//------------------------------// // Nightmare // Story: The Daydreamer's Nightmare // by Foals Errand //------------------------------// Head up, wings folded, step lightly, smile at the ponies... Celestia repeated the mantra to herself silently. It had been a… difficult last few days. Her former student now had her own palace. Tirek was back in Tartarus. Everything was back to normal and harmonic. Head up, wings folded, step lightly, smile at the ponies... She hadn’t needed this mantra for the last several hundred years, but today it was necessary. If she didn’t continue it, Celestia was certain she would have started to scream and been unable to stop. Head up, wings folded, step lightly, smile at the ponies... She smiled at the guards standing on either side of the private dining hall. “Has my sister arrived for our shared meal this evening?” Celestia inquired with a tilt of her head. The solar guards saluted her and Celestia mentally sighed. “Yes, Princess Celestia. Princess Luna arrived five minutes ago. She is awaiting you within!” Celestia nodded and waited as the guards opened the doors. Sitting at the small table was the smaller dark blue alicorn, staring out the window at the sun, which lay low just over the horizon. Celestia walked over and sat next to Luna, draping a large white wing around her. Luna was startled at the touch, but after a moment she lay her head on her sister’s chest. “Long day, Tia?” Luna asked after a few moments of comfortable silence. Celestia continued to gaze out the window. There was just about an hour left until she’d have to set the sun, but watching it drift closer to that horizon was strangely peaceful. She briefly wondered if Luna felt that way about the moon.“A long day does not begin to cover it, I’m afraid, Lulu.” Luna frowned. She always hated that nickname that Celestia had given her. It made it seem that she was only a foal. Still, it gave Celestia comfort, so Luna would put up with it. “I know what you mean, Tia. My night court has been full since Tirek was sent back to Tartarus. He caused a lot of damage, and many of the night’s creatures are now without a home. He had some affinity for destroying trees. We imagine you are dealing with the same, only from ponies?” Celestia nodded after a short time. “Mostly, as you said: there was a lot of damage done. Unfortunately, damages from Tirek seem to be the least of my woes. At least, when it comes to court, my dear Luna.” Luna lifted her head from her sister’s chest. “But that is not what troubles you, is it, Tia? What is it? You have been hiding your dreams from me. You know I dislike that.” Celestia looked down into Luna’s cerulean eyes. They looked concerned for her well-being. When was the last time I hid my dreams from Luna before now… After a few moments of thought, it came to her. It hadn’t been long after Luna had returned from the moon. Celestia looked away from her sister’s eyes. She had been having non-stop nightmares that Luna hadn’t actually been healed, but was instead biding her time. It was ridiculous, and it hurt each time she woke from one of these dreams her coat covered in the cold sweat that only mortal terror brought. She couldn’t allow Luna to see those dreams, so she had placed a shield over her own subconscious mind. Unless she was in dire trouble, Luna would not even know Celestia was asleep. She remembered Luna’s concerned looks across the breakfast table each morning, but explained it away as still getting used to being in charge of only the day once more. It seemed to have pacified Luna’s worry, at least, at the time. Now though, Celestia was finding out the truth. Luna had been able to tell that she was blocking Luna from her dreams. “My dreams are fine Luna, and rather boring, actually. Rooms filled with unending paperwork seems to be the most prevalent nightmare.” Celestia laughed. Luna turned back to staring at the sun as if it might provide the answer to its mistress’ deceit. The sun was not forthcoming with answers, however, and Luna was forced to turn her attention elsewhere as the servant’s entrance opened, and two unicorns approached the small table with domed platters. They were set in front of both sisters; gold for Celestia and silver for Luna. Luna could not help but roll her eyes at the silver platter. It seemed like too much fuss, but then again, they were two of the diarchy --well, triarchy-- now. For a moment, Luna entertained the idea of what color Twilight’s respective dome would be as the domes were lifted, revealing an expertly put-together pasta dish. Luna licked her lips as she speared a piece of tomato with her fork, bringing it to her lips and biting into it, juice exploding into her mouth. If there was one thing she had missed while on the moon, other than Celestia, of course, it was eating real food, not just pretending like she had with  the dust and moon rocks she had survived on. It wasn’t that Luna needed to eat, though she did prefer it and was used to it. In fact, Luna was quite certain that, had Celestia allowed her, she would have gorged herself with food and water the night she returned. Instead she was given vegetable broth after being examined by a healer. Something about ‘Refeeding Syndrome.’ Luna still didn’t understand what exactly it meant and was loathe to look it up. She glanced up from her meal and put her glass of wine to her lips. Celestia was sitting across from her, just staring her untouched food, including the large piece of black forest cake. Something was very wrong with her older sister. “Tia… Celestia? What’s troubling you, big sis’?” Luna hoped that her choice of using the modern slang for ‘sister’ might help Celestia open up. It had worked many times since she had returned, after all. Celestia blinked and looked up at Luna. Her little sister looked concerned. Celestia couldn’t help but smile; her baby sister looked so adorable when she was worried. The way her wings would fluff out just the tiniest bit, along with how she’d bite her lower lip. Sometimes Celestia would even witness Luna making tiny circles with her fore hoof. Still… While seeing Luna looking so concerned was adorable, it was also the one thing Celestia strived to never see. “I’m sorry, Luna. You are right, little sis; there is something bothering me, and I despise the fact that on my own I am unable to rid myself of such fears.” Celestia licked her lips as Luna locked eyes with her. “Please, Tia, tell me what’s going on! I’m certain that if I know what you are fearing, we can work through it together!” Luna’s eyes sparkled at the idea of being able to help her sister. After all that Celestia had done for her, this was finally Luna’s chance. “I promise not to react badly, no matter what I am to hear!” Celestia nodded. “Alright Luna, alright… You were right. I have been placing a barrier around my dreams so that you are unable to see them. Ever since the incident with Tirek, I have been having a recurring nightmare.” Luna nodded her head, silently urging her sister to continue. She had nightmares after what had happened as well. It was normal for any pony to experience bad dreams after such a traumatic event, added to the fact was that Celestia, Cadance, and herself had literally experienced Tartarus itself. It was not something Luna felt she would forget any time soon. She didn’t expect anything different from Celestia. Luna let out a small shiver, remembering her nightmare from just a few hours earlier. Tirek’s eyes… Celestia felt her left ear twitch, instinctively sure that there was somepony outside the door listening. She frowned. Her horn glowed, and a sound-proofing shield fell over both sisters. Luna was the only pony that deserved to know Celestia’s irrational dream. Nopony else. And she would keep it that way. “It started the night after Twilight and her friends sent Tirek back to Tartarus. I…I wasn’t in the dream, I was only watching it. It seemed so very real.” Luna moved over to Celestia’s side, laying her head on Celestia’s shoulder. “Go on, Tia?” With that final bit of encouragement, Celestia nodded. Luna landed on the balcony of the newly-created Palace of Friendship and knocked on the door, rousing a tired Twilight Sparkle. Twilight opened the balcony door with a yawn, her mane mused from sleeping on it wrong. “Prin… er, Luna? Is everything alright?” Luna lifted a single eyebrow at Twilight, who blinked as her brain caught up with her. “Oh… oh! Please come inside!” She moved out of the doorway, allowing the dark mare to enter into her bedroom. “May I get you anything to drink? Tea maybe? I mean, unless this is a urgent matter…” Twilight drifted off as Luna watched her. “Tea would be fine, Twilight Sparkle. I will accompany you to the kitchen so we can speak onto the manner of my visit while the tea seeps.” Twilight nodded and got her bearings to recall exactly which direction the kitchen was in. After a few moments she headed out the room and to the right. “Sorry about this, Luna. I haven’t had a chance to explore this place yet. Spike and I even got separated from each other and were lost for an hour last night.” She laughed, which faded quickly at the ‘no nonsense’ look