Princess Celestia, the Mane Six, Spike, and Starlight all went into the Equestrian Citizenship Databank to lookup the birth certificate of Aversion, as well as check the Civilian Archives to see if there were any noteworthy incidents he was involved with. Their findings were, surprisingly, a lot deeper and unexpected than they were originally anticipating.

"So... this Aversion..." Twilight said in shock as she read through the documents. "...sounds like he's had a rough past."

"Indeed. Given all that's happened, I can see why Luna is so particularly fond of him; he would likely be suffering chronic depression by now." Celestia said.

"So, like... the guy's got pretty much no connections?" Rainbow Dash said. "JEEZ, this stallion sounds like such a loser..."

"Rainbow Dash!" Fluttershy scolded, just before looking regretful. "O-oh... please excuse me for raising my voice..."

Dash simply rolled her eyes. Starlight stepped forward.

"Fluttershy is right, y'know." she said. "Take me, for instance. I had a hard time learning how to make friends throughout my childhood and adolescence, and I..." she hesitated to speak. "...developed a very... twisted mindset of it. But I've been reformed! So, Dash... you think I'm a loser?"

"W-well..." Rainbow Dash stammered, as everypony was giving her an icy stare, just before letting out a defeated sigh. "...you're right."

Twilight turned to face Celestia.

"So, Princess..." she said. "...do you think Luna might already know about all this?"

"Well..." Celestia spoke, briefly trailing off. "...I think it might help to bring this up with her, because... well... I do sympathize for Aversion... and her."

A little while later, Luna was sitting in her room, drawing a sketch of herself and Aversion, happily cantering through a flower field under a rainbow. As an added touch... she drew a heart above both of them. Once it was finished, she set her quill down, and stared longingly at the image, sighing dreamily.

"Oh, Avey..." she said. "...maybe one day, you and I can run off together, away from Equestria... find a new nation that will accept you and me being together... and we'll build our own castle! We'll live together... forever..."

She placed a hoof right next to the sketched pony figures of herself and Aversion. They had been spending a lot of free time at the Castle of the Two Sisters, which Aversion has made into his primary residence; everyday after work, he enters through the portal-door concealed in his house, and lives there like he would his own home. However, despite all of their interactions... there was just something Luna could not pick up from him, but something she was desperate to see.

I'm still unsure of how a stallion conveys signs of interest... Luna thought. ...I mean, I've really come to like Avey as more than just a friend... but... does he feel the same way about me?

More and more, her thoughts were set on nothing but Aversion. He was literally all she could ever think about. This got her to wondering: were her feelings for him really... growing? Was this... love? It was beginning to dawn on Luna that she was falling in love with Aversion. Truthfully, it's what she has wanted for a long time. However... she did not think she could bear it if she were turned down.

...I wish there was a way I could find out. I mean... his sweet smile... his gentle hugs... his trust in me... and how open he is with me... oh, it all just melts me inside. I want to feel that way forever... Luna thought.

At that moment, there was a knock on the door.

"Lulu... may I come in?" Celestia said from the other side.

Luna sat upright as her pupils went small.

Oh, horsefeathers! I'm supposed to be 'resentful' and 'gloomy'! She thought.

Immediately, she rubbed her hooves over herself to mess up her fur, and rustled herself under her bedsheets. Then, she "reluctantly" opened the door to her room. Once Celestia stepped inside, Luna peeked her head over the sheet at her, feigning sleep deprivation.

"...What do you want?" Luna asked in a dreary tone.

"Well, you've finally opened the door. That's a start..." Celestia said. "...but in any case, I wanted to talk to you about Aversion."

Luna emulated an annoyed groan.

Celestia continued: "I'm not here to blame you, or try to do anything to him. Rather... I'm here because I've done a bit of research on him."

This was when Luna sat upright, giving Celestia her attention.

"Research...?" she asked. "...What do you mean?"

"Just follow me..." Celestia said. "...besides, you could benefit from some time out of your room!"

Celestia escorted Luna to the Archives and showed her what she uncovered about Aversion.

"So... from what I could find, according to Aversion's birth certificate..." Celestia said. "...apparently, he is the illegitimate child of the earth pony mare, Evasion. The biological father is unknown, but comments from Evasion say he was a stallion by the name of 'Lorn Longing'... she described him as being a very sweet, caring pony... but she could not bring herself to marry him, due to her life state by the time she was pregnant with their son."

