24
Rarity and Applejack were unable to sleep owing to Pinkie Pie’s snoring. Fluttershy seemed to be having no trouble, her experience with noisy animals once more kicking in. They had snuck out and watched Twilight eagerly as they saw the two laying amidst the cloud of fireflies, laughing.
“If that don’t beat all.”
“We should have done this a lot earlier.”
“Right, earlier.”
“It really is a contrast.”
“Huh? What is?”
“You know, how it is such a teddy bear inside.”
“Yeah heh heh. Makes you wonder about what is happening to it.”
“Oh it can be much worse.” Rainbow Dash sat beside them yawning.
“Couldn’t sleep darling?” Rainbow pointed to the cave as Pinkie let out another rumbling snore.
“That Pinkie sure can take a nap!” Applejack laughed.
“I just wish we could too, it’s terrible for my complexion to stay up so late. Besides I was having the most delicious dream.”
“Me too.”
“All thanks to Princess Luna.” Applejack looked at her hooves lost in thought.
“Alright, this is seriously bugging me, I know what my damage is, how do you two know it?”
“It saved me from those nasty varmints in the Everfree Forest.”
“So it fought them off?”
“They wouldn’t attack it with Crystal there, it was terrifying. They tried to come closer but something in it changed. I could feel it too, an anger or some other such thing that kept them away.”
“That sounds pretty cool, wish we were that lucky. Oh so thats where you went... Hey! I thought you couldn’t lie?”
“I didn't, it argued that I could protect it by keeping all quiet about our encounter.”
“Sounds like it tricked you.”
“But I didn’t mind sugarcube.” Applejack smiled as she remembered her walk back through the orchards with it.
“What about you Rarity?”
“Oh...umm...me? It’s nothing interesting, I just made an outfit thats all,” she chuckled.
“Oh come on! It can’t be that boring.”
“No it wasn’t.”
“Did it save you from the wolves?”
“No.”
“Did it do anything cool?”
“Not really...”
“Then what?”
“We talked about...stuff and things.”
“Pfft, lame!”
“Hey Rainbow, somethings been bothering me about your stunt; why didn’t you run?”
“Run from what?”
“Umm...the wolves?”
“Hey, you didn’t see how badly hurt it was, that could have been me, maybe even worse. It really took a hit to keep me safe and I would not leave it to...well I couldn’t just run off and let it fight them alone.”
A sweet melody carried to them, they could not understand the words but it was softly sung, peering out and upwards it became apparent the creature was responsible. Applejack smiled recognising the tune. It was fitting she thought, such a sad song but at the same time carrying hope.
Rarity felt her heart gripped “That sounds so sad.”
“It is.That there is a song for the lost.”
“So that’s what it sang to you?”
Applejack still had not mentioned the incident of her parents. She had wanted to yet with all the things going on it could wait a little while longer, “Yes.”
“Very sweet. Between us girls, I hope it will be alright tomorrow.”
“I’m sure it will! Did you see the way it tossed those monsters aside like yesterdays empty manure sacks. It will be fine!” a half hearted laugh did little to soothe them. Applejack was starting to realise it for herself now, she did not want that. The sagging heads of her friends confirmed it. The way it stood up and was silhouetted against the moonlight, it looked unreal, as though it was a ghost already.
“Just look at them!” their attention diverted to the creature glaring with a mischievous smile. They scrambled to their beds, caught in their mischief and giggling uncontrollably. Pinkie and Fluttershy however remained sleeping.
“Do you think they are alright!” Applejack shouted trying to sound innocent, “I am going to try to get some more shuteye.”
“Same here,” Rainbow yawned even wider, “I’m catching my second snooze.”
Rarity silently joined them and a few minutes passed after they settled. She didn't want to say too much to them about what had happened, the scarring, the anger, the pain. It had all been so personal, she would not betray its confidence in her.
Twilight strolled in with the creature and Crystal close behind. She cast a spell over the entrance blocking out the cold night air to camouflage it neatly. Some muffled words were spoken that Rarity could not make out and Twilight came to lie in her makeshift bed next to Rarity, pulling the covers over and grabbing Spike as a teddy. Spike could really sleep. She saw Twilight smile at her, tired eyes and face. She was now happy, drifting into a sweet sleep with her smile never fading.
