//------------------------------// // Page 4 // Story: Luna's Bloody Nightmare // by Miss Vixen //------------------------------// Luna walked through the halls of the Canterlot Castle almost in that of a haze, for she had not seen another pony in quite some time and this seemed out of the norm. With the halls sitting silent lacking sound even from that of Luna’s own hooves as they moved step by step. A deep concern grew in her as a cloud of fear, from something she had tried to put far behind her, started to fill the air and swirl around her. A familiar voice, Luna didn't want to admit was there, broke the silence that hung in the air. “Hello Luna, long time no see.” “Nightmare moon, but you were defeated?!” Luna said looking around for the source of the nightmarish voice. With an evil chuckle “Now, now Luna you of all ponies should know that as long as you’re around so will I.” “No, No you’re gone!” Luna said shaking her head violently. “I will always be here, because I am you.” With Luna’s whole body shaking with fear, “No, I’m not you, I’m not!” An unseen force pushed Luna out through the nearby window, which over looked the moat. The glass, rather easily, broke on impact. As Luna began to fall towards the moat, she looked up to the sight of the castle being destroyed by fire and standing in the window was Nightmare Moon. “Look Luna, look at all the destruction that was caused by our own hooves!” Luna couldn't say anything, for she was lost in the moment with the black water of the moat coming closer and closer. With a splash that couldn't even shake her, Luna began to sink deeper and deeper into the water hoping to get far away from the horrors that took place above. Unfortunately the images and sounds of them danced around her as she continued to sink into the darkness. The deeper Luna fell into madness, the colder the water became and the louder the images and sounds of destruction grew. Most ponies’ minds could not endure such a thing, but what was giving Luna sanity to bear through it? Then the madness started to dim. Luna turned to look into the abyss of it all and from within it came a much deeper darkness. It was hard to describe, but instead of blackness reaching from it, something closer to nothingness reached out to wrap around her. However what accompanied it was not that of cold sadness, but that of a comforting warmth that heated the water. Water was replaced by warming shadows and Luna finally came to rest on a smooth floor. The light from candles grew from the darkness and light up a familiar room. Looking up she could see the same alter that had been in the church. This brought great relief, but surrounding her were several figures covered in cloaks and even though no description of specific details could be made about them, Luna knew that they were not ponies, for they stood on two legs. The sight of it all should have been foreboding mixed with the fear of the uncertainty that came right before certain death, but what was felt was that of comfort and the warmth that can only come from the ones that care about you. One of the figures, with a more slender form took delicate steps while approaching Luna and with a voice of reassurance stated “Luna, wake up Luna, wake up.” ~~~~ Nightmare was standing next to Luna’s bed trying desperately to wake her, “Luna, wake up Luna, wake up!” Luna sat bolt upright, waking from her sleep. A cold sweat wrapped her body, but seeing Nightmare standing beside her gave her some comfort. She wrap her hooves around him forming a hug with a firm grasp and started to cry heavily onto his shoulder, “Oh Nightmare, I had the most awful dream.” “I know, you were tossing and turning rather violently in your sleep.” Nightmare said wrapping his cloak around Luna. Silence filled the room as Nightmare let Luna cry out any fears that she had experienced in her sleep. Regaining her composure, Luna pulled herself away from Nightmare, letting the cloak fall from her shoulders and tried to explain the dream she had “Nightmare in my dream I… there was… it, oh how do I even describe it?” Nightmare could see that Luna was having trouble trying to explain her pain to another soul. “Luna, have you told anypony else about these dreams?” “Just my sister.” “How much of your pain have you told her?” “She is aware of them but I haven’t gone into detail with her. Now Nightmare I don’t like it when you remain professional around me, it’s not very social of you. Nightmare grinned at the whole thought as he pulled out a book from beneath his cloak and handed it to Luna “Here I believe this will help heal you from the horrors of your dreams.” After flipping through the book, Luna looked at Nightmare with confusion “But this book is