//------------------------------// // The Night that Never Ends // Story: Every Nightmare's Caveat // by libertydude //------------------------------// “Keep up, Nightshade,” Earth Shine said. The little filly quickened her pace, walking alongside Earth and the Princess. The Night Guards marched behind them, their hoofsteps and clinking weapons the only sounds within the night. “Curious,” Nightmare Moon said. “Not nearly as many Timberwolves this time.” She gave a quick shrug. “But who am I to complain about such luck?” “Indeed,” Earth Shine said. “Fortune seems to favor your ascent.” Nightmare Moon gave him a questioning look. “It seems your belief in fortune extends to bringing the filly with us. I would’ve thought you of all ponies would know better than child endangerment.” “You know her purpose, Your Highness,” Earth Shine said. “I told you I would show you my devotion to your cause.” Nightmare Moon raised an eyebrow. “A most abnormal tribute.” Earth gave her a look as hard as steel. “This is a most unusual event. Don’t act like some hollow praise or kneeling will satisfy you. You want proof?” He pointed toward Nightshade. “What better than willingly sending my one true companion through the portal with us?” “Still. Devotion of this degree is…unusual.” “If you’re in a cynical mindset, think of her as insurance. I won’t try anything funny with Nightshade at risk. You should know; you tested my devotion the same way.” The Princess’s smile returned. “Indeed. Perhaps your devotion will be as pure as you suggest. But for now, we march forward.” Earth Shine nodded, then looked up at the sky. Then he gazed back down at Nightshade shivering in the cool evening wind. His eyes softened for a moment before returning to their hard look. “Come on,” he said. “We mustn’t disappoint the Princess.” Nightshade nodded and picked up her pace. She stared at the ground, watching for vines and hoping she wouldn’t trip over her hooves in the dark. A few minutes later, a clearing appeared before them. At the center of it sat a giant stone table surrounded by broken thrones. It was a dim white color, almost pure marble. A tangle of vines covered its surface, and croaking bullfrogs leaped off the thrones once the soldiers came into view. “Here we are,” Nightmare Moon said, her voice barely containing her glee. “The place where my destiny shall be fulfilled.” She glanced down at Earth Shine, who stared at the scene with a blank face. The joy he’d originally felt during his earlier revelation didn’t appear now. “Well what are you waiting for?” Nightmare Moon said. “Use the magic you described.” He looked up at her and gave a small smile. “Of course, Your Highness. Let me make sure the spell parameters are correct first.” “Well, hurry up,” she said. “I’d rather conquer all of time sooner rather than later.” He nodded and made his way to the table. He shuffled around every which way he could, glancing at each section as if it were the important part of a machine that needed to be oiled. He continued this way for several minutes, the Princess growing more restless by the minute. “Well?” she eventually burst out. “Can you do the spell or not?” Earth Shine looked up and smiled. “Indeed I can.” He motioned towards Nightshade. “Nightshade, please come on up here.” Nightshade looked nervous, but the Princess’s irritated glare soon prompted her up to the table. “Now stand here,” Earth Shine said. “We need to make sure the spell stays within certain parameters.” Nightshade followed his hoof and stood at the table’s center, now shaking slightly less. Earth looked down at the table and smiled. “It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” “What?” the Princess said. “This table. This…total reservoir of ancient magic. With it, a pony could do whatever they wanted, rule whomever they wanted.” “Yes! And your poetry is keeping me from doing so!” Nightmare Moon boomed. “Now get on with the spell!” “Very well,” he said. He planted his hooves firmly within the table and lifted his horn high in the air. A firm buildup of energy occurred, his horn glowing green before shooting off above the table. A dome began to form above it with mysterious runes covering the sphere’s surface. “Yes!” Nightmare Moon shouted over the growing wind. “A portal to another time!” Just then, the energy immediately died off. The crackling spell went silent, with not even the bullfrogs croaking a reply to the commotion. “What?” Nightmare Moon said, before looking down at Earth. He was sitting on the table, a weak smile stretched across his face. Nightshade shook behind him, barely able to keep standing on the structure. “It’s over,” he said. “What? What’s over? Open that portal back up!” Nightmare Moon demanded. The prisoner shook his head. “I can’t. There’s nothing on the other side of that portal, Your Highness.” “What’re you talking about?” “This place.” He gestured to the woods. “This reality doesn’t exist anymore. That mare you met destroyed it when she went back in time. We’re all dead now. Time just hasn’t caught up to us yet.”