//------------------------------// // Chapter 3 Waking Up (Revised) // Story: Dreaming of the Moon // by BeardedRedMane //------------------------------// "You… damnable.. wispy-like son of a bitch…" dropping to his knee Anon thrust his sword into the ground panting as he struggled to regain his breath. He and Rarity had chased the shade through numerous dreams and had he any air left in his lungs Anon would be rolling on the ground in tears at what most of these ponies were afraid of. Really guys? You're afraid of some stupid looking horse-face freak with mismatched body parts? That man is comedic gold!" Taking in a deep breath to compose himself Anon rose to his feet and angled his blade toward the shade while sparing a glance behind himself, Rarity was just catching back up. Gotta give it to the girl, the only people who can keep up with me are my dogs and Kenyans. "You alright there love?" Anon mocked as he turned his attention back to the shade. "However… do you run so fast!? You've only got two legs!" Rarity gasped before taking an offensive position next to Anon. "Hehe, let's just say that running is in my blood." Anon joked as he tensed his muscles before leaping forward to enact a finishing blow that only met air. The shade darted backwards before attempting a slash that Anon readily parried and another that Anon easily dodged. "C'mon bro, is that all you've g--damn it!" Anon growled as he realized the slash was not meant to harm him. Instead it tore a hole into reality, Anon had enough time to look dumbfounded before the shade fled through the portal. "Really? No, fuck that; you're going to have to do more than tear a hole in space time to get away from me! C'mon Rarity!" Anon yelled as he charged into the hole. "Wait, what? You can't possibly be serious-- Anon!!" Rarity protested but nonetheless ran forward toward the shrinking hole. Clenching her eyes shut she pushed herself as fast as possible and jumped into the hole and braced herself for impact. …… ………. …………… Rarity opened her eyes as her stomach began preforming cartwheels, there wasn't going to be an impact; at least not for another good three to five minutes. The shade had ripped a hole in reality that just happened to be positioned a good distance skyward. I'm going to hit the ground and die! Oh Celestia why?! Rarity began tearing up before glancing at Anon. Anon was laughing up a storm and looked like he was having the time of his life. • • • "Oooh come on and smile!!" the pink mare shouted as she twisted her face into another bizarre expression. Nothing… Not a laugh? Not even a giggle?! She was running out of ideas and that was something because Pinkamena Diane Pie was never out of ideas on how to make somepony smile. Regardless of her actions Fluttershy just sat limp in front of her with eyes that were dead to the world. "Come on Fluttershy… we need you!" Pinkie cried as she glanced back toward the battle that was still ongoing. The battle was heavily one sided, not only were they fighting the personification of Chaos but they also had to contend with an Alicorn whose job was to raise the moon. Though unspoken between the trio each couldn't help but wonder; How can a single Pegasus, unicorn and earth pony stand up against these odds? Again Discord snapped his fingers bringing matter into existence with as much effort one might give when blinking. Suddenly there were cones, hundreds of cones of every flavor of ice cream imaginable. The frosty treats in unison dipped the sharp part of the cones down and began their descent toward Twilight and Dash. Rainbow Dash was just barely fast enough to evade the cones and pulled up out of the storm. Twilight however wasn't nearly fast enough on her hooves and erected a magenta shield that took the brunt of the attack. Nightmare Moon took this opportunity to further overwhelm Twilight by concentrating her magical blasts on Twilights shield. Twilight was already exhausted from her failed teleport earlier and could barely weather Discords attacks let alone the double team from Nightmare Moon, any more trauma and she knew her shield wouldn't be able to withstand it. Upon seeing Twilights plight, Dash veered away from Discords Chaos and set out to distract Nightmare Moon. Turning away from the carnage and back to Fluttershy Pinkie did something that she hadn't done for years. She stopped smiling. "Pinkie! How's it going with Fluttershy!?" Dash roared as she barreled into Nightmare Moon, throwing the mare back a few feet and turning her attention away from Twilight. "I don't think that we can las--OOOMPF!" Dash was just a fraction of a second slower than her opponent and took a blast of pure magic to the face before sailing limply through the air and landing with a sickening crack. "Rainbow Dash!" Twilight cried but was unable to lift even a finger to help, with Dash out of commission Nightmare Moon now had free reign to concentrate her attacks on Twilight. Her shield visibly cracking as she strained under the assault of both enemies. It's no use… I can't keep it up…! An instant later her shield shattered and the feedback from the spell sent her spiraling into the ground. Bracing herself Twilight closed her eyes