THE BLOOD MOON

by Lamms

The beast of constant sorrow

Equestria was illuminated by the moon, lighting up even the darkest of nights,
and silencing the lightest of days. The wind blew over the awe-evoking landscape, carrying with it the life of the new day, following shortly after the sun slowly crept over the edge of the world banishing darkness from the land, and with it all its secrets. A ferocious howl echoed throughout the meadows and shallow forests, the land shook and shivered, wakening.

The dawn of the new day greeted ponyville with a desolate and eerie silence. The inhabitants of Ponyville woke to a forgiving sun shimmering through their windows and the creases of their doors, waking them from their dreams of a world that did not exist, much like our world. The darkness relieved its crippling embrace and the new day began. A seemingly normal morning went astray when a mother was found gasping on the floor her young filly gone and the only thing to show for it, three gaping wounds in the bedroom door created by a monster the likes of none other. This had not been the first case of a disappearances, only the first with clear evidence of a fairly strong and large being behind it. Several ponies came to investigate the house but not even the strongest of minds could unravel the puzzle that was the truth, quite ironic though, the truth is right in front of them snickering and laughing at there incompetence. The thing about intelligence though is it blinds ponies from whats obvious and whats rational. The mayor of Ponyville seized the opportunity to have a meeting in the town square, a meeting nonetheless of great urgency. A massive crowd formed around the epicenter, and the ponies in the back could just barely make out the words of the mayor.

“Ponies, ponies please...Listen up” announced the mayor.

Everypony’s’ eyes were now upon her, terrified to know the true fate of a beloved pony, when abruptly the silence was broken by a worried mother with tears of sorrow and discontent.

“No Mayor, you listen up! Somewhere out there something took my precious filly. How do you expect me to be quiet in times like these? Have you given up on your own ponies!?” Her anger fueled tears coursed down her cheeks to her hooves and then finally unto the fertile soil beneath her.

The mayor gazed into the puddle of tears that hit the ground like silent raindrops, she lost all the words she had planned to say and became entranced in her own pity. She never spoke in return. Instead, she wandered off the platform aimlessly. A pony of many words had lost all but a few that escaped her breath.

“I...I don't know...”.

For the past few weeks colts and filly's had been vanishing from Ponyville without a trace or a reason as to why they were taken. The approaching winter storms covered the ground in white blankets of fresh snow each night, covering any hoofprints or clues to these disappearances. Hope was running slim and the ponies of Ponyville began to grow paranoid.

Rumors of the beast engulfed Ponyville like wildfire, burning and melting all that they knew was fact and leaving a deep char of all that was fiction. They spoke of a demon with bright red eyes and diamond claws. Horns and saliva trailing out of its gaping mouth, that apparently could hold over five ponies at a time. They told of its large tail of which could impale the thickest of elements, and with one swoop could call upon the strongest of winds. The cursed and yet humble beast watched over them starving and feeding on their fear that in the night he would return.

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The night was not forgiving. A certain peculiar filly by the name of Scootaloo had nestled herself under the heavy blankets of her bed snuggling with her stuffed bear, which she had given the imaginative name of ‘Teddy’, she had come to love so much. Unfortunately, there was only so much love a stuffed toy could give back. The moon served as her nightlight, warding away the evils of the night, but even so, the night was not kind. Along with many friends, Scootaloo had a broken apart family and a heart of unsure feelings. She held out her hooves in the hope that somepony would reach out back, as the darkness began its slow and breathtaking embrace. As morbid as this was she shed a single tear, she had felt love and compassion among the hate and injustice of the world around her. The times were changing, and so was she.

A peculiar beast of the night crept across the shadows, its deep red eyes shimmering in the moonlight. It howled, bombarding the landscape with a series of low concussions, and a single chill to wisp with the wind. Scootaloo came to an abrupt and sharp awakening. At first she hid under the safety of her covers the darkness would protect her over all things, as if Scootaloo was its warrant. She shook for several minutes wondering what evils laid outside, she had especially feared the myths and rumors of the beast, little did she know though that the truth was upon her doorstep waiting to greet her. After several minutes she gained the courage to peer into the night. The moon shone onto the snow on the ground revealing several strange tracks of which the origin was unknown, they certainly were not pony tracks. Scootlaoo turned back towards Teddy whom was resting in the the bed.

"Now you stay here and get some rest." she tucked teddy under the covers and then kissed him upon the cheek. She then ventured forth out her window using several sheets as a rope to repel down to the ground. Maybe just maybe...I can solve this mystery...Yeah, my cutie mark could be something detective related...Oh that would be so cool. Her naive attitude did not compensate for how asinine her plan was. The cunning beast, so very clever, had set up the perfect trap for yet another victim. She closely followed the tracks. Due to how clear they were they must have just been made recently. She pressed forward, moving towards the truth as an icy breeze soothed and chilled her fragile body.

Scootaloo peered through the foliage of thick trees and dangling creepers to see a clearing, and in the center of it her teddy bear she had been given as a newborn was resting against a smooth mineral. Reluctantly she ran towards her best friend.

