//------------------------------// // Chapter 3 // Story: On Nightmares and Moons // by Rarity Belle //------------------------------// Why have you woken me again, foal? The princess of the night wiped away her tears with care. She then stared into the eyes of the mist that had gathered before her. She allowed the voice to bury itself deep into her mind, prying open even more memories of sadness. “The, the reason for it, is because, I am not the same. She, left me changed. My rage, uncontrollable. My sadness, unmatched. My reign of the night, is no more...” So you woke me up... Just so I can hear your whining!? The mare shocked up a little from the sudden tone change of the mist as her eyes shrunk a little. “N-No! Not at all! Well, p-partly maybe...” The mist only huffed loudly as the eyes kept themselves pierced at the mare before it. “Please, I need your wisdom!” Wisdom you ask? You ask the wisdom of the creature you despised for over one thousand years!? The mist moved a bit closer over towards Luna. It would have slowly pressed the helmet against the forehead of the princess. Only to be followed by another huff of disgust. You blamed me for everything, kept my fires of hatred burning for so long... It was you, who helped me to become the creature I am today! If it wasn't for your hatred, I wouldn't have done the things I did, and not ending up in the Void… Luna let got a loud gulp at the spoken words from the mist as she knew they were true, one thousand years alone on the moon, she only blamed the creature she had in her, but didn't look to herself. “W-What else was I supposed to do!? I was, no, we are locked there for a millennium! It was only us two on that big rock I was supposed to reign over! Who else could I blame for it all!?” A third huff left the mist as it removed itself out of the face of the blue coated mare and flew a little through the ruin. Your sister... ---   “Excuse me?” The entire expression of Luna changed the moment those words were caught in her ears. Everything turned from an angered look, into a doubtful one. Once more, she would be doubting just about everything there was. You have only looked to me... But you forgot the one, who did the actual banishment of us, little foal... For it was your sister, who had the final word… “Lies! Those words you speak are full of lies! Tia sent us, me, there for a good reason!” Still dealing with your temper issues don’t you..? Just as always...Luna. “Don’t speak my name, you monster!” snarled the princess of the night. The mist let go another huff as its eyes gazed through the broken window before it did a step or two towards the alicorn. One whole millennium, you blamed me for everything. You dared to call my name, every single day on that forsaken rock! Without me ever saying yours, foal. Now that I do, you make a big deal out of it... Do not think I am just some stupid monster made up to scare foals, Luna. The alicorn of the night got up herself. She moved over to the location of the mist. There where she exhaled deep towards it. Her eyes were staring outside the same window. She was wondering just where in the name of the land, the creature itself was looking at. ---   Remember this place, my little Luna? It was here, where we merged, and got separated. I remember it all so well. The moment we merged together into one being, one solid entity. It was something, unusual to say the least, something comfortable, if I might add. Our separation however, was brutal and cold. The voice of the mist had turned itself down to a calm tone. A tone of remembering the past. Oddly enough, there wasn't even the slightest bit of anger could be heard within it. And now, here in the nothingness of the Void, one gets to know itself very well. Every aspect if a creature is placed under a magnifying glass and presented to the creature. “Not, to be rude, but do you want to go somewhere with this?” asked Luna careful. She remembered the happened events rather different than they were presented to her. Yes. Yes, I wish to go somewhere with my words. Have you taken a look at the moon before us? The one shining right through this broken window, the window we blasted many guards through so long ago... It is the same moon… Luna gazed a little upon the moon as the memories began to rise once more. But she didn't succeed as she remembered its size. As on our merging... The shape returned back into her mind. And on our separating... Even the coloring she remembered so livingly. Her eyes allowed themselves to fall upon the rock once more on this evening as it all came back to her, the mist was speaking the truth. It was the same moon as on the mentioned events. “It, it is yes... I remember now, a-again, even.” I suppose I can not persuade you into pulling me out of my, spiritual, prison? “What is your point by telling me all this? Didn't we sidetracked a lot from where we began?” Luna asked as she gazed upon the mist which let go a deep sigh. You partly formed me into the monster I have become known as... Your hatred, as well as your desires, have shaped me into the mindless creature I became, I lived from your desires, mixing them with my own... Yes, it is true I am still willing to topple the world into darkness and rule over it as I wished... But I am not stupid, I know it is impossible. But we indeed got sidetracked. The mist turned itself over to the statue and flew over to it. Where it took a little rest. ---                      A few minutes would have gone and come. Luna had not a clue what she could be doing against it. Yet the mist held a watchful eye upon her. For it was the same mist that wanted to speak again, after the time had been there again. Your old desires, are still within you. That is what creates your rage. The time on the moon, the time without family, has created your sadness. Your power, I can not speak of... Maybe, it separated with us, when we got separated by those six wretched mares… Luna turned herself around as well as she carefully listened to the spoken words. “But how, how can that all be possible?” Many things are left untold over the ageing of time. Things are hidden, twisted from their reality or simply, forgotten. The princess gave a small nod of understanding towards the mist as her attention slipped onto something. Luna took note that the mist was harmless, unable to release itself out of the void. It couldn't do much else then tell the truth and the truth alone. At least that was the way how it appeared to her. “I see... But can you help me, to overcome it?” There is only one way. A path we already walked together, so many years ago… The princess gulped loud upon hearing this and her mind already went back to the happened events. What resulted in her shaking her head. “No, I can not do that, I simply can not!” That is what you say, that is what your mind says, but in your heart, you know it true. Keep in mind we merged together in order to become more powerful. You didn't have a problem back then! The mare lowered herself through her hooves, taking on an attacking stance. She was willing to just charge the mist head on. “I was young, Nightmare! I was foolish, selfish even!” So you admit it, you admit it you are unworthy of being a princess! And you thought I could help you, now didn't you? You are still the fool you always have been, not worthy of being a princess. All you are, is a seat warmer for that weak excuse of a sister you have! ---   The eyes of the mist fell upon those of Luna and simply gazed directly into her soul which sent ice cold shivers through her. She was unable to counter the words that were spoken as they were a harsh reality in her eyes. Frozen on the spot she could only take them for what they were. And pray on her soul, that history wouldn't repeat itself. It was through me, through Nightmare Moon, that you were granted power far above your levels! And this is how you repay me!? By sending me into the Void of Nothing! I would crush you if I could. Luna rose back from the pose as she blinked in utter confusion on this outburst of rage. The time is nigh once more... Little Luna... Or how did she call you, ‘Woona’? The mist erupted into a dark laughter as it turned its attention back to the mare and swiftly went over to her position. The mare was stumbling in the vague hope it wouldn't be true what would happen next. She fired bolts of magic towards the rushing mist but it didn't help one bit. It began to swirl around her if not tangling the princess who was gasping for her dear life. “N-No, not again! Please!” But every time her mouth opened, Nightmare chuckled even darker while the mist entered her mouth.