Secrets of the Night

Chapters

Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13

Chapter 1

The night was young, and the stars glittered with cold heat far above her. Luna, Princess of the Night, smiled serenely as she watched them. She loved the stars almost as much as she did her moon. She had long since believed that they were tiny moons to accentuate her much larger silver one that floated in the sky above her. Her ethereal mane and tail glimmered and waved calmly around her neck and face, yet no breeze was present.

"Meditating again, sister?" A soft voice startled Luna, and she turned her head to gaze at the tall white alicorn. Celestia smiled and looked down at her sister.

"Not tonight dear sister..." Luna sighed and returned her eyes to the stars, "We are simply enjoying our element."

"It certainly is lovely tonight..." Celestia murmured quietly. Luna felt a wing wrap around her barrel.

"Something is troubling us sister..." Luna sighed, "Something we haven't felt in a very long time..."

Celestia pursed her lips and looked up at the moon, "Is this about HER ?"

"She is stirring. She is angry and no longer wishes to be contained. What do we do?" Luna looked up at the Sun Princess, fear clouding her eyes.

"Are you using the Royal 'We' or as in the both of us 'We'?" Celestia asked calmly.

"Tis not the time for jests, sister!" Luna growled.

"Sorry. I couldn't resist." Celestia chuckled quietly.

"SHE is breaking free and you are making jokes about my speech? Typical." Luna huffed. "I can never get any pity, can I?"

Celestia sighed, "I'm sorry. I forget how hard it is for you sometimes."

"We...I...know this. And I forgive you." Luna snorted, "But what are we, you and I, going to do? She will come for me."

"Then let her come. Let her see that you have changed." Celestia said softly.

"But what if she isn't willing to listen to me?" Luna fretted. "She doesn't know I have changed..."

"Then we subdue her, and then we talk. Like a family." Celestia glared sternly at her sister. "Whatever happened in the past, it wasn't your fault, just like when you became Nightmare Moon. That was MY fault."

"She had a part in it as well..." Luna grumbled.

"But I was the one who hurt you Luna...You hurt her...She hurt you...I hurt you...then I hurt you even more by sending you away..." Celestia choked back her tears.

"It doesn't excuse her involvement...nor my actions..." Luna sighed.

"Enough of this. I will not hear anymore tonight. I must sleep. Good night Luna." Celestia gave her sister a swift kiss before beating a hasty retreat, tears threatening to spill down her cheeks.

"Good night...Tia..." Luna sighed and went back to gazing at the night sky, her interest now seemingly little.

Overhead, a star shot across the sky, and Luna noticed an odd pink color to it. She pushed down her rising fear as she watched it make its way towards Ponyville.

"She wouldn't harm innocent ponies..." Luna muttered, "Not like I would...right?" She was answered by the deafening silence, the pink star vanishing from her view. Sighing, Luna waited, hoping that she would have the strength to face her greatest foe.

Meanwhile, on the outskirts of Ponyville, a tall dark and slender figure passed by. There was a large gash on her shoulder, and blood gushed from the wound. She looked around gritting her teeth as she saw her target.

"Missed by that much..." She huffed and grunted, "Damn...shoulder...wing...ugh!" She panted, her vision darkening as she lost more blood. She saw stars on the edge of her vision, and she shook her head. She plowed onward, ignoring the screaming in her head that was telling her to lay down and stop moving. Permanently. She had her eyes on a cottage, and there were lights on inside, much to her relief.

"H-help!" she called out, her voice cracking. "Help please!"

The door opened, and light streamed down on the mare. A dark figure stepped out and looked around. "Hello?" a timid-looking yellow mare called out quietly, her dark green gaze sweeping over the grass. The mare spotted the bleeding pony on the ground, and a frightened squeak escaped her lips.

"Oh! Oh my goodness!" The pegasus mare flew over and looked down at the stranger, "Are you ok?"

"H-help...me...please?" The mare choked out, her breathing shallow. Her vision was blurry, and stars danced across the slow oncoming darkness.

"Oh yes of course! Hold on!" The mare, Fluttershy, scooped the dying mare up in her strong forelegs and quickly dragged her into her cottage. She looked around frantically, "Oh...this is not good! I must inform Twilight at once! I didn't know other alicorns existed! I thought there were only four!" She set the mare down on her couch, moving her ethereal pink and purple mane away, "She looks an awful lot like Princess Luna too..."

"Not...Luna..." The mare wheezed, "Moon...flower..."

"Moonflower?" Fluttershy repeated, "Well, alicorn or no, I will do my best to help you. Just give me some time." she flew up to grab a medical kit, sifting through it for her emergency sewing kit. She found it and flew back down, holding a large needle with thin wire, "This is going to hurt...and I'm so sorry for this..."

Moonflower eyed the needle warily, "It is..fine...I understand what needs to be done. Can...can I have something to buite down on a least?" There was a slight tremor to her voice, fear making it stronger as she worried less about the old pain, and concentrated on the new pain to come.

"Yes of course. Here." she gave the mare a large rag. she moved the mane away again to see he wound, "Oh my...this is worst than I thought...perhaps something stronger would work..." She looked around, seeing an old stool. She dashed over and tore a leg off, bring it back over to Moonflower. She wrapped the stool leg in the rag and placed it in her mouth. With a nervous gulp she asked, "Are you ready?"

Moonflower bit down on the stool leg, squeezing her eyes closed. She gave a sharp nod and turned her head away, bracing herself.

Without another moment's hesitation, Fluttershy threaded the surgical needle and began to slowly close the ragged wound. She tried to go through all of the possible creatures that were capable of such a near devastating wound, knowing that a normal pony would not have survived even a few minutes after the initial infliction. "Angel?" she called out quietly.

A small, white bunny popped his head out from his basket, his green striped sleeping hat covering his ears. He saw the injured mare and his small beady black eyes widened in surprise. He quickly bounded over to Fluttershy, looking up at her expectantly.

"Angel, I need you to carry a message to Twilight. Get her over here as fast as you can. I don't care what time it is, but this is an emergency. Please be a good boy for mama, and do as I say?" Fluttershy pleaded with the bunny.

Angel nodded, not arguing with the distraught mare as he sped away, his bunny legs carrying him swiftly out of the house and he dashed for Ponyville, his eyes set upon the tall tree-castle in the distance.

"That's a good boy...he will get an extra serving of carrots tomorrow for dinner." Fluttershy smiled softly as she worked. She could hear the wood splintering from the mare's teeth as she bit down hard on the stool leg. "Almost done..." She said reassuringly.

"It hurths...." the alicorn muttered from her mouthful of wood.

"I know it does, but trust me, when this is over, everything will be just fine. You can even stay with me for a while while you get better." Fluttershy offered sweetly.

"You'd do that?" The mare looked back around at Fluttershy, the stool leg taken out of her mouth by a shaky hoof, "You'd do that for a stranger?"

"Of course I would. My name is Fluttershy." The butter-yellow mare smiled and finished up, snipping the thread with her teeth and tossed the bloody needle in a trash bin.

"Fluttershy...I thank you sincerely..." Moonflower smiled, "You are a truly kind mare."

"Well, I am the the Element of Kindness..." Fluttershy said humbly, hiding behind her mane shyly.

"The...Element...of Kindness?" The alicorn mare asked in confusion, tilting her head slightly.

"You don't know? I am one of the six Elements of Harmony. My friends represent a different aspect of friendship." Fluttershy tried to explain. "Honesty, Loyalty, Generosity, Kindness, Laughter, and Magic."

The mare looked down thoughtfully, "I must have been gone longer than I thought...I have never heard of these things..." Moonflower said quietly.

"Princess Celesia and Princess Luna found them a thousand years ago." Fluttershy said with a smile.

"Was this before...or after Mo- I mean Princess Luna was banished to the moon for becoming Nightmare Moon?" Moonflower inquired as she gazed back at the mare.

"Before. They defeated King Sombra and Discord with them." Fluttershy sighed, "But then, Princess Celestia had to use them on Princess Luna after she vowed to shroud the land in eternal night..."

"So how did she become Princess Luna again?" Moonflower asked quietly.

"Me and my friends purged the darkness from her. We helped her with the power of friendship." Fluttershy smiled. She pulled out white gauze, and began bandaging the alicorn's new stitches carefully.

