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// The Poem 
// Story: Traditional Epic Poem: The Aftermath, The Exile and the Watcher 
// by boardgamebrony 
//------------------------------//

Year ????

Upon my nightly slumber

I beheld a mare of great majesty

As a break from my daily chores

My mind wandered onto shores far beyond this mortal coil 

In my sight, I was beset upon by beauty and grandeur

Far more vast than the eldest castle

Greater than the mighty plains of my island kingdom

And in a field of smoke and dust, 

There stood the mighty mare

With tears in her eyes.


I approached her and spoke

Though I knew not if she understood

“Dearest rare beauty

Why do you cry?

What in all this wondrous land

Could afflict a heart so majestic as yours?” 

She sniffled and did not smile

Though I could see it was not for trying.

There were heavier thoughts weighing her heart. 

She spoke to me in a voice at once both tremulous 

And soft. 

“Dear visitor, 

I am alone and in inconsolable pain. 

For I had to send my sister away

Because she was overcome by bitterness and rage. 

It consumed her heart

And made her monstrous. 

But my love for her is so deep

That when she was exiled to the moon

A piece of me went with her. 

And now I shall rise to help my kingdom each day

But sleep at night

Because I cannot bear to look up 

And see the shine of her prison staring back at me. 

I am lost!” 


I raised a hand to the mare’s cheek 

And caressed her tears away with my glove. 

She wore a crown and lowered her head to feel my touch. 

Her royal tiara fell and clattered onto the field 

Of a battle that was no more. 

But she did not pick it up 

And instead stayed within my grasp. 

I felt from the contact

A warmth and a chill 

Both fighting for control. 

She moved close and we embraced. 


And than I was gone. 

Back here in my small room

With the small door

In this small town. 

And all I can do is sketch the image

Of this majestic mare

Brought so low

By the loss of half her heart. 

I looked up at the moon outside

And wondered. 


Year ???? + 500

In all of the written works of the master playwrights

Never was there a tragedy such as this. 

My telescope finally viewed the moon

And I was quick to sketch its features

As one notes the flaws and perfections

Of one close to the heart

And marvels at both in tandem. 

But though I did not see anything unusual through the tool

I did perceive a vision in my nightly wandering. 


I was no longer on my planet

But on the celestial body itself.

I stood and felt the reaches of the universe

Stretch far and away. 

But then I felt something else. 

Cold

Harsh and angry

Peering at me from the craterous landscape. 

And there she stood

A pinnacle of fury and bitterness.

A raging Night Mare

Moon-stranded.

Though how I knew this

I knew not. 

And she raged at me. 

“Why have you intruded upon my prison? 

Have you come to torment me

On the five hundredth anniversary

Of the first date of my exile?” 

I cowered and staggered back

As my voice found itself again. 

“Dear celestial creature 

You are filled with might and anger,

And I know not what you are

But your fury fills my heart with terror

And I cannot think! 

Please calm yourself 

And tell me why I am here.” 

The angry mare said nothing

For what seemed like an eternity

And for all purpose it might have been

Until she spoke. 

And her words sounded so removed

From her previous shower of heavy emotion. 

Softened, she said something 

In a voice and form breaking through the darkness.

“I am…sorry. 

I am alone

And scared 

And I know of no one who can help me. 

My sister and I fought

And I failed.

And I never got to say goodbye.

Please forgive my anger

For I have known not love

Nor closeness

Nor anything 

For five centuries now.

I am lost!” 


And despite my previous fear

I felt my heart ache for the exile

And her tremendous plight. 

I wanted nothing more than to free her

But I could not remove that anger

Which ailed her so. 

So I did the only thing I could. 

With my knowledge of the coldness of space

And the vastness of the universe,

My mind had become somewhat of a vessel

For higher understanding. 

So I saw past the anger

Past the hate

Past the raging words 

And found the scared little mare

Shivering by herself in isolated fear. 

For I knew when I awoke, 

She would not

And would remain. 

So I had to give something to calm the heart. 

I approached and embraced her

She resisted as first

Out of unfamiliarity no doubt

To any contact with another

But all at once there was a wave of emotion

And I felt a lifetime of sadness

But also a lifetime of joy.

Thus was the nature of a moon

Constantly chasing the people of the world

Only to find sleepers. 


When I released my grip, 

Her smile was as radiant as the sun. 

And as long as I live

I shall not forgot those eyes

And the hope behind them. 

I’d like to think she lived happier

For at least one more day. 


Year ???? + 1000

Something was off.

I had a dream last night,

But it wasn’t right. 

I saw another world

And small creatures

Horses? Ponies, more specifically,

Awaiting the coming of something from the sky.

But it didn’t come.

Didn’t arrive like they thought.

I saw a confused Princess

A brilliant white mare

Looking around as she said 

“This is all off. 

Wait. There’s a gate somewhere.

Someone is watching us.” 

She looked up 

And saw

Me. 

Her voice moved quick and with purpose.

“You have to prepare! 

She’s not with us anymore

Because she’s with you!” 


And then I awoke

And saw the moon

And the four stars surrounding them

As they swirled and collapsed onto that celestial body.

An image of a face

A Lunar Mare I had not noticed before

Was at once there

And then not at all.

But the wind became as cold as ice

And I heard



Laughter. 


The name was the last thing

The Princess gave me. 

And I wrote it in anxious anticipation 

Of the one I would now

Have to fight. 


Nightmare Moon had returned.


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