Old Woundsby AlexitsAlexChaptersSurprise Visit AwkwardLet's RideGood EveningSurprise Visit Surprise Visit The sun had just set over Equestria, and the landscape was painted by the luminescent light from the moon.The stars were beginning to appear, covering the night sky. Princess Luna stepped out onto a balcony located on one of the many towers of Canterlot Castle. It had been almost a year since her return from her state as Nightmare Moon, and Luna was beginning to feel at home again in modern Equestria. "Are you sure you wouldn't like to stay in Canterlot for a little longer?" Luna turned to face the direction in which it came from. It was her sister, Princess Celestia. She was standing near the balcony doorway, her wings folded and mane less shimmering due to the setting of the sun. "Good evening dear, sister." responded Luna. "How has your day been treating you?" Celestia chuckled. "Well I woke up this morning to find Twilight in the Star Swirled the Bearded Wing. She was sporting a rather interesting costume and a new haircut. She looked a bit off, but her friends were there to help her." "It seems your pupil has been getting into a lot of weird situations lately." Luna said light heartily. She then remembered that her sister had asked her something earlier. "So what was it that you asked again?" "Oh yes," Celestia replied, "I was just wondering what was the reason for you to return to the moon again? Not meaning to be rude, but I was thinking that you wouldn't want to go back since you're return to Equestria." "Well I have some business I need to attend to in Ponyville, and I also need to check on Crater and Far Side. They will be expecting me, and it's best not to keep them waiting." Celestia could sense her sister's mood shift at the mention of the two ponies names. Far Side and Crater were Princess Luna's night guards, or Nightmare Moon's in a sense. They've been kidnapped by the Mare of the Moon during her banishment, and were forced to serve as her two soldiers to aid her in her return to Equestria. The whole matter was complicated, even more so than the screaming ponies of Nightmare Night. With Nightmare Moon gone, it was never established whether the two still had to serve Princess Luna. "If they wish, they are more than welcome to move into Canterlot Caste." Celestia offered, "We have plenty of space, and It would be much better than living in that fort on the moon." She said this carefully, knowing that this topic always brought out the negative side of Luna. "The only problem is that they seem to want to stay," Luna replied quietly. "Their time on the moon has slowed their aging somehow, and they're terrified to come back after being gone from Equestria for almost for two hundred years." Luna turned away from her sister and stared out over the balcony. She could see Ponyville was in clear site, and the night sky made the town look beautiful, maybe even more so than the cliffs of Canterlot. Far Side and Crater dropped her off there on Nightmare Night, and returned to pick her up after she was done with her visit, and as soon as they returned Luna to Canterlot, they sped back off to the moon without a word. "It may be difficult, but they can adjust to modern Equestria." reassured Celestia. "You were gone for a thousand years and you seem to be fitting back in fine yourself." "That's true." acknowledged Luna. "But royal life is pretty much the same as it was now. All you had to do was catch me up on the recent matters and how politics work now." Luna bowed her head. "Those two ponies were living normal, happy lives until they were taken away. Their parents are probably deceased now, and any relatives would likely not remember them, let alone take them in their current form..." Luna's face was showered with guilt. Princess Celestia trotted over, stretched out a wing and wrapped Luna into an embrace. "Sister, it was not you that kidnapped Far Side and Crater. It was Nightmare Moon, a very different pony from the princess of the night now." "That maybe so, but they think otherwise," retorted Luna. "When I visited them for the first time since my return on Nightmare Night, the look on their faces..." Luna felt some tears building up, and cleared her throat so they wouldn't show. "shows that they still see me as a monster." Celestia looked at her sister with sympathy. "Luna, I understand what you're going through. But those two are having a difficult time with this as well. Just give them time, and they will understand that they have no reason to fear you. And maybe they might become your friends." Luna looked up at the smile beginning to form on Celestia's face. She couldn't help but let out a small smile herself. No matter what the situation was, her sister always found a way to insert the topic of the importance of friendship. "Yes, and maybe we can find the elements of harmony and save Equestria." Luna said jokingly. Celestia chuckled. "I wouldn't go that far. We all know that's Twilight's job." Luna let out a laugh, her mood beginning to brighten again. As much as Luna enjoyed this moment with her sister, she stepped out of her sister's winged embrace. "It is getting late dear sister, and you need rest." The princess of the night took a few deep breaths, trying to regain her composure. "I suppose so," Celestia said, stifling a yawn. "I shall see you again in the morning. Be safe out there tonight." "Of course," responded Luna, flaring her wings. "I am the princess of the night by the way." With that spoken, she flapped her wings and began to ascend towards the moon. Celestia watched as her sister flew up a distance before Luna seemed to disappear into the moon light. "WATCH YOUR LEFT, WATCH YOUR LEFT!" "I see him, I see-" Far Side groaned in frustration as his character died once again. The two ponies were playing Pony Warfare 2, a new release that Crater had begging Princess Luna to acquire for them. Far Side felt the familiar urge to pick up the computer monitor on the desk in front of him and fling it across the room. He showed restraint though, for his and Crater's sake. Princess Luna gave them this computer as a gift when she visited them on Nightmare Night, and the two were a bit dumbfounded when they first tried to use it. Crater had gotten in the hang of it quick, but Far Side was still having some troubles. He didn't want to be asking Luna for a new one. Crater was humored by Far Side's flared temper. "Well, you didn't do as bad as last time. Who knows, maybe you'll improve enough so you can get as good as me." He kept the mood upbeat, knowing how video gaming usually made Far Side's mood go sour. Far Side didn't like playing video games, but with the lack of scenery and places to visit on the moon, video games were the only thing to keep a pony from dying of boredom. "Yes, maybe one day I can become as skilled as the great and powerful Crater." said Far Side, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Maybe I'm not good because I don't play this all day like a certain somepony. How in Equestria are you not getting fat from sitting on your flank all day?" "Beats counting the same stars we've been counting for the past two hundred years." replied Crater with a smirk. He decided to change the subject. "How about we take a break? We better get ready for Princess Luna's visit." Far Side's ears perked up in surprise upon hearing this. "What, Princess Luna is coming tonight?! How come you didn't tell me about this earlier?" "She sent a letter up a few days ago," replied Crater. He knew how the simple mention of the princess caused Far Side to panic. "I think you were having another one of your migraines at the time." "Yeah, that might explain it." Far Side rubbed the right side of his head, feeling the familiar outline of the long scar across his temple. He was pretty certain that Crater could have told him after his migraine went away, but he didn't want to interrogate him about it. "But why would she visit tonight? Shouldn't she be taking care of old business back in Canterlot Castle?" "She said she just wanted to check on us." Crater began to trot to the door. "Nothing special I would think, but maybe she'll bring us some more awesome tech stuff from Canterlot." Crater let out a whiny in excitement and galloped to his room. "Nice to see at least somepony's happy about this." muttered