"Hm..." Moonflower closed her eyes in thought, "How curious...It seems I am not fit to see her at the moment, so I will remain here, and you can show me your friends...I must admit now, I have not been around other very much, and my social etiquette is very...poor." She gave a sheepish smile at the mare.

"It is not a problem at all. You just rest here. Twilight will be here soon. She is an alicorn as well, and she is a princess too!" Fluttershy beamed proudly.

"Really?" Moonflower raised a brow, "I supposed she ascended..."

"Yes she did. We were all so proud of her! And she is doing so well in her new role!" Fluttershy gushed, oblivious to the brooding expression on the dark alicorn.

"Yes well...I will certainly be on my best behavior when I speak to her." Moonflower smiled, "But I will think I will rest now...I am tired...My shoulder hurts something fierce, and I wish to be left alone please..."

"Why yes of course. You take all the time you need. I will wake you when Twilight arrives." Fluttershy smiled kindly at the mare before tucking her wings in, checking the bandages, and walking away quietly.

Moonflower laid her head on her hooves, her eyes closing quickly as the dawn broke over the cottage. She didn't have to see the sun to know it was rising by the One and Only Princess Celestia. A soft smile played at her lips, and she sighed as sleep quickly claimed her after a long, hard, and grueling night.

But one thought niggled at the back of her mind: was she ready to make amends with the one who had hurt her so?

Chapter 2

A soft prodding woke the slumbering alicorn from her fitful sleep. Opening her eyes, she looked up into the concerned face of Fluttershy. Behind her, she could see the intrigued and worried expression of another mare. An alicorn. She sat up slowly, her shoulder burning from the effort, and she gazed evenly at the purple mare.

"I assume you are the alicorn friend Miss Fluttershy has spoken of?" Moonflower asked quietly, her face betraying no emotion. She sat perfectly still, almost a statue. Her blue eyes took in the much smaller alicorn, with quiet interest. She refused to show any pain, any fear or doubt.

"Yes. I am. My name is Twilight Sparkle. Fluttershy has told me your name, but I wish to ask you myself for it. What is your name?" Twilight asked, her dark purple eyes taking in the darker alicorn sitting on the couch.

"Moonflower," The dark bluish black mare replied, "Moonflower is my name. You may call me Moon for short." She continued her stiff posture, the pain in her shoulder causing her nostrils to flare the slightest bit.

"Moonflower? That is a nice name." Twilight smiled before turning her head to mutter, "Like I haven't the slightest clue where that names comes from..."

"Muttering to oneself is highly disrespectful, not only to yourself, but to the one you are speaking of." Moonflower's tight voice was only slightly angry, more of a scolding tone. Her eyes were narrowed, her ears splayed sideways as she glared at the lavender alicorn.

Twilight turned back around to gape at the alicorn, "You heard that?"

The mare sniffed and raised a brow, "Yes I did. And I have a feeling you are beginning to come to some sort of conclusion as to a part of my identity." She sighed, a long, low deep breath, "But before you assume, I am NOT Luna. I am her...her daughter..."

"Her WHAT?!?" Twilight gasped and looked at Fluttershy. Fluttershy was staring at Moonflower, her mouth wide open as she gazed in amazement and disbelief at the alicorn sitting on her couch.

"I am her daughter..." Moonflower repeated calmly, "I am also...if I am assuming correctly on the time I was gone...two thousand years old. I was imprisoned a thousand and five hundred years ago. Before all of the events that Miss Fluttershy has spoken of happened. It pains me to know that I was gone for so long..." Her ears drooped, "Almost as painful as my wound that Miss Fluttershy has helped fix. She has my eternal thanks." Moonflower smiled and dipped her head to the yellow pegasus.

"Oh you poor thing...why did you leave? What happened?" Fluttershy sat next to the alicorn and hugged her gently.

Moonflower winced, the physical contact startling her. She shifted away, putting distance between them. "I was sent away...by mother...I do not quite remember the reason...but I do know that I...I did something horrible to her in revenge..."

"What did you do?" Twilight asked as she began to study Moonflower carefully.

"I...I sent a parasite...a horrible disease to infect her mind...feed on her fear..her insecurities..it was what turned her into Nightmare Moon..." Moonflower stammered, her body shaking as she confessed. Guilt flashed through her, sharper that any claw or needle. "That parasite...I created it...and I had hoped Mother would learn what it felt like to be imprisoned, banished, and that she would have pity on me...let me come home. That wasn't what happened. I had grown tired of waiting, and I fell asleep. Then she was freed, and she never came for me. Never even thought of me. She had felt the same loneliness as I had...and she didn't feel any remorse or pity.." Moonflower choked and squeezed her eyes closed, forcing back her tears.

The two mares were silent, their mouths and eyes wide open as they listened to the horrible fate Moonflower had afflicted upon Princess Luna.

"So...You were the reason Princess Luna was banished?" Twilight's face became one of anger, "Do you know what you have put her through? Ponies are terrified of her! A thousand years have passed, and the only thing anypony ever sees is Nightmare Moon!" She shouted her wings flared out aggressively.

"I did it because she hurt ME! She left me! Abandoned me! And she never gave me a reason why! She gave me my own little world, one I could live and rule in all by myself, and what did that do? I was lonely! Scared! All I wanted was a friend. So I learned how to walk in dreams. An easy task, and I was a natural at it. I met a stallion, and I learned to make portals. He would come and see me every night, and when Mother found out, she had him killed! She tore him apart!" Moonflower choked on her own words, "She prevented me from seeing anypony else! Then she left and never returned..." Moonflower hung her head.

"Why would Princess Luna do that? You had to have given her a reason to be so harsh..." Twilight narrowed her eyes.

"I honestly don't know what I did...I-I had thought I was being a good foal...then she took me away and said I couldn't return...She would come and teach me, but she was always cold..distant...and it hurt. She acted like I was a mistake, and she didn't love me..." Moonflower shook her head violently, forcing away the pain and anger inside of her.

"Well, it seems to me that you both made mistakes..." Fluttershy interjected quietly, "Princess Luna made the mistake in abandoning you, without giving a proper reason and making you feel unloved...you let your anger take over your thoughts and actions, and you did something horrible to her as a sort of awful revenge. And where did that get you hm? Either of you?" Fluttershy raised a brow and glared sternly at Moonflower.

"It got us nowhere...and it only drove us further apart..." Moonflower sighed and looked down in shame.

"Very good. Now, when you are rested, and things have settled, we will speak to Princess Luna, and we will have everything sorted out." Fluttershy smiled reassuringly.

"How can you be sure she will listen to me? Or even agree to see me?" The dark blueish black alicorn sighed and began stroking her bright pink and purple mane nervously.

Twilight rubbed her chin thoughtfully, "I will speak with Princess Celestia. I'm sure she will understand the necessity.."

Moonflower pricked her ears up a the mention of the Sun Princess. "Auntie Tia? She was always accepting of me..."

"Then I'm sure that hasn't changed." Twilight smiled, pleased that Moonflower liked her mentor, "Just leave everything to me. You rest and get better. I'm pretty sure Princess Celestia will want to speak with you first, before we let Princess Luna see you."

"Auntie Tia will be most...unhappy with me...her disapproval is something I am going to regret receiving..." Moonflower sighed, "But I deserve what comes to me...from both of them."

"Then it is settled. You stay here with Fluttershy, and when you are better, maybe she can show you around Ponyville." Twilight walked to the door and opened it, "But I need to leave now. I have to write a letter to the Princess." With a wave, the lavender mare unfurled her wings and flew off, heading towards Ponyville and her castle.

Moonflower watched as Fluttershy got up and closed the door, and she sighed, "I am sorry for the trouble I have caused you Miss Fluttershy..."

"Don't be sorry. I am glad I can help. And it seems I will be helping in more ways than one. Now come. Let's get you a nice warm bath, clean that wound, and redress it. I have a spare bedroom you can use while you stay." She smiled at the alicorn mare.

Moonflower, to her own surprise, found herself smiling back warmly, "Thank you. I do believe that is a wonderful idea..."

Chapter 3

After a warm bath, Moonflower laid upon the bed in the spare bedroom, one wing extended as Fluttershy checked for any other injuries she may have received. There were minor lacerations, and a few of her secondary feathers were missing from her left wing.

"You are lucky it wasn't any worse..." Fluttershy murmured as she wrapped the wing up in a sling, just in case it had been sprained. She had done a thorough check to see if any bones were broken, and they had both sighed in relief when none were found.

