Chapters Under the light of the moon
Prologue:
Screams, roars, the sounds of blades meeting steel and flesh.
Those were the only things he could hear, and his nostrils were filled with the smells of smoke, blood and burning flesh. It had all happened so fast, at first it was just another quiet day in the village, and then the first of the screams came. Issac was still young, he didn't know what was going on when his mother picked him up and ran, while his father went with the rest of the village warriors to defend against the legion's soldiers.
His older sister Elise met them at the house, her husband was nowhere in sight. "Mom, what's going on? where's dad and uncle Adrian?"
He asked her as they entered the home and the two women proceeded to grab a bag each and fill them with anything that they could.
"Your father and your uncle are fighting off the bad guys Zaccy dear, but we have to leave for a little while so that they know we'll be safe."
His mother told him as she finished gathering food and picked him up to leave.
As they emerged from the house, others could be seen running by, some of them not making it far as arrows came down every now and then and found it's mark in the back of an unfortunate soul. And so they ran, past the bakery his mother and sister had worked at for so many years as it burnt. Past the small park that he had played in on many days of his early life as children were cut down with their families.
Past the homes of many village elders as they were killed inside, being to old and frail to be fast enough to flee.
All the while he wondered: Why? Why was this happening? What had any of them done to deserve this fate?
Because they were different. The purge had come, the order from the Emperor. All those of unnatural blood, and those of whom would defile themselves by giving birth to the unnatural, were to be exterminated. And the legion obeyed. It didn't matter that they were just innocent men, women and children, all citizens of the Ascenti empire. All that mattered to the legion was the Emperor's orders.
In just that one day, almost a third of the empire lost their lives, all because they were different.
"We have to get across the river!" His sister cried as they dived into the cold waters along with many others.
"DO NOT LET THE FILTH ESCAPE! ARCHERS!" One of the legion commanders shouted angrily as imperial bowmen took aim and let loose wave after wave of arrows into the waters and into the bodies of those who were trying to escape. Issac watched in horror as one of those arrows embedded itself into his sister's neck, and she slowly slipped under into the river's cold embrace. "ELISE!" He called to her, reaching out his hand, but being too far away to grasp her. Of fifty people who took to the water to escape, only five including himself and his mother made it to the safety of the other side. The archers of the legion were always known for their accuracy.
That night was spent by what remained of the village, hiding in the forest it neighbored. Cold, wet and shivering, too scared to light a fire in case it was spotted. "Mom, where's dad..." Issac asked his mother. The only answer he got was having her look into his eyes sadly before looking away. "He's gone Issac.... I'm sorry." She told him.
"But he said it was going to be my coming of age hunt tomorrow...." Issac said as tears filled his eyes. His mother took him into a tight embrace, trying to calm him. "I know baby, you're 13 tomorrow, but we don't have time for that right now. Your father would want us to survive."
The next morning, they were on the run again as the legion combed the forest to hunt down the survivors. Issac and his mother had been separated from the group, which although left them alone, had also saved them as they were able to slip through a small hole in the legion patrols as one by one the others were caught and slaughtered without mercy. Their pained screams filled his ears as they navigated out of the forest and followed the river to the next town. "Mom, I'm hungry..." He said as his stomach growled loudly.
"I know dear, but we lost the food in the river. You'll just have to hold out until we reach Dunrourk." She told him.
Dunrourk luckily did not have many ab-humans, and the legion had already swept through early yesterday. Unfortunately though, without much money or much to sell, the food his mother was able to get was only minimal. Deciding her son was more important, she gave both portions to him, going hungry herself that day. As well as many of the other days ahead.
Five years later:
"Hey mom.... I turn 18 next week..... I wish you were here." He crouched down and hugged the cold grave stone. "I kept the promise I made to you, nobody knows about me. I even got a job at the bakery, just like you and sis used to do." He told her as he stood back up looking into the sky. "Mr Orrison is a nice man, and his wife is always giving me sweets when she thinks he's not looking, but when he catches me he makes me work harder to work off the sugar." He gave a sad chuckle. "I better get going mom, I'll come back and see you on my birthday."
"I love you mom. Goodbye."
Under the light of the moon
Chapter One:
As the early evening set in, Issac made his way from the cemetery back to the bakery, where he worked and lived.
The Orrison's were a kind married couple, they had met Issac and his mother when they were living on the streets two years ago.
After his mother's death, Roger Orrison, had offered Issac an apprenticeship at their bakery. The couple's own children living in the capital meant that there was enough room in the apartment above the shop for the three of them.
Occasionally looking at the stars as he walked, Issac thought over his time with them. After the deaths of his own parents, they had been like a mother and father to him. Though they still didn't know about Issac's family history, more specifically his father's side of the family.
He didn't know how they would take it if they found out, after all, even after the great purge, if anyone was found to be of abnormal blood, the legion would come and take them away to be exterminated. Every day Issac had to be careful, not once had he given anyone any reason to suspect him, and it killed him inside that he had to hide his family heritage. He had always been proud of his people, but after hiding for so long, he had slowly begun to hate what he was.
Entering the store, Issac locked the door behind him and made his way up the stairs at the back of the shop. "I'm home!" He called as he entered the upstairs apartment. Mabel Orrison gave the young man a hug as he closed the door behind him.
"Welcome home Issac, how was your walk?" She asked him as they moved to the dining table to sit down for dinner.
"It was alright Mrs Orrison, I visited mom and left some flowers for her." He informed the older woman as Roger exited the kitchen with dinner for the three of them. "Well I'm sure you've worked up an appetite Zac, so lets all enjoy." He said as they all sat down.
"Zac, will you do the honors?" Roger asked as they all bowed their heads.
"Yes sir. We thank you dear goddess for this bountiful meal, and for the happiness you have granted us." Issac led them in a prayer before they all looked up and began serving out the food. "So Issac dear, your birthday is coming up, do you have anything that you would like?"
