7/27/16; New Friend

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Mirage tilts his head slightly...was that kind of permission that he could totally sit on the throne when ever? Cause...that was kind of comfy and relaxing...and he is feeling drowsy just thinking of it. He shook his head and raised it to look at his mentor as she spoke about certain events...it seemed the scribe attacked her sister...? So that why Discord seemed so down...probably blamed his self for what happened..no doubt...he would be sure to make the cake extra special then.

Mirage simply sighed and shook his head, "So what is to happen to this scribe of yours then...? Assuming she is currently being held in a cell...? Or worst...?" His eyes narrowed slightly...he wasn't there...damn it...he wasn't there...what if his mentor got hurt as well...he was suppose to be protective of her as well...after all she was more like a mother figure to him than any other pony so it would only be natural to protect her...and he wasn't there...he held his head low, "...I am sorry for not being...by you during this time..." He let out softly almost like a gentle hush whisper.

Mirage ears perked slightly at the name...King Sombra...? He thought then repeated it out loud, "...King...Sombra..." He blinked a few times...he heard that name before...didn't he...? It then dawned on him, "Oh...he's the crystal empire thug...or something, right...? I read about him before....thought...he was like banished or something...? And what would he be doing in the castle....why would he be allowed...what if he the reason why your Scribe actually attacked your sister? He is not to be trusted he can manipulate the minds of other ponies..." He seemed to know more about him than simply reading an article or two, but then again...Mirage could easily tamper with one's mind if he chose to, but his mentor taught him that was wrong and he hadn't really focused in it outside creating these mirages that were mostly harmless...key word was...mostly.

Mirage sighed as he looked down and turned his back to his mentor; taking a couple steps away, "..um..." He started and sighed, "As you know...I have well nightmares awfully alot...and before...I just didn't want to accept your help...and thought I could force them out on my own, but...they seem to only get worst the harder I try to fight them...I know, I am dreaming though, but it doesn't matter more I try the worst and the more real they get...to the point that the nightmares their self-made me awake to a wound that I received during the nightmare...one time I was burned and my fur was singed...how is it possible for a nightmare to cause pain when it is not real...?" He questioned and turned his head back to gaze at her just enough to do that, but no more.

[Mal]

Princess Luna watched her student's face the entire time she told him of the current events of her end, and the way his face fell. It was given explanation through his apology. "There is no need to apologize. I was not present in the throne room when this happened, but out in the garden dreamwalking. It is a.. suitably peaceful place for that task. It is a good thing I chose it, it gave me room to fly to my sister's tower."

Whatever thoughts of 'what-ifs' that tried to creep up were squashed back down before they had a chance to speak. She didn't want to hear any of them, and let them drag her down further than she already was.

"She currently remains in a cell, and I am leaving there for some days to reconsider her actions and think about what she's done, and where she went wrong. That is her punishment. I hope to think of a suitable way to deal with her and amend these problems so we might be friends." Luna answered with a soft sigh, glancing away and back to Mirage again when he addressed the matter of King Sombra.

"There is very little written about King Sombra, and all records of the Crystal Empire were never written until recently, now that it has returned and gained a new crystal princess as its guardian. King Sombra was the evil unicorn king that ruled it with an iron hoof, and enslaved the crystal ponies to do his bidding until an old student of ours, Radiant Hope, came back to us and told us of what was happening." Luna explained to him properly. "We have.. I have considered such a possibility, and I still do not trust him, but we do not wish to act against him in case he retaliates.. badly. Thus far, other than that one incident, nothing has happened.. save for something of a riot out in Canterlot the day he arrived."

Another frown crossed the nightbringer's face, but she fell quiet with that last sliver of information and focused on Mirage as he hesitantly began to tell her of his side. Her brow furrowed the more Mirage spoke, and she looked troubled by the time he said his own nightmares were hurting him in the real world.

"That is most troubling, but nightmares cannot be dealt with by ignoring them the same way one's problems are not solved by bottling thy emotions away. They will only get worse. I have not heard of anything like this before, but I can help and I appreciate that you came to me at last. I sensed there was something wrong.." Luna mused. If only she hadn't been kept so busy, or shirked some of her duties. Filling in for Celestia during the day had, unfortunately, gotten in the way of her dreamwalking. She couldn't stay up late enough without risking exhaustion the next day.