"I suppose. I haven't flown in a long time...never really needed to..." She sighed and looked at her hooves, which were cracked from the impact of her landing. "Landing hurt more I suppose...I didn't know how to slow down, so I ended up nearly breaking my hooves. I vaulted over myself and I crashed..."

"What did you crash into?" Fluttershy asked as she settled down on the bed next to her.

"I...I crashed into a tree...the tree had hawks and they weren't too happy to be disturbed with eggs in the nest..." Moonflower sighed, "The mother was the one who ripped my shoulder...The father one just flew at me and raked his claws against me..."

"Oh dear...I do believe I know those hawks. The mama is really fierce..." The timid mare said worriedly. "I didn't know she was that fierce..."

"She almost went for my eyes, but I turned my head." Moonflower winced as she recalled the vicious attack, "I won't ever underestimate a hawk again..."

"They are fierce and proud creatures." Fluttershy nodded in agreement. She turned her head to slide a feather through her lips, spreading oily saliva across her primaries as she preened herself.

Moonflower watched quietly, examining her own feathers, which were as glossy as a raven's. She sighed and looked at her hooves, which were cracked and scabbing over. She scowled as she hen looked a her shoulder and wing, feeling very ugly and inadequate next to the sweet pegasus mare.

"You know..." Fluttershy began quietly, "I never knew alicorns could have foals. I suppose it doesn't happen very often."

"It doesn't. As far as I know...there are no more male alicorns left..." Moonflower sighed and looked out of the window.

"Oh...well that certainly would put a damper on the population..." Fluttershy attempted to make a light joke.

Moonflower looked at her, her expression one of confusion, "What?"

"O-oh nothing..." Fluttershy squeaked and busied herself with her preening once more.

Moonflower said nothing more, sighing as she looked around, "You have a very lovely home. Thank you for sharing it with me..."

"Not a problem. I am here to help in anyway I can." She looked up at her and smiled brightly.

Moonflower smiled back, "When I am better, I intend to help you. Cleaning, errands, anything at all. I owe you that much for saving my life."

"That isn't neccessary..." Fluttershy tried to protest.

"It is common courtesy. You saved my life, you are letting me stay in your home, and you fixed my wounds up. I owe you much more, but I do not wish to overdo it." Moonflower said softly.

A silence lapsed between them, and both mares could feel the tension around them. They glanced at each other then away again, trying to finding some way to start another conversation. Moonflower, being the braver of the two, sighed loudly and turned to Fluttershy.

"So when did Twilight Sparkle become an alicorn Princess?"

"Not that long ago really..." Fluttershy answered quietly, "She was a unicorn before that. Her brother, Shining Armor, is married to Princess Cadance."

"Princess...Cadance?" Moonflower tilted her head.

"Yes. She is the Princess of Love. Twilight is the Princess of Friendship."

"Those are powerful things...." Moonflower observed, "Love and Friendship. I am glad that two very important elements of peace have been found. I can vaguely remember what it was like before I was sent away..."

"What was it like before you were sent away?" Fluttershy asked as she gazed at Moonflower.

"Dark...depressing...Ponies killed, raped, and slaughtered each other over food, land, resources. There were herds once that reached over a thousand members, and they would constantly battle with other tribes and herds for control." Moonflower looked at her hooves in thought, "That is why, deep down, most ponies feel the need to drive away threats. To eliminate the problem before it is too late..."

"I think I understand..." Fluttershy said quietly, "I once faced down a dragon to protect my friends..."

"A feat most impressive if I must say so myself." Moonflower smiled. She turned her gaze to a painting, and she pricked her ears with interest.

The painting was of an elderly couple, a mare and a stallion. The mare looked warm and honest, while the stallion looked cold and devious. Near complete opposites that were attracted to one another. Behind them, Moonflower saw a large farmhouse, surrounded by trees. They sky was a grayish blue, and it added a serene beauty to it. She admired the picture, for it was a beautiful collection of shapes and colors. She was then struck by an odd thought, and she snorted in laughter.

"What's so funny?" Fluttershy asked from where she was knitting. Moonflower looked over and wondered how and when the timid mare had gotten the yarn and needles.

"Just thinking of how this picture is so meaningful..." Moonflower began, "As you can see, it is a perfect blend of shapes and colors, but have you ever stopped and looked at a different perspective? As in, step away from the veiwer, and see it how the painting would see it? To us, it is a painting, but to it, so are we."

"So...are you saying we are all just a part of a bigger painting?" Fluttershy furrowed her brow in concentration as she thought.

"Yes. We are. We are the shapes and colors that have formed a conciousness, and we roam around looking for the right colors to help paint our growing picture. Some 'colors' find each other and 'mix', for say, to make new colors. But what is the point of those new colors when they don't have an artist to use them and make them into something?" Moonflower inquired.

"So, what exactly would that artist do?" Fluttershy asked.

"Honestly, I don't know. No two artists are the same, nor do they envision the same painting. That's why the canvas stays blank." Moonflower sighed. Thinking of this artist's concept was giving her ideas, making her want her own paintbrush to create masterpieces.

There was a loud knocking downstairs, causing Fluttershy to jump in surprise. "O-oh...I wasn't expecting anypony today...I will just go see who it is..." She gave Moonflower an apologetic smile and flew downstairs to answer the door.

Moonflower remained where she was, sighing as she looked out of the window, "This is going to take a long time then...so be it...I have been patient enough..." her eyes narrowed as she gazed out into the woods beyond, knowing that deep within, she would find what she was looking for.

Chapter 4

Fluttershy opened her front door to see the familiar glamorous face of Rarity. Before she could speak, the elegant white unicorn held up a hoof.

"Fluttershy dahling..." She began in her thick, cultured accent, "I was just on my way to see you when I ran into Twilight, who happened to be so gracious as to inform me that you are sheltering an alicorn that just so happens to be the daughter of Princess Luna. Is this not correct?" Rarity asked sweetly, smiling at her friend.

"Oh...um..y-yes it is correct. She was dying last night, and I um...found her...and well...she is a very strange alicorn if I ever saw one...and um... I have seen a few." Fluttershy said nervously, her gaze flicking back at the stairs.

"Might I come in? I would like to see her for my...self..." Rarity trailed off as her eyes rested upon a figure behind Fluttershy.

Fluttershy turned to see Moonflower standing quietly behind her, and a small squeak of surprise escaped her lips. "M-Moonflower? How did you get downstairs?" She gaped as the incredibly tall alicorn looked down at her calmly.

"I walked," The alicorn answered, a smile tugging at the corners of her lips, "How else would I get down?" She chuckled and turned to Rarity, "Yes. I am an alicorn. Yes. I am the daughter of Princess Luna. And who are you?" She peered at the mare curiously.

"My name is Rarity, dahling," Rarity replied as she stepped closer, "I know how this might sound dear, but you are beautiful, just like your mother."

Moonflower's eyes widened and she stepped away, "I am sorry..but I don't know how to respond to that..." Moonflower turned her head away and sighed, "I don't ever recall being called beautiful by a mare...it is..disorientating..."

Rarity scrunched her face and blushed, "I do apologize...I see now that I may have come off a little...odd..."

The alicorn let out a strange strangled choke, her cheeks flaming red as she scrunched her face as well. "Would it be rude to advise one to hush? I am feeling very awkward..."

Rarity simply nodded, her white face beet red as she realized her mistake, "I do apologize..."

"Apology accepted ma'am." Moonflower sighed.

"Well um..Rarity?" Fluttershy shyly butted it, "Is there anything I can help you with?"

"Not really, dear." Rarity admitted. "I simply wished to see if what Twilight said was true."

"Well...it is true..." Fluttershy looked down at the ground. "But I don't see how it is important..."

"It is important that you let your closest friends know that you have a strange alicorn living with you. What if Applejack or Rainbow Dash were to barge in?" Rarity scoffed, "They might upset the poor dear."

"W-Well...you do have a point Rarity. Applejack and Rainbow Dash can be pretty...um...assertive." Flutershy sighed softly.

"Who are ya callin' assertive, Fluttershy?" A thick southern accent said. The mares looked up to see an orange earth pony trotting up to them, followed by a blue pegasus with a rainbow colored mane and tail.

Fluttershy let out a soft, exasperated sigh. Hanging her head and closing her eyes, the yellow pegasus muttered, "It was only a matter of time..."

Moonflower didn't hear her, her eyes trained on the two newcomers. She shifted nervously, her nostrils flared.