Mabel asked. "Well I can't really think of anything right now, but I'm sure that whatever you're planning will be just fine." He told her.
As they ate and talked among each other, none of them noticed movement outside, until there was a knock on the shop door.
"Ah by the spirits, who could that be at this hour?" Roger asked as he stood up and looked out the window.
"By order of the emperor, you are to open this door at once!" Shouted a legionnaire from down below as they continued to bang on the door.
Issac's heart instantly sank and his eyes widened. 'No, it couldn't be. How did they find out? Nobody knows!' He thought to himself as he stood up instantly, startling the couple. "Issac my boy, are you alright?" Roger asked him.
"Yes, I'm fine, but please stay here. I have a feeling it's me that they're after, and I don't want you to get involved." He told them solemnly as he headed for the door. "Zac dear, what are you talking about? Why would the legion be after you?" Mabel asked him as she rested her hand on his shoulder.
"The purge." Issac said sadly as he looked to them, and his eyes changed from a light brown to a bright gold. "I'm sorry I never told you."
"Please just stay here, I'm the one they're after, so there's no reason for you to be put in danger." He told them as he left and headed down to the front door. Roger and Mabel were too shocked to try to stop him, only sitting back at the table and holding each other as they shed tears for the boy who they had come to see as another one of their beloved children.
Stepping out onto the street and closing the door behind him, Issac was greeted by two full squads of soldiers. "I suppose you guys are looking for me then?" He asked the captain. "I'll go with you quietly, just leave them out of this, they had no idea about me." Issac said as he motioned towards the bakery. "Very well boy, they shall be spared, this way." The captain answered him as Issac was escorted away after having his hands chained.
Leaving the town behind, Issac looked over his shoulder to get one last look at what had become his home before looking up at the stars.
"You know, before the purge, I had always wanted to join the legion. Isn't that kind of ironic?" He said as they marched.
"It's a shame though about how low you guys have fallen." Issac stated as he cracked his neck back and forth.
"For instance, you didn't even bother to check if the moon was full tonight." Issac growled as he grabbed the chain used to lead him that the soldier in front of him held, and using the increased strength from the moon's light, yanked it hard. Pulling it free from his grasp, and swinging it into the head of the guard to his left, knocking him out before running away.
"After him!" Ordered the captain, as Issac was chased towards the river. Running as fast as he could, Issac dived into the water, staying below the surface as long as possible as he kicked towards the other side, but around halfway he had to come back up for air.
"There he is! Archers, shoot him!" The captain ordered as bows were drawn and aimed. Issac swam as hard as he could, but with his arms still bound, he knew that he wouldn't make it. He heard the arrows let loose as many of them splashed into the water around him, but some found their mark. Pain surged through his right shoulder and lower back as three of them were buried into his flesh.
Slowly, Issac began to sink into the murky depths of the river. 'I'm sorry mother, you tried so hard to keep me safe, but in the end they found me anyway.' He thought to himself sadly.
As Issac's vision began to fade, he could make out a light in the depths below him, and a soft female voice that resonated through his mind.
"Come young one, this shall not be your grave. For great things are yet needed of you elsewhere. Go with my blessing child." The voice calmed him, and as his eyes closed, a feeling of warmth surrounded his body. Eventually, Issac was overcome and his consciousness drifted away.
Equestria:
"Aww but Twilight, he'll be here soon, and we have to be there in time to greet him!" Pinkie Pie said excitedly as they neared the old castle.
"Meet who? What are you talking about?" Twilight called after her, but as they neared, a soft glow could be seen coming from inside.
*gasp!* "He's here!" Pinkie said loudly as they rushed inside, but what greeted them was nothing like Twilight or Fluttershy had expected.
Lying on the floor, completely soaked and laying in a small pool of blood, was a young man, with three arrows sticking out of his back and shoulder.
"Oh my goodness!" Fluttershy exclaimed as she flew forward and inspected him. "Oh no no no, this isn't good. Girls, we need to get him somewhere warm quickly, before he either freezes or bleeds to death!" She told her friends.
Twilight was stunned. 'What is a human doing on this side of the mirror portal? And why did he have such horrible injuries?'
Shaking her head, she knew those questions would have to wait or else he could very well die. So charging her horn, Twilight teleported them all back to Fluttershy's cottage.
Author's Note
Chapter one of Under the light of the moon is finished, see you all for the next chapter.
Under the light of the moon
Chapter Two: Wake up call
Chapter Two:
It was the same dream, the exact same one he had had countless nights before.
Issac was running, running from the legion as every single person he had ever known was slaughtered around him.
He saw his sister, filled with so many arrows that she resembled a porcupine.
He saw his father and uncle being cut down by legion blades, unable to fight back.
He saw his mother, trying to draw breath as her throat was slit open.
He saw the Orrisons, as they hung limply from the nooses around their necks.
So he ran, trying to block out the images, but to no avail. It ended the same way it always did, the legion caught him and they attacked him with their blades. Issac could feel every thrust of their swords, every slice into his flesh. He wanted it to end so badly, and as each time before, he awoke. Though this time as he jolted awake from his horrors, Issac was not where he expected to be.
Studying his surroundings, Issac found himself laying in a bed, inside what appeared to be a cottage. Confused, he thought back, trying to remember where he was.
And then it all came back to him. The legion coming for him, being escorted out of town, getting away and diving into the river.
Remembering this last bit of information, Issac looked himself over, quickly noticing the bandages around his shoulder and midsection.
'I guess someone found me and dragged me out of the water.' He thought to himself as his gaze drifted to a window.
Judging from the position of the sun, Issac guessed that it was late in the afternoon. This of course brought to him a great worry.
'Crap, if it's that late in the day, the legion might be nearby looking for either me or my body. I can't let them find me here, whoever took care of my wounds is obviously a very nice person, I couldn't possibly give the legion a reason to suspect them of harboring me.'
So Issac quickly looked around the room from his position, noticing his pants sitting on a stool nearby, but his shirt was nowhere in sight.
