>Day Pony Up in Equestria
>Be Anonymous
>It has been three nights since Nightlight has fallen ill and you visit her regularly throughout your daily routine
>It feels strangely empty to practice and prepare without her, but duty calls as ever
>You find yourself amongst others at the wall tonight, each of you heaving loads of ammunition or piling sandbags as you go
>A familiar pony is at the gates and you recognize her as the Princess’ protégé
>Her dark mane parts about her horn as her magic glows
>Sigils of some kind appear on the large gate as she enchants it
>”There we go, all done.”
>A nearby guard smiles and bows
>”Thank you, Ms. Sparkle.”
>The little unicorn smiles widely before turning about and walk towards the castle
>A strange sort of curiosity overtakes you as you begin to follow the young mare
>She is completely oblivious to your shadowing
>You follow her into the castle and watch her enter the library before disappearing
>Princess Luna’s voice rings out from behind you
>”Anonymous, are you snooping?”
“As usual, dear Princess. Can you tell me of this Twilight Sparkle that Celestia holds so dear?”
>”A pet project of my sister’s, from what I understand. The purple one is a wellspring of untapped raw magic. Very temperamental and hardly will associate with her peers.”
>Princess Luna smiles widely
>”Sound like somep0ny you know?”
>You shake your head and turn to face the Princess
“Are there any reports on Nightlight’s condition?”
>”Stable for now, but magic does not have such a predictable course as disease.”
“Do you believe she will live?”
>You grade the Princess’ expression carefully as she speaks
>”She is strong and she yearns for life… I believe so, yes.”
>The Princess and you walk about for the moment before your stomach rumbles
>”When was the last time you ate?”
“I have no taste for food right now.”
>”Nonsense!”
>A large wing encircles you from behind
>”You must keep your strength up for your duty! Come, let us have a meal together.”
“You do not worry about rumours of fraternizing with the help?”
>A smile creeps up your face
>”It can be a concern, yet I can always send my attack dog after naysayers.”
>Princess Luna returns the smile in earnest
 
>In a garden apart from the others
>Be Rosewood
>You gingerly step through the loamy soil as you ponder
>Is it truly difficult for the false Princesses to cure this magic?
>You wonder what other powerful spells the Queen possesses before hearing the snap of twigs
>Pinning your ears and wheeling around, you spot a familiar pony
>He does not notice you as he walks with his head held high and his armour shines in the pale light of the moon
>You quickly take cover behind some brush and listen carefully
>His voice is slightly young, but charming all the same
>”This is terrible… We’re surely going to mobilize for war.”
>A very familiar voice picks up and makes your stomach quiver
>”Yes, we will. Is that not pleasing, captain?”
>”No, Anon, it is not.”
>You peak from your hiding place to see the handsome stallion standing before Anon
>To your surprise, Anon is kneeling before him and speaking softly
>”It is what we have been working for. This has all been your plan.”
>The stallion snorts
>”The plan was a good defense and sturdy bulwark, not full-scale assault!”
>”Forgive me, captain.”
>The regal stallion places a hoof to Anon’s shoulder
>”Also, stop acting like I’m so much better than you. It’s weirding me out. You did nothing wrong to apologize for.”
>Anonymous rises and nods
>”I just wish to show respect to you, Shining. You earned your title and rank. Still, do you not yearn for the thrill of battle?”
>”It’s just… Well, it’s not that I don’t want to protect Canterlot, it’s just that we need to find a better way than attacking. It’s not our way, you know?”
>Anonymous contemplates deeply and smiles
>”You are correct… What would the Princess think of us if we charge headlong into blood confrontation?”
>Anonymous swiftly spins his arm around and directs his fist to his captain
>The regal stallion puts up a shield of pure magic so quickly and with such force that he deflects the blow
>You gasp for the moment before covering your mouth as sparks fly from the monstrous impact
>Anon shakes his hand a few times and his eyes travel toward the brush you are in
>”Sharp as ever, Shining. With your impenetrable shield and my unstoppable force, I dare say we can topple dragons.”
>”Anonymous! That is -not- funny! You know I don’t like sparring.”
>”I also know you do not prefer to deal with spies and traitors…”
>Anon picks up a rock and quickly hurls it at your location
>You harden the brush before you and it easily stops the small rock
>The regal pony now takes a defensive stance and growls
>”Who goes there?!”
>Cautiously, you step from the entanglement and try to sound bold
>”It is I, Rosewood.”
>Anon sighs for a moment as if he really was expecting something else
>”Oh, she is just one of the traitorous dogs of the Red Queen.”
>The regal stallion looks curiously at you and seems to size you up
“I’ll just be going now…”
>With a flash of magic, the shining stud teleports before you
>He is larger than you in both height and girth and his piercing eyes send a chill up your spine
>The oddest fragrance of lilac and wild berries emanates from about him
>”Rosewood… I have heard about you.”
“G-good things, I take it?”
>He raises an eyebrow to you and you wince
>”Easy now, I’m not going to hurt you.”
>Anonymous audibly sighs again before turning away and crossing his arms
>”I am Shining Armor, captain of the royal guard and envoy of the Princesses.”
>Your heart throbs for a moment as you stare up at this stallion
>He is the first pony you have met in this awful castle that has not made you scared for your life
>”What business do you have here tonight?”
“I-I was just taking in the moonlight.”
>He looks confused at your answer
>”No, I mean, like, what did you hope to find out by spying on us.”
“Honestly, I was not spying!”
>A sudden gale rises in the still night and you shield yourself
>Luna appears in the air upon the whims of her magic and gently touches down
>Her voice is thunderous as she speaks
>”Anonymous! You are required at the castle!”
>Anonymous and the false princess speed off towards their sordid castle, leaving the guard captain and yourself alone
“S-so, um, I suppose we are alone…”
>He eyes you carefully before smiling
>”Why do you look so nervous?”
“Oh, it is just… Strange.”
>”Yes, I bet. Don’t worry, we’ll protect you so long as you’re in the castle walls. We don’t have to be enemies here.”
“We don’t?”
>”I mean, unless you want to?”
>He snorts lightly with a cocky smile on his face
“No! Of course not!”
>An uncomfortable silence grows as you both stand across from each other
“Anonymous…”
>”Hmm?”
“What kind of –thing- is he?”
>With a sigh, the regal guard begins telling you of a very different creature than you have come to know
 
