Chapter Two
"Night Haunter? That is an interesting name." Twilight said, smiling at the colt. "So, Night Haunter, where are your parent?"
Night Haunter looked around, trying to think about the question. "U-Uh, I don't think I have any." He admitted, the seven mares gasping. "I just remember waking up in a hole, within that forest over there." He pointed a hoof towards the Everfree Forest. "I don't remember anything else."
The group of mares looked at one another, concerned about the colt. Luna, however, smiled down at him. "I thought as much, young Night Haunter. I saw this hole you speak of, along with your tracks." She leaned down, and nuzzled the colt affectionately. "I have an idea of what to do."
"Princess Luna?" Twilight spoke p, causing the Moon Princess to look up at her. "What do you plan on doing? Only curious, is all." She said.
Luna smiled, and nodded at her. "We shall seek out our sister. If anypony can give us answers, it is her" The group nodded, Luna looking back down at the colt. "Will that be alright with you, young Night Haunter?"
The colt gave a slow nod, nervously smiling at her. "M-Mhm…" He muttered.
"Then it is settled." Luna looked at the other mares. "I shall fly him to Canterlot. I dare not risk using my magic, there is no telling what it would do to one so young, being an alicorn." The group nodded, understanding the princess' reasoning.
"I will have Spike send Princess Celestia a letter, letting her know everypony is safe and what's going on." Twilight added, earning a nod from Luna.
Luna quickly opend her wings, leaning her head down and picking up Night Haunter with a minor spell. Once she was sure that her grip on him was tight enough, Luna took to the sky… Flying gently, not wanting to scare the colt any.
From what she can tell, the foal was actually happy about it. He had a wide smile on his face, looking around at everyting they passed. When they closed in on Canterlot, the foal's eyes grew even wider at the white city, that still shined within the moon lit sky. "Wow… That's Canterlot?" He asked.
"It is, little one, and just ahead is Canterlot Castle!" Luna answered, as the royal Castle came into view, Night Haunter's face filled with awe. "Where both my older sister and I live."
"That is where you live?" He asked, the Moon Princess giving a nod, smiling at him. "That is so cool!"
Luna giggled at his comment. "It is most cool." She said, landing in front of a large door, and sat Night Haunter down next to her. "There, safe and sound, back home."
The doors suddenly opened, causing the colt to hide under Luna, as two Night Guard stallions rushed out. "Princess Luna!" The two shouted, kneeling in front of her. "We became worried, about your wellbeing, after Princess Celestia informed us of your investigation of an abnormality, on your own, without escort." One said, Luna sighing with frustration.
"We are more than capable of protecting thyself, Guard." She responded, her tone changing to a more royal one. "Tis our duty to protect our subjects at a moment's notice. This being one, where we could not wait for an escort to be rallied."
"Yes, Princess." The two Night Guards said.
"Good, now go and inform our sister of our return. There is a matter of great importance we must speak of." Luna looked down, slightly, she could still feel Night Haunter hiding under her and smiled. "Within the throne room, please."
"As you command, Princess." With that, the two Night Guards rushed off to carry out their orders.
"Now…" Luna looked back down, moving her leg to show Night Haunter. "Let us go to the throne room. I want to hear everything about you." She smiled.
"O-Ok." Night Haunter said, following the Moon Princess, as she headed towards the throne room of the Castle.
-Later, outside of the Throne Room's doors-
Celestia walked up to the door, worried, her sister had returned and needed to speak on a matter of great importance. After the events and the letter, there was no telling what it was about. "I know everpony is safe, and all… But what could this matter be? The guards said she seemed off." When she walked up to the door, she heard something strange… Luna, giggling. "What in Equestria?" She used her magic to open the doors, slightly, and became dumbstruck by the sight she found.
Laying, in the middle of her throne room and on the floor, was Luna and… An alicorn colt! He was running around her, talking about sneaking through a forest. Celestia could see why Luna was giggling, how he was explaining it was rather adorable. "And then, when I tried to scare them, you appeared!"
Luna giggled anoter time. "To be honest, a brave colt like you around, I think the others would have been fine." She said, as Night Haunter laid down in front of her. "Those Timberwolves wouldn't have stood a chance against the mighty Night Haunter!"
