Into the Moonlight...

Into the Moonlight…

Chapter one: Arrival to the moon…

Raven Claws was flying.

She looked at the dirty grey landscape all around her. ‘’ Is there only that color here or what?’’ She thought.  She already knew the answer, but she can’t help: that was monotonous.

Suddenly, a thing makes her pay attention to the ground. The air seemed… like it was ready to tears itself. There was a gold flash and a dazzling lightning. Raven closed her eyes to protect them of the flash and stopped. Fly when you were blinded wasn’t a good idea. She landed quickly, still protecting her eyes.

The light stopped. Raven opened her eyes and screamed with surprise.

On the ground was a black, silver-manned Pegasus. He seemed unconsciousness. ‘’What in the name of the moon was that?’’  She thought while she reached the unanimated Pegasus.

‘’ Hey! Can you hear me?!’’ A voice yelled. ‘’ Are you alright?’’

I instantly felt my headaches came back.

‘’ Ugh… Please…’’ I said. ‘’ For Celestia’s sake… Stop yelling in my ears. I’m already hurting here; I don’t need any ears rings. ‘’

‘’ Oh… sorry, that wasn’t my intention…’’ the voice apologized.  I focused on it. That was obviously a mare’s voice, high-pitched and filled with worry. ‘’ Can you open your eyes?’’

I opened them. Above me was a tiny Mare. She was looking at me with her scarlet eyes.  She was…. White.  As white as possible. Her mane and her coat were colored with the same color, a bit darker for the mane.

‘’ Who are you?’’ She asked. ‘’ What were these explosions for? How did you got there?’’

‘’Ugh… I’ll try to be brief’’ I answered. ‘’ I’m Silver Spear, I’ve just been banished to the moon and what explosion?’’

‘’ Wait a minute…’’ I thought.’’ I’m ON the moon and I’m talking to another pony. WHAT THE F...’’

‘’ And you, how did you get there?’’ I asked. ‘’ Were you banished too?’’

‘’ What?’’ She said. ‘’ Oh, no… I was born here!’’ I gaped at her. ‘’ Wait wha…‘’ I thought.

‘’ You were BORN here?!’’ I said, stunned. ‘’ How the hay is that possible?’’

‘’ My parents met, felt in love, have some good time, and then, I was born. That doesn’t work like that where you come from?’’ She said, raising an eyebrow. ‘’Wherever you’re coming from.’’

‘’ What? Oh no, that’s not what I mean! I would say, how you can survive?’’ I answered, looking at the grey landscape all around. ‘’ How can food grown here?’’

‘’ Oh, there’s Unicorns who create food here.’’ She said. ‘’ What about you? You said you were banished to the moon. For what? From where?’’

‘’ Do I really have to say it to her?’’ I thought, sighing mentally.’’ Hmm… She seems friendly.’’ A little voice said in my head.And?‘’ Better be honest with the only friendly pony you’ve met there.’’ The voice answered. She’s the only one pony I’ve met there! ‘’ You want to survive?’’ The voice said.’’ Be honest.’’. I sighed mentally again. Fine…

‘’ I was banished from Equestria because I’m a murderer.’’ I said. She giggled.

‘’ You, a murderer?’’ She said. ‘’ What a joke! You seems not being a murderer for me.’’

‘’ I know what I’ve did!’’ I protested. ‘’ Bah…’’ The voice in my head said.’’ You’d better be for: she’s not tried to kill you yet.’’ If I could, I’ll have facehoofed mentally. Oh, yeah! Great…I was exasperated by myself. I came back to the reality. The mare was looking at me strangely.

‘’ Are you okay?’’ She asked.

‘’ Yes, I’m fine, euh….’’ I replied. Suddenly, I realized one thing: I didn’t even know who I was speaking with. ‘’ What’s your name?’’

‘’ My name’s Raven Claws.’’ She answered. ‘’ I’m in the lunar council’s guard.’’

‘’ The lunar what?’’ I asked.

‘’ The lunar council.’’ She answered. ‘’ You haven’t that in your world? A council, I mean.’’

‘’ No, Equestria is governed by the Princess Celestia and her sister, the Princess Luna. There’s a council, but they’ve no power.’’ I said. ’’I’m… I was a Royal guard before.’’

‘’ Hmmm…. I see.’’ She said. ‘’ So you’re here now, with no hope of return in your ‘Equestria’…’’ She stopped, and brought her left hoof to her chin.’’ I’m sure that’s where my ancestors came from!’’

‘’ Uh… What’s the link with me?’’ I asked.

‘’Not any.’’ She answered. I stared wide-eyed at her… Wat.

