Author: AnnonyMouse
MLP:FiM is property of Hasbro. This is a free fanfiction, not to be sold or traded for any money, goods or services.
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A/N: No comments on spelling or grammar. See my profile for details.
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Evernight
01
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The lunar phase for the day was to be a clear full moon.
This pleased a young Unicorn as she rolled over in bed. “Such a bright, beautiful moon today.” She smiled and threw off her blanket before sitting up, letting her hooves touch the still cool black marble floor of her home.
She stood up, stretching her arms over her head before walking to the window and fully throwing open the curtains, allowing the silver light to wash over her slender form. She had a most beautiful view of the full moon raising over the ebony towers of Lunaris Castle, and beyond, the Everwild forest.
“Ah, a brand new night. The stars are pretty bright. Queen Nightsong must be up too something. Then again, it is coming up on the Summer Never Sun Festival.”
“Midnight?” A small voice hissed from a basket at the foot of her bed.
Midnight glanced back a moment at the feather winged serpent as his head poked into view. “Good morning Spike.” She smiled as she turned to her wardrobe. “What should I wear today?” She pulled out two sleeveless, long jackets. “The usual Lunar Grey or my new one with the silver star embroidery.”
“Why do you always ask me? I think you should wear something that matches your mane for a change.”
“School rules Spike. We can only so so much customizing to our uniforms.” Midnight giggled and threw on the knee length jacket with the stars. Other than the jacket, all she had was her lavender coat covering her body, which was what most ponies tended to wear. “If I wear clothing, it has to be a school uniform while on Academy grounds.”
Spike's thin, forked tongue stuck out for a moment as he lifted from the bed, his small feathered wings only flapping occasionally to help with movement. The yard long, slender serpent sighed. His purple and black scales catching the moon's light. “What do you want for breakfast today?”
“Hmm, Eggs and hash browns. Oh, and we may as well use up the last of the bacon.” Midnight smiled as she started combing her waist length, neatly cut mane.
“Of course.” He smiled and flew out the bedroom door.
Midnight Sparkle gave her tail a quick comb before walking out the door herself. Her cloven hooves making not a sound on the stone floor.
As she entered the kitchen, she was greeted to the smell of bacon and eggs frying up.
“You know Midnight? I've always wondered why you like meat. It's not that common for ponies to eat.” Spike asked.
“I never told you?” She blinked.
“Not really. Guess I never really thought about it, but then, when you created me, I didn't think much at all back then.
Midnight nodded her understanding and poured herself a cup of coffee with her magic, black. At the same time, she tossed a couple pieces of sliced bread into a device she had created to toast it evenly and quickly.
She glanced at Spike as he worked. “Well, you see, we ponies have been slowly evolving over these last thousand years, sense Queen Nightsong defeated Tyrant Skyfire and broke the spell over all ponies that kept us trapped as quadrupedal beasts with a forced innocent understanding of the world around us. We only ate plants back then, and we were often prey for dangerous beasts.” She sipped her coffee. “But with the spell removed, our evolution has started to catch up to where it should be. Those of us who can eat meat are where the Pony race should be. We're also smarter, larger and pretty much better than how we once had been.” Midnight held up her hands. “For starters, these were once hooves, totally useless for anything but walking and pawing at the ground.”
“So, it's natural that you can eat meat. So, how many can?”
“Oddly, it's mostly Unicorn Ponies, but there are some Pegasus and the rare Earth Pony who can digest meat. They're usually ones with innate or even active magical abilities of their own.”
“I see.” Spike nodded.
“I hope that answers your question.” Midnight smiled as Spike nodded.
As Midnight sat down, she picked up a book she had left on the table the night before. “Ugh... I have that essay due today.”
“You finished it last night, remember?” Spike served up the perfect fried eggs, bacon and a good serving of hash browns.
The toast popped up and was quickly buttered.
