Chapters Night had come by now, behind the window was across the vast glades and forests through which the river, the mountain passes, and the dark blue night sky were passing, in the center of it was a huge moon. It was already dark in the room, and completely quiet there. The only source of light in the room was a small candle, glowing with a bright yellow flame, giving a pleasant warmth, which stood on a desk made of pine wood. At the desk, Nightmare Moon was sat. She was a tall mare, she had a pair of wings on the ridge and a horn on her head, her coat was black, she had turquoise eyes with vertical pupils, on both sides of her rump, she had a cutie mark. It was a half-moon surrounded by a few purple spots. She also had a waving mane and tail that resembled a night sky with hundreds of flashing stars. She didn't wear her armor, just like the crown she received from Celestia. Any jewelry or armor was simply uncomfortable for her. Nightmare Moon's armor, made of double-tempered blue steel, was on a mannequin, next to which there were also weapon stands, on which there were various types of swords, axes, halberds, and spears, all made of the same material as the black alicorn's armor. There was also a huge bed in the room, on which there were several black pillows and a black quilt with a half-moon on it. In this bed... Was lay a small foal. He had a pair of membranous wings, his fur was black, the mane was white like snow. His eyes, which were now closed, had a blue color.
Nightmare Moon was sat at her desk and wrote in her diary, looking at her child from time to time. She was very restless. After all, her foal had nightmares very often, so... What if he has a bad dream at this moment?
It happened about three months ago, but I remember it as if it happened yesterday. First... I saw a black stallion with a white mane, membranous wings, yellow eyes with vertical pupils named Demonic Wing, and a day later a small foal, with blue eyes. A foal who didn't know who he was and who completely didn't remember anything. I remember taking him to Canterlot. Luna and Celestia became his aunts and I became a mother. Well, the little one is extraordinary, which he proved to me many times. About three weeks he learned he was a demon and... Maybe I shouldn't have told him that, because he was very stressed and sad when he learned it. When I write this, every time I look at my bed in which he sleeps. He has very often nightmares associated with Abyss, demons and... Also with me. I would love to help him, he is my baby, but neither Luna nor I can look into his dreams. It's possible that this is because the little one is a demon and that's what blocks my access to his dreams. He often woke up scared, stressed and once he woke up screaming. I'm trying to protect him, but I'm afraid I might not be able to do it and one day...
At this moment, Nightmare Moon stopped writing an entry in her diary, because she heard a quiet crying behind her. She turned and she looked at scared Wingy sitting on the bed, wiping the tears running down his cheeks. He was trembling with fear and his ears dropped.
Nightmare Moon immediately approached to bed. When the foal saw her, he immediately stepped back and looked at her with fear in his eyes - "Hey, calm down. It's okay" - She said, putting the hoof on his cheek. When the little one sobbed, she quickly moved closer to him, covered him with her wing and gently hugged him - "Shhh... It's okay, sweetie" - She said, gently hugging him and stroking his white mane - "Again, the same?" - She asked. the foal opened its watery eyes, looked at her and nodded - "What this time, little one?"
"I-it was this place... It was dark, terrible and... I heard voices" - He wiped individual tears running down his cheeks - "Mommy... These voices said they would hurt You, Auntie Luna, Celestia and... "
"Shhh, it's okay. It was just a bad dream" - Moon hugged him again, she kissed his forehead and began to sway him gently. Wingy was still sobbing, he was trying to say something again, but... - "Shhh, you do not have to talk. It's alright, sweetie, nothing happened. You were scared, am I right? " - The foal gently nodded, sniffling - "You don't have to be afraid anymore, you are safe, little one" - She kissed his cheek, Wingy moaned softly and cuddled up to the warm fur on her chest, Moon smiled and still tried to calm him down.
