//------------------------------// // Chapter Twenty-Four // Story: Heart of Diamonds // by APoeticHeart //------------------------------// As we stand there, prepared to fight against these changeling drones, they start to circle around us like a predator after it’s prey. I look toward Princess Luna “Your highness, why are they just circling us and not attacking us?” I turn back toward the drones, readying myself to fight. “Just keep calm my friends. They’re just visions of this dreamscape and not real.” She gives us a nod of reassurance “Close your eyes girls, keep calm, and concentrate your thoughts at the drones.” Before we oblige, we see a slow, sly grin creep across her muzzle “Think about what you would like to do to these foul creatures and it shall become reality.” I close eyes as asked to and I focus deepl. My horn starts to pulsate as it lights up with it’s magic, and a grin creeps across my muzzle “Alright you brutes, let’s see how you look in something more fitting for your species.” I can’t help but let out a small laugh as I feel a beam of magic escape from my horn and I open my eyes. The drones before me look down in fright and shock as they are fully dressed in bright pink, white, poofy gowns. I can hear a collected laugh escape from my friends as I grin at the changelings “Like I said darlings, these outfits are perfect for cowards like you.” A smirk of pride forms on my muzzle and I laugh as they scream like little fillies, and run off into the darkness. “Perfect Rarity, that is how you use your mind against dreams like this. I believe you was unable to this with Nightmare Moon at the beginning, because you were fresh prey to her. She knew you lacked the knowledge to deal with her like myself.” The princess gave me a reassuring pat on the shoulder “But now you have the ability to face her one on one, and you have all of us by your side to support you.’ I look at her and the others who give me a firm nod “Thank you princess and you all for always being my friends. I understand though that I have to do this on my own, that I have to deal with this foul beast of a mare alone. I need to stop these horrific dreams before they become reality and my precious baby boy becomes a victim of the witch!” My brows arch in anger yet also determination. “Well, well, well, it seems that you my dear have overcome my loyal pets of my realm Rarity. It appears that you are a challenge after all for me, along with your fellow Elements of Harmony.” My ears twitch with annoyance as that voice echoes around us, but this time the atmosphere starts to warp and rippl around us. A look of confusing etches across each of our faces, wondering where this hag is taking now in this dream. Soon the environment would form into a room very unfamiliar to me. It appeared to be a room that could be in a palace with a long, red silken carpet which led from the palace doors to the throne. The throne itself is designed of pure white gold with a red satin cushion, and scattered all along the floor is golden bits galore. However, although it’s filled with rich beauty, it’s void of any peace and harmony. “Welcome to my parlor, or may I say my humble abode to be more appropriate.” From out behind the throne trots Nightmare Moon herself “And hello there my old friend Princess Luna, how have you been? I’m sure you are miserable without me guiding you to become the one true power of Equestria that I once thought you deserved to be.” She scoffs at the sight of the princess. “SILENCE!” Luna stomps her hoof against the tiled floor “I have been doing perfectly fine without you controlling my mind and heart. But this isn’t about me, it’s about my friend, the Element of Generosity Rarity. Why have you decided to target her as your new vessel?” A sneer creeps across Luna’s muzzle. Nightmare Moon simply sits in her throne “That my dear princess is very simple, Rarity here is blind to the true goddess she could be, and I’m just trying to make her see the light, the light of fame and fortune. With her ability to create extravagant dresses and suits for the ponies of upper society, she could be the most widely known fashionista in Equestria. Alas she wants to be nothing but a petty mare of maternal instincts to a lowly creature such as a human… GAH!” A blast of magic strikes her in the chest plate of her armor and causes her to stagger back a bit. “HOW DARE YOU!” A feeling of pure anger courses through my veins at hearing such despicable remarks made about my baby boy “How dare you speak of a precious child as my son you wicked, pitiful excuse for a lady! Yes being a widely known fashionista has been my dream since I was a filly when I discovered my cutie mark, but now I have realized being a mother to a sweet baby boy as Connor is my true calling. Yes I can still be the fashionista I was destined to be, but being a mother is just as special.” Although my blood boils with anger, I can feel a warm smile of pride talking about my little darling son. Nightmare Moon smirks evilly as she stroked her hoof against the chest plate of her armor “That is what I like to see my dear one, your anger released. You do have the ability to become not only a famous fashionista, but an all powerful goddess who can rule this land.” A chuckle escapes her lips “However, I guess I won’t be able to persuade you so easily, would I?” I scoff at her question “You better believe you witch! I’m going to end these nightmares once and for all, and make sure that you leave me, my son, my family, and my friends alone once and for all!” I focus my magic and aim my horn at her. Waving a hoof in front of her, Nightmare Moon chuckles “Nuh..uh… I wouldn’t do that if I were you. Not if you want your precious little son.” A confused look etches on Rarity’s face “What, did you all actually think I would be here all on my lonesome?” She lets out a cackle as she looks up above and brings down a dome-shaped cage with her magic. As I watch the cage being lowered, I immediately gasp at the sight I see. Inside, on his his knees, bound with a dark