Chapters The Equestrian forces have finally reached my city of Dune in Saddle, Arabia! They are about nine hundred thousand strong, while we are only six thousand militia troops. The garrison of regulars, all eight thousand, got moved to join the main forces in battle.
Princess Luna leads the troops in the far north, and Princess Celestia is in the far south. Princesses Cadence and Twilight Sparkle are in the bay and to the south. Whoever this chancellor, Neighsay, they call him, leads the current army from the west against us. Among my fellow people, I also arm ourselves with what I can—traditional arms. I reach for my rapier and dagger. My father is somewhere in the south, and my brothers are in the north. My mother and sister went south as medical personnel.
My name is Nocturne....like it really matters, like the Equestrians, we have magic, just like them. However, my magic has to do something with the night, and I don't know what. My mark, which serves as a birthmark, is coupled with a storm cloud and lightning bolt.
Back to the battle at hand! Six thousand militia and a city of forty thousand civilians are a line of defense between the foe and the capital. The onslaught began!
Nocturne raised her homemade shield, consisting of mostly overlapped scrapped boards, over her head as arrows and crossbow bolts rained upon her small platoon. Those who hadn't made shields were felled and filled with projectiles. Her troops were placed at the first wall and gate out of three layers.
"Stand your ground! Whoever comes through there, you cut down! We fight for our land, families, and our emperor!"
The gates were splintered, and a large host poured through the large opening.
I saw this host cut my platoon down, I was enraged that our militia captain had put women and children as the front line! We were being slaughtered...then I heard the militia begin to advance, and those horses galloped now. The militia were traitors! Screams and pleas for mercy were heard as they began to die off. Raisingy rapier I fought with a vengeance.
I became aware that my sword was the only one still fighting. An arrow pierced my thigh, and I fell to the ground onto one knee. The warrior I faced smirked as he kicked my ribs and began to beat me with the shaft of his spear. I tried to stand and parry, but a dagger from behind stabbed into my side. I heard the jeers stop, and a command was given. "Cease at once!" I stood and saw the chancellor...Chancellor Neighsay. I tried to bow but crumbled from the pain. The bastard with the spear kicked his steel-covered boot into my abdomen.
"Rise, wretch!" I tried to comply and couldn't for multiple reasons.
"My..my lord...welcome to Dune," I said as cheerfully as I could, knowing that all loved ones in the city were probably dead.
"Captain, I said to spare civilians, not slaughter them all! For that, you and your traitorous band are to be slaughtered and burned!" I was terrified as he dismounted his steed and knelt beside me. He drew his now visible dagger, and he raised it, and I thought he was gonna kill me. Instead, he began to remove the arrow bandage on my leg and tend to my other major wound.
"I will spare you for your damned courage; many of the other lieutenants tell me fled or tried to surrender and, by orders that I had not approved, killed everyone and gave no quarter. Your royal blue hue with your black hair will make my son very pleased to have you."
I knew I was going to be a servant...and hoped my duties didn't include anything involving sex.
"I can see in your eyes your fears. My son needs a personal servant to tend to him throughout his day. The most intimate he might get is a mere hug; the such as he shows gratitude."
I tried to kneel but toppled over.
"Thank you, Lord, for this mercy... I will try to be deserving of it. When I am able, I'll serve by your side until you are called from the field to be able to return home."
I looked into his eyes, he made think of an image from a book I read about vampires. He stood and then knelt and picked me up. He spoke in a deep baritone voice, "I'll take her to the medical tent myself, but I want the best guards to protect her!" He wants to protect me? One of his enemies? I suppose that being away from home, these men might want a plaything.
I woke up the next morning, and I saw all four princesses before me, and two from that city I had heard about being established called Zephyr Heights in honor of the hero of that sea battle against pirates named Zephyr Breeze. I rose and tried to bow, only to get pushed gently onto the bed and ordered to stay down. The mark on my hand had Princess Luna mesmerized. Princess Zipp, pray to tell me hast another mark as this appeared before?"
Twilight Sparkle and Zipp- blurted out trying to show off their knowledge I guess. "The last time this sort of mark appeared was three thousand years before you took the stage as rulers. The mark had belonged to a sorceress, Nocturne Bolt, who usually performed her combat spells from an aerial vantage point like a cliff."
I was dumbfounded and confused. However, in about ten months, I was back in good health and traveling with Neighsay to meet his family and my new master. I wept because my freedom had hit the full realization that I was no longer a free girl. I was educated about my new master, his Royal Highness Prince Blueblood. I was scared that I would mess up horribly! My first day serving him was when he attended a party at a friend's manor!
