Her Little Demon

Nightmare Moon was walking the corridor of the castle with a little foal on her ridge. It was dark, the moonlight was coming in through the windows, lighting up the hallways a bit. The black alicorn walked and didn't stop. Moon wasn't afraid of the darkness, she herself was part of it. After all, before she lived with Luna and Celestia, she was a shadow that eventually took on physical form. But when she was in the dark, she just felt good. Daylight didn't suit her, but she didn't hate the day. She loved Celestia and Moon didn't was jealousy anymore. She cared for Tia and Luna, but sometimes Moon needed support. The truth is, these three need each other. Together they are strong and above all safe. Moon smiled at the thought of Luna and Celestia. She was very excited she had a chance to become a mother and her dream could come true. After a while, she reached her room, silently opened the door and went inside. She approached to her bed, she lit a candle that was standing on a small bedside table by the bed, Moon uncovered the quilt, then her horn shone and the magical aura enveloped the foal's body, which began to float and after a while she gently laid him to bed. Moon covered the foal with a quilt and looked at him, he was cute and Moon didn't notice that she was smiling again. "Hmm... And if he is hungry? I'll bring him something to eat." She stood up and headed for the door. She looked at the foal one last time, then she left, closed the door quietly, and started walking the corridor. This time she was headed for the dining room, where she could find something to eat.

Moon entered the dining room and went to the table where she and her sisters sat down to eat. They were eating there breakfast, lunch, and dinner. She saw a bowl of fruit on the table. In this bowl was a banana, two apples, grape, and tomato. Moon's horn shone and the bowl was levitating toward her. She left the dining room and started walking the hallway again. After a few minutes, she reached her room, opened the door. She approached the bed and set the fruit bowl on the bedside table. Then she looked at the bed in which the little foal lay, he began to slowly open its eyes. Moon approached him and looked at him with a smile "He is so cute." She thought, gently stroking his head. The colt opened his eyes and... When he looked at Moon, his eyes widened in terror, he stepped back slightly, then closed his eyelids and groaned in pain. He curled up a little and moaned quietly. - "Are you okay, little one?" - She asked, touching his forehead and looking at him with motherly concern.

"It hurts..." - Foal moaned, and several tears flowed from his eyes. - "It so hurts..." - He looked at her with watery eyes. When she was looking at him, she didn't saw the stallion she had met earlier. She didn't see the bold, even menacing Demonic Wing. She saw a child. A little, scared, sore boy.

"I'll take you to the doctor, little one." - She said, taking him on her ridge. She tried to be calm despite everything, although she was breathing very nervously and her heart was beating very fast and hard.

As she walked down the hall toward the medical room, she looked at him again. The little foal was just looking at her with fear and he was trembling. Moon didn't know if it was caused by fear or cold, maybe pain. Actually, the night was quite cold. Her horn shone again, and it was at that moment that a purple blanket appeared in a light flash. Moon covered boy's body with it and smiled fondly at him, while he still looked at her with distrust and undisguised fear.

"W-where are we going? Who are you?" He asked trembling. - "Where am I?"

"Don't be afraid, you're safe." - She said as gently as she could. - "We're going to the doctor. Tell me, it still hurts?" - She asked, looking at him again. The little one nodded, still shivering slightly and looking at her with fear. - "Don't worry. Soon it will stop hurting. You just need to calm down a little bit, okay?" - The little foal nodded again, looking at her with less fear. Moon didn't know whether her voice had calmed him down, or the warmth of the blanket she covered him, though... The most likely is that both the blanket and her melodious, gently (but also firm and even powerful) voice calmed this child.

After a while they came to the medical room, Moon opened the door and went inside. There were many beds in this room that stood against the wall. There were cupboards next to them and patients were lying in some beds. They were mostly guards. Not so long ago, Canterlot was investigating an organization selling illegal goods. The guards in cooperation of the detective agency found a warehouse that contained these illegal goods, but also their owners who seriously wounded the guards. Moon noticed the nurse. Her name was Hallie, her fur was turquoise, her eyes were green, and her mane was black. Her cutie mark was a yellow flower, black alicorn knew that Hallie was very gentle and caring, but she was also firm. The nurse was sitting by one of the beds and... There was something in that bed. Something very small and black, but Moon couldn't see what it was. Instead, she could see the nurse's worried expression and she knew that it was something very serious.

"Hello, Miss Moon." - She heard behind her. She turned and saw a stallion dressed in a smock, his mane was red, and his coat was blue. His eyes were brown, his utie mark was a green medical cross.

"Hello, Liesel. I... I found this foal and... I would like to..."

