//------------------------------// // Chapter 14: The Past Reawakens // Story: Treasured Moon and Stars: Vol. 1 Luna's Treasured Moon // by TigerSwirl448 //------------------------------// Chapter 14 The Past Reawakens Scratch woke up, blinking his heavy eyes, looking around only to see darkness around him. He let out a sigh, banging his head a little hard on the back wall. “Ow,” he muttered out loud with a deadpanned look. “You alright?” Scratch jumped then turned to the sound of Rainbow’s voice. “Yeah, just thinking and I hit myself.” He sighed silently. Thinking of a way to get out of here number one. He thought harshly. Rainbow chuckled. “Wow,” Scratch blushed. Rainbow grunted in the dark moving her chains. “I swear by Luna that my hands will fall off in a matter of days.” Scratch smiled at her groan. Hopefully that can happen, that way you would be defenseless against my blade. “Well I’ve been through worst. You’re going through stuff I wished to go back to.” Rainbow went silent for a moment. Scratch frowned turning away, thinking about a way to get out of there “You were a prisoner for a long time?” Rainbow asked. Scratch sighed. “Yeah, I have been a prisoner since I was maybe twenty-six or so. That was twelve or thirteen years ago.” Rainbow nodded. “For what, if I may be so bold to ask?” Scratch cracked a smile. “Does being a jack-ass a good enough answer?” Rainbow chuckled. “Well it just depends on your story. What caused you to be a jack-ass?” Scratch shook his head. “You know I really like you.” If you weren’t my enemy. “You remind me of...” “Remind you of who?” Rainbow asked carefully, noticing the shift in emotion. “My wife.” The room went silent. “You’re wife?” Tick Tock asked. “You’re awake? Sorry to have disturbed you.” Rainbow said silently. Tick Tock shifted, causing his chains to rattle. “I’ve been awake for a time.” He turned to where Scratch was in the dark. “Captain Scratch, you have a wife?” Scratch nodded. “Well, used to. I don’t know where she is or if she’s still alive.” “Well we’re not going anywhere.” Rainbow said getting comfortable. “Why not tell us about her. I bet she’s a beauty, eh?” Scratch chuckled. “She was. I had to fight against three other ponies just so her father would allow me to marry her.” He laughed at the memory. “Oh man, she was sneaky. She actually drugged the other stallions’ drinks so they would be slow or sick so I could beat them.” Tick Tock chuckled. “Boy, I can tell you two had a bond.” Scratch nodded. “You can say it was a forbidden relationship. I’m a unicorn, she’s an earth pony. Just like unicorns and pegasi in Canterlot, the Earth ponies have their own fears of breeding with other species. So when her father told me I’ll have to prove that I love her fighting in the earth pony way and no magic. So I agreed and I took the challenge. Without magic it was hard to fight three other stallions that were chosen by her father to try and beat me. After a long fight I proved I can fight for the mare I loved and three weeks later we got married.” Scratch grinned at the memory. “While we were together in our own shack outside of Manehattan she told me the truth.” Scratch laughed. “And I told her that she was a sneaky bitch and she agreed.” He sighed. “She was my type of mare. She cooks, she can fix things, and she’s beautiful and musical. I can’t find a better mare for my life.” Rainbow turned away her eyes burning. “She must have been a lucky mare to have a guy like you.” Scratch sighed. “What about you? Do you have a nice stallion waiting for you Rainbow?” Rainbow went still feeling sweat. She turned away. “No, I don’t.” Tick Tock blinked. “Really? I thought you might’ve-” “Shut up.” She growled threateningly. Tick Tock nodded. “Of course, I’m sorry-” “Just don’t talk about it.” Tick Tock could sense his old friend’s mood and decided to not further her distress. Suddenly there were sounds from above as a rush of feet came down. Rainbow looked up seeing the light. The pony with the lantern was Applejack. “What’re you doing here in such a hurry?” Rainbow asked. Applejack looked around then kneeled down to where she was eye level with Rainbow. “Look, I’m just saying this because we were friends once alright?” “What?” Rainbow asked with a quirked brow. “Listen to me carefully, the lookout spotted a boat that matched the description and name from Hoofington.” Rainbow blinked, staring wide-eyed at Applejack as Tick Tock gasped. “Octavia?” “Shh!” Applejack said harshly, looking at Rainbow Dash again. “Listen to me carefully, we’re following that ship. Just so you know, I won’t do anything to hurt the Princess, got it?” “Why are you telling me this?” Rainbow growled. “Like I said before.” Applejack whispered. “For the sake of our past friendship, I won’t do anything to harm anypony on that ship. But if I