"So this is the alicorn Twilight was talking about?" The blue pegasus snorted, "She doesn't look like much."

"Rainbow Dash!" The earth pony glared at the pegasus beside her, "Just cause she is a scrawny lil' thing, don't mean she ain't as powerful as any other alicorn we know." The orange mare huffed and walked up to Moonflower, "Howdy pardner, Ah'm Applejack. This here feather-brain is Rainbow Dash."

"Oh thanks alot Applejack," Rainbow Dash said, her voice dripping with sarcasm, "That means a lot coming from a numbskull like you."

"Who are ya callin' a numbskull?" Applejack retorted, "Ah happen to have plenty of smarts! Unlike a certain blue pony. Ya don't see me insultin' a strange alicorn who just magically appeared overnight."

"Oh yeah? Well..." Rainbow Dash thought furiously for a snarky comeback. When none came she just said, "Whatever." With one mighty flap of her wings, she took off and flew away.

"Sorry 'bout that ma'am." Applejack turned back to Moonflower, "Rainbow can be a bit...well blunt. Unfiltered ya know?"

"I am sorry, but it seems I fail to understand..." Moonflower flicked her ears, "But it is fine I suppose. I am Moonflower. It is a pleasure to meet you Applejack."

"Pleasure's all mine Miss Moonflower." Applejack lunged forward and grabbed the alicorn's hoof and began shaking it enthusiastically, "Ah live at Sweet Apple Acres, righ' here in Ponyville. If ya like, I can show ya 'round, meet new ponies, and help ya settle in for a while! How does that sound?"

Moonflower was too busy trying to pull her hoof away from Applejack's iron-like grip. "It..It is fine!" She squeaked, "Please stop crushing my hoof! It is already injured enough!" Applejack suddenly released her hoof, and the alicorn mare flew backwards, crashing to the ground in a tumble of feathers and hooves.

"Oh Ah'm real sorry Miss! Ah didn't know yer hoof was hurt." Applejack said as she took her hat off and placed it over her heart, her ears splayed sideways as she looked down.

"It...It is fine..." Moonflower said quietly as she scrambled to her hooves, "No damage was done..." She checked her shoulder to see it the stitching had come loose. She sighed in relief to see that it hadn't. "I am fine. Now what was that about showing me around?"

"Oh no Moonflower! You're hurt! You need to rest..." Fluttershy protested.

"Fluttershy is right dahling," Rarity said kindly, "Such an injury needs constant rest and care."

"Since when has a light walk hurt anypony?" Applejack argued. She put her hat back on her head and raised a brow.

Fluttershy puffed out her chest angrily, her feathers ruffled, "A light walk will strain her shoulder too much, and flying will only reopen her stitches." She hesitated, "But if she wants to go, who am I to stop her?" She deflated, her ears drooping, "I'm sorry...I got carried away..."

Moonflower hesitated, but her curiosity was overwhelming. "I want to see it....so I will go. I will try not to do too much, ok Miss Fluttershy?"

Fluttershy looked at Rarity, "I...I suppose..."

"I will walk back with you." Rarity announced. "I need to get back to the boutique anyway. Fashion cannot make itself you know." She flicked her mane and smiled.

"You have a boutique?" Moonflower asked, "I would like to see it. Um...you don't mind, do you Miss Applejack?"

"Nope. Not one bit." Applejack chuckled, "While yer getting a makeover, Ah need to return back ta mah farm. Apples ain't gonna buck themselves ya know."

"Oh I see." Moonflower smiled, "So can we go? I want to see this...Ponyville..."

"Ponyville is such a lovely place," Rarity smiled as well, "And don't worry Fluttershy. While she is at my shop I will make sure she gets the rest she needs." The white unicorn said to Fluttershy

"Thank you Rarity...." Fluttershy murmured before turning to look at Moonflower, "And I want you home before sunset. Do I make myself clear?"

Moonflower blinked in surprise, "Y-yes Miss Fluttershy..." She looked back at Rarity and Applejack, who seemed just as surprised as she was.

Fluttershy nodded, "Good. Now go and enjoy yourself. I will have dinner ready when you come back." She trotted back inside and closed the door. It reopened again and she popped her head out, "Um...what would you like to eat?"

"Oh um...I really don't know..." Moonflower replied.

"Alright then. I will make us a large meal. Now have fun on your walk." The door shut once more and Moonflower looked around at the two ponies behind her.

'Well? Shall we go?" The alicorn asked nervously. Fluttershy's behavior had caught her off guard. Now, she felt guilty and selfish for wanting to explore.

The two mares exchanged a glance, a silent message passing between them. "Ah think Ah will let Rarity show ya 'round Miss Moonflower. Ah need to get back soon. See ya later!" Applejack waved and trotted away, and Moonflower sighed in disappointment.

"Don't be sad dahling," Rarity placed a gentle hoof on her good shoulder, "I'm sure she will still take you on a tour. But in truth, her farm is on the other side of Ponyville, and it is simply too far a walk for you at the moment. Now come along dahling, I have dresses that I know will look absolutely fabulous on you." She began walking away as well, and Moonflower followed, a slight limp to her walk.

"You know...I have never really been one for fashion...but I am curious to see your designs." Moonflower smiled as she followed Rarity, but her eyes betrayed her and she glanced at the forest behind them. With a soft sigh, she turned her gaze back and focused on her day ahead.

Soon...very soon, I will find it...and I will find peace at last. she bit her lip as she had a sudden flash of doubt, I hope...

Chapter 5

Moonflower couldn't have wished to be any more conspicious than an ant when she entered Ponyville. Around her, ponies were stopping to gawk at her, and she wished she could shrink to the size of a flea. What was worse, was what the ponies were saying about her.

"Who is that?" A creamy tan pony with a raspberry mane whispered to her friends.

"She looks like a princess...but where is her crown?" A bright pink mare whispered back.

"She doesn't look like any princess I know..." A third mare hissed to her friends.

Moonflower flinched away, limping after Rarity, who acted oblivious to them. Moonflower sighed, her head low as she looked around. She wondered if she would ever fit in here, and she wondered if she had made a mistake.

What am I doing? She scolded herself, These ponies would never accept me...they already have an alicorn living amongst them. Why would they want another? She sighed to herself. She was so caught up in her thoughts, she didn't see the commotion going on around her.

"GET OUT OF THE WAY!!" A loud masculine voice screamed. Moonflower looked up just as a black bulk collided into her, knocking her back. She tumbled and screeched as once more, she was sent rolling in a flurry of feathers and hooves. She stopped rolling, and she looked up, spitting out dirt.

"What the flying feck!?! Watch where you're going!" Moonflower heard gasps around her as she swore. She ignored them, her eyes trained on the black figure that was rising from the ground a few feet away. Her eyes widened as she took in the dark mass of pony before her.

He was huge. Nearly massive. His coat was near black, a dark, so very dark, shade of grey. His mane and tail were pitch black, and his eyes... His eyes were blood red, pure and cold as she gazed into them. His body was slim, yet well muscled. His horn was nearly as long as hers, and as she stood, she realized he was just an inch taller than her.

Their eyes met, red and blue, unicorn and alicorn. The silence between them was tense, and Moonflower found herself frozen as his eyes broke their trance and traveled over her slowly, resting on her injury.

"You're hurt..." his voice was deep, calm, and quiet.

"Y-yes. I...I crashed last night." She stammered out, her heart pounding in her chest as she stood her ground against the large stallion.

"You should learn to fly then." He snorted, "Then you can avoid hurting yourself."

"W-well I do know how to fly! It was the landing I got wrong!" Moonflower huffed and scowled at him. The last thing she needed was a snobby know-it-all unicorn to tell her how to fly right.

He made a strange sound, a mix between a low growl and a strangled laugh, "Is that so? What did you do? Run into a bear?" he taunted.

"No! I ran into a tree! And that tree had hawks..." she trailed off as he threw his head back and laughed. It was a deep, guttural sound, and the unicorn flopped down on his haunches.

"You! You have got to be kidding me! A tree?" He continued snorting and laughing, much to Moonflower's embarrassment as he announced her accident to the whole town.

"Sh-shut up! You wouldn't have flown any better!" She shouted at him. Her cheeks were flaming and her ears burned. She kept her gaze on him, ignoring the snickers around her.