The creature took a less graceful approach kneeling next to Pinkie and pushing the motivator feather in her nose. It instantly stopped the snoring and she could hear Rainbow holding back a giggle. It then moved close to the entrance and leaned up against the wall, knife drawn in claw, settling on the floor. It took a deep breath and sighed. Rarity could not contain herself and trotted over to it grabbing her blanket and settling the warm cover on its cold body.
“You don’t have to do that Miss, the outfit is warm enough.” Rarity lifted the blanket again, neatly settling underneath it beside the creature. It felt very cold to her, almost as ice. This however only motivated her to move closer and lean on it, resting her head to the floor. She expected some response from the creature, objecting in its stubborn nature to her help. Instead she felt the icy digits rest on the back of her neck. She snuggled its side and felt them smoothly stroke a small area.
“You are very warm Miss Rarity.”
“And you are very soft. Thank you for helping.”
“No problem, I could hear her snoring from the fields below.”
“Well that and...Twilight.”
It sighed again, “Miss Rarity I merely fixed the damage I had caused. It would have not been necessary had I held my tongue in the first place.”
“You do have a big mouth. Brute.” The creature chuckled. Rarity closed her eyes and felt the thigh she rested on twitch as the creature shifted its weight to accommodate them both.
“Good night Teddy.”
“Good night Miss.” the creature sighed in defeat. It shifted in and drew the blade placing it next to her, “Almost forgot.”
Rarity placed the knife by her side and felt sleep draw closer as the creatures breathing grew more steady and deep. Her final thoughts were how sweet it was to her and her friends, to how much they had been through together, and how much they would be.
“Teddy...are you alright?”
“I am free my friend. I am free.”
She smiled and let herself sleep now, she needed her rest for tomorrow. It was going to be a big day.
*
Princess Luna tore though the dreamscape to an unsurprised creature.
“Please, there is no time. You must help us, the queen has returned and-”
“I already know.”
“What?”
“I have met with the six and we plan to effect a retaliation tomorrow night.”
“...What?”
“Everything is ready, tonight they need to rest.”
“That is surprising...but good. I’m glad they...umm...found you.”
“Truth be told I am at complete ease. The plan is flawless and your throne will be restored soon enough.”
“You assume I care for my power?”
“Why else?”
“For the oath we pledged to ourselves after Discord fell.”
“So you are bound by an oath then?”
“I do it for all pony kind, because I love them. What is this plan?”
“I will not say, indeed if you must know then go ask the others in their dreams.” She turned to leave but sensed the creatures thoughts wondering, she halted for a moment, “If I may ask a question...” She turned to face it, “Why do you still invade my nightmares. Despite all my anger and threats you always return.”
“That night in your cell when we healed your wounds. You were suffering yet comforted the mare called Fluttershy. I saw it then in you, you are not a monster. Such actions are not of a monster.”
“Yet you are still afraid of me. I understand why. A being you cannot control or protect yourselves against. You are effectively at my mercy, and that does not sit well with the royal patronage.”
“Why were you there that night?”
“I always spoke the truth. I genuinely do not know. My response was instinctive.”
“Even when you took that mares wings? When you broke those soldiers?”
“That was not my proudest moment, to let some entity parade around and abuse my body like that. After her though, that was me. The instinct to survive is a powerful one. I saw my life endangered and I fought back.”
Luna was angered at its words, after all it did it justifies it with survival. She had assumed it had been walking the entire time.
“I never did apologise did I?” she wanted to scream, to break its composure, to see it feel remorse for what it did; its cold claws around her neck, air cutting off, her sister furiously fighting to keep her alive, and it just laughed. With all her energy she restrained herself and remained silent. “It is understandable you still bare resentment. I would find it strange if you didn’t.” The creature took a deep breath and lowered to one knee, “M’lady. Wouldst thou deign thy favour upon this lowly knave. I shall not seek pardon for my actions, for they were those of cowardice.” Luna felt her tension easing, “For should I ride to face my final tourney, my heart would carry me, my arms would not weaken, my spirit would never falter, should thine blessing be beside me.” The creature rose and smiled sheepishly at Luna. She felt something in her drop, a relief. She laughed and the creature chuckled in response.
