Disclaimer: I do not own My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic.
Night of Harvest
By: GWFan (The Softcore Brony)
Flakes of snow drifted down from the remaining clouds the pegasi were clearing away. The air was cold and crisp, and ponies moved about in the wintry wonderland that was Ponyville this time of year to buy gifts and food for the upcoming holidays that everypony would celebrate soon. Twilight already had her snow saddle, and the boots Rarity had made, for her usual Tuesday trek to the stationary store for more quills and parchments. She hummed a merry tune as she walked along and Twilight felt that nothing could spoil the cheerful mood.
As Twilight neared the stationary store, she noticed a large shadow pass right in front of her. She looked up and saw a royal carriage, similar to the one she had rode into Ponyville on her first visit. Princess Celestia hadn’t told her of any formal visits and it couldn’t be Princess Luna as it was not evening and Nightmare Night was long over. The carriage landed in the soft snow and the two guards pulling it helped a young alicorn step down.
Twilight approached the ensemble with a smile. “Cadence!” The guards turned as if to block her, but their eyes lit up when they saw who was speaking.
Cadence turned rather suddenly at her name but then appeared just as relieved as her guards. “Twilight… I didn’t think… I mean it’s nice to see you. How are you?”
“I’m fine but is something wrong?”
“What makes you think something’s wrong?”
“Well… you just sort of look spooked.”
Cadence grimaced and lowered her head slightly. “Maybe I am. Walk with me, Twilight. I’m actually here on official royal business. Can you take me to the mayor?”
Twilight nodded quietly and the two mares walked side by side, escorted by the two guards. Cadence walked somewhat delicately as if she feared stepping on something in their path. She stared straight ahead as if afraid to make eye contact with anypony she passed.
“Cadence if something is wrong then you have to tell me. Canterlot business is practically my business too.”
Cadence nodded slowly. “I guess there’s no sense in acting like nothing is wrong.” She took a deep breath and exhaled softly. “Three nights from now is the shortest day of the year. You could also say it’s the longest night of the year. But this time, it also happens to be the Night of Harvest.”
“The Night of Harvest?”
“Have you ever heard of it?”
Twilight thought back to the various books she had read over the years but the name didn’t ring in particular bells. “It’s the first I’ve heard of it.”
“Oh.” Cadence walked in silence for a few steps. “It’s the first I’ve heard of it too. Nevertheless, it has Aunt Celly worried and that’s what makes me worried. Even Aunt Luna is being very morose and she is the princess of the night. I haven’t seen them this worried since Chrysalis threatened my wedding.”
Celestia did have a tendency to have faith that things would work out, especially if she involved Twilight and her friends. Whatever was going on, Twilight silently wondered why Celestia hadn’t told her about it before. “So what is the Night of Harvest exactly?”
“I don’t really know all the details but apparently it happens once every one hundred years. When the last ray of sunlight disappears over the horizon something happens.” Cadence looked at Twilight with a look that verged on anger. “The Nightwalkers appear.”
Twilight blinked her eyes in thought. “What are Nightwalkers?”
“All I know is that they are creatures that eat magic.”
Twilight stopped and Cadence nearly moved on without her. “Magic? You mean like unicorn magic?”
“Specifically unicorn magic as I understand it. They hunt down unicorns and rip off their horns or something like that. That’s what I was told. Celestia wants everypony in Equestria to barricade themselves inside and stay indoors until the night is over.”
“That’s crazy! They should just forgo bringing the night at all if those creatures run loose every hundred years. Twenty four or thirty six hours of daylight isn’t going to doom Equestria.”
“I thought that too, but they can’t. Apparently, the Nightwalkers bring the night with them. Celestia and Luna have no control over night and day when they appear. Supposedly the night is an hour longer than any other time when it happens too.”
“Where do they come from? Why do they have to eat magic? And why would you even call it the Night of Harvest? It sounds like a night of horrors to me.”
Cadence shook her head. “You’re asking the wrong pony. I don’t really know much more than that. Aunt Celestia wants everypony inside because the Nightwalkers don’t take kindly to anyone or anything that gets in their way. That’s all I can really tell you.”
Twilight shook her head wildly at the notion. “Well what does the Princess plan to do about it?”
“That I don’t know either. The Nightwalkers are dangerous even for non-unicorns and needlessly risking guards is not a good option. Your brother is going crazy over the issue trying to figure out a solution.”
“If Shining Armor is on the job then I’m sure everything will go well. If barricading ourselves inside is what we need to do and it’s the best way to stay safe then I’m sure everypony will cooperate.”
