//------------------------------// // Chapter 1 - Always Running // Story: Cross-World Brotherhood // by Mareofkindness //------------------------------// Jaden kept holding onto his mom as she was being pulled in by this black smoke-like being. “I’m telling you Jaden, you need to run!” Mountain Mist yelled, the darkness consuming her body. Despite her pleading, Jaden refused to leave. “No!” Jaden yelled over the whispering that surrounded his mother. “I’m not letting go!” “Jaden…” his mother Mist held him close, and gave him a loving, motherly kiss. “Jaden. Remember that I will always love you. Be strong, for me, and your family. Run.” Jaden, tears flooding his eyes, kissed his mother goodbye one last time and took off. Before his mother was completely consumed, she yelled from afar: “I love you!” Jaden kept running and running and running. He always listened to his mother, and kept running until he couldn’t run anymore. He must have ran about a mile or so when he tripped over a stray stone and landed on the ground hard. His body was aching all over, especially his wings. He didn’t know they were broken, nor did he know what to do. He lay there on his side, taking in the events of the night. He didn’t know how to get home, he didn’t know where his family went… he just lay there and cried. After celebrating the events of Nightmare Night and learning to control her voice for the first time, Princess Luna was heading back to Canterlot to tell her sister Celestia all about what she learned. She took her trotting slowly, and smelled the cool air of the night. She furthered herself from the distant smell of popcorn and sweets, until she ran into something small. Luna looked down and saw a small blue filly laying on its side. The little colt was barely conscious, but looked up a little at Luna, his eyes slowly closing. She took in his little halo and his beautiful white wings, and gasped in awe. “I’ve never seen something on a pony so beautifully…” she thought to herself. Luna decided to sit down next to the filly and sang him a small poem she remembered writing: “Quiet, my child, The daytime needs rest, Do come with me, You are simply the best.” Luna blushed a little at the poem she sang. Surely she has never had foals before, but why did she sing that one in particular? Luna put the filly on her back and flew to Canterlot, adding “I promise you, little one. I promise I will make you better.” After the flight, Luna zipped over to a nearby hospital. A nurse rushed to her and asked what she can do for the princess. Luna explained the situation about the filly on her back and that he needs medical attention. The nurse asked “are you his mother?” Luna turned a little pink and answered “no, I just found him.” They took the filly to the OR to repair his broken wing, as Luna sat in the waiting room. She couldn’t help but think: “why does everypony think he’s my son?,” and “how can I help him?” What seemed like an eternity of waiting finally came to an end. A different nurse came out to the almost empty waiting room and called “Princess Luna?” She looked up, jumped up, and rushed over to the nurse. “Is he ok?” “Fortunately, yes. We were able to give his wings a cast, and he’s currently out cold in his room. Would you like to see him?” Luna was excited, nervous, and scared all at the same time, but on the outside she kept her composure. “Yes please.” The nurse brought Luna to the colt’s room, where he was sleeping, eyes closed, with a breathing mask. “He’s been asleep or knocked out for a few hours now. You may spend as long as you need to, Princess.” The nurse left the room and left Luna to visit. The princess sat with the filly for an hour, right next to him. She soon became drowsy, and despite herself wanting to stay awake, she fell asleep; her hooves hugging Jaden, entering a peaceful slumber. Luna woke up the next morning and immediately felt like she was holding something. She looked down and saw she was hugging the filly whom she rescued the previous night. She gently put him back in bed, and pulled the covers up. “Rest now, my child of the night.” Luna spoke softly to the filly. Luna began to leave the room as she heard something shift behind her. The princess turned around to see the filly was tossing and turning, as if he was having a nightmare. Luna hurried back over to him and pet him gently. After a minute, he miraculously opened his light green eyes and saw Luna. He smiled and reached out for a hug, though quickly retracting from his wings being in so much pain. “It’s ok, sweetie. I’ll give you a hug.” Luna gave the colt a hug as he cried a little. “Can I have a kiss too?” He asked. “Give a kiss to a random filly? Well, he’s not really random, I did save his life… ok.” Luna nodded and gave him a kiss on the forehead, to which he blushed and giggled a little. “What’s your name, little one?” Luna asked out of curiosity. “Jaden Mist.” The colt responded. “I am only a filly, but I want to stand up for others!” Jaden declared. Luna laughed a little and smiled. “Where’s your family?” Jaden stopped and stared at Luna. “I have two sisters and one brother. No mommy, no daddy.” Luna was shocked at this “no mother, no father, two sisters, one brother, and you broke your wings? You poor little colt Jaden. I’m sorry you had to go through this.” Jaden looked at Luna as she was thinking about how terrible she felt. “Will you be my mommy?” Jaden asked, interrupting Luna’s thinking. She genuinely didn’t know how to answer. Did she want a child? He has family, but they’re nowhere to be found. What if sister found out? Luna put all her questions aside, took a deep breath, and smiled. “Of course I’ll be your mommy.” Jaden jumped into Luna as she held him close. “All will go well with Jaden.” Luna thought to herself. “I’m certain that he will bring good to Equestria, I promise.”