Chapter 1: Canterlot, Equestria
We made port in Manehattan for a short stop to repair the main mast and patch up a place on the port bow. After about a fortnite we set sail to Canterlot. I...I was scared as I saw as we drew along-side a pier all the rich people and their servants and slaves. The ones I observed were treated like refuse! I grabbed our baggage and hailed a cabby, his royal chancellor Neighsay was able to procure and keep my grandfather's rapier in his possession so I'd never lose the dear old saber.
Neighsay led us upon arrival at his home up a flight of granite steps and we entered the mansion. I saw his family rush to greet him. His son was there and he was a fine looking fellow to be sure and he noticed me and I coursied as is the Equestrian custom from what I could tell. Neighsay began to to speak.
"My son, since I missed your birthday...I do still manage to remember in my 'old' age the day you were born. I brought home a gift for since you are now of age; being of age means it is expected for you to have a personal servant. Now I'd like the family to meet Nocturne." I courtsied and watched for any signal of a need or desire. The daughters looked me over and the eldest, who they called Fleur De Lis saw the remaining scar that I still had on my cheek.
"Let me guess father, this one was spared because she fought with courage."
"Yes Fleur, everyone needs to be patient with her since she lost everything....all because one of my officers went behind my back and disobeyed orders to spare civilians."
"I see father. She's cute and well built and I'd wager she will be an over achiever which my dear brother will have to tell to slow down."
"My lady...." Nocturn began choosing her words carefully, "I will certainly do my best...." She saw other Saddle Arabian slave girls in the main court; Nocturne wanted to express that Neighsay spared not only for her courage but that her rapier bore the crest of her family. At that precise moment Blueblood noticed the rapier.
"Father....is that rapier a trophy from some one you fought?"
"Indeed it is my son! This rapier was in the hand of a skilled warrior. Saw the person still fight even when outnumbered and wounded." Nocturn listened as Neighsay praised her skills without naming her specifically. She saw a slight hand gesture which was directed toward a small wheeled cart with some wine and a several small pastry items on item. She poured the wine and presented to Blueblood.
"Your wine my lord." Blueblood took the wine and sipped the rose pink liquid. Nocturn fought the urge to push away when Blueblood squeezed her from the side in a quick hug.
This was very shocking and that is to spite the fact Chancellor Neighsay warned me about this action. The other Saddle Arabian girls and gentlemen glared at me; then it donned on me! I began to feel apprehensive as I recalled that my father was also a traitor and sold his own people to Equestrian traders to fulfill the debts their families owed him.
We left the main court and walked to where I suppose I was to sleep. The awkward thing was I was to have a nice room across from his and not in the normal servants' quarters. Around midnight he summoned me to his bed chamber. I knocked and I heard a faint come in, I stepped in and was hit with a pillow from both sides. This guy had his studies in the morning at the university! I expressed this concern but was met with a pillow. "C'mon fight back!" Rolling my eyes I joined this fray. The impromptu pillow fight end his Fleur Des Li left and I stood and listened to him read his poetry assignment. I guess I had dozed off because I awoke and found him on this small day bed and I was in his. I leaped out of the bed and bolted for the door and he had also leaped out of the bed and in our still drowsy stupor ran into each other and he had to catch me before I hit the granite floor.
Screw our luck his folks and sister showed up and got us what I assume resembled a dance pose. I was in my head panicking and this must look bad.
Fleur Des Lis walked into the room followed by the sister I hadn't met yet - Sassy Saddles. The pair of them began to joke about us being a couple. I tried to explain what was happening and to no avail when their mother joined in the banter. Chancellor Neighsay regained the control of the situation and asked what the heck was happening.
I told him about what Fleur and Blueblood had gotten me involved in, namely the pillow fight which led into the poetry reading them about falling asleep. The tale brought us to the present -e waking up and trying to get back to my room and he had I colliding.
The chancellor looked at us then to his wife and he had that look of familiarity. "My son....let your mother and I tell you children a story of how we met." The story was gripping and the lady of the house Lady Coloratoura was once Neighsay's personal maid back in the day and romance happened. Later that day as Blueblood had me taking a letter to the post room in the mansion few of the other Saddle Arabian slaves approached me. The most dominant one, Sandstone did the talking and she was brutal with the insults and actually slapped me a few times.
I told them that I was not guilty of my father's behaviors of the past as death had caught up to him and punished him for his cruelty. I begged forgiveness on his behalf and Sandstone still standing over me and knelt down beside me. My nose was bleeding and so was my lip from when Sandstone tried to stop another colleague, a fellow named Iron Will from decking me.
