Post by Mal on Apr 30, 2016 16:24:32 GMT -5
Mirage Moon was lost in darkness it seemed...he didn't really know where he was to be honest...all he know was that he was no longer near Ponyville where he departed the princess trying to take it easy. He was reckless as he got caught off guard not realizing one of the two royals would be in Ponyville and as a normal pony to boot. He was with Luna his pet wolf companion as she looked to him; eyes gleaming in the darkness so he knew she was. A low whimper was heard emitting from her and he nodded, before turning back, "I know girl...I am scared to leave...Equestria as well, but...what choice do we have right now...? Well you can always go back, but...I can't find my answers locked inside a castle or under they eye of my Mentor...these are something...I have to find out for myself...ya know?" He explained to her and she gave a little bark in return and just nuzzled up against his right foreleg.
Mirage Moon let out a slight yawn...it was late...and he had been up for days trying to avoid ponies...and that one...unicorn that he met in Canterlot...still plagued his mind...what exactly did he mean...was it true that friendship was a lie...? His head hurt way before meeting up with Celestia and now it was all catching up to him...shortly he found a tree and just leaned against it as he closed his eyes, "...let's rest a bit here, girl..." He said sleepily, but didn't even hear a response as he faded away and the world around him faded to black. That was when the nightmares always started...and tonight...they were no different...the things the Black Unicorn with green mane told him seemed to amplify them as he saw the others...Bygone was there and then he wasn't...just like everyone else they all faded away leaving him truly alone once more.
Mirage Moon whimpered as he slept and curled up in a ball as he rocked...he just wanted to belong...somewhere, but...how could he belong...how could he accept anypony...or acknowledge they accepted him...when he could not even accept himself? He wept for acceptance, but it never came to him...he was truly alone...like he always had been...alone...little...small...frighten...a foal...in a stallion's body....his form in the dream reflected that as he reverted to his foal form inside the ball he kept himself in.
Princess Luna. It had been some time since she had last seen her student, his disappearance marked on the day Ponyville and Canterlot had been cleansed of the plague. She could not have pursued him, busy as she was, and later tired for it had been day. She had no way of tracking him when he never even had any belongings to use. All she could do was wait and let him do what he needed to do, or until she could find him in dreams. This night, a nightmare was sensed in the realm of dreams. There usually were some, but she sought it out and found who it belonged to. It was easy to tell. Luna entered into the nightmare, a mere shade, to see what was within without detection. Mirage, small and alone. Did she dare play out her usual way of dealing with this, as she dealt with all nightmares, or did she confront him directly? Luna felt she couldn't perform the same theatrics and approached him directly, materializing where he could finally see her. "Mirage. What drove you away?"
Mirage Moon shivered as coldness surrounded his form. It was soon after that his ears perked from the call of a voice...that approached...him? Small head looked up out of tiny forelegs that hid it, "...Me-mentor...? Or....so-some illusion...my mind...is playing on me again...?" He shivered as he spoke in a tiny foal voice to mimic his form. Mira was pure black as his red markings did not come into his foal form yet. He stood up and shook slightly, "...mmph...wh-why did I leave...? I left, because I wanted something that I couldn't get...at the castle...or with you..." No that was only partly true...he left, because he was scared and felt alone...he left, because he believed what the others said about him...the hurtful things that they said. He looked to the dark ground and started to mutter sadly, "...this world...and...everypony in it...are cruel...nopony...are truly nice...they all...are...heartless when it comes down to it...I-I...need to find out...for myself...why...and what purpose do I have..."
Princess Luna bent her head down, looking over him. "It is no illusion, but a dream. Your nightmare." Her voice was gentle as she told him of this fact. "Ponies are not so cruel as you believe. There is great kindness in them, and it comes out in the most unexpected of ways. When has anypony been cruel to you?" Her legs folded beneath her as she joined him on the ground, wings furling against her side as she came down to his level, rather than looming over him in that intimidating way she had. "I cannot stop you if you wish to seek out this purpose on your own. Some ponies do better in that fashion. All I can do is be here to guide you and offer my advice, but I only need to learn what exactly it is you want."
