The Thousandth Summer (I)

Stolen in the Night - Chapter 1 - The Thousandth Summer

Characters: Stolen Night, Twilight Sparkle, Fluttershy

Cameos: Spike, Pinkie Pie, Princess Celestia

A black pegasus stands at a train station, waiting for the passengers to begin boarding. He stands behind a purple unicorn mare hauling a young dragon. Night glances at her flank, he recognizes the Cutie Mark, but isn’t sure from where. When his eyes come back up he is confronted by large emerald eyes.

“Watch wh-” The dragon cut off, recognizing the pony before him, “Night? What are you doing here?” This attracted Twilight’s attention.

“I’m headed to Ponyville to observe the Summer Sun Celebration. Let me guess, you and Twilight have to go supervise the preparations.”

“How did you know my name, and why we’re going to Ponyville?” Twilight asks, bewildered by this pegasi’s accuracy.

“That’s an easy one, Spike and I are regulars at Joe’s shop,” Night extends a wing toward Spike, who promptly fist bumps it. “he talks about you all the time.”

Twilight turns back forward just as the passengers are allowed to board. Night moves silently* to the back of the train as others clamour in impatiently.When all the other passengers settle down, Night finds he has a cabin to himself. After quietly closing the doors, Night opens his pack and removes a glorious black tiara. He looks toward the early moon and hold the tiara above it. He gazes at the mare** in a shape representing one of the most beautiful ponies Night had ever seen.

He hears the door opening, and quickly places the Crown of Night back into his bag. The door slides to reveal a purple unicorn mare.

“I didn’t really expect to see you again, at least not so soon.” Night says, flashing a brief smile.

“I just can’t stand all those ponies being so nosy. May I please stay in here?” Twilight asks, trying to hold onto as much of her pride as she could, “I just need to study this “Mare in the Moon” tale.”

“Once upon a time, in the magical lands of Equestria, there were two regal sisters who ruled together, and created Harmony for all the land. To do this, the eldest used her unicorn powers to raise the sun at dawn. The younger brought out the moon to begin the night. Thus, the two sisters maintained balance for their kingdom and their subjects, all the different types of ponies.”

Night paused here to breath, “But as time went on, the younger sister became resentful. The ponies relished, and played in the day her sister brought forth. But shunned, and slept through her beautiful night. One fateful day, the younger unicorn refused to lower the moon to make way for the dawn. The elder sister tried to reason with her, but the bitterness in the young ones heart had transformed her into a wicked mare of darkness, Nightmare Moon. She vowed that she would shroud the land in eternal night. Reluctantly, the elder sister harnessed the most powerful magic known to ponydom, The Elements of Harmony. Using the magic of the Elements of Harmony, she defeated her younger sister, and banished her permanently in the moon. The elder sister took on responsibility for both sun and moon, and Harmony has been maintained in Equestria for generations since.” Night repeated the story of The Mare in the Moon.

“I’m guessing you know the prophecy associated with the tale.” Twilight said, in awe of his perfect recitation.

“Yeah, It’s going to be next year, if I remember correctly.” He lied.

“This year, this year is the thousandth summer.” Twilight tells him, almost enjoying the company of another pony.

“Really? Why would Princess Celestia choose such a,” He paused for a moment, not sure how to describe Ponyville, “out-of-the-way location?”

“Honestly, I don’t think she believes the story.” Twilight sighs.

“Wait, wouldn’t it be her own sister who was banished to the moon, she would remember something like that, don’t you think?” Night responded, trying to act sympathetic.

The door to their cabin is rattled, “Who’s out there?” Night asks.

“Hey Night, is Twilight in there?” A familiar voice answers.

“Yeah, come in.” Night flicks a wing out, turning the large door handle. As Spike enters, Night lays across his seat and slips, rather quickly, into sleep.

It’s early morning when the train from Canterlot to Ponyville pulls into the station. In a compartment towards the back two ponies, a pegasi and unicorn, are discussing their favorite books.

“Well, I guess it’s time we go.” Twilight laments, she had been enjoying Night’s company, “Spike, wake up.” The dragon grumbled as he opened his eyes.

“I’ll be exploring the old castle ruins later.” Night ruffles a map out of his pack, “After the whole Sun Celebration, you should drop by.”

“You’re not staying for the festivities? I-i was kind of h...” She trailed off.

