Chapter 37: Fear of Time

Hope: Day 7
Nightfall: Day 21

Nightfall’s POV (Alicorn Form)

Well, I can certainly say that today was an eventful day. We had barely finished our wedding ceremony in time. Luckily, we stopped Hope from causing a war by killing the changeling queen, Chrysalis. He said after that he wanted to but couldn’t because of his mare, Fluttershy.

At the moment. He is currently resting in the Hospital Wing in Canterlot Castle, and so was the injured queen. I’m just hoping there isn’t a round two there, like the other day. I mentally chuckle at the thought, even though it shouldn’t be appropriate for a prince to do so. It seems that Hope has a thing about fighting royal bugs.

Right now. It was night time and time for Luna to raise the Moon once again. I was curious if she was going to teach me how to raise it. But I knew very well I was not skilled enough with magic yet and I was still young in my body. After she finished raising it, with me smiling standing beside her, she replied like she knew what was on my mind as she nuzzles and kisses me, “Some day. Thou may be able to do it too.”

I replied in affection, as I nuzzled and kissed her back, “When I do. I gladly take turns with you, love.”

Unpleasantly, just as we smiled loving to each other. We noticed some dark clouds began cover the night sky, blocking the Moon and its light. It looked like it was going to pour heavily with rain soon.

As we both stared at the sky briefly for a moment. My thoughts were correct as rain did started to pour over our heads.

We both looked towards each other and Luna informs me, “My sister’s waiting. Let’s go before we get soaked.”

With the celebration party already finished in Canterlot Castle. We both headed inside and made our way to the Hospital Wing.

There, as we walked into the ward, it looked like everypony was already here waiting for us. Hope, Cocoon, Chrysalis, Element wielders, Spike and Celestia. Even Cadance and Shining Armour decided to join. Both Chrysalis and Hope were awake. However, they both had a couple of bandages on and staring awkwardly at each other.

Princess Celestia, noticing us entering the ward, acknowledged, “Looks like everypony is here now.”

Everypony turned their attention to Chrysalis, who is layed on the bed, with Cocoon sat beside her on the floor. Applejack then begins to ask, “Okay, can one of ya explain what is going on here? Twilight says Cocoon wanted peace. Then why y’all attacking us at the wedding again?”

“Ummm,” Rainbow Dash spoke, as everypony turned attention to her. She nervously scratches the back of her head with her fore-hoof and explained guiltily, “That probably be me. I- I kinda got edgy thinking they were going to attack since they were all outside flying around. So I-… kinda told them to buzz off but… yea.”

Chrysalis then explains, after rolling her eyes, “The plan was simply to make it look like we were going to attack, and get revenge, but not the actual thing. We had to convince the foul beast watching us. However, I say it worked out pretty well,” she turns her attention towards Hope with a grim expression, “Well, not quite as I hoped.”

Fluttershy asks stuttering, “A-… A ‘foul beast’?”

Cocoon got off his rump then suddenly morphed into some dark male unicorn with cracks all over his body. His outfit even partly ripped also. If I’m not mistaken. I think he’s a king.

While I had a expressionless face. All the Element wielders, Shining Armour and the Princesses utter in sync, “King Sombra!”

Cocoon spoke, as he morphed back with a slight snarl expression, “I see your acquainted with this thing.”

Twilight spoke, “Actually not quite. The cruel king attempted to re-take the Crystal Empire other month ago. But… I thought he was destroyed by the Crystal Heart.”

Cadance confirmed, wondering, “I thought I saw him get shattered from its light too.”

Most element wielders nodded and spoke in agreement.

My sister-in-law, Princess Celestia, asked, “Forgive me. But are you both really telling the truth?”

The queen responded, “Dear, haven’t you learned that we speak the truth when our masks are off?”

Applejack, not sure, says, “Mmm. I can’t be sure they telling us the truth.”

Me and Hope look towards each other silently. Both of us grasping bits and pieces of information on what was happening, since neither of us had seen this dark king before.

While everypony was still talking. I looked outside the window, looking at the sky, and noticing the weather had changed. It just started thundering slightly.

Luna came beside me and asked in curiosity, “Everything alright, Nightie?”

I replied, “I just get a feeling something bad is going to happen.”

Turning our attention back to the conversation. Cadance informed, “But he can’t return to the Crystal Empire.”

Chrysalis, doubted, “He doesn’t have to remove the Crystal Heart on his own, dear.”

Shining Armour, blurted, “You mean!?”

The queen resumed, “That’s right. The wretched thing asked if he could borrow some assistance while we came here.”

Princess Cadance spoke in demand and worry, “We have to return to the Crystal Empire. She could be in trouble.”

Shining Amour acknowledged, “Agreed, but… this storm doesn’t look good and it’s late,” turning his attention outside as we all saw that a blizzard had now started.

