Truth In The Shadows

Chapters

Ch. 1: In The Everfree
Ch. 2: Ponyville Hospital
Ch. 3: Questions
Ch. 4: Shadows
Ch. 5: Past Memories, Part One
Ch. 6: Past Memories, Part Two

Ch. 1: In The Everfree

Truth In The Shadows

By Music Brush, assisted by Mechafone.

CHAPTER ONE:

IN THE EVERFREE

Celestia's sun was rising, the sunlight peeking through the leeves of the trees and the Everfree Forest was unusually quiet for some reason. Mirage walked slowly through the vines, hidden in the bushes taking extreme caution to make no noise or sudden movements. He was using his magic to make color of his coat match his surroundings making him hard to see and he masked his sent with dirt and mud only minutes ago.

There was a snap from behind, the only response he made to the sudden noise was his ears turning back to listen for anymore movement. He slowly turned his head back, his breathing steady as he looked to see nothing was back their, at least not at first. He stept closer, his breathing steady and eyes unblinking then he a head poke up in sight. Just a deer He thought to himself and saw three more smaller deer grazing next to the first. And a mother deer, no less.

He backed away, slowly so he would not spook the family as they enjoyed their morning. When he was in the all clear, he let his coat return to its origional color, his coat was s rich black and his mane a deep grey and he was covered in dirt from masking his sent from many of the wild animals. He brushed the dust off his cutie mark with the red scarf he wrapped around his neck revieling a single star infront of a mirror with smoke rising behind it.

He then began trotting through the forest toward the nearest river stream. He knew these woods better then anypony, he had been living here for many years and learned how to look after himself, to hunt, to hide, when to fight monters or not and... Oops.

He stopped his forhoof from hitting the plant infront if him, spread across the forest floor were bright blue leaf plants. Almost stept in Poison Joke. He also learned what plants to avoid, the poison joke he learned the hard way. When he first came into the forest to fend for himself, he came across the poison joke and was cursed with the floppiness of a stallion who had to much to drink for weeks, he was lucky to have made it that long without anypony to help him.

He looked around to find another way around the plant, there was no clear path on the ground and his destination was on the other side of the Poison Joke. He looked up to the trees and spotted several low branches for him to use. He trotted over to a tree and jumped up grabbing a low vine with his teeth then used his magic to pull him up toward the branch. He jumped from branch to branch until he was past the Poison Joke then jumped down to the ground and cintinued his trott.

After a good ten minutes of trecking through the forest, dodging hungry bears and other wild beasts, he came to a large river. He trotted up to the edge of the shoreline and stopped to check the flowing stream. It appeared to have nothing swimming in it, but he knew that an aligater or a dangerous monster could be hiding anyway in the water, waiting for the right moment to strike.

He levitated a small pebble from the ground and threw it into the water. The water began to stir and Mirage to a few steps back, though he probably knew what he would see next he still did not want to take any chances. Soon a purple sea serpent streteched out of the river, it had orange hare and a mustache perfectly groomed and stylized. The serpent rubbed its head as though it had a headache.

"Ow! who threw that rock?" The serpent asked as it searched the area until its eyes fell on Mirage. The serpent leaned its head down closer to the unicorn eyeballing him angrily. Mirage did nothing as the serpent approached, he just stood there staring at it. The serpent stopped right infront of Mirage, stared at him for a few minutes then sniffed. "That hurt, Mirage." He said.

"Sorry." Mirage replied. "I hade to make sure it was safe for me to wash up before I went hunting for breakfast." The serpent smiled at the pony.

"Well, the water is beautiful. I'll gve you some privacy while you clean up, you sure coild use it." Mirage gave a nod to the serpent then removed the scarf from his neck and placed it on a stone before getting in the river. He dived in the water to soak his mane, he brushed his hooves over his body to get the dirt and mud off. He was done scrubbing but he remained in the water for a while to soak for a minute before he got out to air dry.

He trotted over to the rock he placed his scarf on, but his scarf was not there. He looked around to see if anypony was around then back at the rock and saw some fresh hoofprints on the grond that were not his. The hoofprints were leading toward the trees, he saw something peek through the leaves and heard what sounded like a quiet fit of giggles.

"This is not the time, nor the place to be playing around" He called in a serious tone. "...and I don't play games." The giggling only increased as movement in the trees indicated who ever was around started to run off.

Mirage rolled his eyes and started to run after when he heard a scream fallowed by a monstrous raor. He bolted after the scream through the trees and found pink pecasus mare with a yellow mane on her back as an Ursa stood on its hind legs, its claws outstretched ready to strike.

Mirage ignited his horn as he ran up to the beast, using his magic to give him the appearance of a Timberwolf and jumped in between the Ursa and the mare. She turned and buried her head under her hooves, her eyes closed tight.