“You are truly the least eloquent speaker I know!” She regained composure, her eyes watering. She wiped them and cleared her throat, “Good knight. Thou hast presented great candour, indeed you have my blessing.” The creature bowed its head.
“Thank you M’lady.”
They stood in silence, Luna could see now the full form. It was not remarkable at all, plain and simple.
“So tomorrow you will effect your plan?”
“I will effect our plan. If it succeeds my plan will not be needed.”
“And that is?”
“It does not interest one such as yourself.”
“It may...”
“Tomorrow I will repay a great debt. To all of them.”
“I do not understand.” The creature walked up beside her and gestured to a patch of green grass that appeared in the scape behind her.
“It would seem I have learned enough to manipulate my own scape”
“Tis not remarkable, a common trait.”
“Please have a seat.” She did so and he joined her. “My actions were never clear to myself. They were all instinct. Had I used my mind they would have been very different.” Luna looked on at it, the eyes faced the darkness and she saw a strange peace inside it. “During my time here I have had the pleasure of knowing each one of these remarkable ladies. We have grown closer, each bond I formed with them was a great catalyst, in some cases that catalyst was you.” Luna smiled. “I will admit that these bonds were formed without expectation. They have made me stronger in ways I never believed. I only came to this conclusion before I slept today.” Luna remained politely silent as the creature chose its words. “There are beings who have great spiritual enlightenment in my land. Their teachings, while commonly learned and accepted, are never truly grasped. I was studying these teachings before I came here. A coincidence and a half to say the least.”
“You are enlightened then?”
“Before I began studying I would say no, after I would say yes. Now, I say I do not know. Each of your friends, without realising it, helped me to see the teachings.” Luna listened eagerly on, at last she would know what drove this being, its passion. “They teach us that there are parts to our souls that must be linked to gain inner peace. Each of these parts exists in all of us and must be freed for us to achieve this inner harmony.” Luna waited for the creature to speak but it was silent again, hesitating. Luna saw her role now as a listener. She would be there for it, as it was for her friends, for her.
“Are there many parts?” she encouraged it, edging closer.
“Seven,” it replied bluntly, “Survival, acceptance, willpower, wisdom, truth, love, and spirit.” The creature clumsily held out its claws, clumsily counting seven on its digits. Luna chuckled and the creature continued, “If each one of these are freed then we will be at piece and capable of so much more. It is a prize sought by all individuals who spend lifetimes trying to gain it. Each one of them have taught me about these seven.”
“But there are six.”
“Survival has always been with me...or at least I thought so until today.”
“A moment please,” Luna asked, “These seven, how do you know they are there?”
“We don’t see. It is an act to faith to follow, but I see it as an act of need. Those who have this freedom; you should see what they can do. You know I like to think we are similar in some ways, sans appearance.”
“I suppose.”
“Ill ask then, have you ever wanted to do something that felt so right but then something inside stopped you, a gripping feeling in your stomach or chest, perhaps your own thoughts telling you not to.” Luna was surprised at how the description came dangerously close to her inhibitions.
“I...suppose.”
“That right there is your piece not being free, pulling at the chains. If you really want to know, I can tell you. I do not want to bore you and time is precious now.” It was right, time was now going to stretch on forever, even in a dream. Luna lowered her head close to the creatures.
“We have time. I would very much like to hear.” The creature kept its head bowed and in front of them a hole in the darkness appeared. It was the creatures memories, an impressive manipulation for one not versed in the art of dream trotting. She could see the day Fluttershy came to the cell and held on during its pain.
“Fluttershy, Love. She wanted to free me of my pain that night. Despite my suffering she was willing to risk herself to take that away. She did so. For in her I saw something, when our eyes met. I saw some...pony I lost a long time ago.”
“She is the element of Kindness.” Luna could see the moment play out, its pain, Fluttershy hugging its head, helpless to stop what it felt, but still trying.
“That is the reason you helped me, forgave me for all my wickedness. You saw into my dreams to the one I lost.”
“I saw a soul who was forced here, not brought here. The walking of which you speak is something that I fear too. I have my own personal demons with which to grapple.”