"I will extend the forgiveness you begged for your father's actions to you Nocturn....I shouldn't have takeny anger on you. The others I'm sure will be in agreement that we should've not take vengeance on you." I nodded as a sign that I forgave them as I held my head back. Blueblood around us and he was furious! He naturally assumed Iron Will did the damage and Sandstone tried to take the fall but Blueblood was focused else where. Iron Will was known in the mansion to be a bully to the other slaves and servants. We got my face cleaned up and Blueblood and I went to see a seamstress about getting a dress made to tend to my need of a formal gown for that party I was attending with Blueblood as his personal servant and I didn't know it but it came out that he was also gonna use me as his plus one instead of a servant capacity.
My first social event with Blueblood occured over a period where Equestrian Holidays were frequent. The Harvestoon Festival was a time where the people celebrate their fruitful harvests; these were done in large parties at homes in the country side. This evening, we were on Sweet Apple Acres and we were greeted by one named Applejack, her blond hair was in a braid and she had her little sister reaffirming names to amoe sure everyone was there and none were missed.
"Prince Blueblood I see your plus one is Nocturn - I assume this young woman is Nocturn?"
"She is" - Wait a moment he has me as his 'plus one'? I am just a servant girl! I almost jumped when I heard a rapid voice from behind me and arms embracing me in a hug. "Nocturn...meet Pinkie Pie." I tried to utter a greeting but couldn't because my lungs were collapsing. She finally let go and I met her other friends as they ran up to keep Pinkie Pie from suffocating me. Blueblood laughed as his introduction was so abrupt and short and I was completely shocked. "Sorry Nocturne, Pinkie asked me to hold off until the last second."
I uttered out that I was fine, once we were alone again I had to ask the question. "Why did you have me as your plus one? I'm just a personal servant."
"Only during official business, this is just a social event held by friends. My friends such as Big Mac who the fellow walking towards us. The guys joke about me being gay since I hadn't had girl-friend before."
The one named Big Mac joined us followed by a couple of other young men. One with dual tone blue known as Shining Armor spoke, "I see you have girl friend now!" Big Mac spoke and he was huge.
"Glad you could make it, ma'am I'd like to welcome you to my family farm." I gave my appreciation and the last one named Zephyr Breeze nodded a greeting and began to speak.
"Nocturne was it? Did Blueblood tell you about the dance off after the barn raising? My partner and I will best the both of you!"
Blueblood spoke up in a mirthful tone, "Isn't your partner that chick from Bridle-Wood? Izzy was her name right?"
"Yes it is"
"I wager that Nocturne is gonna out dance Izzy!" I recalled my collection of dances that I knew and none would fit this country party....maybe I had just the dance number!
The funny thing about this event was that I assumed that Sweet Apple Acres was a plantation and this wad a formal event. Everything was making since now as Blueblood wore more casual attire and joined in on the farm and country folk games and failing miserably from what I could observe. Bluebook had me wear a a dress that fit the surroundings we were in and he actually got his own food and drink and treated me like a date! Fleur and the other girls treated me like an equal, and They had me into a pie baking contest and Fleur I could tell struggled like the other rich girls but had fun. The girl named Pinkie Pie was labeled as the judge and I set my pie into a large stone oven and watched the pue cook.
Fleur Des Lis chatted and I had to ask her the thing that was on my mind. "Why am I being g treated like an equal here?"
"It is because while we're here we're among friends and the like; however, if this was a high class Canterlot or some major city you would then be expected to act as a servant. Basically the way I see it...you're gonna be treated like a younger sister that my brother, sister and I can boss around."
I interjected that I was just a few days younger than their younger sister Sassy Sadddles. We both however rushed to get the pies out of the stone ovens before they burned. Fleur leaned in and whispered that her pie looked like something that had died a few weeks ago. Glancing at it I stifled a laugh....she was right!
The Barn raising began and I got a personal kick of watching Blueblood trying to use a hammer! The poor guy had terrible aim, Big Mac and Shining Armor being the strongest brought the boards over while Zephyr Breeze and Blueblood nailed the wall together. It took about an hour for the barn to be finished and I met Izzy and Zipp again, and Pipp and Rarity were using the newest technology of our day - aside from gunpowder and guns becoming a main stream weapon was a device called a camera; that also used gunpowder to somehow capture an image of what the camera was aimed at.
The dancing began and I awkwardly danced with Blueblood, what made it awkward was being a lower calls servant and I was dancing with nobility. That dance competition thing after we had dinner was scheduled to commence. As couples paired up I told Blueblood about the dances I knew.
"Well Nocturne I am familiar with all of those dances since my father has been a ambassador to those nations."
"Blueblood my lord....I'll do my best to help you win this contest."
