//------------------------------//
// Epilogue 
// Story: I Barely Know Me 
// by Trinity Copper-Fox 
//------------------------------//

I’m running. Guard ponies are chasing me, so I’m running. My hind leg is burned and each step rocks me with agony. Discord’s laughter is ringing around me.
Celestia’s voice washes over me, making me falter. “How long have you known?”
“From the start,” Discord replies.
His head rises up in my path, his expression cold. He opens his mouth as I try to stop, but I can’t.
His single fang is descending on me.
“Wake up,” his voice murmurs.
My eyes shot open, finding the real Discord, who gazed down at me with concern. His claw gently smoothed over my mane as he whispered reassurances to me.
“You’re here,” he breathed. “I have you.”
My breathing gradually slowed to a steady rhythm as I looked around at the familiar surroundings. The bedroom was really just a massive nest of pillows and blankets with shelves lining the walls. Several books I was currently reading lay scattered around the room. A door hung open in the ceiling—something I kept telling Discord to close—and lamps floated around, only the one nearest to us lit.
It had been months since I’d reconciled with Nightmare Light in my mind. The days following had been hectic, the princesses demanding I move into Canterlot castle and be properly presented to Equestria. I hadn’t realized for that first week that my appearance had changed—my mane and tail both glowed now, and I had a patch of white under my cutie mark. It had been chaotic, but Discord had somehow, through his own unpredictability, managed to help me get through it.
“Thanks,” I sighed, burying my face against his neck. Before he could ask, I told him what had happened in my nightmare.
“You’re still afraid of me?” he asked, still petting my mane.
“No, of course not,” I insisted, wrapping my forelegs around him. “I don’t know why I’d still have these nightmares.”
“Lunar, dearest?”
It was Luna’s voice from above us. I tensed up, watching as she peeked through that open door.
“M…mother,” I answered, still not quite comfortable with the word. I’d been right about her wanting to be a true mother to me now, but I still couldn’t quite accept her attentions. She descended into the room and sat beside us.
“You’re still having nightmares.”
“Aren’t you supposed to be able to prevent that?” Discord grumbled, scowling.
“That is not how my powers work and you know that,” she huffed before turning to me again. “And I’m afraid they will continue for quite some time.”
“But why am I still having them?”
“Because there are wounds on your soul that are hard to heal. You trust Discord—more than you trust me, for some reason—but you were terrified of everypony for so long that your subconscious is still struggling to process this new state.”
“Oh,” I breathed, looking away.
“It will take time, but you will heal, I promise. Until then…” She paused, giving Discord a look of grudging respect. “Well, Discord has the right approach to helping you.”
Discord puffed out his chest, grinning wide. Luna rolled her eyes and turned back to me.
“I know this may not be the best time, but I want to talk to you about—”
“I know what you want,” I sighed, sitting on my haunches. “I still don’t think I’m really…princess material.”
“You are my daughter,” she reminded me, frowning. “You don’t really have much of a choice in the matter.”
“Well, I didn’t exactly come into existence in the conventional manner. I think that makes the situation rather different.”
“Twilight’s ascension wasn’t conventional, either.”
Leftover bitterness from Nightmare Light swelled up in my chest and I huffed, trying to expel it from my body.
“And I’m not Twilight Sparkle, so it remains my decision, does it not?”
“You cannot deny who you are,” she snapped, her voice starting to take on that booming edge.
“Would you stop that?” I hissed, turning away. “I hate the Royal Canterlot Voice.”
She sighed and flew up and out the door, leaving Discord and me alone. I grabbed the book I’d been reading before bed, opening it and staring at the page. I was sure that Discord could tell that I wasn’t actually reading, but he just curled up next to me, looking at one of my Ogres & Oubliettes rulebooks.
“I think I want to start sleeping during the day,” I muttered after a while, closing my book again.
“Why’s that?” he asked, popping up off the book’s cover.
“I don’t like how she can spy on my dreams.”
“She probably wouldn’t call it spying.”
“She has no business mucking about in my head.”
“What about me?” he teased, climbing inside my ear. “Can I muck about in your head?”
“Discord!” I laughed, shaking my head. “I’m being serious!”
“Lunar, she just wants to be sure you’re alright,” he chuckled, returning to his spot next to me. “The same thing I want to ensure. You never seem to mind sharing your nightmares with me.”
“That’s because it’s my choice. I have a choice with you. She can just jump in and out of my dreams at will.”
“I bet she’d listen if you asked her not to,” he suggested.
I opened my mouth to argue but stopped short. That hadn’t occurred to me. And I realized that I had been thinking of Luna differently these past months than I had before I knew Nightmare Light was me. Before, I had thought of Luna as kind and understanding. Once I knew about Nightmare Light and had my memories back, I’d started thinking of her as the harsh, bitter pony she’d been as Nightmare Moon.
“Of course, she would,” I muttered, shaking my head with a laugh. “I knew there was a reason I kept you around.”
“Excuse you,” he scoffed, butting his head against mine. “You couldn’t get rid of me if you tried.”
“True,” I murmured, leaning up to nuzzle at his face. “Good thing I gave up on that a long time ago.”