"Hmm." Floral let out a sound as his eyes opened. Sensing something was wrong, he got up. "Moon." He mumbled and looked around.

Gilda climber over the fence with a muddled look. "It's raining." She said in a tired voice.

"Sleep over here." He said and gave a small guidance as Gilda nodded and passed out in Floral's place.

With that, he scanned the treehouse again. The usual tranquility in the treehouse. Zecora was sleeping in a bag. The table had two cups, missing the one with a flower on it. Harkon was looking upwards with a worried gaze. One of the two barrels of whiskey were missing.

Without thinking more, he climbed over and stepped on top of the house.

"Hey." Moon replied unexcitedly.

"You alright?" Floral asked and sat down next to her.

"Pretty much, the whiskey's numbed it." She said and gulped whatever remained in her cup.

"What's got you up?" He asked and extended a hoof.

"Nothing much." She answered and gave him the cup.

"Come on, you've trusted me for three months now." He gave a small joke and refilled the cup before taking his own sip.

"Yeah, yeah." She gave half-hearted answer and tried to take the cup back.

"You reek. You've had too much." He said and finished it in one go.

"Whatever." She said and laid down, gazing up at the trees.

"So, what is it?" He asked and laid down next to her.

"Eh, just, something Gilda asked me."

"And it bothers you this much?"

"That weird?"

"You're not somepony to miss out on sleep." He said and placed the cup down.

"Fuck off, I sleep a healthy amount. You sleep for about six hours." She said with a small glare.

"It's a habit."

"Sure."

In silence, the two calmly let the rain hit them. The small pitter patter was comforting as vapor was visible in the air.

"What was it like?" Moon suddenly asked.

"What?" Floral responded calmly.

"To kill, with a clear mind. No, corruption or, just, you, with nothing like that making you do it. To just, kill to survive, with no curse or whatever making you do it."

"Hmm." He gathered his words. "My first one was, horrifying. Guilt, and fear filled me as I could barely focus on anything else. Then, after that, I went on a killing spree for revenge. It was, satisfying, at first. I was getting my revenge, one way or another, then as days went by, turning to months, to years. It was just, empty. Only after demolishing villages and towns that numbered in the hundreds, did I wake up with guilt once again. That was my last fight, until I woke up here." He explained solemnly.

"How many countries did you travel to?"

"At first, I trailed a group of cultists to the West. So I started my journey there. I went to Neighpan, Roassia, Germane, Prance, Ponygal, and finally circled back to Saddle Arabia, where I ended it."

"How long did it take?"

"Fifteen years."

"Fifteen, then you went after."

"I left about a month after Bright left. Eventually, I settled down in a rural town. Doing farming for my daily necessities."

"So, you just stopped?"

"Basically, yes."

"Then, how did you deal with the guilt?"

Floral finally turned to Moon, who was looking at him with a desperate gaze. He sat back up, Moon following suit.

"I didn't. I let time deal with that." He answered calmly as he stared back.

"It's, more than I can bear." She said and closed her eyes. "I thought back to the Nightmare thing, I kept telling myself it was just because I couldn't think straight, but it's. bad. It's just bad." She said and hunched over.

"Then, you can share that burden with me." He said and pulled her in.

"Thanks." Moon said tiredly as she accepted the hug. "You do a lot for me."

"I don't mind doing more." He said and started to run her hoof down her head. "You never had a childhood, did you?"

"No, I can't really call it one." She answered and stared forwards.

Floral lifted one hoof to give her space.

"You remember how I told you, that it rained in Nocturnus?"

"Yes?"

"It was a disaster." She said as she brought her hooves to her face, tiny shadows dancing to form a shape on it. "It always rained in Nocturnus, but, my dad stopped it. He held a giant barrier over it all, protecting our one city from falling. Then he disappeared, I was eight at the time, still naive, and couldn't rule over a nation."

"Did you evacuate?"

