Howls of pain, anger, and sorrow echoed into the halls of Canterlot; they originated from Moonshadow’s room. She lay in her bed, wailing and clutching Caramel. The teddy bear Nightspell had given her last year, for Hearts and Hooves day.
“STOLEN! MY KING RIPPED FROM MY SIDE ONCE AGAIN!” she wailed. Celestia walked up to the door, the guards looked at her with fear in their eyes.
“You are relieved from your duties here. I'll take care of this.” She commanded them.
“Are you sure Your Highness? She's been wailing like this for days and nights. And, we have noticed a black smoke coming from the bottom of the door, filling the protection guard around it. We've had to let it down, and let the smoke dissipate four times now.” the one on the right said with concern in his voice.
“Yes Lance, I am sure.” Celestia sighed, looking down at the bottom of the door. Indeed, there was some kind of black smoke coming from the bottom of the door. The guards bowed and walked away quickly. Celestia took a deep breath, and ignited her horn. “Thank you, God, for giving me this strength and power” she said to herself as she undid the protection guard, around the door. Knocking, she addressed the wailing Moonshadow, as she entered. “Moonshadow? My dear?” She looked around, the room was filled with a black hazy smoke. The wailing continued. “Moonshadow, stop this at once! You are better than this! My sister and I raised you better than this!” The wailing stopped, and the room fell silent.
“What, are you doing here?” A low growl came from the lump of curled up royal blue flesh, on the bed.
“I came to see you, what else?” Celestia slowly walked towards the bed.
“DON'T TAKE ANOTHER STEP!” Moonshadow shouted. Celestia froze where she was.
“Moonshadow, you are only 18. You have your whole life in front of you still.” She said with a soft voice.
“Yes, I may be 18, but I have found someone who loves me more than you EVER will! AND YET YOU AND HIS OWN MOTHER STOLE HIM FROM ME!” Moonshadow started wailing again. Celestia sighed once more, and walked over to her. She put a hoof on her niece, she could feel her shivering.
“It was for the best, he was lying to his parents, and more than likely, he was lying to you.” She said.
“And then you wanted to know more about me being a witch, then…you turned on me! Said you will not have this evil in your house!”
“It is evil. All those definitions are a trick of the devil.” Celestia said sternly. She felt a jolt go through Moonshadow, and the wailing stopped. She was hunched over even further in the bed, as if in horrible pain. “Moonshadow???” Celestia said softly. No reply. “Witchcraft is nothing but an evil craft. It will bring nothing but darkness to…” she was cut short, as a low growl came deep within Moonshadow.
“You know nothing you fool.” Moonshadow lowly hissed. Celestia tried to find her face, she looked up in horror as two electric blue eyes stared at her with a sea green flame flickered from them.
“I do know what I'm talking about. Witchcraft is EVIL!” Celestia again said sternly. “I'm a lot older than you and have more experience than you Moonshadow. Now let's get you out of bed, and get you some…” another growl came from Moonshadow.
“Thank you for your time Celestia. Now leave!” a deeper voice said sternly with a hint of something, but Celestia couldn’t put her hoof on it.
“No! You need... “ A black figure lunged at Celestia.
“YOU! YOU TOOK EVERYTHING WE NEEDED FROM US CELESTIA!” “Moonshadow, no.”something else was nose to nose with celestia now.
“I DID.” she said sternly, her eyes looked at the new alicorn in front of her. Wide in fear and confusion. “It was for your own goo…”
“COWARD! YOU ARE A CLOSED MINDED COWARD!” fresh tears ran down the black alicorn’s cheeks. “UNLOVING! IF YOU EVER LOVED US, YOU WOULD LET US BE OURSELF AND LET US HAVE OUR HUSBAND BACK!” Celestia looked at the alicorn. Blacker than Sombra’s heart, and a deep violet and blue main and tail, half bat, half feathered wings were flanked at its sides. Deep icy electric blue eyes with a deep sea green smoke flowing from them, stared at her with pure hurt and anger. She could say no to all the evil she had become, but couldn’t say no to the heart wrenching truth of her being somewhat right.
“I’m sorry, but I cannot have this witchcraft in my castle. And that stallion you call your husband…he is just another fish in the sea, you can find another.” the black alicorn howled, and slunk back into the bed. Celestia didn’t try to follow. “Give it some time Moonshadow.” she said softly. “You’ll see, you’ll start feeling better soon. In a couple of days, you'll start to forget Nightspell, and this whole witch thing… is only a…”
“GET..out!” came the black alicorn’s shaky reply.
“You have hundreds of friends and subjects that you haven’t seen in months Moonshadow. Was Nightspell and witchcraft so important…”
“OUT CELESTIA!” the black alicorn screamed “OUT, OUT OUT! I NEVER WANT TO SEE YOUR FACE AGAIN!” the black alicorn wirled herself around to face Celestia. Her eyes filled with tears of hatred, and every hair, feather and ethereal strand on her stood straight out. A wave of solid sea green magic slammed into Celestia, catching her by surprise. It threw her out of Moonshadow’s chamber and into the corridor. Slamming the door shut behind her she flew, she hit the wall across the from the door full force. Winded, she slowly rose. Her right wing broken and her ribs bruised.
“I’m sorry Moonshadow” Celestia said weakly. She looked up one last time at the ebony door to Moonshadow’s chambers, and sighed. Praying silently, that she had not just made a terrible mistake.
