. Some fell silent.

"SHUT UP!"

All was quiet then. I lower my voice to where I was loud enough to be heard but wasn't screaming, “Look, I know you are all scared. I know that you weren’t prepared for this or understand what is going on. I know this because I am the same way. However, now is not the time to break down over it. There are younger foals here that look to up to us older ones and right now, we need to show them courage, not fear. Thi-"

A bang against the door interrupted me and a few whinnied in response.

I pick up where I left off, “This is the moment we need fight back. We are under attack by Celestia knows what. Now, I don’t know about you all, but I don’t intend to sit here and let them take over without giving them something to remember me by. Right now is the time where you show that you are strong; that you are not afraid. I hope that soon the guard will be here and this mess will be taken care of, but until that time, we need to fight back. CAN WE DO THAT!?”

Some gave a weak cheer which was accompanied by another bang on the door.

I cleared my throat, “That wouldn’t even wake me up in the morning. Let’s show those bugs we mean business. ARE YOU READY!?”

This time most of them shouted louder enough that my ears were ringing slightly afterwards.

“GREAT! First, the larger earth ponies, brace that couch and do your best to keep them from getting through,” I order.

The earth ponies head off to the couch and begin bracing against it.

I look over the rest of them, “Alright, unicorns if you know any attack or defense spells, get them ready. For those of you that don’t, find anything sharp really and get ready to fling it at the enemy with as much force as you can with your magic. After you do that, form a semi-circle around the broom closet and get ready to defend it.”

The unicorns took off and began preparing. Another bang against the stairwell door grabbed my attention. When I looked, I saw the earth ponies had it taken care of and were holding their ground. The flimsy door however was beginning to buckle a little and wasn’t going to last much longer. I glanced at the other meager defenses I had hurried to put up.

I look back at the waiting ponies below me, “Alright. The rest of you, grab whatever furniture is left over and first build a defensive stockade around the unicorns at the closet. Then reinforce the windows and the doors. After that is done, grab a broom or a mop, or whatever you can find to use as a weapon. If you find anything round and weighted bring it back to the stockade as well. Hopefully, our earth ponies can buck those items at the enemy.”

With that the rest took off and I lowered myself to the ground. My wings were stronger now, but hovering for extended periods took a bit out of me. I trotted over to the earth ponies at the couch.

“How are y’all holding up?” I ask them over the banging on the door and the shouting of the ponies prepping for the fight.

The largest one looks at me, “We are holding up okay but that door isn’t going to last forever.” Sweat clung to his green coat as he braced against the shock of another barge by the creatures.

“What's your name?" I ask him as I help brace against the couch.

"Lime Hoof," he replies.

"Okay Lime Hoof, see if you can’t use the couch as a barrier after that door goes. I have some ponies scrounging for materials to reinforce the barriers but there’s no telling if it will be enough," I tell him, "This room wasn’t stocked for this.”

He nods at me.

“Keep it up as long as can and then fall back to the closet when you can’t hold out any longer,” I yell over the din. He grunts in acknowledgement.

Leaving I then trot over to the unicorns, “So how are y’all holding up?”

A pink unicorn known as Gemstone, who was maybe just a few months away from being a fully grown mare addressed me, “We are about as ready as we can be.”

“Good, how many know attack or defensive magic?” I ask, a little afraid of the response.

“Just me and Golden Light,” she gestured over to another unicorn helping gather materials for the younger unicorns the fling with their magic, “I don’t know how much help the small ones will be.”

“Any help is better than none,” I reply.

“Too true. I have to say I’m surprised you took charge so quickly. Especially since you’re so young,” she says.

I shrug, “I guess it is my special talent,” I look at my cutie mark.

She mulls it over a little, “I guess, I’m just glad somepony here has a plan.”

I nod.

“EVERYPONY GET BACK!”

I look over at the stairwell door to see some of the earth ponies running over towards me and the stockade. Lime Hoof gave the couch on last shove lodging it as best he could before galloping over.

I hover overhead once more, “Form a defensive line around the stockade and get ready because here they come!”

No sooner than I had touched the ground again, the first wave burst into the room. They pushed their way through the shattered door and knock battered couch out of the way.

I take a deep breath, “ATTACK!”

Pulses of magic flew over my head hitting the bugs-ponies square on knocking them down. Several ponies raised a cheer at this and began adding their contributions. The earth ponies bucked small busts of former administrators into the advancing enemy. This wasn’t as pretty. Some of the enemy were stumbling around, green blood dripping from their snouts before collapsing. Others would crumple dead on the floor from the impact of the projectiles. Some of the really young orphans began crying at the sight of this. Even fewer kept through their tears. The few older ones just kept going with a glazed look in their eyes. They were trying to ignore what they were doing, or telling themselves that it was to protect the little ones. The pencils that the little unicorns were flinging weren't doing much damage so I began yelling out targets for the younger unicorns to co-ordinate their attacks on. After that several of the creatures began falling to the floor, unable to continue as they were impaled by scissors or a few pencils. Some of the unicorns had taken the knives from the kitchen and those proved very deadly. Before long, green blood had seeped across the hard wood floor in front of the door and made it slick. Several of the bug-ponies started flying to avoid slipping and tripping over the dead bodies.

After those first twenty or so had died, the number of bug-ponies coming down began dwindling and the orphans began cheering. I too started until I noticed that more had gathered outside and were beating down the window defenses and the main door.

