The Shadow Lands

Chapters

Prologue
The Long Night
Till Breaking Dawn
The Morning Air
The Quiet Days
The Morning Eclipse
The Tranquil air
The Changing Tides
Rain and Tears
A New Time
The Darkining Tides
The Coming Tides
An Odd Day
The Untold

Prologue

With a rustle of the wind blowing in the cold days of winter, as the moons slowly ascended into the sky, the lack of motion in the distant town left a hollow feeling. A lone unicorn sat on the balcony with a sense of peace about him, the wind whistling past. As he stood there, he gazed out at the town just outside the castle walls with worry. He saw families rushing home, fillies saying goodbye to friends, the shops closing up as they all got ready for the chilly nights to come. He cracked a small smile and whispered to the air. “I wish you all a peaceful night."

While watching the town, he had barely noticed the guards running frantically about, setting up what looked to be training equipment. With a sigh, he spoke softly, his voice almost torn away by the wind. "Why do they prefer training before the cold winter night rolls in? It’s but a few hours away."

The stallion turned his gaze toward the starry sky, its brilliant light revealing its deep shadows. The sight of the dying forest with heavy clouds gathering in the distance gave the land a gloomy appearance. With a wince and a sigh, he lifted himself onto his haunches, curious as to what the guards were fussing about.

As he proceeded to leave the balcony, the site of his bedroom made him chuckle. The unicorn went out of his way to claim this room just for its one view over the town. He didn’t care for the bathroom or the space of a bedroom of such a size. Although he was not accustomed to such lavish bestowals nor to his status, being the kingdom's head mage had its perks.

He sat down for a minute and once again pondered, like many years before, 'what to do with this space?' For the most part, all he ever did was place a few bookcases to house his growing collection of books. With just his bed and dresser to fill the rest he felt he needed to- his thoughts were interrupted by a knock upon his door.

A gray colored mare opened his door. She began speaking formally. "Sir, the king wou-" The mare's sentence was cut off as she tripped over a stack of scattered books, placed inconveniently by the door.

“Oh my. I'm sorry! I forgot about the stack of books over there," he apologized as he scampered over to her. When he drew close, he found her to be Silver Bane.

"Ugh, you could have put in a light," the pegasus stated with a groan as she got back on her hooves. Silver straightened out her uniform and said very sternly, "Would you just get a lamp or some kind of light? I'm tired of running into your things!" Silver scolded him with her eyes, leering at him and awaiting his answer.

"Why? I find the night comforting and I can see just fine," he stated with pride.

She groaned again and walked back through the door, shaking her head as she spoke. "You and those eyes.” She paused, sighing softly “Well, anyway..."

“My eyes are awesome, aren't they?" he interjected as Silver entered the large corridor just out side Shadows room. "In fact, it doesn't even matter that the night is eternal, I can see you perfectly fine in the dim light of the moons. It makes your armor look particulary fashionable," he teased as he pointed toward her chest plate with a grin.

He knew that she didn't wear the entire uniform for the simple fact that it was so outdated, not to mention cumbersome. Dared once by the fellow guards to put the full set on, he found that the head piece alone would get him killed with its restrictive view. Adding the heavy bulky hoof and leg guards made him feel like a walking block of steel.

“So, as I was saying,” Silver began with a small cough, “Shade, the King wants to see you."

“Well, this is odd," the stallion noted while he levitated a small necklace off his dresser. "He usually leaves me to do whatever with my studies.” He looked at the green emerald before placing it around his neck. "Did he say what for?" he asked Silver, as he turned to face the robe he left by his bedside.

“Nope, just sounded angry," she replied as she waited in the hall.

“Angry? Why would he be angry?”

“Well he's been mad about something. He's been ordering guards to train like crazy," Silver told him with a hint of nervousness in her voice. Shade thought that was reasonable as he slipped his robe on. “The last time this happened, we ended up in a three-year war with the Maliconys”. A shiver coursed its way through him at the thought of how a pony/dog creature could ever come about. Those fangs and long, ragged fur accompanied by a ghastly face; the thought that they were a civilization with actual intelligence baffled him. “Well, hopefully we won’t commit genocide again. It's been kind of a dull tactic," he said aloud.

“What?" she said in surprise.

“Oh, my bad,” he calmly said, catching himself. “I meant that hopefully this won’t be like before," he clarified as he began to walk out of his bedroom. “He usually demands the death of all his enemies and he does so in a brutal fashion, which is the main reason it’s been so quiet around here," he stated in a matter-of-fact tone, as the duo began to walk toward the throne room.

"Perhaps that’s true, but we also had peace inside the kingdom for seven years now because of you. Somehow you managed to stop his radical ways of discipline," she commented as she walked alongside him.

"Yes, but not on a grand scale. I may have saved some desperate miners and townsfolk but I still haven't been able to stop any of them.” He paused with a heavy sigh. “I may have simply delayed their fate. I've been here for ten years now and for four of them I couldn’t do anything," he finished, shrugging as they turned left at a corridor juncture.

“Yes, but I've been with you for the other six as your bodyguard. I have seen you talk more truth and sense into him than any other pony I know. By Tartarus, without you, the citizens would have revolted long ago!" She replied wholeheartedly, half-smiling.

All he could do was return it with a smile of his own. Yes, he kept the king from doing some questionable things, but that alone wasn't what laid heavily on his mind. The reason for the matter was the king’s faulty decisions to begin with. Maybe it was the aristocrats who sucked the life from the land and causes the small rebellions to pop up. The fact that the chilly winds of fall and six-month-long winters, the kingdom- no, the ponies of this kingdom were just barely holding on as it was with the coal they dug up - along with the dwindling food from the greenhouse farms, it wouldn't be long before the citizens were pushed to their breaking point.

“Not much time left," he mumbled just loud enough for her to hear.

"How much of what is left?" Silver asked curiously, causing him to stop abruptly before the next turn.

“What now?” he asked in a confused tone as he turned to face her.

"You said ‘not much time left.' Just wondering what you meant." She asked questionably, staring at him. Looking back to see her eyes, he knew she wasn't going to drop it. She was the kind of pony who was more than a bit nosy; he had a fear of her way of ‘persuasion’. He instinctively took a step back, thinking about the last time she used her persuasion on him.

"Well..." he started, just before a voice called out to him.

“Teacher, teacher!" He turned down the hall they just passed to see a young blue filly running toward them.

"Well, if it isn't my star student. Is there a reason you're looking for me?" he asked as he passed Silver.

The young filly seemed about to say something, but held her head down. Shadow could tell she’d done something against his rules. “OK, Lunar, what did you do?” he asked in a kind tone.

The filly hesitated before speaking. "I know you don’t like me practicing without you, and that you don’t like me messing about with spells I don’t know yet..."

He looked at the little unicorn with a stern look.”And what did you do, Lu?" She hung her head low as Silver walked up next to him.

"You’re not getting out of it," he said, which caused the filly to snap her head up to meet his gaze, just as her back legs gave out. He remembered the other time she had disobeyed the explicit rules. Even the last time was bad enough for heavy discipline, in the form of a physical punishment: cleaning the the floors, walls, and the bookcase with only a brush.

She began with a stutter. "I was practicing my teleportation spell... in the courtyard... to see how far I could go... and...” She paused. Shadow encouraged her on with a simple wave of his hoof. "I accidentally shot myself into the throne room. I'm sorry!"

He looked into her eyes, seeing her face reflecting a sad beggar they meet the other day. He cracked a cheerful smile. "Well, I’ll be. Now that's one heck of a feat.”

“So you’re not… angry?” she asked with hope.

He regained his composure. “Yes, you are to be punished for disobeying my instructions, but I'm happy with your progress. Still, it’s dangerous to try new spells without me or any form of supervision,” he finished with a halfhearted smile. The filly gave him a mixed look while she tried to process what he had said.

A slight brush came across his shoulder, as Silver stood right beside him. Shivers ran down his spine as he remembered the smile she was now holding. “So, am I going to shackle you and drag you around? I could come up with something new... oh, that could be fun.” He nearly forgot who she had been ignoring. With his fear of her past actions creeping in, the sound of Lunar stamping on the ground caught his attention.

“Teacher, I forgot to say something!” Usually her saying something wouldn't stop him from bolting, but the look she gave said ‘you need to hear this’. He gave a slight cough as he tried to regain his composure. “And what would that be?” he asked, sneaking a glance at what Silver was doing.

“Well, when I teleported into the throne room the king arrived before I could get out. I hid behind his throne before his highness saw me, using that invisibility spell I learned. While I hid, I accidentally overheard his conversation...” She trailed off, knowing he was going to be mad, and looked down at the floor.

“Well, Lunar Eclipse, what did you hear? I'll deal with the punishment later,” Silver asked. He worried about what Silver would do. She loved knowing all the little things about anypony, their little secrets. One day, she was going to see something she shouldn’t.

Lunar seemed uneasy as Silver kept pressing for the information. “Well, come on, tell me what he said,” Silver asked, standing there with slight grin as she stared at Lunar. This made Lunar a bit nervous as she seemed to fidget under her gaze.

“You know, it seems those pastries have been hitting you hard. Could've sworn your flank was smaller than that,” he stated sarcastically. Silver instantly blushed as she stiffened and shot him a nasty glare.

“You have some guts!” she growled at him, taking a step closer.

“Well sorry Lu, I just opened Pandora’s Box. There’s my PhD for ya.”

As he gave a nervous grin, she looked back in anger. They heard laughter and both looked back to Lunar, who was laughing hard. They looked back at each other. “You’re lucky.” Silver let out a sigh.

He cleared his throat. “So, Lu, uh, what did you hear?” he asked. She sat there for a second to calm herself before saying, “He was talking about your studies.”

“Studies?” Silver simply commented with a bit of confusion.

“He was talking about the test that teacher was conducting.”

His heart froze at those words. ‘He was talking about them.’ If the king was talking about them, then...

“Hey, what does she mean?” Silver’s voice startled him.

“Huh? What?” He looked up over to see Silver, a worried look on her face.

“It looks like you’ve seen a ghost, what’s wrong?”

“Who was he talking to?” He quickly turned to Lunar, with a bit of fear in his voice.

“Um, I think it was Senator Hiller. Why?” Lunar asked, looking back, the question left hanging in the air.

“This is bad... I'm going to the throne room now,” he stated, and turned to take the corridor in the left that would take him to the king, his mind turned on what his Highness was thinking.

“What? H- hey, what changed?” Silver scrambled to catch up, alongside Lunar.

“Okay,” he started. “No talking, because this is a lot of information and most of it is supposed to be a national secret.” He looked over his shoulder to check that nopony was around. They both nodded their agreement. “Good,” he confirmed as he continued. “Our global structure is held together by food, greenhouse produce and coal from the mines for heat, which, to be honest, have all been been dwindling the past two years. Five years ago, the king charged me with finding an answer to this dilemma. While I was searching for some way to solve the problem, I stumbled across some ancient text. I couldn't make most of it out due to corrosion, but what I could read gave me an idea. You see, the text was apparently some foals’ story book or something, and it was about giving birth to the world, or something to that effect.”

“Ok, so what with the emergency?” Silver interjected with a bit of sarcasm.

“No questions,” he hushed her before she could say anything more. “You see, for a year beforehoof, nothing I was trying seemed to be working. So, when I found that text, I thought 'I could craft a spell not to spur growth, but to create it’. That led me down the research I've been doing for the last five years until I found an answer that I did not seek.”

“It took you five years to find a solution?” The sound of disbelief in Silver's voice was strangely comforting. The fact that Shadow was the youngest royal mage in the country’s history meant that not much was expected from him. If he didn't have Silver or Lunar with him, he would have cracked quite some time ago.

“The problem was that it wasn't the solution I needed. After an accident while performing the spell, I came across something strange. Instead of making what we needed, I somehow opened a door.” Stopping just before the corner, he noticed the guards to the throne room. Pausing, he took in a deep breath and turned back to them. “The experiment opened a window to a place, a world we knew nothing about. With some diligence and effort, we were able to perform some long range recon, which Lunar helped with. We found it to be a world with vast lands and something called a sun.”

“Isn't that good?” Silver asked, trying to comprehend what he was talking about.

“Normally, yes, but in this case, no. Our world of Shalin is, well... dying.” He paused for dramatic effect. “I decided to push forward with trying to enter it. It took quite a bit of fiddling, but I managed to complete a modified version of a teleportation spell. As I explored, I found that the world was already inhabited by others. Their views are different than our own. Since the king was talking to Hiller, I'm beginning to fear the worst.”

“Lunar.” He looked down toward her. “In my room, look for ‘my magic book', and if any of the guards stop you, run and find Silver. She’ll be at the main gate. Got it?” The little filly gave a nervous look before nodding in agreement.

As Lunar rushed off, Silver turned back to him. “Okay, mind filling me in more? Why are you so scared?” she inquired. He stood there staring at her, as he knew his next words would leave a heavy feeling in his chest.

“Hiller is the king’s new strategic general. I never reported all of my findings on that work in fear of what he would do.” His face was pale; she could feel just how scared he was. Always being the cheerful one, his being scared meant it was a grave situation indeed.

“Wha-” He interrupted her.

“Look, when Lunar gets to you, tell her to practice all my spells. She may be a bit of a novice but she can do it, I believe she can. There will be a letter in that book on what to do next. Do not trust any of the guards, even if they are friends. This might be the only thing I can do. Go and wait by the main gate for Lu. I'm leaving her in your care. You’ll know if everything is off, but if not, leave, and never look back.”

She understood only half of what he just said, but a twisting feeling in her gut grew. With all of what she just had heard, the only words she could find were “I- I will, but what is going on?”

He gave her a sad smile. “I’m sorry that I have to ask this of you. I always worked to protect the kingdom and its citizens. I just hope that tonight, I don’t have to choose between them,” he said remorsefully, heading to the throne room doors as she heard a faint whisper. “Be safe.” All she could do was watch him go as the moonlight shined through the window.

As he made his way to the throne room doors, his eyes came upon the engraving on the door. A moon surrounded by a wall pushing back heavy tides of chaos, protecting the moons from change. He thought that described the king, Shalin, quite well, or was he named for the kingdom’s beliefs? His attention switched to the two guards standing nearby; oddly, they didn’t seem all too guard-like.

“I do believe the king would like to see me,” he stated, with the hope the answer wouldn’t be a no.

“Yes he does, the king just sent a message for you.”

He noticed a small grin on the guard as the other fumbled to opened the large doors. “Grand Mage, the highness is waiting for you”, the guard said as he proceeded through the doors.

A feeling of dread slowly crept up upon him as he entered the room. His shallow fears of what the king would do slowly came forth. He mustered his resolve as he walked across the cold stone floor, the vaulted ceiling and two rows of pillars across the sides of the room showed nothing but cold indifference. With only sparse torches for light, the long gated room gave the feeling of a dungeon. Each step clicked throughout the room, echoing the cries of all that this room condemned. How many did he let die here, to leave them to a grim fate? He felt chills as he imagined their hate and pain.

“Why can’t he see that kindness isn’t a weakness?” he whispered as he came upon the throne and its king.

As he came upon the king, he noticed a brown pony with a buzz cut mane near the chair. It was Hiller and his crooked smile; he knew then what he needed to do. He quickly cast a spell and a small, shadowy looking pony appeared,. With a quick gesture he sent it away. As it galloped off, a cold voice rang through the throne room.

“So, did the great mage of Shalin forget something?” he knew that cold voice, the voice of a pony who was once a friend.

“Well, my king, I did in fact. My latest report on my research; I do believe you will find it most enjoyable.”

He noticed Hiller take a few steps out. “Yes. What I believe you refer to in your studies as 'day ponies', you have been studying for quite some time,” he said in a gruff tone, ending with a chuckle.

“Yes, we were wondering if you've been able to ascertain how we might be able to enter such a world,” King Shalin asked, as he fixed his black mane around his crown. A small hint of hope appeared; they didn't know that he was able to cross over. Strangely, the feeling of something going on nipped at him. Shadow knew who Hiller was, but why was he there?

Mustering his resolve, he asked, “Why is Hiller here? I don’t see the reason why the ‘Iron Wall’ is present.”

The smile that Hiller previously wore faded as the king sighed, “I’ve asked him to become my adviser as I have great faith in him, but my faith in you has begun to waver, due to your past discretion.”

“Past discretion, you mean the farming community?” he asked.

“Yes, and let’s not forget the miners now. All those wretched rebels all deserved death, but you and your false words freed them.” He felt a slight burst of anger grow by the king’s statement.

“Saved rebels? All I did was stop you from killing innocent ponies, none of them were criminals. They barely live on what they make and rebelled out of need, not spite. Have you forgotten what hardships they must go through to live?” he finished with a slight glare at Hiller.

“Hardships?” he said, as if questioning the word’s meaning. He stood from his chair, each of his steps clicking against the stone as he descended. “Hardships? The hardship of fighting the kingdom or the blood of the soldiers they slaughtered? All you did was let rebellious forces go. Giving traitors a second chance to strike back and harm the kingdom. That, plus the suspicious activity you conducted with your research, made me ask for a second look from your second-hand mage. Lolkin was her name; I asked her to give me her perspective on the matter.” He paused to see the reaction of his words on his Grand Mage’s face.

As the king finished his descent, he gave a nod to Hiller. “To what I believe; the research study seemed to be impeded. The unnecessary length of the studies and his lack of drive piqued my suspicions. After doing some looking into the matter I found that it is possible to cross this boundary. Not only that, but I believe that the Grand Mage is withholding information, your majesty.”

Shadow noticed Hiller finish, his grin returned. The king continued his speech. “So, by his statement, how am I to believe any of your words or actions?”

Shadow’s heart sunk as he spoke. “So, with this and past actions, I hereby give Lolkin the duty of finding us a path into the fertile world known as Equestria, and you are charged with treason.” As he finished, his hope for a way of peace died as the feeling of anger replaced it.

“So you're choosing to conquer them then?” He noticed eight robed ponies apearing just by the thron, four to each side, he knew they were there because of him.

The king gave a smile and stated, “Conquer? No, I will subjugate and rule them. They will bend to our aid, and their land will benefit our kingdom.” King Shalin bellowed across the room as the realization of what he was planning came to mind. He was planning to go to war with Equestria; he was planning another blood bath. The thought stunned Shadow as the feeling of guilt swept across him.

He bowed his head and asked, “So these unicorns are here to restrain me, to lock me away?”

When Shadow’s eyes met Hiller’s, he let out a small chuckle. “No, Shadow Wingle; they are your judgment. FIRE!” he commanded. In unison, all the unicorns lowered their horns launching an attack spell before Shadow could react. The first two veered to the left, hitting Shadow in his flank while three more scored hits into his right side. His world started burning with pure pain as the final three bolts struck him dead in the chest. The force of the blasts took the strength out of him and Shadow collapsed into a heap on the floor. With most of his focus on the pain, he found it quite hard to even breathe. The sound of the ponies shuffling sounded dull and far away as the blood pounded in his ears. Laying there in pain and nearly unconscious, a swift kick from Hiller sent a sharp pain through his chest, the kick starting his brain once more.

“Ha! A great mage that failed!” Shadow heard him jest. Pulling together what coherent thought he could, Shadow slowly stood, a slight glow around his horn betraying a readying spell. Hiller took notice and bucked him across the floor. “No you don't! I can't have you doing any magic,” he chuckled after his strike, but luckily for Shadow, it went off just before the kick.

With Shadow landing on his back, the pain from his broken ribs caused him to spasm and cough. “It wasn’t for me,” Shadow began, pausing at another coughing fit, “It was for my minion to burn down my lab, and all the research inside.” He wheezed as he barely got back on his hoofs. Shadow nearly fell over, the intense pain from his leg was all too apparent. He could easily tell that one of the magical strikes broke his leg but he chalked the ribs up to Hiller. Well, at least they weren't trying to kill him yet. That was the only comforting thought he could manage.

“What?!” He heard the king say as his vision blurred.

“Yes… all of that work… gone.” He paused to catch his breath. “...To ash. Back to square one for you.” He wheezed with a smile, his eyes set on Hiller’s face as it brimmed with rage.

“You son of a bitch! Kill him!” he yelled, as the mages positioned themselves. The eight unicorns’ horns lit up in preparation for another attack, but this time Shadow wouldn’t be caught off guard. When they launched their spells, a hail of magic arrows soared toward him. He quickly cast a shield around himself which absorbed the brunt of the assault. The strain from the spell caused his already injured body to cry out in agony.

Hiller's pre-emptive strike had left him with the disadvantage. He knew that it wouldn’t be long before they killed him. The only way he could think of getting out of this alive was to... he quickly began another spell as they waited for orders from Hiller. He fired a wave of magical energy that knocked back Hiller and the troops. He was able to rest for a moment before he began his second spell when he realized one of the unicorns wasn’t knocked down. He instantly recognized her green mane - Lolkin.

“Nice try, but predictable,” she stated with a grin. She began her new spell as a fireball began to form. ‘Why is she here?’ he thought. The site of her being here was confusing but he needed to focus.

“Shalin, I never wanted to choose, but you left me with no choice. I will not let you destroy their world! I will not let you wage war!” he yelled as his spell neared completion.

Lolkin would not have any of it. “Not on my watch, Wing!” she yelled, launching a fireball at Shadow. It struck near him and exploded in a spray of crimson flame, lighting his robe on fire and causing him to lose concentration. His spell began to warp and it emitted a strange glow. Lines of eldritch light formed into a pentagram and began to pulsate as light beams began to shoot forth from it. ‘This is going to hurt!’ he thought before it exploded, with rays of fire and lightning filling the room. A piercing sound tore through the room as smoke billowed out from where Shadow has been.

“Hiller,” Shalin coughed, “what just happened?” he asked while trying to bat away the smoke with his hoof. Hiller looked about trying to find out what Shadow had done. As his troops moved around to clear the smoke, all they could find was a huge scorch mark on the marble floor.

Author's Note

Hey there readers, this is my first story that I'm still in the mists writing and I like to give thanks to my editor http://www.fimfiction.net/user/Koekelbag for his help so far. the prologue was re done so I hope all enjoy.

The Long Night

As she sat at the main gate with the cold wind blowing, Silver's mind was elsewhere. She shivered in the cold, remembering an old memory of Shade. She couldn't help but feel worried about him. Silver let out a small sigh as she thought about the nickname she gave him when they were just foals.

He was always a hoof taller than her as they grew up, always holding it over her. Silver would always tease him about being in his shadow so much that she started to called him Shade. “Hey, if I’m stuck being your shadow I'll have to follow you everywhere," she would say. She poked fun at him a lot back then.

A drop of something wet touched her nose, interrupting her thoughts. Snow? It had started to snow, which meant that winter was beginning, and its chilling winds were on their way. The temperatures were so cold that they could turn a pony into a frozen statue. Wishing that Lunar would hurry up and get her flank down here so she could read that letter, she thought what is going on and why did he seem so scared?,as a cold shiver ran down her spine. She didn’t understand all of what he said; she just hoped that he was alright.

XxX

As Lunar ran through the hall toward her teacher's bedroom, her mind raced. Why did he want me to meet Silver by the main gate with his personal magic book? The order made no sense, but she was going to obey it all the same. Ever since Shadow saved her, she had never questioned him. She fondly remembered the promise she made him at their first meeting.

The cold morning air was always harsh back in those days at the orphanage. They hoped for a home and a family to call their own through those long and dreary days, but not many got that chance. Most found themselves as slaves or in the military service. Those lucky enough to find a home became maids or butlers. None of them had a family that loved them. She shivered slightly as a tear rolled down her cheek, any hopes she had of finding a loving family going with it.

One long winter night, a strange black unicorn came to the orphanage asking to see whatever unicorn fillies they had. “So she’s the only one?” she heard him ask the head caretaker, who responded with a simple nod.

“Sir, I promise to try my hardest not to make you angry and to be good," Lunar said, hoping that was enough to get adopted. She could see him crack a smile and his next words surprised her.

"If you never made me mad, then that would be boring. Let’s try just being good, leave it at and we’ll see what happens then," he said, patting her head. "Whoa now, let’s not shed any tears and just smile, okay? I'm going to expect a lot out of you so don't waste your time crying. Use it to sharpen your mind."

Tears? Without even noticing, she was crying as she quickly wiped them away. The sheer amount of joy of leaving that place had nearly overwhelmed her.

By that time, Lunar and the strange stallion were on their way to wherever he decided to go. She made no fuss since this was what she expected to happen. She took a deep breath, gathering some resolve to ask what her future would hold. “So mister, what am I going to be? A maid? A servant? worker, or…” She paused at the last one, a darker image of what it entailed came up.

”Well...” she heard him start as she looked up to see what he would say. “My name is Shadow Wing, and as to what your job shall be...” He levitated a large book to her. “On our way back I want you to read this entire tome on the basic arts of magic." He landed it right in front of her with a resounding thump. “We’ll see about your job after you read that.”

He always did things in such a roundabout way. Lunar just barely finished the book before they arrived to what looked like her new home. It was a strange place, with nothing but thick tall hedges with armed guards all around. The large manor that sat behind the hedges felt unsettling due to what she thought was an old-world feel.

“So, since you just finished the book, how about a little test? You see these blocks here?” He levitated some multicolored blocks in front of her. “All you need to do is levitate them into a house pattern and you pass.” He took a step back with a small grin and waited.

All right, just need to make a house, Lunar thought as she geared up and tried to levitate one of the blocks. Instead, she ended up miscalculating the formula and flung herself into a nearby hedge. As she tried to make out what just happened she could hear the stallion laughing. "Would you like to try that again?"

She had just screwed up such an easy spell and threw herself across the yard. “Didn’t I fail?” she asked, feeling a sense of defeat. The strain to lift them was great, like she was lifting a fifty pound boulder. She barely had two of the blocks in position before her spell gave out.

“I asked if you’re willing to give it another shot, so are you?" he asked, holding a confident grin, motioning to the blocks.

She felt confused by his answer. She didn’t understand what he meant - if he was being serious or toying with her before sending her back to the orphanage. She couldn’t go back to that dreadful place. She couldn’t fail. She tried to focus with all her might, and they slowly lifted off the ground. As she tried to focus on the blocks, they slowly slipped away. She could feel the tears welling up as she tried again, but to no avail. As she tried for the fourth time the tears flowed down her face freely before he stepped in and stopped her fifth try. “Whoa there, anymore and you could really hurt yourself.” She hung her head low with the thought that she failed.

