The night air felt cool against Trixie's fur as her gaze floated over the sleepy little village she grew up in. The moon was bright, adding a shimmer to the stone pillars standing at the sides of the orphanage's old, wooden doors. Like every foal, Trixie had spent her fair share keeping them clean. An image of a mare's head had been sculpted into the front of each grey pillar. Though each head was lacking in detail due to age, the metal helmet and long horn was clear despite the lack of facial features.
Trixie turned back to the rest of the village as the memories flooded back. It had been a purely Earth pony town at one time, from what Trixie was told. But, unlike most small town orphanages, this one accepted all. Most of the foals wound up working and staying in the village as they grew up, creating a more mixed community than was normally found this distant from any major city.
Trixie's eyes briefly ran over a few small wooden carvings on the doors to some nearby houses, each one in the same shape as the face on the pillars. Another sight not found in any town Trixie had traveled to past this one.
Figures I'd dream about this place after what happened. I wonder if my cart is still okay?
"Tis...amazing..."
Trixie jumped at the familiar voice, turning towards it to see Luna looking around in wide-eyed wonder.
I'm dreaming of her too? Wonderful...
Trixie shrugged. "It's just a village, nothing grand."
"Mayhaps, but..." Luna's voice was hesitant, almost in awe as a tear ran down her cheek. "The colors...the buildings...we had almost forgotten them after all this time. Our own dreams have turned misshapen...grey..."
Trixie gently rubbed her companions back, wishing she had dreamed up a happier Luna. "It's fine, Trixie understands. But this should be a happy occasion, right? You don't seem happy to Trixie."
With a nod, Luna brought a hoof up and wiped her tears away. "Thou is correct. We are most thankful that thee were willing to share this with us. Where are we?"
Trixie pointed to the orphanage "This is where the Great and Powerful Trixie grew up, mastering the ways of life and preparing for her grand debut at the School for Gifted Unicorns! And this-" Trixie pointed to the village. "-is Tailscony, a small, uninteresting village in the Neigh Valley."
Luna gave a brief grin at her companions enthusiasm, though her expression turned bitter quickly at the sight of the images sculpted into the pillars. "We suppose there is no need to guess at who those represent?"
Trixie nodded as she looked over the images and slowly approached one. She bowed her head and closed her eyes before repeating the mantra drilled into her since foalhood. "May you guard our dreams, as we guard your memory."
With a roll of her eyes and a huff, Luna walked over to Trixie. Despite her annoyance, Luna continued to feel the same compulsion she had since she first set eyes on Trixie; the need to be close. It was no longer as desperate of a feeling, but she found it easier to think clearly with Trixie near. Gently, she put a wing over Trixie's back and gave her a squeeze with it. "This is ridiculous. How did it come to be that Nightmare Moon is still known, yet we are lost to time?"
Hmmm...even in a dream her wings are soft. Better enjoy this before getting back to reality and the mess of an Alicorn the real Luna is.
Trixie let her side press against Luna as she thought back to her past. "Actually, Nightmare Moon isn't well known at all. There is one holiday with her name on it, but she's thought of as more of a monster. Outside of Tailscony, Nightmare Moon is just a silly myth that a few older ponies use to scare foals with now."
Luna gave a small nod. "And what does this town think of Nightmare Moon? Does it actually worship that vile beast?"
Trixie raised an eyebrow and gave Luna a soft glare. "Look, I get that you two weren't the best of friends, but if she was really as bad as you say, Princess Celestia would have stopped ponies from worshiping her, right? The orphanage is old. Trixie never bothered herself with finding a silly detail like how old, but she'd guess a few hundred years, and no royal orders or official demands to stop has ever been made. Besides that, if what the nuns say is true, Nightmare Moon saved Equestria and suffered for it."
Luna looked at Trixie in utter confusion. "Saved Equestria? She almost destroyed it with her arrogance!"
Trixie stuck her nose up and shook her head vehemently, causing the dream town to blur to Luna with every movement of Trixie's head. "No, that was Celestia!"
With a slack jawed look, Luna sat down on the ground, staring at Trixie. "H-how dare you! That is...preposterous! Our sister would never act like that!"
Well, Trixie lamented, so much for dreaming up a less crazed Luna. Stupid, stupid brain.
"Fine," Trixie started, glaring at Luna, "I'm not going to go into detail because of how...ridiculous this is for me to be arguing about. Trixie, however, is gracious; even to a crazed dream alicorn claiming to have royal ties. So, she will go over the story quickly for your sake."
Luna wanted to protest, but decided against it. It had been a long, long time since Luna had been in any pony's dreams except her own, but she could recognize this feeling of tension. Trixie would wake soon if Luna kept agitating her, and she wanted to enjoy the sights in the dream as long as she could.
"Very well," Luna gave Trixie a squeeze with her wing and gently lowered herself to the ground, bringing Trixie with her. "We will remain quiet and listen to our gracious host's story."
