Chapter 2
(Added Disclaimer! Thestrals = Belong to J.K Rowland)
~"Princess Nightshade?" Deckerd asked. "I thought she was... I thought it was all just an old pony tail."
"I assure you Princess Nightshade is as real as King Sombra. The only difference is that she is willing to aid those touched by that wicked Pony." Saejima said, "her carriage is on the way, chose who will go with Yuuta, the rest will follow later in a carriage sent by Princess Celestia."
"I will go." Regina said. "I can't just sit back and watch this happen." She added.
"Duke will also join us." Deckerd stated. "When do we leave?"
"As soon as the carriage arrives," Saejima said.~
That had been almost four hours ago now, Duke and Regina were elsewhere packing what they might need while Deckerd remained ever loyal and beside his charge, one hoof gently brushing the young colt's mane as the tiny Alicorn slept restlessly.
"Nngh... Deckerd... Mama... Papa... Sisters..." Yuuta called out in his sleep and Deckerd gently touched their horns together, using what little Magic he knew would help to chase the nightmares away from his small charge. "Deckerd... big brother...?" he asked slowly waking from his sleep.
"Shhh, shhhh, I'm here Yuuta... I'm here." the older colt assured softly nuzzling the Alicorn. "Everything will be alright soon... we are going to go see someone who can help you."
"Really?" Yuuta asked.
"Really, really." Deckerd nodded, "Regina and Duke are coming too and the others when the other carriage arrives." He added.
"So... I'll get better soon?" Yuuta asked weakly trying to get up only to fall against Deckerd and start shivering again.
Deckerd didn't answer at first, instead he wrapped the blanket around Yuuta's shivering form and used his magic to light the fire in the room. "You will get better, the Alicorn we are going to see can make all the shadows of evil go far away."
"Who?" Yuuta asked.
"Princess Nightshade," Deckerd said.
"The Broken Horn?" Pawn asked in shock. "But... but she's just an old pony tale... isn't she?" he added looking at his twin.
"Princess Nightshade is as real as the moon and sun, she is the only chance Yuuta has to live." Regina said quickly gathering all her needed items, a brush for her mane, a clock if it was cold, a set of boots, a scarf, her most beloved scrolls and last but never least, her family photo, "and I am not about to pass up the chance to meet the only Pony in all of the land who can cast the wickedness out of a Pony and force King Sombra away from her kingdom." She added.
"And Yuuta?" Bishop asked. "Will... will the young Prince be alright?" he added looking worriedly at Yuuta's room door.
Duke smiled and gently nudged his brother. "Deckerd is with him, I'm sure Yuuta will be fine." He assured softly, "before we leave, you are welcome all of you to go and see him."
Bishop smiled and quickly trotted off.
Ringo watched his younger brother go and then turned to his own Princess and Duke. "Are you sure this is wise...? One small carriage for the four of you?" he asked,
"Saejima said she was sending her most trusted... I believe she is going to make sure we are safe." Regina said while still packing.
Ringo made a sound then slowly trotted off after his brothers.
Duke gently put a hoof against Regina's own and gently nuzzled her. "Stop putting on that brave face," he said softly and Regina's eyes watered again. "Shhh, shhh, there now my Lady... Yuuta will be alright... we will do everything we can to insure he is safe."
"I should have been there... I could have helped." Regina said as her shoulders trembled.
"Or you would have been infected as well... please, stop blaming yourself my love." Duke pleaded softly touching his horn to hers and using a small soothing spell he knew.
Regina calmed somewhat and then snuggled under his muzzle. "Thank you Duke." She said.
"Anything for you, my love." Duke whispered softly.
Bishop had left him a bag of sweets and read him a story, the twins had stayed a whole hour with him carrying him around on their backs and Ringo had told him all about the beautiful lands he and his brothers had come from while Deckerd caught up on a few hours needed sleep.
Then his sisters had come in with some food and he had managed to eat more than he had the last time, much to Azaki's relief.
A hollow, echoing whinny outside had everyone stop and look outside as a strange looking pony flew down from the sky, a large six pony pulled carriage close behind the newcomer.
"She's here." Seajima said as the pony got closer, large bat like wings flared out to slow the decent down enough that the toed hooves could touch the ground and not disturb any of the flowers as she landed, folding her wings in the new comer showed what looked like hooks on the tops of her wings but they tucked harmlessly underneath the wings as they folded down, her mane was silver and fell like a spider web over the right side of her face and neck, her eyes suddenly started to brighten until at last they became a soft shade of red and she had silver harness over her body, the joint on her chest holding a beautiful pearl.
