Chapter 1
Cursed Birth
They had to admit, the scarlet beam of light from the moon was more than unusual and they felt as if they needed to run, not knowing what was going to happen. But their curiosity kept their hooves all but glued to the ground as they stared in awe. But what was to come next, was something they never expected to happen. True that they had seen many things in this land seeing as magic and mythical creature existed, but this, something like this was just unheard of. From that bloody ray of light there were sparks, almost as if electricity was forming in that one spot, but with a closer eye it was forming something else, something more.
Their eye stayed on the sparks, the little flicks of light dancing and growing brighter, almost blindingly brighter until it was too much to bear before it was an explosion. The air split with the sound of thunder as dust filled the surroundings. An erry wave of red light washed over the area, only to fade slowly as the bloody moon changed color to that oh so rare blue moon; but only for a moment did it last until it shifted back to its original color of white and yellow. Upon looking down where the explosion had happened there was a shared gasp between the few ponies that had been watching this odd wonder, for what had replaced the odd beam of light, was a young filly. Her coat was a dark gray, almost as dark as the night sky itself. Her mane and tail where half white and half bloody red. Her wings were the oddest of them all, the wing itself was the same as her body, dark gray, but her feathers were white as snow and the tips looked as though they had been dipped in blood, the most beautiful color of red. Her body was shaking as her head fell harshly to the dirt floor, her eyes tightening shut as she tensed in what seemed like pain. The ponies around her were stunned, unknowing of what they should do. Help the girl? Or leave her be? She was all but an alien to them, born from a ray of moon light.
It was only until a small voice came through the little crowd, followed by hoof steps into the opening. “Twilight!” A stern voice called out to the small filly, causing her to stop. “Daddy… She’s hurt…” Pink eyes stare up at the colt as the filly turned from her father and continued her way to the girl. With a gentle touch, she placed her hoof on the fillies head, smiling as she leaned down to her. “It’s okay…” The voice started the odd filly, causing her body to jerk slightly as her eyes bolted open, the color a stunningly beautiful resemblance of the bloody moon only moments ago. “Shh… you don’t have to be afraid. I’m Twilight, a friend.” The violet pony smiled sweetly as she helped the filly to her hooves as she looked around curiously, as if she had never seen other ponies before. Her red eyes turned to the pink ones, blinking in confusion, questions floating through her head, yet there was not a voice to create them. “Come with me…. Scarlet.” Twilight turned her head to her father, his eyes filled with concern not only for his daughter, but for this new alien filly. But he nodded his head, welcoming the young one to his side as he guided her away.
“These are all of my books on the sun and moon! Daddy gave them to me when I was accepted into the school of magic!” Twilight pushed the books towards Scarlet, those red eyes gleaming with joy as she all but vibrated in the chair. “And you’re going to let me borrow them?!” The soft, chime like voice was so sweet as she looked at Twilight nodded a smile of joy on her face; she was always more than happy to give books to others, meaning that they would learn more. “Thank you so much Twilight!” As soon as the thanks left her lips she was shoving the books into a bag and nuzzling her way under the straps to get it onto her back. “I promise to return them as soon as I’m done with them!” Twilight only nodded and gave a small laugh as Scarlet trotted away, the bag bouncing on her back.
The joy she was feeling to finally have these books was more than she could stand. And to any passerby, she looked like an overly excited filly, ready to pounce and start laughing, as if she were a twin sister to Pinkie Pie. To the stallions and mare, this was a sweet thing to see, a happy young filly, prancing with something that she was excited about. But to her peers, the other fillies and colts, she was only somepony to pick on.
Here came someone that she wasn't too pleased to see. Zipperhead. He was a white unicorn with jagged red and black hair. The spiked bracelets on his legs showed of his very personality, and the grin on his face even more so. She could hear the skull shoes he wore, clopping down the concrete page as he came her way, his pierced ear flicking back in joy. “Eh Sky, watcha’ got there?” There was a smugness about his voice as he trotted up to Scarlet, leaning his head down to poke her bag with his horn. She shifted back, stumbling slightly and flaring her wings to catch her balance. “It’s nothing… please…” Her voice was soft and scared as she backed away from him. She knew he wasn't much trouble, but he wasn't past trying to tease her. He wasn't a bully either, but he was the ‘leader’ of a group of bullies at school, and that gave her enough reason to stay away from him.
“Aww, c’mon Sky. Don’t’cha wanna share?” She shook her head at his question as her ears dropped, backing from him even more. “What’s wrong? Scared? I’m not that scary, am i?” He grinned as he all but pranced his way over to her, nuzzling up to her side as he poked at her bag before scooting his way around her slowing to stand in front of her. “Eh… go on. Keep your little books. I’ll let you off easy this time.” With that, he winked and grinned, snickering playfully as he pulled himself up straight and trotted off. He was going to be back. There was no doubt about that. “He’s a scary one…” There was a gentle voice then, and then a yellow filly that walked to Scarlet’s side. “Fluttershy…” The name came from Scarlet’s lips as she smiled at the pegasus, happy to see the sweet pony. “You know… you shouldn't let him pick on you like that. I’m not one to talk… but… it will only make you more vulnerable to him.” Fluttershy smiled through the words as she leaned down to button the bag which Zipper had apparently undone. “I… I know… but… I don’t want to start any fights…” The words were genuine, yet she wanted to stand up for herself, but how? She could just fly away, but if could have stolen her backpack right off of her with that stupid horn of his. “Wu… would you mind walking back to the shelter with me?” She tapped the ground with her hoof as she looked away, not wanting to look at the yellow filly as she asked the question. But she could hear a smile in her voice as she gave her an ‘of course.’
The walk wasn’t long, just like any other walk in Ponyville. Everything was just so close. “Thank you Fluttershy…” She smiled at the pony as she pushed her way into the doors of the orphanage, all but running to her room as they closed behind her. She was ecstatic about the books, and was ready to start reading. And that was exactly what she was going to do.
The first book that she was going to open was a brown leather back book with a golden unicorn head on the front:
Once upon a time, in the magical land of Equestria, there were two regal sisters who ruled together and created harmony for all the land. To do this, the eldest, used her unicorn powers to raise the sun at dawn. The younger, brought out the moon to begin the night. Thus, the two sisters maintained balance for their kingdom and their subjects; all the different types of ponies. But as time went on, the younger sister became resentful. The ponies relished and played in the day her elder sister brought forth, but shunned and slept through her beautiful night. One fateful day, the younger unicorn refused to lower the moon to make way for the dawn. The elder sister tried to reason with her, but the bitterness in the young ones heart had transformed her into a wicked mare of darkness. Nightmare Moon. She vowed she’d shroud the land in eternal night. Reluctantly, the elder sister harnessed the most powerful magic known to Ponyville. The Elements of Harmony. Using the magic of The Elements of Harmony she defeated her younger sister and banished her permanently in the moon. The elder sister took on responsibility for both sun and moon and harmony has been maintained in Equestria for generations’ sense.
Her dark gray hoof turned the page as her eyes scanned the photo of the night pony. She gleamed at the sight of Nightmare Moon. The banished princess of the night. “Oh Nightmare Moon… you’ll be free someday.” She smiled as she closed the book, looking out at the white moon in the sky, a new love found and a new dream formed.