We stopped the talk as I get up. I make my first step, when I remembered one thing:

I was still hoovecuffed. SHIIIIII… I felt down, and my muzzle hit the ground. I felled the wave of pain flood me. I tried to get up, but my forelegs were under my chest.

‘’ Help…’’ I said. She took my right shoulder and lifted me up. I sat down and I brought my hooves to my muzzle. I was bleeding, apparently.

‘’ Umm… You can’t walk, but you’re a Pegasus, aren’t you?’’ She said, looking at my wings.    ‘’ You can fly?’’

‘’ Hum… Yes, of course’’ I said. ‘’ Why don’t I have thought of that before?’’ I thought. ‘’ I Dunno, but that hurt.’’ The voice said. ‘’ But you… you’re not a Pegasus, are you?’’

‘’ Of course I am!’’ She said, stretching out her wings. That was bat wings!

‘’’Bat’s Wings?’’ She said, offended.’’ What about yours? I prefer my wings than yours, birdie!’’

Oops. Maybe I’ve thought aloud.

‘’ Sorry Raven, I didn’t mean to offense you ’’ I apologized.

‘’ No problem guy’’ She replied, smiling slightly ‘’ Just… Here, all the pegasi have that type of wings. And they’re not all the type who forgive with only an apology.’’

‘’ Okay, I’ll try to remind that.’’ I said. She smiled.

‘’ Let’s go, Silver.’’ She said. ‘’ Stay here and talk’s not the best way to stay alive on the moon.’’

She flapped her wings and take off. I make the same, but she was totally, definitively faster than me. I tried to follow her. ‘ Dammit, she was fast! I accelerate:  If I lost my only one acquaintance on that new world, I’d be done for sure.

‘’Hey, Raven, wait!’’ I yelled. ‘’ I’m not as fast as you!’’

She stopped and answered:

‘’ Oh, you’re THAT slow? Or that’s because you’re hurt?’’ I didn’t answer. I caught up with her and stopped.

‘’ What about a race, Silver?’’ She said.

‘’ What? A race?’’ I said. ‘’ Now?’’

‘’No, in ten years!’’ She answered, exasperated ‘’ of course now! From here to the market place.’’

‘’ The market place? What market place?’’ I scanned the grey landscape all around us.

‘’ Oops, I forgot that you’re not from here.’’ She said with a smile. ‘’ You see the smoke over there?’’ She pointed a hoof on a smoke cone far in the horizon. I nodded in agreement.

‘’ That’s the market place.’’ She said simply, still smiling.

‘’ Ok…’’ I sighed.Why a race now? Thatwas stupid! Plus, she knew that she’ll win…

‘’So… At three!’’ She said.’’ One… two… three!’’

‘’ Wait!’’ I said. ‘’ I’ve not agreed…’’

Too late. She was already gone.

‘’ … For make the race…’’ I finished, exasperated. Why, why, WHY, by Luna’s flank, Nopony listen to me when I’m not aggreing with them?! I began to fly behind her, as fast as it was possible for me.  She was already midway to the end of the race.

Finally, she reached the smoke and stopped.

‘’ Too slow, Silver!’’ She shouted at me with a dazzling smile while I reached the smoke too.

‘’ I’m sorry I’m not as fast as you, Raven, but I’m used to walk more than I fly.’’ I answered.   ‘’And you’re gone before I said that I was ready.’’

‘’Oh, bad loser…’’ She chuckled. ‘’ Look at the good points! You’re in town! ‘’I looked all over me. That was really a market

place, plenty of ponies who were looking at me, and, I thought, more especially at my wings. There were food sellers, librarians… All over the place. I landed and folded my wings away. Raven landed next to me.

‘’ If you want to use again your forelegs, you’d better go to see the blacksmith. He’s the only one pony I know who can take that off.’’ She advised to me, looking at my forelegs.

‘’ Thanks.’’ I said.

‘’ I’ll meet with you later.’’ She said. ‘’ I have to send a report to the council.’’

‘’ Okay.’’ I said.’’ See you later!’’

I turned and tried again to walk, before remembering – too late– That I still had my hoovescuffs. As my face landed again on the ground, I sighed. ‘’That’s gonna be very long…’’

Meanwhile, in Equestria, Royal Guard’s barracks:

Shining Armor looked at the squad of stallions sat down in front of him. He knew each one in the group by their names: Falcon Claws, maybe the less talkative of the fours, Bloody Hooves, the field medic and the smartest unicorn Shining’s ever met, apart his sister, Dark Shadows, the oddest Pegasus he’s ever met, who was apparently able to make black jokes on everything, and Iron heart, the most emotionless ponies he knew. ‘’ Someone is missed’’ He thought, looking at the only vacant chair.

