The Life and Trials of Autumn Moon

by TraumaLane

Legends Hold a Seed of Truth

Chapter 10: Legends Hold a Seed of Truth – Waxing Crescent

As the sun crested over the mountains the sky began to fill with rich purples and oranges filling the crisp morning with the promise of another day, the light from the suns determined rays fell onto the side of Grand Junction Hospital causing the building to cast a shadow like a silent guardian of the ponies that lived in the town below.

Autumn watched silently as her parents quickly gathered what little they had brought to the hospital and packed them into their saddle bags as they prepared to return home. Dr. Manner had told them that she had healed what little injuries she had sustained “miraculously fast” and Autumn, Shadow, and Sugar were told that she would be cleared for release.

Autumn’s head was lowered, her ears lay flat against her head brushing against her silver mane as she grimaced as she recalled the words the medical stallion had used. “I’m a lucky filly huh?” thought Autumn as she shakily lifted her right hoof up to her ear, Autumn’s depressed eyes squinted in slight pain as she felt the absence of what had once resided there. Autumn moved towards the door of her hospital room as she numbly helped her father and mother pack before moving out of the much faster moving pony’s way.

"Am I really… I’m not so sure,” thought Autumn as she sat on her haunches lifting up her hoof, she looked in slight disgust before placing it on the cold linoleum floor. As Autumn looked up, she caught her reflection in the glass of a nearby medical cabinet, her ears rose as she looked curiously at the “pony” that stared back. Autumn’s fuzzy ears had been shaved down, her wild silver mane had been cut shorter and styled more neatly, and even her tail was combed and cut shorter.

However, Autumn’s small fangs managed to barely show past her pouting lips and her wider nose along with her shorter mane cut almost made her look almost like a teenage stallion. Sitting on her haunches Autumn’s golden eyes looked towards the large silver stallion that she knew to be her father as he packed the last of the supplies they had brought with them to the hospital into his saddlebags. Shadow had received similar treatment from Sugar Beet, his silver ears were shaved, and his mane and tail trimmed.

“Guess not,” Autumn said her hollow voice barely above a whisper as she watched her father as he moved about; Autumn’s mind wandered to the night that had led to all this, her memories only coming in flashes as she shook her head trying to clear the fog that plagued her mind. Autumn snorted as she shook her head; Autumn failed to notice as her mother gently approached her, an understanding look on the elderberry mare’s muzzle as Sugar Beet strained her lips, lifting them into a small smile.

“Ya ready ta go sweet pea?” asked Sugar Beet her voice kind but holding a hint of sadness; her emerald eyes warm as she walked up to Autumn nuzzling her slightly. Sugar Beet watched as Autumn’s body spasmed her eyes flickering as the filly tried to have her mind come back to Equestria.

“AH!” gasped Autumn as she flinched at her mother’s touch, her amber eyes widening as she met her mother’s gaze. Autumn shook off her momentary surprise and nodded “Yes Mom,” said Autumn as her mother as she watched her father approach them Shadow’s hoof steps strong and steady, Autumn couldn’t help the warmth that spread through her as her parents stood beside her support oozing from them as they looked at her. Autumn felt stronger than she had in the last few days.

“Pony or not… my mom and dad...we have each other,” thought Autumn tears started to fill her eyes and her lips lifted slightly exposing her fangs. Shadow Snare and Sugar Beet noticed Autumn’s tears and embraced her, nuzzling their filly lovingly before they all smiled at each other standing to leave and face the world together.

Autumn’s tail wagged slightly as they walked down the hallway, she held her head higher despite her ears feeling cold from the lack of fur and looked at the numbers of the rooms as she walked with her family. Noticing where they were Autumn’s eyes lit up a bit more, a hopeful joy filled her as the idea ran through her head. Looking up Autumn noticed her mother and father seemed distracted; troubled looks covered their faces as they walked their smiles faded. Autumn cleared her throat hoping that maybe she could take their minds off of what was troubling them for a second, Sugar and Shadow jumped slightly in surprise and looked towards her, their ears poised to listen to what she had to say.

“Mom, Dad… would it be alright if we saw Tales before we leave?” asked Autumn cautiously as she pawed at the ground, she lowered her ears and tried her best to use her “puppy dog” eyes. Autumn’s go to manipulation was less bright and she could not help but feel a small bit of dread as she saw the blank looks on their faces. Autumn's father seemed to be contemplating her request when her mother put a hoof over his, causing Shadow to look at Sugar her face calm and questioning as if to ask him what the harm could be in letting Autumn see her friend.