"I’m sorry that I couldn't finish, but please don’t send me back! I’ll try hard not to fail again. I'll try anything, just please don't send me back there!” she begged with all her heart. Her thoughts and feeling of loss were cut off by the feeling of something wrapping around her.

“Now what did I say about crying?"

She noticed that he was hugging her just before he threw her into the air. The whole moment took her by surprise and she let out a yelp just before he caught her in his own magic. “To be honest, this was a test for something that is hard to find." His words stunned her mind as she simply stared at him blankly. "You see, those blocks are nearly impossible to be moved by any novice. I made them to be that way because as a ‘high level mage’, I get applicants daily with all this false gusto, not to mention the arrogant ones that expect everything to be handed to them.”.

He paused and set her down. “They fail that test saying I was making fun of them. None of them tried as hard or as many times as you did. You even managed to lift one, which most of them couldn't do, so you pass. You see, I would rather have a student that will give a hundred and ten percent than a student who calls it quits before even giving something their best effort."

As everything he said started to sink in, he suddenly yelled, “WELCOME, MY NEW STUDENT!" Lunar felt reborn that day. She followed him and his rules ever since... well, most of them.

XxX

Lunar was brought back from her reverie as she rounded the last corner. She had finally made it to her teacher’s room. It wasn’t hard to find since they carved his image into the door itself. She always thought that the door was silly, with the picture of him summoning minions to protect the castle from an unseen danger. She couldn’t understand why they didn’t just put a plaque with his name on it by the door like they did in the barracks. She gave a little giggle at the thought of him as a soldier and proceeded to open the door.

As she pushed the door open, she quickly lit her horn, illuminating the dark room.. “Why was the door…” she asked out loud, just noticing the pile of books that slid out from behind the door. “Why are you so messy?” she commented to herself as she looked around the wild, empty room. She walked about the room, looking for the book he mentioned but had no luck, until she took note of a piece of paper stuck to the closet door. As she came upon it she found it to be a note, addressed to her.

She read:

"Okay, Lu, if you're reading this then I must have sent you to get the book. Inside, there is a letter for Silver. You must make sure she gets it. I left you with a saddlebag with some of your things in it and the book. Don't worry, I’ll be with you shortly.

Your teacher,

Shadow

PS. The book is in the closet."

She pushed opened the door to the closet, tossing the letter aside. It revealed a lab with beakers and shelves of magical ingredients. ‘Yep, as others would use this place for formal dresses or their work attire, he uses it as his personal study lab,’ she thought, rolling her eyes. She let out a small sigh and began to look for the saddlebag he had mentioned in the note.

As she walked through the study she realized that this was her first time being in here. She couldn’t understand why he had two labs, but three? “Why does he need all this?” Lunar soon noticed the saddlebag near the wooden desk in the far back of the study. She quickly ran up to find the book and an envelope addressed to Silver along with a few other things inside.

She quickly grabbed the saddlebag, placing it on her back. She made her way out of the study, closing its doors. “Okay, now I just need to make my way to the main gate,” she muttered, proceeding across the room to the door. When she finally left and closed the door to the room a deep scruffy voice caused her to jump.

"May I ask what you’re doing?"

She quickly turned to see one of the Shalin Royal Guard staring at her. "Ah... hello, um, I’m just grabbing a few things,” she managed to say as she remembered teacher’s words. 'Don't trust no-one.'

“Really? Must be something for you to go into his room. Do you mind if I check what they may be?“ His eyes were locked on her as he took a step forward. She didn’t know what he wanted, but she had to think of a way to get out of this.

An idea struck her. "Well, sorry for being rude, but I need to get going, so I'll be off now." The guard leapt for her, but before he could reach her Lunar's horn lit up with a flash, which stunned the guard. He stumbled to the floor, quickly getting back to his hooves and looking back at the empty spot where the filly once stood.

XxX

A shiver shot through Silver from the cold weather as she cursed the snow that fell. “How long will it take her to get here? It’s freezing out here.” she complained, now knowing why her friend was willing to switch his shift with her. Silver faintly noticed a flashin the distance. She squinted to see what it was.

Thinking it was a lantern going out, she paid it no mind until the she heard a pony calling her, “Silver! Silver, where are you!?” She noticed a small pony in the distance as it gave off a small light.

“Hey! Over here!” She yelled trying to get its attention. She apparently did as the small filly came running toward her.

As the filly came into view, she noticed in relief that it was Lunar. “Lunar, hey, did you get the letter he left?” she asked when Lunar arrived. She seemed to have been running for a bit as she was huffing for air.

“Ya, here,” she managed to say between breaths, lifting the envelope to her. As she opened and removed the letter from the envelop, Lunar gave a slight look around as she noticed a tower of smoke in the distance. "Silver, what is burning over in the distance?" Lunar pointed to the west courtyard. The smoke surprised her, thinking of what was over in that section as her heart went as cold as the snow itself. The only thing over there was his lab as her thoughts jumped back to those words. She quickly opened the letter and began to read:

Dear Silver,

If you're reading this now near wherever I sent you, my worst fears might be coming true. In the years before you came to the castle as a royal guard member; back when I first came to the castle myself, I met the king. He was different back then, he was kinder, but the times have changed him. His goals changed after his father died from poison, he’s grown colder since then.

As the rebellions popped up, and the wars that followed, he became secluded and crueler to the world. I feel I’m partly to blame because I couldn’t save him before he fell so far, and with the corrupted government guiding his actions the land will die. He decided to steal what he needed with war to keep the land living; not stopping that was my second sin.

My thread was sacrificing the kingdom’s people to him to keep the peace. You may think I had no choice but I did. I could have joined the people in rebelling and torn this empire in two, but that would have meant killing him. To this day, I think of him as a dear, close friend, even if that faith is waning. I have been able to enter their world and observe their culture. It’s a place that he can’t be allowed to destroy and ravage no matter what; they don’t deserve such a punishment.

Therefore, as you read this, I’ll be confronting him one last time for a straight answer... but I could guess what it would be. Therefore, I asked you to take care of Lunar for me, because if they hold anything against me she might end up paying for it. Don’t worry; I’ll be joining you a bit later. Make sure she learns everything in that book; I know she can do it. In the town nearby, there will be a pony in a cloak in the brush on its outskirts. Just call out Shade and he’ll show you where you should go.

You’re Dear Friend,

Shadow “Shady” Wing.

PS. Be safe.

She stared at the letter as the knot in her gut grew. She looked back to the smoke as a loud explosion rumbled in the distance. She could feel everything he feared had happened.

"Silver, what is going on? What was that?" She noticed Lunar looking up to her, pleading for an answer. She felt helpless, as all she could do was follow his letter’s instructions. What he said about Lunar was right. From the four years she knew Lunar, she ended up loving her like a sister.

She took a deep breath to steady herself as she began, “Lunar, we need to leave right now. We’ll meet up with Shadow later because he had things he needed to do, but we need to go now, okay?” Lunar simply gave a nod as confusion racked her face. She just lied to Lunar or what felt like a lie, she didn't know when, where, or if they would ever meet him again.

"Right, we need to get to the town just outside of the castle walls, hopefully before the winds pick up.”

She finished just as a loud voice caught them by surprise, “There they are! HALT! You are under arrest for rebelling against his Highness and the Kingdom of Shalin!” They both turned to see five members of the royal guard rushed toward them in a mad dash.

She quickly hunched down, saying, "Get on! It’ll be faster.” The filly hastily climbed on, grabbing around her neck as her wings flared. Once Lunar grabbed hold she began to gallop toward the main gate, leaping into a short flight over it.

She landed just outside the main gate, pausing to get her bearings as she started towards the town’s direction. Hearing the guards yelling for a squad of fliers, she quickly picked up its general direction and began to race towards it. Just then, a couple of pegasus guards came over the wall racing after them. "Hold on, this is going to get rough!" she nearly yelled at Lunar, trying to conserve her breath as she picked up speed. She didn't dare look back, knowing they were following just behind by the sound of their commander’s orders.

I need to shake them before I reach the town, she thought as she began to push herself even harder, beating her wing into a strange horizontal motion. The woods beside them began to blur as she could feel Lunar’s hold tighten as she gained even more speed. As she ran, the sound of her pursuers became more distant. She held her speed, only slowing as the town came into view. As she stopped, she could feel her body ache from the run as most of her muscles felt like rubber.

"Sorry Lu,” she wheezed, trying to catch her breath as she let the filly down.

“I’m fine but...” She noticed Lunar paused to shiver. She knew they had to get out of the cold soon or things would get worse.“What did you do? I looked back and saw them trying so hard to catch up, but then they all just faded in the distance.” She felt some relief at the thought that none were able to follow them.

“Well, you always wondered what my skill was, it’s speed. There’s not a pony alive who can keep up with me,” she stated with a bit of pride.

"So did they give up?" Lu questioned with a bit of fear as she knew the answer.

“They may have broken off their pursuit but that’s because they knew they wouldn’t be able to catch me. They would wait for the storm that’s coming in to trap us. We need to find that pony Shadow was talking about before that happens,” she explained as she began to look around the outer edge of the town.

"You did say Shadow, so I must be your pony," A strange low tone voice said from behind, causing them both to jump. They quickly turn to see a dark hooded pony exiting some bushes near a dead oak tree. They couldn’t make out who he was due to his hood that covered his face as he quickly walked past them.

He faced the road that leads into the town as Silver asked, “So, mister...”

He abruptly cut her off, “ My name is not important getting you to a house before the storm comes and the guards follow is. So come, come,” he stated as they both looked at each other.

"Right, but how do you know Shadow?” Silver questioned him, looking to him for an answer as he turned back to face them both.

“Like some others, I owe him a favor for my life. Now come, time is a luxury we can’t afford,” he said as they entered the town.

She felt a cold chill as they walked past the darkened homes, with the only sound being their hoofsteps on the light snow. She couldn’t tell if it was from the cold air or the creepy feeling of the empty town.

“Unsettling, right?” he asked as if reading her mind. “The whole town is quiet, not a single light to be seen anywhere. Ponies don’t venture out due to the coming storm, but it’s mostly because of the castle guard.” He paused as they entered the town square. She could tell from the way his head pivoted that he was searching for something.

Her shivers were rattling her more as they began to follow him again. She snuck a glance at Lunar, seeing a scared look upon her face. “I’ll be alright Lu, I just hope the place were going has a heater because it’s freezing out here,” she said in hope of taking Lunar’s mind off what was happening, and she heard the filly giggle.

"Where is this place you're taking us?”

He just kept walking, saying, "It’s near the outskirts of town, on the other side of the plaza. You can warm up there." She gave a weak smile at the notion of being warm again as a particular home came into view.

“Is it that one?” she asked. He gave a small nod, but as they reached the front of the house her smile faded.

The house was in dreadful shape. Its paint was peeling off and the wood beneath was splintering. The door and windows were in the same shape; the windows were broken and the door hung ajar on only one hinge.

He pushed the door open, and it gave a loud creaking noise before pulling free from the doorframe and crashing to the floor. Silver was shocked at what she saw and Lunar gasped. The inside was just as bad, with cobwebs and broken or rundown furniture scattered about.

"What are you trying to pull?” she demanded, taking a step forward raising her hoof to the pony.As soon it made contact the robe fell as if nopony was in side.

"W-what the?!" Silver stuttered when a push came from behind that shoved her and Lunar into the room. As they landed, she heard Lunar scream, looking up to see a ghostly figure with purple eyes staring at them from the doorway.

Silver tried to hurry to her hooves until she heard a voice say, "Sorry, but it was the only way to keep you safe." Its horn glowed as an arcane circle appeared on the floor and entrapped them in a bright light. "Please take care,” was the last thing she heard before an explosive pulse knocked her out.

Author's Note

Sadly, mixer dropped out for Being my editor. His life caught up to him. So im hoofin it alone again.

Till Breaking Dawn

The world was black, and cold seeped into her body as she lay on the ground. Silver felt a sharp sensation of fear, but the feeling soon lost itself in her fuzzy thoughts. The fragrance of something familiar woke her, and suddenly the blackness turned into an open field that stretched out on all sides.

“Where am I?” she asked out of confusion, but the smell caught her attention again. It brought back warm memories. She couldn’t tell its direction, but she searched profusely for the source. Her muscles felt tired and she felt exhausted as she continued to look urgently for the source of the smell when a small house appeared in the distance.

The home gave Silver a sense of dread, yet the house seemed warm and welcoming. The closer she got to the door, the more she felt that something was off. By the time she reached the door, the weight of that feeling was nearly crushing her. Her legs were trembling, and she couldn’t bring herself to open the door.. As if sensing her hesitation, it opened itself to her. As the door creaked open, it showed a room full of love and despair. Silver finally recognized the smell as food, and heard the clatter of pans from a room somewhere inside.

She heard a familiar voice call out, "Hey Sil, dinner is almost ready." She began to cry as the old memory played out.

"Silver! You must wake up!!" a voice bellowed from behind her.

She turned to the sight of a black mass approaching her. She tried to run, but it quickly grasped her legs as it dragged her out of the house. Her screams were muted by the dark tar enveloping her, as it slowly embraced her body with only a whisper to be heard. “Silver, you must not go, you need to wake up!” Nothing but pitch black silence enclosed her now as the world went black.

XxX

The sound of a loud crackle echoed through her body as it twitched in pain. Silver gave a slight groan at the pain, slowly opening her eyes. The intense pain of her stiff muscles shot through her as she lifting her head for a view of her surroundings. With blurred visions and mind, she could barely make out the small field she was laying in as trees and brush surrounded her. Trees? She questioned as her head seemed clogged in a mist of confusion with an aching pain passing through at every thought. Just then, she saw a flash of light with a deep rumble following it, which caused her to instinctively fidget in pain. It took her a few minutes to realize that she was in a forest. She looked up to see dark balls of flashing things in the sky, when another flash and thunderous roar echoed the sky, letting something small fall.

"Hun... it's water." She mumbled, staring at the dark sky. She sat there for a bit until her mind cleared a bit. As she proceeded to stand, an intense dizziness overtook her as she fell to her side with a thump. She felt the intense need to vomit; as she held it back, she noticed something near a tree just on the outside of some brush. ‘That's not far,’ she thought as she slowly crawled toward it to avoid vomiting. She came upon it to find a young blue filly. She thought Why is a filly here? as she slowly remembered who she was.

She still felt weird as she tried to stand once more. She could feel the sting of her muscles and the nauseating sway of her mind, trying to move in front of the filly. She nudged the filly, trying to wake her, but with no avail. She heard a weak whisper, “Silver, you need to move. There’s danger coming.” The voice sounded familiar as her mind pounded with pain. She gave the area around her a slight look, wondering where it came from. "SILVER!" it yelled, being more desperate now.

Just then, the previous events played out in her mind, recalling the last request, now trying to grab Lunar as her vision doubled with the water falling from the sky. She barely managed to pick Lunar up and place her on her back, making sure she was secured. As she tried to think of a direction to go, a small growl took her by surprise. She looked about, finding strange creatures staring at her just to her left. They reminded her of the wolf back near her home, as fear took hold when she counted six of them. She felt frozen as they stepped closer; she didn’t know where the nearest town was. The soft voice she heard beckoned, “Run to the right!” Obeying it, she ran to her right just as they pounced.

She didn’t have time to think about the voice as the sound of the wolf creatures galloping just behind her. Silver had no idea what they were, with the fear of what they would do pushing her body to run faster. Not caring to look over her shoulder, she just kept running. As she did, Silver could feel her body getting hotter, and her vision dulled even more. She couldn't even tell where she was anymore as her body ached in terrible pain. Her mouth ran dry as each new breath she drew sparked pain in her chest, with her mind only working on three thoughts; run, protect, survive. She kept pushing through the heavy downpour as each step smashed the ground.

As if in a dream, she noticed a house in the distance, or what she thought looked like one, soon realizing she was out of the forest and the rain. Her body begged for rest, but she soldiered on. Just as she was in reach of the home, a sharp pain crashed into her side. The pain could be felt across her whole body as she came crashing down to the ground. As she made contacted with the ground, she barely was able to look up to noticing the wolf things encircling her. With most of her strength leaving her body now, her mind switched to Lunar. She noticed the filly lying just outside of their encirclement. Being unable to gather any strength and her mind fading, she couldn’t fight the darkness back any longer.

XxX

Just as she began to close her eyes from a hard day’s work, the sound of something rustling was just audible for her to hear. Thinking it was just the restless animals and deciding to pay no mind to it, she shifted in her bed to find a comfortable position. As sleep slowly came over her, the rustling started to become louder, causing her to exit her bed in annoyance.

“What in Equestria is going on out there?" She grumbled, turning on a lamp. She proceeded to the old shutter window and swung them open to peer over the view of the backfields. She knew there wasn’t much out back, just a hen house and the cow pen in view. She grumbled even more as nothing seemed to be wrong besides a small breeze blowing and what look to be a nasty storm over the Everfree forest.

She figured the swaying of the trees spooked the animals, deciding it was nothing to bother with after closing the shutters. When she walked back to her comfortable looking bed, the shutters launched open from a gust of wind. The noise startled her, turning around and glaring at them.

"You darn window, scaring me like that. Ah should nail you shut!" She muttered in frustration, walking back to the window. Just when she was about close it for a second time; she noticed something in the distance.

She strained her eyes trying figure out what she saw. "Oh no...“ A chill was sent down her spine as fear swept through her body when they came closer. “TIMBERWOLVES!” She yelled, seeing a pony being chased by them. Without missing a beat, she rushed toward her bedroom door grabbing her rope, slamming open the door. She feared for the pony, as well for the farm.

As she entered the upstairs hallway, she yelled while bolting for the stairs. "Macintosh, wake up, we got a problem! Apple Bloom, wake Granny! Macintosh, meet me out back!" She finished nearly jumping down the stairs, skidding on the downstairs floors.

Macintosh pokes his head out and saw Apple Bloom do the same as their eyes met, “Apple Bloom, get Granny. I'll see what AJ's up about," he told her.

"O-okay," She responded, exiting her room to walk to a door further down the hallway. He exited his room as well, going to figure out what got Applejack all spooked.

The time he was in the downstairs kitchen, he heard Granny smith’s voice rang through the house "Ah ye varmints aren’t taking this Smith.” He noticed the back kitchen door was open as a painful yelp came from outside. He felt a twitch in his heart, darting out in fear for Applejack. To his relief, Applejack was all right… But to his dismay, he noticed a gray Pegasus and a small blue filly just out side the encirclement by three Timberwolves. He noticed that they weren’t moving as the wolfs drew closer to them.

"We’ve gotta save them, just follow my lead!” he heard Applejack say as he nodded in agreement.

She turned to the timber wolfs, readying her lasso with a grin, as they have yet to notice the two ponies. As she slowly moved closer with Macintosh, one of the wolves stepped closer, preparing to attack the gray pegasus. With a hard swing, she tossed her lasso just around its mouth, shutting it tight just an inch from the gray mare. Macintosh rushed the other and gave a strong buck, shattering it to pieces. The other wolfs jumped back in surprise by their attackers, giving off a sharp growl at the new target. One hunched down, preparing itself to strike at Macintosh. Applejack took advantage of its confusion by giving it a strong kick to its head, sending it just in front of the first one who just broke free from her rope.

Macintosh saw one of the Timberwolves starting to regenerate, when he noticed that the filly was waking up. The young filly slowly got up, looking about and saw Macintosh standing there. He could see that she was scared and wet, as was the grey mare.

“Oh, y’all think you can catch me!" He turned to see Aj dodging the Timberwolf's attacks.

Just then, a young voice came from the house, "Big Mac! what’s going.....?” He turned to find it was Apple bloom standing in the kitchen doorway.

“Apple Bloom, grab the filly, and I’ll get the mare." He yelled, turning his head towards the gray mare.

….

Her mind was in shock at what she saw. Silver on the ground, a red stallion staring at her, and a mare fighting with some strange creatures. She felt scared, cold, and wet.

"Apple Bloom, grab the filly, and I’ll get the mare." She heard the stallion yell as a pony the same size as her came running up to her.

“Come on, we gotta get you to the house. It’s safe in there. Big Mac well get your friend,“ the young filly said, motioning toward the house. With her thoughts in disarray, all she could do was nod in agreement and follow. Lunar looked over the filly to see the stallion picking up Silver, and began to follow them.

"Big Mac, watch out" She heard being yelled across the yard, looking back to the red stallion to see a giant wooden beast pouncing at him. He let out a grunt of pain as he and Silver flopped across the ground. She froze in her tracks at the sight of Silver on the ground. The stallion was stunned by the beast’s strike as it moved for Silver. The beast’s eyes seemed hungry as its jaw opened.

“Silver! NO!" She screamed, turning back toward the beast.

"Wait, are you crazy?!" The young filly behind her yelled, turning to run after the blue filly. Lunar saw the creature was only a hoof away from Silver readying to strike.

The fear of loss slowly grew as it drew closer to Silver. She couldn't let that happen as she focused on a spell. As a blue aura began emanating around her horn, the beast slowly rose into the air. The strain on her body was so great, she was barely able to stand. She threw it with all the strength that her spell failed, sending the thing flying across the yard to impact the others. The release left her body feeling tremendously weak, as relief filled her at the thought that Silver was safe.

….

Applejack turned to see the timber wolf fly across the yard towards her, saying, “Oh shoot!" Quickly ducking out of the way, it crashed into the other two Timberwolves with a loud crash. She turned to see who threw it, just to notice the blue filly collapse and Big Mac getting back on his hooves with Apple Bloom nearby. What just happened she thought as her gaze turned back to the Timberwolves, seeing them running away. "Ha, that'll teach em to mess with a farmer!" She yelled turning toward others, running to them. She came up to Big Mac, asking, "You okay?"

"Yep" He stated, turning back to the gray mare and proceeded to pick her up again.

"That was awesome, that filly just tossed that thing like it was nothing!” Applejack gave a scolding look to Apple Bloom.

"Apple Bloom, what are you doing out here? Its dangerous," She stated.

Apple Bloom looked back with a confused looked, responding “But Mac asked me to get the filly inside." She looked to Mac, who just nodded.

"Alright, let’s just get them inside. They seem to be in bad shape."

"AJ, this is bad, she has a fever. She's burning up." Big Mac said, just noticing the mare’s temperature.

She placed her hoof on the mare’s head. This is bad. This Pegasus is on fire, she thought as she said, "She needs a doctor. You two, watch over the filly. I'll take her to the hospital." walking over to the mare.

"AJ, I will give them a call." Macintosh stated as she placed the mare over her back.

“It’ll take them ah good hour to get here, and she needs a doctor now! It'll be faster to take her there.” She stated, securing the mare to her back.

“Then please be careful,” he asked out of worry.

“I will, Mac. Take care of the filly. I'll come back when ah know she’s okay," She answered back to him as she turned and galloped into the dead of night.

XxX

Applejack knew she could make the run to the hospital in twenty minutes, no sweat. Only when she arrived just outside the main doors, she took a moment to catch her breath. ”Yep, faster,” She reassured herself as she entered the hospital, making her way to the receptionist at the far desk. The reception room seemed bare and empty, since no pony is usually up at this hour. The nurse at the desk gave a puzzled look as she noticed them.

“Uh, can I ask what seems to be the problem?” The nurse asked with a confused look. Only when she noticed the orange mare hold a gray pegasus did she quit her chair, making her way over to them.

"Ah think her name is Silver, Ah don't know her last name. She has a terrible fever." Applejack said, looking back to the nurse.

The nurse reached out and touched the mare’s forehead. Shock flashed across her face, saying, "oh dear, she’s on fire! We need to get her in right away!" The nurse raced toward the desk and hit a button, saying, “We need a cart in the reception room stat. We have a patient who needs treatment fast!” Within a minute, two stallions in the green scrubs busted out through the double doors on the far side of the room. They lifted her up off her back and on to the cart; then quickly rushed back through the doors.

"Is she going to be okay?" Applejack asked, turning back to the nurse.

"She does seeme to have very high fever, which could be dangerous. I’m glad you got her here when you did, any longer and she might have been in some real trouble. She will be fine; the doctor will see to it.” Applejack let out the breath she's been holding. She felt her buckle a bit as the run was catching up to her. “Would you like to spend the night? You seem to be in need for some rest.”

A small grin appeared as she said, "Yes, that's mighty kind of you. Um, could you tell me when she wakes up?"

"Yes, this way, please." The receptionist led Applejack through a pair of white doors.

The Morning Air

The ringing of bells slowly woke her as the light had just begun to fill the room. As the sound raged on, she slowly raised a wing; turning the alarm off. She stretches her stiff body with a few popped joints, she noticed the filly tucked under her wing. The filly gave a grumble from the movement as a grin formed on her face. The simple site of her curled up right next to her filled her with unbridled joy.

She moved her head to nudge her gently saying, “Time to wake up.”

The young one groaned, wiggling a bit as she protest, “just five more minutes.” She rolled over trying to fall asleep again. She giggled as she proceeded to leave the bed, getting to her hooves. She walked around the bed to stand in front of the blueish green filly.

“Oh Star, you don't want to be late for school now?” She said the filly again nudging. Star yawned when she opened her emerald eyes, stretching out her wings. She proceeded to jump from the bed and headed to the bathroom saying,

“Okay mom, I'll go freshen up and meet you down stairs.”

She sat there as the word 'mom' lingered in her mind as she remembers the events of a year ago. How Star Light came into her life and how much she loved her. The whole event seemed to have been a dream with the event that took place. Giving a happy sign, she turned toward the stairs, proceeding down to main study to prepare breakfast.

“Ah, good morning Twilight. Is Star Light awake as well?” A small green and purple dragon asked as he placed the books on the nearby table.

When she reached the ground floor, “Yes, she will be down shortly. Spike, care to help me make breakfast?” She said in response, as he gave a nod saying, “sure.”

As they entered the kitchen, she walked to the pantry to figure out what to make as well for Star’s school lunch. She couldn’t find much, it seems she need to go shopping later. She placed two red apples in Star Light's rainbow color lunchbox she got from Rainbow Dash as a birthday present. As she placed the lunch box on the table, the smell of pancakes filled the air. She looked to the stove, seeing spike pouring some batter into a skillet. The smell of the cooking pancakes smelled appetizing as she felt a small grumble from her stomach out of hunger.

The felling was cut short as the sound of a filly descending the stairs. When she saw nyx enter the kitchen “Good morning spike, oh those smell so good,” Star Light commented as she found a seat at the nearby table.

As spike flipped the pancakes, “Thanks Star, I've been trying a new recipe lately and I do believe I got it down.” He boasted with a grin pasted on his face.

