15. Dreams and Blood
Slowly she wandered in the shadowed lands. She had been here many times before, and thought she knew them well. However, they were far darker then they once had been, and she found herself frightened of every noise from just out of sight. Every cracked stick, every rustle of leaves sent her heart rate soaring in fear.
Turning, she saw them behind her, the monsters of the land. Creatures of shadow, they hunted this place, seeking the fear on which they fed. Many times had she faced and banished each of these monsters...but she knew that this time, she was powerless against them.
Racing forward, she sought to escape the monsters that vengefully pursued her. Her four hooves made too much noise upon the dark ground, and she knew she would not escape them or be able to hide. Seeing other ponies ahead, she ran to them, hoping for shelter or aid...but slowed as she saw the way they looked at her.
The hunger in these ponies eyes had nothing to do with food. The heat in their eyes - the desire - as she saw within them the things they wanted to do to her filled her with more fear then the monsters. Turning, she fled in a third direction, cursing her wings, soaked by fear sweat, that would not allow her to get airborne.
She did not run far before she saw the true fear that haunted her days...the monster from inside her, the one that had destroyed her once. She rose before her, her grin wide as she laughed mirthlessly.
Turning, she tried to flee, only to reach a terrible precipice jutting out into absolute darkness. She knew there would be no escape that way, as the abyss held only death. However, as the monsters, the ponies, and her own darkness approached. She could only back closer and closer to the edge...until the horrible moment when she felt her hooves slip and she fell backward, screaming into the abyss.
A soundless explosion of all colors of light drove the darkness back beyond her sight. Landing lightly upon a fluffy white cloud, she stared around at the cyan sky crested by twin rainbows. The cloud upon which she sat lifted her up, filling her with peace and contentment, driving from her mind all her fears.
The sky opened twin windows, and she stared into mirror bright pools of magenta. "Are you alright, Luna?" the sky asked her as she awoke.
-----------------
"Hey, Luna," Rainbow nudged her bedmate. "You okay? You kept tossing and turning."
Luna blinked slowly, staring into Rainbow Dash's eyes. "I am well now, beloved," she said quietly, secretly pleased at how much her companion blushed whenever she used this appelation. "It was merely a nightmare."
Rainbow stared at her in surprise. "The Princess of the Night has nightmares?"
Luna sighed. "Yes. While I can banish the bad dreams of other ponies and aid them in discovering how to overcome them, I am...powerless when my own dreamscape turns against me. While if I recognize it's nature as a dream I can banish it completely and awaken myself...some nightmares catch me unawares, especially since I first became Nightmare Moon."
Rainbow nuzzled her quietly. "You guard the dreams of everypony in Equestria...but who's there to guard yours?"
Luna sighed. "When I am much younger, Tia watches over my sleep. As I grow older, I must rely more and more upon my own awareness." She smiled. "But right now, I have you."
Rainbow smiled. "So...wanna talk about it? Maybe we can figure out how to make sure you don't have these dreams."
Luna sighed. "Unfortunately, this particular nightmare has haunted me for eons. First, I flee from the monsters I see in other ponies dreams, representative of those fears I cannot help them to overcome. Then...I flee from my own subjects, who look upon me in...ways I would prefer they not." She coughed uncomfortably, unsure how to explain further.
Rainbow Dash smirked. "So just how many wet dreams have you accidentally walked in on because the pony in question was calling out to you?"
Luna flushed. "Far too many...and few were at all pleasant. It is...unnerving, the things some ponies secretly desire to do to me." Deciding to change the subject a bit, she continued to describe the dream. "Then, I encounter Nightmare Moon, the everpresent spectre of my own undoing, my powers destroying me and leaving only a monster in their wake. Unable to face up to my duty, my subjects, or myself...I come to a cliff that juts into the abyss of death...and fall for all eternity."
Rainbow looked on sadly. "...not much I can do to help you get over that, huh?"
Luna nuzzled Rainbow Dash. "Just you being with me is enough, beloved. Holding you tight, my fears melt away."
Rainbow smiled, nuzzling Luna's neck. "Well, I doubt if either of us is going to get to sleep at this point, seeing as that's all I've done all day, so how about we talk?"
Luna chuckled. "Very well. I think that would be most enjoyable." She glanced towards the clock, and chuckled again. "It is about the time these talks began, anyway."
Looking at the clock to see what Luna meant, Dash chuckled. "Not sure if that's irony or karma." She shifted her weight slightly, trying to get comfortable against Luna without aggravating the still sensitive healing injuries. "So...how about you tell me about your parents? I don't think I've ever heard anything about them, though I've heard you mention both your mother and father at times, and you seem to remember them fondly."