"Better than nothing." He said to himself as he tossed the covers aside and tried to stand up. Though gravity had other plans as dizziness overcame him and his face was acquainted with the wooden floor. 'Well, can't say that went to plan.' Issac thought to himself.
As he slowly pushed himself up, Issac froze as he heard what sounded like someone wearing hard boots walking up the hallway and slowly turning the knob to open the bedroom door. 'Ah crap, too late!' He thought to himself as he looked up to see who was coming through the door. Though what entered the room was nowhere close to what he thought.
"Oh, my. Hello, are you alright? You really shouldn't be out of bed in your condition." Said the young woman who entered the room, though she was nothing like any normal woman Issac had ever seen. Aside from the obvious lack of clothes, she had hooves instead of feet, light yellow fur, light pink hair, as well as facial features reminiscent to an equine. Issac could only sit there staring at her with wide eyes as she slowly stepped closer, quite obviously having a very timid but caring nature as she nervously approached him.
Finally as she gently placed her hand on him and lowered herself to his level, Issac snapped out of his stupor.
"Oh, umm. I'm sorry miss, I just wanted to get my things and go as soon as possible. I really don't want to bring you any trouble." He tried to tell the girl.
"Oh, well I guess if that's what you really wanted, but you're still injured, so I think you should rest for now. That is if you don't mind."
The lady said to him as she hid her face behind her hair. Sighing, Issac slowly pushed himself up and sat back on the bed, being mindful to cover his lower half with the sheets. "I wish I could, but the legion is after me, and I'd hate to have them come here and find you as well."
"The legion? Who are they? They don't sound very nice." She said in a worried tone, though the fact that this girl didn't know of the legion surprised Issac greatly. "You mean you don't know about the Ascenti imperial legion? The emperor's order? The great purge?" Issac questioned the girl. She only stared at him with scared eyes and shook her head. "You honestly don't know do you?..." Issac asked but slowly trailed off as he thought about this. After a long pause, Issac thought back to when he was sinking into the river, the voice of the woman and the light. "Miss, where did you find me?" He asked as Issac looked into her eyes.
"W-well, my friends and I found you in the ruins of the old castle in the Everfree forest." She told him.
"A castle?.... Was there a river anywhere nearby?" Issac questioned her as a realization slowly began to set in.
"Umm n-no, though you were absolutely soaking wet when we found you." The mare informed him. After hearing her answer, Issac looked down at his hands as they squeezed the sheets in his grip. 'So then it wasn't a dream...' Slowly bringing his vision back up to the young lady he was talking to, Issac decided to ask something different. "Umm, I guess I should have asked sooner miss but, what's you're name? Mine is Issac." He asked her. Once again she hid behind her light pink hair.
"U-umm, m-my name is..... F-Fluttershy."
Under the light of the moon
Chapter Three: World of dreams
Chapter Three:
After their short conversation, Fluttershy managed to get Issac back into the bed to rest and avoid any further injury.
As he lay in the bed, Issac though about everything that had happened in the past few hours. He wondered if the Orrison's were alright or if the legion had gone back after them after he was taken by the river. In the end he knew there was nothing he could do about it now so he laid down to rest, watching as the sun began it's slow decent towards the horizon.
"Well I suppose there are a few worse places I could be right now." Isaac said to himself as he slipped back into sleep's embrace.
In Canterlot, at the royal castle, the two sisters of the day and night began their usual routine of lowering the sun to make way for the moon and the night. Luna watching her charge climb above the horizon, it's visage bringing back memories of long ago, long before her banishment.
It had been months since her return, and yet many of her subjects still saw her as something to be feared. Luna had tried many things in that time to try to seem more approachable, yet it seemed the only place that had accepted her so far had been the small community of Ponyville.
Because of this, the princess of the moon was loosing hope of ever being truly accepted.
As Princess Luna took her seat atop the dais to begin the night court, the banners in the room changed to match her mark and her colors, the spells woven into their fabric signaling that until sunrise, the land of Equestria was under her protection. Thus began the night court.
"Sargent Cold Wind, are there any who seek an audience with me this night?" Luna asked the Lunar guard by the door, though she already knew his answer, it was always the same.
"No your majesty, my apologies, it would appear that everypony left at the end of the day court once again." The guard told her somberly.
Dream Realm:
Luna thought as she moved further and further from the anchor point of her physical body, but as she did, Luna felt the tug of something unknown. 'Strange, it seems to be coming from nearby the Everfree.' Answering the call, princess Luna made her way through the realm of unconscious minds towards her target.
'What have we here? This is quite unusual, I hath never seen a mindscape such as this.' Luna thought as she observed the oddity before her.
'It is as if two minds are joined together and sharing the same dream.' Applying a small amount of her magic, Luna attempted to try to get a feeling for what this individual might be dreaming of, though she never expected what she sensed as her power penetrated into their mind.
Terror, complete and utter terror mixed with so much sadness and pain.
'What in the name of the stars...' Applying more magic, Luna bent the dream to her will, allowing her access.
As Luna was finally able to enter the individual's mind, she was absolutely shocked by what she saw. Everywhere she looked, Luna saw death and destruction, but not of her subjects, furless beings lay as far as the eyes could see, each suffering from some mortal wound, most already gone into death's embrace. 'What madness is this?' Somewhere nearby, Luna could hear the sounds of battle.
Following her ears, the princess came upon even more unexpected sights. Armored soldiers facing off against fierce looking beasts, and behind those beasts women and children fleeing from the scene. Luna assumed that these beasts were the ones responsible for the destruction she had seen. That was until they were cut down by the soldiers who proceeded to chase down the ones fleeing and began mercilessly butchering any they caught.
"Wh-what is this?" Luna said aloud, horror clear on her face.
"My nightly hell." She heard somepony answer from behind her. Spinning around, her eyes fell on what appeared to be a young male of these strange beings.
"I'm sorry miss, but I don't think you should be here, you're obviously not a part of my nightmare." He told her.
