Prince of Equestria - Blood Moon Summer, Part 2

http://youtu.be/A2F5zboZcuE
>You are the one they call Nightmare Moon.
>You can feel it coming closer. Every day, every hour, every second ticks by.
>It feels like you’re nearing the end of a marathon, and you can see the finish line.
>Freedom.
>And domination.
>You perceive beyond the confines of your magical prison, to a small campsite situated on a lake, bordering the mountain range that defines the Equestrian-Griffonian border.
>All that work you started seven years ago is coming along smoothly.
>And now, a strange turn of events has placed the key to your plan in the one place, at the one time, Celestia would not want him to be.
>Oh, fate is the only mistress who can be more cruel than you.
>”I know what you’re doing, Luna.”
>You snort.
“I would have thought death would have put an end to your meddling long ago.”
>If you had form, you would have turned to face Anonym.
>You haven’t faced anything for almost a thousand years though.
“In addition, you know that is not my name. I am NOT Luna.”
>The phantasm shrugs. “Oh yes, Nightmare Moon. Rather intimidating name. I’m sure little foals shake in their covers to sleep when they hear it.”
>”Mockery is unbecoming of you, human,” you retort. “Besides, they would be correct, and in time little foals grow up to be adult p0nies.”
>”Yes yes, and given enough time, affection or libation, they make foals of their own and the cycle begins anew. “
>You roll your nonexistent eyes.
“So this is why you’re bothering me now? To annoy me to death?”
>Perhaps, once upon a time, his witty repartee would have been cute, if not alluring.
>But that was a long time ago, and you had no interest in chasing ghosts of the past.
>Anonym sits down in front of you, as if physical concepts such as “sitting” and “you” had any meaning in this place.
>”Indeed not. Like I said, I know what you are doing…and I want to ask you to not go through it.”
>You laugh. Such a ludicrous request!
“Anonym, I think spending the last thousand years as a ghost haunting an old sword has rotted your brain, moreso than your real one.”
>”And here I thought you had no sense of humor.”
>You snort again, gritting your hypothetical teeth.
“Spare me your barbs. Knowing won’t change anything, you’re in no position to affect any change.”
>”Well, I suppose asking nicely is the best I can do.”
>This is really starting to get old.
“That’s what infuriates me the most about you, human. You know you have no chance of success, but you act anyway. It’s reckless.”
>An uneasy silence falls between the two of you.
>”Still blame Tia, do you?”
“AS WELL I SHOU-“
>You stop yourself. Such flares of anger were…unbecoming.
>Besides…your anger has been smoldering for over a millennia…ever since your…Luna’s father made his decision.
“…who I blame for what is none of your business.”
>”Luna…”
>You really wish you had something to throw at him, and the physical means to do so right now.
“DO NOT CALL ME BY THAT NAME!”
>Anonym raises his hands. “Alright, alright…Nightmare Moon…”
>He sighs.
>”You have to stop blaming everyone else for the past. Your father’s decision, my decision to return to defend my kind…none of that was anyone’s fault.”
“Don’t you dare lecture me about fate…”
>”I have no intention to do so…but our lives were just that, ours. Anon does not deserve any of this, much less to be your pawn. Leave him out of this.”
>You chortle, wishing you had arms to cross.
“Don’t think I don’t know why you take such an interest in him, and don’t think I don’t know you can connect with him as I can…but he will not escape my attentions…he is the key to my greatest desire.”
>Anonym solemnly bows his head as he fades from your perception.
>It took you a thousand years to get to this point.
>You are not going to simply give up now.