"Oh my..." Luna said, her eyes wide and attentive. "...I never realized... that he was such a curious case."

Celestia nodded. "Apparently, Lorn Longing cut all ties with her as a result of heartbreak, and moved somewhere else. She lost contact with him, despite wanting to resume their friendship without commitment. But regardless, Evasion took up the task of raising Aversion; she did not want to put him up for adoption."

"Well... I can definitely say that his mother's heart was in the right place!" Luna remarked.

"...Also... it seems that Evasion died when Aversion was only five years old..." Celestia added as she glanced over the documents.

Luna gasped upon hearing this. After being silent for a moment, her eyes started tearing up.

"O-oh... my poor, poor Avey..." she uttered. "...h-he lost... his m-mother... when he was s-s-so little..."

"Indeed..." Celestia said. "...after that, he was under custody of his stepfather... but this was not rather... ideal for Aversion."

"Why?" Luna asked.

Celestia bit her lip. "...The stepfather, Sledge Hammer, was very... abusive. Apparently, Aversion was beaten regularly according to anonymous allegations, but since there was no evidence submitted, Sledge Hammer was never convicted. Also... um..."

"What?" Luna asked. "What is it, 'Tia?"

"...I don't know if you really want to know more about him." Celestia said.

"Please! I must!" Luna said.

"Well... alright..." Celestia said, taking a breath. "...while unconfirmed... it is believed that he..." she gulped. "...contributed to the death of Evasion."

Luna went silent as her head fell forward, but still facing Celestia.

"Yes." Celestia said. "From what was claimed by Aversion... Evasion had her neck snapped by Sledge Hammer during a struggle when he was beating her. However... the forensics teams matched her injury on the side of her neck instead to the corner on a counter. Since there was no sign of a struggle... they concluded that she slipped and fell. It seems he did not beat her hard enough to cause other injuries."

"N-no..." Luna uttered. "...no, no, no... HOW could such a criminal like Sledge Hammer get away with something of THIS magnitude!?"

Celestia hung her head down. "...The reports say that he was also the one who called the police and reported her death. From what was said, he sounded very emotional... but Aversion's testimony claimed it was all fake. Since there was no evidence, of course... Sledge Hammer received a 'not guilty' verdict."

Luna was utterly shocked about all of this. She knew Aversion had it rough... but never had he even told her about all of this. It made her, more than ever, want to comfort and console him whenever he was feeling down.

"So... I have made the decision that you may see him based on a system we may establish." Celestia said.

Luna's ears perked up upon hearing this. "Really? You mean it, sis?"

Celestia nodded. "I believe we may be able to organize some audiences with him, following standard protocol. This way, you both shall have a way to meet up and retain contact."

"Thank you, sis!" Luna said. "Thank you so much! You don't know how much this means to me!"

Aside from standard audience... she was positive that they could continue to meet up at the Castle of the Two Sisters. They would have more time than ever to spend with each other. Plus, it would give Celestia a chance to see that he is not so bad.

"And I believe we can see if there are any welfare benefits he may be entitled to, and help him sign up for it." Celestia said.

"Oh, there's no need for that, sis. He's doing quite well at the moment." Luna said.

She remembered quite well the gift she had given Aversion on his birthday, which was no doubt helping him immensely. Plus, she even tipped him in on some treasure left behind in the castle that he could pawn for a little extra cash.

"What do you mean?" Celestia asked.

"Well," Luna spoke. "I'd be more than happy with the occasional audience with him present. After all, you said it yourself that we mustn't give in to favoritism, what with welfare and whatnot."

"But... what makes you so sure he is doing well on his own without benefits?" Celestia asked.

"Well, I saw him myself quite a few times within the last week! And I--" Luna stopped.

She clasped her forehooves to her mouth upon realizing what she just slipped. Celestia's pupils went small as her jaw hung agape.

"Lulu..." Celestia spoke. "...you were going behind my back to see him?"

" 'Tia, listen! It's not what you think! I was--" Luna spoke.

Celestia, however, was quite upset with the course of action her younger sister had taken.

"Lulu, it's time for you to stop and really think about this..." she said. "...you're going behind my back because you don't trust me! I would've been willing to talk this over with you and see if we could reach a reasonable compromise... but when you're being all sneaky, defying the royal protocol... how can I trust you?"

"W-well... what do you even think I'm gonna do?" Luna asked.