He went quiet. Very quiet. His eyes locked with hers again, and she shivered as she saw cold fury smoldering within the ruby depths. "Don't...ever tell me to shut up...you got that?" He stood up once more and stalked closer, "I don't give a feck who you are princess...but I am nopony's servant, slave, or subject." He glared down at her.

It took every ounce of her will and stubborness to not keel over in fear, to cower in his shadow. She faced him, her nose tilted up slightly as she glared back just as fiercely, "I'm not a princess..." she announces clearly for all of the ponies to hear. This caused a wave of whispers and murmuring to run fresh through the steadily gathering crowd as they watched the two ponies stare each other down.

"I am not a princess. Nor was I commanding you." She snorted, "But I do want an apology for nearly reopening my wound for your careless actions. I demand this because it is only right!"

He regarded her words carefully, his eyes searching for some way to counter her. He leaned his head back, looking down at her with an almost regal look that nearly made Moonflower melt. "Fine. Princess. I apologize for almost causing you further harm. I was reckless, and careless, and I could have made your injury worse."

Moonflower smiled, a sweet open smile. "Thank you. Now can I have your name?"

He hesitated, his gaze flicking around at the crowd. "Not here. Some ponies..well they don't exactly like me..."

Moonflower raised a brow, "Well then at least walk with me. I am going with a friend to her boutique. Would you like to come?"

He sighed, "Yes. But only because I have nothing better to do, and having a lovely mare at my side such as yourself would most definitely impove my public image." He flashed a blinding, perfect smile at Moonflower who could only squeak and blush.

Rarity trotted up just then, having realized Moonflower had been held up, "Moonflower dahling," she spotted the stallion and she let out a frightened shriek.

The stallion rolled his eyes and gave the white mare a look of distaste, "Yes, I'm absolutely terrifying. Just get it out of your system please." His voice was laced in bitterness and dripping with sarcasm, and it pierced Moonflower's heart.

"Oh um...R-Rarity? Do you think you could go on without me? Um..my new...friend here will walk me there." Moonflower smiled sheepishly at Rarity.

"My, my..." Rarity raised a brow at the alicorn, "Change minds much?"

"W-well, he ran into me...and he kinda hurt me a bit, so...I uh..he said he would buy me a drink and then walk me to the boutique!" Moonflower smiled and gave the stallion a look.

He caught on quickly, "Yes, that's right. I wanted to make up for my mistake of running into Miss...um...her. And I do sincerely say that I will return her to you once I have fulfilled my sworn oath to her." The stallion flashed another smile at Rarity, though this one was less warm, more business-like.

Rarity narrowed her eyes, "Fine...that was most generous of you. But I want her at my boutique in TWO HOURS. One minute more, and I will hand you to Fluttershy on a silver platter with only the finest of seasonings, do I make myself clear?"

The stallion's eyes widened the tiniest bit, "Yes ma'am. Crystal."

"Hmph!" Rarity tossed her mane and trotted away, and Moonflower looked back at the stallion.

"I was serious about that drink. These ponies want to baby me."

He snorted in amusement, "I can tell. However, I call it overprotective and pushy."

She sighed, "Can we just go get that drink now?"

The stallion chuckled and held out his foreleg for her, "Of course..."

Moonflower smiled and took it, feeling a growing bud of attraction for the stallion. She walked with him, her mind relaxing slowly.

Whoever he is...he is nice...I think I might grow to like this stallion. He is certainly a charmer...

Moonflower strode into the bar with the stallion, whose name she still had not learned. Her eyes were trained on him as they walked, side by side, having let go of one another before they had entered. Ponies stopped to gawk at the strange pair as they laughed and spoke quietly to one another.

The stallion had proven to be quite a gentlecolt, and even now he offered her a seat before taking his own. Moonflower sat at the bar counter, and he sat next to her, one elbow resting on the countertop as he placed his other hoof on the small of her back. The small, light touch sent shivers down her spine.

"What do you want to drink, princess?" he asked with a smirk, his red eyes glimmering as he teased her.

"What do they sell here?" She inquired, a playful smile on her lips as she gazed back at him.

"Anything from beer, to whiskey." He answered and snorted, "Hey!" He turned his head to look at the bartender, "Two shots of the strongest whiskey you have!"

The bartender nodded and turned away to prepare the drinks. The stallion turned his attention back to the alicorn, his eyes drinking her in, "So what is your name, princess?"

"Moonflower," she answered and leaned closer, "Now tell me yours."

He raised a brow, smirking, "Not even going to ask, huh?" He laughed, "Very well. Name's Umbra. Like a shadow." He nodded to the bartender as he set the shots down near them. He picked them up in his magic and handed one off to Moonflower.

Using her magic, Moonflower took a glass, sniffing the golden-clear liquid curiously. She crinkled her nose and looked up at him.

"Well?" Umbra asked calmly, "Drink up."

Having second thoughts, Moonflower tilted her head back and sucked down the drink. Her eyes widened, and she coughed and spluttered as the burning alcohol slid down her throat.

Umbra watched her in amusement, his ruby eyes glittering. "Let me show you how it's done princess..." He downed his drink swiftly, barely shuddering as he slammed his glass down on the counter.

"Whew! Oh man! It's been a while since I had that! HA!" He ordered another round and smiled at Moonflower, an open, warm smile that still held the promise of mischief.

Moonflower laughed quietly as well, "Well, I haven't had a drink in a very long time..."

"How long is that?" Umbra chuckled as the bartender set two more shots down. He took his and drank it slower than before.

"T-two thousand years..." Moonflower squeaked and snatched her drink, draining it quickly.

Umbra choked on his whiskey, and he sprayed his drink over the counter. He coughed, pounding his chest to clear it. "Wh-what?" He gaped at her in utter silence, the information stunning him to the point of speechlessness.

"I-I said I am over two thousand years old..." Moonflower looked down and sighed in annoyance.

Umbra blinked at her, "Well...I'm not really into older mares..."

Moonflower snapped her gaze to him, ready to fire a stinging retort when he held up his hoof for her to wait.

"Because I guess I'm into ancient mares!" He guffawed and snorted with laughter, his shoulders shaking as she laughed.

Despite wanting to strangle him for his awful joke, Moonflower found herself laughing with him, throwing her head back as she let out her own riotous laughter.

The two ponies laughed together, their voices echoing in the bar. The other ponies looked on, confused and concerned as the alicorn and the unicorn drank and laughed, the joke seemingly lost to them as they watched the two ponies drink.

Chapter 6

Moonflower stumbled through Ponyville, the dark stallion by her side. Their pelts brushed just the tiniest bit as they walked, laughing and smiling goofily through the streets. But one thing was bugging Moonflower like an agitating gnat; what had Umbra been running from? She knew that he had been avoiding the subject entirely. But she was no fool. He had been trying to desperately flee, and that had caused him to run into her, and the collision was powered by force of impact, which sent her, the slighter and lighter one, rolling in the dust. Which in turn meant that he had been running away from somepony fast enough to suggest that he had been chased.

Moonflower looked up at him, her eyes narrowed and her lips pursed as she tried to find the thought and the courage to ask him. "So...Umbra..." she began hesitantly. "Why were you running?"

The question seemed to be expected, as the stallion sighed, his lips forming a scowl, "I got in trouble with a few of the stallions here. I owe them money I don't have, so I am leaving town to find a way to pay them off." His voice dropped lower, as did his gaze, "I always repay my debts...perhaps you should think of doing that as well."

"I already have promised to repay Miss Fluttershy for her kindness," Moonflower answered quietly, "But who was chasing you? How much do you owe them? Is there someway I can help?" She asked eagerly, her mind already scanning through possible ways she could help make money for him.

"No. I don't want your help. I don't want any help, from anypony at all. I got myself into this mess, I can get myself out." He growled, "And as for who and how much, that is classified information, and I am not telling you. Don't like it? Too bad." he snapped at her, his mood now soured by her questions.

Moonflower blinked and looked around, her eyes trying to take everything in, but her drunken mind was blocking out any ability to store what she saw. She growled and shook her head irritably, and she limped forward more. "Let's just get to the boutique." she sighed.

"No need." Umbra snickered, causing Moonflower to look up at him. "Your caretaker and her obnoxious unicorn friend are heading this way."

Moonflower blinked and whipped her head around, only to stare into two very angry, dark green eyes. With a gulp, Moonflower took in the time, and found to her dismay that the sun was setting.

