The Chronicles of Moonshade part 3

  “Hey mom, aunt Tia I was wondering..... Could we..... I don’t know..... Have like a family night or something? I know you two are busy with alot but..... I’d like to spend more time..... More free time doing something fun with the both of you. With no responsibilities and no duties.” The question comes after mom finishes raising a half moon. The whole process while still enjoyable, doesn’t stir me as it used to, leaving me sitting on my haunches with head slightly lowered. Both celestial sisters turn and look down at me, their expressions neutral as they sit on my sides.

  Luna is the first to give me a hug as she glances at Celestia before speaking. "And how long have you been wanting this my little moon?”

  “About a week I guess. If you can’t then I understand, would be nice to have though.”

  Before I can stand or do anything Tia grabs me in her wing as well and looks at me. Her features stern. “You know what you’re asking is something very serious to even consider. The effects it would have on Equestria as a whole without the leadership of me and Luna.” While speaking I can’t help but cower a bit, feeling dejected at her words and tone. After a minute of silence she continues. “However, I think its worth the risk to spend time with family. And it could be a good thing to be able to take a step back and have a break from our royal duties.”

  “Sister, I don’t think it was a good prank to play on Moon. Though I do agree constant routine of dealing with our royal duties has become not only boring but stressful as well. This break will be most welcome.” With a squeal I jump up and give them both a hug tightly. “However it is time for bed my Moon. I shall see you in the morning if my duties don't take to much time.” Both Tia and mom escort me to my room and after my preparations are finished they both take time to tuck me in. Before I fall asleep Midnight flies in through the opened window and perches above my head after giving his round of loving nuzzles.

  As my normal morning rituals end I can’t help but notice something is different, both mom and auntie are acting really strange but keep silent. The one hint I have is how secretive they are when I approach them, catching the slightest hint of a message being sent. But despite my questions they remain silent. After breakfast they go to their seperate rooms, leaving me alone in the throne room.  After a length of time they return, minus their royal accessories. “Hey auntie, don’t you have some function or meeting or something to attend? Why aren’t you dressed for whatever?”

  “Its a suprise Moon.” With that said a blindfold covers my eyes from behind and a wing is draped across my back. “Trust us Moon, and no peaking.” Those are the last words I hear before earmuffs are tightly placed around my ears, leaving me both blind and deaf. Hesitantly I follow the wing, trusting both mom and auntie as I fight to keep from pulling them off.

'So Whiny, what kind of torture are you gonna subject me to today huh?’ Nightmare mocks as it takes form, glaring at me from behind her cage.

'You can mock me all you want Nightmare, but I remember you made me an offer a while back. I don’t know how much I can trust you but if you want my trust than continuing to mock me is not the way to earn it.’ My retort only earns an angry snort from her. Despite myself I lean against the bars, staring at her. 'I have no idea why you are only attracted to power and negative emotions, but I do wish you’d change.’

  Unaware of my inner dialog the wing finally stops after what seems like hours. ‘I’m going to remove you earmuffs and blindfold but I want you to keep your eyes closed until I tell you to open them ok.’ Celestia’s words break up the chat mentally, my response is an affirmative nod. Not long after both items are removed but no sounds reach my ears as I keep my eyes tightly shut. “Now Moon, open them.”

  Eagerly I open my lids, the sights greeting me is pure shock. Beyond Luna and Tia I notice we're at a theme park, both sisters smiling happily. “You asked for a day of fun, well hopefully the fun will be doubled or possibly even more.” Speechless I can only hug them as mom speaks first. Its apparent the sight of the sisters is obviously a rare thing as the ongoers stop and stare at us, but I’m oblivious to it all.

  “Anything you want to do, no matter the expense or how silly it might be.” With the reigns I expected removed I look about for a few seconds, then a smile curls my lips.

  “Hmm, alright.” Eagerly I make my way towards the nearest coaster, both mom and auntie giggling as I try to contain myself. I'm barely able to refrain from galloping towards the ride, watching in anticipation. While I am anxious and curious about the ride the fact that both Luna and Celestia have agreed to do this and on such short notice make my smile so wide it almost hurts. My heart beats rapidly in the joy of the situation and I give both the solar and lunar regents a quick loving nuzzle. “Seems like the ride is set up to allow three ponies to be in a row. Who wants the outside, middle and inside?”

