//------------------------------// // Chapter 10: Love To Scare // Story: Love For All // by Derpyforever //------------------------------// Chapter 10: Love To Scare The sky was orange as the sun began its climb into the sky, shining down on the Equestrian inhabitants below. Shining through a window of its opposite; the window of Luna. Normally, during this time, Luna would begin to prepare for bed after a long, hard night of watching over Equestria; however, insisted by Celestia, Luna's been relieved of her dream duties until after the wedding, so she could "focus on the wedding" according to her sister... little did she know it meant staying up in her tower for the entire week while Celestia did all the work. Luna looked out the window to see Celestia in the garden, ordering guards and checking off things from a list in front of her. Luna sighed as she shook her head, and then turned around to see a very familiar shadow. "Black," Luna yelped as she pulled the blanket from her bed and covered herself, "What are you doing here? You know you can't see me this week!" "Don't worry, I'm not looking at you," the shadow replied, then came up to form the dark gray unicorn whom was soon to be Luna's husband, with his back to her, "See? The rule is I can't see you, but nothing says that I can't hear the love of my life." "Oh that's right, I almost forgot one of the reasons I love you," Luna chuckled as she took the blanket off, "You're a funny stallion... but just to be on the safe side." A navy blue aura suddenly surrounds Black as he was pushed out the door and locked out. Black smiled. He then turned around to face the door as he saw Luna's shadow peek from underneath the door. Black's horn glowed a dark blue as Luna saw her shadow morph into Black. "You can't get rid of me that easily," the shadow joked, "And I'm technically still not looking at you, my twin brother who appears flat on the ground is." "For the Master of Shadows," Luna grinned at the silhouette, "You sure have a pretty bright side." "So I do," the shadow turned into Cheese Sandwich as it said, "I'm just a regular comedian," the shadow turned into a landscape of grassy hills as the stars and moon shined down, "But I believe the Princess of the Night is still funnier," the shadow turned into a rose, "and more beautiful." "You flatterer," Luna blushed as the shadow returned to Black, "Just like when we met." "Ah, when we met," the shadow split into Luna and Black, who were both staring deeply into each other’s eyes, "It was love at first sight." "I believe it was more 'love at first fright'," Luna joked. "Point proven," the shadow chuckled, "You are funnier." "If you want to see funny," Luna smirked, "I should give you a dream of what you looked like when you approached me." "Well, I never talked to a Princess before," the real Black blushed, "Let alone asked one out." "I guess you’re right," Luna chuckled, "and seeing me as Nightmare Moon most likely did not help." "Neither did the crowd..." (Last Nightmare Night...) "... So go leave a candy offering for Nightmare Moon. Or you will undoubtedly meet your untimely doom," Zecora finished her story of Nightmare Night, as always, at the statue of Nightmare Moon inside the Everfree forest, where, one by one, the fillies and colts gave a small portion of their candy to the statue. As the last foal gave up its share, a crack of lightning flashed while a surplus of smoke came from the statue. After the smoke cleared out and the foals were able to see, Luna (as her Nightmare Moon alter ego) had replaced the statue. Her catlike eyes glowing; matched with her bright, sharp teeth. "I thank thee for the offering, and in exchange, will not steal your souls," she grinned, using the Royal Canterlot Voice, "Now flee! Before I grow hungry for more than just a simple offering." She let loose a loud screech as the foals screamed and ran away in panic. Once the last one disappeared from the edge of the Everfree forest, Luna let a triumphal grin come across her face as she returned to normal and spat out her fake teeth. "That was quite a show, Princess of the Night," Zecora chuckled, "I believe you even gave me a fright." "Thank you," Luna smiled, "Of course, it did help that you set the mood." "This may be so true," Zecora replied, "but the scare was obviously you." "I guess so," Luan chuckled, "Would you like some candy? My sister always steals most of it from me before I can eat any; her and her sweet tooth." "Thank you for the offer so sweet. But I must deny these tasty treats," Zecora declined. "Alright then," Luna nodded as she levitated the candy in her saddle bag and placed the bag on her back, "I wish you a good evening, Zecora." Zecora nodded as she made her way back to her hut while Luna went back to Ponyville. Along the way, she saw a few fillies and colts with bags filled with