“I like you Princess Luna. You see Love is chained by grief and loss. When I felt her trying to help, I accepted it. However it soon became apparent that she needed her pain to go as much as she wanted mine to. Truth be told Princess I wanted to feel the burn again, such pain was to cleanse myself of the agony. Such pain was to punish myself. Physical pain is nothing though compared to what we can feel inside ourselves, much like Fluttershy did. I know why you let her in the cell that day you were attacked.”
“I’m sure I don’t know what you mean.”
“You can try but I know you let her in hoping she could convince me. It did not take much though, I would have said yes with or without my freedoms promise. When she looked at me my heart just melted. To think anything that sweet mare has to suffer like that.”
“But I was right.”
“That you were.”
The creature took a breath, “The one who you saw lost, she was my sister...” Luna felt her heart sink. “I will not go into details over the ailment. Suffice to say she was taken. It is painful seeing that. Every day she faded, never did her optimism fade, never did she weaken or falter. She was strong to the end. Such power was for me, to ease my burden and not hers. Would you like to know the last thing she said to me?” Luna nodded unable to speak. “She said, ‘Promise me you will be free.’ So I did, never would I allow myself to be chained, hence why I began to study the principle. I saw my sister that day in Fluttershy.” Luna rested her hoof on the creatures shoulder. It did not respond. “To free love we must see that the love is not gone. It is still within us, and we carry it on to others. We all have that power. In showing me her love, Fluttershy freed that piece of me.”
Luna felt her sadness well up but pushed it down. She kept her hoof on its shoulder, a lot of tension was there but she felt at ease. The creature was feeling her hoof. She understood it needed to speak about these things, to hear them for itself. The memory faded and a new one appeared. That night with Applejack where her parents fell.
“Applejack, Truth. By trusting me to bear her pain she felt the loss to its full depth for the first time in her life. I saw how happy she was on the farm, her heraldry was beautiful. Despite all she suffered she grew to be very strong in body and spirit.”
“Brave Applejack is the element of honesty”, she found herself completely fixed on the creatures words, such emotion in each detail. Luna had been around for sometime yet this philosophy, for lack of a better word, was unique.
“Truth is blocked by lies. Simple.” It took a deep breath and continued, “We tell ourselves lies and hide what we really are beneath facades. Applejack was no different. Such honesty, yet she could not be honest with herself. That night I felt my compassion, I wanted to be there to free her pain. I had forgotten about that part of myself. The creature you all saw chained in the cell was a facade. I was never that way. Intimidation is how I fight.” Applejack had now fallen asleep in its lap in the memory. Luna could see the creatures mouth moving but could not understand the words.
“What did you say?” she asked gently.
“They were words we speak to respect those who are no longer with us. Her parents never had that honour on the site where they fell.” The scape changed and luna saw the creature placing a large stone where they were. “I went back later and carved a memorial of sorts.” The stone had on it simple writing, bold and deep in the rock face; Mother and Father, lost to save their children. Luna was touched by the words, they reflected the creatures compassion for Applejack. “I no longer lied about who I was, I hid this part of me and Applejack showed me the peace of inner truth, and so the piece was free.”
The creature sat silently and the dreamscape faded again, now came a scene where Rarity was dressing it in the new ensemble she made. The creature stood proudly with shoulders back and head high in font of the mirror, Rarity smiling wide at her creation.
“Rarity, Wisdom. It is chained by ignorance and veils.” The creature paused for Luna to speak.
“She is the element of Charity.”
“I’m not sure charity fits the description of wisdom.”
“It does,” she contradicted, “The act of charity is a wise action. We give those in need what we can, it does not have to be material for it to have meaning. In helping them our own hearts see the blessings we have, and we appreciate the lack of need for them.”
“Wise words indeed. Her ability to match colours and design is remarkable, just look at her go, it still astounds me she hid my enormous hind quarters with such ease.” Luna could not help but glance at the memory and the creatures posterior. She restrained a laugh to be polite, a snigger leaking through. “This ability to connect such differences to see a greater beauty, extends beyond her craft, and has given her great insight. She was charitable to me, but it is what she said to me that broke the chains.”
The memory played out, Rarity laughing at the creature as it fell over her basket straight into the flowers scattering them and standing up with a mangled mess covering it, the clumsy manner in which it tried to pull the flowers from its ears and face, and Rarity trying to help while teasing it. They shared a laugh together and then it seemed they were friends and not enemies. “I, as many, suffered from the veil that things are different. We all look different, act different, think different, the list goes on. Rarity proved logically that we are more similar than I realised.”
