//------------------------------//
// Book I Chapter VI “A lesson learned” 
// Story: Guardians of the beyond VOL I 
// by Red24 
//------------------------------//

Suddenly a large portal opened behind him. A large magic wave pushed them all back including starlight. Making her stop using the staff that was holding Eclipse’s cutiemark. Quickly it returned to him as a purple alicorn stepped out with a strange creature. “Stay away from our son!”

“What the?!!!” She said annoyed “who dares try to stop me!”  Starlight saw two strange and very angry looking creatures.

Eclipse knew that sound all to well at first he was happy because he knew his parents would be strong enough but then realized he was also gonna be doomed by them!

“So sorry Sprinkles but thank you for babysitting our son and his girlfriend!” Discord chimed in cheerfully, snapping his fingers to have Winter appear beside them for protection.

“Well I’m sorry but he is mine now and his girlfriend!” She yelled, the other brainwashed ponies getting ready to attack. 

“But we’re not...oh never mind..” Eclipse hoofpalmed while giving up.

Winter was still out of it. Midnight sent a powerful spell to push them all back in a bright light. Nullah stuck his tongue out at the mean unicorn. When Starlight looked up all four were gone and the portal closed.

“Nooo!!! That was my chance to spread our Equality around the multiverse...” she sighs then smirks sinisterly, “oh well at least I’m done with these rebels... I’ll find a way to get them, one day, I’ll be back hehe,” she smiles looking at the others the EMR all Equal. The others all smile blankly. 

“Yes Starlight,” they say in unison….


~~~

Eclipse and the others all end up at his house. Winter was still brainwashed, and Midnight just looks at Eclipse in disappointment

“Oh um hey....mother long time no see hehe” he says very awkwardly. She just indicated to Winter who was standing there with the giant grin. “Oh that well I can explain…you see well ....you know I was doing a thing and then stuff happened and..”

She just gave him a deadpan look. Eclipse bowed his head, “I screwed up I’m sorry,” he apologized, in acceptance of any punishment, they decided for him.

“I’ll take care of her, be right back!” Discord said snapping his fingers as he and Winter vanished.

“THIS IS WHY WE DON’T LET YOU OUT!!” Midnight snapped in anger.

“Yeah, but I could have got that under control... I just didn’t know… And hey no pony was hurt...I mean like...” he was struggling to defend himself. Nullah was already turning in his screen time, chocolate, and booping privileges via paper cards drawn with crayons and stickers. 

“DO YOU KNOW IF STARLIGHT HAD GOT YOU THAT SHE WOULD HAVE USED YOU TO TAKE OVER THE MULTIVERSE AND RUINED THE NATURAL FLOW OF THEIR DEVELOPMENT?!”

Eclipse pouted sadly, “But I couldn’t have fallen...like I’m smart and strong-willed and...” he tries to explain, even flexing what muscles he had. Nullah was reaching into his little pockets to pull out his tiny game consoles and have them turned in.

“Eclipse Variance Midnight! You would have cracked, look at what happened, you are still young and inexperienced, you're not that capable!” his mother scolded. 

Meanwhile, Discord hypnotized Winter to break her out of the conditioning. It took some work but he did it, letting Winter rest in a room in the meantime. 

“Honestly, with all your reading and research I thought you would’ve known better." Midnight shook her head disappointed, "From now on you’re to not leave the house ever until further notice! That includes you Nullah.”

Eclipse started to feel emotional and cried a little, Little Nullah went limp and just hung around Eclipse's neck in sadness and played a tiny violin.   

“No mummy your can’t! I tried I just.....I just don’t want to be alone anymore...I just wanted once, JUST ONCE, to have a friend and connect with somepony I want a real relationship," he begged tearfully, “But I’m a danger to her.....she’ll never forgive me!!!” He ran to his bedroom and slammed the door behind him. Feeling the worst he had ever in his life.

“Well that takes care of that...where’s Eclipse?” Discord asks coming back looking around.

Midnight was stressed out, of her life watching sitting with her head in her hands. “I’m a terrible mother, how the Tartarus did I let this happen?...”

“Well we did keep him cooped up for a long time,” he mentions.

“I know but what else can I do?.. When we agreed to make him I never thought about actually being a mother I ...” she said sitting next to Discord, “I can Pull the universe apart but I can’t look after my son....maybe he does need a friend something to help him...”

“I suppose, but he doesn’t know how to be one since he’s lived here,” Discord states as a light bulb literally appeared above him. “I've got it!! We’ll send him to Friendship School!!” he then reaches up to take the bulb and start munching on it. 

“Yeah sure..wait what!” She exclaims surprised, “but is that good? I mean he’s never been to...like, and...” Midnight continued to hesitate. Discord looks at her with a, "you know it’s a good idea," expression. “Hmmm... well ok, it might make him understand the responsibility which I guess social interaction is good at teaching.” 

Meanwhile, Eclipse walked out of his room to get some water. His eyes were red and puffy from all the crying when he saw Winter asleep on the couch, she looked so pretty he thought. “I’m sorry Winter... I ruined everything... I lied and I’ll probably never see you again, but even if it was brief... thanks for being my friend....” he spoke softly while tearing up and slowly walking away until his parents both came in to tell him the news...

“Eclipse. Come here one moment.” His mother called sternly. He flinched and froze before coming back.

“Kid, your mother and I talked it over and we decided to send you to the school of friendship in Equestria, the same one as your girlfriend,” discord announced.

“Well she’s not my....wait what!! Really!” He was surprised but it felt like a bright light had come! He didn’t know or care much about the school of friendship but if he could still get to see Winter and meet new ponies he’d be happy! Nullah already was perked up wearing a little lettermen jacket to show his school spirit, and wearing his school bag that resembled the flag of his homeland, his tail wagging excitedly. “So I’ll go there to learn friendship! Wait I thought you guys hated friendship?”

Discord coughed, “well uh... it’s more to teach you responsibility, yeah! What makes other ponies weak to use as your strength!” Midnight nodded in explanation,  “And that falls under friendship and this is to help you better socialize,” she adds, reminding them to keep it down while motioning to the sleeping Winter.

“Oh ok well thank you, guys...” Eclipse replies happily. 

“Though you will not be allowed to travel,” Discord added, “and you must take the form of a normal pony, for the time being, you need to learn patience. The world isn't ready to know of their future king of the multiverse," he winked.

It wasn’t the best but he would take it, “yes father, I promise I will!”

“Good. Now we’ll try to find a place for you to stay while you live there until you graduate,” Discord snapped his hands and vanished. Coming back with stacks of papers for different homes and places to buy or rent, even papers for the school dormitories!

Midnight flew over to Winter to see if she was ok which she was.

“Mother, may I ask...is it ok we left that dimension like that?” Eclipse then asks, walking away from Discords rambling about the properties. 

She looks at him,  “well depends on who you ask but... that dimension went that course so that’s its destiny. I believe all realities should stay the way they naturally develop, if they had come to her dimension it would have ruined its natural evolution," Midnight starts, looking to the sleeping pegasus, "In Winter's, would the mane six defeat Starlight, it just takes one small thing to change the course of the history of that world, just one thing went different, and boom! Brainwashed Equestria. Eclipse darling that’s why we can’t let these things cross over.”

“I guess...” he says knowing this will be on his mind for a while he goes up to Winter, “I just hope she’ll forgive me” he whispers, Nullah patting his back in assurance. 

“That’s all up to her, if she is your friend then she’ll understand,” Midnight says as Nullah slithered over and booped Winters's nose again as she slept. After being sure she was mostly alright, they sent her home. Winter was to wake up at the cottage she would still feel some side effects.

There’s a box of Tim Tams next to her. With Eclipse’s name on it ‘Sorry,’ written next to it, along with a 'get well card,' drawn by Nullah.