  “where do you want to be Moon?”

  “Hm, the inside seems like it might be the safest since its closest to the ground. The outside then will be the most dangerous, and the middle would be the halfway point. I guess I'll try the outside then.” As we get near the entrance a pop and shimmer of light appears next to us, a familiar Draconiquis arrives.

  “So, little Moody has learned to flip around her constant frown it seems. I have heard what you've recently been dealing with, how are doing now?” Discord hands Celestia a summoned flower bouquet as he speaks to me, bowing low to the sisters. “You ladies are looking so very happy today, is there room in your little ensemb for a fourth?”

  “Hey Discord. I've been doing good, in fact so far this day couldn’t get any better since I finally get to be with both mom and auntie outside of the castle and get to do something fun with them.” The appearance of Discord and our short conversation causes the ponies around us stare. A few in contempt but the majority are just awed. “I did want to spend the day with just mom and aunt Tia, but I’ll think it over on the ride. In the mean time I’m sure you could get a spot in this group of riders.” I finish just as we're motioned forward after our long wait. Both Celestia and Luna refuse to be advanced to the head of the line on account of their status. The hand shows me how to get into the harness and secures the three of us once we're all set.

  “Anxious Moon?” Luna decides to take the middle spot and looks at me with a grin as we're lifted into the air, our legs dangling below us. A long arm holds the slightly swinging carriage as it begins to spin slowly.

  “Very much so mom, how about you?” I have to speak up as the spinning begins to quicken. The wind whips our manes and tails into a wavy line behind us, causing me to laugh which turns into a gasp as the carriage swings a bit more forcefully and we begin to lift onto our sides. Nervously I watch as we are lifted completely onto our left sides and create a ninety degree angle with the arm, the ground rushing rapidly next to us. As I get a grip on myself I stretch out my legs as if I had wings. “WOOOHHOOOOOO, FASTER!” Despite the rushing winds in my ears I can barely hear the two next to me giggle as they watch me.

  In to short of time the ride ends and we're back on tera firma. The thrill and joy still coarsing through my veins as we regroup with Discord. “I guess for now you can join us as long as you don’t cause any trouble.”

  “I wouldn’t dare dream of it, I'll be a perfect little angel.” Before he says angel he turns suprisingly into Fluttershy’s pet rabbit. Earning an eye roll before we push on towards the rows and rows of games. As we get ready to approach a booth with a stack of five bottles in a pyramid I notice somethings wrong. “Hey, where's mom? she was with us a minute ago?”

  Only answering in a huff Celestia stalks off, leaving me to nervously follow with Discord walking next to me. “Oh, seems like your mom couldn’t fight off her addiction. I wonder which one it is now. What do you think Celestia? maybe she should learn some restraint from you?” His normally joking tone turns somewhat serious only increases my nervousness.

  “What addiction Discord? I didn’t know mom’s..... Hooked on something, is Cele.....”

  “Do not answer her Discord, she'll find out soon enough.” Her rebuke to the chaos spirit worries me even more, leaving me hoping that this day won’t be ruined.

  “Oh sorry Titi, I forgot you don’t want anypony to find out about your *ahem* thing for..... Cakes..... Oh my, did I say that out loud, do forgive me Celestia.” All Discord does is laugh and grin as auntie stops, her tail gives an annoyed twitch before she resumes. Upon entering the tent we find mom sitting before an arcade game, her expression serious which causes Celestia to clear her throat loudly. “I have always wondered how your flank has gotten so big, its cause you can’t stop can you?” As I look at mom aunt Tia turns to face Discord, her expression is one of terror as Celestia’s ear and left eyelids twitch, glaring daggers at him.

  The rest of the days goes by without incident, though the knowledge of both mom’s and aunties’ addictions are mentally filed. A part of me already wants to call Discord and see about setting up a prank.

  The next few days go by quickly and routinely. Its not till the day before my next visit with Sunshine I work up enough courage to have a serious chat with Twilight, Celestia and mom over the events of the fight in the castle ruins. Due to their duties the explanation is set for after sunset and in Celestia’s own room. My decission and what I learned are eating away at my nerves slowly but surely, eventually forcing me to go to the kitchen and grab an entire cake. Its at this time I realize that since the treaty was finalized I have not seen nor heard from Prince Blueblood. Which worries me as well as improving my mood.