Luna looked somewhat nervous. "That...is a rather long and complicated story, and...some of it is a state secret."
Rainbow blinked. "Well, we could talk about something else-"
"No, I wish to tell you," Luna interrupted. "Just...don't tell Celestia that I did, alright?"
Rainbow grinned. "As Rarity would say, pillow talk is private."
Luna chuckled. "Well, first the details of which that are matters of public record. Luna and I had the same parents, and our mother was Princess Platinum."
Rainbow blinked. "Seriously? The one Rarity played that one time in the Hearth's Warming Eve Pageant?"
"The very same. She played the part quite well actually." Luna frowned. "She was unmarried when Celestia began to grow in her womb, and claimed the child was of divine origin. When Tia was born an Alicorn - with equal parts magic from all three races - Equestria saw this as proof that this was true, and when I was born several years later - again, to a Princess Platinum who was unmarried - it was deemed a sign from the gods, and we two have ruled Equestria together by divine mandate ever since...save for the millenia I was sealed on the moon. Equestria's flag was not made until AFTER my birth, mostly because before that time the three tribes - while living peacefully - still couldn't agree on the flag's design. No tribe wanted to fly a flag designed by the others, as that would have made them feel subject to the other races. Tia actually designed the flag as her first act as Solar Ruler."
Rainbow's eyes were wide. "Wow. That's...pretty awesome."
Luna nodded. "It's also entirely hogwash, as far as the divine intervention is concerned. As far as Celestia and I are able to determine - and as far as our mother knew - no gods were involved in our conception."
Rainbow smirked. "Politics, huh? So who was your father, then? He had to have been important, so he was probably mentioned in history...hmm, couldn't be another unicorn, so not Starswirl..."
Luna chuckled. "You won't figure it out with logic, some generations after his passing, we amended history to remember him as a mare."
Rainbow blinked. "Then who was he?"
"Well...the simple answer is it was General Hurricane."
Rainbow coughed in shock. "What?"
"The full story is rather more complex, however."
"Well what are you waiting for, tell!"
Luna chuckled at Rainbow's eagerness. "Well, first off, Hurricane was not the usual sort of Pegasus to acheive dominance over the tribe. For that matter, tribe dominance was not decided the same way in each tribe. Unicorn leadership was hereditary. Earth Pony leadership was decided by elections. Pegasus leadership...was decided by rite of combat."
Rainbow squealed quietly. "So Hurricane was General because he was the baddest of the bad?"
Luna nodded. "Indeed. We don't know the full story, but his parentage was unknown, even to him. Also, in combat, he would go into berserker rages where he fought with frightening ferocity. In normal circumstances, he was actually weaker than other pegasi...but in that state he once drove a dragon from pegasi domain, nearly killing it in the process...and suffered no injuries in return save intense fatigue."
Rainbow blinked. "Wow," she said breathlessly.
Luna smiled. "While Hurricane was intensely stubborn, quick to anger, and could be ferocious...he was intensely protective of his aide-de-camp, Private Pansy...who became his wife after the Unification."
Rainbow blinked. "So...how'd she feel about him getting it on with Princess Platinum?"
Luna chuckled. "There's more to the story, love." She smiled. "After the unification, Pansy thought Hurricane would settle easily...but the berserker rages began to come without warning, and the only one he wouldn't hurt during that time was her...although several times it came very close. Apparently, Hurricane was a throw back to the feral pegasi, and his primal urges were incredibly strong. She did discover, however, that by indulging...other primal urges on a more frequent basis, it lessened both the frequency and intensity of his...rage fits." Luna smirked. "However, she lacked the...stamina to keep up with him on her own, so she arranged for several likely mares to...appease their general. Needless to say, she also saw to it that his - numerous - illegitamate children were provided for at least as well as the three she bore him."
Rainbow's jaw dropped. "She...she picked out mistresses for him? Why?"
Luna smiled softly. "Because of how much she loved him. Although they often quarrled, her loyalty to him was unshakable, and dates to before he became general. She arranged for him to receive from others that which he needed that she was physically incapable of providing."
Rainbow nodded, having trouble processing this. "And...was the Princess one of these?"
Luna shook her head. "No. During one of the meetings with the three leaders - Hurricane, Platinum, and Puddinghead - Hurricane had brought along some homebrewed, high quality wine brewed from the nectar of certain flowers in Pansy's garden. They drank deeply of it to relax and..." Luna smiled. "One virile stallion plus two energetic mares. Need I say more?"