"There is.. power in nightmares. It is something I discovered as Nightmare Moon, sealed away in my moon's prison. I found I could touch upon dreams, nightmares, while I was sealed away and dreaming myself. The most recent issue with nightmares, which very much affected other ponies, was something that I had created myself, a creature called a Tantabus. It would have escaped into the real world without the assistance of the six." Luna explained, fidgeting uncomfortably. She didn't include the part where she was punishing herself with the tantabus in her nightmares for what she did as Nightmare Moon.

"They are very much real, and very dangerous if they were to get as out of control as that. I will need to go into your nightmares, and find the source. If we can do that, and deal with them, the nightmares will stop, but you must be willing to face it or else the nightmares will continue." Her tone grew stern and softened again. "I know it will be difficult, but it is necessary."

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The black stallion looked up at his mentor and smiled, "Yes...but are their times...where some ponies can't open up to friendship...? What do you do then...?" He questioned as he sighed and looked down again listening to his mentor's words about the nightmares and about Sombra. Very little was written it why he barely knew about him other than the one report he read about his return awhile back, but perhaps any pony can change...? Discord did after all, didn't he...? So why couldn't this King Sombra?

Mirage shook his head slightly and a smile broke through, "...so...is he still a king if he has no kingdom...? Doesn't cadence and Shining rule the crystal Empire now...?" He asked with ears perking up slightly. Mirage ears swivelled soon after though as she brought up the nightmares and that they were rare and could be dangerous if not dealt with.

Mirage sighed as he learnt that already...the hard way in his stubbornness he refused her offer to help him, before. Now he didn't see a choice these nightmares were becoming a big problem for him...and perhaps others if his nightmares even had a drop of truth in them. He had to know, before he agreed though of one thing...but would Princess Luna or any other pony answer him truthfully?

"Am...destined...to be...evil...? I never mentioned this before, but...I have these thoughts at times...and a pony I met before...told me I was prophecized to be evil...I don't...want to be...how am one suppose to go against a prophecy, though...?" He questioned.

[Mal]

The question was considered for a moment. They had a way they handled problems, and friendship was a powerful tool when it came down to it. One need only look at the princess of friendship to see the proof. With her close bonds with her friends, Twilight had accomplished so much, defeating those that would take and ruin Equestria, and solving issues between ponies just by reminding them how important their bonds were.

"I would be a fool to believe friendship can solve every problem and sometimes you cannot solve something just by becoming friends with a pony. Sometimes your unity with your friends can help you stand up to powerful foes. In the case that ponies cannot open up to friendship, the key is to try. You need not become friends with them, but you can open their eyes and make them realize the importance, make them look beyond themselves or their goals." It sometimes worked. Discord, Starlight and herself could attest to that.

"They do rule the Crystal Empire now. I have little idea about Sombra, but it seems to be a title he prefers to carry. He is not called the evil unicorn king for nothing. Would he have his way, the Crystal Empire would be back under his dark reign." Luna grimaced. The king had yet to convince her otherwise, let alone talk to her at all. She had her suspicions, but she was also beginning to wonder if maybe she ought to withhold her judgement until he made an effort. Hmm..

Her musing was interrupted by Mirage's strange question and she looked at him with surprise. Her eyebrows furrowed down into a troubled expression. "Who has said this to you?" Luna asked sternly. If somepony was trying to darken Mirage's outlook on himself..

"You are not destined to be evil." If Luna knew of Sombra's past, he would've been a wonderful example for her to use with Mirage, but alas she didn't know of it yet. "Nopony is. This talk of destiny, of prophecy, is old and foolish. Nothing is destined to happen unless you choose it and it is your choice whether or not you follow the path of evil, good, or even neutrality. There are, also, many shades of gray in between. Prophecy will only become true if you choose to complete it. 'Tis not destiny to become good or evil."