~~~

Winter woke up the next day and found herself at home then noticed the box. She had never seen or heard of Tim Tams before since they weren’t from Equestria. But they smelled of chocolate. Though at the same time she felt rather sick at the idea of eating sweets, remembering what happened before. 

Eclipse, who was nervous as all heck walked up looking shy, “hi, so umm…how are you doing?”

“Eclipse...” she trailed off when she saw him.

“I...I...I’m sorry I was stupid and was not responsible…if you never want to talk to me again I understand…” he says trying not to tear up.

“You really didn’t know what you were doing were you?” She raised a brow at him, not sounding as mad as he thought she would be.

He breaths slowly, “No…I didn’t…it’s well, things got out of hoof….I’m not a liar, I do travel just….I’m not actually that experienced in stressful situations, I dunno… I get overwhelmed for some reason…” he admits shaking a bit while shifting between hooves, hoping she was okay. 
“Again, I’m sorry, and if there is anything I could do to make it up to you, I will!” he tried to be emotionally brave. 

Winter glanced up at him again, he was truly being sincere then and she felt bad.

“I’m sorry too….I jumped into it rather fast…” she chuckles, “I guess we both did,” he smiles back now feeling a bit more at ease and less anxious seeing she didn’t seem to be mad at him. 

“You went through a lot, I hope she didn’t do anything to …well I saw some of the brainwashing stuff…” he started, Winter thinks as she remembers it well surprisingly but it was still a blur. 

