Love and Hatred: Chapter 1

"Just do it already!"

"I don't know, what if a guard shows up?"

"No guard will, they've all been called to Prance to deal with the problem there"

"You sure?"

"Just do it!"

Searing Moon watched as his friend ripped the large poster of Celestia, revealing a hidden door. The two colts walked through the entrance, putting up a new poster to hide the secret door. They trotted to a second door, leading to the conference room of the New Lunar Republic. When they got inside, it smelled of sweat and anger. They looked over their shoulders, looking eye-to-eye with Princess Luna. She had a worried look on her face. They both knew what happened.

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Luna told them that the squad sent to Prance, to try and stop Celestia from taking over the country had failed, and all laid dead at the border of Prance and Stalliongrad. The Lunar Republics' lands were growing smaller and smaller as Celestia's numbers grew each and every day.

Searing Moon had been pestering Luna to go to Prance and take back the land they had lost. He had been wanting to actually do something, other than attack Celestia's guards in daylight. If anything, he'd been arrested more times than he's seen a fight.

"Look, Moon, you're my lead Shadowbolt, I can't let you go." Luna said.

Moon thought otherwise, "C'mon Luna. We haven't seen anything for the past 3 weeks. We're all growing antsy and needing some action. Let us go to Prance!"

"No! I won't allow you to risk your life just to take back land!" Luna screamed. She never yelled at Searing Moon.

"Heh, really. You won't let me go, but you'll let our trainees go. What good will that do?! They're untrained! They don't know the first thing about fighting!"

“That is enough!" Luna had heard enough, and wanted Moon out of her presence. "Get out. Get out right now."

"Oh why? So you could throw MORE useless troops at Celestia, ONLY for her troops to kill them?!"

Luna snapped, and charged at Moon. He quickly dodged her attack and flew up. He could see she was changing into Nightmare Moon. She fought back the urge to change, and was able to keep Nightmare Moon inside of her. Searing Moon looked at Luna with a disappointed look on his face. He wanted to leave. Not just out of the building, but the Republic. He wanted to leave his past, leave everything that haunted him every night.

"I'm done." He whispered.

"What?" Luna looked at his, her face looked worried again.

"I'm done. I quit. I'm tired of living this way. Look around Luna, NOTHING is happening. Hell, we're losing this war! We lose land everyday! We're slowly running out of supplies, and Prance was the only way we were getting them! So, I'm done. It'll be up to the other Shadowbolts if they want to leave too. I won't force them to leave."

With that being said, Searing Moon walked out on the Republic with his friend by his side. As he walked out, Luna burst into tears. She had lost a great soldier, a great flier, but most importantly, she lost her son.

"Moon, are you sure you want to leave the Republic, the Shadowbolts, and your mom?" his Shadowbolt companion had asked.

"Yes, I'm sure. You saw what she did, how she just sent troops to their death. I couldn't stand for it."

"I guess your right. Hey, maybe Nightshade can get his job back" His friend jested

"Hah, yeah, unless he follows us and quits the Republic."

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A couple of hours had passed, and the silence got on Moon's nerves. He hated silence. As a young colt, he always was the loudest in his class, loudest at home, loudest in public. He was friends with his companion, Blueball Blitz, since they both got their Cutie Mark. Moon's was a dark red Crescent moon that looked like it was bleeding. Blitz's mark was his face, but it was cut in half and on the other side, it was his face, with a crazed look. Growing up, Blitz was always... Crazy. He talked to himself all the time, usually had no social life, and when he did, he always went to an alley behind his house and got drunk with some older colts.

Both had lived terrible lives. Searing Moon, living with Luna as his mother, was terrible. Whenever he did something wrong she grew angrier and angrier until she was almost Nightmare Moon. He remembers Celestia, and she was not any better. Celestia watched Luna as she beat her son, and she loved it. She would record it, and everyday the two would watch the videos and laugh at Moon for crying.

Blitz's life, was also horrible. His father had left him and his mother when he was 3, and that led to his mother to start dating ever colt she could find to fill the void. After a while she stopped, but gained a drug addiction, which led her to beat Blitz. He got whipped, burnt, choked, and almost stabbed. This made him start the alcohol addiction. He did it to stop the pain.

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When they arrived at the Shadowbolts training ground, Moon told them that he was leaving, and all but one colt said they would follow. This colt being Nightshade. Ever since Moon had become leader of the Shadowbolts and knocked him down to co-leader, he hated him. He thought about killing him multiple times, and even attempted to kill him once.

"Nightshade, should've known you wouldn’t come with me. What's the matter? Still pissed at me for taking your spot?" Moon asked.

"Heh, you always were a jerk Moon. I'm really surprised that attempt at killing you had failed. I almost cried that night knowing you weren't dead."

"Ah, well sorry, next time I'll be sure to jump in front of that bullet. Oh, by the way. Here's a going away present."

