Moon

‘This might be bad.’ Celestia thought to herself as she stared ahead, attention focused on the “seal” that once housed her sister. She looked around, felt it, and found it empty. The moon was empty, and it was lonely. She breathed though, having brought enough oxygen to the world in order to survive for at least several hours. This night, the night in which her sister was meant to return had come to pass, and so her sister - and the Nightmare was free. The thing though; she was supposed to be here. Away from the populace, and they would be free to speak, and if blows came to pass, they could fight unabated.

“She must have grown more powerful than I expected if she managed to escape and go all the way to our homeworld without me noticing.” Celestia muttered as she looked to the world beneath her. Celestia uncharacteristically bites her lips. “If we end up fighting in Equestria, there might not be a nation left standing.” Regardless she needed to get back to Equestria and confront her sister. Yes there was always the “backup” plan, with her most faithful student, but… Celestia started gathering her magic. It would take a bit before she was able to reach the strength needed to teleport all the way back to her world. In the meantime, she could only hope that her ponies were safe.

Canterlot Castle

“Who are you?” Under no obligation did the Beast reply. His attention focused on the mare that was before him. Wings, horn; Alicorn. He’d seen very few of those in his long life, only the Blessed had those traits. Yet this one was not of the Blessed; not really. Gazing upon her, his blood did not beat with awe and reverence at the pinnacle of genetic perfection that was the alicorn. He did not feel that instinctive respect towards the one before him. Yes, she was molded in their image, but she was not of the Blessed.

Turning his attention elsewhere, the Beast just smelled the air, his attention immediately drifting to the table that was beside the mare. Food, so much food, looked like it was for some kind of small get together.

The food looked lonely on the table by itself.

Without a word he walked up to the mare and table, sparing her a faint glance before smelling the table. So many smells, dozens of scents breaking down in his nose before pulling back.

“What are you-” He hit the table, knocking a muffin into the air and swallowed it whole.

Interesting taste. He spit the wrapper out before he started on the rest of the food.

“Uh - excuse me!” The mare put a small barrier over the food as the Beast felt his muzzle brush against it before backing off. “Sorry but you can’t have that.” She told him, this expression on her face like she was about to scold a child. “That’s for me and Shining Armor, if you're hungry-” He growled at her and she frowned. “You can growl all you want, that isn’t going to.” He moved, his arm snapping out far faster than she had thought was possible.

Canterlot Garden’s

This wasn’t how he wanted to spend his Summer Sun Celebration. That was the thought that ran through the stallion's mind as he looked ahead, the royal guard wandering through the hedge labyrinth. Couldn’t lie, they rarely had to come here. Most they ever had to do was paroles. ‘Still that sound.’ That sound had come from here. Now they just needed to find it, make certain it wasn’t anything dangerous.

‘Still.’ Shining Armor took a breath as he started thinking back to his girlfriend. ‘Wish I didn’t have to leave Cadence like this.’ The stallion thought, resisting the urge to glance back at the Castle. ‘I was planning on proposing tonight too.’ The stallion thought with a restrained sigh. “Bought a beautiful engagement ring and everything.”

“Captain?” One of his guard asked as they heard him mutter. “Is something wrong?”

“No.” Shining Armor stated. ‘Focus Armor, the nights still young, we get this done and we can get back to Cadence and - what in Equestria?” Looking ahead, the royal guard could only look down at the damage that was present here. The hedges were scorched and decayed, and there rested a pit in the ground.

“This hole has to be at least a mile deep.” One of the guards muttered as they looked downward. “What the heck caused this, a meteor?”

“Equestria doesn’t get meteor strikes.” Another muttered.

“It looks like something landed here.” Shining Armor thought aloud as he dropped to look at the strange material on the ground. “What is this growth?” He made to touch it, stopping only when something washed over him. “What the-”

They all felt it; the lingering sense of dread and an undeniable fury. Shining Armor stepped back, a barrier being raised instinctively as the sensation washed over him and the royal guard.

It was a smart decision.

That feeling, that rage seemed almost alive - no it was alive. A dense miasma rose from the growth, and like a maw of snapping teeth it lunged. Shining Armor saw fangs of ether biting into his barrier and gnawing at it and the garden. He watched the decay spread out, bringing death to the hedges.