Sugar Beet and Shadow Snare looked at each other before smiling softly at each other and turned their heads towards Autumn. Sugar Beet nodded her head quickly towards Shadow as if to confirm what they had silently agreed upon. Shadow sighed slightly as his amber eyes met Autumn’s own golden eyes.

“Of course, we can little one, but we have to be quick,” the smile fled from his muzzle as he looked away from her, not quite meeting her amber gaze. “We still have a lot to talk about when… when we get home,” said Shadow solemnly. Autumn watched as her father’s ears seemed to tilt back as he realized what he had not meant to say a scowl forming on his muzzle angry, seemingly angry at himself.

Autumn’s smile faded slightly as reality reared its face once again, “I guess I’ll finally get my answers... Maybe Tales won’t want to see me after all,” Autumn’s eyes widened at the thought and she shook her head slightly before she nodded at her father, Autumn turned to look back at her friends door as her parents left her walking a short distance away to get permission from the hospital staff to visit the injured unicorn colt.

As Autumn stood there looking at the wood and metal door, she couldn’t help but feel as if the world had gone silent and the door seemed to stretch high above her to the point where pegasi would have to look out for the new obstacle. Autumn’s sharp hearing seemed to fail her as the sounds around her became muffled, her heart pounded in her chest and for some reason her hooves began to shake.

“Wh-what if he remembers… What if Tales is afraid of me? Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea; I think my mouth moved faster than my brain” Autumn’s eyes started to dart in different directions, the fur on her hackles rose as her breathing became rapid. Autumn felt her hooves shake, the hard surface of the sanitary linoleum floors clicking as she felt as if the whole hospital was spinning faster than a Pegasus in a tornado. Autumn tried to take deep breaths through her nose, but the mixed scents of hospital cleaners, illness, blood, and even stale bittersweet smell of fear did little to calm her down.

Autumn felt nauseous… feeling a massive headache she shut her eyes. A dull pain filled Autumn’s mouth and she couldn’t keep her eyes hidden from the bright lights of the hospital any longer; Autumn looked seeing her warped reflection in the silver handle that led to Tales room. Autumn’s mouth opened in distress and horror as she saw that her eyes had turned deep scarlet, her fangs now showed past her lips no matter how much she tried to hide them or will them to shrink and the fur on her ears seemed to be thicker showing a shadow of her old tufts of fur despite it having been cut less than two days ago.

“N-no! this can’t be real...not now... not here,” said Autumn her whispers pleading to anypony who was listening as she began to back away shaking her head slowly back and forth the hospital door opened. Autumn’s scarlet eyes flew to look at the pony that was now staring at her from a seated wheelchair, his leg supported and in a cast as he sat, Tales was sitting there being pushed by his mother, a pegasus nurse following closely behind her. Autumn’s mouth opened and closed like a fish on land as her mind blanked on what to say to the two mares who looked at her in surprise and the cornflower colt who’s turmeric eyes widened as he saw her suddenly in front of him.

Autumn took a breath and tried to straighten up as she shyly smiled at her long-time friend hoping that her initial fears were wrong as Autumn breathed in through her nose the fresh smell of rotting fruit met her nostrils. Autumn’s head snapped up as she sniffed, not caring if anypony saw her, Autumn’s eyes widened, and sadness filled them as she saw where the smell of fear was coming from.

Tales had pushed himself as far back as he could in his chair to get away from Autumn, his body shaking as he tried in vain to mask his fear. Autumn watched as Tales switched from being unable to look at her and staring at her as if she were about to eat him. Autumn’s scarlet eyes faded back into her amber color shining over with unfallen tears as she covered her mouth, and lowered her posture wishing with all her heart that she could disappear.

“Th-this was a mistake,” Autumn thought as she backed farther away, her tail between her legs as she backed away feeling as if she had been struck. Autumn turned her face away, she felt hollow and nausea filled her mouth with bile. Autumn risked a glance at Tall Tales as if to confirm what she had just seen was not a hallucination.

To Autumn’s despair it wasn’t an illusion conjured up by her anxious mind. Though Tales was no longer scrambling to get away he watched her cautiously, his face a mix of curiosity as he stared at her, his eyes hard and steadfast as they seemed to see right through Autumn; he knew what she was. Autumn felt as if a small part of her heart had broken just as his mother had noticed who was in front of them.

“Well if it isn’t Autumn, are you here to see- Tales sweety what’s wrong you look as if you’ve seen a ghost?” asked Sonnet turning her attention away from the young mare in front of her and towards her son who looked as if he was facing a creature he had never seen before instead of a friend.

