Chaos, and not the kind I liked. That was the scene on Mt. Aris. Before me, and, I am sure, everywhere else. I had yet to learn how the others were faring. Starlight could have set any number of traps. I shouldn't be worried. Sombra and Sabre were smart enough to know a losing gambit or apparent ploys. I'd bet my left hoof, Sombra, would have seen it all a mile away. None of that was my concern, though. Well, that's not my immediate concern, at least. Nope, all I had to focus on was the two dozen yetis and the mare who started to explode anything within fifty meters. Tempest had taken the opportunity to reengage said upset mare. Starlight had obliged readily.
I took a deep breath and watched as the first few yetis approached. They had to juggle getting to their targets and not being reduced to ashes by their boss. It was quite the task for the poor, uneducated beasts. I would have felt some level of pity if they weren't currently an occupying army.
"Thoughts, Babble?" I asked.
"This could have gone worse."
I tilted my head, my jaw working in disbelief. "Really?"
Babble sighed. "We could be on fire, you know, not counting the megaton explosions taking up ninety percent of the surrounding plaza."
As if in answer to Babble's karma. The sudden roar of a far-off explosion drew nearly everyone's attention. Besides Tempest and Starlight, who were in the zone as it were. Below us, on a lower set of buildings. The whole sum of which was now on fire. The scurrying of tiny blobs that made up whoever had to be in that area fled with a passion.
"You were saying?"
"No further comment."
The yetis had recovered from their confusion. With fewer thoughts running through their thick skulls, it was far easier to dismiss non-immediate concerns. Out of sight, out of mind. They turned back to Babble and me. I sighed deeply, rubbing a hoof against my throbbing head.
My soul companion had stopped convulsing in her prison and was now back to staring into the void, mumbling under her breath. That was unfortunate. I could really use her help right about now.
"For the sake of Faust," I muttered.
"For the sake of us all at this point," Babble corrected.
The yetis were drawing close. They'd slowed just outside of reach and had encircled us. Any second now, they'd make their first play. They'd have a fair chance of winning if they bum-rushed us all at once. I was still determining if they'd be smart enough to see it. It was a pretty brain-dead plan, but stranger things have happened. The first yeti lunged forward.
Babble's talon shot out and planted it firmly in the yeti's growling face. The giant ape stumbled back a pace and hissed. Its nose dripped with fresh blood. However, the fire behind the stalled Yeti's eye did not scream fear and panic. I sucked in air through my teeth and took a broach stance.
The yeti lunged again, this time far faster, and whipped an army in a hard horizontal lariat. Babble ducked the attack quicker, adding a second punch to the yeti's face. The others were getting restless and angry. I whistled and motioned up with my head. Babble responded with a quick nod in agreement. Then, in rapid succession, we both jumped wings wide. The yetis left surprised as we winged folk did the wholly unexpected and used those same wings. It was unthinkable if you were a yeti, at least.
"Well, that's a temporary solution to an unwavering issue," Babble said.
"True, but at least we have the mobility advantage."
An explosion not two meters out knocked any further affirmation of victory right out of my head. Babble and I drifted away, only for another explosion to land where we'd been seconds before.
"Yeah, not as much of an advantage as I'd like," Babble said. "Any ideas? We could use some magic right about now. Babble gave me a knowing jab. Another explosion off to one side, a meter away, didn't help.
"I wish," I said.
She hadn't even blinked in the time since Starlight went off and started exploding everything in sight. She sat there in the dark, staring at the abyss. At some point, one would blink; who and when were mysteries. But I really hoped it was soon.
"Look out. Babble pushed me of the side, a bolt whizzing past. I could hear the hiss as it pierced into the night. The yetis below had, it seemed, most likely under orders from Starlight, brought themselves a set of crossbows. There were at least eight drawn; half were loading, and with us airborne, there was much more real estate to attack from for the yetis. That is for the ones who'd brought their toys. The others could do little but watch or, if fitfully suicidal, aim to take on Tempest. You know, if they could even get through the spell-slinging happening in all directions. Even the yetis had seemed to accept that Tempest was a no-go.
"Well, this is unfortunate," I said.
"Agreed."
