Fallen

Chapter Six

Nightmare Night

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Celestia had temporarily given up on the search for the angel, she was not deterred by the warning that was delivered to her sister, but she simply could not afford the time to investigate Azrael's location without her sister, who was currently getting ready for one of the biggest celebrations in her honor. Normally Celestia would tell Luna to cancel any previously set ceremonies to search for a possible threat, but this was something special, and was a good time for Luna to gain more friends. Especially since last years was such a success thanks to Twilight Sparkle.

Celestia watched with a small smile as her younger sister left via chariot towards the nearby town of Ponyville, where she had promised the children she would return this year to make the holiday extra special. As the chariot was carried off by a few of Luna's night guard pegasi, Celestia could only smile as she thought of her sister getting along with the children of Ponyville. The adults right now might not trust Luna, growing up with the stories of how scary Nightmare Moon was they were hesitant about the lunar princess. But in time the new generation that Luna was befriending would love and accept her.

Celestia waved as Luna waved back from the chariot as it disappeared over the horizon towards Ponyville. The sun was setting, and soon everypony would be donning their costumes to partake in the festivities. The princess of the sun then finished lowering her celestial globe, making way for the moon before departing to bed.

Luna was giddy, she had prepared many a prank to play and many a scheme to give the children of ponyville a fright. Though she still did not understand why anypony would be so eager to feel fear, she enjoyed the time she got to spend with the colts and fillies. As her chariot landed on the outskirts of Ponyville by the large statue of Nightmare Moon, she gathered her bag of tricks and hid them behind the statue.

The noise of foals laughing caught Luna's attention and a smile was brought to her face. As they approached the statue that Luna was hiding behind to give their offering of candy, Luna enveloped the statue in her magic. The statue then came alive in a flurry of bats that swarmed over the crowd of children who screamed in panic, and Luna jumped up where the statue once stood.

"Your offerings are wise, for they will sate my hunger so that I may not have to gobble you!" Luna said with her royal canterlot voice, while her eyes glowed white from magic.

The children screamed in fear and ran off into the bushes. Moments later Luna could hear the sound of joyful giggling as the children returned with smiling faces.

"Happy Nightmare Night children. I hope you are all having a good time this year?" Luna asked with a kind smile.

A small familiar colt walked up wearing a lunar guard costume, "Thanks for coming back again princess. I know you will make this the best Nightmare Night ever!"

Luna smiled down at the colt named pip, "I will do my best, now if you'll excuse me, I have other pranks to pull."

Pip waved as he trotted off with the other foals to continue their night of revelry. Luna looked up and saw the perfect cloud to spook a few ponies. Luna flew up and found herself face to face with the element of loyalty. The two shared an awkward look and blinked at the same time.

"Uhh, hi princess... Fancy meeting you here." Rainbow Dash said nervously with a small smile.

"haven't learned your lesson from last year yet have we Rainbow Dash? Must I show you yet again that I am the greater prankster?" Luna said with a smile.

"Perhaps a contest then?" Rainbow said with a smug smile appearing on her face.

"Very well Rainbow, I like the way you think. Shall we have a contest to see who can scare the most ponies?" Luna said with a confident smile.

"Nah, that would be too easy... How about we find the bravest pony and find who can surprise them the most with a prank." As Rainbow said this Luna's smile grew.

The two shook hooves at this and looked over Ponyville looking for their victim. They would most likely need a stallion, but some of the tougher mares might be a good choice. The two floated the cloud over Ponyville and began looking around the town.

"What about Applejack? She seemed to have a sturdy will." Luna asked Rainbow.

"Nah, wouldn't be fair since I know what she is afraid of..." Rainbow admitted.

"Twilight Sparkle then? She was the only one not afraid of me last year." Luna offered.

"No, you hold a book over a puddle and she will faint..." Rainbow mumbled in thought.

"What about that stallion over there then?" Luna said pointing out into the open town square where the games were going on.

Rainbow Dash followed where Luna's hoof pointed, and saw a pegasus stallion wearing a flowing black cloak that obscured all of his features, under the hood however a jack o' lantern with a vicious smile carved into it's face could be seen. The eyes of the jack o' lantern glowed by magic means in a red hue. The stallion also held a scythe over his shoulder in the nook of his foreleg, the blade curving dangerously into the air. The ponies around him either shied away in fear or applauded his costume.

Rainbow Dash smiled and looked to princess Luna. "Perfect."

Azrael was enjoying himself, it was nice to have the mortals get so close to him, to treat him with respect instead of suspicion and fear. The town's ponies were loving his costume, he was going to have to thank Rarity again when he saw her. The pumpkin and scythe were his own little touch, and it was easy to enchant the eyes to glow. Seeing with the jack o' lantern on his head was tough though, so he was cheating and using magical vision to see around him. With the magical clarity he had already avoided three pranking attempts by seeing them coming with eyes practically in the back of his head.

