//------------------------------// // The Beast // Story: My New Life // by Ark125 //------------------------------// My New Life Chapter 30 - The Beast Luna's POV "Your highness. The Hearth's Warming Eve play is going to begin soon. Your carriage is waiting." "I will be right there." I said in a sad tone. It had been almost three months since Pure Heart was placed in the hospital. The staff said I wasn't allowed anywhere near him. They said it was too dangerous for his health. I wanted to stay in my bedroom, but Pure Heart would of wanted me to go, especially since the kids were in the play this year. I put on my jewelry and such and got the kids the together. As soon as we were about to walk out the door, Moonbeam began to cry. I knelt down next to her and took her in my embrace. "Honey, what is wrong?" She sniffled. "I miss Daddy. Why can't he come to the show, too?" I pushed a strand of hair out of her face. "Because he is sick." "But he has been sick for so long. Why doesn't he get better?" I thought for a moment. "I don't know sweetie." I kissed her on the forehead. "I just don't know." I held her for a couple seconds longer. "But you know what I do know?" She sniffled. "What?" "I know that your Daddy wishes, more than anything, that he could be here to see you and your brother and sister in the play. I also know that he loves you very much. And so do I." I wiped away her remaining tears and she sniffled again. "Thanks Mommy. I love you, too." I smiled and set her down gently. "Now then, let's get going. We don't want to keep the crowd waiting." They trotted out the door as I myself wiped my own tear away quickly. Then I walked out and closed the door. We arrived just in time for the kids to quickly get into costume and then get ready to go out on stage. Of course the kids were just extras, but they were excited none the less. I flew up to my private booth and took a seat. "Hello Princess Luna." Somepony from behind said. I turned and saw that it was Vapor Sky and Cloudlight. "Oh, hello." "May we sit with you, Princess?" Cloudlight asked. "Of course. It would be very lonely up here if you didn't." I patted the seats next to me and they took their seats. "I absolutely love Hearth's Warming Eve. The singing, the presents, the joy, the presents." Cloudlight said. "You said presents twice." Vapor Sky retorted. "That's because that is my favorite part." Vapor Sky punched him in the arm, bringing back a load of memories. A stray tear fell down my cheek. "Luna, are you okay?" Cloudlight asked, concern in his voice. I quickly wiped away my tear and sat straight up. "I am fine." Trumpets flared signaling that the show was about to begin. This year before the show started, Tia allowed them to give out credit for the wonderful costume designs. "Ladies and gentlecolts. Tonight's production is thanks to two very special ponies: Miss Rarity of Ponyville." Rarity stood up in the audience and waved. "And Mister Gray Shark of Canterlot." A light gray pony next to her also stood up and waved. "Now without further ado, the Hearth's Warming Eve pageant." The announcer walked off stage and somepony else in garbs came out from behind the curtain. "Once upon a time, before the peaceful rule of Celestia..." One Hour Later "Unicorns are snobs." Chancellor Puddinghead said. The play was finally coming to its conclusion. The roar of the windigo sounded in the play. "What are those things?" Private Pansy asked. "They must be windigos." Clover the Clever answered. Suddenly there was another screech, different from that of the windigo. "Psst, I don't remember that in the script." One of the actors said. "Neither do I." Said another one. "Just improvise." The screech sounded again, though this time it was much closer. The lights went out and ponies began to panic. "Due to technical difficulties, the show will be canceled, and so will you." Said somepony different from the announcer. "'And so will you'? What kind of line is that?" Said somepony else. "Shut up." The lights came back on and two ponies appeared on the stage. "What happened to the actors?" Someone in the audience asked. "Oh, you mean them?" One of the ponies pointed to the three actors who played the assistants and everypony gasped. They were not just dead, but slaughtered. "Now you may think 'What kind of monster could do such a thing?' Well I could tell you, but I find it better to demonstrate." He whistled and the screech from before sounded again. A cold chill came over the audience as the lights flickered again. When they came back on, a beast appeared on stage, though it hid in the shadows. It held a struggling actor. "Please, don't hurt me." He pleaded. "Oh don't worry. It won't hurt a bit." The first pony said. He smiled. "Go ahead." The beast barely moved, but within an instant, the actors head was gone, blood still pumping out of the corpses neck as it continued to struggle until finally it stopped moving all together. "Neat demonstration, huh?" The pony laughed. Guards were now beginning to surround the two ponies and the beast. "Who do you think you are?" One of them said. "Finally, someone asked." The other pony said. He gestured to the first one, who nodded. "My name is Red Rum." "And mine is Bullet Blaster." "And this..." He pointed to the beast. "Is our pet. His name is Blood Storm." The beast roared as it ate the rest of the body it held and stepped forward. The crowd screamed in terror. "That's the monster we saw!" Sweetie Belle screamed. "That's the creature that ate my chickens!" Fluttershy also screamed. "That is the beast that ate my leg!" Rusty Gear yelled. "This is no mere monster." Red Rum stepped back and pointed to the beast. "This is a body that has been possessed by the spirit of gluttony! This is what your worst nightmares look like manifested into flesh! This is the winter that will never thaw!" Red Rum stomped his hoof. "This is the Wendigo!" The beast screeched again, this time louder than the others.