Far Side under his breath. New tech stuff, another wonderful thing they missed during their imprisonment by Nightmare Moon. Far Side sighed and trotted over to his bedroom. The room was simple, with no door, a small bed, and a hole in the wall to gaze out onto the dull cratered landscape. Dull... his room, his home, his life. Life on the moon was nothing short of boring, the atmosphere unchanging. When he first arrived on the moon, he would gaze out in wonder at the distant planets and stars, or admire the shining radiance of the sun. Those pleasures were far gone now, and he had become sick of seeing the same sights over and over again. He was pretty sure things would be more lively down in Equestria. All the ponies going about their daily lives, barely noticing how beautiful their settings were, while he was up here counting moon rocks. Why shouldn't he go back down to Equestria? He was sure that Crater would go too, without any questions. And their home didn't seem to have changed that much when they visited during Nightmare Night. He could simply leave this boring existence, Nightmare Moon wasn't here to stop him. His brain seemed to have throbbed at the thought and Far Side shook his head to clear it away. It was best not to dwell on it, or he would be needing an ice pack for his aching head. He went over to the small mirror in the corner and took a long look at himself. His eyes were the first thing to grab his attention. They were bright yellow, and the cat like appearance was becoming more dominant. His eyes weren't like this for the most part, usually taking a darker blue color, and having regular pupils like any other pony. The cat eyes came out in low light conditions, allowing him to see the dark environment as if it were bright as day. But sometimes they would manifest at random times when he would least expect it. His gaze wandered from his eyes, to the large scar above it. The scar was a light gray, and it spread from his temple, stopping just above his eye. The bendy lines made the scar almost resemble a lightning bolt, but an ugly lightning bolt at that. His ear was even showing some scarring, with parts not having any fur and his hearing from that particular ear not being as keen as the other. He had no doubt that this head injury was the cause of all his migraines he would get at random points in the day, some being so bad that he could barely function. He stepped away from the mirror, having seen enough of his changed form. He didn't even remember how he use to look like before his transformation, before Nightmare Moon took kidnapped them... Crater had been the first to be taken. It was a quiet night in the city of Fillydelphia, and Crater had been sleeping in his bedroom when he woke up to find himself on the moon. Crater stated that the whole thing was more shocking than scary, thinking all of this was a dream since the story of Nightmare Moon was just an old mare's tale. But the banished Princess of the Night proved to be very real, and Crater could recall her almost being giddy at her success of taking a pony from Earth. She then used her mysterious dark magic on the poor colt, giving him a monstrous appearance with frightening eyes, a grey coat, and most striking of all, two large bat wings. Far Side didn't have the luxury of being asleep when he was taken. He was very awake, gazing at the night sky from his bedroom window right before he was pulled into it. He couldn't really remember the whole experience, but he could recall the feeling of helplessness as he was pulled farther and farther away from his home, not knowing where he was going, or how he was even being transported. It felt as if it was a tentacle wrapped around his hoof, but he later found out that it was also the work of Nightmare Moon's dark magic, which she then used to give him the same transformation she had given to Crater. How she had managed to get it all the way from the moon to Earth was still a question that bothered him, but he wouldn't dare ask Princess Luna that. Thinking about it, Princess Luna hasn't really been giving them much answers at all. Far Side knew he shouldn't be mad, since the Princess did apologize when they dropped her off at Canterlot Castle, but it wasn't very satisfying for him. This whole transition from a forced soldier serving under the terrifying Nightmare Night for almost two hundred years, to being a guard for Princess Luna, was so quick that it didn't even seem real. Could he and Crater go home? Can they even go home after being gone for so long? He wouldn't have to ask all these questions if it wasn't for the Princess of the Night. And now she's coming for a visit. Author's Note Feedback would be well appreciated. AwkwardThe fort on the moon was mediocre at best. It was constructed with melted moon rock and was about a quarter of the size of Canterlot Castle. It was two stories tall, with a single tower that really served no purpose since the fort wasn't threatened by any invasions or the sort. Nightmare Moon had begun construction of the fort herself before she eventually made her two newly acquired guards finish it for her. She melted the rocks herself before Far Side and Crater had to form crude bricks, which they then stacked to make a building that was kind of like a igloo. The princess of the night never actually lived in the fort itself, often turning into a cloud of dark magic and not being seen again until the next morning. So the two colts made it their home for the next two hundred years. Far Side and Crater were standing outside of the fort now, waiting for Princess Luna's arrival. The two donned their armor, which was dark purple, hi lighted with blue in places. The armor was lighter than the ones used by the Canterlot guards in Equestria, being more flexible to suit their changed body types. While this armor wouldn't protect a pony much in combat, it was very intimidating, especially when the two donned their helmets with a crown that resembled their wings in a way. Far Side shifted his hooves, not used to the feeling of having his armor on him again. It felt too small, having been given the armor when he was still a young colt, back when it was too big for him. It weighed him down and made him clumsy, which infuriated Nightmare Moon during their "training", her blaming Far Side instead of the armor. He looked over at Crater, whose armor seemed to fit him more comfortably, despite him being bulkier than Far Side. He guessed that Nightmare Night wasn't much of a clothes designer, looking to be more fierce and terrifying than fitting for the user. "She should be here soon," said Crater. "What should we say when she gets here?" "We don't have to say anything," replied Far Side with almost no emotion. "We just salute and get this night over with." "Still not comfortable around the Princess I suppose?" Far Side almost laughed. "That would be an understatement." "Come on, Far Side, you know she's a different pony now. Just look at how nice she was when she came back on Nightmare Night! She apologized and gave us that awesome computer." "Yeah, and it shows how much we missed being kidnapped by the gift giving Princess of the Night." retorted Far Side. "Hey, we wouldn't even see those computers if we weren't kidnapped. We probably be dead by now." replied Crater, his voice having a hint of anger in it. Crater was an easy-going pony, and he didn't get mad often. Far Side was taken back by this, and didn't respond. He turned away and focused on his own thoughts. Sure they somehow lived longer, but it was just two hundred years of doing old military drills and trying to build a moon castle. "Look sharp, here she comes." said Crater, putting on his helmet and standing at attention. Far Side looked up and saw Princess Luna descending down onto the moon surface. Giving a nervous gulp, he donned his helmet and stood at attention as well, parallel from Crater. The Princess landed in front of them, wings flapping momentarily before folding at her sides. She wasn't a great flier, choosing to telephoner to her destinations when she gained enough distance from the ground. "Good evening gentlemen," said Luna. "How have things been going up here?" "Everything's been going fine princess." Stated Crater, all traces of previous anger gone from his voice. "No signs of any trouble up