The colt blushed, shifting a bit from her comment. "I-I don't know… They were so big, and I'm too-…" Night Haunter suddenly caught sight of Celestia, smiling, at the door and fell silent. Both of his ears lowered into his messy mane.
Luna tilted her head, before looking in the direction he was and saw her older sister. "Oh! T-Tia!" She slowly stood up and walked over to her. "Thank you for answering my summons, so quickly."
Celestia nodded to her. "You said it was of great importance, so I could not hesitate. What has happened and…" She looked towards the strange alicorn colt. "Who might this handsome colt be?" The older princess gave her signature smile.
Luna walked over, then behind, Night Haunter and pushed him towards Celestia with a hoof. "This, sister, is young Night Haunter, and he is the great importance." She said, earning a confused look from the older princess. "I discovered that he was the falling star… Then discovered he has no family, or place to go so… Um..." Luna started to shift on her hooves.
Celestia understood what she meant, after all… Her sister's thoughts on certain matters were not unknown to her. "Luna, you do realize what responsibilities this will require, and that is if the Night and Day Courts agree?" She asked, looking at her younger sister then the colt.
"Sister, he came as a falling star, during the night, at the very moment I was looking up… If that isn't a sign, then his features should prove somepony sent him to me." Luna argued, looking up at the Sun Princess. "And I co-rule Equestria, as a Princess no less… I think such responsibilities will be easy."
"Luna, raising a foal is a completely different matter! He will require a great many things, your attention being one of those things." Celestia retorted, causing the Moon Princess to look down at her hooves."
"I-I can still do it…" Luna suddenly looked up at Celestia, a determined look in her eye. "And I can always go to you for help! He is only a little younger than Twilight was, when you took her in! Plus, there are the servants and guards, who can help me learn."
Celestia knew that look in Luna's eye, nothing was going to sway the younger alicorn. The Sun Princess gave a defeated sigh, and nodded her head. "Alright then, I will allow it… But we will still have to me with the two Courts, and get their approval." She then turned down to Night Haunter, smiling at him. "So, Night Haunter, I am sure you must be tired. From what I overheard, you had an eventful night."
"U-Uh-huh…" He admitted, nodding his head at the question. To be perfectly honest, the colt wasn't all that tired, h just didn't feel very comfortable at the moment.
"Luna, find him a place to rest, then call for your court to meet. Best get this handled right away, instead of waiting." Celestia said, Luna using her magic to gently place Night Haunter on to her back. "I will convene with my own, first thing in the morning."
"I will, sister… I think my chambers will do, and I will have two Night Guards posted, in case he needs anything." Luna said, before she and the colt quickly left the throne room.
Celestia slowly shook her head, letting out a sigh. "Luna… I do hope you know what it is you are doing."
-Luna's Chambers-
The two slowly entered into the room, Luna making her way towards her bed. Her horn slowly lit up with a light blue aura, the bedsheets folding back at her command, and Night Haunter suddenly being lifted off of her back, then laid into the bed. "There, are you comfy?" She asked, using her magic to place a blanket over his small frame, tucking him in.
"I am, thank you, Princess Luna." Night Haunter said, smiling up at the mare.
"For right now, you can call me Luna." She said, nuzzling against his cheek. "Hopefully, if the courts agree, and you… There will be something else for you to call me." Luna mentally added.
"Ok, Luna!" Night Haunter yawned, laying his head down on to the pillows. "Goodnight."
Luna gave him a peck on to the top of his head, remembering that being the proper way to wish a foal goodnight. "Goodnight, Night Haunter… If you need anything, let the guards outside know." The colt nodded, Luna leaving the room and turning the light out. When she closed the door, both Night Guards stood at attention. "The foal sleeping within our bed, it shall be your duty tonight to guard over him, and see to his ever need, understood?"
"Yes, Princess!" The two guards replied, saluting the Princess, Luna nodding to them and leaving to convene with her Night Court.
-Night Haunter's Dream World-
Night Haunter looked around, the place he was in had no lights but he somehow knew he was in a palace of some kind. "H-Hello?" His voice echoed across the black stone. "A-Anypony there?" The colt slowly walked down the dark hallway, barely able to see. "U-Um… If somepony is, do you have a light? It is rather hard to see in here."
"Pathetic…" A voice whispered, a malicious intent within the tone.
Night Haunter leapt up, with a yelp, and looked around. "W-Whose there!?" He called out.