"Where have you been! When Rarity told me you weren't at the boutique like you promised, she came looking for me! And we have spent the last three hours looking for you!" Fluttershy scolded, and Moonflower hung her head in shame. She wasn't used to being bound by such rules, having been asleep for over a thousand years since the fall of Princess Luna. A part of her wished that she could go back to her ethereal prison, rather than face the wrath of this normally gentle mare.

"Fluttershy, darling," Rarity interjected with a graceful step forward and a flick of her mane, "Don't be so hard on the poor dear. It wasn't her fault she was late. It was his." she pointed a polished hoof at Umbra.

The stallion wasn't too thrilled at being blamed for this entire messed, and with narrowed eyes, he calmly stated, "I am not at fault here. We both are. We lost track of time, but what could we do? We had a little fun, got to know each other, and since I have safely returned her to you in the same state as she had been in when we left, I see nothing wrong. Besides, I recall you, Miss Rarity, let Moonflower go with me. If she was of that much importance to your friend here, you wouldn't have let her go at all." Umbra pointed out, his statement long, but his voice sounded clipped. As if he was one irritant away from anger.

Rarity's muzzle turned a bright pink, her accusation having turned on her. With a nervous smile, she looked at Fluttershy, who was glaring back at her, "I suppose he is correct, and I am so very sorry. I tried to put the blame on somepony else, when it was I who was in the wrong."

Umbra's lips formed a perfect smile, but this smile held no warmth, and it sent chills down Moonflower's back. It showed a cruel, merciless pony, and it made Moonflower nervous. "Why thank you Miss Rarity." he purred, "But now that you have your little Princess back, I shall take my leave."

"W-wait!" Moonflower squeaked, her head snapping back up, "You're leaving? Now?" she couldn't keep the whine out of her voice, and she blushed as she realized that she sounded like a needy filly. A needy filly with a school-filly crush.

Umbra chuckled and stepped closer, leaning in to whisper into her ear. "Yes, but I have a feeling we shall see each other again one day...farewell, my Princess." Umbra planted a swift kiss on her cheek, and the intimate touch sent shivers down Moonflower's spine. She looked up at him, her heart beating rapidly in her chest as she tried to memorize him.

But Umbra was backing away, his eyes trained on Moonflower. In the ruby depths, she could see regret, and anger, but then they were gone as the stallion turned around and melted into the shadows.

With a sigh, Moonflower turned back to the silent mares, who gazed back at her in disbelief. Rarity seemed to regain her voice first, and she cleared her throat.

"Ahem...well darling, I would suggest forgetting that ruffian. He has been nothing but trouble ever since he arrived in Ponyville. And he is just plain scary. Nopony wants anything to do with him, and since he is leaving, I think it would be best if you forgot about him entirely. A lady such as yourself should not in any way be getting involved with trouble-makers."

"Oh but Rarity," Fluttershy objected gently, "Couldn't you see what was happening? Umbra had actually been nice for once. And to a stranger no less. Normally he is very mean and very scary, but we saw a different side of him. A side he only revealed for Moonflower. He seemed reluctant to leave, and we both saw that kiss. It made my stomach flip, just seeing that small display of affection." Fluttershy giggled and beamed up at Moonflower.

The alicorn could only blush and look down, scraping her hoof shyly in the dirt, "He is nice. At least I thought so." Moonflower blushed deeper as she realized how she might sound, and she sighed, "I like him, but not enough that I would fawn over him like a twitter pated filly. He is gone, but I have a feeling he will be back. I won't let that hold me back from what I need to do. Anything could happen, and there will be nothing I could do to stop that."

The two mares looked at each other in surprise, not having expected such a mature and thought-out confession from the alicorn. Moonflower remained where she was, looking around again. She was slowly sobering up, and she flicked her ear in aggravation as another group of ponies walked by, whispering as they gazed at her. Ignoring them, Moonflower looked up, taking in the sky as it transitioned from evening to night. She could see the moon rising, and she waved a little at it, smiling as she looked up at her old friend.

As she looked around more, she smiled as each star began winking into existence, and the sadness suddenly overwhelmed her, causing her to ache all over as she missed seeing them like this. She sat down, her shoulder burning from the use of it, and she sighed in relief as the pressure was placed elsewhere.

"When I heal..." She began as she looked up at the stars solemnly, "I want to go to into the Forest. I have need of going there, but my current injury prevents me from going."

Fluttershy let out a frightened squeak, "You can't go in the Everfree Forest alone! You could get lost! Or hurt! Or worse!" She hugged Moonflower as she fretted, causing the alicorn mare to hiss in agitation.

"I'm not a helpless filly! Stop treating me like you are my mother! I have a mother! Or do I? I'm not even sure anymore." she snorted and looked away, her ears pinned to her skull as she glowered at the ground

Fluttershy cringed away from the angry mare, "I-I'm sorry...I didn't mean to offend you. It's just that I want to help, and I don't want you hurting yourself more."

"Fluttershy, perhaps you could give her some space to breathe?" Rarity suggested gently. "Even I must say that being mothered as an adult is quite irritating."

Fluttershy turned a bright shade of pink, having been reprimanded by one of her closest friends, "Oh my...perhaps you are right. Moonflower is older than me, so she should be able to fend for herself. I am so sorry..."

Moonflower hugged the shy butterscotch mare, sighing in frustration. "it is fine Miss Fluttershy, but can we go home now?" She smiled sheepishly, "I am tired, and my shoulder hurts."

Fluttershy squeaked as she was pulled into the hug, and she looked up at Moonflower, "Why of course. We shall go at once. Rarity? Are you coming with us?" Fluttershy looked at her friend.

"I must get back to the boutique. I am far behind schedule, and I simply must get this latest order filled out for Sapphire Shores. Twenty brand new dresses, all styled uniquely." Rarity sighed, "Sapphire Shores seems to love having diversity in one outfit. I suppose that is why she is my favorite client." Rarity smiled and lifted her chin proudly.

"Well then have a nice night Rarity, and I hope you get everything finished on time." Fluttershy smiled sweetly.

"Farewell darlings. I must be off now!" Rarity waved and turned around, trotting back to her boutique.

Fluttershy turned to Moonflower, "Ready?" she asked softly.

Moonflower rose to her hooves again, scowling as she tested her shoulder on the ground, "Ready," she said, her voice tight. Without another word, she limped away. Her mind was reeling from everything that had happened that day, and she shook her head, trying to clear her foggy thoughts. Fluttershy followed close behind, biting her lip anxiously as they made their way to her cottage.

Several minutes later, Moonflower was standing in front of the cottage, yet her gaze was drawn once more to the Everfree Forest, and she felt her hooves grow restless with longing, "Soon...very soon I promise..." she whispered to the dark expanse of trees, tearing her gaze away as she stepped inside, ready to fall into her bed and sleep.

As she stumbled upstairs and into the room she was staying in, she fell upon the bed just as she had wanted and her last thought was of Umbra, the dark handsome stallion. With a shiver, she thought she could feel his crimson gaze upon her neck, and her nethers tingled with a strange sensation. Shaking it off, she closed her eyes, and welcomed the blackness of slumber once more.

Chapter 7

Screaming. That was all she could hear as Moonflower stood on the precipice of a great cliff. The wind howled around her, whipping her mane wildly. The great gusts of air carried the cries and screams of many, and when she looked down, she could see thousands of ponies wailing, scrambling to climb back up to freedom.

A low cackle wrenched her gaze up, and she gasped as she looked deep into the sickly green sclera and blood red irises of a massive black unicorn. His horn was long and curved, and fangs gleamed as he laughed coldly at the misery of the ponies below. Moonflower backed away from the edge, yet her eyes never left the unicorn. Atop his head was a crown of silver, and it shone coldly.

But was disturbed her the most, was the deep purple mist emanating from the corner of his eyes. The sign of the Taint. The source of corrupted and dark magic. Moonflower gagged as she felt the sweet pull of dark promises of power, of secrets revealed through pain and misery. She planted her hooves and closed her eyes tight, knowing this was a dream.

"Why do you resist?" the black unicorn purred, his voice soft as he attempted to lure her in, "You know in your heart you want to let the darkness take over, as it did once before...as it did your own mother...."

Moonflower snapped her eyes open, and she glared at the stallion, "I know not what form you have taken, you fiend, but I shall not succumb to your tricks! Leave me!" She stomped her hoof, causing the ground around her to quake as she broke through the fragile veil that kept dreams and realities apart. She knew it was dangerous, but it was vital that she shatter the illusion, and free her mind from the fear it held.

