//------------------------------//
// (Original un-altered chapter) 
// Story: The Weeping Willow 
// by videomaster21XX 
//------------------------------//

	“Well this day has been less than perfect,” Evening Storm mused as he made his way through the rows of trees. By now his sapphire mane contained many small tangles and his black coat was marred with mud. Despite all that he actually felt rather nice, not even his eerie surroundings seemed to be able to sour his mood. 
He didn’t know why he was here, only that he needed to get away from everything and everypony back in Ponyville. He had been feeling down ever since his marefriend had gone to Canterlot for a few weeks, and today had been particularly bad for some reason. He didn’t think he’d miss her this much. Worse still, everypony picked up on it somehow. His sister kept telling him to cheer up, Twilight kept trying to distract him with research, and Pinkie had suggested they have a party.
It wasn’t that he didn’t appreciate their efforts, it was just right now, he needed some time alone. The Everfree forest wasn’t the first place somepony would think of to go for some ‘me’ time but he figured it’d be the last place anypony would look for him.
He had been at this for a time and needed to find a place to rest for a bit, if he could find such a place in this forest. As if on cue, he was met by a curious sight: a single white tree, which stood in contrast to its dreary surroundings. Feeling drawn to it, he made his way to its base and settled down. Deciding here would do for a resting place, he began to focus all the magic he could muster into a single spell. While Evening was never known for getting spells right, this one he refused to let fail. The Everfree forest was not a place he could afford to have his spells go astray.  
As soon as he saw the blue circle carve itself into the grass around himself and the tree, he knew he had done it. The result actually made him smile; for once he managed to do a bit of magic without catching something, namely himself, on fire. The circle glowed brightly for a few moments more before settling, a dull glow being the only evidence of its existence.
It was a circle of protection, assuming he cast it properly, it would hide his presence from the world, as well as alert him to any creature that might cross its border. He was amazed at the size of the circle he had managed to create. The enclosed space was large enough for him to build a house in. The fact he was in the Everfree forest aside, he couldn’t imagine cutting down the tree he rested under, its appearance was so strange. It was almost mystical.
With a small sigh he let his eyes roll over it. The tree was a weeping willow, it’s bark and branches practically white. He swore they almost seemed to glow with their own inner light, its many drooping branches not yet showing signs of flora. Lovely as it was, he couldn’t help but wonder why such a tree would be found here of all places.  
Evening took a few moments to gaze out into the forest in an attempt to catch a glimpse of any of its more aggressive inhabitants. Despite his search, the forest remained oddly silent, as if the wildlife itself avoided this place. In fact, he didn’t even hear any birds.
Something about it just radiated serenity. Evening wondered if he had fallen into a trap, almost nothing here was ever as it seemed. Still he didn’t think this was such a place. He didn’t know how he knew, it was just a feeling. One he decided to trust
Not that he wasn’t careful, he’d be stupid not to be. Evening wished very much to not be some creature’s snack, and with luck the protection circle would help. With the spell active, and the area secured, he chanced letting himself relax. Lying beneath the willow, he listened to the sounds of the forest. The wind blew softly through the trees, playing a melody as it weaved its way through the branches. The way they swayed in rhythm with the gusts, was all very peaceful. 
As he lied there, his eyes began to wander the area, glancing at this and taking in that. He hadn’t really been expecting to find anything that interesting; he was still worried about being attacked. Surprisingly he did find something, about five feet from his position sat what appeared to be your everyday rock. Except Evening was pretty sure rocks didn’t naturally form symbols upon them. 
Naturally curious, he got up to investigate further, using his magic to clear away centuries of moss. It was surprising he had managed to see the symbols in the first place, given the over growth. With the moss gone he could see several symbols, though what they said were beyond him. They certainly weren’t in any language he’d seen before, despite the hours if not days he spent in the Canterlot library reading up on all sorts of books about this kind of stuff.
