//------------------------------// // Chapter 14: In the Star Cave // Story: Light of the Moon // by Aligon //------------------------------// Two days later... Fluttershy flinched when the door to her cage opened. A dark green unicorn trotted inside and tossed a plate on the floor. With a grunt he left the trembling mare in the locked in the iron cage. She looked down at the plate of mashed oats, some of it was scattered on the cave floor. Even though they threw the food and were rude to her, she always said thank you to the ponies who fed her. The canary yellow pegasus knelt down and ate a bit of the meal. Then looked through the bars, four unicorns stood in a circle around a glimmering pool of water. Each one pushed a star-shaped crystal into the moonlight pouring through a hole in the ceiling. The water rose up making a pillar of night blue water. A head of a alicorn appeared in a window of light, Fluttershy recognized it as Blue Moon. She flinched when the draconic eyes looked her way. The shy pegasus stared as her kidnapper walked up the window. "My sweet mother, as you can see we have brought a bearer and one of the fake ponies. One of them will lead us to the Harmonic Cave so we can free you." The voice that answered was like the sound of music. "Ivory, I do not wish to be free, I wish for you to end this nonsense. You are not my children, you are buffoons." "My Queen, we only wish for you to walk on the ground once more. Breathe the air, feel the earth beneath your hooves-" "I do not need these things! I have fulfilled my duties in life as has my sister. We do not need anything, but the knowledge that our daughters are alive and well!" "Please, mother! Your children only wish for your beautiful night once more. Sister, bring forth the pegasus!" Fluttershy flinched when her cage door opened, the iron bars screeching slightly. Another pony with a cloak, a unicorn, pulled lightly on her pink mane to guide her to the pool. "Here you are mother, the bearer of kindness. If you wish we will leave you to speak alone." "I do wish. Now get out of my sight." The Nocturne followers bowed and left the room. With a nod the four unicorns placed an enchantment over the crystals before leaving themselves. After they left the lavender alicorn looked back at the pegasus. "Do not be afraid element bearer, I mean you no harm." Fluttershy nodded slowly. "Is my child well, bearer?" "Night Star? Oh yes, she's doing very well. Twilight is taking care of her." "Twilight. Is that the name of the magic leader?" "Twilight Sparkle ma'am." "Hmm, bearer, can you send a message to Twilight." "How can I? There's no way out of this cave." "Bearer, just because my hooves don't touch the ground does not mean my magic has no affect on it. Hold still now." A golden glow appeared around Blue Moon's horn and she lifted the pink haired pegasus. Fluttershy was enveloped in a sphere of magic and began to shrink. The purple mare sighed as she dropped her spell. "There you are, now find my friend and run. Run to the magic leader and tell her that the tree of harmony can not fall into their hooves." Fluttershy gave a small nod to the larger mare then flew for a tunnel behind them. Yellow eyes followed her until she was out of sight. Blue Moon smiled lightly and light her horn. The window closed as Nocturne followers ran in the cave shouting. Fluttershy dodged the passing pony by clinging to the cave wall. She sighed quietly then carefully crawled towards the cell door. Looking inside she saw Ferngully praying to something. "Please great lunar queen, let me and my friend be freed from this place." "Excuse me." The brown mare's ear flicked at the noise, but made no attempt to respond. "Fern, over here." This time she turned her head and her eyes widened. Slowly she walked to the cell door and stared at Fluttershy. "Fl-fluttershy? Is that you?" The pegasus nodded with a small smile. "Do you think you can get this door open?" "Maybe." Fluttershy hovered near the lock then stuck her hoof in the keyhole. She shifted it around until she heard a clicking sound. Fern pushed the door lightly and the lock fell off. "Come on Fluttershy. We must get back to the queen." With that the two ran down the empty tunnel to find the way out. They took a sharp turn to avoid being spotted by a passing unicorn. Fern paused slightly when she noticed the second pony with them. The red maned mare was a earth pony with a scar on her back. Squinting in the dark she saw the scar was where a wing would join to the shoulder plate. Why would anypony remove what makes them special? Fern held her breath as they passed their hiding place. Fluttershy, being the size of a breezie, was on top of Fern's head hiding behind her ear. She was shaking from the surprise appearance of the two cult members. Fern stretched a hoof out carefully to not make any sudden noises to bring back the cult ponies. Fluttershy clutched her left ear as Fern proceeded down the tunnel. It was a very long one too. Every now and then they ducked way to be sure no memember caught them. It's gonna take a while to get out of this place.