//------------------------------// // Chapter Nine - Suspicions // Story: A New Nightmare // by LittleAngelStocking //------------------------------// Why? Twilight asked herself. Why. Why did this have to happen to her? She looked over the side of the carriage, a sense of uneasiness creeping over her. She watched the scenery pass below, the trees, fields, homes… Why me? She didn’t get it. Why? Why did she always end up in these situations? She couldn’t lose her friends – yet somehow somepony always ended up trying to break them apart. She swallowed the lump in her throat – could Celestia help her? Could Luna help her? She felt a flicker of hope – this had started since she visited Luna, maybe Luna could stop it with just a single flare of her horn. Twilight felt better – she even smiled. She was certain now that Luna could help her. ‘That’s only wishful thinking.’ Twilight turned towards her brother, “So! Shining Armor… How is Cadance? Is she feeling better?” Shining smiled, “Yes, she’s doing fine. She’s doing great! How about yourself?” “Good, good,” she stated, feeling suddenly cold. “I’ve been doing just fine.” Silence. ‘Push him off. You don’t need him. Let him fall…’ Spike rested his head against the back of Twilight. “Tired?” she asked with a yawn. “No, of course not!” he fibbed. Twilight smiled, closing her eyes. She felt pretty sleepy herself. Shining Armor held Peewee in a hoof. The phoenix was hopping up and down, chirping and showing off his tiny wings. Shining laughed, “Nice phoenix you got here, Spike! What’s his name?” Phoenix. Twilight’s mouth opened into a silent ‘O’ and she felt reality slip away. Phoenix. Phoenix – just one word. Whatever her companions said next was lost to her, and she remembered. Remembered… what exactly? Those couldn’t be her memories… She didn’t know. She didn’t care right now. She just remembered. She flew up, up, up. Higher and higher, smiling a toothy smile. “Sister!” a voice bellowed from behind her, “Come back at once!” But she ignored, she wasn’t going to listen. She didn’t have to listen – not to the one that had ignored her, abandoned her, and left her all alone. Her smile turned to a scowl, roiling clouds of smoke swirled above her, blocking out her precious moonlight. She glided towards the clouds, preparing to move them and allow her beautiful moon to shine through. “LUNA!” The accursed one behind her cried, “Come back!” She licked her lips, “Come on Selene. You will shine tonight, and forever!” As she prepared to break the cloud barrier, something blocked her vision. She looked up – a brilliant crimson light shine above her, blinding her. She cried out, shutting her eyes, and she felt a presence – a bird swoop past with a high pitched, ear-shattering caw. Her wings stopped working, and she fell. “Philomena!” “Twilight?” “Huh?” Twilight opened her eyes. “What?” “We’re here,” her brother told her. She looked up – they were in the main Hall of Canterlot Castle, approaching the throne room. She hadn’t even been aware she’d been walking. She quickened her pace, eager to see the Princesses. Was Luna even awake? Oh Equestria, Twilight hoped so! Shining Armor sent the other guards away, and the grand doors opened, and closed behind them as they passed through. Princess Celestia and Princess Luna stood side by side in front of the throne, and Twilight eagerly galloped towards them, nearly knocking Spike off of her back. She eagerly nuzzled Celestia’s chest, “Princess Celestia!” “Twilight Sparkle, my most faithful student.” Celestia lowered her head, nuzzling Twilight’s neck. “Princess, why are we here?” Shining Armor bowed respectfully. Luna cleared her throat and stepped forward, “We have reason to believe that something is… happening to Twilight Sparkle.” Spike looked up at her, “What do you mean?” Twilight back away, looking from Celestia to Luna, and then back. “Happening to me? What do you mean?” You egghead! She silently berated herself, Why are you playing dumb? Spike hugged her tightly. “She has been acting weird,” he said quietly. Shining Armor stepped up, “Weird? How? What’s happening?” Celestia turned to Twilight. “Twilight… that letter you sent Luna… are you alright? How do you feel?” “Oh, that stopped.” The unicorn said before she could stop herself. “I think I was just sleep-deprived, or simply paranoid.” She cracked a smile. “I actually feel fine, now. I know I sent the letter only last night, but I feel wonderful.” “Wait,” Luna said suddenly. “Open your bags,” she instructed. Twilight froze, time seemed to slow. Do it, don’t do it, do it, don’t do it… Twilight swallowed. What was happening? She’d just completely lied, and now she wanted to give the armor away, to reveal the lie, but she also didn’t want to. She couldn't - she just couldn't! But she did. Slowly, she unstrapped the bags and let them fall to the floor. “Open them,” Luna said. Twilight lowered and used her teeth to unclip the top, and then she flipped it open. A small, broken, wooden birdhouse sat inside. Twilight could only stare in shock, and then a small smile split her face. “I’m fixing it for Fluttershy…” she said slowly, turning back up towards Luna. Luna nodded, seeming to relax. She shared a comforting look with Celestia and turned back to Twilight. “You’re sure you’re alright? Nothing’s happened?” Twilight opened her mouth to deny it, but nodded. “I don’t get it, what