Here's the edited chapter five; this and the next chapter both take place after "Keep Calm and Flutter On", but before the events of "Just for Sidekicks" and "Games Ponies Play", as both the latter two occur at the same time. Oh, and the italicized section is told in Vincent's POV, just so you know. ;)

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Part 5: Luna's Theory in the Starry Night

The Ponyville residents had been heavily affected since Vincent's public outburst. Twilight first quickly informed Princess Celestia through letter about what had happened, who was involved, and how they were going to try and cope. Twilight knew her mentor would understand, and hopefully Vincent would listen to reason, if he spoke to anypony ever again.

A few days after Vincent was taken to hospital, Princess Celestia assigned Twilight and her friends to reform the former Spirit of Chaos, Discord, to see if his magic could be used for good. It was Fluttershy's friendship that Discord valued, and made it his vow to use magic for good… most of the time.

While their assignment distracted their thoughts from Vincent, he still stuck in the Mane Six's respective minds.

Applejack, Rarity and Rainbow Dash went on their normal lives shortly after Discord's redemption, but still couldn't help feeling bad for blaming him for something he didn't do. Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie were also shaken up; they'd never known Vincent to get angry at them once. Fluttershy, for one, was fortunate enough not to witness his anger.

Out of them, Twilight was the most optimistic, and she and Spike were certain he'd speak to them. Vincent's ear was reattached – fortunately, he cut off his earlobe and not the whole ear – but he stayed at Ponyville Hospital until he was deemed stable enough to leave. Vincent didn't mind this, nor did he care, but he didn't expect visitors.

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Meanwhile, Fictionary couldn't help feeling terrible over what had happened; how could somepony cruel like Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon make her brother look mean to everypony else?

Speaking of, the two Earth fillies were serving six weeks all-recess detention while Snips and Snails (after confessing their role) served two weeks. The two unicorn colts accepted their punishment, but Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon found this unfair, yet they didn't say so… just in case.

"Hey Fictionary!" called Scootaloo, trotting over to the miserable light blue unicorn.

"Oh, hey, Scoots," sighed Fictionary.

"Y'all lookin' down in the dumps," observed Apple Bloom.

"Wanna come to our next Cutie Mark Crusaders meeting?" asked Sweetie Belle.

"Not really," sighed Fictionary. Getting her cutie mark was the last thing on her mind right now. "I just wish I'd known the consequences of my actions earlier…"

"We understand where you're goin' with this," said Apple Bloom.

"We've all had days when our friends don't listen to us," said Sweetie Belle, "like when Rarity didn't want to join me for the Sisterhooves Social."

"It's not that," Fictionary moped, "I miss Vincent so much. I don't mind living with Twilight, but still…"

For the time being, Fictionary was staying at Golden Oak Library with Twilight until Vincent was discharged from the hospital.

"I can understand how your brother feels, Fictionary," said a voice. Fictionary looked up to see Miss Cheerilee had been listening to the whole conversation.

"You do?" asked Scootaloo.

"When I was about your age," Miss Cheerilee explained, "I got into a fight with some other foals just for mocking me because I didn't have my cutie mark. My parents weren't pleased with me, of course, and I got into trouble for it."

"Oh," Fictionary said sadly, "I guess I repeated your mistakes, Miss Cheerilee, didn't I?"

"Oh, I don't think so," her teacher chuckled, "you were trying to stand up for others, and I understand that. But be aware that it can have consequences, and if those bothering you don't stop, ignore them."

Fictionary nodded slowly; it meant she completely understood. She felt better after hearing her teacher's wise words.

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After school, Fictionary arrived at Golden Oak Library. There, she told Twilight about what Miss Cheerilee had told her.

"And just thinking about what she's said made me realize I shouldn't be quick to jump the gun," she said, "but even so, I still can't believe I got my big brother in this mess." She sniffed sadly, her eyes welling up with tears. "I think he hates me now and won't ever speak to me ever again!"

Fictionary began to cry, but Twilight held her close.

"I know," she said solemnly, "I'm proud of you for now understanding the consequences of your actions, but there was nothing we could have done about it. Like Miss Cheerilee told you, you were only trying to do the right thing by standing up for your new friends, and yourself as well; Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon weren't using their common sense."

Fictionary didn't reply for a few moments, and then looked up at Twilight, smiling sadly.