Fluttershy, hugging Hope tight in fear, responded, “This can’t be good.”

Hope ensured her, “It’s okay, my Flutterlove. Everything be okay. There’s always a happy ending here.”

Princess Celestia, hearing his words, confessed, “Not always, Hope. Sometimes, we can’t always make everypony happy. Even if we wanted to.”

Hope replied, “I see.”

I then ask, “Can we not clear the skies with magic? Looks a bit too dangerous even for Rainbow.”

Luna answered, “Only in a limited area.”

Celestia explained, “We may look like powerful celestial beings controlling the Sun and Moon. But in reality, that’s just our strongest of abilities compared to other things.”

Rainbow Dash, taking a look outside, spoke, “I don’t think this storm is going to blow over any time soon. It’s not even close to Hearths Warming Eve yet.”

Rarity spoke, “Only time I recall I have seen the weather this bad, was on a non-Hearths Warming Eve, when we first visited the Empire.”

Twilight, putting her fore-hoof to her chin, asks in curiosity, “Is Sombra really capable of making a storm like this magnitude?”

Celestia, looking worried and wondering, “This is what I’m fearing. He hasn’t managed to make something this large scale happen before,” she turns her attention to Luna, “I think it’s time for a reunion.”

Luna, looks towards her sister, awkwardly, “Sister?”

Celestia, not saying anymore, closed her eyes and nodded. Looking around, it looked like everypony in the room weren’t sure on what was going on.

Celestia, opening her eyes, spoke to everypony, “We’ll leave tomorrow at dawn. It is best for all subjects to rest,” she turns her focus to her sister, “Best you and your stallion do too, sister.”

Not happy, Luna replied looking down, “Understood.”

Celestia turned her focus to Chrysalis, “We would appreciate if you would come help us tomorrow.”

Shining Armour asked, worriedly, “Help? What is going on?”

Celestia confessed, hesitating, “… It’s- It’s hard to explain. I can only say if things have gotten bad as I think they have. Sombra could possibly take control of Equestria.”

Everyone in the room gasped in shock and each uttered with “What!?”

Princess Celestia could only respond, “Please, I’m just hoping at the moment. I want everypony to rest and prepare to warp up warmly for tomorrows journey.”

Chrysalis slightly blurted in disagreement, “I didn’t say I agree, Celestia.”

Celestia, slightly pleads, “Please, I fear things have gotten out of control in the Crystal Empire. It could very well spread to here and effect all of us.”

Twilight then asks her, “Please, there are ponies lives at stack. We try solve our differences later and come up with a peace treaty that we all can agree on.”

The changeling queen replied after a sigh, “Very well. I just have one request for tonight then.”

Celestia asks in curiosity but has a slight idea what she’s going to ask, “And that be?”

Chrysalis responds, “Mind if one of the loving couples sleep in here with us tonight?” She then leaned forward a bit, wincing at the pain of her injuries and looking at them.

We all then heard a slight growl in the room. We all turned to face the source of it and found it was Hope not liking her suggestion.

While Fluttershy was hugging her mate to keep him calm. I understood the situation of a injured queen needs to be ready for tomorrow. So I suggested, “I don’t mind if Luna doesn’t.”

Luna responds, “I guess we have no alternative.”

---

Later that night. Everypony had left to their respective dormitories to sleep for the events of tomorrow. I meanwhile lay on a ward bed with Luna besides me, cuddling together, as did Chrysalis and her king on theirs.

Even though I was worried about the wedding. I was now worried about tomorrow. Celestia’s words kinda got to me, ‘Not always, Hope. Sometimes, we can’t always make everypony happy. Even if we wanted to.’ Also, she mentioned ‘reunion’. I mentally asked myself, “What reunion?”

Still wondering. I was going to ask Luna but found she’s fast asleep and cuddling into my fur.

Without realising. I eventually passed out myself.

Looking around at my surroundings. I found myself on the same beach from the other night. Waiting for me there was my princess herself, Luna. She looks towards me and asks, “I see thou are having trouble sleeping. What is the matter, my Prince?”

I asked, “What’s this ‘reunion’ thing our sister mentioned?”

She looks down in sadness and slowly turns to face the ocean. Before I was about to ask if she’s alright, she hesitantly explains, “King Sombra… He was an unicorn we failed to help,” she looks towards me, still sad, and continues, “Because of his lost. He believes that the power of fear and hatred can bring her back- his sister back.”

I thought for a moment she was going to say more but didn’t. I meanwhile took the moment to sit by my mare on the soft sand and then responded, “I see. I guess Twilight and her friends are going to need to use the Elements on him to cleanse him.”

Luna, doing the same, rested backsides me, looking towards the moonlit ocean, spoke, “Or imprison him. If they don’t succeed.”