//------------------------------// // [FIXED] Episode 32: HOLY MOTHER OF LUNA! IT'S LUNA....Wait, Huh? (Nightmare Night Part 2) // Story: The Life of a Wanted Changeling Season 2: Debt to a Doctor (Comment Driven Story) // by Down with Chrysalis //------------------------------// So let's see here. Standing before you is Princess Luna, an ultra-powerful alicorn that wants to kill your adorable daughter because of some dillusion about her being Nightmare Moon. "Oh buck me." You think to yourself as you slowly rise before her "What do I do? Why is she even here?! Does she know about Nightshade!? I have to do something, and fast. Weighing your options; on the one hoof, Luna is clearly a major threat to you and Nightshade and you should totally take her down while you have the chance. But on the other hoof, Luna's way more powerful than you without your Nightmare cloak and could probably take you down unless you use it, and that would pose the risk of putting everyone around you in danger (no danger of dying thanks to DFV's promise, but danger none the less). On the third hoof, it might be worth the risk if it means protecting Nightshade. And on the fourth hoof- *clunk* You just fell over for counting on all your hooves at once . Uh oh. This does not look good. As you stare into the eyes of the princess many things go through your mind. You know with your luck that this will only end with pain. You notice that your helmet is still on your head, which means your cover is not blown.....yet. You have to get away from her as quickly as possible and find Nightshade. You don't even want to think of what they would do to her if she gets found out. You feel a sense of determination grow inside you. You need a plan! As you continue to look up at the dark lunar monarch, several things go through your mind, Oh buck me. You think to yourself as you slowly rise before her. What do I do? Why is she even here?! Does she know about Nightshade!? I have to do something, and fast! When you finally get up, you raise a hoof as you begin mentally weighing your options, On the one hoof, Luna is an ultra-powerful alicorn princess who wants Nightshade dead out of some delusion that she's Nightmare Moon so I should definitely take her down when I have the chance. But on the other hoof, Luna is WAY more powerful than basic me without Nightmare Cloak and even if I do use it, I'll be a danger to EVERYTHING around me... even Nightshade!On the third hoof, it might be worth the risk if it means protecting Nightshade once and for all.And on the fourth hoof- *clunk* You just fell over for counting on all your hooves at once, causing Luna to look at you in confusion. Oh buuuuuuuck! With my luck, this can only end in pain! I need to get out of here and find Nightshade FAST! Need a plan, NOW! Go to defcon 1, as you realize That night shade is out in the open, with the one pony who would see her hanged from a tree. your fatherly instincts will go into overdrive as you start making unintelligible noises in sheer panic. "Qruosyivcasbfxmhwmjspaotzmlerusgnkd..." Instead of thinking of a plan, you start to make unintelligible noises in a panic. Darn it mouth!!! Stay cool, Luna has only seen you in your hooded form... then again Celestia could've told her your a changeling, but Nightshade is currently with the group that ran away... As this goes back and forth in your mind, you notice Luna just staring at you. You mentally panic and prepare a Falcon Punch with your drill, when she comments on your costume (although she does express her preference for the "Bouncer" Big Daddy design) Luna stares at you for a moment before asking "Citizen, the driver seems to have gotten lost, woulds't thou be so kind as to direct us to Ponyville? There is someone we need to find." she says ominously. Does that mean what you think it means? If it does, then she's trying to hunt down Nightshade! "Don't just sit there and gawk. DO SOMETHING! DFV screams at you. "Buck yeah I'mma do something!" "YOU. SHALL NOT! PASS!" you yell defiantly through your voice modulator and take a defensive stance between Luna and the path to town, revving up your drill for emphasis. Luna raises an eyebrow and looks behind