“I know... But, I'm still nervous. This is an essay about the Tyrant Princess from a thousand years ago.” Midnight opened the book to a page she had marked. “This book is old, and it details a different story than the one taught in history class.”
Spike flicked his tongue as he curled up on the table, his head a foot off the surface. He eyed the book. “Where did you find that? What's it say about Tyrant Skyfire?”
“Well, I didn't include anything from this book in the essay, but in here, it detailed the Tyrant as being Princess Nightsky's elder sister, and regent of the Sun.” She leaned back and crossed her legs. A piece of bacon floated into her mouth. “Just once I wish you could get my bacon right. Crispy without being burned.”
“Hello, I have no hands like you do. I have to use my tail. Anyway... what's a Sun?”
“It's like the Moon, only it's so bright that it can hide the stars. It's so hot that it can scorch the land and burn the world to ash.” Midnight shuddered. “Could you imagine if Tyrant Skyfire were to ever return?” She flipped the page and read some more. Her face suddenly paled. “No... Impossible.”
“What is it Mid?” Spike asked, peaking over to see the book's contents. “A threat from Skyfire... On the thousandth year, she promises to return and bring forth the Sun?”
Spike literally sprung back. “How long ago was she defeated by Queen Nightsong?”
“The Lunar calendar shows this is the thousandth year of our Queen's reign.” Midnight replied as she continued reading through the book. “Odd, it refers to Queen Nightsong as... Nightmare Moon and Princess Luna, and Tyrant Skyfire as Princess Celestia. I know I've heard those names before.” She nearly rushed from the table, but stayed long enough to quickly eat her breakfast, chewing properly. She hated choking on good food.
After that, she rushed down to the eighth floor of her home, which was on the top floor of the School of Magic. Being the highest ranking and most favored of the Queen's personal apprentices had certain advantages. One being allowed to convert the library's attic into her own private home, among others.
She jumped over a railing, a pair of shimmering silver fathered wings appeared behind her, allowing her to fly freely to the fourth floor where she landed and started looking over the titles. “The legend of Nightmare Moon...” She grinned and pulled the book from the shelf. She levitated the book open and started skimming through the pages.
“Hmm, according to this, Queen Nightsong was once known as Princess Luna, who ruled the night while her elder sister, Princess Celestia, ruled the day.” Midnight blinked. “Day, I've heard that term before as well.” She shrugged and kept reading. “While the ponies lived and were active during the day, under the Sun, they hid and slept through Luna's dark nights. Over time, the young Princess's heart started to become dark and filled with hate. The elder sister tried to reason with her younger sister, but to no avail. The young one's heart had become so dark that she transformed into a wicked mare known as Nightmare Moon.”
Midnight scratched her head a little. This was NOT at all what the history books had described, but then, this was a section for 'fictional' books and false legends.
She resumed reading. “The elder sister, Tyrant Skyfire, used an ancient magic known as Discord to try to restore her sister to being subservient?” Midnight paused. “This story never said anything about the younger sister being a servant, but it said they were shared rulers...” She examined the book, noting the slight change in both handwriting and writing style.
“The story has been changed?” She frowned, but read on. “Princess Nightsong called upon the Blessings of Harmony and fought back, defeating the elder sister, entrapping her forever in the Neversky, deep within the world, where she was bound to warm the world for all eternity.”
Again Midnight scratched her head. “This makes no sense... Oh, there's more.” She flipped the page. “Tyrant Skyfire swore she would return in a thousand years and bring fire to the sky.” Midnight frowned. The story had been tampered with. “Well... I know there's no other copy of this book in this library.” She snapped the book closed and placed it back on the shelf.
Her wings spread and she returned to the top floor of the library and reentered her home. “Spike?”
“Yes Midnight?” He poked his head out of the kitchen.
“I'm going out for a bit.” She strapped on her leather bracers and fetlock covers before approaching the window. Her horn glowed and a satchel flew to her. She caught the strap and threw it over her shoulder. She never went out without the contents of this bag.
