//------------------------------// // Chapter 6 "Night and Magic" // Story: Equestria Noir Season 2 Case 13 "Enter Nightmare" // by Jacoboby1 //------------------------------// Chapter 6 “Night and Magic” Perspective: Twilight Sparkle Almost four years ago, Nightmare and I faced each other for the first time. Back then, I was just doing everything in my power to help Equestria. I was trying to save my mentor and what would become my future home. It was simply duty… Now, she made it personal. Our magic bolts rang around in the throne room as we clashed with one another. I summoned some magic missiles to throw at her. She conjured up a barrier and launched some of her own. I barely managed to dodge and weave my way around the missiles. Private laid there on the ground, unconscious, but safe from the fighting. Nightmare soon stood and smiled smugly, “Why do you struggle so hard Twilight? Simply surrender and everypony will be happy.” “I’m not falling for your games Nightmare!” I yelled, firing another bolt of magic at her. She dodged it and went on, “You fight so hard for him, is it really so worth it?” “Of course he’s worth it,” I growled. “He’s my husband, and my friend, I’d do anything to keep him safe.” “Oh I’m sure you feel that way, but does he feel the same way about you?” She said with a grin. “You really have no idea about the true darkness within him…” “What’re you talking about?” I asked. “I know that Private used to use Dark magic for a while.” “Oh, hahaha” She laughed at me. “You really think that will be the end of it?” “Just spit it out!” I yelled. “You want to know the truth? Your dearly beloved here is one death away from falling completely into darkness. Much like dear Luna, no wonder they found… Common ground with one another…” “What’re you talking about!?” “Your dear Private may hold affections for dear Luna…” What...no...no Private would never… ”NO!” I yelled, firing a blast of magic. “Private wouldn’t cheat on me! Especially with Luna!” “Oh, really now?” She said, sidestepping my blast. “You really believe that in all of his exertions, he’s never been...tempted by her?” “Of course, he’s a stallion he’s bound to be tempted.” She raised a brow at that. “Was a stallion, long story.” I said, and then glared at her. “I’m not going to let you spout out this nonsense! Luna! Tell her she’s lying! Tell her that you don’t have feelings for Private!” Nightmare blinked an eye, for a moment, that eye belonged to Luna as she said…”I’m sorry Twilight Sparkle...Nocturne is mine…” “Luna…” I said, putting a hoof to my mouth. “You…” “You stole everything Twilight...my sister’s love..the love of the ponies...a great destiny that will come about...it should be MINE! All mine! I was the one at Tia’s side for millennia before you were even born!” Luna screamed, before Nightmare took over. “Luna...she…” I said, totally shocked. I had...no idea she felt for Private like that…. My Private… With her...all this time… He...did leave on some cases...all by himself...he could easily… How could he….how could he….? How…. “Yes...that’s it Twilight...see the truth with your very eyes...he was never meant for you. Besides, you became enamored with another...what’s to say he couldn’t either?” Flash...no, no it wasn’t cheating, I was brainwashed and… He...he… THAT BASTARD!!! How dare he betray me! After all I’ve done for him! All that we’ve been through! He just turns around and goes to see Luna! All to fulfill her sick fantasy of being with a thousand year dead lover! I hate him! I hate him! I WISH HE COULD SUFFER!!! Suddenly...the room turned...black? I heard Nightmare shouting. “NO! NO NOT NOW!” I fell over… _________________________________________________________________ I woke up inside some violet lit cave. The ground was strangely soft, and there were little crystal formations that provided the light. This… this was kind of neat. I wonder who made those? I groaned as I got to my hooves. Where am I? This didn’t make any...wait! Where’s Nightmare?! “Hello Twilight…” I said, hearing a...strangely familiar voice… I turned and saw… Wow…. Standing before me was a unicorn. She had a beautiful purple coat, slightly darker purple hair, and wore a dark blue kimono decorated with Neighponese characters and runes. Her green eyes looked into mine, wisdom and compassion shining from them. Wow, she was gorgeous...wait...I’ve seen her before… “You’re…” I began. “Izanami. A pleasure to meet face to face, Twilight…” She said with a smile. “OH MY GOSH!” I squealed. “I’m meeting one of the first unicorns ever to come into existence! I have a billion questions to ask you! I should’ve brought my-” She held up a hoof to quiet me down. “There will be plenty of time for that on other days, Twilight.” “You, know who I am…” I said. “Yes I do, we share the same blood after all,” She said with a smile. “Huh, guess that makes me an actual princess then, being descended from a Unicorn Queen,” I replied. The I remembered what happened. “Private! And Nightmare she-” “Yes, your mate is in dire straights. Nightmare is closing in on his heart, and if you do not intervene, he will fall to her dark power.” She warned. I looked away, still feeling bitter. “Maybe I shouldn’t…” “Do not speak in such a fashion,” She said sternly. “Well, why shouldn’t I?! After all! He knew about Luna having feelings for him and never told me! He keeps going off alone and getting hurt! He act like one of the most stubborn idiots I’ve ever known, and now I learn he could-” “SILENCE!!!” She shouted, her eyes glowing white and a powerful wind pulled me out of my rant. Wow… She’s kinda scary when mad. She calmed down and spoke “Twilight, you cannot listen to Nightmare. She wants to sow this doubt in you.” “Well what if she’s right?!” I said, trying to keep from yelling. “Did you think going into this marriage it would be easy?” She yelled. “What? No I-” “Did you think it would always be flowers and fairy tales? Loving passionate kisses every day?” She moved ever closer to me. “Did you think it would always be easy to know whether you loved your spouse or not?” I...just bowed my head at that… “No, because love that’s easy, isn’t true love at all. True love does not come about from one kiss, but from trials and tribulations. That’s why the vows say ‘for better or for worse’. Your beloved was tempted certainly. But