//------------------------------// // Fears in the Night // Story: One Castle, Two Alicorns // by James Pwyll //------------------------------// "...Hello? Is...is anyone out there?" Something was very wrong here. Mere moments ago, Midnight had been resting upon her bed. But now? Now, she was within a familiar place, yet one she had hoped to never see again. The Everfree Forest. The skies were dark, save for the bright light of the full moon. The ancient trees creaked and cracked in the night-time wind, and Midnight herself was all alone here, looking around at every shadow, every moving tree-branch with wariness. After a time, she closed her eyes, sighing. "Alright, Midnight, calm yourself. There's...there's got to be an explanation for this!" "Oh, I assure you...there is!" Midnight's eyes snapped open, and she spun in place, looking for the source of the voice. She knew who it was, for nobody could ever forget a voice like that. Her eyes narrowed, and she stared into the gloom of the forest before her. "Show yourself!" And sure enough, her stalker did indeed reveal herself. Chrysalis, her creator, stepping out into the light of the moon, lookign down at Midnight with an almost predatory smirk. "Well, well, well...I found you at last, my treacherous creation!" Midnight glared at her angrily. "I am no longer your servant, Chrysalis! If you came here to kill me, I promise you, I will not go down without a fight!" Her horn ignited, but Chrysalis, despite being fully aware of how powerful she was, merely cackled. "Oh, you foolish mare! You may have bested me once...but this time...I am not alone!" Confusion came to Midnight, but it was quickly squashed by the sounds of rustling bushes around her. Her eyes darted in every direction, and she found, to her horror, that Changelings now emerged to stand beside Chrysalis. But these were not the reformed people of King Thorax. No, these were original Changelings, vicious and bloodthirsty, and who now hissed angrily at their Queen's enemy. Midnight, though ready to defend herself, nevertheless took a step backwards. "But...but...how?!" Chrysalis, walking forward, looked to her wayward spawn with triumph. "Because, Midnight...I always win in the end!" Midnight glanced quickly at the growing army that now moved closer to her, and though her mind raced with the knowledge that Chrysalis was no match for her, she knew that even she could not out-fight this many opponents. So, realising that she had no alternative, she spun again, stretching out her wings and beginning to fly off as fast as she could. "GET HER!!!" Chrysalis commanded. Her army obeyed, charging forward by land and by air, chasing Midnight down. Midnight herself, panting heavily with just how much effort she was putting into this, ducked and weaved and dodged past every tree that barred her path. She had to get out of here. She had to get to Ponyville. To the Palace. To Twilight. It was her only chance. So she put everything she had into trying to escape, though the way was unfamiliar to her. But then, after turning one corner in particular, she halted dead in her tracks, eyes widening with pure horror. "No...no! It can't be!" For right in front of her, in a place where Midnight knew it should not have been, was the Tree of Harmony. It glowed brightly, even more so as it sensed Midnight's presence. Memories of her fallen fellow clones rushed to the forefront of Midnight's mind, and she turned again, ready to make a hasty retreat. Unfortunately, she found the way barred by Chrysalis and her army, with the towering Queen grinning with glee at seeing Midnight so trapped. "Going somewhere?" Midnight panted with panic and fear, looking from Chrysalis to the tree, and then back and forth between the two. The tree glowed brighter, and Midnight knew what was coming, and in her utter state of overwhelming fear, she fell to the ground, covering her head with her hooves, a single tear falling down from her left eye. "SOMEONE!!! HELP ME!!!" But there was no pain. No feeling of attack or assault from either the Changelings or the tree. Instead, there was only silence, with the exception of Midnight's still-heavy breathing. A moment passed, and to Midnight's confusion, a voice called to her. Not harsh or aggressive like Chrysalis, but soothing and calm. "Open your eyes, Midnight...for you are safe now." Midnight didn't want to, and yet, the voice had a somewhat calming effect on her. Ever so slowly, she cracked one eye open, and what she saw amazed her. The Changelings were gone, as indeed was the tree. Instead, it was just her in that same clearing. Yet, in spite of this, Midnight knew she was not alone, and slowly looked upwards. Her eyes narrowed, and she saw, flying high above her, a figure of some sort. One that stirred memories in her that she knew were not her own. "I...I know you." The figured descended with grace and care, landing just a short distance from Midnight. It was an alicorn, like her, but with a dark blue coat of fur, and a kind smile. "Do not fear, Midnight Sparkle. I mean you no harm." Through the memories of Twilight, Midnight at last recognised this person. "Princess...Luna?" The blue mare nodded, and in the quiet that followed, Midnight, now understanding who it was she was speaking to, also came to another realisation. "...This was a dream, wasn't it?" Again, Luna