  Due to the requested time to chat both auntie and mom decide to perform their duties from Celestia’s own eloquent balcony. As the trio settle after the sun is lowered and the rising of the moon I take a deep breath with my back turned to them, trying to steady my nerves before turning. Twilight sits close to Tia on her left side. “I..... I remember you had a question about our fight Twilight..... And its time I answered them..... *sigh*..... First, I didn’t answer you back then because..... I was both scared and didn’t trust you back then. But now..... I don’t know if I've earned your trust yet or not, but you have earned mine, so here it goes.”

  With a deep breath I begin, thinking back on what I've learned both before and after the fight, also making sure the Nightmare is securely locked away. “First off Nightmare Moon found a way to protect herself from the effects of the Elements of Harmony. But she needed me to cast the spell..... It was very draining and needed alot of power and the proper dispell to cancel it for a short time. I needed the distraction caused by both the mixture of the power of the elements and my shadows so Nightmare Moon couldn’t see my true intentions or cancel my spell.”

  “How..... How long before the fight did you plan that? and what happened to the remnant? I thought it would have been destroyed when Nightmare Moon was defeated?” Twilight’s questions brings a harsh smile to my lips, revealing my fangs a bit.

  “You remember back when I was in the hospital and the remnant seperated from me, well since then. As for why the remnant returned to me instead of going away..... Well..... From what I can figure out..... Since it was a part of me since I was conceived and since I lived through the fight it was able survive through me though it took a while for it to regain its ability to speak to me. I’m also sure you're curious as to why the remnant was able to split from me.” I pause just long enough to take a breath and allow them to nod. “As far as I am able to tell the only reason it was able to break free was due to how close Nightmare Moon was to becoming fully formed. Was there any other questions you have?”

  “Yes I do. How was the Nightmare able to find a way to find a spell to cancel out the elements and do you know if that knowledge is readily available?” Twilight is the first to speak up, extremely concerned.

  “I can’t remember where the spell was found and I have no idea how it was able to know about it. All I can remember is that it was a very old building far to the east, beyond the borders of Equestria. So I’d have to guess its very hard to get to. I can show you the spells if you want. But for ease of purpose if the spell does become known I’m the best way to get it.”

  “For now I don’t see a reason why the spell should become knowledgeable. And we'll see about learning the spell later. I am wondering how were you able to hide Luna from myself and Discord?” Celestia responds after a minute of thinking.

  “I was able to learn how to travel to a..... Not sure how to explain it..... Guess it was a plane or something. But it was a shadowy version of Equestria. It was something the Nightmare taught me as well.” My gaze falls to mom as I wait, wondering what her question can be.

  “How are things going between you and your guest?”

  “It can be stressful and annoying at times mom, I'll admit. But I think I’m finally beginning to understand it. Its still gonna take alot of time before I can work with it. Any other questions?”

  “Yes, though this doesn’t have anything to do with the current topic. Are you looking forward to your birthday coming up my little moon?” The lunar sister asks in an attempt to lighten the mood with her smile.

  “I..... I guess, though I still don’t think its a..... Good idea. I just don’t feel..... Comfortable with it yet.” The change in topic lowers my somewhat neutral attitude. Leaving me to wonder how I can get out of this without lying.

  “Well its to late to cancel it Moonshade, though the reason why the ball is being thrown has been kept hush.” Celestia comments as I answer, looking apologetic.

  “Know what, I have an idea mom, auntie and we don’t even have to cancel the stupid ball off. How about we have just a small party instead? You, mom, twilight and gang and Lily with her friends. For the ball I'll still attend but..... Instead of being for my birthday..... Which once others find out alot might leave anyway..... Have it for something else instead.” My counter offer has me look up at the sisters hopefully while Twilight stares at us.

  “You still think that alot of ponies don’t like you Moon?” the question from Twilight is met by a weak smile.

  “Yeah, they don’t show it when I'm with you, Tia or mom. But when I’m alone or nearly alone..... You should see the looks they still give me..... They're of either disgust or fear, except for the few I've met during the treaty work for the zebras.” As I mention this I struggle to keep from sinking under the wave of depression wanting to overwhelm me. “Maybe this ball could..... Help me improve my standings aomewhat with others.” My words draw helpful grins as we create a four pony hug and break apart, going our own ways.