//------------------------------// // chapter 5. living the nightmare // Story: Mind games // by Cero //------------------------------// Luna paced around the main hall of the castle waiting for celestial to return. "I told her long ago that I was not crazy I knew I saw discord back then." Luna thought to herself. "but it seems history is trying to repeat itself once more."  The doors from the main hall swung open as celestial walked in followed by her royal guards.  "I want every pony to search all of ponyvill and Canterlot for Twilight. Be careful she is hallucinating and might attack." The guards nodded as the took flight to look for Twilight.  Celestial turned her head to Luna but said nothing. Celestia couldn't gather the courage to say anything to Luna. But how could she ask for help from someone who went through the same nightmare many years ago. The they both stood silent. Luna was first to brake the silence. "It seems history is trying to repeat itself sister."  "yes... And I'm sorry."  The apology caught Luna off guard.  "sorry for what Tia?"  "For not believing you all those years go. Your my sister and I should have believed you that you where seeing discord." "I see. So it is true what spike's letter said. Twilight is now seeing discord but no one else can?"  "Yes. But I'm afraid that twilight may be loosing grip on reality. I can't imagine what twisted mind games Discord has plaid on her." "I can." Luna said as old memories began to creep there way back into her mind. "He manipulates your thoughts how he wants to. He can make you see things and hear things." "So he can control your like a puppet." "No not entirely he can only really manipulate your senses. Back then he made it seem that no one cared about the night. And slowly that thought began to dig itself deeper and slowly began to seem as if where true." "Causing you to become Nightmare moon." "Yes." "But what would discord want with twilight? What is his plan destroy the eliments of harmony?" The doors to the main hall suddenly swung open as one of the royal gaurds ran in. "Princes twilight has was seen in the Sculpture garden." Celestia and Luna rushed passed the guard as they heard the news of twilight's location. "Why didn't I think to look there at first its so obvious!" Celestia yelled at herself as she made her way though the castle. "You couldn't have known Tia." "Yes I could twilight told me that she was there in her dream and that.." Celestia stopped at her tracks in the sudden realization of discords plan. "Whats wrong?" "I know whats discords planning he is trying to get free again. But I don't think that's all he is planning on doing." "Well come on then Twilight is waiting and if we don't hurry so will Discord." "Agreed the sculpture garden is not that far I just hope where not too late." ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ Twilight stood in font of the statue as tears filled her eyes. "This cant be." Discords appeared behind Twilight with a smile. "Aww whats wrong Twilight." Discord slowly walked around Twilight making his was between her and the statue. "Come now Twilight you should be happy this statue marks the end of Celestia's rule over Equestria. And the beginning of a new era of Equesrtia." Twilight could only stand her ground the tears still falling from her eyes. "You have gone too far discord! I wont let you get away with this!" "Hehe. And what are you going to do? Brake the spell and release Celestia?" Discord acted innocent as if he had not realized he had just given twilight a way to stop him. "As a matter of fact that's exactly what I'm going to do!" Twilight's horn slowly glowing brighter preparing the spell. At a distance the sound of two faint voices could be heard calling out someones name. Twilight paid no attention to the voices all she could concentrate was her spell. "TWILIGHT STOP!" The voices called out once more as the got closer. But it was to late a beam shot from twilight's horn connecting twilight and the statue. For twilight all of time stopped the voices could no longer be heard and all she could see was a small patch of grass that supported her and the empty base of where the statue once stood. The sky was pitch black no stars no clouds and no moon. "Where am I? ...Princes?" "I'm sorry Twilight but your princes in another dimension." Discord emerged from the darkness walking to twilight. "Discord what happened to the princes and where am I." "Your own personal nightmare. And don't worry about the princess she is fine in fact you will be seeing her soon. Well at least part of you will be." "At whats that's suppose to mean?!" "So eager to find out then let me show you." Discords talon's snapped lifting Twilight off the ground. "What are you?" Twilight's body felt numb as she was lifted from the ground. She could sense she was losing all control over her body. To her it felt as if her very soul was being removed from her body. "No stop." She pleaded. Then just as fast as it happened it was over she could feel senses returning to her as she smashed into the ground. Twilight felt groggy her vision was blurry she stumbled back into her feet. She checked herself over but saw nothing had happened to her. "Ha looks like your plan failed Discord." "Did it now?" Twilight was caught by surprise by the her own voice answering her. "Who said that?" Twilight turned to find another pony standing next to discord who looked like an exact copy herself. Her coat cooler was a dark shade of purple, her mane was completely black for except for her two highlights that had changed in to a indigo and the other white color. "Well Nightfall don't be rude say hello." Talking to the pony next to him like a father talks to his child. "Hello Twilight."