nodded. "Indeed. Well, a nightmare, to be precise." Her smile faded. "And a rather terrifying one, I must say." Midnight frowned, turning away, trying to hide the worry that still dominated her. "I...I didn't even know I could have nightmares." Luna looked to her with interest. "Nor I. I must confess, I was most surprised to sense you during my nightly rounds tonight." Taking a deep breath, Midnight sighed. "If this was all fake...then I was a fool for letting myself become so...concerned." She didn't want to say scared, Luna could tell, and as she smiled once more, she took a few steps forward, until she was standing right next to her. "There is no shame in our fears, Midnight. We all have them." Midnight looked to her, continuing to frown. "I'm better than that! I know I am!" Luna's smile again diminished, and she looked to Twilight's doppelganger with a greater touch of seriousness. "To deny what you fear does you no good, my young friend. And it would seem..." She turned, looking in the direction of the nightmares that had plagued the smaller mare. "...that you have more than a few." Midnight stared at the ground, almost ashamed of herself right now. "The Tree...Chrysalis...there are times when I just can't stop thinking about them. Both want me gone, and I have done all in my power to make sure I never encounter either." Luna could see her, and though Midnight would not have wanted her to, her slightly shaking hooves betrayed her concern. "I thought I'd left my fears of those things behind me...but seeing them here...so close to...to..." She couldn't bring herself to say it, instead gritting her teeth, eventually stamping down on the ground in frustration. "What's wrong with me?!" "...Nothing." Midnight turned to the calm and regal figure of Luna with incredulity. "Nothing? I refuse to let fear of that old witch control me! If I ever come across her again, I can't just be shaking in terror like I was back there!" Luna nodded. "Quite. One such as her should not be backed down from. And you are right to concern yourself with her. I too have thought of her a great deal since the day she took me and those closest to me as her prisoner." Midnight nodded back. "Yes...the day her Changelings reformed, correct?" Luna smiled. "Indeed. But you must remember something important, Midnight..." Stepping forward, Luna gently placed her hoof upon the younger mare's shoulder. "...fear is not something you should feel so ashamed of." To that, Midnight rolled her eyes. "You saw what being afraid did to me back there. I was paralyzed. Unable to do anything. I was like a cowering child. What isn't there to be ashamed of?" A knowing smile came to the mare of the night. "You are not wrong. Fear can indeed be the great double-edged sword of our lives. It can freeze us, make us feel weak, lesser than what we truly are." Warmth came to her face. "But it is also valuable in a way that few can appreciate...even among the wisest of us." Slowly, Midnight raised an eyebrow. "...Explain." And explain Luna did. "Think of fear...as a guide. A friend who is always with you, there to offer advice when you most need it." Midnight scoffed at the notion. "Advice? What sort of advice?" Luna gave a knowing smile. "When to flee instead of fight. When you have reached your limit. When it is unwise to tread further." Midnight's frown returned. "Sounds more like a hindrance." A shrug was Luna's response. "Perhaps...until the day when you finally come to appreciate it." Slowly, she looked to the younger. "We often dismiss fear, and see little merit to it. But to ignore it or look down upon it...would be foolishness." Midnight paused, taking in what was being taught, but soon looked away again. "I will...take your words under advisement." The blue alicorn smiled. "I am glad. And with luck, you shouldn't be bothered by nightmares such as this after tonight." The reminder of her experiences did little to help Midnight's mood. "Wish someone would have told me that sleeping came with that kind of nonsense!" A chuckle escaped the Princess of the Night, and as Midnight looked to her, she watched as she began to walk away from her. "I'd say it's a good sign, Midnight Sparkle. Dreams and nightmares may be strange to you..." She stopped, looking over her shoulder to the still-unsure clone. "...but they prove that, no matter what you might feel...you are indeed becoming more than what you were made to be." Midnight's face was stony, and almost impossible to read, yet Luna could see just the tiniest flicker of emotion in her eyes, leading to a small smile on her own part. Luna turned again, and Midnight watched as she yet again began to fade into the shadows of the surrounding forest. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have others that require my aid this night. Have restful sleeps, Midnight Sparkle." But it looked as if sleep was not on Midnight's agenda right now. For as soon as Luna had spoken those final words, her eyes, her real eyes, snapped open, and she found herself once more in her room in the Friendship Palace. In an instant, she sat bolt upright, glancing around, just in time to see the first inklings of light emerge on the horizon through her window. As her thoughts dwelt on all she had experienced in this night, she frowned, grumbling under her breath. "Note to self...never...sleep...again."