When Darkness Falls

Rain began to fall, landing and splattering on whatever was left uncovered. It was a scheduled rain, but as timing would have it the planned-ahead storm took place on a very busy day. The rain wasn't overpowering, but it was still heavy enough to soak the fur more than required to bring about a small cold if left un-taken care of. As the middle-aged pony citizen sat behind a register in her convenient store located in Canterlot, she made small conversation with what customers she was getting even in this weather. Some would speak about how they still had much to do or how bad the weather was affecting a busy day, nothing very exciting or important. The cashier thought highly of every-pony she lived in Canterlot with, especially after their recent time of crisis. It was going to be an easy day. The rain would make every-pony want to get their business done quickly, so that meant the possibility of a good days pay could be brought in today. Nothing exciting was expecting to happen, but at least there wasn't going to be much trouble running the shop today. One of the best days of work ever. "I can't believe we have a storm on a day like this.", the customer said. "Well, we did just recover from a horrible time period after all. We got to get the land back in the swing somehow.", the cashier responded. She could hear that there were several pairs of ponies in the store carrying on their own conversations as well. About as average as ever. But suddenly it was as if all speaking had ceased in a dead silence that coincided with the front door opening, blowing a little cold breeze and ringing the bell as it closed behind. The cashier didn't pay much attention to the sound she always heard from a new customer, but she soon realized that all speaking had stopped and all eyes had been fixed on whoever had entered the store. As if by automatic reaction, she too found her head turning to see who was now here. Her heart seemed to stop dead in her chest, bringing about complete shock and dismay. What had entered her shop wasn't just any average shopper, she wasn't even sure how she should react. Normally she always kept a blade behind the counter in case of wise ones that are looking for a score, which came in handy on several occasions. But just the shear sight of this pony in particular completely obliterated her only defense. This pony was anything but the average, he stood towering over the rest of the shoppers present. He must have topped somewhere between 5 1/2-6 feet easy, dwarfing the average pony who billed at maybe just under 5 feet if he or she was lucky to grow that tall. The blade behind the counter wouldn't phase a pony of that stature. All the cashier could do was hope he wouldn't do what she feared he would do. As the towering pony shook off what rain he could, he finally had noticed that every-pony was starring at him. He didn't look happy, but he didn't say anything either. He started to walk through the store, attempting his best not to acknowledge the unwanted attention he was recieving. He was gray colored, baring a very dark brown mane. They all knew who he was, as far as his sudden appearance anyway. Before he looked some-what normal, he was the most feared and talked about pony in all of Equestria. His fur, his mane...it was all just so dark. He looked as though evil itself had birthed him straight from her black womb. He led Nightmare Moon's army, and was the cause of death of so many ponies. And they all wondered why Celestia was treating him with so much hospitality. She fixed him up in the Castle as if he was a Prince, and treated him as if they had been friends for a very long time. Rumors circulated that he was an informant. Other rumors included that he was coaxed into betraying his Queen, and that he was a spy all along. But if he was coaxed, then why does Celestia treat him so well? And if he was a one-time spy, then how come he had never been seen before, even by the oldest and most deeply rooted in the system? He went by the name Sunny Night. Every-pony knew and respected Sunny because of what he accomplished, and what he was dedicated to. He was dedicated to the crown, but to him the citizens were just as important as the Royalty. They all thought he was dead, and refused to accept that he had defected. But when it was reported that Nightfall had been physically changed and that he was indeed Sunny, most wouldn't even give him the benefit of the doubt. Sunny was no where near 6-feet, and he had a different Cutie Mark. Whoever this was....to the citizens....he was not Sunny Night as he claimed to be. They all stood there, trying to keep the fact that they had been watching him a discreet action. He moved through the cleaning supplies and the drinks, and stopped looking at the coat rack. He scrolled each coat to one side, carefully examining them one by one. The cashier moved in-between helping her customers and watching this tall pony. Finally, he picked out the one he found most appeasing and began making his way for the register. On the way, he stopped by the book rack and examined one in particular that didn't have a title. Specifically it was a journal. Every-pony slowly moved out of his way, allowing him to get to the counter first. They hated the idea of being pushy and rude, but they desperately wanted him to leave. He stepped up to the counter and laid a long dark cloak with a hood across it. "That...that'll be 20 bits.", the cashier managed to say. She was scared out of her mind, and was trying to keep her cool. She expected him to be very rude, and have the deepest-evil sounding voice ever. But surprisingly, instead of that black-hearted voice that was very much expected. She heard this calm voice, that sounded very sweet. "Here you go.", he said as he reached into one of his saddle bags and laid a handful of bits in front of her. She counted out 20 bits and went to give him some back, "No, that's okay, you can keep the change.", he said with a surprisingly cheerful smile. "Th--thank you.", she said. "It's no problem, ma'am.", he replied as he grabbed his cloak and his journal, after he had put the journal in his bag he threw his new hooded coat around his shoulders heading for the front door. As the bell rang and the door swung open, the cashier hollered toward him: "You don't have to call me ma'am." Something just made her want to say that. He wasn't as scary as most people assumed, he seemed very misunderstood. But she didn't know him that well, why did she be so outgoing for that moment? "I'll work on that...ma'am.", he said as the door closed behind him. She watched as he lifted the hood over his head and stepped back into the rain, seemingly heading for the main entrance to the city. For some unknown reason in a fraction of a second, she believed that he was indeed Sunny Night... "Miss? Miss?" "Huh, what? Oh, I'm sorry.", she snapped back into reality, completely forgetting about her still waiting customers.

