//------------------------------// // A Voice In My Head // Story: Beyond My Grave: Night Terrors // by AnnEldest //------------------------------// You are mine...come to me, Luna. I know you can hear me. You can't run from me. Everything all around them was nothing but an empty void. "Let me help you," Discord pleaded with her. Spike hid behind Discord's back as he too was crying. "We can all still walk away from this," Spike cried out to his lost friend. "Don't make us hurt you." "Sister, it doesn't have to be this way..." Celestia shouted. But the one who was hurt the most came from the eyes of an unexpected friend. He was never much of a cryer. He has been upset but never to the point where he cried. He never even cried about his parent's death. But seeing all that the two have been through and where they are at now, it killed him too much from inside. Seeing Luna in so much pain and too far gone from them and it was all his fault. He could have done something to stop her. He could have saved her but it was too late now. Everything and everyone would all soon be nothing but ashes and it was nopony else but his fault. His mistake was going to cost the lives of everyone and he could have prevented it if he wasn't too afraid to help her. "Luna, please! Don't do this!" He began to tear up. Luna smiled venomously at her sister and her friends as they gave her pleading eyes. Her eyes turned into a red with green auras. "I've already made up my mind." "LUNA, NO!!!" Stop! Stop this now, brother. You can't have her. Luna, wake up. Wake up!!!! My eyes opened as I woke up from a short nap. I told myself that I wouldn't sleep for that long. It was hard for the rest of the night. I was scared of what else could happen to Cadance. She was afraid that something bad would happen to Flurry. For what I saw, it seemed that it was Cadance that was in danger more than Flurry Heart. I stayed with Cadance at the hospital for the rest of the night and well into the next morning until I was sure it would be okay for me to leave her. I had to make sure that whoever that mare was wouldn't come back to hurt her again. What did she want with Cadance? Why was this happening now? I tried thinking of anything that could come to mind but nothing stood out to me. During the night, I took the time to draw a picture of the mare to the best that I could remember. I knew that she had to once be alive. Somepony had to have known her. At least one pony had to know her. Throughout the night I watched her sleep, wondering what I should tell her. She still didn't know that I had seen the mare as well. Spike said that I should tell her and now I was thinking that maybe he was right. Maybe if I had said something things last night would have been different. I didn't think that I would be back in this mess again and so soon. It wasn't worse or anything but there was so much we didn't know. And now something was happening to me. I still didn't know what I did in the bedroom or last night at the hospital. I sent Discord a few letters to tell him what happened but so far he hadn't responded. I knew he was busy working with Spike so most likely he couldn't respond to my letter. It looked like I was on my own again. I met up with Celestia at the castle when it was time to lower the moon. None of us said anything to each other as we did our part in bringing the day to life. So much was going on with Cadance and we had no idea what to think about it. Slowly, to take the place of the moon in the sky, the sun gradually rose up from hiding behind the same horizon and into the sky, lighting up the land more and more as it rose. We both stayed quiet for a moment and basked the growing sunlight that cast upon us. I was the first to speak up. "How much longer is Cadance going to stay in the hospital for?" Celestia sighed a little. "The doctors want to keep her for another day." "Okay," I noded. "She'll be fine?" "I don't know, Luna. So much is happening and I don't know how to explain it all," Celestia said. "You do believe her, right?" I asked. "Of course I believe her. I know she would never make something like this up," Celestia answered me. "So what are we going to do?" Celestia thought to herself before looking up at the morning sky. "I don't know, Luna. I have no idea." I shrugged. "I guess that's an answer." "For now at least," Celestia nodded. I said nothing to that respond. I turned and trotted off. I was heading back to my room when I heard somepony calling my name. I turned around and saw Shining Armor trotting to me. "Shining Armor?" I stopped trotting. "Hey, umm how's Cadance? Celestia told me you stayed with her all night," He said. "She was fine when I left and yes I did stay with her. I didn't want to leave her alone," I said. "Do you know anything that Cadance is talking about?" He asked me. He seemed unsure of himself anymore. Like a part of him wanted to believe his wife but yet had troubles doing so. I handed him a picture of the mare that I drew. "I don't know a lot but I know this is the mare she was speaking of." "What's this?" He asked as he grabbed the picture with his magic. "I drew a picture of the mare based on how Cadance described her," I explained myself. He examined the picture for a few seconds before giving it back to me. "Do you have any idea who that maybe?" I asked, hopefully. He shook his head. "No clue. I never have seen this pony before." "I was afraid you were going to say that," I said sadly. Then a thought came to mind. "Wait, who's watching Flurry?" "Don't worry. Celestia has her," He answered. I gave a breath in relief. "Okay...good." "Anyway, thanks for staying with Cadance. It means a lot to me. She is really opening up to you." "I'm glad to help her in any way that I can." He smiled and started to trot off. "I'm going to go back to the hospital to check on her. I'll see