Nightmare was in the last place she ever thought she would ever be. She was outside, in the sunny rays and joy filled garden of Canterlot. Every fiber of her body despised the star that shined brightly behind her. "This trip better be worth it," mumbled Nightmare. She had left Luna's room after deciding to find the answers she needed, from a person she thought she would never seek answers from.
The Alicorn slowly trotted in the Canterlot Gardens, looking aimlessly for her answers, but they were no longer in this old place. Nightmare stared at the place where the statue of the Draconequus used to stand. "Where are you Discord?! I will not have walked in this blasted sun for nothing! Answer me!" growled Nightmare in frustration. This was a vain attempt by the mare to find the answers she desperately needed. All she could do was scowl at the fact that the statue was moved or missing from its original place.
"This was a waste of my time! Why did I even come to look for that pathetic excuse for rebel?! Not to mention he has lowered me to walking in this accursed sun!" screamed Nightmare. Answers were within her grasp, but only to be denied by the missing Draconequus. She didn't know why she searched for the ex-king in the first place, but it seemed like a logical reason at the time. "Logical reason my moon. That trash is anything but logical," scowled Nightmare as she continue to blame the Draconequus. 'I have wasted enough time here. These answers will have to be sought later. I cannot tarry any longer,' thought Nightmare as she left the spot where the statue used to stand. She was stopped in her tracks as a maniacal and sinister laughter entered the air. The voice sounded evil down its very core. For once in her life, Nightmare felt fear, a feeling that she only bestowed, never felt. These new feelings being foreign to her made Nightmare cringe in her stance.
She took a look back to see where the voice came from, only to find what she was looking for, staring down at her. The missing place of the Draconequus was now replaced with an astral form of Discord, almost transparent and blanch, like her. Nightmare meet the ex-king's glare and only felt worse for it. All the feelings that Luna felt, the same feelings the darkness gave her when it invaded her dreams was now coursing through Nightmare as the look from the beast continued. No matter how hard she tried, Nightmare couldn't pull her eyes away from the deathlike glare.
Nightmare had always experienced the dark feelings second-hoof from Luna's memories, but the encounter with the monster changed all that. Now Nightmare knew what it was like to be filled with nothing but fear. However, before the Draconequus could sense her distress, Nightmare composed herself and put on the mask she always wore. Her features returned to normal with a stern and agitated look on her face but, deep down, Nightmare still felt the fear. ‘Is this what Luna has always felt?’ thought Nightmare to herself. ‘Has it always been this way?’ Question after question filled her mind as Luna's well-being was the only thing Nightmare could concentrate on at that moment. Her thoughts were interrupted by the demonic voice that belonged to the beast in front of her.
"No need to shout Moony. I heard you the first time. So what brings a mare like yourself to a monster like me?" asked Discord as his form came into focus.
"My name is Queen Moon to you insect! You will refer to me as such and you will show me the respect that comes with that title!" retorted Nightmare. Despite her efforts, the Draconequus' features remained the same.
"Queen you say Moony? Well if you're a queen, then care to explain the still sunny day we are blessed with?" asked Discord with much sarcasm.
"My plans are none of your concern! Equestria shall experience eternal night and it will be soon. Now silence thy silver tongue Draconequus before I silence it for you. I have questions to ask and have no time for your foalish games," shouted Nightmare regaining her confidence.
"Well then, ask away Moony. I find it interesting to have you grovel at my feet for these answers," laughed Discord.
"I AM NOT GROVELING NOR WILL I EVER TO THE LIKES OF YOU, INSECT!" shouted Nightmare, with anger rising every second.
The look on Discord's face remained the same. His face still consisted of arrogance and superiority. Even with her mask on, Nightmare still showed fear at how calm the Draconequus was. His calmness only angered the Lunar Goddess even more and agitated her frustration.
"What are your questions, Moony? I'm waiting," said Discord seeing the falter in the masquerade she always wore.