Luna thought about this and the variety of life in Equestria, from the mighty minotaurs to the most gentle pony. “Her pursuits in life have trained her to be quite the philosopher, a pony after my own heart. She was so wrapped in thought once she did not even notice me right beside her!” The memory referenced the springs and Rarity sliding in the water beside the creature, how she was so absorbed in thought, oblivious to it. Luna laughed as the wolf next to it in the waters shrugged returning to its basking. The creature cleared its throat gaining Rarities attention, and her head slowly turned. The shock was clearly visible in her face as she stared at the form of the creature, breaking out into a deafening scream. Luna laughed heartily at the display.
“After the attack from the wolves it was my intention to pass on there, then that face dared to come closer to me and reach out. She drove me to survive, I owe her more than she realises. Sadly she is also a great thespian.” Luna was confused, an actor? Then the Rarity in the dream dived under the water swimming to the other side screaming with fright at the creature who merely sat there watching. “Oh... Thespian.” Luna laughed as the memory changed to Rarity fawning over her outfit and exaggerating its glory fit for a knight of the highest caliber. “By transcending my ignorance I could see the bonds we shared, the similarities. We all have hopes, fears, families, loved ones. In truth the differences between us are a veil that keeps us from seeing ourselves in others. There is no difference worth mentioning. Learning to see past this freed that piece.”
“She holds a special place in your heart. Does she not?”
“I do not know how to answer that. Live alone, die alone, she will be happier that way.”
“Surely you jest.”
“I am tired Luna, so tired.” It did not bother her that the creature stopped saying Princess. This was it’s dream after all and here it was free.
Again the scape faded and it moved to a memory of Rainbow Dash chasing after the creature. She was caught by the creature when she was hurt and fell, the creature furiously digging in the rock trying to slow the descent, it cradling her, absorbing the impact, breaking ribs and dislocating the arm.
“Rainbow Dash, Willpower.” The creature tilted its head to Luna. She could not see its face.
“She is that of Loyalty. A friend who will never abandon those in need.”
“Loyalty... I suppose it could be argued that her will allows her to persist in remaining loyal.”
“Her will, as you say, drives her to her friends sides, pushing them on when they are lost and tired.”
“Good way to look at it.” The memory showed them surrounded by the wolves. The creature ordering Rainbow to run and her refusing. Them facing down the pack. “She would not abandon me to face those monsters. She could have easily done so. It would not have made a difference at the time. Yet even when ordered to, she stayed by me. Such loyalty, as you say, I thought foolish but admirable.”
They charged the wolves and a gruesome scene unfolded as the creature and Rainbow fought, brutal blows and artful swipes. It suddenly turned very dark as Rainbow fell with a deep gash from the wolves, the creature towering over her, them circling. ‘You should have run!’ the creature barked at her. ‘I owe you one’ she faintly replied. Luna watched eagerly on. “Willpower,” The creature continued, “Is chained by shame. We deny ourselves parts which we fear. In this moment here I had to release a part which I truly was afraid of.”
Luna was horrified when the creature in the memory pulled out the flint and ignited a small sphere, hurling it on the wolves, exploding and spreading its embers. “After all, wood burns,” the creature quoted itself. “Those wolves had reason to harm me, not to hunt me. Such actions are unforgivable. I do not seek it. The part you see now is the sadistic nature that dwells within my kind. Our cruelty is truly without limits.”
Luna was grateful when the memory jumped forward, sparing her the scene of the burning, although the howling still echoed in her mind. “Nopony should have to see that.” The creature was now limping by Crystal, Rainbow on her back, limping complacently with each step. “She never told me why she stayed. I doubt I ever will understand it. Regardless, she showed me what willpower can do. I chose then not to fear my darkness, for fearing it gives it power over me. I embraced it and no longer denied it was there.” Luna was shocked by this action. She could not understand its reasoning.
“You choose to embrace such...cruelty?!”
“It is a part of me, and I am no longer ashamed of it. Blue explained this in her own clumsy way, and I understood. Doing so allowed me to break the chains...”
“... Freeing the piece...” Luna finished. She contemplated its words. They were heavy, for it was her truth, hiding from her own darkness.