you later." "Okay. I'll be in my room if there is anything you wish to discuss with me," I said. "Alright. If I find out anything, I will let you know," Shining Armor said. I watched him turn the corner and disappeared. I trotted back to my room. I opened the door and went into my room and sent one more letter to Discord to see if he would write back to me. I waited for a few minutes for him to sent a letter back to me. Sadly, one never came to me. I sighed. I should not have been that surprised. Even with Discord knowing the truth about me, I still felt alone. He told me that he would be there if I needed him. Well, where was he now? I guessed it was just another empty promise that was given to me. Nopony could help me. I had no one to go too. I hugged my knees and looked at the picture I drew of the mare. "Why do you want Flurry Heart so badly?" I asked knowing very well nopony could answer to me. My ears perk up and I began to feel weird. At this point, I already knew what it meant. Now I can't explain this feeling all that well. But you know when a pony says "I feel like I'm not alone" when nopony else is there with them? Well, it's somewhat like that but only stronger. "It seems someone is having baby troubles again," A voice whispered in my ear sounding worried. I turned to the source of the noise, raising myself from my bed and stretched for a second before finally giving it my full attention, smiling slightly. He stood back the bed smiling back at me before laying down right next to me on the bed. I laid my head on his shoulder. "You really need to stop doing that?" I said to him. "Stop what?" He looked confused at me. "Coming to me at the worse possible times." His deep, quiet laughter vibrated through his chest as he laughed at me. "I'm your father. It's my job to do that." I rolled my eyes and scoffed softly. "I wish you could have done your job when you were alive." "You think I don't wish that?" He asked. I sat up from the bed and stared down at him. "You would have been with us all those years if you did." He rubbed his eyes. I couldn't tell if he was wiping tears or simply just rubbing them. "You're still mad at me for that?" "Of course I am still mad. Who wouldn't be?" I snapped. "And yet here you are still talking to me," He pointed out. "I guess I was hoping for some closure," I said. "And have you gotten it?" He asked. I slammed myself back onto the bed. My head slamming hard against the pillow. "No, I haven't. It's kinda hard too when you don't know what you're talking to is real or just another voice in your head." He nodded his head and chuckled. "Fair enough. I'll give you that one." "Thank you. I just want to be normal." "No offense but were you ever?" He asked. I gave him a mad look. "You know what I mean," I snapped. He laughed. "I do. Makes me wonder, though," He put a hoof to his chin."How does Cadance feel knowing what she's seeing could be in her head?" "I know how she feels," I said. "You do?" "I feel that almost every day. Mostly when I talk to you," I paused. "Sorry." "No. No, you're fine. I mean you're right. She has every right to feel crazy right now. And yet...you know that she isn't. Something you always wanted before." He gave me a hard glare. I groaned. "Father, I get it. I know what you're doing." "Then why don't you do something about." "What can I do?" I asked. He gave me a look that was saying "You know what." I groan loudly. I got off from the bed and went by the window. "Fine, I'll tell Cadance." "Good girl but why are you afraid?" "All those years of being called crazy and believing it...everypony thinking I wasn't good enough because...I can't go through that again. I won't. Even if I have to go through it alone." He sighed sadly. "Luna..." I turned back at him. "Yes, father." "Don't be mad at your friend. This is all new to him too. Give him time." "You mean Discord?" I asked. I stared at the sky as the morning birds sang their songs welcoming the new day. "I know. It's just I can't do this alone. I don't want to." "You won't be alone. Trust me," He said. He smiled at me. "You're going to have to put a little faith in your friends again." He sat up and went by the window. He put an arm around me and hugged me. I once again laid my head on his shoulder. It had been a long time since we were like this. It felt different not being mad at him. We could have been like this when he was alive. We should have done more. I should have said more. Behave more. I should have said that I loved him more. Maybe then things would have turned out differently. Maybe he would have started to believe it and see how much we cared about him. He could have helped me when I needed him the most and I could have helped him when nopony else would. "I know it's hard for you. You didn't deserve any of that. But I know it will get better. I promise." He kissed me on the forehead. "And if it doesn't?" I challenged. "Then...you're fucked." I smiled and laughed at that. He always knew what to say to me. "Oh my. You said a bad word," I said in a fake hurt child voice. He laughed. "I'm dead. I'm sure the grim reaper wouldn't mind me saying a few harsh words." "Me either...Me either..." I noticed that the spirit was no longer by my side. He always left too soon from me. I was used to that though. I went back on the bed. I laid my head on my pillow and sighed. Why couldn't I be normal? I knew how to control this but I didn't want it. But there was nothing that could be done about that. The bedroom door then flew opened as Shining Armor ran into my room. I say up quickly. He looked like something had scared him. "Luna, we have a problem." "Shining Armor, what seems to be the problem?" "It's Cadance. I went to go check on her but she wasn't in her room," He said frightened. "She's not at the hospital?" I asked, confusingly. "Luna...Cadance is missing."