"Who are you?" Luna asked as she studied this one, the fact he was aware of her obviously meant he was the dreamer.
"My name is Issac, might I ask yours?" Issac introduced himself as he looked into her eyes.
"I am princess Luna of Equestria, ruler of the night." Luna responded.
"It is nice to make your acquaintance your majesty." Issac bowed then stood again. "Not to be rude, but I really must insist you leave, my friend doesn't like others intruding on his territory." He informed her.
Raising an eyebrow at the young male before her Luna responded. "And who might your friend be that he assumes he can force me to leave?"
Her question was answered by the very deep growling behind her back, making Luna turn around very slowly.
And come face to face with the largest wolf she had ever seen, easily standing as tall as the burning house it was standing beside.
"Oh..." That was all Luna could get out before she felt an immense power force her back to her own body, causing her to open her eyes wide and inhale deeply.
"Princess? are you alright your majesty?" The guard by her side asked.
"Y-yes, I am fine, I just..... I must speak to my sister" Luna answered, obviously quite shaken.
"Yes princess, I shall have her informed right away." He said as he saluted and made his way to the entrance of the throne room.
"Thank you Cold Wind, and have the kitchen staff bring me some tea would you?"
"Yes my princess." He answered.
Author's Note
We're back ladies and gents, after a very long hiatus, everything's back on schedule!
Under the light of the moon
Chapter Four: Morning meetings
Chapter Four:
It was early the next morning when Issac awoke once again. Looking around his surroundings, he quickly dismissed that the events of the last few days had been a dream. He really wasn't in the empire anymore, let alone in the same realm.
Sitting up on the edge of the bed and stretching, Issac turned to the window and could see the sun slowly rising above the horizon.
'It's in a couple of days, am I really going to be ready?' He thought to himself.
After a few moments there was a light knocking on the door. "Come in Miss Fluttershy." Issac called out.
Slowly the door opened and Fluttershy made her way into the room while holding a tray with some toast with jam and a glass of orange juice on it. "Good morning Issac, I umm, brought you some breakfast if you would like?" Fluttershy informed him as she set the tray down on the bedside table.
"Thank you, miss Fluttershy. It looks very nice." Issac thanked her as he took a slice.
"Do you mind if I check your wounds Issac?" Fluttershy asked him.
"Go right ahead." Issac answered as he turned his back to her and lifted his shirt.
Slowly, Fluttershy undid some of the bandages to inspect where the first arrow had been lodged in his back. As it came off, she let out a shocked gasp. Issac quickly swallowed the bite of toast he had in his mouth and turned his head to look back at her. "Is everything alright Fluttershy?" He asked her.
"How is this possible?" He heard her say quietly as she worked to take off the other bandages a little more quickly. After she had finished, Fluttershy was beyond shocked.
"You're kind of scaring me miss Fluttershy, is there something wrong with my wounds?" Issac asked.
Fluttershy looked up into his eyes as she answered. "Wrong? No. I don't think so at least? But your wounds have almost completely healed."
"Oh, Is that all? Don't worry, I was kind of expecting that actually." Issac answered before going back to his slice of toast and taking another bite.
"What do you mean you were expecting it? If you don't mind me asking." Fluttershy questioned as she set the bandages aside since they were no longer required and Issac put his shirt back on properly.
"Well, my people have long been known for our ability to heal quickly, among other things. But make no mistake, If I hadn't received treatment, I would surely be dead right now." He explained as he turned towards her with a smile. "And for helping me, you have my eternal gratitude."
"O-oh, well I just did what anypony would have done really." Fluttershy said as she looked away shyly.
"That may be true I guess, anyone could have, but that doesn't make it mean any less. My mother always told me to be thankful to anyone who helps me, no matter if they think what they did meant much or not." Issac explained to her as he finished his toast.
Fluttershy looked back to him and smiled. "Your mother sounds like a very wonderful mare." She said to him, but looked a little more concerned when she saw him flinch slightly and loose some of his smile.
"Yeah... She really was." Issac answered her as he slowly turned and looked out the bedroom window, thinking back on all of the life lessons his mother had taught him.
"Issac? Are you alright?" Fluttershy asked as she rested her hand on his.
"Yeah, sorry, I'll be fine." He told her as he looked back, the beginnings of tears in his eyes.
Fluttershy then realized what must be upsetting him. "Oh Issac i'm so sorry, I didn't know."
"I know Fluttershy, it's not your fault. It's already been a couple of years now, so I'll get over it eventually I guess." Issac told her as he used a tissue she handed him to wipe his eyes.
After a minute or two of silence, they both heard a light knocking on the front door of Fluttershy's cottage. "Oh, that must be Twilight. She said that she would be here today to talk to you after she stopped round last night and I told her you were awake." Fluttershy explained as she got up then looked back to Issac. "Oh, umm, I hope you don't mind?" she asked.
"That's perfectly fine." Issac answered her with a smile. Fluttershy then excused herself to answer the door.
Twilight waited patiently at the door to Fluttershy's cottage along with Spike. "So Twi, how do you think a human got here without being changed into a pony? I mean that doesn't make any sense to me." The young drake asked.
"Well Spike, from what I understand, it's actually part of the spell on the mirror portal that causes individuals to change as they go through it. So if somepony found a way to do it without the portal, then there wouldn't be any change." Twilight explained to her assistant.
As Twilight finished her explanation, the door to the cottage opened slightly to reveal one of the eyes of it's owner, before it was opened the rest of the way. "Good morning Twilight, good morning Spike." Fluttershy greeted her friends.
"Good morning Fluttershy." They both responded. "May we come in and see him Fluttershy?" Twilight asked.
"Of course, Issac is waiting for you in the bedroom." Fluttershy answered them as she stepped aside and let the pair in, before closing the door and having them follow her up.
Fluttershy once again knocked on the bedroom door. "Come in." They all heard the young man call from the other side before Fluttershy opened the door. "Hello, you must be Miss Twilight, Fluttershy told me you wanted to meet me when I wake up?" Issac greeted.