here." Princess Luna gave out a chuckle, which surprised the two colts, being this the first time she's laughed around them. Seems like she's loosened up a bit since she last came here thought Far Side. He baffled at how Crater can speak so easily to the Princess, having a serious and formal tone, yet almost upbeat at the same time. Luna turned to Far Side with a smile. "And how are you Far Side," she said with the voice that always gave Far Side the chills. It wasn't that the voice was bad, it was almost soothing in a way. It just seemed so different coming from the mare who always yelled at them using the traditional Canterlot voice which may have also associated with Far Side's migraines. He fought to get the words out of his mouth. "It's been going great princess," said Far Side, almost a little too fast. The Princess was quiet for a moment before nodding. "I'm very happy to hear that." Crater sensed the awkwardness and changed the subject. "So Princess, I heard that you wanted to run a few errands in Equestria." "Oh yes," replied the Princess. "I'll tell you our destination when we get going." "I suppose that means we're pulling the chariot?" asked Crater with a smirk. Luna smiled. "If you two still have it." Far Side piped in, wanting to get out of the awkward situation. "Yes we do! It's in the shed if I still remember. I'll go get it!" Before anyone could reply, he galloped off as quick as he could, sending a wave of moon dust after him. Crater watched as Far Side ran off before giving a sigh. "Sorry about that Princess, he's still a little uneasy about all this and..." He looked down and shuffled his hooves trying to find his words. "No need to explain Crater." Luna said. "I understand what he's going through, and I'll be acting the same way if I were in his position. I'm that he'll be okay one day." Her voice trailed off, as if she was uncertain of herself. "Yes, he should be." added Crater looking again at the direction where Far Side left. "I sure hope so." Author's Note Ouch, mixed reviews. I'm hoping this well go better as I continue this. Feedback is always accepted though. Let's RidePrincess Luna's chariot, while not as extravagant as Celestia's, was very intimidating, with it's dim lanterns hanging on the back and an ornament at the front that resembled an eye. Consisting of four wheels and metal chains that were attached to the fliers, it was quiet small, only being able to fit Luna herself on the chariot. But what it lacked in size and beauty, it made up for it with it's lightness and speed. The chariot was also the same style as the two guard's armor, with it's gray and purple color scheme, even having fins on the back that resembled the guard's' bat wings. After everything on the chariot was fully inspected and Far Side and Crater attached the chains to their armor, Princess Luna took her seat in the chariot. "Not going with the black cape today, Princess?" asked Crater with an amused smile. Luna responded with a chuckle. "No, I got rid of it. It would be best not to intimidate everypony like last time." "Let's just get going," Far Side said. He wanted this night to be over with already, and was in a hurry to do so. "Best not let the Princess be late to wherever she's going." Crater and Luna exchanged glances at each other. Crater shrugged and started to scrape his hooves against the moon surface. "All right then, let's ride!" The two guards started to gallop, gaining speed until they flared their wings and took off. Once they gained a bit of altitude, they angled downward and began their descent towards Equestria. As the chariot gained speed in its descent, Far Side felt an old familiar surge inside him. He was a pegasus pony before, often flying with his friends and even helped out with the weather team in his hometown. After his transformation though, he didn't fly as often as he use to, being ashamed of his newly acquired bat wings. But the rush he was experiencing now made him forget all about them, and the feeling of the wind whipping past his ears brought a smile to his face. He glanced over at Crater who was also smiling, almost laughing it seemed. Crater was a pegasus pony before as well, but he was a much more avid flier than Far Side. He was more of a Cloudsdale pony, but lived in a village on Foal Mountain, due to his mother and brother being an earth pony. He was more accepting of the two for their new wings, stating that "It's better than not having wings at all." But his flying time was cut short, and only used during special training lessons that required flight. As much as both didn't want to admit it though, the bat wings made flight much easier despite their horrendous look. While they had to gallop a distance to gain speed and altitude, unlike a regular pegasus who can take off like a rocket from the ground, in flight was much smoother and virtually silent in the air. This also reduced the need to flap their wings as much, and could easily increase their speed, which was exactly what both guards began to do. "Be careful," cautioned Far Side, noticing their speedy descent. "If we hadn't veered off last minute on Nightmare Night, the Princess's return would have been marked by a crater. No pun intended." Crater gave out a laugh. "Dude, that was really lame." "Well I didn't mean to make a joke!" Far Side defended. He was about to think of a smart comeback before he remembered their passenger in the back. He looked back to Princess Luna, expecting to see a face expressing annoyance, but was surprised to see Luna trying to suppress a chuckle. Maybe she has changed Far Side thought to himself, before looking back forward to avoid being caught looking. He instead focused on slowing down their decline until the wind subsided and the chariot flew quietly as the night around them. "So Princess, where do you want to visit on this lovely night?" asked Crater. "We shall visit Ponyville again," responded Luna. "Oh, are they having another festival?" replied Crater amusingly. Luna let out a smile. "Not tonight. I'm just paying a visit to somepony in particular." Far Side and Crater exchanged glances but didn't want to push it. Instead they directed the chariot towards an approaching Ponyville. Ponyville was one of the largest towns in the region. The only thing preventing it from being a city would be it's small population and lack of modern Canterlot technology. It reminded Far Side of his home before he was taken, with it's country atmosphere and numerous food stands in the market. He was born and raised in Hoofington, and lived in a two story house, similar to ones that lined up in Ponyville. He slept on the top floor with a balcony attached to his room so he can gaze outside. During days, he would attend school and mess around, often getting negative comments from his teacher. He never really was into schooling, but took a big interest in stars and the moon. It always puzzled him what was up there in space, but he never got around to looking more into it. Little did he know that he would have a first hand experience. It was early in the night, and most ponies had retired to their homes, so the chariot's arrival went unnoticed. This was also aided by the fact that large thunder clouds and lightning didn't announce their arrival as well. "So where does this pony in particular live, your highness?" Far Side asked, taking the initiative for a change. "He lives in a cottage on the outskirts of town," replied Luna, who was surveying the town beneath her. "near the Everfree Forest. Just continue in the direction in which we are going." "And what has this pony done to deserve a visit from the Princess?" asked Crater. He looked back at Luna. "Has he committed a crime like tax evasion? Or maybe plotting against royalty perhaps? I'm sure Far Side and I can handle it." Far Side rolled his eyes. Sure he and Crater were trained to be soldiers, but the training itself was quite mediocre . Nightmare Moon was an expert military tactician,she never herself trained soldiers before, relying on the Royal Guard to do so. Her drills were mainly them just flying around the moon a few times, or lifting heavy objects, more exercising than preparing for war. The only time their training took on a battle scenario, was when Luna turned some moon rocks into statues representing royal guards. When Nightmare Moon