Verve

With little choice, and dark vines swelling around the food stands and fair games; they found themselves trotting along the path towards the big tent in the center of the Carnival. The roads were now empty, as any sane soul wouldn’t dare miss such a tempting show to behold.

“What do they have in store for us?...” The nervous Seraph spoke aloud, Pumpkin now trotting by Tempest’s side. Vee, not wanting to be left out, kept pace next to her lil’ Sis, who had grown more independent by the day.

“Hmhm. I’m more upset that we’re not getting paid for this! I’m still broke, mind you. Now Sun-fry, about those pesky taxes…” Vee began again, and the Princess rolled her eyes.

“Fine. I will see to it that after our journey’s end, and for all your help - you’ll be given a tax exemption for deeds pertaining to the rescue of Equestria from the endless night. If we make it out of this alive.”

“Hoho! Wonderful. Yes yes, now that’s good for the feathers! Hmhmhm.” She turned her still empty coffee cup over, sighing. “But alas…”

The Circus Tent soon loomed above, the massive tarp blocking the pouring rain from striking their chilly bodies as they entered one of two entrances. The bustle and noise of the crowd seated left the group nervous, a heavy light hanging over the center on the empty ring. There were three rings, in fact; a massive oval that allowed many performances to take place at once.

“T-Tempest, I-I don’t know if I could… d-do this. I-I’m a stuttering mess, I-I’ll cry!” Pumpkin whimpered. The wine colored Unicorn frowned, brushing the wet mane from the little mare’s eyes with her hoof.

“When I was a young filly, my horn was shattered by a looming Ursa Minor in its cave. After my recovery, I was left with no friends, no usable magic, and no hope. I truly believed that I would never amount to anything by relying on the kindness and support of friends. At the time, I saw that as a reason to hate ponies, and to strike out on my own.”

Turning her full body to face the smaller mare, Tempest gave a rare, encouraging smile. “What I should have learned from that was not to hate, but to love the pony who needed it most. Myself. I hated what I had become, and I took it out on those around me. I believed myself naive to have faith in friends, when they would only abandon me when times grew tough. I see clearly now, it was not the case. The only pony holding me back was myself. My own doubt. My own fears. I couldn’t let the past go, and embrace who I was.”

“Pumpkin, you’re not afraid of what others think of you. You’re afraid of what you think of yourself.”

Upon this realization, Pumpkin began to cry. It was true. All true. Every word of it, it hit like a hammer on iron. Tempest drew her in for a tight, encouraging hug.

“You don’t have to hate who you are, for the past you’ve suffered. Believe in yourself. Look how far you’ve come. The friends you’ve made… We’ll be here, every step of the way.”

Hugging tight to the Unicorn, Pumpkin gave a tired sniffle. “I just… I don’t want to disappoint you.”

“You haven’t disappointed me yet, Pumpkin.” Tempest booped her nose with a hoof, forcing a smile onto the little mare's cheeks. “Now. Brush yourself off, stand up, and weave this crowd a tale.”

Nodding firmly, Pumpkin turned back to the circus tent. By now, a gaggle of clowns had set the stage for a spectacular show; targets and platforms, trophies and rings strewn about for the four acts they’ve planned around the group’s skills and faults. Whatever ideas they had, nopony could really say - only hope that it wouldn’t claim their lives in the process.

“I can do this,” Pumpkin said, as the Ticketmaster reappeared outside the tent.

“Well then, Lil’ Miss Witch, I think we have an order of events for the night! Let’s begin with the curiosity.” He aimed his cane at Arin, who went flush.

“Me? What are you going to have me do?”

“Flash like lightning in the clouds, and hit some targets for me. After all, our announcer decided to claim you a wonderful archer, ‘Moon Knight’! Come come, it’s dry inside - you’ll need those wings after all, my Star! If you’d kindly welcome our first performer to the stage, Lil’ Witch?”

