I've just reached my previous school and told the guardspony at the entrance the code-phrase. It worked, and I was let in.

The main hall looks especially creepy without ponies in it. There is no light at all, not counting the moonlight that shines through the windows. Still, it's bright enough to see where I was going.

However, there is something much more eerie than the absence of artificial light.

The dreadful ominous latin chanting.

I can understand the words, actually. The structure is a bit wonky, but far better than anything I've heard from musical groups. Excluding Rhapsody of Fire (or is it just Rhapsody now? I don't really remember). Their latin is actually perfect. I heard that they hired a professional to write the lyrics, and I tip my metaphorical hat for that.

Gothic cathedral-like building, ominous chanting... I love this. There should be some dark pipe organ, and it'll be perfect. But that's just a nit-pick of mine.

I didn't even notice how I stood there for at least a minute, listening to the beautiful choir, which consisted of deep male voices and high female ones. It's really a perfect mix. I can even try to translate it.

Yeah, that is... something pretty creepy. Are they summoning some kind of blood god? More bloody version of Satan, perhaps?

Time to enter the concert hall. It's getting too creepy to just stand here...

I opened the door. It creaked loudly as I pushed it, and soon saw a large group of ponies. Huh, I expected them to be wearing dark clothes, capes, robes, that sort of thing. However, they're pretty... normal.

As soon as I entered, a pegasus mare approached me. I don't know if her colors are natural since they're kind of creepy. Snow-white fur, long raven-black mane, unnaturally silver eyes...

"Welcome, Flame Metal." she greeted me. "I am Argentea." in latin, her name means 'of silver' or 'in silver'. Just a little fact. "Her nightly majesty told us to expect you, and here you are."

"Um, good night." I nodded slightly, fighting my initial shyness. "And, um, I've listened to the choir on the way here. It's majestic!"

"Thank you." a smile touched her lips. "So, let's get straight to business. Princess Luna told us you can play the pipe organ well." she used her mouth to get a piece of paper from under her wing. I took the paper from her maw and took a look at it. It's a music sheet. "How well will you be able to play this?"

"Well..." I looked it over. It's not overly complicated, the chords and notes are simple and long, and the pipe organ has mostly the supportive, bass role in the song. "It seems pretty easy."

"Glad to hear that." Argentea nodded. "The choir has just warmed up. We may begin. But I need to know one thing first — do you know how to follow the movements of a conductor?"

"Uh, I don't think so." I replied. "But, uh, the song starts with the pipe,organ, and I know the tempo. It'd be fairly easy for me to just play accordingly."

"I suppose we can try that." the mare nodded. "Well, take your place, then. I will give you the signal when to start."

***

Everything went without a single hitch. I hit the notes on time, didn't make a mess. Aa for the song, it's majestic. Creepy, but at the same time epic and... sad. The meaning behind the lyrics is what most won't get, mostly because latin isn't widely spread. Or so I think. I actually don't know if many ponies know it.

I was also told not to talk to anyone about the identities of ponies I met. Actually, a lot of ponies consider the group vile and try to mess with its performances. A lot of nobles were trying their best (maybe it could be called worst) to lick Celestia's ass and shut down the musical group that has 'bad influence' on their children who want to start their own groups after listening to this one. Yeah... But Celestia is actively against such a thing. Not against the group but against the nobles who are against the group. Also, Luna directly supports the group, not afraid of any consequences. Such nobles will die out eventually.

But these ponies, those in the group, are pretty nice. Though, they have to wear robes and paint their furs to conceal their identities during the performances. Argentea always wears a disguise because she likes it. Even other members of the group don't know who she truly is. It could be pretty much any pegasus mare, and there are a lot of them.

I was advised to wear a disguise as well. And I'm sure as hell will do that. I even have a great idea for that.

The whole thing about the nobles explains why there are guards around. I bet there are a lot of ponies who want to find out the identities of ponies in the group. I wouldn't want my life to be ruined by some assholes who don't like my music.

Alright, time to go home. Next rehearsal will take place in a couple of days, and until then, I'll work on my new costume. The old one is certainly too small for me now.

***

As I returned home, I saw Moonshine sitting on her bed. In the pale moonlight, I could see that her ears are folded and her overall figure sagged.

"Moonshine?" I called her softly. She winced in surprise, and then turned in my direction.

"Ah... it's you." she smiled forcibly. "You, um, scared me..."

"Is everything alright?" I asked her, cautiously approaching her.

"...I don't think so." she said after a small pause. "I... I woke up in the middle of the night, um..." she looked downwards. "I had a nightmare, and... when I woke up, you weren't around..." I could see a tear rolling down her cheek. "I just... I thought that, uh... What happens to me now, it's too good for it to be real." she confessed. "After that talk we had, I thought a lot about... things. I came to a realization that, I... I don't deserve you."

"Why do you think so?" I asked her carefully, taking a seat at her side.

"You are so caring, so kind, so smart, talented, and..." she sighed. "I'm just a filly whom even her own parents don't like..."

"Now, don't you think you don't deserve someone like me." I comforted her, taking off my hoodie, releasing my wings and hugging her with one of them. "You don't need to be too special to be loved, Moon. I, uh... Well, I can't say I know everything about love," I chuckled, trying to lighten the mood. "But... I know that you certainly deserve love." I hugged her closer to me. "You had a loving grandfather. Now, you have friends and a lover. Your grandfather supported you and loved you, and don't you think no one else will. I love you and I care about you. I am sure your friends care about you, too. But you still feel alone, don't you?"