"Yes, yes, yes, yes. I see. Please, follow me, your majesty." - He said, approaching one of the beds. Liesel was one of those stallions who wasn't afraid of Nightmare Moon so much. He was very firm, serious, but he could also be gentle and sensible. He was one of those doctors who always remained calm, no matter if it was a difficult surgery or even a patient with flu. She often came to him when she was sick. It doesn't matter if it was a severe headache, sore throat, runny nose, cough, fever or any other illness. It was Liesel who had always been her doctor, she trusted him and knew that he was a good specialist. - "Please put him here." - He said, pointing to the bed.

Moon moved the foal with the blanket to the bed with her magic, when she put him on the bed, she heard his moan in pain. She was worried and looked at the foal with sadness. He was still trembling in pain and looked at her with slight fear. She smiled reassuringly at him and stroked his white mane, then gave way to the doctor who started watching him.

"Your majesty, please leave the room. I need to examine him, okay?"

"Alright, doc." - She said, walking towards the door.

She waited in the corridor for about ten minutes, walked in a circle and tried to calm down, but it didn't work out. She was aware that when the Demonic Wing became a foal, there could be something wrong with him. That demon tried to kill him and perhaps damaged him a lot. After all, he lost his memory and was sore. She herself began to doubt whether is he really a demon. It is impossible for a demon to have feelings. Demons are beings devoid of any feelings and empathy, they are ruthless and extremely aggressive, while the Demonic Wing was not like that. She just hoped he was okay. After a moment Liesel left the room, closed the door behind him and sat on the floor. He lowered his head down and looked at Moon. He looked very worried, even scared. Black alicorn saw him in this state for the first time and she was also amazed, she knew that it was not easy to surprise him with something or to stress him.

"What? What happened?" - Moon asked as she approached him.

"Miss Moon, i-it's..." - His voice trembled. It looks like he was terrified.

"Liesel. What happened?"

"That foal, h-he. His heart... His heart isn't beating."

"What?" - Moon asked. She was surprised, though she shouldn't. She was aware that the demons were other, supernatural beings, but... But she had doubts that the Demonic Wing could be a demon.

"That's not all... On his body, we found several wounds, scratches but... Not a single drop of blood and the wound looks fresh. We also checked the pulse and... Nothing. No pulse." - Liesel looked up and rubbed his forehead. - "Interesting anomaly. It's impossible, nopony would survive without a single drop of blood."

"Doctor, can I take him to my room?"

"Yes. I gave him painkillers and treated his wounds. I don't think I can do anything more, but... Could I do an x-ray?"

"For what?"

"I want to see if his internal organs are alright."

"Of course."

Liesel nodded and went back into the medical room. Moon sat on the floor and began to think. "His heart isn't beating.", "Not a single drop of blood.", "We also checked the pulse and... Nothing. No pulse." What if... What if he has nothing inside? Moon was concerned about this. What if the Demonic Wing's body is empty? It was very likely. Demons areN't living beings, they have no internal organs, their bodies are empty inside. Demons also have no shape, so they take different forms, but the truth is that no demon has any shape. It doesn't matter if it turns into a gargoyle, manticore, pony or griffon. These beings will never have their shape. She looked at the door of the room, then she got up. She waited a few minutes and began to listen to what was going on there. Suddenly the door opened and Liesel stood in and let Moon enter. She immediately approached the bed where the little one was. The foal had a sticking plaster on his cheek and a bandage on his forehead. His left front hoof was wrapped in a bandage. He was laid, holding the blanket she gave him. He looked at her with his blue eyes, so Moon smiled at him.

"How do you feel, hm?" She said touching his forehead. His ears dropped and he looked at her with a slight distrust. - "Still hurts?"

"Not so much as before..." - He still looked scared.

"Miss Moon, would you come in for a moment, please?." - Liesel said. She approached him, then he gave her an x-ray, that showed the foal's skeleton, as well as its internal organs. - "His heart doesn't beat, but... He still lives and breathes. His stomach seems to be working normally, just like his lungs. But his heart is not beating, it's not pumping blood." - He whispered. Now Moon didn't know what to think. She saw what had happened before. The Demonic Wing was certainly a demon, but... What if he was only half-demon? It could explain why he still has feelings and why he lives, even though his internal organs don't work as they should. She also didn't know whether he was created like any other demon or whether he was conceived.

"Alright, I..." - She put the x-ray on the desk. - "Can I take him to my room?"

"Yes. Tomorrow I will think about what to do next. I'm still concerned about it."

"Alright, Liesel. Thank you."

"You're welcome, your majesty." - He smiled at her.

"Doctor, he woke up." - Hallie said as she approached them.

