A Moon's Shadow

"That was terrible." Luna sighed. She and Shadow had been discussing the incident that happened to Luna, while they were nearing the edge of the forest. They were tracking down the third chaos emerald, which happened to be in the city somewhere. But they weren't in a rush.

"What happened back there? What made you turn into...that?" Shadow questioned.

"I guess it was my anger that turned me into Night Mare Moon...it brings back terrible memories." Luna explained sadly.

"Memories? You mean, it's happened before?"

"Sadly, yes. Over a thousand years ago, my sister and I ruled all of Equestria in peace and harmony. We have been defeating evil and all its treacherous ways using the elements of harmony, which are the sources of our power. They are a little similar to your chaos emeralds. Anyway, my sister and I were the guardians of both day and night. But one day, something terrible happened to me."

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The young Luna looked at the sky as the sun started to set. Then she looked down from the balcony to see everypony was going inside for the night to come. As everypony waved goodbye to their friends, Luna let out a grave sigh.

"What's wrong, my little sister?" Celestia came out of the castle to the balcony to see her sister full of sorrow.

"How come everypony likes to play during the day and not during the night? I mean, I want to play with everypony too. But every time I raise the moon, everypony is sleeping." Luna said flat out.

"Now Luna, you know everypony needs their rest, especially during the night. Besides, they've got a lot of work to do during the day. They need the sun to help grow their crops during the times when it isn't winter." Celestia explained.

        "I know, but what about all the younger ponies who play all day, but rest during the night. I want them to see how my night can be just as fun." Luna complained. Celestia was beginning to get cross with Luna.

        "Luna, don't you start..." Celestia started.

        "Just because everypony loves your day so much, it doesn't make it special!" Luna shouted.

        "Now, just a minute. That's going too far..." Celestia started again.

        "My night is special too. The reason why nopony notices it is because they wake up to see your day! Well, you know what!? I'll just have to make everypony see how special my night is!" Luna shouted. Then she took off to raise the moon into the sky and set the stars in their place. After a while, it was time for the sun to rise. But Luna refused to let down the moon. Celestia wondered why the moon wasn't setting. She took off from the castle to search for Luna. She searched everywhere, from Canterlot to West Saddlerabia. Finally, she found Luna in the ancient ruins located in the Everfree Forest. Only, she wasn't Luna anymore, she was an evil alicorn named Night Mare Moon. Celestia couldn't believe what had happened to her sister.

         "Why so shocked, my sister? Don't you realize that it is your fault nopony knows my night? It's because of you the night will last forever! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" Night Mare Moon laughed triumphantly.

         "Luna, why? Why are you doing this to everypony, to Equestria, to me?" Celestia cried.

         "Because I want what you have, Princess. I want everypony's love. I want them all see what my night can do. I want to rule all of Equestria and of you!" Night Mare Moon explained.

         "And you think it will all happen by taking away the day and bringing nighttime eternal? Because your wrong. The true power is friendship and harmony!" Suddenly, the Elements of Harmony appeared and floated around Celestia. Night Mare Moon started to get a little worried. She knew how powerful the Elements were. "What you need is some time to think about what you've done." Celestia finished. With a tear in her eye, she channeled energy into the Elements and blasted their power toward Night Mare Moon. A rainbow ribbon surrounded her and she was sent flying out of the forest toward the moon, where she stayed for a thousand years.

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         "I'm sorry you had to go through all of that." Shadow said, letting everything sink in. He couldn't believe how Luna had to go through all of that. It reminded him of his past.

         "I appreciate your help. It's been taking effect during this time too. Nopony understands the way I feel. Nopony excepts me as a friend now that they know what I once was." Luna sighed with a depressed tone.

         "I can relate to your pain." Shadow replied. Luna looked at Shadow. "See, more than fifty years ago, I was created to be the ultimate life form by Professor Gerald Robotnik. My purpose was to be a cure for a rare disease. Maria, Gerald's granddaughter, had that disease, so she couldn't stay on Mobius. She was aboard the Space Colony Ark her whole life. I was created to help and protect her while she was there. But then one night..." Shadow explained.