************

Sunny slowly trotted up to the main gate. The day's rain was soaking the ground terribly, almost making it completely muddy. Just a few moments ago, he had purchased a hooded cloak. At the very least he could keep his back and mane from getting seriously wet, he couldn't afford to attract a sickness. Especially with this trek that he was about to take. He had a long way to go. "Who goes there?", a guard in the cross-way above the gate hollered. "Sunny Night. I have business outside Canterlot, can you please open the gate?" Without a response the draw bridge began to lower. The horizon became more and more visible with every passing moment, revealing more and more ground that he would have to cover. Thoughts went through his head about where he would go, and he kept coming back to the same place. He made the finally step from the bridge, his journey had begun. As the draw bridge raised back into it's original position, he continued to trot along the trail. He could have flown, but trotting gave him more time to think. Other than his personal belongings he was carrying in his saddlebags and the new cloak he had purchased not even a few moments ago, his mind was all that he carried with him. All the memories he had of Celestia and Luna, and of his time in the Royal Guard. Everything living had it's own mind, and it was one of the most important things it could ever possess. It held memories, personal experience, and most important of all...imagination. Sunny was always a firm believer that the mind was the key to getting through life. It was the ultimate vacation from life. In the mind, there were no boundaries and no restrictions to anything possible. Even though it wasn't no where near being real, it was the best form of escape. He had days where he would think about Luna, he seemed to think about her a lot. He missed her dearly, more so than he originally thought. Sunny wasn't one to dwell on the past, but Luna was different to him. She wasn't some-pony he could deal with never seeing again. She never left his thoughts. He plagued himself with memories of her, day and night. At one time, she controlled dreams. She never intervened with Sunny's dreams, because even she was blocked out from the nightmare's he used to have. And now that she was gone, he couldn't even see her in his dreams. He felt regret every time he thought about her, the kind of regret that there was so much more to their friendship then they had yet seen. He felt as there was so much unsaid. Different waves of emotions plagued his mind. Deep down, Sunny wasn't completely sure how he really felt about Luna. She was his best friend, and nothing could ever change that. But there was something else, something that dwelled deep inside. No matter how hard he tried, Sunny couldn't put his hoof on it. He had become so engulfed in his own thoughts, that he didn't even realize that it was now nighttime. He stopped for a moment to look at the moon, the same moon that bared the mark of Nightmare Moon. Luna was up there. The world she may have been known as Nightmare Moon, but no matter what she would still be Princess Luna to him. Sunny glanced around, examining his surroundings. Something he was trained to do often when he was a Guard, old habits die hard. Suddenly, he caught a glimpse of a small patch of flowers on the side of the trail. He slowly trotted over to where they bloomed. They were a bright red color, roses. It wasn't often that you found roses growing randomly on the side of a trail, especially in the middle of the moonlight. Sunny reached down and took a single rose, as if he would need it later. He never was much of a flower person, but something about this chance finding just wasn't normal. He continued on, before long he came to the town limits of Baltimare. His home town. Sunny stood there, reflecting on his past memories of this place. It was his home after all. Without hesitation, Sunny looked to his left. As if he was pulled toward that direction, he began trotting. Before long he came across the Baltimare Memorial Cemetery. There was a plaque engraved on one side of the gate, dedicating this graveyard to the ones lost in the time of war. Sunny continued inside, navigating his way through the field of tombstones until he found what brought him here. He stood there, watching the granite marker that was before him. The engraving on the headstone read the following: Here lies Bugs Lee, beloved pony that showed no fear in the face of death. May his soul find peace on the shores of the Afterlife. Sunny reached into his saddlebag, and retrieved the single red rose he had collected earlier. He laid it across the grave that held his childhood friend. "Bugs......I'm so sorry....", Sunny said quietly as tears began to flow from his eyes.