As ridiculous as we assume it will be. Luna thought to herself.
Trixie wiggled around a little next to Luna, getting comfortable. The position they were in caused Trixie's cheeks to blush slightly. It wasn't due to the position exactly, Luna had done this over a dozen times to Trixie by now, but the location brought back awkward memories. With a brief shimmer of the air, Trixie and Luna found themselves laying against each other behind the orphanage. A tree was nearby, providing shade from the moonlight, just as Trixie remembered how her and her first crush had been, so long ago. Her mind drifted over to thoughts on Luna. Oh, she was beautiful, if it wasn't for her strange way of speaking, a way Trixie could never understand a pony choosing, and Luna's unique brand of madness, Trixie would probably swoon over Luna's intense desire to be so...intimate.
If only the real Luna wasn't so damn crazy. She thought.
With a sigh, Trixie let her eyes slowly look over the entirety of the orphanage. Memories of her past brought out wisps of ponies playing around the area, cleaning, and praying at the front doors with several of the nuns before she finally refocused her thoughts.
"No pony really knows where Nightmare Moon came from. Perhaps she was a princess of another country, a fey, or, some ponies claim, an old lover of Celestia's."
Luna made a quiet gagging sound.
"Anyways," Trixie gave Luna a brief glare before continuing. "Nightmare Moon, being the keeper and protector of dreams, would occasionally visit all lands, but her main duty was to Equestria. She was loved by the Equestrian's of the time, but thought to be lesser than Celestia, the alicorn of the sun who ruled over Equestria. As time went on though, more and more dreams began to show worry and concern over Celestia and her actions. Concerned, Nightmare Moon disguised herself, and went to the capital. She saw firsthoof how the Equestrian Princess of the sun had begun to disregard what it meant to rule fairly. Vanity and pride had started to seep into all of Celestia's actions. The days slowly started to last longer, robbing ponies of sleep and the world of its rest. Nightmare Moon, distraught over the creeping downfall of Celestia, worked to remedy it. Words, however, did not work, too strong and rigid was Celestia's belief in herself. All of Nightmare's attempts to help Celestia were rebuked. Growing desperate, Nightmare Moon rallied her minions and stood up to Celestia. She confronted the Alicorn of the sun and engaged her in battle, fighting the princess for the sake of the night and the Equestrian ponies. In the end, Nightmare Moon lost, just as she expected to all along. As the elements banished Nightmare Moon, they also banished the darkness that had been growing in the Sun princess herself. Her eyes were opened to what she was becoming, and Celestia realized the error of her ways. Nightmare's sacrifice was rewarded by the elements with eternal dreams and rest upon the moon. Now, all who look up can see her, resting peacefully."
A few moments passed as Luna thought through what she had just heard. It didn't make sense to her, except in a twisted fashion. Yes, Luna had watched over the dreams of the ponies of Equestria. But, she was never loved for it. She knew of few ponies that seemed to care for her over her sister at the time. And Celestia had never been corrupted. The corruption began and ended with herself. A part of Luna even now felt that her sister had ignored her and her night's, the art and other works she poured her heart and soul into. Few, if any ponies had come to her night court's, or asked for her over her sister those long years ago. How that...mess of a story ever became a belief was lost on Luna.
Luna's brooding would have continued, if it wasn't for the soft touch of a muzzle against her shoulder.
"Bit for your thoughts?" Trixie asked, giving Luna a concerned look.
"We are sorry," Luna said, shaking her head to try to banish her agitation. "That story is just...so wrong. We can't understand it, and it bothers us to no end how it came to pass. We just-"
She was cut off by a soft kiss on the cheek.
Well, Trixie guesses this is better. She thought as Luna's cheeks became a little red. The cute little Oh of surprise on Luna's face confirmed for Trixie how cute Luna could look when she wasn't acting crazed. Maybe Trixie shouldn't have done that, but so long as she doesn't act stupid and kiss the real Luna, it's probably fine.
Luna held back a gasp of delight as Trixie rested her head against her shoulder and gave her a brief nuzzle. She'd hoped for Trixie to be more...accepting of Luna's need for contact in a few weeks, but this was beyond her expectations!
Then again, we do remember that inhibitions in one's dreams are often lower, perhaps she is simply more content to explore here? We had best give this a few more dreams to see what comes.
Luna licked her lips and shivered briefly at several thoughts of where this might lead to in the future. Perhaps she was being presumptuous, but it was just the two of them now. It would probably remain that way for a very long time. How could she not hope for more, even if she had only met Trixie a few short days ago.
All of a sudden, wing hugs and nuzzles were no longer feeling like enough. Luna cursed her greed.
Even as the world began to haze, signalling that Trixie was waking up, Luna kept her gaze firmly attached to the pretty little mare next to her, eyes wide and wondering.