‘’ So…’’ He began. ‘’as you know, Silver’s just been banished.’’ The others nodded sadly. ‘’ So I want, and I’m sure you too, to know what he’s done to be banished.’’ The others nodded again. ‘’ So… We are going to obtain all we can find on that, ok?’’ They all nodded and dispersed themselves into the big castle.

Shining Armor put his helmet back on his head and left the room.

He was tired by all the event of the last week: the changeling invasion, his wedding, and, finally, the banishment of one of his best friends. He sighed. ‘’ I’m missing you, Silver.’’ He thought. ‘’ We’re all missing you here.’’. He walked quietly toward his house. He entered.

‘’ Shining Armor!’’ A voice said. He turned towards the light pink Alicorn who was behind the door.’’ How was your day today?’’.

‘’ Horrible.’’ He said.’’ The princess has given us a week to get back of Silver’s banishment.’’ He sat down on a chair.

‘’ I see…’’ Cadence said. ‘’ And I guess you’re going to spend this week in the castle to find what Silver’s done to be banished, aren’t you?’’

‘’ Yes, you’ve guessed right.’’ The white Stallion said.

‘’ About that Silver…’’ She said. ‘’ You’ve never said how you two have met, have you?’’

‘’ You want to know that story?’’ Shining Armor said. Cadence nodded. ‘’ If you want...’’ He took off his helmet and laid it on the ground, next to him. ‘’ That was …ten years ago. I was sixteen, and my little sis’ has just left to become the princess’s pupil. Myself, I was just recruited in the royal guard as conscript. And then, He arrived.’’

‘’ And?’’ Cadence asked. ‘’ What happened then?’’

‘’ We befriended.’’ He said. ‘’ I was sad because I thought I’ll never saw Twilight again, and he was sad because he’ll never saw his family again.’’

‘’ But… Why?’’ Cadence asked.

‘’ He’s got an unfortunate childhood. His father was a drunk, and his mother left house forever when he had nine. He had a sister, I think. One day, when his father was again as plenty of alcohol as a whiskey bottle, he ran off with his sister. She was too young, four, I think.’’ He said. He stopped, poured himself a cup of cider. ‘’ He was only eleven, when he ran off. He knew that he wasn’t able to keep his sister, so he let her on the square of the orphanage of Canterlot. After, he had a dirty life for seven years and after, he’s been take in the Royal Guard.’’ He stopped and had a sip of his cider.

‘’ That’s horrible.’’ Cadence said, stunned. ‘’ That’s why he was so unconscious when he was condemned? Because he wasn’t foreign to that?’’

‘’ Yes, I think.’’ Shining Armor said.

‘’ Wait a minute…’’ Cadence said. ‘’ You’ve said that he’s a sister? And he let her on the square of the Canterlot’s royal orphanage?’’

‘’ Yes.’’ Shining Armor said. ‘’ Why?’’

‘’ I’ve worked there as foal-sitter when the nurse took a bit of holidays. I know everypony in it!’’ Cadence said happily. ‘’ What’s the name of his sister?’’

‘’ Uh… Rainy Spear.’’ Shining Armor said. ‘’ I don’t get the sense of your thoughts.’’

‘’ Um…. Rainy Spear…’’ She stopped, and, suddenly, said: ‘’ Light grey coat, faded blue mane, cyan eyes?’’

‘’ Uh…’’ He said ‘’ Yes, I think…’’

‘

’ I know her!’’ She said. ‘’ Tomorrow, I’ll visit her.’’ She kissed Shining Armor and went upstairs. He finished his cider and looked by the windows. The night has just begun, and the moon rose in the dark sky. ‘’ Wherever you are on that rock, ‘’ He thought, ‘’ will you survive, Silver…’’

On the moon:

I looked at the tiny shop as I flew in. There was a big anvil in the middle of the only one room. Behind the anvil was a grey, red-manned Stallion. He looked at me and said:

‘’ A customer!’’ He took his hammer and put him on the Anvil. ‘’I’m the blacksmith, Black Hammer. So…What do you want?’’

I raised my forelegs. He frowned a bit when he saw the hoovescuffs.

‘’ I need you to take that off.’’ I said as it was nothing. He looked at me with a suspicious look, but, as he detailed me, he saw my wings and let go of a sigh of relief.

‘’ So, why were you banished?’’ He asked with a little smile. ‘’ I’m sure you understand that I can’t deliver you if you’re a dangerous criminal.’’

‘’ Hum…’’ I said.How to say that?‘’ I’m… a murderer.’’

