Moonlight

Moon's eyes flickered open, he had returned from the spirit world and he was now back in the hut. The unicorn felt groggy while there was a dull pain in his horn. Something was stroking his mane softly as Moon's vision started to clear. It was his mother, she was sitting beside him with a small smile and he could see the joy in her eyes.

"Congratulations, Moon," Flowing Brook said when she noticed her son waking up. "You're now officially the tribe's shaman. I'm so proud of you!" She nuzzled him lovingly, causing Mooncatcher to grunt somewhat.

"How... how long have I been asleep?" Moon spoke as he rose up so he could sit, his hooves felt heavy.

"Well, for about six hours," Flowing Brook grinned sheepishly. "But it ritual was a success! How are you feeling? Are you hurting or anything? I tried my best not to hurt you too much."

"Yeah, I'm fine," Moon rubbed his muzzle while the mare stood up and began looking over him worriedly. "Relax, mom, I just feel really exhausted. My horn hurts a little bit but that's about it. I'll live."

The cream colored unicorn lowered her gaze to look at his hoof. "Alright, but if you feel anything is wrong you let me know. How's your hoof?"

"My hoof?" Moon quickly glanced down at his left hoof to see it the way it was before he spoke to his ancestor. "It looks fine, what happened?"

"Well, while I was placing the gems into your horn, the strangest thing happened," Brook sat down in front of Moon and took his hoof into hers. "Once your horn merged completely with the gems, there was a sudden burst of magic. I was honestly quite surprised when I noticed that your hoof was on fire. However, it was only your mark that was aflame."

Moon felt his blood turn cold from hearing his mother's words. His mind suddenly awoke as he remembered Whispering Breeze and the things she told him. Her air element awaking his flame, his soul, causing his body to fill with fire. Images of the forest burning flashed throughout his mind as he stood in the center, with the marking of a Phoenix burning on his hoof.

"I have to tell you something," Moon's tone quickly became serious. "I learned of something in the spirit world."

"What happened?" Brook looked into her son's eyes, her blue eyes shimmering with worry. "Is it about your mark?"

"Yes," Moon nodded.

~~~~

After Mooncatcher explained to Flowing Brook about Whispering Breeze and the truth about how there was actually a fifth Phoenoc instead of four original Phoenoc. Also about how his ancestor freed his soul, he could see his mother was shocked as she stood there in the hut. She was lost in thought while she stared at the floor.

"Mom?" Moon gently touched his mom's shoulder. "Are you okay?"

Brook flinched slightly as she quickly turned to meet her son's eyes. "Y-yeah, I'm fine. I'm sorry, sweetie, I just. I can't believe it. After all this time..."

The tan unicorn thought he noticed that a deep pain in Brook's eyes, as if she had a memory with the events he told her. Before he could ask, she spoke up.

"Do you know when Dinok is returning?"

"As far as I know, no," Moon shook his head. "But Whispering Breeze told me that when he returns, he will gain control of the Phoenixes across the world and use them for his own gain."

"This is going to be utter chaos. Especially now from what you've told me about this Princess Luna and the war that is coming to this land. There won't be anything left." Tears quickly filled Brook's eyes as she wrapped her hooves around her son. "I'm so sorry, Moony..."

"Hey, don't worry about it," Moon nuzzled his mother to reassure her. "I'll be fine. After all, The Phoenoc have entrusted me with this gift. That must mean I'm the only one who can do this." Despite the fear that had crept into his stomach, Moon still gave a warm smile. The words Whispering Breeze told him still offered him some type of comfort.

"I know," the mare tightly hugged Moon again. "I just wish that you didn't have to go through this. I believe in you, but I'm going to worry so much about you. You're my baby..." Brook let him go for a moment. "I love you."

"I love you too, mom," Moon felt his heart break at seeing Brook like this, he had rarely seen her cry at all. The stallion gave Brook another hug.

"What about that mountain you're supposed to go to?" The mare wiped her cheeks. "You need to leave as soon as you can to go train."

"They already know that I'm coming," Moon nodded briefly. "It kind of makes me wonder if they have someone coming to already get me."

"Well we can't wait for them, you need to go on ahead and find them. You have to train as much as you possibly can so you'll be ready."

"I know, I know," Moon sighed at his mother, she couldn't stand it when anyone, especially Moon and his dad, procrastinated.

"Okay, I'm just worried about you," Brook nuzzled her son lovingly. "First we need to inform the chief and your father about this. Then you can leave in the morning."

Moon watched as the mare walked away from him and towards the hut entrance. Before she left, she turned around and looked at him.

"I almost forgot, you should go look at yourself sometime. Those gems and that feather in your mane make you look absolutely handsome. The mares in this tribe better watch out." She winked playfully at him as she exited the hut, leaving Moon alone, blushing with embarrassment.

