//------------------------------// // second chances // Story: A lost souls second chance // by Blue dragon 116 //------------------------------// One month has passed since the return of Nightmare Moon and the fall of Chrysalis. And the princesses have come to trust Nightmare Moon she even helps Luna with watching over the night and sometimes calling her sister as time passed. Every night Luna would wait for Storm to return and every morning she would retire to her chambers and cry herself to sleep. With each passing night Luna's mood only grew darker until it reached the point she wouldn't leave her chambers. The only sign that Storm yet lived was the mournful roar that sounded each night as the moon rose into the sky. It was with these events in mind that Nightmare and Celestia met in secret early one night. "This has gone on long enough Nightmare Moon" Celestia said pacing back and forth her head hung low. "With every passing night Luna only grows more distraught and. I cant fathom why Storm remains in the everfree instead of returning here to Luna." Nightmare looked out a nearby window thoughtfully gazing in the general direction of the everfree. "Perhaps Chrysalis tricked the young dragon somehow or convinced him that Luna's love was all a lie." Nightmare said staring out the window until the sound of hooves on the floor ceased and she turned to see Celestia staring at her surprised. "Of course that would explain his behavior" Celestia said coming to stand beside Nightmare and gaze out the window. "But why hasn't he broke free of her spell especially since chrysalis is dead?" "Maybe..." Nightmare began before trailing off back into thought until she saw Celestia starring at her expectantly. "Maybe with the revelation of his past life. Young Storms mind is so broken or at war with itself that he accepted what he saw as fact and didn't even think to question it." Nightmare said looking to celestia with genuine sadness in her eyes "Then that means he would need help from somepony to put his mind at ease." Celestia said an idea forming as she spoke. "Which means that one of us or one of the elements if not all would be needed to convince him that things are all right." "Should we wake Luna and take her with us she would want to have a hoof in this?" Nightmare said glancing in the direction of Luna's chambers. "No let her sleep we are only looking for Storm tonight and only confront him if we need to." Celestia said a quill and paper lit up with her magic something was written and the paper disappeared out the window. "Twilight and her friends will meet us at the edge of the everfree lets not keep them waiting." Celestia said before jumping out the window into the night fallowed shortly after by Nightmare Moon.The two alicorn's flew past the full moon completely unaware of a lone figure standing on a high balcony watching them pass bye going in the direction of ponyille following shortly after. Celestia and Nightmare made it to the everfree without incident and met with the elements of harmony before venturing into the forest. Where their shadow followed and promptly became lost and all but giving up hope until a familiar voice just barely a whisper floated on the breeze. Its hope returned quickly and it fallowed the voice back to its source it growing louder as she neared. Where many other familiar voices joined the first in what seemed to be an argument. As the shadow grew nearer to the sounds it found itself outside the ruins of the old castle where celestia and her group could be seen facing what used to be the throne room. "Be gone temptress and take your shades with you" Growled a familiar voice causing the shadow to let out a startled gasp. Hopeful the shadow stepped forward to reveal itself as Luna but she stayed back enough to not be seen but close enough to hear what was being said. "Storm Bringer please stop this nonsense and come with us to canterlot Luna is worried sick about you she wont even leave her chambers." Celestia pleaded with murmurs of agreement and encouragement from all the rest present. And all was silent as they awaited Storms answer not another sound was heard not even the sounds of the forest around them. Then the silence was broken by the sound of scales scraping across stone and storm finely removed himself from his hiding place. All gathered there gasped in shock where their was once pristine colorful scales. Now all was dull, chipped, or broken. The eyes that once held so much life and enthusiasm were clouded and dull gazing ahead not seeming to truly see anything. His face was stained with tears his once proud, strong shoulders slouched and arms hung limp at his side as if they were nothing more than dead weight. "How many times must we have this conversation witch your shades don't fool me. I watched each and everyone of these ponies die at either yours or Chrysalis's hooves." Storm said his voice devoid of all emotion as he motioned to all before him and let out a long sad sigh his gaze coming to rest on Nightmare moon. "What are you talking about dragon this is the first time we have ever spoke?" Nightmare Moon said shivering under Storms dead gaze and looking to the others for aid. Here Twilight stepped forward and made to speak but was cut off by sad, lifeless laughter from storm as he turned his back on his company and disappeared back behind the platform that once held thrones. Celestia let out a sad sigh her head drooping as she turned and went to leave until the sounds of hoof steps made her stop and look up. During this little exchange Luna had moved forward and was now directly behind the little group. But she paid them little heed as she brushed past them all and went around behind the platform to find storm curled into a tight ball with his back to her. And the longer she looked the more she felt tears in her eyes for here before her was the one being she loved. And he had fallen so far and seemed beyond reason her tears began to fall silently but soon she couldn't hold back the sobs as she crumpled to the floor. A frustrated growl came from Storm as he uncurled himself and turned to face who ever was crying. He was ready to deliver a few choice words but anything he wanted to say soon died in his mouth when his eyes came to rest on Luna. Slowly Storm crawled towards Luna until she was just within his reach he slowly reached out a shakeing hand saying. "Luna is it truly you?" Luna nodded yes and began to lean forward to nuzzle Storms hand when. Approaching hoof steps made them both freeze and Storms eyes began to cloud over in rage and his whole body began to shake and quiver. Storms lips pulled back into a feral snarl revealing his many predatory teeth with a strange light flickering behind them. "Does your depravity know no bounds witch." Storm growled rising to his feet completely ignoring Luna's pleas