He slowly awoke, a young colt with a dark blue coat, long cyan and light blue mane and tail, and unicorn horn. He looked around his royal room and yawned big, suddenly hearing his mother, “Prince Noble Heart!!” His bright blue eyes widened as he realized he over slept. He got out of bed, his white freckles on his cheeks glimmered with the morning sun. “Come down to breakfast this instant mister!!” He rush down to the royal hall, as the twin princess Celestia and Luna waited at the other end of the eighteen chaired rectangle table. Prince Blue Blood was at the other end with his mother, something didn't seem right, they glared at him.
He smiled wide and spoke in his high pitched voice, “Did I do something wrong?”
“We were talking…” Celestia broke silence first, “About your future young prince.”
“Yes,” Blue Blood spoke next, “It would seem you’re quite the talk.”
“We weren't sure what to do with you,” Luna showed off her coldness, “Your future is very cloudy.”
“I-Is Shining Armor back from his adventure?” he tried to change subject.
Blue Blood grunted and looked away, “That brute? Humph, a prince like you should never let your royal hooves get dirty like he does.” Blue Blood came closer and stood tall over him, “In fact I say I should teach the young master to be a proper gentleman.”
“As tempting as that sounds prince Blue Blood,” Celestia interrupted, “I think the young boy should be allowed to choose for himself.”
“I want to be like Shining Armor!!” He jumped for joy, and suddenly the door flew open as a large stallion strolled in. It was none other than Shining Armor.
“My Princess Celestia,” he spoke in his deep voice, “I have slayed the mighty hydra!” Noble Heart’s eyes lit up as he dashed over to Shining Armor.
“Shining Armor!!” he screamed as he bounced in a circle around his favorite hero, “I been waiting to see you all day!!”
“Hey there sport!” he smiled back and put his hoof on top of Noble Heart’s head. The young colt sat down in front of him and smiled joyfully. “My have you grown, it seems like every day you get bigger and bigger.”
“Uncle Armor?” he asked politely, “May I hear the story of your new adventure?”
“Perhaps,” Shining Armor replied after he saw his wife Cadence come from a door, “Another time.” Noble Heart frowned as his hero went by him to greet his wife. Cadence was carrying a foal now; she smiled and nuzzled her husband. Noble frowned even more, he never had a father, he was adopted when he was found by the fiance of Blue Blood. It was the only reason he was even allowed to carry the name of prince, his adoptive father didn’t care for him, in fact he thought of Noble as common filth. But, his love for his fiancé was great enough that he accepted him. Noble watched Shining Armor, wishing that he could have a father like that.
Blue Blood approached and leaned down to whisper, “So called hero, he leaves as you weep… I told you as much my future son…..” Blue Blood picked him up with his teeth and carried him over to his mother, “Watch my so called heir…” He grunted looked at the poor foal with utter disgust, then turned to his breakfast. After breakfast Noble walked the streets of Canterlot, when some local noble’s colts came up to him.
“Look its the orphan prince!!” One of the colts laughed at him and pointed. The other two surrounded him and began pushing him around.
“Leave me alone!!” he screamed and tried to defend himself by bucking, but found the next to be in his face a hoof. He fell to the ground, mud covered his coat, and tears filled his eyes. Blood trickled down his cheek from the wound in his forehead. The colts laughed more then started trampling him. He covered his head with his hooves as blows hit him everywhere, blood sprung to the snowy ground.
“Beat down this want to be prince!!” the leader yelled.
He screamed out in rage, “NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!” And, just like that, it all stopped, he opened his eyes. Blood and pony guts was everywhere, and he looked up at his head to see his horn to be glowing a bright white light. The crowd gathered in shock, as gasps rang out all around him. The mother of the colts ran out of the crowd crying her eyes out.
She grabbed hold of her stony young, then looked up at him and screamed, “YOU MONSTER!!! YOU KILLED MY FOALINGS!!!!”
He shook his head as he backed away, “It was an accident!!”