"I seek answers from you Draconequus. I seek answers as to why I am feeling this way towards somepony I thought my slave. Why do I have new feelings for this pony? Why am I filled with joy at the sight of her smile? Why do I find happiness in seeing this mare's own happiness. Why am I trying to protect her from the darkness where I was born?" asked Nightmare. The look on the Draconequus face never faltered. He continued to stare down at her with interest and joy. He reveled in her confusion and frustration and her own inner turmoil.
"You are not asking the right questions Nightmare. I will only answer you when you ask the right questions," answered Discord. The new look on the Alicorn's face only brought pride to him as he could see her anger and frustration increase even more.
"Answer my questions vermin! I don't have time for your foalish games and am not in the mood for them! ANSWER ME!" she boomed in her Royal Canterlot voice. The roar shook the nearby windows and sent tremors in the mountain-side of the castle.
"Shouting will get us nowhere Moony. You need to ask the right questions if you want any answers," said Discord with his same calmness.
"Then enlighten me Draconequus. What are the right questions?!" retorted Nightmare.
"Look inside yourself Moony. Look inside the part of you that you always thought weak. Look inside your heart. There you shall find your questions," answered Discord. He took a step back and snapped his talons. A beach chair and umbrella appeared before them as Discord took a seat. Another snap of his talons and shades appear before his eyes.
"While you think about that Moony, I’m going to get a tan. Don't you just love the nice weather we’re having?" mocked Discord.
‘What the buck is this twit talking about?’ thought Nightmare. ‘How can my heart know what I'm looking for? This has all just been a waste of time!’
Nightmare grunted in her frustration which only added more joy to the Draconequus. "What's the matter Moony? Don't know what you want? First you ask for answers, now you ask for questions? I must say, this is quite an interesting turn of events, isn't it?" asked Discord with a smile.
Nightmare only growled at the Draconequus. Frustration at it’s highest peak in her body, Nightmare snapped. She galloped towards the Draconequus to take all her frustration out on his little neck. The sudden movement surprised the ex-king as he was tackled to the ground with her horn in his face. The horn started to glow a pitch black as she readied it for battle.
"Nah, ah, ah. You know what happens if you use too much magic. Its the same thing that happens to me, we are both without a body after all. Well mine is stoned right now, but you get the point. Go ahead, give me your best shot. Use all that magic you have gathered on me. Hit me. Hit me! HIT ME!" laughed Discord wildly. He enjoyed Nightmare's misgivings as much as his own.
"You are insane, Draconequus. Now tell me what I need to know!" shouted Nightmare.
"What was the first clue? My evil laugh or devilishly good looks?" said Discord.
"Self-flattery? Quite pathetic. Oh how the mighty has fallen," said Nightmare as she got off the ex-king.
"I could say the same thing about you. Now have you found the questions you would like to ask?" quipped Discord.
"Just tell me the bucking question. I don't have time for this," sneered Nightmare.
"I can wait. Thats what you do during imprisonment, you wait. I got the rest of time to hear your question. So if you want your answers I suggest you look into your heart, or whatever you use to pump blood in your body. Knowing you, you probably never had a heart to begin with, but I can see that changing even now as we speak," said Discord.
"I...don't have a heart. Never have, never will," mumbled Nightmare.
"Why do you continue to lie to yourself? You have already seen the changes in your behavior and feelings. Now look into your heart. Look past the darkness that you claim to be the master of," said Discord.
Nightmare gave a sigh before giving into the Draconequus demands. She closed her eyes and listen to whatever she was looking for. Her search was ended abruptly when she found what she was looking for. The question filled her head immediately after searching in her 'heart'. She didn't know why, but the question just made sense. But it was a question she was going to have to swallow her pride to ask. A question that will only make her look weak in front of the Draconequus. "This is for Luna," thought Nightmare. "If I am going to help her, I cannot let my ego stand in the way of it."
"D-do I....do I love Luna?" whispered Nightmare. The question was almost silent, ghostlike, as if it was never meant to be asked.
"Now that, Nightmare, is the right question," said Discord as he got off of his beach chair.
