> Children of the night.
>  by RoyalUnicornJohn1994
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Chapter one. Intruder.
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Chapter one. Intruder.

Princess Luna. The princess of the night. The second in command to Celestia.
That's the how she was known. As the princess of the night, she had the labor to adorn the sky with the lights of the night: the stars, the moon. However, something bothered Luna since she came back.
She was alone in the moon, back again when she was Nightmare Moon.
Alone. In the infinite darkness.

In here, she saw many couples, asleep in their bedrooms together. They seemed so happy of being together. And that made her somehow jealous.

That day, Luna woke up to do her night shift. She rose the moon and adorned the sky as she saw it perfect. It didn't take her too much to do that, for she was an expert doing that for quite a time. Just a couple millenniums, she thought.
She got out of her room to go to the throne room. She had to attend to her royal business. However, turning in a corner, she got in front of her elder sister.
"Oh, Luna. Good evening." Celestia greeted her with her usual maternal voice.
"Good evening, elder sister."
"Going to the throne room, I guess?"
"Yes, we are. We are going to take care of the kingdom."
"Of course, Luna. I trust you will do the best for our kingdom."
Celestia continued her journey to her royal chambers. Her day shift was hard and dutiful, Therefore, she had to rest.
Luna continued her journey to the throne room, stopping to see the moon in the sky. She wondered what her life's purpose was.
The night shift on the throne room was boring. Nopony ever went there at night. However, she had another task at hoof, which was far more fun than sitting in the throne.
She stood up and went toward the window.
"Princess! Where are you going?" One of the guards caught her attention.
"We shall go in a night flight. We want to ensure that our people are okay."
"As you wish, my princess."
Luna took on flight to watch over her dear ponies. She could see the dreams of most of them. Some of them had magnificent dreams. Very much pleasant to say at least. Other ponies had nightmares. Such horrible nightmares.
These ones was the ones she interrupted in. Changing them into a more pleasant dream.
She never liked to cause such nightmares on her people. And she'd do everything she could do for them to have good dreams.

It was in one of those nightmares that she caught a strange image.
It wasn't exactly what you could say a normal nightmare. This one was of a distant land. One that she hadn't seen in a very long time. And that was concerning. Only two ponies in all the land could have such a dream like this one. However, Celestia was too far for her to catch her dream. Also, she hadn't dream about this for a very long time.
The other one who could remember this land was herself. But she wasn't asleep in first place. And in second place, she could control very well, to say at least, the way she dream.
If it wasn't Celestia or Luna, then... who was it? Luna started to fly toward the source of the dream. Finally, leading her to the edge of the Everfree forest.

As she went deeper into the forest, she could feel the source of the strange dream becoming stronger, a signal that she was getting closer to whatever was having this dream. Finally, she spotted the source of the dream, just behind a tree next to her. What she saw was something she never thought to find here... again.

A bipedal being was in front of her. Four extremities, with only a part of what she knew as mane covered his head. His body wasn't covered by fur, but instead of that, he wore some kind of weird clothes. His face didn't was like hers. His mouth wasn't as long as hers. Instead of hooves, the creature possessed something resembling like Spike's claws on the top and in the low part, he had something that Luna found to be fake foots.

Luna had seen this strange beings once before... in a book. However, it was uncountable eons ago this kind of being had lived upon this lands. The only one who could know something about this strange creature was her sister, Celestia.
She thought about taking him to her sister. However, she was asleep at this moment. If she didn't asleep well, she'd be unable to lift the sun. Therefore, she had to wait until tomorrow.

She thought about leaving the creature there... that was until she saw a red liquid going down his arm.
Upon a closer inspection, she realized that the creature was harmed deep in his arm. He even was covering his arm with his other arm.

His eyes opened a bit, revealing a pair of eyes that Luna couldn't see clearly beneath the shadow the tree gave to him. He only gave her a short gaze before passing out again. Luna could see his pain expression in that moment. It was clearly for her that the creature wouldn't survive the night if she didn't do anything for him.
She took him on his back and flew off toward Canterlot. She could feel some of the red fluid on her fur. She got more and more concerned for the well-being of this creature.

The creature opened his eyes. Inspecting the place he was, he noted that he wasn't anymore in the forest, but in a huge room, where he was in a huge bed. In his body, some bandages where upon his seriously injured arm.
He turned to see around and saw a strange shadow watching him from a certain distance. It was watching his arm. He suddenly recognized that shadow. He saw it in the forest. However, he only caught a glimpse of that shadow.
Both of them saw each other for some time, before the strange shadow started to head toward him. Showing itself at the light of the moon, it appeared to be a horse. A pony, to be exact.
He saw the other... compliments of the pony in front of him. It had a horn and a pair of wings at its side. He suddenly felt uneasy for what this pony would do to him.
The horn of the pony started to glow up for a few moments, enveloping a small cup with a glow of similar color to its horn's. Instantly, the cup levitated in front of him. He watched it for a few minutes before picking it up and took a taste. It was a tea, apparently a lemon flavored one.

The pony gave him a smile, at the same time he drank it up. He saw this and returned her the smile. He put the cup at a little table at the side of the bed. He turned to see the pony, who kept still in the same place for a long time.

Finally after several minutes, he got up from the bed. He almost fell when he tried to stand, being saved by the pony, who quickly went after him to stop him of falling. Few more minutes of waiting and he would have hit the floor.
He gave the pony a smile. And the pony, turning its head to him, returned him the smile. Once again, he tried again to stand and walk, now having help.
After a few minutes, he could stand and walk by himself. The pony smiled all the while he practiced and mastered again the walking.

Both of them watched each other for a very long time. What was only minutes felt like years, while both of them felt some kind of connection between them.
"... Thanks." The bipedal creature said at least.
Suddenly, Luna heard those words coming from the bipedal. All the while he had been in there, she thought that he may be mute. And now, he was talking.
At first, Luna didn't understood what he said to her. Therefore, she only made a confusion expression on her face.
"... Thank you for... taking care of me... I assume you were the one who put these on me." The bipedal said as he pointed the bandages on his arm.
Then, Luna understood what he was saying. It didn't was Equestrian, though. The bipedal spoke in a different language that she didn't heard for quite a while.
When or how she learned the bipedal's language, she didn't know. However, she answered to him.
"... We are grateful for thou to be healthful." Luna said as he got surprised by the fact that the pony in front of him could speak.
Once again, both of them stayed in there, looking at each other while wondering what would happen next. It was the bipedal who spoke first. With a smile on his face, he turned toward her.
"... My name is John..."
"We are known as Princess Luna. Pleased to make you acquaintance."
He opened his eyes wide as he heard the word "princess". He watched her, as he discovered a small crown next to her horn.
"... you're... a princess?"
"Yes, we are."
"... alright... so, your highness-" he said as he bowed to her. "... could you tell me where i am?"
"Of course we can. Thou are in the great and peaceful land of Equestria."
"Equestria? Where is that?"
Luna was surprised by that question. She always lived in here, and she knew that almost every inhabitant in the planet knew about this land. Therefore, she could only make an obvious conclusion.
"... thou are not from this land. Where does thou have come from?"
John thought about it for a few seconds. Where did he came from? He only found a few words to describe what he could remember.
"... I... I-I don't know."
Luna got even more and more curious about this strange being. He didn't remember anything about himself.
With more reason, she would have to wait until the next day and take care of this creature.
> Chapter two. The human.
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Chapter two. The human.

John awoke in Luna's bedroom. The knock of the door startled him. He almost instantly hid behind the bed when the door opened. He was waiting for somepony else to show up. Instead of that, Luna step inside, carrying a small cup of tea.
He got more relaxed by this and showed himself from behind the bed. Luna saw him and walked toward him.
"We are happy to see thou getting better. How is thy arm?" Luna said as she got closer to inspect his arm.
"It still hurts. But only a bit." John said as he tried to lift his injured arm.
Luna saw the look of pain in his face when he tried to do that. He stopped the attempt with a sad look on his face. Luna got closer to inspect better his arm at the same time she levitated the cup to him.
In a close examination, she noted that the wound was a penetrating one. It didn't was caused by an accident, as she initially thought.
"How does thou say this happened?" Luna said after a few minutes.
John tried his best to remember something about him. However, he couldn't. He couldn't remember anything before last night, but his name.
"I'd tell you if I could remember something more than my name."
"Then... how is that thou remember thy name?"
"... I don't know. It was like if... it... came back to me..."
Luna was confused at this point. He couldn't remember anything about him. However, random memories returned to him in matter of seconds.
However, she was taken out of the thoughts by seeing him yawning.
As Luna was a nocturnal being, she could stay awake all night. However, John seemed to be a day being. He soon started to feel sleepy.
"Thou looks like a good sleep is needed." Luna said with a smile on her face.
"Yeah. I'd like to sleep, but i have to be on the lookout in case of any strangers try to get in."
"Thou art correct. However, We have nothing to do. Our people don't come usually at night."
"And with that you're saying...?"
"We are referring to the fact that almost nopony comes to us at night. If something were to happen at night, that would be-"
A sudden knock in the door startled them. John run to hid in a wardrobe.
Luna got surprised by his speed, considering he was injured. Instead of thinking about it, she went to the door.
John tried to hear to the conversation between Luna and the pony of the door. However, all he could hear was a lot of horse-like sounds.

