Memoirs of the Eye of Twilight

by Sixinthehood

First published 16th of March, 2012

The Eye of Twilight's adventures and events, written by him near the end of his life.

Dark Knight relates his life as the Eye of Twilight, sole upholder of balance throughout Equestria (and sometimes Earth when partners ask for it). His job is finally coming to an end, and these are the stories he wishes to tell. All the way from his days as a young colt, to his first violent encounter, to him setting up his study to write down his memories.

At this point I should clarify that where he comes from is in fact the ponified version of where a different character in a different game hails from. But he is an original character that I came up with. The "Eye of Twilight" and "Kinkou" are the only non-original things here. Otherwise everything else from now on is my own.

Introductions

I do not own any My Little Pony characters, likenesses or names. Those are owned by Hasbro and their respective owners. I do, however, own Dark Knight/Night Watcher as he is my original character. This chapter is subject to change if any complications arrise later. Chapter help given by my friend DDM.

A silent room, filled with a lone candle, and a lone stallion to match it. The stallion sits in a simmilarly lone chair, contemplating whether or not to go through with this idea. “Bah,” He says, and begins anyway. The faint glow of the candle casts light on the scroll as he writes. Shadows dip from the table as he continually brings his quill in for another dab of ink, and books glow in their holds upon the shelves. The window stares out into a full moon night, one that brought the end of a certain stallion’s career.

Things are different for a foal that grows up being told everything there is of life. No time for games, or for fun, or for innocence as a small child. Things are put into a different perspective as you see the world opened up before you. You see the suffering and pain wrought by the populace itself, then you see what is supposedly good about it all, what little there may be.

Growing up as the Eye of Twilight left a mark on my brain and soul- giving me the right kind of perspective of this world. I did not gradually ease into the world; I was instead thrust into it by powers uncontrollable; Left by my father to save my friend as he was set upon by three timberwolves at the edge of a cliff. That is a story for another time, as I should probably introduce who I am. I am the holder of the quill above the paper, I am the decider of events, I am the one who you trust enough to tell you a story; a story, about my life.

A fair warning to those who read these passages of my old memories; I have not led a good life. If I may say something as to clue you in on who I am; I am the Eye of Twilight, Watcher of the Stars for the Kinkou (A secretive clan who make home on a small set of islands). I have faced trials and tribulations the likes of which normal ponies dare not think of in their dreams. I have lost much, and gained not much in return. Although there are a few key good things in my life, there are many more that are hard on me and make me wish I could have made the good choice. I am… was, tasked with upholding the balance of everything in this world. Not small things like a forest having too few flowers, but instead matters that needed attention.

Chaos, Order, Light, and Darkness are all things that must be kept in equilibrium in order for this world to survive. You may wish for Light to prevail over Darkness, you may wish for Order to reign over the ensuing Chaos, but you would be a fool to make it so. Without the opposite of one, the world would not contain itself; cracking at the seams of balance and disrupting life. You may wonder why you haven’t seen evidence of this; what do you think the clan has been up to since the dawn of time?

I do not like to write artsy, but the time calls for it in my old age. I have lost so much that a warm candle lighting up the smallest fraction of my study is precious. Its glow keeps me alive inside, remembering all the good that happened too. My books hold valuable knowledge and classic literature. Each one of them has been important in my life, and many are just stories, similar to mine, but only stories. This chair itself feels as if it’s an old friend, it has supported me before, giving me rest for when I need it. This table stands steady, never once has it creaked under weight or wobbled about from un-evenness.

If I am to remember anything though, I am to remember what... adventures, I have had. I am to remember what I have been through, and what I have had come out of it. I also remember my instructors, and even some of their lives. One of them was the old Eye of Twilight himself; it was an honor to be his student, and gave my family great pride. But my mind comes to rest at a fantastic moment in the history of the Kinkour; the Nightmare Moon incident. The event that left many scarred, and brought out the full power and potential that rests within each Eye of Twilight. You may ask what we had to do with it, I would answer "You may have been taught it was Celestia herself that sent Nightmare Moon away, but there was one pony who stood by her side, and fought Nightmare moon back so that the Princess would have a chance. That pony, was the greatest member of the Kinkou since it's creation. He was the Eye of Twilight that ended one of the biggest imbalances of power ever seen. He is what we all hope to become." But I digress, I have done many wonderful and epic things in my life, no need to be pondering on anothers achievements.

