The Shadow of the Moon

The Shadow of the Moon

Act 1: Drifting

Chapter 4: Belonging

The world came back. It was now Nightmare Night in Ponyville. The entire town would dress up and give out candy or play pranks on other ponies. Others would just walk around hoping for somepony to scare them so they could feel the excitement and rush. For me, it was a bit of a goodbye. I had spent the last-month with Derpy and her daughter Dinky, but it was only temporary. She couldn’t really support another young one long term and as nice as the ponies were in Ponyville, not many could or were willing to accept the burden of taking in a young colt. In a few weeks I would be sent to Canterlot, where I would live in an orphanage or foster home until I either was adopted or was old enough to live on my own.

A young filly’s voice rung out behind me, “Hey Midnight!”

I turned around to see Dinky chasing after me in her ghost costume; her horn sticking out and its aura carrying a bag of candy trailing behind her. “Hey Dinky,” I reply.

“Where are you going?” she asked me as she caught up.

“Headed to the games, maybe try to bob for apples a bit, I don’t know,” I replied.

“I think my mom was going to try her hoof at that,” she giggled.

Over the last month, I had noticed that Dinky had been following me everywhere and nearly attached to my side. She would keep me company and do her best to take my mind off of my parents death. She never did fully succeed, but I appreciated her efforts. Snips and Snails once started picking on her about being my fillyfriend. We tried explaining that we weren't but they wouldn't listen. Miss Cheerilee had me in the corner during recess for the next two days for hitting the two of them as hard as I did. Sure they managed to land a few hits of their own, it was two on one, but I didn't care. Just as long as they never brought it up again. Miss Cheerilee asked me if I was sorry for what I did. Maybe a month ago I might have, but I was just starting to feel comfortably numb. Regret wasn't exactly high on my list of emotions I wanted to bring back.

We walked to the town's center when dark clouds started appearing over head and a chariot drawn by some dark pegasi, flew down from the clouds.

“Who is that?” Dinky asked.

I stared a little harder but couldn’t really tell,“I don’t know, but let’s go find out!”

We were just about to round the bend when Dinky tripped, lost concentration and spilled her candy all over the place. I skid to a stop and began to help her pick up the pieces. We had just finished getting a fourth of it up when a loud, booming voice shouted, “CITIZENS OF PONYVILLE!”

Dinky jumped in fright, tipping over her bag. Once more, I started to pick all the pieces up but she grabbed me from behind and pulled me behind some barrels.

“W-w-what was t-t-that?” she stammered out between chattering teeth.

I shrugged my shoulders and stepped out to peek around the corner when I felt a hoof pulling me back again.

“D-d-don’t g-g-go,” she stuttered softly.

“I’m just going to see who it is. That’s all. A quick peek,” I explain.

She didn’t say anything but just nodded her head and let go. During this exchange I hadn’t really paying attention to what was being shouted, despite its loud volume. Selective hearing my mom always called it, especially when I didn’t hear her tell me to do my chores.

As I peered around the corner I saw a group of ponies, led by Pinkie Pie, running away from the center and Princess Luna standing in the middle of a bunch of bowing, terrified ponies.

“Very well then, be that way,” Princess Luna said with a little hoof stomp, “We won’t even bother with the traditional royal farewell!”

With that she walked away head high in the air. She seemed hurt by the reception she received. I turned around and to see the empty chariot flying off and land in the Everfree Forest. I took off running after it. Behind me I heard Dinky yelling for me to come back but I ignored her. I wanted to go see that chariot and those pegasi drawing it. I didn’t know of any other pegasi with dark coats besides my mom. Actually, I didn't know of any ponies with dark coats like me. I was secretly hoping that they maybe came from a place in Equestria that had tons of pegasi that looked like me. If they looked like me, then maybe I was related and wouldn't have to go to Canterlot. Besides that, if they were in the Lunar Guard, maybe they could explain my cutie mark a little better. Maybe there was a particular unit that ponies like me were placed. As I neared the forest I slowed down. I didn’t really know where they landed but it had to be in a clearing and there weren’t many of those in the Everfree Forest. I guessed at their location considering there was a nice water hole with a clearing nearby that would make a good landing zone. I walked into the forest carefully being cautious not make much noise. The last thing I needed to do was disturb anything that could be potentially hungry for a pegasus colt. I stuck to the shadows knowing I would blend in with the darkness as I drew closer to the clearing. Soon I was able to hear some voices and slowed my pace. Stepping slowly and surely, I crept until I was at the edge of the clearing, and hiding under a bush.

In the center lay the chariot and two unharnessed pegasus guards taking a break in the grass. The strange thing about these two was they had bat like wings, pointed teeth, funny looking ears and slitted yellow eyes. I would have to ask them about that when I got the chance but first I listened in on their conversation.

“So how do you think the villagers reacted to Princess Luna considering the entrance we gave them,” one remarked to the other.

The second one mulled it over for a minute, “Probably not well. We tried to warn her though. She didn’t listen, but we warned her.”