*********

Sunny walked into the front door of the first motel he came across. As he lowered his hood, he received more of those distrustful looks he had gotten so often. It wasn't going to be easy traveling under these conditions, but he was going to have to rough it out the best he could. He trotted up to the front desk, "I'd like a room, one night only." "That'll be 10 bits.", the pony behind the counter answered avoiding eye contact. Sunny reached into his bag and payed the desired price, and awaited his key. "It's the first door on the right upstairs." "Thank you.", Sunny responded as he headed upstairs. He opened the door and examined the room (as if he hadn't done that enough since he left). Had a small sofa, a bed, and a desk. That was all he would need. Once he had gotten settled in, he took a seat at the desk and pulled his new journal from his saddlebag. He then lit a candle and positioned it next to where his journal was sitting. He dipped one of the quills in a container of ink, and began to write. He wrote down about how his first day of traveling had went, adding small references to the looks he had received and how he felt he deserved them. As he finished his first entry he glanced at his bag which was close to the desk. Without realizing it, the noose that he had made the night before was half-way hanging out of the bag. It must have gotten pulled on when he removed the journal. Sunny then glanced toward the ceiling. The beams that constructed the frame were accessible, and then the thoughts that had haunted him from the previous night had returned to him. He had the power to end it all now. He wouldn't have to worry about anything anymore. He wouldn't have to deal with the disgusted and distrust-like looks he had received so much anymore. It would be so much easier that way..... Sunny then reopened the journal, and tore out a piece of paper. And began to write once more:

To the person that discovers this letter,
What you are reading is the final words that will ever be heard from me. I, Sunny Night, was once a proud member of the Royal Guard. But in an unfortunate turn of events I became the most feared war criminal in history. I should have been executed the very day that the war ended for what I am guilty of. I ask that whoever shall find this note first be the one to deliver to Celestia the news of my death. I was very close friends with her, and the following I want her to read herself: There was nothing more important to me in my life than the friendship that I was able to share with you and Luna. I know that losing Luna was the most hardest that could ever happen to you, it was hard for me as well. I do not want you to dwell on memories of me, and I don't want my death to haunt you all the days of your life however long that may be. I want you to remember as who I once was: a kind-hearted friend that would have given his life for you, not as the monster that brung about the death for a great many innocence. I cannot adjust to life the way it is now. For me, my life ended that night I was foolish enough to confront Nightmare Moon. No one trusts me anymore, they are not willing to accept who I really am. They only see Nightfall when their eyes fall upon me. I cannot continue living this way....for what it is worth...I'm sorry if what I do after finishing this letter is a lot to bear. But, I am at the end of my rope and there is nothing that can correct the wrong I've done. This is your life long best friend...in this life and the next, signing off.....