I will ask you this; have you ever loved? I have. I saved the one speck of goodness in my life from an event that is unbefitting any creature, horrible or not. I sacrificed myself to allow her to live… and she did so in return. Although she did not give up her life, she gave up something precious in her heart; something nopony else had ever even come close to doing for me.

Have you ever fought? I have destroyed many creatures and ponies alike. I have fought hell and back for my duty. I have sacrificed all that I am and was, just so that others can sleep safely. That, at least, gives me some condolence after everything I have done. Have you ever… lied? How about cheated? Or maybe even murdered? Have you ever committed the equivalent of mass murder on a city wide scale? I have. I told you my life was not all good. If I were to tell you now of all the events where I had to take the side of Darkness to balance out the Light, you would call me evil. I would be cast out as a villain the scale of Discord (Heh, he's a story in itself. You think we ignored him too?) or Nightmare Moon… maybe even worse.

So that is why I will begin in a time where I had not earned my true name yet. Where I was but a young foal among the common folk in that certain set of islands (I shall not name them, for I still hold respect for the clan and it's people, and would not want the location to be passed onto an enemy). Where I was not even known to be the next prophesied Eye of Twilight for the Kinkou. Where, to this day, the Kinkou continue to thrive and teach new members. Where I was once hailed under flags as the bringer of a new age among us all... well I think I did that one quite well to be honest. Yes, I am bringing you all the way back, to my days as a young foal… my name…I think it was Night Watcher.

A/N I understand this first chapter is relatively short, that is due to it just being the introduction. I didn't want to stretch it any farther than I should. Any criticism is accepted, thank you and have a good day.

A Foalhood (Part 1)

My Little Pony is owned by Hasbro studios. I created the characters "Dark Knight/Night Watcher" and "Night's Lance/ Eternal's Sword". The words "Kinkou" and "Eye of Twilight" were first seen used in lores by Riot Games and are used only for entertainment purposes by me.
Written by: Sixinthehood
Looking for Editor.

Thank you all, and have fun.

I will begin at a very early age, back when I was but too young to even start magic kindergarten. I was a pitch black little colt with a spark in his eyes and not a care in the world. My mother… she was beautiful. I remember her so clearly to this day, a radiant being in a world of shadows. Even my father, a unicorn with a similar black coat, was but a dark streak in her presence. Her white coat radiated when she entered a room, and her flowing red hair only embellished her angelic image (Didn’t help that she was a Pegasus). Her face never dropped that smile. It seemed contagious, just latching onto those around and coaxing them into giving into happiness. My young mind may have exaggerated, but in this world why not cling to those memories that make you alive?

I do not remember much as a young foal, just one particular event; a series of flashes in my mind's eye that reminds me of how I got part of my ear taken away. I have no problem telling emotional events anymore, I have seen enough to have been desensitized.

It was not a day like any other, for every day was special beyond detail. I had no worries in those short years. I had a sun that shined upon my home, radiating life in rays of pure light. I had a mother and father who gave me love in spades, with nary a raised voice exchanged. I had a home that I could call my own, filled with possessions all too familiar for someone who knew our history. Why would someone seek to remove this from my life? I have always guessed that it was desperation; a stallion with no choice but to commit to violence to keep his own welfare in this world. I always wondered what would have happened… if he had just asked.

Funny enough that the event transpired in broad daylight, even funnier that he had almost gotten away with it. It was on one of those rare occasions where my father did not have to teach at the Kinkou (I refuse to re-explain who they are; I am the author, not your servant). He had given his lectures for the week much quicker than normal, and left his students with instructions in case they were confused. Although that might not have helped, he cared little; his mind was set on family. I guess I should count my lucky stars (I have 43, the norm is 4) that he was home that day… I might have lost more than an ear if he was not. My father sat in his favorite recliner, a funny old brown thing made of wood and wool. My father had sheep friends who pretty much threw wool his way whenever he passed by. My mother was cradling me in her front legs while humming sweet lullabies. I stared at the ceiling in total bliss, ignorant of what was about to transpire.