Mirage Moon looked up, "...A nightmare...? He questioned and looked around...yes that would make better sense...still he knew of these nightmares, but he could never stop them. He let out a sigh, before looking back to his mentor; up to her as he still remained in foal form. Mira tilted his cutely at his mentor, "...y-you want to know...wh-what happened...why...I...am...afraid...?" He trembled, "...my whole life I lived in the forest...I-I didn't really have any pony...I-I was alone...and...every time I left the forest...the ponies of Ponyville always called me names and threw things at me or shoved me...they forced me back in the village and never...let me come out...I...tried on multiple occasions, but every time...the same story..." He told her, before looking down again and sighing, "...then...even as your student...it does not change what others think...I can see the looks in their eyes they fear me...they hate me...I-I don't belong in Equestria...I know this now...I am sorry if I failed you, mentor..."
Princess Luna weighed her response quietly. "Sometimes ponies fear that which they do not know. With your dark coat they may have easily mistaken you as something of the forest." The moonbringer paused, peering at the foal's visage of Mirage, determined to convince him. "You do indeed belong in Equestria. Escaping this country would do little to help you. I have run into similar problems with Discord, who is feared by all, but for a very different reason. Perhaps you may be misunderstanding the way ponies look at you, who may be confused or intrigued by your dark color. You need only talk to them to find out how they really feel.. in fact, I feel making some friends would be a good start for you."
Mirage Moon let out a small chuckles as she told him what she did, "...perhaps..." Mira pondered for a moment, before he seemed to regrow in size he had learned something. This friendship thing...it seemed important, but why do they keep using it around him...friendship...two different usage....one they tell him that he should have friends to govern them and nurture them, perhaps that would open his heart and change his views. Then another that told him that friendship was a tool...a useless desire...a lie that he should abandon the thought of such futile things, "...friendship...I-I...can't understand this meaning...why do you all keep mentioning it...I don't see why...can somepony like me...truly have friends...? That...creature the chaos one...you call Discord...can he truly have friends...how can he believe in it so easily...when I cannot...?" Mirage Moon sighed, "...I met an strange unicorn with the same coat of fur as I have in Canterlot, before I left it...he told me things opposite from what you all are telling me...is his way...his views wrong? Or are your views wrong? Perhaps...both of you are wrong....or perhaps you are all right in a certain point of view...I do not know...this is one thing I need to find out...and I do not think anypony can show me the truth...it something I must discover on my own..." He told her as his crimson hues looked into her eyes the entire time they spoke.
Princess Luna crossed her forelegs, giving Mirage time to figure it out. The mention of this other unicorn did trouble her. "Friendship is but a small, part of something important in Equestria, and that is unity. Anypony who would tell you different is wrong, their intent is to disrupt it and isolate ponies as they tried to isolate you." Luna could never really convince him of it until he saw for himself, and that was something she intended to let him find. "Discord does have friends. Myself, and Bygone. If he can have friends, so can you. Everypony deserves friends, companionship." A sigh left her. "I suppose you may very well have to discover it for yourself, but I beg thee not to leave Equestria. You will not find it outside of this country. Explore, talk to ponies, you will be surprised what you find."
Mirage Moon nods his head slightly as he listened to the moon princess, "...yes perhaps, but even if he was trying to isolate me...if that is truly what he was doing...I was already isolated so...he would not be doing anything new...so if I find things out for myself...everything will remain the same, yes?" He smirked as he lowered his eyes and closed his eyes, "Mmmm...don't leave Equestria...? I can't promise that...I really don't know why I should stay...I feel empty here...and I am already near the outskirts of it...I can hear the waves...so I must be close...I never...been to the ocean before...I heard it was beautiful..." He said kind of in a dreamy like tone. He turned around from her and chuckled again, "I do hope...I can come to understand what this friendship is and perhaps...maybe outside of Equestria I can learn it...then come back and give it a try here...I mean I am sure friendship or at least the idea of it lives outside of Equestria as well...doesn't it...?" He tilted his head as he turned back to her and chuckled, "...But I am sure you have other ponies to watch out for in their dreams that need you more than little old me now...don't cha...?" He asked with a soft smile.