With respect and sincerity,
Sunny Night

Sunny laid the quill he was using aside. He then stood up from the table and began to look around the room. "I never thought it would end in a place like this...", he said out loud to himself. The memories that he still held dear began to replay once more in his head. And he began to reflect on just how good his life has been. He was in the Royal Guard, and at such a young age. He was close friends with both Celestia and Luna, the Princesses of Equestria. But even though all those happy and hopeful memories that he would never forget, there were other times of his life that he wants nothing more than to forget. But even if he had forgotten what he had done, every-pony else would still remember. The image of the monster that terrorized Equestria is forever burned on the soul of the once well-respected and well-loved Sunny Night. And no matter what he did he could never escape the evil that was know known to exist within him. There wasn't but one way out.....and he was ready to take it. He turned back to the desk, and directed his attention to his saddlebag. He fumbled around inside until he found what he was looking for. He pulled the already-fixed length of rope, and then used his wings to reach the ceiling and he tied the un-tampered end of the rope to the main support beam. Luckily, he had to cut some rope off to make it short to complete the deed. When he touched back on the floor, he stood there looking at the hanging noose. Not much longer...and it would be over. He then pull the sofa over to where the rope was hanging and positioned it to sit directly beneath the noose. "Come on....don't chicken out now...", he said to himself as he then tied his wings so that they couldn't leave his back. He lifted one foot onto the seat of the small couch, and then worked his remaining hooves up as well. He then stood straight up on his hind legs, using the rope for support to stand. He loosened the looping knot, and slid it around his head before tightening it back up around the larynx of his throat. He took a few deep breaths, "Good-bye, Celestia.....I hope to see you again..." He then closed his eyes...and tilted the sofa underneath him knocking it over....

**************

"Get up...", Sunny heard a voice say. "I know you can hear me...get up!", he heard the voice again as he slowly began to open his eyes. He sees a figure standing before him, and almost immediately he recognizes his surroundings. He then looks toward the figure in front of him, and is almost insanely haunted by the gaze coming from his dark eyes. "What.....do you want....?", Sunny asked flatly. "You're no good to anyone dead.", Purgatory responded. "I'm no good alive either..." "You can be really stupid at times, you know that? You don't know anything, and you shouldn't pretend like you do.", Purgatory replied, keeping that blank and seemingly uncaring tone. "And what do you expect me to do?! You don't know what it's like, walking around like you're dead to the world. They still see me as that....monster..." "Oh you're such a hypocrite. You're the same pony that said 'Until my dying breath, Equestria will be safe'. Maybe I should never have helped you...and maybe I should have just let Celestia die a horrible and painful death." Sunny suddenly grabbed Purgatory and spoke in a deep angry tone, "Don't you dare say that Celestia deserves anything of the sort...you're not even half the pony she is." "And yet you stood there and practically wished that you were never even born. It was because of you that she is alive today, and acting the way you are now just proves how hypocritical you are.", Purgatory said as he used his magic to push Sunny away. Sunny turned his face away, knowing that what Purgatory was telling him was all too true. "Why did you stop me anyway...there wasn't anything else for me to do. I'd just make things worse with my very presence." "Sunny...there is more to this than you realize. I didn't help you just so my job would be easier.", Purgatory said as he used his magic to open a viewpoint to some barren wasteland of some kind. "There is a war on the horizon...and you need to lead them into battle." "Lead who?", Sunny asked while looking through the opening. "All will be revealed in good time. For now, you need to stop acting stupid...and start listening and following what path lays before you." "So you expect me to just ignore all that I have to deal with everyday, and every time I close my eyes at night?! You think it's just that easy?!", Sunny snapped. "I wouldn't know...because I have no need for emotions. But you on the other hoof, are run completely off your emotions." Purgatory trotted toward Sunny before raising his hooves to either side of Sunny's head, while his horn glowed a magic aura. "Take within you, this fire that fuels your desire to end your own life. Let it's drive consume you....and use it to your advantage." As Purgatory speaks and casts his magic, Sunny could feel the emotions that want him to take his own life overflow him. An entire ocean of feelings washed over him, feeling the fear and the resentment for everything that he had done as Nightfall. Everything that drove him to tie a noose, now was filling his mind with thoughts of anger...at himself. The need for suicide was no longer there....only a desire to make sure that what happened in the past never happens again. And that tragedy shall never befall the innocence that reside in this land he called home. As Purgatory lowered his hooves, he began to speak again: "This is far from over... What transpired with Nightmare Moon was only the beginning of something that will alter the lives of many living creatures...ponies and otherwise..." And with that, Sunny felt himself becoming more distant from Purgatory....