Brushing his hoof over the odd carvings, he wondered who would come all the way to a place like this just to carve some weird symbols. How long had this tree even  been here? Could these symbols predate it? 
“Help me!” came a sudden cry from behind Evening. He had never spun around so fast before. His eyes darted in every direction, looking for the smallest hint of anything out of place. Despite the clarity and nearness of the voice, there was nothing and no signs that anything ever had been. He had to remind himself that with his circle nothing should be able to see him. If by chance some creature did manage pass it, he’d know right away.  
Giving his head a shake, he attempted to clear his mind as he glanced one last time at the rock before stopping dead in his tracks.  The writing had become blurry and appeared to be changing into something he could actually read.
Then again, he couldn’t tell if the writing was changing, or if he was suddenly able to read it. Regardless, he could now understand what had been carved there. Assuming this new ‘ability’ of his was to be trusted, the writing translated to: “Be praised o’ Moon Breeze, for your life is the seal of this evil.”
The words sent a chill up Evening’s spine, they didn’t sound all that comforting. The thought of what may have happened here disturbed him.
With a shudder he considered leaving the area right then and there, but his body had other plans. He was weary from his journey, and that protection spell had just tired him out more. Breathing a regretful sigh, he settled himself back down on the grass under the willow, being careful to keep the stone in his sight. None of this made him feel any better about his situation, but what could he do? Exhaustion had already set in, at this rate he’d be lucky to crawl out of the woods. Whatever event that rock was talking about, it had happened long ago, there was no reason to get worked up over it now. It was unknown to him how long he lied there, but eventually his eyes closed and the world faded into darkness.


* * *


The first thing he noticed was breathing, the second was a darkness around him that had become smothering.  Despite these surroundings, Evening felt an odd sense of calm. He couldn’t feel his body. Everything felt strangely disconnected, as if the very world around him was nothing more than an illusion .  As the time trickled by, he heard something being dragged as well as a soft crying.
It occurred to him that whatever was whimpering was the same thing that was breathing. If he had to guess he’d say it was female. Whoever or whatever it was, she sounded young. Evening could almost feel her pain, while he may not know what he shared this darkness with, he could tell it was no threat.
He wanted to move closer to his passenger, but still couldn’t feel his body. He couldn’t even feel his surroundings, it was almost like he was suspended in water, a pitch black liquid that pressed in on him from all sides. Except he couldn’t actually feel it touch him, it was more of a sensation. It was unlike anything he had ever experienced before, and it left him at a loss for words. Whatever was happening, he was not in control of it.
So why wasn’t he panicking? Evening didn’t know what to think about this. He was a disembodied spirit for all he knew and all he could focus on was the presence beside him. He felt that he should worry about his own survival first.
Another sob broke his train of thought. There were too many questions right now and It would be better for him to focus on what he did know. Whatever had happened it left him unable to move and unable to panic. There was also something here with him and it was hurt. The cries were actually beginning to bother him. He didn’t know why, but he really wanted to help this thing, to save it. The desire burned in him. Everything that was happening just felt too surreal. His feelings felt forced, his body light. What kind of nightmare was he in?
Could that be it? He thought. Was this nothing more than a dream? He wasn’t sure, but it was the best idea he could come up with. If that was it, then what was he dreaming and why?
“This is it” Spoke a gruff voice suddenly. This new voice startled Evening. By the sound of it, the owner could only be male. Two more voices answered with affirmative grunts, one male and one female. Two Stallions and a mare. Evening briefly wondered if there was a pizza place. The dream continued on, despite his joke. So much for trying to lighten the mood.
“Get the kid,” came the mare’s voice. It was stern and direct, same as the stallion’s. Whatever they were doing, they certainly weren’t here for a picnic. As soon as the mare had spoken the order, the breathing began to accelerate, small sobs mixed in with the gasps. Before he had any chance to think about it, the world exploded in light.