"I am very proud of you Moony. Swallowing your pride and for whom? A pony you have never even thought of as more than just leverage over Celestia. You must really care for Luna if you are willing to let your ego fall," said Discord.
Nightmare just stood there in her spot silently. She waited for the insults to come. The insults about her weakness, about her emotions, and about her attachment to Luna. The insults never came as she looked back into the Draconequus eyes. The fear Nightmare was expecting never reached her as she felt the Draconequus radiate logic and reason. A first to Nightmare.
"Well? What are you waiting for? Aren't you going to insult me for my weakness?" screamed Nightmare.
The ex-king's features remained the same. Calmness with a bit of cockiness. "Telling your love for someone else is not a sign of weakness Nightmare. It is only a weakness if you think it is," answered Discord.
Nightmare just looked down to the ground and pondered what the Draconequus said. She looked back to the ex-king as he still hasn't answered her. "You haven't answered my question," said Nightmare.
"This is a question you already know the answer to Nightmare. You didn't need to ask me what your heart already knows," answered Discord.
"Why have I wasted my time with you?! You tell me that I'm not asking the right question and then you tell me I already know the answer?! Why did I even come here?!" shouted Nightmare.
"You are here to seek professional help from the monstrosity who knows what you are going through the best. You are here because you are in inner turmoil. You are torn between the mare you love, Luna, and the place you always called home, the darkness. This is inner chaos and who knows chaos better than me?" questioned Discord.
"What are you rambling on about now Draconequus?" asked Nightmare.
"You have to choose between Luna and the darkness, Moony. You have found Luna at her weakest and have put a protective wing around her. Metaphorically and literally. Torn between the two, you are now fighting with your old self. You are no longer the mare you were a thousand years ago Moony. That's why you have come to me. To seek answers which you have already known, but I did enjoy your visit. Seeing you all frustrated was very much worth it," chuckled Discord at the Alicorn's discomfort.
"This was nothing more than a waste of my time. To think I could find a reasonable answer with the King of Chaos," mumbled Nightmare. She turned and left the Draconequus. The whole time Discord was just playing jokes on her and she fell for it. ‘Love for Luna,’ thought Nightmare. ‘How could I ever have thought that?’ There was a lingering doubt that filled her mind at those thoughts. Nightmare knew those words were true, but a part of her kept telling her it wasn't, that she really did love Luna. That she cared for her other half almost as much as she loathed the sun. Discord's next question stopped her in her tracks as she turn to face the Draconequus.
"Don't you want to know how to save Luna?" asked Discord with a huge smirk on his face.
"What are you talking about now Draconequus?" asked Nightmare, interest showing in her eyes.
"That’s partly why you came to me is it not? To find out how to save your precious other self?" returned Discord.
"...Yes...," admitted Nightmare after fighting her ego off.
"I am surprised you agreed so easily Moony. You must really have it bad for Luna," said Discord.
"I do not love her in that way Draconequus. I just simply want to save her from the nightmare she thinks of our home," argued Nightmare.
"I'm teasing Moony. Lighten up. Your just as uptight as you high and mighty sister," chuckled Discord. He soon learned to regret saying the words to the Lunar Alicorn.
Nightmare's anger flared to the surface as her eyes started to glow pitch black like her coat and a magical grip start to form around the Draconequus' neck, choking him. His arms flailed up to to his neck as he tried to pry the invisible force away. His body twitching with the lack of air. Even in his astral form, Discord still felt pain. It was one of the drawbacks of having this form. He was allowed to walk amongst the world of the living, but must meet the requirements that all beings need. At that moment, it was air.
"Never, and I mean NEVER, compare me to that wretched mare! She is a pathetic excuse of a being and her sun is no less. I am nothing like her. If you know what's good for you Draconequus, you will never speak of her in my presence ever again! Do I make myself clear?" boomed Nightmare to the choking Draconequus. She loosened the grip on his neck to allow enough air for an answer, but not enough to sustain him.
"Y-yes..." choked Discord.
"Yes, what insect?!" shouted Nightmare. She released her grip ever so slightly so that the Draconequus could answer her properly.