"I have to apologize to you, Miss Moon. I have other patients I need to look after."

"I understand."

She approached the bed where the foal lay. He looked at her, then Moon smiled again. She lifted him gently, the little one scared, closed his eyes and moaned quietly in fear. He looked at her again and he saw her gentle smile. She hugged him and gently stroked his head. Moon hugged the foal, who looked calmer. He wrapped his hoofs around her neck and cuddled into her warm fur, closing his eyes. He felt safe in her arms and no longer wanted to let her go. After some time, however, he opened his eyes and... They were no longer in the medical room. He lay on the bed, he looked at the black mare, who was still gently hugging him to her chest.

"Hey, little one." - She said smiling warmly. - "You hungry?" - He didn't answer. He was just looking at her. Her horn shone and she levitated an apple to herself, which she halved. She gave one piece to the little one and began to eat the second one. - "Eat, sweetie. You'll feel better." The foal bit a piece of the apple then he swallowed and took another bite. He looked at Moon and his ears dropped slightly. - "What happened?"

"T-thank you..." - He said. - "Thank you for helping me."

She giggled. - "You're welcome, little one." She looked at him and after a moment asked. - "Do you remember anything?"

"But what?"

"You know... Anything or... Do you remember what was a little bit earlier?"

"N-no..." - He said and dropped his head a bit. - "I just remember that it hurt me a lot, and then I woke up and... I saw you. I don't remember anything."

"Do you even know your name?" - The foal shook his head vigorously. - "Hmmm... How about then... Demonic Wing?"

"Demonic Wing? No... I don't like it..." - He said.

"Hmm... Okay, so how about Wingy? Hm? Little Wingy."

"Wingy? Hmm..." - He thought for a moment. - "I like it."

"Ha, ha. Wingy, I'm Nightmare Moon. It's nice to meet you."

"You also have a nice name and... You are very pretty."

She kissed his forehead and stroked his mane. She was moved by it, it was so innocent and very nice. - "Thank you."

"What's that?" He asked, pointing to the armor stand on the floor and Moon's armor.

"Oh, I forgot to clean it up." - She sat up, then her horn shone and after a moment the armor stand returned to its place. She thought for a moment, then levitated her helmet towards her. She grabbed him and looked at him for a moment. She looked at Wingy and smiled. - "Do you want to try it on?" - She asked. Little one nodded. The blue steel was very light. Weapons and armor made of it are very durable, but also very light. So light that a small child could lift a sword made of this material. Moon put the helmet on his head and at that moment her heart melted.

"How do I look?" - He asked curiously.

"Cute." - She said laughing. - "Suits you."

Wingy frowned slightly. - "I'm not cute! I'm dangerous!" - He tried to make a scary face and he did, but... Instead of looking scary, he looked cute. - "Grrr, I'm dangerous, see?"

Moon turned her head and laughing loudly. - "Of course, kiddo." - When she stopped laughing, she looked at him again. - "Want to see how I look in it?"

"Yes." - He took off the helmet and gave it to her.

Moon slowly put on her helmet, then looked at him. Wingy backed away slightly, his eyes widened. He turned and his ears dropped. She touched his arm worried. - "Wingy, what happened?" - She asked.

The little one just looked at her for a moment and quickly looked away again. - "Take it off, please..." - He said in a tearful tone

She quickly took her helmet and put it on the mannequin's head with her magic. - "Hey, I took it off. Look." He looked at her uncertainly. He was scared and was trembling a bit. - "See?" - She smiled reassuringly.

"T-thank you. You looked terrible... You had sharp teeth and..."

"Wait, what?" - She was very surprised. - "And but I... Wait. You saying I had sharp teeth and?"

"You were angry. Very angry... Miss Moon did I... Did I something wrong?"

"No. Of course not, honey."

She gently stroked his head. She didn't know what to think about what he saw. She could look scary, but she didn't want to. And she certainly didn't want to scare him. She closed her eyes for a moment and memories of last year came back. She remembered when she came to Ponyville to celebrate her first Nightmare Night with her sisters and the residents of Ponyville. It was a holiday that was organized in her honor, so she couldn't refuse to participate. When the residents saw her, they froze first, looked at her in terror. They began to back away, they were afraid of her. - "Welcome, my loyal subjects! Are you having fun? Because this beautiful night will last forever!" - She said cheerfully, but... It sounded very sinister to the residents. Moon stopped smiling and she saw it. Adults and children, in particular, were afraid of her. The black alicorn was trying to convince the residents to her, but ... She failed. She approached the little filly dressed in a witch costume and smiled at her. - "Hello, darling." - She said. The little filly just looked at her and was trembling in fear. Tears flowed from her eyes and she moaned quietly.