He looked at me, visibly surprised. I looked at him, ready to be kicked out of the forge in a couple of seconds. Suddenly, he smiled and said:

‘’ I love your style, birdie.’’ He took his hammer and said: ‘’ C’mon here, If you want that I took you those ugly chains off.’’ I looked at him, stunned.How could he laugh of that? That’s not a joke! ’’ Shut up!’’ The voice said. ‘’ if they’re friendly with murderers here, that’s cool for you!’’. I stretch my forelegs before me. He put them on the anvil and lifted his hammer. He began his work, hitting strongly the chain. ‘’ What’s your name, birdie?’’ He said.

‘’ My name’s Silver Spear.’’ I totally ignore the insult.

‘’ I’m glad to meet you Silver.’’ He answered. He finally broke the chain and took the rest of the cuffs, before he broke them. I rub my hooves against themselves.Free!

‘’ Thank you, Black Hammer.’’ I said. He looked at me with a smile and said.

‘’ I’m sure you’re wondering why I acted like that when you said you were a murderer.’’ I looked at him with surprise. How did he know? He put his hammer on the ground and said: ‘’ that’s because you’re like me. I’m also a murderer.’’ I Frowned. ‘’ But…’’ He said. ‘’ I feel repentant. Like you.’’ Was he reading my mind?

‘’ Repentant? What do you mean with that?’’ I asked curiously.

‘’ You’ve not hidden the truth when I asked.’’ He answered. ‘’ So, for me, you’re not going to make that here, on the moon. Look at me. I was a drunk, I killed somepony, here, I don’t even have touched alcohol.’’

I looked at him. That reasoning was a bit… strange, but I was not here to argue with the blacksmith. Besides, he seemed friendly.

‘’ Hmm…. I have to go.’’ I said. ‘’ I must meet with the one who bring me to this town.’’

‘’ without wishing to pry, could I ask who that friend is?’’ Black Hammer asked.

‘’ Raven Claws.’’ I answered.

‘’ Hmm… one of my best customers…. She’s a good friend.’’ He said. ‘’ Keep her around you, Silver Spear.’’ He shacked strongly the hoof I stretched out in front of him. Then, I get out of the forge. Aaahh… What a pleasure to walk again…. I looked at the rising planet in the sky.

‘’ I wonder what they’re doing now…’’ I whispered.

I reached finally the market place. I yawned.

‘’ You’re really tired, Silver, aren’t you?’’ A voice said behind me. I recognized instantly this voice. Raven! I turned towards the white mare.

‘’ I think you’re right, Raven.’’ I said. ‘’ Is there an Inn or something like that here?’’

‘’ Nope’’ She said. ‘’ But you can slept in my guest room.’’

‘’ Are you sure?’’ I asked. ‘’ I could be dangerous, or…’’

‘’ No more than I am.’’ She said.

‘’ Uh… Yeah…’’ I said, remembering that the tiny mare in front of me was as a guard as me. ’’ You’re right. So, where’s your house?’’

‘’ Follow me.’’ She said.

We began to walk quietly in the streets. Some Ponies in the streets looked at me strangely, like they were astonished.Was this my wings they were all staring at like that, or the fact I’m walking with her? Finally, she turned at the corner of a tiny place and stopped. In front of us was a big, beautiful wooden house with a stone chimney.

‘’ That’s my house!’’ She said happily. She unlocked the door and we entered. I detailed the living room. It was big, and simply decorated. Nothing to do with the usual Equestrian’s house, but it has its own charm. ‘’ How do you find it?’’

‘’ That’s… beautiful…’’ I said.’’ That’s exactly what I wanted for house when I was a child.’’

‘’ Tut tut!’’ She said whit a smile. ‘’ You’re going a little too fast. ’’I blushed heavily when I understood what she had in mind.

‘’ Nonononono!’’ I said. ‘’ I wasn’t thinking about that...’’

‘’ I know.’’ She said. ‘’ I was joking!’’ I rubbed my neck with my right hoof, still discomforted.‘’ So… Let’s have dinner!’’ She said. ‘’ Do you know anything about cooking?’’

‘’ Uh… Not really…’’ I said.

‘’ Not really?’’ She asked.

‘’ Let’s say that the last time I’ve tried, I make it burn.’’ I said. ‘’ And it was soup. After, the Canterlot’s firefighters forbad me to cook again.’’ She giggled.

‘’ Oh… I’ll make the dinner, finally.’’ She said. ‘’ Your room is next right, near the closet.’’

‘’ And where are the closet?’’ I asked.

‘’ Uh… Near your room.’’ She said absent-mindedly as she entered in the kitchen. ‘’ No, really?’’ I thought.