Autumn looked back to Tall Tale’s mother her ears twitching as the pleasant mare’s voice reached her ears and try as she might Autumn couldn’t seem to meet the raspberry unicorn’s friendly gaze. As her amber eyes finally fell on Sweet Sonnet and Tales they shined with unshed tears, Autumn’s hoof fell from her mouth as she tried to steady her breath. The olive oil werepony turned her gaze to Tales before she spoke a sad smile on her lips, she watched as the expressions of the ponies in front of her filled with concern all except for one.

“Yes Ma’am, but I... I have to go,” said Autumn, her voice breaking as she ran. Autumn saw her parents in front of her and ran past them just hoping that they would follow. Autumn didn’t see that Tales face had softened as she spoke to his mother, she failed to see the regret as it filled the young unicorn as he realized he had been a horrible friend.

“A-Autumn wait,” Tales cried out, but his voice fell on deaf ears. The cornflower colt had seen how his impulsive reaction impacted Autumn and his ears fell flat against his skull as he stuck out his hoof as if trying to apologize but it was too late. “I-I’m sorry..” said Tall Tales, his voice cracked as he spoke.

“I couldn’t help it I-I just remembered her tearing into those Timberwolves… her fangs and her claws,” Tales shivered as his mind played out a terrifying array of memories; Autumn’s body morphing into a huge monster, her slashing and clawing at the Timberwolves. Glowing red eyes like fire flashing and huge ivory teeth ripping the creatures apart easily with her strong jaws, Autumn roaring in pain, her face a mix of pony and canine agony as her cry shook the ground as he lost consciousness from the pain from his shattered leg.

Tales ignored his mother as she tried to speak to him, just shrugging as she questioned what had happened. Tales felt hollow as he looked at his new cast, his mind finally remembering what it should have thought of instead of unwarranted fear.

“S-she did it to save me. Autumn protected me, w-why why did I act like that?” thought Tales as his head met his chest, he shook it in shame remembering how he had acted towards Autumn and muttered repeated apologies to the friend that he may have lost due to him being afraid of what he didn’t understand.

---

Night had fallen once again in Bray Valley, the soft glow of the crescent moon giving the Moon Family’s Farm a cool glow. Inside the walls of the old farmhouse Sugar, Shadow and Autumn sat at the table in a somber silence, the dining room that had usually been filled with the warmth of a loving family seemed to have lost the comforting aura that it usually carried.

A few hours ago, Autumn had run into the barn, Red the rooster saw his owner and followed the distraught filly. The large rooster seemed to sense the filly’s unhappiness and settled down next to Autumn to comfort her as she wept. Sugar Beet and Shadow found her nestled into the hay bales on the second floor when they had finally caught up to her.

Shadow had tried his best to talk to Autumn, but she refused to look at him burying herself under what was left of her silver tail, disheartened his wife placed a sympathetic hoof on his shoulder. Hours marched by steadily and eventually Autumn calmed down slowly coming to terms with what had happened. With some soothing words from her mother and aided by the hungry fillies growling stomach Autumn was coaxed out from underneath her tail and joined her parents for a meal that Sugar Beet quickly made for them.

To Shadow’s great relief they had not seen hide nor hair of the Hunters around town as they rapidly returned to their farm. Shadow sat at the table staring at the dinner Sugar Beet had prepared for them getting cold as time seemed to be passing by painfully for the three ponies sitting there. Shadow’s eyes held nothing but sorrow and a bit of self-loathing as he thought of the trouble he was causing those he loved because of what he was, Autumn had told them what had happened when she had seen Tall Tales and his heart sank.

“Based off the fact that we haven’t been run out of town either the colt hasn’t told anypony or they just don’t have reason to believe him. It sounds like he saw Autumn shift, not only that he remembers everything! If he says the wrong thing too soon, we may not have time to run or defend ourselves,” thought Shadow as he lifted his fork a piece of shredded lettuce to his mouth. A serious frown covered his face as he looked between his filly and mate; his amber eyes seeming dimmer than they usually would be.

Seeing that the rest of his family and himself had finished their meal Shadow stood taking the plates from the table motioning covertly to Sugar Beet to stay with Autumn so he could tell her what she needed to know. Shadow took a deep breath and sighed, sounding as if he had built an entire castle in one day, his withers slumped as he leaned against the counter before walking back to the dining table.

Shadow turned his attention to the two mares that mattered most in his life; affection reflected in his amber eyes. Shadow couldn’t help but feel protective of his family but seeing the concern on his daughter’s face and the supportive look from Sugar Beet he felt like they would make it past this piece of Tartarus in their lives. Shadow took a seat next to his mate moving his shorter tail out of the way and grasped Sugar Beets hoof, feeling her squeeze his in return the silver stallion felt that he would be able to do this.

