//------------------------------// // I am Shadow Moon // Story: Foal Adventures. // by Super-Stallion //------------------------------// It was evening in Canterlot and Sly was playing happily with his squeaky toy in the royal night garden, when a cry for help from Nightmare Moon cause his ears to stick up, shortly followed by his body. When the cry came, again he took off running, listening closely to the screams from his big sister and running with all his heart as he followed them into a room where Nightmare Moon was floating in mid-air. “SLY HELP!” as Sly ran into the room he started to growl and bear his teeth, he didn’t know who or what was doing this to his big sister but he wasn’t about to let them get away with this. As the door, shut behind him Sly jumped around, barked several times before he opened his eyes, and found Luna leaning down to him with a smile on her face. “Gotcha.” with that Luna lowered Nightmare Moon to the floor sitting her down next to a washcloth and a bar of soap. As Sly started to look around the room, he started to understand what has just happened as he realized just what room he had ran into. “It’s bath time.” With a yelp, Sly tried to make his was to a nearby open window but was stopped as Luna used her magic to levitate him off the ground. “Oh no you don’t, my brave little fox, it’s bath time, and you’re getting a bath.” As Sly whimpered a little but and tucked his tail as he looked at the water in the bath tube Luna smiled and without loosing her hold on Sly made his squeaky to appear so that he would have something to play with in the bath. As Sly was play in the tub he looked around for a few moments before he ducked from soap heading from him. “Now Sly.” Sly dove under the water and got Luna to shake her head. “Every time.” “You know you’re going to get bathed so why don’t you just give up already?” Nightmare Moon said, as she leaned over the edge of the bath tube. “Really? Every night? You know you have to come up for air and that’s when Mommy is going to scrub you with soap.” in a flash Sly came burst from the water surface and wrapped his front legs around Nightmare Moon’s neck. “WHAT NO, BAD SLY, BAD LITTLE BROTHER!” Nightmare Moon cried out as she was pulled into the tube. As the two came back to the surface, Nightmare Moon could see that Luna was trying not to laugh. “Well it looks you’re both getting a bath now.” Luna said as she used her magic to remove Nightmare Moons wet diaper. Only to watch Nightmare Moon scowl at Sly, which got the young pup to lower his head, but was quickly brought back to normal as Nightmare Moon splashed him, getting the little fox to smile and do the same. As the two little ones went back and forth splash each other Luna laughed, but her laughter was cut short as she was hit with a combined effort from both youths in one large splash. As Luna looked at her two snickering little charges she smirked, she smiled and then leaned down and splashed them both. “That’s enough you two, time to get clean up.” As Luna bathed both Nightmare Moon and Sly she smiled as she listened to the play full laughter they both let out as the brush seem to tickle them. Once they where done Luna got them ready for bed and smiled as she watched them both curl up next to each other. “Mommy.” “Yes my little moon?” “Instead of reading us a bedtime story, can you tell us about Shadow Moon?” “I suppose I could, but what do you want to know?” “Who is he?” Luna smiled slightly and then sat down on the floor as she looked at her two young charges. “I guess before I tell you anything I should tell you how he came to be, he was forged by battle, but not any battle, the greatest battle ever fought, across time and space the greatest warriors rose up and tried to fight a being made of pure evil, over ten thousand warriors each a legend, and each highly skilled.” “Why haven’t I heard about it before?” “This happened while we were banished little moon, it was only recent that we learned of this, or rather learned of Shadow Moon.” “I don’t understand mommy.” “Shadow Moon emerged from that battle filled with anger and rage, and once he gained his strength he went on a mission to destroy all evil, he lashed out at any who dare think of doing evil and made them all pay, Some of the most fearsome empires in many different realities suffered at his hands. Across the dimensional rifts that connect all realities he has waged a war destroying those that could not be saved, showing mercy to those that could.” with that Nightmare Moon gulped slightly as she looked at Sly. “Mommy, Shadow Moon started to show up shortly after I was uh...” “Given life.” “Yeah,… do you think he might be keeping an eye on me?” with that Luna could see the worried look on her daughter’s face and then smiled slightly as she used her magic and brought both younglings to her. “I think now is a good time for a story about Shadow Moon. In fact, I know just the story, a few months ago in the Griffon Empire a dark force showed itself, in an attempt to gain control of one of the kingdoms of Equestria. ************* Flash back ************* The scene was grim in the griffon throne