The unicorn hissed and began to morph, his coat darkening even more and his eyes glowing teal, the pupils becoming slits. Wings sprouted from his back and he grew even taller, but what horrified Moonflower the most, was the mare the stallion had become.

"You!" Moonflower growled, her eyes narrowing dangerously, "I should have known you would still be around. After all this time."

"Stupid fool," Nightmare Moon snapped, her eyes glaring at her creator in hatred, "I could not reach you in that prison you slept in for so long...but I know you would free yourself, just as I freed myself as well. I have been waiting for you." The dark mare chuckled wickedly, her eyes never leaving Moonflower.

Moonflower growled and stood her ground, refusing to let the mare get the better of her, "What do you want? I won't give in. You can't have my mind!"

"I am afraid your little protest is invalid. I have already made myself quite at home here, and I would say that my powers would make you stronger, should you need assistance in battle." Nightmare Moon smiled coldly.

"I will never need your assistance, just as I know there will be no battle! I shall not cause a war for you!" Moonflower hissed, "Be gone! Trouble me no more you foul manifestation of fear and hatred. I no longer have any need of your services." With that, Moonflower turned her back, and plunged down into the chasm below her.

Nightmare Moon rushed to the edge, and her words chilled Moonflower to the core, "The war has just begun! It began when you awoke! Now, you shall be the source of my return! All hail the Night!"

Moonflower closed her ears, trying to drown out the sorrow and cries that surrounded her as she fell into the pit of sorrow.

With a sudden gasp, Moonflower bolted upright in her bed, her sides heaving as she fought for breath. Sweat shone on her brow, and her pupils were pinpricks, fear causing them to shrink. Moonflower looked over, out the window and at the forest, and she yearned to go out and run, run away from everything that she had done, straight into the embrace of her mother.

Moonflower bit her lip, tears springing to her eyes as she realized she couldn't even remember the last time her mother had held her. Had made her feel warm and safe. In defeat, the mare collapsed onto the bed, sobbing as she tried to forget her nightmare.

"How could I have been so stupid," she scolded herself, "I made this monster...what made me think it would have just left this world?" Moonflower wiped her eyes and looked out of the window again, and she set her eyes upon the stars. Quietly, she slid out of the bed, walking to the window and gazing at the tiny white specks in the night sky.

"Do you ever feel alone?" she asked them in a raspy whisper, "Even surrounded by millions, do you ever feel like there is nopony there? If so, then I understand that feeling. How am I going to fix this? I made something, without thinking about the countermeasures to prevent her from growing stronger. I am such a stupid fool..." she sighed and waited for an answer. None came, and the feeling of loneliness grew ever stronger.

Then just as she had been ready to cry once more, Umbra's face flashed through her mind, and she blinked. Umbra knew what it felt like to be alone, to be an outcast. Ponies fear him because of his intimidating look, but Moonflower had seen the softer side, if just briefly.

She smiled and raised a hoof to caress her cheek, the spot where his lips had touched her in such a soft, and so very sweet way. Her heart beat faster and she shivered as she felt the same feeling as before light up her filly bits. With a blush she tried to force the feeling away, but the denial seemed to make the burn stronger. With a grunt of frustration, Moonflower stood, and set her eyes upon the forest.

"I can't wait any longer. Injured or not, I must go." she murmured, and she sighed in relief as the near irresistible itch faded once she set her mind upon her new goal. Turning, she grabbed a small pair of saddlebags, and she began packing it with simple supplies she would need.

"Let's see..." she murmured to herself, "bandages, ropes, first aid, flashlight, and a small blanket." she listed everything she could think of that she would need. When she rechecked everything, she set the saddlebags on her back and strapped it on, her magic glowing a dark blue as she worked with the delicate and refined details. Once she was done, she quietly stole down stairs, opening up the front door and limping out. Moonflower closed the door silently, and turned to face the Everfree, taking a deep breath before beginning her trek through the dark forest.

Moonflower walked through the moonlit forest, gazing around in wonder and curiosity. It had changed so much since she had last seen it, and she sighed, knowing that her hooves would take her to her destination. She felt herself be pulled deeper into the forest, into the heart of the Everfree, and she giggled foalishly, knowing that she would soon be home.

At last she came upon the bridge, only to stare in dismay at the decrepid castle before her. "No...." she sobbed as she raced across the bridge, her eyes tearing up at the sight of the stone and crumbling rock around her. "Why? How did this happen?"

"One thousand years ago, I battled a pony I loved dearly," A soft, yet regal voiced announced from behind her. Moonflower whipped around to see Princess Celestia in all her radiance standing there, looking up at the ruins with sadness.

"C-Celestia!" Moonflower gasped, her eyes taking in her aunt's pastel rainbow mane, "Your mane! I don't remember it looking like that!"

"It has been this way for over one thousand years." Princess Celestia smiled down at the young alicorn, "Ever since I banished my sister, your mother, to the moon." A single tear fell down her cheek as she spoke, and Moonflower looked down in shame.

"It was all my fault...I was angry..." Moonflower admitted, yet she felt a gently hoof lift her chin. Moonflower gazed into her aunt's beautiful mauve eyes, and she felt warmth and security in them.

"Luna has felt guilt for her mistakes, and she regrets many things. You were both wrong, as was I. Now it is up to you to forgive each other, and perhaps start a new life as a family. We have been a broken family for too long, and broken families can't survive that way." Princess Celestia said softly, and Moonflower tried to understand what she was saying. As far as Moonflower could remember, she had never had a real family.

"But why did you leave here?" Moonflower asked as she sidled up close to her aunt, soaking in the warmth that seemed to naturally emanate from the Princess' coat.

"I could not bear to be in a place where I had turned against my own sister. The memories still haunt me even to this day. She had been so angry, so hurt that she had been overlooked by the ponies, and so unappreciated, that I should have seen what was happening. You had been the catalyst, what with that parasite you put in her mind. Even though the intentions were vile, the creation itself was a marvelous work of focus and concentration." Princess Celestia look down at Moonflower, her face stern, "You must promise me you must never use that knowledge for evil intent again."

Moonflower nodded, her eyes wide as she gazed up at the Princess, "Yes ma'am. I won't ever do it again. I promise!" She sighed and looked around at the castle, and she felt a tear in her heart as she saw her old home in such a horrid state. "So this is where you battled her?"

Princess Celestia nodded solemnly, her eyes distant, "Yes, but it was a battle I wish I had never fought, and I hope I never have to again."

Moonflower looked down at her hooves, thinking quietly to herself, "Why are alicorns so different? Why are we so powerful and feared? I am nopony, but everypony I have met thinks I am a princess, or I am of some importance. When did alicorns become such revered beings?"

The questions seemed to catch Princess Celestia by surprise, having not expected them from anypony. "I do not truly know. Yes, alicorns are powerful, and many ponies look up to us, but we are also a very uncommon species. Few are ever born. You were the last known alicorn to be born, and ever since, the rest have ascended from common ponies."

"Why? Why was I the last alicorn to be born?" Moonflower asked, her curiosity peaked.

"Because it is assumed that alicorns who are born, are significantly more powerful than those who are ascended. Luna and I were two of the most powerful of our generation, and then Luna had you, and that was when the Purge began..." Celestia winced visibly, as if recalling a painful memory.

"The...Purge? What is the Purge?" Moonflower asked, but the word sent chills down her spine.

"That is a lesson for another day," Princess Celestia said sternly, "Come, shall we revisit old memories together?"

Moonflower perked her ears forward, a smile splitting her face, "I would love to Aunt Celestia."

"Then come along my dear," the regal white alicorn gently wrapped a soft wing around the slightly shorter alicorn, "Let us see if we can find any treasures."

"From this moment, I shall treasure my family." Moonflower swore solemnly, her head high as she walked beside Princess Celestia.

Princess Celestia shook her head, her ancient eyes saddened, "I hope you remember that promise when your day comes...." She murmured to herself. The words were too quiet for Moonflower to hear, but to Celestia, they seemed to echo in the dark corridors of her old home.

