Through the Eyes of Nightmare

by Mister E-Nonymous

Chapter 13

Twilight had already told her friends to come over to the Library. Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Rarity and Rainbow Dash were confused at what Twilight said to them.

"Are ya sure that the dog ya got is talkin'?" Applejack asked. "Are ya sure ya ain't makin' it up?"

"I'm not making it up, Applejack," Twilight said. "Moonlight sneezed and shot a beam of magic, bouncing off the walls and hitting the dog. Stan, which is what Moonlight named him, can talk." She then looked up the stairs and called out, "Moonlight! Bring Stan down here!"

Then Moonlight and Stan came down the stairs. The mares in the room looked towards the dog. Fluttershy then walked up to the dog.

"I'm not so sure," Fluttershy said. "Dogs don't usually talk like us."

"It's true," Moonlight said. "I was able to make Stan speak."

"Is that right?" Fluttershy asked. She then looked at Stan and said, "Speak, boy."

"What do you want me to say?" Stan asked. That made Fluttershy stand frozen in shock. The other four mares were all jaw dropped. Stan looked up at Fluttershy then asked Moonlight, "Is she gonna be okay?"

Moonlight waved a hoof in front of Fluttershy's face and said, "I don't know..."

Twilight then walked up to Fluttershy and shook her. Fluttershy recovered and shook her head. Twilight then asked, "Are you okay?"

"I... I was just... startled," Fluttershy said. "It's so... unnatural."

Then Pinkie got into Moonlight's face, saying, "Ooh! Ooh! Moonlight! Can you shoot your magic at my pet alligator, Gummy?! I want to hear him talk!"

"You have a pet alligator?" Twilight asked. "That's so dangerous, Pinkie!"

"No it's not!" Pinkie said before pulling something out of her mane. It was a small alligator. "I call him Gummy because he doesn't have any teeth. See." Gummy then tried getting a bite out of Pinkie's hoof, but all he was doing was gumming it. "I still want to have him talk so he and I can have a real conversation."

"...Err, I rather not have my pet cat, Opal, speaking," Rarity said, unsure of that. "Sure, she's a little hard to control, but it might be unsettling for me.

The others were confused on that. Twilight then asked, "Well, Moonlight didn't do that on purpose. It was a sneeze induced spell. Also, why not, Rarity? I thought you said you have troubling controlling her? This way, she could tell you what went wrong."

"That's it, darling," Rarity added. "I have a feeling that I might be hearing things I cannot unhear."

"I agree with Rarity," Fluttershy said. "She's been saying a lot of things you do not want to hear."

Rarity nodded and said, "Thank you for agreeing with me, Fluttershy."

"Well, we're just gonna find a way what spell was the one responsible for Stan talking like us," Twilight said. "Just to see if it is possible for any unicorns."

"Well, if it's okay with you, Twilight," Stan said, "I think it would be better if I keep the fact that I'm a talking dog a secret. Who knows what would happen if I could be revealed that I'm a talking dog."

"Guess he has a point," Spike said. "Ponies might take him away and do experiments on him, trying to figure out how he talks."

"There's the Sugar!" Stan said. The five mares looked at each other in confusion. "Oh, it's a catchphrase I'm working on. I thought of it when Twilight was having trouble finding the sugar bowl."

That made Moonlight giggle at Stan's words. Moonlight than said, "I just hope that Stan will be okay."

"I'm sure he'll be fine," said Twilight.

"Don't worry, Moonlight," Stan said. "I just hope we don't run out of food."

"We have plenty of food, Stan," Spike said. "No way we're gonna run out of food."

"Not if the Parasprites come," Stan said.

"What's a Parasprite?" Moonlight asked.

"I don't know," Twilight said. She then headed to a section of the library and pulled out one book. She turned to one page and saw something that shocked her. "Parasprites! Creatures who are extremely cute, but are a real pest. They eat every kind of food and multiplying in the grossest way possible. Oh, boy."

"We better chase out them pesky varmints and keep 'em out of Ponyville," Applejack said.

"I know a way to keep them from doing what they're gonna do!" Pinkie shouted. "They came to my family's rock farm 10 years ago, and they got distracted by music. So, I need the instruments of a one pony band!" She then rushed out of the library.

"Is she serious?" Moonlight asked.

"Out of everything Pinkie has done, I'm not so sure," Twilight said. "But, we're gonna have to trust her. If music is going to keep those Parasprites out of Ponyville, then we're gonna have to trust Pinkie."

"No, I meant about the Rock Farm," Moonlight said. "Can you really Farm Rocks?"

"Eeyup," Applejack said. "Pinkie showed me a picture of it."

"It'll be a tough road," Twilight said. "But, at least we'll be ready for the Parasprites before Princess Celestia comes. We don't want those things to cause a ruckus."

Fluttershy was picking out some flowers for the Princess's arrival the next day. She had a squirrel helping her out. The squirrel was holding a dandelion.

"Thank you little squirrel, but remember: these flowers are for Princess Celestia," Fluttershy said. "Only the prettiest ones will do." Just then, something chirped, startling her. "Gah!" She hid behind a bucket of apples. When she peeked her head, she saw a small blue creature. She saw that it was a Parasprite. "A Parasprite!"

Just then, she heard the sound of a dog barking, followed by music. Fluttershy looked over towards the dog barking and music, and she saw Stan, followed by Pinkie Pie playing some music. The Parasprite was enchanted by the music and it followed Pinkie Pie as she was leading it away from Ponyville.

"There's the Sugar!" Stan said. That made Fluttershy giggle.

