//------------------------------// // Moondust's Dead End // Story: Merlina's Curse // by Quae_116 //------------------------------// Chapter 4- Moondust’s Dead End Moondust trotted into Canterlot around noon. It was a glorious day with not a cloud in the sky. Moondust hated it. The sun warmed the entire city and the flowers were showing off their brilliant colors. The mare preferred the dark shadow of the moon and she was allergic to flowers. The one thing she did enjoy about Canterlot were the ponies. They were stuck up, wealthy ponies and you could tell their disdain for her. These kinds of mares and stallions were very entertaining. They made a fuss out of everything and hated to be embarrassed. Moondust walked right up to a pink unicorn mare with a yellow mane. “Can you direct me to Celestia’s school for gifted unicorns?” The dark colored mare added a sweet grin and the mare wrinkled her nose in disgust. She quickly pointed out the direction, gave a goodbye harumph and went on her way. She held her head even higher. Moondust smiled, pleased with her little disruption of the rose mare’s precious time and walked towards the direction the stranger had pointed her in. --------------------------------- The palace was a grand place and Moondust had been a little intimidated. That was something the prideful mare would never admit, though. The ebony mare trotted through the main hall with as much prestige as the other noble ponies. The only differences were Moondust’s dirty coat and her even dirtier and tattered saddle bags. Moondust made a note of that and decided she would need to go somewhere to clean up. A hotel might work. She had seen several inns throughout the city. She would have to find one cheap, but adequate to her needs. She had a little over 100 bits for her journey, so she would need to be frugal with her money. She had been saving these bits her whole life. She had taken everything with her from Trottsylvania because she didn’t know when or if she would be returning to her dark, beloved country.To save her some money, she had found a traveling spell and it was surprisingly easy. Almost familiar. This was impossible, though, because Moondust never used magic unless she absolutely had to. Back to the task at hand. Moondust started wandering around aimlessly looking for the main offices. She thought if she could maybe sneak in an audience with the Princess she could find Sunshine. She bumped into her by accident and the black mare immediately bowed before the regal alicorn. Moondust caught a glimpse of what she was reading. Some sort of note from a Twilight Sparkle. The Princess looked like she was bored with it though. The princess eyed her curiously and her eyes widened when they set on her rump. Moondust turned to see what she was looking at. It was her cutie mark. “I’ve seen that mark before! Well not that exact one but one almost just like it. Please, come with me.” The princess sounded very interested in Moondust’s unusual mark. The two mares made their way to Celestia’s office. “Please sit,” The gesture was more of a command and the commoner pony obeyed. “Now you must be Sunshine’s sister. She hasn’t told me about you, but if your cutie marks are that similar then you must be related. I know you are probably here looking for your sister but she’s not here. I will --” Moondust made a grave mistake and rudely interrupted the monarch. “What do you mean she’s not here? Do you know how long and how hard I’ve been looking for her!” This last question was more like a statement. Moondust quickly realized that she had interrupted the most powerful pony in Equestria and bit her tongue before continuing. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have interrupted you, but you don’t understand what I’ve gone through looking for … for my sister,” The smaller mare decided to play along with the princess’s assumption. Celestia gave the stranger an apologetic smile and continued, forgiving her for her interruption. “That’s quite alright...” the alicorn stopped realizing that she didn’t know the other ponies name. “Moondust,” The black mare answered. “Right, well Moondust, Sunshine has been sent on a little trip. She has gone to assist one of her fellow students in a nearby town,” Celestia saw the disappointed scowl on Moondust’s face grow bigger and bigger. She stopped talking because it appeared that she was making things worse. She changed her tone to a more positive one and continued. “Tell you what. I will send her a letter and let her know you stop--” “No!... I mean I wanted to surprise her. It wouldn’t be a surprise if you told her now would it?” The black pony quickly made up an excuse and silently sighed her relief. The princess seemed to believe her and thought nothing of it. “Alright. What a nice sister Sunshine has. My sister’s surprises were always pranks. Hmph. Well anyways, she should be back in a few days. Check back then.” The ponies exchanged farewells and Moondust left the office. As she was leaving Princess Celestia called out something she had thought of. “Do you have a place to stay? Any sister of Sunshine’s is welcome here,” Moondust could not believe her luck! Now she wouldn’t have to earn enough bits for a hotel. The ebony mare graciously accepted. Celestia had a servant take Moondust’s things to one of the guest suites. Then the two went to the dining hall. Moondust had to admit it was strange eating with the most powerful alicorn in Equestria. She also really hoped that her cover wasn’t blown. The food they ate that night was the best Moondust had eaten in a long time. Gourmet tomato soup was the appetizer. It was so creamy and delicious that the peasant mare couldn’t believe it when the next course arrived. If she had trouble believing in the first course then the second was even more heavenly. It was some sort of steamed hay with sauteed mushrooms and eggplant on top. The third course was her favorite of all. It was the dessert course; an apple cobbler with a crisp crust. The apples were so sweet and juicy. Moondust had a difficult time not drooling. While she was eating Moondust was thinking. She was wondering what she would do next. She supposed that she would stay in the palace until Sunshine returned. That was probably the best move and if it backfired then she would have gotten a few free meals. When the courses were cleared away and the two mares had finished their small talk, the two went their separate ways. Moondust headed towards the residential wing and Celestia went to her office to reply to Twilight Sparkle’s most recent letter. When the ebony mare reached her new quarters she didn't even bother to look at the beautiful decorations and ornate furniture. The tired mare plopped down onto the bedspread and fell asleep almost instantly, exhausted from her trip. -------------------------- 8 days after Moondust’s arrival, Sunshine returned to the palace. Celestia warmly welcomed her second favorite student. “I’m glad to have you back. How was your stay in Ponyville?” “It was amazing! Meeting Twilight Sparkle was wonderful and all her friends are so nice! Pinkie Pie has to have been my favorite though. We’re so much alike! And Fluttershy was really kind, too. I just wish she wasn’t so quiet.” The white mare was very excited to tell Celestia all about her adventure, but, Celestia had more important matters to discuss with her student. “I am so glad you enjoyed yourself. Twilight said next time she’s under the weather she definately wants you to help her. But I have some more pressing matters to discuss. Your sister was here, but she has disappeared unexpectedly.” Sunshine waited for the alicorn to finish before speaking. “Um, Your Highness, I’m sure this might seem strange, but I don’t have a sister,” Celestia looked shocked and horrified. She had been hosting that dark spirited pony in her home all week. The nerve of some ponies amazed her. “Then who was that mare that was here?” “What did she look like?” “She was black with a fluffy white mane. She also had a cutie mark quite similar to yours. That is why I thought you might be related.” Sunshine’s thoughts immediately went to the mare she had seen in her dreams. Was it possible that mare existed and was she looking for answers too? Sunshine turned to her teacher. “Where did she go?” “We don’t know. No one even saw her leave. She just, vanished.” Sunshine decided then and there that she had to find this pony. She expressed her plan to the princess and the wise monarch reluctantly consented after Sunshine promised to study magic on her journey. Sunshine went to her room and packed her things again with a sigh. Turns out she wouldn’t be coming home after all. Surprisingly her thoughts shifted from the mysterious mare, who Celestia told her was named Moondust, to Blaze. She hadn’t seen him in weeks. At that very moment Blaze was thinking about Sunshine. He loved how she was so full of life and most of all he loved her singing. He hadn’t seen her in so long, he had started to worry. What if the beautiful white mare was avoiding him? He decided to find out for himself. He left his home in downtown Canterlot and trotted towards the palace.