The first step into the night
Chapter one: The deal of a lifetime
Author's Note
Before you all start reading, I would just like to say thank you for clicking on to my story.
It has been years since I wrote for entertainment of others so if there are mistakes then please do forgive me.
updates will be spontaneous but feel free to share your thoughts in the commons without worry of me judging, I welcome feedback both negative and positive.
Enough of me rambling in the author notes, please enjoy! and most of all. Have a great day
Chapter one: The deal of a lifetime
The calming breeze of the evening air blew along the countryside, much to the dismay of a young man resting on the porch of his familial home.
His hands stationary as his fingers toyed with a letter that rested between them, attached to it was a journal entry of sorts. The gentle sunlight slowly retreated upon the horizon as it brightened up the letter.
Who was this young man? He was Elias, a young University student who was currently supposed to be on holiday relaxing alongside his parents.
The very ones who had promised to stay by his side as he tried his best in University, the ones who had sent him that very letter with their best wishes not even a week before. He closed his eyes as a sob began to sneak from behind his lips.
Dear Eli.
Your father and I have decided that now that you are old enough to handle yourself in the harsh and unforgiving world. We have decided to come clean with the truth about your childhood.
You are not my son by blood but by that of law. Your Father had insisted on the idea when we had been informed, we could not let you go. A way to remember your mother. To Honor her.
This is all too long to explain by a letter, instead I will share with you an entry from my diary that was written long ago.
8th of October 1997
A special boy was born, not of my own blood but that of my childhood friend.
A nice woman by the name of Viola, this very woman was the only one who could really be classed as your true mother.
She died shortly after this boy was carried off to be cleaned and tested for any potential issues that may have carried over through her blood. The circumstances of her death were a mystery, the doctor said. Bullshit. We all know she died on the bed from a heart attack.
Larsa and I have decided to take in the baby boy as our own, that’s what she would have wanted. I only wished I could say goodbye to her once again.
We named the child Elias. The name was at the top of her list, she loved the idea of it so we may as well stick with her true thoughts.
I can only hope that the child will forgive me when I inform them, I cannot live with the idea of never telling him. I won’t bury her into my memories.
Elias' Perspective
I allowed my tears to fall as I felt a chilling cold around me, my hoodie barely allowed me to cling to the warmth while I opened my eyes.
‘They had left me to my own devices to allow me to find this letter.’ I thought as I crumpled the letter allowing it to fall to the ground.
“Forgiveness is a virtue of many, but in this world. It is rare for one to keep their cool and not have some form of outburst, do forgive my pun.” A voice rang out in my head, my eyes seeming to widen as I looked around, the once green and lush fields had become a swirling vortex of water and a strange swirl of black.
“Who is there?! What’s happening!” My words seemed to leave my mouth but soon enough a strange mist covered it preventing me from even making a sound. I tried my hardest to call for help, to ask whatever had me trapped to let me go, for my parents and yet...Nothing ever came.
“My my, Such a rowdy child. Allow me to ask a question, young one. One I wish for nothing but the truth from, If you had the chance to change the fate of another. Would you do it? Would you wish to save one from even the coldest grips of death?” The voice asked in a rather serious tone.
‘Change the fate of another? It must mean to help change the future to a more drastically different one?’ I felt the mist move away from my mouth as my head cleared leaving only the question. Would I save someone I did not know? Out of the kindness of my own heart?
“I would. If it meant that they could work to better the future, why wouldn’t I? Even if I had to suffer for it.” I spoke with a shaky form of confidence before soon enough I smiled allowing my voice to ring out louder and more confidently.
“I would, even if it killed me!” As soon as the words left my mouth, the mist from earlier began to take a form in front of me. Into that of a strange mix of creatures with a strange face of hair.
“I knew I chose the right mortal to watch over, Forgive my rude introduction, Friend. You may call me Discord, God of Chaos. Chocolate milk?” The creature let out of its mouth before it offered a paw, a glass appearing on it before it seemed to fill itself with the familiar light brown liquid.
It took a moment to register that I was not speaking before it spoke once again. “Oh dear I did not break another one now did I? Why is it that every mortal from this realm seems to be so terrified of me.”
“G-god of chaos?” I squeaked out as I stepped back for a moment but my question still remained, if this truly was the god of chaos then why was it here for me? Why did I Interest it enough for it to want to watch over me?
“Yes my dear boy, I may be the god of chaos but it does not mean I am always here to spread evil. I am merely here to give you an offer, one I would ask that you pay in full when we meet again.” He approached, the glass of chocolate milk being lifted to his lips before he chuckled the glass into his mouth whole.
It didn’t shatter or crunch like glass, instead when he opened his mouth once again it had become a marshmallow of brown and white color. I decided to do the best thing any person would do in the face of confusion, the subtle art of not questioning it.
“And what would that offer be? Discord. I mean I am not exactly special, I have no obvious talents, no strength of any kind.” I listed trying to probe as to why the creature had even approached me in the first place.
“Because my dear boy, you are a master of nothing but a winner at everything. A jack of all trades, why be good at one thing when you can be good at them all. A savior of people who need those who will be able to aid them in their time of need. I believe that is you.” Discord spoke, his appearance changed with a poof into that of a rich man in a business suit.
“How do I help these so called people then, Where are they? I am not exactly helpful as I am right now.`` As soon as the words escaped my lips, he got a dangerous grin that spread across his lips. He nodded before I saw my reflection, no longer that of a human staring back but instead of a pony with fangs.
My last Conscious thought for a long while?
WHY THE FUCK AM I A PONY.