I opened a door. ‘’ No that’s the dressing.’’ I thought. I sighed and opened another door.

Four doors later, I found the good room.Ah… Finally… as I entered in the guest room. It was tiny, with wooden doors and walls. There was a bed, indeed, and a night table. There was a cupboard too, but I haven’t anything that belongs to me on the moon, so it was useless for the moment.

‘’ The dinner’s ready!’’ Raven yelled from the kitchen. I smiled as my stomach roared.

‘’ I’m coming!’’ I answered. I left the room and reached the living room. On the table was disposed a real mountain of food: carrots, celery, corn, apples… ‘’ Wow…’’ I said, stunned by the amount of food.

‘’ There’s plenty of food, but not with a real quality on the moon, Silver.’’ Raven said as she came behind me. ‘’ That’s only magical-grown food.’’

‘’ I don’t care for the quality, Raven.’’ I said. ‘’ I’ve eaten nothing but bread the three last days.’’ I sat down near the table. ‘’ All, even magical-grown food, is better than bread.’’

She smiled and sat down in front of me. ‘’ I’m happy that please you.’’ She said. ‘’ And now… Let’s eat!’’

And we began. She was right: That wasn’t the better food. But, when there’s nothing other to eat, you eat what you have.

‘’ Hmm…’’ I said as I munched in an apple.

‘’ What?’’ She asked curiously.

‘’ That flavor reminds me one thing…’’ I said. ‘’ An operation near Appleoosa, for an insurrection, a thing likes that…’’ She looked at me like I was crazy. ‘’ Oh, yeah…’’ I said. ‘’ I always forgot we’re not in Equestria here… Appleoosa’s a small town in the far west of Equestria, in a big desert.’’

‘’ Why that flavor remind you that?’’ She asked, raising an eyebrow.

‘’ Because they had only rotting apples for us.’’ I answered with a smile. ‘’ I’ve never been sick like that.’’

‘’ That’s not funny!’’ She protested with a smile. ‘’ But I have to say that you’re right.’’ She added before she put back her apple. ‘’ I’m going to kill the Apple farmer tomorrow.’’ She said. ‘’ So, you’ve met Black Hammer, haven’t you?’’

‘’ Yes.’’ I answered, taking another corn. I love corn. ‘’ He seems friendly, but a little…’’ I stopped.

‘’ Strange?’’ She guessed. I nodded. ‘’ Yes, I’m with you for that. He’s acting a bit strange, but he’s alright.’’ We stopped, eating quietly our food.

‘’ How old are you?’’ I asked curiously, breaking the silence.

‘’ What’s that for?’’ She asked back.

‘’ Uh… For Nothing…’’ I answered. ‘’ I just… wondered how old you were.’’

‘’Well, I’m twenty-eight. And you?’’ She said.

‘’ Thirty.’’ I answered. We were eating in a complete silence now. I broke the silence again:   ‘’If I knew there was life on the moon...’’ I stopped and looked at her. ‘’ you’ve not said how the food is created here, apart it’s magical-grown.’’

‘’ I don’t know how food is created on your world, but here, that’s the unicorns who are in charge of the food. Only magic can make something grown on that grey desert.’’  She answered.

‘’ In my world, that’s the Earth Ponies who makes food.’’ I said.

‘’ Here, we said lunar ponies.’’ She said. ‘’ That’s better for you to know that before speak to one of them.’’

‘’ I’ll try to keep that in mind.’’ I said. ‘’ Hmm… seems like I’m sated.’’

‘’ Me too.’’ Raven said. ‘’Would you help a poor mare like me to clear the table?’’

‘’ Of course.’’ I replied with a smile, bowing to her. She chuckled.  I helped her and looked at the hourglass. ‘’ Hmm… 11 PM? Already?’’ She followed my look.

‘’ I think we’d better go to bed now.’’ She said. ‘’ Good night, Silver!’’ She said before leaving for her room.

‘’ Yeah… Good night…’’ I replied. I left the living room to my own room in the house.

I locked the door and launched myself on the bed. (Reals beds are awesome!). I looked absent-mindedly at the ceiling. What a strange day… Black Hammer, Raven Claws, the lunar council… So many things…

I closed my eyes and felt quickly in sleep.

                                                                Author’s Notes:

Pffew, chapter one’s finally finished!

Thanks to all the comment on the prologue. That helped me very much.

I have also to thanks my (only) follower for following me.

Sinrar

PS: almost forgot! continue to help me with your comments. Thank you, Fillies and gentlecolts.

Edit: rewritten this a bit too! Thanks for the comments, the thumbs up and the favoureds!