"Y-yes Qu-Queen Moon," gaged Discord. Nightmare's magical grip around his neck loosened and he started panting for the much need air. As he composed himself, he looked into the eyes of the mare in front of him to find it filled with rage and hatred for the Princess he had mention.
"Sibling rivalry much Moony? I thought you were past this," said Discord as he regained his calmness.
"Do not speak of that bitch in my presence. It is only out of sheer respect I have for you that I allow you to live. But to make sure you remember, the next time you do, your lungs will not be burning from the lack of oxygen. They really will be burning, along with the rest of your body," threatened Nightmare.
Discord took the threat to heart, but didn't let it falter his calmness. "Alright, I get it. Don't mention the other sister. Now lets get back to business. You wanted to know how to save Luna?" asked Discord as he regained the middle ground.
"Tell me quickly Draconequus. You have wasted my time enough as it is," complained Nightmare.
"Alright, but the answers shall have to be in my terms. If you want them, they will have to be in the form of a riddle," said Discord.
"I don't have time for another one of your foalish games Draconequus. Just tell me what I have to do to save her and we can both get back to our lives," said Nightmare.
"Well if you want to save Luna, you shall have to play my little game and I also want something in return," demanded Discord.
"I shall listen to your riddle and I might think about giving you what you what," sneered Nightmare.
"Oh, you will enjoy what I want Nightmare. Yes, I think you will enjoy it rather much," said Discord seductively.
A blush came onto Nightmare's cheeks as a dirty image flashed into her mind. "Wh-what do you want Discord?" stuttered Nightmare.
"Oh Moony, by the look of that blush on your face, you must be filled with naughty thoughts right now," laughed Discord at Nightmare's discomfort.
"Just tell me your demands Draconequus!" shouted Nightmare as she tried to regain herself.
"Very well. I want you to say 'Hi' to your sister, Celestia, for me. Do make sure she knows it is from me," said Discord.
A smile appeared on Nightmare's face that soon turned into a smirk that could rival the creepiness of Discord's own. "I shall agree to your demands. In fact, I think I will enjoy it very much," replied Nightmare. "Now tell me Draconequus, how do I save Luna?"
Discord cleared his throat before starting his riddle:
'To save the one you love, you must spend time with the mare,'
'For her salvation, you must challenge your home, but only if you dare,'
'Should you fail and lose control of the place where you were spawn,'
'The heart of the one you love, shall forever be gone.'
After the last word of the riddle, the image of the Draconequus slowly started to phase out of reality. His astral form started to slowly fade back into the statue of his imprisonment before Nightmare could finish her question.
"What is that supposed to mean?! Answer me Draconequus!" shouted Nightmare.
She was too late in her actions though as the Draconequus returned to his prison. Nightmare now had a riddle to decipher as well as her new emotions she had to deal with. "Curse you Discord! Curse you to Tartarus!" shouted Nightmare in her frustration.
Her image began to fizzle like the Draconequus as she phased out of reality and returned to the castle with a wisp of smoke and a small flash. As the place where the Lunar Alicorn was became empty, Discord came back into view. He stared blankly at the castle and thought after thought murmured through his mind.
"Good luck Nightmare, you shall need it. These are the worst kind of demons you shall ever face. Even worse than me. Inner demons can hurt you in more ways than I ever can. I hope, for your own sake, as well as Luna's, that you can face them," whispered Discord. He gave a little chuckle at his own words before returning to his prison.
Author’s note: Alright everyone, I need to make an announcement about the story’s timeline. I need to turn back the clock about a few episodes. So think of it as a few weeks after Nightmare Night. I’m changing this because well, Twilight is Luna’s niece in law after the wedding. That can get kinda awkward from time to time. So I’m simply changing the time. That’s all for now. Also, a few words from my second editor.
Editors Note: Hello everypony, TwiLunaLover here saying its great to be the editor of this lovely fic. I don’t really have much to say other than we will be updating more often now and you can all get your Luna/Nightmare/Twilight fix quicker. Thats all for now.