Chapter Three: Life is just one big training montage
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The first step into the night
Chapter Three: Life is just one big training montage
The Barracks, my home for the next few years, the place of respite against the harsh treatment of door guarding and hallway patrols. The day guards would occasionally give their own harsh glare.
That was if I did not encounter my mother on my patrols despite what many would expect, she would often seek me out to try and get me to crack during my stations and times. It had been years since I went through the training that I would need for Captain armor to even accept me into the night guard’s ranks.
I sighed as I looked to my new bed, it was an uncomfortable bunk underneath a thestral mare recruit who had signed up around the same time as me.
“Aw is Austere upset at the bedding? How does it feel to be a rank lower than me?” her voice teased before she landed beside me on the ground, she was just barely taller than me, her eyes focused on my own before she leaned in giving me a slight nudge with her hoof.
“Not upset, merely reflecting. Speaking of which, did you want the top bunk or the lower bunk?” I ask with a gentle tone, her grin seeming to soften as her cheeks gained a gentle pink hue.
“I will have you know, that I am perfectly fine with being on the top bunk, What of you? Too low to the ground for you?” I shook my head in response to the question. Her eyebrow seemed to raise before she snickered.
Who was this mare? Introducing Nin. A thestral mare from cloudsdale. Also subtitled as the biggest pain in my flank since Nightmare night all of those years ago, although she seems to hold the title in high regard.
Even though all of what has been said and done, we both know that I appreciate her company, much to my dismay.
“Look I don’t need to know what position you like to go in so I am not obligated to answer that question.” I had a shit-eating grin on my lips when the words left my mouth, her face lighting up like an apple even though the dark coat that covered all thestrals.
I removed my helmet allowing my true coat color to be revealed, and my odd eyes with a gentle cyan instead of the vamp-pony like yellow. I placed it on the bed before allowing myself to slump down to remain seated.
She was sputtering as she tried to look for an answer before puffing her cheeks out in defeat, the red seeming to leave her face. It took only a moment for her to slip down beside me causing me to raise my eyebrow.
Months before. Location: Training grounds
The first time I met Nin was during my second and final month in basic training under the solar guard and Captain Shining armor. Something that all night guards needed to do in order to pass the basic requirements of basic.
It was a hot day like any other, each of us had been given a suit of armor to grow into. The silver and dark blues really ended up making every day of basic training hell. But as I was saying.
Here we were, standing in formation under the sun. My spear resting in my hoof as I focused on the target we were expected to watch for the whole time, It was how the princess kept her guards in a constant state of silence. Fail to stay silent on shift. And you would join the recruits in the yard watching the target.
“That is enough recruits, you may relax if only for a moment. Private Muse, Private Nin. Will you two come forward?” The voice of the captain emerged from beyond the crowds of Night guard and spears.
It was not too difficult to slip through while keeping a professional look on my face, I sure as tartarus was not going to wait any longer with the blistering heat of the summer sun heating up the metal plates of my armor.
From the other side of the group came a thestral mare, a smile on her face as she kept her spear in hoof as all guards should. I stood in front of the captain allowing room for the somewhat taller mare to stand beside me.
“You both have displayed great discipline in your endurance training, while your fellow guards were melting on the spot allowing themselves to become tired. You both stood unwavering. You two get acquainted, you will be watching each other’s backs for quite a while.” the captain seemed rather excited to be announcing this. “You will both be partners from now on.”
I turned to the female thestral with a cocked eyebrow, she had a smug grin on her face before she spoke up “Great to meet you shortie. Let’s get along” Her words seemed to elicit a chuckle from the group.
It was at that moment, she had officially gone on to my shit list.
Present day
Although my time with her so far was not that bad throughout the five months that I had made it into the guards, her humor had often kept a dull guard duty rather unique in its way each time. I often looked forward to seeing her arrive for her shift.
Although, When Shining Armor had discovered that I was able to enjoy the sun much like the rest of the guards, that was when he would often send me as a personal escort for the princess. He did love dressing me up in the solar guard armor. Much to my dismay. Ever seen a white coated thestral? You don’t want to.
“Just because I go easy on you does not mean I cannot enjoy a nice joke. So keep that wit on the inside, or I will subject you to the worst torment of all time.” She spoke with a sense of seriousness.
The tension that filled the air as everypony stared at her was so thick that someone may have choked on it.
“And what exactly would that torment be exactly?” I ask, my eyebrow raising even more before I cross my arms. My eyes watching her own before she spoke up once again.
“Twilight sparkle” It was at that moment that many guards would quiver in fear, thestrals were not as well known as any of the other three tribes, but it often meant that when one who was studious among the ponies became a nightmare.
I smirked as I spoke up “And how would you do that, partner? Why would she ask me any questions when she would have a beautiful thestral mare to ask? Well what is your master plan?”
She sputtered as she looked away, she had lost this round. She lost many rounds, especially if I were to pull out some of the key compliments that a mare often looked from a stallion.
‘Thank Celestia for dad’s awkward lessons, who knew that he would actually be great at picking up mares. No wonder why he scored mom.’ I thought while Nin calmed herself enough to take off her own helmet not really changing much apart from her general coat color.
She didn’t look too bad for a mare, It was a shame that her wit came along with her as a package deal...Not that I would be one to complain if she actually grew the fangs to try and bite on one of my ‘shameless flirts’ as she dubbed them.
Will this peace never end?
Author's Note
Boom, Two chapters in one day, nice right? Well i hope you all enjoy this one too.
We have a new character to add to this rather small cast. Say hello to 'Nin' Or Nightly Winters
Now Austere has someone to keep him on his toes in the guard. Shining just absolutely loves to torment him now doesn't he?
Comment and tell me what you all think. I love waiting on feedback from you all!