"No, it was fine at the time. I just took over, and got lessons from the advisors. Yet, without dad's barrier stopping the sun and the rain from getting in, Nocturnals slowly lost their powers. The once rich in inclusion and vast in populace Nocturnus, slowly fell apart as Nocturnals lost hope and determination, leading to the population crumbling down. Pure Nocturnals faded away, those that were also a part of other species became less and less until, well, until Nocturnus disappeared off the map. I think that was pretty close to the time Celestia and Luna became rulers."

"How long did it go for?"

"About a thousand years. All that time, I just, spent it trying to keep the nation alive whilst training my powers. Then, I raised the barrier again. All the crop we lost started to grow back, buildings were beginning to get properly built and all seemed to be getting fine. Then it happened. In the end, I couldn't compare to dad." She had a lost look as she thought back on the day.

"Then, what did you do?"

"I did the only thing I could, get to higher ground. I commanded every soldier to either guide the citizens, or to gather any and everything we could eat. It was hasty, it was, too fast. We couldn't anything except hold out as the city slowly filled with water. The damn city walls became a box as everything drowned in water. Then, we were just holed up on top of the castle. It was disastrous, like, every rain that was stopped by dad came pouring down at once. We sent everycreature that could fly to get help, but, when we didn't receive anything for over two months, I eventually went out myself. Then, you can guess what happened."

"I see." He commented as he kept his hoof on Moon's back.

"What do you think I should've done?" She asked.

Floral took a moment to visualize it in his mind. Yet, he could only come to one answer. "I would've done exactly what you did." He answered softly.

"Mhm." She gave a quiet reply.

As they stayed there for a while, Floral eventually noticed the vapors from their breaths.

"Come on, we should go in. Could catch a cold."

"No let me just, stay like this for a while." Moon said and leaned on Floral. "Why did you help me?"

"What do you mean?"

"It's just, the only thing I ever did was bring you pain, and then I was just an asshole. So, why?"

"I, don't know. Maybe I just, related to you, is all."

"Heh, we both had a shitty past, is what you're saying right?"

"Maybe. I found you broken, and I related to that."

Moon gave a chuckle as she kept staring at the shadow on her hooves. She gave a grunt as she couldn't focus on what she was making. In the end, she sighed.

"I think the whiskey's finally getting to me."

"Take a rest, I'll carry you inside."

"Thanks." She said as she stopped her shadow and leaned in closer.

"No problem." He said and wrapped himself around her. "Good night."

"Uph." Iron took a deep breath as he forcefully held a large shield in front of him.

*Bang*

*Bang*

"Hah!" He shouted and tilted it slightly, letting an attack slide off the shield.

"Hmm." Heavy grunted as he easily retrieved his sword and took a step back.

"Hiya!" Steps yelled as he seemingly appeared from thin air behind Heavy.

"Not so fast!" Stargazer yelled as he froze Steps in place.

With quick thinking, Heavy kicked Iron, who blocked gain, before turning to Steps and swinging his sword. As the hunk of metal came down, Steps shut his eyes as he prepared to get hit.

*Bam*

Chain came out of nowhere and rammed into the blade, causing it to miss. With one swing, a chain danced through the air. And one more swing, a small scythe flew, aimed straight at Heavy.

*Cling*

An arrow threw it off course.

"Gotcha." Eagle celebrated slightly and drew another arrow.

Chain grabbed Steps and jumped back, avoiding Heavy as his sword came down on the ground again, making a small crater.

*Boom*

*Bam*

"Come on!" Iron complained as he was caught in the air by a magic blast.

With a sword in his hooves, he took a step back to buy him some time as he glanced at a shield bigger than him on the ground.

"Alright, remember the plan!" Chain commanded as she prepared to rush in.

"Got'cha!" Steps replied as he lowered his stance, hiding his next move.

"Yes ma'am!" Iron said and sheathed his sword.

"Triangle formation." Heavy called out and stood in the front with an offensive stance.

"Yep." Stargazer nodded and a spell was ready to be cast.