"Your highness! Please, open the door right know!"
Luna went to open the door. Once opened, she saw a night guard.
"Your highness! Are you okay?" The night guard asked to her, seemingly concerned by something.
"Of course we are. What is the reason you are asking this?"
"Well... I am not totally sure, but... Princess Celestia wants to talk with you."
"Our elder sister? Why does she require our presence?"
"As I said before, I didn't was properly informed. She just asked me to escort you to her room."
Luna smiled at him. All the guards would give their life just to protect her.
"... Thou art an excellent guard. However, we do not have the need for a escort. We'll go by ourselves."
The guard stood in there, thinking about Luna's order.
"A-As you say, Milady."
With that, the guard retreated from there. Luna wanted to make sure that John was okay. However, if he was able to run and hide as fast as he made in the last moments, then he would be alright.
Therefore, she focused in the task at hoof: her elder sister had called for her. And she would always answer her.
However, Luna thought, what is so important for her to be up at this time of the night? What was that so important thing that she needed Luna to be with her?

After a few minutes, she got to Celestia's room. She knocked a few times the door.
"Oh, Luna!" Celestia said after she opened her door and saw her little sister. "Are you alright?"
"Yes, we are. However, we need to know. What did have thou so concerned that thou asked forour presence?"
Celestia made her a sign to her to come in. Luna obeyed quietly.
"Luna. as both of us posses the same powers, i trust that you felt something weird a few hours ago."
Something weird? What was she talking about?
"I could feel something... a live creature. However, i couldn't recognize very well the essence, for it isn't something I've seen in a very long time." Celestia told her while trying to look normal.
"What do you think this being can be, dear sister?"
"I don't know. As I said, i haven't felt that essence for a couple millenniums. Last time i could sense it was when Father was alive."
Luna started to feel nervous. Their father has died millenniums ago. In a war that she didn't saw. However, it was well known for almost everypony. It was the war for the pony's race survival... to survive against an enemy that threatened their very existence.
However, as Luna never saw that enemy before, she didn't know what she was talking about.
"... When Father was alive..." Luna repeated to herself. "... and what is this creature thou art talking about? I assume thou art talking about the Intelligence Wars?"
"Yes, Luna. That is the war we are talking about."
The Intelligence Wars were millenniums ago. It was named like that because two races faced each other. These two races were intelligent beings. One race was the Ponies, whose intelligence earned them the right to posses magic, wings, and other gifts.
By the other part, the enemy race were creatures called "Humans". However, the version Luna read didn't described the way those creatures were. It only said they were fierce warriors, whose brains made them slightly more intelligent than the average pony.
Celestia looked at her sister. She merely walked away some steps to open a book in a small table. Luna got closer, and saw something that terrorized her.
It was the same book she saw a few months ago, whose description was about these so-called dangerous "Humans". In the instant she saw the book, she recognized it. However, she also recognized the being whose picture was in the book: it was rather similar to the one she had on her bedroom.
"Luna. Are you okay?" Celestia said while seeing the look on Luna's face.
Luna tried to compose herself. However, she only found one valid thing to say.
"We need to use thy bathroom!"
If she wanted to use them, she could have run in her hooves. However, she instead opened her wings and with a powerful thrust, she was in the bathroom, just a few seconds later.
Celestia stood in there. When she heard the familiar noise of the bathroom being used, she smirked.
"Why. Looks like somepony needs to go more frequently." She thought to herself.

Luna had a valid reason to flee. However, that wasn't the only reason of why she left so suddenly: She was nervous.
She was hosting a Human. The one she thought to be a kind being was the same creature whose race killed her Father.
She tried to compose herself before going out of the bathroom.
"... Don't say a thing." She said calmly to her sister when she got out.
"... What are you going to do, Luna?"
"... We shall go to our bedroom and see if we can sense this 'human'." Luna said while remarking the last word.
"Should I help you?"
"No, dear sister. Thou must rest. Thou hast to rise the sun in the morning."
"Yes. Indeed, you are correct."
"Good night, Sister."
"Good night, Luna."

As Luna opened the door of her bed room, she saw John standing next to the window with a surprise expression in his face.
"Oh, Princess. I thought you were other-" John's talk was interrupted by seeing her coming furiously fast toward him.
"TELL US THAT YOU'RE NOT A HUMAN!" Luna practically shouted to him while her face went to a deeply concerned expression. John looked to his chest, where her hoof was holding him against the wall.
"... why do you ask that, Princess?"
"TELL US!"
"Okay!, okay. I'm a human. And don't ask me why I remember that, 'cause i don't know."
Luna let him go, while seeing deeply scared.
"... Thou art... human..."
"...yeah?"
John seemed like if he didn't care much about being of that race. However, Luna did care about that.
"... Thou shalt come with me."
Luna was starting to walk toward her door when a sudden knock startled them.
"Luna! Are you okay!? I can sense something in there!"
Luna recognized that voice.
It was her sister.
> Chapter three. Chess.
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Chapter three. Chess.

Both, Luna and John stood in awe while hearing the voice in the outside of the room.
"Umm... who did you say it was?" John asked curiously to Luna.
"It's my sister. I have to hide you somewhere!" Luna was frenetic, trying to find one place to hide him.
Luna inspected many places. The bathroom? No. What if she had to use the bathroom?... The balcony? No. The moon provided a very descent amount of light. He'd be discovered in a few seconds... the wardrobe?
...
"PERFECT!" Luna shouted as she turned to bite John's shirt and drag him to the wardrobe.
"HEY- WHA-" John's protest was cut out by the wardrobe's doors closing in front of him.
As he felt the doors closing, he also felt a sharp thing that pierced his arm. In that moment, he started to feel dizzy and confused. As he felt his body became numb, many questions came to him.
Why was Luna so nervous about her sister seeing him? Why the nervousness even to the point where she stopped her medieval language, as her typical "we" or "us"... even the "thou"?

Luna, after hiding John in the wardrobe went quickly to the door. She took a few moments to compose herself before opening.
"Good evening, dearest elder sister. What is the reason to come to us in such a rush?" Luna asked, trying her best to hide her nervousness.
"Good evening, again. Luna, let me in." Celestia ordered coldly to her.
"Why does thou demand that in-"
"Let. Me. In." Celestia ordered once again.
This time, Luna step aside and allowed her the entrance. At that moment, Luna started to feel even more anxious than before. And Celestia noted it.
"Dear sister. I sensed something in here. Something... strange."
"What is that thing thou noted?"
"I don't know. I..."
Suddenly, Celestia stopped talking and her horn lit up. Almost instantly, she turned away and looked to the wardrobe.
"There. I can feel it again."
Celestia started to walk toward the wardrobe. She was about to open it, when Luna step in front of her.
"THOU CAN NOT SEE IN THERE!" Luna said seemingly nervous.
"Let me see it. I sense something strange in there."
"NO!- I mean... Our royal wardrobe has not been... arranged... properly."
Celestia looked at her, seemingly annoyed.
"Luna. What are you hiding from me?"
Luna was taken by surprise. She tried to avoid the eye contact. Therefore, she moved from where she was.
"Nothing. We aren't hiding anything from thou. We just-"
"Then, you're not going to offend if i see in." Celestia said while opening the door.
"NOO!"
Celestia opened the wardrobe, just to step back when a black pony fell from the inside. Both sisters stood in awe. Celestia because she didn't knew who this pony was or how he got to Luna's wardrobe.
Luna, by the other hand, was wondering why there was a pony in her wardrobe. She put in there a human.

John felt the pain in his new body. As he hit in his chin, he got disoriented only a few seconds. At the other side of the room, there was a mirror, in which, he saw his new self.
He was a black pony with a brown mane. Instead of hands, he had hooves.
He was stunned by the vision. However, something caught his attention. The two mares in front of him.
One was white with a rainbow-like mane. John guessed by what Luna said that she was her sister.
He turned to see Luna, who was extremely anxious. Her hooves were shaking. She was even sweating.
He took a few moments to gather the enough strength to stand.
"Oh, mon dieu Princess! I thought that you said that we would be totally alone!"
Celestia turned to Luna again. This time, she was confused.
Luna wasn't better than her, as she was still shaking and sweating. She turned to her sister just to give an awkward answer.
"I-I-I... I-I..." As she tried her best to speak, she couldn't.
Celestia turned her head toward her sister, then back to the black stallion. After that, a devilish grin was formed in her face.
"Oh, Luna. I didn't knew you were finally dating." Celestia said while empathizing the "finally".
"I-I..."
"Youg highness! I must stand in here and say to you that we age not dating. I am hege as a pofessional chess instugteg." John said in a perfect Equestrian French accent.
Celestia turned again to him. She eyed him meticulously.
However, Lady Luck was at his side, while he was wearing a cutie mark of a chess Knight. In the other side of the room, there was a chess board.
And, even better, was the fact that Luna never learned how to play chess. She even asked her sister to teach her how to play. However, Celestia never had time for her.
Celestia smiled at her sister.
"Oh. I see you got somepony to teach you about this game."
"... Oh, yes, dear sister. I asked him to come here to teach me how to play."
Celestia smirked while looking at John.
"What is you name, gentle pony?"
John obviously saw that Luna didn't wanted her sister to discover there was a human in the room. As he remembered his colors, he said the first thing that came to him.
"Black... Black Knight."
Celestia smirked even more at the name of the stallion. She guessed that his name came from his fur color and his special talent.
"Well, mister Black. How good are you at chess?" Celestia asked him with a grin forming in his face.
"Well... I don't like to talk about my abilities, but... i defend myself."
"Okay, mister chess master. Shall we?" Celestia said while levitating the chess to him.
John looked at her. Just one thought came to him.
"White ones versus the Black ones." He stated at the obvious colors of the two of them.
"Seems reasonable." Celestia confirmed. "You the black ones, I suppose?"
"Ladies figst, milady." John pointed to the white ones.