The Ursa raored at Mirage as it swung its claw at him, he ducked under the swing and jumped as the Ursa came back with the other claw. Landing on the Ursa's arm, he bit the Ursa causing it to raor. He did not notice the other claw coming for him as the Ursa smacked him of its arm like an ant. Mirage rolled after hitting the ground, then quickly stammered to his hooves to face the Ursa, but the Ursa had already closed the distance between them and swung its claw at him. Mirage did not have enough time to react, the Ursa hit him in the side flinging him toward a tree, wich he collided with a hard 'thud' that nocked the air out of him. He collapsed to the ground, coughing some blood from his mouth, his magic faded leaving him in his pony form. He shook it off, struggled back to his hooves and saw the Ursa heading back to its origional target.

The pegasus did not know the beast was about to attack her, she was still hiding under her hooves. Mirage ran up to the Ursa, his born glowing, and blasted an energy bolt at its rear causing it to bounce and roar. Mirage did not stop, he blasted more bolts again and again at the beast until it started off into the other direction into the trees. Mirage fired one more blast at the trees before stopping, breathing hard as blood trickled down his chin on the ground.

He looked back at the pegasus, who had lifted her head from under her hooves and was now looking at him in shock. She appeared to be in her twenties, quite pretty and innocent looking.

"Are..." He panted. "Are you... okay?" His legs threatened to give under his waight, but he was not going to let himself fall now. She slowly nodded her head, looked down at the red scarf then held it up to him.

"T-this is yours." She whimpered. "Please don't be mad at me for taking it. I just wanted to..."

"Why were you out here in the first place?" Mirage interrupted. She shrieked, ducking her head down from him still holding the scarf up at him. "You know the Everfree Forest is dangerous, don't you?"

"I..." She said, still holind the scarf up. "I j-just wanted to..."

"Never mind." Mirage said. He took the scarf from her hoof and wrapped it around his neck. "C'mon. Let's get you outa hear before that Ursa Miner comes back." She looked up at him in shock.

"T-t-that was an Ursa M-m-miner?" Mirage only nodded his head, whiping his chin with his hoof. He looked the blood and rolled his eyes.

"Damn it. I had just got washed up too." He sated flatly.

"I'm sorry." She said, as she got to her hooves. He looked up at her, about to say something when a roar came from the trees.

"C'mon. We gotta get outa here!" He said, pushing her the other direction.

They had been walking through the trees for half an hour now, he would have had her out sooner but he was injured from the battle with the Ursa. He was limping and his back was bruised and the blood from his mout dried on his chin. The pegasus hopped along side him, almost as though that ordeal back there never happened.

"Oh!" She said, looking over to him. "I'm Valentine, by the way. What's your name?" Mirage kept silent for a minute as he limped his way forward.

"I'm Mirage." He answered.

"Mirage?" She asked. "That's a cool name. Do you come out here in the forest often? Well you must since your able to fight an Ursa Miner. How did you fight that Ursa, by the way?

"I just used my magic. That's all." He answered.

"Oooh, you must be very good with magic. Is magic your special talent? You have a star infront of a smokey mirror for your..." She was cut off by his hoof at her mouth.

"Do you always talk this much, or am I just lucky today?" He asked.

"Well, I have to talk if I want to make new friends." She replied.

"Well, you can stop trying to make friends with me, because you're going back home and I'm going back into the forest." He stated sharply.

"Like that?" She asked, pointing to his bruised figure.

"Trust me kido, I've had worse." He answered.

"Oh, no you don't. Your not going back out there until we get you fixed up." Mirage blinked at her statement. The last thing he wanted was to be around other ponies.

"Look, it's not that I don't appreciate your offer, but I just can't go into town."

"Oh, yes you can. And I won't let you go anywhere elss untill you're back to the way you weee when I first saw you."

"I'm sorry kid, but I..."

"Nope. Let's go, Mirage. To Ponyville!" Mirage placed a hoof over her mouth.

"Have you gota death wish?" He hissed in her ear. "We're in tbe Everfree Forest where even nature can hurt you. Now unless you want another Ursa on our hooves, I suggest you keep your voice down." She nodded, then they bith continued their treck through the forest.

Ch. 2: Ponyville Hospital

CHAPTER TWO:

PONYVILLE HOSPITAL

Mirage stopped at the edge of the forest as the small town of Ponyville came into vew, watching Valentine as she trotted happily out of the forest. She isn't paying attention, now's my chance. He thought to himself as he started to back away and turned to sneak back into the forest.

"Ahum"

Mirage stopped mid step and gave a long sigh as he let his eyes close and his head drop. "I told you already, kiddo." He said. "I can't just can't go into town."

"And I told you" She said in a cheery yet stern voice. "We are going to get you fixed up." Mirage let out another sigh. It was now clear that this peasus was sharper then she seemed and she was not going to let him slip away before she helped him. He turned back to face her and looked up with an annoyed, questioning look on his face.