"D-don't eat me, p-please..." - She moaned quietly, crying.

"Hey, it's okay. I'm not going to eat anypony." - She came closer and it caused a sudden reaction.

"Leave me be!" - She started running away. - "Mooom!" - She ran to her parents, then buried her face in her mother's shoulder.

"I... I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you..." - Moon said.

The filly's mother looked at her angrily. The black alicorn knew that the filly's mother hated her. She looked around and... She saw it. The residents were terrified, hiding their children who were crying. It was then that she looked at her two sisters "Moonie... You alri..." Celestia started and didn't finish. The black alicorn rose into the air and began flying toward Canterlot, weeping bitterly. Residents hated her, she didn't want to scare this little girl. She only wanted acceptance and understanding. When her sisters also reached the castle, they tried to comfort her somehow. Moon sat in her room and cried. Both Luna and Celestia comforted her.

"Don't worry, Moonie. Next time it will be better, you'll see." - Tia said, embracing her with her wing and gently hugging her.

"You say?" - Moon asked, looking at her.

She wiped her tears. "Of course it does. It takes time. Will be okay."

Luna also embraced Moon with her wing. - "Tia is right. When the first time I appeared on the Nightmare Night, the residents reacted the same. And then they loved me." - Luna kissed her forehead and hugged her. Moon closed her eyes and cried again, but this time not from sadness but from happiness. She loved Luna and Celestia very much. They always supported her in moments like this. Moon's old hatred for the Princess of the Sun disappeared, and when she comforted her after the failed Nightmare Night, the hatred disappeared completely. Instead, there was love and understanding.

"We are with you, Moonie. We will always be." - Celestia said. Moon opened her eyes for a moment and looked at her. - "What, cutie?"

"N-nothing, Tia. I just love you." - Moon cuddled into her and stopped crying. - "I love you very much..."

"I love you too, Moonie." - She said, gently hugging and stroking her.

"You can count on us, sis. We are with you." - Luna said. It was then that the memory faded, Moon opened her eyes and looked at the little foal, who was sitting in bed and looking at her with his big blue eyes, which were filled with anxiety and slight fear. Moon realized that putting her helmet she could look scary, even terrifying, even though she didn't want to. She had the same helmet on during Nightmare Night. Maybe she looked as described it Wingy. Or it results from the fact that the residents saw her for the first time, and therefore she could give such an impression.

"Honey, I... I didn't mean to scare you. I just... I... I look scary sometimes, though I don't want to. I'm sorry."

"It's okay, Miss Moon." - He said touching her hoof.

She smiled and kissed his forehead and hugged him gently. The foal closed his eyes and hugged her and kissed her too, but on the cheek. She laughed and looked at him with love. It was then that Wingy's stomach growled, Moon put him on the bed, her horn shone and then she levitated the tomato towards the little one.

"I think you're hungry." - She said, giving it to him.

"What's that?" - He asked.

"It's a tomato. They're very tasty and healthy."

Wingy bit the tomato and then chewed it. He swallowed and a smile appeared on his face. - "It's delicious." - He said smiling and taking another bite. When he finished eating, Moon gave him another tomato, she found in the bowl. When he ate it, he burped softly. - "I'm sorry..."

"It's alright. How are you now?" - she asked.

"Good. Thank you."

Moon sighed and looked at the window. - "It's late. We should go to sleep."

"I don't know, I'm a little bit scared

"Don't worry. I'm here, sweetie." - She uncovered the quilt and lay down on the bed.

"Okay." - Little one lay down and cuddled to her chest. Moon gently hugged him, and then covered herself and his with a duvet.

Moon extinguished the candle, the little one shuddered slightly in fear but he calmed down quickly. The black alicorn was gently hugging him and stroked him, so Wingy felt safe in her arms and the feeling was intensified by the warmth. He was no longer scared, he felt relaxed and also a bit sleepy. After some time he fell asleep, snoring softly, his left ear moved from time to time. Nightmare Moon just looked at him, still hugging him. In her arms was now a child who she wanted to protect and take care of him. She was aware that he might be a demon, but she didn't care. If he was a demon, he was different. He wasn't aggressive, he wasn't evil, and when he was turned into a foal, he behaved like a normal child who is lost and don't know what to do. It's not his fault he's a demon. He didn't choose who he would be. Now he is a normal child and if Moon hadn't taken him with her, he would probably wander the world, cold, terrified and helpless. He was in her arms now and he could feel safe. She kissed his forehead, then she closed her eyes and tried to sleep.