“Oh spike. Just make enough for you two, Applejack asked me to drop by early for some help and some brunch later.” Twilight stated as she levitated the syrup to the table along with jelly. As Spike place the plate of finished pancakes down on the table, Star Light quickly grabbed two and began to eat.

As Spike joined in with the breakfast, Twilight's mind began to wander to the past year. It’s been weird year, from finding Star Light and the events of that nightmare night, to the just chance meeting. Most of the citizen’s ended up hating him and sadly Star Light to. Most of them hated Celestia’s judgment, they felt it was too light since Star Light helped him steal and plunder Ponyville. They felt she was just as responsible as her father was But the Princess punished her by placing her in Twilight's care. She had grown attached to Star Light, due to how she reminds Twilight pf herself. Some went so far as to perform their own sentence; even as to tried to attack Star Light. However, ever since she became an Alicorn just like Princess Luna and Celestia, they seemed to all but given up trying three months ago. Now she can relax as she watches her daughter grow up in peace.

“So... mom, why dose Applejack need your help?” The sound of Star Light's question snapped her out of the deep thought. She glanced over seeing her done as she placed her dish in the sink with spikes. She smiled at her daughters curiosity as she picked up her saddlebag, placing the lunch box inside.

“I'll tell you on the way; here’s your bag. Spike, I'll be back some time around noon I think.” She said as they began to walk to the door.

“All right Twi, say hi to Applejack for me.” Spike asked before they left.

As they shut the door behind them, Twilight looked about to see that no pony was staring at them. She smiles at the thought that they came accustomed to them and there was no mob out for Star Light. She turned to her asking, “So you excited for a new school year?”

Her eyes lit up as almost she beamed, “Yes, I get to see Scootaloo, Sweetie bell, Apple bloom and every buddy else. Its going to be loads of fun,” she finished with a grin on her face.

“All right, so why don't we get going then. We could meet Apple Bloom along the way. You two can walk to school together.” She said, starting to walk toward the ponyville square and the road that lead to the school.

….

“Doctor, who's in room 427?” A passing nurse asked while she starred at the door.

“Well miss heart, I do believe it's a miss...Applejack. Nurse Stinger, sign her in last night saying exhaustion.” He finished with a shrug.

She gave a sigh saying, “Thank you doctor Steth.” He gave a slight nod as he got back to his rounds. She decided to go see if miss Applejack was up and ready to check out. They may not have some many patients, she could understand Stingers' reason, but this place is not a hotel. She approached the door, raising s hoof knocked saying, “Miss Applejack I’m coming in. Are you awake?” She asked as she opened the door to show the orange mare on the bed.

As she entered; closing the door behind her, she proceeded to the bed checking the chart placed at the foot of the bed. She shifted around the chart’s papers, as a groan lifted from the bed. She looked up to find the mare was just now waking. “Oh, good morning miss Applejack. Sleep well?” She asked as the mare slow sat up.

“What time is it?” She asked looking around for a clock.

“Miss Applejack, it's nearly seven A.M. Do you feel alright?” She answered her, knowing it from seeing the clock in main hall.

As she left the bed, giving herself a long stretch she said, “Great. Ah guess there’s was a thing called over worked”

“Well miss Applejack, it seems; from the charts and yourself, that you are in peak health. I’m going to go file the discharge papers. If you want you could wait in the reception room if you want.” She stated, tuning back to the room’s door.

Just as she opened it and walked into the hall, “Ah miss Red Heart, ah brought in a sick pegasus last night. If ya could, could you tell me how she’s doing?” The white mare just turned back as she added, “She seemed very sick. I’m just worried about her.” The question had stopped her as she thought for a sec.

She turned back to the mare saying, “I could see if the patient is in good health. What the name I’m looking for?”

As the mare walked out the she turn to say,” It’s silver. She had ah high fever. I’m just hoping she’s okay”

It’s always nice to have some pony worrying about you, she thought giving her a smile. “Okay, I'll go look her up but it might take some time so please have a seat in the reception area.” She told her pointing down the long hall to a pair of double doors. The mare gave her a nod as she turned down the hall. By the time she reached the doors, “All right now, let go find this miss Silver.“ Stating out loud with a half grin.

….

She waited there for what felt like hours, before she noticed nurse Red Heart entering the large room. As she stood, the nurse made her way to her. “So is she alright?” She asked quickly, hoping it was good news.

“Yes, a doctor Stretcher was on duty last night. She needs an ice bath but she’s in better condition now. Do you know how she ended up in such a condition?”

Applejack’s face fell for a sec, taking in a deep breath before saying, “We heard some noise out back, ended up finding her out back being attack by a pack of timber wolfs.”

The nurse stepped back in shock, “Oh my, that’s awful. I'm glad she wasn't gravely injured.” She gave a weak smile as she continued.

“She’s’ one heck of runner, she ran from what looked like the Everfree forest, trying to save a filly she was caring. In my book she deserves a medal.” She stated still holding a smile.

“Is the filly all right? Is she hurt?” the nurse demanded just after hearing about the filly; stepping in closer. Applejack was forced a step back as the pleaded mares eyed her.

“No, no, she is fine. The filly is back at the farm, asleep ah think. If it makes you happy, Ah could bring her for a checkup when she wakes up.” Red Heart give her a questionable look but just sighed.

“Alright, please. I'll go head and scheduled her for tomorrow.” Applejack gave a kind nod as she proceeded to leave, wondering if the filly had awoken yet.

XxX

Her walk to the school was filled with peace as no one disturbed them as they walked. She felt content as ponyville raged with life, with no pony stopping to look there way; that everything in ponyville felt normal. “Star, today is wonderful, it’s just so perfect.” She commented, raising her head taking a deep breath of the morning air; releasing it with a cheer smile. Star Light only looked on, giggling at her mother antics. Twilight just laugh on with her, enjoying their walk. They continued to walk till Star Light abruptly stopped, noticing a familiar pony in the distance.

“Uh, dear? Why did you stop?” Twilight asked wondering why she stopped.

“Didn’t you want to talk to Applejack?” Star Light asked plainly.

“Yes, why?” She asked as Star Light pointed toward the nearby building. “Well... she’s' right there, coming out of the hospital.” Twilight turned to see she was right, seeing Applejack just out side the hospital doors.

She stared at Applejack wandering, why was she at the hospital? Did something happen? She seemed to notice them, waving in their direction. As they waved back, Twilight saw her walked toward them. As she got close she said, “Well howdy Twi, and good mornin to you Star.” She said walking up to them. Twilight gave her a confused look.

“Applejack, what are you doing at a hospital? Is everything okay?” She asked worried, Star Light look on listing with curiosity.

“Hold on Twilight, I'm perfect fine, in good health. Ah was just here last night dropping off ah pony that was sick. Relax.” She said giving her a pleading grin, hoping to calm her down. She just looked on, still worried.

Star Light just stared at her asking, “Who did you drop off?” She gave Applejack a puzzled look.

Applejack looked past them at something before saying, “Okay, Ah'll tell ya what ah was doin here, but ah need to check up on a particular filly back at the farm. Ah can tell you on the way the way back to the farm.”

Seeing Star Light nod as twilight said, “Okay Applejack.”

Thirty-five minutes later

“...The filly end up lifting the thing and chucked it across the yard, scaring the hay out of those critters. Twilight ah was hoping if know who she was, cause that was some nifty magic she used.” Twilight was surprise to hear Applejack's story, even more to what the filly had done.

Star's eyes light up with curiosity asking, “Applejack will she be up when we arrive? I wonder love a chance to talk to her.” She chuckled at her filly's curiosity, as she tried to think of who she might be.

“Sorry but i haven’t heard of any new student that became pupils or any new up comers at Celestia School for Gifted Unicorns.” She said shaking her head.

Applejack sighed saying, “Well Twi, I thought since she was gifted with magic that you might know she might be.” She explained.

“Did she have anything with her?” Twilight asked hoping to help Applejack find out who she was.

Twilight saw her stop for a sec as a smile appeared on her face. She said, “Well there was that book big mac found. Don't know what’s' in it but you could take a look it. Might have something in side of it.” She stated looking to the farm in the distance.

….

The heat creep upon her face until it started to burn through her eyelids. She shifted her body but still, the heat continues to bake her. She groans, wondering what the heat was coming from. She slowly opened her eyes to the piercing light as it stung her eyes. What could be making this light? Lunar thought, trying to block the light with her hoof. As her eyes adjusted to the bright light, the view of where she was slowly came into view. She sat up looking around, noticing it was a bedroom. The apple emblems on the walls was weird but nothing more than the intense light. The mirror on the far wall of the bed reflected the light as she noticed a hat next to it. The light caught her attention again as she wonder what is this blinding light.

As she pondered in thought, a small click could be heard as the door next to the bed she was on opened. What a young yellow filly pushed the door open as a surprise look appeared upon her face. Same filly from last night she thought.

“Oh, you’re awake. How are you feeling?” Lunar felt a bit squeamish, she didn't know where she was or whom she’s' with. It gave her a shiver of fear as she swallowed hard. When she saw a big stallion walk in past the filly, taking a seat just beside the bed. She felt a scared at his size and deep red coat. Lunar hopped he wasn’t a Shalin royal guard.

“My name is Big Macintosh” He stated, turning to point at the filly next to him. “And that is Apple Bloom. Are you feeling any better? Do you mind telling us your name?” As he waited for her responses, his constant stare frighted her. “Don’t be scared, he may look big and scary but he is just an old softy. “ She finished poking him in the side with a giggle.

“Lunar” She said still being a bit scared of the stallion. As they sat for a sec, the previous night slowly began play in her mind. Just as the stallion was about to speak, she cut him just before he could say, asking, “I was with friend, her named is silver. You know where she is?”

Apple bloom jumped in saying, “She’s' fine. My sister Applejack took her to a hospital so she could get better from a fever. If you like, you could wait till she returns to ask her?” She saw the filly give a friendly smiled, which made her feel somewhat better.

“So how about we go get something to eat, you must be hungry.” She heard stallion ask. She felt her hallow stomach growl, quick to nod in agreement. He gave her a half-chucked grin as he walked out with the filly. She gave the light a second lace before she slowly fallowed.

As she entered the kitchen, the smell of cooking filed the air. “Can we have some waffles for breakfast?” Apple bloom asked Macintosh who gave a nod. Seeing him pull some items from the nearby pantry, she saw the filly sitting at a table at the far end of the room. As she sat, a feeling of confusion washed over her. Why are the acting so sparingly with their coal? Most barely have enough for winter let alone cooking breakfast.

“Are you All right?”

The Apple Bloom's voice startled her as she snapped in her direction saying, “Yes. I’m just a bit confused on where I’m at is all” With her words lingering in the air, a plat of waffles was placed in front of her.

She turned to see the stallion, “Well your near a town called ponyville. You’re on our farm right now on the edge of town.” Ponyville? she thought, never hear of the town before. she felt ting of hopeless as her thought drifted toward her teacher. Teacher where are you? Her stomach growled again, Can't focus on a empty stomach. Lunar looked down to her waffles as she slowly began to eat. They tasted delicious, the flufl sweet food was like heaven in her mouth to her bu the thoughts of her Teacher and Silver kept her from truly enjoying the waffles. As she ate, the sound of a door opening with voices of ponies she did not know.

“Well… something smells mighty good? Hey Big Mac, you cookin again?” Seeing an older orange mare enter the kitchen with another filly and a purple unicorn.

She stared for a sec when the orange mare noticed her, “Oh good you’re awake, was wondering if you’re up yet.” She said as they began to walk toward her. This made her recoil a bit, for she thought they knew whom she was. Applejack notice, “It’s alright, I'm the one who got your friend to the hospital last night. The names Applejack and these two are my friends...”

She said bringing a hoof up pointing at the purple unicorn, “Hello, my name is Twilight, and this is my daughter...” She looked down at Star Light and smile as she said her name.

“Star Light, you can just call me Star if you like.” The filly stated with a bit of glee.

Lunar relaxed a little, for they don’t seem to be with the royal guard. She mange to say, “Hello, I'm Lunar Clisp. My friends call me lu.” She realizing after she said it, she just used her full name. The fear of what might happen if they realized who she was. She cringed a little hoping they don't recognized it or hopping they wouldn't care.

Lunar looked over to Twilight, she finally notices her wings, which surprise her. Stumbling back as Twilight gave a small chuckle, trying to make Lu feel a bit more comfortable. “Yes the wing can be surprising.”

She just stared at her with confusion, trying to figure out what she was looking at, How can a unicorn have wings? It’s not possible unless she was what her Teacher called an Alicorn... The realization was starting to hit her.

“Are you alright honey? You don't look so good.” Applejack asked feeling something was a bit off by Lunar's reaction. She stepped closer trying comfort the filly as Twilight and the Star watched curiosity.

All she did was sit there as her thoughts raced with thought of what’s going on. She felt Alone and isolated as she sat there. Her thoughts final feel upon her Teacher, on the fact he was more than just miles away. The feeling of something embracing her snapped her back to reality to see the orange mare in front of her.

“It’s all right, there’s nothing to worry about. Every thing is fine.” The mare said soothingly as she was embracing lunar. Lunar started to cry as the backlash of emotions hit her.

“Where is he? Ware is my Teacher?” She asked aloud as she began to cry in Applejack's chest. She stroked the back of her head whispering soothing words trying to calm her down.

“It’s alright; everything will be okay. If he doesn’t show up, will go find him.” She could hear the mare promised her as she cried.

Author's Note

"Nyx is from Past Sins
byPen Stroke"

I wanted twilight to have a motherly tone, so a child was needed.

The Quiet Days

“I have no idea who this teacher is but it seems that she loves him a lot. How can one just leave a filly like her, it just seems so wrong” twilight stated looking back to the tucked filly that lay on the coach. She cried for what felt like hours as AJ tried to calm her down.

“I have no idea who this Teacher of her's is but it seems to have abandon. How can anypony just leave a filly like her, it just so wrong.” Twilight stated looking back to the tucked filly that lay on the coach. She cried for what felt like hours as Applejack tried to calm her down.

“There has to be a reason why, right?” Applejack asked looking down over lunar with a sad eyes. She turned to twilight, looking for an answer.

“There could be but only one could guess why. Maybe the mare that was with her may know.” Twilight suggested as the young filly moaned a bit.

“Ah'll be right back, just going to put her back to bed. Can't go waking the poor thing,” she whispered to Twilight in which she nodded. Applejack gently pick her up with her hooves and placed lunar on her back. She headed to the stairs being careful not to wake her.

Twilight watched she ascended of the stairs, when she remembered Apple Bloom and Star was still here. She nearly forgot what today was, “Star, Apple Bloom, if we don’t hurry you’ll be late for school. Big mac, sorry to ask this but can you walk them to school? There still some questions I like to ask AJ.” Both Apple Bloom and Star eyes wander to the stairs, with looks of curiosity.

“Now don't give her that look. You can talk to her after school. She’s not going anywhere. Now come.” Macintosh said standing right behind both of them.

“Okay Big Mac,” Apple bloom sigh, heading to grab her saddlebag.

“Alright Star, have a safe walk to school. I'll be here helping AJ to figure out who the filly is so come straight here after school, okay?” Twilight told her, giving a small smile to re-insure her.

“Okay, I will.” Star stated with her happy demeanor fading.

“Star,” she sated when seeing Apple Bloom putting on her saddlebag. “Don’t worry, I will be there to pick you up.” She informed the filly, seeing a smile spreading across her face again. She watched as both fillies left through the front door with Big Mac, heading down the small path towards ponyville. I just can't win against that frown.

“Where did Apple Bloom and Star head off to?” She heard Applejack asked in confusion, turning to see the mare walking down the stairs.

“Well, when I realized that they were about to be late for school, so I sent them off with Macintosh,” she responded, “They just left five minutes ago.”

“Thanks Twi, ah forgot about that...” she started just as she remembered something. “Ah just remember, she had this large book with her that night. Maybe there’s something in there that could tell us something.” She stated. She quickly made her way to the small closet under that sat under the staircase. Twilight looked on, seeing here pull out a large hard cover book. Its black spine and no indication of a title, gave it an ominous feel to it. “Ah couldn't make heads or tails of it.”

She instantly began to study the book as it was placed in front of her. She notices something off as Applejack sat nearby. There seemed to be a strange sensation emanating from the book. As her hoof reach for the cover it stopped, which startled her. When she removed her hoof, the sensation continued. She thought that was odd, for she had no idea what it meant. She quickly gulped, when she lowered her horn, planning to use magic to open the book. It was engulfed in the levitating spell, the cover flung open. “What the? How is that.....”

XxX

She stood out upon the world in the view of the sun, just as is rose. The beautiful sphere of crimson flames circling above, casting light over the land, stating her time was at its end. Its glowed, waking all within its realm, she bid them farewell as she return home. By the time she arrived, she was cast into another world. The air over the garden was clear of all but the morning dew of a new day. She landed amongst the flowers of the garden.

As she crouched, having her hooves fold under her. She lay with her ears perked to the melody of the last bits of peace before the bustling day began. It sang through the air as well the mind; the feeling of peace was comforting. For the days would always be hectic and painfully the morning. The time of her jobs ends, comes a moment of bliss that en-raped her just to give way to misery. By the time the wind died as she stood, the sound of hoof steps rang forth a darken armor as he galloped toward her.

“Your highness, I have grave news,” the guard stated as he tried to catch his breath upon arrival. “A strange stone of origins unknown was brought to the castle by one of the magical researchers last night. They requested your assistance as it’s seemed to be going out of control.” He finished bow.

The sound of what he said confused her as she raised an eye brow. “A rock was out of control?” “And do tell, what is so important about this is out of control rock?” Her tone seeming to be sarcastic. The guard looked back to meet her gaze, with pleading eyes.

“It... attacked... It tried to attack the fellow guards and some of the researchers, mam.” His sounded shaky as what seemed to be fear gripped him. She saw truth in his eyes and fear, not of her but of something else, which caused her to wonder?

“Show me the way to suck a thing.” She commanded in a solid tone as the guard nodded.
…..

They came upon a set of wooden doors engraved with a particular flower, a rose blown. With most of the halls and door looking the same, they ended up using symbols to state what the room was. Standing just in front of the door she notices the guard shivering in fear of what’s behind the door. The thought of what was inside curled her with anxiety as she opened the door. As she looked into the room, noticing it was study as the sight of three unicorns and a couple of the royal night guards scrambling about. They were scrambling trying to contain something that was thrashing them about as they tried to contain it.

“Explain what...” As she spoke, an explosion sent one guard flying into a bookcase near the door. Turning back to the mass of ponies, seeing one unicorn scream in pain with something like water striking him. She was stunned; a black pasty thing was griping the unicorns' neck and horn, as other researchers try to remove the thing.

“Princes Luna, please help. We have no idea what this thing is,” one the guards pleaded for help. At the time her name was said, the creature lunged from its victim straight toward her.

She failed to dodge its strike as it latched itself onto her wing and for leg. She could feel it piercing the bone of her wing. Strangle she felt no pain as the rest of the room laid shambles and disarray. The sound of the others screaming as they tried to help as they rushed toward her.

She turn to her wing seeing a black tar lie substance engulfing her wing. It felt strange; her body didn’t respond as if all the strength was drain from her. It felt like something slipping into her wing, into her body, inside her mind. A small voice slowly called forth from her minds deepest reaches.

Help… help… help me, Its whispered, with emotion that were not hers crept into her body. The emotion of loss and fear surged into her mind, the heart breaking pain of emotions that it nearly overwhelmed her.

“I will... I will help... please allow me to help you,” was all she could managed to say, trying to shack the cloudiness in her mind. At that moment she replied, she could feel it slipping out as it formed a puddle right in form of her. With her body heavy with exhaustion, she looked up to see all the researchers and guards whimpering; cowering back in fear. As she tried to recover her strength, the black mass extended a part of itself to her. It look to be trying to do something, she mustered the strength needed for her hoof to meet it. When her hoof made contact, a simple thought past into her mind.

Are you lying?

The words filled her mind, as it receded from her. It was talking to her telepathically, by touch of their body's. It could speak into anyponies mind by touch. The pain and sadness it felt was great, so great it nearly broke her heart.

“No, we would not lie to you for we know the same pain. Please, let me help you. Do you have a name or a form?” She asked regaining control over her emotion as she reached out with her hoof again. Tears slowly fell as she began process its pain, its never-ending fear and its bottomless pool of misery.

With the rest of the room still controlled by their fear, the black mass reached out again, touching her hoof. As it made contact, she could it piercing her hoof causing her wince in pain. The substance retreated as it began to form into sphere like object. Luna, as well the others in the room watched as it twist and pulled as it took shape. It slowly grew into was resembled a pony but something was off. Its coat and mane were both black as it flowed like fire. Its eye, narrow elongated like a cats, which seem to shine like crimson.

“Shade, I think it’s Shade. Do you know who shade is?” It asked Luna with its piercing eyes and raspy voice. She could feel the pain in its voice, it felt like the same sadness of her own mistakes. The thousands of years of loneliness, that plagues her even to this day.

“No, we know none by the name shade but we will find out. To that I swear to you.” She stated as she begun to stand once more. With a glanced, she looked about at the lab that laid in shambles. She noticed that her brave guards were starting to gain back they’re courage.

“I, Princess Luna declare that this pony is not to be harmed. We will do all in our power to help... him” She hesitated for a sec, not knowing what to call him. She felt his pain, the same loneliness that she felt. Luna just couldn’t leave him be. He needed help and she was going to do it. She notices that every pony was bowing to comply with her command, Shade just cock his head at the site.

“Alright,” She stated, looking down to the guard that lead her here, “You go inform my sister of the events that happened and my orders as well.” She could feel the exhaustion creeping over her. “You other two,” She quickly pointed to the two other guards standing in the room, “Go prepare a room for our new guest and mine as well. It’s been a tiring experience.” She finished as the three guard rushed off to their tasks.

All that left in the room now was Luna, the researchers, and the strange pony named Shade. The researchers looked about in confusion, wondering about what to do. She asked them to leave just the two alone, some protest but quickly left. As the door finally closed, she turned to face shade once more as his eyes bared on her. There eyes' meet which reflect solitude back at her As they stood still for a few minutes before he finally spoke. “Who are you? Who were they? Why did they go?” He asked as his face slightly showed emotions of his voice. She could see a small sense of fear from him as those questions were asked.

“We are Princess Luna; they were trying to figure out who you were as you scared them. I've sent them to ready you a room in which you could rest. Don't worry; by my word they will not harm you. For them, my word is law.” She said, trying to comfort him that it seems to do. His tense body loosens up for him to slump down. He raised his head saying, “The word thank you is needed. I don't know much. All of this is weird and strange. So thank you.” He finished as he slowly slid to the floor; closing his eyes.

She was slightly worried but it quickly faded when she realized he had just passed out. It was strange that this pony was thanking her for her help. Ever since she came back, she was rarely thanked for anything she did. Every pony still felt scared around her and never talked when she was around. The sense of abandonment from her subjects was hard, with only her sisters love to hold on with. And here's a pony that just saw how much the guards obeyed her and how much power her voice alone had. Yet he felt safe, and thanked her for helping him. She looked down to him sleeping with as a small grin formed, “You are a strange one”

XxX

As the days passed by, she watches him sleep. Never to wake from his slumber. She visits him in the room she prepared for him. She didn’t know what he like or what he hated as she brought some scented candle to liven up the basic room. It wasn't big with a simple bed and a small nightstand, which she placed the candle on. As she lit the candle, she notices the fading light from the window on the far wall. The sun was falling near the horizon and she knew her duty was coming.

As she left the room only looked back in hope he wakes, wondering when it will be. When she shut the door, her mind swept to her duties and her sister. While she made her way down the grand hallway, the thoughts of their conversation played in her mind. The conversation they had over Shade.

“Sister! How can think as such.” Luna yelled at her sisters choice. “How can we treat him as such? He has done no wrong, nor hurt any pony. Why do you insist on treating him as a criminal?” Her sister face showed no change as the words left her mouth.

“By the reports, he attack the loacl guards and the unicorn researchers, causing them some injures, such as broken bones an extreme exhaustion.” her words struck her hard., “I cannot detest that but they had no knowledge of his means of communication. I felt his pain, he was reaching out and they struck back in fear, which cause him to fight back.” She tried to protest back leaving her words to linger as she stared down her sister. Celestia’s eyes tightened with the look of displeasure on her face.

“So it seemed so but he also caused you to collapse after wards as well with, the injured your wing to. It hurt my only family and you want me to treat it like a hurt puppy?” She stated coldly without even a second thought. Luna shifted at her words. She knew that she just wanted her safe but this still feels wrong. “Why do you defend such a thing, something so dangers?” Her words struck deep in her mind as her long laid thoughts became known.

“Why... the reason is because I know his pain. The solitude, the fear, the sadness the fester through his entire being. I felt it, I understand it, I know how it feels to hold all that up in side. Still you being you wouldn't know how that would feel or how that would change you. So whith your untainted mind, you have no understanding in this.” She saw the effect of her word on celesta's face as it changed from cold to sad.

“Luna, I...” she was cut off as Luna yelled.

“No, you have been kind but I will not have you pretend to know my heart. Sister he is under my protection and he will not be treated as some common criminal!” As she finished the statement, she turned and storm out before her sister could mount a reply.

She hasn't seen or talked to her since that day, feeling a bit of regret to the words she said. As she came upon a balcony, wondering what Celestia was doing. She hasn't seen or talked to her in the last four days. It pained her seeing sisters face like that, wishing that she didn't have to cause her such pain. But she couldn't leave him to such a fate, nor could she stand her calling him an 'it'. As she set herself up to raise the moon, her mind was jumbled. What could she do? She felt as if she created an even more grief that now enclosed her. She cleared her mind deciding to focus on it later, because now she had to do her only job; To raise the moon.

xXx

As the new morning sun washed over the windows, nurse red heart was making her rounds. She was checking up on the few ponies that were injured, to see if any were in discomfort. When she past room 215, a small amount of groaning could be heard. She decided to check on the occupant inside, wondering if there is anything she could do to help. As she opened the door, revealing a gray pegasus turning about in the room's bed. Making her way to the bed's check board, just remembering that she’s was that pony that Miss Applejack asked about. She looked up to notice that she was awake and sitting up.

“Um, where am I?”