"For all I know, you may try pulling some strings to provide him welfare benefits without the official process! Or perhaps grant him some form of nobility without justified service to Equestria!" Celestia said.

"No!" Luna argued. "I wouldn't do that! He's my friend! That's all I want! A FRIEND!"

Celestia hung her head down in regret.

"...I'm sorry, Lulu. But I'm afraid I'm not about ready to take any chances with our reputation. Imagine what our subjects would think if they found out we were sneaking around and giving select few ponies special treatment? There would likely be riots, castle sieges, and perhaps even rebellion! And they could end up physically hurting Aversion! Do you want that?" she said.

Luna said nothing, hanging her own head down and biting her lower lip as tears filled her eyes.

"So... until further notice, I will need to have the guards keep a closer eye on you. I'm sorry, Lulu... but you need to understand that this is for the best in the long-term." Celestia said.

"But..." Luna said. "...but what about Avey? He's depressed, and he needs me!"

"...He'll have to make due with therapy for the time being." Celestia said.

"He's too poor!" Luna said. "And he does not have any close friends or living relatives in the locality of Ponyville!"

"Well... I don't know what else to say." Celestia said.

Luna glared. "Of course, that's just like you, 'Tia! You don't know what to say, because you don't take into consideration the wellbeing of your subjects!"

"What?" Celestia said. "Of course I do!"

"...As in every one of your subjects!" Luna added.

"Lulu... you really need to settle down." Celestia said.

"NO!" Luna retaliated. "You need to look at the way you are disregarding them... by not allowing me to help MY loyal subject!"

Celestia raised a brow. "...Your loyal subject?"

"Yes! And he's loyal to me because, unlike you..." Luna paused. "...I ACTUALLY CARE FOR HIM!"

With that, the younger sister stormed off, back to Canterlot Castle. She took to the sky like a falcon.

"Lulu, hold on!" Celestia called. "Like I just said, we can talk this over! If you would just give me a chance to listen...!"

Luna was far out of hearing range. In any case, she did not want to listen to someone who had any objection whatsoever to her seeing Aversion of her own accord.

Celestia sighed. "...You really haven't changed, Lulu."

Luna stormed into her room, slamming the door so hard it almost came clean off its hinges. She was upset, angry, hurt, hateful... it was a heavy storm of emotion spiraling inside her.

"Hnnnggggh...!" Luna snarled. "That 'Tia... still treating me like a FOAL...!"

She struck at a row of vases sitting atop a shelf, knocking them all down and shattering them, before she resumed her borderline violent pacing.

"...thinks she can control EVERY ASPECT of my life...!"

Luna bucked at a cabinet, tipping it over and breaking a few things inside, from the sound of it.

"...and now, takes my FIRST FRIEND IN A LONG TIME...!"

She began tugging on the drapes in front of her window, ripping them, and she stomped in fury on the tattered fabric. She stopped for a moment, breathing heavily, veins pulsing in her neck and temples. The look of fury was still rich in her eyes, her adrenaline was still going at full release... and she was somehow managing to ignore the jets of dark light materializing out of thin air at random locations, all of which were converging into her body.

" 'Tia... you pretentious, prideful bitch...! I WILL have my revenge...! And I WILL have my... Avey... b-back...!" Luna stammered near the end.

The jets of light were beginning to have an effect on her. She partially lowered herself as her head fell forward. Her eyes closed for a brief moment.

"...G.gngh...!" Luna groaned. "...F-feeling... strange...!"

When she opened her eyes... the sclerae had turned pale green, and her pupils slitted, like a cat or reptile... her hide was darkening... her mane began to blur... her chestpiece turned a light shade of blue... her teeth were lengthening and sharpening.

"...O-oh... the power...!" Luna said as she continued to change. "...Ah... it's... both pleasuring... and... p-painful. It... f-feels... WONDERFUL...!"

After several seconds, the dark jets of light stopped appearing, and Luna herself was nothing like what she had been a moment ago. She now had her alternate form; the form of one of the most feared mares in Equestrian history...

"...Yes... YES...!" Nightmare Moon said, triumphantly. "...My true power... it has returned! And now... I shall have my revenge! AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA...!"

The evil, dark Princess laughed maniacally for quite a while, all as the moon itself faded from its usual white to a deep, blood red...

Author's Note

Credit for the Luna vectors on the last image goes to "J5A4," and "Hendro107."