am given the order, I won’t back down.” Rainbow blinked, looking into Applejack’s eyes to see that she was telling the truth. She could even see a spark of old power in her eyes. "Trust me Dash! I know what I'm doing." Rainbow blinked and looked down, then back up into Applejack’s eyes again. “Why should I trust you after what you have done?” Applejack went silent. “I just hoped that the real Rainbow Dash is still in that head of yers.” She whispered. “I did what I did to survive, Rainbow. So did Pinkie.” Applejack stood up, Rainbow was in shock. “Wait, Pinkie Pie? Where is she?” Scratch stiffened in his bonds. He turned to stare at Applejack the most. Applejack paused, turning to Rainbow. “You really want to know?” She asked sadly. Rainbow Dash stared at her back. “Where’s Pinkie? She was with you wasn’t she?” Tick Tock stared at Rainbow with a new idea now. Rainbow might not have told him her past but he can tell that this was a very touchy subject. An answer she desperately wanted for years. Applejack sighed. “She’s gone Rainbow. She’s gone.” Rainbow’s mouth dropped to the floor watching Applejack take the stairs, leaving Rainbow sitting there in shock, taking their only light source away leaving the prisoners in darkness again. Tick Tock gulped. “Rainbow Dash?” Silence. “Captain Dash?” Rainbow remained silent, biting her lip, closing her eyes. “Rain-” “Hey Highness?” Scratch said silently, getting Tick Tock’s attention. “What?” “Can’t you see she wants to be left alone?” The two stallions remained silent in the dark as Rainbow fought hard to not cry. Her chains clank slightly as she clenched her fists and shaking. Remembering the last time she ever saw her two earth pony friends. ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ Rainbow Dash, back in the start of the rebellion, walked through a large warehouse filled with pounding feet of pegasi soldiers drilling. There would be an occasional scream of a pony being tortured in the open. Rainbow turned to see a blue stallion hanging by his wrists by electrical pulses. One of the pegasi nodded to a unicorn. The unicorn smirked and started powering her hands and flashed electricity at the stallion causing him to scream. Rainbow turned away, feeling sick, but continued on, determined, feeling the presence of her old allies flanking her. She turned to her left to see the yellow pegasus with an orange mane. Then Rainbow turned to her right to see the light blue pegasus with a navy blue mane. They were both dressed in blue and yellow aviator jackets of the Wonderbolts, one of the most influential pegasi units in the military. The yellow pegasus indicated the closest door to their left. Rainbow turned to the left and the door opened. Rainbow stiffened and stopped, seeing two Earth ponies hanging by their wrists with gravitational cuffs. Rainbow looked to see a younger Applejack beaten and bruised with blood soaking her right pant leg. Rainbow turned to the right and saw a pink earth pony with a crazy darker pink mane unconscious, showing signs of having been beaten. Applejack blinked looking up at Rainbow. “Rainbow?” Rainbow Dash kept her face emotionless but her eyes were swinging from Applejack and Pinkie Pie with anger and shock. “Why are they here?” Rainbow asked with a growl. Rainbow noticed the pink pony opening her eyes, she gasped seeing Rainbow and started to smile with relief. “They were arrested on charges of murder and causing a public riot.” The yellow pegasus said with a troubled frown. “We had no choice but to arrest them.” Rainbow turned on her. “Spitfire, these two are the Elements of Honesty and Laughter, you had no right to arrest them!” The yellow pegasus called Spitfire made a painful grimace turning away. “In fact we do,” a new voice piped up. Rainbow turned to see a pegasus that she hadn’t seen since training. She was dressed in the new style of uniforms for the new guard. Black uniform with red threads and buttons, her pants were a dirty black and her boots were the new custom combat boots. She was wearing a three cornered hat on her head with a strange emblem with outstretched wings. Her golden eyes pierced Rainbow’s magenta ones with a smirk on her teal colored face. “Lightning Dust?” Rainbow whispered in shock. Lightning Dust, an old rival and friend to Rainbow Dash during training, looked up from her paper work with a snide little grin. “It’s Colonel Lighting Dust to you, Captain.” Rainbow blinked in shock. “Colonel? How did you...” Rainbow snarled shaking her head. “Release them now!” Rainbow ordered pointing at her friends. Colonel Dust smirked standing up walking around her desk standing before Rainbow with her hands behind her back. “I’m afraid I cannot allow these beasts to leave this facility. They lead an attack on Royals, Captain Dash and as protectors of the