Alone in the Night (Prologue)
The eldest of the two princesses had already long fallen asleep, her watch over the sun ended for the day. Now it was Luna's turn. She sighed, glancing over to her sister's sleeping form. It got boring on these nights, all alone. Everyone else was asleep, as they always were during her night. She was used to it by now.
What I wouldn't give for some company. She thought wearily.
I think I'll go out for a bit.
Her horn glowing, she lifted a nearby pen and paper and began to write.
Tia,
I've gone out for a while. I should be back before the sun rises. I'm leaving this so that,
in case you should awake, you will not worry for me.
Love, Luna
She placed the note on the table near her balcony, before stepping outside. She slowly opened her wings, before pushing herself off of the balcony and gracefully drifting away into the night sky. Luna looked up into the beautiful, starry sky, admiring how bright the small dots shone in the darkness. She flew over Ponyville, watching the small town below for any signs of life. Perhaps someone who couldn't sleep. Or someone who needed a good dream.
Seeing nothing, she flew past the houses and buildings, and then over the small cottage at the edge of the woods; smiling down at where she knew a certain, kind little yellow pegasus slept soundly, surrounded by animals. As she began to fly over the forest, she began to feel something gnawing at her. Was it the eerie silence? Or maybe the creatures that lurked in the dark depths? Breathing in deeply, the princess began to listen. She could hear the sounds of many creatures scuttling through the trees.
As the Princess of the Moon flew over the forest, for just an instant, she could have sworn she'd seen something moving below. A bright, pinkish form running through the tall, dark trees. She slowed, gliding down a bit to look. Something small and pink cut across her peripheral vision once more, and, curiosity overcoming her, she decided to alight on the cold, mossy ground. She lowered her head and scanned the bushes and undergrowth, but saw nothing. Suddenly, a shrill scream pierced the night, ringing out among the trees.
Her head jerked up, and she began looking around feverishly, searching for whatever had emitted the sound. Luna was about to take off, when she heard it again. It had gotten closer. She turned quickly, listening for another scream. There was a sound, like somepony running.
"HEY!" the princess called out.
"RUN TOWARDS MY VOICE. WHERE ARE YOU?"
The bushes rustled behind her, and she spun around on her heels. A small, bubblegum pink filly flew out of the bushes, nearly knocking Luna over. The child did not speak; she only stared at the princess with a look of urgency. Finally she squeaked,
"H-help me."
Luna stared at the small thing in confusion. What was a filly doing in the middle of the woods? What was chasing her? She looked up just in time to make out a pack of timberwolves running through the trees. She quickly picked up the filly, and, clutching the small, shaking form to her chest, she took off. As the princess darted off into the sky, she could hear the wolves simultaneously howl a long, low howl that got quieter and quieter as she flew away.
She once again reached Ponyville, and upon doing so landed quickly outside the hospital, which was, she assumed, opened at night. She burst through the doors carrying the small horse and instantly flinched at the sudden brightness that overwhelmed her. She stopped for a moment, blinking her eyes, struggling to hastily refocus them to the light. Once she could again see properly, she lurched forward to the desk.
"I-I found this child..."
The mare at the desk looked up suprised, not realizing the princess was there.
"Princess Luna! I.. uhm... Yes! R-right away!" she pressed a button on her desk, calling down a nurse. The nurse ran over and took the child delicately from Luna, before walking calmly down the hallway to a room. Luna followed anxiously, almost annoyed by how slow the nurse was going. The nurse walked into the room, and placed the terrified filly on a table. She looked her over, then proceeded to preform a routine checkup; blood pressure, heartbeat, breathing, whatnot. Finally, the mare sighed.
"She's fine."
"What?"
"She's fine. Not a scratch on the kid. Heartbeat's a little fast, but I would assume she just had a bad scare."
"Oh. Good" Luna breathed out, most of the nervous tension releasing.
"I'll just... take her with me I guess," the princess said. She didn't know who the filly's parents are, or why she was out there all alone. The child didn't seem to mind, as she made no objections. She summoned enough magical energy and quickly teleported the child and herself to the castle. She bathed the child, and gave her food.
As the filly sat down and ate, Princess Luna had time to really look at her. She didn't recognize the child, but she was a very small, pretty little earth pony. She had a bright, bubblegum pink coat. Her mane and tail were short and sloppy, predominately white with a few black highlights here and there. Her tired, lavender eyes glanced up to look at the princess every so often, but would quickly look away.
Later, after the child was fed, Luna decided now would be a good time to try to talk to her.
"So... might I ask your name, little one?"
"Uhm." The filly looked up in surprise,
"They called me Fallen From Grace."
"They?"
"Y-yes. But I think They were all killed off in the attack. Our community was destroyed by those monsters."
"What was a community doing out in the middle of the Everfree Forest?!"
"We've always been there. For over a thousand years. Since the time before the destruction of harmony between the sun and moon."
"Oh... I wasn't aware."
"Well, that was the point, I think. To escape the wrath of the princesses. Our community was founded by runaway convicts that aided in the rise of Nightmare Moon."
"Wow..."
"Yeah. I don't know much myself, I was only just learning about it in school. But then we were attacked and...you know the rest. We also live differently, I think, from other ponies. We do things at night, and sleep during the day. I think it's the other way around for ponies here."
"I don't understand. So you all lived out there... all alone in the night? In the middle of the dark forest?"
"Mhm."
"So I assume you aren't that tired. It's only the middle of the night now."
"Well, I am a little bit tired, I guess. I did get chased through a forest by wolves for a good twenty minutes or so before you came along, Princess."
"Right. Come this way. You can sleep in my room for now. When my sister awakes we can try to talk more."
The filly, "Fallen From Grace", nodded weakly, and trotted slowly after the princess. When they reached her room, the filly gasped.
"You have a PIANO?"
"Uh... yeah. I'm not very good at playing it, though. Why? Do you play?"
"Mhm." The filly walked over to the piano and sat down. She breathed in slowly, before resting her hooves delicately over the keys, and beginning to play.
She played a low, sorrowful song. It sounded so sad, but peaceful. Similar to the way the howl of the timberwolves had sounded. It was beautiful. Her hooves glided effortlessly over the keys, the notes flowing smoothly through the otherwise silent room. When she had finished, she turned, smiling shyly at the princess.
"Fallen From Grace?"
"Yep?"
"How about we call you Ivory Grace."
"Ivory Grace? ...Okey. I like it. It's pretty." she grinned, before yawning loudly. She slid off of the bench and walked over to the large bed. Instead of getting into the bed, she pulled down one of the blankets and went back to the piano, curling up on the bench with the blanket wrapped around her.
She sighed, before once more beginning to play.