"Yes, My name is Princess Twilight Sparkle, it's a pleasure to meet you Issac." Twilight responded cheerfully then indicated towards the small drake standing beside her. "And this is my assistant, Spike." Spike proceeded to wave and smile.
"It's an honor to meet you both." Issac said as he bowed his head respectfully towards them. "To what do I owe the pleasure of a face to face meeting with royalty?" He asked.
"Well I was hoping to ask you some questions if you don't mind?" Twilight asked him as she sat down on a stool from the corner of the room.
"I suppose I can do that for you, what would you like to know?" Issac offered.
"Excellent! She exclaimed as she used her magic to summon a note book, along with an ink well and quill.
Author's Note
Hi all, Storm here. Chapter Four is finally done, and honestly it made me a little sad.
Under the light of the moon
Chapter Five: Revelations
Chapter Five: Revelations
"Alright, I suppose we can start off with a few easy questions. What is your name and age?" Twilight asked.
"My name is Issac, I am currently seventeen, but turning eighteen within a few days." He answered her.
"Just Issac? Don't you have a last name?" Twilight asked, puzzled by that.
"By my people's tradition, I do not gain a last name until I have undergone a ritual, on the day of my eighteenth birthday." Issac told twilight.
"I see, I've never heard of such a thing before, you must come from a very unique culture." She stated.
"Yes, I could tell you some of our history later if you like, though I'm afraid that I wasn't able to learn as much of it as I would have liked."
"Is everything alright Issac? We can stop if you'd like?" Twilight asked him, quite concerned about his sudden change in mood.
"No, it's alright, let's continue." He told her after a few moments.
"Very well" Twilight said, pausing to think carefully on her next question.
"Kind of, though I suspect the answer to that will bring up even more questions than answers. I was running from soldiers of the Imperial Legion, when I had jumped into a river to make my escape, but their archers managed to hit me before I could make it across.
Twilight simply stared at him for a short while with very shocked look on her face.
Issac looked down at his hands as he squeezed them into fists and released a few times, before looking back up to Twilight.
Twilight was going to ask what he meant when she saw a slight flash of gold in his irises before Issac calmed enough to elaborate.
"Around five and a half years ago, the Emperor of my country stepped down because of his dwindling health, and his son was named the successor to rule in his place. For a while, things were great, though I was only twelve at the time, so I might not have noticed any subtle changes I would have as adult. Then, two days before my birthday, everything changed. The Emperor had ordered that anyone not fully human was no longer acceptable in the Legion, our nation's military. Then ... The day before my thirteenth birthday, it was ordered that all non-pure humans were to be exterminated ."
As Issac finished that sentence, the only sound that could be heard in the entire room, was the ink pot Spike had sitting on the table next to him as he wrote, falling to the floor as he knocked it over from the shock of Issac's revelation.
Fluttershy covered her mouth with her hands as tears built up in her eyes.
Twilight could only stare with her mouth hanging open.
"On that day, and the many afterwards, over two hundred and thirty thousand people were slaughtered, simply because we were different. An entire third of the Ascenti Empire's population, not including over fifty colonies, gone ." Issac finished.
At that point, Fluttershy broke down, weeping openly into her hands for all of the innocents who lost their lives.
One thing was clear to Twilight now, Issac was definitely not from the other side of the mirror portal. The entire time she had been there and looked through the school's library, there had never once been a mention of this or the empire Issac came from.
After around an hour, everyone had calmed down, and after getting a new pot of ink, and something to drink for everyone, it was decided to continue the interview.
"Are we alright to go on?" Twilight asked all of those present, getting affirmatives from them all.
"I suppose I can, are you familiar with the term 'werewolf'?" Issac asked.
"Yes, I've read a few things about such creatures, they're supposed to be people who turn into beasts under a full moon correct?" Twilight said, a slight bit of fear of where this might be heading, from what she had seen of in books they were supposed to be fierce and deadly beings.
"Partially correct, it's a common misconception that we require a full moon to change, though the moon's cycles do influence how powerful we are, and we can't change during a lunar eclipse. I also assure you that against what you've probably been lead to believe, we are not unstoppable killing machines when we change. A werewolf keeps all of their intelligence when changed. We also may be tough and have accelerated healing, but we can be killed just like any other mortal being, and there has never been a recorded case of one going on a killing spree like in stories." Issac explained, relieving twilight's fears.
"It was these qualities that made my kind the most valued of all the races in the Imperial Legion, before the purge as it came to be known, werewolves had a long proud history of service in the Emperor's Legion. When I was little, I had hoped to carry on that tradition." Issac told them.
Twilight nodded in understanding. "My family also has a history of serving our nation. My brother was the Captain of the Royal Guard, before he married Princess Cadance and moved to the Crystal Empire with her." She told him.
"Lucky guy" Issac joked. It was then he began to feel hungry. "Well, how about a lunch break?" Issac asked. Everyone else agreed that it was a good idea, so together they made their way down stairs to Fluttershy's kitchen.
Author's Note
Chapter Five ladies and gents.Lunas_Shadowguard and Blue_Ace_Bass for sending in their questions for this chapter.
Under the light of the moon
Chapter Six: Predators and prey
Chapter Six:
"Hurry up Sweetie Belle." Scootaloo called back to the young filly from beside Apple Bloom. The crusaders were once again on their way to help out Zecora with gathering ingredients for her potions.
"I'm coming Scoots, Rarity just made this dress for me yesterday and if I get it dirty she's going to get mad." Sweetie Belle replied to her friend.
"Well why did ya'll wear it if you knew we were goin' into the forest today?" Asked Apple Bloom as she looked back.
"... Shut up." Sweetie Belle replied as she hurried to catch up as Zecora's hut came into view.
Having seen the crusaders approaching, Zecora met them at her front door. "Greetings young Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo. Thank you all for coming, there is much work to do." Zecora greeted them in her usual rhyme.