“Autumn, my little one…my daughter. I am proud of you, of the mare that you are becoming and you need to know that I never wanted you to find out about what you and I are this way,” said Shadow, his voice shaking as he tried to ease into what he was going to be discussing. A regretful grimace turned into a grateful smile as she saw a small smile begin to grow on Autumn’s face; Sugar squeezed his massive hoof with her fetlock before backing up his statement.

“Yer father’s right sugar, prouder than a pegasus wit’ peacock feathers,” said Sugar Beet her emerald eyes reflecting the love she had for her daughter, tears forming in the corner of her eyes. Sugar took her green bandana decorated with flowers, and sugar beets with her hoof and gently dabbed at the tears that threatened to flow from her eyes. Autumn’s smile wobbled as tears formed in the corners of her tawny eyes, she puffed out her slightly less fluffy chest in pride as she took a steadying breath.

“You’ve grown like a stalk o’ wheat, wit’ a heart twice as golden. Ya saved yer friend, ya came back home and I wan’ ya to know that no matter wha’ we both love ya with all our hearts an we’ll be wit’ ya every hoof step,” said Sugar Beet her voice loving and reassuring before she glanced at Shadow Snare resolve filling her eyes as she told her daughter that her parents would be there for her.

Shadow felt tears burning in his eyes threatening to fall as he leaned over and placed a loving kiss on his beautiful mare’s cheek, his onyx tail wagging slightly as he backed away looking at Sugar Beet his eyes never leaving hers. Shadow watched as tints of light pink touched his wife’s cheeks, and a true smile finally grew on his muzzle as Sugar Beet and himself looked at their daughter who was looking at them with genuine happiness shining through the darkness that had taken over her eyes when she had first returned home.

Shadow watched as Autumn took a deep breath, her ears lifting from her head as she looked at her hooves before her face lifted up from looking at the old farmhouse floor. Autumn’s shining eyes moving between him and Sugar Beet. “I-I’m… glad,” said the young mare as she looked back towards her father before she continued.

“But that’s not all is it? Mom, Dad I have to know… what am I” asked Autumn her voice breaking slightly as she spoke; she watched the smiles on her parents' faces dim into more serious looks. The pain of seeing their smiles leave their faces seemed to cause the young mare to flinch in her seat.

Shadow stood slowly as he shook his head, his shortened mane no longer falling in his eyes as he rose a dead serious look overtook his muzzle. Shadow flexed his hooves, and cracked his neck sighing in relief at the familiar pleasure the act brought; Shadow Snare looked meaningfully at Sugar Beet and released the elderberry mares hoof slowly as he walked to the center of the living room.

“It’s time, Autumn needs to see me…realize this part of her,” thought Shadow as he felt his little one’s eyes following him as he moved. Shadow looked at his wife and Sugar Beet nodded so minutely that any other pony would have missed it, seeming to know what Shadow Snare was planning to do.

Shadow cautiously perked his ears listening for any possible sounds of interlopers on their land, hearing nothing but the sound of crickets and the noises of their livestock settling in for the night. Shadow rose his muzzle to the air and took a deep breath through his nose scenting the air and finding nothing he felt assured that he could go through with his next course of action.

“Sometimes... Creatures need to see something to believe in it little one,” said Shadow as he watched as his daughter’s eyes continued to follow him as he turned to face the mares in front of him. Shadow took a deep breath as he began to shift, an intense pain ran through his body like an old friend. Shadow’s fur grew thicker as his eyes turned bright scarlet, his jaw broke snapping like a rotted branch before reforming five inch fangs sprouting from his mouth as he breathed deeply, clenching the muscles in his barrel to aid the transformation.

Shadow looked up his crimson eyes falling on Sugar Beet and Autumn as he shifted, his mate and daughter kept him grounded, they were his anchor. Autumn watched in stunned silence, her hooves covering her mouth as she breathed wincing as if she could feel what her father was experiencing despite her body not being the one that was going through the metamorphosis.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t be there when you went through this little one,” thought the large silver werepony as he understood the possible emotions Autumn was experiencing. Shadow’s body grew larger, the sound of his ribs breaking filled the air with deep popping sounds. Taking a deep breath the silver werepony felt as his vital organs grew to fit in his expanding body; Shadow turned his head as best as he could and focused on his family. Shadow knew that keeping his mind focused on that kept the pain from consuming him, from the beast taking over. Shadow Snare fell to the faded wood floor as he breathed deeply, contracting and relaxing his muscles as he continued to shift.