and prepared for the end. A savage cry and a crack opened her eyes and before her she saw a pink mare with bone straight hair connecting a flying kick to Discords jaw that sent him flying back and out of the fight. To her left she heard another voice crying out in agony and turned in surprise to see that not only was Fluttershy awake but she had rammed herself into Nightmare Moons barrel and brought her to her knees. "You leave Dashie alone, you.. you.. You big meanie!" • • • "I fail to see the humor in this situation, Anon!" Rarity cried, "I don't know if you happened to notice but we're currently falling to our deaths and I am a unicorn not a pegasus! And unless you're hiding a pair of wings under those atrocious pieces of fabric you call clothes then I'd like to point out that we're in terrible danger!" "Don't sweat it…" Anon laughed, "Something like this isn't nearly enough to kill me!" "Well beg your pardon but something like this is enough to kill me!" "Hah, don't worry about it, it'll all work out somehow; just relax, have some fun." Anon cooly stated as he began to do backflips to pass the time. Apparently free falling to his death isn't hot blooded enough for this stallion! Rarity scrunched up her face in disgust before returning to frantically screaming and crying for help. "Hey Rarity.. You see that? Off into the distance?" Anon questioned while stroking his chin. "The ground? A sudden stop? Inevitability!?" Rarity cried as she closed her eyes. "No, not that-- well yeah but.. Is that..? Hey Twilight!? Twilight that you?" With Pinkie and Fluttershy now in the fray they stood a slim chance, even Dash had gotten back up, her injury not nearly as serious as it had sounded. with Pinkies help Rainbow Dash was able to keep Discords attention while Twilight and Fluttershy used their combined tactics to keep Nightmare Moon held at bay. But sadly Twilight knew the outcome in the back of her mind. Even with Fluttershy and Pinkie helping us I'm physically drained and Rainbow Dash is hurt; not to mention that these two show no signs for stopping.. Oooh if only we had Anon and Rarity! "Twwwwiiiliiiiiight!!" Great… so now I've hit the point where I'm both exhausted and desperate enough for my brain to hallucinate Anon's voice. No amount of wishful hoping is going to bring Anon and Rarity here to help us. "Twiiiiliiiight!! Twiiilight!!" Wait a second… That's a bit closer, Twilight thought as she tore her concentration away from Nightmare Moon and scanned the battlefield. "Twilight darling!! Up here!! Catch me please!!" So I'm either hallucinating both Anon and Rarity's voice or their both-- Twilight's jaw dropped as she glanced upward. Free falling several hundred feet above them was a laughing Anon and a crying Rarity. He found Rarity? He found Rarity!! She would be laughing from pure joy if she suddenly wasn't struck with the realization that they were around twenty seven point eight seconds from impacting onto the ground. "Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash! Rarity and Anon are falling from the sky, catch them!" "Wait, what?" Rainbow replied before craning her neck skywards, her eyes going wide. "Fluttershy, grab Rarity, I've got Anon!" she ordered before speeding up toward Anon." "Who's Anon..? Oh my!" gasped Fluttershy as she looked up to see her friend plummeting to her doom. Rainbow Dash was the first to reach them, grabbing hold of Anon she tried to slow their descent. Oh buck, why does he feel like he weighs enough for two ponies?! Dash's wings strained but she was able to stop his descent and hover midair with him. "See? Told ya it would be alright, Rarity!" Rarity was frighteningly clinging to a flustered Fluttershy but managed to give him a glare before looking over the scene. "We're not out of danger yet!" Dash lectured, "We've got nightmare versions of two of our biggest bad guys down there, not to mention we still haven't saved Applejack!" "Enemies?" questioned Anon, his eyes sparkling as he gazed down. "That horse-faced jerk and black Unisus are the enemies?" Anon smiled before continuing, "Drop me on top of that chimera-looking jerk." "Unisu-- Wait, are you serious? What do you plan on--" Dash began but stopped when she saw the gleam in his eyes, changing course she added, "Alright but don't blame me when Discord changes you into a piece of cake and eats you." "Whatever, watch and learn." Anon pulled his sword out and signaled Dash to drop him. "Hey horse-face, CATCH!" Pinkie's tail twitched as she dove out of the way for cover and looked up just in time to see Anon's descent. Discord however wasn't as lucky and had enough time to look shocked before a boot filled his vision and a huge piece of steel ripped through his chest, slamming him against the barren ground. With a sickening crack Discord melted into a pool of black and shot into the air as a formless shade. Turning back toward Twilight Anon had enough time to witness the black mare scream in agony as it melted into the same black substance and shot up to meet its counterpart. "Whooo hoooo! We did it!" Pinkie cheered as her mane began to poof out. Although she failed to notice the shades that had combined with each other and a