Cadence smiled. “Things always sound better when you talk about them Twilight. I told you when I was still your foalsitter that you were anything but an ordinary unicorn.”
Twilight held her head up in pride. Still, it irked at her conscious that she had never heard of these Nightwalkers before. Surely there must be more information about them somewhere. Twilight made up her mind to research as much as she could after they informed the mayor of the crisis.
Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle dashed into their tree house and shut the door behind them. Scootaloo drew the blinds and lit a candle as the other two watched her.
“What’s goin’ on, Scoot? Why the rush? The Night a Harvest don’t start for three whole days,” Apple Bloom asked in her usual southern drawl.
“That’s just it, I’ve got a great idea.” Scootaloo pointed at the map on the wall. “Everypony is all scared of these Nightwalker things right? But nopony even knows what they look like.”
“So?” Sweetie Belle asked.
“Why don’t we try to get a picture of one? I bet we can get our cutie marks in photography or something if we do that.”
“Hey, yeah! That is a good idea,” Apple Bloom chimed.
“But isn’t that dangerous?” Sweetie Belle said slowly.
“That’s the best part. Not for us.” Scootaloo smiled.
“Huh?”
“Scootaloo’s right. Them Nightwalkers eat magic, right? Well me and Scoot ain’t magical and you can’t use magic yet, so I’ll bet we’ll be okay.”
Sweetie belle grimaced. “I don’t know. The Mayor and Cadence said everypony needs to hide, not just unicorns.”
“I’m sure we’ll be fine as long as we stay outta sight. Besides, nopony ever said they could climb trees so we can just get the picture from the tree house. We can lock the door and windows just fine. They ain’t gonna notice us way up here.”
Sweetie Belle thought a moment. “I guess that makes sense. But there’s no way mom and dad and Rarity are going to let me stay in the tree house. And what about Granny Smith and your folks Scoot?”
Apple Bloom and Scootaloo grimaced and looked at each other. “Good point,” Scootaloo agreed. “My mom wouldn’t let me camp out just because of the snow, let alone with the Nightwalkers running around.”
The three fillies sat down and thought for a few minutes until Apple Bloom suddenly raised her hoof.
“Girls, I got an idea.”
Twilight quickly levitated a desk in front of the door as Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy pushed the sofa behind it. Pinkie Pie brought in several heavy objects from the kitchen, including the sink, though Twilight wasn’t sure how she had disassembled it after disappearing into the kitchen only a few moments before.
“Hurry up girls. We only have a couple of hours remaining before sundown,” Twilight commanded as she looked for something else heavy to put in front of the door. Spike walked in carrying several more stacks of old books from the basement and threw them into the growing pile as Rarity walked in behind him, carrying a much smaller stack with her magic.
“I can hardly believe something like this is even happening,” Rarity said, raising her voice to more of a squeal. “And unicorns specifically? What did I ever do to those nasty Nightwalkers?”
“Awwww, don’t worry Rarity. We won’t let those big meanies get you or Twilight,” Pinkie Pie said as she cheerfully dumped the sink in front of the door.
Rainbow Dash agreed as she shoved a bookcase in front of one of the windows. “Yeah, what she said. As long as we stick together there isn’t anything we can’t overcome. Even I’ve learned that by now.”
At Dash’s mention of ‘together,’ Fluttershy looked around. “What about Applejack? She’s not here yet.”
Twilight used a strong rope and nails to secure the bookcase Rainbow had pushed. “She’s not going to be. She and her family are staying at the farm to protect their home. They’re probably doing exactly what we’re doing right now.”
“I hope they’ll be all right,” Fluttershy voiced her concern.”
Twilight smirked. “Come on Fluttershy, it’s Applejack. Ponyville’s most dependable pony? Besides, I’m sure Granny Smith knows how to scare away anything that threatens her family. The Apples are going to be just fine.”
“Speaking of family, where’s Sweetie Belle? Is she with your parents?” Pinkie suddenly asked Rarity.
The white unicorn levitated a lamp over to the door before she answered. “She and Scootaloo are with Apple Bloom at the farm. Mother and Father figured it would be okay if she wanted to stay with her friends.”
“See Fluttershy. Rarity has total faith in the Apples.”
Rarity finally put on a calmer smile. “I admit that Applejack and I have strong differences in opinion, but I know Sweetie Belle will be safe with her.”