you. She then turns back to her guards "I told you it was over that way, let's go before we arrive late!" And with that they fly off in their goth-band style chariot, completely ignoring you. Okay, calm down Bugze, you think to yourself in an attempt to calm down, Luna has only seen you in your hooded form so you're fine... Then again her sister could have told her that I'm a changeling... But Nightshade's still with the group so she's ok- "Citizen." Luna suddenly says interrupting your mental rambling. "The driver seems to have gotten lost, woulds't thou be so kind as to direct us to Ponyville? There is somepony we need to find." she says ominously. Wait, does that mean what I think it means?, you think in a worried panic If it does, then she's trying to hunt down Nightshade! Well don't just sit there and gawk you fool! DO SOMETHING! DFV screams at you. *snap* Buck yeah I'mma do something! you mentally think in determination as your porthole glows orange and you rise off the ground. "YOU. SHALL NOT! PASS!" you yell defiantly through your voice modulator and take a defensive stance between Luna and the path to town, revving up your drill for emphasis. Luna stands there blankly. "Thou art getting thy references mixed up" Luna says, "Although thy Subject Delta costume is commendable in spite of the fact that Big Daddies typically glow red instead of orange. Thou even got the drill right even if I do prefer the multi-ports of the "Bouncer" design and have a personal preference for the first game overall." Your jaw drops behind the helmet and your drill dies down as you think, Hey! My costume is more than 'commendable'. It's got a fully functional drill for crying out lou- Wait a second... There's no way she could tell if this was Delta! Unless... HOLY LUNA, SHE PLAYED THE GAME! I THOUGHT SHE ONLY PLAYED OLD GAMES FROM THE TIME I ACCIDENTALLY TELEPORTED MYSELF INTO HER BEDROOM!!! "Anyway, as I was saying before, does thou know the whereabouts of Ponyville or the location of a 'Baker Sylvester Tennant'?" She then asks for the whereabouts of "Mr. Tennant" You leap forward, shrieking at the top of your lungs like a schoolfilly, "FALCON DRILL-PUNCH THINGY I DON'T KNOW JUST PLEASE LET THIS WORK!" The drill freezes in mid-air, surrounded by a blue aura, and Luna grins. "A fair attempt, citizen, but I saw it coming a mile away. If you want to scare somepony with something so obvious, you need to surprise them." She lets you go and asks again about Mr. Tennant. Considering that she just stopped your attack cold, and she's asking about you personally, you call this a deadly situation. "One... two... three..." Luna narrows her eyes. "What are you doing?" Oh crap, she narrowed her eyes! "O-one... two... three..." "Stop that." "O-one... four... eleven..." Luna stomps a hoof, cracking the ground and roaring in the RCV, "STOP THAT!" You squeak, "Ten" and run away. Remember what the Doctor said during Cider Season, "OH, A BIT OF A WARNING! ON NIGHTMARE NIGHT, IF YOU SEE SOMETHING THAT LOOKS DEADLY, YOU MUST COUNT TO 10 BEFORE RUSHING IN! GOT THAT? GOOD! ALLONS-Y!" *crack* OH BUCK SHE KNOWS MY ALIAS!!! You mentally panic. You're about to try to Falcon Punch her with your drill when you remember something the Doctor said right after that competition with the proto-Termarenator. FLASHBACK TO CIDER SEASON "OH, A BIT OF A WARNING! ON NIGHTMARE NIGHT, IF YOU SEE SOMETHING THAT LOOKS DEADLY, YOU MUST COUNT TO 10 BEFORE RUSHING IN! GOT THAT? GOOD! ALLONS-Y!" BACK TO PRESENT Calm down bug, calm down. Remember, the Doctor hasn't lied to you yet. Sure. he's misguided you, sent you to where you're most likely to die, and put your daughter back in danger, but he hasn't lied. *Sigh* Here it goes... "One... two... three..." "What are you doing?" Luna asks as she looks at you in confusion, Blast, she's looking at me! you mentally panic as you unwitting start over, "O-one... two... th- three..." "Stop that." she says blanky. "F-four... five-... s- six..." "Stop that." she repeats with more annoyance in her voice. "S-Seven... Eleven.... Nine..." you stammer more nervously. Her patience at an end, Luna stomps a hoof, cracking the ground and roaring in the Royal Canterlot