“No, I’ve got a few errands to run, then it’s into the Everfree for me.” He places the map in her hooves, “Feel free to follow.”

As everypony heads toward the front car, Stolen Night maneuvers through the crowd toward the caboose. He opens his wings, stretching them a bit before taking off to find the bakery. The pegasi descends toward a gingerbread-style building. He cautiously enters and is hastily greeted by the owners. Night stares up at the menu, the slender earth-pony nervously watches him. “I’ll have,” He pauses, “one of everything, please.”

“S-sir, are you sure you have that kind of money?” The orange pony stammers.

“Why? How much is it?”

“W-well, the total is just over a thousand bits.”

Nights calmly slips his pack off, opens it and fishes out his wallet. He scrambles through it. “Damn, I guess you’re a cash only establishment.” He gestures to the old register, “I guess I’ll have to settle for a bear claw, at least until next time.”

“You can buy that many sweets and goodies?” A new voice joins, “I think I might love you!” A pink earth-pony nearly tackles Night.

“Pinkie Pie! Don’t treat a new customer that way.”

“Don’t worry, I’m used to it.” Night tells the older pony, then uses his wings to push the pink one off of him. The pegasi pulls several bits from his wallet and pushes it across the counter.

“Right, bear claw.” The baker heads toward their store room, Night looks around to find Pinkie Pie has gone. He shrugs as Mr. Cake returns with his dessert.

Night leaves the bakery, he looks toward the Everfree forest and opens his wings again. Taking to the skies a second time that day, this time headed toward a home within a still-living tree.

A canary yellow pegasi hears a strange knock outside her cottage, she recognizes it but isn’t sure where from. After it rings the third time, she realizes who’s outside. The door is nearly ripped off its hinges as the pegasi slams into her friend. Stolen Night is winded as he’s tackled by the mare.

“Furatus Nocte!” She giggles as she buries her face in his coat.

“You know,” Night gasps, “you would be... great at hoofball.”

The mare stands and helps Night to his hooves. “You told me that before, Nocte.”

“Don’t call me that,” He adds, “Butterscotch.” The mare glares at him before giving in.

“Fine, Stolen Night.”

“Thank you, Fluttershy. Oh! I brought you something.” He returns to her doorstep and removes a cupcake from his pack.

Fluttershy takes the cupcake on her wing, and with the other pulls Night into her cottage.

A loud groan sounds from Fluttershy’s home. Inside, two pegasi rest on a couch.

“You let me win.” Fluttershy grumbles to the stallion across from her. Night tosses his controller in the air.

“No I didn’t, I promise.” He holds a hoof in the air and gives her a weak smile. A throw pillow hits him dead center of the forehead.

“What brought you to Ponyville anyway?” Fluttershy asks as Night recovers.

“A few reasons really, you’re one of them. Then there’s the ruins, and finally the Sun Celebration.”

Fluttershy gasps, “I completely forgot about that! Sorry Night, but I’ve got to-” She’s cut off by a quick kiss.

“I understand what it’s like to have responsibilities. I should probably head out too.” The two trot together to the doorstep. Night wraps Fluttershy in an embrace, then leaves her, flying toward the Everfree forest.

Night traverses the ancient castle, slowly making his way to the throne room. He enters the long hall, trotting to the end Night removes the Crown of Night from his bag. As the pegasi places the tiara on a pedestal an almost motherly voice sounds behind him.

“You really are going to do this, aren’t you Night?”

“You already know my answer, Celestia.” The alicorn steps closer to him.

“If you let it go she’ll be returned to the Luna you know and love.”

“We both know I would even attack you if she asked. The real question is, why are you trying to stop me?”

“I just want my sister back!” Celestia yells, then a bit more empathetically, “I know you’re also trying to free her, you think that maybe if you make her happy she’ll go back to her normal self. You think she’ll come back to her senses if you show her that there are ponies who-”

“SHUT UP!” Night cuts the princess off, “You don’t know the first thing about that! Luna knows exactly what she is doing!”

“Night, I hope you know what you’re getting yourself into.” The alicorn sighs, then charges her magic and teleports away.

Author's Note

* - Pegasi are naturally much lighter on their hooves, allowing for a gracefull character to move silently
** - Mare (pronounced Mah-reh) is Italian for sea. The dark spots on the moon are called Lunar Mare.