“Sweet Celestia…Dad!” Autumn gasped her voice raising as she stood trying to move to comfort her father. Shadow shook his massive head holding out a hoof to stop her, so she wouldn’t be too close as he transformed. He would never hurt either members of his family but even with years of experience shifting sometimes it would take a minute for the adrenaline pumping through his system to fade enough where he could think more clearly.

“N-no little one… it's ok, I-I’ll be fine just stay,” Shadow’s rough voice sounded even more abrasive, going from a rumbling thunder to a volcano erupting, earth cracking and large rocks crashing to the ground. Shadow Snare tried to steady his breathing, his bright red eyes meeting his daughters concerned amber ones; he smiled as reassuringly as he could as his bleeding lips sealed themselves. Blood caked his silver coat staining his lower jaw a deep burgundy color, some areas a dark brown as they clotted to his fur.

Autumn seemed conflicted as if she wanted to disobey her father and rush to comfort him, but a steadying look from Sugar Beet and a nod caused the filly to sit next to her mother to watch the rest of the transformation. Sugar took a hoof and wrapped it around their daughter’s withers as they sat silently, Autumn closing her eyes as she saw her father’s bones fracture and reform. His already massive muscles squirming like snakes as new tendons and ligaments formed on the torn tissue before settling into place. Though Autumn had transformed before, she was delirious with fever, and unlike last time she could hear the sickening sounds of tissue tearing and bones breaking underneath her father’s pelt, sometimes it became too much and the filly had to look away.

Shadow Snares muscular chest expanded, and his hips fractured shortly after his spine had broken and reformed to allow him to walk bipedally, the large werepony gasped as his hooves shattered like tempered glass and his claws and paw pads emerged. Finally his fur grew thicker and tufts of fur formed on his elbows and what was left of is mane seemed to blend into the fur on his muscular neck.

Sugar Beet’s emerald eyes never left Shadow as she watched her mate transform, it was nothing new to the strong farm mare. Sugar Beet knew what kind of creature her mate was but her daughter was new to all this and she would be there for Autumn. Sugar Beet flinched slightly when she knew the painful breaks were coming, the elderberry mare never liked to see the ones she loved in pain but there was nothing she could do but be there for Shadow and comfort him after he was finished. Finally, Shadow’s tail grew longer, and his rear hooves split in two adorned by rough paw pads; the large silver werepony breathes were shallow at first growing deeper.

Shadow’s eyes flashed red as he shakily stood, on all four limbs, his claws leaving small scratches in the faded paint of the floor as he rose. Shadow felt as if he had fought twenty-five of Celestia’s guards single hoofed.

“The muscle pain will fade,” Shadow thought assuring himself as he braced himself, the werepony shook his body out like a wet canine as his muscles finished moving into place. Shadow stood on two hooves using his tail to steady himself, the toes on his cloven hooves spread as they supported his weight.

The large silver werepony had to squat slightly in order to keep his head low enough to meet his family’s eyes. Shadow felt as if his heart was pounding out of his chest, his lungs burning for oxygen as he took deeper breaths trying to lower his heart rate.

Looking down Shadow closed his eyes and tried to focus on his anchor, memories of Sugar and him falling in love, Autumn being born, him holding her in his hooves for the first time, all the memories he had of his loving family came to him in an instant. The scent of wildflowers, and the calming fall and apple scent of his daughter mixed with the salty smell of sweat helped him to stay grounded.

Shadow opened his eyes, the scarlet eyes filled with warmth and affection as they reverted back to his rich amber color; he couldn’t help but the small grin that grew on his face at the sight of his beautiful mate and daughter that made his life worth living the only thing that made it better was seeing the relief flood both of their faces.

Shadow snorted his nose puffing a warm burst of air before he turned to address the awestruck filly that bared his heritage. “We as a species have gone by many names throughout pony kinds' history little one. We went from feared warriors written in ancient texts, to creatures of folklore shortly after we had come into existence,” Shadow’s eyes seemed to grow sad as he said this, but he shook his head and continued.

“Ponies called us by different names when they saw one of the few of us that were left..after,” Shadows voice trailed off as if not wanting to remember that painful part of their heritage but also realizing that he had to keep his story on track.

“Didn’t Autumn mention that her unicorn friend was a storyteller… if we can ever meet under better circumstances I bet he could give me some pointers,” thought Shadow as he cleared his throat watching as his wife and daughter listened attentively to what he was telling them.

“The ancient pegasi called us lukanthropos, the Nhorse called us ulfheoinn, and the Native ponies and buffalo of Vanhoover called us Loup-garou. All these different cultures gathered what they had heard about us from what little was left recording us and we became creatures of legend… wereponies, Cannis Equus,” said Shadow, his voice becoming stronger as he watched as Autumn and his wife were being taken in by the story.