********

Suddenly, Sunny quickly opened his eyes...only to feel his air being blocked off. He threw his hooves above his, struggling desperately with the noose that was suspending him by the neck. He grabbed with both hooves, and anxiously pulled on the rope, allowing him to gather his breath momentarily. He then started to swing his legs back and forth, while keeping a firm grip and pulling on the rope. When his legs had gotten high enough, he latched onto the beam. Allowing him to rest his arms, and regain his breath. He then shimmied toward where the rope was tied to the beam, and attempted to untie it. But his legs soon became weak, and he began to slip. There was only one thing left he could do, and he just hoped that he wouldn't kill himself in the process. (No pun intended) He pushed away from the beam...hard, and plummeted his full weight straight down. He felt a jerk, but instead of his neck snapping, he felt the rope break and give way. He fell to the floor, gasping for air and clinching his neck. After several moments, he regained enough energy and slowly made his way back up to his feet. He exited the room, trying to be as inconspicuous as possible. Surely they heard him crashing to the floor, luckily they didn't think to ask him about it. He hurried down the hall to the bathroom. He closed and locked the door behind him. There was a barrel in the corner of the room that held clean water (or at least it was considered clean at that point of time). Sunny dipped out some for the small bowl that acted as the sink back then. He splashed water on his face, still trying to get his lung capacity caught back up. He glanced up into the mirror hanging on the wall in front of him, and that's where he seen just how damaging his suicide attempt was. His neck bore a red rigid ligature mark, left over from the noose he had used. It stung madly with pain, and was raw to the touch. He stood there, watching himself in the mirror as if his own reflection was an intruder. Purgatory's magic definitely worked. Sunny couldn't believe that he had actually attempted suicide. That was the last thing he wanted to do. There was more to his life than he knew, and he was about to get the biggest reality check of his life. He slowly slipped out of the bathroom, careful not to raise suspicion. He walked back down the hall to his room, and locked the door behind him as he entered. He took a seat at the table, and sat there looking at the letter he had written not even a few moments ago. He tore it from the journal, and lit it on fire using the candle that was still sitting there. Suddenly, the flame of the candle that was brightening the room burst into a small fireball. In a flash of light, a letter re-materialized and fell on the table next to the base of the candlestick. He picked it up, and began to read:

Dear Sunny,

There is a dilemma that has gotten all too serious and I cannot think of anyone else I can entrust this with. I know that you are focused on your personal travels, but this is a matter that you must help me in. I regretfully say that my ignorance has made this problem become almost uncontrollable. I have been keeping a well kept secret over the last few weeks. No one should know of this, and I plan to keep this all under tight wraps. I need you to return to Canterlot as soon as possible. I shall explain more when you arrive. I plead that you will listen, and help me. I feel I have made a terrible mistake of not taking action when I should have, and if this isn't brought under control then I fear that all life as we know it will suffer the consequences.