"Hi Zecora, We're always happy to lend a hand." Apple Bloom answered her, followed by the agreement of both of the others.
"There is an old cave to the south, where wild herbs grow near it's mouth." Zecora told her as she grabbed the collection bags and closed the hut door, leading the crusaders to their destination.
Meanwhile at Fluttershy's cottage.
"You're welcome Issac, but you don't need to do that." Fluttershy protested as he took hers.
"It's quite fine really, I would do the dishes all the time when I was living with the Orrisons." Issac told her as he finished collecting them and began cleaning.
"The Orrisons?" Twilight asked him.
"Yeah, they're a nice married couple. They took me in a little while after my mother passed away, Mr Orrison was even nice enough to give me an apprenticeship in their bakery." Issac told them.
"They kind of sound like the Cakes, they own the town bakery as well." Fluttershy informed Issac.
"Really? Maybe I should ask if they're hiring later." Issac pondered.
"Possibly, I'm sure they could use all the help they can get now that they've got the twins, not to mention how hectic it can get with Pinkie around." Twilight told him with a giggle.
"Pinkie huh? Sounds like she's more of a hand full than the twins." Issac joked as he finished with the dishes.
"Oh don't worry about her, she can seem a bit odd at times, but she always means well. Oh, speaking of which, if you do go into town, expect a welcome party to be waiting for you at some point." Twilight warned Issac.
"I'll keep my eyes open." Issac told them.
It was at this point that they began to hear shouting, followed by loud banging on the cottage door.
Spike happened to be closest, and as he opened the door, was bowled over by three panicked fillies.
"Girls? What in Celestia's name is going on?" Twilight asked as she helped them all up.
"MANTICORE!" They all shouted in unison.
"We were with Zecora." Said Sweetie Belle.
"Collecting herbs by a cave." Scootaloo continued.
"When it came out and attacked us!" Finished Apple Bloom.
"What? Where's Zecora?" Asked Twilight, fearing for her friend's safety.
"She told us to run, then she lead it away." Scootaloo answered her.
Twilight began to panic, unless they could get there fast and find Zecora, they had no chance of saving her. Suddenly, her thoughts were brought to a halt, as a hand rested on her shoulder and squeezed it.
"Which way is the cave?" Issac asked them, ignoring the surprise on their faces from seeing him for the first time.
"Umm, it was that way." Apple Bloom answered as she pointed in the direction they came from.
Issac nodded and turned to Twilight and Fluttershy. "I'll go on ahead and find her, I could do it faster than either of you." Issac told them.
"Alright, just be careful, you've only just healed." Twilight told him.
"And please don't kill the manticore, we'll take care of it when we get there." Fluttershy added.
Issac nodded to them both, then took off out the door in a sprint.
'Alright boy, just like old times.' Issac thought, his wolf spirit responding with a bark as Issac was engulfed in a silvery flame. The others watched, worried that something had happened, until the flames vanished, and a large beast with silvery white fur emerged before disappearing into the forest.
"... That was cool." Scootaloo said absentmindedly.
'Perhaps running towards the cliff face was a bad idea.' Zecora thought to herself as she looked up at the wall of stone and dirt before her that blocked her escape. 'Darn beast ripped my potion satchel.' The Zebra thought as she removed the tattered bag and threw it away as the manticore drew closer.
Zecora couldn't believe she had been so careless, years of living in the Everfree, only to be cornered by not even a fully grown manticore.
The beast closed in to deliver it's killing strike against the trapped zebra, who could only close her eyes and await the end.
'At least the girls got away.' She thought to herself.
As the manticore begun the downward swing of it's mighty claws, there was a mighty roar off to it's side, followed by the flash of white fur in his peripheral vision as his attacker tackled him, sending them both tumbling away.
Growling, the young manticore shoved it's attacker away. As both of them regained their footing, both Zecora and the manticore were able to get a good look at the newcomer. Neither had seen anything like it in their lives, silvery white fur covered it's body, a head like that of a wolf, a broad torso with defined muscle and arms and feet. Both ending in fierce looking claws, though it's paws showed dexterity, more in line with that of Equine kind, or even apes.
Both contenders circled their opponent as they sized up the competition. Growls and short roars coming from both in an attempt to intimidate the other, though it was clear that neither would back down, and so the battle for dominance began.
Zecora looked on as the manticore and the unknown beast charged at each other, meeting in the middle ground in a flurry of powerful clawed strikes and the snapping of teeth. At first, both creatures appeared to be an even match, being around an even size, though the beast displayed his battle experience as it shifted it's weight and threw the manticore across the clearing.
Quickly regaining his footing, the manticore growled at it's opponent and charged again. Anticipating this, the white furred creature charged as well, and as the manticore lifted it's upper body for another melee, his opponent surprised both him and Zecora by shifting it's weight low and wrapping it's arms around the manticore's torso and lifting it off the ground, then body slamming the manticore back into the ground.
Never before had Zecora witnessed a battle between predators like this. The way this wolf creature fought, was beginning to make the zebra think it might have some form of higher intelligence in it's way of predicting the manticore's attacks, along with it's style of battle, it showed the discipline of a warrior.
As both of them grappled on the ground, the manticore's tail whipped around and took the wolf creature by surprise as it punctured the side of his stomach. Roaring in pain and rage, the beast gripped the manticore's tail in one of it's strong paws and the throat of it's opponent with the other, removing the barb from it's side as he slowly applied pressure to the manticore's airway.
Seeing the manticore slowly struggling less and less, it surprised them both once again as he released his grip on the manticore and moved away, keeping itself between Zecora and it's opponent. Regaining it's footing, the manticore knew it wouldn't be able to win this fight, thus abandoned it's meal to it's opponent and fled deeper into the forest.
Waiting until he was sure that the manticore was gone, Issac turned his attention towards the zebra, who he guessed had to be the one known as Zecora. Slowly he approached her, though quickly noticed how she pressed tighter to the cliff wall as he approached.