Pumpkin gave a firm, determined nod - stepping into the dry warmth of the tent. From this entrance, she could see the circus employees tending to the tarp and dirt under the seats and rows around her; extinguishing dropped matches and cigarettes from the crowds above them to prevent a fire. The lights of the Arena fell on her, blazing with intensity upon the little nervous pony. Her broom clutched in hoof, she began to shake. But the nod of a chipped horn Unicorn on her left gave her the courage to act.

Slinging onto the little broom, she took to the air - much to the astonishment of the crowds filling the seats. Excitable clamoring roused from the stands, as fillies and colts alike all watched as Pumpkin began to circle the large ring.

“Welcome, one and all, to the…” She paused, recalling the name the old boatswain gave. It seemed like the only explanation worth giving; this was undoubtedly what the Ferry Stallion meant. “...The Lights of Life! A celebration of the dawn’s rise!”

Cheers rang out, as the undead ponies clopped and clamored their hooves in the benches, rocking the stadium seating all around. Within moments, the wetness of the world was forgotten - and she was dry once more.

“Our first act of the night; hailing from a Land far beyond the stars themselves, a Knight who crossed the very moon to journey here - who’s fury is unmatched… I-I present to you, Moon Knight Arin!”

Whizzing above the crowd, Pumpkin shook in her skin. She had never been so loud before! The crowd went wild, billows of joy, nickers and neighs crashing through the now non-existent rain. Arin flapped his wings, water drying quickly between the feathers.

Banners fell from the rails surrounding the stage, nearly scaring Pumpkin off balance. Dozens of fibrous burlap portraits filled the stand’s lining, showing the figure of a Seraph clutching a bow. What kind of demented magic was this? How could… What?

Seeing this, Arin froze. He was a great archer, yes, but… was his performance tailored to him? He didn’t even know what they meant for him to do! His eyes scanned the contraptions and targets around the arena, sighing in frustration. It indeed looked like it. Not only that, but… he had the feeling he was intended to fly.

His accuracy while flying was abysmal. If he missed a single target, he may outright kill a pony in the crowd. If you could kill the undead. They were undead, right?... Regardless, the thought reminded him much too much of his last attempt at a tournament; he almost killed a kid, and he never wanted that to happen.

Seeing him freeze, Pumpkin knew she had to snap him out of it.

“The standing warrior inspects his targets, readying his thoughts for the battle to come!” She swooped down next to him.

“If I can g-get over my stage fright, AND my stutter to scream my lungs out, I know you can do this! Believe in yourself! C’mon! I’m improvising h-here! I-I only have so much magic left in me! I’ll faint if you don’t move it!”

She darted back into the sky before he could respond. The seraph cast worried eyes to Celestia, who bowed her head as if to say ‘try’. His response came in a nod, his wings spreading wide to engulf the air. Like a flash, he drew Sonata into his steadied hands - wings flaring as a blue-feathered arrow hoooked the string, knocked and primed.

A burst of wind, and he took to the sky. Into the air of the tent he went in a magnificent leap; the pleased crowd cheering at the spectacle.

“Tempest, did I ever mention Arin has abysmal accuracy while flying?” Celestia said quietly to the Unicorn on her left. She reeled, eyes locking to Celestia’s.

“You’re joking?”

“No. While I have faith in him, I feel like the crowd won’t be happy if he clips a target - or worse. Be ready for a fight. Or more likely, to run.” Celestia clutched the stave tight in her winged grasp, Tempest quickly realizing just how dangerous all of this was. What would happen, if the show failed? Would they be charged by teeth-clicking undead? Ripped apart by the black vines sinking into the fairgrounds?

Arin rushed through the arena’s stands, a blaze of pumping wings and adrenaline. The circus tent was massive, but there was hardly room for a proper flight. Luckily, he only had so many arrows - and so few targets. The first bolt sailed in a short arc, just barely striking the outer ring of his first goal. A bad sign of things to come.