presented these to the two guards, she had used her magic to make the figures move as if they were charging at them. Far Side and Crater didn't know any fighting techniques, so they just rammed into the statues head on, reducing them to piles of moon dust. The Mare in the Moon didn't look pleased with this, but not angry either. She never brought back the rock statues again. "I'm sure he'll surrender once he gets a good look at us." said Far Side. He more or less meant it as a joke, but the warm atmosphere established earlier turned to ice. Far Side noticed this, and turned to Crater, who just shook his head angrily and turned back to their flying. Far Side immediately felt guilty for his stupid comment, and angering Crater twice in one night. He didn't dare look back towards Luna. Nice going there, genius Far Side thought to himself. Good EveningFollowing Luna's directions, the trio found the suspect pony's house located near a stream by the Everfree Forest. The chariot landed smoothly on the damp ground, and when it came to a stop, the princess stepped out of while Far Side and Crater unhooked the chains from their armor. "We shouldn't have to worry about anypony stealing the chariot, should we, Princess?" asked Crater, scanning his surroundings. "I don't' think that will be necessary Crater." replied Luna, who was taking in the cool damp air. "The ponies here aren't the ones running around committing felonies or any of the sort." "Whatever you say, your highness." replied Crater, who was now looking into the deep forest, listening intently to the croaking of frogs and chirps of crickets. Not many ponies lived near the Everfree Forest due to it's large number of wildlife, so the houses were more spaced out than the ones in town. The only other house they saw was a few ways down the winding, dirt street. The cottage they stood in front of was a two story, with two windows on the first floor but none on the second. It look like a warm and inviting, yet the two guards weren't certain who the occupant inside caused Luna's interest. "Should we be getting ready to arrest someone?" Far Side spoke to no one in particular. "No," replied Luna, turning back to the house and trotting up the steps towards the front door. "This is a more friendly visit." Far Side looked to Crater. "I would've guessed somepony important enough to get a visit from the princess would be living in Canterlot." he whispered. Crater merely shrugged in response. They both looked at Luna, who was now knocking on the front door. They waited a few moments before the door opened to reveal an earth pony mare. She had a tan colored mane and a white coat. Her cutie mark consisted of three small pots. She didn't look surprised at all, despite the co-ruler of Equestria standing at her doorstep. The mare gave a wide smile. "Why hello there, Princess." She opened her door wider and gestured for Luna to enter. "We've been preparing for your arrival as soon as we got the letter. I'm sorry if my house is a bit of a mess. Dinner's almost ready. Did you bring any company?" She said, looking over the Princess at the two confused bat winged guards. "Indeed I have. I brought my night guards," Luna said in a friendly voice. She glanced back at them. "I was hoping they'd be able to join us tonight, if that's not any trouble of course." "Why not at all." said the pony, who didn't seem to show any reaction to the strange colts outside. "We have plenty of food for them as well." "That's excellent." stated Luna, nodding her head. She looked back and nodded her head, gesturing Far Side and Crater to enter as well. The guards looked at each, with Crater giving another shrug and going first. Far Side gulped and followed closely behind. The interior of the home was very pleasant. It was well lit, and despite having a small space, it was very comfortable. The living room had a number of couches and cushions arranged in an organized manner. Shelves on the wall contained picture frames, and a lighted fire place kept the room warm. The pony mare led them into the kitchen that doubled as a dining room. It had a stove and a large number of cupboards that were painted light blue. There was a good sized dining table in the center with a few extra chairs to accommodate the guests. "Pipsqueak!" the earth pony called up the stairs. "May you please bring an extra chair to the dining table please?" "Yes, mum!" called back a voice that resembled a young colt. "He'll be right down in a minute." said the mare, looking back at the group. She glanced at the two guards. "I don't recall introducing myself to you two. I am Potsherd, and my son's name is Pipsqueak." "Pipsqueak," mused Crater. Why would you name him that? His question was answered when a small pinto patterned colt, dragging a large chair behind him, bounded down the stairs. Once he reached the floor, he released the chair from his mouth and announced himself to no one in particular. "Sleep in fear, dreaded pirates, for I am Pipsqueak the Valiant!" declared Pipsqueak, a hint of an accent in his voice. He started bounding around with too much energy for a pony to have this late at night. The young pony was incredibly small, smaller than the ones Far Side and Crater saw dressed up on Nightmare Night. The patches on his coat were brown, with one over his eye that resembled an eye patch. The tiny colt stopped his jumping long enough to see Princess Luna looking at him with an amused smile. Oh, boy. Thought Far Side. He's going to freak. He was taken back as Pipsqueak ran right up to Luna and hugged her lower leg. "Princess Luna!" exclaimed Pipsqueak. "I was so excited when I heard you were coming over for dinner!" "I am happy to hear you were looking forward to it." Luna beamed. She nudged a hoof to Pipsqueak's shoulder. "I would like to introduce you to my two faithful guards." Far Side and Crater looked at each other in confusion as the little pony ran up to them. "Cool! Are you the two bat ponies I saw pulling Princess Luna on Nightmare Night?" Pipsqueak asked enthusiastically. There was an unsteady moment of silence as Crater was the one who answered. "I suppose that was us." he said sheepishly. "That's awesome!" exclaimed Pip as he hopped around once more before suddenly stopping and giving a curious look at Far Side and Crater. "Why are you still dressed up? Nightmare Night was weeks ago." The question stung Far Side, even though he knew it was an innocent one. He didn't necessarily know if the pony meant his armor or his bat body. He hoped his blue eyes hadn't transitioned to their yellow counterparts. "Uh, this is our regular armor." Far Side answered with uncertainty, giving a look to Crater who seemed unsure of what to add to it. Pipsqueak was quiet. Far Side and Crater exchanged glances while Luna looked on with worry. Then Pip shrugged and said, "Okay!" before he started bounding around in his small circle again. Potsherd just gave a smile. "He's a curious little pony, always going out on adventures with his new friends at school. Pip, may you please set the chair up at the dinner table?" "Yes, mum!" replied Pipsqueak as if he received his orders from a ship captain. He took the chair back into his mouth before dragging it to the table. "Here, let me help you with that." said Crater. He took the chair from Pip and set it up himself, before he took Pip into his mouth and set him on the chair. "There you go, buddy." While this was happening, Princess Luna was using her magic to aid Potsherd set food onto the table. "Oh, your highness," said Potsherd while pouring some water. "You should take a seat. I can take care of setting up dinner." "It would be rude not to give you my assistance." reassured Luna, while levitating the cups of water that had been filled and setting them on the table. "It feels nice to do things yourself instead of having servants do every single task for you back at Canterlot Castle." Far Side was standing on the side of the room feeling a bit lost. Luna was with Potsherd, and Crater and Pipsqueak were getting along quite fine. It still shocked him that Potsherd and Luna were conversing as if they were old friends, and how the earth pony didn't seem at all surprised at Far Side's and Crater's odd appearance. His musing was interrupted by Potsherd. "Okay everypony." she said while putting the last dish on the table. "Let's get ready to eat."
