Author's Note

Surprise. Another Chapter.

Expect a surprise character to come into the story. A trusty friend of mine requested it, and I could not say no since he said "Do me a solid."

Anyway, enjoy.

P.S. I'll be on Fanfiction for the rest of the day to start a Naruto Story requested by "So and So". I can't go into much detail, but I can say that it involves a disowned and homeless Hinata meeting a tailed beast that is free and looking for Naruto.

Romance between Hinata and Naruto along with Female Kyuubi and mystery tailed beast. Along with disband of Team Seven.

You know where to find me.

Surprise Visit

Later That Same Night.

Leo was caught between two of the softest wings and damp from relentless licks to his cheeks. The Lunar Princess had taken on new feelings for him and planned to harness them. She had never felt this way for a male before, not even with those she found to be infatuated with. Luna had spent centuries burying the idea of love and happiness to keep herself as well as her sister ideal for the crowns they wear. But that tiny bundle of cuteness resting against her chest was proving himself too much. He was something special to her, something she did not see in stallions.

Although he was a small boy, Luna had great knowledge about her. There was more wisdom behind her eyes than her own sister; in some ways, she was smarter than Celestia. Not for politics or diplomacy, but through seeing who someone truly is on the inside. She had seen a very powerful trait inside the free-minded fox. Yet there was no fire to what she saw. Like the little fox was before she awoke him with another lick, the 'piece' she witnessed behind his eyes was lying dormant, sleeping for however long it must.

Luna was stoic about the little kitsune fluttering his eyes to her. She was a gentle mare and she been wanting a companion for generations, wanting and waiting from she shadows of her guilt and regret. Having these feelings was very complicated and scary, but for all intents and purposes, she would make this boy her best friend and become more when he comes of age. The Nine-Tailed Pup would never know the Lunar Princess to mount a deep desire for him. All he had was being so adorable that he cannot have a moment of peace without someone wrapping their around him.

Luna rested her chin against his forehead. She would never let a moment go by without some form of affection. She would rush to his side the moment she knew he was alone; she would—if not already—be at his side just to soothe bad tension when things get too rough for him. She could not do less for him, especially after finding out the extremely short invasion of the Caribou.

Holding him closely, she rose out of bed to get some fresh air. The window creaked ominously. Creepily. Just like in her video games. The sound sent a chill down the princess' spine as she remembered her console still on pause after having the crap scared out of her. Not literally, mind you.

The night sky became clear very slowly and thank her mother anyway, the moon had been risen as if it was in touch with Faust. Luna felt her mother's powerful magic radiating off the moon and stepped outside, on the balcony with Leo in her wings, on hoof going across his cheek.

There was curiosity in the boy's eyes as he looked up to the moon. He did not move. Luna could hear his amazement of her celestial body glowing brightly over Equestria. She coughed nervously and blushed, but why? Why did seeing the boy look at her moon in astonishment embarrass her?

Leo glanced at her and pointed a finger at the moon. "What is that big thing in the sky?"

Luna looked down at the little fox. She raised her brow, holding a still expression as he waited for an answer. She cleared her throat. "You do not know what the moon looks like?"

Is this child playing games with me, or is he serious about not knowing what the moon is? she scolded.

Leo rose out of Luna's wings. He climbed till he was on top of her head, gazing so purely at the bright moon. "That's what the moon looks like. Wow, Mr. Mole told me the moon is really pretty, but I never thought it would be so big and bright."

Leo pressed his lips together and studied the moon. He was suspicious, be he wasn't certain of the rumor his caretaker told him. Clearly there was frustration in his expression. Luna could see it. Did he change his mind and have doubts of her great moon? Dislike? If so, that did not bode well for what she had planned. She needed to look as naïve as him, oblivious, someone who might be slightly ditzy, just to protect herself from what she assumed to be a child's ridicule.

She held her breath as he jumped off her head and landed on the railing, his tails firmly grasping the cold stone to keep him from falling into the courtyard.

"Is it true that the moon is made of cheese?" Leo asked as he crossed his arms and glanced into her eyes. "Mr. Mole says that the moon is where all cheese comes from."

Luna gave him a bemused look, one that most would find to be cute; except for Leo, he was a little nervous after asking that question.