"Why are you so determined to help me?" He asked. Valentine let a big grin spread on her face as she let out a giggle before she answered.

"Because you saved me back there with that Ursa." She replied. "Now I have to return the faver. You helped me, I help you. That's the way it works."

"You're not gonna give up 'till you've done this, are you?" He asked. She shook her head, grabbed his scarf and began to pull him away from the forest. He winced, the pain surged as the scarf was pulled against the back of his neck.

It waz not untill after the were halfway between the forest and the town before she finally let go of his scarf. He pulled the scarf loose with his sore hoof, wich he found odd because he did not remember hurting his hoof when he fought that Ursa. He looked up toward the town and saw two young pegasi flying around the outside of town one leaving a trail of rainbow behind as they flew.

He limped beside Valentine as they entered the town, ponies were going about their lives running their shops, buying supplies and just trotting around with loved ones. A few ponies looked up at him with shock as they saw him limping beside Valentine, dred blood staining his chin and bruised all over. He ignored them and continued to fallow the pink mare he saved in the forest.

They came up to a large building, a red sighn with white lettering that read 'Ponyville Hospital' placed above the entrance. Valentine pushed open the door and looked back at Mirage expectantly with a frendly smile on her face. He let out a soft sigh as he limped though the door, Valentine fallowed behind him. Inside was several ponies with runny noses and sneezing hard, nursees trotting in and out calling ponies in to see the docter.

Valentine pushed him from behind toward the front desk, he winced as the pain pinned his back from her actions. "Carefull, kiddo!" He hissed. She just giggled as she continued to guid him to the front desk. The nurse looked up from behind the desk and gave a look of shock at the sight of Mirage.

"Oh my!" She said. "What happened to you, dear?"

"He saved me from being clawed by an Ursa Miner." Valentine chirped earning and even bigger look of shock from the white mare.

Mirage found himself in a hospital bed, bandages around his belly and left forehoof. The doctor had given him the full check up, he had a few broken ribs and maby a broken forehoof. Nothing permanent, in fact the doctor was amazed to see that his injuries appeared to have already healed like they had been for two days.

Valentine came trotting in the room and sat next to his bed. "Hey Mirage." She chirped. "How're you doing? He looked at her quite coldly, but she continued to smile at him. He fought back the urge to tell her she should have just let him go back into the forest.

"I'm fine." He answered. She replied with a nod then three ponies came in. One cream colored unicron mare with a blue mane done up in a ponytail, another cream colored earth pony mare with a deep blue mane with a pink stripe and the third was a mint green unicorn mare. The three looked relieved when they saw Valentine happily sitting next to Mirage.

"Lyra, Bon Bon, Allie Way!" Valentine cheered as she ran up into a group hug with them.

"Oh, Valentine!" Bon Bon sighed. "Are you okay? We heard that you were in the hosital." Valentine pulled herself to hooves length and smiled at her.

"I'm fine sissy." She replied. "Mirage here saved me from an Ursa Miner and I had to repay him."

"You and your paybacks." Lyra said.

"Sissie!" Valentine sighed. Lyra replied with a giggle as she ruffled Valentine's mane witb her hoof. Valentine then turned her attention to Allie Way, whos gaze was fixed on the stallion in the hospital bed. "Allie?"Allie Way pulled her eyes off Mirage and leaned in closer to Valentine.

"He's so handsome, V. I think you've hit a strike with this one." Allie Way whispered.

"Allie, he's just a friend that saved me in the forest." Allie Way's eyes shot open as a grin sprang on her face.

"Does that mean he's available?"

"Allie!" Valentine snapped.

"Relax, V." Allie Way said through a fight of giggles. "I was just kidding." She turned her gaze back to Mirage. "But he's still cute." Mirage just stared blankly at the quartet of mares that had invaded his life. Allie Way smiled at him wormly while Bon Bon came up to him.

"I must thank you for saving my kid sister." She said with a thankfull smile. "I am Bon Bon, this is my marefriend Lyra" She gestured to the mint green mare who waved a hoof at him. "...and that is Allie Way." The cream unicorn waved at him with a smike on her face and he could swear he saw a hint of red in her cheeks. Mirage offered only a quiet nod in response.

"Strong quiet type, eh?" Lyra said.

"I'm Mirage." He said.

"Well Mirage, thank you for saving little Valentine here. She means the world to us." Lyra said.

"She is somethin' else." he replied earning a fit of giggles from Valentine.

A nurse came in the room with a worm smile on her face. "Hello everypony." She chirped as she trotted up to the bed, smiling at Mirage. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm fine." He replied coldly, using every ounce of his being not to say he would be bettr if he was back in the forest.