“What the buck is this thing?!”

Shining Armor didn’t know, at the moment he also didn’t care. The thing pushed against his magic, fangs puncturing the hulls of his barrier before he pushed it back. The miasmic “thing” momentarily becoming a dome before it was sent sliding backwards along the growth, compressing itself into a ball before seeming to vibrate. It moved like a snake, lunging again as Shining Armor reinforced his barrier. It collided with enough force that it sent him and the guard sliding back and through part of the hedge maze. It washed over them like a wave, a few dozen pounds of volatile and angry energy trying to strike them. It thrashed throughout the maze, spreading decay and growth with reckless abandon.

And at the heart of the miasmas the guards saw eyes.

Canterlot Castle

Did the room just get hotter?

Oddly enough that was the first thought that ran through Cadence’s head as she gasped, part in ecstasy and part in pain. On impulse she covered her lips right after she made the noise, flourished as she looked up at the stallion that was pinching her horn.

‘Is… Is he?’ The stallion just made anoise, staring at her with boredom on his face as he kept his hand still, two digits locked tightly at the base of her horn right where the nerves were most sensitive and where her magic started to radiate from. ‘He’s pinching my horn!’ The stallion just looked away from her attention returning to the table as he kicked something beneath it, launching fruit into their and grabbing them with his free hand before biting into them. ‘He’s touching my horn… holly buck he’s touching my horn! Shining Armor hasn’t even done that yet!’

The stallion looked back at her, popped a grape into his mouth and released her, but not before making a gesture with his armored hand; waving his finger like he was reprimanding a filly for doing something either dumb or silly.

Regardless, Cadence got the message.

“Don’t do that again.”

Cadence didn’t say anything, immediately covering her horn as she narrowed her eyes - trying to look either angry or disapproving, but with her brightened cheeks it looked more like she was embarrassed out of her mind.

She did not want to admit that having her horn touched felt good.

The Beast just stared down at her, eyes narrowed, sniffed the air and shrugged. Arousal… not what he was expecting but not anything too surprising. He knew about the Horns' sensitivity. In a previous life he’d fucked enough mares to known that unicorns liked having their horn touched.

Regardless he stared down at the mare, made a noise and returned to what had drawn him here. Without a word, the Beast started eating at the spread. The mare just got to her feet as she looked at him, not even bothering to stop him this time as she slowly touched her horn again.

‘You could have at least asked me out first…’ The mare thought bitterly as she took a breath and went through her breathing exercises. Her unexpected burst of arousal faded as she closed her eyes and collected herself. Finished, she looked at the stallion and approached him again, this time more cautious as she watched him toss another string of grapes into the air before making to swallow them. She caught it with her hand as his jaws snapped at air. He blinked, staring at the dainty appendages before narrowing his eyes and looking at the mare with another growl. “No.” She said firmly, but put some distance between them in case he reached for her again. “These aren’t for you.” He started stalking forward and she put a barrier around herself. “Shining Armor setup this spread for the two of us tonight.” She stated as she took a breath and the stallion seemed to growl again. “It’s the Summer Sun Celebration.” The mare stated. “Shining Armor, spent a lot of time getting all this together, so I'm afraid you can not have any.” The stallion fell silent at that before tilting his head, a blank look on his face.

Celebration.

He understood that word, in another life he’d gone to a few. Back when his people conquered lands and star systems each was met with a celebratory even before they moved on to the next. They had intended to host the greatest celebration in the realms upon conquering the screaming sea.

‘I see…’ The Beast glanced at the spread noting that while there was plenty of food to be shared, it seemed to be meant for two. ‘Likely a private celebration… maybe anniversary?’ His attention shifted, he glanced towards the windows and the gardens beyond it. It appeared the Shadow of Rage was disturbed and moving.

The Shadow of Rage was… emotion, raw unshackled feeling. It clung to reality like a wraith chained by unfinished business. It struck with the brute force of a Daemon and existed only to rage and destroy that which was closest to it.

‘Better be getting a good fight.’ The Beast thought as he looked back at the mare who was glancing in the direction he’d been looking at.