"The moon is not made of cheese, nor any dairy product you might find in Equestria," Luna assured him solemnly before confronting the subject with distaste. "And do not believe everything your 'Mr. Mole' say. Should you have questions about the moon or the night, then ask me."

"Okay, but why?" Leo asked in a cute voice, with his head tilted to the right. "Are you some sort of all-knowing night pony?" He looked up to the stars as she snorted out of aggravation. The night sky was something remarkable to the boy, mostly incredible, something so great he was almost tempted to watch it until the sun comes up. "Not that it is a bad thing, but Mr. Mole said he was the expert of everything." He glanced again at the Lunar Princess, only to find her glaring at him. "Are the stars balls of light trapped inside a web of darkness?"

Luna gave him one last look and groaned loudly before scooping him up. "Alright little one, you should be resting after the day you've had. But after hearing those words from your mouth, you are going to get a crash course of the true meaning to day and night." She shut the windows behind her and then placed Leo on the bed. She took a careful look at the boy. He appeared to be wide-awake.

"Honestly, what do you know that is fact?" Luna asked, her voice dripping with sarcasm. She rubbed her head as he sat patiently sat on the bed, ignoring that something was scratching the top of his head.

Leo put a finger to his bottom lip, pondering deeply. "I know that mommy is not my real mommy and the weird wolf lady is my real mommy's sister. Plus she is a mommy as well, but the wolf girl is not with her right now."

Luna went to scold the bathe for what she believed to be his sarcasm when she focused on that last part. Another child of a first-born, she'd thought as he continued stating what he knows. Luna barely heard a thing he said. She was too deep in thought of the other goddess potentially keeping a secret child from everyone.

"I also know that I can't use my powers too much or I'll get really sleepy. I know some math and reading. And I know that you have a weird shadow hanging over you all the time."

Luna looked down at the boy with a brow raised in confusion. "I have a shadow hanging over me all the time?" she asked, receiving a nod from the little fox. She turned to the mirror he pointed towards, confused and slightly worried.

"Yeah, you have a pony shadow hanging over you." Leo chirped, and then proceeded to wave at the mirror, though there was nothing the Lunar Princess saw. Nothing but herself and him. "She's really pretty, like you. Her eyes are blue and she has big blue hair that is wavy like yours. Look, she's waving at me right." He smiled warmly at the shadow. "Hi weird shadow pony."

Luna's previous thoughts had gone out the window. Her gaze jumped up to the top of the mirror, and she found Leo was looking at a pair of deep blue cat eyes. Her smooth features were expressionless, but her piercing eyes saw far too much. Luna's heart gave a jolt in her chest as Leo hopped from the bed to the top of her head, a quick move that nearly startled the alicorn. Her breath was caught in her throat as the shadow attached to her lingered out of her mirror.

There, in the mirror she uses to perfect herself, barely touched in the mast of magic, was a tall mare telling orbs of the purest blue, drawing the eye of her vessel. The shock made Luna nearly lose her balance, almost mashing the kitsune into the closest wall. When she moved her hooves, stepping back, the shadows grew and sprang up around her as if she'd never taken a step. The eyes of her bane were completely full after a moment.

Luna raised herself, wings open to shield the boy. "Little one, how long have you been seeing her?"

Leo shrugged, annoying the princess a little. "This is the first time I saw her. Why, is she a bad pony?"

"He is not a normal creature," the shadow predicted, it's voice being feminine. "In fact, I doubt I have ever seen something so strange. Tell me; is this something you have adopted, or is he a new pet?"

"Neither," Luna replied.

The shadow thought about Leo, curious of his form, before waving him off and coming to full form. "It does not matter, though it is surprising that he can see me. Nopony should possess such an ability. Not even you, Lulu."

Luna said nothing. She feel the air growing heavy their way when she took a deep breath.

Leo hunched over the alicorn's head for a better look. "Who are you?"

The smiling alicorn stepped closer, giggling. "My, my, my. Such a curious little creature, and very cute. Don't you know the story behind Nightmare Moon?"

"No, he doesn't," Luna answered for him. "And you will not be the one to tell him."

Nightmare Moon gave an inelegant snort. "Save your breath. I only appeared for the thing on your head." She took another step, ignoring the threatening aura of her maker. "Tell me your name and what you are, you delicious furball."