Surprise Visit Surprise Visit The sun had just set over Equestria, and the landscape was painted by the luminescent light from the moon.The stars were beginning to appear, covering the night sky. Princess Luna stepped out onto a balcony located on one of the many towers of Canterlot Castle. It had been almost a year since her return from her state as Nightmare Moon, and Luna was beginning to feel at home again in modern Equestria. "Are you sure you wouldn't like to stay in Canterlot for a little longer?" Luna turned to face the direction in which it came from. It was her sister, Princess Celestia. She was standing near the balcony doorway, her wings folded and mane less shimmering due to the setting of the sun. "Good evening dear, sister." responded Luna. "How has your day been treating you?" Celestia chuckled. "Well I woke up this morning to find Twilight in the Star Swirled the Bearded Wing. She was sporting a rather interesting costume and a new haircut. She looked a bit off, but her friends were there to help her." "It seems your pupil has been getting into a lot of weird situations lately." Luna said light heartily. She then remembered that her sister had asked her something earlier. "So what was it that you asked again?" "Oh yes," Celestia replied, "I was just wondering what was the reason for you to return to the moon again? Not meaning to be rude, but I was thinking that you wouldn't want to go back since you're return to Equestria." "Well I have some business I need to attend to in Ponyville, and I also need to check on Crater and Far Side. They will be expecting me, and it's best not to keep them waiting." Celestia could sense her sister's mood shift at the mention of the two ponies names. Far Side and Crater were Princess Luna's night guards, or Nightmare Moon's in a sense. They've been kidnapped by the Mare of the Moon during her banishment, and were forced to serve as her two soldiers to aid her in her return to Equestria. The whole matter was complicated, even more so than the screaming ponies of Nightmare Night. With Nightmare Moon gone, it was never established whether the two still had to serve Princess Luna. "If they wish, they are more than welcome to move into Canterlot Caste." Celestia offered, "We have plenty of space, and It would be much better than living in that fort on the moon." She said this carefully, knowing that this topic always brought out the negative side of Luna. "The only problem is that they seem to want to stay," Luna replied quietly. "Their time on the moon has slowed their aging somehow, and they're terrified to come back after being gone from Equestria for almost for two hundred years." Luna turned away from her sister and stared out over the balcony. She could see Ponyville was in clear site, and the night sky made the town look beautiful, maybe even more so than the cliffs of Canterlot. Far Side and Crater dropped her off there on Nightmare Night, and returned to pick her up after she was done with her visit, and as soon as they returned Luna to Canterlot, they sped back off to the moon without a word. "It may be difficult, but they can adjust to modern Equestria." reassured Celestia. "You were gone for a thousand years and you seem to be fitting back in fine yourself." "That's true." acknowledged Luna. "But royal life is pretty much the same as it was now. All you had to do was catch me up on the recent matters and how politics work now." Luna bowed her head. "Those two ponies were living normal, happy lives until they were taken away. Their parents are probably deceased now, and any relatives would likely not remember them, let alone take them in their current form..." Luna's face was showered with guilt. Princess Celestia trotted over, stretched out a wing and wrapped Luna into an embrace. "Sister, it was not you that kidnapped Far Side and Crater. It was Nightmare Moon, a very different pony from the princess of the night now." "That maybe so, but they think otherwise," retorted Luna. "When I visited them for the first time since my return on Nightmare Night, the look on their faces..." Luna felt some tears building up, and cleared her throat so they wouldn't show. "shows that they still see me as a monster." Celestia looked at her sister with sympathy. "Luna, I understand what you're going through. But those two are having a difficult time with this as well. Just give them time, and they will understand that they have no reason to fear you. And maybe they might become your friends." Luna looked up at the smile beginning to form on Celestia's face. She couldn't help but let out a small smile herself. No matter what the situation was, her sister always found a way to insert the topic of the importance of friendship. "Yes, and maybe we can find the elements of harmony and save Equestria." Luna said jokingly. Celestia chuckled. "I wouldn't go that far. We all know that's Twilight's job." Luna let out a laugh, her mood beginning to brighten again. As much as Luna enjoyed this moment with her sister, she stepped out of her sister's winged embrace. "It is getting late dear sister, and you need rest." The princess of the night took a few deep breaths, trying to regain her composure. "I suppose so," Celestia said, stifling a yawn. "I shall see you again in the morning. Be safe out there tonight." "Of course," responded Luna, flaring her wings. "I am the princess of the night by the way." With that spoken, she flapped her wings and began to ascend towards the moon. Celestia watched as her sister flew up a distance before Luna seemed to disappear into the moon light. "WATCH YOUR LEFT, WATCH YOUR LEFT!" "I see him, I see-" Far Side groaned in frustration as his character died once again. The two ponies were playing Pony Warfare 2, a new release that Crater had begging Princess Luna to acquire for them. Far Side felt the familiar urge to pick up the computer monitor on the desk in front of him and fling it across the room. He showed restraint though, for his and Crater's sake. Princess Luna gave them this computer as a gift when she visited them on Nightmare Night, and the two were a bit dumbfounded when they first tried to use it. Crater had gotten in the hang of it quick, but Far Side was still having some troubles. He didn't want to be asking Luna for a new one. Crater was humored by Far Side's flared temper. "Well, you didn't do as bad as last time. Who knows, maybe you'll improve enough so you can get as good as me." He kept the mood upbeat, knowing how video gaming usually made Far Side's mood go sour. Far Side didn't like playing video games, but with the lack of scenery and places to visit on the moon, video games were the only thing to keep a pony from dying of boredom. "Yes, maybe one day I can become as skilled as the great and powerful Crater." said Far Side, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Maybe I'm not good because I don't play this all day like a certain somepony. How in Equestria are you not getting fat from sitting on your flank all day?" "Beats counting the same stars we've been counting for the past two hundred years." replied Crater with a smirk. He decided to change the subject. "How about we take a break? We better get ready for Princess Luna's visit." Far Side's ears perked up in surprise upon hearing this. "What, Princess Luna is coming tonight?! How come you didn't tell me about this earlier?" "She sent a letter up a few days ago," replied Crater. He knew how the simple mention of the princess caused Far Side to panic. "I think you were having another one of your migraines at the time." "Yeah, that might explain it." Far Side rubbed the right side of his head, feeling the familiar outline of the long scar across his temple. He was pretty certain that Crater could have told him after his migraine went away, but he didn't want to interrogate him about it. "But why would she visit tonight? Shouldn't she be taking care of old business back in Canterlot Castle?" "She said she just wanted to check on us." Crater began to trot to the door. "Nothing special I would think, but maybe she'll bring us some more awesome tech stuff from Canterlot." Crater let out a whiny in excitement and galloped to his room. "Nice to see at least somepony's happy about this." muttered Far Side under his breath. New tech