"Someone who knows you better, then you know yourself, it seems." The voice replied, the hallway becoming dimly lit. "How you ended up like this… It is humiliating." A shadow rushed across the wall, making the colt jump and try to watch it. "Scared of a few wolves, made of wood… Then a bunch of mares!? Truly, the feared name of 'Night Haunter' has been degraded because of this."
"W-What? But… I haven't done anything worth being feared, or know of anypony else named Night Haunter…" The colt started to shake, and froze when the shadows stood in front of him.
"You don't realize it, yet… But you were once the most feared being in the whole galaxy, the mere mentioning of your name put true terror in the hearts of the masses." The shadow growled, glaring down at the colt. "Reduced to this… I knew it would be bad, but not this bad."
"U-Um… W-What are you?" Night Haunter managed to ask.
The shadow froze up, like he was thinking. "What am I, you ask?" Slowly, the shadow looked at him. "I am the monster that dwells within you, your sins of the past, your memories." It leaned down, looking him right in the eyes. "I am Konrad Cruze!"
"B-But… Mister Cruze, I-I haven't done anything? I don't even think I can fly, or perform magic." The colt said, scrunching away from Konrad.
"You haven't, huh? Then maybe you need to be reminded of your handiwork." With that, Konrad snapped his fingers.
Within seconds, Night Haunter's hooves were drenched in blood! The hallway's floors flooded with the crimson life liquid, mutilated corpses making up the floors, walls, and ceiling. The colt looked around, eyes wide with terror, at all the limbs reaching out, torn open bodies, and looks of pure blood terror. "N-No… S-Stay away from me!" He turned, and ran away from the shadow… His hooves splashing the blood, and crunching against the corpses.
Konrad began to let out a dark cackle. "You cannot run away from your past, Night Haunter! You can only accept what we have done!"
The colt tripped over one of the limbs, causing him to fall face first into the blood. When he pulled himself up, Night Haunter was face to face with a black skinned, red eyed, man's severed head. It suddenly looked at him, weakly saying. "B-Brother… Why have you done this to me?"
The colt screamed at the sight, and the fact it actually spoke!
-Luna's Chamber-
"Luna!" Night Haunter screamed, causing the Night Guards to nearly blow the door completely down with their magic!
"Young one! Are you alright!?" One yelled, the two rushing over to the bed, taking up a defensive position around him. The colt only managed a small whimper, his entire body shaking rapidly. "Go get the princess, quickly… Tell her something is wrong with the foal." The other guard nodded, and rushed off, leaving the first with Night Haunter.
"K-Keep him away from me… Keep him away!" Night Haunter repeated, hiding under the sheets. He could still hear that terrible laugh of Konrad.
The guard walked closer to him. "Keep who away, young master?" He asked, looking down at the covered colt.
"K-Konrad! H-He's gonna get me… I-I don't want to end up like the others!" Night Haunter replied, making the guard look around, for signs of any intruders. All he saw, were claw marks near the bed… But there was no forced entry, and they came in far too fast for anything to escape without them seeing.
There was a sudden flash of blue light, forcing the guard to turn around and salute a frantic Luna. "Night! Are you alright, little one!?" She exclaimed, rushing over to the bedside. The moment he heard her voice, then saw her, the colt leapt out from under the covers and hugged on to her, crying into the princess' coat. She wrapped her hooves around him, trying to comfort the small colt, her gaze went to the guard. "What happened?"
"He screamed for you, and we instantly rushed in. When we came in, the young master was hiding under the sheets, whimpering. I sent my partner to go, and get you. I was also able to get the young master to say what happened." He looked towards the claw marks. "He spoke of somepony named 'Konrad' trying to get him. I found claw marks near the bedside, but no forced entry." He pointed a hoof at the marks. "I don't know what, or who, made them… We entered far too fast for something to escape, unseen."
Luna nodded, putting the colt back into bed. "Cancel all my other appointments tonight. Something far more important has come up."
The guard saluted. "Yes, Princess!" With that, the guard left the two.
After he left, Luna climbed into the bed with Night Haunter, and curled herself around him. The colt cuddled up against her stomach, nuzzling his face into her coat. "That's right, you're safe now… I am here now." She cooed, smiling at what her court decided. "Mother is here now."