"Well, the doctor would like to keep you over night just to be safe." The nurse stated. "You took quite a hit. You can check out in the mroning." Mirage's heart sank, it was bad enough that he allowed himself to get in this situation, but had he just left Valentine alone she would have been killed, if not by that Ursa, by some other monster out in the Everfree, now the doctor wanted to keep him over night.

This just gets better and better.He thought to himself. The nurse turned to the mares with a gentle smile.

"I'm sorry, but I'm going to have to ask you to leave. Your friend needs his rest."

I don't need to rest here, I need to get out of this place. Mirage thought to himself as he rolled his eyes.

"Okay." Bon Bon replied. She turned to Lyra, Valentine and Allie Way and gestured for them to do as instructed. They walked out of the room and the nurse closed the door, Valentine had just enough time to look back and see Mirage before the door was shut.

The four mares trotted outside the front door, a smile on Valentine's face, Lyra and Bon Bon side by side and Allie Way nudging at Valentine's side teasing her about finding a handsome coltfriend, wich Valentine grew quickly annoyed with.

"Wait a minute." Lyra called out, they all stopped to look at the minty green mare. "Anypony else find it weird that this guy fought off an Ursa and made it out with only a few broken ribs, hoof and a realy bruised back?" Bon Bon's eyes widened with realization, she was right. Ursa's are very vicious creaters that have killed everpony that they targeted and Mirage managed to stand up against a miner and live.

Ch. 3: Questions

CHAPTER THREE:

QUESTIONS

Mirage spent the entire night without sleep, he tried a few times after the night shift started to sneek out but the doctors were serious about keeping their patients safe until they were free to go. This is ridiculous. He thought to himself. He looked out the window and saw that Celestia had begon to rise the sun wich filled him with both joy and horror. He would be able to check out soon but if those mares showed up it would mean a very slim chance of getting away, easily anyway.

The sun was now shining through the window and the door opened to reviel the nurse with a notepad levitating in her magic. "Okay, Mirage." She said in a cheerfull voice. "We would like to do one more check up on you to make sure you're recovering well and..."

"You don't need to do that." Mirage interrupted while sitting up. "I've always been a fast healer and I would like to get out of this hell hall." He started to hop off the bed when the nurse ran up and placed a hoof on his chest to stop him. He looked down at her hoof then back up at her with an annoyed sigh. "look" He huffed. "...it's not that I don't appreciate what you're doing for me, I just need to get back to... my home. Everpony will be missing me."

"And you are more then welcome to leave when we have made sure you're doing well." She countered. Mirage rolled his eyes. Damn, these ponies are persistent. He thought to himself.

The nurse did a full check up on Mirage, checking his blood pressure, his bones and other areas that he found uncomfortable, all the while she was taking notes on her pad. When she was done she looked at him shocked and confused.

"I check out, right?" He asked, a hint of impatients in his voice. She looked up at him, a questioning look on her face.

"Y-yes." She said finally.

"I told you 'I'm a fast healer'."

"Yes, but..." She looked down at the pad. "...you've healed quite remarkably in just the few hours that you've been her, more so the any I've ever seen."

"Let's just say, I have a gift with magic." He said. "Now, can I please get the hell outa here?" She looked up at him and stared at him for a minute before she finaly answered.

"Yes, everything checks out. Just be sure to sighn out at the front desk before you leave." Mirage nodded his head once and startd for the door.

At the front desk, the doctor hoofed him a pad and told him to fill in his John Hoofcock, wich he did reluctantly before giving the pad back using his magic. Great, now to get outa here before...

"Mirage!" He huffed a heavy sigh as he let his eyelids close.

...she shows up. He turned around to find Valentine hopping torward him, Lyra by her side. Valentine wrapped her hooves around Mirage's neck making him wince with the pain that remained in his back. She let him go and stept back with an apologetic smile.

"I hope you just came to say goodbye, because I'm leaving." He started to trott around them but was stopped by Lyra's hoof. He looked at Lyra, who was glaring at him accusingly. "What? Is it something I said?"

"You're rude, you know that?" Lyra spat.

"I'm sorry, but I don't spend much time with others and I need to go." He started for the door again only to be stopped by Lyra again.

"What's your hurry?" She asked sharply. "Why don't you answere a few questions first." The last bit was more of a statement then a question. Mirage looked around to see some ponies watching them, he gave another sigh and looked back at the mares.

"You couldn't have picked a better spot make this move?" He asked.

"My sister was attacked by an Ursa yesterday and you save her with only a few broken bones!" She spat. He shushed her as he pushed the two toward the door with his magic, the crowd watching as they disappeared out of the hospital.

Mirage lead them to a quiet spot behind a house a good distance away from the hospital, he released his magical hold over them and Lyra stared daggers at him while Valentine was jumping with excitement.