stuff, another wonderful thing they missed during their imprisonment by Nightmare Moon. Far Side sighed and trotted over to his bedroom. The room was simple, with no door, a small bed, and a hole in the wall to gaze out onto the dull cratered landscape. Dull... his room, his home, his life. Life on the moon was nothing short of boring, the atmosphere unchanging. When he first arrived on the moon, he would gaze out in wonder at the distant planets and stars, or admire the shining radiance of the sun. Those pleasures were far gone now, and he had become sick of seeing the same sights over and over again. He was pretty sure things would be more lively down in Equestria. All the ponies going about their daily lives, barely noticing how beautiful their settings were, while he was up here counting moon rocks. Why shouldn't he go back down to Equestria? He was sure that Crater would go too, without any questions. And their home didn't seem to have changed that much when they visited during Nightmare Night. He could simply leave this boring existence, Nightmare Moon wasn't here to stop him. His brain seemed to have throbbed at the thought and Far Side shook his head to clear it away. It was best not to dwell on it, or he would be needing an ice pack for his aching head. He went over to the small mirror in the corner and took a long look at himself. His eyes were the first thing to grab his attention. They were bright yellow, and the cat like appearance was becoming more dominant. His eyes weren't like this for the most part, usually taking a darker blue color, and having regular pupils like any other pony. The cat eyes came out in low light conditions, allowing him to see the dark environment as if it were bright as day. But sometimes they would manifest at random times when he would least expect it. His gaze wandered from his eyes, to the large scar above it. The scar was a light gray, and it spread from his temple, stopping just above his eye. The bendy lines made the scar almost resemble a lightning bolt, but an ugly lightning bolt at that. His ear was even showing some scarring, with parts not having any fur and his hearing from that particular ear not being as keen as the other. He had no doubt that this head injury was the cause of all his migraines he would get at random points in the day, some being so bad that he could barely function. He stepped away from the mirror, having seen enough of his changed form. He didn't even remember how he use to look like before his transformation, before Nightmare Moon took kidnapped them... Crater had been the first to be taken. It was a quiet night in the city of Fillydelphia, and Crater had been sleeping in his bedroom when he woke up to find himself on the moon. Crater stated that the whole thing was more shocking than scary, thinking all of this was a dream since the story of Nightmare Moon was just an old mare's tale. But the banished Princess of the Night proved to be very real, and Crater could recall her almost being giddy at her success of taking a pony from Earth. She then used her mysterious dark magic on the poor colt, giving him a monstrous appearance with frightening eyes, a grey coat, and most striking of all, two large bat wings. Far Side didn't have the luxury of being asleep when he was taken. He was very awake, gazing at the night sky from his bedroom window right before he was pulled into it. He couldn't really remember the whole experience, but he could recall the feeling of helplessness as he was pulled farther and farther away from his home, not knowing where he was going, or how he was even being transported. It felt as if it was a tentacle wrapped around his hoof, but he later found out that it was also the work of Nightmare Moon's dark magic, which she then used to give him the same transformation she had given to Crater. How she had managed to get it all the way from the moon to Earth was still a question that bothered him, but he wouldn't dare ask Princess Luna that. Thinking about it, Princess Luna hasn't really been giving them much answers at all. Far Side knew he shouldn't be mad, since the Princess did apologize when they dropped her off at Canterlot Castle, but it wasn't very satisfying for him. This whole transition from a forced soldier serving under the terrifying Nightmare Night for almost two hundred years, to being a guard for Princess Luna, was so quick that it didn't even seem real. Could he and Crater go home? Can they even go home after being gone for so long? He wouldn't have to ask all these questions if it wasn't for the Princess of the Night. And now she's coming for a visit. Author's Note Feedback would be well appreciated.
AwkwardThe fort on the moon was mediocre at best. It was constructed with melted moon rock and was about a quarter of the size of Canterlot Castle. It was two stories tall, with a single tower that really served no purpose since the fort wasn't threatened by any invasions or the sort. Nightmare Moon had begun construction of the fort herself before she eventually made her two newly acquired guards finish it for her. She melted the rocks herself before Far Side and Crater had to form crude bricks, which they then stacked to make a building that was kind of like a igloo. The princess of the night never actually lived in the fort itself, often turning into a cloud of dark magic and not being seen again until the next morning. So the two colts made it their home for the next two hundred years. Far Side and Crater were standing outside of the fort now, waiting for Princess Luna's arrival. The two donned their armor, which was dark purple, hi lighted with blue in places. The armor was lighter than the ones used by the Canterlot guards in Equestria, being more flexible to suit their changed body types. While this armor wouldn't protect a pony much in combat, it was very intimidating, especially when the two donned their helmets with a crown that resembled their wings in a way. Far Side shifted his hooves, not used to the feeling of having his armor on him again. It felt too small, having been given the armor when he was still a young colt, back when it was too big for him. It weighed him down and made him clumsy, which infuriated Nightmare Moon during their "training", her blaming Far Side instead of the armor. He looked over at Crater, whose armor seemed to fit him more comfortably, despite him being bulkier than Far Side. He guessed that Nightmare Night wasn't much of a clothes designer, looking to be more fierce and terrifying than fitting for the user. "She should be here soon," said Crater. "What should we say when she gets here?" "We don't have to say anything," replied Far Side with almost no emotion. "We just salute and get this night over with." "Still not comfortable around the Princess I suppose?" Far Side almost laughed. "That would be an understatement." "Come on, Far Side, you know she's a different pony now. Just look at how nice she was when she came back on Nightmare Night! She apologized and gave us that awesome computer." "Yeah, and it shows how much we missed being kidnapped by the gift giving Princess of the Night." retorted Far Side. "Hey, we wouldn't even see those computers if we weren't kidnapped. We probably be dead by now." replied Crater, his voice having a hint of anger in it. Crater was an easy-going pony, and he didn't get mad often. Far Side was taken back by this, and didn't respond. He turned away and focused on his own thoughts. Sure they somehow lived longer, but it was just two hundred years of doing old military drills and trying to build a moon castle. "Look sharp, here she comes." said Crater, putting on his helmet and standing at attention. Far Side looked up and saw Princess Luna descending down onto the moon surface. Giving a nervous gulp, he donned his helmet and stood at attention as well, parallel from Crater. The Princess landed in front of them, wings flapping momentarily before folding at her sides. She wasn't a great flier, choosing to telephoner to her destinations when she gained enough distance from the ground. "Good evening gentlemen," said Luna. "How have things been going up here?" "Everything's been going fine princess." Stated Crater, all traces of previous anger gone from his voice. "No signs of any trouble up here." Princess Luna gave out a chuckle, which