blank? How is it supposed to help?” “This helped me, with a problem that I have, the idea was to write all the things that troubled me down in a book. I believe that this process that once healed me, will heal you.” “Writing huh?” Luna said pondering the idea. Luna looked at the book thinking the idea over when a question took form into her head “Nightmare, what was the problem that you have?” Nightmare paused at the question unsure of how to tackle it until he let out a breath knowing that Luna would not judge him. “Well, truth be told I’m suicidal and when I have no one to talk to about it, since no one that was once around me seemed to care and even though I still have the thoughts now and again, I put it to writing and it just makes me feel better. I have been writing ever since.” Luna sat in shock, staring at Nightmare “Nightmare, I… I… I don’t want you to….” Nightmare put a hoof on Luna’s shoulder “Luna, you’re becoming concerned with a wound that has healed long ago and now it is time to be concerned with your wounds. Like I have already stated what has once been healing for me, I believe can heal you now.” “Do you really think it will help?” “I do, now I’m going to give you some time to write while I’ll go to the kitchen and get you some food. How does that sound?” “Thank you Nightmare that’s very thoughtful.” Nightmare was at the door about to leave for the kitchen “Thank you again Nightmare, for everything I mean.” “Luna, I haven’t done anything.” “It’s meant far more than you’ll admit.” “Yeah, you’re welcome then.” Is all Nightmare could say as he left for the food that he had promised for Luna. After Nightmare left, Luna levitated a pen with a container of ink and went to work writing. ~~ Nightmare walked into Luna’s bed chambers levitating a tray with a glass of orange juice and a plate with a couple of daisy and clover sandwiches. Looking around the room it was clear that in the amount of time that Nightmare had been out of the room, given that it had actually been several hours because of the fact that he tried to leave no trace that he was in the castle, Luna had written the equivalent to that of an encyclopedia set. Luna sat in the same spot on her bed as before, only with trance like concentration on writing, which claimed all of her focus. Nightmare sat the tray down in front of Luna, snapping her attention away from her writing. “Huh, uh… how long have I been writing?” “Let’s see, you woke up at noon and now the sun is almost setting, so about several hours.” “Really that long?” “Yes Luna and I think you should take a break and eat.” “Thank you Nightmare and you know what, the idea to write my problems down, really helps.” Luna stated as she took a bite of one of the sandwiches. “It does, doesn't it? Although it appears that you have far more problems than I had originally thought.” Luna was about to take a sip from the levitating glass of juice, but she just continued to look into it. “Actually Nightmare, it’s just one big wound as you like to call them.” “Nightmare Moon right?” “Yes, you are correct.” “Luna, look you are far more than what the past has made of you and don’t forget that, okay.” “Yes, thank you Nightmare, I feel much better now.” The two of them sat in silence while Luna finished her food and drink. As Luna pushed the tray aside, she turned to Nightmare “Tomorrow, Twilight Sparkle will be coming from Ponyville and you do know of her right?” “Yes I have heard of her.” “Okay, great, she will be bringing some things that are apart of some recent concerns and they involve you, so I was hoping you could come and be a part of it since I really don’t want to be discussing such matters behind your back and…” Nightmare used his hoof to lift Luna’s head so that they were looking into each other’s eyes “Luna, I will be there, I won’t let you down and that’s a promise.” The comforting look Luna wore, turn to one of perplexing confusion, almost if she had started to take a pondering step toward a question that had only just appeared. “Yes Luna what is it?” “Well something just dawned on me. How did you know I was having a bad dream?” “A voice in the back of my mind just told me you needed help and I came as fast as I could.” “Thanks Nightmare, it’s nice to know you’ll be there.” “Now Luna, I have to go now, but don’t forget what I said okay.” Luna nodded her head as Nightmare headed towards the balcony, with his cloak and his body’s edges starting to disintegrate into smoke. As more and more of his body began to disappear, the smoke was carried off by an untouchable wind, out through the balcony window and disappearing into setting sun. Luna decided to continue her writing later and prepare for the night that knew a new comfort.