"Got it." Eagle replied and picked his target.

With the two teams standing off, a tense atmosphere was lead as they stared down at each other.

"Let's go!" Chain shouted.

"Prepare!" Heavy commanded.

With all of them ready, Steps suddenly took in the air as a single orb was visible in his hoof.

*Pshht*

Smoke filled the area in an instant as sounds of battle soon followed.

"Well, would you look at that." Moon commented, slightly surprised.

"Yeah, these guys got pretty good." Gilda agreed as she drank soda from a cup.

They were observing the fight calmly from the side.

"Still, that girl is pretty far ahead." Moon said and turned to Floral.

"Faster." He guided and blocked an attack on his left before throwing a punch.

Weaving through, Sweetie Drops threw a punch, metal gauntlets one her hooves. Floral stepped back and avoided it.

"Be more decisive." He instructed.

Following Floral, Sweetie Drops stood on her back hooves and threw a low kick. Then she followed it without a breath's chance and threw two more kicks, each going higher than the one before. Successfully pulling off a triple kick.

Floral blocked them all, including the one going for his head as he wrapped his hooves around her leg. Sweetie Drops responded by twisting herself and throwing a kick from below. He let go of her legs and leaned to the right to dodge it. With that chance, he tried to stomp her.

Supporting herself with her front legs, Sweetie Drops spun on the ground to dodge it, before using her momentum and swiping under Floral.

A small leap to avoid the sweep, Floral punched downwards and parried a punch. Losing instantly, Sweetie Drops was lead downwards as she realized her mistake.

In the end, Floral initiated an uppercut from down below, stopping right before Sweetie Drops's jaw.

Stopping for a second, Sweetie Drops sighed as she collapsed backwards.

"You did good." Floral commented.

"You held back." She said with a small glare.

"You'd have been two limbs less if I didn't." He said and took a step forward.

"LET HER GO!" A new voice joined the fray.

Without much reaction, Floral simply turned to the voice as he watched a stick hit him in the head. The stick broke.

"Ah." The newcomer was shocked.

"Lyra!?" Sweetie Drops asked in surprise.

"Ow?" Floral said with an impassive face.

Then he stuck hoof out as a giant tentacle stopped right before it.

"Oi! Who the fuck are you?!" Moon asked angrily as she landed from the air next to Floral.

"Do I shoot this fucker?!" Gilda yelled from the air as her bow was ready to fire.

"No." Floral calmly said. "Lyra, was it? I'm Floral Green, Captain Drops's current instructor." He introduced himself as Sweetie Drops pushed herself upwards.

"Lyra, what are you doing here?!" She worriedly asked Lyra, who was nervously looking around.

"Me?! What are you doing in the Everfree forest?!" Lyra asked back as she took a protective stance in front of Sweetie Drops.

"So you haven't told her." Floral said without much surprise.

"Why isn't this bitch dead yet?" Moon asked as her dagger came to her with another tentacle.

"Give me the go, I'll plant an arrow in her head." Gilda said and landed next to Floral.

"No." Floral said and lightly held a hoof in front of her.

"Lyra, calm down. We're not fighting. Well, we are, but, it's just training." Sweetie Drops explained as she glanced at Floral. "I had a plan, to tell her." She told Floral with a small sigh.

"Ah, the date." Lyra suddenly realized.

"What?" Moon stood down as she realized that she was misunderstanding something.

"So, she's not an enemy?" Gilda asked and lowered her bow.

"No, she's not." Sweetie Drops said unenthusiastically, already used to Moon and Gilda. "Everypony, meet Lyra Heartstrings, my marefriend."

"Hi?" Lyra waved a bit confused.

"Hi." Gilda gave a small wave.

"Oh for fuck's sake, this was supposed to be some secret shit, no?" Moon asked a bit annoyed.

"Yes, it is." Floral replied for them.

"WE GIVE! WE GIVE! Jeez, Chain, calm down." Eagle shouted, earning the attention of the group.