The Morning Eclipse

Her mind laid in disarray as she couldn’t even put a simple complete thought together. The world around her felt absent, only with a feeling of warm creeping over for comfort. As it slowly crept up her face, she twitched trying removing the heat from it. The motion hurt, her stiff mussels rang out in pain as a groan. Soon new sounds entered, the sounds of clicking and clonking. When she heard something rustling about her, she opened her eyes to the room.

The site of a white ceiling and pale walls came into view as the thought of where am I? entered her thoughts. As she tried to move, her body felt extremely stiff as she slowly sat up. With the rest of the plain slightly unfurnished room could be seen, a white mare waring a strange white hat with a red cross on it entered her view. The mare stared back with a bit of surprise. She looked away taking in the room a bit more, wincing at the light flooding in from the window. “Oh, if the sun is bothering you, I could close the blinds?” The mares' voice was comforting.

Wait, the sun? What is a sun? A word she didn’t know caused her to fell a bit uncomfortable. With her mind skipping, she barely noticed that the mare was waiting for an answer. “Um, yes, that would be nice.” Was all she could muster out, as her throat was dry.

She sat there trying to figure out what is going on and where she was. As she tried to focus, the only thought that came to mind was that black pony. “Miss, are you alright? If you still feel ill, I could go fetch the doctor?” She turned to the mare in a bit of surprise.

“No...I'm fine, just stiff. I can’t remember why I'm here or where this is?” Thinking her question might have been weird but the mare just smiled.

“Well miss... “She paused for a sec looking at a small clip board.

“Silver, silver bane.” She interjected.

“Well Miss Bane, I'm Red Heart. I’m the head nurse here at the Pure Strings hospital in Ponyville. A local mare by the name of Applejack brought you in four days ago. You had a terrible fever. You've been out the whole time you were here.” She paused to let the words sink in, as she continued to look at the gray pegasus.

She’s' been out for four days! She thought as of what could of happened slipped to lunar. She didn't know where Ponyville where lunar was. “Um miss Red Heart, I was...traveling wath a small filly before my memory goes blank. Do you happen to know where she might be?” She hoped that the nurse would know. The mare tilted her head at the question, coming back with a smile.

“Is she a blue unicorn filly?” All she could do was nod. “Yes I do know then. She’s' been visiting you every day with Miss Applejack. Checking if you’re up yet and I do believe only miss Applejack came along the other day.”

Her body relaxed as she thought, lunar was okay for now. “Thank you... um I could use a glass of water if that would be alright?”

The mare simply smiled saying, “Yes, I’ll be right back with it.” She turns back to the door, as Silver watch her exit the room.

She was now alone with her thoughts, she slowly exited the bed with a small cringe of pain. Her joints gave a sick popping sound as her mussels contracted from the lack of motion. She slowly limped toward the window the nurse covered with its blinds. She proceeded to open the blinds, trying to get a better understanding of where she was. What she saw froze her dead as all rational thought left her.

A large tree was able to be seen in the distance with buildings surrounding it. She saw filly’s running around playing near a fountain that flowed nearby. She could see food stands and vendors selling fruit while seeing one chatting with a yellow mare. Barely a cloud in the sky as Silver saw a ball light was shining up higher than the clouds. It was a beautiful day with every one was happy. In her mind was, Where the world am I? as the sound of a opening door snap her mental trance.

She turned back, seeing the nurse was back with an orange mare. “Well shoot, she’s' up an about. That’s' ah good sign” She heard the orange mare say as Red heart rushed forward dropping the cup of water she was holding.

“You shouldn't be moving around, your body must still be recovering and…” She could see that the mare was worried.

“I'm fine, just needed to move. Just a little motion and I'll be right as rain.” She said trying to reassure the nurse but all it did was cause her to sigh.

Nurse Red Heart motioned to the orange mare that stood behind, “This is miss Applejack, remember she’s' the one that brought you in...”

“And the one taking care of lunar as well” Silver finished for her.

The Applejack just smiled and said, “Yep, she’s' been ah mighty fine guest. ah just came by to see if ya was awake You must be quite worried about her, She’s' back at the farm, if you feel up to seeing her.” Did she say a farm? At those words, she felt a wave relief wash over her. She knew that they always needed direct permission from the local overseer for any arm forces to enter any farm, which took at least a week for such permission to gain; even on the king’s direct order. A sense of hope sparked in her mind.

Silver turned to the distraught looking nurse, “I do thank you miss Heart but I need to see lunar right now.” Read heart could tell by the look Silver gave was that of determination. It took few minutes before Red Heart let out a sigh of defeat.

“Well the fact you seem to be feeling better, I'll see about getting you discharged but I warn you. Don't do anything to physically labor intensive. I don't want to see you back here because you pushed your self.” She finished be for turning to exit the room, leaving her and Applejack.

A minute later after the nurse had left, she turns toward Applejack as she cleared her throat, “Um...I know this may sound weird but...where exactly is ponyville located? You see I've never been to this town before or any of the surrounding area before.” She thought if she could get to one bordering country's with lunar, they could seek refuge in the neighboring lands. She just hoping that Ponyville was close to one of them boarders.

Applejack just cocked her head and said, “Well ah say, practically thought everypony had heard of Ponyville. It’s just a small town, just downstream from the capital, C.” Canterlot.... that word caught her off guard.

“Are you okay? You look mighty pale.” She saw the mare worried, raising her hoof to Silver's shoulder. That simple word had just slammed her mind into stand by.

“I just found out that I'm just a long way from home is all.” Was all she could manage as response. The Applejack looked into her eyes', pulling her into a compassionate hug.

The hug caught her by surprise but she didn't resist with her eyes' closing. The embrace help her calm down the anxiety that was building. The Applejack pulled away asking, “You feel better?”

Silver stared at her, “Strangely yes...thank you, I needed that.” She just smiled, as next words just made her smile back.

“That’s' great. My gram said that ah hug can cure anypony's worried heart. Also you can just call me Applejack, most of my friends do.”

Her mind was still trying to make sense of what happen but that hug help her focus her thoughts. She made a mental note of all she knew; One: Her and lunar are no longer near the shalin capital or even in that world any more. Two: She didn’t know where that idiot is. Three: She has no idea on what to do, that the fact she was now broke. She instinctively moaned at the last one. “Is something wrong?” She noticed Applejack asking.

She looked at her saying, “I don't know how I'm going to pay for the medical bill. I don't have anything to pay with.” Applejack just chuckled. She stared back at her in confusion as she said, “Ya don't need worry about that. Ah have ah deal with the hospital. So you’re on my tab.” Her words only confused her more.

“A tab? I don't think hospitals or most places for that matter run tabs.” She stated as her disbelief showed in her words.

All Applejack did was smile saying, “Well when you donate the food for their patients, they let ya have ah few free visits.” She finished saying as the nurse came standing in the door way.

“Well, your all checked out but I'm asking you to take it easy for the next few days. You’re still recovering, all right?” She looked to Silver as she gave her a nod, turning back to Applejack. The farmer seemed so relax and quite friendly but lunar comes first in her mind.

“Um Applejack, if you don't mind if you could show me ware lunar is?” She asked hoping to be able to meet her soon.

“Well sure but first let’s get you out ta here and maybe something to eat. Ah bet ya hadn't eaten any thing goo in days.” She stated as she began to leave the room looking over her shoulder nodding for to come along. She just nows realized the light feeling in her stomach, she quickly fallowed.

As they left the room and made their way out of the hospital, they chatted about what lunar had been up to. Silver was surprise that the filly did while she slept in the hospital. Applejack's little sister and her friends, forced her to come with them to their school today. Since she apparently told them that her Teacher home schooled her and they went on about how that’s not school or something. She knew lunar had never been to, what ever a public school was. Her thoughts on how she was handling it, gave her a sense of peace. She was just as lost as Silver was, At least peaceful here.

Applejack proceeded to show her around town on the way to the farm, saying that it would be a while before the kids got out of school. Silver agreed, simple for the fact she felt the growth of curiosity inside her. This town was just brimming with life and things going on, it simply just fascinate her how everyone was happy and the light that shinned down. “You just seem so surprise about all this. Isn't like this where you’re from?”

She turned to face Applejack saying, “Well no...It’s much gloomier and not many ponies go outside an less they need to. It tends to get really cold.” She told her, Applejack noticing the sad tone and her frown. The next few minutes through town was full of questions, with Applejack tried to find out more about her past. She didn't out right refuse, she just played along leaving out a few things. “It’s a small town far to the north, a small place where it snows year round. Most ponies never go outside due to the cold weather and frequent snow storms.” She said as they approached one of the vendors which had a big red stallion standing behind it. She notice many different type of products as the fruit seem weird to her.

The stallion seemed friendly as a small smile cracked his lips as he turned to the two mares. “Heya Big Mac, how’s the day been going?” Applejack waved to the stallion, she guest that she friend of his.

“It’s been going good. Seems that she’s up an about now.” He said as the straw in his mouth twitched. All she could think at the moment was, how did he know me? As the thought slightly frighten her, making her take a step back.

Applejack notice her movement and went to say, “It’s alright, he's my brother, Big Macintosh. He was there that night when we saved you.”

The puzzled thought rose in her mind, “Saved me?” She muttered out loud as she looked down to think.

Mac quickly caught on, “The night you ran from the Everfree forest with those three timberwolfs chasing ya.” She had no idea what a 'timberwolf' was.

She shook her head saying, “I'm sorry but I don't know or remember what you’re talking about.” As she saw the two exchange a glance. Big mac gave a light chuckled at the words.

“That’s alright since your safe and all. How about a apple for the road.” He said, handing her a large red apple with his hoof. She reached out taking the apple. She was astonished by how large and red it looked. It didn't look like any apple she had before in Shalin. The green houses in Shalin were smaller and green, with theirs taste a bit sour and dry. She drew it up for a bite, as her mouth chomped down. Its taste surprised her even more as her eyes widened as she chewed with its sweet tasting juice dancing around in her mouth. She found it delicious as she quickly finished it core and all.

“Why you must really love apples or you were just that hungry.” Applejack commented, which caused her to blush a bit.

As they left the stand, heading to what Applejack said was the farm; they came upon a small path that led to a split. She saw a sign post pointing in two different directions, one pointed right to the ever free forest. The other was to a place called Sweet Apple Acres farm on the left. She notices Applejack heading to the farm, just to remembering that she said lunar was back at the farm...and it just click, “Wait, you own the farm?” She couldn't hold back the surprise in her voice.

Applejack just let out a light laugh saying, “Yeah, been in the Apple family for generations. Been her since the founding of ponyville. The it self is spread out all across Equestria, all working on their own farms.” She heard her finish with high praise for her family. Silver was a bit stun by that fact.

The dukes of the Shalin courts owned any all the farm-able land within their own territory. Even if the farmer lived there had been working on it generations, they still don’t own the farm. They can’t’ own it because the high demand of food needed thought the kingdom. The more she learns from this mare and her would, the more she realizes how completely different it is. That thought alone pulled at her for she didn’t even get to say good bye to him.

XxX

Applejack glanced over to silver again noticing her frowning in deep thought. She wandered why she was, for a odd reason it concerned her. From what she heard from the mare, she’s' was a far away from home, she apparently knows who Lunar’s teacher is. Thinking she might be able to help Twilight with figuring out that blasted book, “Well just up there is the farm.” Silver looked up to see the wide open apple orchard and the barn next to it. She also notices a small patch of some kind of plants as they made their way up to the house. As they made their way up to the house, a old sounding voice rang up from what seemed to be a porch.

“Come and get me, ye varmits! This old Smith is ah ready!” The sight of a old light lime green pony jump out holding a ladle with a drainer on her head greeted them. She was waving the ladle back and forth; Silver couldn't hold back her burst laughter at the site.

“Gran, would you stop that. Them timber wolfs are gone.” Applejack said racing over to Granny Smith, feeling a bit embarrassed by her actions. She showed her inside, looking over her shoulder she could see silver laughing. She felt silly for her grans' actions but then was confronted with a thought, just wondering why she did she feel embarrassed? She never felt embarrassed before so why now? Shaking her head at the thought. She turned back to Silver, “Ya that’s' Granny Smith for ya, always barrels of energy.” She finished with a chuckle.

She could see Silver lifting her head smiling, “I can see, so she your grandmother then?”

All she could was slip a grin saying, “Yep, she gets ah bit silly sometimes but means well.”

“I can tell, she kind of reminds me of a somepony.” Silver absently commented as she past through the door way

“She does? Do you mind if ah ask who?” She ask walking through the doorway after her. She noticed that Silver stopped dead soon as the question left her mouth. The dead stop surprised her, Applejack seemed to hit a sore memory, “It’s alright if you don't wana talk about it.” She saw Silver turn her head and the next few words made her heart sunk.

“It’s all right, but I... don't want to talk about him.” She responded as they entered the living room.

As they entered a notable grunt and voice greeted them. “Darn book...oh hi Applejack, um who do you have with you?” she turned her head to see twilight still fiddling away with that book still. She took so many notes in hope of understanding it that the floor was littered with slips of paper. She gave a light sigh saying, “Twi, if your going to take notes pleas just take the blasted thing with ya. Ah can’t even see my floor any more. Why not take a break for some lunch?”

She gave a sigh saying, “Alright, I haven’t eaten breakfast yet. um...is something wrong miss?” She turns her head to Silver noticing was staring at her, with a look of shock.

Wings!? How can she have wings and a horn? It’s impossible for any pony to be born like that. The only word she could muster was, “How can you have both?” Seeing the purple pony give a frustrated sigh.

“Yes.. I have a horn and wings. I'm princess Twilight and yes I'm a Alicorn...” She stated with a hint of anger that Silver didn't notice. Her thoughts were on the word Alicorn...wait did she say princess? “Hey” and a quick jab to her side snapped her back to reality, seeing a slightly anger Alicorn Staring at her.

“Um sorry but what’s an Alicorn?” She noticed that the Alicorn stumbled back in shock at her words, as did Applejack.

“Wait what?! You don't even know what a Alicorn is? Do you know that the rulers of Equestria are Alicorns as well? It’s not possible to not know that” She stated in shock, and began to mumble to herself. She just sat there confused as Applejack tried get her attention, failing in holding in her amusement.

“Twilight she’s' not from around hear, she didn't even know Ponyville existed till today.” Twilight's statement caught up in Silver's mind.

“Wait your a princess? Not to sound rude or anything but aren't they supposed to live in a castle or something?” She stated.

Twilight stopped mumbling soon as she heard what she said, “Well my reasons for that are simple, I don't want to leave my friends. I'm still a bit surprise that you don't know what a Alicorn is.” She notices a black hard spine book on the floor in front of Twilight. She was once again surprise for she recognized the book that laid there.

“That book was with lunar right?”

Twilight wasn't expecting the question said, “Well, yes, we tried reading it but we've been having no luck.” She was curies at the no luck part, forgetting the emptiness of her stomach.

“What do you mean can’t figure it out? Usually that moron plainly right things out.” She questioned.

“Well we broke the spell hiding the words but couldn't decipher out what they mean.” Intrigued by what she just heard, she made her way to book lying on the open floor. Applejack and Twilight both watched her with interest, hoping she could shed some light on what was written in the book. The words that Silver said perked their interest greatly.

“That stupid genius. There’s no way lunar could read this.”

The Tranquil air

“That stupid genius. There’s no way lunar could read this.” Silver blurted aloud, recognizing what the stallion did. With the jumble words on the pages as they are scattered about room, it became apparent what the Alicorn was trying to do. It seemed that she thought it was a different language or a coded message and was trying to decipher meaning; which was he wanted. For the reason or meaning of the text it self was meant to be lost when one tried to decipher it with out index key.

As she continues to read, she forgot about the other two ponies in the room as the memories about the writing style floated up. The image of her younger self with Shadow, just a week before he was to leave as the apprentice to the royal mage.

Fourteen years ago,

“I know we won’t see each other for a while but if I could help anypony who's suffering then I feel I must,” the black unicorn filly said as a sad smiled appeared on his face. That smile broke her heart, she knew they would most likely not meet ever again.

“You know that's not true, once you leave for the castle. I won't ever be able to see you again,” Silver blurted out as tears started to fall as she continued, “Why do you have to go? You’re the only friend I have.” She finished as the full brunt of her emotions flooded out as she went to the ground crying.

The site causes Shadow to kneel before her trying to comfort her, “I know, but you got to have hoped that we will. You know the reason to why I'm going so please for me can you find-” she abruptly cut him off as her eye shot him a piercing look. She doesn't know if it was the thought of losing him or the anger of him running from the village but she found herself with a spark of determination. The only way that she could follow him was to join the castle guard, Silver thought.

“You are not going without me. I don't care that the royal mage is taking you. I'm going to follow you,” Silver stated bluntly as she stood. Shadow starred back with a bit of confusion as he watched her run back to her home. Silver gave a quick glance over her shoulder, seeing her only friend being walked to a carriage bound for the capital.

As she reached the front door, she quickly wiped away any lingering tears that were left. She quickly pushed the door open, as the warm air flushed over her. The home was nicely furnished, even though it was a bit small. Hearing the sound of pots and pans, she knew her father was in the kitchen making dinner. The thought that he could be making his delicious-

The memory was quickly cut off as the feeling of somepony shaking her brought her back. A bit startled by the movement, she quickly shot her head in the direction of whoever did it. She quickly found it was Applejack was the one who done it.

Seeing her gave an apologetic smile saying, “Sorry hun, but we were trying to get your attention and you seemed distracted.” Silver could see her and Twilight staring at her now, a uncomfortable feeling formed in the pit of her stomach. The sound of her stomach growling caught Silver and the adjacent mares by surprise.

“Seems ya stomach is very demanding,” Applejack commented as a giggle formed at the site of Silver looking embarrass. “So how about that lunch I promised?”

“Yes, that would be nice.” Silver said trying to sway off the embarrassment.

“Right,” she gave her a kind grin. “The kitchens is over here,” Applejack stated, turning and headed for an archway. As Silver try to follow, the question she heard stopped her.

“So miss, what did you find out?” She quickly turned to see Twilight staring at her with her intense eyes. Silver thought she saw what looked like irritated in her eyes.

“I'm sorry if we got on the wrong hoof, so let’s retry this. Hello, I'm Silver Bane,” She said closing the small gap between them, extending one of her hoof’s out. She could see the Purple mare stumbled back, a surprise look sprang upon her face. She could hear Applejack's chuckling from behind her friends actions.

Twilight cleared her throat saying, “No, I'm sorry that I gave the wrong impression. I'm Twilight Sparkle, and I was just wondering what you meant by 'That stupid genius,' it sounded like you know what it said.” She asked as she shook Silvers hoof.

“Well food first, then the book,” they both heard Applejack state as they watched her foraged around in the kitchen. At the site, Twilight just shrugged as she left for the kitchen. As the feeling in her stomach grew, Silver swiftly followed the mare.

Applejack's kitchen wasn't anything special, just the basics from what Silver could see. A metal stove that look to be wood burning; as it was apparent that it was in use by the heat it gave off. What seemed to be the lack of counter space as the island was extremely cluttered apple and what she thought was cooking equipment. On the other side of the room, she could see a large wooden table and the site of Twilight sitting in one of its chairs.

She quickly made her way to the table, picking a chair near the wall. As she sat down, she saw that the table was already set for four. Finding that quite odd, “Why is the table set for four?” she asked out loud not realizing she did.

Twilight, catching this gave a simply reply, “Well she usually eats lunch with her family but, Big Macintosh is holding the stand, Apple Bloom is in school now, and Granny Smith is up stairs sleeping.” As Twilight spoke, she could hear Applejack shuffle around a bit with the clanking sound of plates. Twilight didn't let up on the conversation one bit. “Well Silver, did the books writing seem familiar? From what I hear you a close friend to Lunar’s Teacher. Such would it be all right to say she’s' your foal?”

She was slightly leaning in the chair to see what Apple jack was doing when she heard that statement. She nearly lost her balance in shock, quickly grabbing the table to steady herself. The site of Silver scrambling about confused Twilight as she watched her fumble in her chair.

As she let out a small sign as she got her self situated again, “No, she’s' not my foal, Lunar is technically Shadows foal. She used to be an orphan till he adopted her; I’m just a close friend.” As she finished explaining, Applejack came back into view holding something in a hoof. The crisp smell of apples flowed into her nose as a pie was placed at the center of the table. The site of the pie quickly caught her and Twilight’s attention almost instantly as it hit the table.

The golden-crusted pie became the center of attention as a small giggle came from Applejack, “Well. thank you for your complements. I know its not much but dig in.” Silver felt a little embarrassed, giving a small chuckle. A knife levitated with a violet aura, she noticed Twilight began to cut into the pie.

“Allow me,” she said cutting out slices of the pie, as Applejack sat down. The smell of the pie grew with each cut as the slices were passed out.

“Well, eat.” Applejack stated, stabbing her fork into the pie grabbing a large bite.

She soon fallowed reaching with the fork diving into the slice that was placed in front of her, drawing a piece of it to her mouth. Silver was quickly lost in the taste and smell of sweet apples filled the room, with its light bittersweet taste dancing on her tong. Applejack watched her devour three pieces; hold a smile while she ate. The other mares finished eating shortly after.

“I do thank you for the lunch,” Silver thanks Applejack who just gave a smile back.

“Yer welcome.”

After they finished cleaning up the left over plates, they returned to the living room to relax. Twilight sighed, forgetting the floor was still scattered with paper. She quickly tried to organize the mess, just as Silver and Applejack entered. Silver remembered the papers from before, her previous thought came to mind.

“So you thought it was a foreign language?” She asked when Twilight placed the stack of papers on the table. She responded with a simple with a nod, trying not to seem embarrass by the lack of success.

The thought that it working so well would have made him burst into uncontrolled laughter. She gave a lite chuckle, when she notices Applejack who was beside her a bit confused. Silver quieted herself down saying, “Alright, those words in that book,” she pointed to the book. “Are something me and him made up when we were just kids. It was something we used to talk to each other when,” Pausing as that sad memory lingered back. “He was learning magic. I'm surprised that he even remembered it, let alone use it for his own personal spell book.” She explained as Applejack noticed
Twilight face hoofing herself at the feudal attempts to deciphering the text.

“So how can you read it? If it’s in such a deep code that I can't even make a guess at its key?” Twilight asked with annoyance.

“I’ll show you,” she stated moving to the book, giving the motion the other two mares to join her. As they hovered around the book, she began to explain the writing, “Well it’s a bit confusing but the reason I could read this like second nature is that we used this in every letter he or I sent for five years.” That statement alone caused Twilight to gasp in astonishment.

“It has a funny way of working, one these symbols are punctuation that looks like glyphs. It’s to throw you off right of the bat. Second, he took the old 'A is 1; B is 2' thing and removed the zero's from the formula. So there's no ten or Twenty, you skip those when you count.”

Applejack shook her head in confusion saying, “Well ya lost me all ready.”

Silver gave a paused to her explanation as she turned to Applejack saying, “To be honest, he was the one who made it. All I did was learning is by heart. I gave up trying to understand why he dose certain things he does.” She gave Applejack a sympathetic smile. Applejack returned it.

Silver cleared her throat as she returned her explanation, “The third is the tricky part, the letters represent the base number but the deciphered letter is the sum of the first two letters but they can be ether its first, second or third count.” Applejack was beyond lost now as Twilight looked on eger to understand it. “Yes, I know that makes no sense at all. That is because any two letters could mean any other letter as each one has three numbers. Here is A's set, (A=1 A=2 A=4) so A is 6. So any of the two letters numbers sets that added together to equal A will be used in its place.” She paused to catch her breath as she let her words sink in.

She looked to Applejack, who just lifted her hooves, “I'm still lost, sorry.” The fact she was lost is not surprising for she was bit as well when he first came up with it. However, to her astonishment, Twilight got it almost instantly after the explanation.

“So C's set would be, (C=3 C=6 C=12) so C is 19. Is that correct?” Silver stared back in awe, only able to nod in replied. Twilight let out a small laugh saying, “I always been great at number and puzzles but somehow this almost shot over my head” Twilight's eyes glanced toward the clock that was mounted on the wall near the stairs. “Oh my!” she exclaimed. “Well I better be off to pick up the fillies. I promised Star that I would be there to pick her up.” She nodded before she made her way to the door saying her goodbyes.

The two mares were left in the room alone, the silence that fell between was an uneasy. “You want to know something funny?” Silver said trying to bait her to start up a conversation.

“What will that be?”

Silver lift on of her hoof's behind her head saying, “Well everything I just told twilight, was exactly, 'word for word' for the way he explained it to me.” She finished with a lite chuckle.

The mares’ eyes squinted as her next question was, “But you said that it was like second nature to ya to read?” Silver felt a bit tense by the stare.

“Well, yeah, but that is because he put a deception filter in the first few words,” Pointed out the word with her hoof. “If you say the counter words in your min or out loud, it unraveled all the other words so you can read it or so he told me. To be honest, most of these stuff shots right past me as well.” She gave a light laugh hoping to clear the air.

She could see Applejack's face was scurnching up, Silver worried that she upset her. “Are-” the mare bursting into laughter quickly cut her off before she could say anything. She stood there utterly confused by her actions, just sat there staring.

“Haaa, Ah'm sorry,” she manage to say, trying to stop her own laughter, “It’s just thought you were going all brainy on me. The fact that you sound so convincing when you explained it, even though don't under stand it. The fact you don't even need to understand that key thing...haha...A just can't help but laugh.” She finished trying to catch her breath. Feeling the uneasiness leaving the room, she let out a small laugh of her own.

“The funny thing is that he tells you that in the first sentience, as well the counter words.” She stated when they both simmered down.

“Really, so what’s the counter word?” Applejack asked impatiently, smiling as she waited and answer.

“Well it’s a phrase I used back when we kids, I'll always be in the shade.”

“Well...think you should have told Twilight about it,” Applejack said looking back at the door.

“Well I was but I kind of lost in the moment.” She gave her a halved sided smirk with a laugh.

With whatever tension in the room cut they quickly got lost in their conversation. She was enjoying her company, as did Applejack. She was explaining how Ponyville work around there winter wrap up a few years ago. “So ya, we all started to fallow Twi’s instruction and we manage to finish. It was some nifty organizing Twilight did,” she finished crossing her front hooves.

“That all sounded awesome but I've been wondering. Where is your greenhouse?”

“A green what?” She could see that her question had stumped her. After the realization of her question came, she had forgotten that this seemed to be a different place than Shalin.

Silver sighed at the fact saying, “Sorry, being a...long away from home, culture shock kind of gets to you.” She paused as to gather her thoughts when she saw Applejack's sad expression.