Several more bolts were launched. The night was doing us some good. The yetis, unlike yours truly, did not have the best low-light vision. This meant most of the bolts sailed through open air, nowhere near close enough even to need to move. If not for hippogriffs' keen sight from their griffon half. I'd have been the one dragging Babble around.
Those bolts that did aim true were still predictable enough to evade if one kept an eye on the crossbowmen's yetis. If one kept an eye out, in general, everything was fine—a feat I'd always needed to improve on. Babble was better, but even still. We could dodge all night, but if we didn't do something to actually stop the stupid gorillas, it didn't amount to anything worthwhile.
"Nightmare, wake up. We could really use your help here."
I stepped closer through my mind palace. There was no response. Though it was clear she was mumbling something. In the dark, all alone, muttering to the darkness. It wasn't a very inspiring scene.
"Nightmare, please." I hissed. I was almost within reach. Nightmare's mumbling was almost audible. Trying to rouse a pseudo-goddess and avoiding crossbow bolts was already taxing my weary mind. "Nightmare!"
The whole of the plaza was chaos. It was bad enough. I'm surprised Discord hadn't popped in. He might not like to solve every issue for us mortals, but this was big enough. I'd have thought he'd show up just to watch. If I called, he'd most likely show up. He might even offer an out. I could do that, but Discord had a point with his distaste for saving the day. He'd be here long after we were all gone. In what short time we had amongst the living, we should strive to stand on our own four hooves. That said, while I can respect his beliefs. I could not speak for my bum and the bolt that nearly gave me a second sphincter.
"Plans?" Babble asked.
"I'm trying. But we're not exactly in the best place to think on the fly here," I said, ducking a wayward bolt that just so happened to whiz right past where I swerved to duck another. The longer we went, the more accurate the yetis were getting. "How's Tempest doing?"
Babble scoffed. "Those two might reduce the mountain to rubble at the rate they're going."
I sighed. "Of course."
I retreated to my mindscape. Nightmare was close enough that I could reach out and touch her. Yet, I didn't. I couldn't. Whatever had Nightmare in a state like this went beyond me. I didn't have the right to force her back to reality. I'd told Starlight that Nightmare and I were one and the same. That was true in all the ways that mattered. We weren't quite who we were before. But that did not mean we were identical. She was still here, as was I. We were two halves of a single hole. A more complete whole than when Nightmare had controlled Luna.
"Nightmare, please," I whispered.
"Not."
I blinked. It was the first thing Nightmare had said clearly enough to make out. "Not what?" I asked.
"Not Nightmare, not anymore."
"Oh."
It seems Starlight wasn't the only one left reeling after my speech earlier. Nightmare had come to terms with what we'd become. It was a bit much. As the speaker, I wasn't quite as struck by the implications. I had come to the realization some time ago. I had a year to accept Nightmare, and I were stuck together. That Discord had done what he could, but even he couldn't cheat death. A cost for my revival No, that wasn't fair. It was our revival. Both Nightmare and I were given a second chance. Now, Nightmare had to accept it as well. Once all but a god, now, something less. It was quite the drop back to reality, to a life so opposed to her past conquests.
"Nightmare, please. We're in this together. You aren't alone."
Nightmare looked up from her self-reflections. Her eyes could barely focus on me. Her breath was ragged. "I'm! Not! Nightmare! I'm, I'm not Nightmare Moon, not anymore."
There it was. It was as simple as any other declaration I'd made since we set off on this voyage to save the princesses again. I didn't know what to say. She was still staring at me, shaking but her gaze unwavering. I couldn't look away as her stare bore into me.
"Then who are you."
I don't recall thinking or speaking. The words were simply there, free for both of us to hear and consider. I was pulled from my mind palace as I was pulled further into the sky as the Yetis continued to fire their crossbows. The time dilation between my inner world and the physical world was impressive. I cursed under my breath as I pulled out of Babble's grip. He gave me a tired look. I could relate to that.
"What in the world are you doing?" Babble asked.
"A battle on two fronts," I said with a humorless laugh.
"Meaning?" Babble asked.
"Plan A isn't looking so good. You got anything?" I asked.
"We could go find the others," Babble suggested.
