//------------------------------// // 109. A Mystery Performance at the Grand Galloping Gala #2 (Songfic) (Restored) // Story: Short Shorts // by Coranth //------------------------------// At this year's Grand Galloping Gala, the stage was set for a performer who had chosen not to be identified; said pony was a mystery. Seated comfortably within the royal box, Princess Celestia and Twilight Sparkle were were becoming anxious. 'I don't understand,' Princess Celestia thought. 'Lulu said she would attend this year--but then at the last moment, she gets called away on some important business? Curious...' Finally the lights dimmed, and the curtains rose, revealing that the stage behind it had been made up to look like... her sister's bedchamber? Celestia leaned forward, intrigued. Moments later, a dark cerulean, persian blue-maned pony stepped forward from the darkness... a pony all knew well. Celestia and Twilight - along with all the ponies seated below - gasped as one. "That's... that's Nightmare Moon..." gasped Twilight softly, pressing against her beloved mentor's side, for it was indeed the Dread Mare of the Night - clad in her armor, helm and hoofguards - and yet... something seemed amiss. Before them all was not the Nightmare Moon all ponykind knew. This Nightmare Moon sought not to challenge Celestia, sought not to bring upon Equestria Eternal Night. Instead, deep sadness and melancholy suffused Nightmare Moon as she paced within her stage 'bedroom,' slowly, as if weighed down by a too-heavy burden. A moment later, the strains of a soft piano began... and then, the audience quietened; not a single pony drew breath, as the dark Alicorn began to sing to herself: "I'm tired of waking up in tears, 'Cause I can't put to bed these phobias and fears I'm new to this grief I can't explain; But I'm no stranger to the heartache and the pain The fire I began, is burning me alive But I know better than to leave and let it die" Nightmare Moon turned to face the audience, looking up at Celestia, her beloved sister, as she sang the first chorus, "I'm a silhouette asking every now and then Is it over yet? Will I ever feel again? I'm a Silhouette chasing rainbows on my own But the more I try to move on the more I feel alone So I watch the summer stars to lead me home" Now, anger and regret suffused her as she paced before them all, "I'm sick of the past I can't erase, A jumble of footprints and hasty steps I can't retrace, The mountains of things that I still regret, Is a vile reminder that I would rather just forget (No matter where I go) The fire I began, is burning me alive But I know better than to leave and let it die" Once again, the Dread Mare faced her sister, her expression imploring, "I'm a silhouette asking every now and then Is it over yet? Will I ever smile again? I'm a silhouette chasing rainbows on my own But the more I try to move on the more I feel alone So I watch the summer stars to lead me home 'Cause I walk alone, no matter where I go 'Cause I walk alone, no matter where I go 'Cause I walk alone, no matter where I go" Now, Nightmare Moon stood upon three legs, a forehoof extended out towards her sister and Twilight, her expression suffering, wanting, begging, pleading... "I'm a silhouette asking every now and then Is it over yet? Will I ever love again? I'm a silhouette chasing rainbows on my own But the more I try to move on the more I feel alone So I watch the summer stars to lead me home I watch the summer stars to lead me home..." Alas, it was all for naught. Resignation filled Nightmare Moon; tears streaming from her eyes, with a softly mouthed, "I'm so sorry..." she turned to face the 'Moon' outside her 'bedroom window'... and then, as the final strains of the song played, with a soundless cry she appeared to be drawn into it, becoming the 'Mare in the Moon' as the haunting song drew to a close. By the time the song was ended, there wasn't a dry eye in the room; everypony was in tears, none more so than Celestia. The Alicorn Mare clutched her beloved student desperately with hooves and wings as she sobbed brokenly into Twilight's coat, but Twilight could offer her no comfort, for she, too, was overcome, crying like a lost, broken foal...