“It’s alright. You know ah left home once. Left it for the big city, trying to find out just who ah was, ended up feeling so outta place, Ah just didn't fit in. some many thing were just too different for it to feel like home.” Applejack words were comforting to hear.

“Thank you, but just being on a farm makes it feel at bit like home. Do you mind if I looked at your apple orchard?”

Applejack just gave her a simple smile, “Sure if you want ah could show ya around if ya'll like?”

Silver could only say, “Thank you.” She felt safe being on a farm, from all of her joyful memories of working at the one near her village. Being in in a completely different world helped to. Applejack showed her through the kitchen, to a door that sat near the table ate lunch at. Silver didn’t notice it until now. The rickety old door has seen better days as it seemed to be nearly falling off its hinges. Applejack gave a light laugh when she notices Silver staring at the door frame.

“Ya, Ah kind of broke the door when ah rushed out to save you and the filly,” Applejack's grinned at her own remarks. When the orchard came into view of, Silver froze in her tracks at the sheer size of the farm. The tall and long rows of apple trees as far as her eyes could see. The air that swayed through the orchard was so clean.

She stared across the fields stating, “To be back on a farm, it’s so calming.” She felt safe as if the whole outside world didn't even exist. Just being here in this world just felt so right.

“So it’s a mighty fine site, you said that being on a farm is a bit homey. So did ya grow up on one?” Her words brought her back from the wonderful daydream.

No, I grew up in a small remote village. There was a small farm on the edge of town, picked up working there to earn a few bits. The couple who ran it ended up being great friend with my dad.” She paused as the thought of him crept upon her with the feeling of dread.

Applejack didn't seemed to notice her changing mood, “Ah know its hard being away from ones folks. It’s like missing a part of you.” Being back up on a farm was dragging up some painful memories, as she stared across orchard.

“Applejack, I want to tell you something.”

The Changing Tides

His image kept appearing in her mind, as if every word or thought of the farm dredged him up. The smell and taste of the pie, the farm it self, and the kind nature of Applejack all reminded her of him. The feeling of dread was building up they first meet, as if he was in her eyes. “Hun, you alright?” Was all she could hear, in her mind the emotions were at the tipping point. She turned to Applejack as she tried to say,

“Applejack, I want to tell you something.”

She notice a small change in Applejack's eyes, they seemed curious but also worried. They were nearly the same eyes, even down to the color. That green, that light green hued. By the high lord, why does she have to be so like him, she thought as the idea raged in her mind.

“I'm saying this is so you, don't you dare tell any other pony” She managed to say, as Applejack just looked on confused. As she let out a deep sigh to steady herself, “Okay, you, this town, the farm...It reminds me of the couple that ran the farm and my home.” Finishing in a near whispering hoping she didn't catch her pause. She couldn't believe she was about to tell her about him, the idea alone was shocking to her. She turned to see Applejack with a blank look, which made her uneasy.

“Well you just remind me of them. Not saying you are exactly like them, but it's just I haven't been home in...” She said in confusion, just throwing out words to cover her embarrassment. She could see Applejack's face slowly change, “It’s been so long time since I've visited my home town and you just act so much like them and their family. To be honest I'll say it’s a complement, they were... “She paused after seeing that Applejack was just sitting with and eye brow raised. Feeling even more embarrassed now she managed a small, “Sorry”

Applejack just sat there staring blankly at for a while, which gave Silver an uneasy feeling in her stomach. Her abrupt laughter cut the silence that grew between them. With her eyes glued to the laughing mare, her mind remain dumb founded at the site. Why is she laughing? Was what I said funny to her in some way? Was the only thoughts that passed through her head. A slight bit of anger crept onto her face, as the mare's laughing died down a bit.

“I'm sorry Hun,” Silver heard her say, trying to steady herself, “It’s just the face you made when you said that...was just so darn adorable and ah just couldn't resist teasing you.” She finished with a huge smile. Adorable? That word caught her off guard as she couldn't think of a way to respond. “It’s okay, if ah remind you of somepony you knew if it helps you not feel so alone, then by all means. Being away from your family is hard and I don't take it with ill intention.” As applejack's words were calming, she looked to her as a sweet smile came apparent on her face.

“Thank you.” Was all she could manage as a relief flushed over her.

As they sat there, what seemed like hours to her just enjoying the clam afternoon breeze. The thought of telling her Applejack a little about her hometown and working on a farm was helping her to come to terms with her the situation. Even being one of the Shalin royal guards, she was still a mare. As her mind went on as the lingering breeze blew through her gray mane, the only one thought she had, I'm sorry father. She notices applejack looking over her farm as the sun seamed to glow around her.

She is amazing, to be able to own and run the farm with just her family. She is to kind; I don't want to lie to her but, As her thoughts raced, she was torn between telling her the truth and telling a lie. She nearly jumped when a slight touch on her shoulder snapped her from the mental trance.

“Ah know the farm is calming an all but Ah think ah hear twilight and the fillies.” To her dismay, she was right as the sounds of laughter and giggling could be heard from the far edge of the orchard.

“Yes, yes, I guess the time for solitude has past. Shall we head back then?” She reluctantly asked. With nothing but a slight nod, Applejack started head back first. Staring at her as a small thought past through her mind, Well at least she cute. The thought floated popped into her head, she notice Applejack was few feet a head of her now. She quickly pressed the thought to the back of her mind as she tried to catch up.

By the time she caught up, she could hear Applejack ask, “In a bit of a dream hun?”

The sun was set by the time they reached the houes, entering through the rickety kitchen door. The sounds of playful fillies and a slightly less enthusiastic mare could be heard. “Yes, yes, I'm glad you all had a fun time at school.” She could hear Twilight saying as they entered the living room. The sight of the fillies caught her attention as they entered. She glace across them, her eyes stopped on the one little blue filly.

She froze at the filly presence as she noticed that she bolted straight to her. Slightly startled by the huge she received, Silver stumbled back a bit as she could hear small weeping vibrate into her chest. As her eye's looked down to the site of the weeping filly as she feel the tear soaking into her coat. Slowly she returns the huge whispering “oh Lunar,” as she the hugged the filly.

As the huge slowly dissolve, lunar looked up to meet her gaze with watery eyes. With a slight smile she said, “It’s alright Lunar, I'm alright so there is no need for those tears. I'm glad to see that you’re happy and healthy.” She notices a small smile grow on her face as it caused her to do the same. She raised her head to meet the eyes of the other fillies, “On her Teachers behalf I like to thank you four for looking after her.”

Lunar shifted from her grasp as a thought formed in her mind, “Silver, where’s Teacher? I haven't seen him any ware. I thought you would know.” Those simple words brought great dread as a a lump in her throat grew. As she meet lunar pleading eye, she could see what she was hoping for. Whatever smile she gain from the Orchard was lost as a heavy sigh left her lungs.

“I don't know where he's at. I'm sorry.” The wait of her words dug into struck Lunar hard, she hoped he was okay. “All he left me was two requests”

XxX

“Another mournful night,” She whispered. She wished they were not but a dream. Another night from a forgotten day as the moon laid its glow upon the land. The lone breeze brushed past as it brought the scent of sleeping flowers. Each of her steps echoing through the hollow halls as many has abandoned her world to return to theirs. These forgotten nights are her only solace as sadly she knowingly calls them home.

Her final steps on this distasteful rock path that led her beyond the joyful courtyards. In her gaze laid a glass dome. ‘I do hope he’s awake now. It’s been seven days since his arrival. She thought walking up to the night guards standing watch near its entrances. Ever since the argument she had with her sister, she feared she might do something thinking it was in her best interest.

“Your highness, we great news! He has awakened from his sleep.” The deep voice guard stated as he notices Luna’s arrival.

He’s awake! she thought as the feeling of joy began to build up. She cleared her throat before saying, “Thank you, Sargent Night Watch. I will go speak to him now. Please stand guard till you’re relived.” Both of the guards saluted, she gave a slight nod as she proceeded to enter the dome.

The only light she could see was that of her christened moon shining over most of the domes interior. I was a house to flowers and plants that are unable to stand the suns direct ray. With each step she searches for his presents as the guards were right as the bed she had placed inside the dome was vacant. She found him standing near some deep blue colored flowers that shined from the moon light. “It please me to see that you are now awake.” She stated as he turned to face her.

As the moon light illuminated his figure so did his eyes, with their deep crimson color. They seem to draw her in as his voice remain a slight raspy, “You are the one who said she would help. What is your name?” He asked as his voice remains emotionless. The lack of emotion hounded her a bit, as she remained in character.

“My name is Luna. I do believe we told you that the night we first meet.” She felt she needed answers but his presences seemed different from that night. He seems colder and distant.

He seemed confused by her statement as he cocked his head before saying, “If you did, Shades mind is cloudy. I… don’t remember that day or any prior.” ‘Any prior?’ she thought ‘does that mean he has amnesia?’ the though seemed to be far fetch but she believed it.

“So…” She started, trying to confirm her thought. “You can’t remember any day before we meet and you could only remember your name.” she stated, hoping I wasn’t as it seemed.

“Yes. Shade knows not of his past. He has knowledge of things but his mind covered in fog, thinking he must search for someone.” He seemed to have trouble with making his sentences coherent.

She knew he wasn’t a pony but still that didn’t stop her heart from caring. His body fluctuated as a small groan exited his mouth. “It seems hard to keep that form? Is there a reason to why you hold it?” she asked as she walked up next to him.

His face twitched with what looked like sadness as he stated, “As I try remembering, concentration is lost on maintaining my form. The others fear so.”

So he keeps that form so others won’t fear him but, “You said your searching for someone? May We ask his name, we may be able to help find him?” She preset on hoping it wasn’t too much. She could not tell what he was but his being gave rise to many questions, even if she felt compassion for his pain.

A strange spike magical energy shot up from the Everfree forest four days ago. Celestia thought it was due to his presences and to her dismay, she did as well. The spike seemed odd as did his existence or so say her researchers’. His entire body is made up of a dense magical substance that we can’t tell what is but something like this is practically beyond us, they told her. The whole idea made her feel a bit uneasy as if he's the coming of something greater and more danger. “His name… its Shadow, Shadow Wingle, I think. The face and body is not in memory but I feel like I must find him. The reason escapes me so”

His word brought her mind back as she thought about the name, “I’m sorry but to my knowledge we don’t know any by that name.”

She watch him look down in defeat saying, “I thought a Princess of the Twin Moons of Shalin would know.” She felt down herself for not being able to help as what he just said hit her. Did he say Shalin and twin moon princess?

“Um, do you mean Equestria?” She asked hoping to clarify what he said.

He looked up confused saying, “Equestria? Isn’t this the Shalin capital, the castle of the New Moon?” She was surprised by what he said. Ether he was delusional or he was from a place she never heard of or even knew existed.

Seeing in his eyes confusion, she reluctantly told him, “The castle you are now in is the capital of the nation of equestria. This castle and the surrounding town are named Canterlot and there are two royal princesses. My sister Princess Celestia, and myself. I know not of this ‘Shalin nation’ you speak of but I would like to know more.” She finished. She thought even if it is a delusion he thought up, his eye said he believed it all. ’What could a little story do.’

He stared at her for a while, only giving a nod before he started, “Shalin is a country of great wealth and power. It holds fast to many territories through political and military means. It stood for nearly 2000 years; never to have any kind of internal power struggle.” She was taken aback by what he was saying.

“If a kingdom as such was never to faultier then the royal line must have devoted citizens?” She assumed but saw his face turn grim near the end of her question.

“But that’s not the case to why it lasted for so long, for you see the citizen’s hate most of the ruling government.” She could not understand what he meant; only giving a nod to continue. Without missing a beat he explained, “There are seven ruling nobles, the King high court and the King himself as the major ruling party. The king and his court handles the law and military power with the seven families holding power to governor-selected districts. In each district, there is a mayor selected by the family to handle the less function of the land such as in farming and the marketing/selling of goods.”

“So if the families only answer to the King and his courts, then why do the citizens hate them then?” She asked curiously as to his answer. This may be a tall story but he is going through a lot of trouble to hide whatever his ‘truth’ is. He has gone into it with such resolve.

“It is due to how they rule. Most care little toward there citizens feeling no responsibility for them. There not allowed to own their own factories or farm land since due to the living conditions they have to endure.”

“So there's over privileged nobles, what's new. What other hard ships must a pony of Shalin endure?” She couldn’t help but ask. The sheer conviction in his voice and the detail is getting to her. It was as if another was talking through him with pure confidences.

“The entire country is in a perpetual sate of cold weather. It would either be the Falls freezing rain or the deadly winds of Winter. The only source of food made in building called greenhouses and coal is the only source of heat in the cold nights. For any to be warm and health, they need be a noble or join the military. The rest are forced to work in the greenhouse or the mines for a means to live.”

He paused again, she began to want to know more of this world. How can he let his citizen suffer and not urn to help? How can any of the ruling parties be as cruel? “The seven ruling families have strong ties to the King and his ancestors as well to the kingdom as knights and commandants. The King of now, holds his kingdom and his concurred land with military power alone. Its strength is unmatched as is their loyalty to kingdom. There is one family that treats its subjects with care and humility.” He said with a small hint of glee that was barely noticeable in his voice.

“And there name would be?” she asked as her curiosity grew. “There call the Wingle house and they hold the most of the military power in the Shalin.”

She glanced back at the descending moon wondering what her sister would say about the same story she heard. Even with his existing aside, how can such a place exist without them not even knowing about it? With all she knows and from what she heard from him, the rational side of her says it’s ridiculous. Nevertheless, there was a voice in the back of her mind saying to believe, that what he said was true. She gave herself a small laugh at the thought as she approached her sister’s audience chamber.

The large gold embedded doors seemed a bit over the top to her. The swirls en-laced on top of the plain white marble, leaving two identical flowers on each door. They came off a bit too royal, which she thought didn’t suite herself or her sister’s personality. That her guards dressed in such formal attire was pure over kill. If anything there pleasant to at least look at.

“Princes Luna, it’s strange to see you up this early,” one of the guards asked a bit stunned by her presence. So some still fear me? Now that’s slightly amusing, she thought thinking about the guard’s statement. “Yes, I have business with my sister so would you open theses useless doors,” she state as a small smile formed around her lips. The guards scrambled to open the over sized doors. She slowly walked into the cathedral sized room, keeping her smirk as she eyed both guards. They both seemed to a bit frighten by her smile, she felt it was kind of fun to teased them.

The inner room was vast with arcing archways and tall pillars that gleamed in the morning sun. The reflection was almost blinding as Luna side step to ovoid the reflective glare of the sun. The room itself remains empty since it only has one uses. She dislikes this room not because of her sister but for its overall thought. Luna's personal audience chamber was made to host the nightmare eves ball as well to address the public. Her's wasn’t even this shiny ether or over the top with its decor.

She notice at the end of the long room was a glass mural showing her sister and her. It gave her the feeling of the nostalgic about the old days of Equestria. The site of Celestia sitting in her thrown came into view. She seems to be speaking with some delegates from saddle Arabia, “Yes I’ll present the new trade agreement to the counsel. I will send word on its outcome.” Celestia stated as the delegates gave a bow and turned to leave. They gave her a passing glance as they walked past, “Luna my dear sister, it’s surprising to see you still up.” She said, just taking notice of Luna’s presents.

“Yes true but there is a matter in which we wish to discus with you”

….

“That’s a bit much,” She said tilting her head in thought. “Putting a side what he is, why would his knowledge consist only of his make believe world?” Luna wanted her input for there was still some nagging thoughts on how to deal with him.

“Magic is energy, it holds no thought. Its common knowledge but he is nothing but magical energy with his own logic and mind. His mere existence defies our own known magic laws.” Celestia stated only to continue with, “Still for him to have detailed memory’s it matters not. He attacks two guards and one of the researchers’. I still think he’s a danger that we need to isolate.”

Her sister’s last statement made sense but the thought left her with a bad feeling. A feeling of great dread, a dread she didn’t know the reason to. “Sister, I know what he has done. Still even if he’s just magic, he described the world in such detail and conviction.” She pleaded; seeing that this conversation might end up like the first.

Celestia let out a sigh, “Even if one remembers a saying does not mean it’s his own words.” Luna understood what her sister meant, but the lingering thought still haunted her.

“If you were to have spoken to him you’ll realize he could barely make a sentence to let alone a thought. But yet when he spoke of that world it as if…” She pauses to gather a better idea what to say.

“As if…” Her sister repeated in response to the pause.

“…As if he was another pony all together. His tone changed as well how he spoke. It was as if his voice alone had the power to control raging force and the knowledge to use it.”

She knew what she just said was weird; even she knew it was farfetched. The reaction on Celestia face proved it even more so confused by what she said. “Sorry but it felt abnormal when he spoke about Shalin.” She said before Celestia could say anything. She looked to her for a answer as Celestia pondered in deep thought.

She gave a small cough before saying, “Well sister that was…a weird statement, but we could at least look into this ‘Shadow Wingle’. If for nothing to sooth this...curiosity of yours however, if nothing comes up, I would like to have him at lest confined until we can know more about him. Is this acceptable?” She asked, with a small nod from Luna a slight smile grew on Celestia face.

Even if it is her sister is humoring her, at least this might settled down this strange feeling. Luna would agree to this for at least but the unsettling thought grew even more. Stupid mind, the chances of what he said was true? Are a million to one, she thought trying crushed the emotion. “Sister what ails you?” She heard Celestia ask, looking a bit worried.

She looked up, giving a weak smile saying, “There has been this strange sense of dread thats been eating at the back of my mind from what he told me. It feels like something terribly dark is coming.” she stated seeing Celestia worry grow.

It seemed that she was about to say something as the chamber doors burst opened. They both quickly glance in the direction to so one the castle guard running toward them. As he approached, “Your highness, I bring news. The researchers have traced another magical outburst.” He stated, trying to regain his breath. Another? Luna thought.

“Yes there’s been many in the Everfree forest,” she stated, guessing it was something mundane.

“Yes, but this one was in the city your grace, it brought a huge explosion and sated a raging fire.”

Rain and Tears

The rain seemed to be never ending as it pound across the city streets. Days like this are just the worst, she though waving out for an oncoming cab. It raced by striking a near by puddle, sending a small wave of water crashing onto her.

“Aug…Christ, is every cab driver in this city an asshole?” She vented looking in the direction of the cab raced to.

“Vinyl, would you just get over here. With that last splash and the down pouring rain, you’re completely soaked.” She turns back to the site of her mare friend in a back alleyway next to an old butcher shop. The dime light seemed to make her dull gray coat shimmer a bit.

“Aw, don’t you like it when I’m wet? It seems that these darn cab drivers do.” She said giving another glare to a passing cab that she thought purposefully ran through a rather large puddle that formed by the curb.

“Word dose travel fast so I’m not to surprise about it.” Octavia managed to say with a halfhearted grin. She let out a sad sign as she made her way over to Octavia.

“It’s not your fault, it those upstart prick fault. What nerve boycotting the orchestra shows because of your personal life? That's just stupid.” She couldn’t forgive those over privileged idiots, not only did they get Octavia fired but they black listed her to. She wouldn't be able to play any were in Canterlot now.

“I know but that doesn’t change what they did. I knew this might happen, it's almost written in their DNA.” Octavia commented as her deep lavender eyes reflect the sadness in her words. The sheer look causes her heart to ache, Why do most ponies hate Fillyfoolers so much? As that question lingered in her mind, she stepped close to her slowly give a small nudge.

“We will figure something out so don’t lose hope.” Octavia looked up to see Vinyl confident smiling.

“Thanks,” pausing as she steps back giving a small cough trying to break that sad tone of the conversation. “I wonder when the rain will stop.”

Vinyl gave a small chuckle at the jester, “Well I hope soon because being wet is making very cold.”

…

“Man, it’s been like hours and it still hasn’t let up,” She commented looking up the fearful sky. The clouds looked to be getting darker as loud shocks of thunder echoed the alleyway. After the last roar of thunder hit, a strange sound of something crashing came from the alleyway. They both turn to see what it was, only to notice a pony at its far end. Vinyl tried to make out who it was but with the distance and lack of light made it hard.

“He seems to be a drunk,” she commented as he seems to be swaying a bit.

“Are you alright sir?” She heard Octavia call out. Just as she called out, he collapses near a pair of garbage cans send them scattering. The alleyway remains silent for a time until a new crack of thunder rang through.

“Maybe we should see if he’s alright?” Octavia asked looking to Vinyl for an answer. She contemplates the thought, Well if he is a drunk, it might get a little weird but if he's hurt, Tavi might... While she was in thought, she got a small nudge from Octavia.

“Alright well go see if he's okay but if the guys a drunk we’re ditching him. No questions asked.” She stated as Octavia gave a quick nod in agreement. They slowly proceeded forward, through the damp alleyway. The smell of garbage was what one might call the smell death made her cringe.

It was such a god awful smell, none of this can be sanitary, Octavia though. With every step she took, a new and more disgusting idem appeared. She looked to Vinyl, finding her face unchanging to the smell as she uncaringlly walked past the unruly sight that was the butcher’s dumpster.

“He better be dying, this is beyond disgusting.” She whispered under her breath. Thankfully, Vinyl didn’t hear her little threat. She knew the DJ would hold it over her calling it Unladylike like. As they approached the other end of the alley, he took note the pony was a stallion.

“Hey dude…you’ll all right?” She heard Vinyl ask. There was no audible response, as somepony’s air condition kicked in. Vinyl gave her a quick glance, giving a Can we just leave him? look. Octavia couldn’t just leave it at that. Even if the Canterlot Elite turned their backs on her she just couldn't do that next pony she meet. She slowly stepped closer toward the alleys opening, trying to get a better look at the stallion. She instantly regretted the idea as the ghastly site came into view.

Most ponies get squeamish during a horror movie and those lame detective shows and their ‘gore.’ Octavia could hardly handle batter and eyelash at them, ‘Just seemed too fake’ she would say. The site before her though stopped her cold. There he was, laying there, cover in blood slowly gasping for air. He seemed to have been in a fire as there were spots of singe fur. The site of something white was pertruding out of his front for leg with blood slowly oozing out. It took about a minute before what she saw hit her mind.

The blood-curdling scream that Octavia let out nearly destroyed what was left of vinyl’s hearing. Vinyl raced up to her, site of a severely beaten stallion covered in blood laid before her. What seemed to be bone, was slightly sticking out of one of his for legs. With the pitcher of such a sit engraved into her mind. She quickly began to vomit, rushing out of the alley into the down pouring rain.

“Sweet Celestia. Octy, we have to get him to a hospital!” Vinyl’s voice was barely audible over the rain.

Octavia barley begun to think over what she just saw and the uneasy feeling in her stomach didn't help. All she could was mouth the word, “How?” Vinyl looked back and forth between the as the site of a cab came into view of a nearby intersection. With thin a few seconds she bolted out onto the street, jumping up onto her high hoofs; waiving. The sequence of the cab nearly hitting Vinyl as stood in front of it nearly causes her to die of shock.

“What in the Saint Bloody Mary, do you think you’re doing!?” She heard the low grumble of the cab driver. She could barely make out the driver due to the rain but Vinyl’s voice came apparent.

“We need you to take us to Canterlot General! There’s an injured pony the nearby alley who needs medical attention!” her voice seemed to be a bit shaky as the driver gave a chuckle.

“Like I take a miscreant like you and the friend of yours any ware. Now move!” Being a DJ in Canterlot, you get use to those type of ponies that are just ass hole for the fun of it. She always dealt with them in stride but with passions strained, she might of went over bored. With a slight cast of a levitation spell, the cab driver was ripped from his seat to a few inches from vinyl’s face.

“Wait what-“he was surprised by her actions; Vinyl quickly cutting him off before he could protest.

“You will take us there or I will give next cab drive an even more reason better reason to.” The cab drive simply stared at the pale white pony, trying to penetrate her dark shades. “If that doesn’t work I’ll just go ahead and get my self-arrested.” She said as a grin slowly built up on her face. The dull brown stallion just stared on until what it struck him.

“N-no, there will b-be no need for that! It was Canterlot General correct?” He stated as he wave his front hooves back and forth.

Through the whole altercation, Octavia was just regaining her composure thinking ‘It’s all right, it’s all be ok. Just some… well a lot of blood. Lord there’s so much. Why is there so much?’

“Oh dear Celestia!” She snapped out of her mental thought as she looked over toward the voice. The cab driver was apparently had picking up the injured stallion as soft hoof was felt on her shoulder.

“Tavi, are you alright?”

“I’m fine vinyl. It was… just a bit much on the blood.” She turns to meet her rich crimson eyes worrying about her. She tried to give a, You can stop worrying smile, which sadly, never seems to work. Vinyl simple shook her head.

“You and those lavender eyes are just too easy to read. Come on, I finally got use a ride,” she nodded over to the cab.

“Yes and all you need to do was stand in the middle of the street and threaten a poor old stallion to death.”

…

The ride to the hospital was smooth, or would of been if the drive hadn’t blown past three intersection’s and nearly run over a pony. This was kind of driving she expected Vinyl to do, if the public service committee would ever put her behind the driver seat that is. The cab banked a hard left turn, which nearly threw her out of the cab’s window. They were at least forty-minutes away from Canterlot general but with the payment of five years of her life, the made it in fifteen.

By the time they pulled up near the emergency drop off doors, they had at least several members of the Canterlot police force following them. By this time they stop, Octavia was mostly in a daze. She all most didn’t notice the hospital staff pulling the hurt stallion out of the cab or that vinyl was chatting up the police. She was about to follow the emergency care staff, when elderly voice tried to get her attention.

“Miss, if I could have a minute?” The turned to see it was the old cab driver. The thought of talking to him right now seem ‘vexing.’

“If your here to complain about Vinyl, I wish not to hear it. I get enough of that from the police when have shut down some party she DJ at. Now if you’ll excuse me.” Octavia’s tone was a bit harsh but she thought he deserved it for his comment from before. As she began to turn back to the emergency care entrance, he quick tried to say something.

“I would like to apologies for my comment from before,” his words cause Octavia to stop and look back at the old stallion. “Being a cab driver here in Canterlot can really test a pony’s patients. It’s just before your,” he paused to glace a Vinyl, she was now arguing with the cop. “Friend ran out in traffic, I kick out the previous occupants a couple streets down for trying to sell something. I’ve seen a lot of things go down in my cab back seats, drug deal, prostitution, and filly/colts rebelling against the public norm in my back seat.”

It took Octavia a minute before it dawned on her what he meant on his last statement. She felt slight embarrass by the idea, giving a slight cough, trying to regain her composure.