In the center of the room was a small table with two chairs next to it. On the table was the Chess, already positioned to the battle.
Celestia took her position in front of Black. Her first move was taking a pawn and moving it one space forward. Black copied the movement. His movements were slightly dumb.
"I can see you like to imitate the movements." Celestia said while moving a bishop forward.
"No. It's just that it seems like the most logical option." Black said while moving a knight forward, putting it next to the end of the board.
Celestia moved another pawn two spaces ahead, making way for the Rook to go out.
"Hm. You like frontal attack. Right, your highness?" Black said while moving the pawn next to the Queen one space forward
"If you can make the right strategy, then it can be quite accurate."

Luna watched as the battle raced on. After two hours, Celestia and John still were battling fiercely against each other. However, John was in a serious disadvantage, for he only counted with his King, his Queen, two Pawns and one Knight.
Celestia, however, still had most of her pawns, one Bishop, her Two Rooks, her Queen and her King hadn't change position.
"Why, mister Black. You don't seem to be quite good on this." Celestia said while moving a pawn even nearer to the final lane.
"Well, it's not done until it's done."
"Yes. You are right. However, I must ask... how do you plan to win this one?" Celestia said, showing a true curiosity.
Black merely stood in there, while watching intently the board. Suddenly, he stood up and watched Celestia closely.
"... I give you one movement to sugendeg." Black said to Celestia, while seeing serious about it.
Celestia only watched him, while Black stood in there. Suddenly, she started to laugh. Barely audible.
"... I think you didn't hear what I said. The possibilities of you winning against me are minimal! And you say that I must surrender?"
"... That is, unless you don't want to suffeg a painful defeat, you highness."
Celestia moved her Pawn to the final line.
"I transform it into a Queen." She said.
Immediately, the board obeyed her. The Pawn shined until it was a Queen.
Black eyed her. After several moments, he made his move.
He moved his Queen toward a point where it was facing directly the King. Celestia's eyes became tiny just by seeing the movement.
In the instant she moved the Pawn, the path was clear for him to pierce through her defenses, fooling all her pieces. Her pyramid-like formation provided the right entrance for her Queen to enter.
And she couldn't catch his Queen, because his Knight was protecting her.
Having that movement, she saw the truth.
"... Check... Mate..." She said while seeing the board.
Her newly acquired Queen became a Pawn again, signal that the game was finished.
Black smiled at her.
"... Well... you can't say that i didn't waned you, Highness."
Celestia merely stood in there while seeing the board.
"Nopony... ever... beat me... at this..."
"I suppose, you highness, that thege is always a figst time."
Celestia didn't said a thing. She just stood in there. Black made a sign to Luna.
"Well, Highness. I must be on my way. Luna might want to start learning this."
Still with the sounds of hoofsteps getting away, Celestia just sat in there while trying to rationalize what just happened. Was this pony more intelligent than her? And if he was... how?

While they were in the hallway, Luna was eyeing closely this "Black", as John named himself.
John realized this and turned to her.
"So..."
"... I have three questions. May I?"
"... Yeah. Go ahead."
"First one. Why are you a pony?"
"Don't know. When you got me into your wardrobe I felt a sharp thing in my arm."
Luna turned his sight to one of his hooves. In there, she saw a small earring.
"That's my mother's earring."
John turned to see his leg. 
"Wha- How did this got here?"
John turned to see Luna. She was blushing, but not from anything else but rage. Her eyes, like two powerful flames gazing at him, confirmed his suspicions.
In a calmed pace, he turned his head to his leg and took out the sharp part of the object.
"There. Sorry about that." John said while giving Luna the earring.
Luna didn't did anything but staring at him. John was wondering why she was like that.
Suddenly, Luna bit his shirt and dragged him to a near room.
"HEY-WHA-" John felt certain Deja-vu after being locked again in a dark room. However, he noted something weird.
Luna pulled him from his shirt. And when he was a pony he was completely naked.
That could only mean one thing.
"You're a human, again." Luna made the observation in the dark.
"Yeah. It was that thing. Now that I realize, when I was in your wardrobe, I felt a sharp thing stitching in my arm. And next thing I knew was... I was a pony."
Luna nodded. She saw it. In the moment he took out the earring, he became human again.
"Well... that answers my first question." Luna said while stitching again the earring into John's ear.
"OUCH! Tell me when you're going to do something like that, please!"
John couldn't see how happened. However, he felt his body transforming again.
"Now, to my second question..." Luna stated while opening the door.
"Go ahead..."
"How were you able to defeat my sister? For as long as I know, she was truly the best tactician in the land. Everypony who dared to challenge her finished in a dramatic defeat."
"Well... I don't know. It was just like... seeing what she wanted moments before it happened."
"That means you can see the future?"
"I think you already know the answer to that."
"... 'I don't know'..." Luna stated, obviously annoyed.
"Now, for the third question..." John stated.
Luna blushed before asking.
"Do you think that... you could... teach me? How to play Chess?"
> Chapter four. Night Mare Moon.
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Chapter four. Night Mare Moon.

"... Hah! What about this one? Check!" Luna shouted while moving a bishop to a position where John's King was in check.
"... Hm. Good one. However, I... think... you missed one thing." John said while moving his Queen between Luna's Bishop and his King. "Check Mate."
Luna stood in awe while inspecting the board: He was right.
"... Ten movements... Huh. This time you lasted longer than before." John said to her.
Luna stood in front of him while wearing a frustrated expression.
"I WANT ANOTHER DUEL!" She shouted to him.
"<yawwn> You know, one would expect that, after nineteen defeats, you would be more than tired of it."
"... It has been nineteen battles?" Luna asked confused.
"Yep. And, you know... I'm kinda sleepy right now."
Luna suddenly remembered that, even when he were a pony right then, he still was an injured human. He needed to rest.
Suddenly, a deep feeling of guilt overwhelmed her.
"Hey. You okay?" John asked.
"...Hm? Oh, yes. We are fine."
Luna moved from her place in front of him.
"If thou art in need to rest, then... Thou shalt be Our host."
"...Alright, so... what?" John asked, confused.
Luna got annoyed by the fact that, sometimes, ponies couldn't understand her royal language.
"I meant that I shall give you a room to stay."
"Here? In the castle?"
"Yes. We shalt let thou stay in the East tower."
"Oh. Well... thanks."
"Thou art welcome."

Luna lead him to one of the towers in the castle. Once in there, he got comfortable in the large bed in the middle of the room.
"Art thou well with this?"
"... Princess... may I ask you something?"
Luna got surprised by that. John seemed concerned by something.
"... Please, ask to us."
"... I know that you didn't wanted your sister, or anypony else... at least, not with my human form... I assume that humans are not well received in this land..."
Luna only nodded to the facts that John was describing to her.
"Then again... I have been thinking seriously through the night and... if humans are not welcomed... why did you saved me?"
Luna literally was taken back by this question.
He was right: If he wasn't received by the others, then... why did she even hide him from her sister, who was the wisest creature in this world?
"... I... I don't know... I think that I couldn't let you die in there... I'm not anything like that..." Luna said while turning to the huge window, where her moon was in the sky.
"... Thanks..."
Luna turned to him.
"Thanks... I mean, for everything you're doing for me... you're giving me a bed... medical services... seriously, thanks a lot."
Luna's face blushed by the comment of him. Nopony ever said those things to her.
"... Thou art welcomed... we shall see you in the night."
With that, Luna got out of the room, still thinking why she felt so happy with him saying those things.

