Willing The Heavens

Luna and Fang landed at the edge of the largest cave entrance. They were instantly surrounded by bat ponies. Luna looked around nervously as the ponies bore their fangs and hissed at her. Fang hissed back at them.

"Put those away! She saved me from the dragon."

A bat pony stepped forward. Luna guessed she was the leader of the group based on how she carried herself.

"You know our ways. If you got injured, that's your problem."

Luna frowned.

"Well that seems stupid."

The bat ponies around her looked shocked at her words. The leader narrowed her eyes, looking Luna over.

"And...who might you be?"

Luna stood tall as she answered.

"I'm Princess Luna, guardian of Equestria. I've come to return your comrade and help negotiate a peace between you and the dragons."

The bat ponies began laughing. The leader smirked at her.

"Peace? We can't have peace with those beasts. And I doubt we have much use for Fang here if he can't fly. We need all able-bodied bat ponies for patrols. What good is he to me if he's grounded?"

Fang spread his wings, flinching a little.

"I'll be fine in a day or two."

The leader arched her brow.

"Lift off."

Fang stood there for a moment before slowly lowering his wings.

"Fine. I can't. But I'm not useless."

"I'll decide if you're useless or not."

The leader turned back to Luna.

"You should have left him for the dragon. You can go now."

The leader turned and began walking away. Luna took a few steps forward.

"Hang on! I'm here to help!"

"We don't need your help Princess."

"Stop!"

The bat pony kept walking.

"Stop!!"

Fang flinched again.

"Dusk you'd better stop."

She didn't respond as she moved further into the cave, followed by her fellow bat ponies.

Luna took a deep breath. Fang covered his ears in anticipation.

"I COMMAND YOU TO STOP!!"

Her Canterlot Voice reverberated through the cave at an alarming volume, echoing against every rock, wall, and stalagmite. The bat ponies all squirmed as they covered their ears. Dusk turned back to Luna and Fang as the echoes continued.

"By the night! What do you want from us?!"

Luna walked further into the cave, coming within a few steps of Dusk.

"We are Princess Luna of Equestria, guardian of the land and keeper of the peace. We have witnessed firsthoof the ill feelings between the bat ponies and the dragons of Foal Mountain and wish to help resolve this conflict."

Dusk looked at the alicorn and scoffed.

"Resolve the conflict, eh? It will be resolved when we have enough room for our families and young ones."

Luna glared at the bat pony.

"Is that it? You need more space and you're willing to go to war for it?"

"It's not like those greedy lizards are going to give up the caves freely."

"Have you thought of asking them?"

Dusk was about to answer but stopped. She looked around at the other bat ponies. They seemed just as unsure. Luna rolled her eyes.

"You never thought to ask?"

Dusk shuffled her hooves.

"It's not like they'd say 'yes' now. There's too much that's happened."

Luna nodded.

"Then you have to come to a compromise."

She looked around the cave.

"May I ask to see more of your home? I'm surprised you think you're running out of space. It seems pretty spacious to me."

Dusk sighed and led the way around the corner.

"This is the front half of the cave. And this is the biggest cave we have too. The other ones are a lot smaller. They can fit maybe two or three families at most. This one should only have a dozen."

Luna turned the corner and nearly jumped at the sight of dozens of bat ponies.

"This is a dozen families?!"

Dusk shook her head.

"I said the cave should have a dozen families. This is closer to twenty."

"And the other caves?"

"Each have one family more than they should."

The bat ponies looked at Luna warily. A young foal grabbed onto its mother and hid behind her legs.

"Is that the scary monster that yelled Mommy?"

Luna realized her error in using her Canterlot Voice again. She must have terrified these ponies, making them hide in the furthest reaches of their cave. She stepped forward and bowed her head.

"Forgive me for causing such distress to all of you. I had no idea you were so many. Or how young some of you were. I'm not here as an enemy. I want to help."

The bat ponies looked at Dusk. She sighed and nodded.

"I know. It's weird, but true."

Luna raised her head and looked around.

"I never expected there'd be so many. With how crowded it's become, have you ever thought of leaving the caves?"

Dusk shook her head.

"The caves have been our home for centuries."

"Centuries? I'm surprised these caves aren't filled to the brim with bat ponies."

Dusk nodded.

"We've been fighting the dragons for a long time. Before any of us were born even. Our numbers dwindle while they haven't suffered a single loss."

"Surely somepony has tried for peace before?"

Dusk shook her head.

"Never. This would be the first."

Bat ponies began calling out to the two mares.

"Peace? We can't!"

"The dragons would sooner burn the mountain down than live in peace!"

"What would our ancestors think?"

Luna looked at the large group.

"I know this is a strange thing for you. You've lived lives filled with fear and violence. But that's not how life was meant to be. I want to help you. If there is peace, your children can grow up happy. You can enjoy existence."

None of the bat ponies seemed convinced. Dusk shook her head again.

"It's not a concept any of us can really accept Princess. It's never been done."

Luna frowned.

"Just because it hasn't been done doesn't mean it can't be done. I'm going to meet with the dragons and find out their end in this affair. Will you come with me?"

Dusk seemed surprised.

"What?! Go to the dragon caves? Nopony has ever gotten close enough and lived to tell about it."

Luna held out a hoof.

"Care to be the first?"

Whispers of 'don't do it' and 'no' came from the crowd. Dusk stared at Luna's hoof, mulling over the idea. She locked eyes with the Princess.

"You really think you can do it?"

Luna smiled and nodded.

"I believe I can."

Dusk sighed.

"I'm going to regret this."

She took Luna's hoof and shook it.

"The dragons unfortunately are more active during the day. So, we'll have to wait until daylight."

Luna's eyes widened as she realized how long she'd been gone.

"Oh no! I told my sister I wouldn't be gone long. She must be worried sick!"

Dusk put a hoof on Luna's shoulder.

"Would you please stay? I think we'd all feel better about tomorrow if you would."

Luna's thoughts shifted from Celestia to the bat ponies in front of her. Some looked terrified while others were beginning to look hopeful. She sighed, knowing she couldn't abandon them now.

"Of course. I made you a promise and I intend to keep it."

Dusk smiled.

"Well then you're in for a treat. Because nopony knows how to enjoy the night like us bat ponies."

The bat ponies began smiling and becoming livelier. They came forward to get a closer look at Luna but didn't invade her personal space. She smiled and greeted everypony.

Bat ponies began lighting lamps that put off a low, green light. Luna began to see more of the cave as the lights glowed. The bat ponies milled about, getting ready for the night.

The sound of two instruments caught Luna's ears. She turned around to see some of the bat ponies beginning to dance. She smiled and sat down to watch. Dusk sat next to her as the bat ponies began to bring life into the dark cave.