He thought for a moment that he’d been blinded. Instead the world seemed to shift into being around him. He was in the same place he had fallen asleep in, except the weeping willow was gone. A gray unicorn stallion stood by the rock Evening had seen the carvings on. He looked much like many of the unicorn guards he’d seen in Canterlot. Another stallion, an earth pony, stood off to the side, the same color and build as his partner. Of the three, he was the only one who looked like he didn't want to be there, his actions appeared forced. Finally, there was the mare, a white pegasus.
This didn’t feel right. This was suppose to be the Everfree Forest, but if that was the case, it was too orderly. He had once found it interesting to see how a pony controlled forest like the Whitetail woods differed from a place like the EverFree. As he floated there now, it felt more like the WhiteTail woods. It was also strange to see three guards without weapons. One unicorn would not be enough to take on the dangers of the EverFree.
A nagging thought began to tug at the back of his mind. He wasn’t sure where it had come from, but it reminded him that there was only one time this forest had ever been under pony control. If that was the case, he’d be one thousand years in the past at least. Could what he was seeing be a vision from that time? Some scripted event he was meant to behold?
That still left one last player upon this stage, the small pony that had been the source of the breathing, the breathing of which had now given way to silent sobs.  As the world turned to focus on her, Evening gasped.
On the surface she appeared to be a unicorn filly, no older then one of the Cutie Mark Crusaders if he had to guess. Her coat a dark blue and her mane was a shade of what appeared to be silver, though given how dirty it was, it was hard to tell. That was not what caught his eye or made him gasp. That had been the fact her horn had a large crack in it. Evening knew from experience that it was not easy to crack the horn of a unicorn. Whatever had been done to cause that was something he didn’t want to think about.
The next thing he took in were the many bruises on her body. Dried blood and dirt stained her coat. Her mane and tail were a mess, tattered with chunks missing.
The worst of it all were her eyes, her two green eyes, that were now red and puffy, strained from hours of crying. It was the look of those eyes that would haunt him. They seemed so defeated, as if she had given up on everything. What had these ponies done to her? Why would they do such a thing? The question repeated over and over in his head as he stared at her.
“Prepare the site,” the Pegasus said. With a reluctant nod, the earth pony began to struggle with a wooden post, dragging it to where the willow would be. He watched as the pony stuck it in the ground, making sure it would not tip over. The post itself was bizarre. It was covered with all sorts of magical runes, set in such a pattern that whatever spell was etched into this thing had to be very powerful.
Meanwhile the unicorn had begun to cast a spell on the rock. It didn’t take long for Evening to discover the unicorn was etching the symbols he had seen. He had known whatever happened here had not been good. Now he would see it first hoof. The realization caused his stomach to clench.
As her companions finished their preparations, the pegasus slowly trotted up to the young filly. She gazed at her with silent hate. After staring at her for few moments she spoke with a voice like ice, “Any final words?”
Holding back tears, the small unicorn looked up at the pegasus through eyes that no longer held any remnants of youth. Yet still that underlying fear remained. After attempting to speak many times, each time having to gulp back a sob, she answered, “Why me?”
The pegasus sneered, “Dost Thou really need to ask? Thou who art named after the night which threaten to consume us not one week prior to this day?” 
“But I-” The filly attempted to say before the pegasus cut her off.
“Silence! ‘Tis because thou shares a name with thine night that ye should be the savior of these woods.” The pegasus lifted her head, her expression like steel, “Thou shouldst feel honored.”
The filly lowered her head, her eyes no longer able to produce tears, “I don’t want to die.”
The pegasus snorted, “Few do”
Evening tensed. Okay, any chance I can dream of happy bunnies now? He waited a few moments for the scene to change. 
“All preparations are complete,” the unicorn stated while trotting up to the mare. “By Celestia’s mane, let this work.”
Crabapples, Evening thought.
“Twill work,” the pegasus responded, “With this, the forest will be freed from the curse and the last remnants of Nightmare Moon’s betrayal shall be purged!”