The memory faded. A scene in the cave now came. Pinkie prodding the monster as to spoke to the girls to try to calm them. “Pinkie pie. Pleasure.” The creature leaned back and looked at Luna. she could see tear trails along its face, a smile under those tired eyes. “Tell me, is she a little...”
“More than a little.” Luna chuckled, “I am familiar with her...quirks.”
“Very polite way to describe it. I would say she is a few apples short of a basket.” Luna laughed at this and felt more at ease hitting the creatures arm playfully at its crudeness.
“She is the element of laughter!” The creature smiled and returned to its old position, the memory continuing.
“Pleasure. It is chained by guilt. I must admit all the things I've done here have brought me nothing but that. From when I first fought, hearing those soldiers, your sister, threatening you.” Lunas smile lessened at the memories as they danced before her. “I have caused so much pain in my time here. I felt as though my presence alone was an affront to this land. She has a lot of bliss. Pinkie. It radiates from her, spreading to every creature she meets. Such a simple pony who sees life in its full beauty without knowing she does so. She helped me understand that focusing on what had happened was a folly, but doing so on what will come is sensible.” The memory played on, Pinkie teasing it, her and the others trying to tickle it into submission forcing it to laugh. Luna could not help remember the darkling pile on the creature back at the castle and how it threw them off with ease. “If we accept what happens we can move past it. Learn from what went wrong if we can, move on and get over it. If that can be done, a great burden falls from us.”
Luna felt her guilt for forcing her own sister to banish her for a thousand years. “If we can forgive ourselves for what we have done, this part is freed.” Luna understood what the creature said, she could feel the words in her, coursing through her. She thought about Nightmare Moon and all she did as her, all the suffering she caused. She simply did as the creature said, accepting it to then let it go. A great weight lifted from her and she felt tears trailing down. “It seems you have much guilt my friend.” Luna opened her eyes and the creature had seen her tears.
“It is unbecoming for a princess of the night to cry.”
“And yet it is so liberating. Is it not?” she smiled and nodded. She did not wipe the tears, she didn’t feel the need to.
“Pinkie’s sheer radiance and ability to willingly spread tis happiness taught me that the time to change things is the present. She does not wait for approval to her actions, she simply does them. I learned to accept responsibility for my actions and carry the lessons onto the future. In doing so, the piece was free.”
The scape faded and brought Twilight into view. She was watching out into the night and the creature walked up to her. A fight ensued, Twilight releasing her rage and crying with the liberation, the creature taking her to the field.
“Princess Twilight Sparkle. Spirit.” Luna placed her wing around the creatures shoulder and she felt them ease at her touch. “She was deeply burdened indeed. I dare say more damaged than myself. Talking to her helped me gain clarity over spirit. She is the element of...?”
“Magic. She can create new magic, a feat which has not been done since Starswirl The Bearded.”
“Magic, mystery, the unexplained. That fits snugly into the theme.”
“This was my favourite part,” Luna watched again as the fireflies rose from the surface, the creature talking to Twilight, its message ringing clear in its own mind. “Her burden was fear, of immortality and watching those around her pass on while she was doomed to watch.”
“I know this is a sensitive subject.”
“It seems your words affected her quite deeply. She longs for an answer.”
“Let that drive her further, she will need it. Now you must hear the words to understand.” Luna watched the speech to the end. It was poetic in its own clumsy way. Twilight was deep in thought after it finished. The creature in the dream lay down in the grass and Twilight joined it, watching the stars in the sky akin to the fireflies around them.
“You thought about this a long time.” Luna remarked.
“I have for my entire life. This type of conversation requires planning.” Now it looked at the memory and saw Twilight lying in the grass smiling and at peace. “Spirit. It is the most complex of all. Difficult to discern and describe. Its chains are materialism, not that of greed or excess, but that of earthly attachment. It is a lesson that is very hard to understand, the need for things to die. A lesson I have learned tenfold in my existence.” The creatures hands griped tightly around one another. Luna wrapped her wings closer around the shoulders, now leaning into it. She thought about its sister and the suffering it has been though. Such a thought reminded her of the loss of her own sister for a thousand years, at least they were reunited. This was not that simple to resolve. “Explaining this concept of passing to her, I gained full perspective of it.” It was still focussed on Twilights smile. “I hope she finds the answers she wants.”