Royal Empire of Canterlot we will keep the peace and throw away the meddlers.” Rainbow stared at the pegasus in shock, turning to Applejack to see her snarling. “That’s not true and you know it!” Applejack spat. “The truth is very clear to me,” Lightning Dust said with authority turning to Rainbow Dash. “I was given this station to train the pegasi and Rainbow Dash I need you. Hero of the war and leader of thousands, you are the Element of Loyalty the most sacred of Elements and sacred to us and the Empire of Canterlot.” Rainbow turned away seeing Spitfire and the second pegasus having trouble figuring out what to do. Rainbow turned back to the colonel pointing at her friends. “Why are you doing this? These two ponies are heroes-” “They are not heroes if they kill those that they fought for!” Lighting Dust spat pointing behind her. “These two ponies killed Prince Duncan, Prince Gale, and Duke Kemp. Solders that fought in the war like you and I and these... monsters, the earth ponies are rioting in the streets and these two were in it. They’re trying to kill us all and ruin our way of life!” “That’s not true Rainbow!” Applejack yelled out. “Don’t listen to her or what any Royal says! They are nothing but liars! They want us to fight each other don’t you understand that!” “Silence earth shit or you will regret it!” Lightning yelled out. Applejack snarled at the pegasus. “I won’t be silenced by you or your stupid Royals! We were in the right and you are all wrong!” Lightning Dust went silent glaring at the pony. “Alright so here is the choice then.” Lightning Dust challenged turning to Rainbow Dash grinning. “It’s time you choose, Captain Rainbow Dash. Are you a traitor? If so, you will be joining all the earth ponies and the other traitors and be hanged for treason against the crown.” Rainbow felt hands grab her and turned to see Spitfire’s eyes glassy. She didn’t want to do what she’s ordered to if it came down to it. Lightning sighed. “Or you will give your loyalty to me, leader of this base and the true protectors of Celestia. If you side with me, you will be second in command of the largest army in centuries.” Rainbow turned to see her friends, they are both now watching her. Rainbow bit her lip eyeing the pink pony. She was looking at her with her glassy blue eyes as if begging for help. Rainbow bowed her head thinking. She felt her arm being tightened and felt Spitfire lean in. “Don’t make the decision you will regret in the future Dash. I trained you hard for this and I don’t want you to die over some silly rivalry. Think smart, think ahead Dash.” Spitfire paused glaring at Lightning Dust. “Something is wrong. The balance has shifted since that damn war and all the pegasi we fought with are either dead or going crazy. I can’t lose you too, I need you.” Rainbow sighed looking up at Applejack to see her glare. “Rainbow it’s time you choose now who yer real friends are.” Rainbow can feel her heart quicken with fear. “Where do yer true loyalties lie, Rainbow, with the soldiers, or us, yer real friends?” Rainbow blinked hard trying to think. Spitfire leaned in again. “We’ll help them Dash. You and I and the other Wonderbolts. We’ll turn this around. Show your loyalty to the bastards, gain their trust, then we’ll strike and free the innocents.” Rainbow took in a breath and let it out shakily staring at Applejack. The pegasus points at her with a glare. “My loyalties are to the Princess and Canterlot.” Applejack’s ears went flat on her head with shock. Even the pink pony gasped with tears flowing. “Dashie!” The pink pony pleaded. “I will fight and die for her just like the rest of us!” Rainbow finished glaring coldly not to her friends but at the pegasus colonel that grinned at Spitfire. Spitfire turned away from the grin. “Turn around,” the second pegasus whispered. He turns with Spitfire and the two walked away. Rainbow kept her glare up as she turned and walked away hearing her friend screaming her name. "DASHIE!" She never felt so alone. ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ Octavia woke up, panting slightly as she sat up. She held her hand to her chest, feeling Luna's Tear flare with heat. She clenched the jewel from under her shirt, letting out slow breaths to calm her beating heart. She blinked, hearing somepony snoring and turned to see Spike and Scootaloo sleeping in their hammock. Spike was snoring loudly, and Scootaloo had large ear plugs as she smiled in her dream, curling up tighter to stay warm. Octavia blinked, getting her eyes used to the darkness, seeing Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle sharing their hammock resting. Apple Bloom looked unrested as she slept with an angry scowl on her face. Sweetie Belle looked sad as she sniffed and turned over to her side with her back towards Octavia. Octavia