third shade that Anon and Rarity had been chasing. "I wouldn't be so sure of that!" Twilight cried, before turning to Anon, "Can you buy us some time?" Anon twisted his neck to the left which let out a sickening crack, "All the time in the world. You've still got one more friend to save, right?" He said as he wretched his sword from the earth and placed it onto his shoulder. "Something of this level isn't going to be the end of me." "Just be careful.." Twilight warned as she shuddered, "This thing takes on the forms of your worst nightmare…" Anon chuckled at that warning, A dream warning me to be wary against nightmares? The irony! When was the last time I even had a nightmare? The shades of darkness reformed into one being and took on the form of the black mare, "What? Is horse-face too afraid to come out?" "Foolish mortal, I am the Night! Lose yourself within my eternal nightmare!" Nightmare Moon cried as she began her offensive. Turning away from the battle Twilight made her way toward the others whom had already surrounded the prison that Applejack was in; her screams causing Twilights ears to flatten against her skull. Don't worry Applejack, we'll save you! Twilight blasted the vines a few times and moments later Applejack came tumbling out, caught by Dash and Fluttershy. "C'mon AJ, you've gotta snap out of it!" "That's not going to work…" came a weak and un-Pinkie voice, "I tried everything to wake up Fluttershy and nothing I did had any effect…" "But didn't you wake Fluttershy?" Rainbow questioned. Instead of Pinkie answering, Fluttershy spoke up first, "I could hear things.. Pinkie's voice, pleading with me for help…" Fluttershy's face darkened slightly, "But I was lost… within a void of darkness.. it was… so cold…and dark." tears were beginning to form in her eyes and Rarity placed a hoof upon her shoulder. "But along with Pinkies voice I could hear the rest of you, I just knew that you needed my help! I don't really know how… but I was able to wake up. Twilight bowed her head in contemplation before gazing back at Anon who was keeping Nightmare Moon at bay. He may be able to hold her off, but he alone can't possibly push back the darkness… Moreover, even if he wins… Will that alone be enough to free all the ponies trapped within their nightmares? "Please Applejack.. You have to wake up. We need you. All of Equestria needs you." • • • Despair Uncertainty Promises Lies Deceit Darkness.. It's cold… so very Cold Applejack was alone, more so than she had ever felt in her life. It was as if she were floating in a sea of despair. How long she had been there, whether she was alive or dead. She couldn't tell and in the end she couldn't help but wonder, 'Did it matter?' Images flashed behind her closed eyes; images of Applebloom, her parents, Big Mac and Granny Smith. No… it's better this way… I don't deserve to see the light of Celestia's sun or feel the warmth of friendship. “A....ple….ja…k!” Warmth. If only just a little she could feel the warmth of somepony. Like that of a friend… A friend that she didn't deserve. Ah.. deserve this. This darkness is my only way to repent… Who could possibly want to save somepony as horrible as me? “Apple…jack!” Again sound pierced her despair like a ray of Celestia's light, bringing with it a feeling of nostalgia and a sense of belonging. This time different images raced across her mind. Images of her friends, family, the farm. Happy times, sad times… Her life regardless of how much pain it may have held. She felt herself slowly being pulled toward the warmth she knew that she would never deserve.. Yet even though she knew she didn’t' deserve it Applejack still longed for it. Is it really alright for me to live? "Applejack!!" Applejack opened her eyes and was met with the faces of her five closet friends, all looking down at her with tears in their eyes. "Of course it's alright for you to be alive!" Rainbow Dash sobbed as she tried to wipe her tears away from her face, "Don't you go thinking that it's ok for you to just go off and die!" With that the five of them were upon her hugging and repeating heart felt sentiments. What was I thinking? That it would be alright to just give up and leave behind my friends? Applejack closed her eyes as a smile crept to her face. One day ah'll have the courage to tell them… To tell her.. "Now what in tarnation are y'all all cryin' for? S'not like somepony just up an' died, right?" Applejack beamed as they nearly crushed her in another hug. For some reason she was unable to keep the tears from flowing from her face. “Oh Applejack! We were so afraid you wouldn’t wake up and no matter how much we tried you only got colder and and---!” Pinkie Pie burst into tears. “Yeah, we all need you Applejack!” Fluttershy added with the rest nodding. “Now it’s finally time to end this nightmare!” Twilight said with conviction. Helping AJ up on her hooves all six of them turned towards Anon whom was still fighting Nightmare Moon. "Whoa! What the hay is that?! And what's wrong with Princess Luna!?" Applejack protested. "Don't worry Applejack. That isn't the real Princess Luna and this is all just a terrible Nightmare! We're trapped here-- All of Ponyville is trapped