"King Seajima," she greeted dropping to one hoof and lowering her wings.
"I assume you are the one Princess Nightshade sent?" the king Alicorn asked and she nodded.
"My name is Hao Kah, Captain of the Night Kingdom Royal Guard and personal Body guard to the Princess herself."
"What are you? A Pegasus?" Duke asked.
"She's a Thestral," Azaki said as she and Kurumi came into the throne room with Deckerd, Yuuta, hardly able to stand, was being carried on the Unicorn's back. "A type of Pony said to have once ruled the Ever Free Forest, few were said to have survived great fire." She added.
Hao Kah nodded. "Few of us did survive; we found a new home with Princess Nightshade in the Night Kingdom." She explained. "We owe her our lives and to repay her, we serve her."
"Why don't you have feathers?"
Hao Kah looked up at the question, and focused on Yuuta as the small Alicorn looked at her.
She blinked and then smiled kindly, "My wings are different from yours because you are born in a place where Princess Celestia rules, I was born in a time when Princess Luna's rays and power were strong. Before Nightmare Moon was even a twinkle in the eyes of the Night."
"You were?" Yuuta asked.
Hao Kah nodded, "all Ponies in the Night Kingdom worship Princess Luna, even our own Princess and so we Thestrals are not only featherless, we are also able to view the beauty of the Night itself."
Yuuta gave a very weak smile. "I want to see it too Deckerd." He said. "Can we?" he asked.
Hao Kah nodded and moved to open the carriage door for them, the inside was filled with soft warm blankets for everyone, a lovely rose scent and a small selection of fruits and berries. "I am more than sure that when you are better, young prince, that you will be given the chance to view our home and enjoy the wonders of the night." She said.
"Thank you." Yuuta said before his eyes grew heavy.
"How long has he been this way?" Hao Kah asked Deckerd.
"Two days," the older Colt said.
"Then we will not stop until we reach the Night Kingdom. Please, help yourselves to the refreshments," she said allowing Regina and Duke to climb into the carriage as well.
"How will we know he is safe?" Kurumi asked.
"The moment we set down, Princess Nightshade will inform King Seajima we are there," Hao Kah stated as the carriage turned around and lined up with a long open path so they could gain the needed speed to lift off.
"Please." Azaki said, "Make sure Yuuta eats... and is warm..." she pleaded in tears.
Hao Kah gave a soft smile and nodded, "I give you my oath, Lady Azaki, first born of Queen and King Tomonaga." She said before turning to the Carriage. "Fly swift and true, anyone of you doesn't pull his weight and I will have you doing laps of the Night Kingdom for a year!" she stated. "That Colt depends on us now and I will not see any pony suffer. Now GET!" she commanded and all six mighty stallions began to run as fast as their hooves would carry them, spreading their wings as they ran to catch the wind.
Hao Kah raced after them and gave another loud whinny as the carriage took off.
"Run swift..." Seajima repeated softly.
Hao Kah flew as swiftly as her wings would carry her, beating them once for every nineteen flaps of the Pegasus ponies pulling the carriage, her mane whipping the air around her as she checked everywhere for signs of threats, checking every few minutes on the young Prince and his friends.
She gave another loud hallow whinny again, the sound echoing around the land and appearing to shift the clouds to uncover the moon in all her glory.
"How is he?" she asked.
"No change..." Deckerd said.
"We will be there soon," Hao Kah assured. "We are about to pass a barrier where the shadows can't follow, he should start to show signs of recovery, if only slight," she added as a warm blue wave washed over them.
Yuuta seemed to calm from his restless nightmare, his tiny wings sagging as if he were at last in a deep, restful sleep.
The landing came moments later and Hao Kah opened the carriage as quietly as she could to allow Yuuta a few moments of sleep as Deckerd used his magic to life the young Alicorn onto his back and carry him.
Many ponies looked over as the new comers to their kingdom followed Hao Kah, but none of them approached as they headed to the castle.
"Princess Nightshade?" Hao Kah asked.
"Bring the colt inside," a quiet voice said as a female Alicorn, dull silver in colour with thick feathered wings and a mane of soft green, she had warm blue eyes and her horn was missing its end. "I'm afraid we don't have time for idle chit chat." She added.