“I'll be here, like always.”
“I'll bring you back some fresh mice if I get the chance.” She flashed a grin, her small fangs glinting in the light. She then stepped out onto the balcony, her wings spreading wide, and she flew off.
...
While the Academy Library may be lacking the book, perhaps the Royal Library would have an unaltered version, and if not there, they in her Mistress's private library.
She landed outside the gates and canceled the spell that granted her wings. She knew the Pegasai Guards HATED seeing her walk around with them. They'd often harass her about 'pretending to be royalty' while the spell was active. Magic and flight was supposed to be available only to the Queen after all.
Still, Queen Nightsong had personally taught her the spell.
Midnight just decided to not show the spell off in their presence. It made things easier for her. She walked through the halls of the castle, surprising the occasional servant or guard as she appeared around a corner without any warning.
By the Moon, she loved her enchanted ponyshoes.
Finally she reached the castle library. She walked toward the doors but the guards blocked her path, spears crossing and leathery wings spreading before the small mare, baring her passage.
“What is the meaning of this?” Midnight demanded. “You do know who I am, don't you?”
“Sorry Miss Sparkle, but you are currently banned from the Library. You are to report personally to Queen Nightsong immediately.”
“Banned? What for?”
“You will have to ask her Highness.” The armored Pegasus glared at her.
“Fiiine.” Midnight fumed and turned. She paused and glared back at the guard. “This had better not be some prank.”
The looks on their faces were stern. Of course, the Royal Guard never joked around.
Twilight walked through the halls toward the throne room. This early in the night, the Queen would be present, but not busy with visitors... yet. She finally reached the open doors and glanced at the guards. Neither made a move to block her.
“Queen Nightsong.” Midnight strode to the base of the throne steps and bowed on one knee. “I have been barred entry into the Royal Library. Might I know the reason why?”
“Ah, my dear Midnight Sparkle.” Queen Nightsong smiled at her prized apprentice. “I know you well enough that if you enter, I would have difficulty in giving you a task that shall take you from the walls of this city.”
“A task?” Midnight looked up at the Queen, her black coat, deep night sky mane and green dragon eyes. “Might I know what this task is?”
“I wish for you to oversee the preparations of the thousandth Summer Never Sun Festival. This year it will be held in Ponyville.”
Midnight paled. “Of course... the legend of Tyrant Skyfire... She threatened to return after a thousand years...”
“You need not worry about such events. A threat is just that. A threat. My elder sister, Tyrant Skyfire, remains sealed in Neversky. The task I have set before you is important, and you should be honored that I have chosen you.”
“Of course my Queen.” Midnight bowed again. “I will do what I must to ensure everything goes off without a hitch.”
“Do what you must. Oh yes, I do believe you have been burying yourself in your studies far too much of late. Did you study through your sixteenth birthday last week?”
Midnight winced. “I'm sixteen now?” She pulled out a small crystal and tapped it, a magic projection of a book appeared, showing a calendar. “Oh wow... that's three years in a row.”
Nightsong chuckled. “Oh Midnight, what will I do with you.”
“You can rely on me to take care of these preparations. After... Can I get back to some research I'm performing? I need access to the royal library.”
“I will think about it.” Nightsong held up a scroll. “This is all the information you will be needing.” She levitated it into Midnight's grasp.
“Thank you my Queen.”
Nightsong nodded and dismissed her apprentice with a wave of her hand.
...
Spike was draped over Midnight's shoulder as she packed her belongings. All her belongings.
“Midnight? What's going on?”
The mare sighed. “Well, Queen Nightsong is sending me to Ponyville to oversee the Summer Never Sun Festival preparations... Also, I'm being transferred there as a permanent replacement for their now dead town mage and librarian.” Midnight fumed. “What about my studies?”
“Didn't your instructions state that you're to continue them in your new home?”