With the magic vision he could see Rainbow Dash floating above him on a cloud, she no doubt had her own prank planned. Azrael decided not to give her the chance however, and poked his scythe into an apple that floated in a tub, he then flicked the blade sending the apple straight up, hitting Rainbow Dash on the nose and dazing her. The mare tumbled backwards off the cloud and fell to the ground with a thud.

"You will have to be sneakier than that girl..." Azrael said with a smug grin hidden under the pumpkin.

Rainbow gaped openly at Azrael, "H-how did you see me?! You can't be able to see well with that on!"

"Trade secret..." Azrael mumbled as he trotted off towards some of the other games.

"Now I know you had to have been a spy or something..." Rainbow muttered.

Azrael came upon a bowl of rubber spiders that ponies were throwing at a cobweb shaped net, trying to land the spiders to stick on the net. Azrael sunk the blade of the scythe into the ground, and picked up a spider in his hoof. As he aimed to throw the spider he could feel a tingle of magic on his hoof. Paying attention he could see a trace of magic on the spider and he stopped to consider it. Suddenly the spider came to life and moved up his foreleg and onto his back.

Azrael shrugged and grabbed another spider, immediately throwing this one dead center into the net. The first spider now scampered on top of his head where it sat clicking it's fangs together trying to get his attention.

"You liked that lil' fella?" Chuckled Azrael.

Azrael then reached up a tendril of magic of his own and snuffed out the power that gave life to the rubber spider, in it's last moment of animation the spider jumped off his head and into his hoof. Azrael then threw the once moving spider onto the cobweb net. He then looked up into the cloud where Luna was hiding and gave a bow, as if he had just finished a performance.

Azrael then pulled his scythe out of the ground and trotted off to where he saw a crowd of ponies laughing and cheering. As he approached he could see it was a pie eating contest. Currently the local apple family were dominating, as all three of the young apple siblings were chowing down and were already the last ones standing in the competition. Off to the side of the contest table was an old mare with a green wrinkled coat and white braided hair who was sleeping with her head resting on a pile of empty pie tins. Azrael regarded her for a moment before turning to face Rainbow Dash who held something in her hooves.

"Hey I got something for you as an apology..." Rainbow said solemnly.

Azrael accepted what was offered and noticed it was a nicely wrapped gift box. He turned it over in his hooves briefly before pointing the lid at Rainbow and opening it. Immediately Rainbow was showered in fake cobwebs, spiders, and bats.

"The gift box is a little early in the year to use." Azrael said with a chuckle as he turned back towards the contest, observing that now only the older sister and brother remained. Azrael cast another glance at the old mare before trotting off through the crowd.

Rainbow was about to fly off towards the stallion before a hoof on her shoulder stopped her.

"Wait, something isn't right about him Rainbow Dash..." Luna whispered to the element of loyalty.

"I know, there is no way that new guy is this good! He won't even let me get near pranking him!" Rainbow exclaimed.

"Something is definitely wrong about him. Let me handle him, I think we can call this contest a draw for now." Luna said, breaking eye contact with Rainbow Dash and looking for the stallion who had now vanished from sight, "Where did he go? He is too tall to hide in a crowd..."

Applejack smiled triumphantly, having beaten her older brother and winning the pie eating contest. The blue ribbon that was now pinned to her costume brought pride and a smug smile to her as she walked with her family. Granny Smith was having a little trouble walking with the way her knees were wobbling in the chilly air, so Big Macintosh was supporting her as he lead her back to the orchard to get some rest.

A huge stallion dressed in a concealing black cloak with a jack o' lantern on his head  holding a scythe approached from the shadows of an alleyway as they passed. Applejack jumped slightly, but soon recognized the stallion by his size, being the only pony she knew bigger than Big Mac.

"Hey there partner, ya' startled me there. Whatcha need?" Applejack chuckled nervously under the gaze of the pumpkin's glowing eyes.

"Miss Applejack, I would like to have a word with you at my house. Alone if you will, it is of an important matter..." Azrael said.

"Uhh, sure. You guys go on ahead. Make sure Granny takes her medicine before goin' to bed Big Mac." Applejack said to her sibling before following Azrael to his house.

As the two walked to the mansion Azrael started the conversation, "I haven't met your parents or heard of them Applejack. Where are they?"

Applejack did not respond for a moment as they walked. After a few minutes of walking she sighed sadly before telling the stallion, "Well... I don't rightly know... They are out there somewhere, but they abandoned the family to go start anew. Granny is the one that raised me an' mah' siblings."

"I see... Is there anyone else who helps take care of the farm, or to raise Applebloom?" Azrael asked carefully.

"No, but we manage well. Granny Smith might be gettin' on in years, but she is a tough old mare and she is still kickin' strong." Applejack said with a proud smile as she thought of her Grandmother.

"Sounds like your family relies heavily on Granny, don't you?" Azrael asked.

"Yeah, I guess yer' right." Applejack admitted with a sad smile.