Chapter 8

Moonflower stared around in wonder as she walked lightly through the castle, Princess Celestia walking a few steps behind her. The regal alicorn watched Moonflower in amusement, like a mother who watched her foal explore for the first time. With a light chuckle, Princess Celestia was reminded about how much Moonflower resembled Luna. They were both dark colored, Moonflower being a shade or two darker, yet her mane and tail glowed a bright pinkish purple hue as it waved calmly around her face. Their eyes were both a similar blue, but Moonflower's seemed to have a lighter shade, a more icy tone to hers.

"So this is the Hall of Hooves?" Moonflower asked as she looked down the long and narrow corridor of disembodied hooves. She walked by them, a smile on her lips as she took in each of the hooves on the walls.

The Princess smiled softly as she followed the young mare, gazing around slowly, "Yes. I for one wasn't far too thrilled of its construction, but your mother preferred it. She had a somewhat...dark...sense of humor." She chuckled softly, recalling fond memories. But as always for the Princess of the Sun, those memories were tainted with sorrow. With a heavy sigh and a slight shake of her elegant head, Princess Celestia turned to one of the hooves. "Your mother would come down here often and make sure the hooves were well taken care of. Many times, she polished them herself."

Moonflower paused and looked at her, "Why? Didn't you have servants that would clean them for you?" she asked, turning her head back to examine a particularly dusty hoof.

Princess Celestia chuckled and walked over, "They were easily spooked. They were often the poor victims of my sister's notorious pranks. It came to a point where they dreaded walking down this hall." She inhaled deeply before letting out a gentle breath, removing the dust from the hoof.

Moonflower watched the dust fade away, her expression thoughtful. She pursed her lips, her brows furrowing in concentration. "I don't remember Mother being the jocular type...She hardly ever smiled, or laughed, or do anything but scowl and yell out orders." She sighed and looked down in defeat.

"When your mother sent you away, she grieved for a very long time. After the Purge...we found the Elements of Harmony." Princess Celestia's voice was soft, her eyes distant as she gazed down the dark hallway, "The Elements responded to us, and they chose us as their vessels. But it just so happened that you mother wielded the elements Loyalty, Laughter, and Honesty." She went quiet, hoping to give the young mare time to process her words.

But Moonflower had already been thinking, and she sighed, "So those elements chose her specifically for what she had done?" Moonflower asked, her eyes downcast as she waited for her aunt's answer.

Celestia nodded, "Luna felt terrible grief for her crimes against her own kin, and as such, the Elements of Harmony gave her the things that would teach her what she needed to learn. To emphasize the already harsh lesson. Luna was angry at first, but she grew to accept her role. She began to find humor in small matters that would have originally infuriated her. She would more fiercely defend the weak when they were being hurt, and stand strong in the midst of peril for their safety. She would always tell the truth, no matter who was hurt, because yes the truth may be harsh, but in it is a lesson that must be learned to any who must learn it."

Moonflower looked up, her eyes turned toward the white alicorn. "What changed? When did Mother stop being the mare she was chosen to be? Why did she turn her back on the Elements? I know I played my part, but I never knew why Mother was angry. Not truly angry."

"I am afraid, that was my fault." Princess Celestia replied, squeezing her eyes shut to fight back tears, "I drove her over the edge. I was so ignorant. I didn't see her pain until it was too late."

Moonflower gaped at Princess Celestia, her eyes wide, "What do you mean? Why was Mother in pain?"

"Hush and let me finish child," Celestia choked out, sitting back on her haunches and hanging her head in shame. "Even to this day, the pain still hurts deeply. The wound never healed completely, and it never will. For I will forever hold the fear that I may cause her to change again, cause her to hate me and resent me.

"There was a time when I was blind. I didn't see what I was doing until I was faced with my hardest lesson. I... I was forced to banish my own sister!" Celestia sobbed, tears streaming down her cheeks as she continued, "All she wanted was a little appreciation, a little consideration. Nopony ever revered her as they did me, and nopony adored her nights, her moons and stars, her works of art. It cut her deeply day after day, for a hundreds of years. She began to lash out, to snap more and more. Her temper grew shorter. I should have seen the signs...I should have...stopped it..."

Moonflower sat down next to the weeping Princess, listening as she vented all of her sorrows on her. Extending one wing, Moonflower wrapped it around the slender Princess' body and rested her cheek on her shoulder, "Well, Mother was wrong to think her work was unappreciated. As her daughter, I had always loved the darkness of the night. The serenity and peace of which it brought. And when night fell upon the castle, I would always watch as the fireflies came out and danced like little stars under the much bigger ones above."

Princess Celestia raised her gaze to look at Moonflower, "I know. I would often watch you when Luna would raise the moon." she giggled softly and smiled, wiping a tear from her eye, "You would have the biggest eyes as you watched it rise, sometimes, I thought they were as big as the moon itself."

Moonflower blushed and smiled, shuffling her hooves shyly, "You have all these memories of me...Yet I can't seem to recall ever hearing once of how Mother would interact with me."

"That is because Luna was busy with her royal duties and obligations to tend to you. She couldn't be around often enough to bond with you. I think, now, that she had wanted it that way. So that when the time came for her to send you away, she believed it wouldn't hurt as much. She was so terribly wrong. Because deep down, she always loved you, a mother's love for her foals." Celestia smiled and touched Moonflower's cheek with a gentle hoof, "I may have basically raised you, but you had always yearned for your mother. Cried for her every morning and night. Yet she never came." Celestia sighed and moved a strand of Moonflower's mane away from her eyes.

Moonflower was speechless. Her own Mother...had chosen ruling over her. The truth cut deeply and Moonflower grit her teeth in anger. She shook her head and looked down, fighting back her tears of pain, No... She scolded herself, I won't let this change anything. I will not let this change my decisions.

"Thank you," Moonflower sighed, her voice soft as she leaned into the Princess' side, "Thank you for sharing this with me."

"Do you want to know why your mother named you Moonflower?" Princess Celestia asked, her eyes glimmering with amusement as she gazed at Moonflower.

Moonflower raised a brow at her before turning her head to think, "I think...it was because it was...night-related?"

"There is a flower that only blooms under the fullest moon of the darkest night. Your Mother discovered it on one of her midnight flights. She came across a small field of them, and she was so awed by their beauty, she took several and tried to replant them for study. When it failed, she instead carefully researched them, finding many uses for them. Among them, was the power to grant wishes." Princess Celestia replied.

"Grant wishes? That's absolutely preposterous!" Moonflower snorted and flicked her ear, "even I do not believe in such fictional things."

"Luna had come across it by mistake. She had been tired, and had gotten frustrated with her studies of the flower. She told me she had wished for a glass of water, and the flower glowed just as a glass of water appeared. One of the petals had fallen off and wilted, but the rest remained vibrant and healthy." Celestia smiled at Moonflower.

"So it granted three wishes?" Moonflower frowned, her eyes narrowed skeptically. She just couldn't bring herself to believe such nonsense.

"The flower itself only had four glowing periwinkle petals. The center, well, the center was quite the remarkable part. On the night it blooms, its center is a bright silvery white circle, like the moon, but as the moon makes its cycle, so too does the flower. On the next full moon, the flower wilts completely." Princess Celestia murmured, her eyes blank as she recalled her long ago memories of the flower.

Moonflower pursed her lips, "Why does this have to do with me? Why did Mother name me after some stupid flower?"

Princess Celestia looked at Moonflower, "Because one of the wishes that your mother asked for...was somepony who would understand her. I never knew what she had meant until you came, but you were so little, and so much was happening that Luna was oblivious to your gifts."

Moonflower flinched and looked away, "So I was her wish? If I was what she really wanted...why did she get rid of me? Even if it was to protect me? I could have stopped her from becoming Nightmare Moon. I wouldn't have made the parasite...Mother wouldn't have felt so alone...Everything could have been prevented. And we could have lived as a family..." Moonflower looked down, her tears falling at her hooves.

Wrapping one wing around the young mare, Celestia sighed, "Hush now my dear niece....that is the past. Let us try and forgive each other of our mistakes..." She stood and helped Moonflower up as well, "Come along. Let us see what else we can find here."

Wiping her tears, Moonflower nodded, "Yes, let's go. I don't think I like this hallway much anymore..."

The white alicorn smiled and began walking, and Moonflower followed closely, her eyes scanning around her as she walked slowly beside her aunt. Behind her, Moonflower was oblivious to the shadow following her, as it crept closer with each step she took, before disappearing entirely in her own shadow. A chill passed through her, but she ignored it, and kept walking, now humming a gentle tune as she explored what remained of her old home.

Chapter 9