//------------------------------// // Chapter 5: The Soul and The Moon // Story: Our Haunted House // by Iridescence T Wind //------------------------------// "You have to know who you are, if you don't you have nightmares." -Stephen Rea ---∞∞∞---∞∞∞---∞∞∞--- To say her appearance was enchanting would be an understatement. Her mane was literally filled with stars and ever changing constellations for Arceus's sake! Her grin of teeth, the canines sharpened to a point and a tad bit extended, giving her a cat like smile. A coat as black as tar and her eyes which spoke of unseen cleverness framed by the helmet of lighter blue that she wore. At the same time one could say she was scary, however, a being of nightmares who had a posture that bespoke only royalty and a well kept appearance that could outdo Rarity's elegance with the simple design. Her voice was undeniably both alluring and terrifying. He realized to his embarrassment that she had been asking him something, repeatedly and her mane made a snapping gesture in front of his face before he came to, "What. Is a Pokémon." Nightmare Moon asked again. Soul couldn't stop himself if he had wanted to, the comforting shadow of the world providing a comforting embrace and all but pulling the response from my mind, he showed her the lands of his world, the rough short life as an childish Geodude, to becoming a Litwick in post death under Lord Giratina's insistence. Soul Light gave her all he knew in a flurry of images flashing around him, the various battles he'd fought, the creatures he had sent to his boss, and the performances of the almost forgotten past. Then came the second death, as well as his third chance at life. Now in Equestria, the many memories of those who Soul had befriended in his adventures, the unearthly being before Soul scowled with some recognition to Twilight and her friends, as well as surprise to the company of creatures beyond the pony race that stayed with hi in the Homestead. All the events that lead up to the current point, within ten seconds flat. She looked at him, my limbs felt locked in place as she peered down into my form. He felt like his younger self, weak, scared, alone. Staring into the deep eyes of the golem that had once called me son, and deeper still she pierced me with her eyes. Soul shivered, not in fear, but in worry. What did she see? A murderer? A coward? A monster? Soul reasoned that all of the Pokémon were monsters in their own way, but not in a way that it meant to him. Too soon, she leant back, giving Soul some space before tilting the head ever so slightly, a gesture of curiosity, "You're not afraid of me." she stated simply in that glorious yet menacing tone of hers. The Chandelure sighed, "My fears aren't towards you. For death claims all. My fears, however, are for others, for I've done wrong and taken the life of one who's time had not yet come." "Guilt is not the same as fear." she replied sternly, not an ounce of compassion in her voice, "Do not tell me what you fear. We can sense it easily, for we are Nightmare Moon." "Yes we- I mean, I, know." Soul replied in a slight stammer, "Why are you here anyway?" "You are different than most ponies." Nightmare Moon replied idly, "One of few who are both alien to this world, and merged with another's consciousness. We think you refer to him as Fang." "Yep... Anything else?" "We know you're the most well known criminal in hiding as well." She remarked, "So we both want to watch, and see what you do about it." "What am I?" Soul responded, "Reality television?" "Television?" she shot back. "Human invention, never mind..." Soul brushed it off, " Surely there are better things to watch..." "Not really no," Nightmare moon replied in turn, "Every other being in this realm of nightmares tends to have a boring worry over friends and family opinions, others over their job and daily needs. You're the first one I've encountered with a truly fascinating aspect. Not only are you unique in species. But have a large knowledge of abilities for one so young." The mare of the moon mused, "Hyper beam, such a deadly ability... Makes a standard beam spell look like a stick in the wind..." she snapped back to the present, "Besides it's better for you either way." "How so?" Soul remarked. "Well it's either I watch you and Fang, see what you do for some entertainment, or I leave you in here with him again until either your both dead, or you decide to let me stay." she threatened, somehow Soul knew this wasn't a bluff. There was no point in being stubborn, "Fine. Though don't expect to remain entertained for long..." ---∞∞∞---∞∞∞---∞∞∞--- The Homestead ---∞∞∞---∞∞∞---∞∞∞--- Twilight had the creeping feeling she wasn't supposed to be here, it was directly physical in a way, the gloomy silence of the village as she wandered through it, only the occasional guard greeting her formally by name interrupting the stark silence that threatened to overtake the entire place. All the houses she had come across didn't have a light on, which meant they were closed. She was about to head back and try again in the morning when she spotted the lights of Berry Punch's