"I'm doing it just for the fun - come on we need to get ourselves hydrated!"y master yanked over to a table and he grabbed us a pair of mugs filled with a sweet Apple cider. I still was in shock from when we arrive at this apple orchard! He had me as a plus one. The dancing had begun and Shining Armor struggled to keep his pace up with the energetic Izzy, Big Mac had a girl friend who was attractive and she glared daggers at me...the reason was she was trying to signal me that we were gonna be competing. The men lined up on one side of the new barn while we women did so on the other side and the contest began. Applejack and Rainbow Dash I noticed were throughout the day a subtle item
Blueblood and I won the dance contest but it was a close win as we had Fleur-de-lis and Zephyr Breeze on our heals. Fleur-de-lis and Blueblood had the wagon brought up by our driver and we made our good byes. On the way home I had dozed off in the cool autumn breeze and woke up when we got home; I was embarrassed and apologetic for falling asleep on my master. Fleur-de-lis snickered as Blueblood ended up carrying me up two flights of stairs to get me to bed. Last the I recall was him mumbling about how cute I was or something like that.
Two months had passed since the barn raising social event down on Sweet Apple Acres and now it was a high class social event and with other family members of Chamcellor Neighsay and Blueblood. I had to make sure my black formal and the deep blue apron was properly tied off. I was nervous and while collecting shawls, coats and hats I could see that I was being judged. The family members looked at me like I was some sort of urchin! The ones of whom spoke to me did so as superior to me.
"Servant girl take my coat and hat.....when I return for them later I don't want to see a single wrinkle or piece of lint on them...do I make myself clear?" I nodded and gently put them away. This was relative thirty-five who talked down to me. Blueblood's cousins were a bit nicer for the most part; some joked about me and Blueblood being a potential item because it would follow in his parents footsteps.
The whole night I kept tabs of my lord's needs and the other guests. The fellow who had been harsh about his items I learned was Blueblood's uncle who enjoyed testing other's servants. Uncle Tin-Penny spoke to me again and less harsh. "Nocturne was it?"
"As you are aware I'm sure by now that my son's girl friend isn't being a proper lady." I glanced over towards the one I had met a while back known as Thislte. She could be nice but a bit prickly.
"Yes my lord, I had taken note of it."
"Bring Blueblood over here and I'll give you a task." I did as I wad asked and the next command gave me a jolt. "I want you Nocturne to dance with my favorite nephew after tossing Thislte out!"
Thistle had walked up and she was glaring daggers of ice mixed with acid. Thistle being an improper lady was meaning that she was being a flirt with everyone and turned Blueblood down for several dances to dance with another. I escorted her to the door and collected her things and had a footman finish the job. The nicer relatives and the cousins who saw what was going down whooped and hollered. The other maids and servant girls were envious of course as set the tray I was assigned and nervously took Blueblood's hand. Tin-Penny spoke loudly enough for all to hear him.
"Today I will decide if Blueblood will be in my will as a beneficiary if only in six months find a decent girl! Let the game begin !" This game means that everyone will help Blueblood find a decent girl. Many of the cousins actually said that I would be a good choice because something that Neighsay slipped earlier about the rapier being mine. Blueblood noticed a pendant I was wearing matched the seal on the hilt of the rapier.
"Tell me Nocturne as we awkwardly dance for my uncle.....is the rapier father brought home yours?"
"Yes it is and I was the one who wielded it and kept fighting after we lost that battle....I would perhaps put a request to re-acquirey father's weapon?" We talked and noticed when the song finished that everyone realized that I was once a noble. However, I went back to my duties and when the formalities were over and people began to leave I had forgotten who the party or ball was in the honor of! I saw the four princesses and the other element bearers. I suppose they had vanquished another foe. Luna as she left whispered that she had an eye on me; that was when I noted we had similar marks symbolising where our power lay.
When u finally could take off the short heeled shows I had been wearing all night I slipped on some slippers let myjnd wander. When my mind wanders I walk dreamscapes I had been guessed. This scape I saw was chaotic and nothing made since. The only thing stable in it was that this person was in fear of losing the one I met tonight known as Fluttershy. I tried to put down the thoughts but that was when Luna showed up. With her help Luna and I got rid of the dreams, follow me Nocturne. I followed Luna as we banished nightmares.
"Nocturne I see you have a good deal of power but need to hone and focus the gift you have. The dream I had left to come to your aid wad Blueblood's. The young man is fearing that his uncle Tin-Penny would be furious with him since most of the girls he has dated or wants to date would only do so for the money. My little Nocturne stay by him....and maybe with time he might decide to choose you. At any rate i have my duties and you need rest; sleep well young one."
I don't remember much when I awoke to needing some water. I got water and finished prepping for bed, I might take a break from walking in dreamscapes inhave seen a few weird ones now and the chaotic one may have broken my stable mind.