The sun was arising in the horizon, and it shined all over the glorious city of Canterlot. Soon, the streets started to live with all the ponies walking here and there, each one of them with their own worries and business.
In the tower of Canterlot, John (still as Black Knight) lied in his bed. He was sleeping deeply, even snorting.
His unknown dream was interrupted when the warm (and somewhat annoying) light of the sun entered his room. He opened his eyes. However, he wasn't prepared to see a pony in there.
A white mare was in there, cleaning the room. She seemed like if she hadn't realized that he was there.
"Hey there. Good morning." John said to the mare, still beneath his covers.
The mare turned to him. She didn't seemed surprised, to say at least.
"Good morning, mister Black." She greeted him back.
"Huh? How do you know my name?
"Princess Luna asked me to see if you were fine in the morning."
He smirked while making a mental list of how many favors he debt to the princess.
"So, mister Black. What would you want for breakfast?"
"Umm... I suppose something simple would be fine."
"... By simple you mean...?"
"... I don't know... some cereal?"
"Right away, mister."
The maid got out of the room. John got out of his comfy bed and gave a look around.
The room where he was had a comfortable environment. The light of the sun made everything more comforter.
However, he turned his sight toward a nearby mirror in the wall. He just caught a glimpse of his pony form. Now, with the light of the sun, it was easier to see himself.
He was a fully grown stallion. His fur was of a strong black color and his mane was of two kind of browns, some parts of a light brown and the others were darker.
More surprising to him was that he had some kind of mark in his sides. It was a chess Knight.
"Here is your cereal, mister Black."
"Huh? Oh, yeah... thank you... ?" He asked her with her hoof.
"Mary. Mary Maid."
"... Thank you very much, Mary."

After having his breakfast, John asked Mary to give him a trip around of the town.
He had curiosity for this place, seemingly full of talking ponies. It was easier for him. Now that he was a pony, he was able to understand easier the conversation between the other ponies.
At the first half of the day, they had seen most of the town.
"Hey, Mary."
"Yes, mister Black?"
"... I was wondering... is there a library in here?"
"Why, of course there is, mister."
"Could you take me there?"
"It'll be a pleasure."

They arrived to the library a few hours later. In there, Mary finally let him move freely.
"You are free to look around. I'll be waiting for you outside."
"Thank you very much, Mary."
John got inside of the library and looked around.
It was a huge hall, filled with tons of books good arranged in shelves as big as a house.
"Good afternoon."
John turned to see the librarian, a young mare who was stamping some books.
"Oh, good afternoon."
"What are you looking for?"
"Um... Equestrian history... for academical reasons, you know." He answered, trying to hide a small grin.
"... Hmm... Equestrian history... ninth row. It's a full section."
"Alright... thanks..."
"And be quiet!"



John started to wander around in the library, searching for the section labeled "History".
However, as he passed through another section, something caught his attention.
This section was labeled "Princess Luna".
He got instantly curious about his savior. After all, he wanted to thank her for everything she did for him. He walked toward that section and saw many books. There would be at least a whole house of books in there.
Some of them showed part of her biography. Some others talked about how she got her ability to control the moon.
The more he read about her, the more she seemed like a goddess... more difficult for him to give her something worth his own life.
However, before leaving, he saw one last book.



Nightmare Moon. The secret of princess Luna.



Curiosity got his best, for he went and pick the book.
Once he started to read it, he started to know better this Luna.
She was just somepony who wanted to be important to others, to share happiness with others... to be loved. However, as nopony gave her what she wanted, she got out of control and she transformed into something the book called "monster".
John somehow could understand her. He wasn't a pony, but... something deep in his mind made him realize that she was the same than he.

Later, he finally found the History section. Wandering around, he found the book he was searching:



Equestria. The beginnings of the pony race.



In the instant he opened it, he saw an scene in the book that seemed pretty familiar.
In the scene, a male alicorn was standing with the flag of the pony army in a hill. Some human corpses could be seen in the end of the hill. Some ponies were standing in the hill, holding some swords and spears and giving a war roar.
The title of the chapter was How we won our freedom.



Luna was sleeping deeply when she felt the sun in the horizon, signal that her sister's guard was finishing and hers would be starting soon.
She got up from her bed and stretched her wings, preparing for the task at hoof.



John finished reading the chapter, and found out why Luna didn't wanted her sister to see him in his human form.
He exited the library, with his head looking to the ground.
He was saved by a pony that was like him: a lonely soul. Still, if he was caught in his human form, she would be blamed in the instant they found out that she was the one who saved him.
...
He wouldn't let that happen.
...
All of sudden, a scream took him again to reality. Turning around, he didn't saw Mary anywhere.
He turned to an alley and saw that Mary was being molested by five colts.
"Oh, c'mon sweetie. You wouldn't want to spend the night alone." One of the colts said.
"Yeah. Furthermore, I know of some ways you could... service us." Another one said and the others started to laugh.
"Please, I beg you... let me go." Mary pleaded to them.
"Sorry, Sweetie. Can't let you go away."
As they started to get closer, John made his move.
"Hey!"
All of them turned to the pony who dared to talk tot them.
"Nothing of your business, dude. Get out of here."
"I'm sorry, but i couldn't help but notice that you cowards are doing something to my partner."
"Yeah, so?"
"I'm not of the kind of pony who just stand and don't do a thing."
One of the ponies turned to the others and made a sign with his head. Instantly, the other four ponies started to walk toward John.
"Four against one. Pretty fair." 
One of the ponies started to sprint against him. Just a few feet from him, he jumped and tried to punch him in the face.
John's mind started to work. He could see random memories of fighting tactics, as well as other movements. In the instant the hoof  was one inch from his face, John acted.
He seemed like a statue before the enemy pony almost reached his face. In that instant, he could be compared to a sonic rain-plosion, for his speed was no comparison to anything.
John moved to the point that he grabbed the enemy hoof and threw him to another enemy.
Another pony pick up a large stick and tried to hit him with it. Instead of that, John grabbed the stick and turned the attack against his enemy. 
The fourth one moved and tried to crack his neck, only for John to get out of his grip and launching him toward the wall.
Looking back at the gang's leader, he started to sweat. Sweat like if he were in the middle of the dessert.
"Hey, dude. I-I don't wanna hurt you. Just... stay away!" The amount of nervousness on his voice growing up.
"You should have thought about it before trying to abuse my friend." John said as he made his way to the end of the ally, where the desperate unicorn started to aim with his horn.
Mary was afraid, too. She had never seen such amount of anger in a look.
The unicorn started to shudder, just for the look the pony in front of him gave him.
His horn started to shine and in a flash of light, he was gone.
"... coward." John said at the time he went toward Mary.
"You okay?"
"Yes, mister Black. I'm okay."
"C´mon. Let's get out of here."
As Mary passed by the knocked out ponies, she wondered just how did he do that. He seemed everything but athletic, but still... she never saw such a speed like that before.



Luna had finished her labor of lifting the moon. Now, she was preparing for her hopefully not so boring night shift.
She was even prepared for Black's return. A small chess laying in a small table next to the throne.
This time, she wouldn't loss to him.
The door of the great hall opened, revealing a pair of ponies just entering. Mary was in a close distance from Black, who was eagerly looking after her.
Luna saw him and smiled before talking to him.
"We trust thy journey through Canterlot hast been joyful." Luna said from the throne.
"Huh? Oh... <ahem> It was ggeally joyful, your highness. Cantelot is just  a so beautiful city. Oh, and Madame Maggy in hege cared to show me the sight of all Equestria. Such a wonderful sight!" He said at the time he acted like a true high-class pony.
Luna smirked at his obvious act. She made a sign to the guards to leave them.
"Mister Black. Could thou wait for us in the outside?"
After that, she turned toward Marie with a serious expression on her face.
"Thou shalt tell us..." She said at the time she started to walk toward her. "... how is he like?" Luna asked at the time her face went from a serious and somewhat intimidating one to the one of a teen filly.
"I beg you pardon, milady?" Mary asked, seemingly confused.
"Yes, tell us. How is he like?" Luna really seemed like a teenager filly, trying to find out how was somepony.
"Oh... well... he's kind. He always took care of me while we were out..."
"How is that?"
"Well... I was being molested by some colts in an alley, near of the library. But..."
"But... what?"
"Well... He came to rescue me. He knocked out four colts within a few seconds!"
"He knocked them out?"



John stood outside of the library for a while, waiting for Luna to speak with her maid.
Suddenly, the door opened, revealing a serious Luna.
"Thou shalt come with us."
That was all she said before leading him toward her room.