Tavern were still on along with the dim noises of several ponies talking. It was rude to eavesdrop, but Twilight couldn't resist as she heard their topic of choice. Several ponies, including Red Wood, a lumberjack who had moved in at Steven Magnet's suggestion, spoke up, "Still. It's just not right on what the guards are doin' to Soul. What's the deal on this magic anyway? Those critters were violatin' every basic law by kidnappin' and attemptin' to murder that little lamp boy." Berry's voice responded in turn, it was no surprise though that she was there, it was her tavern after all, "You and I both know there are certain types of magic unallowed by the government. Though it should of been obvious that the end was in good measure the court can't ignore the means that got to that conclusion. Even if such a creature would of been 'put down' by the government anyway." "Still though," a third voice interjected, a new one for Twilight, "Doesn't anything Soul has done in the past count for any favor on his behalf? I mean he did save several critical figures for the elements defense. From what I heard he has been nothing but extremely caring in consideration of what happened here." Several other voices interjected with similar agreements. Twilight frowned as the conversation went on, each voice attributing a different story of the lamp they had come to know, but it didn't add up to the index in her Pokédex, at least until she noticed a reoccurring theme among several of their stories. Combat. Usually it was subtle, the use of an ability to manipulate the area, or fight an swarm of insects that had plagued a neighbor, or repel several of the creatures that had tried to invade the Homestead over the months soul had stayed in the forest. Most of the time the creature responsible didn't survive. Though it wasn't until Soul had evolved that the first evidence of the Souls being taken began. Twilight turned and began trotting away as the conversations shifted towards more mundane things like Red Wood's Carvings and another's music production. She was going to mull over Zecora's words as well as the Homesteads and Celestia's verdict for the rest of the night, perhaps until the next afternoon. ---∞∞∞---∞∞∞---∞∞∞--- Canterlot Castle Infirmary ---∞∞∞---∞∞∞---∞∞∞--- A pair of bright pink eyes stared down upon the limp forms of the several strange creatures that now filled the room. Monitors now giving the quietest 'Beeps' as their hearts beated idly, the slight movements of their chests as they breathed shallowly with life support. Nurse Redheart had informed her that they were alive if barely, reduced to no more than a vegetable in mind. The results of the battle from three months ago. The nobles had tried to convince her to let them just die for both monetary budgets and for dissection of the soulless creatures for a medical examination of their inner workings. But she had refused, even now she looked over them for any change, but they hadn't even so much as moved since the day she had taken them into custody. However the reason for her visit was much different. Beside her, the stone remains of another Pokémon, Carnivine as the copies from Twilight had described, was almost finished being reassembled. The plant look alike had spent the past three months being recollected and put together again. Out of all the bodies, the plant like Pokémon had the best chance at recovery. Though one other body had been accounted for, though she was sure that the missing one would show up sooner or later. A loud thud drew her attention, one of her guards had entered the room, "We found him princess." he stated firmly. "Which one?" her clear belled voice answered in turn drawing a sheepish wince from her guard. He replied hurriedly, clearing it up, "The one who carries a mask underneath him. Ma'am." Celestia nodded to her guard, "Bring him to my living chambers. I'll speak to him myself. Alert Luna to this as well. My sister has been very curious to the nature of one of these creatures kind. Should prove interesting to speak with it." "Very well Princess." The guard replied in turn before leaving, shutting the door quietly behind him. Celestia sighed. How busy it had became since the events of three months prior. The subtle bags under her eyes were only just hidden with heavy amounts of makeup and she had lost count of how many cups of coffee and slices of coffee cake she had to of ate in order to of stayed awake long enough to deal with the nobles outrage. It was no secret that the actions of the little lamp that had lived in her sisters old castle had caused quite the stir in the noble courts who sought to squash anything even remotely dangerous. She was barely able to satisfy their needs for increased protection with the surplus of Royal guards that now patrolled both Ponyville and Canterlot. It still, however, didn't prevent several of the nobles, arrogant as ever, from recruiting various beings of all shapes and sizes to hunt down the misfortunate child that was now ranked five on Equestrias most wanted. She sighed and began to leave, preparing herself mentally for her new guest upstairs.