Your close friend,
Princess Celestia

Without hesitation or second thought, Sunny quickly gathered all of his things and set off for Canterlot. As he flew to his destination with haste, he began to wonder just what it was that Celestia was talking about. Whatever this was, it was something that she could not even tell her closest friend about. But it does not matter how challenging and dangerous this may be. Sunny just knew from the seriousness of the letter, that every action he would take from this point out could have monumental consequences of the highest proportions. Sunny has done a lot in his short life, and he is paying for everything. Nothing could take back what he did before, but now he has a chance to atone for his sins. The public may not forget nor forgive his past, but now he has a purpose to continue the fight again...

**********

Sunny had finally arrived at the front gate. Flying with haste felt it took longer than when he trotted to Baltimare. "Who goes there?!", the guard atop the arch of the gate called. "Sunny Night. I have been summoned by the Princess and request passage!" The guard then disappeared from view. After a few moments, the draw bridge lowered. He quickly made his way for the Castle, not stopping for any-pony or anything. This was too important for him to become distracted. Without even knocking, he burst through the front door. Before he had time to react, the sharp tips of the spears held by a dozen guards were at his throat. "GUARDS, STOP!", Celestia called from atop the staircase. The spears slowly lowered, allowing Sunny to continue on. "Celestia, what's wrong? I came as soon as I got your letter." Celestia just stood there, before looking around the room for any-pony that could be eavesdropping. "Follow me...", she said as she led Sunny to her personal chambers. She used her magic as Sunny entered to lock the door. She then closed the windows of her room, and drew the shades shut. She then pulled a map out from under her bed, and laid it out across the floor. It was a map of the known world. "Sunny...do you remember what we went through when we fought Nightmare Moon....?", Celestia asked flatly. "Yes..." "In the days after her banishment there arose....followers of her will... They share the same ideal as she did, to see Equestria and the world cower before her blackened skies." She then pointed toward the map, "What you see is a map of what we know about our world. Equestria, the former location of the Crystal Empire, the Gryphon Empire, it's all here. But this...Conflict...lies outside of the known world." Sunny stood there, listening to everything she had to say. But there was something unclear about how she was explaining. "I understand...but there is something you aren't telling me." Celestia stayed silent for a few moments before finally speaking, "Sunny...the ones that are rising against us...they aren't ponies." "Gryphons...?", Sunny asked. "No...they aren't Gryphons either. They're...they're some kind of bipedal creatures. Their precise origins are unknown. All we know, is that they are very powerful and pose a threat to all life." "What do you need me to do...?", Sunny asked almost dreading the answer he would receive. Purgatory had warned him about a war, but Sunny wasn't completely sure how he was going to take on an entire army. "Luckily for us, some of these creatures are in favor of my ruling and are prepared to rise against these harbingers of darkness. I...I had the opportunity to take action when their presence was first realized. But...I had hoped that it would resolve itself, and I kept putting it off. But it has become too important to be ignored any longer. I'm afraid that if we aren't able to stop these rebels of the night, then all life that we know of and aren't aware of...will be doomed. I have contacted the ones that are fighting for us, and I have agreed to lend them help. I'm sending them members of the Royal Guard...and I need you...to lead them." "I'm no Captain...but I'll lead the Guards the best I can.", Sunny replied. "Sunny...I'm not asking you to lead the Guards. I'm asking you to lead the entire army..." Sunny just stood there, staring at Celestia. He was completely and utterly shocked at what Celestia had just asked. But then he finally realized something, this is what Purgatory was telling him. There is a war, and he is the only one that can lead them. But there was still one thing that was sticking out in his mind....what creatures could Celestia be talking about... All he could do was wait...and see just how dangerous this war was going to be...