Nightshade Chapter 1

Lavender Night

Written By: Selene Bright/Luna Moondance

Edited by: Beneath the Shade

I try not to think of my past or my problems, but sometimes when I’m alone staring at my night sky I can’t help where my mind wanders.

A mare shaking in fear, praying I won’t hurt her. I do everything to reassure her, but all it does is make it worse… and she runs away.

Many more do the same; sometimes I wonder if my existence is a cruel joke. Why can't anypony love me, why must they fear me? I protect their dreams, I protect them from predators in the night when they sleep, and I create a sky that’s beautiful and filled with wonder.

I trot down the castle halls at night, and I look upon the stone faces of my night guard and wonder if they joined to be close to me, or because they couldn't get into the day guard. I know I shouldn't feel this way, but it’s hard not to when I can see the fear hidden behind their eyes as I walk past them.

The library is empty at night, and I come here to read what I've missed in the last thousand years. Libraries always held a special place in my heart; the only place I never felt alone. I would come and read about the adventures of old, romances long past, and even history turned to legend. I search for a good book to keep my mind off painful memories.

I look down upon a mare with tears in her eyes, shaking in fear and begging me to let her husband go, her foal behind her, terrified and looking to her mother for protection. Her husband held in the air having the life choked out of him. “You wish to fear me… I’ll give you a reason to fear me!” I smile manically as I hear a pleasing snap.

The memory brought back a horrible sting of regret, my hooves buckle under me, and I collapse on the floor crying. My sister may have erased my crimes from history and replaced it with a bedtime story for fillies and colts, but I still remember, and sometimes I curse my perfect memory. I shake the memory from my mind and wipe the tears from my eyes. I go back to my search concentrating intently on my task, scanning the rows of books and their titles.

My eyes settle on a particular book titled (Nightshade By Lavender Night ) I pull the book out and read the back. I smile as I realize it’s a Fillyfooler romance.

'Those never existed a thousand years ago partly because it was illegal.'

I spot one of the many lavish couches in the library near a window. I ignite my horn to light a candle nearby and make my way over to the couch and lie down, getting comfortable. I open the book intent on enjoying myself and forgetting my problems for the rest of the night.

Many chapters later I turn to look at my night, wondering if I’ll ever meet anypony who appreciates me. I wonder if there is anyone that could love a monster like me.

My ears pick up faint whispers in the distance.

'Is there someone in the library with me?'

I mark my place in my book and tuck it under my wing. Getting up off of the couch, I make my way over to the voice. As I get closer I notice a lavender mare staring excitedly into a large telescope, whispering to herself. I watch her as she moves back and forth between the telescope and an academic journal, swiftly jotting notes down.

It was then that I recognized the lavender mare, Twilight Sparkle, my sister’s devoted student, the one that saved me from my living nightmare.

I approach, making sure she would hear my hoof steps as I moved closer.

Shocked, she turned to look at me, her eyes turning to saucers as she tried to speak. “P-princess Luna,” she gasped, “you startled me!” she said while holding a hoof to her chest.

“Sorry, Twilight, I didn't mean to.” I move closer to examine her notes and come to realize she’s studying my stars. I turn to look at her, and she doesn't shy away. Her hooves weren't shaking, and looking into her eyes I couldn’t see a trace of fear…

'She’s cute,' I thought to myself.

“What are you doing in the library this late?” Twilight asks with a hint of nervousness in her voice.

“I could ask you the same question,” I counter.

She beams me a smile and answers back with giddy excitement. “Well, I’m catching up on my astronomy research, and I've found some really interesting things. It seems that Nightgazer, the father of modern astronomy, was wrong on some of his theories about the stars and how they work. I plan on releasing my own thesis on the subject and proving him wrong on a few things. Like, did you know that the stages of evolution a star goes through are determined by the size of the star?” she finishes while holding her notes up for me to review.

“Twilight, I made the stars. I could tell you everything you want to know about them,” I respond with a smirk plastered across my face.

“OH!! Could you? I have so many questions, and you are the princess of the night, the sole reason astronomy even exists,” she said with pure excitement.

It was then I took the book I was reading out from under my wing and laid it down on a nearby table. I watched as she eyed the book, interested in what I was reading, and froze up when she saw the title. I mentally facehoof as I realize that the book I was reading is a fillyfooler romance, and she might not feel comfortable talking to an old fillyfooler like me, but then I realized something. How would she know that without reading the book?

“Have you read this book?” I ask with an awkward smile.

“You could say that,” she said, rubbing the back of her head as her cheeks light up.

I wanted to inquire further, but I thought I should just let it go for now and continue where we left off. I loved hearing her talk about my night sky,

' such enthusiasm!'

We talked for hours about my night and all its wonder. She would ask about a constellation, and I would give her a lesson on what it stood for and why I made it. She was a very good student; no wonder my sister talks about her all the time.

“Sorry Princess, but I have to get some sleep” she spoke while suppressing a yawn. “Could we do this again tomorrow night? I’m going to be here for a few weeks, and I wish to get to know you a little more.” She finished, giving me a tired smile.

I couldn't believe what I was hearing… did she just say she wanted to socialize with me again? That has never happened before with any other pony besides Wildflower. I really like this mare, she’s so cute and sweet, and she hasn't shown any fear when speaking to me, which is a nice change. 'Why not do this again?' I thought to myself, having nothing better to do besides reading at this late hour.

“I would love to Twilight, its been fun,” I said happily.

“Great, see you tomorrow night, Princess,” she said, gathering up her notes and placing them in her saddlebag. She looked over at the book I was reading earlier. “Princess, please let me know what you think of this. I’m curious to hear what you have to say about it.” She said as she hoofed me my book.

“Sure Twilight, interested in reading it?” I asked, watching her cheeks light up again.

'Did I just see her blush…?'

She gives a sheepish chuckle as she walks away. “Well, it’s late, and I’m tired… I’ll talk to you tomorrow.” Before I could inquire further she bolts out of the library.

'What a curious reaction to a question,' I wondered, turning to look outside. It’s close to sunrise and time for me to get some sleep as well. I tuck the book under my wing and make my way back to my room. My room is cold and depressing, but it’s home. My bed is soft and welcoming as I lay down and drift away into my thoughts.

I haven’t felt so happy in a long time. I wonder why she was so embarrassed about this book. Could it be she’s a fillyfooler, I considered, but why would she be interested in what I thought about it unless… I pull the book out from under my wing and examine the front, a picture of a dark purple unicorn mare with a nightshade cutie mark dawned the cover. Nothing out of the ordinary, I thought, until I saw the author again Lavender Night. My mind went blank for a minute… ‘Twilight Sparkle wrote this!!’

'The fun has been doubled!' I thought with a huge grin on my face. What a strange twist of fate, finding her book and meeting her on the same night. Maybe my luck has changed, I guessed, drifting off to sleep.