//------------------------------//
// Ch 11: The One True Pain 
// Story: Daughter of the Night 
// by PastelProse 
//------------------------------//

        Moonbeam stared out of the window as the train chugged on. Whirlwind and Nova were cracking jokes and laughing. They had tried to include Moonbeam several times but they never got a response out of her.

        Moonbeam stared at the ever changing landscape as a million thoughts ran through her mind.

        ‘Are you okay Momo?’ Lilith asked.

        ‘I’m fine, I just don’t know. How are we going to do this?’ Moonbeam asked.

        ‘I say we rip whoever took our mommy to shreds.’ Lilly growled.

        Moonbeam sighed.

        Twilight looked over at the young filly and felt her heart breaking. She looked down at Star who was napping next to her. Twilight gently pet her daughter before she got up and walked over to Moonbeam.

        Twilight took a seat next to her and gently placed a hoof on her back, “Are you okay Moonbeam?”

        Moonbeam shook her head, “What if they can't find my mother?”

        Twilight sighed, “I don’t know, I don’t want to give you false hope.”

        Moonbeam turned and looked at Twilight, her expression was empty. Twilight was taken aback by this. Moonbeam’s eyes were blank and the color of her mane dulled, the transparent strip she had was cloudy.

        “I hope we get there soon.” Moonbeam said.





        “Perfect! It seems that little flight jock didn't do much. Her emotions are still getting the better of her. Not long now before I break her.” Chrysalis said.

        Luna stood up and placed both hooves on her prison, “What do you mean break her?”

        “How else would I release her true power? It’s true, love is one of the strongest emotions which is why I feed on it. However, with your daughter being the Princess of Dark Magic, her magic is centered around…” Chrysalis stopped to let Luna finish.

        Flashbacks rolled over Luna liked waves in the ocean. Her expression changed as she grew worried, “Hatred and Depression.”

        “Bingo!” Chrysalis said.

        Luna’s face twisted in anger as she smashed her hooves against the barrier.

        “I will kill you if it is the last thing I do.” Luna screamed as she continued to smash her hooves on her prison.

        Chrysalis just laughed as she watched Luna throw her fit, “I am so scared princess. How are you going to get to me?”

        The barrier cracked as little as Luna screamed, her voice warped a little along with her appearance. She started to resemble Nightmare Moon. 

        Chrysalis looked a little worried as she screamed Sombra’s name.

        Sombra ran in and immediately saw the problem. He used his magic along with Chrysalis to strengthen the barrier. Luna continued to pound on the barrier until she exhausted all of her energy. She collapsed, looking like a tangled mess. She started to sob uncontrollably.

        “Why are you doing this, just let us go Chrysalis. My daughter has done nothing to you. I have done nothing….”

        Chrysalis stomped over to Luna’s prison and glared at the defeated princess. Sombra turned and walked away.

        “You have done everything to me!? Your sister took the one I love, then you swooped in and took Sombra from me. Then you had that creature. She should have been mine. I just wanted to be loved and you and your sister took that from me!” Chrysalis said.

        Luna felt bad, she crawled over to the edge of her barrier and gently placed her hoof on the barrier. Chrysalis growled and smacked the barrier.

        “No matter, I will soon have all of the power I could ever want. As soon as I have access to your daughter's power nothing will be able to stop me.”

        “Chrysalis!” called a little colt as he ran through the cave.

        Luna looked at the colt, he looked familiar. He has a black coat, grey mane, and a white target around his right eye.

        “I did what you wanted. Can I have my file now?” Bullseye asked.

        Chrysalis smiled as she patted his head, “Soon Bullseye, soon. Right now I need another favor from you. The Princess is on her way to the Crystal empire. Can you guess where you are going?” 

        Bullseye sighed, “The Crystal empire, but after this favor will you tell me who my parents are?”

        “You have my word, Bullseye.” Chrysalis said as she held out his train ticket.

        He reached out and grabbed it before he turned and started making his way out of the cave.

        “Who is that?” Luna asked.