"You know something?" she asked, wiping away her tears, "Even though Vincent's my brother, I've always wanted a sister. Right now, I almost feel like you're already a sister to me."

Twilight looked in surprise. "I do?"

"You do," Fictionary replied, hugging Twilight's foreleg. The light purple unicorn smiled and returned the hug.

"Thanks, Fictionary," she said quietly.

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About two weeks later, Vincent was discharged from Ponyville Hospital. His condition was stable and his ear's stitches had begun to heal. Despite this, he was still unhappy, and didn't take notice of anypony as he walked to the Metrostallion House of Art, which had been closed in his absence.

Fictionary was walking along the streets getting some fresh air when she spotted her older brother.

"Hey Vincent!" she exclaimed with hope in her voice, "Are you alright?"

"Physically, yes," grunted Vincent, "never been better!"

"You're not still mad, are you?" asked Fictionary worryingly, "What's wrong?"

Vincent gave a deep sigh. "First thing in the morning," he said, "we're leaving Ponyville."

"What?!" Fictionary couldn't believe what she was hearing. "But why?"

"You know why," snapped Vincent, "everypony accused me of being a massive liar, nopony stood up for me-"

"Wait just a minute!" retorted Fictionary, "Twilight defended you and Fluttershy understood you! Why would you turn your back on them now? And besides, I like it here in Ponyville!"

"So you're saying you'd rather live with them than me?!"

"Erm… basically, yeah."

Vincent scowled before replying. "Then I don't expect any visits from you or your so-called 'friends'…" And he walked bitterly away, leaving Fictionary where she was, shocked and disappointed.

At least he didn't yell in my face, she thought, but how can I convince him to change his mind?

Fictionary thought about it for a moment or two, and then a light bulb flickered on in her head.

"I know just what to do!" she exclaimed, and ran off to find the pony she was thinking of…

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That night, as the moon shone brightly in the night sky, Vincent was fast asleep in bed, tossing and turning, muttering in his sleep.

"Ohh…" he muttered, "Leave me alone, please…!"

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Nopony knows what's up ahead, but I run as fast as my legs can carry me.

Why am I running? Well, a group of ponies are chasing me, insulting me, and throwing stuff at me; rocks, sticks, balls, you name it. I can't tell you what they're calling me. Trust me; they're not pleasant.

Suddenly, I come across a cliff face. It's a dead end! I have wings, but I'm scared of heights. I see the mean ponies chasing me, but what do I do? Fly and be scared, or jump off and die? I just can't decide which seems bearable!

I shut my eyes, awaiting my fate, but after half a minute… nothing's happened to me?

"Open your eyes, Vincent…"

That voice; it sounds regal and feminine… Who's calling my name…? Wait, how does she know my name?

Cautiously, I open one eye, then the other. I see a mare right in front of me. She's taller and skinnier than me, and she has wings and a horn! A winged unicorn, is it? Her fur is dark blue, her mane and tail are moderate sapphire blue with a grayish Persian blue aura surrounding, and her cutie mark's a crescent moon on a dark purple background. She wears a dark purple corset around her chest, silver shoes, and a black crown. Royalty, perhaps?

"Do not fear them, Vincent," she tells me, "I have sent them off. They can not bother you no longer."

Out of curiosity, I slowly walk forward and face this mysterious winged unicorn. I see her corset as a crescent moon similar to her cutie mark, and her eyes are moderate cyan in color, with light sapphire blue eyeshadow!

After what feels like ages, I find my voice. "May I ask, your Highness, who are you…?"

"I am Princess Luna," says the winged unicorn, "princess of the night, and one of my many duties is to come into your dreams."

Princess Luna? I know I heard that name somewhere, but where? I ask slowly, "How… do you know my name…?"

"As a princess," Luna explains, "I know the names of everypony in Equestria along with my older sister Celestia."

"Oh." I don't know what to say next; how does somepony speak with a celebrity figure, let alone a princess? The first thing that comes to my mind is, "What… what do you… want with me?" I ask in a shaky voice. I feel scared inside; I don't if I should stay or run, but then, angering a celebrity was out of the question.

Princess Luna slowly walks towards me, and then places a hoof on my shoulder. Her smile makes her seem kind and gentle. I feel less scared and give a small smile.

"By looking at your dreams," she tells me, "I could sense you were troubled. Care to share?"

