A Night's Tale 2: Rise and Fall of Night

"Wake up!" my father shouted. "Get up!"

"Wha...what?" I stammered.

"Your training begins today. So out of bed!"

I got out of my bed with shaky legs and blurry eyes. All I could see was darkness, the sun wasn't even peaking over the horizon yet. My father kept shouting at me to keep moving. At the time I didn't know where we were going and in my half-awake state I couldn't even tell if I was dreaming it all or not.

By the time I was awake enough to comprehend what was going on, I was standing in one of the stables in a line up with other foals, most of whom were at least three years older than I. I recongized a few of them but the one who stood out most was Mourning Star, my cousin. I recognized him immediately due to his ash colored coat and feathers. This pegasus and I had been rivals since we first met, always trying to out do the other. I'd be lying if I wasn't envious of his skills though, even as foals he was always the better athlete. But this was a new chapter and I wasn't going to let him out do me here.

"Attention fillies!" my father shouted. We all immediately stood at attention. I admit now that I was quite foolish back then. I knew the Nights were great warriors but I had no idea what awaited me. I knew it'd be a challenge but I was to practically face the gates of Tatarus just to become one of those couragous warriors.

My father paced back and forth in front of us, never once giving us even a passing glance. I didn't know what he was going to do, you could literally cut the tension with a knife. Even through the dim of candle light I could see the look on his scarred face, the faded blue of his coat and the way he carried himself. I knew he had a hard life and I believe now as then that he was wanting us to get a good look at what we were in for, using his own body as a glipse into our future.

"Today is the day." he finally said, "Today you take your first step towards destiny. You are all here to see if you have what it takes to be a Night. What is a Night? For Nights, it's the honor and glory of battle that rules us. It's through combat we prove our worth. Win or lose, as long as a fight is worthy then honor is gained. The glory of having triumphed over impossible odds is what drives us. We Nights take everything we are and throw it into battle. It's the true test of yourself, the battle against death, against oblivion. All life dies eventually. The true mark of a warrior is when you can beat it down when it rears it's ugly head."

I noticed a few recruits starting to get nervous, some were unphased, but most like myself just got more determined. It had been a dream of mine for as long as I could remember to be one of those Nights, to face impossible odds and bring glory to the herd.

"But why do we fight?" My father continued, "We fight because it is in our blood. In ages past the Nights were a feared force that had settled in Equestria, though it wasn't called that yet, the Unicorns, Pegasi and Earth Pony kingdoms had not yet founded it. When they unified, the Nights tried to drive them out of their land but they eventually won us over with gifts of kindess and goodwill, the same that brought their nations together. After negotiations ended, the Nights were permitted to remain in their homes in the Everfree Forest. Most ponies didn't enter for fear of what lived there, but not the Nights. They knew how to fend off the beasts that dwelt within. In time, they began to mingle with the other ponies and there prosperity as the Nights traded their services as guardians for supplies."

"It seemed that life would remain peaceful forever, but it was not to last. The harmony had drawn the attention of a creature, a fearsome spirit from the depths of Tatarus; Discord. This master of chaos and disharmony began reaking havoc across Equestria and none could stop him. The Nights tried but Discord's magic was unlike anything they had ever faced. He created illusions and shattered reality like glass. He even turned the Nights against each other. Some of the Nights began cursing the ponies of Equestria, for if they had not come to their land and softened them with their friendship, Discord would not have been a threat. The draconequus just laughed as the Nights tore each other apart."
"It was at that moment that two bright lights appeared. It was the alicorns, Princess Celestia and Princess Luna. They had been named the rulers of Equestria sometime ago but the Nights never took much notice of them before. They alone stood up to Discord, just two young alicorn princesses. Though Discord laughed at them, the two used an ancient power, the Elements of Harmony and turned the vile beast to stone. The Nights were awe struck by what had happened, even though they were great warriors they were powerless in the face of Discord, but those two sisters defeated him easily. Many congradulated the elder sister, Celestia, but the Nights had eyes only for the younger sister, Luna. They knew that she was the princess of the night and was the one to raise the moon but never did they know she posssessed power quite like this. To them, she was like a goddess who represented everything the Nights stood for. She was said to be beautiful as the moon, with eyes that glistened like the stars. She was strong willed and was brave beyond measure. It was then that the Nights all bowed to her and swore their undying alligence to her."

My father grew silent then and gazed out the window. I was enchanted by this tale, as were the rest of the recruits, this was my first time hearing about our past. Could it be true? Did my ancestors really herald back to Equestria and fight the dreaded Discord? And then they swore absolute loyalty to one of the princesses? I could only hold my breath waiting for him to continue for what felt like ages.

"Although an Equestrian Military was never established, the Nights insisted that they serve Princess Luna. She said that where she was flattered, she couldn't ask them to do such a thing. So the Nights simply kept vigil during the long hours from dusk til dawn, ensuring that their beloved princess's night remained peaceful. Unfortunately things would only grow darker. Princess Luna began resenting the ponies of Equestria, for they frolicked and played during her sister's sunny day but shunned her moon and night. In time her resentment became rage and she transformed into Nightmare Moon, vowing to bring nighttime eternal. Using the power of the Elements of Harmony, Princess Celestia defeated Nightmare Moon, banishing her within the moon. When the Nights witnessed this, they were filled with unquenchable rage and attempted to kill Celestia. She was weakened by her use of the Elements and could not adequately defend herself and so she retreated by teleporting herself out. The Nights cursed her name then and sought revenge."

"By the time they had tracked Celestia down, she was already safely within Canterlot. Many ponies from all over Equestria had gathered there to protect their princess from the Nights. Once friends now became enemies. The Nights were horribly outnumbered but they fought like things possessed. It seemed like the fighting would never end, until a lone Night stepped forward. Lone Star, the prodegy of the Nights, had stepped out of Canterlot Castle, side by side with Celestia. He had betrayed the Nights and ordered we surrender now. When they did not listen, he rushed in and stabbed each of the Lead Stallions of the Nights, save for one, my Grandsire; Fortnight. Almost immediately the Nights surrendered, a thing that had not happened before. Celestia exiled the Nights from Equestria, never to return until such time that we were willing to forgive her. The Nights still held resentment in their hearts and simply turned and left, leaving Lone Star with the Celestia and the rest of the Equestrian Ponies."

My father took a long pause yet again, his mind clearly lost in the very thought I had. I couldn't believe a Night would betray his herd, it was unthinkable. I had always seen Nights as the most loyal of ponies, those who'd take a sword in chest for one of their allies. Even if they had turned on Equestria, how could Lone Star turn on his own kind? On his princess? I felt rage at the very thought, so much it made me nearly sick.

"This my little ponies is why we are here now." My father went on, "We are the descendants of those exiled nearly 1,000 years ago. We are here because we were betrayed, not just by our own, but by Equestria. They could not love both their princesses equally, choosing to adore the sun and forsake the moon. We are here because even though our princess has been banished to the moon, we have not forgotten our duty; to safeguard Equestria during the night. As such, it is our job to keep any foreign invaders from entering Equestria on our watch. We may not be allied with them anymore, but it was still our home and we will not abandon it, even if it has abandoned us. This is what it means to be a Night, this is why you are all about to undertake the training to see if you have what it takes to be one of us, to be a Night."