Voice, "I COMMAND THOU TO CEASE!!!!" "Ten." you squeak before hightailing it out of there. Luna raises an eyebrow and where you once stood and sees Ponyville. "I told thou it was over that way," she says as she turns to her guards "Let us depart before we arrive late!" And with that they fly off in their goth-band style chariot towards Ponyville. ONE RUN LATER Okay... Princess Luna is in Ponyville. She know your name, and she wants your daughter- BAM! Pinkie Pie tackles you to the ground. "Big Daddy! You gotta save us! NIGHTMARE MOON WILL FEAST ON US ALL!" You look behind her and see Nightshade and the CMC in the group of kids following her. You come up with a cunning plan. "Yes! Yes, she will eat you! RUN AND DO NOT STOP RUNNING!" The entire group jumps into the air, screaming. "Oh, you also might not want to answer any question she asks you. Just in case she talks to you instead of eating you." Pinkie cocks her head, staring at you. "So... we're not supposed to talk to Nightmare Moon." "Nope." "But we can still run and scream, right?" "Of course." Pinkie nods and turns back to the kids. "Okay everypony, follow my lead." She shrieks and gallops away, followed by the group. When you get to Ponyville, you see that…everyone appears to be cowering before her as she speaks in the DFV. You hold Night Shade close and cower near Twilight Sparkle. Luna starts talking about changing Nightmare Night into a glorious feast. Pinkie: Did you hear that Everypony? Nightmare Moon says she’s going to feast on us all! Pinkie/Foals: AAAAAAHHHHHH!!!! (Runs away) Luna looks as flabbergasted by that statement as much as you are Luna: What? No Children NO! You no longer have reason to fear us You: (thinking) Except of course for the ones you are ok with hanging! She then starts trying to talk with the mayor and others, and it even looks like she’s about to punch the assistant, but doesn’t. Luna: What is the matter with you? Very Well then! Be that way! We won’t even bother with the traditional royal fairwell! (she says as she leaves upset) You: Wow, getting rid of her was easier than I thought, who would’ve thunk giving her the cold shoulder would’ve worked? Night Shade: She looked sad Daddy You: Ya she did, heh heh, it’s what she gets. DFV: I told you she was weak and pathetic! If only I could get my hooves on her I would…no…No I can’t do that anymore…I promised…Grrrr… You: Look, I know you don’t like her, but calm down, she’s already leaving, everything’s fine Twilight: I’m going to go talk to her. You/Spike: What?! Spike: (pulling on Twilight’s cape) you can’t talk to her she’s Nightmare Moon Twilight: No she’s not… You: Ya, that’s clearly Princess Luna…come to think of it, why is the Pink Psycho and everyone else calling her that? Twilight: I don’t know, I saw the Elements of Harmony change her back to good, but it seems like she’s having trouble adjusting… You: Wait Wait Wait! Hold Up! What do you mean changed her back to good? Twilight: When she actually was Nightmare Moon You: WHAT!? Princess Luna was Nightmare Moon? When did this happen? Twilight: …Have you been living under a rock or something? You: Well… Twilight: Last year during the Summer Sun Celebration, she returned swearing eternal night, but the girls and I reformed her with the Elements of Harmony, casting out the darkness of her soul DFV: The pain of what they did is indescribable. You: Wow…that feels like something I should’ve known…wow Twilight: Well it looks like you’re not the only one (glares and looks around at all the other ponies) And after being gone for a thousand years, it seems like she still doesn’t know the customs. Night Shade: She seemed so alone… Twilight: That’s why somepony needs to talk to her, to show her we don’t fear her You: But some of us kinda do Twilight: Not all of us! Twilight stomps off after the Princess. You finally make it back to Ponyville (which wasn't easy in your cumbersome suit so you ended up smashing and drilling through several trees... Fluttershy is probably not gonna be too happy about that...) but when you catch your breath you see… everypony cowering before Princess Luna as she speaks in the DFV. Okay... Princess Luna is in Ponyville. She know my name, and she wants my daughter... TIME TO PAN- *BAM!