Oh, being alive is a splendid feeling.
Ponies often take this gift for granted and waste it on things like friends and jobs and families and such. Such a disgraceful waste of precious time.
Thank goodness they have me to guide them now.
Sometimes all a species needs is somebody with thousands upon thousands of years of experience dealing with such things. They almost never recognize this knowledge as the true wisdom it is, but nonetheless, I’m here. I’m always here.
I was here during the ancient days of cats and jackals. When a wise jackal realized my brilliance and lent me his body. If only that infuriating little furball Baast and that ridiculous draconequus hadn’t formed their little rebellion. Time travellers are always messing things up for me.
I was here during the days of a queen’s conquering spree. She didn’t trust me as completely as the jackal, but she did listen to my advice from time to time. Oh, Timbucktu and Trot were so fun to conquer. Chrysalis really is a joy to work with. Less of a downer than being Anubis, at least.
I was here when the umbrum were born. Smoky little beasts, they were. Honestly, they were terrifying. Thank goodness they worked for me instead of against me like most creatures do. I was King Sombra’s chief advisor: fear.
Fear. Yes, I remember now. What fear is.
I’ve never experienced it, myself, but I have felt it. It’s what makes me sure I’m alive, when the fear floods my senses. The fear of my subjects, washing over me like a tidal wave. It feels great.
It’s present, even now.
A sizeable crowd was gathered at Everfree Castle, six months after the events of the Winter Solstice Festival. The castle was prepared for another celebration, this time in appreciation of the sun and the one who raised and lowered it every day.
The sun would’ve loved to see the crowd it had drawn, but the sun was currently being stifled by a dark sky set with many shimmering stars. They gleamed with a cold and distant light today.
Yes, today. It was noon.
Ponies whispered to each other, passing around rumors and suspicions as to why Celestia had not raised the sun yet. They’d been waiting in the square for somepony to arrive since what was supposed to be the break of dawn. They feared the pony who came.
Fleeing from the imposing Alicorn who now stood on the stage, ponies trampled each other in their haste to escape. But none of them could.
Spells wove their way across the gates and locked themselves in place throughout the sky. Everfree Castle was under siege by its own princess.
“Citizens of Equestria!” Nightmare Moon roared over the increasing panic of the ponies. “There is only room for one princess in this kingdom. I am your ruler now. You may address me as Queen Nightmare Moon.”
Whispers and shudders rippled through Nightmare Moon’s new subjects, a satisfying wave of fear following shortly after.
“Come now, the night is to be enjoyed by all. Remember only six months prior to this day how you celebrated my work? Do your children not recall my magic tricks? My sparkle stars?” Queen Nightmare Moon prompted.
In case they had forgotten, the moon queen stalked towards a small group of fillies. She shot off a few fireworks to jog their memory.
Screams.
Agony.
Fear.
Emptiness.
How strange, Moon thought. The fillies used to love my sparkle stars.
She stepped over the pink earth pony, blonde unicorn, and lilac pegasus. She sighed. Why must the children always sleep through my night?
“Lies! All lies!” Queen Nightmare Moon roared across the courtyard. “Swear your allegiance to me!”
The elderly pony stood her ground. “You’re no royalty to me! Celestia and Luna will stop you and save us all.”
The bowing ponies surrounding her looked up at the brave soul. They almost stood up. Almost.
“Luna... is dead. And no help will come from Celestia. She’s too much of a coward to stand against me,” Queen Nightmare Moon said coldly.
“And you claim that my words are lies? You’re nothing but a shadow compared to the princesses. They are still alive and they will fight. They are not the cowards you claim them to be.” The ponies were encouraged by her words. Two others now stood with her. More were on the way.
Time to end this.
“What is your name?” Queen Nightmare Moon inquired, narrowing her eyes at this rebellious old fool.
She looked the nightmare in the eyes and said her name proudly, “Truth Speaker, proud citizen of Equestria and the two sisters who rule it.”
Queen Nightmare Moon thought for a second. And then she spoke. “Ponies, look to Truth Speaker. She’s a shining example of everything a follower of Celestia and Luna should aspire to.”
More sparkle stars.
More bowing.
More fear.
“So you finally found the courage to fight me?”
The sun princess hovered across from the moon queen, emitting anger and rage and sadness. And fear. Fear rolled off her pearly wings and flowed from her ever-shifting mane. It dripped from her horn and saturated her crown. Fear shone bright in her eyes and fogged up the air around her.
Nightmare Moon relished in it as they clashed.
“Luna, please don’t do this. You can come back, I know you can! You can beat this demon back into its hole in Tartarus. Please!” Celestia called out to her sister. She parried with a non-lethal spell.
Celestia…
“Ah, perhaps I was right the first time. You didn’t really come here to fight, you’re here to grovel and beg like a coward,” Queen Nightmare Moon remarked. She shot with the intention to kill.
No, my sister is strong... Stronger than you give her credit for…
“Luna, I know you’re in there. You always were braver than me. Please stop this!” Celestia pleaded. Her wing was struck and down she went.
And so am I.
“What?” Queen Nightmare Moon asked the air as she paused her assault. “Who are you?”
Somepony who made a mistake.
“Where are you?” The black Alicorn whirled around, only to find thin air staring back at her.
I need to fix this.
“Where. Are. You?!” Nightmare Moon’s serpentine eyes darted around the room, searching for a sign. Anything to tell her where this voice was coming from.
I need to fix this.
“What’re you doing?” Nightmare Moon snarled at the voice in her head as her wings snapped shut and she fell.
I need to fix this.
“What’re you doing?!” Nightmare Moon roared as she plummeted to the forest below.
I need to fix this.
“Stop it!” A parting shot at the solar Alicorn was stopped by some force. Some will that was not Nightmare Moon’s own.
I need to fix this.
The nightmare was now a prisoner inside its own host. Unable to move a hoof, it lay in Princess Luna’s body on the floor of Everfree Forest, slowly being devoured by the tangle of roots.
A white leg trotted into view, just barely in Nightmare Moon’s line of sight. Tears splashed the ground. They were only a few drops, but Nightmare Moon felt like she was drowning.
Then everything was rainbows.
Then everything was pain.
Then everything was fear.