Applejack jumped up with a start. she jerked her head around frantically, trying to take in her surrounds. She grimaced as she practically felt her heart drop into her stomach.
She was back in the open field, the moon once again looming over her.
As she stared up though, she noticed a new and eerie detail in her surroundings.
The moon was a shade of dark crimson, bathing the world around them in a deep, red glow.
She suddenly felt calm. Safe. Her friends were nearby, though she didn’t know where yet. As she looked around in the sea of grass that came up to her chest, she felt drawn into a certain direction. She started to trot in that direction, but stopped. She recalled the last time she felt the need to go somewhere.
She almost paid with her life.
There it was again. The feeling of safety, stronger than ever, and beckoning her to come to it. She hesitated for a few moments more before beginning to gallop. From the corner of her eye, she saw a rainbow streak rise from the grass and into the sky.
Rainbow Dash.
She followed the Pegasus, “RD, wait up!!” she shouted, earning the attention of the Wonderbolt. Dash immediately turned around and landed in front of her,
“Do you feel that?” Dash stared up at the Moon, “I was freaking out when I realized where we were. I started to look for Flutters, but then I felt this…‘thing’, calling me. we have to find it!”
Applejack only nodded before breaking out into a gallop, with Dash closed behind. They ran and ran, until they finally came to the source of soothing aura.
Twilight rose up from the grass as the rest of their group bounded up to her. The princess giggled and bounced a little.
“It worked!” Twilight squealed. “It seems that we have a somewhat telepathic connection to each other while we are in this place!” she tapped her chin, “I wonder if we can talk to each other without talking, or is the projection of emotions an effective way of communication.” She clacked her hooves together in geeky excitement, “I mean, just think of all the possibilities! We can use this as a way to-”
Dash slapped her hoof over Twilight’s mouth, “NOPE! No. Don’t start one of your scientific rants right now, we ain’t got the time for it.” She felt an involuntary shudder rack through her. “Let’s wrap this up, please…”
Twilight moved Dash’s hoof, “Is this…where you girls were?”
Fluttershy shrank a bit before nodding.
“I see…well…that definitely solidifies my theory that the Guider is in fact an Alicorn.” She looked around, her eyes squinting as she made out a surreal version of Canterlot Castle, which was somehow creeping towards them at an undetermined speed.
“And all of the answers we’re looking for are going to be in there…”
Fluttershy looked over at her, “How much time do we have? I don’t think a lot because Celestia would have to get up earlier to raise the sun, right?”
Twilight nodded, “We have exactly 5 hours and 36 minutes before the sun will be lifted up.” Dash and Applejack bounded past her and started making their way to the castle.
“Then let’s do this!” They shouted in unison.
-MLP-
Time felt distorted as the group dragged their hooves across the thick luscious red carpet that rolled down yet another long corridor. How long had they been here?
“Twi, don’t ya live here? Why don’t ya now where we are?” Applejack questioned.
Twilight looked around, “The layout keeps changing. We’re in someone else’s dream. Whether they’re changing the layout manually or unknowingly, it’s keeping us from getting where we need to go.”
“We’re never going to find out who it is at this rate!” Rarity whispered in a panicked tone. “Of all the worst things that can happy, this is THE. WORST. POSSIBLE. THING!”
“Rarity, shut up! Yer dramatic blubberin’ is gonna give away our position!” Applejack hissed.
“I don’t think it matters at this point…” Fluttershy spoke softly. They turned to see that she was looking down a corridor that looked different from the others. The carpet started red, but morphed into a deep and dark blue. The air flowing through the hall was cool and crisp. The only light coming down the hall, was from an open door at the end of the hall that was letting in bright moonlight.
Moonlight…
Without hesitation, the mares began making their way to the huge doors. When they got close enough, they positioned themselves to where they could see inside. What they saw, terrified them.
The glittering dark chest piece.
The midnight black fur.
The turquoise irises with slitted pupils.
The gleaming white fangs bared and lips twisted into a wicked sneer.
All of the unmistakable features of the first enemy they had ever faced together.
Nightmare Moon.
Applejack had to tightly clasp a hoof onto Pinkie’s mouth and pull her back as a silenced scream rumbled into it.
“What the hell is this?” Dash whispered. “We destroyed Nightmare Moon…how is it possible she’s back?”
Twilight crept back up to the door. The others followed. They peered deeper inside, only to find another shocking detail,
Luna was standing in front of her.
This time, it was Pinkie who mashed a hoof over Applejack’s mouth to prevent her from letting forth a stream of curses. The pink pony ‘shhhh’d her friend and looked over at Twilight,
“What’s going on? I’m super-duper confused now…”
When Pinkie got no response, the rest of her friends looked at their Alicorn. Twilight never tore her gaze away. They simply followed her gaze when they realized they’d get no response.
“I must say…I’m quite impressed with what you have been doing with yourself.” Nightmare admitted as she slowly circled the Princess of the Moon.
“I don’t know why. I am simply giving ponies a chance to show appreciation for the night.”