“He is a mad colt!!” a man yelled from the crowd, “GUARDS!!!” Suddenly, guards flew in and grabbed his front hooves; they dragged him off as he tried to break free.
“I am very disappointed in you….” Celestia stood over him in her royal court, “You’re no prince of mine….” She looked down to listen to her people speak.
“MURDERER!!!” They screamed,
“HANG HIM!!!” the mother of the colts he just killed screamed, “GUT HIM LIKE A DOG!!!”
He fell to his knees and begged, “Have mercy on me Celestia…..”
“DON’T YOU LISTEN TO THAT COWARD!!!” another lady screamed, “KILL HIM!!! KILL HIM NOW!!”
Celestia was about to pass judgment, she spoke in the coldest tone she had ever given anyone, “Death….” The coward began to cheer; Luna watched him, right dead in his eyes, as the guards began to take him. She saw… Herself in him, her own flesh and blood, she saw Nightmare Moon. She stepped forward and followed, but her sister stayed behind. She looked out the window to the headsmen block, knowing she just sent a child to death. Meanwhile, Noble is carried by the guards, as they paraded him through the streets.
“MURDERER!!!” a women screamed and threw rotten fruit at him. Then it began, he was showered by rotten fruit and vegetables, ponies cursed at him. Ponies began spitting at him, as they shouted murderer, killer, and demon. He finally made it to the headsmen block, the guards held him down.
He struggled tears filled his eyes as he screamed for help, “Shining Armor save me!!!” He saw Shining Armor in the crowd as he raised his hoof up, as if to stop his stallions, but he quickly realized he was giving the order to cut of his head. The headsmen pony stood over him, awaiting the signal to bring down the ax. Noble looked him dead in the eyes, but Shining Armor only gave a cold stare, the same he gave for many ponies that came before him. The stare you gave a criminal before justice was brought upon them.
He only spoke, “Once a criminal, always a criminal….” He threw down his hoof and Noble screamed in terror, closing his eyes tight.
The axe came screaming down to meet his neck and he heard the word, “ENOUGH!!!” The axe froze by magic; he opened his eyes and gasped to see the ax was being held back magic. The crowd turned to the mare who shouted in a commanding voice. It was none other than Princess Luna, the crowd gasped and bowed down to her instantly, some in sheer terror. “You should all be ashamed of yourself!” she spoke in her royal voice, “Charging a colt for a stallion’s crime.” She approached him and the headsmen coward away and fled. “No, this colt will still pay for his crime, but not with blood, but with sweat and tears. From this day forward he is under our protection. He shall do as we say, and if anyone harms him, they deal with us.” She leaned in and licked his cheek comfortingly, like a mother would, his mother never did this to him, though. He felt comfort and safety in her shadow; she picked him up with her teeth. The crowd watched the Princess carry him to the castle, but Noble Heart only looked up at Luna. She was a like a mother to him now, he hugged her neck, to her surprise. She blushed and used her unicorn magic to lift him to her back. She looked back at him and spoke in a motherly voice, “Be still our son. You’re safe, so long as we live.” She entered the castles gates, and took him to his bed, for the sun was about to creep under the horizon.
“Mother?” he called to her as she was leaving, “Tell me a story?”
She giggled in her deep voice, “So is that what we are to you now little colt.” She turned to him and looked down at him, “We could get used to that, from this day forth, you’re a prince of the night.”
“Yes mother.” He nodded smiling.
“We will you the story of the war,” she began looking up at the coming night. Her horn glowed dark blue, and the moon rose on the horizon.
His eyes were wide, “So the legend is true?”