"Alright, Stan," Fluttershy said. "You head on home. But for a good job..." Fluttershy reached in the basket of apples, and pulled out a box of dog treats.

"Dog treats!" Stan said. Fluttershy then hoofed a dog treat to him. He jumped up and Fluttershy flew it into the air so he could catch it.

The entire town of Ponyville was decorated for the arrival of Princess Celestia. The Mane 6, Spike and Moonlight were waiting outside of the town. Just then, they saw the chariot coming down.

"Here she comes, everypony!" Twilight said. The eight of them watched as the chariot landed in front of them. Princess Celestia exited the chariot and came up to the Mane 6, Moonlight and Spike.

"Twilight Sparkle, my prized pupil," Princess Celestia said.

"Hello, princess," Twilight said.

"So lovely to see you again, as well as your friends," Princess Celestia said. She then looked down at Moonlight. "Hello there, Moonlight. Are you enjoying your time in Ponyville?"

"I am..." Moonlight said, before giving a sad smile.

"I know, it must be hard getting used to a new place in an unfamiliar form," Princess Celestia said. "But I know that you'll adjust."

"Not all ponies see me that way," Moonlight said. "Some ponies still want me..." Moonlight got nervous and shuttered.

Princess Celestia leaned her head towards Moonlight and said, "I promise that that will never happen to a sweet, innocent soul like you." She then stood up straight and said, "And I will make it clear to the ponies of Canterlot at the Grand Galloping Gala. Which is why... you'll be attending." Princess Celestia levitated a ticket to the Grand Galloping Gala to Moonlight.

Moonlight took the ticket in her magic, unsure whether to accept or decline. "Uhhhh... Do I have to attend?"

"It would make things a whole lot more easier for both of us for you to attend the gala," Princess Celestia said, smiling. "You'll have no worries."

Moonlight sighed.

"But for now, I cannot stick around," Princess Celestia said. "I'm afraid an emergency has come up in Fillydelphia. Apparently there's been some sort of infestation."

"An infestation?" Twilight asked.

"Yes, a swarm of incredibly bothersome creatures has invaded the poor town," Princess Celestia said, getting back into her chariot. "I'm sorry Twilight, to have to put you all through so much trouble."

"It's... alright, Princess," Twilight said. "We understand."

"Before I have to go, would you care to give me your latest report on the magic of friendship in person?" Princess Celestia asked.

"My... report?" Twilight asked.

"Actually, I have," Twilight said, looking towards Pinkie, and coming up behind her was Stan. "I've learned that sometimes the solution to your problems can come from where you least expect it. It's a good idea to stop and listen to your friends' opinions and perspectives... Even when they don't always seem to make sense."

"I'm so proud of you, Twilight Sparkle, and I'm very impressed with your friends as well," Princess Celestia said. "It sounds like you're all learning so much from each other."

"Thank you, princess," Twilight said. Then the chariot got lifted into the sky. Moonlight then looked down at the ticket she got from the Princess, and frowned. Twilight looked at Moonlight and asked, "What's wrong, Moonlight?"

"I'm... I'm not to sure that I want to go," Moonlight said.

That made Twilight's friends look down at Moonlight, all gasping. Rarity then asked, "Well why not, darling? It's a very big honor just to go to the Grand Galloping Gala."

"It's one of the biggest parties in all of Equestria!" Pinkie shouted. "How could you not want to go?!"

"I... don't really want to... you know..." Moonlight said, worried that the others wouldn't understand.

"It would make you feel more girly than before?" Twilight asked. Moonlight replied nodding, and also sighing. Twilight sighed as well and said, "Well, you might not like it, but you should go as well. You can't refuse the Princess's invitation to the Gala. She's expecting you to go there."

Moonlight bit her lip, getting nervous at what she was going to get into.

Moonlight was laying in her bed with Stan laying next to her. She was looking out the window, which was on the other side of Twilight's bed, with worry. Twilight turned her head towards Moonlight, and opened her eyes, to see Moonlight looking out the window.

"Moonlight?" Twilight asked. "Are you alright?"

Moonlight looked towards Twilight and sighed. She then said, "Not really. I don't really want to dress up and go to this... Gala. It seems... boring and... girly."

Twilight then got out of bed, walked towards Moonlight and said, "I know. You're a little worried that you might lose your mind and start thinking girly things?" Moonlight nodded. "It's okay. You might not enjoy it, but I'm sure that you'll be able to go with it. I'll be by your side all the way."

"Really?" Moonlight asked.

Twilight nuzzled Moonlight and said, "Really. No matter what happens, I'll be there with you." Moonlight smiled. "At the Gala, I'll be with you. As long as you stay with me when I'm gonna talk with the Princess."

"Okay," Moonlight said. She then sighed. "I just won't enjoy wearing a dress."

"I know," Twilight said. "Now, get some sleep. We're gonna have to get ready."

Moonlight yawned and said, "Okay. Good night."

Twilight kissed Moonlight's forehead and said, "Good night, Moonlight." She then headed for her bed and got in. Then, the two of them fell asleep, hoping that the next day will be better for Moonlight. Spike, on the other hand, sat up and shook his head.

Spike sighed and said, "You can't get a good night sleep these days."

Stan woke up too and said, "I know, right?" He then looked at the two girls, then he looked back at Spike. "Wanna try passing the time by playing that game, Ogres and Oubliettes?"

"You heard of that game?" Spike asked, quietly. "Alright. One quiet game." Then the two of them headed out of the room, closing the door quietly.