Demon's Child

by Little Wingy

Rating: teen
Tags: Dark, Death, Alternate Universe, Main 6, Nightmare Moon, Thriller, Original Character, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Other, Violence, Princess Celestia, Slice of Life
Length: 13205

A remake of story about Nightmare Moon and her little demon.

The story has been canceled in 18.12.2020
Cancelation reason here

Nightmare Moon has long wanted a child. She dreamt of a foal that would love her and call her mama, and she would take care of him and love him. But no one was able to give her that because all the inhabitants of Equestria were afraid of her. She was thinking about adoption, but it was more than impossible. One night, when she was sitting by the riverside just to think, she heard a loud cry for help and something, actually, someone trying to stay on the river, which mercilessly dragged a small, frightened, and cold drowning foal. Nightmare Moon saved him from death. The little one lost consciousness and was almost drowned. She took him to a hospital in Ponyville and adopted him a few days later. But she didn't know that her child was not an ordinary foal until she noticed that he had mysterious abilities, which are unusual but also extremely anxious.

Published 2020-01-11 21:00:01 UTC
Last updated 2020-12-18 19:53:08 UTC

Prologue

Demons. Creatures so misunderstood, mysterious, and unknown. There are many literary works in Equestrian libraries that describe these extraordinary creatures, but none of them say everything. These creatures will never be fully understood. They are extremely dangerous, often aggressive, although many of them live among the inhabitants of Equestria. Hidden in the shadows, standing somewhere in the crowd or by the stall with vegetables and fruit. Demons have free will, although most of them are unable to show the feelings, there are still some exceptions. Demons that can show feelings are the ones who didn't like doing evil, chaos, and want to live normally. Nevertheless, they are commonly hated and condemned because of the many cases of persecution and possession of these evil demons. The Guild of Demon Hunters was established to exterminate these creatures, whether they are good or evil. They say: "A good demon is a dead demon."

~Anonym - About Demons

All demons come from one place, unavailable to any living creature. This place is called the Abyss. Demons are divided into four tribes and also their splinters. The eastern tribe, the most aggressive just after the southern one. The western tribe, one of the less aggressive and most peaceful, the northern tribe. The abyss has always been divided. All the tribes were divided, but there was one demon trying to unite them for years. Called by all of them the Archdemon, who united a large horde of these creatures from all four tribes and appointed himself the self-appointed ruler of the Abyss. Archdemon wanted to reconcile his brothers and sisters so that he could take control of the worlds outside the Abyss. One of Archdemon's soldiers, Ar'gahl from the southern tribe, was tired of this state of affairs. He was always different. He had feelings, didn't want to do chaos, destruction, and death. He was one of those who were interested in living creatures, wanted to explore their nature and simply understand them and live normally.

It happened about twenty years before Princess Luna returned. Ar'gahl escaped from the Abyss and hid in Equestria, a land inhabited by ponies. Like any other demon, he was a shape-shifter, and besides, he had to somehow adapt to the environment. He took the form of a tall stallion with red fur, with powerful membranous wings, white mane, and green eyes. He lived near a small village, Ponyville. He hid his true identity, didn't talk to anyone until one day he met her. She worked in Canterlot as the night guard. She was then in Ponyville to visit her family living in the village. A very beautiful, brave and strong mare, a bat pony named Ritta. She had a raven-black coat, her mane was light purple, had characteristic membranous wings, a cutie mark representing two crossed sword blades, and blue eyes with vertical pupils. When they first met, there was a thing called love at first sight. They fell in love almost immediately. Ritta and Ar'gahl became lovers. They often went on dates together, and there were also situations when a demon sneaked into Canterlot Castle to visit her at work, which almost always ended up being caught by the other guards and put in front of the sleepy Princess Celestia, who started to get tired of the lover's excesses and decided to ignore him because there was simply too much. This fact made it possible for the demon to enter and leave the castle whenever he wanted, and the guards were not to try to capture him, because this did not lead to anything. He was a demon, and then there was no way to capture him. Ritta always reprimanded him for such excesses, but as befits a joker, he said that he did nothing wrong and could not wait to see his beautiful beloved. They also confessed their most secrets. She loved him and accepted him as he was and didn't mind him being a demon. The day they got married finally came. They lived together in Canterlot, the capital of Equestria. It was good for both of them, especially since Ritta worked in the night watch at the royal castle. After a few months, however, Ritta was given a medical leave, as it turned out that she was pregnant. Both she and her husband were delighted to learn that they would become parents. Ar'gahl took care of her by bringing her breakfast to bed, showing her more attention than usual and looking forward to the day when he would see his son.

The day has come when Ritta gave birth to a little baby foal with a faded black fur color, membranous wings, snowy white mane, and blue eyes. After the birth of the baby, the married couple was very happy. They named the baby Demonic Wing, although the baby's mother preferred to call him Wingy. When Ar'gahl held his little son in his arms and when he first heard him speak: "dada!" tears flew from his eyes. It was the day he understood what it means to love and that he was able to do it. Tears from the eyes of a demon is an unusual sight, and certainly tears of emotion. At that moment he just wanted to protect him and wanted the best for him and his wife. But their happiness did not last long. About a month after Wingy was born, Archdemon himself knocked on the couple's door with his soldiers. He wanted to kidnap their child because he sensed in him an extremely powerful force that he could use to assign himself to the inhabitants of the Abyss, as well as worlds beyond. Ar'gahl could not do anything because he had no chance with the demons belonging to the self-proclaimed ruler of the Abyss. Weakened and wounded Ar'gahl could only watch how Archdemon takes his child, and the demons brutally murder his wife and make him watch it. Princess Celestia herself found out about the incident. She expressed her condolences to him and felt sorry for him, although he didn't care anymore. He was thinking about what would happen to his child, and he was thinking about revenge. The news of this incident spread throughout almost all of Equestria, and society began to fear demons. Many of them even accused Ar'gahl of being guilty of the death of his wife and perhaps even his child, who had been kidnapped. So a year went by until the grouping was formed. The Demon Hunters Guild, which hunts these creatures. Equestria became dangerous for these creatures, so Ar'gahl returned to the Abyss.

For more than nineteen years Demonic Wing was trained in the Abyss as a warrior. Already at the age of five, he was forced to fight other demons, and his helpless father couldn't do anything because he was forbidden to meet him. He could only watch with tears in his eyes as the demons mercilessly beat his son, attack him, and inflict the worst possible punishment if he refused to train or just failed. But the day has come when he has had enough of this helplessness. All he wanted was to help his son. Give him a chance for a normal life, give him a childhood. He just wanted him to be happy. Something his dead wife would probably want too. He trained in combat for many years, and developed his demonic abilities and waited for the right moment to save his son. Such a moment came unexpectedly. The demons guarding his son lost their vigilance, so he ran away to rest for a while. Perhaps this was the only opportunity. That day he helped him escape from the Abyss and gave him a second chance for a normal life, but most of all for a new, carefree childhood.

Demon's Child

Chapter 1: Nightmare Moon

Nightmare Moon slept in her bed. Moon's coat was black, her mane waved and looked like a starry sky. She had a horn on her head, wings had turquoise eyes, was very tall, and had a crescent moon cutie mark, surrounded by purple spots. Her roommate and good friend, Twilight Sparkle, had a purple coat, her mane was dark blue, with some purple and pink. She was an ordinary unicorn and was therefore of average height. It was about eleven am. Twilight Sparkle was in the kitchen upstairs, making breakfast for herself and her roommate. Twilight's house was, in fact, a giant tree with a hollowed-out apartment and library inside. Twilight's room was on the second floor, the kitchen, bathroom and dining room on the first floor, while the library was on the ground floor. Nightmare Moon bed was in the Twilight's room. It was much larger than the bed of a purple unicorn. It was covered with a black, warm blanket. There were three large pillows with star patterns sewn on. The blanket was black, with a huge crescent in the middle. Next to Moon's bed was a mannequin with her armor made of blue steel. She hadn't worn it for over a year, because she was already weaned and was just as uncomfortable for her as any jewelry. Twilight went upstairs to her room after breakfast to wake up the sleeping alicorn. She approached her bed slowly and smiled when she saw her. Moon looked really cute when she was asleep and it was a pity to wake her up. But Twilight couldn't let her sleep all day because they had a very busy day ahead of them.