“That we did. Sometimes that’s all you can do. So, uh, how did last night go with your date? I saw you leave the bar with somepony," the first one mentioned.

"It went well," the second one answered.

"Good. Good. What was his name?” the first one teased.

The second punched the other stallion lightly, “Her name was Daisy, and last night was great and amazing. More than you can say from the way your mare showed up and slapped you for being out so late picking up other mares.”

“That’s the last time I play wingpony for you. Don’t be going and messing up my relationship because you have bad luck picking up mares,” the second laughed.

I had heard enough and stepped out from under the bush trotting up to them at a relaxed pace. I hoped I wouldn’t startle them too bad. I called out to them, “Hello!”

Suddenly four eyes locked onto me as they stood up. The one on the left spoke first, “What are you doing out here?”

The right one followed up with, “Are you lost?”

I stopped a respectful distance from the two of them, “No, I’m not lost. I was looking for the both of you.”

They looked at each other before the left one spoke again, “Looking for us? Why?”

“I wanted to talk to you. How come your wings are like that? Your eyes and teeth too. I’ve never seen another pony that looks like that,” I start asking.

The guards begin relaxing, apparently familiar with this reaction. The one on the left looks to the other, “You want to show him or shall I?”

“Can I have this one,” he replies with a smile.

The left one laughs, “By all means then.”

The right one looks back at me, “Watch this.” He proceeded to lift his helmet off. Once it was off his head his coat changed to a soft deep blue, his wings returned to their feathered state, his teeth became normal, and his eyes turned green.

I watched awe-struck.

The left one laughs even louder, “Happens everytime.”

The right one laughs with him, “Pretty neat trick huh? Those unicorns in the armory really know how to set an enchantment. My name is Storm Cloud and the goon next to me is Steel Wing.”

Steel Wing looked at his partner with narrowed eyes, “Who are you calling goon?”

Storm Cloud laughed, “You since you can’t get a date without my help.”

I speak up before they get caught up in going back and forth with each other, “So you two are in the Lunar guard?”

They look back at me. Steel Wing speaks up this time, “Yes we are; assigned to be the Princess's loyal and dependable chauffeurs and local protection.”

“That’s his way of saying travel duty,” Storm Cloud chirped in, smirking.

“I hate you so much,” Steel Wing says under his breath.

I had a hard time not smiling listening to these guys bicker, “I'm curious. Would either one of you be able to tell me anything about my cutie mark? Everypony suspects that it means I am supposed to be in the guard.” I turn so they can see it better.

The two lean down to get a better look at it.

“Hmm, a pair of crossed swords in front of a full moon, huh? Say Steel,” Storm Cloud comments, “Don’t some of those stallions in the vanguard units have some ponies with similar ones like this?”

“Maybe. All I can say is you would fit in with the rest of us. Both the Royal and Lunar guard sometimes get ponies like you that have some kind of cutie mark symbolizing dedication to one or the other,” Steel Wing explains, “That’s one hell of a cutie mark to get, uh, what’s your name?”

“Oh, I'm Midnight Shadow,” I tell them.

Storm Cloud laughs, “Midnight Shadow, huh? You aren’t a part of some kind of weird super soldier breeding program by chance are you?”

I look at him confused, “I don’t think so.”

Steel Wing smiles, “Well, you are certainly the poster pony for the guard. Hey Storm, can you imagine if we are talking to a future general. Nopony would believe us if we said we met him this young.”

Storm Cloud rolls over laughing, “I know what you mean. Hey kid, where are your parents? I’d like to meet them. Plus I’d imagine they must be getting worried having not seen you in a while.”

I look down at the ground not quite sure how to respond.

"Are you okay?" Steel Wing asked.

"They died," I said trying to keep my voice from cracking. It had been a month since their death but it had hardly made a difference and admitting they were gone still was the hardest thing to do. I take a breath and bottle everything back up. I didn't want to look weak in front of them.

Storm Cloud stopped laughing and put a hoof over my shoulder, “Sorry to hear that kid. I can’t imagine going through that at your age.”

“So what’s the situation now?” Steel Wing asked

“In a couple of weeks I’m going to be living in Canterlot in either a foster home or an orphanage,” I tell them.

“Well, I know that I can’t do much about your parents but I’ll tell you what,” Steel Wing says, “When you get settled in Canterlot, just send us a message and we’ll gather up everypony in the guard that will come and we'll visit you from time to time. Just hang in there, and you’ll go far kid.”

“Thanks,” I say, smiling a little. Hanging with these ponies, for the first time in a long time, made me feel happy.

“Also kid,” Storm Cloud spoke up, “Steel here will likely take you drinking with him so you can help him pick up some mares.” He begins laughing harder, “Just thought I should warn you.”

Steel Wing punches him, “You suck; you know that?”

I just sat and laughed as they began to wrestle. I just sat and laughed. That night I was able to put my pain away for a little while and pretend that my life was okay and not a painful wreck. I laughed that night more than I had in the past month.

****

The voices came back again.

“Forceps,” a male voice said.

“Forceps? Why.. does…. somepony…… need-”

I slipped away before I could finish that thought.