>In a wicked dream
>Be Nightlight
>You escape and run until your legs burn and your breathing is rough
>A ringing you cannot place persists in your ears
>It is a voice you have yet to forget and, yet, have never fully heard
>Wicked words and cruel thoughts fill your head as the whispers continue
>”Your friends will abandon you.”
“Shut your mouth!”
>You slap yourself quickly before looking out on the horizon
>A twisted ocean of brambles and dark, thorny bushes spills out in all directions
>”Your heart will explode.”
“Quiet!”
>Building up your courage, you leap and unfurl your wings over the sea of thorns
>You must escape and find Anon!
>The Red Queen must be stopped!
>You flap your leathery wings with all your might as you stay above the grasping vines and sharp thorns below
>The sun is a blood-red ember in the cloudless sky and you feel like you are roasting as you soar
>”Your strength will fail.”
>Words bore into your mind with visions of a decaying land around you
>A large object comes into view amongst the ruins
>The smell of decay and blood and acid rises up
>Sitting atop a mountain of broken and slain bodies is the Red Queen
>Her eyes glow with voraciousness as she licks her lips
>”Give me your life…”
>Vines slither and crawl upwards towards her and engulf the bodies below
>”… And never feel this pain again.”
>You cannot stand one more uttered breathe from this monster
>With a roar of defiance, you dive at her
>Your spear appears in your grasp as you speed down and makes contact with the Red Queen
>A sickening popping noise and then a crunch rings out into the open air
>The Red Queen growls and throws you to her hooves
>”Impetuous whelp! Bow to me!”
>You hop up and take hold of your weapon
>Another twist and thrust sends it further into the beast before you
“That is not an option! Fight, overcome, or die!”
>”Why do you resist so?!”
>A sudden feeling of relief washes over you as the battle turns in your favour
“Because there will always be somep0ny there for me!”
>The Red Queen looks distressed and doubles her efforts to entangle you
>Your legs are hooked and your wings are bound, but still you hold the spear tightly
>Pressure builds in your gut as you are constricted and you gasp
>”Fight for –me- or die!”
>You choke out a gasp as you bury the spear as far as it will go
>”No pony will save you!”
“Y-yes… He… Will…”
>A bright light emerges and breaks across the sky like a bolt of lightning
>A massive sword follows and embeds itself into the Red Queen
>”What is this?!”
>She hisses as her form begins to shatter
>The sound of a large, dark voice echoes into the air as the sun and heat are blotted out
>You look up through teary eyes to see Princess Luna flying overhead
>Another massive sword tears through the heavens and skewers the Red Queen
>”This is a message!”
>You see another winged stallion in the air above you
>His dark coat and large wings cannot mask the unmistakable presence of Anonymous
>One last sword steadily hovers over the Red Queen’s throne
>In a short, cold manner, Anon delivers his coup de grace
>”We ride on wings of fury.”
>The final weapon slams down on the Red Queen and her form shatters into so much dust
>You find yourself freed of the vines and thorns and your body rests gently on the ground
>Anonymous lands beside you in his odd form and he smiles
>”You did well, sentry.”
“-We- did well.”
>Princess Luna soon meets beside you two and she joins in with a smile
>”Your will was done, little one. We could only have come in to assist what you had already finished.”
>You wheeze and clutch your pained side
“I-I’m glad we won. With t-the Red Queen gone… We’ll live at p-peace now?”
>The Princess grimaces a bit as she looks to you
>Anon rubs his nose into your side and quickly clears his throat
>”Nightlight, I need you to wake up now.”
“What?”
>”Just wake up.”
“I don’t understand?”
>”That is an order, sentry.”
 
>In a soft bed
>Be Nightlight the Awakened
>You spring to life with a terrified shriek as you sit up and look around
>Princess Celestia and Anonymous are standing nearby and there is a tray of food beside you
”It was all a dream?”
>You pat yourself all around to make sure all your limbs are attached
>Confirming such, you sigh and look up to your guests
“You would not believe the nightmare I had.”
>”We were there and you did well.”
>Princess Luna smiles with you
>Anonymous passes you an apple slice
>”I am relieved to see you awake again
>You salute weakly
“Orders are orders.”
>He cracks a smile and Princess Luna seems to be in awe
“I remember that pony, Pokey, losing his mind and biting me. How did I end up here?”
>The Princess trots carefully around the bed
>”You were poisoned with a magic bite. In your comatose state, it threatened to consume your being. Your will was what ultimately allowed you to survive.”
>”Never would I doubt her stubbornness.”
>Anon nods sagely with his grin plastered to his face
>Princess Luna smirks lightly
>”Something you would be an excellent judge of.”
>You chuckle, more to clear your throat than anything, before taking a bite of your apple
>A sudden and intrusive voice seems to echo throughout the room
>”Your friends… deceive you.”
>You look around as paranoia overtakes you
“Did you hear that?”
>”Hear what, sentry?”
>The room is silent for the moment as you all listen carefully
>There is nothing save for the stillness in the air
“It must have been my imagination.”
>You stare at your apple and take a deep breath
>The moment of tension passes and you look around slowly
>It was possibly nothing
>Probably