"I? I chose to do what I did as Nightmare Moon. I chose to refuse lowering the moon. I chose to try to bring eternal night, to submit to my darker impulses. They were choices I made, whether they were good or bad, and I learned from the mistakes I made in making them." Luna paused a moment, curling out a wing to study the feathers. "I do recall there was a 'prophecy' made of my return, but it was not much of one when my sister knew I would return someday. As has already been seen with Equestria.. what you lock away has a habit of coming back."

Her voice grew quiet, serious. "They were not permanent solutions. The Elements of Harmony have been handled better in the hooves of the six, and you have seen how they have dealt with what we sealed away.. Regardless, just know that you have choice in everything you do, may do, will do. Destiny is only what you make of it."

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Mirage listened intently to the talk of friendship...something he truly didn't accept as of yet at least, but maybe...he could have more than just Bygone as a friend.Mari...and even his mentor...and yes even Discord perhaps...could be if...he could open up or at least let them in. He shook his head of the thoughts bringing his self back to reality and looked up to his mentor; head tilting.

A king in title only is what Sombra was, but a king without a kingdom...could he still really be a king...? This confused him to as why some pony would still use the title when he clearly had no kingdom, but then again...if that what he wished to be called so be it...Mirage wasn't one for titles or anything anyways...he preferred to avoid the use of them all together they were just...a distraction and they got in the way.

The black unicorn's ears drooped slightly, "...well I don't remember his name...I doubt he gave me it honestly...he was just an old unicorn with a dark coat of fur...kind of like mine..." He replied meekly. Mirage nodded and listened, "...I understand...and I...want to do good and learn to master my abilities the best I can to help Equestria...the world...grow stronger....th-that why I also...um wish to ask you a favor if you don't mind..." Mirage nervously glanced around.

Mirage had never actually seen the elements...used he only saw the pictures and read the stories of their use...he did set his eyes apon the tree awhile ago though, but that was awhile back when he spent most of his time in the forest and he had a reason to be there. He glanced back and looked to his mentor as he awaited her reply...he was still nervous about this all...he didn't like ponies poking around his head nor did he like the way he felt right now...or did he...? It was new to him is this how he suppose to feel around Mari...he doesn't feel like this around other ponies, but when shes around...he feels hot and um weaker...? He didn't know the word or the feeling to describe it either.

[Mal]

Princess Luna made a disappointed sound, but the pony responsible for filling poor Mirage's head with talks of prophecy wasn't all that important. It wasn't like she could-

Well, she very well could give the mystery pony a tongue lashing for talking to her student like that.

A wing was extended to Mirage's shoulder in comfort, the long flight feathers briefly brushing against him like the touch of a butterfly's wing and was gone. She refolded her wing, listening with some pride to what Mirage wanted to do. "I am very glad to hear that, and if that is what you choose to do, I shall support you. Everypony could do with thinking like you.. Maybe the world might be a better place, then."

Luna's ears perked towards her dual-colored student, an eyebrow raising with interest. A favor? Her head tilted, watching how Mirage glanced around. There wasn't anypony else in the throne room other than them, and perhaps the guards down below on either side of the throne. It was their job to keep quiet.

"What is this favor? I will be glad to help you with anything, or answer any questions you might have." Luna tried to encourage the unicorn to talk, but she wouldn't push any further than that just in case he lost his nerve. Which did tend to happen if the favor they were asking for seemed too personal to tell another pony, or too big to ask; which wouldn't be a problem for somepony like herself. All other thoughts were forgotten, as well as her plan to ask Mirage how he felt about Mari, while she waited for what favor he might ask her for.

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Mirage looked down the guards and back up and sighing as he would dislike asking for a favor especially one that he was going to ask for since it would...probably leave his new friend for awhile...so he could go out. The ebony and crimson stallion sighed slightly, "...I well I am not sure...if I told you this, but out while I was in the village by the ocean I found out something...I have a sister...that well is somewhere, but I don't know where exactly..."

Mirage sighed as he shook his head and looked down, "...I would like to go to Griffenstone...for a bit...if you had anything that needed done...that could send me over there...I have a couple um griffen siblings that I would like to visit...and maybe even look for clues of my sister or anything that could lead me to knowing about...where I came from...I know I couldn't of just been in the everfree...I think I was left there some how...and I would like to know an answer to why I was abandoned...and left alone..." He explained.