"Moon, wake up." - She was shaking her, which resulted in the alicorn said something in her sleep and started snoring. Twilight sighed hard. - "Same thing again." - She started making another attempt to wake her up. It was never easy because Moon had a really hard dream. - "Come on, lazymare. Are you getting up or not? I made you breakfast." - After a while, the alicorn yawned, opened his turquoise eyes and looked at her. - "Finally. How much?" - Twilight smiled at her, which made a smile on Moon's face too. - "Good morning, Your Highness."

Alicorn laughed quietly. - "Good morning, little one." - She yawned again. - "Why are you waking me up?"

"You didn't think I'd let you sleep all day."

"Why not?"

The unicorn shook its head and giggled - "Oh, you love it, don't you? We have a lot of things to do today." - Twilight was headed for the stairs. - "Breakfast is ready, Moon."

"Okay."

When the unicorn came out of the room, Moon yawned again, lay down for about a minute and then got up. A horn on her head lighted up, and after a while, the bed on which she was lying was nicely covered. She opened a window to ventilate the room, then went down to the kitchen for breakfast, where Twilight was already. She sat down in the chair and started eating delicious toasts, drinking the coffee she was addicted to. She drank so much of it that Twilight was wondering if she could rehabilitate her. Strangely enough, the alicorn could easily fall asleep after it. The coffee just didn't impact her, and Moon drank it because she liked it.

"Did you sleep well, Moonie?" - She asked Twilight.

"Yeah." - Alicorn drank coffee. - "You mentioned that we have a lot of things to do."

"Yes. We have to clean up the whole house today, including the library."

"Oh, shit..." - Moon sighed hard. - "And besides this?"

"Besides, you have to go shopping. I'll make you a list and write what you need to buy on it."

"Alright." - Moon started eating the next toast. - "Once everything's done, I'll go to Rarity's for the scarf she was going to make for me. And then... I'm gonna take a little walk."

"Moon, but you know it's gonna get darker by then?"

"I need to collect my thoughts, Twi, and... Be alone for a while."

"Hey..." - Twilight put her hoof on her shoulder. - "What is it?"

"Nothing, I just... It doesn't matter. I don't want to talk about it."

"Okay. I'm not pressing on."

Twilight didn't really know what Moon was thinking about. She didn't know that alicorn felt empty inside. Moon dreamt of being loved by someone. Not only by her sisters, Luna and Celestia, who lived in Canterlot, but also by that the only one or little foal who would call her mom. She wanted a child for a very long time, but in her present situation, it was impossible. All the stallions were afraid of her and the adoption was also out of the question due to the fact that she was a monster in the eyes of most of the inhabitants, especially foals. All she wanted was acceptance by others and love. She was saddened and sighing hard. The feeling of being rejected was killing her, she felt like she was about cry, but she suppressed it in herself. Alicorn lived with Twilight in Ponyville to convince the locals somehow. But unfortunately, nothing has changed for over two years. Everyone was still afraid of her. Except for the Elements of Harmony, which she liked very much. The most ironic thing was that they were once supposed to be her doom, today they were her friends and she wanted to protect them. She liked her roommate Twilight, who she was with the longest. However the most she liked Fluttershy, a pegasus with pale yellow hair, cyan eyes and a light pink mane, with which she spent much of her time. This resulted in the Moon becoming very attached to her and visiting her almost every day. Pegasus taught the alicorn gentleness, kindness, and contributed greatly to the fact that Moon softened and was no longer as she was before.

After breakfast, Moon took a basket and shopping list with her and went out shopping. She walked through Ponyville and the locals looked at her with anxiety and fear. She wasn't so worried about it as she was already used to it, although she didn't really want it to be like that. She stopped for a moment and looked at Canterlot Castle. She thought of her sisters living there, Luna and Celestia. The sisters who always supported her took care of her when she returned.

This happened about two years ago when Princess Luna returned to Equestria, who was turned into Nightmare Moon. She wanted to bring eternal night to the world and make it never dawn again. However, her plans were crushed by the Elements of Harmony. Twilight Sparkle, representing the Element of Magic. Rarity, representing Generosity. Applejack Honesty. Pinkie Pie, Laughter. Fluttershy, Kindness. And Rainbow Dash representing Loyalty. They came to the Castle of the Two Sisters in Everfree Forest to defeat her. It happened that Princess Luna was disenchanted, and Nightmare Moon was gone, in fact... They just thought so. Nightmare Moon was separated from Luna's body and existed as a shadow entity that held close to Luna. She was something of a second consciousness. Moon wanted to possess Luna again so she could bring eternal night once again, but... She couldn't. Nightmare Moon began to regain her physical form, slowly and gradually. The day came when the Princess of the Night herself noticed her. But she told her older sister nothing. Instead... She tried to talk to the Moon. She showed her compassion and understanding and talked to her. Months went by, and Luna hid that her theoretically evil part survived. Theoretically, because through her time with Luna, Nightmare Moon softened. The subjects of their conversations were going down from more serious to looser every day, which made them like each other very much. She no longer wanted to bring eternal night, as she was convinced by her sister that the effects would be mourned. It would get colder and colder. All plants and animals would start to die because of the lack of sunlight. Everything alive would freeze to the bone and die. Nevertheless, she still hated Celestia and would even be willing to kill her as soon as she regained her physical form.

Luna told Celestia about Moon after some time. The Princess of the Sun was not happy, she considered her a threat. She was going to trap her on the moon so she would never be a threat again. But Luna stopped her, begged her older sister to give her a second chance and thought about it. Celestia agreed. There was a moment when the process of regaining physical form was going to over. Moon was screaming and crying in pain as her internal organs, bones, skin slowly reshaped. Luna and Celestia were with her, supporting her psychologically, and trying to relieve the pain that was indescribable with spells. After regaining physical form, which lasted for hours, the black alicorn lost consciousness. When she was unconscious, they put on her anti-magic collar for fear that she might hurt someone. The Princess of the Sun was the most vulnerable because she was hated by the black alicorn. Moon spent an enormous amount of time in the castle hospital, she had to recover after regaining physical form. Recovering her body was an extremely painful process for her, and it was through this that she developed post-traumatic stress. However, she was not alone. Celestia and Luna took care of her, often helping the nurses who could take care of other patients. Moon was often alone with Celestia, whom she hated, but... Hatred was slowly fading away. The Princess of the Sun took care of her younger sister, helped her. As time passed, Moon began to trust them both more and more. She talked to them more openly and no longer felt as disgusted with Celestia herself as she once did and even started to like her. The day finally came when the Princess of the Sun herself took off her anti-magic collar. She said that she trusts her and love her very much, and then she gently hugged her. Moon was stunned, she didn't know what to do. First, tears flew out of her eyes, and then she also hugged Celestia. She was at home. She loved her and trusted her too. She no longer felt any hatred or disgust towards her. She was filled with love for her older sister.

"Home..." - She said, sighing, and then she moved on to the marketplace.

When she got to the marketplace, she went shopping. She bought everything that was on the list and was about to come back when she saw Applejack selling apples, ciders and apple pies. She was a mare with orange hair, blonde mane, green eyes, freckles on her face and a characteristic hat. Moon smiled at the sight of her friend and started to approach her, which attracted her attention.

