NightShy

Luna yawned softly, waking from a lovely rest. As the alicorn looked around, it was easy to tell that it was still night."Well..." Luna sighed, getting out of Shy's bed,"I suppose I'm still not much of a nigh sleeper." Something was wrong, and the royal mare soon figured out that Fluttershy wasn't in bed when she arose. The midnight-coat equine searched quietly, but the Pegasus was nowhere to be found.

The alicorn bit her lip, worried as she looked outside. Sighing a breath of relief, Luna locked eyes with Fluttershy. The yellow pony sat innocently on the edge of the river, rocking back and forth. As soon as Luna stepped out, the sound of her stepping on a twig echoed through the dead, night air. Fluttershy yelped and hid behind the trunk of a tree next to her.

"F...Fluttershy, it is just me, Luna!" the alicorn stated, trotting toward the mare. Fluttershy responded with a hasty retreat, twitching as rain began to fall."Please, young Pegasus, you know that I mean no harm...why are you..." Luna's lower lip quivered as she looked at Fluttershy, the yellow pony's teal irises expanding around the mare's huge pupil. Her shivering form told the royal equine exactly what Fluttershy was thinking.

Luna's last word was caught in her throat as she backed up...uttering it meekly."Afraid..." Nothing made Luna as sad as the idea that they still hated her because of Nightmare. Actually...one thing was worse then they hating her, something that chilled Luna to the bone. They were afraid of her.

The rain picked up, nearly a downpour as the alicorn desperately tried to make amends for Nightmare's past deeds."Please dear pony...my subject...I do not wish fear...I only want to make you happy." She trotted up, Fluttershy weakly backing away until her flank pressed against a tree trunk, the pony staring eye-to-eye with the thing that scared her.

"G...go...away....p...please..." Flutteshy whispered, barely audible through the rain that continued to pick up. She was on her back as the alicorn approached, her head against the roots of the tree that jutted out from the base of the tree. While not covering her face, Fluttershy's front paws were at her chin defensively, Luna's worried, slightly frustrated gaze staring her down.

"Please, little one...I only wish to be your friend...I..." Luna looked down, then back at the pony. She raised her head, her frustration rising."W...why are you AFRAID OF ME!?"

The ground shook, lightning from the storm striking in the sky behind them. Fluttershy began crying heavily, her hind legs shaking roughly as she wept. Luna's anger melted, sadness drenching her like the rain that soaked through her coat, only the depression sunk much deeper.'W...what have I done?" Luna whimpered, backing up."I...I'm a monster..."

With that, the mare turned and shook her wings free of Fluttershy's bandages and mending, galloping at full speed away from the Pegasus before taking to the sky. Tears soaked her face as Luna sped up, the wind, rain, and lightning not nearly as detrimental to her flying as the guilt that had engulfed her. The alicorn was stricken with pain, flapping her wings with increasd vigor as she shut out her own conscious.

Suddenly, the pain wasn't just emotional. A powerful gust of wind fought against Luna, and her already weak wings couldn't take it. One last burst of speed was all Luna had before she heard her right wing snap. Beingpart Pegasus, Luna's wings were very light and hollow. She shouldn't have flown so soon after sustaining injury, and that was her price. One wing merely delayed the inevitable as Luna slammed into the ground, skidding on her bad wing. Blood from the first impact trailed as her broken wing acted like a sled, sliding her a few yards, agonizing pain in every inch traveled.

Luna screamed out as she came to a stop, her right wing a mere splintered mess of feathers and bone. A light twitching was the only thing that she could make it do. She used her magic to stop the bleeding, as well as fortify her wing. She knew it was hopeless, but anything to give her wing a chance was welcome.

A quick glance around didn't help her, and only further worried the Alicorn. She had crashed into the Everfree forest, and the landing made it impossible for her to tell where she had come from. Even if there were clues, the royal equine had no idea how to trail-blaze her way out.

After a few minutes, however, salvation seemed to have been delivered. Luna slowly trotted towards a cottage shrouded by other trees. It was clean, and all of the light escaping the windows fortified the mare's suspicion that the home was occupied.

The alicorn waisted no time, limping her way to the door and knocking eagerly. The door opened with a creak, allowing Luna to enter. Tribal masks and alchemy ingredients covered the walls, and a cauldron in the center of the room drew much of the mare's attention. Her curiosity made her completely unprepared for the voice that spoke behind her.

"Curiosity is a dangerous skill, one that can lead to consequences quite I'll." Upon spinning to look at the door, Luna locked eyes with a female zebra, her outfit and style befitting the decor."Calm yourself, princess of the night, I do not wish to cause a fright."

