Author's Note

Sorry it took me so long to do an update - the real world caught up to me momentarily!

Hope you guys enjoy Chapter 17!
...:

Chapter 17

By the time Moonshadow and Rainbow Dash returned to the castle, night had fallen and both were weak from complete laughter. For hours, Moonshadow had been trying to teach the blue pegasus - and her friends - how to successfully create a Nightfall Bullet, but every time they tried, they ended up either blasting through the clouds or barely missing the pavement. Nonetheless, all were laughing their flanks off when the failed contender returned to the group. It was more hilarious, however, when Rainbow Dash made an attempt - She ended up creating a Sonic Rainboom and flying off away from the Academy a zillion miles per hour. When the sun began to set, however, the duo said farewell to the Wonderbolts and began their travel back to Canterlot.

"There you are!" Fluttershy called as the duo landed at the castle door. "We've been waiting for you to come back. Come on, Luna wants to show us something."

"Do you know what it is, exactly?" Moonshadow asked, his face having a serious look to it.

"Not yet. She just said to keep an eye out for you to until you returned. They're in the throne room."

"Well, what are we waiting for?" Rainbow asked. "Come on, let's go!" She sped off into the castle, leaving Moonshadow and Fluttershy outside.

"Oh, COME ON!!! Really, Dash?" Moonshadow cried, but chuckled as he turned towards Fluttershy. Come on, let's catch up to her."

"Alright," she said shyly, and they began to walk down the corridor side by side. As they walked, Moonshadow caught a whiff of lavender and vanilla in her mane.

"New shampoo, I'm guessing?" Moonshadow asked.

"Hmm?" Fluttershy asked, looking at him. "Yeah, I guess so. Do you like it?"

"It smells nice...like a meadow under the moonlight..." he said softly, then blushed and looked away. "So...yeah. I like it."

Fluttershy giggled. "just being hard on you, silly."

"Hey, Fluttershy..." Moonshadow said, suddenly going quiet and looking shy. "I...I wan to apologize for startling you when we first met."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean... When we first met, back in Ponyville...I...I guess I-"

"Startled me?" Moonshadow turned away in guilt, but soon a hoof was placed on his face as Fluttershy made him look at her. "Look, I'll admit you made me unsteady at first, but you didn't mean to. None of us knew who you were. I understand." Suddenly, she blushed slightly. "Plus, you did look a little intimidating at first."

Moonshadow's face went astonished at first, but he too blushed as he leaned into her hoof. Both looked into each other's eyes for a few minutes when suddenly Pinkie Pie appeared in between them, wrapping her hooves around the pair and dragging them away.

"Come ON, you two!" Pinkie cried as she continued to drag the two. "I am NOT waiting any longer!"

"PINKIE!" the two cried, but both began to laugh as the pink pony dragged the two into the throne room.

"About time!" Spike said as he saw them enter the room. "What were you two doing, anyways?"

"Well-"

"They were giving each other google-eyes!" Pinkie cried in joy, pushing the two together.

"OOOO!" The group cried as the two ponies blushed.

"Alright, calm down," Luna stated, but she couldn't resist smiling as well. "Now that Moonshadow and Rainbow Dash are back, I can finally show you all what I found."

Soon, the group was watching her as she levitated a large metal container into the room. It was obvious that the container was recently dug up, since there was still fresh dirt still on the top.

"What is that thing?" Applejack asked, poking it carefully.

"No way..." Moonshadow mumbled, walking up to it. "Is that..."

"Yes, child. This is, in fact, your time capsule." Luna unlocked it, allowing Moonshadow to show everypony what was inside.

He began to pull everything out, one by one, so his friends could see what was inside. There was a shard of black rock - "Just a reminder of destroying the Crystal Empire's barrier," Moonshadow said, grinning at Rainbow Dash, who blushed in response - a small sack of Soul Amber (a rare gem found only at midnight in an ancient battlefield), a fully functional pocket-watch, and a thick binder. Upon opening, the mares discovered the binder to be a photo album, full of pictures including Moonshadow, Luna, a pure-white dragon with sky-blue eyes ("Psykari," Moonshadow explained. "My dad.") - and an aqua-blue dragon with a frill around her neck and fins on her tail.

"Is that Brisk?" Starlight asked, looking at Moonshadow softly.

"Yeah..." Moonshadow mumbled, rubbing the necklace made of Brisk's scales he wore around his neck sorrowfully. "That picture right there... that was our first sleepover. We were both extremely excited to spend the night together..."

He sighed, then put everything back into the case, locking it and levitating it, carrying it by his side. "Thanks for finding it, Mom. I'm gonna go out for the night...I need some time to think. Good night, you guys."

"Good night, Moonshadow," they all said as he walked away silently.

...

"Aw, man!" Rainbow complained. "Really? He went with Fluttershy? FLUTTERSHY?! Why her?!"

"That's not a nice thing to say about them two, Dash," Applejack noted. "Ya gotta respect his decisions, pardner."

"But... Why her? What's so interesting about her?"

"Why are you being so hard on Fluttershy, darling? There's nothing wrong with those two being together," Rarity pointed out. "Actually, I think they're rather cute together..."

"Really?! Are you being serious right now!"

"Very much, Dash," Twilight stated firmly. "While I will admit you are not the only one who is...unsteady...by this news, it is important to understand that Moonshadow is his own pony. He's got a mind of his own, as well as the ability to make his own decisions. If he wants to be with Fluttershy, then they can be together. Don't try to stop either of them - please?"

"Ugh," Dash sighed. "Fine. You know what? Fine. Just fine. I won't mess them up. Happy?"

"I wouldn't say happy..." Pinkie said, grinning. "But I am sure EXCITED!!! They make such a cute couple! I totally call throwing their get-together party!"

"Is they're a party that you can't throw?" Twilight chuckled, and soon everypony was laughing.

...

Moonshadow opened his eyes to find himself on the castle balcony, the moon horrifyingly blood-red. The sky was pitch-black, with no stars whatsoever.

What's going on? Moonshadow thought shakily as he looked around. Suddenly, a ghostly cloud flew into his face. As he gasped in shock, he noticed the pure-red eyes staring into his own. The "shadow" lunged at his face, and Moonshadow's eyes flew opened and he found himself back in his room, his photo album opened and a message written on the page with the picture of him and Brisk -

"Feign memorandum possible protect DXvenge deport close, secretion terrace!"

But...what does that mean?