"Who do I see? Nightmare Moon, in her own, gloomy person!" - AJ said.

"Applejack, as usual, with a talk and too long a tongue." - Moon said, smiling sneakily at her.

"Hey! That was a low blow, pardner."

"And that's what the mare said who brought out the first blow." - They both laughed happily. - "How's a business going?"

"Welp. It's going well." - AJ shrugged her shoulders. - "How are you doin'?"

"Eh, nothing new. It's the old way."

"Tell me, Moonie... Have you found someone yet?"

Moon looked at her with sadness. - "I wish... Pardner."

AJ felt a little ashamed. She said something that might hurt her friend. - "Moon, I... I'm sorry." - She said, with a little scare. She talked to Nightmare Moon herself.

"That's okay." - After those words, AJ calmed down a little.

"It's still killing you?"

"Yeah." - She answered briefly.

"I can only guess. But... You see, I haven't found a boyfriend or anything either."

"I see. And somehow you don't care about that."

"Yeah."

"Tell me, how do you do it? You're not sad about that? Don't you feel inner emptiness or something?"

"Nah! I just don't give a shit about romances and such affairs."

Moon laughed. - "I envy you. I want to look at the world through your eyes."

"Yeah. You buying something?"

Moon thought about it for a while. There was plenty to choose from at Applejack stall. Apple pies, honey apples, cakes, ciders, juices, and lots of other goodies. - "Uh, give me a bottle of cider."

"Our client our master." - Applejack gave her a bottle of cider, and Moon started to make a purse to pay her. - "No need, Moonie. It's on the house."

Moon paid for it anyway, gave her ten gold coins. - "Take it. I don't want to be in debt later."

"You're stubborn." - Applejack shook her head and accepted the payment.

"I know." - She put a bottle of cider in the basket, wanted to go home, but then...

"Moonie."

"What?"

"Look, I... I may be single too, but... I can give you some advice."

"I'm listening."

"Give yourself time. Don't try to find that only one by force. Love will come alone, but it takes patience."

"Hmm..." - Alikorn thought for a moment. Her friend was making sense. - "You're right, pardner. But I don't know if I can."

"Well, well. The great and powerful Nightmare Moon wouldn't?"

Moon laughed and shake her head. - "Ah, screw you."

"Think about it."

"I'll think about it. Take care, cowgirl." - Moon winked and started walking away.

"Very funny, you moon hangover."

"I know, peasant."

Applejack laughed quietly. "Please, Moon. Don't change." She thought. She watched the alicorn go away, and she got a little sad. She really knew why Moon was so depressed. Not only because she didn't have a partner, but also because her friend had an inner emptiness that a little foal, her baby, could fill. Actually, Applejack didn't know if that was it. She also didn't know why she wanted to be a mother so much. She could only guess. Maybe it was that Moon had an inner need to take care of someone? Or maybe she just wanted to be loved? She couldn't answer any of those questions. She couldn't get a clear answer because she wasn't one hundred percent sure.

Moon came home from shopping. She was helping Twilight clean up the rest of that day. Alicorn had to clean their room, kitchen, and part of the library. The unicorn, on the other hoof, took care of the dusting of the shelves and putting the books back on the cleaned shelves. As far as cleaning the toilet is concerned, it was unfortunate for Spike, Twilight Sparkle's dragon's assistant had to clean that room. He was small, his scales were purple, green spikes grew on his head, neck, back, and tail. His eyes were also green. Nightmare Moon spent a lot of time with Spike too. She helped him with his duties, which were imposed on him by Twilight. Alicorn claimed that Spike was overworked by Twilight and that she often exaggerated. Sometimes Spike would sit on the couch with Moon and talk to her. He told her what's on his mind. How he feels, what makes him nervous, and alicorn listened, gave him advice, or hugged him when the little dragon couldn't stand it and just started crying. When they finished cleaning up, it was already dark outside, the dark blue night sky was covered with thousands of flickering stars, and in the center was a giant moon, lighting up Equestria a little bit. They had dinner together, washed in the bathroom one by one and then prepared to sleep. But Moon wasn't going to sleep that night. Oh, no. She left home when Spike and Twilight were asleep and went for a little walk. She just needed to think things over and she had absolutely expected that night would change her life forever.

Chapter 2: The great escape

The Abyss. A gargantuan landscape, an endless, barren wasteland, where from time to time there were some ruins, dried trees and grasses, and small villages and towns where demons belonging to different tribes lived. Despite the darkness there, everything was clearly visible. In the darkest corners of that place, there was one giant building. The Palace of Archdemon, the self-proclaimed ruler of the Abyss. A huge, pitch-black castle, bigger than Canterlot and Griffonstone put together. Powerful walls, tall, sharp towers and extremely ghostly sculptures depicting terrifying, horned creatures, with long claws and ragged, membranous wings. In the Abyss, due to the lack of sun, or any other star, there was still impenetrable darkness, in which the roars and screams of creatures like from the hell could be heard. Outside the castle walls, there was a kind of arena, where demons fought each other and tested their abilities, although at that time the arena itself and the surrounding areas were empty.

Demonic Wing was lying on one of the destroyed buildings that were full of them in this cursed place. He was half pony and half-demon. His coat was faded black, white mane, huge membranous wings, and glowing yellow eyes with vertical pupils. On his body, there were numerous bruises, scratches and bite marks from battles with other demons, and many traces of torture. He lay on the roof of the ruins of the house and rested, breathing heavily. He was completely exhausted. For over two days he had been fighting in the arena by order of Archdemon, whom he called his father and only now could he rest. He could not oppose him, because then he would be doomed to something much worse than fighting in the arena. He could be whipped again with a fiery whip, or burned with a red-hot iron. He would lie there, looking angrily towards the castle. He hated his fate. He wanted to escape from the Abyss but was afraid of the consequences. He knew what the punishments here were for disobedience or failure. But what would happen if he tried to escape? Then he'd probably be sentenced to torture, but to one that lasted over a thousand years and much worse. Although he escaped from the castle to rest had some consequences, but he didn't care anymore. And so he fought in the arena every day, and the next torture wouldn't make any difference to him. He wanted to rest for at least those few minutes. His ears moved, catching the sound of the slow steps. He raised his head and saw a pony walking towards him. He was similar to himself, but his coat was red and his eyes were green, while the mane was the same color. He had seen him much earlier, as he watched him, or simply followed him. Demonic Wing stood up, growling furiously showing rows of sharp, back-curved teeth. He spread his wings, climbed up and landed just in front of a stranger.

"Who are you?" - Demonic Wing asked, preparing for the attack, showing sharp teeth and growling angrily. The stranger showed no fear. Wing felt he was a demon and the look of a pony was just an illusion.

"Hello, my son." - The stranger said, smiling friendly. - "You have grown up. If your mother could see you now." - The smile was gone from his face.

Wing was confused. - "Who the fuck are you? Answer me or you'll be fucking dead. And believe me, I still got a lot of strength."

"Calm down." - He got closer to him. - "Don't you recognize me?"

"I've seen you sometimes. You followed me, you watched me. Who are you? Are you some kind of spy? A pervert?"

"No." - He sighed hard. - "My name is Ar'gahl. And I am your father."

Wing laughed mockingly. - "Great. Maybe you should wear a cape and a helmet to cover your whole face."

"I'm telling the truth. Son, it's me. Your dad."

"Why don't I believe you? I don't know you, I don't know who you are."

"Because you don't remember me. And also you don't remember your mother." - Ar'gahl dropped his head down. Wing sensed that the red stallion was in pain. The pain of loss, and his previous words... Were truly honest. Wing calmed down a little and didn't want to tear the stranger to pieces anymore. - "Son..." - He looked at him again. - "Let me show you."