I shook my head and looked back toward the magic duel going on below us. Starlight through lightning, Tempest through fire, shield here, dodge there. A stalemate by any other name.
"We can't just leave Tempest. So, I'll stay. You go."
Babble balked. "With your trances, you'll end up a pin cushion. You go, I'll stay. Besides, your aerial mobility is tragically poor."
I place a hoof on my chest. "Ouch, my pride. Go, Babble, I'll be fine, we'll be fine. All of us, so go find Sombra, or Sabre, anyone."
Babble made to say something, but the words died in his throat. Instead, he shook his head, gave one more look at the yetis below, and, mumbling something about my lack of sanity, left, back the way we came toward the city and the fires and the shouting. Babble had his mission, and I had mine. All I had to do was keep these yetis occupied. Easy, anyone could do it. Several of the yetis had turned to watch Babble go. Jingling keys and all that.
"Hey, you big hairy morons. Forget something?"
It seemed that perhaps at least a few of them had. The looks of dumbfounded recollection as they exchanged looks between the fleeing hippogriff and myself. It almost hurt being so readily disregarded.
"Come on, guys, you're gonna hurt my feelings here."
The second wave of confusion was almost pitiable. I offered a midair shrug before dropping several meters and sticking my tongue out in defiance. That broke them out of their stupor and returned their undivided attention to little old me. Only after the first few bolts were fired did I recall just how unenjoyable that was.
"Crap," I whispered as one bolt missed my ear by a hair's breadth. "Babble better get back soon, or I might end up haunting him before the night's end."
So, target practice continued. Now, flying is a tricky skill. A taxing one at that. It was more so for thestrals. Our wings were far more optimized for gliding and hovering. Pegasi had the endurance for speed and maneuverability. Give and take feathers versus leather. It was becoming clear that Babble's opinion hosted far more fact than fiction in terms of his thoughts on my flying skills. If it weren't for the fact the yetis were as dumb as rocks, and I didn't blend into the night so well. I'd have died a dozen times over by now.
I swerved another bolt and pondered just how many bolts did these guys have. We had to be close to twenty a piece at this point. My wings felt like each beat was doubling their weight, and I wasn't the only one to notice I was slowing down. The yetis were being much more deliberate with each shot. It was just a matter of time for them. I flipped over two more bolts. I could barely catch my breath. My lungs burned, and my sides were all but numb.
"Who!"
I blinked. The voice was low, a whisper on the wind. So faint one could have imagined it. Anyone but me, that is. I withheld a curse as I lost another meter in height. If I dropped too much further, the blasted apes might be able to just grab me out of the sky.
"Am!"
I was also starting to worry for Tempest. The escalation of her and Starlight's duel had become far more one-sided the longer their battle waged. Tempest had far more combat experience and raw force behind her spells, but Starlight had a nigh unparalleled talent and precision with her own casts. Even now, it was clear Tempest was tiring faster than her enemy. All in all, everything was going just peachy.
"I."
Then there were my brainmate's whispers. Even if I could spare the time, her words would be quiet. Trying to parse them while fighting for my life was doing me no favors. Then I felt it. The searing pain of something sharp pierced my left wing. I managed a chaste glance, and lo and behold. A bolt lanced taut, dripping in blood. I barely had time for a growl before I fell the last few meters out of the air and landed hard on my back. I was lucky that the marble was oh so soft and inviting, or the fall might have been excruciating.
"No, I, only we," I answered in between bouts of mind-bending pain. I don't know why I answered her, why that was the first cohesive thought that came to mind. But it was, and for some reason, that made me happy. A certain satisfaction only the insane could revel in.
"Only we…"
I could hear the plodding stomps of approaching yetis. This should be fun. I let that simmer, though. They could wait. I nodded, both in and outside of my mental place. "That's right. We're in this together."
"…Together."
It was warm, a faint tingling warmth that started in my chest and swelled outward. I heard the yetis stop in their tracks, talking amongst themselves. The warmth grew hotter and hotter. The pain vanished as the feeling grew. Then, the darkness came, but there was something else. A thousand little sparkling lights. Like the sky above. A starry night. I smiled. Then, I began to laugh, and another voice laughed right alongside me. "Only we."