Princess Luna ruffled, sitting up so that she was no longer at his level. He.. didn't seem to understand. "You are isolated, because you isolate yourself. It is not just this unicorn, but you, too. Friends are not suddenly gained, but earned. You must put effort into it, too, as it is not just up to the efforts of other ponies." She frowned, greatly concerned with it. A wing reached out for his shoulder. "It does exist outside of Equestria, but only within these borders will you truly find it. Why else is Equestria coveted by so many?" Luna snorted softly. "A great jewel, this country. You, though, need my help just as much. I would be failing my duty as teacher if I let you go so easily, but if you feel you must learn on your own.. Very well. Perhaps you can send me letters of what you learn in your travels."
Mirage Moon looked thoughtfully for a moment as he glanced over his shoulder at her, "...yes perhaps I could...letters to keep in touch I shall send ya them and report my findings." He nodded to her. Mira turned back to where he was staring; his body was fading from the dream world which meant he was soon to awake, "Do me a favor...you and Discord look after Bygone...while I am gone for me...he was the only pony who truly got close with me to understand me...and the first to not freak out around me..." He told her with a light chuckle. Seems this meeting had to come to an end, but part of him wished it lasted just a little bit longer...he did miss his mentor...and he hated to go off without telling her as he was fading he managed a final sentence, "...Stay...safe...mentor...I...shall...miss...yo..." He faded out, before awaking from the dream as his companion laid on his chest to act like a wolf blanket, "...come on girl...it's time to go." He told her as she barked and jumped up...the darkness seemed to leave and he can tell now that he was at the ocean and indeed it was beautiful...it was the first time he had ever seen so much water before as he peered over...now came the question...how to cross it..? He looked to the right and saw a village off in the distance...that would be his first stop. Luna and Mira walked as they headed to the village.
Princess Luna withdrew her wing, her brow furrowing down when the dark unicorn began to fade. He was waking up, that much she could tell. A shame. She worried, too, but there was naught she could do to stop Mirage from something he was intent on. "You have a friend, after all." A quick point. "Fare thee well." It was all she could manage before the unicorn woke, and the dream disappeared. It was back to the dream realm she went, amidst the stars and pastel space. Luna peered in no specific direction, with no dream as the target of her gaze, thinking. Celestia let Twilight try her own strengths, amidst the letters sent from student to teacher.. This was no different, but she had faith that Mirage could succeed much the same way.. Luna frowned faintly and left the dream realm to the waking world.
Mirage Moon let out a slight yawn...it was late...and he had been up for days trying to avoid ponies...and that one...unicorn that he met in Canterlot...still plagued his mind...what exactly did he mean...was it true that friendship was a lie...? His head hurt way before meeting up with Celestia and now it was all catching up to him...shortly he found a tree and just leaned against it as he closed his eyes, "...let's rest a bit here, girl..." He said sleepily, but didn't even hear a response as he faded away and the world around him faded to black. That was when the nightmares always started...and tonight...they were no different...the things the Black Unicorn with green mane told him seemed to amplify them as he saw the others...Bygone was there and then he wasn't...just like everyone else they all faded away leaving him truly alone once more.
Mirage Moon whimpered as he slept and curled up in a ball as he rocked...he just wanted to belong...somewhere, but...how could he belong...how could he accept anypony...or acknowledge they accepted him...when he could not even accept himself? He wept for acceptance, but it never came to him...he was truly alone...like he always had been...alone...little...small...frighten...a foal...in a stallion's body....his form in the dream reflected that as he reverted to his foal form inside the ball he kept himself in.
Princess Luna. It had been some time since she had last seen her student, his disappearance marked on the day Ponyville and Canterlot had been cleansed of the plague. She could not have pursued him, busy as she was, and later tired for it had been day. She had no way of tracking him when he never even had any belongings to use. All she could do was wait and let him do what he needed to do, or until she could find him in dreams. This night, a nightmare was sensed in the realm of dreams. There usually were some, but she sought it out and found who it belonged to. It was easy to tell. Luna entered into the nightmare, a mere shade, to see what was within without detection. Mirage, small and alone. Did she dare play out her usual way of dealing with this, as she dealt with all nightmares, or did she confront him directly? Luna felt she couldn't perform the same theatrics and approached him directly, materializing where he could finally see her. "Mirage. What drove you away?"