"But what?"

At this moment, Ar'gahl touched his forehead with his hoof. Wing was no longer in the Abyss. Instead, he was now standing on a green meadow, the setting sun was hitting him in the eye, and he... He saw it. He saw some mare, this red stallion, but... He also saw a little baby foal between them. Wing was stunned, that little foal, it was him. The vision suddenly broke away, he saw Ar'gahl's face in front of him, he looked around confused. He was in the Abyss again.

"Now you believe me?"

Wing swallowed his saliva and looked at his father confused. - "D-dad... Is that you?" - He blinked a few times and now... His eyes were normal, blue.

"You felt it. You felt the bond between us, didn't you?" - He touched his cheek. - "You have the same color of eyes as your mother. Except that... She had vertical pupils."

Wing took his hoof off his face. - "Tell me something... One thing. Did you abandon me? You didn't want me?" - He asked him directly.

"What?"

"That what you heard." - Wing frowned his eyebrows. His eyes were yellow again and had vertical pupils. - "I've been in the Abyss since I can remember. Every fucking day I have to train, fight, and if I don't want to, I have to be tortured."

"S-son. Please, listen to me."

"Listen to what?!" - He roared furiously, Ar'gahl went back. - "Your apology? Explaining why you abandoned me and asking for forgiveness!?"

"We didn't abandon you." - He looked at his son. - "We would never do that. They took you away from us." - After those words, his son calmed down a little.

"Who?" - Although Wing guessed it could have been Archdemon because he only remembers him and his demons.

"Archdemon." - Ar'gahl took a break for a while. - "He took you away from us, he killed your mother and... Well, you know the rest of the story."

Although Demonic Wing heard that his mother was dead, it didn't move him that much. It was because he didn't know her. When he thought about it, he felt a slight disgust to himself, but the feeling was suppressed. - "Why didn't you take me away from him?"

"Because I couldn't. If I did, Archdemon would have killed me and I wouldn't have any chance to help you. Now is the chance. I will help you."

"How?"

"First we'll escape from the Abyss."

"They'll know right away. There's no way we're gonna make it."

"You sure?" - Ar'gahl touched his son's forehead, and then a blue light flashed for a short while. - "Ready."

"What did you do?"

"I camouflaged you. No demon can sense you anymore. Your power, your presence, or the fact that you ran away."

"How long it works?"

"Forever. It's kind of a curse, but... With a positive effect. And it affects you because you're half-mortal. And this curse is kind of, uh..."

"Immunity?" - His son finished.

"Exactly."

"Hm." - Wing nodded. - "So what are we waiting for? Let's get the hell out of here as soon as possible."

"Come on, follow me. I know a shorter way."

Ar'gahl passed by him, and Demonic Wing followed him. Finally. At last, he'll get away from this place. He followed his father and thought. About his real mom, about what the world looks like outside the Abyss. Oh, yes. Ever since he remembered, he's dreamt of seeing what's beyond the abyss. He was fascinated by it and felt a kind of excitement that he would finally see something completely new. Or at least new to him.

Nightmare Moon sat on the river shore in the middle of the forest, looking at the passing water and touching it with her hoof from time to time. She sat and thought about various things. She thought about what was happening today and wanted to summarize it in her head. A whole day of cleaning up has tired her. But it could have been worse because at least she didn't have to clean the toilet. On the other hoof, she felt sorry for Spike that he had to clean the toilet. She was thinking about the scarf that Rarity was supposed to do for her and take it, but... She forgot about it anyway. She didn't care anymore. "I can take it tomorrow, nothing bad is gonna happen, right?" Her thoughts went down to the market, and to that what she bought. Everything that was on the list, and cider from Applejack. "Damn, I'd love to sip it now. One time or a thousand times." She thought. If she got drunk on it, I guess all her sorrows would be gone for that one short while. But she also knew that this way she opened the door to her addiction to alcohol. What then? The stopping for some time, the addiction getting into trouble, ending up at AA meetings. No. It was a very bad idea. It was enough that she was a coffee addict that didn't work on her anyway and could fall asleep without any problems, even if she drank over five liters. She also remembered what she talked to Applejack about. She started to think again about motherhood, about wanting to be a mother. These thoughts attacked her repeatedly and made her mad. Her friend's words "Give yourself time. Don't try to find that only one by force. Love will come alone, but it takes patience." and Applejack was right. Moon tried to convince her of those words, to overcome her thoughts, which attacked her from all fronts, "Well, well. The great and powerful Nightmare Moon wouldn't?"

"Shut your mouth..." - Moon said through her clenched teeth.

She was now irritated, but she did it. She managed to convince herself of those words. Applejack was right. There was no sense in looking for the only one by force. All she needed was time and patience. Yes, that's what she needed, that sweet relief. Those thoughts kept attacking her, but now she's the one setting the conditions. Now, she was the one who decided how to steer herself, not those cursed, intrusive thoughts. She felt a little proud. "I wouldn't? Ha! Surprise, my dear blondie." She thought, smiling with satisfaction. She finally stopped worrying about all that. She looked at the moon shining in the sky and the stars flickering around it. The night was beautiful, despite slight cloudiness and the cold around her, which was pleasant for her. It was cold, but not too cold. She felt good, she was finally free. She took a deep breath, then let the air out of her mouth, and the steam started to rise in the air, which disappeared after a while. She now felt refreshed by the cool, night air. She started playing with the water again. That night she won't be home soon, oh no. Despite the inner peace she finally managed to achieve, she felt deeply that something would happen that night. She didn't know what was going to happen but... She didn't care so much about it. The most important thing now was that she finally really felt free.

They were standing by a river running through a dense forest. Demonic Wing looked at the moon and the stars with amazement and unbelief. His father waited and wanted to give time for his son to get used to the new situation. Wing approached the water, touched it. He went back a little when he did so, and after a while, he touched it again. He turned his head slightly to the right, and then he brought his mouth closer to it and drank it. He felt refreshed, he laughed, and looked at the Ar'gahl who was just sitting there and smiling at him.

"It's amazing. This water is so clean and beautiful." - Wing looked around. - "Dad, it's so beautiful here and... I... I don't know what to say."

"You're welcome, son."

"Uh... I haven't thanked you yet, but... I'll do it now. Thank you." - He said with gratitude in his voice.

"You see... You don't have much to thank me for yet, Wingy."

"Hm? What... How did you call me?"

"Never mind. I just wanted to help you."

"And... You did it, Dad. We escaped from the Abyss, I... I'm grateful to you. What else could you do for me?"

Ar'gahl looked at him with sadness. - "Something your mother would probably want. And something that I'd like to do too."

"What?"

"To give you a childhood. A real childhood."

"Ch-childhood?"

"Yes."

Wing's ears dropped, and he sighed. - "There is one problem, Dad. My childhood is long gone and it wasn't an idyll."

"But I can make you live it again."

"How?"

"It's simple." - Ar'gahl got up and approached the river. - "I will rejuvenate you, then I will clear your memory and... I'll give you to the foster family."

"W-wait... You want to leave me?"

"You wouldn't be safe with me, son. If Archdemon finds out you're gone, I'm sure I'll be the first person he comes to." - He looked at him. - "I've waited a long time for the right chance to get you out of the abyss and give you a second chance to live a normal life."

Demonic Wing was saddened. He looked at his father, his eyes were now blue, normal. - "There's no other way out?"

"You can go back to the Abyss, but... I doubt you would."

"But why do you need to clear my memory?"

Ar'gahl sighed and touched his arm. - "I don't want you to live with those memories. I don't want you to be haunted every night by the nightmares of the torture of the Abyss and the executioners who tortured you."

Wing looked at him. He walked up to the Ar'gahl, then he hugged him tightly, closing his eyes. - "Thank you, Dad."