        “That is the key to setting your daughter off. He has the gift of charisma. He can get any pony to think or do anything he says.” Chrysalis said.

        “Your army is looking a little young Chrissy.” Luna chuckled.

        “Shut up, besides I am just using the poor fool. He is disposable.” Chrysalis laughed as she pointed her horn to the wall and a picture of Moonbeam appeared.

        “Momo.” Luna whispered.

        Moonbeam looked internally broken.   Luna shook her head, “No”

        “Yes, it is already beginning. I guess the thought of losing her only family is making her deteriorate mentally.” Chrysalis said.

        “Please Chrysalis, I will do anything. Just let her go.” Luna cried.

        Chrysalis looked down at Luna and smacked her barrier, “there is nothing you can do.”

        Chrysalis got up and turned and walked out of the room, her laugh echoed on the walls of the cave.

        Luna sat there and continued to cry as she watched her daughters blank and emotionless expression.





        When the train stopped at the Crystal Empire, Whirlwind and Nova were the first to get off.

        “I can’t wait to see Mi Belle Marie.” Whirlwind said

        Nova nodded, “Yeah it has been a while. I wonder if she acts like Auntie Cadence or Uncle Armor.”

        Twilight got off of the train with Star on her back. Moonbeam slowly dragged her hoofs behind all of them.

        ‘Lily?’ She called

        ‘Yes Momo, what is it?’

        ‘I am afraid of what Auntie Cadence is going to tell us.’ Moonbeam sighed.

        ‘Don’t worry, I am here with you Momo. Besides we aren't going to be here much longer, you see the sun?’

        Moonbeam looked up as the sun started to set, she nodded.

        ‘That means it will be time to go soon.’ Lilith said.





        Two guards escorted Twilight and the children to the castle. One of the guards was Flash Sentry himself.

        He nuzzled Twilight gently and she giggled.

        “What is going on with Moonbeam, she seems out of it?” He asked as he looked at Moonbeam.

        Twilight looked over at Moonbeam then back to Flash, “She misses Luna. She read my letters and she fears what Cadence is going to tell her.”

        Flash sighed as he shook his head, “Poor kid.”

        The closer they got to the castle, the faster Moonbeam’s heart raced. She looked over at the boys. They were too busy chatting. She looked over at Twilight and Flash. They were whispering and looking at her.

        The door opened as they neared them. She gulped as she started to grow more nervous as they started to make their way to Cadence. She was sitting on her throne with her filly sitting on her lap.

        The filly had a white coat with a soft wavy purple and blue mane. The filly's eyes were closed as Cadence was brushed her mane. She set the brush down on the armrest as they approached her.

        The filly opened her eyes as she looked at them and smiled, “Hello cousins.”

        “Hey Mi Bella Marie” Whirlwind said.

        Marie rolled her eyes, “Don’t you start. You know you just call me Marie.”

        Whirlwind and Nova both snickered. Twilight glared at them and they calmed down.

        “Hello Twilight, I see you are well.” Cadence said as she got off of her throne and hugged her sister-in-law.

        Twilight hugged back. Star clapped her hooves together, “Aunie...Aunie.”

        Cadence smiled as she leaned over and gently nuzzled Star, “Hello Beautiful, look at you getting big.”

        “Where is Uncle Armor?” Nova asked.

        Cadence looked down and patted Nova on his head. “He is handling something for me.”

        Cadence looked over at Moonbeam, Moonbeam held her breath.

        “Momo dear, could you please take a walk with me?” Cadence asked.

        Moonbeam nodded as she walked ahead to catch up to Cadence.

        “Marie, remember that favor I asked you to do?” Cadence asked.

        Marie nodded, “Everypony, please follow me.”

        Cadence gently rested her wing on Moonbeam’s back as they started their walk.





        Cadence took Moonbeam through a peaceful walk through the Crystal Empire. Moonbeam could hear her heart beating in her ears.

        Cadence finally spoke as they rounded a corner, “Do you know why I wanted to talk with you privately Momo?”

        ‘Play stupid, I don’t think that she knows that we know.’ Lilith said.