“GOLDEN LIGHT! GOLDEN LIGHT,” I shouted over the cheering.

“WHAT,” I heard her respond.

“GET READY TO SWITCH TO DEFENSIVE SPELLS,” I yelled back.

“WHY,” I heard the confused unicorn respond.

Before I had a chance to explain the main door burst wide open and the bugs began pouring in. I saw a small yellow force field go up around the barricade and the other unicorns were pitching in their magic to help support it. I grabbed a broom and charged the oncoming swarm screaming. I swung the broom handle and whacked one upside the head. Its green blood  began spewing from its mouth and the handle had snapped leaving me with a sharp point at the end. I began bucking, and stabbing and screaming. Green blood splattered wherever I struck. Soon I began to see other ponies joining the fray. I caught a glance of Lime Hoof in the conflict and he prove to be a fighting machine. I couldn’t tell whether it was his coat or the blood that made him look green anymore. I looked around to check the defensive barrier and when I turned back around I saw Golden Light in front of me.

I gave a confused look and shouted, “WHAT ARE YOU-” She kicked me in the face. I wiped the blood from my face. She was glaring down at me with a deadly look in her eyes. She reared back on her back legs, preparing to stomp down on me. I reached over with my mouth, gagging at the bitter taste of blood on the broom handle and put the point between me and her and braced it against the ground. She didn’t see the handle and came plummeting down on it with a sickening squelch. Her eyes went wide as the makeshift spear pierced her chest. She choked and green blood flew from her mouth and landed on me. Her emerald blood trickled down the handle and into my mouth. Letting of my makeshift spear, I kicked out with my legs, flipping her over. I grabbed my spear with my hooves and ripped it from her body.

Her coat began to change from the bright yellow to black and her eyes shifted to slitted green ones.

“What the hell?”

I looked back to the stockade where Golden Light was still straining to uphold the shield. The orphans were holding out okay but more and more the bug-creatures began changing into familiar faces. It was impossible to tell friend from foe.

I scream as I felt a sharp bite on my flank. I turn back around to see a bug-pony tearing into my flesh. I kick out and knock the thing away. I reach for my broom handle but get knocked to the floor. I curl up into a ball while the bug-ponies trample me.

Suddenly a purple flash came tearing through the room. The bugs were thrown against the wall and crushed to death as the purple force field expanded. I look around and see the yellow force field around the barricade had faded out. The orphans all looked at each other, thankful that it was over. Several sat down and began crying, whether from joy that the onslaught was over, or from the fact they had killed, I wasn’t sure. Golden Light opened the closet.

"It's over now. We're safe. I would stay in there though. It's not a pretty sight out here.

I looked around the room. She was right. Dead bodies were everywhere. My eyes lingered on one green body. My stomach caught in my throat. I limp over to Lime Hoof. His heaving sides told me that his breathing was becoming more and more difficult.

“Hey,” his said faintly as I came into his field of vision. He had several deep gashes where it looked like the bug creatures had bit him with their sharp teeth along his neck. Red blood poured from them, staining his coat and the floor.

“Gemstone,” I call out, “Come here!”

I hear her trotting over to me. As she came closer, she gasped at the sight in front of me.

“Can you do anything?” I ask her.

“I-I-I don’t know. I can try though,” she said and her horn began to glow. She focused as hard as she could but nothing happened. The light around her horn died out and she shook her head.

I look down at the earth pony next to me.

“I guess this is it, huh,” he chokes.

I didn’t say anything.

He breathes in painfully, “At least we won right?” He tries to smile but it looks too much like a grimace.

“Yeah, we did,” I say, trying to keep from crying.

“Good. Good,” he says.

I lift his head and cradle it, “I’m so sorry.”

“Don’t be kid, don’t. You did a good job. You did all you could,” he coughs and struggles to take another breath.

“Thank you,” I say and I feel him exhale one last time as his head goes limp in my head, “Thank you.” Gemstone puts her hoof on my shoulder and I get up. I rub a hoof over his eyes to close them. I wasn't thanking him for the compliment. I was thanking him for fighting, for doing what others could not. I was thanking him for dying. I turn around to see the other ponies with the head hung low out of respect. I look at them all and despite the cloud over my heart at seeing the carnage all around me, I was glad to see no other casualties. They began to lift their heads up a few at a time and look at me expectant for me to say something. I didn’t anything.

Fortunately a few of the Royal guard walked into the room performing checks and gasped at the sight before them.

"What happened here?" one of them asked.

The administrator had heard that and stepped of the closet. She began talking to the guards with the help of Golden Light and Gemstone to fill in the tale of what happened. I went and sat down by the stockade that we had built and defended. I stared at the black and green splatters on the wall where the bug creatures the guards called changlings had been crushed by the bright purple force field. If only it had come sooner, maybe he’d still be alive. My foalish ideas about what combat would be like were dead. They died with Lime Hoof. War was no longer just a game to me. It had become a reality.

I felt my adrenaline rush dying off and the fatigue setting in. My flank hurt, but it was the least of my problems. I was already busy trying to bottle up my emotions. All the fear and panic, the pain, the regret; all of it had to go.

I heard my name mentioned several times by the orphans as they began reporting their versions of what happened to the guards. I lay down from exhaustion and before my head hit the ground, I was out.

****

 I heard the voices coming back but they faded this time before I could listen to them.