“Teddy...What are you doing out here, I could of swore you were asleep in our bed.” *herm* she pondered “You know better than to go off into the woods. Come with me, we should probably get home”

Grasping the teddy bear with a warm embrace she sat there for several minutes without moving. Something then stirred behind her, the strong winds carried a scent unlike any other, a scent unknown to species peacefully coexisting among one another. There was a deep growl as deep red eyes peered through the forest into the clearing before pouncing.

Several birds took flight into the dark sky. No sign of any disturbance was left apart from a few prints in the snow and a lone stuffed survivor. Just like that the beast had claimed its prey tearing her from darkness's embrace and what little safety it offered to her, just in time for the rising sun that came with all its glory and all its horror.

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The new day was greeted by the saving sun, and awoke the ponies of Ponyville. The ones that woke in their beds had known they survived another night. The relief was broken by a scream of terror and disbelief. All too familiar this sound had become to the residents of Ponyville, a monster of the night had taken one of them yet again and stowed itself into the shadows. Scootaloo’s parents darted out into the town pleading for help,

“Help us, please our filly has gone missing! Somepony help us!”

But everypony was preoccupied with something else. Everypony in Ponyville gathered around the town square observing a message written with a deep blood red substance....

’Tonight we reveal ourselves’ it read, ‘tonight you shall know fear’
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The ponies of Ponyville acted immediately in response to the message on the wall, boarding up there doors and windows, stocking up on necessary supplies. Someponies fled from Ponyville to seek refuge in Canterlot or for that matter anyplace other than Ponyville. Every second counted towards preparation as the sun slowly descended, letting in the bright moon.The mane six, Ponyvilles protectors, had been called into Canterlot. Seemingly abandoning their hometown, the ponies of Ponyville could not help but feel betrayed, being left all alone to fend off against their greatest fears and their greatest mistakes.

When the sun fell to the edge of Equestria, a chill tumbled over the land like a wave picking up tide bombarding into the ponies. These nights have been by far the coldest of many years, and the most terrifying. The ponies had stashed their greatest treasures, the young fillies and colts, within the barricaded doors and windows of their homes. The cursed beasts would have to go through them, it was all about slim chances now. The cold air condensed around their nostrils. Whatever hope they had whisked away in the breeze. A silent whisper could be heard among the shivers and shakes.

“Spare us”.

But the night was not forgiving. A booming howl bounced off the night sky and shortly after the night called foul play. Following out of the darkness emerged creatures of blood red fur and eyes, sharp teeth and steel claws. All of the beasts stood firm as out of the chill of the night a much stronger and more fierce creature emerged. He glared and thought to himself for several minutes before speaking with a deep voice of a wise and yet cynical being.

“You live in a world of lies, blinded by the luxuries of life, you serve nothing more than space”.

“What do you want of us, where are our little ponies?” Cried out the mayor, “You are a foul beast, a monster, savages all of you!” The monster lingered and then jumped towards her. He snarled and leaped onto her. She tried to push him away with her hooves, but he was far to strong for her.

“I seek redemption!” He cried with a hate so strong and an emotion so overwhelming that not even an ocean could contain his tears. When a ripple in the area between space and time launched him into an old tree in the town center. Appearing from nowhere was Princess Celestia with all her shining glory.

“Mordecai!” she exclaimed

“Well look here. The princess stepped off of her royal throne. Would you care to see the real world?” replied the beast.

"Have you no heart Mordecai? To mindlessly condemn?"

“Get to know me, Celestia. I am a being of constant sorrow. You have banished my people and condemned our young, yet we are the beasts, the monsters. My family has died in the cold winter winds. I cradled my lifeless child neck to neck with my beloved wife, and I watched their souls get whisked away by fate’s cold hand, As did many other families. Their bones are now covered by the snow. Our numbers dwindle, and we are on the verge of extinction. Celestia, you speak of friendship and harmony while you blatantly ignore the ones you have banished, the ones you cast away for nature’s dirty work! You may be safe now ponies but watch and listen; the blood moon is approaching and with it we, the blood wolves shall rise, becoming stronger than ever before. Our time has come! I will not stand by and watch my people die, I will not let my family’s death go in vain. If we cannot love and live with our families and friends, neither shall you. Your young fillies and colts will vanish into the night, and you will suffer just as we have. Live with your loved ones and children now or forever hold your peace.”

“Mordecai, it does not have to end this way,” Celestia pleaded. “Things can change, we can work things out.”

“Unfortunately it is to late for that Celestia. Too many deaths. Too many sleepless nights. We will not remain silent any longer! You will see fires upon the ridges and streaks of red thunder striking the moon like shooting stars. We will come, expect us.” Mordecai vanished into the shadows, the blood wolves watched from the distance waiting....Waiting. The ponies were silent, Celestia gazed into the darkness and then proceeded forward.

“Do not follow me.” She announced.