//------------------------------// // Chapter Twenty-Three // Story: Heart of Diamonds // by APoeticHeart //------------------------------// As I drift along the recesses of my subconscious, I can hear a faint whisper “Rarity? Rarity, can you hear me? It’s me Princess Luna, your friends and I are with you in your dreams.” I begin to stir as I slowly blink my eyes. As I try to regain my vision, there are sever blurs slowly approaching me, so I rub at my eyes with my hooves. With my focus back, I can see my friends and the princess standing before me “Hello girls and Princess Luna.” I give a nod of my head as I look around us to see nothing but darkness and it sends a chill down my back. I look toward Princess Luna “Luna darling, where are we? It feels so dark and cold here.” “I know my friend, I can sense something off about this dreamscape.” I can see a look of worry etched on her face when of a sudden we hear a nerve wrecking cackle. “Hahaha…. Welcome to my realm you pathetic weaklings. Oh, don’t waste your time looking for me, because I’m all around you… Hahaha.” The voice echoed all around us with it’s maniacal laughter “SILENCE!” I along with the others look at Princess Luna as her eyes glowed pure white “I command thee to show yourself!” She stomps her hoof against the ground. “Aw.. but what’s the fun in just revealing myself to you my oh so naive princess of the night. You were right Luna, I am the spirit of Nightmare Moon, the only one truly understood you until those do gooders changed you back to your normal self. After reuniting with that overbearing sister of yours, I was forced to travel through Equestria in search of a new vessel that would give me the strength to be reborn.” “And that’s why you chose me, so you can once again cause terror among Equestria.” I gasp at the thought of her using me as a tool to wreak havoc upon my home, family, and friends. “That’s right my generous one, you’re going to be the one responsible for my return and once again I can rule this land...Mwahaha!” “”Not if we have to do anything about it you jerk!” Rainbow Dash hovers in the air with a sneer “Show yourself you coward!” “Hahaha… easy there my rainbow maned friend, in time you will get the chance to face true power. For now, I think you all should be tested to see if you are indeed worthy of facing my wrath. Minions!” We look around as the void suddenly is filled with glowing green eyes and gasp as they slowly come out of the shadows to surround us. Once they are before us, we see that they are changelings and we look at each other confused. I look at Princess Luna “Princess, aren’t these brutes suppose to follow Queen Chrysalis?” “Yes Rarity, but this is just as dreamscape which means that any beings can be summoned in them. We just got to fight them like they we were facing them in real life.” She give us a firm nod as we each turn to our adversaries. As the changelings ready themselves to attack Twilight looks at us determined “Ready girls?” I along with the others give a firm nod and then face the group of drones. We stand steadfast as I look at them with focus. Soon they charge at us. Ponyville (Connor’s P.O.V) As I sleep calmly after my grandma tucked me in, I start to dream, but it’s so scary. It’s so dark in my dream and I feel so cold, like a cold wind is blowing against me. I try to look around for any light, but is all dark “Mommy!” I cry out “Mommy, are you here?!” “Of course Mommy’s here sweetums. Here let me give you a little bit of light so you can see my darling little baby boy.” I try to calm my fears as I hear Mommy speak out to me and I see a faint blue light shine in the distance. I smile happily “I’m coming Mommy, please keep your light on.” I start to walk slowly toward the light. “Oh, of course my dear, we wouldn’t want you to take a nasty fall now would we… hehe. Tell you what Connor, I’ll come toward you so you don’t have to walk so much, how does that sound?” “Okay Mommy.” I stop walking as I can see the light of her horn approaching me. I hear the sound of her hooves hitting against the ground as I wait for her. I breathe a sigh of relief “Oh Mommy, I was so scared. I thought you wasn’t here.” I see as she trots toward me and I run up to hug her at her foreleg. This is going to be too easy hehe. The imposter Rarity wraps her free foreleg around the child as a mischievous creeps across her muzzle “Don’t worry precious, Mommy’s here now.” She releases the hug and looks down at the little boy, and without warning she encases him in her magical aura. As I let go of my hug, I feel something cold around me and I see that it’s Mommy’s magic. I whimper and look up at her “Mommy, what are you doing?” I get scared when I hear her laugh, but it is a mean, cold laugh. “Haha… foolish child, do you really think a majestic and all powerful pony like myself would ever care about such a lowly creature like you? No little one, I’m not your Mommy… yet, but I soon will be… Mwahaha!” Nightmare Moon uses her magic to send a small shock over Connor’s body, causing him to let out a cry of pain “You see dear, my name is Nightmare Moon and with the help of your Mommy, I will finally take back what rightfully belongs to me, the power of ruling Equestria, and allowing night to last forever!” She stands proudly as she causes another shock to the boy. I start to cry, letting my tears roll down my cheeks as I look at her trembling in her magic “Leave my Mommy alone you monster!” I yell, but she shocks me again and I cry out in pain. “Silence you little worm! How dare you speak to your future queen like that?! I will make sure to make you my obedient little pet when I take back my throne. For now though, I need you for a little bit of leverage if I’m going to use your Mommy as my new vessel. Come with me you poor, naive child!” With her magic, she uses black ropes of energy to subdue the boy by restraining his arms and legs “Now let’s go see how your dear ol’ Mom and her friends are faring against my loyal minions.” She lets out a cackle as she levitates the boy onto her back “Oh and don’t worry about waking up little one, with you nice and subdued, you are trapped within your dreams…. Haha!” Slowly Nightmare Moon fades into the shadows of Connor’s subconscious with him helplessly bounded on her back.