"That was so cool!" Valentine chirped. "I've never been moved by magic like that before!" Mirage found her cheerfull nature rather unusual as he turned his gaze back to the older mare.

"Is she always like this?" He asked.

"Are you always this much of a jerk?" She countered.

"Hey! I don't live in a town like you do."

"Then where do you live? And how are you able o fight an Ursa and live to tell the tale?"

"I'm very good with magic and I grew up in the forest for years." Lyra eyed him up and down, he looked quiet young to have lived in the Everfree Forest for years unless he was born there.

"What, were you born in the forest?" She asked.

"I'm older then I look, let's just leave it at that." He replied. Lyra opened her mouth to protest but was cut off.

"Sissie, leave him alone!" Valentine said. They both lookd at her.

"Sweety, don't you realise how serious this is?" Lyra asked. "This guy fought off an Ursa and is still walking. Nopony can stand against and Ursa."

"Lyra" Came another voice from behind. They all turned to see Bon Bon glaring at Lyra. "...don't you remember that time when Spark chased away that Ursa that came to town a few years ago?"

"Spark?" Mirage asked. "You mean, Spark Storn ths Storm Bringer?" Lyra and Bon Bon looked at him in shock.

"You know Spark?" Bon Bon asked.

"Only by what I have heard in the forest." He answered. They stared at him expectantly. "Look, I've seen things you couldn't imagine. When you've been in the Everfree as long as I have, you..."

"And just how long have yu been in tue Everfree?" Lyra interrupted.

"Damn it, I've had a rough twenty-four hours here, I would appreciate it if you eased up off my back about my life."

"Only twenty-four hours?" Lyra asked. "And how about the -years- you've lived in the forest?" Mirage sighed as e rolled his eyes toward the heavens.

"Oh my Celestia! If you realy want to know why I live in the forest, it's because I ran away!" Lyra, Bon Bon and even cheerful Valentine stared at him questioningly. "Jusging by the looks on your faces, you want to know why I ran away. Well, that's personal and I'll thank you to leave it at that!" Lyra opened her mouth but Mirage silanced her with his magic, making it look like she had a zipper on her lips. "Will you just let it go already? I'm tired, I'm sore and I want to get outa here."

"Can we at least thank you properly for saving Valentine?" Bon Bon asked. "She's found a new hero and she wanted nothing more then to thank you for saving her life yesterday." Mirage looked at the pink pegasus who gave him the biggest puppy dog eyes she could master. He felt his lip twitch at this, it was one of the cutest things he had ever seen.

"Fine." He sighed. Valentine jumped with joy onto Mirage, wrapping her for hooves around his neck maing him grunt with pain. "But you've got to stop doing that!" He spat through gritted teeth.

Ch. 4: Shadows

CHAPTER FOUR:

SHADOWS

Damn it. Mirage thought to himself as he dragged his hooves along side with Valentine down the street of Ponyville. He had lide when he told Bon Bon he would come to dinner so he could sneak away when they left him to get things set up only to have Valentine stick by his side all day giving him no chance to get back to the forest. First this kid finds her way in the most dangerous place in Equestria, gets attacked by an Ursa and in my efforts to save her, I get myself injured and sh...

"Hello?" Mirage blinked as the call pulled him from his train of thought. He looked down to see Valentine frowning at him.

"What?" He huffed. Her frown deepend and tears started to flood her eyes. Mirage blinked at this, she was always cheerful and full of joy, was that all just to hide her true side? A sensitive side? "Um... I'm sorry, kiddo. I'm just a bit frustrated right now." Her sad face was immediately replaced with confusion.

"What's there to be frustrated about?" She asked in her bright voice, her sudden change in attitude placed a confused look on Mirage's face. What the hell is with this mare? He asked himself.

"Are you always like this?" He asked.

"Like what?" She replied, tilting her head to the side. He sighed, rolling his eyes. It took him every ounce of his strength to keep himself from yelling out the next question.

"Are youalways this... randome?" He asked.

"She's always been a little different." Came a voice from behind. Mirage turned to see Lyra and Bon Bon side by side, Lyra was staring suspiciously at him. Oh great, the meddling one. He hought to himself. "It's almost time for dinner. Shall we hed over to the house?" Bon Bon asked, a bright smile on her face.

"Is this is realy necessary?" Mirage asked. "Valentine has already helped me enough by making sure I got to the hospital."

"Is it realy necessary that you have to be such a jerk?" Lyra countered earning a glare from Mirage and a 'Lyra' from Bon Bon. "You can't tell me he hasn't been a jerk all day."

"He's been very nice to me, Sissie!" Valentine chirped. Lyra looked at Valentine in shock, finding hard to believe that he was at all a nice guy. Valentine looked up at the black unicorn, a pleading look in her eye. "You will come with us, won't you?" She asked.

"I'm sorry kiddo, but I realy have to get outa here." He replied.