As usual, when John entered he could see a small chess board in the middle of the room. However, Luna didn't sat in her place. She just stood in there, watching him.
John, by his part, stood in the middle of the room.
"How comes that you defeat four ponies in less than a minute?" Luna asked to him.
"As usual, I think you know the answer to that, milady."
Luna rolled her eyes in annoyance. It always came the same way when she asked him something about his past.
John only saw as she started to wander through her room, looking at everything, still at nothing. Obviously, she was thinking something.
It was then that he remembered about the book he read earlier. He wanted to give her something. But, still... he didn't have nothing to give her. And he didn't have the money for that.
All he caused to her since the moment he came in here was a series of worryings and other things. Therefore, he only made a conclusion.
"I'm leaving tonight, princess."
Luna suddenly froze up in place. She turned to look at him with a face that showed nothing but surprise. She turned quickly toward him.
"What did you say?"
"I said that I'm leaving tonight."
Luna could feel like if she were losing something important.
"... Why do you say that?"
"Well... You've been seeing pretty stressed lately. I don't know if you were like this before, but..."
"But... What?"
"But... Well... I'll be honest with you. Earlier, I went to the library. I wanted to know something about the story of this land. However, I found a whole section about you. I picked up a book which talked about some "Nightmare Moon"."
Luna's eyes shrank with the only mention of that name.
"Are you... are you... afraid of...?"
"No. I'm not afraid of you... But, I understand you, now."
"W-What do you mean?"
"I mean... That I understand you. You only want to be loved."
Luna could only turn to the floor to hide her embarrassment.
"And you can't if I'm here."
"What do you mean by that?"
"Just think about it. What will the other ponies think of you when they know what I am?"
Before Luna could answer, a voice came from behind them.
"And what exactly are you?"
Luna's expression became one of terror.And John started to get creeps. Almost instantly, he recognized that voice. He turned around to see the very same Celestia standing behind him.
"Oh, Pincess, I thought you wege asleep."
"Oh, no. I just spent this day investigating about you."
John was really afraid at that moment.
"I investigated and, you know what? I didn't found any pony with the same name as yours. Your name is invented."
As Celestia started to approach to him, John started to get back.
"As far as I know, you don't exist. Oh! Another curious thing that I learned is that your brain is far more advanced than the ponies. Therefore, I'm totally sure that you're not a pony."
John hit the wall, getting him cornered between the wall and Celestia.
"So, I will only ask you this one time. What are you?"
"Umm... That's... confidential..." John said while starting to sweat.
Celestia eyed him. Turning toward her sister, she saw that she was trembling, too.
"Luna. What do you know about this being?"
Suddenly, while Celestia turned again to John, she saw a small earring. She immediately recognized it.
"What are you doing with our Mother's earring?!"
Using her magic, she removed the earring from John's ear, turning him to his former self.
> Chapter five. Truth.
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Chapter five. Truth.

Luna froze in place while her secret got discovered.
Celestia pulled the earring from the black pony's ear and cancelled the transformation spell, turning him to his former self.
Celestia's eyes became tiny at the sight of the creature in front of her. The bipedal looked at him, terror showing up in his face.
Celestia turned to her sister, who was frozen in place. In her face, nothing but fear.



It was all in a fraction of second. John suddenly was pushed away by an strange force, pinning him to the wall. Turning toward Celestia, he immediately recognized the magic. Her horn glowing up with a golden aura, telling him what kept him in that place.
However, there was nothing he else he could do but to search for a way out of there.
Looking to the wall, he spotted a huge decorating flag with a moon on it. On the other side of the hall, the window was open.
His eyes became tiny while his mind started to draw an escape plan.



"Luna. What do you know about this creature?" Celestia asked with a suspicious look on her face.
"I-I..." She tried to speak, but her voice betrayed her.
"Luna. Do you have something to do with this creature, this..." Celestia turned again to the one she was pinning. She instantly remembered about Humans. "Human?" She finished her question with an obvious disdain on her voice.
Her words were unheard by John, who couldn't understand a thing of what they were saying.
By the other hoof, he realized that maybe Celestia was angry with Luna. He couldn't understand Equestrian, but he could clearly understand why Luna was trembling in front of her sister. Celestia kept shouting at her at the same time that she approached to her with a furious glare.
John started to work a way to get to the other side of the room. However, a loud hit was heard in the room. John turned to see where the sound came from... and she found a crying Luna covering her cheek, which was with a red hoof mark on it. Celestia, on the other hoof, stood in there, gazing at her sister with a pair of eyes that flared with anger.



"Luna, what have you done, you stupid filly?" Celestia almost shouted to her sister.
Luna still ache from the hit on her cheek. She couldn't avoid it: she started to cry.
"Luna, answer me!"
Luna turned to her sister, still crying.
"I became different than you, elder sister!"
Celestia frowned at Luna's comment. Luna, stood in her hooves and started to walk toward her.
"I became different than you, because I didn't wanted to be a tyrant. I wanted to save a life. I wanted to share with someone my life. Is that really so bad, sister?"
Celestia's eyes became tiny. Suddenly, they literally flamed on while her anger burst.
"Of course it's bad! You saved the enemy! And you're saying that you want to be friend to him?"
"What's so bad about the friendship? You are always talking of the letters Twilight Sparkle sends to you!"
"It's different to make friends with a gryphon, a chimera, or something even more dangerous. But a human? Have you gone insane?"
"Of course not!"
"Then, tell me why you saved him!"
"Because I didn't wanted to be like you in that way!"
Celestia's anger became obvious, as she lifted a hoof to hit again her sister.



John's sight became one of deep analysis when Celestia lifted her hoof. Once again, the world seemed to become slow. With a new-found strength, he broke his magical grip.



Celestia flared with anger, while her hoof traveled directly to Luna's cheek. It was at a few inches from Luna's face that her hoof stopped. Not by her will, but for a hand stopping her.
Celestia discovered that the human had her hoof grabbed with such strength that she hadn't seemed before. Turning to him, she saw the serious look on his face.
"You dare to hit her again, and I'll make sure you never be able to use that hoof again."
Celestia backed while looking to the angered human. Her hoof ache from the grip, leaving a mark of his "disgusting" hand.
She then turned her horn on and fired at him, sending him to the window.
"Noo!" Luna tried frantically to run.
However, a golden aura stopped her. She could only see how John fell from the balcony.
Celestia, however, had other plans. She went to the balcony, levitating Luna with her. She then forced Luna to see how the human crashed into the ground.



John thought that this might have been the worst moment in his life (or at least of what he could remember). Still in the air, he turned to see the balcony. Celestia was still in there, with a grin of victory. At her side was Luna, covered by a golden aura. She seemed sad.


	
Luna could see how John was becoming even more and more small. She used a spell to see better. It seemed like if Celestia had the same idea than her.
However, what they saw leave them stunned.



John clearly saw the grin of Celestia and guessed why Luna was like that.
A deep anger filled him: He'd make sure that she would pay for what she did.
Once again, the world went slow for him.
He made a flip and pointed his legs to the ground. He closed his eyes.
...
...
...
...
Just in the moment he felt the ground at a few inches, he opened his eyes and landed.



Both, Celestia and Luna stayed in awe while looking at the crater in the ground. It didn't was big, but due the fact that it was made by a living being leave them with their mouths opened.
The human ran to a few trees and hid beneath them.
Suddenly, Luna felt herself being pinned to the wall by her sister's magic.
"You don't move of here. I have a business to attend to."
In her hooves, iron grips magically formed and held her captive in the wall.
"No! Wait, don't do that!" Luna frantically tried to stop her.



John, outside of the castle, saw how many guards suddenly got out of the castle, shouting in their equestrian language. This frustrated him a little.
However, due to the fact that they were carrying weapons with them made it easier for him to understand what was going on.
If that was the case, then Luna would be in a situation as bad or worse than him.
"Damn, there are just too many of them...how to pass them?"
John was thinking to himself. Suddenly, he remembered the crater he created. Also, the way he knocked out those idiots at the alley.
How could he do those things?
Unless...
...
He took a few steps backwards.
"Hope this one works out."
He started to run. Speeding up at each step he took.
Just before the end of the forest, he used both legs.
Instantly, he lifted up in the sky, easily reaching the roof of the castle.
Turning to see below, he saw that the floor was at least at 10 meters from the roof. Using that distance as a reference, he saw some balconies in Luna's tower.
With relative ease, he jumped from one balcony to the other one. Three balconies later, he landed on Luna's room. Inspecting from the outside, he saw Luna chained to the wall.



Everything was dark. And she couldn't speak. Her eyes and mouth were covered.
A door opened. She could realize for the cracking sound. However, it didn't was the main door, but the other one.
Who could the one that opened that door? It might have been somepony who wanted to see from the outside. But, by the other hoof... what if it didn't was a pony?
"Hmmmff!" Luna tried to scream.
"Shh! Quiet! I'm gonna take you out of here."
John took off the piece of clothe from her mouth, just to hear something terrible.
"It's a trap!"
Many lights lit up, pointing toward the human. That was it: they were trapped.
> Chapter six. Run.
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Chapter six. Run.

All what John could do was to stand in there and watch at the room. In was full with several dozens of guards. Each one of them holding a spear.
He couldn't even free Luna. He didn't had the tools for it.
"Well, well, well... look what do we have here."
John turned to the other side of the room. In there, Celestia could be seen clearly, even with the darkness at full.
"I knew you would return for her. I just didn't expect you to enter through the balcony."
John became confused.
"Why can I understand her?"
As if she could read his mind, Celestia answered him.
"Oh, you can understand me because I just cast a spell, allowing you to understand me."
"Then, I suppose that everypony in here is able to understand me?"
"That is correct."
John started to eye the surroundings in search for a way to escape. However, he didn't found it. That only leave one simple option...
"Guards, I command you to imprison them!" Celestia ordered to all her guards.
All the guards started to walk toward them. Luna became more frightened and started to frantically move to free herself.
John, in the other hoof, stood in there. He saw a vase near of there. The trigger to his plan.
He grabbed the vase and hold it with both hands. All the guards got into a defensive stance, holding their spears in front of them. However, he didn't used it to defend himself, but instead, he threw it to the back row.
The soldiers only watched the vase flying through the room. That was until it came to a direct angle toward Celestia. She was barely able to dodge it.
"He tried to hurt our princess!" One of the soldiers said.
"Guards! Kill him!"
At the order, they instantly ran toward the human, who stood stoically in his place.