"Can you help him?" Regina asked.
The older Alicorn nodded and lead them to a small but comfortable room, the floor covered with soft rugs and the sweet smell of spring flowers filled the room, there was a bed in the corner and two unicorns stood waiting for them, both holding a odd shaped Crystal in their magic.
"Lay the colt down here." she instructed gently while the two Unicorns present moved aside and carefully lay two crystal near the head of the bed.
Deckerd gently lifted Yuuta with his magic and stepped back.
"Princess... are you sure you can do this alone?" Hao Kah asked.
"If I don't, this young Colt may never recover." The silver Alicorn stated. "I will be alright Hao Kah, I know you will insure everyone is safe while I tend this colt." She added before opening her wings and turning her horn toward Yuuta.
"What can we do to help?" Regina asked.
"Stand beside him and let him know he is safe and you are with him." Nightshade said. "Right now, that is all you can do."
Regina nodded and sat silently around Yuuta, watching as Princess Nightshade's broken horn began to glow a soft gray colour, the same glow surrounding Yuuta's small body while the two unicorns that held the crystals began chanting.
Nightshade gently put her horn against Yuuta's and closed her eyes while Hao Kah stood beside her.
"Wretched brat!"
"Weakling!"
"Pathetic foal!"
"Leave me alone!" Yuuta begged curling up into a tighter ball. "Sisters! Deckerd! Some pony...?! Any pony...?! Help me!"
"Foolish colt," a cold voice sniggered, "No pony can save you from me now, no pony knows where you are or how to reach you... you belong to me now."
"Not if I can help it Sombra!" a warm light shoved through the shadows away, bringing forth a warm memory from the darkness, "I will not allow you to hurt another Colt," the voice added as Yuuta felt something warm wrap around him and hold him close to something soft and warm...
Something familiar...
~"Come Azaki..." a soft voice said above him, "come see your new baby brother."
Was that his mother?
"He is so small, mother... will he always be this small?"
He knew that voice, it was his oldest sister, she'd always been so kind to him... where was she now?
"He will grow," a Stallion's voice said and Yuuta felt a hoof gently stroke his side. "One day he will be a Prince, and you two must help us teach him how to rule with fairness, equality and justice. Teach him to always listen to every pony's side of a story before he judges them."
"I will Papa," Azaki said as he felt a warm tap against his horn. "I will."~
"Yuuta..."
He trembled and slowly looked up, seeing a shining gray shimmer approaching him, giving off warmth and casting the awful coldness he felt away as it came closer. "Who are you?" he asked weakly as the glow came to a stop beside him, starting to take shape.
"My name is Princess Nightshade, I am going to help you," the princess said. "Will you let me help you?" she asked.
"Yes," Yuuta said nodding and trying to get back to his hooves, the mare Alicorn gently nuzzled him, helping him stand again before gently putting her wing over him, "What do I have to do?"
"Walk with me," she said smiling softly down at him. "I will protect you, I promise," she added softly nuzzling him again.
Yuuta nodded, then winced as Shadows began to swirl around them again. "No..."
"They can't hurt you," Nightshade said. "Not so long as I am with you," she added as her glow increased, forcing the shadows away.
"I'm scared." Yuuta said, his tiny wings fluttering, "Please... Please don't let them take me away,"
Nightshade lay down beside Yuuta, using her larger wings to cover him and gently pressed her broken horn against Yuuta's, softly singing a tuneless lullaby he faintly remembered.
"Roses red, bluebells blue,
Daisy white and lilies too,
Softly dancing in the moon's sweet light,
Softly swaying in the night,
Sunflowers sleeping in the meadow,
Poppy resting on a grave,
Sweet little tulip and thistle do gaze,
High upon a lonely hill stands an old, old willow tree,
She does stand against the winds,
She does stand against the rain
And softly she does sing..."
Yuuta listened and watched as the shadows began to fade away and were replaced with a beautiful image, a field of many flowers and an old willow tree, under which they were sat.
Suddenly Yuuta was aware of a new voice, a voice he recognized.
"Hush, hush my sweet, sweet seeds,
Play amongst the sun and moon,
Play free and safe my loves and let not fire come to you.
Let only love and care bless your leaves and bless your petals,
Let your roots be deep and strong
And let there be forever, a field of my flowers..."
"Mother?" he asked softly as the two voices sang in harmony.