“No no I think…if I’m honest it was weird because it felt so right I felt…good like, I just found myself and where I truly belonged….it’s kinda scary thinking how fast my mind turned…they just kinda drugged me with magic or something…” she blushes embarrassed, remembering now what she did in the room. Her smile before they were rescued...  

“On no, I didn’t do that did I?..” she hoofed palms, “Promise...we won’t get back there again?...”

He approaches her, “I promise! Had I known I wouldn’t have gone there anyway ....but I can’t travel anymore…my parents said I need to be here to join the Friendship School…”

 “Really?! You’re going to be a student!? That’s cool!” Her smile returned, but it fell as she grew nauseous, smiling so wide that her mouth muscles needed a rest. 

“Yeah!” He cheered then saw her expression quickly change, “Oof those cookies kicking in?” He asks.

“Yup...I don’t think I can eat another cookie ever again...” she groaned sickly.

“Well as long as you still feel..well you and not you know, no side effects then it should be good,” he says still a bit unsure about the side effects of the laced sweets. 

“Just remember, special talents are what make us,” he said hoping nothing was leftover from the brainwashing.

“Don’t worry I’m back to my senses now,” she sighed in relief, “just..eh it is kinda scary knowing how fast I changed..” she started to feel uncomfortable. 

Fluttershy enters the cottage after a long night with her Discord and she sees Eclipse “Oh I haven’t seen you before Welcome!” 

Eclipse cringed hearing that “oh just no please no…”

“Agreed...” Winter groans, flopping onto her back and covering her face with one of the pillows, “I’m done with that place!!! Especially that greeting!!!...” She screamed muffled.

Fluttershy seemed shocked and confused, “oh did I say something wrong?... I’m sorry” she put her head down looking worried. 

“It’s not your fault,” Eclipse assures, taking one of the Tim Tams to munch on. 

“We just had a rough day..” Winter replies muffled. Pulling the pillow down, “sorry Miss Fluttershy...”

“Oh ok..?” She says confused, Winter would explain to her later on. For now, she had to process what happened. The more she thought about it the more it concerned her…what had she just done..did she really run away with a stranger and end up losing her identity to some kind of cult!…..