Chain was on top of him, having him tied down with her chains and holding a scythe over his neck.

"Damn, guess Vice-Captain is pretty good." Gilda commented.

"Captain Drops, join the others and start your exercises." Floral commanded.

"Yes, sir." She answered a bit dispirited as she turned to Lyra. "Lyra, just take a seat at the fire. I'll be back." She said and gave a quick kiss before walking off.

"You two overlook their training." Floral told the girls before turning to Lyra. "Miss Lyra, this way, if you would."

"Uh, yeah, sure." Lyra replied and followed a bit nervously.

"Get your healing here, for your injuries could fester!" Zecora was happily involved as a medic in the background.

"Is that Zecora?" Lyra asked surprised.

"Yes, you're from Ponyville, right?" Floral calmly answered as they made their way to the campfire.

"Yeah, I am. But, what's this all about? Is Bon Bon some secret spy? And why do you call her Captain Drops?" She was very curious.

"Those, are something you should ask her yourself." He answered with a light chuckle. "Take a seat, would you like some tea?" He asked and sat down.

"Y-yes please." She answered and accepted a cup of hot tea and sat down.

"Well, I'm sure you have a lot of questions, but, I'm not a pony with power in the military. You'll have to get your answers from Captain Drops yourself." He said and filled his own cup.

"I, I see." Lyra answered disheartened.

"Would you want to talk about it?"

"I don't understand, why didn't she tell me?! I'm a good secret keeper!" Lyra instantly complained with a small frown.

"She was about to, no?"

"Why not sooner though?! We've been together for like, three years by now!"

Floral chuckled at her attitude.

"I'm surprised. Most ponies usually ask about Moon when they first come here, not their relationships." He commented as he took a sip. "Have a taste, it should calm you down."

Looking annoyed, Lyra still took a sip. Although surprised by the taste, she was still mad about the whole thing.

"What else am I supposed to do!? I just found out that my marefriend has been hiding her whole life from me!"

"Not her whole life." He rebuked calmly as he stared at Lyra. "You should know, she loves you quite a bit."

"Then why hasn't she-AH!" She got surprised as Harkon lazily walked around her to lay down next to Floral.

Floral accidentally let out a laugh.

"Sorry about Harkon, he doesn't pay much attention to anypony except those he knows." He gave a simple apology as he patter Harkon.

Looking at the sleeping wolf, Lyra could only say one thing. "Giant puppy." She murmured as stars appeared in her eyes. "Wait, no!" She said and shook her head. "The giant cute puppy is distracting me!" She complained and forced her eyes to Floral.

Floral simply chuckled at her attitude. "Well, if it helps you understand, this whole thing is known only by a hooffull of others. Even Blueblood doesn't know."

"Even Prince Blueblood?" Lyra mumbled in shock.

"Yes, per normal procedure, you should've already been either dead, or on your way to some cell in the capital." He said casually as he drank from his cup. "Well, of course, I'm not really a part of it."

Lyra was staring in slight fear as a sweat drop traveled down.

"And, considering Captain Drops's status as, well, captain. None of those agents would really dare to try anything." He added on. "Celestia and Luna shouldn't be a problem too."

"Huh?" Lyra was confused as she stared at him.

"Eh, you don't really have anything to worry about." He dismissed it with a wave. Suddenly noticing something, Floral turned towards the training agents. "Hey! Why am I not hearing anything?!" He asked loudly.

"AAAAHHHH!"

*Bam*

"Ow." Iron landed heavily next to them. "Monkey. Strong." He said dizzily before passing out.

"Oh." Floral turned to Lyra. "Excuse me, I need to deal with that." He said and stood up. Taking his axe that was lying against the tree, he cracked his neck. "Zecora! Look after Iron!" He commanded and took off, leaving Lyra in a daze.

Author's Note

Another chapter! Finally rounding up Moon's backstory. From now on, I'll be stopping the filler-ish chapters and moving the story on.

Anyways, thanks for reading!