Knowing that if he changed back now, the venom in that sting would quickly take hold and leave both of them in need of saving, Issac simply laid down in front of the zebra in a display to show that he wasn't hostile, throwing in a little tail wagging just to be sure.
Seeing his strange behavior, Zecora very slowly and cautiously approached him, looking ready to bolt at his first movement.
"A creature like you I have never seen before, but behind your eyes I see much more." Zecora said as she sat in front of Issac and rested her hand on the top of his head.
Issac just looked back into her eyes as both of them stayed in that position until the others found them. After making sure that Zecora was alright, Fluttershy inspected Issac's wounds and wrapped the area where the manticore's tail had struck.
All of them made their way back to Zecora's hut to make an antidote for the manticore's venom, where once again Issac surprised her and the other girls as he changed back into his human form in front of them all. The fearsome predator disappearing in silver flames, only to be replaced by the young man that Twilight and Fluttershy had come to know.
"Well now, you're just full of surprises." Zecora said.
"Heh, that didn't rhyme." Issac replied, bringing about the laughter of the rest of the group.
Author's Note
Chapter six finished. Rhyming is hard, so unless someone wants to volunteer to help with Zecora's lines when I need it, probably not going to have her appearing much.
Under the light of the moon
Chapter Seven: Ceremonies and celebrations
Chapter Seven:
"Since I seem to be the current focus of attention, my name is Issac. It's nice to meet you all." Issac spoke while Fluttershy wrapped fresh bandages around the various bruises and lacerations covering him, particularly the hole in his stomach from the manticore's tail.
The others all smiled and took turns to introduce themselves to him, the first one being Pinkie Pie. Of course that was all he could pick up from what the mare had said, before she began rapid firing question after question. All seemingly on a single breath, if Issac could understand a single word of it he would have been quite impressed.
His salvation came from the orange mare clamping Pinkie's mouth shut and dragging her out of the 5 inch radius the pink menace had put herself from his face. Once things calmed down, said orange mare was next.
"Howdy, the name's Applejack. Ah run Sweet Apple Acres with mah family." Applejack spoke as she shook his hand firmly. After Applejack, a white unicorn with a styled violet mane stepped forward.
"Greetings darling, I am Rarity. I run the Carousel Boutique, a pleasure to make your acquaintance." Rarity introduced herself with a slight bow and a swish of her hand. Lastly came the blue peagasus with the messy, multi-hue mane.
"Hey, Name's Rainbow Dash. Don't forget it newbie, I run the local weather team." The pegasus said with confidence.
"With hair like that It'll probably be impossible to forget." Issac told her, much to everyone's amusement.
"Hardy har, wise guy." Rainbow said in a slightly stern voice, though she too had a slight smirk on her face.
With introductions over, Zecora brought over an antidote to give Issac for the manticore venom. Though she grew concerned and insisted when he tried to refuse.
"It's fine, really miss Zecora. My body is extremely resilient to poisons. Given a night's sleep, the venom will be completely purged from my system. The worst that will happen is I'm going to be really hungry in the morning from my body using so much energy to heal itself." He informed her, finally convincing Zecora that the antidote wasn't necessary.
"Very well, since you seem confident, on this I shall not dwell." Zecora told him as she moved to place the antidote back on a shelf with other potions, all of them catching Issac's eye.
"Miss Zecora, you're an alchemist correct?" He asked her as Fluttershy finished with his bandages and let him stand up.
"I am indeed, do you ask because there is something that you need?" Zecora asked back.
"Would you happen to have a stock of wolves bane? I need some to use as incense for a ceremony I'm required to perform in two days." Issac told her.
Zecora thought about it for a moment before looking through some jars at the back of her home for a few moments, before returning with a small jar filled with the required herb and handing it to him.
"Thank you very much, I'll be sure to pay you back for this." Issac said as he wrapped the jar in his blood stained shirt.
Saying their goodbyes, the six ponies and one lycanthrope made their way along the path through the Everfree, back towards Ponyville.
"What kind of ceremony do you need to burn wolves bane for?" Pinkie asked as she bounced alongside Issac.
How she managed to bounce like that and barely move her legs confused the young man greatly, yet he decided to answer her question.
"It's a coming of age ceremony that I have to do on my eighteenth birthday." He told the pink mare.
"*gasp* It's your birthday in two days? Oh, oh, can I throw you a birthday party? Pretty please?" Pinkie begged as she stopped in front of Issac and gave him a huge smile with her hands locked together in a pleading gesture while her eyes somehow sparkled from a light that was not there.
"Umm... I guess that's alright, but I have to begin the ceremony as the moon begins to rise." He told her as he leaned away slightly.
Pinkie cheered and threw her hands in the air once Issac agreed. "Ohh, this is going to be the best welcome to Ponyville/ birthday/ coming of age ceremony party ever!" She cheered as she bounced in circles around them all as the group made their way out of the forest.
"Issac, can you tell me a little more about this ceremony you have to do?" Twilight asked as she moved to walk beside him.
"Sure, it's something all of my kind is required to perform when they turn eighteen. It is done to unite our human soul and wolf soul together into one being, since up until that point, we are two separate souls occupying the one body. If it's not performed, then our health would deteriorate, and eventually we would die." Issac explained to her.
"I see why such a thing would be so important to you." Twilight said with a slight quiver in her voice. "Why are you born with two souls to begin with?" She asked.
"That's something that's been lost to history, though there are some legends that call it a curse, while others call it a blessing." He said then looked up in thought.
Twilight nodded in understanding and thanked Issac for telling him about it.
Soon the group exited the forest near Fluttershy's cottage and one by one, said their goodbyes and began splitting up to head to their respective homes. Issac once again joining Fluttershy in hers.
After dinner, Issac's being much larger than Fluttershy's since his body's metabolism was already burning energy to repair his injuries, Issac retired to the couch for the night, much to his host's displeasure since she insisted he take the bed because of his injuries.