The two reached the house and Azrael held the door open and let Applejack into the mansion. He then closed the door behind him as he entered the house. Taking off the pumpkin from his head Azrael then addressed the orange mare.

"I have something to show you, it is over here in the library." He said as he trotted towards a room and flicked on the light.

Applejack took in the view of row upon row of books that had not been there a week previous. Applejack was dumbfounded by where so many books had come from. Azrael's eyes then glowed red and a massive tome was levitated from a pedestal in the middle of the library, onto a table in front of the two.

"D-did ya' just use magic?! B-but you're not a unicorn..." Applejack said with a confused and slightly scared look on her face.

Azrael did not respond to this, he merely opened up the large tome and flipped to a page. Azrael then looked at Applejack with a solemn look before letting out a heavy sigh.

"You are the one who will be the hardest to keep my secret from, with your affinity to the truth. I know that you have felt that something is wrong with me, and you are right. But I want you to be on my side if anything happens, because my secret will not last for long. I will not ask for much, just that you look at what I am about to do and realize that I mean you no harm." Azrael explained.

Azrael then pointed to the book and Applejack leaned in to read. It appeared to be full of names, some faded on others still bold. Applejack then saw something that made her heartbeat hasten, and the fur on the back of her neck stand straight up. She read in very faded letters and in an intricate font 'Granny Smith'.

"What... Why is Granny in yer' book?" Applejack asked dumbfounded.

"All sentient creatures names are written in this book. The living ones at least... The more faded the letters the closer to death they are..." Azrael explained.

"So... No... You mean to tell me Granny is..." Applejack mumbled, tears in her eyes as she could detect no lies from the stallion.

"She will die within a week without my intervention. I will give her more time to help raise your younger sister, if you will give me your word that if anything happens you will stand up for me." Azrael said with a stern face.

"Please, I promise to do anything within my ability!" Applejack pleaded in a panicked tone.

Azrael then closed the book and levitated it back to the ornate pedestal. He then nodded to Applejack with a small smile, "Good to hear, you may go back to your family now, I will take care of your grandmother's health. But remember, what I can give can be taken more easily if you betray me..."

Applejack nodded at this and hurried out the mansion to check on her grandmother.

Azrael sighed and looked to the entrance of the library where Luna stood and beckoned her forward. The princess of the moon hesitantly entered into the company of the large stallion.

"Who are you?" Luna said in a commanding tone.

"You can already deduce that from what you just witnessed." Azrael said softly.

"I think I know, but how can I be certain?" Luna asked cautiously.

"Go upstairs, it is the room down the right hallway that is currently lit." explained Azrael before he slumped to the ground with a thud.

Luna took a quick step back away from the still body of the stallion she was just speaking with. She was just about to check to see if he was alright when she felt something emanating from upstairs, a familiar pounding in the back of her head. Luna then left the library and headed for the stairway. Luna took in the art as she ascended the steps, most of it depicted angels watching over wars between what Luna suspected were humans. Luna noted that the humans looked like wingless, and less glorious looking angels.

As Luna made it to the top of the stairway she looked down the right hallway and saw light emanating from a door. As Luna entered the room she saw the fiery sword floating on a pedestal in the middle of the room, casting shadows on the angel who sat in his throne, staring at Luna.

"Welcome to my humble abode..." Azrael said with mock grandeur in his voice.

"Biggest house in town can hardly be called humble" Luna huffed.

"When compared with my two previous 'homes' it is quite less impressive. But at least this belongs to me... Legally too, bought it with a pile of gold." The angel adopted a smug smile when he saw Luna was about to object with his ownership of his house.

"So then, are you going to accuse me of breaking into your home then?" Luna huffed.

"No, I let the protective ward allow you to teleport in. In a way, you were actually invited. But that is not important now is it?" Azrael sighed.

"You promised Applejack to prolong her grandmother's life so she could care for her little sister. Do you toy with her for your own amusement?" Luna asked, an accusing look in her eye.

"Angels cannot lie Luna." Azrael explained.

"Then why. Why would you do this for her? What is your ulterior motive?" Luna said with gritted teeth.

"Ponies are getting suspicious of me, and I need someone who is well liked and will stand up for me if any trouble shows up in town. Just so happened Applejack met my needs and had a service that only I could do for her." Azrael said with a stern look.

"Can all angels do that? Prolong the life of mortals in exchange for servitude?" Luna asked, a dark look now on her face. Not even her sister or herself could prolong life, and the power troubled her greatly. If the angels started offering eternal life in exchange for servitude, they would without doubt get a large following.

"No, only me." Azrael said keeping his stern look.

"And what makes you so special then? Is it why the other angels want to kill you?" Luna asked, prodding to get as much information out of the angel as she possibly could.

"Angels are organized into tiers depending on their power and rank. I was of the highest rank, the archangels. And I am the archangel of the most feared thing." Azrael said, donning a solemn look.

"I am the Archangel of Death" Azrael said firmly.