“Many ponies don’t know that those scraps of text or ancient drawings were of flesh and blood creatures, ones that were once ponies just like them but some of us could still assume their form” Shadow flexed his claws, his paw pads forming fists before he lowered himself down to his haunches. Shadow paused as he watched Autumn’s eyes widen as she looked between herself and her transformed father, an unreadable expression taking over her face.

“So I-I’m a w-werepony?” asked Autumn her voice a broken whisper as her eyes filled with more questions turned towards Shadow and came to rest on her mother. Sugar Beet looked at Shadow and her ears lowered slightly as slight discomfort crossed her features.

“Well not quite sweet pea, ya see yer par’ werepony but yer also part pony. More than mos’ other wereponies, yer special,” said Sugar as she nuzzled her daughter. Autumn’s ears flipped back to lay flat against her head as if she had a hard time believing what her mother was trying to tell her.

Shadow slowly shifted back into his pony form drawing both mares attention, though the process was still painful it was much less so than when he initially shifted into his much larger form. His amber eyes moved from Autumn to Sugar Beet as both mares’ heads moved downwards as he shrunk keeping their eyes in line with his face. Only after Shadow had shifted back into a silver stallion did he continue his story.

“Autumn, have… have you ever heard of the Celestial war?” asked Shadow Snare as he looked earnestly at his daughter hoping that she may have heard of the event. Autumn’s face scrunched and her nose wrinkled as she contemplated what she had learned in school; Autumn shook her head when she found she had never heard of that part of history.

Shadow sighed slightly and nodded understanding why this may be “I see... it’s alright little one, this war happened many years ago. Even most historians don’t remember more than bare whispers of the event, or they dismissed it as an old foal’s tale,” said Shadow, his voice becoming steady as he tried to weave the story.

“According to the legends there were once two princesses who maintained balance and ruled Equestria; Celestia used her alicorn magic to raise the sun and her younger sister who raised the moon and created the night sky. One day the younger sister became consumed with jealousy, greed, and envy towards the elder alicorn who’s day was honored and reveled in while ponies slept through the night she had worked hard to create.

As time past it seemed that the Lunar Princess would never escape the darkness of her siblings shadow and it was said that some ponies dismissed her because they feared her night and what creatures thrived in it. In time the younger sister became twisted, spiteful, and malicious.

The darkness overcame the young alicorn transforming her into a creature who’s only desire was to snuff out the day so her night could reign over the land... to us she was known only as the Onyx mare, Death Bringer, and Nightmare Moon,” Shadow watched in slight amusement as his daughter’s jaw dropped in disbelief and her amber eyes nearly popped out of her skull at hearing this new information. However, Autumn seemed to have lost any of her words due to her surprise, she remained silent as Shadow opened his muzzle to continue.

“The younger sister fled to other kingdoms who held ponies that supported her, most of them worshiped the moon and gathered ponies and creatures alike to form an army. Nightmare Moons thirst for victory led her to destroy cities, lives and even ancient knowledge; they credit her for destroying any records that would allow any other unicorns to learn how to raise the sun! So that she could rule eternal night and no pony unicorn or otherwise could overthrow her. The battles lasted for years, families torn apart...common knowledge forgotten, and ponies becoming more and more divided against any who were different from themselves.

After many battles against those loyal to Celestia Nightmare saw that she was running low on troops and needed to form a different strategy in order to beat her sister and reign over eternal night. Nightmare Moon needed minions who could be stronger than twenty stallion guards, the new soldiered needed to heal themselves rapidly to conserve medical supplies, who could hunt down her enemies, and who would be under her absolute control to prevent possible traitors from defecting to her sister's side.

The dark alicorn summoned the best scholars, doctors, and magic users in her court to try and come up with a solution to win the war. Nightmare and her loyalists used dark magic along with what knowledge her court gave her to combine normal ponies with creatures of the night. Based off of old Mares tales they used POWs from Celestias army and defectors as their subjects.

They experimented on the poor ponies combining them with other creatures; bats, scorpions, wolves and snakes to name a few. These hybrid creatures were no longer the ponies that had been drug from their cells; if they survived the experiments they were chained and branded seen as nothing more than tools who were created to fight in a war.

Some of the “less violent” hybrids like Vamponies, were used as healers, assassins, and council members who could create more troops with their bite. Their fangs drained the blood from their enemies, and while under her control these ponies lost their connection to other ponies. They were cruel warriors but their weakness to the sun and solar magic made them vulnerable.