room as the royal family remained behind one of their newest but best fighters, a subject that they would have left to her own destruction if not for their young daughter taking a shine to the rough and arrogant rouge. “Gilda, I’m scared.” the young princess cried as her mother and father held her close. “Nothing to be scared about, Small Claw, got this.” Gilda said, as she kept her wings extended out and glared at two dark creatures that looked like griffons but had glowing red eyes and bat like wings. “Nothing’s going to harm a feather on that little head of yours.” “Oh we intend to do more then just harm it, we’re taking over, and that means the old bloodline has to be eliminated.” one of the griffons creatures said as it walked forward and started to move to the right. “Why stand against us, Gilda? Why not join us, be the new kingdom’s head of military, and help us lead an all out attack across Equestria.” the other creature said as it walked to the left. “Kid’s grown on me.” “Oh please when did you even start to care about others?” Gilda smirked slightly as watched the two the best she could. “When someone cared enough to give this hard headed old bird a second chance.” with that bother creatures stopped and glared at Gilda. “That’s so sweet I think I’m going to be sick, it’s about time we end this.” with that bother creatures crouched down into attack stance and then lunched at Gilda. “TEMPEST WINDS.” As the two creatures merged to forms a dark spiraling vortex, Gilda braced herself for the attack but when it did not come, she opened one eye then the other only to find Shadow Moon standing in front of her with both his hands out holding back the attack. Before throwing it, back causing it to split and form two creatures once more. “Meddling creature, you don’t have a clue of the power you stand against?” “I have a great understanding of what I stand against, and if you are as linked with the powers you think you wield then look upon me and let it tell you what you now face.” Gilda and the griffon royal family could see it only for and instant but the sign was clear, as the creatures seem to flinch. “You’ve turned loyal subjects against their beloved royal family, you’ve poisoned their minds and twisted their hearts, prepare to be purged, from your ill gotten vessels.” “Not before we finish you first, SHADOW SLASH.” “CRIMSON CLAW!” Both creatures lunged as Shadow Moon as their claws started to glow only to be caught by Shadow Moon and slammed into the ground. “Calling out your attacks not really helpful in a fight.” Shadow Moon said as he turned his back on them and looked at Gilda and the Royal family. “Is everyone alright?” “Yes, thank you, by your looks I can only assume that you are the creature known as Shadow Moon.” the king said, as he looked at Shadow Moon. “You would be correct in that assumption.” “Thank you Shadow Moon, we are forever in your debt.” the queen said, as she held her daughter. “No debt is needed, your guard would have been able to dispatch these two with minor scratches, but it would have cost you the lives of two very loyal subjects that have only been tricked by the true evil that has started to show itself here.” “Yeah Gilda would have beaten those two up easy.” the Princess said, as she crossed her arms and growled slightly at Shadow Moon. “No doubt in my mind that she would have Princess, I only wish to ensure that no life is lost this day.” with that, Shadow Moon turned to Gilda. “I wish you to continue to protect the Royal family while I try and cure these two of that which has infected them, should I fail by all means keep the royal family safe.” “No problem.” with that Shadow Moon turned back to find the two creatures had started to get back to up. “You’re going to pay for that.” “Perhaps when I face you head to head, but not by any of your puppets.” in a flash a light Shadow Moon vanished and reappeared behind the two creatures and then vanished once more taking the two creatures with him into some kind of pocket dimension. “Now where were we?” as the two creatures’ growled dark magic started to form around them forming armor on them. “You may have bested our creations in the past but you will fall this day.” both creatures said in unison as they looked started to circle Shadow Moon. “That has yet to be seen monster, why not show your true form so that we might end this once and for all.” “Because I have yet to make you truly suffer.” with those words both griffons attacked at once, each on skilled fighters and each one knowing the other so well that it was almost as if together they were one in the same creature, same mind, same fighting spirit. While in the center of their assault, the target of their assault Shadow Moon countered every slash, every kick, waiting for any opening that they presented and attacked. When it was clear that they would not win on their own the dark force that was pulling the creatures strings started to infect the ground and form stone monsters to aid in the battle. “You might be able to stand against two of my minions but can you stand against two hundred? The dark presence voice said through his minions