"I see that you two have returned from another nightmare visit," Veritas stated as she was taking on the form of an alicorn once more as she walked into the main hall of the memory hall from one of the hallways. "Learned anything of value?"
Before Sapphire could get a word in, Luna gave Veritas an annoyed look as she answered, "Yes, what do the words, mayhem, despair, chaos, destruction, agony, paranoia, nightmare, and arrogance mean to you?" as she eyed Veritas as the mental constructed blinked at her.
"Uhh... it means a lot of things that I will refrain from explaining cause I just want to," Veritas answered as she took a few steps back.
Rolling her eyes, Luna replied, "I knew you would respond this way. However, I will admit, if the past version of Sapphire in that memory isn't a distortion and truly displayed her personality, then perhaps you are right that Sapphire is better off as she is now instead of the past."
As Sapphire looked at Luna in confusion, Veritas sighed as she said, "Yeah, she was all work and no games. Not a healthy mindset, but she wasn't raised to have one at that point in her life... but why are you being so cordial with me? Normally you would be trying to interrogate me for more information, or is this just you trying to sweet talk me into giving you more information?"
"I highly doubt that you would give us anything anytime soon, especially after we discovered some new information, but there is something I would like your assistance in if Sapphire agrees to it as well," Luna declared as she turned her attention towards Sapphire.
"Wait... what are you talking about, Luna?" Sapphire asked as she wondered just what Luna may be planning.
Stepping around Sapphire, Luna walked up to one of the hallways as she said, "Veritas hinted that those infernos hold the keys to regaining your memory, yet we must overcome whatever they hold within them in order to free those memories, which may mean fighting that monster among others once more. While we could proceed to gradually gain your memories back until you are capable of fighting the monster and overcoming what it represents, I would like to propose an alternative solution, one that may remove the need of you fighting the beast with just me at your side."
Chuckling, Veritas said, "What, you're going to take it on all by yourself? You already tried that and didn't win the fight until Sapphire lent you her aid. Besides, you can try fighting that beast over and over, it won't get you anywhere."
"Which is exactly why I have decided to request outside aid as I work to remove the nightmarish nature of the beast, allowing the true memories that the monster represents to come forth," Luna declared as she lit her horn up, summoning three orbs before her.
"Wait... outside aid? What are you talking abo—are you talking about your sister?" Veritas stated in surprise.
"Indeed, and more. Normally, my sister isn't of much use in the dream realm since her magic doesn't affect it, but in Sapphire's mind, perhaps her memories combined with my magic would allow her the ability to use some of her magic. This would allow her to aid Sapphire, which in turn would give me the chance to focus my full attention of removing the nightmarish aspect of the creature that guards the green inferno," Luna stated with a smirk as Sapphire saw that there were images in the orbs. "Not only that, my sister will not be the only one to aid. For I have two more..." Luna continued until she saw something in one of the orbs that cause her to frown as her cheeks reddened a bit. Swiping her hoof at one of the orbs, causing it to disappear, Luna continued, "I have one more pony that would be capable of aiding us. Though, I would need your permission to carry out this plan, since this is your mind and your memories that we are dealing with."
Looking irritated at Luna's plan, Veritas added, "I doubt whatever plan you have will actually be of any use. For all you know, you could only make things worse for Sapphire in a long run. This is a gamble that you don't fully understand the consequences of failure should your plan fall apart on you."
Sapphire was feeling unsure about all this as she looked back and forth between Veritas and Luna, before sighing as she asked, "Do you really think this would work, Luna?"
"Even if I'm wrong about my plan, I'm prepared to ensure our safety this time, unlike the last encounter. Furthermore, this would give us some insight into how to tackle this problem if we were to fail, whether it'll be a monster, or just you confronting a traumatic point of your life. Thus, I believe that this will garner us something, hence I believe that this is a worthy venture to pursue," Luna answered as Veritas rolled her eyes at Luna's statement.
Looking at Luna for a while, Sapphire took in a deep breath before saying, "Alright Luna... we'll try this as long as you're sure that we'll be all safe regardless of what happens."
Smiling at Sapphire's approval, Luna replied, "You have my assurance that no serious harm will come to any of us," before her horn glowed even brighter before disappearing before her eyes.
Rolling her eyes again, Veritas said, "I'm not going to stick around for this inevitable disaster, but you better be thankful when I bail you all out of this mess you're digging yourselves into," before she took into the air, only to disappear when she flew into a wall.
"Well... that is something I didn't see coming," Sapphire stated as she blinked at what she saw, only for another flash to appear as Luna returned with Celestia and Cadance in tow. "And neither did I see that coming too."
Looking around with a raised eyebrow, Cadance commented, "Well, this is something I didn't imagine in Sapphire's head. Though it is a bit elegant, in its own way."
Pointing a hoof at Cadance, Sapphire asked, "Wait, Cadance is the one helping? But I thought that you said that she's not battle ready."