within this nightmare. And with his help we'll be able to beat back the darkness." Twilight declared. "But how do we do that?" Rarity questioned while glancing back toward Anon, "Strong as he might be, it doesn't look like he can take on that thing by himself. Twilight brought her hoof to her chin as she contemplated… How are we going to free all of these ponies and combat that thing? Sure we're united but these aren't even our physical bodies… The Elements aren't here to help us. Twilight glanced back over her friends, each of them full of determination. No… we can do this. We may not have the physical representations of the Elements on us but each of us carry a bit of their power inside of us… As long as we're together, anything is possible! "We pray." Twilight began as she closed her eyes and bowed her head slowly as her horn flickered to life briefly. "We pray for the darkness to be lifted.. To once again see the glory of Celestia's sun above us! To once again run under her sun with our friends!" Twilight declared as her entire body began to take on a glowing light. The others gasped before each bowing their heads in prayer. In the distance Anon struggled with his foe, trading and receiving blows in a battle that he had meant to end with no help, though try as he might not only could he not gain the upper hand but his strength began waning. Each dodge he performed became narrower and each blow he landed was weaker than the previous. He had never lost a battle in his dreams before and Anon was determined to not find out. Gritting his teeth he gave a wide swing that forced Nightmare Moon back a few feet; giving him some breathing room. Suddenly what sounded like an explosion came from behind him with a burst of warmth and light, keeping his stance Anon glanced back at the six ponies that were radiating power like the sun. Each pulse of power washed over the land, changing the landscape from barren wasteland to a lush plains. Tree after gnarled tree began to shake before crumbling to ash, releasing what was held in its grasp. Turning his attention back to the mare Anon knew it was time to end this nightmare, overflowing with renewed energy Anon began a dead leg sprint toward his target, sword raised high. In response Nightmare Moon lost her form bursting into a cloud of black with two yellow eyes that gazed through Anons soul. "Oh? So you're gonna change into something I fear? Or something from my dreams? Bring it on!" With all his might Anon swung his sword down toward a small mare whose coat was sky blue and mane shown as brilliant as the night sky. Her forelegs were outstretched as if to give him a hug and tears spilled from her eyes. • • • Very slowly and with much difficulty, Twilight Sparkle opened her eyes. Her entire body hurt and she felt exhausted; as if she had just finished running a ten mile marathon. Wearily she blinked the sleep from her eyes and wondered what had transpired. Around her five shapes came into focus and began to stir as the events of what had transpired raced through her mind. We did it! She smiled, together with Anons' help they had pushed back the veil of darkness that had tried to consume everything. Twilight steadied herself as she rose to shaky hooves and in the process stepped in something wet and warm. Confused she looked down at her hooves and waited for her eyes to adjust. The color of her right hoof seemed to be off, instead of the usual magenta it was colored a deep crimson that was also marring her clean wooden floor. Slowly she traced the fluid to its' origin to another shape on the ground. "Oh Celestia…" Crumpled in a heap on the ground with a stream of blood leaking from his side was Anon, Twilights thought process froze as from behind her Rarity let out a scream. "What happened!? Why is there so much blood! Somepony--- Dash!" Rarity shouted and was answered by the sound of shattering glass followed by a gust of wind. "I… I don't know.. Anon was keeping it busy-- and.. and---!!" "Gah!" Anon writhed in agony as he clutched his stomach, his hands quickly becoming soaked in blood. "Calm down!!" came a loud shout that caused every ponies head to turn in the direction of the voice. Fluttershy had torn one of Twilights curtains down and had rushed toward the figure on the ground. "We've got to stop the bleeding, until Dash comes back we have to do our best!" I don't know what type of creature this Anon is-- but he helped save all of us… And I won't let him die! she thought, betting everything on the three butterflies that adorned her flank. Again Anon cried out as he began to thrash about in agony, the pool of blood underneath him growing by the second. Oh gosh.. he's already lost so much blood.. more than enough to kill anypony. "Applejack, help me hold him down! Twilight, we're going to need hot water and rags! Rarity, you have a needle and thread on you; right?" "Thread and needle, whatever would you--NO. You can't possibly… I mean I can't! This isn't like sewing a dress! I--" "Have to try or else he'll die! That hole is far too large to cover up! He just keeps bleeding through!" Rarity shuddered as she glanced at the damp makeshift bandage. "Oh Rainbow Dash… please hurry."