        Moonbeam shook her head, “No auntie Cadence.”

        Cadence sighed, “Moonbeam do you know why your mother and Celestia left?”

        “Yes, to find a magically pony that would help me control my powers.” Moonbeam said.

        Cadence nodded, “Do you know who the pony is?”

        Moonbeam shook her head.

        Cadence introduced Moonbeam to Sombra. She told her the dark history of the Crystal Empire and his reign. They stopped at a small quiet park. Fillies and Colts were heading home, most of them waving or bowing as they passed by.

        Moonbeam listened intently. Cadence described his features, she emphasised the red tip of his horn. Moonbeam looked back to her red tipped tail.

        “Moonbeam, Sombra was just a lost stallion who fell in love and did foolish acts in the name of that love. However, this mare wanted him just as bad. The sweet words he told her. How gentle he treated her. She fell in love with him almost as hard as he fell in love with her. To prove their love they made a contract bound in their blood. They had a little foal.”

        Moonbeam stared at Cadence, “Who was the mare he fell in love with?”

        Cadence sighed, “Your mother.”

        Moonbeam’s world came crashing down on her. Her mother had kept the truth from her. Moonbeam struggled to breath as she realized that she was the product of an evil and deranged stallion.

        “So I am going to turn evil aren’t I? Mother is going to have to seal me away like they did to my father right?” Moonbeam asked as she stood on the defensive.

        “That is the other thing. Your mother and Celestia went missing. Celestia just came back to us but, her memory was wiped and we haven’t been able to find your mother. We have had many search parties return empty hoof…”

        Moonbeam started to tear up as she blinked rapidly to try and fight it back.
        Cadence sighed, “You are aware that you are the next in line to take over your mother’s role…”

        “No…” She whispered as she started to back away.

        Cadence looked at Moonbeam worried, “What dear.”

        “Find My Mother! Stop Being Lazy! Find Her!” She cried out as her tears stained her cheeks.

        Cadence reached out for Moonbeam, “There isn’t much land to search, we have already searched day and night. There is a party out as we speak. I feel like our efforts may be in vain.”

        “No…” Moonbeam whispered as she shivered.

        “What?” Cadence asked.

        “NO!” She screamed as she ran off.

        “MOONBEAM!” Cadence yelled as she chased off after her.

        Moonbeam rounded the corner and opened both wings. She started to flap them as she was preparing to take off. Cadence was right on her tail.

        Moonbeam took off and Cadence was getting closer.

        ‘Lily…’

        ‘I got her’

        Moonbeam felt a weight lift off of her body, a weight that she didn’t know was there. She turned as she saw her shadow raise from the ground to grab Cadence and hold her down by her hooves as well as her wings.

        Moonbeam stopped as she looked back worried.

        “GO NOW” Lilith screamed.

        “Lily what are you doing?” Moonbeam asked out loud as her shadow looked back at her.

        “GO, NOW!” Lilith screamed once more.

        Moonbeam nodded as she flew away. She made it to the edge of the Crystal Empire and landed as she left the barrier and started to traverse through the bitter blizzard.





        Moonbeam lost all concept of time as she trudged on through the cold. She looked over her shoulder to see the Crystal Empire completely gone.

        She tried to call out for Lilith, but was met with silence. She only listened to the sound of the wind as it whipped through her mane.

        Moonbeam felt the terror start to grow as she looked around.

        “I’m lost. Why did I do this? This is stupid.” She said as she pushed on.

        Her legs started to weaken as she pushed them harder, her wings were tight against her body as she tried to hold on to the little warmth she had.

        She took another step that made her roll down a small hill. She tumbled and slid to the bottom. She laid there as she tried crawling.

        All of her energy drained from the lack of food, water, warm, she did the only thing a filly in her position could do.

        “Mom!? Lilith!? Auntie!? Whirlwind!?” She cried out as she balled up. Her eyelids felt heavy and they closed as she heard the sound of hooves approaching her.

        Her body shut down completely as the hoof steps got closer.

        “I’m all alone.”