"So you agree." - He said, also embracing his son.

"Yes." - Wing let him go and looked him right in the eyes. - "I'm ready. Do it."

"Okay. Stand still and don't resist."

"Wait, before you do that, I want to ask you something."

"I'm listening."

"Tell me... Why did you call me Wingy?"

Ar'gahl smiled. - "That's the name your mom chose. It's the name she chose because of your wings."

"My mom? A... What was her name?"

"Ritta. I loved her very much. And she loved you very much too. If she saw you now, I bet she'd hug you tight and never let you go."

Wing laughed, and tears came out of his eyes. - "Mama..." - He sniffed with his nose, trembled, took a deep breath and looked at his father. - "I love her very much too."

"I know." - He looked at the moon, then again at his son, who wiped away his tears. - "Are you ready?" - His son just nodded. - "Okay."

Ar'gahl raised his right hoof with a yellow bright light. Demonic Wing started to get smaller and smaller. After a short while, he was already a small foal, about eight years old. The light disappeared from his father's hoof, Wingy approached the slow running river and looked at his reflection.

"I'm so small." - His eyes widened in a slight shock. His voice now sounded childish. - "What now?"

"Now go to sleep." - He raised his right hoof and then the foal fell to the ground. He was breathing slowly and calmly. He approached his son, then touched his forehead. A bright blue light was flashing and it disappeared after a while. Ar'gahl cleared his memory. - "Now everything will be fine. I promise." - Wingy was wounded. He wanted to heal his wounds, but... He sensed a hostile presence in the air.

"Oh, yeah, everything's gonna be fine." - He heard it behind him. He turned around and saw a tall horned creature standing in the shade of the trees, with long hooked claws, a pair of powerful bat wings and red eyes shining in the dark. The figure emerged from the shadow. It was Archdemon himself, a nasty person. - I knew it was you. Who else would care about that little brat?" - Archdemon's right hand turned into a long, straight blade reflecting the moonlight.

"He is not a brat. He's my son."

"Oh, how cute." - Archdemon laughed mockingly. - "You had your chance, fool. You were a good soldier. But nothing is lost yet. Give him back to me, and maybe I'll let it all go and even reward you somehow."

"No. I will never take your side again, you damn viper."

"You're right. You'll never do it again." - He smiled sinisterly. - "Any last words before you die?"

"You're gonna pay for what you did to Ritta, fucker!"

Ar'gahl has been in a combat position. First, he started to get taller, long sharp claws grew from his front hooves. His green eyes turned completely black, his coat started to darken and the mane seemed to be more jagged and dirty now. Archdemon saw this and moved back in slight fear, to attack after a while. He ran up to the stallion bringing out a quick cut, Ar'gahl jumped away, roared furiously and charged his opponent. He stabbed the claws in Archdemon's stomach and arm while biting into his throat. Archdemon started stabbing the stallion with a blade on his chest and to his surprise, it did not make any impression on the stallion. Ar'gahl was so angered at that moment, so furious that he didn't pay attention to the pain. He was led by the will of revenge for the death of his wife and the kidnapping and torture of his only child. Ar'gahl bit his right arm into the torturer's right shoulder, then, with an extremely loud crackle, he broke off his arm and retreated. He held in his teeth the hand of Archdemon himself, who now fell to his knees and looked at his opponent with anger but also fear. The stallion opened his jaws, dropping his bitten hand and began to approach his kneeling opponent slowly. Ar'gahl stood on his hind legs, instead of hooves on front legs he now had hands with long claws. With his left hand, he grabbed Archdemon by the throat and then raised him, while his right hand turned into a long blade which he measured into his chest.

Archdemon laughed mockingly. - "You can't save him." - He said, looking Ar'gahl straight into his black eyes. - "You'll kill me. So what? You die too." - Ar'gahl trembled, feeling a sudden chest pain that began to spread throughout his entire body. He dropped Archdemon and went back. He looked at his left hand, which slowly began to disintegrate. Small particles of his body began to float from it and the next ones were bigger with every second. - "Too bad. What now? You'll gonna cr..." - Ar'gahl cut off his head, which fell on the grass. His opponent's body fell and turned to dust after a while.

Ar'gahl was dying. He received too many blows that weakened him and caused terrible pain. He started to get smaller and was now in his normal body. His coat was red again, the mane was completely white and his eyes were green with normal pupils. He looked at his son and approached him, touched his head and gently stroke his mane. He wanted to take him to his new family, to an orphanage, anywhere, but... He couldn't. He wouldn't have had enough power, he'd have fallen apart before he'd flew ten meters. From his right hoof, grew claws again, he approached the tree and picked up a big piece of wood. He carved a small cavity in a piece of wood, creating a kind of boat. He put a little Wingy on this boat, then put it on the water. Wingy was floating away, and the Ar'gahl almost disintegrated. Bigger and bigger pieces were coming out of his body, and they were floating and disappearing. He was only hoping now that everything would be all right, but... This thought was overshadowed by his fears of what could happen. "Damn, what if he falls into the water? If he drowns? And... What if nobody finds him, or at least, nobody good?" he thought. Tears flew from his eyes. Nothing else he could do. After a while, he disintegrated completely. He was gone, and the dust that used to be Archdemon was blown away by a cold wind.

Chapter 3: Silent night

Night. a silent, starry night. The tree crowns were moved by the cold, night wind. Different sounds came out of the forest, such as crickets, wolf howling or deer screaming. There was a lazy river running through the forest and there was a kind of a boat with a little foal, Wingy, on it. His father, Ar'gahl, is dead. He abandoned him, but it was for his good, though it depends on how you looked at it. Wingy could find someone good, be taken home surrounded by love and a warm blanket. Or he could find someone evil who would not treat him well, instead, he would be treated as worthless trash, humiliated and the little one would be almost completely helpless. Everything was under a gigantic question mark. But it happened that the little one started to open his blue eyes, he felt as if he was swayed by the current of the river, which seemed to flow faster and faster, more and more aggressively as if it wanted to communicate to him in this way so that he would wake up "Get up! Don't sleep! Otherwise, I'll knock this boat over and wake you up myself!" It seemed like that's what the river would say if it was a living thing. The little boat was swaying, and that's how it could make him nauseous. Wingy blinked a few times, raised his head and started looking around. He didn't know how he got here. Where he was and... Who was he? He started to wonder, he didn't remember anything, just very faint flashbacks that something else might have happened before. But what? He didn't know the answer to that, it frustrated him, "Where am I and... Who am I? How did I get here? And... Why I feel pain on my body?" These questions sounded in his head, but he couldn't answer them in any way. He started looking around nervously, the thing that looked like the boat he was on now was rocking more and more. The little one was scared, he was getting worse and worse at staying on a wooden object that suddenly hit something, the boat overturned and he fell into the icy water that started to drag him mercilessly down "I finally got you, little brat!" would probably say a river that started to drown him. The little one started screaming, calling for someone to help him. The water was so terribly cold, even biting and causing even more pain to his wounds.

"H-Help me!" - He cried out loudly, trying to not drown. - "Please, somebody help me!"

He cried out again when the water dragged him under its surface again, the little one emerged from time to time, gaining at least a little bit of life-giving oxygen, but it didn't do much anyway as he submerged again. He called out, he was getting weaker and weaker. Cold water effectively weakened him and cooled his body. He had already lost any hope that someone would come, but... Someone heard him cry out. As he fell to the bottom of the river, he began to rise and was pulled out of the water, but... He lost consciousness, didn't know who it was.

