//------------------------------// // Moon Rise: A Faint Light // Story: Let Me Out // by mariepam198 //------------------------------// Let Me Out Chapter 2: Moon Rise Written By: Mariepam198 Edited By: CplHenderson Two years previously Worry begins to fill my mind as I watch the light of the sun diminish little by little, only to be replaced by shadows. Thousands of little shadows that only multiply as more and more black creatures press against the sinister looking barrier surrounding all of Canterlot. I watch, feeling both fear and awe at the events transpiring before me. My inner voice tells me to run, to find some sort of escape or hiding place, but my body doesn't obey. My mind is still trying to process what it is seeing. I stand there in the middle of the street, frozen in place, only to be moved by the occasional shove of a pony desperately trying to get to safety. The pushes cease as the sky above me turns dark as night itself. I wonder to myself if this is what eternal night would have looked like, but as soon as this thought pops up, I mentally chastise myself for thinking such silly things at a time like this. I realise that I should be running for my life rather than standing here. Stretching my freezing wings, I prepare for flight. But all of a sudden, I hear a faint ripping noise and I look up in horror to see cracks spreading across the barrier. With a resounding CRACK, the dome gives way, and I can barely make out thousands of black shapes descending on me. Giving up trying to work out my wing stiffness, I flap my wings rapidly, giving myself the thrust necessary to lift off. Once in the air, I try to get as far away from Canterlot as possible. Flying for what seemed like hours, I decided to take a quick rest on a cloud. Landing softly, I look back to make sure nothing is following me. I can’t see anything, but I can smell something burning in the air. With a start, I realise that something is burning. Somepony must have abandoned a fire, and now the entire city was burning. The inferno is so large that I can feel the heat from my position, a few hours away. I keep debating with myself. Should I go back? It was too dangerous! Watching the fire for a couple more seconds, I make my decision and jump off the cloud. I quickly fly my way back to the city I had just escaped. As I approach, my wings gently fold back to my body as I land on the rooftop of a bakery. Tears start to slide down my face as I take in my surroundings. How could a day that was supposed to be so perfect go so wrong? Today was supposed to be a happy day! It was the wedding day for Princess Mi Amore Cadenza and Shining Armor, for pony’s sake! A lump appears in my throat as I begin to think about my family. I still have no idea what happened to them. More tears slide down my face as I worry for all the ponies of Canterlot, when suddenly, someone prods me in the side. I swing around, raising my hooves, ready to fight if necessary. "Whoa! Ease up, sister!" A white mare says. She has a huge smile on her face, and both of her hooves up in a traditional sign of peace. "You won't hurt a fellow pony, would you? These are hard times, but do we really have to start fighting each other?" I let out a sigh of relief, and my speech takes a defensive tone. "Well, you shouldn't have scared me like that. It's like you were asking for an injury." "Right... I’m sorry to tell you this, but you don't look like a fighter to me. Plus, those tears don't work in your favor." The mare says, embarrassing me slightly. In order to, well, redeem myself in the eyes of this stranger, I quickly say, "Well, you can't expect me not to cry when there's a swarm of black creatures trying to take over Canterlot!" "Changelings." The mare whispers. "What did you say?" I ask. "Those creatures attacking us are called Changelings," she says in a louder voice," Before you ask, Changelings are special creatures that can take the appearance of anypony or anything. They feed off of positive emotions.” I study her face. Did she have some kind of ailment? Maybe Mad Pony Disease... "I'm not crazy; what I’m telling you is the truth," She insists, and then adds, "by the way, I never got your name. I’m Mist Twirl; you can call me Mist. I think that you and I will make a great team.” Mist holds out her hoof for me to shake, and I quickly think to myself, Aw, what the hay. She’s the first pony I’ve met since this began, and she seems to know more about this then I do. I shake her hoof and reply, "My name is Sunrise Dasher. Nice to meet you." Suddenly, everything goes black I open my eyes with a start, and I bump my head against a hard surface, causing a throbbing pain to echo through my head. For a few moments my vision is blurry, and I begin to panic, but my sight returns to normal quickly. I still can't see anything. I try to rub my eyes with one of my front hooves, but I can't move it. Fear blossoms throughout me as I attempt to move another part of my body, but soon I tire myself out with little success. I guess I won't be leaving here for now. Where is here, anyway? Where am I and why can't I move? I ask myself. I search my head for answers, but I find none. I scream at the top of my lungs , but no one notices or cares. What did I do to deserve this? I ask myself as more tears come and fear takes a hold of me. I begin to wonder if this is the end, but suddenly, I don't feel like crying anymore and the fear simply leaves. Soon I feel nothing; only a cold numbness where the sadness and fear used to be. That's when I remember that this is the gift of Queen Chrysalis had promised us. She promised to take away the pain, and that is what she just did. A small smile appears on my face.