Luna slowly sat, her gaze still transfixed to the black and white creature who spoke in rhymes."W...we thank thee for being so kind, but...who is it that I am speaking to?" Even after such incidents, Luna still remembered to speak properly, using the royal "we" correctly.

"Ahh, dear princess, I am Zecora; and I mean no harm, so relax your aura." The zebra spoke, hinting at the alicorn's eyes, which glowed a mild violet."I saw you crash from not far away, and if you seek my assistence, you're welcome to stay."

Zecora instructed the alicorn to sit on the chair that sat in the corner of the room, smiling softly as she inspected the broken wing."You have fallen a ways, but the wound is an easy fix, just sit back while use one of my many tricks. I ask but one thing, something I must know why, that you would flee so quickly from Ms. Fluttershy."

Luna's eyes expanded exponentially,"F...fluttershy...but how would you...?"

Zecora held her fixed smile proudly, gathering a few herbs and mashing them into a salve."Many things tipped me off, some easier than others, like the feathers of birds, in need of a mother. Fluttershy is wonderful with animals, this I know; she cares for many animals, from fast to slow." The zebra slowly trotted back over, rubbing a cool gel over the broken wing of the mare, smiling all the same."The easiest tip was a pink hair in your mane, something who's origin is indeed, quite plain."

"Please Zecora..." Luna grumbled as the gel sizzled uncomfortably,"hold your gypsy tongue just tell me!"

"...you slept in her bed" The zebra stated bluntly, pulling a pink hair from Luna's mane, her smile much more coy.

Luna blushed deeply, looking away."Well, I landed in her yard and she let me stay while my wing healed."

Zecora hummed softly, taking some clothing and dabbing under the mare's eyes."Judging from the tears you shed, I wonder what really happened in that bed."

The alicorn sighed softly, her muzzle scrunched up as she thought."She....she thinks I'm a monster...but...but I don't know why." The royal mare frowned, her depressing tone peppered with nervousness."Please...believe me...I didn't mean to scare her, I promise."

Zecora Put a hoof out to silence her. They didn't talk for a few minutes after that."Once you leave my home, go forward until you see it; the town of Ponyville, with every window in town lit."

"T...thank you..for all that you have done." Luna began, but again, was cut off.

"Dear Princess Luna, I wish you to know; the fear they have is not what they should show. You are a good princess, I believe you're honest to bare; earn their trust, and prove you're not influenced by Nightmare."

It was a long trek through the woods, and because she didn't know where she was, she couldn't just teleport away. Unicorn magic can be specific at times...teleportation being no exception. After what felt like an hour, the alicorn finally saw civilization. A group of homes perched along the outskirts of Ponyville guided Luna home.

With a cring and a flash, Luna found herself magically teleported to Canterlot, and more specifically, her chambers. The magic was still slightly off from Luna's recovery, and instead of landing casually onto the floor, a quick yelp accompanied her falling a few feet onto that hardwood. Royal guards burst in, immidiately gasping and rushing to Luna's aid.

Upon request, she was left in her room, only asking that her sister could come to see her. As if by some twisted fate of repetition, Celestia was sitting by her sister's side within moments...again.

"Dear sister." Celestia spoke softly,"what has happened to you? It was merely a day, young princess...and already you come back injured...do I require bars, or can you withstand staying put in bed?" Celestia's voice was laced with sarcasm, but still overshadowed by her caring side."Please...what happened?"

Luna sighed, twirling her hooves lazily."I crashed into a tree...somepony helped me...flew again...wing snapped...gypsy helped me...teleported here......happy?" Luna was obviously not in the mood for a nagging from her older sister, nor did she deserve it after such an ordeal.

Celestia took a second to compute the data."You were looking for a special somepony, weren't you Luna?"

The night princess scoffed heavily, looking desperately for an excuse for her escapade."Y...yes Tia...but...it was in vain. They still fear me...they think I am a monster..."

The white alicorn slid onto the bed, petting Luna's mane."They don't think that...trust me. They simply...fear what you could be. Give them time...do you want me to stay by your side for a while?" Celestia asked her sister sweetly."You know...if you want my opinion...you need to go out more...prove that your existence as just Luna is permanent."

The mare shot up from the bed, a wide smile on her face."Of course...Nightmare Night!"

Celestia furrowed her brow."How would nightmare show that you aren't a threat?"

"Don't you see Tia? They fear me because they think Nightmare is scary...and that I am like her. If I can show them that Nightmare isn't scary...or...or..."

Celestia smiled and pressed her sister back down to the bed."Hehe...if that is what you believe...then by all means."

Luna leaned over and looked at the moon, smiling lightly."It will be a glorious nightmare night...she will love it."