We were all “resting” in the living room, if only to enjoy each others company. Not much sound was needed. My mother and father occasionally exchanged glances, each time they held the stare and smiled. The couch we sat on was also made of wood and wool. Carefully crafted and stitched together for comfort and efficiency. My father had a way of making the two corporate, instead of sacrificing one for the other. We had candles strewn about to add light when needed, these rested on hoof crafted shelves. I begin to wonder in my current age why he never just became a craftspony instead of a teacher… his cutie mark certainly was one of the Kinkou kind, but nothing would stop him. Not only candles, but books rested on these shelves. The books were of various sizes and shapes. One was a circle… don’t ask me why, I still don’t know. Although they varied in genre most of the time, there was a select group that was held in the middle of the wall above the fireplace. These particular stacks of books were books of the Eye of Twilights from older generations. All across the time line of the Kinkou; spread out like a horizontal page, showing the progression of the first to the current. My favorite was always the one who served during the Dark Year… the year of Nightmare Moon.

He had immense courage, and was the untold hero in the story of Nightmare Moon. If not for he, Celestia would not have had the time to prepare the elements of harmony… if not for him, she would have been slain. He had many names, but the Kinkou were careful to archive his first true name, and the Eye of Twilight name bestowed upon his finishing of the final ritual. His true name was Night's Lance; his name for the Eye of Twilight was Eternal's Sword. Although most any Eye of Twilight had a name specifically made to instill pride and power, his always felt the best. It always felt like his name carried weight from both this world and any other, like he truly worked for a power unknown to us all.

My mother looked at the shelf and then glimpsed back at me, I smiled at her and nodded. She knew what I wanted and giggled in return; she must have read that story to me at least 50 times… no harm in a 51st reading. The stories themselves actually were written like stories, they were given an entertaining framework and emotions were written in too. The Kinkou were very proffessional, but they knew that it was best to capture a persons emotions along with their curiosity. “Okay little Night,” she always said that name with the irony of it sounding like “knight”, she really believed I would be a protector, “I’ll read to you that story again, but that is the last time for today… agreed?”

I smile back at her and nod eagerly; I could not contain the excitement of hearing about the most honorable Eye of Twilight in history. I always loved his ability to be the most important person ever in the islands home to the Kinkou, yet wondered why it seemed no-one outside even ever heard of him. I was bouncing with glee as she selected the book and pulled it out with her teeth. My father sighs and gives a smile, “that one again? Little Night sure does love the history of the Kinkou, especially that one Eye of Twilight in particular.”

My mother laughed and replied, “well you should be proud that our son has taken such an interest,” she turns back to me and adds with a wink, “who knows, maybe he’ll be among these great people in history someday.”

I gasp and hold my mouth agape. Could it possibly be? Me?! The Eye of Twilight? The thought brings a smile to my face and I bounce even more at the thought, ready to hear again the adventure that concluded Eternals Sword’s life.

“Now let’s see… where is that page…? Ah here it is, the beginning of the end, if you were to call it that.”

Eternal was staring at the night sky, his eyes carefully depicting the meaning that the stars conveyed to him. Each star told a different story in a different place. Each star told him where he needed to be the next day in order to put an end to an imbalance. He never grew tired of this ritual; it put a feeling in him that made his mind heavy and his body light. He was always put into a place where he felt weightless, as if he was floating amongst the stars themselves. He lost himself in this moment each night, but always remembered to mentally note what the stars were telling him. He never once failed his duty as the Eye of Twilight, for doing such would be a grievous offense and a blow to his honor.

He came back down to Earth as he read the last of the stars… and he was scared. His eyes were wide and he was breathing rapidly. Something big was going to happen, and it was going to happen soon. He gasped and clutched his chest as a shot of pain flashed through his body. This was a bad sign, not only did this imbalance involve the moon and sun goddesses, but it was to be an important moment in his life… maybe his last. He shakes his head to rid himself of these thoughts, “I am not weak and have probably been in worse situations than this prophesized event. I’m sure whatever is to happen will not have such… fatal repercussions.” He couldn’t convince himself as well as he wished, but talking aloud helped. Being mostly alone in his travels (As an Eye of Twilight should) usually led to him needing to voice his thoughts, lest he go mad.

