Chapter 2- Meet Moondust
In the town of Manesk, a town in the dark kingdom of Trottsylvania, Moondust was sitting in on a poem reading. She would often spend her days in the small dark inn. Ponies gifted with words would come and recite their recent works. She enjoyed smirking at the amateurs that had not yet learned to perfect their talents. The older and more frequent visitors provided her with little amusement. They were more experienced and their words flowed more easily, but they had found their niches and changed little over time. Yes, she silently agreed with herself, the amateurs were far more entertaining.
A young stallion who was too brightly colored to belong in Manesk, took the stage. Moondust immediately knew that he was going to provide her with some entertainment. He gulped and a bead of sweat dripped down his bright blue face. He tossed his electric blue mane and began:
“I feel really silly I must admit. My friends at the back table dared me to come up here and who can resist a dare? My name is Trident for those of you who don’t know me. Well here goes, hope I don’t embarrass myself.”
Violets are red
I mean Roses
Roses are red
Violets are blue
I feel really stupid right now
Time to take my bow
Trident’s blue face was green when he came up from his bow. He quickly galloped off the stage and to the little stallions room. Moondust chuckled at the poor stallions misfortune.
The black and white mare had decided to put everypony out of their misery and show them what a real writer could do. She had realized her talent a few years ago. She was a writer. That was the correct term she had decided to call herself. It was much better than being called “a worthless bard.” She could create emotions in ponies with her words. She could cause them to become happy or sad. Mostly she focused on darker feelings, because she herself had little reason to be happy.
She had been living underground for quite some time. Ever since she was little she had lived in alleys and behind dumpsters. She had even had the luxury of sleeping on a few benches. Luckily, she found a place to stay. This was in her favorite place, Deluxe’s Inn. The earth pony who owned the joint was a kind pony. He was in his mid 30’s and was very kind to the homeless pony. He had loaned her some bits once, on top of the free lodging Moondust was receiving. When the prideful mare refused he told her that he owed her for bringing in business.
She was very thankful that she was given a place to stay. It was down the hall from the main dining room and then you had to go down a few flights of stairs. But it was cozy and handy. It was where Moondust would practice her poems that she performed every once and awhile.
Moondust accepted her talents and they did come in handy. They helped her pay for lunch. In fact the meager income she received from her poems gave her most of her meals.
The young mare realized that she had been daydreaming, and climbed up the steps and onto the stage. She began to recite:
“Summer becomes Spring
Winter becomes Fall
We try to survive
Make it through it all
We go through pleasant times
Rough ones too
I never imagined losing you
I see you in my dreams
A cloudy vision
I don’t know where it came from
But I know that you’re real
Who are you kind stranger
Coat of milky white
With a mane of darkness
But eyes so bright
I will find you what ever it takes
I want to find you
I just can’t wait
The sound of ponies tapping their hooves filled the room. Somepony whistled and Moondust saw that it was Trident. She rolled her eyes, tossed her mane, and walked off the stage with her head held high. She nodded to Deluxe and promptly exited the room.
The poem she had recited was on a topic that frequently was the subject of her works. There was a mare in her dreams that she never could find. Her coat was pristinely white and her mane was just the opposite, as black as coal. Her green eyes gave off a friendly air. She looked so familiar.
The mare would smile and laugh and then she would run. Moondust would run and run until she woke up. But she never caught the strange pony. And the strangest thing of all was that she had a cutie mark very similar to Moondusts. The mare had a black cutie mark in the shape of a tear and it had a white dot. Moondust’s was white with a black dot. She knew that she and this strange pony were somehow connected.
Her thoughts were interrupted just as she was about to make her descent down the stairs to her new home. Someone had cleared their throat and began to speak. It was the blue pony. This stallion was beginning to annoy her.
“Not interested.” She said coldly.
“Oh you will be.” The voice that replied was not Trident’s. This new pony was a dark brown color and had a large head. He was also pretty buff. Moondust wasn’t intimidated though. She had dealt with his type before.
“Well excuse me then.” It had been a long and boring day. Moondust decided to allow these two strangers to humor her.
“We know where you can find her.”
“Who?” Now Moondust was curious. She didn’t think she was looking for anyone. Unless they knew where to find the white mare. That wasn’t possible though. She only existed in her dreams.
“As you can see Trident and I are unicorns,” the new pony showed her his horn. It was sharp.
“No!” Moondust said in her most sarcastic tone. The bigger pony ignored her but Trident shot her a mean look.
“You’ll shut up or Tank won’t tell you where to find your precious white mare!” Trident snapped at her. They did know where to find the dream pony. Moondust tried to hide her excitement. She shifted her weight onto a different hoof and nodded her consent. She let Tank, who she assumed was the large brown pony, continue.
“Now anyways, we’re unicorns from Canterlot.” Moondust just had to interrupt.
“In Equestria?” Trident shot her a warning glance and she looked at the ground.
“Yes in Equestria. That’s where you’ll find the mare you’ve been looking for. Her name is Sunshine and you can find her around the castle. Now you know where to find her. But it’ll cost you.”
“Great. I knew there was a catch. What is it?”
“10 bits.” That was nothing. She had just earned 25 for a poem yesterday. She reached into her saddle bag and tossed them their pay. The stallions counted the bits and Triton bit one to make sure it was real. Tank nodded to the small dark mare and the pair left.
Moondust sat there stunned for a few minutes. She couldn’t believe her luck. Sunshine. That was her name. It seemed very familiar, she just couldn’t remember where from. Moondust was now in her room. She packed all her belongs into her saddlebags but she didn’t use magic. It scared Moondust and she only used it when she was reciting a poem. Her horn would glow a dark blue when she was performing. The ebony mare laid on her cot as she thought about why she was so afraid of magic. Nothing came to mind.The only thing Moondust was sure about was that she needed to find that pony. She would not give up until she found her. Moondust’s journey was about to begin.