“Well mister,” just now realizing she didn’t even know his name.

“Old Timer, don’t worry about saying anything. It was my fault any way,” he slowly handed her a small card. It was just a regular white card with a phone number on it. “It’s my number, if you call and I’m somewhere in the area, with no customers. I’ll drop by and give you a free ride and don’t worry about being frugle with it. It has unlimited uses. Its my way of say sorry.” His smile seem reveling enough as she took the card.

“Thank you, most try to just avoid me these days.” Octavia commented not really catching what she said.

“Well not me. If I saw you instead of the raver, I would of stopped. My daughter is huge fan of yours. You’re the reason she decided to plays the violin,” he gave a small laugh as he turn back to vinyl again. “Don’t worry. I’ll go talk to the police. Before they decide to detain her. If you could tell me if he’s going to make it.”

“I will and thank for the ride.” She promised Old Timer, watching him bow his head before walking over to Vinyl. He quickly got them to let Vinyl leave as he began to explain to them what happened. Thank Celestia, vinyl plus the police equals 24hour detainment, usually. She watched her walk over, grumbling to herself.

“Always the suspicious one, that's a bunch of,”

“Vinyl, the last thing I need is to bail you out of jail again,” She Shook her head at the thought of it happening again.

“They always say it’s me, going on with ‘It’s always the ravers fault.’ There out to get me,” she pleaded, she tried look like a innocent as an angle as she said it.

“Right, your just lucky that stallion doesn’t remember anything about how a stick end up his,” She just couldn’t bring herself to finish the statement, it was just too weird.

“Whatever, It’s still poetic justice”

…

The ER was hectic, with doctors and nurses rushing back and forth. Apparently, there was a construction accident a little earlier just before they storm hit, something about the foundation collapsing. As some of them past, there injures seem to be quiet serious. She winced as the site of their battered body’s as they passed by, trying not to purge her stomach again. By the time they past, one of the attending g nurses noticed them, they waited for what felt like half an hour.

“Is there something I can do for you,” she asked raising one eyebrow, as to say, What could they possible want?

“Yes, you see we came with a black stallion just a minute ago. We’re just wondering if you could show us where in the hospital he is. We would like to know if he will be all right?” She quickly stated before Vinyl could say anything inappropriate. The nurse gave a slight nod, mouthing what seem like to word ‘right’ as she walked over to a counter talking to what seem to be a receptionist.

“Ok, follow me then,” the nurse said over her shoulder. Both Octavia and Vinyl past each other a glance before fallowing her. Wherever she was taking them, it must have be in the far back of the hospital. For what seemed like ten minutes of similar hallway white walls, lead them to the critical care ward. Octavia’s stomach turned as they entered, I do hope he’s alright.

“If you will wait here, I’ll go find the doctor for the ward,” the nurse stated as she pointed to a small waiting area. It only had a bench with two chairs on the adjacent wall. The coffee table that sat in the middle was a bit of as it was a dark shade of oak. Before Octavia could say anything the already left, leaving only the two of them there.

“Well you wanted more privet time,” Vinyl’s comment spark a little reaction, a small glare from Octavia. It causes vinyl to step back wondering what she did to receive such a glare.

“Vinyl, could you please go sit down on the bench,” her tone almost seemed hauntingly as vinyl gulped, giving a cracked smile.

“S-sure Octy,” she hesitated for a sec before going to sit at the bench. The fact that Octavia following her there, made her wander what she is going to do. ”So,” she began once she sat down. She felt even more confused as Octavia jumped onto the bench.

“You are to be punished for your terrible offense to comedy,” she raised one hoof to cast judgment.

“And the punishment would be,” vinyl asked hoping it wasn’t like the last one. A whole week without wubs was horrible, all because she flipped on the waiter for his ‘attitude.’

“You are here by sentence to shut up and become a pillow till the doctor comes,” slamming down her hoof like a gavel. As Octavia laid her head down on vinyl’s lap, she couldn’t help but think, What a horrible punishment.
…

For what seemed like minutes turned to hours as the clock on the wall ticked by. Vinyl looked to it for the fifth time tonight, 12:45 it read as its tick stated to bother her. The constant ticking and waiting was slowly driving her insane. It’s been nearly five hours since we got here, she thought, brushing Octavia’s mane as she slept. This really did drained a lot of of her, her thought cut short by a new sound of steps coming from the far hallway. As she stared down the hall, the image of a tall tan stallion in a white lab coat came into view. She gave Octavia a small nudge with her hoof, trying to wake her.

“Ummm, Vinyl you better not need to go to the bathroom,” she heard Octavia grumble shifting her weight a little. Vinyl gave a light chuckle, as the stallion was just a few steps away.

“So,” he stated as his light heart voice caused Octavia to return to the waking world. “Are you the ones who brought him in?” He asked, moving some of his white from his eyes.

“Yes,” Vinyl answered since Octavia seemed to be groggy.

“Right,” he paused to look a clipboard he was caring with him. “I’m going to guess there no relation between him and the two of you. I’m doctor Tella, he's been in my care for last few hours.”

“Is he going to be ok?” Octavia asked as she gained back some coherency from the nap.

“Yes, we managed stop the bleeding and fix some of the fractured bones but there was a problem,” soon as he said ‘problem’ Vinyl could feel Octavia shiver a bit. “Before I say any thing, are you willing to become his care giver?” His question caught vinyl off guard.

“By what do you mean?” She heard Octavia asked wondering the same thing. Doctor Tella laid the clipboard he was holding down on the table, giving a small shrug.

“You see he has multiple bone fractures on his front right leg. There so bad, that a whole chunk of bone was dislodged. The hospital won’t let me operate on it till we know more about him or if you become his Care giver.”

“What, why would they not let you!?” Vinyl blurted out; feeling confused about what he just said.

“It’s because of law dear,” Octavia answered leaving Vinyl confused as the doctor gave a nod agreeing. After taking a deep breath, Octavia stated with a small chuckle, “To answer your question, yes we will. Vinyl always wanted a little Irish pony butler but I guess he’ll have to do.” She knew Vinyl was blushing without even looking, Not as good as a week with those wubs but still satisfying. The doctor gave a small nod as he grabbed his clipboard and left down that same hall he had come.

“Octy, what was that about, and what did you sign us up for?” The sound her being flustered caused her to giggle a bit. She tuned to see Vinyl’s pouting face, She looks adorable. As Vinyl’s face slowly turned to worry, she gave a small cough.

“Dear remember when I told you music wasn’t my mother’s ideal choice for a career,” she paused, her eyes glancing Vinyl and drifted to the clock on the far wall. “Well, she wanted me to be a doctor. A government paid employ always gets paid she would say.” Vinyl stretched of her hoof trying to comfort Octavia, “It’s quiet all right.”

Vinyl knew just the smallest mention of her mother dragged up those sad memories. Sonnet was her name; Octavia was a near spitting image of expect for that mare's lavish blue eye and high Canterlot accent. A traditional family brings traditional ideas on love though. Octavia thought the world of her mother, all ways trying to be just like her. She knew her being a Fillyfooler would devastate her; it nearly killed Octavia just to tell her mother.

It destroyed Octavia when Sonnet disowned her, kicking her out of the house and family. Most of her relative ceased all communication with her, all except her father. Crescendo, the only stallion Vinyl would ever respect. His coat a calming shade of red as his long light brown mane falls neatly behind the ears. Unlike Sonnet he supported Octavia and strangely adored Vinyl, calling her ’His second child.’

This sadly caused them to divorce each other. Crescendo moved into a single bedroom flat and her mother to remarry some high-class snob. Weirdly enough Crescendo preferred it since he owned nearly all of the bars in Canterlot. “A brewer’s son doesn’t need luxury to live,” he would quote whenever anything strange happened.

“It’s all right Vinyl,” Octavia gave a small nudge with her snout. “So back to the topic. Even if Equestria have governmental health care, it only goes to a limit. Anything like room and board or special medical treatments’, you will have to pay for. He wanted to know if we would tack care of him after the treatment and be legibly responsible for him, in case of law suit since we found him.”

“So you volunteered us to baby sit him in case he tries to sue them?” Vinyl asked, pretty much knowing the answer. Octavia giving a playful grin, knowing she pulled a fast on her.

“Well I do wonder,” Vinyl sighed aloud, slowly slumping back on the bench.

“And what would that be?”

“I wonder what he would look like in a green suit”

Author's Note

Hip, HIp, Horay!
Finally got some help in the form some editors :)

Truth be told things will definitely be getting funner from her in the story.

A New Time

“Why can’t we bring our own food?” Vinyl mouthed in complaint. “The food there sucks.”

“Because it would be rude and the hospital doesn’t allow outside food to be brought in for the sake of the patients,” Octavia gave a slight shake of her head at vinyl’s complaining. She has been at it since they left their small apartment to visit the hospital where that stallion lied. He’s been unconscious nearly three weeks now, with no sings to say otherwise.

“Whatever, can we at least grab something edible after the visit?” She asked waving a hoof back and forth in sarcastic manner.

“Fine,” Octavia stated, as the cab sped along, her thoughts began to wander. I wonder who he is. Not even the hospital recorded or the local police couldn't find anything ether. The idea he some illegal immigrant or a spy play in the back of her head. She gave a lite chuckle to the thoughts, Like either could happen.

“So what’s the joke?” returning from her dazing thought, “It seemed like a good one.”

“Oh, just entertaining myself on the thoughts on who are mysterious stallion may be,” she notice Vinyl holding a small smile as she talked. Vinyl has been more protective since she was practically bane from preforming from all the orchestras in canterlot. Without Vinyl being there for her, she probably lost whatever sanity she had long ago.

She continued to play with the thoughts of who the mysterious stallion might be, the sudden jolt from the cab took her and Vinyl by surprise. It’s been very beneficial to have Mr. Timer and his cab to drive them back and forth from the hospital. The fact he kept to his agreement caught Vinyl by surprise, thinking the old stallion would bail.

“My apologies, those politicians barley keep the lower quarter streets in the best condition,” giving a lighthearted chuckle. When they first meet him, he gave the impression of a grumpy old stallion or that's how Vinyl put it, Mister mic cranky pants. But some books could be deceiving, for Old Timer was acutely swell pony. He live a normal life as a cab driver but strangely enough, he had quit the knowledge on classical music.

“Mr. Timer, You never did explain how You knew who I was or any of my work?” The question had been bothering her for some time now. Vinyl’s ears seem to twitch at the question, She probably want to know to. The cab slowed to a halt, thinking it was an intersection.

“Well where to begin,” his tone seemed sarcastic as the sound of soothing tapping came apparent. “It’ll be mostly because of my daughter. She had all ways been one of your hugest fans, even after your retirement.” He sounded out the last word, which she knew was as a joke. Timer’s jokes maybe terrible or corny, Octavia still enjoyed the thought that he’s trying spread some cheer.
Timer continued when the cab speeds up again, “Music was her passion. You were her inspiration to become a musician, though she chose the violin” the cheerful tone of the stallion caught her by surprise.

“See Tavi, there still ponies that love you,” Vinyl stated in a playful tone, giving a foals grin.

“Thank you Mr. Timer,” Octavia said.

“No problem,” Timer said giving a small chuckle . Timer may not have realized it but his words struck deep for Octavia.
For the most part of Octavia’s career, it’s been what most would call as, ‘Smooth sailing.’ But after she met Vinyl and the huge argument with her mother, she notice less and less ponies come for her concerts. At first, she thought it was just her mind playing tricks on her. Even when it came apparent that the crowds kept getting smaller, Octavia thought, it was her way of playing. Sadly, even a change up in tune or playing style didn’t save her.

Shortly after, the sponsors for the Grand Canterlot Orchestra Fired her for ‘A poor performances.’ Vinyl at the time tried her best to keep her sprites up but the thought that most ponies now hated her music filled her heart with dread. It wasn’t until the drunk bragging of her mother on her voice mail one night.

“I don’t even know the reason I’m calling right now. At first, I thought you would just come home in a few days cured of wanting that ‘dirty thin,’” the disgust and slur in her voice was noticeable

“But you keep being brain washed, so I thought ‘Why not a shocky then.’ Thinking that’ heey why not get rid of that blasted music thing. So made a few calls here and there so, now o poof. Now you can be a doctor just like dear old mom. So, when are you going to say something?”

Octavia didn’t dared call her back knowing even in a drunk state, fearing it was true. That night was one of most depressing night in all her life. I took Vinyl nearly seven hours and four bottles of Apple Daniels to comfort her. The only thing worse than that, was the hang over the next morning.

“All right, we have arrived at Canterlot general hospital. Please make sure all your drugs and needles are with you as you exit the vehicle. Pleas have a nice day,” Old Time announced in an overly excited voice. Vinyl gave a confusing glace as Octavia just shook her head. ‘That was a god awful joke even if they were upper classes mares.’

“Thank you for the ride,” she stated in an obviously gruff tone.

“No problem, just give a call when you’ll need me again,” he said, giving them a small wave as they left the cab. Octavia return the wave as Old Timer started off.

“He’s weird,” Vinyl’s comment wasn’t far off from her own ideas but It felt rude just to call him weird. When Octavia took him up on his offer, she had been skeptical if he would hold up to it. Strangely, Old Timer was surprised that she took up his offer saying ‘Usually most mares would say I’m out of their league or beneath them. ’ Between his terrible puns and jokes, he held some general sense of what his costumer is feeling Or At least Octavia thought he did.

“True but that what makes it a fun ride, right?” she said to vinyl. She just shrugged at the comment, thinking not much to it. Octavia sighed, “Shall we go visit our sleeping friend then?” She motioned to the hospital’s entrance only a second later moving to the door with vinyl in toe.

….

The hospital was just as busy as the night three weeks ago. Apparently, there was a huge explosion near the shopping district. Thank fully it was raining that day or the fire would of spread to the nearby apartments. Still from what Octavia read in the morning newspaper, many were hurt from the explosion, with only one fatality. As announcements on the hospitals PA system were made, Octavia, with vinyl in toe, dogged the passing doctors and nurses as the headed to the main desk.

As she walked up noticing a clipboard holding a piece of paper in it, Octavia pick up the nearby pen to sign herself and Vinyl in. Since the receptionist told them during their third visit to just to sign the log in sheet and just head to the room. Octavia thought it was a bit weird but Vinyl just said, Cool less hassle. By the time, she finished signing in; the receptionist gave them a small nod.
“Alright, here to see your friend?” The receptionist asked, casting her gaze solely on Octavia. The question slightly surprised her for the hospital staff let alone the receptionist barely ever questioned Octavia what she was doing here.

“Yes, is there something wrong?” Her own question seemed to take the receptionist aback a bit. It took a second before she realized the tone she used was irritable. Before she could apologies for it, the mare interrupted her before Octavia could speak.

“I’m sorry if it was a bit rude of me but I thought you’ll like to know he’s awake,” she stated. Now Octavia felt a bit ashamed for-Wait did she say he was awake! She repeated the mares answer in her head.

“Awake, that’s cool,” Vinyl’s enthusiastic voice seems to jolt out of nowhere as Octavia quickly turned her glanced to her. Vinyl held a small chuckle at her reaction.

“He has been asking who brought him in, other than that he’s been quite tight lipped,” the mare stated before a hospital nurse walked over and whispered something into her ear. “Alright, visiting hours last till eight. Enjoy your visit,” she finished as she stood up from her chair. Before Octavia, could ask what she meant by ‘Tight lipped’, the mare was gone, following g the nurse down one of long bleach colored hallways.

“Awesome, know we can figure out who he is. My bits are on drug dealer,” Vinyl’s voiced in excitement before she turn to run down the same hallway. The comment on him being tight lipped was lost on her. A ting of worry hit Octavia as she realized what her mare friend was doing.

“Vinyl don’t run in the hospital, you could…” She was too late as the sound of a large crash and a small moan could be heard throughout the hallway.

Octavia felt lucky they made it to his hospital room while keeping Vinyl in one piece. Other than her being one piece, she was still sore from little trip she had. Octavia still couldn’t believe that she use to live alone. With the way she thinks and act, its surprises Octavia that she still alive some times.

“Well I do hope that left you with the impression not to do that till tomorrow at least,” Octavia stated with an obviously sarcastic tone. Vinyl just grumbled as she rubbed the back of her head with a hoof.

“How should I know the floor was wet,” her tone sounding almost pleading.

“One it was not wet, they just waxed it. Two, the put out a sign saying it was slippery. Third, you slid into a patient’s room. That was beyond being embarrassed,” Octavia could feel the irritation slowly inching its way over her. ”There will be some rectifying for this,” she thought aloud with a slight glance to Vinyl who gulped.

“I apologized for it.” Vinyl sated as her voice now sounded full-fledged pleading. She felt this could be worse that having to play all of Fredric Chopin for breaking one of Octavia’s privet records of his music. She played what she call ‘The most boring music ever written’, for four hours strait. If it weren’t for the gig that night, she would have been stuck in their apartment with no escape from the pianist dreary tones.

“I do have that outfit you gave me from hearts and hooves day,” Octavia stated as to question its existence as she eyed Vinyl who was blushing profusely. Vinyl knew what she meant as to the outfit thinking, you got to be kindling me. Octavia seemed to read her mind as she wore a mischievous grin.

“If you’re going to flirt and make out, could you at lest do it in front of me. I'll will be more entertaining than these bloody magazines,” the voice of a young stallion seemed to halt their thoughts. Octavia blushed at the thought of somepony over hearing them, Vinyl just coughed as she eyed the front of door.

“Well were here so might as well,” Vinyl’s voice gave hint to her nerviness. She proceeded to the open the door before Octavia could object, entering their mysteries colts’ hospital room. Octavia quickly fallowed as to worry what the stallion would do but the site of the colt lying in a bed reading a ‘Hooves an Glamor’ magazine broke that thought.

“Well hello there, I’m guessing you’re the two I heard outside?” The stallion’s voice was a smoothed, with a light charming tone to it. “If you answered my previous question with a yes, I was only joking. Except for these magazines, the only other form of entertainment is the view of a brick wall or this basted thing beeping,” he pointed a hoof to the monitor that sat near his bed.

The young stallion seems to be no worse for ware, fixing his slightly over grown black mane so it sat behind his ear. His bright blue eyes look like they glowed, with the stare he gave was curious. “So who you two might be?”

A bit baffled by his statement, Octavia quickly cleared her throat, “I’m Octavia and this is Vinyl-“

“Are you a drug dealer?” Vinyl’s voice chimed in. Octavia mind stumbled for a second, Did Vinyl really just asked that out loud. She turned to her, seeing her holding a small grin.

“I could be but how did I end up in the alleyway then?” His response to Vinyl’s absurd question caught her even more off guard.

“The deal went south and to clean up they set you on fire,” to Vinyl’s retort, he simply crossed his hooves raising an eyebrow.

“Why did they set me on fire? If they could do that why not just bash my brain in and get it over with.”

“True,” Vinyl paused to catch her thoughts. “However, you could be that arsonist that’s been torching the slums in Philly.”

“I could be,” he stated again as he extended one hoof from his head to side. “Still that would make be a terrible arsonist if I ended up lighting myself on fire now.”

“Well you could be that stalker I’ve been hearing about lately. The mare you were stalking could have light you on fire to escape.”

“I could be but that one would be pushing it-“

Sitting there confused as to what was happening, Octavia couldn’t help but go brain dead and just stare at both of them. She didn’t hear the door open behind her or the step of another pony as he entered. Octavia did however see his light Shadow that surprised her, quickly turn to see who it was.

“My apologies miss Octavia if I scared you,” she came to see it was doctor Tella. She gave a slight chuckle art her jumpiness, feeling the stares of Vinyl and the dark stallion.

“It’s quite all right doctor Te-“

“T, theirs a letter T in your name,” the stallion yelled across the room surprising her once again.

“Yes there is a letter T in it but do you remember the whole thing yet?” After he asked, a small chuckle came from him as he look at the stallion, which seemed to be in what looked like deep thought. Octavia and Vinyl both turned to the doctor, who just smile at their questionable looks. Doctor Tella’s smile slowly dropped but from what Octavia could tell his voice still seem friendly.

“Miss Octavia,” he started with his gaze solely on her. “If you don’t mind, could we talk outside for a bit? It’s nothing big, just need to ask a few things is all,” Tella’s gaze soon look to vinyl who was eyeing him back. “Vinyl why not stay here and get to know him better? I bet you two could really get along,” at that, his grin return.

Something he wants to ask me? the thought alone made her feel a little uneasy. Could this have something to do with him, glancing over to him.

“Go ahead Tavi, I’ll just chill here,” the reassuring nod helped a bit but it was still a little bit un nerving as she looked back to the doctor, giving her own nod in agreement. On their way out of the room, Vinyl’s questionable teas was apparent.

“So do you remember my friends’ name?”

....

The silence of the vacant hospital’s hallways gave somewhat an awkward feeling as she and doctor Tella exited the room. With the door signifying its closing with a click, Tella turn to face Octavia with a look that worried her. His smile was replaced with what look like a confusing frown, as his voice sound apologetic.

“I do apologies for putting you in this position but,” his voice trailed off as did his eye.

“But,” she mimicked.

“Well, from what you could see he seems perfectly healthy right?” She was a bit confused by what meant by ‘seems’ but continued him on with a small nod. “You see he has amnesia so,” pausing to see Octavia’s reaction. The feeling of relief started to fill her when the realization of that word hit.

“Amnesia?”

“Yes, I know it sounds weird but that's what he has now. I’ve seen it before back when I was a interim at the hospital in Mainhattan. Its usually due to a traumatic event or such but a case like his I’ve never seen before,” the relief that stated to fill he was gone, replaced by general concern. How can there be strange cases of amnesia?

“Most can’t remember the event anything connected to it, for him its different. He can’t remember a single thing before you found him, not even his own name. He does have some basic knowledge of how things work but even that is a bit sketchy. For example, he didn’t know what a heart monitor is or that the big ball of fire in the sky was called a sun.”

Octavia knew where he was going with this, though the point he was making was still surprising. He didn't remember the sun? That though sent a shiver down her spine. She soon found a clipboard floating in front of her; she already knew what it was.

“You could probably guess this all ready but because you signed off on being his care give and by law, amnesia is consider being a physical and mental illness. Therefore, I took the liberty of scheduling some appointments at a nearby psychologist office for the next two months. The first one is next Monday. You will be pay for any medical expenses of his that happen to him in your care. You can sign the release papers when your ready to leave,” he explained even if she knew half of it already.

Amnesia, just great! Another thing added to the growing list of problems, her displeasure seemed to show as she sign the release document. When she finished signing Octavia gave a deep long sigh before asking Tella a particular question.

“Mr. Tella, when will they be processed and him being fully discharged?”

“He can be,” he picked up the clipboard and glanced to a clock on the nearby wall. “At 1:52 pm, he is discharged,” his stale smile return for the third time. “We can process Caregiver ahead of time to limit the inconveniences it causes, now if you excuse me. I must get back to checking on the other patients.”

“Others?” Octavia uttered the word with even realizing it.

“Yes, I’m assuming you heard of the accident down on Lunar Ave, right?”

“The explosion that happen three weeks ago,” she knew it only because of the morning paper. The explosion was unknown but the royal guard is stating it was an accident and not some terrorist attack or something. ”I heard only twenty or so ponies were hurt.”

“Truth be told there was nearly one-hundred seventeen injured ponies but now there’s eighty-nine,” the dread in his voice said it all. “They change the number to avoid panic but- I’ll just be getting back to my rounds now.” Before she could say anything, he quickly entered the adjacent patients’ room leaving her in the hallway with her thoughts.

So many, was the recurring thought as she slowly turn back to the stallions room with Vinyl inside. Maybe he was caught up in the explosion and somehow wondered… down twelve city blocks, in the down pouring rain, without anyone noticing him? She paused abruptly before entering, was that possible?

“It starts with Oct,” she entered to the site of Vinyl grinning like an idiot and the stallion in deep thought. “Oct, Octane? Its Octane right?” Was he trying to guess my name? confused by what she was hearing, looked to Vinyl for clarification.

“Wrong,” lifting her front leg into the air to make an X’s. “Dose she look like heavy rock?” At that, he throw both of his hooves in defeat. “So Tavi, what did the Doc say?”

“Good thing you two are getting along because we get to keep him,” Vinyl gave are you kiding look. Sadly for her and Octavia, she wasn’t.

The Darkining Tides

Author's Note

Writers block sucks, had one two many ideas but noon i liked. Went and smack my head agents a wall for a while be for this chapter was done and yes i know its short. I can go only so far. Hopefully this doesn't go to dark and new chapters will be rolling out soon, just need some pie. Enjoy.

The Darkining Tides

He glances to the window of the study with an absent stare. The thoughts of the previous weeks still fresh, his mind slow feeding his fear of what might come to pass. The rays of Lunar light began to filter through the glass mural that laid behind him, taking notice of the added light, the dark stallion turn to the light, eyeing the pitcher with contempt and admiration. The blood red stallion surrounded with Safire flames, striking the decisive blow to what he always was told to be a dragon. As the light fade so did the slight admiration for the stallion. He always wished to hold such strength to be able to protect the common ponies. ‘Why am I forced to walk the same path as yours?’

With a deep sigh, turning his emerald eyes to the lone guard stationed just a few feet from the rooms only door. He mused with a small smile as his sight shifted from the guard to the rest of the studies many book shelves that the walls consisted of. The thoughts of his child hood spending time sneaking in to this study, reading many of the same books that now collect dust.

“Is everything alright your Highness?” The sound of her voice caught him off guard. He slowly turned back the guard, his personal knight Bella ding. Her soft tone voice and lean body was quit the contrasts. To such that it would put most of the pegasus guards and some other unicorn guard envies. Her teal coat ever fighting the royal blue and yellow of the uniform she wore.

“Sadly no. from the early reports, he’s still missing and two towns near the Wingle homestead have been getting rowdy.” He unknowingly grown out in a frustrated sigh as he began to shift through the paper work that was spread out on the desk. His eyes caught a situation report, raising it up to his face and began to read aloud, “It appears a lord grindale was hung by the local town’s people after a ‘re-educational reforming’ with towns school teacher.” He shifted the paper a little to the left so he could read Bella’s reaction.

She only raised an eyebrow asking, “re-educational reforming?”