“It is almost morning, I might as well rest for the little time I have… tomorrow bodes change among a scale I have not seen in a very long time, maybe never.” he settled his head and willed himself into a subconscious state of mind. A state where he is fully aware, yet his body can rest. He takes this time to meditate on any events, future and past. Thinking of battle plans and ways to act, also any way to improve… he ceased needing to do that long ago. Over the course of hours he meditated on the meaning of the stars and what they could possibly be implying about the regal sisters, his “mind” raced with thoughts as he attempted to calm himself; this was going to be one of the biggest events in his time as Eye of Twilight, he needed to be prepared for the best… and the worst.

Over time he realized he had spent too many light hours in his slumber and willed himself awake. He awoke one eye at a time (As always), he did it slowly and made sure to check for any enemies before showing that he was awake. It was natural by this point, never leave your guard down… an Eye of Twilight is bound to make enemies on his journeys. But something made him jolt awake and cast a sense spell on his surroundings. He frantically looked for who was behind this preposterous event. Eyes scanned the trees, nose sniffed for any sign of toxin or powder, his ears perked to detect the slightest movement outside his eyesight… but he was rewarded with nothing.

He broke into a cold sweat and began to look up. His eyes were pleading for answers and his body trembled. “No! No I must have miscalculated the hours, I must have not actually gone to sleep, I must have… I must…” He looked back up again, the sky was not breaking into morning as he carefully calculated it should, it was instead filled with the darkness of night. The moon hung in the sky, casting it's white glow upon all the land.

A/N I know these chapters are short but I would much rather end them at nice places like this than drag them on. I know some others can keep a story going strong past the thousands mark but I need to end it around the 1.5k mark otherwise I might dip below the quality mark. This means though I will release chapters faster. Hope you all have fun, please leave feedback and any grammatical/spelling mistakes you find. Thank you.

A Foalhood (Part 2)

My Little Pony is owned by Hasbro studios. I created the characters "Dark Knight/Night Watcher" and "Night's Lance/ Eternal's Sword". The words "Kinkou" and "Eye of Twilight" were first seen used in lores by Riot Games and are used by me only for entertainment purpose.
Written by: Sixinthehood
Looking for Editor.

Thank you all, and have fun.

It took some time, but Eternal calmed himself down. He could still feel the sweat drip down from his face after his panic attack. He chanced another look at the sky, maybe hoping that the sky would show the brilliant sun again… no such luck.

“Okay… okay, it isn’t that bad. If anything I shall just need to have a word with the Princesses. I am sure the matter can be resolved quickly and efficiently, Celestia is probably doing that as I sit here.” he always spoke in this voice; he felt it was a nice in-between from royal Canterlot and village speak. By this point he was just trying to convince himself that the matter wasn’t too serious. Eternal trotted back to the stump he rested on a moment earlier so he may return to a more relaxed state and recited a calming passage from the Kinkou book of prophecies.

“All shall be revealed to the Eye of Twilight, and all shall be done quickly and without delay. No matter what event transpires, the Eye of Twilight need not worry, for he has the Power of Balance under his wings.” the passage calmed him as it always did. He was the first Pegasus to become Eye of Twilight since the founder. Many saw it as a weakness; claiming that he would be unable to use the Power of Balance to tip a battle in his favor. Although that may be true, he never needed to use it yet… but he knew the time would come, probably sooner than later. He always had the feeling that the passage referred to him specifically due to him being a Pegasus… no Unicorn could ever take this passage for themselves.

“Alright, enough helpless pondering; it is time to move out and confront the moon sister.” Eternal spread his wings into the air and twirled, releasing a black cloud that enveloped him. When the cloud dissipated he was gone, not a trace of his existence was left in the meadow.

All eyes were on the regal sister of night. Her mane and tail were filled with night sky stars; her feet and head were clad with battle armor. She looked like a battle mistress instead of the symbol of love and power that the sisters had worked to maintain ever since the incident with Discord.

