//------------------------------// // Therapy (Prompt #118) // Story: Thirty-ish Minute Pony Stories // by Abecedarian //------------------------------// TMP Prompt #118 - “Guess Who’s Back” Prompt: It is the day of the Summer Sun Celebration, and Nightmare Moon is about to be released … again. - Therapy “Pinkie,” Rainbow Dash said. “In a lifetime of insane ideas and ridiculous stunts, this is the craziest thing I’ve ever done.” “There’s nothing crazy about it, Dashie!” Pinkie insisted. “We’re all prepared, the Princesses are here, we all have our Elements…Heck, Twilight’s thrilled about this!” “Twilight’s just as crazy as you are, only in a different way.” Dash looked over at the purple unicorn, who was bent over the summoning circle. “No offense, Twilight.” “Hm, what?” “Never mind.” “Ah gotta say, Ah’m with RD on this‘un.” Applejack gave the tree in the center of the circle a pensive glance. “Twi, sweetie, Ah don’t mean ta doubt ya or anythin’ but this seems a bit…” “Closure is one of the most vital aspects of overcoming trauma, Applejack! We’re just helping Princess Luna overcome her personal demons.” Twilight face curled into a grin. “The fact that I get to test a dozen new spells or so has nothing to do with it.” “New spells?” “Well, the summoning and containment spells are technically old, but I ironed out so many flaws I was practically starting over from scratch. Now, the embodiment spell, that’s whole cloth.” She clapped her hooves. “Oh! This is going to be so fun!” “Sure,” Rainbow Dash said. “We’re only summoning a demon or whatever using spells nopony’s used before. It’ll be a blast.” “Won‘t it, though?” Dash sighed. “If worst comes to worst, Rainbow, we can just use the Elements to eradicate the vile thing.” Rarity sniffed. “We ought to do that anyway.” “Yeah, I guess so. I still can’t believe you’re willing to go through with this. You‘re usually more…” “Cautious? Normally yes, but after hearing what poor Princess Luna went through at the mercy of that…monster, I simply couldn‘t let such an injustice go unanswered, and this seemed a fine way to go about it.” “About that,” Fluttershy asked. “What’s going to happen…after?” “We’ll trap and analyze the Nightmare.” Twilight said. “I know you won’t like this, but we may have to destroy it.” Fluttershy winced. “Even you can’t honestly tell me you feel sorry for it, dear?” “Not…‘sorry‘, but-but it’s still a living…whatever it is. We shouldn‘t talk about killing it so lightly.” “After the way it twisted Princess Luna’s mind and body, killing it is too—” “Gals! She c’n hear ya!” “Fear not!” Princess Luna called from within the circle. “I am not offended. Sweet Rarity and Fluttershy, your compassion speaks well of the rightness of your Elements’ decision in choosing you.” “We’ll work out the particulars of what happens to the Nightmare later,” Princess Celestia assured Fluttershy. “We may be able to contain it, even reform it, without having to resort to destroying it.” “Well, I’m still not too comfortable about this.” “It will do no permanent harm. Right, Twilight?” “Probably no-Uh, right! Sure!” She raised her voice. “Luna, are you ready to begin?” “Aye!” * * * The Nightmare’s eyes opened, to be greeted by a ring of all-too-familiar ponies. “Fools!” it cried. “You have the temerity to summon me? Me!? I will destroy you all!” It reached forth a hand to—what? Paper streamers hung from the short, stubby limb before it. “What is this?” It surveyed its body. Some sort of hollow construct of wood and paper? With something in its belly? Was it hanging from a tree? Somepony behind it cleared their throat. The Nightmare twisted to see who. “Hello,” Princess Luna said around the stick in her mouth. “How nice to see you again. Like this.”