"Oh, honestly! What is so important that you have to get back to what ever life you have in that Celestia forsaken forest?!" Lyra barked, ponies started turning their gaze toward the four.

"The life I live is my own!" Mirage retorted. "I don't aske you how you live your life, do I?! Now, if you don't mind I would like to leave."

Mirage never did get his wish as he now found himself in Lyra and Bon Bon's home at the dinner table with Valentine sitting quite happily next to him. Lyra never took her eyes off of him while he reluctantly filled his belly, he was quite hungry after all, he had not eaten in over twenty-four hours and alot of his energy was drained from him using his magic to heal himself since the attack.

He was using his magic to levitate another bite of his meal to his mouth when he cought site of Lyra sitting at the table opposite him, her horn glowing faintly. She muttered something under her breath and instantly he felt a search of magic fill the room coursing its way toward him, his eyes wide with realization. Bon Bon and Valentine both let out shrieks as the dining room shook a little, none of them, except Lyra, seemed to notice a shadow of smoke that came from Mirage's body and vanish as quickly as it apeared, then everything went silent.

"What the hell was that?!" Bon Bon asked.

"Sissy!" Valentine snapped, glaring at her. Bon Bon looked at Valentine apologetically.

"Sorry sweety." She said, then turned back at the only two in the room who were capable of using magic. "But what was that?" She looked at Mirage who was staring at Lyra in disbelief, then she herself turned to face her marefriend who looked both triumphant and angry toward there guest.

"How the hell do you know that spell?" Mirage asked, standing up from his seet. "That spell is forbidden!"

"You're one to talk!" She countered, she too got to her hooves. "You're not what you appear to be so tell us, who and what are you?"

"None of your damn buisness!" Mirage snapped. "Since you're asking that tells me the spell you used failed."

"That spell should have removed the elusion spell you're using on yourself right now, the only reason it could have failed is if the pony it's used on is very strong in magic."

"You have to be strong in order to survive in the forest!"

"ENOUGH!!!"

Mirage, Lyra and Bon Bon all jumped as they turned to see Valentine glaring at the two, her wings flared and her lip trembling.

"I don't care who or what Mirage is, he saved my life in the forest and that's enough for me." she stated sharply at Lyra and Bon Bon, more so Lyra.

"That reminds me" Mirage said turning his gaze to the pink mare. "...why the hell were you in the forest in the first place?"

"She sneaks off to the forest every now and again." Lyra answered the question.

"Yes, but she doesn't usualy go as far into the forest as an Ursa would be." Bon Bon stated then turned to her youger sister. "Why were you so far in the forest, sweety?" Valentine looked at Bon Bon.

"I decided to go in a little farther into the forest to explore and I saw Mirage jumping through the trees, so I followed him to the river." Her cheeks started to flush red as she looked to her hooves. "He was bathing in the river and I decided to have fun and I took his scarf."

"Val, it's bad enough that you ventured off into the forest at all, but you followed a complete stranger?!" Lyra asked.

"Honey." Bon Bon said.

"Not only a complete stranger, but one who is using an illusion spell as we speek." Lyra continued.

"Honey!" Bon Bon called again.

"You saw the shadow around him, didn't you?"

"Lyra Heartstrings!" Bon Bon snapped.

"Ooh!" Valentine cood. "You're in for it now, sissie." Bon Bon only called Lyra by her full name when she was getting angry with her.

"I'll have words for you later young lady." Bon Bon stated, her softer yet just as firm glare focused on Valentine macing her cringe before she turned back to her marefriend. "But you." She pointed a hoof to Lyra. "What's the matter with you? If it weren't for Mirage, Valentine wouldn't have been in her bed last night."

Now would be a great opportunity to get out of here and ack to the forest.Mirage thought to himself, but he never made a move to leave. But how does she know that spell? Revekare only comes from a book that is forbidden to read. Lyra and Bon Bon were still arhuing, none of the three had noticed Valentine was not in her seet. Mirage looked up and saw the end of a yellow tail vanish through the door at the end of the room.

The sound of a door slamming grabbed their attention, Lyra and Bon Bon turned to face Mirage then followed his gaze to the hall way. Lyra and Bon Bon left the table and ran down the hall way leaving Mirage alone in the dining room. Then again, I can always find out about her later. He tought as he turned the other direction though the house and out the front door using his magic to open and close the door quietly.

Ch. 5: Past Memories, Part One

CHAPTER FIVE:

PAST MEMORIES, PART ONE

Years ago

"Why the hell did you keep this from me?!" Celestia fliched at Mirage's anger, he had every right to be but his words were unnecessary.

"Lurid, please..." She was cut off short by another outburst.

"No! You lied to me! All this time, you knew and you lied to me! This is my bloodline we're talking about here! How could you keep something like this from me?!"

