//------------------------------// // Chapter 19: Moonlight Sonata // Story: Equestria, I Choose You! // by BronyDJ //------------------------------// Stephen was walking. Why was he walking? He wasn’t sure why but knew that he’d been walking for quite some time now. He didn’t even remember leaving bed. He was just walking. Slowly, walking, along a dirt path that seemed to lead nowhere. Voices seemed to call out his name, but he didn’t know how to respond. Stephen just kept walking. After a few moments, he found himself at a fork in the dirt road. There was no land between them, just empty space. Stephen kicked a little rock from the road, letting it drop into the abyss. He listened for the impact of rock and bottom, but no sound came. He looked up, and saw a tall cliff. At the top stood a large, serpentine monster, who began to laugh at the sight of Stephen. Corruption! Stephen thought. He tried opening his mouth, but could not call out to the evil entity. The latter raised his hands, both of which were holding small figures. In his left hand, the draconequus held a human girl with dark hair and blue eyes. Kara, Stephen noted and began to walk the road that led to his girlfriend. Then he realized what was in the monster’s right hand: a smaller female, with a white dress and green hair. Nova! Stephen screamed internally. He ran back to where the road split and tried to think for a moment before Corruption did something completely evil: he dropped both girls at once. Stephen started to panic, not knowing what to do. What did this mean? Would he have to choose his girlfriend over his best friend? He loved them both so much, how could he let either one of them go? All the while, Corruption laughed and his voice boomed through the entire space. The human tried moving forward, but found that he could not. “Choose, Champion!” the villain challenged him. “Only one can live!” Stephen watched helplessly as the two people he was closest to fell into the void below. It wasn’t before long that the ground began to disappear beneath Stephen, and soon he was plummeting into the abyss. “Fall, human, fall!” Corruption laughed again. “Fall as all heroes must!” The scene began to fade as Stephen fell further. “Stephen!” the Trainer heard another voice, this time, a woman’s. “I’ll get you!” He turned his head to see a familiar pony. Luna, flew beside him, and immediately, Stephen was no longer falling. A blue aura, not unlike Nova’s Psychic, enveloped his form, and it was carrying him alongside the Night Princess. They landed back at the road where Stephen had fallen, and still saw that Corruption was still there. Before anyone could say anything, Luna fired a magic beam straight at the draconequus and the villain was dust. Luna turned to the human. “Are you alright?” “I... I’m,” Stephen checked that he could speak first before responding. “I’m fine, Luna. What was all that?” “This is a dream, Stephen.” Luna explained. “More so, a nightmare. I protect all subjects, pony or not, from any dark forces that mean to cause harm.” “But I’m not a subject, Luna.” Stephen corrected. “However,” The Princess countered. “You are under our protection, and are responsible for defending our land. We have to protect you.” “Okay...” the Pokémon Trainer took a deep breath and watched as the whole dream seemed to freeze around them. “Does this dream mean anything?” “A dream usually does.” Luna answered. “And I do believe it tells of an impending decision. I do hope, for all of our sakes, that it is not as drastic as that.” She looked up at the cliff, where ‘Corruption’ had stood. “C-could that really have been him?” “I do not know the extent of Corruption’s powers,” Luna responded. “But it is possible. Unlikely, but possible.” An short silence took over as Stephen thought something over. “Can I have one more favor, Luna?” Stephen asked. “Before I leave in the morning?” “Yes, of course.” she answered. “What is it?” ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Luna and Stephen entered Nova’s room. The Psychic type Pokémon was still unconscious, though she looked peaceful. Stephen thanked the heavens nothing worse had happened. The two approached the bed, and Stephen knelt down a bit to be at eye level with Nova. “Hey there, Nova,” he softly caressed the Gardevoir’s cheek. It might have been a trick in the moonlight of the window, but it looked like she smiled. Stephen, nonetheless, was happy to see that she was doing relatively fine. “You’ll be back on your feet in no time, I promise.” “Are you sure about this, Stephen?” Luna asked. “What do you wish to accomplish?” “I just…” Stephen began. “Want to make sure Corruption isn’t messing with her dreams as well.” Luna nodded, and began her spell. Within seconds, a mist began to surround the two, and new a scene was unfolding. They were suddenly standing in the plains, where Stephen had stood up against the Changeling invasion. However, they saw a lone figure and started moving towards it. Nova was kneeling over a body. She was sobbing uncontrollably. Closer inspection revealed that it was Stephen’s body. A loud, familiar voice sounded throughout the dream. Once again, the evil draconequus was taunting the dreamer, this time swirling around in the space above Nova. “Awww, poor