blue looking rope, and gagged with some cloth is my darling baby boy. I place my hoof against my mouth and feel tears well up in my eyes “Connor!” I cry out and trot up to the cage. My heart breaks as I see him with tears of his own rolling down his cheeks, and I can see fear in his eyes. I reach my hoof out to touch at the cage, but I let out a small scream as it shocks me. Soon a barrier of electricity surround the cage and I can see Connor trembling like a leaf. I sniffle, but my lips curl in a snarl as I look at Nightmare Moon “What have you done to him you monster?!” My blood starts to boil again, but I look toward my baby “Don’t worry sweetheart, Mommy will get you out.” Nightmare Moon slowly raises the cage back up “All I’m trying to do my dear naive mare is show you his true place in the presence of goddess such as you and I, on his knees before our hooves.” She chuckles and glares at Princess Luna and the other Elements of Harmony “Now, for this to be between just Rarity and I, I believe the rest of you should leave.” She closes her eyes and concentrates deeply as her horn lights up. A slow mischievous grin creeps across her muzzle as she opens her eyes again and in a flash the princess and others vanish. I gasp as I see my friends disappear in a flash and then look back at her ‘What did you do to them?” I let out a lowly growl as I scruff my hoof against the floor. She simply chuckles “Do not fret my loyal pet, they’re just outside this throne room. We don’t want them to interfere with our little conversation, do we?” Meticulously, she trots toward Rarity and starts to circle around her “Now Miss Belle, I have a proposition for you, and I believe it will be too good to turn down.” She lifts a hoof to stroke at Rarity’s chin. I forcefully turn my head away from her hoof and look at her with anger “I will never accept any off you give me! Now let my son go you hag!” I turn around and as hard as I can, I lift my hind legs up, and buck the witch in the jaw. I grin proudly as I make her stagger back a bit “Don’t underestimate me darling, I may seem dainty, being a lady and all, but I’m never afraid to give a good thrashing to those who deserve it.” Nightmare Moon shakes her head of the strike and rubs at her chin with a hoof. She grins slyly, yet a look of frustration forms in her eyes “Well, I can tell I made the perfect choice in the vessel I will take over. You put up a decent fight Miss Belle, but that won’t matter. Now let me show you true power!” She cackled as she lit her horn up, shooting a beam at Rarity. Quickly I dodge the beam of magic and shoot one right back at her, striking her in her wings. I hear a yelp escape her lips, indicating that I was able to stun her “Quite a showing of power indeed dear, but let a lady warn you, next time try not to miss.” I chuckle as I gallop up to her and strike her in the side of her head with my forehoof. “Gah! Stop that you insolent mare!” Nightmare Moon charges at Rarity and rams her with her shoulder, knocking the white unicorn back a few feet, but she remained standing. Without warning, Nightmare Moon released another beam of magic, this time connect with Rarity. “AH!” With the force of her magic, I am slung back against the room’s wall and I collapse to the ground. A pained grunt escapes my lips as I slowly stand up “You may be strong, but I have something you will never have you miscreant!” My chest heaves as I breathe heavily. Nightmare Moon smirks and crouches forward ready to attack “And what is that my little pony?” She chuckles confidently. “I have heart you wicked mare!” I look up ahead at one of the many crystal chandeliers hanging up above and I shoot a beam of magic at it. I aim it just perfectly at the hook as the chandelier falls toward the floor. “AAH!” Nightmare Moon barely leaps out of the way, but skids along the floor on her side. She gasps at the fight Rarity is showing and grunts in frustration “Why you miserable little filly!” She shoots another magical beam at Rarity, but the unicorn dodges. Nightmare Moon stands up fully and flaps her wings to hover in the air “You may have heart Miss Belle, but I have the advantage of air!” She sneers at Rarity as she flaps her wings and flies down toward her. “Come and get me!” I yell as I stand steadfast readying myself for her incoming attack. I charge toward her and leap up in the air “MMph!” However, I’m not quick enough to land the first strike as she takes me me in my midsection and we both hit the ground with great force. We roll along for a bit until we’ll both laid out a few feet from each other “No matter if you are able to beat me Nightmare Moon, you will never corrupt my son, and you will never rule Equestria!” Slowly, I struggle to get up and pant heavily. After colliding with Rarity from her midair collision and rolling along the floor, Nightmare Moon is slow to get up. She breathes in and out heavily just like Rarity “We’ll see about that you pathetic excuse for an Element of Harmony!” She lets out a low growl as she focuses her energy to power up her horn. “Yes darling, I’m an Element of Harmony, one of the same Elements of Harmony that ended your reign of terror before! And I promise you, I will end it again before it even gets started!” I stand strong as I focus all of my strength into my horn. I take a glance up at the cage that my poor baby boy is being held This is for you Connor, Mommy’s going to end this once and for all! I take one last look at Nightmare Moon and smirk “Rot in Tartarus you witch!” I shoot my deeply concentrated beam of magic at her, but unfortunately she does as well. “Not before you, you insolent little worm!” Nightmare Moon screams out as both hers and Rarity’s magic collides. Back and forth, we fight creating a huge sphere of energy and power with our magic. I stagger back a bit, but I don’t resist as I push her back some as well. Suddenly a huge explosion occurs, blinding me, and I clinch my eyes shut tight. I can hear her scream out as well as me as I collapse to the ground. And then everything goes black.