Mirage absent mindedly moved closer to his mentor and nuzzled lightly against her wing...he didn't really know why, but being close made him feel safer...safer then being alone. He sighed slightly, "...I just...don't know how to leave...Mari....should...I tell...her...about this...should I not...?" He questioned as he lifted his head to look at her.

[Mal]

The princess let her gaze wander towards the stained glass windows, keeping an ear tilted towards Mirage to show that she was waiting to listen. She didn't want to sit there and stare at him until he grew too nervous to say anything, because she was very curious. What favor would he ask of her? Luna looked back around at Mirage, surprise written across her features. "A sister?" She inquired, her eyes widening.

"Hmm. If thee has a sister, I will not mind granting you your request to go yonder to seek clues, and visit Griffonstone.. however, I never knew you had griffon siblings." An eyebrow arched, but she didn't pursue it. He'd probably made friends with a couple of griffons and became quite close if he would call them siblings. It was another positive. Mirage was making friends!

"The only thing I can think of is just to observe Griffonstone. See exactly how well they fare without unity and friendship compared to ponies. I know you do not have the best experience with Ponyville from misconceptions and misunderstandings from some of the ponies there in your youth, but if you were to look at it from another angle.. there is quite the difference. I would like you to see it." Luna replied with a dip of her head towards him. The nuzzled wing twitched and moved to lightly curl around behind Mirage in an embrace, offering him whatever comfort he might need.

"You should tell her. It does a lot of good to be honest with your friends. Mayhaps, if she is free, she might even like to accompany you if you do not mind it or wish to invite her along." Luna suggested offhoof. "I do express sympathy, to not know your parents. I did not know mine, but you might have better luck in finding some answers. With as dangerous as the Everfree is, I would not be surprised if you were separated or if some danger chased them away.." Luna didn't want to suggest any of the dangerous denizens of the woods might have killed his family, as that would be too harsh. No, she held hopes that some of Mirage's family might still live.

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Mirage nods and then suddenly froze as his eyes went wide. The black stallion shook his head, "...n-no...I um meant the two griffins I am going to see are brother and sister griffins...not that they are related to me at all..." He tried to clear up the misunderstanding as he looked down at the carpet; a faint red blush forming above his muzzle in embarrassment.

When the nuzzled wing draped around him he hugged it, "...oh...okay...I'll watch and see what they do...and..." He let out a sigh as he looked up to her, "...I shall try to keep an open mind on how friendship should work...maybe...if Mari came with...she could help...me...um...well...understand...?" He stuttered the last part as the blush came back, but he was more scarlet now...being such a dark coated pony...blushed on him was so high visible.

Mirage looked away and to the throne room doors, "...oh...um I think...the cake should bne about ready...I should probably go check on it, but...did we discuss everything...?" He wondered as he looked back; fighting his blush and tilted his head to his mentor curriously.

[Mal]

Princess Luna made a noise of surprise and understanding. Of.. course. She'd understood him wrong, on the siblings, because of how he phrased it. "Oh, of course. I presume they are friends of yours, at least?" She asked, a smile returning to her face but of an embarrassed sort after her misunderstanding. She waved it aside with a silver shod hoof, dismissing it as Mirage moved on to the other topics. She listened, nodding her head in agreement. "She very much could, as well as learning about some of it herself too. I just hope she does not take fright to the griffons."

The blush she thought she saw on Mirage's face when Mari was mentioned made her tilt her head and peer at him curiously. She considered whether or not to approach him about that particular subject, but she wasn't sure. Mirage brought up the cake, to which she felt might be a more pressing matter before it began to burn. "We have discussed everything of importance, I believe. Do go check on the cake, though I do wonder.."

Luna thought on it a moment longer, withdrawing her wing and folding both of them against her sides. "Forgive me if it is something you are not ready to talk about, but do you perhaps, like Mari?" She queried, rising onto her hooves as she did in preparation for leading the way down the throne. She might walk with him, at least part of the way, on the way to the kitchens and for her back up to her sister's chambers.