Mirage Moon shivered as coldness surrounded his form. It was soon after that his ears perked from the call of a voice...that approached...him? Small head looked up out of tiny forelegs that hid it, "...Me-mentor...? Or....so-some illusion...my mind...is playing on me again...?" He shivered as he spoke in a tiny foal voice to mimic his form. Mira was pure black as his red markings did not come into his foal form yet. He stood up and shook slightly, "...mmph...wh-why did I leave...? I left, because I wanted something that I couldn't get...at the castle...or with you..." No that was only partly true...he left, because he was scared and felt alone...he left, because he believed what the others said about him...the hurtful things that they said. He looked to the dark ground and started to mutter sadly, "...this world...and...everypony in it...are cruel...nopony...are truly nice...they all...are...heartless when it comes down to it...I-I...need to find out...for myself...why...and what purpose do I have..."
Princess Luna bent her head down, looking over him. "It is no illusion, but a dream. Your nightmare." Her voice was gentle as she told him of this fact. "Ponies are not so cruel as you believe. There is great kindness in them, and it comes out in the most unexpected of ways. When has anypony been cruel to you?" Her legs folded beneath her as she joined him on the ground, wings furling against her side as she came down to his level, rather than looming over him in that intimidating way she had. "I cannot stop you if you wish to seek out this purpose on your own. Some ponies do better in that fashion. All I can do is be here to guide you and offer my advice, but I only need to learn what exactly it is you want."
Mirage Moon looked up, "...A nightmare...? He questioned and looked around...yes that would make better sense...still he knew of these nightmares, but he could never stop them. He let out a sigh, before looking back to his mentor; up to her as he still remained in foal form. Mira tilted his cutely at his mentor, "...y-you want to know...wh-what happened...why...I...am...afraid...?" He trembled, "...my whole life I lived in the forest...I-I didn't really have any pony...I-I was alone...and...every time I left the forest...the ponies of Ponyville always called me names and threw things at me or shoved me...they forced me back in the village and never...let me come out...I...tried on multiple occasions, but every time...the same story..." He told her, before looking down again and sighing, "...then...even as your student...it does not change what others think...I can see the looks in their eyes they fear me...they hate me...I-I don't belong in Equestria...I know this now...I am sorry if I failed you, mentor..."
Princess Luna weighed her response quietly. "Sometimes ponies fear that which they do not know. With your dark coat they may have easily mistaken you as something of the forest." The moonbringer paused, peering at the foal's visage of Mirage, determined to convince him. "You do indeed belong in Equestria. Escaping this country would do little to help you. I have run into similar problems with Discord, who is feared by all, but for a very different reason. Perhaps you may be misunderstanding the way ponies look at you, who may be confused or intrigued by your dark color. You need only talk to them to find out how they really feel.. in fact, I feel making some friends would be a good start for you."
Mirage Moon let out a small chuckles as she told him what she did, "...perhaps..." Mira pondered for a moment, before he seemed to regrow in size he had learned something. This friendship thing...it seemed important, but why do they keep using it around him...friendship...two different usage....one they tell him that he should have friends to govern them and nurture them, perhaps that would open his heart and change his views. Then another that told him that friendship was a tool...a useless desire...a lie that he should abandon the thought of such futile things, "...friendship...I-I...can't understand this meaning...why do you all keep mentioning it...I don't see why...can somepony like me...truly have friends...? That...creature the chaos one...you call Discord...can he truly have friends...how can he believe in it so easily...when I cannot...?" Mirage Moon sighed, "...I met an strange unicorn with the same coat of fur as I have in Canterlot, before I left it...he told me things opposite from what you all are telling me...is his way...his views wrong? Or are your views wrong? Perhaps...both of you are wrong....or perhaps you are all right in a certain point of view...I do not know...this is one thing I need to find out...and I do not think anypony can show me the truth...it something I must discover on my own..." He told her as his crimson hues looked into her eyes the entire time they spoke.