“ALL SHALL LOOK UPON ME AND BOW! MY SISTER IS NO LONGER IN REIN, AND IT SHALL BE NIGHT ETERNAL,” bellowed Princess Luna. Everyone gasped and fell to the flat of their bellies at her voice. The volume at which she spoke was horrendous; it threatened to break every glass window in the building. What used to be Princess Luna looked upon the crowed and barked instructions, “Servants? Why are our tables scattered like some commoners party? We specifically ordered thy set them for a feast in our honor.” The servants all shot up with wide eyes. They darted to and fro to arrange the hall, lest the Princesses wrath set upon them all. “Thy Celestia shall not be accompanying this festive event… she is currently occupying a cell for her grievous crimes.” if looks could kill, her smile would cause genocide.

Eternal sat in the air outside the palace and watched. His eyes shot from one servant to the next, yet his indifferent expression never changed. He looked back at the Princess… she was dark. Every laugh looked maniacal and her presence itself radiated of shadows; he should know, it’s the Eye of Twilight's job to be part of them. “It appears my suspicions are correct, these will be dark times and it will be my job to stop them. Now… where is Celestia?” He sat there for only a moment longer, trying to discern what the new Luna was saying “… Celestia shall not…. Cell…for…crime,” only bits and pieces but Eternal got the message. He set his eyes on the underground entrance known to only the higher guard and relaxed his wings to begin his decent, leaving behind a streak of shadow.

“WHAT ARE THOU DOING?! I am the royal princess Celestia! Sun goddess of the land and I command thee to open this cell!” Celestia sent another pang of energy against the walls and bars, but it made no difference than the last hundred times she tried; the cell always fought back with a ripple of darkness whenever it was struck.

“Quiet in there! Princess Luna herself gave the order and the royal night guard doesn’t listen to the likes of thee!” he added a sneer to the end of his verbal assault, he felt the sun goddess was less than dirt, and deserved no less than to rot in this dungeon for the rest of her days.

“Dost thou not see her corrupt mind?! Dost thou not notice that she be a thing of darkness? She is not Princess Luna anymore, she is a malevolent being!” this hurt Celestia in her heart. She knew Luna was far gone and probably past repair, but it didn’t get any easier saying out loud that her sister has become a being of evil and darkness.

“All I see is a true ruler. Thou, on the other hoof, are nothing but scum and don’t even deserve to hear another pony’s voice. I am done here.” He turned around in time for the door across the hallway to open, revealing another night guard.

“Hail! The princess requests all guard’s presence in the royal hall at this time for a feast.”

“What of the prisoner? Shall someone be watching her?”

“Nay, the princess trusts in her bindings. She says it will not be a problem to leave her unattended for just a night.”

The first pony guard smirks back and spits at the cell where Celestia is kept. Holding the ragged smile, he trots away, leaving Celestia alone to dwell in her saddened mind.

Eternal slowly walked up after making sure no one but the princess remained. He didn’t wave off his shroud though; no need to reveal himself quite yet. Celestia looked at the ground and whispered to herself in her trembling state, “oh dear sister, where did I go wrong. Thou, wrought with sadness, have seen fit to take hold of the land in eternal darkness. Night forevermore and only the ghostly pale white of the moon to light the sky.” She looked up again and gasped. “Who is there?! Thou may hide behind thy shadow, but the darkness itself is unrecognized in this hall.” Her eyes practically pierced the black veil Eternal brought up. He dismissed it with a hoof, bringing himself into full view.

“Hello my lady, I am sorry to have been hiding at first, it just seems I have come on some dark times,” Eternal said with a bow and a flourish of his short cape.

“Manners seem to be at home with you, and aye, thou doth come upon dark times indeed. Thou seem to make a living among the darkness, would thou perhaps be a part of the Kinkou?”

Eternal raised an eyebrow at this question, “Why, yes indeed, although I did not expect the princess to remember us.”

“Thy group has helped us in the past and rid us of many worries… I assume that is why thee are here?” Eternal simply nodded back and looked upon the cell. He trots up and places a hoof on the bars, only for it to be repulsed back. Light seemed to have disappeared where his hoof touched the bar for a moment, before returning to normal.