that she was real. Nightmare didn't even get a chance to reply as storm surged forward with a feral roar that shook the very ground they stood on and bawled Nightmare over on the ground. Standing over her Storm snarled at her again revealing his teeth with that strange flickering light behind them. Nightmare didn't get to ponder it for long as storm opened his jaws lightning surged forward and struck Nightmare Moon square in the chest. Forcing her deeper into the floor to the point that it started to crack and sink. Then he surged forward again and began to attack her viciously not giving her a chance to recover. All this took place in the span of about half of a minute and Nightmare finally forced Storm back with magic. She stood shaking with multiple cuts and wounds all across her body with her left wing hanging limp on the floor almost all the feathers ripped free. And a long gouge running the length of her wing and side she was in a all around horrible shape. Storm on the other hand seemed completely unfazed by her magic's brushing them off as soon as they struck him. Slowly Storm began to approach Nightmare but stopped when Luna stepped in front of her staring at Storm pleadingly. Luna opened her mouth to speak, to do something to stop this madness but she was cut off by sinister laughter that rolled out of Storm in waves. "Do you honestly think a shade will stop me witch I know Luna is dead I watched you kill her." Storm said before letting loose another bolt of lightning aiming straight at Luna Thinking it will go straight through her and hit Nightmare Moon. Time seemed to slow for Luna and Nightmare Moon as the bolt of electricity flew at them and for the first time in a long time Luna was scared and she froze. She realized all to late that the bolt was coming at her and she couldn't avoid it. So she looked past the oncoming bolt at storm and mouth "I love you" and closed her eyes. Their was a Flash of light and the bolt never reached Luna surprised she opened her eyes and standing their before her was Nightmare Moon. At the last second Nightmare teleported in front Luna to take the blow. She expected it to strike her chest but it shot up and struck her horn and the spread across her body before Storm charged again slashing savagely and deeply across Nightmares chest and nicking her heart and letting her fall to the floor. Storm stood over Nightmare watching her bleed out before he began to crouch next to her before he was bawled over himself by a unseen blow from his side. Enraged storm jumped to his feet and faced his attacker and stopped dead confused for their standing over and protecting Nightmare Moon was Luna. Storm was confused to say the least the Luna shade was supposed to be gone Nightmare Moon was on the floor dying their was no way she could still have the concentration to conjure theses shades. "How are you still here" Storm said " your not real I watched Nightmare kill you" Luna stepped over Nightmare and came to stand in front of Storm. Then suddenly She reared back on her hind legs and cracked Storm across the head with both of her for hooves. And when she did three things crossed storms mind one. Luna and the rest were really here and weren't dead. Two If Luna was alive then Nightmare didn't kill her and Three if she didn't kill Her then he had just killed Nightmare in cold blood. All this truly sank in when Celestia and Twilight rushed past Storm horns aglow towards Nightmare and tried again and again to heal her with magic but to no avail. She weakly waved them away and looked at storm not in anger but with a sad smile. "Don't fret young one I don't blame you Chrysalis magic was strong and as long as you know the truth I will die happy." Nightmare said before letting her head return to the floor with a sigh and everyone their began to cry if they hadn't been already all save Storm. Storm wasn't crying because his mind was working is double overdrive without breaks trying to figure out a way to fix this. Magic was obviously out of the question and traditional medicine was to slow Storm was just about to give up hope when a thought crossed his mind. What the hell its a long shot but its better than nuthin he thought to himself before stepping past the little circle the ponies had made around Nightmare Moon. Storm knelt down and gently lifted Nightmares head until he could see into her eyes She was alive but just barely. Storm leaned in further to whisper in her ear when noise from behind him stopped him. Everypony had stopped crying and was watching him carefully with concern and he couldn't blame them. Storm Whispered in Nightmares ear. "Do you swear to uphold the laws of this land, to defend the weak, and protect this land and its people from all evil?" Nightmare chuckled slightly and coughed up blood but nodded yes with a smile. "Then I bestow upon you the gift of a dragons heart." Storm said getting a confused look from Nightmare and some startled gasps from behind him. "With this gift you will live as long as I do, you wont die unless I do first, and we shall share each others physical pain Knowing this do you accept my gift?" Storm said grabbing the scales at the base of his chest and pulling them back to reveal leathery skin beneath with the steady beat of his heart. Nightmare again nodded her head weakly before she fell back to the floor no longer having the strength to hold her head up. With one hand Storm gently grabbed her head and place it on his knee. With the other he drew a claw across the skin beneath his scales slicing it and letting out a light that danced like fire. Then he gently reached part of his hand into his chest and pulled it back with a small bundle of light in his fist pulsing to the beat of his heart. This he brought to Nightmares chest and it disappeared into the cut which slowly began to heal along with every other wound on her body. As this process completed itself Storm replaced his scales where they go and stood and faced his friends who were all looking at him dumbfounded. "First we get her to a hospital then I will answer all you questions." Storm said motioning to Nightmare and everyone nodded and Luna and Celestias horns lit up and in a flash they found themselves in the canterlot hospital. Where Nightmare Moon was quickly taken into a room by doctors to be treated. As she disappeared through those doors everyone turned to where Storm was standing only to find him gone and a near by exit swinging shut. Luna looked to Celestia who nodded her head saying. "Go to him Luna we will remain here and watch over Nightmare and wait for you two to return together." And with that Luna turned and trotted off after Storm thinking to herself.Come hell or high water I am going to figure out what happened and we are going to fix it. And she disappeared through the door a new found determination guiding her step.