Rainbow laughed so hard she would have rolled off the bed if Luna hadn't steadied her. "Oh my gosh...too much..."
Luna smiled. "Yes. When it turned out Platinum was foaling, she was actually pleased. You see, her parents were trying to arrange a proper noble marraige for her, but...none of the nobles appealed to her in the slightest."
Rainbow grinned. "Like trying to match Rarity to Blueblood?"
Luna shook her head. "The nobles back then made Blueblood look like Big Macintosh." Rainbow stared in shock. "While Blueblood has a...poor way of showing it, he does genuinely care about the land of Equestria. The unicorn nobles of that day and age only cared about themselves."
Rainbow nodded. "So claiming divine insemination meant she didn't have to get married."
Luna smiled. "Indeed. And she was quite...appreciative of Hurricane's rakish charm and skills in Chaos Chess."
Rainbow blinked. "Chaos Chess?"
Luna smiled. "It's like ordinary chess, but it's played on a board that changes shape randomly. It was favored of the unicorn educated elite, and required a strong tactical mind to grasp, let alone excel. For most unicorns, it was an unparalleled mental challenge. For Hurricane, it was relaxing fun...and he almost never lost."
Rainbow grinned. "I take it Platinum enjoyed the challenge?"
Luna grinned. "She was the champion of the game amongst the unicorns. Encountering someone who could beat her and make it look so easy...was quite the turn on for her."
Rainbow chuckled. "I'm surprised you don't have more siblings, then."
Luna shook her head. "After my sister, Platinum did not conceive again - no matter how many times she was with Hurricane - until the next time Puddinghead was involved as well. That's when I was born."
Rainbow blinked as a thought occured to her. "So...did this result in Puddinghead getting pregnant, too?"
"Yes. She gave birth to Discord."
"YOU'RE JOKING!"
Luna chuckled. "Yes, but you beleived it, didn't you?" As Rainbow laughed with her, Luna continued. "She did have a child from that union, however...and Earth Pony with unusual magical capabilities. Celestia has kept track of that bloodline and says that those abilities have cropped up rather frequently."
Rainow's eyes went very wide. "...Pinkie Pie?" she barely whispered.
Chuckling, Luna nodded.
----------------------
Scootaloo backed up against the tree, her rage once more casting a red tone over everything she saw. The timberwolves once more surrounded her, their eyes hungry, seeking to devour her and her sister. Once more Scootaloo threw herself into the fray. Once more she tore the timberwolves apart.
Every night since Rainbow Dash had returned home healthy, she had had this dream. She saw everything she had done to the timberwolves in protecting Rainbow. She saw and felt her ferocity, her brutality. The first time, she had woken up at the end of it and run to the bathroom to vomit. Succesive times, she had slowly accepted that she had done this, and had begun to embrace it, fascinated by the efficiency and skill she had shown in battle...and how lucky she had been to escape with so little injury.
Each time, the spectral voice that seemed to speak from her blood became clearer and clearer. This time, she ignored the battle and focused on the voice. It was clear as day this time, instructing her on how to fight, where to strike, how to sense the weakpoints of her foes, how to use her pegasus magic to redirect the air so that a lunge would miss.
When the battle concluded, she turned towards Rainbow Dash...but she wasn't there. The dream had changed. The Everfree Forest faded back into grey clouds, and all that was left was her and the blood she had shed.
The blood moved across the ground, collecting in a single small pool. Wisps of grey smoke rose up from the puddle of blood, congealing into an image.
The pegasus was pitch black, his mane as white as clouds. His eyes were a steely grey. His Cutie Mark was very distinctive, putting Scootaloo in mind of an image she'd once seen of what a tropical ocean storm looked like from above, if one hovered straight over the eye.
The pegasus flared his wings, staring down at Scootaloo through the mist. "It's about time," he said bluntly. "I have much to teach you."
I KNEW IT! I knew Pinkie was born to break the fourth wall.
2060051
Yep! And according to this, is a direct descendant of Celestia's twin sister by a different mother. Pinkie Pie is secret royalty! XD
2060085 Celestia save Equestria if Pinkie finds out because Luna would be hiding on the moon with RD laughing her ass off at what Pinkie would be doing and staying out of her way while Celestia tries to stop Pinkie.
2060098
... ... ...Hmm...
Idea!
2060104 Have her find out and sic her on Blueblood out of general principal?
2060116
Actually, I was thinking along the lines of Pinkie Pie finding out and somehow talking Celestia into leaving her in charge as regent while she and Luna took a vacation...and then write what happens when Pinkie Pie tries to babysit a country.