Moon gently swayed him and sang quietly, trying to calm down the foal somehow. Wingy didn't cry anymore, he was still shaking a bit but... He didn't cry. He only looked at the Nightmare Moon, who was holding him in her arms and smiling at him. It was then that someone was a knocked at the door, Moon put Wingy on the bed and went to the door. She opened them and she saw Luna. She was also an alicorn, although she was also significantly lower, her fur was navy blue, like her eyes. Her mane was waved and looked like a starry sky, and she had a half-moon on the sides but surrounded by black spots
"Hello, sister, I see you are still awake." - Luna said
"Well, I was going to lie down, but you didn't just come to pay attention to it, right?"
"Yes, tomorrow all the rulers from Equestria and abroad come to Canterlot and... I thought you could take part in the meeting."
"I'm sorry, but not really, I'm not going to interfere in your affairs." - Moon said firmly
"In that case, goodnight and..." - Then Luna looked at Wingy, who was looking at her - "Oh... Did he?..."
"Yes, he was having a bad dream, but everything is already fine."
"Can I go in?" - Nightmare Moon has let Luna enter the room. Luna walked slowly to the bed where the foal was sitting. She smiled warmly at him and sat on the edge of the bed - "Hi, little one. You've had a bad dream again, right?"
"Y-yes, I was in this place again..." - The little one said, nodding - "I was very scared, auntie. It was terrible there."
"The Abyss..." - Luna said very quietly. She gently embraced him with her wing - "It's okay, honey. It was just a bad dream, do you remember what I told you about them, right?"
"Y-you told that it's just an illusion and... And that I will not be hurt there."
"That's right. Listen... Until now, I don't know how to do it, but I'll try to do something with these bad dreams with your mom, okay?"
"O-okay."
Luna looked at him more closely, she could see that something else was bothering him - "Wingy, are you sure that's all?" - She asked
"I-I... Y-yes... That's all." - Wingy said, crouch slightly and his ears dropped.
"Wingy, if something happened..."
"Sister, enough. If he doesn't want to talk, don't force him." - Moon said, looking sadly at her child.
Luna kissed Wingy's forehead, "Goodnight, sweetie. Sleep well." - She stood up and headed to the door. She stopped for a moment, next to her sister - "Moon, I... I'm sorry, if..."
"It's okay, Lulu. Nothing happened." - Moon puts the hoof on her shoulder - "But please, next time be more forgiving, okay?"
"Sure" - She said, nodding and breathing with relief - "Goodnight, Moonie" - She said, leaving the room
The black alicorn laughed and shook his head. Both Luna and Celestia liked to call her Moonie. At the beginning... She was very disgusted and upset because of that, but now... When someone calls her Moonie, no matter if it was her sister or a random pony, she just laughs from it. After a moment she came to the bed where her little foal was sitting. Wingy reached out his hooves to her, Moon raised him and gently hugged him.
"Better, sweetie?" - She asked solicitously, stroking his white mane.
"Yes, Mommy. I feel better" - He said, then smiled slightly at her
Moon kissed his forehead and put him on the bed - "Mommy will back soon, okay? I just have to do something."
"Okay..." - He said obediently, watching her closely
Black alicorn went to the table and started writing again in her diary.
Wingy woke up a moment ago and he was very scared. Another nightmare associated with the Abyss, but it seems to me that he is hiding something from us. My sister, Luna, talked to him and... The little one is evidently afraid of something. I don't know what to think about it and maybe I should talk to him about it sometime, but not now. I don't want to interrogate him. It is very late, I'll try to lull him somehow and I think I'll go to sleep too, I'm tired.
Nightmare Moon closed her diary and extinguished the candle. The whole room became completely dark. She turned and started walking toward the bed. Wingy opened his eyes and looked at her, and she only smiled at him. Moon laid next to Wingy and gently hugged him. She covered herself and her baby with a quilt. She kissed his forehead and wrapped her wings around his small body - "Good night, little one. Sweet dreams." - She said, gently hugging him and stroking his white mane.
The little foal yawned, "Goodnight, mommy. I love you." - He said, hugging to her warm fur.