all in unison. “Let us find out shall we?” As the first stone creature charged, the others laughed but stopped as the stone creature exploded once it got within arm’s length of Shadow Moon. “It was been years since your master made its presence known. Years that I have traveled across countless galaxies, countless realities learning as many fighting styles that I could, and destroying the evil that resided in those realities.” There was a pause in the battle, and it was clear, even on the stone faces of the golems that the darkness created that it realized that this battle was lost long before it had even started. As Shadow Moon held out his right hand, a crimson red sword appeared and he looked into the eyes of the two griffons being controlled. “This is where you release your victims.” with one mighty swing of the sword a wave of red energy swept through the enemy ranks destroying all the stone monsters and freeing the two griffons. ******************* PRESENT ******************* Nightmare Moon tapped Luna on the chest getting Luna to stop her story and looked at her daughter, and getting Sly to whimper slightly wanting to hear more of the story. “Mommy I don’t understand how does that answer my question about if he was waiting for me to be bad?” “Well my little Moon you don’t have to worry about a thing, you see as I said the red energy freed the two griffon guards, it didn’t destroy them. “So if I did go bad?” “Well first I don’t even think you will ever go bad my little moon, what do you think Sly?” Luna asked, as she looked at Sly who looked up at her then at Nightmare Moon for a moment and then started to lick her face. “See he doesn’t think you’ll ever go bad ether.” Nightmare Moon laughed before wrapping her forelegs around Sly and hugging him. “Now as I was saying. Second even if for some reason that evil presence did take hold of you, Shadow Moon can free you, and should you turn even with out the evil creatures help, well Shadow Moon could stand against you, but I would first have him promise not to destroy you like he has done to so many other evil creatures before. Does that help you my little moon?” “I guess, but I’m still a little worried.” with that Luna nodded and tucked the two back into their crib. “Then how about this, I’ll see if Shadow Moon can stop by the Palace and you can see that he’s really a nice creature.” With that, Nightmare Moon nodded and smiled then draped one of her wings over Sly letting the little fox get closer and cuddle up to her. As Luna left, she went to the telescope but before she looked through it, she let out a deep sigh. “They’re both sleeping peacefully.” “You seemed troubled tonight.” Shadow Moon asked, as he appeared from the Shadows. “My Little Moon is worried that you are only here because you think she’ll grow up to be evil.” “We both know that’s not the case.” “I know, but she got me to wonder what would happen to her if I did fail her as mother.” “You mean what would I do if she grew up and tried to be another evil queen of the night?” “Yes.” Shadow Moon remained silent for a few moments and then walked past Luna looked out at the stars. “I believe I would stop her.” “But how would you stop her? I know of your ways against the other dark creatures.” “Against Dark creatures with no redeeming factor, against monsters that are trying to cause nothing but trouble yes I destroy them, yes there is nothing left of them. But when it comes to those creatures, that I know mean no harm, and are just innocent pawns, I find away to save them, for those that have redeeming factors I show them the error of their ways. Luna, your daughter is safe, even if she did grow up and one day decided she wanted to make the night last forever, I would do my best to show her the error of that path, and if that didn’t work subdue her so that you might be able to convince her of another path.” Those words brought a smile to Luna’s face as she walked up and stood beside Shadow Moon. “You know it’s getting stronger.” “I know I can feel it tipping the balance.” “And when the time comes, would you be able to make the tough choices.” with that Shadow Moon looked at Luna and then turned and started to walk away. “Those choices should never have been made, not by child and not by one that didn’t know any better.” “But they where choices that where made in the heat of the moment when all seemed lost, will you never find it in your heart to forgive those actions?” with that Shadow Moon looked at Luna as his fist tightened and it was clear she was starting to enter territory that she knew she shouldn’t. “They can never be forgiven or forgotten, princess. What happened that day was wrong, what steps where taken where wrong, but they where still taken and now the forces of good are weaker then ever before. As we’ve both said a new dark force is growing in power, a force that we could really use some help on should it ever find a host powerful enough.” with that Shadow Moon turned and walked back into the Shadows leaving Luna alone for a few moments before she looked to her star filled sky. “If he could only forgive, he might learn the true extent of his power.”