Again, the world surrounding him became slow. Each motion of the guards was cautiously observed. It was then that he saw a weak point through their lines.
It was then that the world came back to the usual speed. The guards kept running toward him, holding their spears in order to stab the human to death. Suddenly, the stoic expression of the human go. He started to run toward them. Just as he saw, one of the guards tripped with a fragment of the broken vase, making him to lose his balance and falling to the ground.
While the rest of the guards stopped their assault, being distracted by the fallen guard, his spear slowly slid in the floor until it came to John's feet.
All the guards turned to the human, who was now with a weapon in his hand. That didn't stopped them: they kept running. forming a perfect closed space between the tip of their spears, they were totally sure that the human couldn't escape.
However, John used his spear to lift himself in the instant the spears almost stab him. Hitting the ground with the tip, he jump above the guards.
Now, behind of them, he used the back of his spear to knock out each one of them. He then took up another spear and threw it toward Luna.
Luna could see how the spear was in a direct angle toward her hoof.
"Has he gone insane?"
All what Luna could do was to close her eyes. She thought that she would lose her hoof. That was his plan? To cut out her hoof to free her, not caring about the sudden lose that this may present to her?
Her questions were answered when she heard a metallic sound. Opening her eyes, she could see John fighting off another dozen of guards, but those sounds were far. Turning toward her hoof, she saw the spear pinned between the iron grip and the wall. Luna could see it: just a small action between them and the grip would break.
Suddenly, a guard hit against the wall at her side. Her hoof was free now. Turning toward the combat, she saw half of the guards in the room knocked out and the human standing in the middle of the room, holding a spear. The guards, in the other hoof, were starting to tremble at the sight.
Eyeing the room, Luna realized that Celestia didn't was in the room anymore. Suddenly, John started to walk toward the remaining guards.
"I give you five seconds to leave this room at once."
Upon hearing those words, all the guards in the room leave at once, leaving both, Luna and John, alone.
"Huh, that was quick." John said at the time he turned to Luna.
Luna suddenly found herself afraid of him. If he could take out several dozens of well-trained guards, what could he do to her?
Suddenly, in three quick movements of the human, Luna felt all her hooves free. She instantly felt herself falling to the ground. Even before she could use her wings, she felt herself being lifted. She then realized that the human was holding her, but in a delicate manner.
"Are you alright?"
All what Luna could do was to nod. She felt so safe this way.
"Let us go. We have to- AAGGH!"
Luna could see an invisible object coated in blood piercing John's left shoulder. John let her go to try to take out whatever was piercing him.
However, that became useless when he felt too much pain. His body became numb. The object suddenly became visible, showing up a white horn. Turning, he saw the very same Celestia stabbing him.
"Got you."
Luna could see Celestia lifting the human while the blood started to coat her face. John started to struggle to free herself.
"Don't even try it. You know it's impossible." Celestia shouted to the human.
Suddenly, she felt something hitting her, sending her to the wall. Opening her eyes, she saw Luna's horn glowing.
"You dare not to hurt him anymore!" Luna said while getting between Celestia and John.
"Luna! This is too much! I tried to keep you apart from this, and now, you dare to challenge me to a duel for this creature?"
Luna turned to see John trying to cover his shoulder. The bleeding becoming more and more evident. It was then that she took her decision.
"... Yes, sister."
Both of them took off from the floor, leaving John to struggle even to stand right.

From his sight, John could see both sisters firing against each other. Their horns glowing intensely. Suddenly, both of them remained static in the air, both of their horns shining with a huge intensity.
Both of them fired at the same time. Their beams hitting each other in the middle of the room.
A huge implosion caused both sisters to flinch at the hit. John got covered behind a small desk in the other side of the room. When the implosion was finished, John got out to see both sisters still in flight. However, Luna was distracted with what seemed like a headache. Celestia recovered quickly and used that chance. Luna could only see the beam from her sister's horn in a direct angle toward her.
John's instinct make him to act. His body reacting far more quickly than his mind. He jumped toward Luna.

Luna could slowly see the beam getting closer and closer to her. Suddenly, she felt herself being hugged, something covering her sight. Turning her head up, she saw John's face.
It was then that the beam hit. John let out a pain scream while the impact sent both of them flying through the balcony.
Luna wrapped her hooves around John and started to fly, desperate to find a place to hide.
"Luna" The weakened voice of John could be barely heard.
"Luna... to the... forest..." John could barely lift a hand to point to a place below them.
Luna turned to see the Everfree forest below of them. He was right: it was a perfect place to hide.
She then lowed both of them to the ground. Inspecting John, she saw that he had difficult to even breath. However, she saw his hand weakly pointing toward a small cave.
She used all her strength to take him inside. She then used a hiding spell in the entrance. Nopony would be able to see them.
"Luna..."
"Oh, no." Luna got to John's side to inspect him. But it became evident that the bleeding was too much for him to handle.
"... Luna... s-sorry..." With that, his head fell to the wall.

Luna was frantically trying to help him. But, for some reason, her magic did nothing to him. It was then that an idea rushed to her head.
Touching his forehead with her horn, she cast a very difficult spell. One that would let her to share her power, including her immortality.
Her horn glowed up intensely, until the cave became as brilliant as the sun.
Moments later, the shine stopped, and the cave returned to its darkness.
Tump
Luna heard his heart to beat again.
Tump
Another beat. That was a good sign.
Tump
And another one. That was all she needed to get calmed. She felt herself growing more and more tired. Her eyelids becoming more and more heavy.
She then drifted to sleep, where everything seemed so quiet, so relaxing... so peaceful. The place was flooded with such a peace that had never been seen. One that in the very same Canterlot was being lost.
One that wouldn't be seen in a long time.
> Chapter seven. Immortal.
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Chapter seven. Immortal.

The moon didn't moved from its place in all the night. Fortunately, it was on its higher point. The sun started to rise in the horizon, giving Equestria the first lights of the day.
The blue sky now showed two huge orbs: the moon in the center of the sky and the sun in the horizon.

In the cave, one of the sun rays entered. It came to a direct angle to John's eyes.
Opening his eyes, he looked around. He instantly remembered the moments of the last night. And then, he saw Luna. She was sleeping deeply, her head laying in his chest. Snoring softly, she moved a little.
John could feel her warm. Even now, she wasn't heavy. He could feel her weight: almost like a feather.
However, something bothered him.
A sharp pain in his left shoulder made him to realize something: He should be dead at this point. Obviously, Luna did something to him... but what?
Moving a little, he tried to wake her up in the most delicate manner he could. However, Luna awoke in a hurried way. Opening her eyes in a quick motion, she saw that wondrous sight: the human was alive.
"Oh, you're alive!" Luna said at the time she jumped from her place to John's neck, hugging him with all her might.
"ugh, Luna..."
Suddenly, realizing what she was doing, she let him go.
"Oh, sorry! I didn't mean to suffocate you!"
"No... it's okay..."
"How are you?"
John started to think about it deeply. And then, turned to Luna.
"... Alive." He said with a confused look.
"And I am happy to see that." Luna said, smiling to him.
However, John didn't smile. He just stood in there, thinking about it.
"What's wrong?" Luna asked while seeing his confused look.
"Nothing... it's just that... well..."
"What?"
"... I was wondering... I should be dead at this moment." He said at the same time he looked at his blood-coated jacket. Specifically, to the huge hole on his left side.
Luna was taken back by the last sentence.
"My wound was one of death. However, I am alive. So..."
Suddenly, she turned away.
"That's the how you thank me for saving your life?"
"Of course not! Yeah, I admit it. It was a stupid decision of you. In my state, I might be just a burden for you."
Luna felt her eyes watering at his words. She turned from him.
"But still... thanks." He said at the very last moment.
"You're welcome..." Luna said without turning to him.

Both kept silence in all that while. John stood on his feet and started to walk. At first, it was difficult for him.
While he attempted to walk, he tripped over a stone. Luna rushed to help him, catching him in her back. Luna felt his warm, signal of his evident recovery.
"Arg! Sorry, Luna. I just don't know what's going on with me. I feel all weird."
"What are you saying?"
"I don't know. I feel... different. Like if I could take the whole world by myself."
"Then, what's wrong?" Luna said grinning.
"It's just... didn't felt like this before."
Luna, happy to see her friend getting better trotted to the edge of the cave. John stood on his feet and went along with Luna. At the time he got at her side, he could hear something: a grumbling.
Turning around, he saw Luna looking to another place and her cheeks blushing.
"You're hungry."
Luna didn't answered. She just looked at another place.
"Don't worry. I remember that I saw some kind of settlement in the outskirts of the forest."
Luna remembered the village which John was talking about: Ponyville.