~~~~

The day was winding down to an end as the sun rested on the horizon. Moon was now alone in his room that was a part of the shaman's den, packing up his saddlebags with the supplies that he would need for the trip. He had just came back from the discussion him and his mother had with the chief and Moon's father. Both of them were stunned at hearing the news, but still kept their composure. The chief told Moon that he must leave before daybreak in order not to raise suspicion from the other members of the tribe. Once Moon had left, the chief would later call a meeting to say that Mooncatcher had left to go on a journey that the ancestors had given him. Sparing the details in order to keep the peace. He had also told Moon that before he left, his mother and father were allowed to walk with him to the northern border of the clan to say goodbye.

Everything had happened so fast that the young shaman still couldn't believe what was happening. However knowing that his parents were supporting him with their love made things easier for him. They had always been their for him growing up and Moon knew that they would always be there for him. However he began to feel his heart drop with sorrow when he thought about leaving his parents the next day. He had always been with them, Moon had no idea when he would be seeing his mom and dad again. Tears started to flow down his cheeks. He didn't want to leave them.

"Moony? Sweetheart?" Flowing Brook's voice came from the outside of Moon's room. "May we come in?"

"Uh hold on!" Moon frantically wiped the tears from his eyes as he went back to packing his supplies. "You guys can come in!"

The brown flap that covered the entrance to his room lifted as his parents walked in. They were both smiling warmly at him as his father spoke.

"How are you doing, son?" Running Leaves sat down near a pile of herbs that Moon had taken from the medicine den.

"I'm okay," Moon replied while levitating a folded fur blanket into his saddlebag. "I'm still a little in shock, I guess. This is happening so fast." The young unicorn sighed as he looked at his dad.

"I can understand that," Running Leaves chuckled slightly. "To be honest I'd be scared out of my mind."

"I am quite scared actually," Moon rubbed his neck nervously. "I've never been out of the clan's borders before and I have no idea what's out there. Not to mention that the whole fate of the world kind of depends on me."

"It's a lot of responsibility, especially for one pony," the chestnut colored stallion rested his hoof on Moon's shoulder. "But I know you can do it. I'm proud of you, Moon."

Hearing his father's words made Moon pause for a moment, the thought of him leaving his parents once again flooded his mind and he felt tears starting to pool up in his eyes. Before he knew it, Moon was sobbing softly.

"Aww, Moony, what's wrong?" Flowing Brook quickly sat next to her son and wrapped her tail around him. Feeling her warm coat against his made Moon feel somewhat comforted.

"I... I don't want to leave you guys," Moon spoke between his sobs. "I don't know when I'm even going to be back. I'm going to miss you both so much!" The tan stallion squeezed his eyes shut as he tried to stop himself from crying.

"Sssh, it's alright, my little Moony," Brook's voice had became soft and full of love as she began to stroke Moon's black mane. "We're not going anywhere, I promise."

"She's right, Moon," Running Leaves spoke up as he moved next to his son's side. "Your mother and I aren't going anywhere. Besides, maybe whoever is teaching you will let you come back to visit us once you've learned a good amount. You're a quick learner, I'm sure within a week you'll be back to visit us."

Moon feeling both his mom and dad beside him, giving him comfort, had made him feel better. He was able to look at both of them, however his cheeks were still wet from his tears.

"But what if I'm not good enough? What if it takes me a long time to learn what they have to teach?"

"Oh no, don't you dare say those words, mister," Moon's mother answered back with a stern, yet playful voice. "You're my baby and I know for a fact that you'll be able to learn anything those ponies can teach you. You were a very fast learner when it came to being my apprentice!"

"The same goes for when I taught you how to use your bow and how to live out in the wilderness. I was amazed at how fast you were able to do everything I taught you after I showed you how to do it only a few times. You're going to be fine, I promise." Running Leaves smiled while he playfully bumped shoulders with his son.

Moon was grateful for his parents, they always knew what to say to make him feel more at peace. They both taught him lessons that would help him as he grew up and always told him that he could do anything as long as he set him mind to it and never gave up on his dreams. That was the purpose on how he earned his cutie mark. When he was a small colt, Moon had seen the full moon that was floating above the sky. He had wanted to be able to touch the moon, so he found a log near the bonfire that burned constantly in their village and pushed it by himself so he could use it to help him. The young unicorn had then climbed it and began galloping across it to jump off the end so he could touch the moon. However time and time again, Moon failed, but he never stopped.

Worried about their son, both Running Leaves and Flowing Brook walked out of their home and spotted Moon in the center of the tribe, jumping off a log over and over again. They quickly ran over to him and asked what he was doing, only to have their colt reply that he was trying to catch the moon. Both parents looked at each other and realized that Moon wouldn't be able to touch the moon, until his mother thought up of a plan.

She quickly winked at her mate and excitedly told Mooncatcher that he'd be able to touch the moon if he never gave up. That confused Running Leaves, however he continued to let Flowing Brook encourage their son. After she was finished talking to Moon, Brook then whispered in Running Leaves' ear and told him her plan. Nodding in approval with a wide grin on his face, he called her a silly filly and allowed her to continue.

