//------------------------------//
// The revealing light of the moon 
// Story: Something Greater 
// by TheLazyCyberpony 
//------------------------------//

Aurora launched up, sweat permeating on her deep blue brow, awoken from a distressful nightmare. Or was it a vision? She couldn't tell nowadays. This was Aurora’s 4th distraught dream in a row, and she knew she couldn't take many more of them. She looked to her left, the amber curtains pulled back, revealing a beautiful crescent moon, its light encompassing her whole room. She always had a fascination with the moon; even as a filly she would spend hours at night staring deep into its illuminating presence. Rummaging around, she found her deep hazel glasses and trotted to her windowsill. Below the radiant light of the moon sat a forest of evergreen trees on a sprawling hill leading up to a quaint shack for one. That was all she had ever known. A somber loneliness to some, but to her it was just what she wanted. Picking up a dusty book, long overdue, she sat down to read. The words on the faded book seemed to echo in her head. It was a collection of old lullabies and folk stories her parents used to read to her when she was younger. Those days are long gone.

Once the sharp crack of dawn broke into her vision, she knew it was time to begin her seemingly infinite daily cycle: water the plants, travel down to the ancient well for water, socialize with the animals, take a walk, and try to find something to do to kill time till the next day. Taking a rusty watering can, she began the short journey down to the garden. Unbeknownst to her, she was being watched. Trotting down, she watered the kales, the carrots, cabbages, and her other various vegetables. The monotony of her life distracted her from anything and everything she could ever wish to have; as she was completely content. With her watering can empty, she returned to her isolated shack, a reflection of her life itself. As the trek continued, a tuft on the back of her cerulean mane stood cold. She paused for a moment, assessing the situation. A deep feeling of unrest enveloped her whole body, sending shivers down her spine. She slowly looked right, then left…

Out of the corner of her eyes, she saw it.

It was a being made entirely of shadow, sharing the outline of a distorted horse. Two red eyes betwixt its featureless face. Deep inside, Aurora could feel a sense of familiarity, in contrast to her overwhelming fear. She tried to speak, say anything, but she felt entrapped in one position, her throat baring no sound. Near the gloomy creatures' flank, she noticed a large cutie mark, a combination of an all too familiar crescent moon with stars to guard its sides. Seemingly once she noticed this minute detail, the creature seemed to jump out at her, in such speed it would have seemed instant. It surrounded her, its dark figure blotting out the early sunlight. She tried to move, but her legs were frozen to the muck and dirt beneath her. Without warning, frames of a grand battle of two deity-like figures flashed between her irises. Though with such sheer tenacity being displayed it was hard to follow, she could make out an equine being clad in scarce golden armor, a coat of white fur surrounding her body. The other entity seemed much more battle-ready, with bright blue protection placed in much more strategically sound areas. Its coat was an elegant black, its teeth fanged, and its wings pointed at a jagged right angle, resembling the stories she had heard of the fearsome ‘bat ponies’. Its ferocity surpassed that of the white being, with every strike it seemingly became more angry. Aurora could feel the hatred in the dark beings eyes. Once again, the feeling of deja vu returned. She was so overwhelmed with what she was viewing, she tried to close her eyes, but the seemingly never-ending battle played in her mind. This shadow creature wanted her to see this strange glimpse into what she could only believe was fantasy, and she was going to receive that message no matter what. The being clad in dark blue seemingly had the upper hand, pushing the white being into a castle past its prime. The chaotic battle stopped, and all stood silent. The Black-furred entity, believing it had won, stood tall and released a tumultuous laugh, echoing through Aurora’s head. With her eyes closed and her head up, she did not notice the opposing being rise up in a blinding white light, now surrounded by 6 unidentifiable Crystals. 

The white creature's rosy hair flew straight up, her eyes now glowing a radiant bright light. With a noticeable tear in her eye, the snowy White Equine blasted a ray of rainbow light directly at its brooding enemy. With its guard cut off, it was taken aback and seemingly evaporated by the blast of energy. Soon after the energy ceased, the chalky horse fell to the floor, in a duality of tears and screams. Aurora could hear exactly what the white horse bellowed: 

“What have I done?!” Aurora felt the sting in each scream, and she too cried in unison with the unknown white figure, forgetting the shadow monster, her outside life, everything. She was enveloped with the story. Just as suddenly as the strange anecdote had begun, it ended, fading into the back of her mind. She broke out of her spoof and noticed she was all alone. After quickly surveying her surroundings, she sat gently on a soft patch of grass and began to process all that had happened. Based on the sun’s position, it had been about an hour since her intrepid encounter with the shadow pony. An endless stream of emotions dashed through her head. 

“What… what was that…” Aurora’s voice was a quivering whisper. She knew she needed to tell somepony, but she was so confused by the recent events she had no idea who to talk to. Her parents had told her never to venture too deep into the surrounding evergreen forest. Stories of beasts and ghouls kept her from wandering astray, but now… She felt she had to. She Hurriedly Trotted to her secluded home, writing down things she would need for her great trek through the woods…