//------------------------------// // Midnight-Mare // Story: The Red Sun Rises: Voyages // by The Atlantean //------------------------------// Celestia stood up quickly, her flowing mane stopped, her legs trembling with fear. She was in her quarters on Reagan, the main ship in her task force. The carrier shook with the intensity of a thousand combat spells as a projectile slammed into her hull. Alarms set off, warning of fire and low hull integrity. She was taking on water. Celestia tried to teleport out of her quarters to the bridge, where Robinson could give her some answers. The spell failed and she ended up on the Flight Deck. Sailors were scattered from the anti-carrier missile, failing to put the fires out. The magazine, located at midship, overheated. Reagan exploded, pieces of hot shrapnel and killed sailors flying in all directions. No lifeboats launched, no helicopter took flight, and her aircraft dropped into the ocean one by one as their fuel was spent, their pilots ejecting into the sea. Pennsylvania also took heavy damage, as dozens of missiles ripped her superstructure apart and destroyed her systems. Between the two ships, very little remained. The last pieces of the carrier and battleship sank below the waves within the hour. The rest of the task force was sunk in a similar fashion, going down by either explosion or torpedo. In the distance, she could see Griffonstone surrounded by an armada of Chinese and Russian forces, their crews cheering as the last ships in the American Pacific Fleet sank to a watery grave. Meanwhile, amphibious ships were unloading their detachments of marines, destroying all hope of resistance to the superior technology and tactics compared to that of the Griffons. The scene never changed. It froze, with the ghosts of Robinson, Amber, Crimson, and Luna walking on air towards her. “You failed to bring them home. They died for a lost cause, while you stood there and watched. All of Equestria will fall to their regime,” Luna told her. “Thousands of men and women who trusted you have perished because you couldn't do what you promised them.” Robinson and Amber combined their voices into a haunting sound. “You should be ashamed of yourself. Pitiful, weak. You don't deserve the Equestrian throne. You don't deserve to be called ‘Princess’, you dishonest, unreliable-” “No. STOOOOOOP!!!” she yelled at the top of her lungs, her head swinging high towards the ceiling. Celestia hadn't had a nightmare like that since Luna’s banishment. When she promised both herself and her subjects that Nightmare Moon would not return for at least a millennium. When she vowed never to use the Elements of Harmony on her sister again. It was too much pain. Celestia tossed and turned for another half-hour, then got out of bed. If she couldn't sleep, then maybe a trip to the mess hall might help. At least it was on this deck. As she walked into the mess hall, she saw several sailors talking amongst themselves. They seemed pretty pisssed off. “I swear, if that goddamn horse screams like that again, I'm going to fucking make her wish she hadn't. I can't sleep with her yelling in the middle of the fucking night!” “Give her a break. She's obviously going through a hellstorm.” “Dude, the horse has done this for three nights in a fucking row. Something has to be done. I say we bring this to the admiral.” One of the four was taken aback. “You do realize that he's the one who decided to keep her on board. She knows this world better than anyone else in this fleet.” “I don’t give a fuck!” “You’re right; you give two.” “Shut the fuck up, Harrison.” Harrison smiled. “Well, I for one, have noticed that the princess heard probably most of your toned-down shouting. She’s right over there.” He gestured to where Celestia sat, holding a cup of steaming tea with her magic. She nodded in acknowledgment to his statement, and quietly took a sip. Her eyes had deep purple semicircles forming below them, wrinkles from a lack of sleep showed on the sides of her head, and her normally flowing mane and tail had wilted, reflecting her tired state. After that encounter, Celestia headed to the Flight Deck, where she could clearly see the night sky. A slight breeze accompanied the cool moonlight, combining into the perfect midnight scene. The black water lapped against Reagan’s bow as she sailed through the Sea, along with those of the other ships. Amber stood silently at the forward edge of the deck, taking in the fresh air. “Commander, how are you on this night?” Amber jumped in surprise. “Ah! Oh, it’s just you. I’m fine, yourself?” “Just tired. Had another one of those nightmares.” “Again? You know they aren’t going away, so you’ll just have to get used to them.” “That’s just the thing. I haven’t had dreams like these since I banished Luna to the moon, over a thousand years ago. They aren’t dreams I can really get used to. Plus-” her expression became worried- “it isn’t just my sister at stake. Everypony is in danger, and I’m supposed to be able to protect them.” Celestia stomped her hoof. “This damn nightmare keeps waking me up, along with my neighboring crewmembers! I don’t want them to have to deal with my fucking problems!” The princess gasped at her sudden outburst of wording not fit for royalty. Amber’s eyebrows raised for a moment in the darkness of midnight, shocked at her friend’s language. She turned back to the carrier’s Island, where the Bridge and Tower, along with other systems, were located, inviting Celestia to come along. The princess accepted, and followed her friend across the deck. On the way, the two talked about how not to be concerned about dreams.