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Alarms were sound everywhere. Red lights flashing indicating intruders. GUN forces running all over the Ark trying to track down this dangerous weapon. Professor Gerald panicked and ran out of his lab, but made sure all of his experiments were kept a secret. He couldn't believe what was happening.

"No...no...not now!" He said to himself. He suddenly thought about his granddaughter. He ran everywhere trying to find Maria. Suddenly, something grabbed him by his wrist. And he was sent running toward the main room where all the controls for the Ark were located. In front of him was Shadow and Maria running for their dear lives. GUN forces followed closely behind.

"Shadow, I'm scared." Maria cried.

"Just hold on!" Shadow called back. They were almost to the control room when Gerald was caught by the GUN forces. Maria looked back, but kept running. She wondered what would happen once they reached the control room. What would anyone do at this time? By the time they reached the control room, they had no where else to go. They looked everywhere to find some sort of escape. Then Maria caught sight of the controls that launched the escape pods. She, then looked at Shadow, who was standing on top of one of the platforms looking for some other way to escape. Maria, knowing what had to be done, pushed one of the buttons on the control panel. The escape pod right above Shadow fell and sealed him inside. Shadow, shocked, looked back at Maria, who was about to pull a lever to release the pod from the Ark down to Mobius. Just as she got a hold of it, the GUN forces came into the room.

"Stop right there." The commander ordered. But Maria didn't listen. She stood there holding the lever, trying to find the courage to pull it. Shadow couldn't believe what was happening. How could he let this happen to her? He started to pound on the glass, but he couldn't even make a crack.

"I said STOP!" The commander ordered again. Maria ignored him again. She couldn't back out now. She started to pull the lever, but as she did, the only thing both Maria and Shadow could feel was pain. The commander took the shot, which stoke Maria down and almost made Shadow shed a tear. The GUN left the room, believing that she hadn't survived. Once they were gone, Maria used all the strength she had left to get up and pull the lever once again.

"MARIA!" Shadow shouted. He couldn't bear to watch what was happening to Maria. Then Maria said something he'll never forget.

"Please, Shadow...I beg you. For all the people who live on that planet. Give them a chance to be happy...and they will live blessed lives...Then our wish will be realized...This is the reason why you were brought into this world."

"MARIA!"

"Sayanara....Shadow the hedgehog." She breathed her last. She fell to the floor, pulling the lever all the way. Shadow's pod was released into space, and headed toward Mobius. Shadow, contained inside, couldn't do anything to save Maria.

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"Fifty years later, I wanted to seek revenge for what they did to her. But Sonic and his friends helped me see what Maria really wanted. Ever since then, I've kept that promise and protected Mobius with my life." Shadow concluded. Luna let all of it sink in. She didn't think anypony else would have to go through that. Then she smiled.

"At least you and I have something in common." Luna started. Shadow looked back at her. "We both understand what we've been through. We both protect both of our worlds. And we both are two of the most powerful creatures in both of our worlds. I'm glad we had a chance to finally meet each other, Shadow." Luna smiled. Shadow realized Luna was right. They do have something in common. Luna smiled at Shadow and they both looked into the nighttime sky. They knew now that they must work together to save both of their worlds. And they wouldn't rest until the job was done.

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Far off on a farm field lay an unconscious Applejack with her Element of Honesty wrapped around her neck. Only, the Element wasn't as bright as it should be. It seemed to not have the power it should have. But suddenly, the Element started to glow and regain it's power. It lifted AJ in the air and it started to revive her from her from her sleep. She stood up and looked around.

"Where am I? What 'appened to ever'pony?" She said as she looked around to find only farm land and nopony there. What she did find, however, was a nearby city. "Maybe I'll find out over there." She started to trot towards the city.