looked ahead of her to see Derpy sleeping with a blanket of old cloth, sucking her thumb like a filly would. Octavia blinked at the strangely adorable pose Derpy had. Derpy is a grown mare and she’s sleeping with a filly’s toy of comfort? It was odd, yet adorable. Octavia's eyes noticed that the hammock under Derpy's was empty. Vinyl's hammock. Octavia looked over at the staircase to see light from the moon outside. She reached under her hammock and grabbed her boots and pulled them on with a single hand, stepping into them to get her heel into the boot. She buckled the boot around her ankle then proceeded with the second boot. Once that was done she stood up and reached for her vest she had hung up on the nail next to her hammock and carefully pulled it on by pulling her left arm out of her sling, wincing with pain. Once that hard task was done, Octavia set her arm back into her sling then tip-toed to the stairs and out the second hatch. She reached the outside and felt the breeze in her mane cooling the sweat on her brow, making her shiver slightly. She looked up at the beautiful masterpiece of stars above her. She could see the stars all bunching together in huge clumps that resemble giant clouds. The dark dreamscape showed all sorts of colors other than the deep blue of night. Octavia was more accustomed to the deeper hues of the interior of the galaxy. It was the most beautiful sight that Octavia has ever witnessed in her life. “If only Papa and Mama could see this now.” Octavia whispered sadly, placing her hand over her chest feeling the lump of the pendant. In the breeze Octavia could hear a flute being played. She turned towards the helm where the sound was coming from to see nopony at the wheel. She walked over, cautiously climbing up the stairs to hear the whistling getting louder. She stopped and froze to see that the giant wheel is being held in place by lines of rope connecting to the rails on both sides of the ship keeping the wheel steady at the heading the ship was heading, on autopilot. Octavia raised her brow then her ears flicked toward the aft of the ship. The flute was playing a slow song. It sounded so beautiful. She walked carefully towards the back of the large cabin area where Twilight and Daring were sleeping in. Octavia turned the corner to see Vinyl with her eyes closed playing the beautiful song. She was sitting on a barrel with her legs crossed on the rail as she played the light tune. Octavia watched her bruised white fingers blocking the holes, playing the tune nicely. Octavia leaned against the wall watching her play. Octavia smiled feeling at peace as she watched the peaceful piper play. Something about that song reopens memories. Memories of peace and happiness. Octavia closed her eyes hearing the tune play. It was the same tune over and over again. Octavia found herself humming the slow tune motioning her head from side to side slowly enjoying the sound. Vinyl started to end the song to a close as she lingers on the last note then stopped. Octavia opened her eyes to see Vinyl’s eyes still shut as she held in her breath then let it out slowly. She opened her eyes smiling. Until she saw Octavia then her expression changed immediately. “Gah! Where did you come from?!” Vinyl yelled out, leaning back on the barrel. Octavia reached out to help, but was too late as Vinyl and the barrel fall back onto the deck. Octavia gasped and ran over to help her captain. Vinyl groaned, rubbing the back of her head as she sat up. “What are you doing here?” She groaned, wincing from the pain in her head. Octavia blushed as she picked up the barrel. She found Vinyl's fluted and picked it up, staring at it. Vinyl blinked looking at Octavia as she looked at the flute. “Ahem?” Octavia jumped and turned to see Vinyl giving her a look. “Oh, uh here,” Octavia said blushing handing the tin whistle back to Vinyl as she stuck the flute back into her vest. Vinyl stood up staring at Octavia. “What are you doing up here?” Vinyl asked crossing her arms across her chest. Octavia blinked and cleared her throat. “I couldn’t sleep.” “Hmm, really?” Vinyl asked with a raised brow. “Yes, I woke up and decided to get some air then I heard you playing that... What was that again?” “It’s a penny whistle.” Vinyl said a little startled by Octavia’s question. “They’re pretty popular in Manehattan.” Octavia blinked at this. “I’ve never seen such an instrument. It sounds like flute but it has a higher pitch.” Vinyl shrugged. “Well yeah, it is more like a whistle than a flute really.” The two mares went silent. Vinyl was staring at the stars while Octavia looked down at her boots. “I’m sorry,” Octavia mumbled. “Huh?” “I’m sorry for yelling at you earlier.” Octavia blushed looking up at Vinyl. Vinyl blinked and turned away scratching the back of her head thinking