2060131 Pinkie running Equestria=24 hour Mardi Gras.
2060159
Actually, I was picturing something along the lines of first time babysitting the Cake twins...as applied to the country as a whole.
2060185 Meh, as long as I get the Mardi Gras out of my system I don't care.
2060195
Well, of coure she'd throw Mardi Gras right at first...and then she'll learn the lesson about babysitting all over again.
2060253 Yep and Pinkie would wake up with a massive hangover and her friends sans RD all lying in bed with her.
"Best...Party...EVER!"
i am guessing that commander hurricane is the one teaching scootaloo, which makes me think if one of the CMC happend to be a colt then it could have been possible for them to concieve an alicorn... maybe
2060487
Not entirely.
The CMC, if they wound up having an orgy when they were older, could conceive an alicorn...IF they shared a bottle of 'Nectar of the Gods', the wine made from the nectar of cloudflowers. That's the missing ingredient nopony knows about. And that's why no alicorn has bee born since the death of Private Pansy, as nopony since her has been able to grow cloudflowers.
2060624 which are now able to be cultivated by a blind filly in celestia's care
2060646
True. But while Celestia has the records of how to brew the drink, she doesn't know that it has the potential to create more alicorns. Besides, when drunk alone it increases a pony's magic to dangerous levels, like Sombra.
2060657 yep thats understandable
Not to bad for a filler. It did give us some funny moments and interesting history. Over all can't wait untill the next chapter.
2060731
Glad to hear it.
So Scoots is a defendant of Commander Hurricane? Awww snap!!
that video was funny
2061669
Well, someone identified him.
Yep, Scootaloo is a direct descendant of Commander Hurricane's...legitamate offspring.
2061671
I know, right?
poor fillies forever scared for life
when luna mentions hurricanes berserkers rage you should have rainbow bring up how scoots bested the timberwolves, maybe they can determine if that is her heritage or not
2272779
I'm still internally debating whether or not Scootaloo's blood connection with Hurricane (yes, she is a direct descendant) is an important enough plot point to expound upon, or if I should just leave it as part of the world building.
2306125
Yeah, I'm sick like that.
Probably the only reason I can, though, is because I've never actually read the thing.
2403552
I am glad you enjoy it so much. This was the first story I wrote specifically for posting here, so it's a good guage of my development as a pony writer. I'll be sure to continue it...eventually.
2595064
Dinky isn't. Derpy was.
Are we gonna see an update anytime soon?
2658924
I'll get back to this story eventually.
I have so many new story ideas, they get in the way of the old. I'll see about getting something more out.
I'll probably become much more active writing wise once the weather cools down.
thank you for the quick reply, and that's great news.
good story
That ending brings to mind the Hero's Shade from Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
Funny that they were talking about Hurricane...
3083637
Where do you think I got the idea? :D
3085028
Oh, you're a fan of Legend of Zelda too? Yeah, it's awesome.
Call me crazy for going against popular opinion regarding Ocarina of Time...but I like Twilight Princess better...
3085157
My faves of the 3d are TP and SS. Windwaker comes in close after those.
3085319
I got Wind Waker recently
I like to play the Pirates of the Caribbean theme at certain points while I play...
Because awesome.
You know what I'd like? A good crossover between LoZ and MLP.
Because awesome.
3085354
...Hmmm...
Sooo....
Any news on an update for this?
3107577
I know where this story is headed in the future...but I have hit a minor roadblock in the form of the planned events for next chapter. I want them to be impressive, but realistic, and I don't know how to get them to mesh.
Love the story and the pacing, this quickly making its way to the top five of my favorites. I love worldbuilding, especially when done with care and (trying to) keeping the players as in character as possible.
3107894
If you are still having issues here, I gladly offer my services to bounce ideas off of. Just send me a pm if you're interested. Best of luck to you regardless.
Haven't read this yet. Could you please link the stories this is a sequel into the long description? So I can follow the story from the beginning?
3271916
Sure thing.
3272101
Thank you .
3272203
Welcome.
I read the end of this chapter and called out "I SO called it!"
3085354 For a good MLP-TLoZ crossover, I recommend Courage, by Scion. It's a Twilight Princess-MLP crossover.
I'd like to point out the possibility of Water Lily being a descendent of Privet Pansy. I think this is true because she is a Pegasus, she is shy, and can grow Cloud Flowers, which may be a hereditary trait. This would mean that she would be related to Scootaloo.