"I had..."

"SHUT UP!!! I don't want to hea that 'I had no choice' crap!"

"Lurid, if you would please calm down and allow me to explain." Mirage's anger flared.

"Calm down, when I've just found out you've been keeping the truth of my parents from me?! Like hell I will!"

"Lurid Light!" Celestia flared her wings threateningly as she glared down at Mirage.

"Don't try to scare me with your regal display! I've had enough of your traitory!"

"Enough!" Celestia barked, Mirage was to full of anger to even be bothered by her anger breaking through.

"Damn straight!" He stated as he iluminated his horn, Celestia had already lit up her horn to counter his upcoming attack but was cought off guard when he just ran past her. Black smoke engulfed his body as he ran to the balcony, he jumped over the edge and emerged out of the smoke, wings appeared on his back as he flew off toward the forest.

He dove down into the trees out of sight, he landed on the forest floor and engulfed himself in his magical smoke and ran off as a simple wolf into the trees. He often used his illusion spells to change his appearance much like a changeling can change its physical form. He began sniffing around like a real wolf when he heard the guard, looking for him no doubt.

"Spread out and find him! The Princess wants him unharmed."

"Yes sir!"

A guard ran out of the bushes, Mirage shot his eyes at the guard baring his teeth as he growled. The guard showed no sighns of intimidation, he did not even pay any attention as he trotted at a safe distance from the fake wolf. The guard slipped out of sight beyond the far bushes and Mirage ran off in the opposite direction acting like he was now on the hunt.

For the next few hours of venturing through the forest like a hungry wild animal as he avoided the guards. The sun was setting and the guards were calling off the hunt for the night, Mirage used his magic to switch back to his pony form and continued his treck. Damn you Celestia! He thought to himself.

He had ventured aimlessly through the forest all night without sleep as he cursed Celestia out for her lies, he did not even know if he was still in Equestria. His eyes grew heavy as he continued draging his hooves on the ground, darkness threatening to take him, wich was not long as he fell to the ground fast asleep.

Mirage was standing alone in an empty space with nothing but blackness in the distance and nopony to be seen, a faint myst blanketing the ground as it swirled around his hooves. "Hello?" He called out. The only response he got was a cloud of smoke appearing out of nowhere, it swirled around him a few times the formed infront of him taking the shape of tall figure.

He stared at the black alicorn waring bright blue armor that appeared from the cloud. Nightmare Moon smiled at him as he admired her unique beauty then finaly gave the Queen of the Night a respectful bow.

"You please me, Luring Night." She said. "I knew you wouldn't betray y..."

"Stop right there." He interrupted. "I may know the truth now, but I still don't follow you."She arched an eyebrow.

"You left my sun loving sister, did you not?" She asked.

"Because she lied to me! I follow my own path now! Not Celestia's or yours, I stand alone from now on!" Mirage stated flatly.

"And yet, you bow to me." Nightmare Moon observed. Mirage said nothing, he just glared at her.

"Just say what you have to say, damn it." He ordered.

"Such language for such a promising knight of darkness." She said as she began walking circles around him slowly, keeping her eyes locked on him. "You shall be my equal when I break free of my prison."

"Not interested." He stated.

"Not that you have much of a choice, my dear." She said seductively. "You and I share more then you realize and it is ment to be that..." She was cut off.

"Don't pull that destiny crap on me! I don't give a damn what my bloodline is, I make my own destiny and nopony, not even you, can change that." Nightmare Moon merely laughed at his words.

"When the time comes, you will see that you can not escape what you were born for. Until then, my dear." She disappeared into a cloud and flew off into the darkness.

He groaned as he opened his eyes to find himself face to face with a black rabbit. "Hey little guy." He said earning a tilt of the ceatures head. He stretched his legs, ultimately scaring away the animal, then got to his hooves. He had been wondering the forest for days now, he knew he was not in Equestria now.

He was trotting through the woods when he heard the sound of terrible screeching in the distance. Whatever it was, it sounded like there was two of them. He followed the noise as it grew louder and more unbearable with his aproach, soon he had to use a simple spell to muffle out the noise to where it would not damage his eardrums. He came around a large tree and topped, his heart skipping a beat to what he saw.

Two odd looking creatures were fiting each other, their bodies were long, slim and had no fur, the ends of the legs had long talojs and claws with feathers on their forelegs. They had mixed colors on their feathers and bodies wich made them look quite beautiful apart from the fact that they were viciously at each others throats.

He watched with fascination, using his magic to blend in with his surroundings. The two slashed at each other with the claws on their hind legs as the used their winged forelegs to stay airborne. Soon, one got the advantage as it slipped around behind the other and slashed at its back causing it to shriek in pain and fall to the gound. The first swooped down, its claws outstretched with full intent to mercilessly kill its wounded opponent.