"Roses red, bluebells blue,
Daisy white and lilies too,
Softly dancing in the moon's sweet light,
Softly swaying in the night..."~
"Where are we?" he asked.
"This is your mind, Yuuta, your memories faint as they are of your parents and your life before King Sombra ever laid hoof near your beautiful kingdom." Princess Nightshade said, "Now, we must leave this place, your guardian and friends are worried for you." she added.
"Show me the way?" Yuuta asked.
Nightshade smiled and stood. "Follow me." She said, leading him towards a warm shimmering glow in the field.
"Yuuta?"
"He's waking up."
"Thank the old ones."
"Hush," Nightshade said softly as she moved away from Yuuta, "He is safe and unharmed, Sombra's taint is gone." She explained before her wings drooped and she slumped, only to be caught and help up by Hao Kah. "The mark was deeper than I thought... he will need all of you with him if he is to regain his full energy." She added.
Regina stepped forward and lowered her horn, "Thank you, Princess Nightshade, thank you so much."
"I did only what any Princess or Prince would have done had you been able to reach them." Nightshade assured. "Now, you will all rest in my palace and when Yuuta is ready I will show you all around and help you plan ways to keep Sombra and his wicked shadows away from the Brave Kingdom and her neighbouring villages and towns." She added.
"Enough my princess... you need to rest." Hao Kah said firmly but softly.
Nightshade smiled and nodded. "Alright... alright..." she said slowly regaining her hooves, "we will continue this tomorrow, when we are all rested and refreshed." She stated.
"I will show you to your rooms," Hao Kah said as Nightshade went into a room behind the throne, "This way," she said as Deckerd lifted Yuuta onto his back with his magic.
Saejima smiled as he watched Azaki, Kurumi, Ringo, Bishop, Pawn, Rook, McCrane, Drillboy, Power Joe, Dumpson, Shadowmaru and Kagerou climbed aboard a train, it's colours dull but beautifully decorated, even Fay the Water Pixie Pony and her friends found it a place of wonder and fun places to find and play.
It had felt like an eternity before the news that Yuuta was alive and well reached them, and then Princess Luna had sent her personal train to them to take them to the Night Kingdom.
"I hope Yuuta is alright..." Azaki said as Shadowmaru sat with her, gently nuzzling her in comfort. "He's just a foal... he shouldn't be going through this..."
"Hush," Shadowmaru said gently but firmly. "You have not slept and you are worrying needlessly, you and I both know Deckerd will never allow harm to befall Yuuta, we both know Regina and Duke wouldn't let him get hurt either... he is safe Azaki and in a few hours we will be with him and you can see it for yourself."
Azaki settled a little and seemed to relax against Shadowmaru's side before her eyes, heavy with tiredness closed and she slept. Kurumi smiled softly from her seat and rested her head against the glass of the window as the other ponies took their places.
"Give the princess my regards." King Saejima said.
"We will," McCrane assured as the train pulled away from the station.
None of them saw the eyes watching them from the shadows, fading away and vanishing into the shadows, eyes so dark and filled with anger and hunger they would send shivers down anyone's spine.
"The Night Kingdom?" One asked.
"Our own has betrayed us." Another snarled.
"Then we bring the Night Kingdom to ruin," The last stated. "Forever,"
Yuuta yawned and slowly awoke to the sound of soft humming in the hall as he saw Kah Hao enter his room quietly, carrying a small basket of sweets with her as she came in, she set the basket down and smiled at him.
"How are you feeling little Prince? Do you ache anywhere?" she asked softly so as not to wake up Deckerd.
"I feel ok... I'm not sore anymore..." Yuuta said smiling as she placed her hoof against his head gently and checked his temperature. "I slept better than I have for a few days too." He added.
"That is good to know, young colts need all the sleep they can get." She smiled, "You're fever is gone and you certainly look better than you did." She added.
"Thank you." Yuuta smiled.
"Yuuta?" Deckerd asked looking around as he woke up slowly.
"I'm here Deckerd, and I feel a LOT better now," the young colt said smiling as Deckerd got to his hooves and gently nuzzled him. "I'm sorry I made everyone worry."
Deckerd shook his head. "You did what any of us would have done to save their siblings, none of us can blame you for that." He assured.
Kah Hao smiled. "Princess Nightshade will show you around the castle ground when she wakes up."
"Thank you, Kah Hao," Deckerd said.
The Thestral simply smiled and bowed. "It was an honour." she said.