In order to guard them Nightmare used the wolf-pony hybrids as guard dogs for those who were not able to withstand the sunlight or those who wielded its magic. Wereponies were slaves to the moons power, changing when the moon was full or whenever Nightmare Moon would force our transformation. She would control wereponies with her magic to do her bidding... due to our large size when shifted and our superior strength our ancestors were also used as berserker’s who could cut down ten stallions with one blow. We... wereponies can heal themselves and our sensitive ears and noses make it easy to track any creature as if we’re bloodhounds,” said Shadow, his voice halting as he heard Autumn gasp slightly and realization came over her face. The filly unconsciously reached up towards her ears and Shadow saw as she caught her reflection in a nearby surface. Sugar Beet placed a comforting hoof over her daughters and turned her emerald gaze towards him.

“Ya ok hon?” asked Sugar Beet as she lowered herself to look into Autumn’s eyes. Though Autumn was shaking she nodded her head and clenched her mother's hoof as if it was grounding her to the spot.

“I’m… It’s ok.. You can keep going Dad, I want to know what happened,” said Autumn, her voice unsure but her face determined as she tried to pretend as if she wasn’t affected. Shadow’s eyes grew sympathetic as he nodded before continuing his story. Sugar Beets ears flicked back as her eyes filled with pain knowing what part of the story was coming next.

“Any who left or tried to leave… were said to have been tortured and put to death. After her hybrid troops made quick work of Celestia’s soldiers it seemed night would concur day. Nightmare Moon emboldened decided that she was ready to finish her sister... but mysteriously Nightmare Moon was defeated,” Shadow paused in his tale.

“H-How dad, how did Celestia beat her?” asked Autumn her curious voice nearly a whisper. Shadow shook his head showing his uncertainty in that question.

“Sadly no creature knows for sure little one, and all we know is that she was never seen again. Though where she disappeared we do not know… some say she was banished others say became the night sky itself to escape her sisters wrath. The creatures were finally free of Nightmare Moon’s corrupted power and some escaped their chains before Celesia’s guards could reach them. But as knowledge of Nightmares experiments spread ponies distain for other creatures was fueled by fear of these unknown hybrids. The remaining cryptids were quickly labeled as traitors by high society; nothing more than monsters and freaks made by a mad mare.

To form some kind of order the creatures came together to form clans, and they tried to hide amongst ponies as best as they could, most wanting to leave their old lives behind in favor of one with peace. Other cryptids held resentment for the ponies who had killed their family members and some clans struck out to harm ponies, even killing those who they deemed worthy of their nightmarish abilities. Celestia gathered her guard after word of these malicious acts reached her court. Seeing that the creatures her sister had created had survived the initial search and were running loose in her lands. Celestia voiced her concerns to her advisors. The remaining princess worried that we would continue to harm her little ponies, or turn on her to bring Nightmare Moon back; we were to dangerous to let live.

To prevent this created an elite section of guards known as the Solaris Syndicate. They split into different specialties in order to accomplish their holymission. Locating the traitorous monsters, jail them, and kill them if they see it necessary. There were politicians, Scouts, spies, hunters, jailers, they were said to be like their own internal army. Hunter’s were the ponies who would track down those of us in hiding, Jailers who would torture and keep us locked away… ultimately their job was to find us and bring us in so Celestia could decide our fates… death or imprisonment.

However, based on what little was passed down about them they gained more power and influence the more cryptids they found and their victims faced a fate worse than death. They pushed hate of any mixed species and spread fear and hatred of us as they went; though they did so in a way that would escape notice of those who would stop them. These ponies seemed to revel in our suffering… they would hunt us like animals on closed courses, torture ponies who had shown cryptids kindness, and killed all those who would dare to try and accept our ancestors into pony society.

Soon ponies turned against eachother in a massive witch hunt. Many innocent ponies were hanged in public, burned at stakes, and those who showed tolerance were often rejected by those in high society. Acts of violence, bigotry , and aggression ran rampant and the guards did nothing to stop them. Maybe they were payed off or believed that the Syndicates actions were just as they were elite soldiers,” Shadows voice dropped as he saw how horrified Autumn looked. His little one looked as if she was going to be sick but he knew he needed to finish their history. Sugar Beet seeing this reached out gently, rubbing Autumn’s back in a comforting gesture.

“It wasn’t until much later that Celestia noticed the atrocities that were being placed upon ponies who had done nothing but take pity on poor twisted monsters,” Shadows face sneered in disgust as he uttered the last word… seeing Autumn’s face fall farther as he uttered the last sentence he moved to sit beside his daughter trying to provide a silent comfort and protection.