“These bars… I had gathered enough information while spying to tell that your sister is the reason you are here. It also seems she is the reason you are going to be staying, for I do not know how to pierce this ghastly magic.” Celestia nodded back.

“I do not think it is time for me to be freed. In time I can break these bonds myself… but that will not be for a very long while.” Her posture seemed to slack after stating that, as if it brought upon more sadness.

“How long are we talking about here?” Eternal felt this was going to be a very tall roadblock.

“Over one year… exactly one if I can work most everyday on it.” Eternal sat back onto the wall. One whole year?! But the imbalance must be taken care of… Luna must be stopped! But… how. It wasn’t a question to himself, he knew there was no answer anyway.

“You may be able to break free of here, but that still leaves the problem of a certain egotistical and very powerful mare that is currently sitting in your throne room.” He pointed his hoof towards the door as if to emphasize his point.

“Yes… yes. I have something that will help with this matter. Or more like, six things that may give us the advantage and ultimately banish her power. I believe thou knowest what I speak of?” Eternal slowly nodded; the Elements of Harmony. Used once by the sisters to banish Discord to stone, elements exactly the opposite of evil and chaos, they would evaporate the sister’s evil powers on the spot.

“Why not give them to me now? I shall find ones who can use these and bring them back. Under my protection they could use them on your sister and free the land without trouble!”

“Nay, it is not that simple. Times are not righteous, and I fear there may not be any holders of the elements… outside of mine-self. Also, after we had used their powers to banish the bringer of chaos, we had separated the elements and given them into places of ultimate protection; lest their powers be molested and used for evil causes.”

Eternal stood stock still at this information. THEY WHAT!? “Wait… you took the six most powerful objects of good in the world, and you stuck them into the equivalent of dungeons spread across Equestria. That has to be the most ignorant and foolish thing I have ever heard of you two doing! No matter you are soft and totally benevolent to the point of looking entirely innocent, but you just discarded these objects as if they were common trinkets! And now you expect me to return them to you so that you can probably just drop them off a cliff? My dear, it seems Miss Luna up there might actually be a good choice compared to what we had going.” Eternal was thrust into the air and then slammed into the wall opposite the cell. Celestia was practically seething with rage, and a white aura was radiating about her as she lifted Eternal again

“DO NOT ATTEMPT TO UNDERSTAND OUR REASONS TO ACT! WHAT SHALL WE HAVE SAID IF THE ELEMENTS WERE STOLEN AND THEN USED TO WIPE OUT OUR SUBJECTS?” Eternal’s ears rang and his breath was coming in ragged gasps.“WHAT SHALL WE HAVE SAID IF EACH ONE WAS DESTROYED AND OUR ABILITY TO BANISH EVIL PERMANENTLY GONE FROM THIS WORLD?!” Celestia let Eternal slump to the floor, releasing her magic. She spoke again, but in a lighter tone, “I do not act like I know all that will happen, or speak as if I am the wisest in the land. But do know that my sister and I thought hard upon the elements before deciding to release them to these areas. Please, thou must gather them and return here. You do not have to be exactly on time, but within a years time will probably suit us both best.” She held out her hoof, and tossed a necklace; the sun and moon goddess, in perfect yin and yang. “That will prove most useful in your journey, if thou show that to the keeper of each element, they shall bring it to thou themselves.”

Eternal was collecting his breath, but managed to catch the necklace in his front legs. He looked upon it and could feel the magical energy flow from the perfect metal. A mixture of light and darkness was held in the jewelry, perfect balance within such a small object.

“I shall do as you command; within a year’s time I shall return… but I must ask where the elements are. I have no map and no knowledge as to their location.”

Celestia merely smiled at what he said, “no one has ever suspected such a dusty and old library to hold secrets so powerful… and true. Good bye dear member of the Kinkou, but let me ask thou a question; what is thy name?”

“Mine? I am Eternal’s Sword, Eye of Twilight for the Kinkou,” He bowed and took hold of his cape before spinning in a complete circle, letting loose a black cloud. “But you may call me Eternal.”