“She will.” Luna knew them herself but was unsure whether the creature wanted this answer. It seemed as if it did not want to know. So she remained silent. “If you have the strength, could you tell her the answer?” Luna was shocked, this creature was more intelligent than she thought.
“It is...not my place. She must find her own way, that is how it has always been done. As you said; she is in need of extra drive.” The creature smiled at this and the window now closed. It stood up slowly and took a few paces forward. Luna remained seated, waiting. “You forgot one.”
“Survival.” It looked into the darkness of the dreamscape but no window came. “I always thought I had this, the strength to go one, to live when all else told me not to.” Luna remembered the creatures fight, protecting her sister and charging fearlessly into the Golems. Then is strained walk through Canterlot, wounded denying help, only wanting freedom, to survive. She felt guilt and looked at the ground, thinking how they had pushed it into being that way.
“In truth, my concept of it was warped. Survival is chained by fear, and since I have been here, I felt that almost every day. Until I thought about my fears, fear of dying here. This was not the case, my fears were that I would die without cause.” Luna could not understand this reference. The creature still did not look at her but it went on, “My fear was that I would never find purpose. In my old world the fear was a constant plague, indeed many suffer from this where I am from. Our destinies do not appear to us when the time is right as your do.” Luna imagined such a world where everypony was so unsure of themselves, she shuddered at the thought. “Here I choose to find purpose, I learned that from Applejack. I have already played a role in some of their lives, and I am about to play an important role to your kingdom. You can be content knwing that we will win,” Luna was surprised that she believed it, the words it spoke were said with such certainty. “Tonight, seeing all this unfold, talking to you, I have had my final realisation. I am free of the fear to pass on, and for the first time in my life, I am truly at peace.”
Luna felt uneasy at its words, they did not sound optimistic. “Should the last day of mine dawn tomorrow Luna, when we charge into battle and fell our foe, when we free those enslaved and imprisoned, it will be with freedom,” The creature spread its arms wide, “For now I am free. I am free on this day, Libera Me.”
Luna jumped to her hooves. “Don’t speak such foolish words!” The creature lowered its arms and turned to face her, its face was eerily calm. “You speak as if you will pass tomorrow!” It walked up to her,
“Because in all likelihood, I will.” Its words cut into Luna. She could not understand why she felt this way.
“But you shall beat them! You shall secure the elements and defeat the queen! You shall!”
“Indeed we shall, but I must ask you, what if the elements fail again?” Luna was dumbstruck, it was true, they had placed all hope in the elements being powerful enough even though they were no match for the queen when she attacked the castle.
“We...” she tried to force an idea to come to her but it was hopeless.
“The queen stole the elements, it means they can be harnessed, but how do you think that can be done?” Luna could not answer. “I have a detrimental effect on your magic and hers. I will be close enough to her so when the elements are used they will have impact. I do not know what they are capable of, but it is safe to assume it will be powerful. Enough to erase her and myself.” Luna forced herself to speak.
“You do not know that will happen! You do not know that!”
“Then why are you worried?” She could not answer. “From what I have learned of the elements, they are base magic. You have seen what that can do to me.” Luna could see those burns that night in the cell. Her head hung, she could not fight it. It was right.
Feeling its grip on her cheek she looked up. “I always make you ladies cry. I hate that. I do not fear it Luna.”
“I don’t-”
“Luna you do not understand!” It began to cry through that smile, “I am free! Finally, there is nothing there, nothing holds me down! I am free Luna! At last I am free.” She tried to look away but the claw held her there, “May I ask you a question now?”
“You may...”
“How long do you live?”
“It is a question of how long I want to.”
“I see. Until you choose a successor...”
“Until one is chosen yes, by me no. That is not what bothers you is it?”
“You know what does your highness.”
“Please, today it is Luna. No more formalities.”
“What bothers me is what will happen. Facing an eternal darkness is not the greatest fear I have. Having to live forever and watching so much dying. Living forever is infinitely more terrifying. I don’t know how you do it.”
“It is not bad. We gain an appreciation for the need of new life and have a greater understanding in the way life works. Passing is in itself beautiful, it is a beginning of so much more.”
