//------------------------------// // Chapter XIV: Confrontation // Story: Nocturnal Mayhem // by Silvak //------------------------------// Spaghetti, something that could result in a mess if someone isn't careful, has been made into a rather clean meal by the power of magic. However, instead of a pleasant meal, I was being viewed upon by Celestia as she gave me a scrutinizing look. So much for having an aunt that would dote on me. I was only onto my second bite of my meal when Celestia declared, "Nebula, we need to talk." Blinking, I asked, "What is it, Auntie?" before stuffing my mouth. Frowning, Celestia started to say, "Nebula, you shou—" until the dining room doors slammed open, causing all of us to look at the intruder, who turned out to be Party Blitz. "Hello everypony! Party Blitz is here, so the party can start!" Party announced as she pointed a hoof in the air, only to be greeted by silence as we all stared at her for a brief moment. "...Was I interrupting something?" "No... Party, but your presence here would be useful," Celestia answered before she returned her attention to me as I stuffed a third bite into my mouth, causing her to let out a sigh. "Nebula, based on the actions and abilities you were showing, it appears that there is more to you than meets the eye." Nodding as I swallowed my food, I said, "Well, I did say I died and was reborn in this body, but you passed it off as a joke." Blinking at my response, Celestia responded, "You were being serious about that?" "Oh yeah, I was, but I didn't press anything at the time due to lacking anything to support my statements. Now, however, it is apparent that I have something to back up what I say," I replied as I took my fourth bite. As Luna and Celestia glanced at each other, Party flew down, taking a seat as she asked, "Hey, can I have some food too?" "Sure. why not," I answered as I used a bell to summon a servant so Party could choose her own meal. After the servant left, Celestia cleared her throat to get my attention before saying, "Back to the matters on hoof. Though, do you desire for Party to leave to keep this matter private?" Shrugging, I answered, "After having Rainbow and Pinkie volunteer for my little project, it would be wrong of me to not consider a confidant of sorts," before I was suddenly swept up in a hug. "Aww... thank you for trusting me, and us, Neby! I'll even Pinkie Promise to keep this a secret!" Party declared. "Pinkie... promise?" "Yepperoni! It's this: Cross my heart, hope to fly, put a cupcake in my eye!" Party declared as she put a hoof over her eye, with Pinkie and Rainbow saying it in sync with her. "Nopony breaks a Pinkie Promise!" "Umm... okay?" I said before turning my attention to Celestia. "So... how much you want to know? The short or long version?" Raising an eyebrow, Celestia replied, "Well, we do have time, and your story can't be that long?" "Well, since I'm have lived over two hundred years..." I started to say, thankful that I looked up their measurement of time. "Nevermind, we'll take the short version," Luna announced, causing Celestia to keep her raised eyebrow as she directed it at Luna now. "What? I do have royal duties to attend to after dinner." Looking back on me again, Celestia said, "Your mother raises a good point, we don't have the time to hear everything, so a brief summary would do for now." Putting my fork down, I replied, "Alright, here's my story. I'm a member of a faction called the Dimensional Lords, and I died taking down a cosmic horror, but my power allowed me to get a new body, which so happened to be an alicorn filly. Go figure." Blinking, Luna asked, "Dimensional Lord? What is that?" "Simply put, we're a group of beings that have authority over spatial matters and can travel through dimensions. Normally, whenever there is a matter that threatens the stability of a dimensional plane, agents, or one or more of us Lords, are sent to deal with the cause of the instability. We all possess the ability to manipulate dimensions and space itself, which confers power unto us as well, enhancing whatever native powers we have prior to becoming a member, as well being granted intensive knowledge of spatial matters," I explained. "Interesting, no wonder you were able to complete the fusion spell and cast it, you already have all you needed on hoof already," Celestia commented. "Though, Dimensional Lords? That sounds a bit arrogant to possess as a name, no offense intended, Nebula." Shrugging, I replied, "None taken, I wasn't there when our little organization was made." "So, you're like some kind of space superheros? That is so awesome!" Party exclaimed. Rolling my eyes, I shook my head as I said, "Not really. While we cover dimensional instabilities, for the most part, we are left to our own devices. And when you get a bunch of... ponies that have a lot of power but few responsibilities assigned to them..." "It means that the temptation to use their power for their own desires," Celestia deducted. "Correct, some go for the conquest of worlds to build up their own empires, while others decide to bring justice to other worlds, albeit it is justice in their point of view," I replied, causing Luna to narrow her eyes at me. "And what were your plans