Moon Dancer stares at the only light around her, a window in the distance, like looking through a telecrobe backwards. The window looks out at a green hill side, grass swaying in the breeze. She felt a strange weight on her face, like she was looking through glasses.

Moon Dancer walks towards the light. The window does not get closer. Moon Dancer stops walking and sits down. The widow in front of her becomes blurry and disappears.

Voices Moon Dancer does not recognize echo around her saying words she can’t understand.

The voices press all around her. She feels claustrophobic. She looks all around her but sees nothing.

All of a sudden there is a glass door surrounded by a marble archway right in front of Moon Dancer. It shines and sparkles mostly blindingly.

Moon Dancer squints leaning forward to examine it. Forgetting about the voices. The marble archway looks hand carved. Spinly vines crawling upwards bursting into beautiful clematis flowers. The apex towering high above her. The arch looks like it was built for giants.

“Sunset”

The voices catch Moon Dancer’s attention.

Moon Dancer looks around, there is a new window in the distance. The widow looks out on a bird bath. Little birds chirped and plashed merily.

An overwhelming wave of sadness washes over there Moon Dancer. The birds seem so happy and carefree. Moon Dancer feels the restraints of an invisible cage.

For a split second Moon Dancer feels an intense presence behind her. She jumps and turns around. But there is nothing there.

All the sights and sound disappear and Moon Dancer feels completely alone. And intense emotional pain grips Moon Dancer and she lays down in the dark.

Moon Dancer is startles to alertness. The sounds of hooves walking on tile approaches and passes her. Moon Dancer scrambles to her feet and hurries after the feet.

Moon Dancer is struck with a blinding light. She closes her eyes and looks down. She tries to blink away after the image.

Moon Dancer squints at her surroundings. There is a metal tray in front of her with a scalpel, forceps, surgical scissors and clamps, a stethoscope and several curved needles.

Moon Dancer’s head spins and her knees buckle.

“Sunset.”

A voice speaks in a thick accent.

Moon Dancer stares at her hooves to stop the world from spinning.

“The results look normal.”

Moon Dancer looks around and sees a lumpy bed covered in a white sheet.

The lights get brighter. Moon Dancer blinks and blinks and light drown out the world around her. She closes her eyes and then opens them and everything is black.

Moon Dancer hears a voice close by. Singing. A female voice is singing softly. It sounds like a lullaby but Moon Dancer can’t make out the voice or the words.

A very odd sensation passes over Moon Dancer. A squirming and wriggling movement in her belly.

Despite the odd sensations Moon Dancer feels herself relaxing.

Moon Dancer hears a male voice from very far away. All of the sensations disappear at once.

Moon Dancer wakes up to the sound of water splashing and birds singing. She opens her eyes and is blinded by bright light. She squints. Eventually it comes into focus. She looks out a window at a marble fountain. Exotic flaming birds dance and play in the water. A feeling of awe and fascination passes over her. Any time water touches the birds steam would rise.

They’re phoenixes. Moon Dancer thinks. They’re beautiful.

There is one phoenix sitting on a perch and not moving. Moon Dancer studies it. It’s flames are smaller, and it has wite feathers. Suddenly the flames expand dramatically and the bird is engulfed in a giant fireball. The fire dissipates and the ashes land on the ground. After a moment a small beek immerges. A small featherless baby bird emerges. The baby squeaks and hops and makes its way to the bottom of the fountain to splash and play with the other birds.

Did I just witness rebirth?

The scene fades.

Moon Dancer hears the sounds of many hooves walking on marble. Stern and agitated voices speaking in low tones. Moon Dancer gets the feeling that she isn’t supposed to be listening but she can’t make out what they are saying. A feeling of unease washes over her.

“Those savages!” a voice cries out. “Those barbarians killed Entdeckt”

“It doesn’t add up! How did they get rid of the enchantment?” a female voice muses quietly.

The sounds of many hoof steps shuffle away. A door closes.

Moon Dancer feels a presence behind her

Moon Dancer lays her head down.

A bright light rouses Moon Dancer she squints and blinks. There is a blinding light in her face. She squints at her feet. There are black and white square tiles on the ground. Moon Dancer hears muffled voices. Moon Dancer looks around. She is in a room. She spots a medical examination bead witha white sheet on it. There is a red stain on the sheet.

I wonder who’s blood that is?

Moon Dancer hears more voices.

Suddenly there is a bad taste in her mouth. Mood Dancer gags on it. The taste reminds Moon Dancer of medicine. She calms down.

There is an odd stinging sensation in her right shoulder. Moon Dancer jumps and turns to the right and sees nothing but darkness. The room is gone.

Moon Dancer hears the sounds of waves crashing. She opens her eyes. Salty sea air fills her lungs and a great wave of happiness fills her. She feels like running and shouting and dancing.

Outside. I’m outside.

The thought crosses her mind.

Wind rushes past her and she hears the squawks of shore birds.

There is an odd sensation around her hooves. She moves her feet and feels wet sand mover around them.

It is an overcast day. Moon Dancer can’t see the sun. There is a thick fog over the beach. Moon Dancer can’t see far in any direction. Moon Dancer feels happier than she has felt in a long time.

Moon Dancer feels a presence approaching. She turns and sees a massive silhouette approaching her along the beach. She can’t see through the fog but the figure is familiar.

“Sunset.”

Everything goes black.

Author's Note

It's finally done! this was a much harder chapter to write. hopefully the next one won't take so long.