surprised the two colts, being this the first time she's laughed around them. Seems like she's loosened up a bit since she last came here thought Far Side. He baffled at how Crater can speak so easily to the Princess, having a serious and formal tone, yet almost upbeat at the same time. Luna turned to Far Side with a smile. "And how are you Far Side," she said with the voice that always gave Far Side the chills. It wasn't that the voice was bad, it was almost soothing in a way. It just seemed so different coming from the mare who always yelled at them using the traditional Canterlot voice which may have also associated with Far Side's migraines. He fought to get the words out of his mouth. "It's been going great princess," said Far Side, almost a little too fast. The Princess was quiet for a moment before nodding. "I'm very happy to hear that." Crater sensed the awkwardness and changed the subject. "So Princess, I heard that you wanted to run a few errands in Equestria." "Oh yes," replied the Princess. "I'll tell you our destination when we get going." "I suppose that means we're pulling the chariot?" asked Crater with a smirk. Luna smiled. "If you two still have it." Far Side piped in, wanting to get out of the awkward situation. "Yes we do! It's in the shed if I still remember. I'll go get it!" Before anyone could reply, he galloped off as quick as he could, sending a wave of moon dust after him. Crater watched as Far Side ran off before giving a sigh. "Sorry about that Princess, he's still a little uneasy about all this and..." He looked down and shuffled his hooves trying to find his words. "No need to explain Crater." Luna said. "I understand what he's going through, and I'll be acting the same way if I were in his position. I'm that he'll be okay one day." Her voice trailed off, as if she was uncertain of herself. "Yes, he should be." added Crater looking again at the direction where Far Side left. "I sure hope so." Author's Note Ouch, mixed reviews. I'm hoping this well go better as I continue this. Feedback is always accepted though.
Let's RidePrincess Luna's chariot, while not as extravagant as Celestia's, was very intimidating, with it's dim lanterns hanging on the back and an ornament at the front that resembled an eye. Consisting of four wheels and metal chains that were attached to the fliers, it was quiet small, only being able to fit Luna herself on the chariot. But what it lacked in size and beauty, it made up for it with it's lightness and speed. The chariot was also the same style as the two guard's armor, with it's gray and purple color scheme, even having fins on the back that resembled the guard's' bat wings. After everything on the chariot was fully inspected and Far Side and Crater attached the chains to their armor, Princess Luna took her seat in the chariot. "Not going with the black cape today, Princess?" asked Crater with an amused smile. Luna responded with a chuckle. "No, I got rid of it. It would be best not to intimidate everypony like last time." "Let's just get going," Far Side said. He wanted this night to be over with already, and was in a hurry to do so. "Best not let the Princess be late to wherever she's going." Crater and Luna exchanged glances at each other. Crater shrugged and started to scrape his hooves against the moon surface. "All right then, let's ride!" The two guards started to gallop, gaining speed until they flared their wings and took off. Once they gained a bit of altitude, they angled downward and began their descent towards Equestria. As the chariot gained speed in its descent, Far Side felt an old familiar surge inside him. He was a pegasus pony before, often flying with his friends and even helped out with the weather team in his hometown. After his transformation though, he didn't fly as often as he use to, being ashamed of his newly acquired bat wings. But the rush he was experiencing now made him forget all about them, and the feeling of the wind whipping past his ears brought a smile to his face. He glanced over at Crater who was also smiling, almost laughing it seemed. Crater was a pegasus pony before as well, but he was a much more avid flier than Far Side. He was more of a Cloudsdale pony, but lived in a village on Foal Mountain, due to his mother and brother being an earth pony. He was more accepting of the two for their new wings, stating that "It's better than not having wings at all." But his flying time was cut short, and only used during special training lessons that required flight. As much as both didn't want to admit it though, the bat wings made flight much easier despite their horrendous look. While they had to gallop a distance to gain speed and altitude, unlike a regular pegasus who can take off like a rocket from the ground, in flight was much smoother and virtually silent in the air. This also reduced the need to flap their wings as much, and could easily increase their speed, which was exactly what both guards began to do. "Be careful," cautioned Far Side, noticing their speedy descent. "If we hadn't veered off last minute on Nightmare Night, the Princess's return would have been marked by a crater. No pun intended." Crater gave out a laugh. "Dude, that was really lame." "Well I didn't mean to make a joke!" Far Side defended. He was about to think of a smart comeback before he remembered their passenger in the back. He looked back to Princess Luna, expecting to see a face expressing annoyance, but was surprised to see Luna trying to suppress a chuckle. Maybe she has changed Far Side thought to himself, before looking back forward to avoid being caught looking. He instead focused on slowing down their decline until the wind subsided and the chariot flew quietly as the night around them. "So Princess, where do you want to visit on this lovely night?" asked Crater. "We shall visit Ponyville again," responded Luna. "Oh, are they having another festival?" replied Crater amusingly. Luna let out a smile. "Not tonight. I'm just paying a visit to somepony in particular." Far Side and Crater exchanged glances but didn't want to push it. Instead they directed the chariot towards an approaching Ponyville. Ponyville was one of the largest towns in the region. The only thing preventing it from being a city would be it's small population and lack of modern Canterlot technology. It reminded Far Side of his home before he was taken, with it's country atmosphere and numerous food stands in the market. He was born and raised in Hoofington, and lived in a two story house, similar to ones that lined up in Ponyville. He slept on the top floor with a balcony attached to his room so he can gaze outside. During days, he would attend school and mess around, often getting negative comments from his teacher. He never really was into schooling, but took a big interest in stars and the moon. It always puzzled him what was up there in space, but he never got around to looking more into it. Little did he know that he would have a first hand experience. It was early in the night, and most ponies had retired to their homes, so the chariot's arrival went unnoticed. This was also aided by the fact that large thunder clouds and lightning didn't announce their arrival as well. "So where does this pony in particular live, your highness?" Far Side asked, taking the initiative for a change. "He lives in a cottage on the outskirts of town," replied Luna, who was surveying the town beneath her. "near the Everfree Forest. Just continue in the direction in which we are going." "And what has this pony done to deserve a visit from the Princess?" asked Crater. He looked back at Luna. "Has he committed a crime like tax evasion? Or maybe plotting against royalty perhaps? I'm sure Far Side and I can handle it." Far Side rolled his eyes. Sure he and Crater were trained to be soldiers, but the training itself was quite mediocre . Nightmare Moon was an expert military tactician,she never herself trained soldiers before, relying on the Royal Guard to do so. Her drills were mainly them just flying around the moon a few times, or lifting heavy objects, more exercising than preparing for war. The only time their training took on a battle scenario, was when Luna turned some moon rocks into statues representing royal guards. When Nightmare Moon presented these to the two guards, she had used her magic to make the figures move as if they were charging at them. Far Side and Crater didn't know any fighting techniques, so they just rammed into the statues head on, reducing them to piles of moon dust. The Mare in the Moon didn't look pleased with this, but not angry either. She never brought back the rock statues again. "I'm sure he'll surrender once he gets a good look at us." said Far Side. He more or less meant it as a joke, but the warm atmosphere established earlier turned to ice. Far Side noticed this, and turned to Crater, who just shook his head angrily and turned back to their flying. Far Side immediately felt guilty for his stupid comment, and angering Crater twice in one night. He didn't dare look back towards Luna. Nice going there, genius Far Side thought to himself.