"Wha-" And that's all that came out of his mouth. At that moment, Moon had murdered Nightshade with a quick slice of his knife. The colts around his looked shocked, but then they felt relief. They hated him almost as much as he hated Moon. The remaining Shadowbolts looked at his body, neck mutilated, and spit. "Good riddance" most of them said.

"C'mon guys, lets go. I know a place where we can stay" Muttered Moon, eyes still fixed on Nightshade.

The Shadowbolts started to flap their wings and headed off north, out of Stalliongrad, and into Equestria. Moon knew exactly where he was going. He knew exactly who he was going to visit.

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The journey lasted 2 days, and as they approached the borders of Stalliongrad and Equestia, they were stopped by a Celestian guard.

"Halt, who are you, and why are you here?"

"Pardon me sir, we've come to visit some friends who reside in Canterlot." Moon answered.

"Oh? And who might that be?" The guard asked looking suspicious.

"Why none other than the ponies by the names of, General Twilight Sparkle, Sergant Rainbow Dash, Corporal Applejack, and Private Fluttershy." He did not name the other two ponies, they had died during a night raid when the Lunar Republic went through the walls to Equestria.

"Very well. Open the gate!"

The gates opened and revealed a shocking sight. Equestria, the lush green land had turned almost brown. Moon, for the first time in a while, looked surprised. He wondered why it looked like this. Maybe Twilight knows.

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The four colts quickly made their way to Canterlot, where the four other ponies resided. They flew over Ponyville, noticing it wasn't as busy, and it, too, looked barren. They saw Cloudsdale, it also was looking rather depressing. It seems that Equestria was hit hard by this war. When they arrived in Canterlot, it looked most depressing out of the rest of Equestria. The whole place looked as if many ponies were murdered here. They walked through many halls, looking for Twilight. They finally arrived in a room that was all too familiar with Moon, Luna's room. This is where he was beaten daily. This is where the hate for his mother had begun.

They looked around and saw Twilight on the bed, crying. Moon walked up to her, and put his hoof around her. The sight startled her, and she kicked him in the gut. Quickly noticing who it was, she looked apologetic.

"Oh! Sorry Moon! I had no idea you were here!"

"Hrmph yeah. We just arrived about 30 minutes ago. We came for refuge."

"We...?" And Twilight then noticed the Shadowbolts all in the back of the room.

"Oh, I see. Well I can lend you this room for the ni-" She was cut off by Moon talking.

"Not just for the night, we need to stay here for a while, to cool down."

"But what about the Lunar Republic? Your mom must be worried!"

"Heh, highly doubt that, we all quit. We were done with this damn war."

"Uh, ok then, say Moon, why do you look bloody?"

Moon looked down, forgetting he murdered Nightshade early yesterday.

"Oh this? Yeah, I killed someone. He pissed me off and the rest of us, so I killed him."

"What?! You killed someone!? Moon, how could you do that?"

“Are you really surprised? Heh, of all ponies you should know me best.”

The two laughed and exchanged smiles. And at that moment, Moon felt something. Actually two things. One, he felt safe, secure and happy. Two, he felt something he hasn't felt in a long time - Love.

"Alright, lets get you cleaned up, Applejack is preparing dinner as we speak."

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They walked into the dining hall and the first thing they smelled was apple pies and fritters. Their stomachs growled, realizing that they have not eaten since they left Stalliongrad. They sat at the table as Applejack brought out the food, with a puzzled look.

“Oh hi guys, ah wasn’t expectin’ visitors. Don’t worry, ah’ll bring more out.”

“Thank you Applejack. You’re too kind” Moon said.

Ever since Moon got to Equestria he’s been kinder and more gentle. He felt calm, he felt like a giant weight was lifted from his shoulder. He didn’t want to think about this war. He didn’t want to think about his mother back in Stalliongrad. He smiled to himself, knowing that everything was going to be alright.

“So, Twilight, how has Equestria been since I last left?” Moon asked, hoping she would say something about the barren wasteland that was Equestria.

“Well, as you probably noticed, the land has turned completely brown. Last year, a drought hit us, and we lost most of our supplies, and troops. We lost a couple of our best fliers and soldiers that year. Then, to add to this, the Lunar Republic decided to attack us at night, killing many civilians, including Rarity and Pinkie Pie. When I heard this news, I couldn’t stand by anymore, so me, Applejack and Rainbow Dash all applied to join the Solar Empire. I was quick at rising in the ranks, reaching Sergant status within 2 months. Moon, believe me when I tell you this, you guys have murdered thousands of innocent civilians, and for what? Luna to rule the land?”

Hearing this left Moon speachless, he knew about the night raid, and only that Pinkie and Rarity had died, but he didn’t expect for the death count to be so high.

“Moon, you quit because of these problems right?” Twilight asked with a bit of hope in her voice.

“Yes, that is correct. But surely Twilight you have seen what the Solar Empire has done to u- *ahem* them? They took over Prance, the only way they got supplies. After that, their land in Stalliongrad, the very few land they had there, lost much, and a famine cost a lot of ponies their lives. So in reality, both sides have done some pretty bad things to the other side.”