then, Nebula?" Luna asked. "Well, beyond fighting that cosmic horror I told you about, which was a major threat to life, I didn't have any ambitions on my own. No desire to take over a universe, nor any desires to become some kind of a paladin of rightiness. I was simply thrown into the role when I obtained my position," I answered with a shrug, despising Luna's suspicions. "So, since you appeared to have obtained your goal, what are you plans now?" Celestia asked. "To be honest, I have no plans. I wasn't expecting my rebirth, no one told me about that ability. And I did achieve my goal, which actually earned some respect from my peers, or at least enough that they would permit me a vacation of sorts." "You're on vacation? How long?" Party asked, face full of excitement as she smiled at me, weirding me out a bit. "Well, I was given fifty cycles, which translates for around fifty years here, give or take a few years," I answered as I reared my head back a bit. Frowning, Luna gave me a somewhat worried look as she said, "Since you're older than you appear, and with the truth out, I take it you would desire your independence once again?" Cocking an eyebrow at her, I knew what she was really hinting at, that I would stop being her daughter. "Meh, I'm fine with how things are going, I still have a lot to learn about this world, mom," I replied, which earned me a smile and a look of joy. Celestia, however, had a pensive look as she stated, "While it's a joy that you desire to remain as part of our family, there is one matter about that which we need to address, your shared hostility with my son, Chrono. Why are you two like that to each other?" "Simple, he's a Magister of Time," I responded, causing both Luna and Party to just blink in confusion, yet Celestia didn't share in it. It seemed like she already knew about this, though maybe not all the details. "Magister of Time?" Luna asked as she tilted her head at me. "It's sort of like Dimensional Lords, but they deal with time matters instead. However, they operate differently from us in terms of internal matters, which I don't know of. However, one known fact is that my faction and Chrono's just outright hate each other, but we are necessary for the stability of reality, so we have no choice but to tolerate each other. But that doesn't mean that there is peace, sometimes there were a few skirmishes, but there will never be war nor an attempt to exterminate each other," I replied with a shrug. A look of fear appearing on her face, Celestia responded, "Does that mean you two may be fighting each other in the future?" Celestia's question even brought a look of concern to Luna's face, probably due to the fact that the two sisters once fought in the past before Luna was banished to the moon for a thousand years, or so I learned from a history book. Shrugging once more, I answered, "Not sure, it depends on if he wants to fight or not. I'm more for just pranking for him and giving him a rough time, but otherwise I can tolerate him being around. So if you want peace between us, you have to deal with him, I'm fine with being a passive jerk to him." "But shouldn't you two be friends, since you're now cousins?" Party countered, a sad look on her face. "You may think that, but there is a lot of bad blood that is between our two factions, that created really negative views of one another. We see them as snobbish, while they see us as egotistical. It's developed to a point to where we can detect one another's presence upon sight. So, odds are we won't be friends, though we can learn to stand one another," I replied, causing Party to let out a sigh before her eyes suddenly brighten. "Oh, I forgot, Chrono wanted me to give you a present!" Party exclaimed as she pulled a present out of her mane before giving it to me. "Hmm... seems like Chrono wants to make peace to you, my niece," Celestia said with a smile. Frowning at the white box that was tied up with a red ribbon, I was tempted to chuck the box out a window, but with three mares in the room expecting me to open it, that option wasn't available to me. Letting out a sigh, I pulled at the ribbon before opening the box, only for a bright light to burst out of the box. Blinking my eyes clear of it, I saw that its empty inside, before noticing that my limbs were on fire. Looking up at everypony, who were looking at me in utter shock, I simply asked, "I'm on fire, aren't I?" Receiving a mute nod from the trio, I simply nodded in turn, only for a few mere seconds later for me to throw my hooves into the air as I screamed, "I'm on fire!" before dropping onto the floor, rolling around in an attempt to put it out. "Party... did you knew that this would happen?" I heard Luna said in a hostile tone as I came to a stop, but upon noticing that I was on fire still, I resumed my rolling. "Of course not! I, nor Rainbow or Pinkie, would ever pull a prank that would hurt a pony!" Party cried out. "Relax you two, for the fire is of an illusionary nature, Nebula is perfectly fine, though I doubt this would speak well of Chrono's and her future relationship," Celestia said, causing me to blink as I stopped rolling. Sitting up, I simply growled as I declared, while still on fire, "I'll make him pay for this!"