Nightmare Moon pulled the foal out of the water with her magic and put the little one on the grass, nervously breathing. He was unconscious, not breathing. - "Kid." - She shook him. - "Kid, you hear me? Dammit..." - She must have acted quickly. Her horn shone, and she started resuscitating him with her magic. "One, two, three, four, five..." She was counting in her mind, pressing down on his chest. Some water flew out of the foal's mouth, but he didn't wake up. With her magic, she let some air into his lungs and then started to compress his chest again with her magic. "One, two, three, four, five..." She was counting again, being more and more nervous. The little one didn't wake up, he was still unconscious. What if she can't save him? What if she's the one who will be charged with this child's death? It was very likely. All suspicions would fall on her immediately. "Fifteen, sixteen, seventeen, come on, don't do this to me! Don't go away! Breathe." She started to lose hope of helping him at all when the foal suddenly coughed. He spits water out of his mouth and started to breathe, Moon breathed with relief, went back a little and watched. The little one got up on his shaky legs, trembling and then looked at Moon. His eyes widened slightly but showed no fear, more surprise, and something like curiosity.

She approached him a little bit, the little one wanted to go back, but he sat down or actually fell. He was all shaking, breathing hard. She noticed a lot of scars, scratches, cuts and poorly visible but still visible bruises and even burns on his body. She frowned her eyebrows, looking at him more closely. She wondered who could have done this to him, "Who could be such a son of a bitch to hurt a foal? And in such way?" She thought, feeling angry, but she was still calm. The little one sneezed, Moon's horn shone, and after a short while she materialized the warm, purple blanket she covered him with. - "It's okay, don't be afraid. You're safe." - She said, touching his forehead with her hoof. "It's cold as ice. Shit, I'll better get him out of here." She thought.

"W-who are y-y-you?" - He asked, looking at her weakened.

"I am... Nightmare Moon." - She was a little surprised by that question. How could he not know who she was? She was known in whole Equestria. - "You don't know who I am?"

"N-no..." - He was all trembling. - "I-I-I... I-I-I don't even know who I am." - He curled up. - "It's so cold. It hurts..."

She picked him up and let him cuddle up in her warm coat to keep him warm. - "You almost drowned. I saved you. Little one, tell me, where does it hurt?"

"Here..." - He said, pointing at his chest. - "And I can't breathe well..."

Moon was very concerned, but she still decided to stay calm. She wrapped him in a blanket more tightly, still holding him and pressing him to her chest. She spread her wings and started flying towards Ponyville. - "I'll take you to the hospital, okay?"

"O-okay..." - He said, trembling and quietly sobbing. - "T-t-thank you."

She smiled when she heard those words. - "Don't thank me yet, kiddo. When we get to the hospital, then you can thank me." - She didn't hear any answer from him and actually, she didn't expect one.

She flew very fast, she felt how cold wind is whipping mercilessly on her face, but luckily she was one hundred percent sure that the foal she had now in her arms would not freeze. The blanket she wrapped him with was extremely hermetic and retained heat very well. "Poor child." She thought. She was wondering what made him not know her. In a way, she was happy. This foal, whose name she didn't even know, was the first person (not counting, of course, the Elements of Harmony and her sisters) who didn't react to her screaming in terror. "Sweet Celestia, where did all these wounds come from? Who hurts him so? Shit, if only now I could find the fucker who did this to him." She got another wave of fury when she thought about it. She was wondering what this little boy deserved to be treated like that. She had a certain thought. "And if he lost his memory because... Someone cleaned it out and just abandoned him?" He could also have been kidnapped by slavers, pedophiles, or he could have escaped from his home, where he was treated like nothing worthy of trash and lost his memory in some unexplained way. If he remembered nothing at all. Actually, there were many possibilities of what could have happened to him. The anger disappeared suddenly, and in its place, there was sadness and compassion. If that's true, the little one had no one now, he was completely alone. And that means she could take him in, but... She wasn't one hundred percent sure if that would be a good decision. She wanted to have a child, that's true, but... Now that she was thinking about it, she realized she might not be ready for it. She looked at him. He was curled up, he was still breathing and he was still trembling a little and he was probably in a lot of pain from the water in his lungs. But it was better. She will soon fly to Ponyville, take him to the hospital and there they will help him. "I won't let you die."

"ma'am..." - She heard. The foal's voice was very quiet, trembling and so helpless. There were pain and a clear fear in it. - "W-what's happening?"

"Shhh. Take it easy. We're going to the hospital, everything's gonna be fine."

"It so h-hurts."

"Shhh. I know, little one. Try to hold on a little longer, okay?" - She gently stroke his mane and flew on. She was getting closer and closer to Ponyville, she started to descend her flight and prepare for landing. After a few minutes, she landed, took the little one on her back and started running quickly towards the huge complex. Ponyville Hospital.

Chapter 4: Ponyville's Hospital

The hospital door opened with a loud bang, letting in the cold night air. The receptionist covered his face for a moment to see a tall, shady figure with glowing turquoise eyes and a mane resembling a starry sky. Nightmare Moon immediately approached the reception desk and the pony working in it went back a bit scared. The nurse walking down the hallway suddenly stopped and watched her confused.

"I need a doctor. Now!" - Moon said, breathing very nervously. - "Please! He's barely breathing, he needs help!"

"Wait a minute, but who?" - The confused receptionist asked. Moon showed a soaked, wounded, barely breathing foal on her back. - "My gosh, what happened to him?"

"He was drowning, and I pulled him out of the water and woke him up, but... He's breathing hard, says he's in pain, I don't know what to do."

"He's... Wounded. What's ha..." - He looked at her, and at that moment, his eyes widened in a little fear. - "You did this to him?"

"What? What do you mean?"

"You almost drowned him and... You hurt him?" - The receptionist saying those words, he frowned his eyebrows.

"What makes you think like that?" - He wanted to say something, but... He didn't know what. - "Oh, yes, of course. The evil, cruel Nightmare Moon, huh? Listen, if I did this to him, I wouldn't bring him to this hospital. Will you help me or not? He doesn't look so good and I think he might die."

"Y-yes. I'm so sorry." - He looked at the nurse. - "Redheart, take her to one of the rooms and call a doctor."

"Uh, yes. Princess Nightmare Moon, this way." - The nurse said, starting walking down the hall.

"Thank you. And for the future, save these accusations, okay?" - After those words, Moon followed Redheart, and the Receptionist just sighed and looked at them. It was obvious that he felt remorse now. He promised himself he would apologize to her, but... He won't do it now. He was afraid.

Redheart was leading Moon through the hall. After a while, they went into one of the empty rooms. - "Here we are." - The nurse who came in first said. There were three empty wheeled beds in that room, with one locker each for the patient's belongings. Redheart approached to the third bed and uncovered the duvet from it. - "Put him here, I'll be right back, alright?" - She said, leaving the room and started running.

Moon gently put the little one on the bed and covered it with a duvet. The foal unexpectedly opened its eyes and moaned quietly. - "Miss Moon? W-w-where are..."

She tenderly stroked him on the forehead. - "Shhh. It's okay, little one. We're in the hospital." - He coughed, some water comes out of his mouth and tears flowed from his eyes. He looked weaker and weaker and had more and more trouble with breathing.

"I-it so hurts..." - He moaned and looked at her with a weak eye. - "W-will I die?" - He asked with tears running down his cheeks.

"You won't die, sweetie, I promise. The doctor will come and examine you soon."

"I-I-I'm s-so s-scared."

"I know little one. But you'll see that everything will be fine."

She was gently stroking his white mane, talking to him and comforting him. She wasn't sure if the foal would survive. She was expecting the worst possible scenario in which this child dies, with the false belief that he'll be fine. But still... It was better than telling him he could die. She wanted to comfort him and keep him alive, even if he was going to go to the other side that night. Sitting with him and comforting him, Moon liked him more and more. Actually, she felt like a mother now, though she wasn't, but... It was a really good feeling. But the longer she stayed with him and the more she felt that she likes him, the more was afraid of what would happen to him. Now she couldn't even stand the thought that this poor foal would die. She didn't want it, but... She couldn't do anything. Only doctors who were on their way could help him now. She was sitting, waiting impatiently for the doctors to come. She felt a slight relief because the foal had already calmed down a little and has positive thoughts. She looked towards the opened door and saw the doctor standing in the hallway, who entered the room after a while.