After a while, making sure that both were able to walk normally, they got out of the cave. The sun was at a perfect 45 degrees angle in the sky, while the moon stood on its higher point in the sky. Suddenly, Luna saw this.
"Wait." Luna said.
"Anything wrong?"
"No, it's just that I need to low the moon."
"Oh, right. Do it, i'll see the surroundings."
While Luna stood in there, casting the spell, John went to another part of the forest.
The trees surrounding Luna didn't seemed to be dangerous, so Luna focused at full in her task. She couldn't see that some timber sticks were starting to move on their own.

Meanwhile, John walked in the forest at a few meters from Luna. He inspected the forest with an eagle eye, searching for any danger.
While seeing none, he just started to walk back to Luna. However, he felt something moving under his foot. Seeing down, he saw a small timber stick, moving like if it had a life of his own.
Releasing it from under his foot, John could only see how the stick, along with many more, magically started to build a wolf-like figure.
Luna was too focused in the spell to realize the danger she was in. The Timberwolf behind her started to crawl toward her. Just as she finished her spell, she saw the worried human running toward her. He scared her.
"John, what are you doing?"
"LUNA, GET DOWN!"
Luna did as he ordered, just in time to see him jump with an extended leg and hitting a figure above her, completely breaking it. A rain of sticks and mud fell over her. It was then that she realized what he was doing: he had saved her life again.
Luna was speechless. He was really taking care of her.
While Luna stood in there, John turned to her and saw the expression she had. It was a mix of many feelings. Just as he started to wonder what she meant by that, he felt something moving under his foot. Looking down, he saw a stick moving on its own. He instantly recognized what was going on.
"Oh, crap."
Luna got back to reality by John's sentence.
"What is going on?"
"That thing is assembling again."
Luna saw the sticks moving again to assemble again the timberwolf.
"We need to go."
Luna just nodded. Just as they started to walk, John spotted a pair of eyes seeing them. A growl could be heard from the eye's direction. Just as John started to guess, another timberwolf showed up.
Luna was afraid. She never fought anypony else in a physical combat. She had read somethings about combat tactics, but she never needed to use them. Just as she started to try to remember what she read before, she felt something in her neck. Not a rough action, but a protective one. It was John's hand trying to get her behind him.
"Luna, stay behind me."
Just as the second timberwolf started to crawl toward them, a third timberwolf showed up. Luna got even closer to John. By that moment, the first timberwolf was assembled again, back to the action.
They were surrounded by the three wolves. John was getting nervous, too. He had to get Luna out of there.
The first timberwolf jumped toward them. John turned in time for his leg to break apart the head of the wolf. It was then that his mind started to work.
"Luna, run!"
Luna didn't need him to tell her twice. She turned around and run toward the direction John pointed to her. Almost instantly, the first timberwolf's head assembled again and turned to the human.
The three timberwolves started to crawl toward him. Even on guard, John didn't noted a fourth timberwolf stalking in the dark. It jumped toward John.
John could turn in time to catch the timberwolf's jaw in his hands. He was surprised: Timberwolves seemed weak and easy to defeat. But this one showed such a strength John didn't thought they would have. Forcing to keep the Timberwolf's fangs away from him, John could only see how the other three timberwolves turned around and ran toward the forest. Just in the same direction as Luna.
"So that was their plan from the beggining." He thought to himself.
Suddenly, he felt one of the Timberwolf's fangs breaking apart, freeing the superior part of his jaw from John's grip. The timberwolf narrowed his eyes while closing firmly his jaw, stabbing the other fang on John's shoulder. John lose his grip in the lower part of the jaw, allowing the timberwolf to use all his jaw.
The timberwolf opened all his jaw and bit John's torso. John struggled to free himself. The timberwolf, feeling his struggling, opted to throw him away. John hit in a tree. With a sharp pain in his left shoulder and his torso bleeding from many parts, John could only see how the timberwolf ran toward him and stretched a claw toward his chest.
The three claws got directly onto his chest, stabbing him to death. John let out a soft gasp while feeling the three huge claws entering into his body. He started to feel dizzy, tired. He was having difficulties to even keep his eyes opened.
He was preparing to die, feeling his heart beating even slower at each second. His eyes started to close.
"This is it..."
"Aahhh!"
John's eyes suddenly opened at the sudden scream that sounded. It was Luna.
"Luna..."
Suddenly, he felt the strength returning to his body, reviving him. The fear gave him the need to get out of there and see if she was okay.
Slowly, his arms started to move. His hands took the timberwolf's claw and he started to put strength on them. The timberwolf, suddenly aware of the strange creature's grip, tried in vain to focus. But its claw suddenly got smashed into bits. The human had used his free fist to rip apart the claw.
It was like a lightning, the human was so fast that even when the timberwolf was processing how that could happen, it only could see both of the human hands around his head. Turning his sight, he saw that the human was already over him.
"You didn't knew who you were fighting off, you dumb beast."
With a loud grump, the human tore apart the timberwolf's head and throw it as far as he could. The rest of the body simply fell apart. John turned around to see the bunch of sticks falling to the ground. After that, he instantly ran toward the forest, hoping that Luna were safe.



Luna had her own problems. She could fly and use magic, but still, the three timberwolves were though to defeat. Each time she took one down, it simply assembled again and got back into action. Meanwhile, the other two timberwolves still tried to take her to the ground.
Luna got tired quickly, allowing the timberwolves to easily reach her. One of them hit her with a claw and sent her toward a tree. Luna got dizzy by the hit. She was easy prey now.
One of the timberwolves found her quickly and started to crawl toward her. Soon, the other two joined him and trapped Luna. In her actual state, she could only watch how the main of them jumped toward her with its jaw totally open, ready to eat her in one single bite.
She could only scream in fear. Just at a few inches, she only saw a quick movement that took out the beast's head. The rest of the body simply fell apart. She turned to see her savior. It was none other than her human friend.
Almost instantly, John backed up and stood in front of Luna.
The other two wolves started to growl at him. Both of them jumped at the same time.
John also jumped forward them and made a quick movement. He took the left wolf's claw and tore it apart, while he punched in the face the right wolf. Both wolves fell to the ground. One, without the help of his fourth paw, didn't was able to even stand. The other wolf tried in vain to fix his face. When it turned up, he saw the human falling toward him. In a quick motion, his head was smashed out.
The last wolf simply tried in vain to run. However, a strong hand took his head. The wolf turned his eyes to see it. The angry human simply stood in there, holding tightly its head. However, just when it thought that he was going to tear apart his head, the human let it go.
"Go away."
The wolf simply ran away clumsily, leaving the pony and the angered human behind.
Luna finally recovered and stood up. She turned to the human, seeing him totally coated in blood. On his back, many bite marks. As she trotted to his front, she only got more worried. Multiple bite marks on his chest and a deep wound on his left shoulder.
"Oh, no. You are hurt." Luna stated, her fear only increasing more.
"You don't say."  John simply deadpanned.
John turned around and sat below a three. A sun ray passed through the tree and light up the place where both of them were. Luna got closer to inspect his wounds. John took off his jacket and his shirt, just to reveal his wounded chest.
Luna touched it with her horn, causing John to flinch at the contact.
"Ouch!"
"Hold still! I can't help you if you don't allow me to."
Luna started to cast a spell to help him to heal. However, one of John's hand stopped her. Luna turned to him just to see something amazing.
She remembered last night when she gave him her capability to heal, as well as her gift of immortality. She still had it, but it was like to share it with him.
John's chest was starting to magically heal itself. John's face showed nothing but confusion. Luna sighed, happy to see her spell working well.

After a few minutes, John's wounds were totally cured. He got on his feet to see his chest, covered by tiny scars. He then turned toward Luna.
"Luna, seriously... What did you do to me?" John asked while showing up a serious face.
"I-I... I..." Luna tried to answer him. But her voice betrayed her. However, she tried her best to answer him. "I... I cast a spell on you that gave you part of my immortality."
"You WHAT?"
Luna didn't answered. John let out an exasperated sigh while turning around and sitting next to a tree. In the distance, he could see a clear space, showing up the green plains.
"Luna, I can see the plains over there. We must be near of the forest's end." He said at the time he stood and started to walk, being followed by a sad Luna.
However, he stopped all of sudden, making Luna to hit against his back.
"... Thanks." He said before continuing his walk.
Luna just stood in there, realizing something. He was terrible in his manners. Especially at thanking to other ponies. That was her savior.
That was her protector.
> Chapter eight. Striped drugs.
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Chapter eight. Striped drugs.