Pumpkin, on the other hoof, was quick with encouragement. “A daring strike, so close to disaster! Yet a hit, none-the-less! Keep it up, fair Knight!”

Settling his nerves, he drew another arrow.

“Hoho! A wonderful spectacle so far! That creature knows how to put on a show!” the Ticketmaster called from behind, clicking his cane with each step of his hooves into the tent. “Yes yes, a wonderful spectacle. But not enough! The drama, the lights - more! We have quite the magic to build, after all.”

“Magic?” Vee questioned, “Hmhm. What do you have planned, Jerk-face? I’ll throw hooves! I’m not afraid to slap a foal! Oho, you’ve got my feathers ruffled and in need of preening! More preening! I have twelve hours preening a day to do, and now, I’ve got to bump it up to fifteen! Are you gonna pay for that overtime? You better! ‘Cause I’m still broke!”

“...Right.” The Undead blinked. “All I have planned is a grand performance for my audience. They’ve been waiting for three thousand years, after all! Keeping merry through the long dark is just what keeps It at bay. Maybe now, these lost souls will be free. The lights! The drama! The music! It’s all for the greater good, I assure you.”

The click of the cane led him to the ring, snapping at cords aplenty with the stern wood. The wires hoisting the targets began to yawn and creak, sending Arin’s targets rocking and spinning in their harnesses. The already stressed Seraph grunted, tired wings pumping to avoid the far edges of the tent.

Tight turns like this were already straining, if not near impossible for his large wings. Especially without height to waste - Seraphs were more suited for gliding or stalling. He fired another bolt, arms aching from the tight angle he had to take.

The Ticketmaster bumbled his way back, that ever present grin wide and overbearing. “I believe you’ll be next, Flappy Gum Bird - give them a good show, if the boy can keep up.”

His cane poked roughly into Vee’s chest, the pegasus burping up a feather in response. Even for an ageless Undead, he seemed confused - but said nothing.

If Silversun was a dream, this world, this place - it was more like a nightmare. And not the thrill ride where the monster makes itself known, but the foreboding shadow that lurks in the stiff, choking air. By now, only one target hadn’t been pierced - and it was dangling right in front of a crowd of foals, near the northernmost part of the tent. The lights ponies above worked the beams of gold onto his beating wings, a blinding array that made it all the more difficult to see.

And no matter where he flew, or how hard he tried to get an angle, each beam of light struck his form with blinding intensity. At one point, he had to cover his eyes to prevent the glare from taking his vision in the darkness of the tent. Pumping himself stationary, he needed a plan.

Pumpkin saw this, calling out to the captivated audience.

“The archer readies himself for his most daring shot yet! One of danger, of thrills!” Floating by Arin’s side, she panted in a sigh of relief.

“A-Arin, it’s the last one. Can you do it?...”

Steeling himself with a firm grasp of his bow, he darted his eyes to Celestia - who caught his gaze. She lifted her wings, raising her hooves up like she was bringing the dawn. A hint, or perhaps a twinge of insanity. After all, everypony had a reason to be insane by now; Vee without her coffee, Tempest without control, Pumpkin being an announcer to crowds of at least two thousand... And Celestia, without her magic.

“...I can. And I will. I have an idea. It’s worked once before. Though I still have no idea why they’re making us do this.”

Even Pumpkin shrugged, wide eyed as Arin fluttered his wings to the floor.

There, the heavy, reflective lanterns above angled downwards - an easy motion, as they were bottom heavy and meant to strike the floor. Channeling distant magic into his wings, he breathed in deep - steadying himself for what’s to come.

More energy poured into the green gem of his bow; if they wanted a show, they’d get it. Taking Celestia’s queue to heart, his massive wings beat at the dusty center ring’s floor, Spinning into the air with a twirl. Light flicked off of his massive wings, sweat trailing down his brow as the roof rapidly approached.

