The Ruin of Rule

*** Half an hour earlier***

        Out of the blinding light, a mysterious voice called out to her. “Come on Luna, push!” Luna screamed in pain as she tried to push out the unborn child. The sound of the doctor’s voice sounded once more. “You’re almost there Luna, keep pushing!” The doctor’s encouragements were muffled due to the loudness of her ear-piercing screams of pain and by the audible heartbeat in her ears.

        The world around her was all ablank. The only thing she noticed was the dimming of her vision and the thoughts that rushed through her head. Is thou darkness the only friend that we shall have in thine own eternal night? Is this our own life ends, to never see the face of our own child? As the combination of thoughts and the current situation began to settle upon here mind, Luna felt a cold darkness begin to claw it’s way into her being. Is thou darkness to take us once again? No… I shall not let such evils plague our mind once again! We must fight to remain in control! Luna knew that she wouldn’t live to see another day, considering how miserably weak she felt.

Well if we shall die, then we die knowing that we have brought more beauty to this world. Whether it be a colt or filly, we have birthed a new age, a new hope, and a new heart. Luna wished to smile. Interrupting her thoughts, the doctor’s voice spoke again. “Ok Luna, just one more!” The world became nothing but a blur as Luna gave one final scream of pain. Then, all was silent… no sound protruded save for the heavy breathing that elapsed from Luna.

        Out of the silence came the sudden noise of hiccuping and then the cries of a young foal. “Congratulations, it’s a boy!” Luna looked to the stallion in surgeon’s clothing who held the small bundle of joy. “May we see our gift to the earth?” Luna asked weakly. The stallion nodded and trotted over to Luna. The young foal began to coo as the doctor deposited him into his mother’s hooves.

Luna smiled as she cradled the child. “Hello there little one. We are glad to see that you live and breathe on this most glorious of days. The world rejoices at the arrival of such a special pony such as yourself.” Behind the face of happiness, Luna still felt sadness. Tis a shame that your father couldn’t be here to see you into this world. But we are sure that he watches over both of our lives, and that he is smiling down upon you my child. Luna let a tear fall as the doctors had their backs turned. We miss him dearly, the most amazing stallion we have ever met… your father, Night Scar.

        Luna’s horn began to glow blue as she prepared a spell. And if we must leave this world soon, then we shall bestow the gift of memory to you, my son. She then touched the tip of her horn to the young foal’s head, giving him memories of herself and Night Scar. May you never forget us little one. We and your father love you. Just then, Luna heard the doctors returning from the other side of the room and quickly dried her tears before the doctors could notice. One of them smiled at her and said, “Say cheese!”

Luna smiled as best she could, despite her weakened state. After the camera flashed, one of the doctors trotted up to Luna. This one, a mare, bowed before asking her question. “So your highness, what will you name the young foal?” Luna looked at the mare. “I haven’t thought of one yet.” she responded.

The nurse nodded her head. “Ok then, I’ll hold the certificate until a name is chosen.” The nurse trotted back to the other side of the room to help the other two doctors clean up. Luna closed her eyes in thought. A name… a name fit for a young prince… Luna thought. As a name had struck in her mind, something strange happened.

Luna became stiff, unable to move. All she saw was darkness… no… there was a grey plane. Luna saw a stallion standing on a vast rolling grey hill. The sky above had a dust color, as well as the moon. A lone tree that was dry and had no leaves was the only other thing seen other than the stallion who stood near it. Luna called out to the stallion.

“Who goes there? And is thou responsible for bringing us here?!” The stallion didn’t move. Quite rude this stallion is. Where are we, and why does this domain feel familiar? “Nostalgic, isn’t it?” the stallion asked. Luna became wide-eyed as she saw herself suddenly next to the cloaked stallion. “As we asked before, who is thee and is thou responsible for our presence here?”

“The grey plane of the heartless… it’s protector… Void Chaser…” Suddenly, light enveloped Luna as she began to wake from the sleep she had apparently fallen into. “What just…” She was now back in the hospital room. She was still holding the foal, who was sound asleep in her arms. She guessed that she had been asleep for only a few minutes or so, considering the doctors didn’t see what had just occurred.

Luna shook her head trying to clear it, she failed to do so however. Void Chaser… is this the name tis destined to be yours little one? Luna began to notice a dark energy emanating from her son. What trickery is this, why does darkness plague you so? Luna then remembered feeling something cold and heavy touching her as she heard her sister’s spell from earlier. No, this can’t be… but then, thou would become the next tyrant! But that dream, it spoke of a different destiny.

Luna sat there confused as she tried to make sense of things. “Have you decided on a name yet princess?” Luna looked up to see the young mare from earlier. She blinked twice before answering the nurse’s question. “Void Chaser” she said simply. The nurse eyed Luna strangely.

“Are you sure about that your highness? It’s a strange name to give to a pony.” Luna shot a protective mother’s glance at the young mare. “Yes, I wish for thee to bear the name I speak! Does thou have a problem with my choosing?” The nurse staggered and bowed. “O-of course not your highness, please forgive me!” Luna smiled but kept a serious tone.

“Thou is forgiven, but do not say such foalishness about my judgement again.” The mare bowed. “Y-yes princess!” She quickly turned to retrieve the birth certificate. As she galloped away, Luna turned her attention to the young foal and smiled. Void Chaser… a fine name for a little colt.

Luna laughed amusingly. “Whew, I’m back!” The nurse was gasping for air. “Shall I take him off your hooves so you can sign the certificate and get some rest?” she asked. At first Luna was reluctant to do so, but then realized that she needed to rest if she was to keep the last of her energy to see her sister before death dragged her into it’s dark depths. Luna nodded her head.

“Yes, sleep will be needed after such tiring events.” Luna’s horn began to glow blue as she grabbed hold of the document. “Farewell my little Void Chaser. We love you, my son.” She kissed him on his head before depositing him into the nurse’s hooves. Luna then grabbed a nearby pen and signed the document. “Here you go, and please do take good care of him.”

The nurse bowed and trotted away. And as the last of the doctors exited the room, Luna felt sleep begin to overtake her. Luna closed her eyes and let the thoughts in her mind whisk her away to sleep.Make haste dear sister, for thy own strength continues to dwindle. If we should expire before your arrival, then I shall let thee know… we love you dear sister… we wish not to bid farewell. And as the last tear was shed, the sound of a laughing child and his mother echoed in the silence.