Bidding each other goodnight, Issac slowly drifted off to sleep, unknowingly drifting back into a certain princess's domain.
Author's Note
Lets face it, you all knew that Pinkie was going to give him a party eventually.
Under the light of the moon
Chapter Eight: Second impressions
There was no point in trying to fight it, Issac had learnt that many years ago when the nightmares first began to plague him.
The same faces.
Just like he had been doing for many years, Issac sat with his wolf spirit and watched as once again, everyone he ever knew was butchered,
"You know young cub, I would not mind your company so much, if there was something that could be done about your subconscious' choice of scenery." The large wolf soul said to it's partner in deep growls and barks, Issac's mind translating as he spoke.
"Well you live in my mind don't you? Why don't you do something about it?" Issac replied.
"You know why I cannot do that. A spirit's role is to lend our strength, skill and wisdom. Not to play head doctor." Replied the spirit as it stood and stretched before laying back down.
"Yeah I know, ancient laws as old as time, to break them would mean our destruction, stop repeating what I say in that annoying voice." Issac said, adding a growl in his voice to imitate his partner.
This of course earned him a slap on the head from the canine's tail.
"Watch yourself cub, lest I use you as my new chew toy." The large spirit replied, though he had a large grin, showing that the banter was all in fun.
"Sorry." Issac answered with a chuckle as he rubbed the back of his head.
Suddenly the spirit raised it's head and swiveled it's ears back and forth.
"Wait." Issac said as he placed his hand on the back of his partner's neck and rubbed it through the spirit's ethereal fur. "Let her stay."
"What?!?" Replied the wolf, obviously displeased with Issac's decision.
"Just for now, I'm curious as to why she's so persistent." Issac informed his partner before standing. "Of course some new company couldn't hurt as well." He added with a chuckle.
"There you are." Luna said to herself as she once again found the horrid dream she had discovered the night before.
"Looking for something your highness?" The young man said from his spot, leaning against the ruins of what was once a blacksmith.
She of course failed miserably.
Startled, Luna jumped away from his sudden appearance, and straight into the furry side of the very being she was trying to avoid.
"He says hello. Well not exactly hello, but I'm pretty sure you'd rather hear that than what he really said." Issac said to her as Luna took uneasy glances between the two before clearing her throat and regaining her composure.
"Yes well, greetings to you both." Greeted the princess.
"To you as well your highness." Issac said with a bow. "So to what do I owe the pleasure of a second visit from you?" He questioned.
Luna just stared at him before sweeping her hands, obviously indicating towards the destruction and carnage that was Issac's dreamscape.
"Oh yes, that." Issac said as he looked around.
"Do, pray tell, tell me how it is that such a condition of ones mind could simply just be shrugged off as if nothing were happening?" The lunar diarch questioned.
"I... Don't really know." Issac answered as he slid his back down the wall until he was sitting. "Just something you get used to over the years I guess?" He continued.
"Years?!?" Luna exclaimed. "Why would you not see a professional to aid you with these night terrors? Such a thing cannot be healthy."
"That's a little difficult since if I were to open up to anyone, the legion would come that same day to drag me off to some dungeon to await execution." Issac replied, looking up and locking eyes with Luna.
To say that the princess was shocked by this would have been an understatement.
"It's not the dreams that I would be executed for, but what they would reveal about me." Issac informed her as he stood back up, his large partner walking over to his side.
"And what might they reveal about you Issac?" Luna asked him, carefully readying her magic for an escape if she needed it.
Slowly, Issac turned back to her, revealing golden eyes in place of where his normal ones were. "That I survived being branded a monster."
Once again, Luna was suddenly ejected from his mind, this time with enough force to make her fall out of her throne.
"Was that really necessary? It's almost time to wake up anyway." Issac questioned his partner.
"Hush and let me have my fun while I still can cub."
Author's Note
Sorry for the long wait, my life has been pretty busy so there's not going to be a lot of steady uploads from me for a while, but I shall release chapters as I'm able to.
Under the light of the moon
Ten years, that's all the time the Ascenti Empire needed to subjugate or destroy every last neighboring country surrounding it.
Next were the Dwarven highlands. Their mountain fortresses protected them for a time, but within three years, all of Dwarf kind was extinct.
Unfortunately this did not last.
Through overwhelming numbers, along with their advantage in having the ability to field battle mages, the Ascenti Empire began pushing the lycan armies back. Now, six years later, the only haven of a dying people is their once great capital city of Urbe Lupi.
All of it's inhabitants know that time is running out, many have seen the atrocities of their kind's extermination and have no doubt what shall befall them when the imperial soldiers breach the city gates.
In the center of the city lies the royal palace. Deep within it's halls, King Rohann Lucoria heads to meet with the last of his generals to plan the city's defense. Beside him walks his long time friend and adviser, Bural Surona.
"Bural, you have always been the one that I turn to when I find myself in need of a solution. Do you believe that there is any way we might come away from this battle victorious?" Rohann asked.
Bural contemplated this as they walked, occasionally stroking his graying beard.
The King let out a heavy sigh. "Then it is as I feared."
As they both finally approached the door to the war room, Rohann turned to Bural.
At first Bural looked at his King with shock, but slowly his face turned to acceptance.
Both men saluted each other, their fist covering their hearts.
View Online
Under the light of the moon
Author announcement: complete story overhaul.
As many of you may know, UTLOTM has gone ages without an update. Put simply, this has been because I have no good ideas for where to take the story as it is, along with the feeling that it could be better.
Thus, I have decided to take it in a new direction. Some story elements shall remain relatively the same, but the overall plot is going to be changed. The current story will be left up as is, but will be cancelled. I hope that the new direction it shall take will keep as many of my loyal readers around as possible, but for those who will not like the change, I apologize. This is just something I felt needed to be done.
That being said, Be on the lookout for Light Of The Moon: Rebirth Which will hopefully make it's debut by January 2017.
I thank you for your patience if you've stuck around thus far. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to ask.
