Ponies watched, horrified, in their frozen stances around town. They all knew now what the cause of their death would be. I was solidified as a villain now. Even the ponies that I helped would come to accept that my intentions were false.
And I kept giggling. My entire body shook with it and I imagined that I looked deranged. With six more minutes, I had to accept my fate. To realize the death that would crush me. These ponies were to be buried along with me. The clock chimed.
Right in front of the tower, below me, four ponies teleported in. Applejack, Doctor Whooves, what appeared to be Link, and a tall, dark blue unicorn with wings.
The unicorn with wings started, “This is Nightmare Moon as a mask. When it wasn’t a physical embodiment, it could control a pony and turn that pony into Nightmare Moon’s own shape. That’s what she did a thousand years ago with me. She assumes all control over the body and now it’s happening again with that poor pony up there.” She gestured with her hoof.
The Doctor glanced around anxiously. “Princess Luna, don’t you suppose we should leave? We should escape and pick up the pieces later. The rest of Equestria depends on you. You can leave this place and be safe."
Luna shook her head. “I accept my fate. As princess, I’m tied to this land. Abandoning it would make me seem like a coward. I accept death.”
He groaned. “Am I the only sensible one in this entire town?”
Applejack pointed at me. “This here fellow meant to say that it wasn’t his fault. Ah think if we could stop the mask from possessing him, we could stop the moon.”
“And how do you propose we do that?” Luna countered. “This mask is too dangerous and powerful to get off. Anyways, the mask doesn’t need a body to carry out its doings. It only needs itself. There’s no point in resisting."
The Doctor rubbed his face. “This is insane! I have the TARDIS which could teleport us anywhere else and you guys just want to stay here. We’re just going to stand here and die. Nice knowing you all.”
The others didn’t react at all and stood silently watching the moon and me. I wondered why they felt so dedicated to the town. Perhaps it was unexplainable, like a feeling.
I fought against the mask again for my body. I really wanted to help these ponies, even if to no avail. Like last time, it was like pressing against a brick wall, but I was a flood. My energy pressed against the mask for cracks along that wall which I could swear was made by the rational part of the mask. Was that part still alive? The pressure against them made them crack even further. Soon enough, the water spilled through them and I was through. I felt weird as my soul poured into my body.
I gasped. My magic faltered a bit and I fell, before catching myself up again. As they turned to me, I said, “Twilight, Pinkie, Rainbow, Rarity, Fluttershy. Revive them. Use the Elements of Harmony. Stop the moon. Stop Nightmare Moon.” I shuddered as the mask took control of me again.
I growled. “You fool! I won’t let this happen again.” The mask darted off of my face and I fell, my magic drained. I hit the ground, hard. As I groaned in pain I heard something. Link’s ocarina. It played seventeen notes.
Cringing, I wrenched my face up to look at them. They were gone. The clock chimed for the last time. I passed out.
When I opened my eyes again, I saw vast darkness. I was standing on two legs again, which disoriented me but I had my clothes. I found my balance after a few moments and waved a hand in front of my face. Nothing. I was blind to everything. Just where was I?
In front of me, I saw light radiating. The light grew bigger and I had to shield my eyes. Eventually, the light penetrated my eyelids and all I saw was blinding whiteness. It felt as though thin daggers were pressed into every part of my eyes.
Then, the pain stopped along with the light. I opened my eyes and saw a slender young Kokiri girl with black hair along with a gruff boy that had bushy eyebrows, glowing. They looked at me serenely, as if they knew everything I didn’t. We stood there, looking at each other in silence.
“Who are you? Where am I?” I asked quietly. I felt almost afraid of them.
“We’re your parents,” the girl said, her voice like Saria’s. “We’re where you least expect. The land where time holds still, dreams roam freely, and imagination dominates overall.”
I thought about that. “So this is the land between life and death. But are you really my parents?”
“Not necessarily,” the boy said in shallow voice. “We are foster parents who find people like you across dimensions. This isn’t exactly that land either. We’ve come to you in your unconscious state. It’s a pity we died so soon and had to give you up to the Tree.” He looked to mother.
“Are you here to escort me to the afterlife?”
Mother shook her head. “No, it’s not time. You have your own life to live. This isn’t the end of your story. We just wanted to tell you that you have to carry on. Never give up.”
Tears welled in my eyes. “I’m sorry. I’ve been so stupid.” I buried my head in my hands.
I heard Mom whisper, “It’s okay, we make our mistakes,” as they embraced me. For the first time in my life, I felt loved. I felt like I belonged in this eccentric family.
They let go too soon. I looked up confused as they backed away into the darkness. “Wait, don’t go!” I cried desperately, chasing after them.
They slipped away into the darkness and I grabbed at thin air. I whirled around in a complete three-sixty. Nothing. They vanished.
I sighed and closed my eyes. When I opened them, I saw Luna in front of me. She was saying something, though it was muffled. She kept repeating it as the words became clear enough for me to hear. “Wake up.”
She pushed me and I fell. Darkness rushed around me.