Author's Note

Hey sorry that:
A. It's been awhile since my last update on Altemore and his adventures.
B That this chapter is particularly short on both content and action.
My excuse is the excuse of a normal 16 year old fanfiction writer.
School, Writer's block, etc...
Next chapter will indeed be another flashback and I will hopefully start it after publishing this very chapter.
In fourth block of school...

Let me tell you a Tale

Altemore, trotted cautiously behind the two alicorns as they led him deeper into the equestrian capital. His dark hooves of his pony form clacked on marble floor and he glanced at each guard he passed. Every few minutes one of the princesses would glance back at him or he would feel a magic pulse flow over him.

After Altemore had explained the goal of his search, the princesses had teleported the three of them to the front gates of the palace. Altemore assumed that they had something to tell him.

Finally they reached a large room made almost entirely of marble. Wide stone pillars stretched from the floor to the ceiling high above. As Altemore glanced around he saw several giant windows made entirely of stained glass.

The fall of discord...
Luna's banishment...
...Is that?

It was her...
She was here...
Altemore stepped closer, raising a hoof to almost touch the image of the filly he had been searching for...
Her mane still looked long, flowing down over her neck as she reared back in the glass. A beam of purple glass connected her to a pedestal in the middle of the window.

Altemore trotted quickly to the next window, which showed a dark, violent-looking alicorn being blasted by six ponies.
Once again she was still there...

Discord...

She seemed to always be there...

Always with a smile...

"What happened...", Altemore wondered out loud...

He was silenced by a glance from Celestia. He expression unreadable as she beckoned him to follow once again. Altemoretook one last glance at the window before continuing after the Princesses.

The end of the corridor was marked by a pair of thrones, side by side. One was white and emblazoned by a sun, the other was dark blue and displayed a full moon. The alicorns took their place on them, each on their respective seats.

"Leave us", called Celestia to the guards, who filed into two lines and marched out. The heavy door closed with a loud thud.

Luna leaned forward, "Now, what do you know of our dear Fluttershy?", her eyes were narrowed in suspicion as she peered into Alremore's eyes.

Altemore took a surprised stem back,"your Fluttershy? What do you mean by that? I've known Fluttershy for..." He paused and momentarily raised a hoof to his chin, "I forget sometimes, how did you come to know her?"
The moon Princess leaned backward in her throne and threw a hoof into the air, a triumphant grin on her face, "Fluttershy helped us -I mean me- adjust to the current era and it's culture. She is a dearest friend to me and my sister", she finished before lowering her gaze back to level with Altemore. "Now...", she spoke, her voice now cold with suspicion,"We require an answer for the previous question... How do you know her?"

Altemore took a deep breath in and sighed heavily...
"You two might want to sit back... Because this is gonna be a long story..."

Rain poured down from a cloudy night sky. Silver droplets splattering on the gravel road. Turning it gold under the light of orange lamp lights and the yellow windows of nearby cottages. A warm little town in the middle of nowhere...

A silver shadow wrapped in a brown cloak slipped past, carrying a small bundle wrapped in a blanket was clamped in it's maw. It rushed through alleys, glided over houses, and dashed down roads. All while being silent.

The shadow slowed to a trot and stalked to the middle of an intersection.

It lifted its head and sniffed the air, glancing around at the surrounding buildings before turning down a quiet street. The street was lined with small houses on either side of the rain-wet gravel road. The largest building on the street was three stories tall.

An orphanage...

The figure stalked up to the door, a solid oak slab with a red and white striped awning over it.

It was a quick transaction. The shadowy figure gently set down the bundle, reached up a limb to push the doorbell, and then darted off into the surrounding darkness.

The door opened to reveal a unicorn, her white coat contrasted with her straight dark-cinnamon mane. She glanced around before her sky-blue eyes lit upon the bundle on her doorstep. She quickly ignited her horn to lift it into the air to get a closer look.

The silvery observer watched carefully from the shadows, peering out from underneath a near hedgerow. It watched as the pony lifted up the bundle that had grown so familiar to it. But this was how it must be, it couldn't keep it, it would only get in the way. As the door to the orphanage closed, it slipped away under the cover of night, silently swearing to never come back.

"We- I do not recall Fluttershy ever saying she was raised in an orphanage. How do we know you are telling us the truth?", Luna asked, meanwhile Celestia had a hoof raised to her face and was tapping her chin as if in deep thought.

Altemore shrugged, "There is one way..." He started cautiously, "I could show you my memories using my telepathy. If you see it for yourself you will know that I speak only the truth." The two sisters glanced at each other wearily and, as if a silent agreement had been made in the glance they shared. "I understand completely If you still do not trust my-"

"We will do it." Celestia interrupted, startling Altemore who flinched ever so slightly. He nodded and slowly opened his mind to the Alicorn's telepathy. Suddenly he was aware of a cool, almost frosty feeling enter his consciousness. That was when he was washed away in memories that he had kept tucked away for a long time...