So, you’re Moon Breeze, Evening thought, looking back toward the filly. It was a pretty name, at least to him. It pained him to think that she was going to be killed because of it. He wondered, did she curse her own name? 
Moon Breeze dropped to the ground, her will depleted. Evening still didn’t understand how killing this filly was going to accomplish anything.
He was forced to watch as the unicorn levitated Moon Breeze to the post. The earth pony had a rope in which he quickly used to bind the filly. Evening wanted to help her, but he still couldn’t move; his body might as well be mist.
“Do it,” the pegasus commanded staring at Moon Breeze, her eyes unblinking. The unicorn nodded and began to concentrate. The post around Moon Breeze began to glow with the light of his magical aura, the magical runes glowed pure white in response. With loud creaks, large roots shot out of the post’s base, drilling their way into the soil. The earth pony looked away in disgust as the post began to enlarge itself, the wood of the post surrounding Moon Breeze jutted out of it like teeth.
Evening realized that was exactly what they were, teeth. The tree was getting ready to eat her. That was what the writing meant by her life being the seal. Her fate was to be consumed by the willow tree, her spirit to be trapped there for eternity. 
He had thought Moon Breeze couldn’t cry anymore, yet tears began to flow from her eyes. Those tears changed to droplets of blood while the bark closed in around her. Evening watched in silent horror as it crawled up her body, slowly drawing ever so closer to her face. Her near dead eyes stared at him, unfocused and unseeing. Yet as the bark neared its destination, one final glint of despair budded in her eyes. Just before the bark began to swallow her, she whispered one last phrase, “Please… Somepony help me”
With a flash, he recalled the voice that called to him before he slept. “Help me,” had been its plea. He hadn’t realized at the time how sad it had been. She had spent a thousand years trapped there and crying.
All that remained free were her eyes; eyes that gazed out at the last bits of moonlight they’d ever see…

Evening couldn’t take it anymore. He didn’t want to watch, but was unable to look away. He was going to see this filly die. She was going to-

“STOP IT!” His voice shook the leaves around him as it echoed through the forest. In that very instant the bark halted as four pairs of eyes all turned to gaze at him.
“W-Who are you!?” the Unicorn stammered. Evening was about to attempt to turn around to see who the unicorn was talking to when he realized two very important things: One, his head actually began to move. Two, that weightless feeling had evaporated. Evening was sure this had stopped being a dream.
“Tis Nightmare Moon! She hath come to devour us!” the earth pony shouted as he attempted to flee. This brought Evening’s focus back to the scene; as he watched the pegasus mare grab the fleeing earth pony by the tail, halting him in his tracks. After making sure he’d stay put she spoke herself, “Fool! If this be Nightmare Moon where are her wings? Anypony can see ‘tis just a unicorn stallion!”
She then turned toward Evening. While her companions appeared frightened and panicked, her eyes betrayed only the slightest amount of unease. “What dost thou want?” she demanded while taking a step forward. “No doubt thou is named after the night yourself? Hast thou come to smite us for opposing thine mistress?”
Evening weighed his options very carefully. He was still dizzy from his nightmare suddenly becoming a reality. He was also outnumbered and outmatched. These ponies were of the royal guard, many years in the past or not, and even if he did attempt to fight them, his magic generally ended up with his own flank catching fire.
Still, what they were doing to Moon Breeze, he couldn’t forgive them for that. Something in him raged and it was focused on only one thing; stopping this. Without thinking he spoke, “What do you hope to gain from all this?” 
He spoke in a slow deliberate manner, causing both the earth pony and the unicorn to shudder with fear. Only the pegasus remained calm, though Evening could see the doubt in her eyes.
“Is it not obvious?” she shot back with a scoff, “We art going to sacrifice this filly to create a seal. One that will purge this forest of the curse thine mistress brought upon it!” The news disgusted him. What evil was in this forest that they thought something like this would help? He wondered if Princess Celestia knew anything about this.