“Princess, would you grant me the true reason you helped. After all I did to you, you still chose to help. I would not be here, none of this would have happened without you. I appreciate that. I understand that.”
“I...”
“I do not know what is happening, but I cannot carry the secret on, I will not live long enough. Please tell me, let me see why.”
Luna closed her eyes and turned away, she could not look upon it. She felt the claws on her shoulders, “A wise mare once told me it is not weak to seek the comfort of others.”
“I am sorry, it is too painful.”
“Would you like to know more about my sister?”
“That will not convince me.”
“Well, how about another story to add to your knowledge?”
“If you wish it.”
“She was much better than me, the youngest of two she brought pride to me just to know she was trying. Artistic, creative, dedicated, mischievous. Everything one would expect. One day she feinted, a routine checkup confirmed it was an incurable illness. She fought so hard Luna, she really fought it. Even the strongest heart could not break the illness. The day before she passed we fought. I wanted her to go try an experimental treatment, she did not want to try anymore. She wanted to keep going without hope of cure. I stormed out and a few hours passed before I was notified she was fading fast. Luna, there was no closure, I got there just in time for her to make me promise. I promised her I would always be free, then her lights faded, her job was done. I cannot tell you how painful it is. Then a few weeks later, I am thrust into this waking nightmare. Tomorrow it shall end Luna, it shall end at long last. I would like to believe I will see her again but I do not know. Right now I am afraid we will fail. Not to die, not to be hurt, I am afraid to fail and leave here never having completed my job.”
“You are...” no words would come. She turned to the beast and it stretched its arms around her. Her eyes went wide, she did not know what to do. It had been so long since this happened. Only her sister could do this to her, this monster. She fell forwards into it, not daring to look at it as it spoke. Its story was not especially unique, but it was a tortured soul, one of the worst she had ever seen. It endured no matter what, it deserved to hear the story,
“The darkness you face...I have my own. I know the burden.” The scape faded and the creature was back in the palace with her, there was a strange mare facing the white one, it looked like her but the features were more pronounced, clad in armour. “This is Nightmare moon. She was my lapse, as you name it. All the jealousy and hatred I had, birthed the monster. I tried but I could not fell her. She overcame me and endangered my sister. She was forced to send us away, I took control with what little strength I had, and ordered her to banish us. She let me go then with so much pain. I cannot do that to her again.”
“That would explain why she hates me so completely.”
“We do not know where time will take us, but I hope I can earn her forgiveness for unleashing such a burden on Equestria.”
“I don’t think you need to. You protected her after all.”
“As you were prepared to do in the home of Twilight. Would you truly have done that?”
“Miss Luna I would have. I am not going to let it harm anything else.”
“Do you know the cause yet?”
“I suspect I do, it does not matter. One more night and we will end this madness.” Luna held tighter to it.
“Oh I am grateful to be able to talk now. To have said all this. You are very compassionate. Please would you grant me one last favour?”
“What must I do?”
“I want you give them all wonderful dreams.”
“That will be my pleasure.”
“Oh, and one more thing. Could you please offer my sincerest apologies to Bulwark, Buckler, Tiny and Nordh. They need to know I regret my actions.”
Luna was stunned, those were the names of the guards it hospitalised. “But... How did you-”
“I told you I have many regrets. I watch and I learn.” She was not ready to leave yet, there was something on its mind she needed to satisfy.
“The truth why I helped...”
“You needn’t bother Miss. In the grand scheme it doesn’t matter.”
“It does. When you broke free and I woke to see you holding me...I felt safe. Your tired eyes concerned for me. I knew then with certainty you were not the monster we thought. So gentle. I am so sorry. You will be alright my friend.”
“If I am not?”
“I will never forget you.”
“Then it looks like I am immortal.”
“I promise.” The creature released her and bowed gracefully.
“Goodbye Princess Luna of the night.”
“See you tomorrow my friend.” She left the scape, and let it be dark tonight, let it sleep deeply now, it deserved that. She could still do something for it before the dawn. Give it a reason to live.
*
Twilight stirred from her sleep, there was an unfamiliar noise and she turned around to see the creature was stepping out. She let it be tonight, there was nothing more to be said. As she lay her head and tried to drift to her dreams again she heard another set of hoofsteps. Twilight would have looked but it did not matter tonight, there was nothing more to fear.