candy (minus their offering). Their chaperone, a unicorn, took a head count, unware of a dark cloud that was creeping up on him. "Now what may that be," Luna asked herself as she watched the mysterious cloud get closer and closer... until... Boom! The cloud was set off sounding loud thunder, making the group jump and scream as they hid behind their adult pony. "Not funny, Rainbow," the unicorn deadpanned as he calmly turned around and looked up at the cloud. He spoke with a foreign accent. "Ha Ha! It is to me!" Rainbow, in her shadowbolt costume, laughed as she appeared from behind the cloud, "And that's all that matters!" The unicorn glared at the prankster as she continued to laugh. Luna continued to watch as an idea popped in her head, making a grin grow from her lips. Making sure nopony was looking her way; she turned into Nightmare Moon, then into a blue mist that made its way towards the group. "Come on, not even a chuckle," Rainbow sighed as she caught her breath, "If you’re not gonna laugh, at least pretend to be scared." "I don't get sca-," the unicorn stopped when his eyes fell upon something behind Rainbow as they widen. "I'm sorry, what was that," Rainbow grinned, "Did my awesomeness make you stutter?" The unicorn didn't reply as he and the other fillies and colts only stared at something as they slowly back away from Rainbow Dash. "What? Do I stink," Rainbow asked as she took a whiff of her mane then licked it, " Nope, still have awesomeness on me." "I always wondered what that tasted like," a menacing voice rasped as Rainbow stiffened up as she felt a breath on her neck. She shakenly turned her head to see Nightmare Moon tower over her. "Run," Nightmare Moon whispered, then let out a screech that made Dash jump fifty feet into the air as she screamed. When Rainbow came back down, she used her wings to gain balance and stay in the air as she breathed heavily. "Luna! Not funny," Rainbow gasped as she steadied her breathing. "It was to me," Luna smirked, returning to normal, then looked at the group to see them behind the terrified unicorn, shaking on the ground with their hooves over their eyes, "What's wrong with them?" "I think your prank worked too well," Rainbow explained. "I guess so," Luna chuckled, turning to the group, "It's alright little ones, no need to fear." They stopped shaking and looked over the unicorn to see the gentle smile of Luna. They all let out a sigh of relief and laughed a little at Luna's joke, then came up to her. "You sure gave us a scare your majesty," a little white foal in a pirate costume said, "That was an awesome trick though, that's why your my favorite Princess." "Why thank you, Pipsqueak," Luna took a small bow. "Y-Your majesty," the unicorn tripped over his own hoof a little, catching himself into a bowing position infront of Luna, causing a symphony of giggles from the foals. Luna laughed to, but when the unicorn looked up, she got a better view of him. A very strong-built under his dark grey coat was matched by strong, but gentle, dark blue eyes. Luna's cheeks turn a slightly lighter shade of blue as she tried to cover face with her mane a little. "Oooo, I think she likes him," one of the foals teased, making more giggles come from them as the two blushed a little harder. "Who might you be," Luna asked as she gestured for him to stand up. "My name's Black Hole," he replied as he stood just short of Luna. "I'm Princess Luna," Luna said. "I know who you are," Black smiled, "The little ones told me about you and your Nightmare Moon legend." "Oh," Luna slightly cringed, knowing that her story of Nightmare Moon doesn't always make a good first impression. "No need to worry," Black softly chuckled, "I believe you're not like that anymore. Besides, you're too beautiful to be..." Black stopped dead as he realized what he just said as yet another wave of giggles came from the group. The two blushed again as Luna and Black looked away from each other nervously. "Eh, do we have a taker," Rainbow teased, as the giggling continued. "Be quiet, Rainbow," Black growled, but blushed harder. "Ah, come on Black," Rainbow said getting slightly louder, "Didn't you just say the other day that you thought Luna was the most breath taking pony you have ever seen? That you'd like to ask her out some time?" "I don't recall ever saying such," Black admonished, thought his cheeks remained flushed as Luna rubbed her front left leg a little in embarrassment. "Just do it." "Like the brand I'm totally not allowed to say because of sponsor reasons," Pinkie suddenly exclaimed from a distance in her chicken costume. "Pinkie! You already had your chapter," Rainbow yelled then gasped, "Oh no! Now she's got me doing it!" "Um, Black," Pipsqueak interjected, "We got to go home soon." "Oh," Black let out a very small sigh in disappointment, "Yes, of course." "I'll