Tales of shadow

I laid there looking around the room, having only lived in a forest I became curious about where I was. I saw one of those see-through squares again, and I decided to go look through it. When I tried to stand on my four hooves, I could feel the full strain my body had gone through. I almost fell onto the ground because my front legs buckled for a moment. My entire body was aching. Slowly, I made my way to the opening, step by step.

When I reached the opening, the light shining was almost blinding. Once my eyes had adjusted to the light, I could see many square structures like the other place. A label on the see-through square called it a ”window”. My eyes went from the label to the structures beyond the window. The real difference was that these structures were better looking in comparison. Soon after staring at the houses I noticed that I was very far from the ground, I started feeling a little weird to see from this view.

As I stared out the see-through square and looked into the distance, more questions began to arise in my head. “Where am I? Why did Moonlight and the others save me? What is wrong with Masquerade? What was this new feeling I felt when I look at Moonlight?” I had many questions that needed to be answered. Soon I decided to leave the room to go find Moonlight and the other ponies to ask some of these questions.

I slowly stepped toward the door, with my body still aching all over. I opened the door and looked out. Nopony as in sight so I just looked around. There were multiple doors that I could see, but then I decided to go down the incline. The incline was like a zig-zag downward. It seemed to be designed specifically for hooves. Slowly, I descended trying to keep my balance.

About halfway down, I could hear two ponies talking. I could discern the voices of Moonlight and Night Dasher.

“Do you think he’ll help us?” Moonlight asked

Night Dasher answered “ I am not sure, but if my theory is correct, we need him.”

When I had finally reached the bottom of the inline, both of them looked at me with a surprised expression.

“You feeling better, Twisted Shadow?” Moonlight asked with a concern.

“Sore, but I am fine.” in a still raspy voice, “I have many questions.”

“Come, sit over here. We will answer your questions.” Night Dasher said, “Sorry that Masquerade and Stargazer are not here. They went back to work on things back at our base.”

In the light I could now see Night Dasher clearly. He had a dark red coat with a pitch black mane. It was no wonder why I could not see him clearly back in the room. He had a bigger build then the other ponies I had seen and was decently taller.

First I figured I should need to explain to them why everything is new to me. “I have lived in the forest for as long as I can remember. I do not know anything about where I am, or fully what I am or for that matter, what you are.”

Moonlight and Night Dasher looked at each other a little confused and seemed to be in disbelief. “You have lived in a forest...how do you know how to talk?” Night Dasher asked.

“I just woke up one day in the forest. No memories of the past. I just had certain abilities like how to survive and talking.” I was a little amused how I had come down to ask questions and I was now being asked the questions. “Wow...I didn’t think something like that could happen.” Moonlight said “Why did you not try to leave?”

“The forest is vast. Never could I find a way out until that night. The forest was a nightmare...but it was all I knew.” I replied. I guess I was not even sure if there was anything beside the forest for a couple years. I had learned and adapted. “The only reason I had found my way out was because my chaotic magic burnt my food supplies. It was everything I needed to survive the winter. Since it was gone, I went out to look for more,but walked for days until I stumbled on the edge of the forest, and that house.”

“Do not worry, Twisted Shadow. We will help you live in Equestria.” Moonlight said reassuringly.

“What am I, and what are you?” I asked all of a sudden.

“Both Night Dasher and I are pegasi, or pegasus. We have wings obviously.” Moonlight said as she stretched out her wings. “You are a unicorn. You have magic as you already know. Masquerade is an earth pony. They do not have wings or horns,but they are more resilient.”

I just kept asking questions. There was no reason to question them about the pony species since I did fully understand it. “Where are we?”

“We are in a house I own, in Trottingham.” Answered Night Dasher.

“Trottingham?” I replied.

“Yes, a town in a place called Equestria.” Night Dasher explained “Equestria is a nation ruled by two princess alicorns, Princess Celestia and Princess Luna. They have ruled for many, many years. Celestia raises the sun everyday and luna brings the moon.” His voice getting lower. “..or atleast thats how it should be...” I could tell by his voice something was wrong. An odd feeling swept through me.

“What do you mean by that?” I asked after a long pause.

“About one-thousand years ago, Celestia and Luna-” Night Dasher tried to say

“Wait .. one-thousand years ago??!! How can Celestia and Luna still be alive?” I asked

“Luna and Celestia are alicorns” Moonlight answered “Alicorns are immortal.” A wave of amazement, immortality was real. The rulers of this nation were immortal.

“As I was saying, Celestia and Luna saved this land from Discord, who kept Equestria in a state of chaos and unrest. He was defeated by the princesses and they started to govern Equestria. The ponies of Equestria were finally free from the oppression and chaos of Discord, but the happiness would not stay for long unfortunately. Everypony would bask in the light of the day and sleep through the night, Luna’s beautiful night. Luna wanted the ponies to love the night’s elegance as much as she did.”

“I can understand that point of view.” I interjected, “ The night has saved me on many occasions giving me strength.” Night Dasher and Moonlight looked at each other again with a smile.

Night Dasher continued, “Luna decided to force the ponies to live under the night and made it eternal, so they would love it as she did. Luna became Nightmare Moon. Celestia fought Nightmare Moon, and used the Elements of Harmony to defeat her. She then banished her to the moon for 1,000 years. Luna shall return and bring night time eternal!”