of what to say. “Uh well uh...” Octavia shook her head. “You don’t need to say anything or answer those questions. I know it was wrong of me to explode in your face like I did. It was my way of coping with that near death experience.” Vinyl gulped, blushing hard as she turned away. She sighed. “Look... I guess I feel like I have this responsibility for you that’s all.” Octavia blinked, looking at Vinyl in surprise as she noticed that Vinyl was blushing. “What?” She asked curiously. “I have a responsibility for you.” Vinyl lied pulling her hat off to scratch her head. “You’re a member of my crew and as a member I make a rule to protect all my spacers no matter what race, gender, or status.” Octavia blinked at this realizing that Vinyl was confessing to something, but what? “Captain-” Suddenly Octavia tensed for a second. “What... Hey are you okay?” Vinyl asked with concern seeing Octavia’s eyes went wide reaching into her shirt and pulling out Luna's Tear to see it glowing white. “What’s happening?” Vinyl asked backing away as Octavia started to glow in purple and blue magic. “I don’t know!” She yelled out looking at her arm then at her sling seeing her entire body illuminated with a purple-blue magical aura. Vinyl backed away slowly watching Octavia carefully as she continued to glow. Suddenly Luna's Tear started to levitate off Octavia’s hand and into the air up to Octavia’s chin. Octavia stared at the jewel with fear and fascination. The jewel sparked a powerful light causing both mares to yell out, blocking their eyes from the intense light. A string of light sprouted out of the jewel. Octavia opened her eyes feeling tears pouring out and gasped to see the white light from her jewel. She turned following the light and gasped to see the light pointing at Vinyl’s chest. “Captain,” Octavia whispered. “What?” Vinyl asked removing her hands from her eyes then looked down to see the jewel’s light pointing at her chest causing her to yell out a curse, jumping to the side to see that the light wasn’t on her anymore. “What’s this?” A voice asked next to them. The two mares turned to see Daring staring at them barefoot, dressed in her pants, and shirt seeing them. “Professor? What are you doing here?” Vinyl asked surprised. “I heard somepony scream and I saw this.” Daring gasped turning to see Octavia’s stone glowing. “And what do we have here?” Daring reached for the stone but stopped. She poked the stone to feel no burn. She let out a sigh then tenderly held Luna's Tear staring at it then turned to where the small light is pointed to. “I wonder... Follow me you two.” Daring ordered trotting back to the cabins. Octavia and Vinyl followed the professor into the cabin area where there are four small cabins. One of these cabins, Twilight is poking her head out the door, her mane looked topsy-turvy as she sleepily looking around. “Professor?” “Later Twilight,” Daring said running past Twilight to her door. Octavia and Vinyl stopped by Twilight as they heard Daring going through her things making a racket. “What’s going on?” Twilight asked yawning rubbing the sleep out of her eyes. Vinyl shrugged. “That jewel around Sweet Cheeks’ neck started glowing-” “Aha!” The three mares watched as Daring ran out of the room with a book in her hands. “Now please tell me everything that happened outside.” Daring ordered pulling on her reading glasses looking through some pages. Vinyl sighed. “Princess here went all stiff, see, then she pulled out that jewel and that jewel started to glow. So did Princess! It was magic!” Vinyl said pointing at Octavia. Octavia blushed holding Luna's Tear. Daring looked up. “What kind of magic are we talking about here?” Vinyl shrugged. “It was like two different unicorn magic’s surrounding her at once.” “Explain.” Twilight ordered now fully awake closing her door behind her so she can listen. “Well, there was a dark blue aura and there was a purple one.” Twilight placed her fingers on her chin thinking. Daring looked at her assistant as she flipped through the book again. “Octavia, did you feel anything during this?” Twilight asked. Octavia blinked thinking. “I actually did. It felt strange. It was like I can feel two different forces inside of me. And there were so many voices talking at once.” Octavia moaned letting the tear fall to her chest as she place both hands over her head then gasped. She turned to her right arm with astonishment as she pulled her arm out of her sling and started moving her arm around. “My arm!” “It’s healed?” Vinyl asked just as spooked backing away from Octavia. “Incredible!” Daring exclaimed. “The legends of the Tear are few but there were stories claiming that the Luna’s Tear can heal the wearer! Incredible!” Octavia was smiling that her arm was back to normal but she was freaking out at how it did