Everypony was out on this day. In the town market, several dozens of ponies were busy, shopping, chatting or simply hanging around.
In a few words, it was full of ponies. So, just walking in seemed like a very bad idea.
John and Luna stood at the edge of the Everfree forest, eyeing the small town from far.
"Damn. We just can't go in without being noticed by everypony." John stated at the same time he sat in a branch. Luna was sitting in another branch next to John..
"Yes. You are right. I doubt that my sister hasn't sent anypony here to look for us."
John still looked at some part to just sneak in. But it was impossible for him.
"John, look. We can go to another part. I know many cities where we could pass unnoticed."
"No. We're here. We just have to find a way for you to enter without being noticed. Hard to say, due to the fact that nopony would ignore the Princess of the night." Suddenly, a low rumble was heard. "Also, you're hungry." He stated, looking at the now blushing Luna.
John got down from the branch, being followed by Luna. At the time Luna got down, a small metallic object fell from her necklace. John almost instantly recognized it.
"Hey, it's your mother's earring. Isn't it?"
Luna turned to him. He picked it from the ground just to show it to her. Eyeing it for a second, she just nodded. Suddenly, she had an idea.
She went and put it into John's ear. Almost instantly, he transformed into a pony. John eyed himself, noting that he was exactly the same pony than before. Just a little change on the mark at his side: he had a chess knight before, but now, he had a mark of a shield.
"Huh. It changed." John said confused.
Luna eyed it for a few seconds. She didn't understood why his cutie mark changed. It was supposed that nopony could change it. Obvious to say, he wasn't a true pony.
She turned to him, about to say her conclusion. However, he seemed to be thinking something at that moment.
"Something is wrong?" Luna asked.
"No... I was just thinking that it doesn't really matter that it has changed. Actually, it's very good. If I have a different mark, then I could pass unsuspected."
Luna nodded at that confirmation. It seemed logical.
"By the way. What is this mark? Does everypony have one?" John said at the time he observed Luna's mark, also remembering seeing many ponies in Canterlot with a mark, too.
"They are named cutie marks. Each pony has one because it shows its owner's special talent."
"Special talent? Like if they are good in making... I don't know... candies?"
"Yes. A cutie mark of a candy will appear in their sides."
"Huh." He said at the time he stood in there, thoughtful.
Suddenly, some hoofsteps were heard at a short distance. John immediately stood between Luna and the sound's direction. Suddenly, a cloaked figure showed up. Her forehooves a white color with black stripes on them.
The cloaked figure suddenly stopped to turn toward them. Her blue eyes showing up through the darkness in her cloak.
"The ones in there. Who are you and what are you doing in here?" The cloaked figures asked in a serious tone.
"We're not seeking problems." John said, still at Luna's side.
The cloaked one didn't moved from its place.
"My name is Black. I'm here as her protector." John said at the time he pointed to Luna. The cloaked figure instantly reacted.
"Princess Luna. It is you who I am seeing? My heart with joy is radiating."
Luna instantly recognized that voice. It was the same that narrated Nightmare Moon's legend every nightmare night.
"Zecora? Is that you?"
She instantly took out the hood of her cloak, revealing a zebra with a wide smile. However, John didn't moved from his place between Luna and Zecora. Zecora noted this.
"My, my. Princess Luna, who is this fine young colt at your side? You two look like if you were in a slide." She said while observing the black ponies disheveled hair.
John cocked an eyebrow. Who was this zebra and why did she spoke in rhymes?
Luna, by her part, started to walk toward Zecora.
"Zecora. This is my loyal guard. And we're here because something happened with my sister."
"What? Something happened to your sister? What do you know about this, mister?" Zecora said while she turned to John.
He backed up a little. Luna got in.
"No. It's nothing we did... well..." Luna suddenly went thoughtful.
Zecora turned between Luna and Black. Obviously, those two were hiding something.
"In my hut we shall enter. In there, you can tell me what you remember."

After an hour, they told Zecora all their story. Every single detail. However, when they finished, Zecora couldn't believe them. She just sit in there, trying to rationalize if this was true. That was until John stood and took out the earring. He instantly transformed back to his human form. Zecora was stunned.
"... The evidence seems clear. Looks like the end of the peace in these lands is near." She said at the time she brought two small cups with herbal tea on them. Luna took her time on drinking it. But John seemed suspicious about her.
"Fear not, young one. For this recipe is not a poisonous one." Zecora said at the time she saw the doubt in John eyes.
He took a sip at the tea, tasting it. After a few moments, he started to drink it more confidently.
"I am curious about you, brave one." Zecora said at the time she turned toward John. "Why are you protecting her, with such a harsh tone?"
"... Excuse me?"
"Why are you protecting dear Luna over here? With your abilities, you could be hanging for yourself out there."
"... I'm only helping her in order for her to find somewhere where she can live happy and out of reach of her sister."
Zecora only hummed in response. She then turned to Luna and saw her thinking, too.
"Say, young man, can you do me a favor? I need a fruit which only grows in the upper part of this tree, but wonderful is its flavor."
John eyed her for a second or two. He then got up and got out. Before he got out, he turned around.
"If you wanted to speak with her in private, you just had to say it." John said before turning and exiting the room, leaving the zebra with a quiet laughter.
"He seems like a good fellow. Too bad that in his face is too much hollow."
"What do you mean, Zecora?"
"Dear Luna: This human seems too grim. Maybe he plans to throw you into a rim?"
"I don't think so, Zecora. He has saved me in many other times. As we told you, he protected me from Celestia's spell. And a few hours ago, he even got injured while protecting me from a few timberwolves."
Zecora only stood in there, trying to rationalize the reason of why he was so strong. He had survived to a fall of 30 feet, and with seemingly no harm. He defeated dozens of royal guards. Also, he had literally ripped through four timberwolves all by himself. she started to search for something between her things.
"What are you doing?" Zecora turned to the door, in which, John stood with a lot of fruits in his hands.
"Searching for something, my dear friend. With that, I will be able to if he is a fiend."
Zecora took a small bottle and returned to the table. Once in there, she poured its content in John's cup. Almost instantly, she returned to her calm position.
Just in that moment, John came back.
"Hey there. You didn't said how many you wanted... so... I brought plenty." John said at the time he entered with hands and his arms covered with an strange fruit.
"I thank you, young man. Now, I will only have to fan." Zecora said at the time she started to fan herself with her hoof.
John found it curious. After all, they were in a forest. Fresh by nature. He sat and started to drink from his tea while thinking about it. What was different in here? Luna was sitting as usual. Zecora lay in another wooden chair, there was this small bottle in the table, those masks were arranged in a... A bottle?
John's eyes instantly drifted toward the small bottle next to him. He instantly remembered that his cup was empty when he got out. He remained calm and quiet while trying to rationalize the situation.
It didn't was poison. He should be having some kind of reaction to it by that moment. But, then again... what was it?
"...Did you... drug me?" He asked at the time he turned to Zecora.
"Why. A smart one, indeed. But don't worry. It is not lethal, I ensured." Zecora said with a soft tone. "But now, tell me young one. Why are you with this one?" Zecora asked while turning toward Luna.
"I've already told you. I just want to find her a place where she can live happy because it was my fault that she were throw out of her home, that her sister became such a bitch and- did I said bitch?" John expression suddenly changed from a serious one to a concerned one. Suddenly, he turned toward his cup. Now, he already knew what Zecora had given to him. "You game a Truth potion?"
Zecora only nodded. Suddenly, her tone changed from a serious one to a playful one.
"Now that I've assured that you are telling truth." Suddenly, she got closer to him and whispered into his ear. "What do you think of Luna, human youth?"
"... What do you mean by that?" John asked before standing and walk around. "For the time I have been with her, I saw a kind soul. She's gentle, smart. Never quits on what she wants. She's cute. She's power- did I say cute?" John frowned once again, as well as Luna.
Luna was blushing. While she never was called "cute", it sounded strange on him. Specially for someone so harsh as him. Luna could only give him a reassuring smile while he stood shocked by his own language.
Meanwhile, Zecora never have been more surprised in her life. The hollow in his face seemed to fade away while it was replaced with an embarrassed one. She could see a kind one. One who would sacrifice his own life for others. She then, made her decision. She turned around and picked another bottle. She then turned to him and offered it.
John, still unsure about her, reached nervously at the bottle.
"What's in here?"
"A potion that will allow you to control your strength.Still in your pony form, you can throw somepony a great length."
"So... this will help to pretend that I'm a pony."
Zecora only nodded. She then took a pair of saddlebags and put the fruits inside of them. She then put it in front of John. He only looked at her with a puzzled expression.
"If you are taking her with you, make sure that she is well taken care." She then started to whisper to him. "And be sure to watch over her intently or dead you are." She said while she went back to her usual demeanor.

Once in the outside, Zecora wished them good luck and waved them good-bye. Both of them started their journey back to Ponyville. Zecora had recommended them to talk with Twilight Sparkle and her friends.
John, once again transformed in pony, carried the saddlebags that Zecora lend them. Luna followed him from behind. Both stayed silent for a while. That was until Luna came up with a fun idea.
"So..." She said at the time she trotted at his side, catching John's attention. "... You think I'm cute?"
"Oh, please. Don't get me started on how beautiful you look with the moon behind you, how you mane swirls so magically, so- DAMN! This potion is acting overly good on me."
Luna, though blushing, found this ratter fun.
"... How my mane swirls so magically?" She whispered to him, gaining another groan from John, which she saw fun.
"ugh... This is gonna be a long journey."