“Ponyville? Ville? VILLAGE? What can I do in some small muddy hole what I've never heard of before.”
“Hmm, should have made you study more than magic and the history of Evernight.”
“Why do you say that? I must have done SOMETHING to anger the Queen to be banished to a village full of uneducated country bumpkins...”
“Actually, from what I know of it, they produce most of the apples we eat here, as well as milk, beef, bacon, and plenty of other foods you enjoy.”
Midnight sighed as she stuffed over a hundred books into a travel bag, without it even showing a hint of holding much at all. “Well, I guess the food won't be bad... but I'll be surrounded by farmers and ranchers. I won't be able to have a single intelligent conversation.”
“Hey, what about me?”
“No offense Spike, but I know everything you know already. I created you, remember?”
“You'd think so, but I know more about the layout of Evernight than you do. That, and the fact that Ponyville has quite an extensive library, and the fact that it was home to a wizard who lived to nearly two hundred years of age. You've heard of Spells Caster?”
“Small time mage who's only real achievement was to slow his own aging process when an experiment of his went wrong. He was trying to make a new, less burning mouth wash.” Midnight eyed Spike. “A feat he was never able to duplicate again, not to mention the fact that he slowed his aging when he was already a hundred years old. Another fact, Spells Caster was an Earth Pony magician. He couldn't actually cast spells, but was more of an alchemist.”
“Oh...” Spike chuckled. “So, if you could go anywhere in Evernight, where would you go?”
“Hmm...” Midnight paused and threw open the book again, hearing only Evernight, which sparked a thought. “Evernight... According to the book, see here? This land was once called Equestria. None of this makes sense. What if Tyrant Skyfire really does come back? What will we do if she sets the sky on fire?”
“Um... Well, I think we'd all be burned to a crisp faster than bacon when it falls in the stove.” Spike replied dryly. “So then we'd have nothing to worry about.”
“You don't get it Spike.” She pointed at the diagram in the book. “Look, this depiction of a flaming sphere and this one, the moon. I'm not sure the sun would burn everything to a crisp, not unless the history we know is true.”
Spike flicked his tongue again. “When Tyrant Skyfire went mad and tried to use the sun to burn the world and Princess Nightsong had to stop her using the Blessings of Harmony?”
“Exactly. If our history is the correct one, and if she does come back on the thousandth celebration...”
Spike paused. “But isn't the one coming up the thousandth?”
“Exactly... I think we should warn Queen Nightsong. Take a letter please.”
Spike nodded and flew to the desk. He dipped the tip of his tail into an ink well and waited.
“Your Royal highness, Queen Nightsong.”
“I have discovered some odd information concerning Tyrant Skyfire. I feel that she may be trying to make a return. I do not know what her intentions would be after a thousand years, but I can assume it would not be good.”
“I await your advice.”
“Humbly yours, Midnight Sparkle.”
Midnight checked the letter over and nodded. “Send it.”
Spike nodded and breathed a small burst of green flames, sending the scroll off. “So, now we wait?”
“Yes, we wait till she responds. I know she trusts my intuition... I just hope she responds quickly.” (Even if she did tell me she has it all under control...)
Spike's eyes went wide at that moment and he belched out the same green fire and a scroll appeared. “That was quick...”
Midnight took the scroll and opened it. “Midnight Sparkle. Concerning your research, I am well aware of the situation and have it well under control. The Tyrant's threat is not one you need concern yourself over. Queen Nightsong of Evernight. P.S. You do not want to be late. I have dispatched a chariot to bring you to Ponyville. It will be arriving within the hour.”
Midnight sighed and tossed the scroll into her bag, then got back to packing. “Well... I guess I'll just have to have faith in our Queen.”
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To Be Continued...
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Next:
Midnight Sparkle moves to Ponyville, and checks up on the preparations for the Summer Never Sun Celebration. She meets some ponies through the course of the day before finally making an unpleasant discovery... She will be living in a tree.