that. “Professor, what is that light on the wall?” Twilight asked pointing. On the opposite wall there is a purple light. Daring looked at the light then turned to Octavia to see the Luna's Tear was emitting a light beam towards the wall. She walked over and waved her hand over the light to see it on her hand. The light isn’t a laser, if it was it didn’t burn her palm. She hummed a moment looking at the light then at Octavia. Octavia was staring at her jewel then at the wall too. Octavia blinked and saw something strange behind her eyelids. “Octavia?” Twilight asked with worry seeing Octavia’s eyes squeezed shut her hands clenched into fists. Vinyl noticed Octavia was emitting some type of energy. Anger? “Octavia, talk to us.” Twilight said grabbing Octavia’s shoulders squeezing slightly. “There’s something wrong.” Octavia whispered. “Something very wrong.” “What’s wrong?” Daring asked reaching into her pants back pocket and pull out her journal and a piece of charcoal. “I see... white everywhere.” Octavia said her ear flicked then her head turned toward Vinyl pointing at her. Vinyl stared at Daring with fear. “There’s a colt standing right there... Funny, he has Vinyl’s likeness.” Vinyl blinked looking to Twilight. Twilight gulped. “There’s something behind him... He’s running.” “Running from what?” Daring asked carefully. Vinyl turned to Twilight to see her face looking grim. Vinyl looked down to see the jewel glowing in purple and blue aura again. She’s seeing something that the jewel wants her to see. “I can see it.” Octavia said furrowing her eyebrows as if trying to see. “I see a structure of some kind... It’s huge.” “Anything else to that structure?” Daring asked kneeling down to the floor as she reaches for the book she set down flipping through pages. She stopped flipping pages at some drawings looking up at Octavia. “Tell me Octavia, what does this structure have? Any markings, shapes?” Octavia flicked her ear then turned towards the wall where the light is pointed at tilting her head to the side. “I feel strange.” She said with fear. “Just tell us what you see.” Twilight said soothingly rubbing Octavia’s shoulders. Vinyl found herself slowly sitting on the floor watching Octavia and Daring. “I just entered the structure... I can hear screaming. Painful screaming.” Octavia started shaking her head pressing her fingers to her temples. “It’s one voice screaming. Screaming for help.” “Focus Octavia.” Twilight whispered. “Tell us what Luna’s Tear want you to see.” “I don’t know what I’m seeing.” Octavia said shaking again. “But I can feel it. Anger, betrayal.” Octavia started to growl she was getting angry. “They disturbed my grave!” She screamed suddenly holding her head falling on her knees. Octavia was shaking now with tears pouring from her squinted eyes. “I didn’t mean to disturb your temple!” She said weakly as if afraid. “Sweet Cheeks?” Vinyl asked warily reaching over to touch Octavia. Octavia gasped opening her eyes panting staring at Vinyl. She turned to see Daring and Twilight looking at her. “What happened?” She asked. “You mean you don’t remember telling us those things?” Vinyl asked carefully. “I remember seeing visions.” Octavia said warily looking at Luna's Tear to see the small light but the Tear stopped glowing. Octavia turned to Daring and saw the book and gasped pointing at it. “That’s what I saw!” She exclaimed pointing at the picture in the book. Daring blinked staring at Octavia then back at the book. “You saw this temple?” Daring asked pointing at the picture. “Yes... That was it.” She shivered wrapping her arms around herself. “It was so dark and cold. Filled with horrible, horrible magic.” Twilight looked at Octavia with shock. “You can feel magic?” Octavia blinked looking up at Twilight. “Well yes. I can feel magic.” Twilight blinked several times and turned to Daring. “She’s an earth pony and she can feel magic.” “I’m more unicorn, thank you.” Octavia said huffily. Vinyl snickered. “Sorry,” Twilight said realizing her mistake. Daring pointed to the picture. “Octavia, this is a drawing that was drawn by an explorer that has seen Luna's Treasured Moon.” Octavia and Vinyl both gasped at that. “Wait, wait, you’re saying that Princess here just saw Luna’s moon?” Vinyl asked. Daring nodded. “That is the only explanation.” She turned to Octavia. “Octavia, you have said many things about the planet and I wrote them down.” Daring handed her small journal to Octavia to read. Octavia looked at the notes then blinked with a gulp. “Yes, I do remember seeing all of that.” She blinked turning to Vinyl giving her a hard look. “I swear that colt looked just like you Vinyl.” Vinyl blinked staring at her. “Except he has darker blue hair and red eyes. You’re mane is two different blues and your eyes are more magenta color.” Vinyl blinked