can you say you were never tempted?” “That’s different-” “No it’s not.” She said. “The one unifying thing is that you are both ponies. You both are damaged in some way. You both have to make the commitment. But you both also need to learn to trust...you almost fell into darkness because you gave into your fear of losing Private…” “What are you saying?” I asked. “One very simple thing,” She said, coming to me, and putting a gentle hoof on my shoulder. “That no matter how dangerous it gets true love is worth the work you put into it.” “I should trust Private...but...Nightmare…” “There is one simple way to release Nightmare.” She said, “Make her realize what you just did.” “Wait...hold on….” I said, putting a hoof on my chin and then smiling. “I know how to beat her…” ___________________________________________________________ I opened my eyes to find Nightmare before me once again. She smirked. “So, come to give into darkness at last? After hearing of your beloved’s betrayal?” “Private would never betray me, and I would never really betray him,” I said, without hesitation. “Do you not have ears, child?!” She yelled. “I already told you of Luna’s feelings!” “And now I’m about to tell you about Luna’s feelings as well…” I said firmly...and then...my horn glowed...and before Nightmare’s eyes...an image of Tenebros appeared… The night pony alicorn stood there in all his glory, proud and strong, and looking wistfully in the distance. Luna’s eyes appeared on the black alicorn. “No...no... Take that away!” She yelled. “Is this what you were really running from?!” I yelled. “The truth is there’s a reason Nocturne was a pet to you!” “Silence!” She screamed. “Nocturne is my beloved! He is ever loyal! Ever true!” I shook my head. “Real love doesn’t work one way, Luna. I heard about your break up. He came here to help you. He’s the reason I’m here. Tenebros was the real reason you clung to Nocturne. You were afraid of getting hurt again. You wanted a pet, not a stallion. If you truly loved Nocturne...you would let him go and face what’s really destroying you…” “NOOOO!!!” She yelled. ___________________________________________________________ Perspective: Private Eye There was a...rumbling…. There seemed to be… cracks? What’s going on? This place is coming apart! The visions of Luna and the others were just poofing into nothingness... Columns crumbling, floor breaking into huge chunks, and that rumbling… I smirked. “Twilight…” Only she could be so amazing… With the world coming down...I woke up for real this time…. ___________________________________________________ I groaned as I heard Twilight’s voice. I opened my eyes to see her looking down at me with a smile. I returned it saying, “Hey..” “Hey, you feeling alright?” She asked. “Course, you’re here, I’m happy…” I said, and reached up a hoof to pull her into the most eww inducing kiss I could muster. Boy was she happy to return it. I then heard Nightmare yell. “NO! No this was perfect! You two have ruined everything, again!” I stood, and looked to Nightmare. “You ruined yourself…” “I will destroy you both! Then Equestria shall be mine!!” She screamed, and fired a magical beam at us. Twilight blocked it with a shield spell. “Not gonna work this time, Nightmare. You don’t have full control over Luna now.” “You think you two can beat me alone?” She yelled. “Don’t you ever read the memo?” I said, and looked at my chest. Hope started to appear, I looked to Twilight, and saw Magic on her head…”We’re never alone…” I closed my eyes and began floating in the air. The sound of Chanting could be heard, the sound of a battle cry. A cord of light went to Twilight, and five others went into small portals. Before my very eyes, AJ, Rainbow, Pinkie, Flutters, and Rarity all came in, adorned with their own Elements of Harmony. They all turned to Nightmare. “No! No you were all supposed to be locked away!” Nightmare yelled. “MY nightmares should’ve kept you away from this!” “Ya think we were jus’ gonna wallow in self pity ferever?” Aj asked. “Your meany pants days are over, Nightmarey!” Pinkie said, and then stuck her tongue out, giving Nightmare a raspberry. “You mess with one of us, you get the full package,” Rainbow boasted. “No matter how far we are,” Fluttershy added. “All of us shall stand as one…” Rarity said with a smile. “Now listen up, Nightmare,” I yelled. “Last time, I wasn’t here to help. But now, I’m thinking I’m gonna make up for lost time, by making sure Hope is front and center in taking you down!” “NO! I SHALL END ALL OF YOU!!!” She screamed, firing a torrent of magic. Hope….give all we have to Twilight...let her end this… As if hearing my plea, the cords of light caused the Elements to glow brightly. My diamond Element soon glowed with all five gemstones, I then raised my arms to a flying Twilight, and poured all the power I had into her… Her horn glowed with the light of a rainbow...and she fired it with all her might at Nightmare’s, the beam pierced straight through the darkness and hit Nightmare straight on. She screamed as before our very eyes….she began to...split from Luna…. Nightmare came off Luna like a costume….she screamed the whole way as Luna finally fell to the floor, the rainbow encircling Nightmare. “No! What is this magic!?” She yelled. Didn’t she learn this the last time? FRIENDSHIP IS MAGIC!!! The rainbow circled faster and faster, until...a bright light came… _____________________________________________________ Perspective:...Nocturne It’s time Luna… Must you leave? Some part of me will always love you, Luna… but if you want to be truly cured… If you want to have any chance of getting better… please… let me go… I… I understand now...how much pain I was really holding in… That I was really destroying myself… Nocturne… Forgive me…. Luna… I already forgave you… you have been forgiven all these years...but you need to learn to forgive yourself… Nocturne… I need to go now… Goodbye, Luna… Promise me… that you… that you will be happy… I promise, Luna… I can rest in peace...knowing that you are finally free… free to be happy… to be free… and to walk in the light… I will, Nocturne, I promise I will never fall again… I can’t… after seeing such pain come about twice… Tenebros is waiting… All this time… he still cared… You will be well, Luna...goodbye… Goodbye… Nocturne… my knight… my friend…