“Yes our son,” she smiled, “I am Luna, princess of the night. Eons ago, when our land was young, our sister and us ruled in peace and harmony. But, no one ever loved us, they praised her more than us. We and our closet followers, broke away, we began the Lunar Republic. Our sister, however, did not enjoy this. She tried her weak minded reasoning, but her words were only empty promises. The world only cared for her, but not we. We declined her offer; we refused to lower the moon after that night. She then felt, she had no choice, and used the elements of harmony. Hundreds of our people fell in that cursed battle.” Luna stopped to place her hoof on her head, as if the memories were painful. She walked to the window and stared at her masterpiece, the moon. She began again, “We…I mean I, had no choice, I used the power of the moon, it changed me. I became Nightmare Moon. I rose against all of them; no one could stop my evil might, but…. It was so cold, felt so much cold, so much hate, and so much sorrow. But, I still could not stop my sister, I found myself cornered with three hundred of my best stallions and mares. Celestia’s army surrounded us in the crescent canyon just south of here, were I let my moon sleep. She ordered me to kneel, to submit and return to her side, to her….Shadow…. I looked to my general, General Moon Spirit; he shook his head slowly. I stood alone, the three hundred to my back, the battlefield laced with dead, just me standing up to a tyrant. Her Solar Empire, ready to devour our numbers easily. My helmet was heavy and narrowed my vision; I pulled it off, and then let it drop. My shield was heavy, so I let it go as well. My spear was heavy, as well; it quickly clanged against the ground. My knees were weak; I slowly fell to them, then to my front hooves. I knelt there, like a defeated queen, but all I could think of was….” She turned to see him, “Perhaps, I shall tell you that one later.” She turned back to see her moon, “I could hear them, their thoughts, and all I heard was I was defeated. I yelled at the top of my lungs, ‘DIE!!!’ General Moon Spirit jumped off my back and stabbed his spear right through the heart of Celestia’s pathetic lackey. Blood flew everywhere as saw my stallions and mares fall left and right. I picked up my spear, screaming at the top of my lungs, ‘THE SUN HAS FALLEN!!!’ My spear flew true, right at my sister, her eyes widen, as she attempted to move out of the way. Its edge sliced her cheek wide open; giving me some hope, that I could have killed her that day. She knew it, too, her eyes said it all. She screamed, ‘Slaughter them!!’ I felt arrows shoot at me left and right, piercing my skin and staining my coat with blood. But I laughed and pointed, ‘The mighty Celestia can be killed!! Remember this day sister, because I proved once and for all, you’re not untouchable.’ I looked to see my general screaming in rage, as his stomach is impaled by a spear. He grabbed the spear and pulled the stallion holding the shaft close, then killed him with his sword. More came and that was last I saw of my… Love….” Tears filled her eyes and she turned away, “I am sorry, I am not a very good story teller. I loved him so much; even a mistress of evil can still love. In my last act of defiance I roared long and loud. Even her stallion’s dared not draw near me, but I felt death coming for me. I thought of… My son…”
Noble’s eyes widen and he interrupted, “You had a son?”
“Yes he is in this very room with me,” she looked back slightly and smiled.
“Where is he?” he looked around.
She looked him dead in the eye, “I am looking right at him.”
“Me?!?!” he gasped.
“Yes you look, smell, and feel like my son,” she took her place by his bed side, “You were lost to me when you fell into the ice canyon. I was fighting off my sister on Mount Windago, when a miss fired shot from her, hit you and you fell. I thought you died…” Tears filled her eyes and she kissed his cheek, and then fell on his chest crying, “FORGIVE ME MY SWEET MOON TEARS!!!” She wouldn’t stop crying, “That’s your name, Prince Moon Tears. Y-Your father was General Moon Spirit; we had you when I was Nightmare Moon.”
“So whatever happened to you in the Crescent Canyon,” he interrupted not sure what to say.
“Oh, right the story,” she went back to her story, “There I was, facing certain death, the last of my nation alive. Celestia stood on her chariot, that’s when she said, ‘For your crimes against pony kind, I banish you to the moon for a thousand years.’ She used the Elements of Harmony, as I watched the rainbow hue glow strong; I raised my hooves up slowly like a bird spreading her wings. The rainbow beam shot up high, as I simply looked at my moon and yelled, ‘My moon!! My empire…. My love… WILL NEVER FADE AWAY!!!!!’ And that’s all I remember, after that, it was history, and that’s the true story of Nightmare Moon.”