looking at the three ponies. She turned away and stood up leaving them alone. Octavia blinked then turned to Twilight to see her sighing. “What’s wrong?” Octavia asked. Twilight shrugged. “Vinyl mentioned that her father left her family to find Luna's Treasured Moon. He never came back.” Octavia blinked. “But... if I saw her father, I only saw him as a colt, not a stallion.” Octavia stood up and ran after Vinyl leaving Professor and assistant behind to discuss the recent events. Octavia ran out the door. She looked around to find no Vinyl until she looked up to see her climbing the ratlines to the masts. Octavia gulped and follow Vinyl up and try to apologize. She reached the top and crawled over to find Vinyl with her back against the mast siting on the platform. “Captain?” Octavia asked softly seeing Vinyl trying to hide her tears. “Why are you following me?” Vinyl asked sniffing. “I want to apologize.” Octavia said sitting down next to her. “Apologize, for what?” Vinyl asked glaring at her. “I didn’t know... about your father.” Vinyl lessened her glare and turned away. “It’s not your fault. He’s been dead for a long time.” Octavia placed her hand on Vinyl’s hand, squeezing. Vinyl blinked turning to her with a blush. “I lost my father too.” Octavia said with a small smile. “He and mother both.” Vinyl looked at Octavia turning away pulling off her hat scratching her head. “At least they had each other.” Vinyl muttered looking at Octavia. Octavia nodded her lip trembling. “I guess you are right there. I just sure hope it was quick and they both didn’t suffer.” She sniffed clasping her hands in front of her on her lap looking down. Vinyl gulped. “I lost my Mom to the plague.” Octavia blinked the tears out of her eyes turning to Vinyl with surprise. “She died alone. I couldn’t do anything to help her.” Vinyl said heavily sniffing wiping her eyes. “Dad left and never came back. He promised to be back of course, like all fathers would say before leaving their wife with their little blank flank kid.” Octavia blinked staring at Vinyl as she started to cry. “It’s still hard.” She whispered. “Begging for Luna to give me a sign that he’s somehow alive or at least guide me to his resting place if not in space.” Octavia blinked several times until she wrapped her arms around Vinyl and squeezed giving her a hug. Vinyl gasped at the contact and looked down at Octavia’s head as she cried into Vinyl’s shoulder. “I’m so sorry.” Vinyl patted her awkwardly on the back. “It’s not your fault. You didn’t know. Hell...” Vinyl paused trying to say something else until a thought came to her. “At least you knew your parents.” Octavia sniffed looking up at her. “Be grateful that you knew them practically most of your young life. You knew their favorite songs, favorite colors, best memories,” Octavia sat up watching Vinyl smiling. “I don’t have any of those things. It should be me apologizing to you... Octavia. You were thrown in this shitty world because of me.” Vinyl said harshly looking down at her legs. Octavia was surprised hearing her name from this pony’s mouth. “Captain-” “No listen to me, if I hadn’t saved your ass you might be with your family right now. Happy maybe. I don’t know what ponies do in the afterlife. But really, you wouldn’t be in this mess if I wasn’t being so...” “Brave?” Vinyl blinked, turning to her with surprise. “Brave? I was thinking more along the lines of insane.” Octavia stared at her for a moment, then started to laugh. She fell on her back laughing hard at the look on Vinyl’s face. “What? What did I say?” Octavia sighed looking up at Vinyl. “You really don’t give yourself much credit do you?” She asked sitting up scooting closer to Vinyl. Vinyl blushed seeing how close she was to her. “Captain Vinyl Scratch, you are the most confusing, annoying, disgusting unicorn I have ever met.” “Hey!” “But also, over time,” Octavia said carefully smiling. “I’ve learned you are a brave, loyal, gentle, and sweetest unicorn I have ever met.” Vinyl blushed deeply, clearing her throat. “Oh well um... Wow, most ponies call me a hybrid bitch over all that you just called me.” “I’m being serious.” Octavia said smiling. “I’ve never met anypony like you before. You are hard to read though I’ll admit that.” Vinyl chuckled. “What can I say, I’m a book of a different language.” The two mares started chuckling at the joke. Octavia smiled at her. “You know, we’ve never talked like this before. Every time I talked to you, you would yell at me.” Vinyl shrugged turning away hiding her continually growing blush. “Yeah... We never really did talk. I’m sorry for that. I guess I judged you to be this stuck up royal that would have me wait hand and foot for you.” Octavia stared at Vinyl with surprise. “And I judged you to be an uncouth space pirate that cares more about