take them," Rainbow spoke up. "You," Luna and Black both questioned. "Yeah, I'm great with foals," Rainbow replied, not aware that the group just rolled their eyes. "Alright," Black said, "You promise to make sure they get home safely." "Why wouldn't I? Man, you're acting like I've flaked on you before." "There's probably a reason behind that," Black deadpanned. "Whatever," Rainbow rolled her eyes, "See you two later." "Well now that their taken care of," Black sighed as the group left and he turned to Luna, "Lovely night, courtesy of you I suppose, want to take a stroll?" "Cutting to the chase? Confidence, I like it," Luna smiled. "Thanks," Black blushed as he and Luna began to walk down the streets of Ponyville. "So Black, I'm intrigued by your accent... that wouldn't happen to be Bitish, would it?" "You’re pretty smart. Intelligence, I like it," Black grinned making Luna blush, "And yes, born and raised in Great Bitan, moved here only last year." "Bitan," Luna repeated, "that's quite a ways away. Any particular reasons you traveled so far?" "Just some family issues that's all," Black shrugged, "Parents got into some debt with the Red Colts and not paying taxes is a pretty big deal over there. So, I took my parents here to Equestria." "I thought the Bitish would have learned their lesson by now with that whole Mareican Revolution situation?" "Well, they'll learn, maybe not now, but soon," Black shrugged, "anyways, enough about me, what about you? I mean, you’re the Princess of the Night, you must have quite the story to tell." Luna mood slightly sadden as she replied, "To be honest... I don't. I mean, I betrayed my sister and got stuck on the moon for one thousand years. There's not too much to tell." Black noticed and stuck his hoof in front of Luna, stopping the two of them as he said, "Hey now, don't be sad. Sadness doesn't even deserve to touch a pony as beautiful as you." "Sweet, but that's not going to ease my pain," Luna sighed as she sat down on the soft grass, "I mean, she banished me... her own sister. I know it was for the good of the kingdom, but I just can't help feeling angry at her." Black thought as he sat down next to Luna. He rubbed the tiny hairs upon his strong chin as he replied, "I can't say I know how you feel, I’m an only foal you see, however, I understand what you mean by feeling angry at her. You sought out a better kingdom, one for prosperity, but such was stopped. You fought for freedom, from oppression, and you protected those who can't fight for themselves. Celestia just saw the same dream differently." "I guess your, right," Luna half-heartedly chuckled, then said, "That sounds awfully familiar... wait, isn't that an Assassin saying?" "Might be," Black smiled, "But I don't like to talk about work on the first date." "A date, huh? You didn't even buy me flowers," Luna playfully teased. "Are you sure," Black jokingly shot back as his horn glowed, his magic outlining Luna's shadow as it separated and took the form of a bouquet of roses, "The Master of Shadows is always prepared." "Master of Shadows?" "I have mastery over all shadows," Black explained, "can even morph into mine." "That's quite interesting," Luna declared, "However, I don't believe I can exactly accept my own shadow." "Then accept this," Black replied, conjuring a blue flower as it levitated over to Luna. "A Moon Flower," Luna warmly smiled as she used her magic to hold the flower in front of her muzzle as she took a light whiff, "Smells lovely." "It's fitting for a lovely Princess," Black cooed. "Charming. I like it." Luna replied as she stuck the stem of the flower into her wavy mane. "I think you'll find more things about me as we continue," Black declared. "I'm looking forward," Luna chuckled. The two continued to sit under the moon and stars, telling more of their respected lives and future plans. They watched as the last of the Fright-or-Biters disappeared from the town and headed home. Then a carriage pulled by two of Luna's personal Night Guard pulled around and in front of the two. "Your majesty, we are prepared to take you home to Canterlot," one declared. "I'm sorry, Black," Luna sighed, "but I am afraid I must cut our conversation short." "No need to apologize," Black warmly smiled, "I fully understand. Hey, maybe I'll see you again, you know, while I'm at 'work'. " "Maybe," Luna chuckled, "Anyways, Thank you for the lovely evening. I had a wonderful time." "The pleasure was all mine," Black bowed, "We really should do this again." "Until then," Luna lightly kissed Black on the cheek, making him slightly blush, "I'll be waiting." "So will I," Black replied as he helped Luna into her carriage, "Goodbye, Princess of the Night." "Farewell, Master of Shadows," Luna waved as the two stallions pulling the carriages backed slightly, taking it to the skies. (To Be Continued...)