"I may have been harsh at my niece's lack of training, but she is still an alicorn and is further along with her magical studies than you are. She would also be able to provide emotional support," Luna stated as she looked around the hall. "Where has Veritas gone off to?"
"She said that she didn't want to stick around in case your plan fails, but she did state that she would help get us out of the fight if the need arises," Sapphire answered, prompting Luna to shake her head in response.
"Sometimes that construct really needs to have some faith, though at least she's willing to aid us. Alas, the time for waiting is at an end. Let us face your nightmare once more, Sapphire," Luna declared as she pointed a foreleg towards the ceiling, only for Celestia to place a hoof on it as she lowered it. "Sister? What are you doing?"
"Making certain that this is something that Sapphire wants, not something that we or the crown is pressuring her to do," Celestia stated as she turned her attention towards Sapphire. "Sapphire, is this a path that you truly want to tread upon? Once we do this, we have no idea how much of your memories you will recover, as well as what effect they could have on you. If we were to succeed, you might find yourself a completely different pony, one that you might not want to become. You have to be certain about this, for there will be no going back," Celestia warned.
Frowning a bit, Sapphire looked at the ground for a moment, seeing all the mirror shards that covered it before looking down one of the halls, where she saw all the frames that either had a few shards in them or none at all. "I think... we should do this. I've only been getting pieces of each memory, yet none of them were ever fully completed. I know it might be a risk, but at least I may get some answers that I so desperately need. Just who am I really, how am I related to Arulas, where my clan has been all this time, and why I'm an alicorn. Just having something solid to answer one of them might be worth whatever we face and what I might remember. And sometimes... I really need to face my fears if I want to move forward," Sapphire answered, causing Celestia to nod in approval.
"Well then, since Sapphire is showing support, let us proceed to her nightmare!" Luna declared as her horn lit up, the room fading away to darkness as the three infernos appear once more.
Looking upon the infernos, Cadance commented, "So... this is Sapphire's nightmare? It's... not as much of a nightmare as I expected. I mean, no disrespect towards you, Sapphire, but since your special talent is water manipulation, I think you would be an effective firefighter on your own."
"It was a nightmare cause there were voices speaking to me, saying that I'm a failure and the such," Sapphire shot back with a half-lidded stare.
"Oh... that explains it," Cadance stated with a blush as Luna rolled her eyes before stepping forward, her horn growing brighter with each passing second.
"Sapphire, when I give the word, you will say the phrase for the green inferno. I'm preparing a spell to dispel the nightmarish aspects of whatever comes out of it. This would allow us to finally see what memory this inferno is trying to twist against you. Perhaps we may even glean what could be causing the warping of the memory as well," Luna stated as Celestia and Cadance turned their attention to the inferno that Luna was facing.
"Hmm... even if this is the dream realm, it is kind of exciting to see all of Equestria's alicorns working together to face something that could be dangerous," Cadance commented, only to notice the deadpanned stare that Sapphire was giving her. "Umm... no offense again, Sapphire. The thrill of the moment just got to me," Cadance continued until she noticed a blue glow upon herself, something that was repeated with Celestia.
"There, I anchored you two to some of Sapphire's memories, making you more than a simple dream projection. This should allow your magic to have some effect on the memory, but remember that against a nightmare or a true dream construct, your magic would be entirely useless," Luna declared as the glow around her horn kept growing in intensity. "Now Sapphire, say the phrase!"
Nodding, Sapphire looked towards the green inferno as she said, "Vicium Mehemii." Stepping back, Sapphire saw the beast coming out of the inferno once more. As her fellow alicorns were backing up as well, the beast pulled itself out of the inferno before laying its gaze upon them.
"Okay... now that's a nightmare..." Cadance stated as she kept backing away until Luna jumped up into the air as she pointed a hoof towards the beast.
"Begone nightmare! Unleash your hold on Sapphire's memories, for I, Luna, Princess of the Night and Guardian of the Dream Realm wills it so!" Luna declared in the Royal Canterlot Voice before unleashing her spell, generating a sphere of magic that grew in size as it engulfed everything in sight The magic caused the infernos to fade away at contact with the wave of magic, while the beast roared in fury as it was engulfed by the spell, it's skin cracking apart like a broken mirror.
Looking at Luna and the beast in awe, Cadance exclaimed, "It's working Auntie Luna! Your spell is working..." before her voice faded as the beast suddenly grew in size, the shards breaking off to reveal its dark green scales with smoldering black cracks in that the let out plumes of green smoke. Two arms pushed out of the beast's sides, giving it a total of six as its long serpentine tail grew in width and length. Its draconic jaws grew even more jagged as a pair of eyes open to accompany the original pair. Opening its mouth, smoke pouring out it as the alicorns could see a greenish glow come from it. Eventually, the beast stopped growing in size, only to be as large as Canterlot castle, as one claw slammed into the ground, causing it to shake as the alicorns tried to keep their footing.
After regaining her footing, Cadance stared at the beast in open horror as it looked upon all of them with immense hatred until she croaked out, "Auntie Luna... I think I rather face the nightmarish version of this memory instead..."