money than ponies.” Vinyl blinked at Octavia with surprise. “You thought I was a pirate?” “Well in a sense you are. You don’t plunder sure but you did steal from my family’s treasury on the Cadenza.” Vinyl chuckled shrugging. “I have to make a living.” Vinyl said laying on her back with her arms under her head staring at the stars. Octavia smiled and laid down beside her with her arms over her stomach looking at the stars. “I never really told you this, Captain.” “Hmm?” “Thank you.” “What?” Vinyl asked turning to her. Octavia looked at her with a small smile. “Thank you for saving me.” Vinyl blushed seeing Octavia smile. She looked down and turned away. “I shouldn’t be thinking about why you did it, but I should have said it. If it weren’t for you warning me...” “I should be the one thanking you.” Vinyl said blushing. “I never told you thanks for helping me when I was uh... drunk back at Hoofington.” Octavia smiled. “Well you’re now a wanted criminal, I can’t let them arrest you for thinking that you kidnapped me.” Octavia sat up, Vinyl sat up with her. She gulped looking at her. “Again my fault-” Octavia placed her hand over Vinyl’s mouth to shut her up. “No more apologies, Captain. Let us forget about this and think about more important things. I thank you for saving me that night but don’t blame yourself.” Octavia removed her hand feeling her heart doing backflips in her chest after the contact. “Listen,” Vinyl said looking at Octavia. “My friends call me Vinyl.” Octavia blinked at this. “Vinyl?” “Yeah, just Vinyl.” Octavia nodded smiling. “Then you shall call me Octavia.” She held out her hand smiling. Vinyl made an awkward smile taking Octavia’s hand into hers and the two shook hands. Octavia removed her hand slowly with a small gulp, feeling Vinyl’s callused hand against hers. Vinyl felt like she was going to explode with nerves, after touching Octavia’s soft hand. She was defiantly a princess. “Uh, let’s head down. My watch is about over.” Vinyl said scratching the back of her head. “Oh yes, I’m getting sleepy now.” The two mares climbed down the ratlines. Vinyl went down first, once she was close to the end of the ratlines she jumped the ten foot drop off the ratlines to the deck below. She looked up seeing Octavia’s shock. “Jump down.” Vinyl said smiling at her. “I don’t think that’s wise.” “Come on, you’ll land on the deck. The worst thing that would happen is that you would land on your back or on your face.” Octavia glared at her. “Not helping!” “Just get down. It’s faster.” Octavia stuck out her tongue, getting a surprised laugh from Vinyl. Octavia crawled down a little farther then gulped looking down, hoping not to break her leg at the five foot drop. She let go and landed in a squat on deck surprised. She chuckled looking up. “Wow, great job dropping five feet. Impressive.” Vinyl said with a shake of her head clapping her hands. “Thank you,” Octavia said walking. Her left foot got caught on a coil of rope by the ratlines. She yelped falling. forward into Vinyl’s arms. Vinyl caught Octavia; Octavia looked up and both mares stared at one another with deep blushes, their muzzles close to touching. Vinyl gulped and cleared her throat. “Watch where you step.” Vinyl said chuckling, helping Octavia stand back up. Octavia looked down to see Vinyl’s hands still clasping her arms. “You can let go,” “Huh? Oh right, right,” Vinyl said backing away looking up at the stars as Octavia kicks the coil of rope away blushing fiercely fixing her mane. “I’ll uh, go head down below and get some sleep.” Octavia said backing away. Vinyl nodded backing away towards the quarterdeck. “Uh yeah I’ll head up top and uh ring the time. Night.” “Good night.” Octavia turned and walked away normally as she was sweating, trying hard not to cause any attention to herself. Vinyl was standing still at the stairs, smiling widely. Octavia turned to her with a small smile waving. Vinyl gulped and waved, her smile wavering. Once Octavia was gone Vinyl started cursing herself. “Stupid, stupid, stupid!” She scolded, slamming her knuckles against the wall, cursing. “I’m such an idiot!” She gulped looking down at her hand where she touched Octavia’s hand and slowly traced her fingers over her callouses, lessening her glare clenching and unclenching her fist. She sighed leaning against the wall sliding to the deck staring at the stars. “This is some kind of sick joke isn’t it?” She said out loud to the stars. “I’m falling in love with a princess.” She pulled off her hat shaking her head. “Dammit, she’s so beautiful,” She grunted and started to cough and cough for a long time. She reached into her pocket to pull out her bloody handkerchief to spit into. She finally stopped her coughing fit with deep breaths. She groaned, holding her chest. “Why can’t my life be prefect like hers?”