Truth In The Shadows

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.