Princess Luna crossed her forelegs, giving Mirage time to figure it out. The mention of this other unicorn did trouble her. "Friendship is but a small, part of something important in Equestria, and that is unity. Anypony who would tell you different is wrong, their intent is to disrupt it and isolate ponies as they tried to isolate you." Luna could never really convince him of it until he saw for himself, and that was something she intended to let him find. "Discord does have friends. Myself, and Bygone. If he can have friends, so can you. Everypony deserves friends, companionship." A sigh left her. "I suppose you may very well have to discover it for yourself, but I beg thee not to leave Equestria. You will not find it outside of this country. Explore, talk to ponies, you will be surprised what you find."
Mirage Moon nods his head slightly as he listened to the moon princess, "...yes perhaps, but even if he was trying to isolate me...if that is truly what he was doing...I was already isolated so...he would not be doing anything new...so if I find things out for myself...everything will remain the same, yes?" He smirked as he lowered his eyes and closed his eyes, "Mmmm...don't leave Equestria...? I can't promise that...I really don't know why I should stay...I feel empty here...and I am already near the outskirts of it...I can hear the waves...so I must be close...I never...been to the ocean before...I heard it was beautiful..." He said kind of in a dreamy like tone. He turned around from her and chuckled again, "I do hope...I can come to understand what this friendship is and perhaps...maybe outside of Equestria I can learn it...then come back and give it a try here...I mean I am sure friendship or at least the idea of it lives outside of Equestria as well...doesn't it...?" He tilted his head as he turned back to her and chuckled, "...But I am sure you have other ponies to watch out for in their dreams that need you more than little old me now...don't cha...?" He asked with a soft smile.
Princess Luna ruffled, sitting up so that she was no longer at his level. He.. didn't seem to understand. "You are isolated, because you isolate yourself. It is not just this unicorn, but you, too. Friends are not suddenly gained, but earned. You must put effort into it, too, as it is not just up to the efforts of other ponies." She frowned, greatly concerned with it. A wing reached out for his shoulder. "It does exist outside of Equestria, but only within these borders will you truly find it. Why else is Equestria coveted by so many?" Luna snorted softly. "A great jewel, this country. You, though, need my help just as much. I would be failing my duty as teacher if I let you go so easily, but if you feel you must learn on your own.. Very well. Perhaps you can send me letters of what you learn in your travels."
Mirage Moon looked thoughtfully for a moment as he glanced over his shoulder at her, "...yes perhaps I could...letters to keep in touch I shall send ya them and report my findings." He nodded to her. Mira turned back to where he was staring; his body was fading from the dream world which meant he was soon to awake, "Do me a favor...you and Discord look after Bygone...while I am gone for me...he was the only pony who truly got close with me to understand me...and the first to not freak out around me..." He told her with a light chuckle. Seems this meeting had to come to an end, but part of him wished it lasted just a little bit longer...he did miss his mentor...and he hated to go off without telling her as he was fading he managed a final sentence, "...Stay...safe...mentor...I...shall...miss...yo..." He faded out, before awaking from the dream as his companion laid on his chest to act like a wolf blanket, "...come on girl...it's time to go." He told her as she barked and jumped up...the darkness seemed to leave and he can tell now that he was at the ocean and indeed it was beautiful...it was the first time he had ever seen so much water before as he peered over...now came the question...how to cross it..? He looked to the right and saw a village off in the distance...that would be his first stop. Luna and Mira walked as they headed to the village.
Princess Luna withdrew her wing, her brow furrowing down when the dark unicorn began to fade. He was waking up, that much she could tell. A shame. She worried, too, but there was naught she could do to stop Mirage from something he was intent on. "You have a friend, after all." A quick point. "Fare thee well." It was all she could manage before the unicorn woke, and the dream disappeared. It was back to the dream realm she went, amidst the stars and pastel space. Luna peered in no specific direction, with no dream as the target of her gaze, thinking. Celestia let Twilight try her own strengths, amidst the letters sent from student to teacher.. This was no different, but she had faith that Mirage could succeed much the same way.. Luna frowned faintly and left the dream realm to the waking world.
The End.