As Moon began to gallop across the log once again, this time as he leaped with all of his might, Flowing Brook quickly casted an illusion spell of a small moon in front of her son. Moon suddenly reached out with his hooves as he landed on top of the moon. Before he realized it, the small, fluffy colt had finally caught the moon. His mother was right, he didn't give up and he achieved his dream.

Gasping in excitement, Moon bounced to his hooves while he shouted as his parents to look at what he did. Both his mom and dad were at his side congratulating him by nuzzling him while he continued to look at both of them in amazement. There was a sudden flash on his flank, surprising his parents. They soon realized that their son had earned his cutie mark and told Moon to look at his flank. Moon never forgot the excitement he felt when he earned the dreamcatcher on his flank that had the moon resting safely inside it. Nor his parents being there for him.

"I have an idea," Flowing Brook's voice broke Moon's memory as her horn shimmered brightly. The orange bandanna that was wrapped around her neck was then levitated into the air. "Hold out your left hoof, please."

Moon nodded and extended his left hoof out towards his mother. She then began to wrap it carefully around his forehoof, covering the mark. When she finished, she tied a knot and smiled at him.

"Now no matter where you go, one look at this and you'll know that both me and your dad are with you. I promise," Brook rubbed her muzzle against Moon's. "I love you so much, Moony, I'm so happy to be your mom." She then back away with tears in her eyes while continuing to smile.

"And I'm so proud to be your dad," Running Leaves hooves wrapped around Moon's shoulders which had caught the unicorn by surprise. "No matter what you do, just know that I couldn't have asked for a better son. You're everything a stallion should be. You have such a bright destiny ahead of you. I love you."

"I love you guys too," Moon felt the sorrow dragging at his heart lift away and was now replaced with a warming love. "I promise you guys that I'll do my best."

"We know you will," his parents both replied at the same time and hugged him lovingly.

After a few moments, Flowing Brook quickly spoke up in a more serious tone. "You're still my little Moony Poo. Just because you're going off to save the world doesn't mean that I'm not going to stop treating you like you're my baby."

~~~~

Snow blanketed the forest floor, snowflakes were slowly floating to the ground while the clouds blocked the sun's light. Three ponies were trudging through the snow, soon they had all stopped near fallen tree that was lying across a flowing river. Snow blanketed the top of the tree as the flakes fell into the water. The air was silent while one of the ponies took a step near the base of the natural bridge and turned to the other two.

"Promise me you're going to be okay, no matter what," Flowing Brook told Mooncatcher as she held Running Leaves' hoof.

"I promise," Moon smiled at his mother. "I'll try to visit you guys as soon as I can."

"Remember to use your flame to keep yourself warm, son," Running Leaves reminded Moon as he hugged him. "Thank the Phoenoc your magic is fire, it'll save you if you get stuck in a blizzard."

"I will," Mooncatcher nodded at his dad. The morning Moon had woken up, his body felt more alive than ever. He had wondered if that was from his soul being awoken or from the gems that were now a part of his horn. The two gems appeared as if there was an everlasting fire dancing within them. "I love you, dad."

"I love you too, son," the chestnut colored stallion hugged Moon tightly and took a step back. "Remember, we'll always be here if you need anything. If you need us, send us a message and we'll come to you as fast as we can."

Flowing Brook slowly stood in front of Moon, she then suddenly reached forward and gave her son one last hug. Moon could hear her trying to hold back her tears. The stallion rested his muzzle on her shoulder and lovingly wrapped his hooves around her.

"Please be safe," Brook sobbed loudly while she tightened her hug around Moon. "I don't know what I'll do if something happens to you. Also remember that I'll always be with you as long as you have my bandanna wrapped around your hoof. Okay? Oh don't forget to brush your teeth and don't talk to strangers." The mare chuckled sadly. "I love you so much."

"Don't worry, I won't," Moon felt a tear fall down his cheek as he laughed at his mother's joke. "I promise you I'll never take your bandanna off and I won't do anything stupid. I love you."

Flowing Brook nodded as she wiped her eyes. She then went back to Running Leaves' side and he nuzzled her.

"I'm not going to say goodbye, because I plan on coming back soon," Moon gave one last smile before he jumped onto the fallen tree. "I promise you guys that when I come back, I'll protect you both and the entire tribe. I'll stop Dinok. Then we can go back to our lives as a family once again. I love you guys."

With that being said, Moon turned and began to walk across the tree. The snow was slick underneath his hooves, however Moon was easily able to keep his balance until he made it to the other side. Looking back, he gave a final wave to his parents before he set off into the snow covered wilderness. Taking a deep breath to calm himself, Moon saw his breath rise into the air.

"Everything's going to be fine, as long as I have my mom's bandanna I'll be safe." The unicorn felt comforted when he felt the orange fabric snugly wrapped around his hoof. "Oh Laas, please be with me..."