The Princess of the Night

Chapter 10 – Night Eternal

"In the name of the Goddess, I haven't heard music this loud in centuries!" exclaimed Gerard. He meandered aimlessly through the library, trying in vain to block out the cacophony of noise. He doubted any of the books he passed could help him, but he scanned the titles regardless. He spotted an interesting title: "The Elements of Harmony – A Reference Guide", and made a mental note to check it out if he had time later. Finally, to Gerard's surprise, he stumbled upon a door. Seeking solace, he opened it and quickly bolted inside. Thankfully the thick walls of the mighty tree blocked out most of the sound. Gerard strode to the nearest bookshelf and began browsing.

There came a cough from behind Gerard. He spun wildly, jumping in fright. There stood the now familiar purple mare, a look of suspicion on her face.

"What are you doing here?" she asked, narrowing her eyes.

"Umm… Uh… Well… I'm looking for a book, is that not clear?" responded Gerard, clearly not used to talking to anypony other than himself.

"Well, that's great and everything, but you see, this is kind of my bedroom, so I'm going to have to ask you to leave."

Gerard's ears drooped. "Please don't make me go back to that infernal racket!"

Twilight paused for a moment before relenting. "You can't stand the noise either?"

Gerard shook his head meekly.

"Well, I suppose you could stay here for a while, it is really loud out there…"

"Thanks."

The conversation ground to an awkward halt. The two ponies stood there, avoiding looking at each other.

Meanwhile, in Twilight's mind…

Come on, talk to him!

Yeah, that's a great plan, in theory, but I can't just talk to him, I don't know a thing about him!

How difficult can it be? Ponies talk to each other all the time, why should you be an exception?

Because look at him! He's male, for a start. I've never really talked to a guy before…

Spike? Shining? Your dad?

That's different, they're family!

Well, you have to say something!

"Well this is awkward…" stated the voice, unfortunately breaking the silence only in Gerard's mind.

"Tell me about it," responded Gerard silently. "I mean, is she just going to stand there all night?"

"Well if it's that bad, why don't you say something?"

Gerard spluttered internally. "What?! Me? You're the only pony I've talked to in centuries, and I'm still not sure if you're even a pony!"

"Well you spoke to Starswirl all the time…"

"Yeah, about magic! This is different!"

"Chrysalis was your friend, wasn't she?"

"Please don't mention that weirdo she-demon…"

"Okie dokie lokie!"

"You can be so odd…" sighed Gerard.

"I'm just trying to help. But seriously, you have to say something…"

"So…" began Twilight, "You like books?"

"Uh-huh." Came the reply.

"Smooth." Said the voices inside their heads simultaneously.

Finally, Twilight remembered that book she had read on making friends.

"Hi, my name is Twilight Sparkle, and you are?" she said, smiling and offering a hoof.

"Gerard," he replied, shaking your hoof.

"That's an odd name," frowned Twilight, "Where are you from?"

Gerard hesitated before answering.

"Far away… Very far away."

Twilight ears perked up. "You're from out of town too? I've been sent here from Canterlot by the Princess to oversee preparations for the Summer Sun Celebration."

"So, this is who Celestia was referring to…" mumbled Gerard.

"Sorry, what was that?" asked Twilight.

Gerard shook his head, attempting to appear nonchalant. "Nothing, I was just thinking out loud."

"Oh, ok then," relented Twilight.

Fortunately for the pair, the little dragon chose that moment to enter the room.

"Hey Twilight!" he faltered. "Oh, you have a guest… well, I was just gonna tell you that Pinkie Pie's starting Pin the Tail on the Pony. Do you and your friend wanna play?"

Twilight blushed before replying: "No Spike, can't you see we're trying to have a conversation?"

"Oh, ok then…" said Spike dejectedly, "I'll just leave you two to your conversation…" As he walked out the door he muttered: "What a pair of eggheads."

"Sorry about my assistant, he can be a little intrusive at times," said Twilight.

"It's quite alright." replied Gerard, "So, umm, you were saying?"

Before Twilight could reply, Spike entered once more.

"Come on Twilight and Twilight's friend, it's time to watch the sun rise!"

Twilight glanced at Gerard as Spike left.

"Do you want to come with us?"

"I think that may be best." replied Gerard grimly.

The town hall was full to bursting by the time Twilight and Gerard arrived. Almost before they were in the door a pink pony shot towards them like a bullet. She completely ignored Gerard, focusing only on Twilight.

"Oh my gosh, isn't this exciting? I'm excited, aren't you excited? I've never been so excited, well except for that time…"

Gerard chose that moment to slink away into the crowd. It wasn't that he didn't want to be around Twilight, it's just he needed to get away from that pink weirdo before she talked him to death.

"Seriously, I've seen hummingbirds on caffeine drips with less energy than her…" said the voice.

Gerard silently agreed with it, but in truth he wasn't paying much attention. He was too busy trying not to explode from anticipation. Tonight was the night he would finally get to see Luna again. He wondered how she would react to his equine form. Gerard was snapped out of his reverie when he realised that a mare was standing on the stage at the front of the room, addressing the crowd.

"… the bringer of harmony to all of Equestria, Princess Celestia!"

She gestured upwards with a hoof, and a unicorn with a fabulous purple mane pulled on a rope, separating the curtains that hid Celestia from the assembled townspeople.

A frown formed on her muzzle when the curtains opened to reveal nothing. Gerard heard Twilight exclaim:

"This can't be good!"

"I must say, I have to agree with her," announced the voice, which sounded like it was enjoying the confusion. Just then the white pony appeared on the balcony once more and gasped, "She's gone!"

Everypony started whispering among themselves, and it took them a moment to notice the odd shimmering mist spreading across the balcony. Gerard however, noticed immediately. He hoped against hope that his one true love was about to appear before him.

What he saw terrified him. It was Luna, but not Luna. This mare was taller, with a jet black coat and blue armour. Her pointed teeth glinted wickedly as she grinned down at the ponies. Gerard, for once in his life, was actually scared. Even the voice seemed to have been shocked into silence for once. To his left, Gerard heard Twilight utter the two words that made him want to cower in fear.

"Nightmare Moon…"

Nightmare Moon then began to speak to the crowd.

"Oh, my beloved subjects! It has been so long since I have seen your precious little sun-loving faces!"

Gerard physically twitched as he came out of the trance-like state he had been in, struggling to think clearly.

"If Nightmare Moon is here, then where is Celestia?" he muttered to himself. "Think!"

He scanned the area for magical auras. He was surprised to find that one of the powerful ponies he had sensed in Canterlot was apparently Twilight Sparkle herself. He continued searching until he found residual traces of Celestia's magic. They seemed to coincide with the area that Nightmare Moon had arrived, or…

"Or Nightmare Moon decided to send Celestia on a little trip, yes well done." Interrupted the voice harshly. "Now if you're done can we go back to looking at Nightmare Moon? I wasn't done admiring her."

"Admiring?" questioned Gerard, before shrugging. "I suppose it makes sense that you would like her darker half, that's like poetic or something…"

"Yeah yeah, whatever…" the voice muttered absentmindedly.

Gerard noticed that the hall was quickly emptying, the ponies fleeing in fear. He teleported to the place Celestia last was and began preparing to go home.