Steel clangs against steel echoing off the stone walls of a cave in which two unicorns battle it out. One a dark blue leaning towards black with a white mane, the other a silver gray with a white mane. The dark of the two, a stallion, stands still as his scythe swings out and blocks the strikes of the other unicorn’s rapier. The lighter of the two, a mare, continues to attack with quick strikes going for vital areas. Each attack is blocked with the scythe as the stallion continues to watch her every move.
In an instant she vanishes from sight and the stallion spins around with his scythe in a cleaving motion just barely catching the rapier and deflecting it before it can hit him in the cheek. Before he can counter attack she’s gone again and this time he’s too slow to stop the blade from grazing his cheek. However the back side of his scythe slams into her side sending her rolling across the ground with a yelp of pain. Yet she rolls into the shadows and vanishes from sight again.
The stallion is ready though, his horn lights up to a staggering brightness obliterating every shadow in the entire cave and revealing his opponent. His scythe sweeps across the room and strikes her on the nose.
“That’s two points to one, Moonlight,” he calls to her as his scythe floats back to him, glowing with his cyan magical aura. “You’re going to have to do better than that if you want to win.”
“Shut your mouth Midnight!” She shouts as she launches across the room at Midnight.
He side steps her and swings low trying to trip her, only for her to jump and strike him in the back sending him rolling to the ground.
“Two to two, bro.” She says standing triumphantly above Midnight. However, as she gloats her legs are swept out from under her as he stands back up.
“Three-two, Moonlight.” Midnight says as he stares down at her, only to watch her vanish into the shadows. On instinct he ducks and swings his scythe around, hooking the handle of her rapier and slinging it from her magic before pressing the blade of his scythe to her throat. “Four-two, yield Moonlight.”
She growls, glaring at him as her slit cyan eyes bore into his normal cyan eyes, but he doesn’t budge. She sighs, ”Fine. I yield”
“That was so awesome, you two!” A smaller mare says, clapping her hooves together from the sidelines.
“Thanks Bright!” Midnight says with a smile as he pulls his scythe away from Moonlight’s neck.
“Heh, thanks for the match little bro.” Moonlight says as she gives Midnight a boop on the nose before walking over to collect her sword. “Thanks sis.”
“Now, how about we get some lunch before we have to get back to work.” Midnight says as he leads the way through the tunnel system to a large cavern with tables carved of stone. A good number of bat ponies sit around the tables eating and chatting. There are a couple other pony races in there too, eating and chatting with the rest of their peers.
The three of them walk over to the kitchen window, and ring the bell, a moment later a silly looking bat pony stallion with a chef hat pops up to the window.
“Ah, it’s you three. I expected you to be here sooner than this.” He says with an overly serious look before cracking a big grin. “Good thing I figured you three might be caught up in some kind of match or talk and saved you something nice.”
Three covered plates of food are set on the counter that’s built into the window. Each is loaded with a serving of vegetable and mushroom casserole, a few slices of mango and a slice of bread with brahmin butter.
“Thank Gato.” Bright says as she leans over the counter to give him a kiss on the cheek. “You’re the best.”
Gato blushes but smiles. “Thank you Mrs. Bright, please enjoy the meal.”
“Thank you,” the three of them say as they grab their meals and start off towards the tables. They snag a table not too close to the center of the room, as they sit down and begin to eat.
“So, Moonlight, when do you leave?” Bright asks as she looks to her sister.
“I leave for the southern deserts tomorrow, it's gonna be the first time I get to travel where I want to.” Moonlight says with a smile as she ruffles Bright’s mane.
“I’m also headed out soon.” Midnight gives Bright a smile. “I’m headed up north as a mission for the church.”
“Ohh, the one with the new recruit? Nox the alicorn was it?” Moonlight ass as points her fork at Midnight.
“That’s right, the Nightmare has freed her from direct control of her… goddess.” Midnight spits the last word of his sentence before continuing. “With luck things will go well and we’ll be back before you know it.”
“Well, when you get back I’ll be a full mage of the colony.” Bright says with a beaming smile.
“We know you’d do us proud, sis.” Midnight leans in and gives her a nuzzle.
“Yeah, I expect you’ll outdo even us with your awesome magic” Moonlight adds, also leaning in and nuzzling Bright.
“Guys!” Bright whines, “Stop it, you’re embarrassing me in front of everypony!”
The two older siblings snicker and keep nuzzling her for a few moments before she grabs both their ears and slams their heads down on the table getting a wince from the pair.
“Owe, sis!” Moonlight’s voice is muffled by having her face pressed into.
“We get the point!” Midnight’s voice is also muffled as he waves a hoof in surrender.
“Hrmph, good.” Bright says as she lets them go.
“I really ought to go see mom and dad before I go.” Midnight says as he rubs his cheek. “Damn sis, I thought my magic was strong.”
“Hush you, you’ve got power with your scythe. Now go see mom and dad, I have to get back to studying, but I’ll miss you.” Bright says as she lunges forward and hugs him.
“I’ll miss you to bro,” Moonlight says as she also gets in on the hug. They stay that way for a little bit before they have to go their separate ways, each taking a different tunnel knowing that eventually they’ll see each other again.