Luna was giving her. “A-anyway, this is the way to the kitchen, I’m certain!” She opened a heavy crystal door, revealing a large kitchen. Twilight flushed at the size. “What type of tea would you like? Pri- Celestia and I usually have jasmine togethe-” “That would be fine, Twilight Sparkle.” Luna interrupted, sitting down at the round table. Twilight felt her lips chap and quickly got to work on the tea, placing the kettle on the fire and sitting next to Luna. “Alright, the tea is steeping. Now, will you please tell me what has you so worried, Luna?” Luna looked away from Twilight and out the window at the full moon high in the sky. A smile momentarily graced her lips before she turned to Twilight. “I have evidence that Tirek has found a new way out of Tartarus. He is on a warpath, Twilight Sparkle, and you are his target. Not myself or my sister. In fact, we suspect he may already be on his way here.” Twilight had gone to grab the kettle as Luna began speaking. It slipped from her magical grip, shattering on contact with the floor. “N-no...” The whisper escaped her. She felt gentle wings wrap around her and she slumped into their embrace. “It is alright, Twilight Sparkle. I am here to protect you, but you must trust me.” Luna whispered into her ear. “I trust you, Luna.” Twilight mumbled, looking up into the cerulean eyes of her friend. Luna nodded. “Alright, I need you to concentrate all of your magic into me. I will hold onto it until Tia and I can make certain Tirek is back where he belongs.” Without any hesitation, Twilight allowed her magic to build up forming it into a large ball of magenta energy that engulfed Luna. Twilight weakly fell to the ground and glanced at her flank to see her cutie mark gone. “I-it worked, Luna.” Twilight laughed weakly and didn’t even notice as Luna’s body began to change. She never even noticed as Nightmare Moon pierced the back of her neck with her horn. “Sweet dreams…” Celestia felt the trembling from her little sister. She immediately blanketed her with a large white wing. “Luna, please I know that it is naught but a nightmare. It is ridiculous, impossible, and irrational!” Celestia closed her eyes tightly. “Why won’t it leave my subconscious, Luna? I know it will never happen. I trust you with everything I am and everything I will ever be!” Tears trailed down her alabaster cheeks. “Why won’t it leave me be, Luna?” She sobbed out the words. Luna stared up at her. The dream it terrified her as much as it did Celestia. There had to be a way to rid her of it. Luna’s normal methods of vanquishing the nightmares of the ponies would not work because of Nightmare Moon. Luna knew she would be drawn into that former form of herself. No, this was not something Luna could defeat within the dream realm. The treatment for this was going to be more heavy hoofed. Luna sat there, cuddled into her sister’s large form, the embrace comforting her until her trembling stopped. She chewed her bottom lip; there had to be something... Something that she was not recalling. Then it hit her. There had been a case that had been presented to her night court so long ago. Two sisters had come; one was a noble a very well respected pony, while the other was one of Luna’s own guards. They had asked a boon of her, one which she had hesitantly granted. They wished to experience life through the other’s eyes. According to her guard the experience had been illuminating for both sisters, and they were very thankful. “There is something we can do, Tia.” Celestia opened her tear-filled eyes to look at her determined little sister. “Anything, Luna! I will do anything to rid myself of this nightmare!” Luna licked her lips and nuzzled Celestia’s chest. “I have a spell which will switch our souls. I would be you and you would be me.” Celestia closed her eyes. Luna being me? Me being Luna? There shouldn’t be much harm in it. Surely my magic is not much different than her’s. The only thing I would worry about would be her ability to bring forth the day, but surely she’ll allow me to help her… It’s not as if she’d leave the moon up aga- Celestia gave herself a mental shake and opened her eyes to see Luna staring up at her. “Th-there are, of course, other options, Tia. if you give me a few hours, surely I can-” “Yes.” Celestia interrupted Luna’s rambling. “Yes? Yes, you want me to look for other options? Of course. Just move your wing and I-” “Yes, I will switch with you, Luna. There is no pony I trust more, so… Yes.” Luna’s muzzle was graced with a beautiful smile as her eyes met her sister’s. “Alright, let’s get started.”