"No one is alone in the world"

The soft breeze brushed my mane as the Moon gracefully raised over the horizon under my command. Stars starting to show themselves on the now darkened sky. It was a beautiful night, not that the rest of them weren't lovely as well, but this one was specially gorgeous, and also very opportune. There was not even one lonely cloud in the sky and the blend between the temperature and winds was perfect for a gratifying flight, and thanks to the annual restoration of statues, paintings and artifacts that swarmed the castle, the night court wasn't going to be held that day.

It was my opportunity.

After my recent return, my inclusion to Equestria's lead along my sister was rushed. After mere few days I was already needed in trials, meetings, courts and the list goes on and on. Being reunited with Tia once again was indescribably wonderful, but still, the weight abruptly dropped over my shoulders was exhausting to say the least. Also, the hesitation shown by a few subjects about my "reformation", therefore convincing my sister of the need to protect me against any possible treat, clearly didn't help at all. A delightful trip to the outside without an escort two feet away was what I needed, a chance to see closely how much ponies lives changed, to be capable of maybe connect with them.

After analyzing the situation and cautiously choosing my words I would use, I left my room and headed to Celestia's. With a barely visible nod I regarded the guards in front of the door, their pose rigid and expression neutral as usual, only broken for a brief second to return the salutation with the same gesture.

I shifted towards the doors and knocked a few times, hoping for my sister to still be awake.

"Come in." I heard Celestia's voice coming from the room. Using my magic I took hold of the knob and slowly slipped inside the room. My sister was sitting on the bed, a wide smile drawn over her tired expression.

She stood on her hooves and faced me. "Oh, Luna, I was already going to bed. What is it that you need?" She wearily asked .

I opted to get to the point as quick and simple as possible, every time I tried to conceal intentions behind pretty words Celestia somehow managed to read me. Call it a sibling advantage if you may, although it wasn't truly an advantage in my situation. "Sister, I hath completed all the royal duties requested for the night, and haven't felt any distress coming from the dream world, so..." I started to feel a lump forming in my throat, obstructing every word I tried to come out.

I hope she doesn't get upset.

"Something wrong, dear sister?" Tia added with a concerned look as she slowly gaited closer.

I took a deep breath and exhaled it, moving my foreleg to imitate an in-out motion. A little trick my niece Cadence taught me to calm the nerves. "Doth not worry, everything's fine." I waved it off. "I came by because I wanted to ask thee something..." The apprehension of being scolded by Celestia for 'placing myself in a potentially dangerous situation' (As she said herself in a couple of occasions) incapacitating me from uttering complex sentences. "If thou..." I repeated the exercise. [i]Quick and simple Luna, quick and simple.[/i] "If thou could let me go out and enjoy its perfection... Without any sort of escort whatsoever." I sputtered.

Instead of berating me, she just widened her eyes and glanced around with a small frown. "Luna, you know I just send those guards because I'm worried about you. Remember that since being brought back by the elements you aren't as strong as before. You need more time."

I gave her a reassuring smile, of course I was elated to know how much my sister cared about my well being, but even after living a thousand years longer than I did in Equestria she seemed to forget the fact that we weren't just regular ponies. "I understand, and I am very grateful, but weakened or not, I'm an alicorn princess. I think I can take care of myself"

Celestia took a moment, carefully contemplating my words. She paced her gaze from the ground to me and vice versa, before concluding her muse with a sigh of defeat. "I suppose you're right about that Luna. You may go out, but please, be careful and don't take too long." Her last words accompanied by a mildly stern look.

I disregarded completely her grimace as my excitement bursted out to the outside on it's full glory. YES! SHE SAID YES!

"Thank you so much big sister!" I squealed as I squeezed her in an embrace, a gleeful grin crowning my expression. Before she could even respond I was already on my way out. I hastly ran towards the balcony and leaped over the rail, feeling the wind going through my flowing mane as I plumet. Before reaching the ground I released my wings and started hovering over the landscape, pondering about what I could do next to make the most of the time I had.