“Oh? What mistress of mine do you speak?” Evening asked without a hint of interest in his tone. Inwardly he was shaking. If they caught on, he’d be killed for sure and the filly left to her fate.
“Don’t get coy with me!” she spat, “I speakest of Nightmare Moon! Tis thanks to her that the castle lies now in ruins! Her that this very forest has lost the law and order we pegasi brought to its weather! Her that Princess Celestia hasn’t spoken in days!”
Evening narrowed his eyes, “Very well, but what does the filly have to do with this? She is not of Nightmare Moon, any foal can see that.”
“Think me blind?” the Pegasus shouted, “Of course I know that! Nonetheless , she is named after the night! The night your mistress attempted to burden upon us forever! Moon Breeze will be the first of many! Cornerstones that shal seal away the evil attempting to consume this land!” 
 So that’s her game, Evening thought to himself. This must be shortly after Luna as Nightmare Moon had been sealed away. He had heard rumors, stories of how the old castle in the EverFree forest had been abandoned after those events. How the forest became the thing it was known for in his time. With that knowledge in mind, he knew that what she was attempting here was pointless, if there was only a way he could show her that.
“You believe such a crime as this can seal evil!?” he shouted back, barely containing his rage. “The murder of a child? And you dare call me the servant of Nightmare Moon!” His horn crackled with energy. 
“Still thy tongue traitor!” the pegasus screamed seconds before rushing him. The battle was over in an instant. The next thing Evening knew, he was standing in the clearing with the bodies of all three ponies laid around him, scorch marks blackening the area. Confused, he surveyed the area. Not only were there burn marks everywhere, but many of those spots appeared as if the ground had exploded. He could just vaguely remember lightning. Had he been casting lightning magic? Seemed highly unlikely given his history.
He shook his head, that wasn’t important. Taking a few moments to examine the ponies bodies, he was able to confirm that they were still breathing. Relieved by the news that he was not a murderer, Evening quickly made his way over to the new tree, using his magic to tear away the bark before even getting half way. With careful magic manipulation, he cut the ropes and lifted her as gently as possible from her splintered confinement.
Just as carefully he sat her down upon the grass and held his breath as he watched her, desperately hoping it had not been too late. With a great sigh of relief, he saw her lift her head to look up at him with a dazed expression. Moon Breeze lied there unmoving for a few moments, her eyes still without emotion, until finally, her lips began to move.
“Are… Are you an Angel?” she asked quietly. With sorrow he realized that her gaze wasn’t the absence of emotion, but the disbelief that what she was seeing before her was real. A small filly of her age should not have such thoughts.
“Nope, just a normal unicorn pony like you,” he replied with a soft smile, “My name is Evening Storm, what’s yours?” There were so many questions he wanted to ask her, so many things he wanted made clear, but he didn’t dare ask them now.  Not after all she had just been through.
“I’m… Moon Breeze…”
“That’s a very nice name.”
“Thank you,” she replied before falling silent for a moment, “Am I dead?”
Evening gave her the gentlest reassuring he could. “No Moon Breeze you are not. I heard your cries for help, and here I am.”
Slowly, the tears returned to Moon Breeze’s eyes, “Then… I’m not going to die?”
Evening shook his head, “No.” 
Before he knew what was happening, Moon Breeze had leapt at him, burying her face in his chest. “Thank you!” she sobbed with much relief. More than Evening felt she should have ever needed to feel. “Thank you! Thank you so much!”
He held her then as tight as he could, crying right along with her.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered, “I’m so sorry you had to go through that. I’m so sorry…”
“You helped me!” she cried, the tears soaking his fur, “That’s all that matters...”
They remained that way a few moments before Evening took charge of the situation. He still couldn’t remember what he did to the ponies around him and had no idea when they might wake back up.
“We have to leave here,” he said staring into her eyes. “Where can I take you?”
“I… I don’t know.”
“Parents?”