Without thinking, Mirage used his magic to give him the appearance of an Ursa as he ran up toward the first creature.

Ch. 6: Past Memories, Part Two

CHAPTER SIX:

PAST MEMORIES, PART TWO

The Ursa Mirage roared as he charged the first winged creature as it was about to strike the second, the creature looked up from her target as Mirage swung his massive claw at it. The creature dodged his attack by flying above his arm and counterd with its long talons on its hind legs, scratching his face then wirled over him and slashed at his back. He cried in pain as he tripped over a large root protruding from the ground. His face collided to the forest floor kicking up some dirt from the ground.

Before he could get to his feet, the creature landed on his back and brought its head down to level with his. "You're no Ursa!" It hissed in a female voice. He looked at her, then ended his illusion spell to reviel his true form, she grinned hungrily. "Oh, goody! Not only to I get to kill a pathetic harpy, I get to kill breakfast!"

Mirage quickly lit his horn creating the illusion of a griffon flying in behind the 'harpy' jus in time to draw her attention away from him so he could brake free from her talons, but not without receiving more cuts on his back. With the harpy distracted, he scrambled to his hooves and turned to face his opponent, who turned to face him after finding out the griffon was fake.

Mirage jumped to the harpy, his horn glowing threateningly, but the harpy slashed at him with her talons at him again giving him more cuts and sending him to the ground. "Oh, please!" The harly snorted. "You'll have to do a lot better then that, twerp!"

"Damn straight I do!" He replied as he got to his hooves as the harpy flew in for an attack. He used his magic to give himself the appearance of a Timberwolf and jumped up to meet her in the air. They collided and he bit down on her winged forleg drawing blood from her flesh. She screeched in pain and used her other wing to strike him on the head as she used her tallons to scratch at his belly. They crashed to the ground with a hard 'thud' as he landed on top of her continuing to bite down on her wing.

Mirage was tackled in the side by the other harpy, she scratched at his face giving him more fresh bloody lines. She summersaulted over him, her tallons latching onto him, and threw him toward a tree. He hit the tree and got the air nocked ought of him and fall to the ground in his pony form, he coughed out blood and every part of him was sore. He looked up at the harpy in shock, the first struggling to get away and leave the second to her fate.

"That's a hell of a way to say thank you to somepony who tried to save you!" He barked. She glared at him.

"Help me?!" She shrieked. "I reserved to die!" She charged him, he never had the chance to make a move before she slashed at him, the force from her blow sent him rolling on the ground. He struggled to get to his hooves and looked up at her.

"What the hell?!" He billowed. "You try to save somepony from being killed and..." He was cut off by another slash.

"You have no idea what you've done, so shut the hell up and die!" She charged for another attack, he dodged her slash and countered with a kick of his hind legs into her gut, she fell to the ground wrapping her winged arms to her stomach.

"Now look here sister!" He said. "I've just had the worst time of my life. I found out I dark blood rlflowing through my vains, Princess Celestia knew about it and lied to me since the very beginning and lost everything I cared about! So don't piss me off anymore then I already am!" She hissed at him and charged for him again. "Oh, damn!"

The two tackled each other as Mirage, with great effert, used his magic to give him wings so he had a better chance at fighting her. She slashed her tallons and blocked his blows as he swung at her with his hooves and blocked her strikes. They browled for over an hour, both stood glaring at each other, their breathing heavy and quick.

"You're good..." The harpy huffed. "...for food."

"Sorry to disappoint you" Mirage replied. "...but I'm not interested in being food." She chuckled at him and oon regretted it as pain surged through her body, her legs giving out under her weight, Mirage started for her but his own pain pulled him to the ground. Mirage looked up at the creature he had just fought, almost to the death, and she looked up at him.

"Who the hell are you?" She asked.

"I..." He paused, tue first thing that came to mind was his birth name, but he now loathed that name. He thought for a moment until it dawned on him the kind of magic he used, illusion. "...I am Mirage."

"Well, Mirage." She said as she crawled toward him, he was to sore and tired to do anything. If this was his time, he would now welcome it, if not to end the pain he now felt. "You've earned my respect." She said as she placed her strange foreleg on his shoulder.

"Does that respect allow me to know your name, or do 'harpies' not have names?" She gave him a cold glare for a minute before answering.

"I am Pealai." She answered. Mirage nodded once and rested his head on his hooves, the only thing keeping him from letting darkness take hold of him was Pealai sitting next to him. She did just try to kill him, after all, and he did not yet trust her.

After a few minutes of resting, Pealai got to her feet and lifted herself off the ground, picked up Mirage with her large tallons and carried him away from the area. He did nothing to stop her, he was to tired and sore from fighting the harpies and being so cut up, he had lost a lot of blood. As he was carried throuh the forest, he could not fight it any longer, he let his eyes close and the darkness took him.