"I love you too, sweetie." - She said quietly, swaying him. Moon began to quietly sing a lullaby to help him fall asleep. After a while, Wingy fell asleep in her arms, hugged to warm fur on her chest. After a while, Moon also fell asleep with her little foal in her arms, who she loved him the most in the world and promised to protect him. She was even ready to give her life to save him from danger, just like any other loving mother.
Chapter 2: Rejected Nightmare Moon
Three months earlier ...
It was dark outside. The wind was howling far away, in the navy-blue sky there were shimmering stars and a huge moon. Nightmare Moon sat in her room and cried. There was a mannequin next to the wall with her armor on it. Probably black alicorn was throwing it because of an attack of anger, which then turned into crying. It was just after the Nightmare Night. Even though everypony knew she was alive. Even though everypony knew she was not a threat, they were afraid of her. A year ago Nightmare Night was also organized too. The residents of the Ponyville were terrified, Celestia and Luna assured her that it would be better next year, but... It was only worse. Hundreds of thoughts passed through her head. She thought about what she wanted to do in the past because she wanted to... Bring an eternal night into the world. When she was defeated by Twilight Sparkle and her friends, she somehow survived and kept close to Luna. One day, Luna noticed her as a shadowy being. It was then that she started talking to Nightmare Moon, showed her compassion, understanding and convinced her that an eternal night wasn't a good idea. Weeks passed and Nightmare Moon regained her physical form, she didn't want to hurt anypony or bring eternal night. Thanks to Luna, Moon was much... Milder. In the beginning, Celestia was afraid of her, just as the black alicorn, who would have liked to kill her, but... It didn't happen. Luna and Celestia supported their sister and helped her in difficult situations. In the room of the black alicorn, there was a sound of knocking at the door all the time, Moon ignored it and let tears flow on her cheeks.
"Sister, open up. It's me." Celestia's voice came through the door. She was also an alicorn. She was taller than Luna but also lower than Nightmare Moon. Her fur was white, as the cutie mark, she had the sun, her mane was waving and resembling a faded rainbow. - "Nightmare Moon, I want to talk with you, please."
"There is nothing to talk about..." - Moon said, clenching her eyelids and wiping her tears - "Leave me alone!"
The door to her room was opened. Moon heard that somepony approach to her, and then... She felt something embrace her. She opened her eyes and saw that it was Celestia, who embraced her with her wing and gently hugged her.
"What do you want?" - Moon asked, sniffling - "I asked you to leave me alone."
"Moonie, it's okay, next time it will be better." - At that moment, Moon got up. Now she was not sad, but... She was angry.
"Better? Better?!" - She asked, standing in front of her and looking at her with angry and at the same time tearful eyes - "A year ago you were saying the same! And you see how it is... They are afraid of me..." - Moon sat down, closed her eyes, from which more tears flowed.
Celestia hugged her uncertainly, gently stroking her on the mane - "Shhh... It's okay, Moonie, but you have to stay positive. Maybe next year will be definitely better."
Moon sniffed - "And you can guarantee it to me?" Celestia was silent. She didn't know what to say - "See?... It doesn't make sense. I would have preferred to never exist and just don't care about anything. "
"Do not even say that, Moon. We all have worse days, but this is not the end of the world." - White alicorn put her hoofs on the Moon's shoulders, who was not crying anymore. She was just sad - "Trust me, you know, when Luna attended her first Nightmare Night, everypony was afraid of her, too, but... Later was just better, they loved her." - Celestia wiped her tears and hugged her again. Moon closed her eyes, wrapped her hooves around her, and hugged to her.
"They hate me, Tia. They will never love me."
"They'll love you, trust me. It just takes time." - Celestia looked at her face again - "Go to sleep, okay? You don't look so good. Tomorrow we'll talk about it calmly. " - She said, gently stroking the black alicorn's cheek
"Fine... Can you let me go now?"
