Nocturn didn't even look at the pair.
" Why am I not surprised you two are here?" Noc asked.
"Noc, I'm so sorry." Twilight offered.
" Yeah, we were worried about you," Rainbow added. Nocturn just stared at them. His expression was a little less harsh.
" That's three times you've seen me lose it now. What is it with you girls and showing up at my most private times?" Nocturn turned to look at Rainbow and Twilight.
" I'm sorry, we shouldn't have come here. I knew this was something personal." Twilight added.
"We just didn't think it would be this personal." Rainbowdash jostled her wings nervously. Nocturn sighed.
" Look, let's just go to the beach and enjoy your friend's party. " Nocturn looked down to where the festivities were. Rainbow and Twilight glanced at each other.
Without another word, Nocturn started down Sealway and the girls began to follow. The trio trotted in silence.
Twilight ran multiple questions in her head, none more prominent in her mind than who this 'Aster' pony was. She overheard Red mention her name and Twilight could tell she was important.
Was she family, like a mother? Twilight almost couldn't help herself in asking, but she resisted. Twilight couldn't bring herself to delve into Nocturn"s private life anymore, However, Rainbow Dash didn't have such reservations.
"You…seem pretty close to Red." RainbowDash stared at Noc with a sideways glance. Twilight glared over Nocturn's withers at Rainbow. Nocturn didn't return any glance, instead, he sighed for the umpteenth time that night.
"You can say Red and I are close. He is the little brother of my late mare-friend." This warranted gasps from both mares. Nocturn looked forward with a blank expression. It was Twilight's turn.
" I'm so sorry, I can't imagine how painful that is. Did you… want to talk about it…" Twilight looked on with concern. Nocturn deadpaned.
" There's no sense in keeping quiet about it anymore. If we're going to trust each other from this point on, I'll tell you everything." Nocturn paused while they trotted on.
"Five years ago when I was still early in my career, a raft washed ashore near my home. There were only two survivors on that raft. Red was one of them and the other, the most beautiful mare I'd ever met." Nocturn said with a somewhat dreamy expression.
"We took them in just like any other marooned pony, and we started the process of settling them in. Aster was very strong and very kind. Her main focus was on Red's wellbeing and slowly, so was mine."
"What happened to her, though? " Twilight had a feeling where this was going; based on Nocturne's reaction earlier, only tragedy could be the reason this Aster wasn't around anymore. Twilight braced for Nocturne's response.
" That day….." Nocturn ominously replied. His expression took on a darker look as he stared straight down the street into the night. Nocturn took a moment to gather his thoughts.. Before long, Nocturn sighed.
"One day about two years ago, it started pretty normal. It was as normal a day as you could ever get, and everypony seemed to be calm. I was on the opposite side of this island maintaining the warding pylons, just like I had always done since I had installed them around the island. The pirates used to raid this island often for new slaves and resources, up until I showed up. I had learned under Celestia how to enchant objects…."
" That was lesson 32 of her curriculum for me!...oh, sorry…" Twilight excitedly interrupted before putting her hoof over her muzzle. Nocturn gave her a flat stare but then shrugged the interruption off.
" Well, I devised a barrier around the island that worked by enchanting stones that emitted a magical wall that would gage the level of malice of any pony who was trying to pass through it. If they had ill will, It would physically stop them. The raids stopped and we all thought this ended the problem so we started to focus on regaining those ponies who were captured, but there was a problem."
"Enchantments are fragile spells that are inherently weak and can even degrade over some time. Higher-level mages can cast more robust enchantments that last longer, but you had only progressed so far in your studies." Twilight responded solemnly.
" The enchantment has to be recast a few times a week. At its weakest points, you can pass through the barrier regardless of your intentions if you cross slowly enough. The pirates found that out. They attacked one side of the island drawing our attention while having several other pirates sneak onto the other side. Once they were in, they broke enough pylons to allow more pirates to get onto the island. It was pure chaos…." Nocturn looked to the ground with pain in his eyes. Rainbow and Twilight glanced too each other with uncertain looks.