“Oooh, but the way you’re doing it is so…dark.” Nightmare flicked her fluid tail under Luna’s chin, earning a quick smack to her hoof,
“Don’t touch me, creature.” Luna hissed.
“Oh, don’t be so cruel…after all, I’m your ‘friend’.” She slid closer to Luna and breathed hotly in her ear. The action was unwanted, and the demon of the moon received a powerful shove.
“Do not test me, Nightmare Moon.” Luna’s horn glowed with a dangerous light, “I will kill thee if thoust continue to make a mockery out of me.” she took a couple steps towards the demon. “I am not the same mare from a millenium ago. Thou will not break me and mold me to fulfill thy dark desires again. So get to thy point, before I end this meeting, and make sure that we are NEVER to meet again.”
Nightmare chuckled, “Relax, I’m not here to fight you, my friend. I really have come to admire the work that you have done.” She proceeded to walk to the windowsill, “You do realize that your followers only follow you when they have nowhere else to turn, correct?”
Luna leered at her, “My children come with me because I give them eternal love and happiness. Not even my sister is capable of such a feat.”
Nightmare nodded, an evil grin on her face, “I see…and at what cost? What is the price for love and happiness? Lies and murder?”
Luna stomped a hoof, “I truly give them happiness!”
Nightmare rolled her eyes, “Yes, but that doesn’t negate the fact that you kill them off in order to do so.” She held a hoof up, “Don’t get me wrong, I find the idea of murder simply…delightful, but my curiosity gets the best of me when it comes to one little detail.” She looked up and sneered at her,
“Do the other Princesses know?”
Luna said nothing. Her face remained cold as she glared at Nightmare, whose smile grew wider with realization.
“They don’t know.” She stated as more of a confirmation than a question.
Luna averted her gaze, “They do not…”
Nightmare teleported herself next to Luna, “You’re terrible!!” she squealed with sheer and dark delight. “How have you been managing to keep this a secret?”
Luna tilted her head away, “What I do is not thine concern.”
“Very well. You don’t have to tell me exactly how you go about doing this. But I am here to…pass on an idea with you.” she leaned in closer to her former host, “As you already know, I am Terror incarnate. I have the ability to instill complete and total fear. I can make nightmares real, bring true tangible horror to them, for we both know my power goes being the sleeping realm.” She rose to her hooves, “When the ponies are trapped in the terrors from both the sleeping and waking worlds, they will flock to your offerings of peaceful dreams for all eternity. Your power of the night and your secret kingdom will FLOURISH!” her smile went wild and wide, her fangs sparkling in the moonlight. She moved to stand in front of the true Princess of the night.
“With my powers, you and I go make a powerful team. We can rise from your sister’s shadow, and overthrow the Sun Kingdom forever!”
Luna rose to her hooves as well, “WE will not be doing anything together.” She stared down Nightmare. “I had ruled over my beautiful kingdom long before we ever met. I do not need thine dark magic to get followers, when I can have them come of their own volition.” Her horn shined brightly and her eyes matched the same intense light, “Thou will never have a say in how my kingdom comes to rise! Thou will never have any type of control over anything that belongs to me, and thoust most certainly will NEVER be given another chance to control me!” she stomped a hoof, causing he world to rumble, “NOW BEGONE, BEFORE I KILL THEE!”
Unfazed, Nightmare slowly walked back to the windowsill, “You won’t do it. I’m the only one who understands you and approves of the dark little kingdom that you created.”
Luna’s horn and eyes lost their shine. Nightmare smiled again,
“Shall we take a trip to the garden?”
Luna leered at her, “Thoust are not to come with me.”
Nightmare gave her a faux pout, “Aw, am I not allowed to see your kingdom?” she put a hoof to her forehead, “Oh help me, Princess! I am wrought with never ending terrors and I seek your beautiful eternal dreams!” she floated out the window. Luna let out a small defeated sigh before following her out. The Mane 6 crept into the room and looked out the window. Luna was standing in between Nightmare and a strange portal. Luna was now wearing something that brought horrified shudders ripple through Applejack, Fluttershy, and Dash.
A brown cloak encircled her body.
Luna was conversing with Nightmare, but they couldn’t make out what she was saying. They could only read their expressions.
Luna’s angry glare.
Nightmare’s gleaming fangs as her mouth was pulled into a sickly delighted smile.
The glare vanished. Nightmare eased closer to Luna and raised her hoof.
Luna stared down at it for a moment, before taking it into one of her own.
The two departing through the portal, which closed upon their passing.
The group sat in Luna’s bedroom, shocked into stunned silence.
Luna was the Guider.
She was murderer. She almost killed Applejack, Fluttershy, and Dash. She killed Applebloom…Shimmer Blitz. Killed them while they’re supposed to be peacefully sleeping.
Fluttershy let out an amalgamation of an angered scream and a sob. Applejack bit her bottom lip to keep her emotions in check, drawing blood from the force of it. Dash stood there, fury rumbling deep from her core. The very air around Dash started to sizzle with electricity from her barely contained wrath. The skies started to brighten as Celestia began to rise the sun in the waking world, forcing the mares out of the room.
Tomorrow was upon them…and it would be the day the Guider fell…