As I glid through the sky above the city, I realized something. Something that brought back old, and yet so familiar feelings. There was not a single soul on the streets. Everyone stayed in their houses as usual, nopony caring to even reward such a beautiful night with a awed glare, or even a smile. I felt so... lonely all of sudden.

Any hope still lingering within quickly faded into sorrow as the same scenario was presented before me in every town and village. Every pony whom was still awake was either rushing towards their home or busy. "One thousand years have passed, and still I'm stucked in the same situation."

After checking in Ponyville to once again be dissapointed, I hovered towards a huge rock and sat on it, letting myself ponder about why still nothing had changed. After several minutes had passed, I gloomily decided to fly back home. Sluggshly, I stood on my four hooves and launched myself in the air. Mere moments later I was already soaring over the Everfree Forest. Before reaching it's borders, something catched my attention. A motionless figure laying on the grass in the middle of the forest.

Gingerly I scanned the area to detect any possible threats, and when I found none, I slowly approached the ground.

Stepping closer, I finally was able to make out what the mysterious shape was. [i]What is that pony doing here?[/i]. A stallion, to be precise. Judging by his immobile state, either he was sleeping, or, considering his surroundings, wounded. I warily walked towards him fearing the worst, only to release a profound sigh of relief as I saw the steady motion of breathing on his chest. [i]Thanks Celestia, he's al-[/i]

*crack*

I had stepped over a twig on the ground, and as soon as the sound was heard, the stallion was already fleeing through the trees.

"Wait!" I tried to call, but he was long gone.

He must be disoriented, I should call the guard to find him...

A putrid stink strayed me from my thoughts as it invaded my nostrils. I had to cover my muzzle with a hoof to soothe the piercing stench.

Wasting no time, I prepared to leave with haste to warn the guard about the supposedly lost pony. After stretching out my wings at their full lenght with the purpose of taking off as fast as possible, I heard the sound of grass being repeatedly stomped upon.

I didn't have time to react I was atacked from behind, harshly hammering my head against a boulder that laid on the floor. I felt a horrid pain in my head as I noticed blood leaking from the wound and streaming down my face. Struggling with the weight on my back, I tried to stand up only to feel the most unfathomable pain I had ever went through. Both my wings, now soaked in blood, were being chewed by two hideous creatures that resembled wolves, although composed purely from wood. Soon enough I realized that the beasts on my back weren't the only ones who made their acquaitance, a handful of them had already surrounded me.

The realization of what was happening took me to the most desperate state I've ever were predators, and right now, hopeless, I was their prey. Without any success I tried to fight them back, writhing, franticly launching my hooves in every direction with the distant hope of freeing myself. And to aggravate even more the situation, I was in such a frenzied and pained state that I couldn't concentrate enough to use my magic.

Sorrow. Remorse. Dread. Guilt. Fear, There're no words to describe everything that crossed through my mind during those hideous moments. "I can't do anything! No! No! No!" The mere thought of my sister receiving the bad news made me feel awful, she would've thought that she was the responsible of my passing.

As my weakened body gave up on the fight and any hope of escape vanished, two beams of magic flew throught the air upon me. The weight over my back instatly dissapeared as the beasts that were ravaging my wings were consumed into a pile of scorced twigs and sticks. The remainder of the pack quickly adopted a defensive stance, but soon enough they cowered in total fright as tens of stones were launched to their location. The beasts had no time to flee as the stones crashed upon them, sending them all to oblivion.

Noticing that the threat had been dealt with, I tried to stand up, miserably falling down on my hooves right after. I was so drained that I was barely able to move.

When the adrenalin that kept me conciouss finally consumed, the real pain showed up. It was undoubtedly the most abominable and nauseating sensation that I'd ever felt in the entirety of my years.

My eyes started clossing, darkness invading my vision. I couldn't fight it, I was passing out. The pain, exhaustion and bleeding were absolutely insufferable, getting to the point where I wasn't even able to hold my craned neck anymore, therefore leting my head drop numb on the ground.

I raised my glare one last time, A set of hooves hastily coming towards me, and then...

Everything was black.