I breathe a sigh. Where do I begin?

"There was this dream," I start explaining, "where two school-age ponies were hurting my sister Fictionary, and I tried to save her, but others held me back. They were stronger than me, mind, and I tried fighting back, but couldn't bear watching as she was beaten to a pulp and…"

I couldn't say any more; I knew what it led to, so did Luna, I believe.

"And then there's this other dream, regarding my parents. I'm with them in a bus, and suddenly, it goes out of control, and before anypony can stop us, we crash into a mountain and…" Again, I knew what it led to.

"But they pale in comparison to this third, horrible nightmare of mine; my parents and a beautiful mare I was dating had been killed, and it looked like it had been fault. Then some nasty ponies kept bullying me, calling me a murderer, until I snapped – I cut one of them in half, but another immediately respawned, and so I ran.

"It didn't stop there; I ran into a town – I don't know of its name – where just about everypony accused me for… many things I can't describe, but they were horrible, mind. I could handle the pain no longer…" By this point, tears were welling up in my eyes and my voice started to crack. "Th-then I feel something j-jerk at my neck… a hangpony's noose! That's when everypony who di-didn't believe me forced me off the cliff…" I couldn't take it any more. "And it gave away and I fell to my death…!"

That was when I broke down in tears. I sat down with my forehooves covering my face. I was crying in front of a Princess, but I didn't care; the painful memories were too much for me to bear. Tears leaking out of my eyes, I let out a sniffle.

All of a sudden, I feel a pair of forelegs wrapped around me. I stop crying and open my eyes, still teary, and notice Luna is hugging me. Why is that, I wonder to myself?

"Princess Luna…" I find my voice, "I don't… Why…?"

"It's okay, Vincent," she tells me in a kind tone, "you must be suffering from anxieties of the past… just like me."

"Like you?" I ask with curiosity.

"About a thousand years ago, I refused to lower the moon to make way for a new dawn. I was bitter and jealous of my older sister Celestia, and it turned me into Nightmare Moon." At this point, I can see a tear in her eye.

"Forgive me, but is it a painful reminder?" I ask.

"Very. I was banished for a thousand years, and had it not been for Twilight and her new friends, Equestria would've been in eternal darkness and I would never have reunited with Celestia." I had a pained expression on my face when Luna said "Twilight and her new friends," but tried not to show it.

"I see…" I said slowly, "do my dreams, like the one we're in, reflect on the pain I had been through three weeks ago? I mean, I was so mad I didn't know what I was thinking… I was out there, ponies treating me like a monster – you know what it's like, right? – and I couldn't defend myself. I just wanted to scream and run away. Even with Fluttershy giving me shelter in my darkest hour, I thought nopony was looking out for me… ever."

"There are many in Equestria who have dark and bitter pasts," Luna says calmly, "but I believe you've the one thing they don't – heart."

I stare at her in confusion. "I do? I mean, I wish I did…"

There was silence before Luna spoke again. "You'll need to forgive them…"

"But my anger got in the way, didn't it? Was I too focused on the negatives to even take the tiniest glance at the positives? I've had dark days, but none as cloudy as what I went through very recently…"

"In a way, yes," said Luna, "I could tell that Twilight and her friends were trying to make amends with you, Vincent."

"I really, really want to forgive them all, particularly Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Applejack…"

"…and your sister Fictionary too," Luna finished, "she didn't know where her actions would lead to, and neither did Twilight nor her friends. Do not focus on your past too much, young Vincent, because you then feel more pain on the inside."

I don't know what to say next. But bit by bit, Luna's words sunk into my brain.

"You're right," I said at last, "I can't hide from the past any longer. I had been scared back then, but I must face them and win the battle…"

Suddenly, the sky is getting brighter, and I see the moon is lowering to make way for the sun. Then I feel the ground slowly crumbling before me and Luna!

"What…?"

"Morning has come, Vincent," says Luna, "you are waking up!"

"Wait…!" But my voice is barely heard over the ground's crumbling.

"Remember what I've said; you must put the past behind you, because the more you focus on it, the more pain you will feel…"

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The title has two references; "Luna's Theory" is a pun on "lunar theory", and "Starry Night" is a reference to van Gogh's painting of the same name.

Kind of a deep chapter, wasn't it? Will Vincent stay in Ponyville? Read the next chapter and find out.