“Mother?” he called to her, she looked up to him with a smile.
“It’s ok my son,” she replied and nuzzled his cheek, “You’re here now, so he is not truly gone….”
He slowly fell to sleep, and Luna then left to face her sister. She enter the main hall, and of course Celestia was expecting her. “I could I have sentenced a colt to death today,” she was looking out the window at the courtyard, “But, there is no head at my feet, hmmm, I am guessing the headsmen is losing his touch.”
“I stopped the execution,” Luna interrupted.
“I know this fact, I watched you do it…” Celestia turned to her sister, “You disobeyed me…”
“A colt should not have to answer for a Stallion’s crime,” Luna stomped her right front hoof down.
“Fine,” Celestia looked away, “Then he is your responsibility, but I don’t want a murderer in my castle. Do I make myself clear?”
“Crystal,” Luna glared, “Sister….” She turned to leave, to try and went to her son’s room. She came to his bed side and softly put her mouth around his neck. She picked him up and put him on her back, she then softly skulked away into hallway. She carried him out to the balcony, his slowly opened, he, however, smiled when he saw it was Luna carrying him. She turned to him and spoke in her loving voice, “Hang on my son.” Her wings flew open, as his eyes widened; she scratched at the floor then whinnied. She leaped off the balcony, as he held on for dear life; she plunged hard like a falling star. He closed his eyes when she was seconds from the ground. Her wings flew opened wide and she soared back up into the night sky. He opened his eyes and looked down to see they were flying like an eagle. His mouth instantly turned into a big grin, and he flew open his arms like a bird.
“YEAHHO!!!” he cheered, feeling the wind in his mane.
Luna giggled, “You thought that was impressive? Watch this!!” She rocketed forward, and then arched skyward, heading right for the moon. His eyes widened as they entered space, he found the lungs robbed of air. Luna’s horn glowed and a bubble formed around them, he could instantly breath again. She streaked through the sky like a shooting star, right over her moon. He couldn’t believe her speed as she arched down to Equistria. They reentered the atmosphere, but the magical bubble protected them from harm. She slowed down and landed in a small pony village known as Ponyville. He noticed a tree library behind his mother. She looked sad though, “I am afraid you can no longer live with me, my son.” She turned and knocked on the door.
“But, why mother?!?!” he protested and rushed to her side.
“You’re not welcomed in Canterlot,” she replied, and then began, “I am leaving you in the care of an old friend. She will take good care of you.”
The door opened and Twilight Sparkle stood in the door way, “Luna?”
“Yes,” Luna replied, “Twilight, I must ask you a big favor.”
“Luna your no longer using the traditional we or our?” Twilight interrupted.
“The old ways are dead Twilight,” she continued, “But, seriously… “
Noble stepped out from behind his mother and Twilight gasped, “Awe who is that little colt behind you?”
“Well…” Luna began, “He is the favor. He is my son…”
Twilight gasped hard and her eyes widened, “WHAT!!”
“But,” Luna leaned in and whispered, “No one must ever know, not even my sister. His name is Prince Noble Heart if anyone asks. I will explain everything later, I promise. Could you please take care of him for me?”
“Well…” Twilight replied about to say no, when Luna got on her knees and give her puppy eyes. She shook he head and then said, “Alright, anything for you Luna.”
“Thank you Twilight!!” Luna jumped for joy and hugged Twilight. Noble looked up at Twilight and smiled, but Luna put her left wing over him. “You’re going to live here for a while,” she said to him.
He nodded then spoke, “Yes mother.” He trotted inside leaving his mother and Twilight at the door.
Spike the dragon approach the foal, “Hey I am spike…”
“I am Noble,” he replied then looked down a bit shy.
“Oh no worries,” Spike smiled, “I am not gonna hurt you.”
Twilight finished talking to Luna and closed the door, then walked between them saying, “Time for bed you two.” They both nodded and followed her upstairs, Noble climbed into bed and slowly fell into a deep sleep.
To be continued…..