Bellas response wasn’t too surprising but it still gave him a small grin. “He forced her into the towns square for a test. Every wrong answer she was wiped, with only fifteen seconds to answer them.” She still seemed unfazed by his answer yet he could tell that it did affect Bella. Even if the signs of it would be lost to any of the other soldiers, the small twitch in her right eye and the small motion on her lips gave away her emotions.

“He and many more are what give me head aces. Why can’t the people understand that if we don’t work together we all will suffer. By the blessed moons, if that moron would to pop up now…” He paused, shaking his head at the thought. Only when a light knock at the door did he places the idea away to fear later.

“Your highness, I have Lokin as you ordered”

“Send her in,” he responded with a slight glance to Bella who eyed Lokin as she entered. She slowly staggered into the room with what he could tell was fear. From her slight twitch of leg to the nerves fixing of her lab coat, trying to steady herself. The site Lokins fears almost confirm what he was expecting. “So what your progress on reconstruction that’s morons work?” the sound of his voice seem to strengthen her fear, which stress him more.

“Your highness, we’ve been working form what we know and whatever that was recoverable from the fire. Even then, it’s a lose grasp on his theory’s let alone the formulas.” Bella noticed the exaction on her, the heavy eyes, and the sluggish words and from what looked like a few lost pounds.
“I don’t need your excuses when you promised great results, which were said to be done in the coming weeks.”

“Yes, it’s just we have such a small understanding on how it works. He stitch together somehow a astral projection spell which a modified teleportation spell, powered by some magical sores with probably hundreds of safe and patches done to it.” Her pleads seemed to fall on death ears, with a deep sigh he razed a hoof to silence her. His eyes staring directly at Lokin stopped her body dead.

“You’re constant crying appealing. From what I’ve seen from your reports, it’s possible to perform the spell with enough power and a link. Do I need to remind you that this is more than your career. I hate to see what would happen to the Winterfeld if you are to fail.” Pausing to let his words sink in. ‘Any good work needs some incentive or nothing gets done, ‘ he thought while sending a glance to Bella to open the study’s door.

“You are free to leave now,” he stated a simple wave of his hoof. Lokin sat there frozen by what she just heard. The sheer grip of fear that struck her very core, ‘I can’t fail.’ Was her only recurring thought as she forced her seemingly frozen legs to move towards the door, “OH by the,” his words once again froze her in mid step just inside the doorway. “I don’t really care how just get it done.” With that Lokin left the room in silence.

“Well now, with that done. I’ll be waiting for our meeting for later to night since I seem to distracting you.” Bella stated before he could make a remark, she quickly opened the same door again an left His highness, king Shalin to his own thoughts again. ‘Really? You were the only thing in this room that kept me sane,’ he thought as his eye fell back onto his paper work that sat on the desk.

XxX

With each step, her mind had been replaying every conversation with Shadow, trying to find some clues that could help her. some idea, some clue, if anything to help her. “Dammit! Why? Why can’t I think of anything?” She fumed with each step, “It’s like he made so it’ll be like this just to screw with me.”

As Lokin continued to walk from his highness study, the depression that he left her with dragged down her every step, every thought of what to happen to her family when she fails. Her father’s scornful words, the same words that used to drive her, ‘You have amounted to nothing, your brothers, and cousins have all done great things for the Winterfeld name. But you, you and those petty books an weak hove have done nothing!’ his scorn seeming to cross memoir into reality as the mere thought burned her eyes.

By the time she reached the corridors far end, her mind as well as body was in near shambles. Each seconded that past by seemed to increases the wait, the pressure of everything crushing her. By the time she reached the final junction that lead to her lab, Lokin slowly stop. Her eyes focused on her labs door. As she stared, a small tear began to flow. With the drop of the first tear, Lokin’s legs began to shack. As a means to stay up right, she slowly stepped to the left; near the corridors many stonewalls for support. It failed as she slide down to the floor.

She slowly began to weep openly in the halls not care if any would hear. ‘Why!? Why can’t i figure this out? Why?’ Lokin screamed mentally as more tears fell. The tears of everything that could have gone right but went highly wrong. Every failed test, every mistake in her formula and all of her effort amounting up to nothing. In her own pity, Lokin wished she never tried.

‘Are you mad?’

The voice slowly borrowed its way into her mind, repeating it’s self as an old memory came forth. The day the two of the first meet, the day that sparked the rest of her life.

{Several years ago}

“So you wished to become my assistant? Why?” Shadow’s cheerful tone seemed to calm most of anxiety towards asking.

“Well sir wing-“

“Please don’t, just call me Shadow. If need be ad lord if you want,” His abrupt cut off caused her to clam up.

“Sorry sir, I mean lord Shadow,” His seem to strike her as piercing. “Out of all the other researchers, your theory’s and study fall in line with my own. Your spiral study’s and principle experiments of physical magic manipulation drew me toward your work.” She hoped that would be enough to convince him, that, and the lengthy list of a resume she brought with her.

“Well that’s all in and all, but even with list of accomplishments here. That still doesn’t tell me why.” His answer puzzled her. As she tried to come up with an answer that would satisfy him but he continued, “You have all of this and you chose me. Why me? My guess your ether mad or an idiot. So are you mad enough to research the endless void for answers?”

A small smile slowly crept onto Lokins face as the memory played out. She remembered that despite her say yes, she didn’t understand what he meant. It took a few seconds to click before the thought popped into her mind.

‘Are you mad?’

As she picked herself back up, swatting away the tears. She turned toward her lab’s door with a large grin plastered on her face.

“Not mad but definitely crazy.”

As each step drew him closer, the constant salutes from the castle guards stated to bother him. The fact they paid their respects to him out of fear that made his stomach twists into knots. For once, he wished it were out admiration. ‘Well, at least there not trying to slit my throat yet.’

Turning the right at the next juncture, a grand looking door stood just down its short hall.
It was intricately carve with a crescent moon on both sides. Paint in a multitude of blues, the light stones showing creating a deep contrast of shadows over it. The sheer sight of its beautiful design sickens him. If he could, he would’ve had it removed and thrown from a cliff.

If on a mental command, the door swung open as he approached it, revealing luxuries room. A room he grew fond of for all the wrong reasons. He quickly picked up his pace entering his bedroom, heading straight for the bed. By the sound of the door closing, he flung of himself onto the bed. ‘Finally today ends.’

The crown slipped from his head, landing just in front of his snout. He stared at with a longing look taking in like every other day, the jewel that were embedded in it. Each small curve, every small scratch, ‘Father, what I am to do?’ Letting out a sigh, he move the crown over to the night stand near the bed. The sound of a click caught his attention as he turned to what was his bookcase. The bookcase was slowly moving away from the wall revealing a passage way.

“You know making this thing move on its own, pushing it sucks,” the voice all too familiar with its complaints. He made his way off the bed, couldn’t resist a smile to the pale gray mare that walked out.

“True but, Bella, that would defeat the purpose of the secret passage then.”

“Though I’m not one of your great grandfathers bimbos now am I?” She stated walking toward him, planting her lips onto his. “Good evening Lin.”

“The same to you Bell.” ‘Father you were wrong at every corner.’

“My lord, were ready to begin and the center stage is ready.” The voices of all a stallion called out to her. ‘So now it begins’ she looked down to the lab, to all the researchers that volunteered to be her tonight. “I will not fail,” She noted to herself, raising a hoof to one of the consoles many buttons. With a click, a alarm sounded. Heavy steel doors slammed shut all-round the lab. The event startled the researchers still in the staging area.

“My Lord!” The sound of one of her many assistants rushing to tell her what she just did. “Every pony in the staging ground has got locked in. We have-“

“Good, that means we’re ready to begin.”

“What?! But.”

“You heard me, go to your post! Or do I need to replace you?” She could see the fear that grew in his eyes, the fear of death. As the stallion quickly made his way to his post of monitoring the output of the experiment, ‘I will not fail father.’ With a flick of another switch activated a loud speaker, “Bridged opening test, all researchers prepare for test.” The confusing voices of those still trapped in the staging area asking what was happening.

In a low whisper, “I will burn for this but Shadow, you pushed us to such methods.” She turned to a Mare researcher that stood behind her near the master control switch. The look of disbelief was painted on her face, “Start the experiment.” Lokin’s words cold as ice, made the mare hesitate. ‘She apparently has an idea of what is to happen,’ Lokin walked over to where the mare was standing. Her opal blue eyes filled with fear, the shacking of her teal colored hoof that was on the master switch.

The light of Lokins aura around her hoof caused her to yelp. With her eyes, pleading Lokin leaned in closes, “We are all guilty.” She proceeded to lower the mares hoof until a click was heard. The mare clasped to the floor as she began to cry as Lokin turned around to the screams of those still in the staging grounds. She walked up to the spot she was standing before, the sight of the researchers banging on the doors begging for us to let them in, to her surprise some were even prying.

There scream soon turn to cries of fear as the spell circle in the staging grounds began to activate. ‘Little did they know they sealed the own fate.’ As the spell pulsated through the room, their cries soon turn into those of pain. She watched as it slowly began to latch on to the closer ones as the rest cries became historical. The sight of their flesh and bone being devoured by the spell was sickening. The crying of the mare behind her was now to a whimper, trying to block out the sound of them dyeing; Lokin couldn’t handle it all. She quickly turned away, her head hung low as she empty her stomach next to her.

It was a good twenty minutes before the screams stopped. Risking the sight, Lokin looked up to find the room empty. The only evidence of those who were in there was their scorch marks on the doors, trying to blast them down and their cries that echoed through her mind. Her gaze turned to the spell circle, which surprised her. “It worked,” she whispered trying to gain back some composure. ‘It actually worked, it really did.’ Her mentally celebration was cut short by the sound of the whimpering mare and the others wondering what just happened.

“Miss, we are all guilty and forever we shall remain guilty.”

The Coming Tides

“Bloody hell.”

His voice seemed to echo through the empty halls as he sat in front of the unwavering door. It’s been thirty minutes now and still he made no progress to opening this retched door. ‘Confounded habits’, the stallion mused give the pale white door a halfhearted kick. He sighed, bringing both his front lightly grayed hooves to his face in frustration, “Why in all things holy do they have an auto lock door?” in the jester he stood on his rear legs, quickly losing his balance as he fell backwards.

If any pony saw he over the top reaction most would just wright, it off as pointless but it gave him a strange sense of joy. Even if the absence of embarrassment from a familiar unicorn finding him lying on his back in the middle of the hallway felt normal as he gave a light chuckle.

“Well hello there Vinyl, lovely day right?”

Vinyl eyed him with a blank stare, hold a paper bag in her magical grip. A few seconds past before she let out restless sigh, “How long?” all she could ask. Her sad tone and even lest thrilled expression to his plight didn’t seem to damper his mood.

“About half an hour, went for the mail and poof, stuck out here,” he said making a small jester with his hooves trying to get a smile out of vinyl. Sadly it fail with Vinyl sighing.

“Why can’t you remember to bring the extra key with you,” She said as she pulled out a key of her own, inserting it in the lock. “Please bring the mail with you,” she told him as he proceeded to get to his hooves. He watched as she entered the apartment, fallowing with the mail in his mouth.

The apartment itself wasn’t small but comfortable with its modern decor.. The kitchen with its black and white color schema still seemed a bit retro to him. Placing the mail down onto the small table that severed as a dining table, he continued to what served as a bed at night. A well worn out, blue couch/bed that sat in the living room.

“Bill, bill, ad, magazine,” the sound of the mail smacking the counter with the forced ruffle of the paper bag caused him to turn to small bar that was a part of the kitchen. He watched as Vinyl began to put away its contents, “Still nothing.”

It’s been nearly a week since he came to live with Vinyl and Octavia. The times have been rough with Octavia’s job and the money from the few jobs Vinyl gets haven’t been as good ether. The sound of what he thought was glass break turn his gaze to the hallway. Vinyl gave a heavy sigh, moving from the kitchen to the hallway that lead to her room. He gave her a look of confusion, “Bale, she’s having a bad day. Her mother called,” was all she said as she headed toward her bedroom.

Bale stood in the living room, wishing there was way for him to help. Ever since they brought him back from the hospital, thing just seemed to get worse those two. He thought helping him come up with a name to call himself or some of the antics he pulled would help brighten the mood. Sadly, it has not; Octavia has been spending more and more time in their bedroom, Vinyl being stressed to a breaking point.

He noticed vinyl walking back toward the living room with a dreadful look about her. She walked right past him, clasping on the couch with a resounding thud. Think what he saw was tears, “Vinyl…”

“She failed to get the Mainhattan job, her mother told her over the phone. That mare had even black listed her there as well. What are we to do?” The sight of Vinyl in such a depressed mood was broke his heart. They have done so much for him; he had little to nothing to give back.

Just then, the sound of something slapping agents the ground turned his attention to the kitchen, he noticed the magazine on the floor. Walking up to it, the fall opened it to an ad. It was a help wanted ad for a local restaurant the stood not but a few blocks down. ‘Waiter needed 15 bits an hour, work four days a week.’

“That’s it!” he said a bit too loud.

“What is?” The sad tone of Vinyl’s voice was painful to hear.

“I could apply for a job to help. This ad says they need a waiter and what it a waiter but a friendly pony.” He doesn’t know if it was the enthusiasm or his upbeat look on things but look Vinyl gave him warmed his heart. She was smiling, a full-blown grin.

“True, and it would help with the bills two.” She pulled herself from her seat, wiping away some of the tears that still fell. He handed her the magazine, noticing her eyes scanning every word. “This is close by and it isn’t one of the high aristocrat type places either.” ‘He really has a chance at this.’

“So I grab a job there and help with the bill. At least then, you two could go back to smiling.” Vinyl could help but smile out of pride that he was willing help.

“Okay, let me wright down some directions so you don’t get lost,” she walked past him to a note pad they had hanging on the fridge. “But knowing you, you’ll still get lost.” She gave a slight chuckle to the thought. It was the first laugh, or anything close to it, she had in weeks.

“Hey that was one…” the look of disbelief of vinyl gave him was scrutinizing. “…Okay, a few times.” She shifted to be siting, still giving the same look. “Fine, A Lot of times! It’s not my fault that all the buildings look the same.”

“Yeah and you getting distracted by the nearby arcade was another problem with the city.” She gave another chuckle. Even through Vinyl hasn’t said it out loud, Have him here has brighten up some aspects of their lives. Even though Octavia been out of work or months now, this last week had seemed a little bit brighter. It was as if everything Bale did was to make them smile.
“Okay, I’ll stop teasing,” She noticed him make what look to be a school colt’s angry face. “Here, these are the direction to restaurant. Don’t lose these or I’ll be stuck trying to find you again.”

“Could you have some faith now,” He said, taking the note, heading toward the door. Before he open the door to leave, he felt something slide onto his back. Turning to see a saddlebag, “Um, Why?” The note that was in his mouth, levitated to one of its open pockets.

“I do but sometimes i still wonder how you managed to live before.”

“Right then, I’m off.” He locked some his joints, making some kind of regal pose before he headed out the door. She stared at the place he stood, trying to hold in her laughter at his shenanigans. Her effort was nearly foiled when the phone began to ring. She headed into the kitchen, finding the phone mission. “Hu, where did i…oh, right. Octavia has it…”

As he exited the building, the sound of the bustling city was over whelming. He found the noise to be too much, the cabs shooting through the roads. The whole outside seemed like nothing but chaos and disorder. Most of the stuff he was seeing was still new to him or at least felt new. Bale hadn’t been able to tell the difference from finding something new or doing something he has once done.

He walked over to the nearest street corner reading the name of the streets. ‘E Main ST, Wave Ave.’ Just remembering the directions Vinyl wrote. He quickly took the note out, reading it. “So, Head west on E Main ST, going for four blocks and then turn…”

XxX

“Sir Andole would dress up like one of the present farms as a way to find what was really going one in his kingdom. He didn’t believe his father’s advisers. It was around the he meet his future wife, Maygel, a daughter of the local bakery.”

“Simply fascinating Shade, I wonder what happened after their first meeting though. As far as I know, not a single commoner has ever married royalty before.” Luna taped the recording crystal she had place on the table earlier in the conversation. She told her Celestia that she would record the conversations so she could make up her own thoughts on Shade. Personally, she finds him quite interesting with all the ’Stories’ he has. His blank stare gave no hint of emotion as he continued.

“It took near three years of him battling the nobles who seek to hold power in the Shalin kingdom of which, spying, plotting and occasional assassination was carried out. It wasn't till they openly threatened him that he proceeded to rally the country folk to arms and stamped out the nobles classes. This in turn caused his father to view him as a rebel. A small battle was fought in the castles central courtyard, the king him self died not even knowing the one to kill him was his own son.”

“After the battle he announced who he was before the same soldiers, merchants and farms he just fought with. He said to them, 'I stand before you not only son of a King whom I just just killed but a Prince himself who's heart drove him so. I hide among you, lived among you and even found love among you. I saw the nobles in trickery an contemned, in such it even blinded my father.' At this point he knelled down to the crowd saying, 'All that I ask is that you have the heart to let me follow my own and to forgive me for not seeing your pain sooner'.”

“What happen was for ever since been known as 'The Kingdom's Rebirth.'” Luna leaned closer in anticipation. Even if these tale's of his were by all means to her, fiction. She still found the ether pleasant or thrilling to listen to. “The crowd that was once a angry mod soon turned to the young prince and slowly, one by one, bowed to him. The sight astonished him, 'Why do the all bow?' The answer came from a voice he didn't aspect to hear. The voice of Meygel, 'They bow because they knew you were the Prince,no the king they wished they had. And now the wish came true in you. Please rise your Highness.' She said while bowing her self.”

“He quickly made his way to her, just before her knee touched the ground. 'One such as your self need not knee, if the wished, could you be my queen.' It was five days later that they got married. The Kingdom it self, found a prosperity that lasted for generations to come.” Luna was pleased, mostly due the story's ending. She still couldn't tell if he dose it on purpose or not but most of the tales he's told had such unpleasant endings.

Luna was almost lost in thought as the glimpse of light slowly began to shin over the horizon. A small pang of sadness hit her as she knew this night was ending. With a deep sigh, she levitated the crystal she brought with her, stopping the recording spell she imbued it with.

“My apologies Shade, but it seems our time her has ended.” He nodded his head. The lack of verbal response such as yes or no or even the occupational short answer was something she have gotten used to. 'Never the one for small talk.' “I all tel you the search for the one by the name of 'Shadow' has been less than forthcoming, please have patientest.” Again he gave only a nodded as a reply. “I will take my leave.”

She sat up from the chair she's been siting in for the last several hours. Its been two weeks since his appearance in the castle and not a single one of the royal researchers haven able to figure out what he is. Even Luna has been puzzled by his make up. It felt like he was pure magic but yet he also felt cold and out of place. Like his pure existence was against or only permitted to be by some higher power. The whole idea has been nothing but a migraine.

As she left the dome, see peeked over her should only to see he hasn't moved a single inch from his seat. The two guards that sat out side the door saluted her. She nodded as they returned back to their duties. The walk from the doom to the inner castle was a short but peaceful one as the castle it self was rarely busy in the early hours. As she made her was through the courtyard, she instinctively stopped at the statues that littered it.

Luna had done this mutable times now, always wondering who made them and why. It all ways made her uncomfortable nor knowing the answers to those questions. Ever since Twilight and her friend freed her from the nightmarish prison of Nightmare Moon, she has found it hard to understand the Equestria she now lived in. The politics seemed to pass her by, the law and changes to them left her confused, and the nobles seemed more useless than ever.

She sighed in defeat once more, as her horn pulsated with magic. Lowering the moon for the sun to take its place was about one of the only thing she felt she knew and could do without any worrie. As the sun rose, she remembered all the lessons she looked through on the more modern way of speaking. It took nearly a year before it felt normal to speak with thought the royal voice or the royal 'we.'

Again she glanced to the many statues in the garden before she made her way in side, it seemed like she was just another forgotten statue that should join the garden. As she walked through the hall toward the thrown room, to drop off the latest recording of her conversation with Shade. She was honestly surprised that Celestia also found his tales enjoyable, if not entertaining. Even in her slight depressing mood, the thought that her sister being wrong but being a tad bit proud to show it caused her to laugh a small bit.

The sounds of the bustling staff and politician practicing their lines as they tried to petition for what seemed to a waste of they time or/and money. As she got closer to the thrown room doors, she could see the near endless line of ponies all wishing to see her sister. Their scolding gazes centered on her as she proceeded to open the doors and enter. 'Even after so long, some still hate me.' she thought.

“Dear sister, I'm glade to see you arrived from your meeting.” The cheerful tone of Celestia's voice seemed to only damper Luna's mood even more.

“Well, dear sister, its seems today is going to be a bit stressful.” She motioned to the door and what laid beyond it.

“Yes it seems so.” Luna could easily tell that she was preparing her self for the taxing day. “I do hope you brought the latest recording from your conversation.”

“Yes, sadly I wish I could help more. The past few months have been from what I saw, grueling.” 'I want to do more!' she thought in frustration. 'Just what can..' “What is the situation about the Everfree forest, any news to what those spike were yet?”

“Sadly, no. I've sent patrols under the disguise of a military exercise but they have found nothing as of late. There was a report of one that rippled throughout the forest, shacking and ripping the ground in two. Sadly the soldiers that made the report were never found. But of the late, there hasn't been much of a development as of late.”

The news just seemed to depress her even more. Even in a crisis there was little for her to do. She decided just to drop of the crystal and head to her bedroom to sleep. There was much else for her to do but sleep. As she handed off the crystal, her thought some how found there way to the conversation she had with Shade. It was when she thought about the story he told her that the idea struck her.

'Maybe there is something I could do..'

XxX

She checked her self in the mirror for the fifth time, making sure the spell was working. It took nearly four hours for her to get Celestia to agree to her idea. Another hour not send a guard with her. She eyed her appearance closely, trying to find what ever fault there were. She manage to make her coat a bit brighter, to a near aqua blue. Her wing were easy to hide but the main was something else entirely.

She spent what felt like forever trying to get to stop its flowing and make it act normal. A small blast of glee filled her when she finally made it so. It took her nearly thirty minutes to figure out what main color should be before she settled on a forest green color. 'Right, all most done.' Luna's sight turned to her cutie mark of the moon surrounded by three stars. With a little effort, it was turn into a telescope looking into a night sky. She gave her self one last look before turning to leave the guest room her sister had set up.

It took all but ten minutes for them set up the room for the now residing Miss Eclipse DE Star. The daughter of a foreign dignitary from what ever country the nobles class have never meet. It once started out as a joke to see their reaction long ago, now was Luna's tool. She would explore Canterlot not as Princess Luna but as Eclipse, a lover of astronomy. A knock at the rooms door snapped her out of her preparation thoughts.

“Mistress Eclipse, may I enter.” The soft tone of a stallion was pleasant surprise. She quickly cast a spell to change her voice as not to blow her cover.

“Yes, you may,” she said being slightly surprising her self with the new tone in her voice. It was higher pitch but was soothing to the ear, like a sister whispering sweet words to a younger brother so he can sleep. What appeared to be one of the royal guards entered. His looks did leave something to be desired, his body was not as tone nor did his poster give the feel of dominance that accompanied the rest of the guard.

“Good evening Miss Eclipse, I'm Corporal Stone Watch. I was assigned to escort you where ever you wish to go in the castle by Princess Celestia, for your stay in Canterlot.” she stared at him, for some reason he seemed familiar with his gray main and brown coat. It was when he shifted his weight in a bit of insecurity that it came to her. 'This was that guard I scared a few days ago who was post to guard the thrown room.'

“Well mister Stone, I would like it if you escort me to the castle gates. I would like see the town know as Canterlot. I've heard it has a lot to offer in terms of beauty.”

He hastily cleared his throat, “Yes then, this Madam.” He proceeded to lead her out of the room. 'Hum, this is going to be fun,' Luna thought mischievously as her eye never left the stallion.

An Odd Day

As they both walked down the castle seemingly never ending hallways, the odd feeling that settled in Luna's stomach never seemed to leave. It wasn't because she was lying or being under a disguises but being greeted by so many it was awkward for her. The fact that so many greeted her with such joy, it was painful to think of the stagnated responses they gave when she would greet them as she normally would.

“Madam, is everything alright? You haven't said a word since we left your room.” The young tone of the soldier escorting her brought Luna back to reality. As her focus turn from her mind to the soldier, curiosity bloomed as she got back into the character she was playing.

“Yes, well as one can be. Being in such a lavishing castle is a bit intimidating and being escorted to the throne room to meet the Princess's on your first day here. It all seems a bit too much.” She finished, hoping it wasn't laid on a bit too thick. One of the few thing she hated was nobility whiny tone of voice when something goes wrong. That an their sense they deserve to be pampered attitudes.

“Yes I can be but once you meet her Highness, you won't be so nervous then. She a very kind and loving princess who rules with a just heart. Madam Eclipse, please relax, there's nothing to worry about.” Stone walls admiration for Luna's sister was well placed but she still wonder what they thought about her self. It wasn't long after they were close to the throne room doors. She couldn't let a chance like this to ask.

“So Corporal Stone, I've heard of a second princess that lives here. Luna I believe. What's she like?” Soon as the words left her mouth, Stone stopped dead. She could see his body grow more and more tense as her turned to answer.

“Yes, well we do. Her name is Luna, our Princess of the moon.” He pause, trying to think of the right words to tell a diplomat not knowing their true worth. “Some of the guard would call her scary but I like to think of it as being strong. That probably confused you but with Her Highness being very forgiving, I think her sister needs to be seen as strong and cold for the kingdom to have lasted as long as it does. Celestia is our heart and Luna is its power, if that make sense.”

As they came upon they deeply engraved doors of the throne room, he paused as he nodded to the two guards stationed near the doors, “It's not like I hate her but she just got that presence, that your weaker than me feel. So madam, are you ready to meet her highness?” Stone said without looking back to her.

It surprised Luna a little, that some of her citizens think of her like that but then again it didn't. She knew that some still harbored fear for her, even if it the illogical type. The likely hood of her going and becoming nightmare moon again was practically non existing but they still fear she would one day. But hopefully with her plan she could find out why and fix that image of love not fear.

“Yes, I do believe I am.” With those words said, Stone Watch nodded to the two door guards. They nodded back and proceeded to open the throne room doors, allowing Stone Watch and eclipse to enter. The room itself was rather large with pearl white pillars every five or so feet. The marble floor click with each of their steps as the morning light shined through the stained glass windows. As the young soldier lead her through the room to it's thrown, Luna couldn't help but take notice the multitude of armed guards. Even on a high alert, they never had this many running around or even being stationary.