Celestia released Moon from her grip, she stood up and headed to the door. When the white alicorn came out of the room, Moon opened the window and spread her wings and flew out. After about ten minutes, Moon was very far away from the Canterlot. She began to lower her flight, then landed on a huge meadow, surrounded by forest, in the middle of which was a small lake. The cold wind moved the blades of grass and the leaves of the trees, it felt as if both the trees and the grass sang and played the melody, and the wind was their conductor. Nightmare Moon approached the small lake, and looked at its reflection in it, just as the moon reflected in the surface and the starry night sky. She sat down and stared at her reflection, thinking about various things. She was thinking about ponies who were screaming at her view, just like... Like foals, which also screamed and even cried. Yeah... foals. Moon wondered what it's like to be a mother. What is it like to have a foal, taking care for him and how to raise him? Moon probably didn't have a chance to become a mother, or at least she thought so. Each stallion began to shake in the fear at her sight, even Shining Armor and his guards themselves were afraid of her. And she... she just wanted to feel better. She wanted to feel noticed, beloved, and yet ... No one except her sisters showed her the same feelings. Each stallion began to shake with fear at her sight, even Shining Armor and his guards themselves were afraid of her. But she... she just wanted to feel better. She wanted to feel noticed, beloved, but... Nopony except her sisters showed her those feelings like this.
Moon sat for a few hours at the lake, when suddenly... She heard something from the right side. She turned her head and she saw the stallion, but... He was different. His coat was black. The mane and tail were white, he had membranous wings and yellow glowing eyes with vertical pupils. The strangest thing was that... Even though he looked like an adult, he didn't have a cutie mark. His side was empty. He reminded her of the Night Guards that patrolled Canterlot's corridors when it was dark. However... This stallion didn't look like a bat-pony, despite the membranous wings. The mysterious stallion sat in front of the lake and stared at his reflection, he looked very worried and maybe even scared. After a while, he closed his eyes and when he opened them... They were blue and the pupils were round. The stallion looked at his hooves, then he spread his wings, which were quite impressive, were larger spans than the wings of Celestia itself. Then the stallion looked at Nightmare Moon, who stared at him as if she was hypnotized. The stallion's eyes became yellow again and they had vertical pupils, he showed razor-sharp teeth, and snarled furiously, taking a battle attitude.
"Hey, relax." - Moon said getting up and getting back a bit - "I don't have bad intentions."
The stallion stopped growling, and only stared at her now, but... He was still ready to attack. Nightmare Moon was surprised because for the first time somepony wasn't afraid of her, though... The sudden reaction from the stallion could have been caused by fear, but... He didn't run away. But she wondered more about why he had such sharp teeth.
"Who are you?" - The stallion asked, staring at her with interest but also with distrust, and even with anger. His voice was calm and gentle. It was resonant, even powerful, bad ... Calming and gentle.
"I'm Nightmare Moon, what's your name?" - She asked calmly.
The stallion raised one eyebrow, looked at his spread wings and said - "I'm..." - Then he looked at her again - "Demonic Wing..."
"Well... It's nice to meet you, we have a beautiful night, do not we?" Moon asked uncertainly.
Demonic Wing straightened up and looked at her suspiciously - "What are you doing here?"
"Well, I'm doing the same thing, like you. I'm thinking. Everypony is afraid of you too and you came here for self-pity?"
Wing frowned his eyebrows and he said - "No. Anyway... It's not your business." - He said turning around and sitting down next to the lake and staring back at his reflection.
"Maybe... But maybe I will be able to help you somehow." Moon began to approach to him slowly when she was only a meter away, Wing looked at her and showed the sharp teeth again.
"Don't come closer, I'm warning you." - He said, growling. His ears dropped, and in his eyes, in his eyes a state of murder. - "Go back ... Immediately."
"Alright, alright. I'm moving, geez" - The black alicorn retreated, Demonic Wing, hid his teeth and looked back at his reflection.
Nightmare Moon was sitting and looking at the black stallion. Silence reigned around them, every time interrupted by the howl of the wind, which set in motion blades of grass and the water surface.