“Celestia sent guards that she could trust to search for more proof of the Syndicates misdeeds. Mass graves were found in Germaney, Nickeragwa, all over Equestria and beyond… some of the bodies were so damaged they couldn’t identify the ponies. Work camps were used to create more propaganda or weapons for the Syndicate, creatures and ponies were sold by traffickers and never seen again. Horrified Celestia made the Onyx act… it prevented ponies from committing murder to those ponies who had dared to try and teach traitors friendship.

Public executions were made illgal, and ponies who gave up the location of cryptids that were hidning were pardoned. However, it left plenty of room for harm to come to those who were not seen as ponies anymore. By this time most ponies thought they had wiped us all out. We faded out of history, what was left of cryptids were said to have gone underground. Our ancestors were monsters and like creatures of legend they faded away into the nightmares of foals and scary stories of ponies.

From that day forth the Syndicate was disbanded by Celestia and Hunters who had killed innocent ponies in their blood thirsty crusade were punished for their crimes. Though ironically like the cryptids of the past some of the cowards escaped their punishments, and disappeared without a trace… until recently,” Shadow took a deep breath to steady his nerves his anger caused his eyes to flash red before they returned to their original color. Autumn’s weight shifted as she looked up at her father and addressed him as best, she could despite her mind reeling from the information she had learned.

“So wereponies were created to be used in a war which we lost… and after we were free of Nightmare Moon a group of ponies who hate us were formed to hunt us. But instead these Syndicate ponies tortured and killed cryptids and anypony who would help them. Wereponies heal quickly... and the hearing and smell make sense but you said we used to change under the full moon. But you changed just now dad,” said Autumn her statement sounding more like a question once Shadow dug past the shock that laced his daughters voice.

“Yes, little one… as the centuries past our ancestors learned to control when they shifted… so they were no longer slaves to the moon's phases. Not only this but we learned to cull the beasts within us, so that we do not kill innocent creatures due our wolves’ side. Based on what I saw when I arrived in the pit it seems that you already have better control over that part of you, you protected your friend despite having no training to anchor yourself,” said Shadow, his voice filling with pride as he tried to nuzzle his daughter.

Autumn flinched away from Shadow Snare, missing the injured look on his face as she stood on shaking legs escaping her mother’s loose embrace. “This is too much,” thought Autumn as she shook her head backing away from her parents… the weight of everything she had learned fell on her like a mountain. Sugar Beet and Shadow watched in concern as they watched their filly begin to hyperventilate, sweat began to soak Autumn’s fur as her eyes struggled to focus on anything.

“Easy there sugar, jus’ breath in and’ out,” said Sugar Beet trying to cajole her daughter into a more stable state. The elderberry mare understood that this was a lot to take in but she didn’t want to risk Autumn shifting and running out into the woods… not when the Hunters could be close by. Before Shadow could make a second attempt at trying to calm his daughter Autumn galloped out of the room and up the stairs locking her door behind her as she collapsed onto the floor.

Author's Note:

Another chapter done... on that note, I'M SO SO SORRY it took so long for me to get this posted. Life got pretty busy but for the few, the proud the brave that are still reading this thank you and I hope that you'll continue to read this story. Thanks to you all you're awesome!

Comments

[Tsar Denisovitsj]

Keep it going. I can not wait to read the next chapters.

[TraumaLane]

10300745
Thank you so much for reading, I’m glad you’re looking forward to the next chapters! I hope you enjoyed the origin of the children of the night

[Alicon Glactistar]

“Sometimes seeing is believing for a ponies little one,” said Shadow as he watched as his daughter’s eyes continued to follow him as he turned to face the mares in front of him. Shadow took a deep breath as he began to shift, an intense pain ran through his body like an old friend. Shadow’s fur grew thicker as his eyes turned bright scarlet, his jaw broke snapping like a rotted branch before reforming five inch fangs sprouting from his mouth as he breathed deeply, clenching the muscles in his barrel to aid the transformation.

First part doesn't sound right.

“Any who left or tried to leave… were said to have been put to death…eventually Nightmare moon was defeated, and she was banished. Though to where we do not know… some say she became the night sky…we were finally free of Nightmare Moon’s corrupted power. But we cryptids were labeled as traitors, monsters and freaks. Though many were captured during the last battle and locked away legends say that the remaining creatures of the night had managed to escape.

Nightmare Moon.

There is another in there but I lost track of it.

[TraumaLane]

10450590
Thanks for giving my story a read I’ll go make those corrections. Hope your enjoying it and if you have any other thoughts I’d be glad to hear them Cheers!