Nova’s partner is gone!” Corruption mocked her with a babying tone. “She loved him so dearly, and yet she couldn’t do anything! He loves Kara more, and he’d never love you as much as her!” The last statement made Stephen stop. Is that want Nova wants? Stephen thought. Does… does she really love me like that? He watched on as Luna reached and slowly approached the Psychic type. “I thought I told you,” Stephen heard Nova say quietly, then turned around faced Luna in anger. “TO LEAVE US ALONE!” Luna was sent flying back, but managed to land on her hooves by the human’s side. Nova looked to her, and was about to continue her attack, until she noticed Stephen was standing next to the Night Princess. “S-Stephen?” She called out. “Is that you?” He nodded, and the Psychic type ran to her Trainer and embraced him, tears still running down her white cheeks. Nova looked up with a smile, but remembered the corpse. “B-but, then who is that?” She pointed at the limp human body a few feet away. In response, Luna fired a magic beam, turning the corpse into shadow. “An illusion, nothing more. Much like that specter of Corruption.” She added, and fired her magic again at the moving image of the villain, and it dissipated into smoke. “I apologize for the intrusion of your dreams, as Stephen had to tell you something.” The Gardevoir looked to her Trainer. “Nova,” Stephen began. “I’m going on a journey to save Kara, so that we can all end Corruption’s campaign, and get us all home as soon as possible. But I’m only bringing Patrician, Tempest, and Reaper. Either way, it’s going to be very dangerous, and I’m not sure if I can return in one piece. But, trust me when I say that I will be here when you wake up.” “Promise?” Nova asked, embracing Stephen once again. “Do you promise me that you’ll come back safely?” Stephen gave her a soft smile and hugged her tightly. He needed this talk with Nova, he couldn’t just leave without saying a real good-bye somehow. “I promise.” the human answered. “I’d never break a promise I made with someone so close to me.” He broke the hug, and returned to Luna’s side. Before Luna could cancel the dreamwalking spell, Nova spoke up again. “Stephen,” She called, interrupting the Princess’ focus. “Can I ask you something?” Luna stopped, and let Stephen approach his companion again. The Pokémon continued, “What am I to you?” “What do you mean?” Stephen was taken a bit off guard by this question. “Does this have to do with what Corruption was saying?” Nova didn’t say anything, but she nodded. A final, small tear ran down her porcelain white cheek as she waited for the answer. “Nova, you are...” Stephen was thinking of the right words to say. “Possibly… the most valuable thing I could ever have. I care about you every day, and never want to see you sad or angry. You’re the closest I’ve ever had to a…” Stephen took a moment to decide carefully. “A sister.” Nova perked up at this, smiling a little. “You’re the closest I’ve had to a family in all of my years in travelling the whole world of Pokémon. I never left you in a Pokémon Day-Care, or a PC Box. I’ve wanted you by my side from day one, and I’m damn sure that I never want that to change. Kara may be my girlfriend, and I may love her in one way, but I’ll love and care about you on a much deeper level, Nova. You’re not just another Pokémon, or a partner in battle. You’re my family, Nova, and I couldn’t love any more than I’ve tried.” At that final statement, the Psychic type, once again, embraced Stephen, but this time with tears of happiness. “I-I understand now, Stephen.” Nova said. “Thank you. And I love you too…” Nova hesitated a bit. “Brother.” Luna watched with a smile, how sweet a sight it was to see the two come together, despite the realities, before they would separate again for an indefinite time. “We must go now, Stephen.” Luna had to cut in. “This spell is taking a lot of my energy, and I need to lower the moon later for Equestria.” The human nodded in understanding, and slowly broke the hug between brother and sister, not Trainer and Pokémon. Stephen walked over to Luna, and waved to Nova in farewell, feeling great knowing that he was able to give her a proper goodbye. Luna cancelled the dreamwalking spell, and the pair found themselves back in Nova’s chambers. “Thank you, Luna.” Stephen said, after a short silence. “I really needed to do that.” “It is our pleasure, Stephen.” Luna answered before adding, “But remember that you must still focus on the task at hand, and if we are dealt with a gracious favor, you will be able to keep that promise you made.” Luna’s lit up again, preparing for teleportation, but before she cast the spell she bid farewell with, “Good night, Stephen, and good luck to you tomorrow.” Stephen nodded his thanks as the Night Princess disappeared. He leaned on the side of the bed a little, so as not to bother Nova’s slumber. Slowly, in the light of the moon, he bent down and kissed Nova on the top of her head. Once again, as if it were a trick of the light, Nova smiled. “I’m going to keep that promise, Nova.” Stephen spoke quietly. “And we’ll all be back home soon. Good night.” He took a long look at the sleeping Gardevoir one last time before retiring to his own room, getting some rest for the journey ahead.