"You know... I come here very often when I have some thoughts, or... I'm just sad." - Demonic Wing was silent. He was still looking at his reflection - "Tonight was a Nightmare Night, everypony was running away and screaming at my sight, I came here because I was sad, my sisters told me that this year will be better, but... It wasn't."
"But we have one problem." - Demonic Wing finally spoke. Moon looked at him and he looked at her - "I'm in a much worse situation, believe me. I don't know what to do and... I'm just afraid."
"Oooh... But what happened?" - She asked - "I will not tell anypony, I promise."
The black stallion looked at Moon and examined her closely, as if... Trying to see if she was lying. After a moment, his look was a bit milder, he sighed and said - "I had to do something... Very horrible..." - His ears dropped slightly.
"What did you had to do?"
Wing wondered again what to say - "I had to kill somepony, it... It was supposed to be my... My exam."
"Who were you had to kill?"
"It's irrelevant, the more so because I didn't do it. I don't want to kill her..."
"Wait, her?"
He looked at her again, nervous, but... After a while, he calmed down - "Yes, darn it..."
"Who told you to kill HER and... Why you didn't do it?" - She asked, more inquisitively.
"Whoever told me to do this, he is very powerful. And why I didn't do it?" - Wing shrugged - "I don't know, I just didn't want to, I felt sorry for her." - He looked at the night sky - "And what am I going to do now?" I don't want to kill, I never killed anypony, I never wanted to kill!"
It was then that Wing felt something gently embrace him. He stopped looking into the night sky and looked at the black alicorn who embraced him with her wing - "I think you should oppose to this somepony. Only you know what will be and what is good for you. If you don't want to kill, well... Don't kill, just be yourself, Wingy."
"I'm not Wingy..." - He said, slightly frowning but smiling at the same time.
"And I will call you like that. What? Will you forbid it me?"
"Oh, come on!..." - Demonic Wing turned his eyes away from her and, like Moon, laughed. He looked at her again - "Thank you. Thanks to you, I know what to do now."
"You're welcome." - Moon said, still laughing a little
It was then that the stallion got up, he took a few steps away from the lake and then he spread his wings. - "Goodbye, Nightmare Moon." - He waved his wings, flowing up with incredible speed. Moon closed her eyes a bit and covered her face because the wind blow was really strong and quite dusty. Moon coughed several times and began to look around, looking for the Demonic Wing, but... He was nowhere, like... He just disappeared.
"Bye..." - She said, then she stood up. She also spread her wings and flew up. She took the course at Canterlot, the only thing she dreamed about now was a hot bath and a bed.
The abyss, a place where all the demons were born. Habitat of the evil. The huge, dark, burned, barren wasteland that seems to be underground, although it's not. The Abyss is a place that connects with all worlds, universes, and dimensions. Demons can enter both Equestria and Earth at every moment. In the middle of the Abyss is a huge, pitch-black castle, larger than Canterlot and Griffonstone. Huge walls, walls, high sharp towers and extremely eerie sculptures depicting frightening, horned creatures, with sharp claws and jagged, membranous wings. While in Equestria about eight hours ago there was already a day, in the Abyss, due to the lack of sun, or any other star, there was still impenetrable darkness in which you could hear roars and screams of the evil beings.
From the outside, the castle looks ugly, almost hideous, but from the inside, it resembled a five-star hotel or a beautiful palace. The castle was decorated with very nice and symmetrical, often gilded decorations. There were tapestries, various carpets, majestic stained glass windows, and walls decorated with gold and even precious stones like diamonds, emeralds, rubies or sapphires. Demonic Wing stood in the hallway, in front of big doors decorated with gold. He was still in the form of a black stallion with a white mane, membranous wings and yellow eyes with vertical pupils. He was very stressed because he was to meet with Archdemon, who in fact was the father of all demons. Every demon which he created had to pass a test, a task that showed whether the newly created demon is suitable or not. Thanks to this attempt, Archdemon also disposed of individuals which could affect badly at him and his interests. Demonic Wing, or rather... Ke'reth, had to kill the little Flurry Heart, although... He didn't do it. He was very nervous, he didn't know what to do. He wondered if he could just lie and say that the task was done. Or also just go back and do it. Ke'reth didn't want to kill, he didn't like it. He recently spoke with a mare named Nightmare Moon, who told him what to do. The young demon wasn't entirely sure if it was a good idea, but it seemed to be sensible.