"Y-Your Highness..." - The doctor bowed a little, observing her all the time.

Moon got up and approached him. - "You must help him. Please."

He went back a little. - "Okay, okay. Relax. Redheart told me what happened. Could you tell me the exact course of events?" - He asked when he approached the bed where the foal was lying, and he was going to start doing the first preliminary examination. Listen to the heartbeat and listen to the sound of breathing.

"I sat by the river and heard his cry. I pulled him out of the water, woke him up, did the first aid. You know, Doc. Letting air to his lungs and pressing on his chest."

"Okay." - He started foal's heart beating. - "Did he spit out the water from his lungs?"

"I guess so, but not everything. He said he had chest pain and was getting weaker."

"And where did these wounds come from?" - He gave her the questioning look.

"I don't know. When I pulled him out of the water, he was already hurt. I don't know. He told me he didn't remember anything and... He didn't know who I was."

"What?" - The doctor laughed nervously. - "It's pretty unusual."

"I know. And that's why I wonder what's wrong with him."

"Hmm. Well, I suppose it could be something really serious."

"This loss of memory?"

"Yes. But I can't make one hundred percent clear conclusions until I've done a thorough examination." - The doctor listened to the foal's breath, and then he went back. - "Okay. The heart beats normally, but his breath is terribly wheezing. I'll tell you what happens, Miss Moon. We're taking him to an x-ray, pumping water out of his lungs and for an examination. But as for those gaps in his memory, I have some suspicion of what might have happened."

"What exactly?" - She asked inquisitively.

"First I'll do the tests, and only then I'll explain everything. You'll have to wait in the hallway, okay?" - Moon sighed and nodded. She didn't want to go into this anymore because she knew the foal was in urgent need of help. - "Redheart, you coming with me."

"Yes, Doctor." - The nurse nodded slightly.

The doctor started pushing the bed they left for the corridor. Moon walked by on the right side of the bed, and the nurse on the left. - "Kid, you still there?" - The alicorn asked anxiously.

"M-Miss Moon... P-please don't l-leave me."

"Don't be afraid, little one. It's just for a moment." - She stroked his mane and he closed his eyes.

They got to the door of another room. The doctor told Moon to wait in the hall. It's been over two hours, and she was standing by the window in the hospital corridor looking out the window at the flickering stars. She was still waiting. She was thinking about the foal she saved that night. She was afraid that the doctors might not help him and that the little one would die. She tried to get away with those thoughts, but she couldn't do it effectively. She was a person who was worried about the stock and was very anxious in situations like this. "Come on, Moon. It's nothing. The kid's alive. All the doctors have to do now is take care of him and he'll be fine." She tried to realize that, but... There was a vision in her head of a doctor coming up to her and saying: "Sorry, Your Highness, but we couldn't help him." She often felt a lot of emotion at once, which usually made her look calm, when in fact hundreds of thoughts were running through her head. She was now going one way, the other way. Still, nothing happened, no sounds could be heard from behind the door. What were they doing out there? "Calm down, you stupid mare. Stop worrying so damn much, will be fine." No. It will not. Maybe they didn't manage to save him. The foal may be dead, but the doctor and the nurse are afraid to go out and tell it to her. They might have been afraid of her reaction. It was Nightmare Moon herself. She stopped and looked at the door, getting annoyed and being more and more and more convinced of the fact that this child is dead when suddenly the door opened and the doctor stood in the threshold. She looked at what was behind him. She saw the foal lying on the bed with bandages, he was still alive and seemingly more conscious. She breathed, closing her eyes and feeling a sudden, sweet relief. Redheart took the bed out of the room where he was examined and started pushing it towards the room where the patient was to rest. Moon wanted to follow them, but the doctor stopped her.

"Miss Moon."

"What is it?" - She stopped and turned to him.

"We need to talk. It's urgent."

"Hm. All right. Can you finally explain to me what this is all about?"

"Yes. But before I say what I wanted to say, I'd like to inform you about his condition. We removed water from his lungs, dressed his wounds, gave him antibiotics and..."

"Aaand?"

"He has several broken ribs and a damaged spine."

Moon trembled and frowned her eyebrows. She felt a wave of anger and started wondering who could have done this to him. She would have liked to find the bastard and do justice to herself, but... She didn't know who it was. She was powerless, and she felt a huge frustration that she couldn't do anything. But at that moment she swore to herself that she would find the bastard who hurt that child and make him remember her anger for good. Moon closed her eyes, breathed a few times, and then looked again at the doctor in front of her, who seemed to be a little scared.

"Uh... Shall I continue?" - He asked very unsurely. - "You look a little bit upset."

"Of course. Sorry, I just... I wonder who could have done something so terrible."

"Hmm, I understand. You're worried about the little one, am I right?"

"Mhm. I liked him. Actually... I think he's alone, he has no one."

"Well, we were thinking about putting him in an orphanage and..." - He stopped when Moon pierced him with her look. - "W-what?"

"You gotta be kidding. That's the worst thing that could happen to him."

"Why? I have a few places on my list and they have a good reputation."

"Or it's just a pretense, Mister, uh... What's your name?"

"Liesel, Your Highness."

"Liesel. What if I could take him with me?"

"Uh, well... I don't know." - He swallowed his saliva. - "To be his legal guardian, you'd have to have the right papers, documents. And the foal would have to be registered as an orphan to be adopted."

"That can be arranged. Have you forgotten who I am?"

"No, of course not." - He said, being a little nervous. - "So... You're going to adopt him, right?"

"Adopt? Hmm. Yeah, I think that's the right word. But... I think I'll get to know him first." - She looked in the direction where the nurse took the hospital bed to the room. - "How long will he have to stay in the hospital?"

"About two weeks. He should recover a little bit, besides... We may have removed water from his lungs, given him antibiotics, but his life is still in danger."

"Hm. I understand." - She looked at him. - "You mentioned earlier that you have a theory about his memory loss."

"Uh, yeah, that's what I wanted to talk about."

Moon sat down. - "I'm listening to then."

Liesel sighed hard. - "I suspect it may be amnesia, Your Highness. I suppose what he's experienced is so terrible that his brain just made him forget about it. All the more so because this foal also has head injuries."

"Mother of me..." - Moon's ears dropped a bit. She started wondering again who could have done this to him, but... She decided not to think about it anymore. - "Ah... So, what could have happened to him? Why did I find him in the woods?"

"Here comes my next theory. Maybe somepony just purposely cleared his memory and abandoned him. Or he could have been kidnapped. There are many possibilities."

"So..." - She started. - "He doesn't remember anything? No past events, that who is he and what happened to him? Absolutely nothing?"

"Yes." - Liesel got up and started walking down the hallway, and Moon was right behind him. - "Unfortunately, we won't be able to find out who did this awful thing."

"Too bad. I'd personally make sure that the fucker who hurt him pays for what he did to him."

"You see, Miss Moon. We may not be able to find out who it was, but still... At least there's something positive."

Moon shook her head and blinked a few times. - "I think I overheard myself. Positive?"

"Well... At least the little one won't have to live with those memories and... You'll probably give him a whole new life."

She thought about it for a while. Liesel may have been a little right, but she still didn't think it was a good thing to lose memory. - "Will his memories ever come back?" - She asked.

"If somepony erased all his memories with magic, no. They've long since been lost. But if it's amnesia, then maybe after time the memories will come back."