“Ah, well to my land Miss Eclipse. I do apologies for the lack of elegance but a matter came up that needed a direct response.” A voice said across the thrown room catching Luna's ears. Turning to find it was that of her sisters as she approached Luna. The ware of stress was well hidden on her sister's face but not good enough to hid it from Luna.

“It's alright your highness, what ever I must be must be important, no?” Eclipse asked wondering what had happened. Hopefully it was something to bad or Celestia would have just stopped the act by now. She looked to her sister for an answer who returned it with a kind smile.

“Madam Eclipse, that nothing wrong, just a lost child in the castle and a few military exercises. Nothing too big, just some local thing. But sadly I must ask the Corporal Stone return to his original post for now though. I am sorry for the inconvenience for the lack of a guide for the day but if you want I could see if I can free up any somepony?”

“Na, that would be alright. I was hoping to request that I be left on my own accord during my visit. Be escorted loses its fun around such a young age, being without it for a while would be refreshing.” Mentally Luna gave a signed of relief that nothing terrible had happen. If any thing of important had happened she was sure her sister would have told her in some type of manner just now. Now Eclipse can visit the town without any worry of being walked around like a lost puppy.

“Your highness I must detest, we can't just leave a foreign dignitary to walk the streets of Canterlot alone. There is no telling what might happen to her.” Corporal Stone's abrupt cut in caught Luna by surprise, turning to him find a stern look upon his face.

“I'm capable of navigating a simple town without a high and tight guard following me everywhere.”

“I'm sure you could, Canterlot isn't that difficult to find thing but there still a chance of you being hurt Madam and as a royal Canterlot guard I couldn't let such a thing happen.” Luna was a bit surprised by his outburst. Not because it was noble, for he just spoke back to royalty. She watched as his stern gaze never broke from Celestia's being. Luna soon notice a small smirk form on her sister's lips.

“That is very good thing for you to do but I need you to fetched Captain Starshoot for a little war game I'm having later with my dear sister. And for your concerns, I do understand them but I will allow Miss Eclipse her solitude.”

She could tell by his slightly surprised face he was still against it still. But with a quick glance between the both of them, he bowed his head and headed off to find his Captain. As the young corporal left the throne room, a quiet laugh left Celestia's mouth. By seeing this, Luna joined in with just a smirk.

“Are you sure of this choice, Miss Eclipse?” She hear Celestia asked in a more serious tone while her gaze still on the young soldier.

“Why yes and I do believe it will be a wonderful day, no? Still I wonder...” Luna said as her sight wonder to a group of guards talking near the throne.

“As I said it's nothing to worry about, just some minor thing that I've put off to long.” Celestia stated turning her sight back to Luna. “You know how nobles can be, always needing something. And officers, oh my them and their troops... Trust me, it's all under control. Go enjoy Canterlot and all it glory.” She finished with a kind smile, giving her sister a playful nudge toward the exit. Taking this as a good bye, she gave a slight bow which caused her let out a small giggle. Celestia eyesight never left Luna as she left the throne room as her smile faded.

“Was that wise your highness, with how things are?” She turned to find a near by guard.

“True but if I can give her one thing, it would be a day of simple pleasures.” Sighing deeply she turn to the near by guard. “So how bad are the reports from Baltimore and the latest news from the search teams from the Everfree Forest?”

“The initial assessment is 476 dead and over two thousands injured by the massive quake/explosion. The property damage estimation is still coming in. the search teams report nothing so far but they only have been able to search about 17% of the forest so far and the...”

….

“So left down west main street and it should be on my left... ha found it!” Gale exclaimed out loud scaring a few bystanders near by. With a gleeful smile, he gave the restaurant or he would guess a cafe a look over. He never really could tell the difference between them, they both server food and have weird looking signs. This place was no different, with its green a blue sign in a shape of a sandwich. “El De Blue, hu, odd name.” What else was the fact it was squashed between a watch shop and a place that sold hats. As he got closer, the more he wonder, looks old.

The building itself was new but the cafe's blue door looked as if it has seen better days as did the slightly cracked windows. Even with its small buildup of dust, the help wanted sign was noticeable. He could hear the sound of old jazz playing from in side. “Well lets see about that job.” he said to himself as he entered the cafe. The creaking of the door made his ears cringe. He stopped short of the entrance in a bit of surprise. Even with a fancy sounding name like El De Blue, the place looked decrepit and there wasn't a single pony in the building to be seen.

“Um hello? Is there any pony there? Saw the sign...”

“Oh, welcome sir, welcome! Please let me get you a seat!” Gale leaped back at the sudden appearance of this white pony wearing what seemed to be a fake mustache. He black main brushed so far back it was unnatural as was his high-pitched voice.

“Oh my, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you, please don't go.” the sudden switch in personality caught Gale off guard as he watch the young colt plead with him. It was a good minute before his brain kicked in.

“Um it's all right, ah, I came in here because of the help wanted sign you have.” The young colt sniffed before he understood what Gale just told him. It was oddly funny to watch as the colt try to seem not so emotional.

“Oh, haha, um yes, ah my Dad is the pony you want to see then. I'm just a waiter. Names Quick Step, and as my cutie mark says, I'm really good at running.” As he said, he did have a running type cutie mark. It was a shoe with a bolt of lighting on it just before the little waiters outfit he wore.

“Sweet heavens boy, did you scare another one away.” A gruff toned voice came from across the room from what looked to be an old saloon bar. Standing behind it, was a old looking unicorn, grayed with time but his blue coat still showing. His mane buzzed short and fully white. He seemed to be a energetic old pony with how he strolled over but Gale saw the look of exhaustion all over his face. “So I hear you saw my sign?” Gale nodded. “So what experience do you have?”

“Um, none.” The silence that took place was deafening as he watched the old stallions face. Not single muscle twitched as he stared straight at him.

“Why did you come here?” the old Stallion's voice was smooth as he spoke.

“A friend of mine came here looking for a job but was turned down,” Gale pulled out the direction to the cafe. “You turned her down, so I thought why not try...What hey!” With a bit of magic he pulled the piece of paper away from him. As he looked at the paper, a smile slowly began to form. It formed into a full laugh, dropping the note in front of him self.

“You headed out to a cafe for a job that your friend tried to get but failed. You have no experience as well and to top it off you got the wrong cafe to boot.” The stallion slowly calmed himself down as he continued, “The place you looking for is on the other side of Canterlot, a fancy little thing, hard to miss. But you ended up here looking to score a floor manager job with no idea on how it works.” The old stallion's smirk ever so showing on his face as the young colt just stood by watching.

“Apparently.” Was Gales only response to the old stallion's statement. The small pause to the roar of the stallions laughter confuse Gale. Why is he laughing? It took the confused looks of both gale and Quick Step for the old stallion to quiet down.

“Well my apologies but you ended up in a dinky old bar looking for a job you have no idea how to do because 'What the hey lets just try it'. In the eight years owning this place never have I heard or seen such thing. The names Quick shot, and you met my grandson.” he turned to look back at the bar and the rest of the establishment saying, “And this is my old beauty of a beer and sandwich place for those not so lucky sods without all those bits.” He finished with a sway of his hoof.

Giving the place another look, he could see the old luster feel of the place from its old high top tables, quietly tucked away both and a small stage for a small band. Overall the place was in great condition but something ticked in the back of his mind.

“Why is it so empty?” Not realizing he said his thought out loud. Quickly he turn to look at the old stallion, about to apologizes for his question.

“Well now, its mostly we use to have this performer come by and jam a little on the stage with some of the local talent. But sadly they just stopped showing up and so did the costumers. All we get now is locals. Enough to get by but the our long time floor manager upped and left for a fancier job in some fro-fro place...” he heard the old stallion ramble on about high class dirt bags and such. He noticed the small colt worried look and an empty stage. He looked back to the old salon bar and something clicked. “... and then the taxes but sadly I need some pony with experience so sorry.”

“That's fine and all, but can I have the job if I brought a pro-forma for you. Nothing permanent or she might be, don't know. But she is looking for a job.” Quick Shot eyed him wide then smirked.

“And this pro-former, can she play?”

“Yep, just one thing, do u have anything against same sex lovers?” The question came a bit out of the blue but the old stallion just laughed.

“I don't care if they make out on stage as longs she can bring in the bits!”

It took an hour or so for Quick Step and Gale to come to terms on pay and hours if he can bring in his pro-former. In Gale's mind he didn't think it would be hard for him to convince Octavia about the bar. It was a job, a place to drink, what's not for her to love. After Quickstep wrote down the direction for his maybe performer, Gale decided to head straight back with the great news. As he stepped out of the bar, he accidentally bumped into another pony. As he look up, he found it to be a lovely aqua colored mare. Her green mane fell just over her eyes for a simple majestic sway of her head head removed it to reveal deep blue eyes. His heart halted as such beauty and sadly so did his brain.

“Usually you apologizes to a pony you run into, i believe.” The mare said in a almost confusing tone. But being him, he ended up worrying about the directions the bar owner gave him.

“Hey get back here,” he cried chasing the free sheet of paper flying away. The mare watched him chase after it till she decided to stop the silly display of the young stallion snagging the piece of paper in her light blue magic aura. He gave one half frantic grab before flying on to his back, looking up in slight amazed look at her magic.

“Wait- hey...” he quickly turned his attention to the floating paper, only to take notice of the unicorn again. “oh, um, thanks for catching it and sorry for running into you.” Gale said as the small sheet of paper floated near the mares head with a searing look.

“Yes well it's rude enough but since you apologies i'll let it go but only if you tell me why this was so important that you almost ran out into the street full of traffic.” He was puzzled by the statement till a cab shot just a hoof from him. The breeze it caused felt quite nice as he head for the paper.

“Right, thank you for grabbing that,” he started nipping the paper from her magic, folding it up and placing it in his main. “It's something I think would cheer up a dear friend of mine.” he turned and looked to a near by sign, siting and raising a hoof to his chin. The sight and sundered abandonment of attention stunt her a bit.

“What are you doing now?” the Mare asked with a bit more anounce than she liked.

“Hum?” Gale turned his head to stare at the young mare. “Pretending to know what i'm doing and not tell you that i'm more lost than a blind pony. The names Gale by the way.” he finished with a smile hoping he can figure out how to get home. The Stallion's statement was so off setting that she couldn't help but giggle.

“Fine, my name is Eclipsed Moon. How about i give you a hoof. Where is it that you need to be.” Gale didn't to seem to notice her statement till he swiftly turned around to face the eye to eye. This action caught her by surprise, stumbling back a little from the statement. He had this goofy smile going but that made her feel even more uneasy. His smile looked hollow, missing anything that could make it sad. Like it had lost something.

“Okay,” he reached around pulling out the address that Vinyl gave him. “This is my home address, i don't really know how to get back. Care to help?” His reaction seem to unnerve her even more as she grabbed the piece of paper. He gave a odd but yet familiar feel to her. She decided to just put it back to the years she and her sister prank each other years back, back to her more playful times. Clearing her mind, she read the paper.

“I did say i will, so lets see... first is a right at the corner...” It took them both nearly two hours to find the correct address for even eclipses had trouble with direction for not being around for so long. But finally around the last right turn laid the correct address. What sat slightly surprised her or it was some what decent apartment building. Being in what seemed to be downtown canterlot, in a rundown section of the area.

“Woho! Finally founded it high hoof!” he raised one of his for hoofs in a gestsure she was unfamiliar with. Hesitantly she raise a hoof in the same way. To her surprise he bumped his against her yelling,”Ya.” Even with his empty smile she could hold back one of her own as they made their way to the apartments main entrance. “You Know, i wouldn't made it back here on my own so thank.”

“That obviously not true, we both got lost a fifth and main and still made it here.”

“True but my memory is trashed, can't even remember a simple route home.” That statement seemed odd to hear but before she could ask why, “I know, why don't you come to the bar tomorrow. Around eight, its when my shift will start. You can be my very first customer. You can't' miss it, its back when i first ran into you.” And before she could get a word in, he hugged her and dashed off.

'What a odd stallion...'

....

There was a rapid beat at the door as Vinly put down the phone. She was about to call the police to report the stupid stallion missing. Another wave of beats hit the door as she closed in. Upon opening the door, a wave of relief of a lack of a lawsuit and his safety was ensured. “Were the...”

“Guess what, i have some great news,” he cut her off as he brushed past her to the near counter. “I found a job and possible one for Octavia as well.” Gale's new caught Vinyl even more off guard since she predicted he get lost and end but by the castle. The fact he could possibly have gotten the job was mind boggling.

“How...” Was all she could manage to say.

“Well, got lost and ended up at a bar and chatted with the owner and got a job and a offer for Octavia to cello it out then i ran into this nice mare. She had this awkward way of talking but she was nice. We ended up lost on the way back till we found this place so i invited her to be my first customer i sever.” Vinyl could barely follow what he was saying.

“Wait what? Hold on and start from the beginning,” 'This is going to be a long night'

The Untold

Silver slow raised her for hoof, swiping away the sweet that had built up. She new that working a farm was something old to her but the way AppleJack dose it nearly caused her mind to crash. The fact there was heat and a 'Sun' but to buck a tree to pick apples, that nearly over did it. Shalin's had always been hoofed pick in a mass line as to keep quality control. She never had to work the line but she could see the tired faces of all the workers. Shacking her head to clear their image from her mind, she read up give the next apple tree in line a good buck. Nearly most of the apples fell into the respectable bins that laid below.

“Wo'we, never seen a pony pick it up like you had. Y'er wernt kidding about working on a farm before.” Silver turn to see AppleJack walking up. The thoughts of panic that once pained her mind was mostly gone. It wasn't long till she figured out from what Lunar told her about that nuts experiments that she was now in a different world. She still feared that they may fallow them here and for the fack Shadow still hasn't shone up yet. “Lets call it a day, this field is pretty much done an the others won't be ripe till two weeks from now.” sounded like music to her ears.

“Okay, I need to go pick up Lunar from her magic lessons. I have to thank you again for asking her to teach her. I was a bit surprised when you did.”

“I told ya, it's all right. It what friends do.” ….Friends, the word rang hollow in Silver's mind. The only one she had is now missing and she saying she is one. It made her heart fell a little bit warmer think she did. “Anyway lets get back to the house to cool off for a sec, then well head out again” Silver nodded in approval and waltz pass AppleJack, headed to the main homestead. As she past AJ was hit with the smell of peaches which she breathed it in, 'Some pony smells nice.' the thought nearly threw her a loop but she quickly shrugged off the idea and fallowed.

It's been a weird few days since she got here. The fact she was helping out on Applejack's farm since it wasn't hard picking up the differences between worlds. Even from what she found out from Lunar, it still felt strange with how things are done here. Heck if it wasn't for the Applejack and her friend she might have been worse off. But she's glad, heck lucky that she was the first pony she met. Still Silver worries about what Shadow and what had happened to him. Not a single word and all she had to go off was the letter she still held. Stashed away in the spare room they were letting her use.

“Actually let's call it a day, the rest of the fields can be done tomorrow if I reckon. I honestly didn't think we git done as much as we did, your were tell the truth that you used to work on a farm.”

The compliment made her blush a little bit. It wasn't that hard of work apple bucking was due to the fact to the military training she got back in Shalin. The endless drills on push-up and marathon runs made her legs strong as steal but sadly her wing are not as power full. She had gotten a odd statement from Applejack when she asked to work on the farm. 'wouldn't you rather try out for the weather team?' she lied and said due to a condition she had since a child that kept he wing mussels from properly forming. She felt bad but its embarrassing to say you can't fly because it would have ended you frozen solid an dead.

“You mind if I take the first shower then?” Silver asked as the enter through the back kitchen door which she fixed.

“Nah, go ahead. I'll just prepare dinner.” Applejack answered back, looking in the flap of the stove as Silver head up stairs to the washroom.

'darn, need more wood. I think there was some stashed up in the spare room.' Applejack thought as she headed for the stairs as well. The sound of the washroom shower started as she reached the second floor. The image of silver with the water slipping off her main pooped into her head. She quickly shook the thought from her mind, feeling that some what off about. Not knowing what to think of it, she pushed it to the back of her mind as she made her way to the spare bedroom.

Standing just in front of the bedroom or more what it really was, a storage room. Most of the space equipment and farming supplies were stored. Applejack doubted it made a uncomfortable bedroom but its all she had for room and oddly enough Silver took it as if it was five star accommodations. As she pushed open the door, the first thing she took notice was how much cleaner the room was from the last time Applejack saw it. The random pile of wood, gardening tools and heavy farm equipment was all neatly pack agents the walls to allow the most space possible. Which surprised her, she never took Silver for a neat mare with how she was working the out on the farm. She quickly grabbed some of the wood and headed back down too the kitchen, only to find Silver waiting.

“Well that was quick, an I haven't even decided what to make yet?” Applejack's comment spurred a questionable look.

“I only took a fifteen minute shower. As to eat, how about some corn mush?”

“You sure, I could make something a bit more tasteful?” Corn mush not being Applejacks first choice due to its bland taste and grainy texture. Its a filling meal but it lacks flavor of a Apple's cooking.

“If the taste you worry about, just add cheese. I got some Parmesan from the market yesterday and just add butter. I'll work trust me.”

With nothing else in mind, she got to making the corn mush. Which to her surprised to find it actual smelled good. With a slight taste test, she found it creamy but sweet with the cheese Silver said to add. Through all the cooking, Silver just watch Applejack create to her was comfort food. But some thing about Applejack cooking made her slightly flustered. She chalked it up to being happy about the food that Applejack is making for her. She figured a few more minutes till she would leave to pick up Lunar.

They ate in silence with the with a cool breeze blowing through the opened window by the kitchen sink. To Applejacks surprise, the butter and cheese made all the differences. It was odd combination to her but then again she tried every thing from apple sauce to apple vinegar to make it taste better. “You know,” Silver said in a plain toned voice spoke. “You probably think I'm weird for being the way I am.” where did this come from, Applejack thought but didn't interrupt her. “It’s just been a long time since I've been any where that reminded me of him. My father I mean. Him and shadow is the whole reason I'm in this whole problem in the first place.”

“Wait, why that? I though you here because you ran away with Lunar because you were traveling with that Shadow guy?”

“Well that’s mostly true,look Applejack, I haven't been totally truthful with you . In fact it's been eating away at me for a while now. From your kindness and your friends being understanding, I just just can't help but feel guilty.”

True, silver been acting weird ever since she started working on the farm. Always asking question about some obvious things like why she used wood instead of coal to cook and that thing about a 'green house', what ever that is. It was then she stepped down from her chair, quickly made her way to the stairs. Applejack tried to fallow but she was back with a piece a paper in her teeth. It looked like a letter. “Read this,” she said handing her letter.

Applejack gave it a questionable look before reading it. As her eyes read each letter, anxiety build in Silver. Why did I just do that? I could just go on mislead to her. But that been bugging her ever since Applejack gave her a job on the farm, no, ever since she saved her from the timberwolfs. Well the cat is out of the bag now or did it rip it to shreds? Silver pondered.

It was a good ten minutes before Applejack put down the paper. The look she had was as solid as a stone wall. “Is this a joke or your sell grapes at a apple stand? This is nothing but none sense, so are you going to tell what wrong or what?” she said tossing the letter aside.

It took a sec for Silver realized what was wrong, He coded the letter to,why dose he make thing difficult without him even being here. “Okay, I'll tell you but not without Lunar. This involves her as well.” With that Applejack gave a nod in agreement. I just hope this doesn’t end badly.

….

“Miss Sparkle my head hurts, can we stop for the day? Lunar asked after a long magical strength training session. To twilight's surprise the filly was way beyond the level for a normal filly her age. What ever he was teaching her seemed to be better then what she her self was taught. She tried to fallow some of the instruction in the book that Lunar's old teacher left behind but it made as much sense to as and apple becoming an orange.

It was even harder to teach than she originally thought possible. Mostly due to the explanations in that blasted book were beyond infuriating. It was likely written by some mad pony who had no idea who magic worked but it dose because that’s how Lunar seems to do it. So she decided to do strength training as she comes up with something teach. Twilight wondered if this is how it was with Princess Celestia was teaching her.

“Yes we can, Silver will be here soon to pick you up. Would you like a snack while we wait?” This got the small filly excited as she jumped off the chair she was sitting on. Twilight check the clock on the wall before heading to the kitchen.

Star will being getting out of school soon,Twilight thought as she searched the pantry for ingredients to make a PB&J sandwich. Not wanting to fill her up before her super later at AJ's place. Taking in Silver an Lunar in had been AJ's idea simply because there the only one to have room and the fact Silver volunteered to work on the farm to pay for boarding and food. Though AJ refused it, she still accepted the extra help with the farm work in the form of a job.

Twilight still found it odd that she chose work on a farm instead a spot on the weather team. Being a Pegasuses, usually they love flying but Silver seemed to be the opposite. That and the evasive answers of her back ground, with that book on magic was beyond odd. She has been meanig to get some stright answers form her but just haven't found the time. Twilight thought she could get some insite as to who they were when she took Lunar a student. Sadly that hasn't paned out well with Lunar lack of common equestrian knowledge and that infernal book.

“What was it you wanted me to ask Silver about?” Twilight heard the filly ask as she handed her the sandwich. Lunar's question stirred a question she nearly forgot to ask.

“Right, there was. I wanted to ask her if she would be willing to put you in the public school system. You seemed to be lacking in some key areas like history and science and plus you'll get to socialize with ponies around your age.” This prompted a smile on the young filly face but I easily shifted to sad.

“But that would mean less time for you to teach me magic,” Lunar said after swallowing the last bight of the sandwich. She was enjoying all the time she was spending with miss Twilight and didn't feel like giving it up for school. Twilight could read the disapproval on the filly's face.

“But that would leave me more time to think even funner lessons to give and you might ended up with a study partner.” The thought of having a study partner seemed to perk the young filly up. It was a going thing she wasn't lying. Cause ever since she took Lunar as a student, Ditzy Hooves has been bugging her to teach her child Dinky the fine art of magic. Going so far to offer money and a morning muffin each day. It was then Twilight heard a distinct knock and then voice call out to her.

“Eh' Twi, me and Silver are here to pick up Lunar.” This caused the Lunar to quickly jump from her chair, landing to the floor with a thump rushing trowed the voices in the main room. Twilight fallowed only after depositing the used plate in the sink.

“Right on time,” Twilight started to say entering the room. “Silver there is...” She trailed off as she took in the look on the mares face. She wore a face sorrow and pain, a complete contrast to what she had come to know the mare for. Gone was the confident gleam from her eye's, replace with those of a pent up secret. “Whats wrong? Did something happened?” was the next words to come out of her mouth.

“That I don't know, she has something to tell us but got all sour on the way here. It's got me worried.” Applejack said as she gave Silver a look concern.

“Lunar, there something we need to talk about. It involves what we first discuses when we first got to Ponyville.” Twilight watched her walk to Lunar with a long face, before she whispered something into her ear. The smile that once laid on her face, fell into sadness. Twilight looked on with concern and curiosity as Lunar nodded to what ever silver said.

“You two have been so kind to us, giving us a pace to stay, eat, and a place to be safe.” Silver turned, looking both Applejack and Twilight in the eyes. She gave the a solemn smile before saying, “I have here a letter that Lunar's teacher gave me, my friend gave me before he ran off. I would like you to read it, ill explain why after.” Slowly she pulled out the note from her main. In the same instant Twilight levitated it to her, hesitantly she began to read.

Silver mauled over each second Twilight read, knowing the answers she would have to give. The fact she hasn't told them the truth at first was her precarious side but as each day past, a whole of guilt began to form. Her first priority was Lunars safety but something nagged at her core, a feeling of give up the peaceful life to warn them of a coming storm.

It was instantly thought of a mission to complete but just being around all these ponies has cracked the solider pony persona she had built all those years ago. Now he willing to be seen as a threat, spy if they will go that far. It was this what scared Silver so much as Twilight read with Applejack reading over her shoulder. In a instant the regret reached a all time as twilight put the letter down. All she did was stare at Silver, as if wanting to ask a question but not knowing what to ask. With a dry mouth she swallowed, Here we go.

“As the letter says, the reason were her in the first place is to hide in tell Shadow, Lunar's teacher, shows up to explain the next step. Also that were from some place other than Equestria.”

“But that doesn’t explain where this Shalin place is. I've study nearly all the worlds cultures just in case I ever had to visit one of them.” Twilight said interrupting Silver mid sentence. Applejack just looked on with a nonjudgmental look. Silver swallowed the lump that started to form in her throat. As she spoke now, every word fell like a weight being pressed down on her very being.

“You wont find it on any map, for it's from some place far away and technically impossible to reach.”

“What do you mean 'technically impossible to reach?” Applejack quipped in the surprise of both ponies.

“Well, I don't understand it my self and from what Lunar's know help a little. Were from another world, not like a planet but a parallel world. We shouldn't even be here but Shadow found a way to connect the two with some sort of bridge. I can't even fathom how he succeeded and doing it but he did. Now the country of shalin is trying to do the same. There a military powered nation willing to do any thing to survive. Our world is that of hard ship, for we have no sun. no warmth form the harsh winters that plege our land. Its the reason I cant fly, the winds are beyond freezing. The could freeze a pony solid” she finished in a low whisper.

“but that doesn’t make sense, if there was another world out there. A parallel would be know to the princess and a connection is sufficiently impossible. The amount of energy-”

“I know you you'll wouldn't believe me but its the truth!”

“I believe you.” Applejack said looking deadpan, straight into Silvers face. “I can tell a lie a mile away. Perks on being the most honest pony around. Twilight, she telling the truth, its written clear as day.”

Applejack's statement clearly baffled Twilight for she seemed lost for words. It was obvious that logic was battling the faith in her friend inside her mind. It rage for a few second before giving into the faith in Applejack and went along with what Silver said.

“Fine, say what she said was true, that mean with a impossible amount of magic was used to open a portal with another world with a military willing to do what?”

“That's what I don't know. Only shadow would know what they were planing but he's missing and I have really no idea what to do!” As Silver finished a silence feel over the room. Her last words hung over the room in a veil of insecurity and disbelieve. The three mares and filly, stood there looking for the next one to speak. It wasn't till Twilight cleared her throat to talk.

“I can send a letter to the princess about what you just told us but you need to tell me more about your... world.” She said still seemingly in denial but didn't push the subject.

“Don't you worry sugar cube, will get this sorted out. Come sit down,” Applejack said leading her toward the coach. “Spike can you make some coffee?”

“Sure thing AJ.”

“So what kinda place is your home really?”