Nah, this was all just some crazy dream she had after a long, stressful day of work. Right?...


~~~
Later that night she was outside in the garden of the sanctuary. She hadn’t stopped thinking about it all day…that whole ordeal was dangerous! And she forgave him as if it was nothing! Well, he was a nice pony and Winter did not judge others…knowing herself what it was like to be judged but still, she did feel uncomfortable. Winter hardly even slept last night because she kept thinking about the day's events, and how close she was to truly losing herself! It was all so frightening…

It twas a warm night, early autumn and there was a nice breeze Eclipse was hanging around but super nervous about talking to her.

“Good evening!!” A very loud and familiar voice boomed as Discord suddenly appeared, munching on a carrot kangaroo, “hey squirt! What's got you all worried? Please tell me so we can progress this story! I've been waiting for three weeks for these two just to write this part!!” He exclaimed annoyedly, looking up past the screens to the two writers, “even if it is past their bedtimes.”

“Oh hey dad uh, I’m just feeling odd…immoral actually, Winter she… didn’t… well…she said she was alright, but she isn’t and I feel horrible. I might of given her permanent trauma, maybe, or... Gah!” Eclipse groans, panicking a little. “Am I a bad pony?”

“Well, of course! You’re a Chaos!!!” Discord hollers in an echo, thunder striking from cotton candy clouds. “But that aside you haven’t really done anything outright evil, it was just a mistake you can learn from!”

Eclipse sighed, “I mean, I can learn but I don’t care about me. I’ve hurt her? I just don’t want her to feel bad she’s innocent,” he says, “I just don’t know what to say or how to talk to her…it was easy when I was pretending to be confident...” Nullah slithered around to give a boop of reassurance before a cheek nuzzles to try and make him feel better. Even offering ice cream. 

“You should care about yourself son, 'cause otherwise how will you take care of others?" Discord asks, patting him on the back before standing him up, “and who says you can’t do it again? Come on now! Just fake it till you make it! Go on out there and bloody talk so this story can finally move on from book one!! You’ve still got another five volumes to get through!” He struggled to keep it together, pulling his eyes out of his face before eating them just to be put back. “You just have to trust in yourself, go up to her, and ask how she is and how you can help?”

“Dad…..you’re really strange sometimes… but thanks, I think,” Eclipse replies. He wants to go talk to her even if to just get him to get out of his face.

“Don’t choke!” Discord calls, snapping his fingers as he vanished but then reappeared again to steal the box of Tim Tams that was for Winter before vanishing again. Midnight gave a pointed look at him with a raised brow as he snuggled on the couch before the tv once more. “What? He needed the nudge! And I needed the snack!” He says as he opens the Tim tam just to eat the wrapper! 

Eclipse went outside and saw Winter sitting alone on a hillside. He breathed in slowly and was fiddling with his hoofs, heart racing. He truly wished he had a cube with him to help with the nerves. “ok here goes nothing...” he says and walks up to her but trips on a rock and accidentally falls on her like last time. 

They fell to the bottom with a big thud, groaning as they tried to get their bearings back. Their noses touched when they tried to get up, both faces turning a bright red. Nullah holding up a little flag with W+E on it inside a heart. “S-story! Sorry! Sorry…” Winter apologized in a stutter.

He Quicky gets up, fixing his mane, “no no I’m sorry….actually, not just for that, for that for everything...” he blurts out. 

“About the whole…situation?…” she asks as they get up, sitting at a distance from each other. “It wasn’t your fault, you didn’t know…”

“Yes but I lied to you, and I acknowledge that I did but you went through a bit…” he sympathized, "Maybe more than me..." 

“I did…” she admits, “I mean it’s totally cool now! We’re free... and away from that dreadful place!. Where everypony was void of their free will!... Right, little Boop?..” Winter asks with a nervous chuckle, trying to put on a brave face but Nullah wasn’t impressed. Winter finally cracked, "Okay!... Yes, everything’s not fine!.. that whole experience was terrible! It was dreadful, all those smiles and everypony including me….saying, one of us, and trying to get us to join! I thought I was going to be a grey zombie pony for the rest of my life! Worst part is I wanted to be…. Please stop looking at me with those cute eyes!”

Nullah smiled knowing she was now being honest, giving her a head pat and a 'good pony sticker. “Hey, you should talk about it. I do know holding trauma in is bad,” he says looking at the stars above and back to her, “how are you feeling honestly? Because if you’re scared, I am,”

Winter looked up at the stars with him, watching the stars twinkle, before looking down again at the ground, “I’ve been dreaming about that place a lot…” she confesses, “haven’t been able to sleep well because of it, I keep thinking about how easily I gave in because I wanted to finally belong somewhere. Where I'm not pressured into being somepony I don't even know…I got too greedy…”

“Belong? But you live in Ponyville, a place of such happy ponies! So I read about it. Are you… lonely?” He asks genuinely.

Winter nods again, rubbing her eyes to hold back tears, “I am…if you haven’t noticed, I’m a blank flank,” she lifts her wing to show him. No cutiemark in sight, "The teasing isn't as bad compared to when I was a filly, but most ponies ignore me..."  

“Oh I saw, I just didn’t realize that was such a hindrance…I’m so sorry…if you don’t mind me asking, do you have any friends?” He questions. 

“Well, I have miss Fluttershy, and the animals, the CMC who’ve helped me try to get my cutiemark, and I am somewhat acquainted with the other members of the friendship council through Miss Fluttershy,” Winter lists down, frowning at the realization of how lonely she was! Most of the ponies and other creatures she’s met were through her parents because of their occupation and even then she didn’t truly know anyone. “But I haven’t found a creature I could call my first, real best friend…”

He looked at her and gave a soft smile, “we aren’t so different I guess…heh, I only have my parents and Nullah, who I love!" he booped the noodle, "Don’t get me wrong! But, I’ve not really been able to know anypony. I've just been running, running all the time, I’ve been lonely too…” he glances at her, “hey, maybe we were both a bit silly,” he chuckles, then thought, “Winter…do you want to ….start over??”

Winter looked up almost hopeful, eyes glimmering in the night, “you’d want to be friends with a talentless blank flank? When you could have any other friend in the whole universe?..”

“Talentless blank flank? I’m sorry but no…every creature in the universe has a purpose and we all have value! I wouldn’t care if you were a talking orange, I would love to hang out with you,” he smiles sincerely “I know I’m not good at reading emotions... and I don’t know why... but I want to try because I don’t know, but I just want to not be alone anymore,” he says. 

“Well…I guess if it’s alright with you, I wouldn’t mind being your friend,” she happily agreed, her hoof held out to him, “I’m Winter Sea,” she also held out her other hoof towards Nullah, who happily shook it with his tail. Wagging in excitement to have a new subje- uhh- friend! Yes, friend! To give him lots of boops and snacks. 

He gets up and sighs in relief, he closes his eyes and opens them “Hi, I’m Eclipse, it’s lovely to meet you! This is my friend Nullah!” He shakes her hoof, “can I sit here?" He asks politely. 

“If you don’t mind star gazing,” she patted the spot closer to her. The sky seemed to clear then, making it more visible to see the stars. 

He sat down, Nullah on his lap, yawning and snuggling in, being a sleepy Boop, Eclipse asks Winter what she was into she asked back and the two would happily watch the beautiful sky as they properly began this friendship. 

To be continued…