Spike, apparently tired of all the chatter decided to voice his opinion. “Well I don’t know about you guys, but I feel safer with Twilight. She’s been studying nonstop the last three days and I’ll bet she knows some way to make the Nightwalkers stay away from Ponyville all together. Don’t you Twilight?”
Twilight paused, looked appreciative of the comment and sighed. “I wish I did, but the truth of the matter is I couldn’t find anything new in my research. I don’t have any books that say anything about the Nightwalkers or the Night of Harvest in general. I even sent a letter to the Princess, but she just repeated the same thing Cadence told me. I thought for sure she would know more about it having lived through it so many times.”
“She probably can’t do much being magical herself. I have to say, the sound of these Nightwalker beasts give me the willies.” Rarity shivered as she floated another small stack of books to the door.
“Yeah, you’ve said that,” Rainbow said and rolled her eyes.
“Well forgive me for being worried. You’re not a unicorn, Rainbow Dash.”
“And I keep telling you not to worry. We’re all here.” Dash punched at the air. “Let those Nightwalkers come. I’ll show them that Rainbow Dash is not afraid.” Just as she finished, a knock came at the door and Rainbow zoomed behind an overturned bed. “No one home on the Night of Harvest!”
“It’s me, Rainbow Dash. Open the door.”
Twilight smiled and opened the only window that wasn’t barred yet. “Hey, Applejack. I thought you were protecting the farm.”
“We’re basically done. I just came over to make sure ya’ll we’re ready before tonight. You think it’s gonna be as dangerous as Cadence made it sound?”
“I’m not sure. My research didn’t yield anything so all we can do is prepare for the worst.”
“I thought as much.” Applejack grimaced. “Are ya’ll ready for it?”
“If we pile anything else in front of the door, I don’t think Discord could get in.”
“That’s good to hear, as long as ya’ll are safe. Hurry up and get that window shut too, it’s gettin’ late already.
Twilight looked at the sky. “It does look a little later than it’s supposed to be. Maybe you should just stay here.”
“Thanks, but I’ve got enough time if I gallop. Stay safe everypony.” Applejack tipped her hat. “Apple Bloom, you mind your manners in there, okay!”
“Apple Bloom?” Twilight blinked. “Wait, I thought she was at the farm?”
“She’s not here?” Applejack said in apparent surprise. “She told me she and Scoot we’re goin’ to stay over here with Sweetie Belle.”
“What?” Rarity said and came to the window. “Sweetie Belle told me that she was going to be at the farm with Apple Bloom.”
Applejack’s eyes went wide. “She ain’t there.” She visibly gulped. “If they ain’t here or there, then where are they?”
“Oh no,” Rarity wailed. “Please don’t tell me they’re doing something crazy to get their cutie marks. Not tonight.”
“We ain’t got time to speculate, I gotta find em’.” Applejack turned to leave but Twilight called out to her.
“Wait, you’re not going alone.”
“That’s right, we’re coming with you,” Rarity chimed in.
“If it’s for the kids, then count me in too,” Rainbow Dash said and smashed her hooves together.
“Wait,” Fluttershy said softly to Rarity. “Shouldn’t you and Twilight stay here? The Nightwalkers might get you.”
“I appreciate you’re concern Fluttershy, but I can’t leave my sister out there.”
“I think you’re right about one thing though,” Twilight said as she turned back to the group inside. “Fluttershy, Pinkie, you two hold down the fort while we’re gone. The library is one of our safe havens. When we find the girls, we’ll either come back here or the farm, so we have to make sure the Nightwalkers aren’t waiting for us when we get back.”
Pinkie Pie saluted. “Righty-o. You can count on us.”
“Spike, if anything happens, send a letter to the Princess. I hate to give her something else to worry about, but we don’t have a clear idea of what we’re up against here.”
“I’ve already got a quill and paper ready,” Spike held up the designated items but then frowned. “Be careful Twilight. I don’t want to see anything bad happen to you.”
“I’m always careful. We still have time before sundown so hopefully we find them before that.”
“How will we know when you do? What if you’re on the other side of town and you can’t make it back in time?”
“Then we’ll go to Sweet Apple Acres. Just watch the skies. We’ll send up a signal if we go to the farm.”
“What if you need help?” Fluttershy asked timidly.
Twilight thought for a moment. “We’ll send up a red one if we need help and a green one if we’re safe at Sweet Apple Acres. If we need help then that’s when you need to send a letter to the Princess.”
With one last nod, Twilight led Applejack, Rarity, and Rainbow Dash out the window and into the dieing light of the town. Her remaining friends looked on until they were out of sight before silently closing the window.
