//------------------------------// // The Preparations // Story: Descending the Pit // by whitefang //------------------------------// Warning: slight grimdark Descending the Pit By: Whitefang As, the smoke from the shadowy form finally dissipated into the darkness, Luna felt as though her heart would leap out through her throat. All Luna could manage before she passed out from the supreme stress and anxiety from the situation was a feeble “guards!” The world it… feels so could, Luna thought in her subconscious state. “Oh don’t worry little Luna it will get much better” said a dark ominous voice that seemed as if to bounce off the walls, although there were none, just endless darkness. “What? How are you in my subconscious as well?” Luna asked with a fearful tone from the previous visit with the demon. “Really? I am locked in your mind don’t you think this would be one of the first places I would appear.” Said Nightmare, Luna was terrified to her wits end at a second appearance of Nightmare. “Oh Luna there is no need to be frightened.” Nightmare said with an almost motherly tone. “You should be terrified, the amount of fear you should be holding will make you question you own sanity.” Said the evil voice followed by a maniacal laugh. “I will not, as I said before I’m not scared of you Nightmare” Luna was now gaining her footing for another grudge match with the evil voice. “Oh so you believe you have some kind of control here, please the realm of your subconscious is my playground. You have no power here, I have everything and you little Luna have nothing.” Nightmare now putting a tone of superiority in her voice. As Nightmare finished her comment the darkness seemed to ever more consume Luna, but she held her ground. “That is untrue Nightmare this still is ‘MY’ mind!” Luna stated in an almost matter-of-factly tone. Also, putting emphasis on her ownership of the subconscious. “Yes it still is your subconscious, but I have all the power here.” Nightmare’s voice now seemed to boom in her ears, as if Luna was completely surround by it. “But enough of this idle chit-chat, it is time for you to learn what will happen once I am free from my prison.” Nightmare’s voice now receding, but still carrying a high intensity. Suddenly the room filled with supremely bright lights. Luna had to shield her eyes from it. Then when she opened them she was standing on a Cliffside, just below the crest of a hill. “What is this Nightmare, are you going to kill everypony with beautiful scenery?” Luna asked in a mocking manner. “You will see, take a look over the hill.” Luna did as she was told, and couldn’t have wished anymore that she didn’t. The town of Ponyville lay in ruins; the bodies of countless ponies lay scattered throughout the town. Luna was mortified by the scene she is witnessing. All Luna could manage was a feeble “why” before Nightmare interrupted her. “Because I told you I will kill all of Equestria and I started with the one real threat to me, the Elements of Harmony, they were simple once I killed one the Elements were totally useless. Oh but I didn’t stop their all they could manage were small whimpers before I slaughtered them, but that still was not enough so I went on to kill the whole town.” Luna now openly sobbing from the scenes unfold in-front of her as the darkness goes to the scene of Nightmare killing every individual pony. “It was so cute to watch them try to run away in terror, but I got them all, the whole town.” Nightmare at this point chuckling to herself as the events of massacring the town unfolded almost like a movie in the surroundings. “And, Luna remember when I get out this will all be your fault, nopony else just yours and yours alone” Nightmare said as if just to indulge in Luna’s sorrow. Luna had since stopped sobbing and stood up “No Nightmare your wrong, I won’t allow you to be free!” Luna said mustering all of her courage. Nightmare seemed to appear in front of Luna as if she travel on the wind. “I can see your fear; it is what will ensure my victory this time” Nightmare appeared with a dead pan expression. “I may fear you Nightmare but I care for my little ponies then I am scared of you.” Luna now with all the courage she could muster seemed like more of a threat to Nightmare than before. And, now it was Nightmares turn to lose ground. Then just as it began it was over, Luna found herself on the floor where she collapsed. She also woke just in time for her to move the sun and make way for the dawn. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- As Luna made her way to the balcony where she and her sister would raise and lower their respected celestial objects, Luna couldn’t break her train of thought as she walked to the balcony, the experience with Nightmare replaying over and over in her head. “Hello my dear sister how was your night?” Luna was momentarily stunned by being abruptly pulled from her train of thought. Luna only managed to look dumbstruck at Celestia’s question, until she could fully process what she was asked. “Celestia I must talk with you about just that, it is of the utmost importance to all of Equestria” Celestia caught off guard by her sister’s strange actions simply nodded her head, but then snapped back to reality. “It must wait for a little bit sister we must make room for the sun to raise and the moon to lower.” Luna agreed with this course of action and did just that. “Celestia you have to believe me!” cried Luna, “Nightmare is back but not completely, she is still trapped in my mind but her restraints are weakening. We must do something.” Celestia was deep in thought, it was only just getting to breakfast and she was being told that a danger may befall Equestria and kill them all if the threat becomes a real one. “Well Luna there is few options we have here, but I think you should go to Ponyville and study this phenomenon.” Celestia suggested, although was more of a command than a suggested. “But, sister why would I study there the Canterlot library will surely have more on the subject!” Luna protested to her sister. “Trust me sister go to Ponyville and study there, you will uncover more on the subject.” Celestia said to Luna in a motherly tone. “Just trust me here Luna.” “Ok sister I trust you completely, I will leave for Ponyville this afternoon.” But, Luna sounded unconvinced of Celestia. “Don’t worry Luna everything will be ok, I promise.” ------------------------------------------------------------------------ “Luna, have you packed enough essentials for your trip to Ponyville?” Celestia snickered as the pegasus stallion struggled to accommodate the extra weight of the supplies that Luna has brought on her trip to Ponyville. “Yes but I still have the nagging feeling like I forgot something.” “We will be landing in Ponyville in 30 seconds ma’am!” One of the pilot stallions’ called back to the princesses. “Well Luna when we land I must leave, there are royal duties I must attend to in Canterlot.” Celestia said while giving Luna a small nuzzle. Luna returned the gesture but said nothing else. There was a large thud, as the carriage landed in the town square. As you would guess there was Twilight and her 5 other friends waiting to see the princesses. “Luna you will be staying with Twilight for the time of your studies.” as Celestia informed Luna of the living arrangements. “But I have matters I must attend to… goodbye Luna.” Then almost as soon as they landed Celestia had left. The End of Chapter Two Authors Note: I am so sorry it took so long I just kinda got stumped with school stuff and a total lack of inspiration, but I’m pretty sure I have it back now. Also I have uncovered the only time I can write is on the weekends so I will try to get a chapter a weekend. Just like before I’m so sorry about the 2 week wait!