* Pinkie Pie tackles you to the ground before you can mentally panic further, "Big Daddy! You gotta save us!" she screams, "NIGHTMARE MOON WILL FEAST ON US ALL!" You look behind her and see Nightshade and the CMC in the group of foals following her so you come up with a cunning plan to keep them safe, "Uh... Yeah! But that's not the worst part! " "IT ISN'T?!" the foals say at once. "Yeah, if she gets her hooves on you, she'll boil you to death, eat your flesh, and sew your skins into her royal gown – and if you're very, very lucky, she'll do it in that order!" The entire group jumps into the air screaming. "Yeah, so you better RUN AND DO NOT EVER STOP RUNNING! Oh, you also might not want to answer any question she asks you. Just in case she talks to you instead of eating you. That's just her lulling you into a false sense of security before she snatches you away!" You warn them. Pinkie cocks her head, staring at you, "So... we're not supposed to talk to Nightmare Moon." "E-Nope." you say bluntly as Big Red sneezes "But we can still run and scream, right?" Pinkie asks. "Of course." Pinkie nods and turns back to the foals, "Okay everypony, follow my lead..." "TOGETHER WE SHALL CHANGE THIS DREADFUL CELEBRATION INTO A BRIGHT AND GLORIOUS FEAST!!!" Luna declares in the RCV. "Did you hear that Everypony? Nightmare Moon says she’s going to feast on us all!" She shrieks and gallops away, followed by the group. Luna looks as flabbergasted by their reaction as you snicker. "What? No, Children NO! You no longer have reason to fear us!" *snap* Except of course for the ones you're ok with hanging! You think angrily as Luna starts trying to talk with the mayor and others, and it even looks like she’s about to punch the assistant, but doesn't. "Very Well then! Be that way! We won’t even bother with the traditional royal fairwell!" she whines before walking off in a huff. Wow, getting rid of her was easier than I thought. Who would've thunk giving her the cold shoulder would've actually worked? I told you she was weak and pathetic! If only I could get my hooves on her I would…Darn it! I can’t do that anymore… I promised…Grrrr… Look, I know you don’t like her, but calm down, she’s already leaving. Everything is going to be fine- "I’m going to go talk to her." Twilight says, "WHAT?!" you and Spike exclaim at the same time. "You can’t talk to her, she’s Nightmare Moon!" Spike exclaims while tugging on her cape. "No she’s not-" "Ya, that’s clearly Princess Luna…" You say in confused agreement as you interrupt Twilight, "Come to think of it, why is the Pink Psycho and everyone else calling her that?" "I don’t know, I saw the Elements of Harmony change her back to good, but it seems like she’s having trouble adjusting-" Twilight says "Wait Wait Wait! Hold Up!" you interrupt, "What do you mean changed her back to good?" "When she actually was Nightmare Moon-" "WHAT!? Princess Luna was Nightmare Moon? When did this happen?!" "…Have you been living under a rock or something?" Twilight asks you in a combination of puzzled and annoyed "Well…" "Last year during the Summer Sun Celebration, she returned swearing eternal night, but the girls and I reformed her with the Elements of Harmony, casting out the darkness of her soul." The pain of what they did is indescribable. You ignore the DFV as you say "Wow…that feels like something I should’ve known- wait..." You then remember how Cadance told you the story of Nightmare Moon back at the castle during the Grand Galloping Gala. Oh yeah, I DO know that... you think sheepishly. Imbecile. "Well it looks like you’re not the only one... " Twilight says as she glares at all the other ponies around her, "And after being gone for a thousand years, it seems like she still doesn't know the customs." "She did seem kinda alone…" you comment hesitantly. "That’s why somepony needs to talk to her, to show her we don’t fear her." Twilight says. "But some of us kinda do." you protest. "Not all of us!" Twilight declares before stomping off after the Princess. As Twilight departs you think, Ahhhh, should I help Twilight or should I just stay here? Gah I can't decide! What do you do?