"All right, and about those documents..."

"Well, there's gonna be some complications, but I think we'll get through this. This foal, it's a special case. We don't know where he came from, we don't know where he was born..."

"But?" - She asked impatiently.

"But I think we can get things done. Although it takes time and patience. And... We'll have to find out if he's an orphan for sure."

"Hm. Fine."

They got to the room they were in before. The little foal was lying in its bed with its eyes closed, and Redheart was sitting next to. When the nurse saw the doctor and Moon, she got up and walked up to them.

"Your Highness..." - Redheart bowed down. - "I gave him painkillers. He should be fine by now."

"Good, Redheart. Go to the restroom and take a break. Then I'll come to you." - Liesel said.

"Okay. And by the way..." - She looked at Moon - "That foal has been asking about you all the time."

"About me?" - Alicorn asked, who wasn't surprised anyway.

"Well, he said he was scared, and want to see you. I think he liked you. And I guess you should stay with him."

"I'll stay with him. I think he needs me now." - Moon said.

"I'll examine him tomorrow in the morning, but now I'll let him rest." - The doctor said, leaving the room with the nurse.

"Bye." - Alicorn said, but she didn't get an answer. She looked at the foal lying on the bed and slowly approached him, then sat down next to the bed. Only now did she notice that he had a blanket on him that she had given him. The foal held it and cuddled to it like a teddy bear. - "Hey, little one."

"Hm?" - He opened his eyes and looked at her. Moon's heart was melting right now. The little one was very cute, which she's also only just noticed. She didn't have time to pay attention to those details before, because of the stress of whether or not he survived. - "You're here."

She laughed. - "I told you I wouldn't leave you."

The foal rose and got closer to her. - "Thank you for saving me. I was so scared."

"I know." - She touched his cheek. - "How are you feeling?"

"I still have a little pain, but I feel better. Actually... How did I get there, on the river?"

"Oh, I don't know. Doctors suspect someone might have cleared your memory."

"Miss Moon, did someone abandons me?" - He asked. She was a little surprised that he had that suspicion himself. Maybe he had some flashes from the past, even though they were blurred.

"I don't know, little one. I don't know." - She replied sadly.

"In that case... What will happen to me? I'll be alone forever?" - He asked, being scared. Moon knew perfectly well that the little one was afraid to be alone. He had no one, and he needed someone to take care of him. - "I don't want to be alone."

"Hey, it's okay." - She got him up and sat on the bed with him. - "You won't be alone, I promise."

"Miss Moon, can you stay with me? Please."

"Of course I will. You need me and I'm not going to leave you."

The little one closed his eyes and cuddled up to her. Moon started stroking him gently on his white mane. When she held him in her arms, she started swaying him. She knew it would make the foal feel better. Sitting and swaying him, she became more and more convinced that taking this child to a home with her would be a great idea. He was lonely, had absolutely no one, but now... The little one had Nightmare Moon, which was swaying him and humming quietly. He opened his eyes and looked at her, then she smiled and booped his nose, the little one squinted and then Moon laughed.

"You're cute." - She said completely honestly, still laughing. The foal was indeed cute, and his sweetness could be probably matched by Fluttershy herself.

"And you are very pretty." - He smiled too.

When the little one said those words, she blushed slightly. She was moved by that innocent gesture. - "Thank you." - The foal yawned wide and rubbed its eyes. - "Oh, I guess it's bedtime."

"Yes, I think... Yeah, I think it is."

She put him on the bed and covered him with a duvet. He had his eyes closed, but he opened them and looked at her. - "Hm? Is something wrong?" - She asked, slightly worried.

"Miss Moon, I... What's my name?" - He asked. - "I don't have a name, and I'd love to have it."

"Oh, uh... Well..."

"Can you give me a name? Please."

"Hmm. Wait, what would I..." - She thought about it for a while. She couldn't think of anything. She had no idea how to call him. She looked at him, trying to come up with anything. Then suddenly it revelated her. The foal had unique wings, completely different from those of the Pegasus. "He can be a bat pony, but..." She touched his mouth, exposing his teeth, which was completely normal, like at any other pony. "No fangs? Interesting." She thought it was strange. He should have fangs if he was a batpony, but... He didn't have them. Neither did he have the typical big ears, eyes with vertical pupils and no particular behavior for this race. Maybe the little one was just a pegasus, and his wings could have been the result of some accidental mutation, illness, or he could have got them magically. It was a difficult puzzle for her to solve, but she already knew what name to give to the foal. - "Kid, how about Wingy? Hm? You like that one?"

"Wingy? Hmm." - He thought for a while, spelling his new name, and then he smiled. - "I like it!"

Moon smiled too. - "I'm glad you like it. Now go to sleep, Wingy. You got your medicine and now you need to rest." - She got up and walked to the other bed. She wanted to lie down and sleep, she was tired.

"Miss Moon..."

"Hm?" - She turned to Wingy.

"Will you do not go anywhere?" - He asked.

"Of course not. I'll be right there."

"I'm afraid to be alone. I don't want to be abandoned again." - He said, looking very scared.

"I know." - She approached him and sat next to his bed. She started to stroke him on the head. - "I won't abandon you. I promise."

"Thank you." - Wingy smiled, yawned wide and closed his eyes. - "Thank you very much."

"You're welcome, sweetheart." - She kissed his cheek lovingly. - "Now sleep, okay?"

"Okay."

Moon was waiting for the little one to fall asleep. And for that time, she stroked his mane and quietly hummed a lullaby that effectively makes him sleep. When Wingy was asleep, she could go home, but... She wouldn't. She promised to stay in the hospital. She wanted to take care of him because the little one had only her. But she was tired, so she decided to lie down on the other bed in this room. She was lay covered with a duvet and looked at Wingy sleeping in the second bed. The little one was breathing slowly, he looked so calm. Moon smiled. She felt that she was adjusted with that foal and now she wanted to protect him. Again she was thinking about taking him, taking care of him. She could give him a home, a family, surround him with love and warmth. "It's gonna be okay, little one. I promise." She thought, and a tear came from her right eye. She was now one hundred percent sure of that. She was sure she loved that child. It may have happened too quickly, but she didn't care. If not her, then who else could have loved him? There were probably a lot of persons in this world who could have done it, but one of those persons was Moon, and it was her that the child came across. But her thoughts went down again on what happened to that foal. Again she began to think about what might have happened to him. About who could have hurt him. The feeling of seemingly limitless love was replaced by an almost absurd, mighty anger. She hated the bastard who hurt that child. "I swear, if I find that son of a bitch, I will kill him." She thought, completely honestly. She wanted the one who hurt that foal to die. If the little one wasn't an orphan, she wouldn't give him back to the bastards who hurt him anyway. She certainly won't allow it. She took a few deep breaths, closed her eyes, then calmed down and opened them. Whatever happened to Wingy, he was now safe, far from the abuser and that was the most important thing. If the little one turns out to be an orphan, Moon will arrange for the necessary documents, sign the adoption papers and in two weeks' time, the foal will be at home. She will sign him up for school in Ponyville, the little one will find friends, maybe first love, but most importantly, he will have a home and family. "Well... At least the little one won't have to live with those memories and... You'll probably give him a whole new life." Liesel's words have taken a new lease of life in her head. Only now she could agree with those words more. He was right. Wingy got a second chance for a new, normal life. Moon was already calm. She closed her eyes and now she was just trying to sleep. She thought it was all right. But she didn't know how wrong she was. Something was coming up, something very evil and angry. Something that was waiting for her and that foal. She was about to find out that it wasn't going to be as easy as she thought.

Chapter 5: A delicate matter

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Chapter 6: A silence before the storm

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Chapter 7: Silent night

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Chapter 8: Welcome home (the last chapter)

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