“What is it?” In her distraction, the Beast punctured her barrier and snatched the grapes she’d taken from him. By the time she reacted he’d already swallowed it. “Hey!” She began as she watched her barrier dissolve. ‘How did he?’ The Beast just turned elsewhere and started walking off, he walked in a full circle and dropped onto the floor, seemingly satisfied.

Granted he was still hungry, but if the food was meant for a “celebration”, it wouldn’t be right to steal the food.

Cadence just watched him, staring at the stallion as she frowned before taking a breath. “That barrier…” She began as she walked up to the armored stallion before getting him to glance in her direction. His eyes were almost completely white, it was almost hard to find his iris. “That barrier was one of the strongest barriers taught to me by Shining Armor, and you broke through it like nothing.” She muttered. “Who exactly are you?” As she was starting to expect he didn’t respond, just resting his head against the wall the floor before glancing back at the table. “You’re really hungry, aren’t you.” Cadence asked as she looked at the spread Shining Armor had laid out for the two of them before looking back at the stallion. She used her magic, lifting a few carrots up before hovering them in her direction. She let them rest before the stallion as he glanced at her. “Here.” She told him and he raised an eyebrow. “If you're really hungry, it isn’t right to let you starve.” The mare stated as the stallion sniffed the carrots before snapping his mouth around them, and swallowed. In an instant they were gone and Cadence could just blink in surprise before smiling.

The beast grunted, she took it as a thank you.

“You’re welcome.” She fell silent. “So~” She started up again. “Do you have a name?” He glanced at her again. “If you do, just nod.” He shrugged. “Is there something ponies call you?” He nodded. “Hm.” Cadence made a noise as she looked at the stallion. “My name is Cadenza.” Cadence introduced herself. “But Cadence is fine.” The mare stated as the Beast just glanced at her. “Not that you're going to say it anyway.” Cadence muttered as the Beast just continued to look at her before turning his attention elsewhere.

“Hold the line!”

“Oh goddess it’s everywhere!”

“So many eyes!”

‘Sounds like someone’s never seen a Shadow.’ The stallion thought before rolling his eyes. Honestly; the Shadow wasn’t overly rare, at least, not where he was from.

Which once again brought the question as to where he was. He needed answers on that. With a tsking noise the Beast looked back at Cadence before raising an armored hand to her head and wrapped it around the back of her skull.

“Hm? What are you?” Cadence froze when his lips smashed into hers.

Her brain stepped out as he kissed her.

When her brain decided to come back, her fists either hammering at his armor or trying to push herself away. It was like trying to push a mountain.

When he shoved his tongue down her throat she felt more than a bit of shame in the fact that she was moaning into his mouth.

‘Stop it Cadence! Stop it! Don’t enjoy the kiss! Don’t enjoy it… fuck he’s a good kisser… stop it stop it! Get him off, get him… wait what’s that feeling?’ She felt something… strange. Like something was touching her mind. She felt something poke at her mind reaching for something .When it found it, it seemed to stare at it, read it. Soon as she started to realize that she instinctively fought back, pushing at his invading yet warm “presence” before he pulled back and made a noise. As she dropped to her knees, panting like a dog that had just had a run with its own. “Fuck…” The figure wiped his lips as she stared at him with this sense of longing in her eyes. The mist in Cadence’s eyes cleared and she wiped her lips clean, blushing furiously as she stared at the one before her. “You just…” She paused. “You just entered my thoughts. She got a nod.” She wasn’t sure if she felt more violated or turned on… “You know you could have just asked me something.” She told him and he gave her a look. “I know you can talk.” The stallion just stared at her, raising an eyebrow before Cadence seemed to realize what she had said. “I know you can talk.” She repeated in surprise. “How do I?” The Beast made a noise, and she understood it.

‘The Drift goes both ways.’

“The Drift?” She asked. “What is the Drift?” Another noise.

‘The drift is a mind meld, I step into your mind and you into mine.”

A grunt.

‘The Drift shares memories, instincts and emotions.’

“I didn’t see your memories though.” Cadence countered. “I just… I don’t know, I just, I understand your noises now.” She told him.

‘BecauseI brought nothing into the Drift.’

The stallion went silent before looking at her.

‘Yet, it appears you latched onto something.’