Twilight had to agree with him. She had heard about what happened when Celestia’s troops killed the squad to get Prance back. She just left the bodies at the border of Prance and Stalliongrad, and killing whoever had come to claim the bodies. She now realized that Celestia was no better than Luna. Tears started to well up in her eyes, and Moon noticed. He quickly got her and pulled her out into the hallways of Canterlot. They sat on a staircase and Twilight just kept crying. Moon almost felt like he was about to start crying, but he held it in.

“Why Moon, why would Celestia do this? Why would she cause so much hate in this world?” Twilight said through her crying.

“I don’t know Twilight... I just don’t know why she and Luna would turn this world into a hell-hole. I don’t know why we had to choose sides. I don’t know why this conflict continues.”

Moon still had his hoof around Twilight as her crying stopped and she slowly got a smile on her face. He smiled back as they hugged and Twilight thanked Moon for being there.

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It was pitch black outside when Moon finally crawled into bed. He shared a room with Twilight for the night being, until they could find separate rooms. The other Shadowbolts were sleeping at the dinner table, falling asleep after stuffing their faces full of Fritters and Pies. When Twilight entered the room, Moon was almost asleep. He awoke to find her sleeping on the floor with a makeshift cot.

“Twilight, you know this bed is big enough for the two of us right?” Moon said while frowning. He didn’t want her to be uncomfortable.

“Oh, that’s quite alright, I’ll be fine on the floor”

“No, I insist you sleep here tonight.”

“A-alright, if you insist.”

Twilight climbed into the bed and laid next to Moon, he gave her a quick smile, and she returned with a smile, as they drifted off to sleep. Moon woke up about 2 hours later to Twilight sitting on the floor crying again. He trotted over to her and put his hoof around her.

He asked with a worried tone, “What’s wrong Twilight?”

“Oh, it’s nothing, I’m still upset that Celestia is no better than Luna. You’re right Moon, they are both turning into tyrants, and they need to either be stopped, or killed. It will be nearly impossible to kill them, so we must find a way to stop them.”

Twilight started to cry less and less as Moon continued to comfort her. They turned their heads to look at each other. Moon leaned in and kissed her on the cheek.

“Don’t worry Twilight, we will find a way to stop them. I promise you.”

She blushed and gave a shy smile at Moon. He smiled back, and they went back to bed, both with smiles on their faces.

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Moon and Twilight both awoke abruptly to the sound of screams and wails. They ran out of the door of their room to find Fluttershy, and Rainbow Dash standing over the bodies of a Wonderbolt and Shadowbolt. Both had been stabbed in the back of their heads, and now lie dead in the middle of the hallway. Twilight was the first to reach the bodies, and stood there, looking as if she was about to throw up. Moon soon came up behind her and noticed the horrific sight.

“Alright, who is responsible for this!?” Moon yelled with such anger, he felt himself shaking.

“I-I don’t know. When I woke up this morning I found these bodies here.” Fluttershy said quietly.

“Well whoever it was, lets go kick their butts!” Rainbow said with courage.

“No, let’s not resort to doing things like Celestia and Luna do. We find them, we ask why they did it, THEN we kill them.” Moon said, still shaking.

Moon helped Rainbow Dash carry the ponies to the morgue, being extra careful, so they did not drop them, causing the place to get stained with more blood. Moon was still shaking when they reached the morgue. He was furious. He thought that they were safe, he thought everything was going to be okay, he thought life was going to be decent from now on. This incident proved him wrong.

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“Hey Moon, can I ask you a question?” Rainbow asked as they were heading back to the main hall.

“Sure thing Rainbow, what’s on your mind?”

“Well, I never got to ask you what it was like being a Shadowbolt, being one of the best fliers in Stalliongrad.”

“To be honest Rainbow, it wasn’t all that fun. The training was vigorous, usually orders were to go scout on enemies, which was incredibly dull. The only reason I was so good is that my mother always pushed me to do better things. She told me this after beating me countless times. So, to make her proud of me, I trained every day. I would push myself to go faster and faster, and soon enough, I was eligible for the Shadowbolts. On my entrance test, they told me that I was as good as the leader. After a few months of being a rookie, they made me leader, and this didn’t sit well with the original leader Nightshade. He got so mad one day, he hired a hitman to kill me, and his plan failed. He gave up on trying to kill me and just went with it. After the incident with me and Luna, I gathered the Shadowbolts, excluding Nightshade. He was about to become the new leader of the Shadowbolts, but instead I killed him. I did it not just because we all hated him, but because I wanted Luna to lose the fight. Luna caused me so much grief as a child, and so did Celestia. I will remain neutral throughout the rest of this war.”

Rainbow looked at Moon with a saddened face. She felt bad for him. She flew over to him and gave him a supporting hug, and he returned the hug.

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They returned to the main hall, gliding in with depressed looks on their face. Twilight was the first to approach them.

“So, how’re you holding up?” She asked.

“Uh, not good. That Shadowbolt wasn’t just any Shadowbolt, he was my best friend growing up. He was Blueball Blitz.”