She nodded.

"Moonshine, you are not alone." I assured her. "I felt very lonely myself. At that time, there was nobody by my side, no one to comfort me. Well, besides my cat, that is." I glanced at Molniya. She was sleeping peacefully at the edge of Moonshine's bed. "But now... I have you." I nuzzled her lovingly. "I think it's the nightmare that made you think you are alone. Can you tell me what you experienced?" I'm not Luna to fight the nightmares in the dreams, but I can certainly try to help Moonshine here.

"I..." Moonshine started. "I... Well, it was... Dark. It was drizzling slightly, and yet it was chilling to the bone. I was, uh, walking through the dark forest, not looking anywhere but at the ground." it sounds horrible already. "There were voices... they were telling me, uh... horrible things..." a few tears rolled down her cheeks as she gulped loudly, trying to contain her tears.

"You don't need to say that if you're uncomfortable." I told her.

"No, I must tell you!" she exclaimed suddenly. "Or this dream will haunt me again, again, and again, and again!" she started shaking. I almost panicked, not knowing what to do! So, I did what I thought was the best — I wrapped my forelegs around her and put her closer to myself, sharing my warmth with her.

"Shhh, it's alright, let it all out." I whispered in her ears as she shook.

"Ev-ver s-since I've fal-len in l-love with y-you," she said, sobbing. "I somet-times had those s-scary nightmares! T-they told me h-how... how worthless I, I am, how I d-don't deserve to be l-loved, how I, how I should've n-never been born..."

Poor filly... What her parents did to her left a huge scar inside her soul. It boils my blood thinking how her father abandoned her, and then her mother blamed Moonshine for this! And now... Moonshine blames herself for this. Even I can understand that.

At least I had a somewhat loving family. Far better than what Moonshine had to go through at her early age... I wish I could just share my love with her, give her all the warmth I could, just to make her happy.

"And it w-went on and on and..." she continued. "I just... I can't... I still think it will fall apart!" she almost screamed. "I... I even had, had to go through the f-first grade again... I'm indeed worthless!"

Without a second thought, I kissed her. I shared my warmth with her. I gently rubbed my feather against her back. I must make her feel better. I can't just look at this and do nothing!

She calmed down. She was only slightly shaking from the shock. We separated.

"Do you feel better now, Moony?" I asked her with worry and care.

"...Yes, I do." she nodded, swallowing. "I... Thank you. I think I should've been more honest with you." she blushed in embarrassment. "Now... I want to reveal my secret, my most shameful secret that I've kept from everypony. I... I will reveal it to you."

"You don't have to." I shook my head slightly.

"I want to be honest with you, Flame." she said, looking me straight in the eyes. "I'm actually twelve."

...

...

?

"My... my grandfather had to do this because, uh..." she mumbled something under her breath. Then, she spoke louder: "Until I was kicked out, I didn't go to school. Not even the kindergarten... My mom didn't allow it because she didn't trust, uh, them. My grandpa had to teach me a lot of things before applying me for the school."

It explain why Moonshine was poor at studying. And it fuels my anger towards her parents. Like, what the fuck? How cruel and uncaring can anyone be to not teach their child anything?! This is beyond my understanding! If I had her parents, they would pay for what they've done to my love!

...

You just don't want to know how cruel some people are...

"Moonshine, age doesn't really matter." I told her. "We are different individuals, and the time we have lived means little. What we've been through is what's important. And remember, it doesn't make us more or less worth anything." I nuzzled her. "No matter what, I still love you. You were very strong to go through what you did. You didn't give up, and it's the most important part. Now, enjoy the love. I know you want to, I know I want to. We can achieve happiness. Together."

"We can." she nodded, and then leaned in for a kiss. I kissed her on the lips.

In truth, I wish I'd known about her inner troubles sooner. They might've not escalated to this... self-loathing. Moonshine has been through a lot of bad things, much worse than what I've been through. And I believe she is indeed strong to not lose her will to continue living. Even if it left a mark, it made her stronger. I can see that no nightmares will plague her mind anymore.

"How about we take a shower?" I suggested, feeling her rather sticky fur. I suppose she's been sweating a lot because of the nightmare.

"Yeah, I suppose we should." she smiled at me. "Scratch my back, okay?"

"No problem." I replied with a smile of my own.

This night has turned for the better.

And, to think of it, if I hadn't gone to the rehearsal or rejected Luna's offer, I might've not found out about Moonshine's problems.

Some things align very interestingly.

Author's Notes:

'Aging-up' of Moonshine wasn't done to make her and Flame have sex or anything. It just shows just how bad things can be in Equestria and how it's not sunshine and rainbows everywhere. I suppose it's more realistic than just 'everyone is good' scenario.

It also shows how certain events can open up different possibilities.

Besides, the chapter expands on honesty, a very important trait of a person. If there is someone you love, and you two (or three or even more, depending on how you prefer it), you shouldn't keep your feelings hidden from your partner/partners. It would only hurt you in the long run.

Also, I forgot to show you the art of specticboom. I'm very sorry, I just kept forgetting! Please, accept my humble apologies.

I don't mind the quality of the picture as long as the person doing it wants to do something good. I certainly like the idea behind the picture, and I'm sure that, with enough practice, specticboom would be great at drawing. Remember, practice makes perfect.

And yes, Bloodborne. It's a masterpiece of a game. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to play it due to the lack of PS4, but it mesmerised me still. It is both horror and action, it has a big and interesting story surrounding it. I like the way it's presented, too. It makes you think, and bits of exposition are a rarity.