//------------------------------// // Chapter 1 "The Unexpected Meeting" // Story: The Son Of Luna // by DanielScratchAnimations //------------------------------// BOOM!! Yet, another explosion has occurred nearby as ponies run back and forth through the barren wasteland with one mare taller than all others stand giving orders without hesitation her dark blue mane flowing in a nonexistent wind "Do not falter my ponies we must push just a little farther!!" A male earth pony just a bit smaller than her wearing armor that resembled the color of the mares coat but, with three stars embedded onto it stepped up a proud smile on his face "Princess Luna the enemy is retreating we've won!" All ponies who wore similar armor only some with it a bit more battered than others cheered with all their strength only to stop when their monarch spoke up, "Now is no time for celebrations my little ponies now is the time to search the area for anything the enemy might have been working on as well as, for more medical, and food supplies remember we still have families to return to!" She said a bit of pride in her voice. As she turned to the three starred stallion standing beside her "Lead your battalion to search their base for anything to help us and be careful we don't know if they set traps for us." The stallion nodded, giving a quick salute before calling out for his men "Alright you heard the princess get moving the rest of you start getting camp ready, and gather all wounded for medical attention!" The soldiers nodded, with a "Yes your highness!" leaving Luna to her thoughts. *Finally, some good news to report to my sister it's been so long since I've been allowed outside of the castle walls since....him* "Princess Luna!" A guard similar in build to the previous guard however, with only with 2 stars on his chest plate spoke up. "What is it my little pony?" the stallion looked pale as if he had seen the very pits of Tartarus, "Y-you Need to see this..." luna detected a bit of dread in his voice so she just nodded, and steeled herself for whatever horrors awaited her and the guard led the way briefing her on the situation. "Your highness we have never seen a creature such as this but it looks like the enemy not only kept it in captivity but, tortured it...." Luna's eye twitched, the thought of it making her sick as the guard continued, "...It looks male from taking closer inspection but, it looks young VERY young barely past infancy we think." Luna's eyes went wide "Are you serious a child!?!" The guard nodded, "Yes but the really sad part of it is the only words he's able to say so far are-" just then they enter the room the guard has been leading them to find it empty with a small child strapped to a metal table many different kinds of scalpels and other sharp objects around him. Many cuts and scars adorned his body but, they look old the only clothing he has is a black fabric that the princess has never seen before and what Luna can only assume are tags of some kind around the boys neck. "By the maker..." says the princess in horror bringing a hoof to her muzzle to hold in the bile rising in her stomach she slowly trots her way to him and runs her hoof softly as to not hurt him further over his body examining him "It seems his wounds are healing and he doesn't look like he needs immediate medical attention but keep a medical team on standby." The guard salutes "Yes princess but are you sure you will be okay on your own?" The princess only nodded as she continued to examine the boy until, she reaches his neck the boy finches in pain, causing luna to quickly retract her hoof "shhh....shhh....Don't worry young one I'm not going to hurt you" she notices that he calms down a little after she says, and she attempts to see his strange tags again as slowly and with as little pressure on his body as possible. She grabs the tags and lifts them just close enough to read so she wouldn't hurt him they looked faded but, she could make out a name "Daniel?? Is t-that your name little one??" The boy for the first time in her presence spoke "P-please d-don't hurt me anymore" the princess gasped, his voice sounded rough and dry as if it came from an old stallion. "Guard!!" Luna yelled, as soon as she did there was a quick answer as the same guard came in and saluted, "Yes your highness!" "Get this poor child some water, as much as you can carry!" He nodded, and rushed off as soon as he did Luna stroked the child's hair lightly silently comforting him so he'd know he was safe. "Nopony is going to hurt you anymore I promise."