She lowered her head. “G-Gone…”
Evening was perplexed, his heart was aching; this wasn’t even his time, what was he suppose to do? She didn’t even have a home to go back to. He was just about ready to put her on his back and run, when he felt his body start to go numb. Trying to move, he realized with dread that he could not.  Whatever put him here seemed to be taking him back.
“Evening?” Moon Breeze cried, eyes once more full of fear, “What’s happening to you?”
“I’m sorry…” he cried, wishing desperately for more time. “I’m so sorry.  I don’t belong here. I don’t know how I even got here to begin with. It seems... It seems I have to go back now.”
“NO!” Moon Breeze cried, her expression of greater panic then even the tree eating her had been able to manage, “No! You can’t! Don’t leave! DON’T!”
“I don’t have a choice!” he yelled, “Whatever brought me here is taking me back! Moon Breeze you have to run! You can’t be here when they wake up!”
“Wait! Take me with you!” she cried, trying frantically to hold on to him. It was proving more and more difficult as time wore on. His body was returning to whatever mist it had been before.
“I can’t! You have to run! Please!” His heart was hammering. “I don’t want you to die!”
“And I don’t want you to go!”
With one last desperate surge of magic, Evening attempted to grab her in order to move her as far away from the area as he could. He had just managed to wrap his aura around her when the world went dark. His surroundings once more, nothing but a dream...


* * *


“Moon Breeze Run!” he cried jerking his head up. It took a few seconds for him to register that he was once again in the clearing where he had stopped to rest. With a sickened feeling he feared the events just witnessed really had been nothing but a dream, and remained unaltered. Slowly, he turned toward the willow trunk.
It was not as smooth as it had been when he had settled down. Now there was a large chunk ripped out of it, a multitude of blue glowing fungi filling the hole. He felt a great wave of joy, no doubt that was the remains of the broken prison. So it couldn’t have been a dream after all, Evening thought. That meant I really did save Moon-
The thought of her name gave him a jolt. While he may have saved her life, he had left her alone with three ponies that at any moment might wake up and attack her. He knew she had not been trapped in the tree, but what if they had done something worse to her?
It was then, however, that he realized something else was different. He was certain he hadn’t brought any saddlebags and yet he felt something nestled against his side…
“Nnn don’t leave…” came a small voice. Evening was almost too anxious to look; he was afraid his mind was playing tricks on him as he slowly turned his head to behold a small dark blue filly unicorn, with a silver mane, cuddled against him.
“Moon Breeze!” he almost shouted, barely able to restrain his joy. He gave her side a nuzzle, half expecting her to vanish the moment he touched her. The small filly blinked a few times before she looked around, clearly confused with her surroundings. Noticing Evening, her expression changed from that of confusion to joy. With a sudden burst of energy she tackled him, or at least attempted to.
“Evening! You’re still here!” she cried, hugging him as tightly as she could. “I was so afraid you left me!”
“Well,” he said with a smile, “It seems I took you with me instead.”
“Took me…” she said examined her surroundings. Her gaze falling upon the Weeping Willow, now in bloom; her eyes full of wonder. In fact her entire body was different now. Evening didn’t understand any of it, but her coat was clean, her mane and tail whole and unmatted. Even the crack in her horn had vanished.
“Where are we?” she asked, staring at him with wide eyes. 
Evening laughed a rich happy laugh, the first he had in days. “All in due time Moon Breeze. I think first we should get you someplace safe.” 
She flinched, “You’re not going to leave me are you?”
Evening shook his head, “Never”
Moon Breeze’s mouth slowly cracked into a smile, for Moon Breeze, it was probably the biggest smile she had in a long time. He didn’t know how this had happened, or why it was him who was allowed to do it, but right now, none of that mattered.
For whatever reason, he was allowed to save this filly, and that’s all he cared about. Setting her on his back, he gave her another comforting nuzzle before heading to Ponyville. 
I wonder how Twilight and the others are going to react to this? He thought as they trotted along, the willow slowly falling out of sight behind them. Perhaps it was just his imagination, but he could swear it seemed happier.