Laughter bubbled up in the boy and he found himself eyeing the mare teasingly. "I don't feel like telling you my name or what I am."

Luna's laughter joined his as the Mare in The Moon flinched at those words, and she was happy to see and hear how carefree Leo sounded. "It would seem that he is not in the mood to comply. Strangely, I like that look on your face."

Nightmare Moon immediately scowled at the two, drilling spite into their eyes. "And why would you not tell me your name or what your species is?" She asked in a threatening tone. "Do I need to rip the information out of your skull with my magic?"

Leo shook his head and nuzzled Luna. "Because you did not please. And," he added. "Mr. Mole says you must says please when you want something."

This was a turn of surprise for Nightmare Moon. A strange creature that is not afraid her, but is mocking her with simplicity of mannerism. She was adept at using her power to get what she wants. She was already more than capable and apparently far too good at fear. She cocked her head to the left and stood in front of the princess and the kitsune. Curiosity began to shine in her eyes as he smirked arrogantly.

"You are really brave or really stupid." Nightmare Moon said bluntly, eyeing the boy with different intention and perspective. "Tell me your name so I may know who it is that does not fear me."

Laughing, he leaned over the Lunar Princess and gave the dark alicorn an eskimo kiss. He watched with delight the blush smearing across her cheeks as he gave her a boop to the nose. "You still have not said please. I'll tell you if you say it nicely."

Nightmare Moon gently swatted his hand away and laughed. Not cackle, but laugh, and it shocked Luna to her core. Nightmare Moon caught the boy's eyes reflecting her and brought the conversation to the warmth of her amusement, her tongue gliding across her lips as she eyed him with hungry curiosity. "Nopony has ever done that to me. I don't know if I should take you for myself or destroy you. I really do wonder what I should do."

"Well destroying someone is very mean," Leo said with a deep pout, his arms crossed as the alicorn laughed at his adorable expression. "Besides, you'd make Mr. Mole mad if you did that. He would kick your butt all over this castle and make you like it."

"Okay, this by far is the most fun I've had since I destroyed the old castle," Nightmare Moon said, joy coiling in her like warm cider. This boy changed her day just by seeing her and showing more backbone than anyone; even Twilight and her friends did not have this much courage. She couldn't understand how she could ever feel happiness. She brought fear and terror, but this boy made her feel alive. She almost loved watching her attempt to invoke fear fail miserably. "Very well then, may I please know your name and species."

"Do not answer her!" Luna snapped, but was ignored by the smiling boy.

"My name is Leo, and I am a Nine-Tailed Fox." He said proudly before looking back at his tails, which were swaying happily from the fun he had with this mare. He had forgotten that he was not fully grown and blushed. "Well. . . three tailed so far. I have to wait until I'm older to get all my tails."

Nightmare Moon found herself awing over this boy, deep belly moans of delight, something she had never done in her life. This was a new experience for the alicorn, and it brought forth a new desire she was very uncertain of. Still, there had been no such feeling until Leo.

Surprisingly, the dark alicorn removed Luna from the conversation by using a spell that would wear off at dawn. She caught Leo in her wings before the Lunar Princess fell hard, holding the boy as if he was her own personal toy. Leo fell to silence under the onslaught of her merriment.

Nightmare Moon let out a soft coo as the touch of his fur tickled her snout. "A fox that would rather torment me than be afraid. You really are an odd creature, Leo. It is so very tempting to take you with me and see if your courage is as strong as I think it is."

Suddenly the nuzzling from her stopped, and she set him next to the slumbering princess. Nightmare Moon gave him a haughty look and swept her magic down on his body, forcing him into sleep as adeptly as any magic user could do, except with hundreds of years of mastery.

Leo tried to stay awake, but his eyes were closing as fast as she was gone, leaving him to wonder in those few seconds of consciousness what she was going to do.

"Miss. . . Moon . . ." He fell asleep against Luna's side, tails curled around his small form as the dark mare giggled.

Nightmare Moon leaned into him, brushing at the top of his head with a gentle kiss. "But taking would be too much trouble for me, knowing Faust, Celestia and Luna would hunt me down." She turned away and closed her eyes for a moment, making a comfortable return to the shadows, this time, leaving through the window.

"I will enjoy watching you grow, Nine-Tailed Fox. Also, the moon is not made of cheese. The sun is."