--------------

>You are Anon.
>Target in sight.
>You slink through the water, able to make out the fuzzy pink outline of your prey, sitting on the dock above you.
>You are a hunter, a silent killer…
>And now…you STRIKE!
>Cadence barely has time to gasp in surprise as you leap out of the water like a shark, grabbing her in a bear hug around the neck and pulling her in to the lake.
>You can’t help but laugh as the two of you surface, Cadence gasping for air and clinging to a support beam before shooting you a dirty look.
>Rarity can’t help but giggle softly, hooves folded as she watches the scene from her vantage spot on the deck, peering over red-rimmed sunglasses.
>This draws a look of ire from Cadence.
>CA:”This isn’t funny!”
>R:”Oh my, I didn’t mean it like that, honest…”
>Her inability to stop laughing while speaking betrays her.
>Cadence shoots Rarity a glare before her horn glows.
>R:”Ca…Cadence, what are you…no..nonoNONOOOOOOOO”
>Splash.
http://youtu.be/u-WV4y-GrIg
>You gawk in surprise as a devilish grin crosses Cadence’s face, having just levitated and tossed Rarity in the drink.
>Cadence laughs her own laugh as Rarity pops up for air like a cork, scrambling onto your back, inadvertently forcing you to struggle to keep your own head above water.
>You manage to find a footing to stand on the lakebed as the two of you catch your breath, glancing at each other before turning to Cadence.
>Apparently, the incredulous look on your faces combined with the image of Rarity riding your back, is something your cousin finds to be hilarious.
>You look back at Rarity, forehooves firm around your neck as she looks at you.
>You imagine she’ll start distressing on her hair shortly.
>Huh, maybe it’s that her sunglasses are now floating in the water, but you’re just now noticing how blue her eyes are.
>Weird, why would you notice something like that.
>Rarity blushes a little before the two of you start laughing.
>Now it’s Cadence’s turn for a surprised pause.

---------------

>You shake your head as your feet dangle off the edge of the dock, water dripping off your skin.
>R:”Cadence, do you have any idea how long it takes me to get my hair fixed right in the morning?”
>Yup, there it is.
>You fold your hands under your head as you stare up at the blue sky above.
“Come on Rarity, a little water never hurt nobody.”
>Rarity goes to protest, but slowly closes her mouth as she considers it.
>R:”I…suppose so, but still…I must look absolutely horrid, try to restrain yourselves next time…”
>A good chuckle is had by all.
>CA:”Oh loosen up Rarity. She’s been like this as long as I’ve known her, Anon.”
“Well I don’t know. I think she looks quite nice…“
>You turn bright red and cover your mouth, looking at Rarity.
>She’s even redder than you are, her gaze darting between you and the water.
>Cadence cocks an eyebrow and grins.
>CA:”Should I leave you two alone?”
>You snort and sit up, crossing your arms.
“Don’t be silly…”
>Rarity snorts and embarrassingly agrees.
>A silence falls between you three as you sit on the edge of the dock, drying out.
>R:”So, Anon…”
“Hmm?”
>R:”Cadence talks about you, but she doesn’t say much…tell me, what is it like? You know, living at the palace, being attended to…”
>You blink and look back at Rarity, who is staring at you like an enraptured fan listening to her favorite singer.
>Man, Cadence told you this mare had a thing for royalty, but…man.
“Well, what is there to say about it? I wake up, feed Fenris..”
>R:”Fenris?”
“An ice wolf…I guess you could call him a pet, but he doesn’t like it when I use that word.”
>R:”What does he prefer to be called?”
>You furrow your eyebrows. Is this stuff she really wants to know?
“Uh…Fenris.”
>R:”Oh…I guess I could see that.”
>Rarity sits enraptured as you describe your daily life.
>Your royal duties, your schooling, your experiences being the son of someone everyp0ny else sees as a near deity.
>Rarity soaks up every word like a sponge.
>It’s a little unsettling, in a way.
>But still…in another way, it feels nice to know you have her attention.
>It’s something you’ve never felt before.
>And that is the freakiest thing of all.
“Well, enough about me…what do you like to do, Rarity?”
>R:”Oh, me? Well…I’m from P0nyville…it’s a little town not far from Canterlot. I hope to open a fashi…what is that?”
>You follow Rarity’s gaze across the lake, along with Cadence.
>CA:”Oh, the griffon camp is here early this year.”
>Griffons swarm up and down the far shore, doing…well, whatever griffons do.
>You don’t know much about them. You’ve only met a handful besides the palace chef and the odd diplomat or two.
>But that’s not what catches your eye.
>In a boat a little ways out from the far shore, you see three figures.
>You’ve never seen creatures like that in your life.
>It’s like they’re half bull, half man.
>All three are staring rather intently across the lake at your group.
>You feel a chill run up your spine.
>It’s like they were staring directly at you.
>CA:”That’s odd…when did Camp Thunder start accepting Minotaurs?”