Cadence went silent as she tried making sense of the stallion’s words. “So~” She paused. “Are you still in my head?” He shook his head. “Good.” Cadence muttered with a smile. That would be… concerning. Having this stallion just staying in her head reading her thoughts was not something she wanted. “So~ what do they call you?” He said nothing, but she looked at his face and “heard” the answer.

“Why do they call you the Beast?” He shrugged. “What do you mean you don’t know, let alone care?” He looked at her. “It’s not the nicest nickname.” The stallion responded with a second shrug.

‘I’m not the nicest person’

“Well your certainly the boldest.” Cadence muttered as the Beast stood and stretched. It was then that Cadence realized how tall the Beast was. Nearly as tall as her aunt, with his striking dark armor. His mane was dark red and his face covered in scars. Not to mention a few freckles.

He was… handsome, in a rugged kind of way. No fairytale prince, but he was a looker. He looked down at her, a noise leaving his lips as she blinked out her stuber.

‘What are you staring at?’

Cadence shook her head. “Nothing.” The mare stated. “Beast.” He looked at her. “Where are you from?” He tapped a hoof.

‘A place you’ll never see.’

“Well, does this place have a name?” He nodded.

‘It had a name.’

What do you mean by that?”

‘My home is gone, its been gone for a long time now.’

Cadence fell silent. “What happened to it.” The Beast grunted

“War.”

“War…” Cadence muttered. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be.”

The Beast shrugged before his eyes snapped up and his attention turned elsewhere. He made a noise, this time it was one that Cadence couldn’t translate, as she watched him get to his feet.

“What is it?”

‘Dark magic.’

The stallion growled before starting to trot off. The mare said nothing as she got to her feet, just in time for the window to shatter as a body was thrown through it.

“What in Equestria?” Cadence flinched as she looked to see a barrier disappear. “Shining Armor!?”

“C-Cadence?” The stallion forced out as he tried getting to his feet as the Beast glanced at the wounded stallion. “G… get back.” The stallion whispered as as something eroded the wall and slipped into the building. The Shadow of Rage had come, that miasmic beast born from lingering hate and outrage was ready to sink itsfangs into something.

That something seemed to be the wounded unicorn.

It lunged, corruption spreading across the tile it traveled toward the stallion.

“No!” Cadence moved in an instant, traveling far faster than even she was expecting and raised a barrier before the stallion. Her magic buckled as the miasma washed over her threatening to devour her and Shining Armor.

The Beast just watched, seeing the alicorn replaced by the image of a brother protecting another. He made a tsking noise as he breathed and roared. A burst of magic leaving his lips as the Rage went silent. Cadence cracked an eye open, watching the Rage burn out of existence and the chamber going silent.

“What… what happened?” Shining Armor asked weakly as Cadence felt the air with her magic as the Beast walked over to the broken window and leap out.

“That was…” Cadence paused. “That was love.” She whispered. “That was magic enveloped by love.”

“I didn’t know you could do that.” Shining Armor muttered as he forced himself to his feet.

“I-I didn’t.” She thought aloud. “My love for you protected us, but… that didn’t destroy it.” She whispered. “Beast did that.” The mare muttered as she looked at the direction that the Beast had gone. “I didn’t know… anypony could weaponize love.”

“Beast?”

Castle of the Two Sisters

Her heart stopped. That was the only thought that ran through the mares mind. She tuned out the laughter of Nightmare Moon, her iattention instead focusing on the shattered crystals that were lying at the dark alicorns hooves. ‘The elements…’ That was their last chance. Without the Elements, Nightmare Moon won.

It was over.

She wanted to cry, give into that pit of despair that had nested itself into her heart when she saw Nightmare Moon at Ponyville’s town hall. She trembled then, but she knew they had a chance to seal her away again.

That chance was now gone.

“No…” The mare muttered as Nightmare Moon looked down at her, smirking as the weapon used to once defeat her now laid broken before her. Her grin though vanished, her attention suddenly shifting to a nearby wall as it seemed to boil and become slag.

“Princess Celestia?” Twilight whispered, and the Nightmare stayed silent as she looked to the figure stepping through the puddle of molten slag and rock.

This wasn’t Celestia, still…

“So you’ve come.”

Author's Note

Drawn to the dark magic of Nightmare Moon, the Beast comes to her, and in the confines of the old castle the messiah of corrupted moonlight clashes with the hound of a thousand wars.