Demonic Wing sighed - "You can do it... It's nothing, just be yourself." - He said to himself, then he went through the door. - "Welcome, Archdemon."
"Ah, Mister Ke'reth... Good to see you." - Archdemon was sat in a comfortable leather chair. The whole room was very elegantly decorated. There was a desk made of mahogany wood at which he was sat, and the floor was lined with shiny panels. Behind Archdemon's chair, there was a window through which he could see what was outside. Archdemon was in a different form than all demons, because... He looked like a human, a creature from the Earth. He looked like a tall man, dressed in an elegant, refined black robe. He had short black hair and short beard and his eyes were yellow. When he talked, he addressed the other person with culture and he was used courtesy phrases. Archdemon smelled different than other demons. Instead of stinking with sulfur or burning, like other demons, he smelled like very expensive perfume - "I guess you did the task I ordered you." - He said pouring a little red wine into the glass.
"I..."
"Excellent! Please, sit down. I want to talk with you."
Demonic Wing sat on a chair and looked at the man sitting in front of him.
"So... How you dealed with the murder of Flurry Heart? I see that... You've taken a different form. Was it was a camouflage?"
"Y-yes, but..."
"But?"
"I didn't do it." - Demonic Wing said, dropping his head down.
"Why? It's not difficult to kill a newborn, especially if you are a demon."
"Archdemon, I... I didn't want to kill her, it's just a baby. Why would she..."
"You didn't want to kill her, hah! I hear the first time that any demon would say something like that." - Archdemon his mouth took a sip of wine and savor its taste. - "Well... I don't hide that I'm disappointed. You had one task and... You didn't do it. Why?"
"I already told you, I didn't want to kill her."
"I understand, but why? Is it not because in a sense... You love this baby?"
The young demon began to breathe nervously. He remembered perfectly well what had happened in the bedroom of the little filly. When he held Flurry Heart in his claws, she wasn't afraid of him, instead, she just wanted to play with him. Ke'reth wanted to protect this baby and... He didn't know why. Demons haven't had feelings, but he... He had. He had feelings, although he shouldn't.
Archdemon sighed, taking a sip of wine again. - "When I created you, I knew that... I made a mistake, I thought it was nothing and in the meantime... You were given free will and feelings."
"Even if, what's wrong with that?"
"What's wrong with that? Maybe because... You're not suited for all kinds of tasks and you're nothing more than a weak link."
Demonic Wing frowned menacingly. - "Maybe I just don't want it? Maybe I just don't want to kill? Maybe I just want to be myself? Archdemon, I didn't do what you asked for, because I don't want to kill. I never wanted! I do not want to be like other demons, without feelings and empathy. "
At that moment, Archdemon's frowned and he became very angry. - "You stabbed me in the back, you resisted my will without thinking about the consequences."
"I don't care, I don't want to work for you!"
"Well then... Let it be so." - At this moment, two demons appeared on the left and right side of the chair on which the Demonic Wing was sat and they caught him.
"What the... You said..."
"Silence. Take him to the torture, let him learn that he cannot oppose me."
"Get off!" - Demonic Wing said, trying to break free. It was then that he bit hand one of the demons and then the demon let him go. Demonic Wing opened the door and ran out into the corridor, then he flew out through the stained glass window, which he broke.
"Hah... They will never learn." - Archdemon said, shaking his head, then he looked at the demon who had been bitten at the hand. - "You. Get him and kill him, do you understand? If you don't do it, I will condemn you to the millennial torture."
