The Shadow of the Moon

The Shadow of the Moon

Act 1: Drifting

Chapter 5: Under the Cover of Darkness

I found myself on the roof of the Canterlot Orphanage looking up at the castle. I was now a month after my move from Ponyville. Everypony had come to see me off and of course Pinkie Pie threw a going away party. I would miss that town, but I couldn’t dwell on it. My situation had changed and I needed to make the best of it. Besides, it wasn’t all bad. Today had actually been a pretty good one, considering my life as an orphan in Canterlot. After I was released from school, Steel Wing and Storm Cloud had followed up on their promise and came to see me. They didn’t tell me when they were coming so I was extremely surprised to see them. They also brought two other Lunar guards with them, Fast Dive and Corkscrew. After introductions were made, we all headed to a bar.

The staff there wasn’t sure what to think of my being there at first but let me stay regardless after Steel Wing had a few words with the owner. After that we all sat down at a table and began talking and laughing. Suddenly I felt like I was everypony’s little brother. They would banter back and forth about complete nonsense, make passes at the mares that would come over to see me, and console each other when some of those passes fell flat. Around sun set they all paid up, said their goodbyes and went back to the castle to begin getting ready to go on duty. I walked back to the orphanage with a big smile on my face. From what I had heard from Corkscrew, the guard acted as one large family and that was the best part of the job. It wasn’t the pay, or just the sense of duty and honor that make it worthwhile, but the fact that there were ponies there that understood you and were there for you as much as you were there for them. I had a taste of that close knit community this afternoon and now that it was gone, my world already seemed darker.

A cold breeze ruffled the feathers in my wings bringing me back to the present. I stood in the shadows of one of the chimney stacks where I blended in. The orphanage staff didn’t like us staying up too late or coming up here, but it never stopped me from sneaking around, using the night to my advantage. I looked back up at the castle. Luna had come out earlier and raised the moon. I could only tell because her horn lit up then. Past that she was just a dark spot on a terrace. She hadn’t gone back inside though, and chose to just stand out there. I supposed she was looking at her work and enjoying the beauty of her night. I considered what it would be like to be in her service. The fact that she would technically be my boss and that I would be expected to fight for her if such a time arrived. Visions of two armies galloping across a field and clashing in the middle played through my head. Of swinging a blade or using a spear to tear through the enemy and stand victorious. The glory of it all made the prospect tantalizing.

I stared at the balcony some more as these fantasies passed. I had heard of some rumors in the streets, which wasn’t hard to do as the Cantorlot elite were quite the gossips, that there were some whispers of rebellion against Princess Luna. Those rebels believed that she was still Nightmare Moon and just lying low and waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike. Looking at the dark princess on her terrace, I guess it wouldn’t be hard to imagine her plotting revenge. However, from what I had heard from the from Twilight Sparkle back in Ponyville, she was a completely changed pony. That was enough proof for me. I took one last look at the dark splotch on the balcony, and saluted. Zecora’s haunting voice rang in the back of my head, “Into the guard you go; this much I know. You will protect the princess of night; with your body, soul, and might.”

I dropped my salute and put that prophesy out of my mind. I never told anypony about it as they might think I was crazy That and the fact that just thinking about it made my cutie mark start feeling warmer and warmer. I rubbed it trying to ease away the uncomfortable warmth. After I was done, I stepped out from my hiding spot and stood before the edge of the building. Taking a deep breath, I jumped into the air with a backflip and dived three stories before flaring my wings to slow myself and fly through my open window. I crash land on the floor. I quickly closed the window and locked it.

"I'm getting better but my wings are still too small."

I crawled into my bed and fell asleep, but Zecora’s voice was still lightly chanting away in my subconscious.

****

Soon, Zecora faded away. Somepony else had started speaking.

“Quick, we are lo-,”

Everything went dark.