“Ok,” I responded,” but who are you and why did you save me? Do not get me wrong, thank you for saving me.”

“We are the Eclipsis Lator.” Moonlight answered, “We are the ones who will bring Princess Luna back!” I was not sure how, but before I could ask another question Moonlight spoke again, “The massive shockwave you caused allowed us to find you. Everyone in the organization has an affinity for the night. The moon grants us all strength.The machine we used to find others like us was fried right after we pinpointed your location.”

“Sorry about that...” I said as I looked down.

“No need to be.” Moonlight said reassuringly, “We were very lucky we were able to find you before the royal guards were. The magic outburst attracted the attention of Celestia!”

“Thank you again.” I said.

“We may have a way to help you control your magic and solve one of our problems.” Moonlight said.

“How!?” I said excitedly.

“Wow, wow calm down.” Moonlight said, “We need to power the machine to get Luna off the moon. You can flood your magic into the machine to power it. There are 6 energy collectors we have that will be able to hold on the energy you put into them. A massive amount of energy is required and nothing else in Equestria has the potential to power it.”

I had a smile on my face now. I found something.. a purpose in life. Freeing Luna and bringing the night time for all eternity.

“Will you help us?” Night Dasher asked, breaking me out of my thought.

“Yes!” I said as I lost control of my voices pitch, “I do not know anything outside the forest though.” I realized that I did not even know the name of the place I lived for my entire life. The place I was supposed to die. “What is the name of the forest?” I said out of nowhere.

Both pegasi looked confused by this question. I just felt it right to know the place where I lived my life fending off starvation, the cold, and the predators hungry for raw unicorn.

“The forest we found you by was named MoonShroud Forest. It is a very dangerous forest. Nopony has ever been able to explore it fully because of the monsters inside. Most who venture too far in never return. Is is a miracle you are alive.” Night Dasher answered.

MoonShroud Forest... hearing the name made me feel like I had forgotten something. My head started to hurt and I felt light headed. My face started to show my feelings as I recalled the lonely cold nights with the only comfort being from the beauty of the stars that could never be reached, or the fear of the rabid timber wolves ready to rip you limb by limb, or even the many manticores who could swallow a pony whole.

“Is there something wrong?” Moonlight asked. My face now pale.

“No, I’m ok.” I said unconvincingly.

“You are shivering!” Moonlight pointed out with a worried look.

“I swear, I am ok!” I said in a low voice.

Trying to get my mind off the subject I asked, “What is wrong with Masquerade and Stargazer?”

Moonlight looked surprised from the change in subject, but still answered, “Well, Masquerade has a type of schizophrenia where every voice in his head will be said out loud. He can only partially control it, but he is one of the greatest engineers in equestria. As for Stargazer, what do you mean?”

“She is so cold and emotionless.” I replied.

“Emotionless is right. She cares for nothing, but the night is the only thing she is interested in.” Night Dasher explained, “She is one of the most intelligent ponies on this side of Equestria. They both went back as I said to work on the machine. Moonlight and I are staying with you to help you adjust to Equestria, and wait for you to be ready to travel.”

“How far is the base?’ I asked

“It is about 60 miles away in the Amber Mountain range. My family is very important in Equestria and I own the Strich Castle. Inside of there is the base.” Night Dasher explained.

“How long do you think we will be here? I asked.

“I am not sure, but were …” Night Dasher was saying before a knock on the door.

“Come with me Twisted Shadow!” Moonlight said with a serious tone and a grim look.

“What is going on?” I asked now very concerned.

Moonlight grabbed my hoof and pulled my aching body up the stairs. We went to the room I woke up in. She opened a trap door at the foot of the bed.

“Get in this now!” Moonlight commanded. I was not sure what was happening, but I trusted Moonlight. “Stay here” She said, “We can not let them find you!” She closed the trap door.

I heard the door shut when Moonlight left the room. All the heat seemed to trap inside the hole I was in. I started to sweat from it. Voices came from the stairs. I could not make them out, but every second they grew closer I got more frightened of them. My heart started racing as I heard the door open. I tried to keep my breathing slow to make no noise. Though the crack in the wood I could see a figure in gold. He slowly stepped closer and closer. Every step I seemed to sweat more and my heart raced. Soon the figure had his hoof on the Trapdoor. In a hurry, I held my breath trying to make no noise or breath toward his hoof. The figure stood there for what felt like an eternity. My mind racing out of the fear of being caught.

All of a sudden the figure turned around and said “All clear in this one.”

My heart sank into relief. As the figure closed the door, I let out the breath I was holding and was thankful for the breath I took next.

“If you are done here I would appreciate you leaving!” Night Dasher said in an annoyed voice.

“Yes sir, sorry for the inconvenience” One of them said.

About five minutes later, Moonlight lifted the latch of the trapdoor I was in.

“What was that?” I asked still sweating.

“Celestia’s guards are still looking for you.” Night Dasher said, “You will need to stay inside until they clear out.”

“Don’t worry.” Moonlight assured me “We will not let them catch you.” I felt like I could trust them. After all the things I had been though I found where I belonged.