His plan worked - he bought himself mere moments of time as the lanterns struggled to keep up. Like a flash, he drew his bow back taking aim at the target among the stunned faces of foals and their parents, and let the sparkling arrow loose.

‘Breathe in, and release.’

With a dizzying spiral of magic sparks, it bolted through the air - crashing into the target with a flash of golden light. A rain of sparks settled over the hay strewn floor - a duo of clowns from the stands rushing with buckets of water to stifle the flames that would spawn if left untended.

Panting, and much too exhausted from the display of acrobatics, he let his limp wings catch the stifling hot air. The humidity and heat from the lamps sapped his endurance, as he tumbled to the ground far below. Celestia darted forward with a rush of dried pinions, Pumpkin’s own magic working to slow his descent before the inevitable collision.

With a flutter and crash, Tia was flattened by the sweat-drenched knight. But he survived, with an empty quiver and much too empty lungs - the soft pillow beneath him grunted.

“A-As romantic as this is, my Sunshine, I’d like it if I could breathe again!” She chuckled, pained as she was.

“O-Oh? You don’t like… Being crushed? Ironic! You love… to crush me! In your… hooves!”

With a thrust of her heavy wing, the Seraph was righted on his still functioning legs. Arin’s feathers, on the other hand, lay mostly limp - the harsh turns and angles pushing them to the brink of collapse.

And how the crowd went wild, roaring at the spectacle. Cheers and whistles sung through the arena, stallions and mares calling out to the duo as Celestia hugged her lover close.

Pumpkin settled next to them on the floor, wiping sweat from her brow from the humid air. “Do either of you um… know w-who’s next?”

“That’d be me, Smol-fry! D’ohoho! Though I don’t know what they intend for me to do. I’m not a clown! I’m a Purple. This simply won’t be good for preening.” At that, she nipped a bent, less-than-perfect feather from her wing.

Even Pumpkin was worried about what she’d come up with. Or better yet, what the Ticketmaster had planned.

“Why, you’re a witch young Miss! Surely you must be good with some form of dark arts or trickery?” came the voice of the top-hat bearing stallion, his cane twirling in his hoof. Celestia guided Arin out of the burning spotlights, soft nuzzles easing his tired body. “After all, that’s what our little Bobblehead declared! And that’s what you’ll be known for.”

He waved the finely crafted cane towards the crowd - a fresh set of banners falling to reveal Vee’s witchy face plastered to the ring.

“Hmhmhm. Not enough Purple,” she declared, inspecting the flair around her snoot. “Definitely not. How do you expect me to work in these conditions! I need a coffee, chop to it!”

“You’ve had your drink. Unless you’d like another dip in the lake?” The Ticketmaster chuckled, leaning over his short cane in a leer.

“No dice, Jerk-face! Magic it is, then. Pumpkin!” Vee brought her hoof up to a salute, the little witchy mare darting to her side.

“Yes Vee!” She saluted in return, standing at attention.

“Introduce me to the crowd! Make me seem better than Arin! ‘Cause I am!”

“Er… Y-Yes! On it!” Pumpkin kicked off the ground, levitating on her broom once more. She loved to fly, but under these conditions - she was starting to despise it. Not a stir of wind broke the canopy above, and the lights were hot enough to sizzle the skin. Regardless, she held Tempest’s words to heart, and began to call once more.

“Mares and gentlecolts! Please, welcome the Mystic, the Dark Weaver, the Future Seeker, and Fate Changer; the one and only wing-preener who’s magic can change the world; Vee-Ness, Pegasus!”

Vee flapped her wings to the center of the main ring, whipping her hat off with a bow. The crowd went wild, but Vee ignored them. She ignored many things, after all. Like bills. And arrest warrants.

After the cheers came to an end, she lifted a glowing hoof - the bright stage lights flickering and turning purple in her aura. Many amazed voices followed, as the centuries old pegasus set to work.