The demon nodded and disappeared. Archdemon leaned against the back of the chair, he smiled with satisfaction and he pouring some more wine into his glass.
It was night. The sky had a navy blue color and hundreds of flashing stars were on it. The moonlight reflected on the surface of the water, the wind gently blew, moving leaves and blades of grass, and the mane of Nightmare Moon, which was sat at the lake, the same at which she sat yesterday. She sat with a smile looking at the surface of the water in which the stars, the night sky and herself were reflected. She sat and waited. She hoped to meet Demonic Wing again, the stallion that she helped make some important decision, though... Moon didn't know exactly what he meant. He just said it was a very hard decision and that it was something horrible. He had to kill somepony. The stallion mentioned that he didn't want to kill and he never did it, but...
"Who he had to kill?" - She asked herself. Her calm was immediately interrupted. She turned back, and she heard behind the hill some roars, growls and... Voices. One of the voices was very familiar. Moon quickly flew in that direction. She landed between the trees and watched. She saw a strange, horned creature with wings that holds the Demonic Wing by its throat and press him to the tree.
"I'm asking for the last time... Where is she?!" - The horned creature asked, more pressing him to the tree. Moon knew well that it was a demon and... She also came to the conclusion that the Demonic Wing was also a demon, but... Why he was good? Demons are very evil beings, but he... He was different. She knew now what it was all about. Demonic Wing was probably a new recruit who was about to kill somepony, but... He didn't do it. Maybe he was different. It's possible that when he was born, there was a strange anomaly, so he wasn't like other demons. - "Where is she?!"
Demonic Wing growled, showing sharp teeth and staring angrily at the other demon. - "I will not tell you anything."
"Well, as you want. I was about to kill you, so..." At that moment, the demon's hand which held the black stallion by the throat flashed a red light. Demonic Wing began to fight, growl and tried to bite the attacker. The demon laughed derisively, and at that moment, the red light was blue. Demonic Wing began to do smaller, until... He was a small foal. His voice was childish, but he still tried to fight. - "Sweet dreams, little one." - The demon started taking his life again. A small foal struggled, growled but... After a while, his furious roar turned to cry. Tears flowed from his clenched eyes, and he began to scream in pain and terror. At this moment, Moon attacked the demon. Lightning shot from her horn and hit the demon, who let go of a small foal.
Moon looked at the little Demonic Wing that lay under the tree and cried in pain. When he looked at Nightmare Moon, he looked as if he didn't know her, but... Why? She knew him, and he knew her, but what if...
"Agh... You..." - She heard after a moment. She looked at the demon who tried to get up. She smiled and at that moment her horn began to sparkle. The demon fell to his knees and began to roar in pain.
"And what are you going to do now, bastard?!" - She asked, and her horn began to sparkle more.
The demon looked at her with rage. - "Stop! It hurts!" -
Moon laughed ominously. - "Now you see what it's like to be a victim, huh?"
"Stop, I'm begging you!" - The demon screamed.
The black alicorn frowned. Her horn shone and at that moment the demon just disappeared. Moon approached the little foal, which looked weaker. - "Hey, you're alright?" - She asked.
The foal looked at her. - "Who are you?..." - He asked, then he lost consciousness. Moon was surprised. He didn't remember her.
"He lost his memory." - She said to herself. She looked around, there was nothing around her except trees. She looked at the foal who lay and... He was sleep. Moon knew she couldn't leave him here. She took him on her back and started flying toward Canterlot. When she was flying, she looked at him and smiled. The little one was sleeping peacefully on her back, it captivated her. That's when she felt something very... Very strange. She didn't know why, but... She wanted to protect him. Moon saw her opportunity to become a mother, she wanted to bring him up, to surround this child with her care and love. She turned her head towards Canterlot. When she was closer, she was more excited. However, she didn't know, how her sisters would react to it. Moon was a little bit worried. She knew that this foal was a demon, but... She also knew that he wasn't evil. It was just a little child, who doesn't know where it came from. She only hoped that everything will be fine.
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.