are you worried about?” Shining Armor felt left out. Celestia smiled at him, “It’s nothing, Captain. It’s fine.” ~~ “Bye, BBBFF!” Twilight waved as her brother left on the chariot, he smiled and waved back, and she closed the library door letting out a shaky breath. “I think I’m going to take a nap.” Spike nodded, “Okay, I guess I’ll tidy up the library, then!” She smiled at him. He’s such a good boy. “Alright, then. Thanks, Spike.” As Twilight trotted up the stairs, her mind wandered. Why had she lied? She felt a twinge of anger, partially at the thing which had made her do it, and mostly with herself. She should have been stronger – and where had the armor gone? How had the birdhouse gotten there? She never even had a birdhouse that needed fixing; it had just spawned there somehow. That sent chills down her spine – creepy. She didn’t like it one bit. She crept towards her toy chest, and opened it up. She dug around for a bit – ah! There it was, glinting in the light; the armor, a bright indigo. Twilight reburied it and closed the chest. Why. Why me? Why is it always me? Why does all this madness have to happen to me?! I’m always the one. It’s just…. I can’t take it anymore! What is going on? Thousands of questions swirled in her head, but the most common one: Why. Twilight crawled into bed and curled up under the warm covers. She closed her eyes and slipped into an uneasy and dream-filled sleep. ~~ “Well?” Celestia asked, brows furrowed in worry, she stepped towards her sister. “I was honestly afraid she’d turn into a nightmare right before our eyes – are you right? Is Nightmare following her?” Luna shook her head, and Celestia’s gulped. “Luna? Is something wrong?” “Yes.” Luna answered, and gave Celestia a grim look. “I feel no better. Nightmare Moon was once part of me, Celestia. I know she’s somewhere – maybe not with Twilight Sparkle, but she is somewhere out there.” “So… she’s not with Twilight?” “I don’t believe so, at least not anymore.” Celestia rubbed her chin thoughtfully. “Have you felt this way this entire time? Like… after you were freed, or only after Twilight’s visit?” Luna nodded slowly, seemingly deep in thought. “It has only been since Twilight left,” she closed her eyes. “I believe when the Elements of Harmony redeemed me, they sealed Nightmare Moon… somewhere. I can only guess where. Perhaps somehow she was freed, and now I can only imagine where she could be lurking.” “But you’re sure it’s left Twilight alone?” “Positive,” Luna affirmed. “Now, if you’ll excuse me I have some hunting to do.” “Aren’t you tired? Perhaps I should-“ “No. Sleep can wait,” ~~ Spike was sweeping when the library door blasted open revealing three familiar little fillies. “HI SPIKE!” They all cried in unison with their loud voice, Spike fell down from the sheer force of their shout. “Woah, hey! Quiet, Twilight’s trying to sleep!” “Oh!” Sweetie whispered, “Sorry!” “I didn’t know Twilight took naps,” Scootaloo scratched her head. “Me neither,” Apple Bloom added. “Anyway,” she trotted up to Spike. “So, Spike! We just had the greatest idea fer’ earning our Cutie Marks, and we thought you’d be just the dragon to help us!” “Well, okay, what is it?” He asked, getting back up to his feet. “So!” Sweetie started, “We have the most amazing idea ever – we can be Cutie Mark Crusaders Archaeologists! But we need help with the digging part,” “We might find a hidden tomb or something underground to explore!” Scootaloo grinned. “Or buried treasure! Or both!” Apple Bloom added. “So will you come with us?” Sweetie asked, “Maybe you will get a Cutie Mark too!” “Don’t be an egghead, dragons don’t get Cutie Marks!” Scootaloo wrinkled her nose. “I’m not an egghead!” Sweetie defended. “Come on, Spike!” Apple Bloom said, “Are you with us?” “Well… okay!” Spike dropped the broom and followed them out towards Sweet Apple Acres. "To the Clubhouse!" the fillies cried excitedly. ~~ It was late afternoon when Twilight Sparkle awoke from her long nap. She rubbed her eyes, not feeling the least bit rested. She was sweating, she noticed, she licked her dry lips. I felt it – felt her pain. She thought, depression overcoming her. One thousand years all alone on the moon… nopony deserves that. Nopony. She closed her eyes, tears squeezing past her eyelids. “S-Spike?” she called. No reply. “Spike?” she called again. No reply. She jumped out of bed and practically zoomed down the steps. “Spike?!” She found the broom lying on the floor, and carefully picked it up in her magical magenta aura. Her stomach lurched. ‘He’s abandoned you.’ “No he hasn’t.” ‘He’s gone, Twilight.’ “No he’s not, I’m sure he’ll be back…. Wherever he is.” ‘Even your own mentor doesn’t trust you, why would he?’ “She trusts me.” ‘And you lied to her.’ The broom was shaking in the air. “Shut up.” ‘I’m only trying to help…’ “I don’t need your help.” ‘Yes you do, because none of your friends care about you. You’re all alone.’ The broom snapped in half. ‘All your friends are going to leave you, one by one. Soon even Celestia won’t love you anymore. But I do.’ “SHUT UP! SHUT UP, SHUT UP, SHUT UP!” ‘Poor thing, I only want to help you. All your friends leave you, yet I’m still here.’ “SPIKE, WHERE ARE YOU?!” ‘Gone.’ Twilight reared back, hissing in rage. The door glowed pink and swung wide open, slamming into the wall and Twilight galloped out as fast as her legs would carry her.