With the mood set, and the magic flowing nicely, Vee started off small. She was a Moon Witch, yes - but her speciality was dream magic. And with dream magic, came many illusions and reality changing spectacles. As if bringing a hint of the dreamworld to life, she summoned forth ethereal ponies that treaded the ring in a circle. You could see right through them, in their shadow-like auras; their pointed hats bouncing with each step, earth pony and pegasus alike.

They seemed to be dancing in the light of the overhanging moon; the visage of such gracing the air above them in a glowing, luminous, twinkling light. She stood in the center amongst it all, telling her story in the fluttering of her purple wings.

Purple flames sprouted from the floor, and Vee’s head turned. No longer did she look like the sleepless mare who stood the test of time, but a young teen - the size of Pumpkin, no less. Rattling booms of crashing, ethereal debris rained around them.

This was no longer a dream she weaved; it was a memory. Fear settled in her heart, as she realized much too late that the ambient magic here turned against her. Her hooves stopped glowing, in an attempt to stop the spell; but it thrived on its own in the dark, and grew unbidden. She settled in the ring with just the thought of making some sparkly lights, or crafting a cute act of tumbling ponies - but the darkness around her deemed otherwise.

A new pony stood just opposite of her, the magic coalescing into her ghostly, dream form. Colors sprang across her skin, as an orange mare with soft, brown hair stepped into the purple light. Her eyes like slits, a dark aura wafting from her that made the Seraph wince and panic.

“Arin? What’s wrong?” Celestia asked, shaking the struggling Seraph.

“It’s Nightmare Moon.” He pointed. “I recognize those eyes anywhere. That… is she here? Can she see us?”

Celestia frowned, her horn twinkling faintly in the light. “That… it’s impossible. I feel the dark energy there, like… a piece of Nightmare Moon, but… it’s not her. A fragment. A mockery, perhaps?”

With a flash and a charge, the Earth Pony dashed for Vee - the striking shadows engulfing her in a frenzy. Pumpkin was about to nose dive to save her, clutching her hat desperately to stay aloft - but a wave of magic rippled across the crowd - the drowsy Pegasus galloping out of the darkness in terror. She collapsed just outside the ring, returned to her normal, tired visage.

Cowering on the soft sand, clenching her purple hat tight - the Pegasi shivered. Her eyes wide and body shaking. The applause and voices cracking through the dark went wild regardless, as Pumpkin nearly crashed by her side.

Tempest, seeing Vee in a near catatonic state - rushed to her side, Arin and Celestia restrained by the cane of the Ticketmaster.

“Nuh uh uh! Don’t spoil the act. Chattermouth is fine, just look! Breathing and squirming like there’s life still in her. No more than three on the set, now.”

“Vee, are you alright?” Tempest asked, her hoof resting over the Pegasi’s back.

“N-No. Get me out of here. This is no place for dreams. This is no place for Purples. This is a land of nightmares and horror. Tempest, I… help me.”

The shock of seeing Vee struggle left the Unicorn speechless. With a nod to Pumpkin, the Wine Mare hefted the lightweight pegasus onto her shoulders, galloping off set. But before she could go far, the Ticketmaster’s hoof shot from the shadows, clutching the claret colored tail of the Unicorn tight. Arin darted to meet her, scooping the shaking Vee up in a hurry.

“Nuh uh uh, Chip-horn! You’ve got places to be and fireworks to light. Wouldn’t want to keep the crowd waiting, would we?”

He motioned to the east - the Lunar Halo now dangerously close. “If you and your friends want to see the sun, better bring some smiles to this dark world. After all, it’s easy to join the dead - but hard to leave them.”

That very same wide grin graced his cheeks, his silvered eyes piercing through the stumbling mare with absolute authority.

With no other choice, Tempest turned back to the ring - much to the crowd’s delight, and her rising fear. What in Tartarus was this place?