" Aster owned a pottery shop on Sealway. She usually worked in the back making pottery while Red helped sell in the storefront after school. That day, the pirates were moving up the street killing and taking what they could and when they found the shop, they wrecked it. Red and Aster Escaped to the house to barricade inside, just like we instructed everypony to do. Eventually, Breeze came to get me and we made our way to the house, but by the time I made it up there …" Nocturn inhaled sharply as tears welled up.
" Aster hid Red in the attic while she distracted the pirates…she didn't make it. If I had spent more time making sure the pylons were functioning, Aster would have had more time. If only I had done my job…" Nocturn's pace slowed and he fell silent. Twilight's shock caused her to fall silent as well, but Rainbow felt she couldn't let things stay as they were. She had to say something since it wasn't fair Nocturn was blaming himself.
"Hey, I know I don't know what it's like to go through that, to lose someone you care about, and it's easy to blame yourself…" Nocturn looked to Rainbow as tears continued to fall.
"...but, you shouldn't! You're the one who's making a difference, I mean look what you did. You were a colt when you came here right? Well, you couldn't have had a lot of time learning from Princess Celestia, but what you did learn ended up being a really good solution for the island. I spent today flying over Parrot Port, and you know what I saw? I saw an island where ponies were working, playing, and laughing. It looked just like Ponyville. I don't think that would have been the case if you weren't here. I don't know this Aster, but I think she would be proud of you. I also know that Red is a really good kid and he looks up to you, way more than he'd ever look up to me, and I'm a wonder bolt. I also know you have a lot of ponies who care about you too, probably more than you know." Rainbow started to feel like she was ranting but she was intent on getting everything she was feeling out. Twilight smiled at Rainbow.
" Rainbow is right, You've done so much for this island. It's horrible what you've been through and then to also lose your mare friend. I just can't believe it, and then to see you continue to do your job and take care of Red. You're a real inspiration and that's why Equestria is going to back you up." Twilight put a wing around Nocturn and pulled him in for a hug. Nocturn didn't know what to do, he wasn't used to letting his feelings out like this and to be supported by those who were strangers to him only recently.
" Th…thank you… both of you." Nocturn said with a blush. " Come on, I'm sure everypony is waiting for us.
The beach party was still in full swing when the trio had made it. Ponies were dancing the night away while others were playing games like limbo. It seemed like with each night the party seemed to grow. Tokala was working as fast as she could to keep up with orders.
Upon seeing his mother's struggle, Nocturn elected to get behind the bar and help.
Twilight was sitting at the bar with Rainbow when Capt Neihab and his crew made their way up to the bar.
"Good evening princess," Twilight turned from her conversation with Rainbow as she was addressed.
"Oh good evening Captain. How have you been? Are you enjoying the island? "
"Aye Princess." The old stallion replied as he pulled up a stool next to Twilight.
"I hear your mission is going well. How is the prince fairing? "
"I'm not a prince, and I'm doing fine thank you," Noc said from behind the counter. Neihab was taken back.
" I thought you were a police officer?"
" We island ponies tend to have more than one hat, though, I'm just helping with the family business for tonight. Right Mother?" Nocturn looked at Tokala with a smile while he cleaned a glass with a rag. Tokala Smiled.
"It's been far too long since you've worked back here, boy."
In a more secluded part of the coast, a lone figure slowly crept up the beach. It was a long time coming, but Notilis had finally made his way past the purple stones.
He made the mistake of trying to get past them quickly, which caused the stones to create a barrier that stopped him in his tracks, causing him to retreat and hide in the surf.
This time though, his newfound patience was rewarded and he was just past the beach; if only he could get his broken body inland to free his crew, maybe they could ransack this city and catch a few slaves to make up for losing an entire ship. However, he would have a metaphorical as well as a literal uphill Battle on his hooves. Notilis laid back and looked up at the stars, he could hear music coming from far off.
Party it up, you'll all be slaves soon enough. Notilis thought to himself.