Good EveningFollowing Luna's directions, the trio found the suspect pony's house located near a stream by the Everfree Forest. The chariot landed smoothly on the damp ground, and when it came to a stop, the princess stepped out of while Far Side and Crater unhooked the chains from their armor. "We shouldn't have to worry about anypony stealing the chariot, should we, Princess?" asked Crater, scanning his surroundings. "I don't' think that will be necessary Crater." replied Luna, who was taking in the cool damp air. "The ponies here aren't the ones running around committing felonies or any of the sort." "Whatever you say, your highness." replied Crater, who was now looking into the deep forest, listening intently to the croaking of frogs and chirps of crickets. Not many ponies lived near the Everfree Forest due to it's large number of wildlife, so the houses were more spaced out than the ones in town. The only other house they saw was a few ways down the winding, dirt street. The cottage they stood in front of was a two story, with two windows on the first floor but none on the second. It look like a warm and inviting, yet the two guards weren't certain who the occupant inside caused Luna's interest. "Should we be getting ready to arrest someone?" Far Side spoke to no one in particular. "No," replied Luna, turning back to the house and trotting up the steps towards the front door. "This is a more friendly visit." Far Side looked to Crater. "I would've guessed somepony important enough to get a visit from the princess would be living in Canterlot." he whispered. Crater merely shrugged in response. They both looked at Luna, who was now knocking on the front door. They waited a few moments before the door opened to reveal an earth pony mare. She had a tan colored mane and a white coat. Her cutie mark consisted of three small pots. She didn't look surprised at all, despite the co-ruler of Equestria standing at her doorstep. The mare gave a wide smile. "Why hello there, Princess." She opened her door wider and gestured for Luna to enter. "We've been preparing for your arrival as soon as we got the letter. I'm sorry if my house is a bit of a mess. Dinner's almost ready. Did you bring any company?" She said, looking over the Princess at the two confused bat winged guards. "Indeed I have. I brought my night guards," Luna said in a friendly voice. She glanced back at them. "I was hoping they'd be able to join us tonight, if that's not any trouble of course." "Why not at all." said the pony, who didn't seem to show any reaction to the strange colts outside. "We have plenty of food for them as well." "That's excellent." stated Luna, nodding her head. She looked back and nodded her head, gesturing Far Side and Crater to enter as well. The guards looked at each, with Crater giving another shrug and going first. Far Side gulped and followed closely behind. The interior of the home was very pleasant. It was well lit, and despite having a small space, it was very comfortable. The living room had a number of couches and cushions arranged in an organized manner. Shelves on the wall contained picture frames, and a lighted fire place kept the room warm. The pony mare led them into the kitchen that doubled as a dining room. It had a stove and a large number of cupboards that were painted light blue. There was a good sized dining table in the center with a few extra chairs to accommodate the guests. "Pipsqueak!" the earth pony called up the stairs. "May you please bring an extra chair to the dining table please?" "Yes, mum!" called back a voice that resembled a young colt. "He'll be right down in a minute." said the mare, looking back at the group. She glanced at the two guards. "I don't recall introducing myself to you two. I am Potsherd, and my son's name is Pipsqueak." "Pipsqueak," mused Crater. Why would you name him that? His question was answered when a small pinto patterned colt, dragging a large chair behind him, bounded down the stairs. Once he reached the floor, he released the chair from his mouth and announced himself to no one in particular. "Sleep in fear, dreaded pirates, for I am Pipsqueak the Valiant!" declared Pipsqueak, a hint of an accent in his voice. He started bounding around with too much energy for a pony to have this late at night. The young pony was incredibly small, smaller than the ones Far Side and Crater saw dressed up on Nightmare Night. The patches on his coat were brown, with one over his eye that resembled an eye patch. The tiny colt stopped his jumping long enough to see Princess Luna looking at him with an amused smile. Oh, boy. Thought Far Side. He's going to freak. He was taken back as Pipsqueak ran right up to Luna and hugged her lower leg. "Princess Luna!" exclaimed Pipsqueak. "I was so excited when I heard you were coming over for dinner!" "I am happy to hear you were looking forward to it." Luna beamed. She nudged a hoof to Pipsqueak's shoulder. "I would like to introduce you to my two faithful guards." Far Side and Crater looked at each other in confusion as the little pony ran up to them. "Cool! Are you the two bat ponies I saw pulling Princess Luna on Nightmare Night?" Pipsqueak asked enthusiastically. There was an unsteady moment of silence as Crater was the one who answered. "I suppose that was us." he said sheepishly. "That's awesome!" exclaimed Pip as he hopped around once more before suddenly stopping and giving a curious look at Far Side and Crater. "Why are you still dressed up? Nightmare Night was weeks ago." The question stung Far Side, even though he knew it was an innocent one. He didn't necessarily know if the pony meant his armor or his bat body. He hoped his blue eyes hadn't transitioned to their yellow counterparts. "Uh, this is our regular armor." Far Side answered with uncertainty, giving a look to Crater who seemed unsure of what to add to it. Pipsqueak was quiet. Far Side and Crater exchanged glances while Luna looked on with worry. Then Pip shrugged and said, "Okay!" before he started bounding around in his small circle again. Potsherd just gave a smile. "He's a curious little pony, always going out on adventures with his new friends at school. Pip, may you please set the chair up at the dinner table?" "Yes, mum!" replied Pipsqueak as if he received his orders from a ship captain. He took the chair back into his mouth before dragging it to the table. "Here, let me help you with that." said Crater. He took the chair from Pip and set it up himself, before he took Pip into his mouth and set him on the chair. "There you go, buddy." While this was happening, Princess Luna was using her magic to aid Potsherd set food onto the table. "Oh, your highness," said Potsherd while pouring some water. "You should take a seat. I can take care of setting up dinner." "It would be rude not to give you my assistance." reassured Luna, while levitating the cups of water that had been filled and setting them on the table. "It feels nice to do things yourself instead of having servants do every single task for you back at Canterlot Castle." Far Side was standing on the side of the room feeling a bit lost. Luna was with Potsherd, and Crater and Pipsqueak were getting along quite fine. It still shocked him that Potsherd and Luna were conversing as if they were old friends, and how the earth pony didn't seem at all surprised at Far Side's and Crater's odd appearance. His musing was interrupted by Potsherd. "Okay everypony." she said while putting the last dish on the table. "Let's get ready to eat."
