//------------------------------//
// Bonus Chapter: Luna's Nightmare 
// Story: Doctor Whoof presents:Discord in Time! 
// by Muleicous 
//------------------------------//

Hey everypony, author Muleicous here. You're all probably wondering what a 'bonus chapter' is. Well, in all honesty, this is a bit of a continuation of the last chapter.

Why would I do this? Two reasons: 1) This chapter does not feature Discord and Lyra, it's more of a epilogue for the last chapter so it wont feature the two main characters. 2) Because I felt that I could've ended the last chapter a bit better, and this seems like a good way to finish things off.

Ok, there is a third, secret reason why I made this bonus chapter. I wont tell you what it is exactly, but I'll give you a hint: it has to do with my on going series of Doctor Whooves fics called Doctor Whoof. That's all you're getting out of me for now. So, sit back, relax, and grab your favorite rich chocolaty dairy beverage, it's time to delve into Luna's Nightmare.

***


Luna awoke with a scream, her eyes forced wide open as her heart pounded in her chest. The lunar princess had returned to her duties just a few days after Lyra and the beast left Canterlot, so the sun was streaming through her window. The princess sobbed softly as she held herself with her front hooves, but the more Luna tried to forget the horrible dream she had just awoken from, the more it came back to her in more and more detail. Suddenly, a knock came from the heavy wooden doors of the moon princess’ bedroom. 

“Princess Luna?” the voice of Heartfelt the pegasus called out, “Are you well princess? Is something the matter? May I come in?”
Luna’s fear driven panting slowed as she called out to the pegasus to enter her chambers. Heartfelt looked the same as he did when Luna and her sister had taken the castle back, aside from his mane being a dark pink and his coat a bright yellow. “We are fine, squire.” The princess said, though she was visibly shaken, “We just... had a very realistic nightmare...”
“Oh, um... I’m sorry.” The pegasus colt said, “May I ask something, princess?”
“Of course, speak!” Luna’s voice grew loud as she used her Royal Canterlot Voice to push her authority on the already meek pony by her bed.
Heartfelt shied away, but then sat back down next to the lunar princess’ bed, “Well, um... When my little filly has a nightmare, she tells me about it and it makes her feel better. Do you think that would work for you, your highness? I mean, you don’t have to if you don’t...”
“No... No, we believe it could help us.” Luna said, her thoughts escaping back to the days when her father would ask her about her dreams, telling her that the bad ones where all false and the good ones where real. “Where should we start, Sir Heartfelt?”
“The beginning princess, of course... I mean, if that’s all right.”
“Yes, well... It began normally...”

***

Luna was running through a meadow of wild flowers, the wind running through her hair as she spread her wings out far. The filly’s eyes stayed closed the whole time, but she could smell the sweet scent of the flowers. Suddenly, she heard laughter, but this was not the kind of laughter she was used to. Instead of kind, jolly laughter at a joke... This laughter was cold, cruel, and malicious, as if an older pony was picking on a smaller filly.
With the speed of the night itself, Luna rushed towards the hurtful laughter; however, once she got to the source she regretted it deeply. In front of the lunar princess was her sister, Celestia Beambright, a hoof over her mouth as she continued to laugh at a small dark blue filly with a lighter blue mane. Luna edged closer to the filly, hopping that her sister wouldn’t notice her. The princess of the night crawled to the filly’s side, edging as close as she could to the shaking, crying pony.
“Hello young one...” Luna whispered to the small pony, “Please, tell us why our sister is laughing at thou. We are sure it is not a very bad reason, we will ask her to stop for we see it... is...” Luna’s sentence trailed off as her eyes moved up the filly’s body, to the young pony’s face. The dark blue filly looked exactly like Luna, except for one single difference... Blood. Blood so thick it was black was dripping from the sides of the filly’s mouth, and the same blood was filling the filly’s eyes as well. Soon, Celestia stopped laughing, and the other Luna pounced and began to bite at the larger alicorn. The sounds of flesh being pulled from the white alicorn princess filled the air, and the real Luna turned away and began to cry. 
“Princess Luna... Why are you crying?” a voice within the lunar alicorn filly’s mind asked, “Are you afraid?”
“Yes...” Luna answered, “We... I do not wish to harm my sister...”
“You will not,” the voice promised, “I can ensure that you shall never harm you sister. All you must do, it let me stay with you... Forever.”
“Can... Can you truly promise that?” Luna asked, her voice starting to crack.
“Of course...” The voice replied, then Luna felt her body change again... Just like it did in the battle earlier that day. She grew taller, stronger, but also more enraged at the thoughts of her sister’s sun stealing the glory away from Luna’s own beloved moon. Suddenly, Luna heard another voice, but it was different from the one in her mind... And this one came from her own mouth.
“I, am Nightmare Moon,” the black coated alicorn declared, “and my night shall reign supreme!”

***

Heartfelt was shaking as he stood, but the colt’s eyes had only comfort for the younger princess. “Princess Luna, I know this will not happen. You love your sister, and you rule with her... Not against her.”
“Thou... Really thinks so, Heartfelt?” Luna sobbed softly as she looked at the kindly pegasus colt.
“Of course, you are the holder of the Elements of Loyalty and Kindness...” Heartfelt smiled as he spoke, “If that is not proof that you are noble, then I do not know what is.”
Luna smiled shily, then looked into Heartfelt’s eyes. “Thank you, Heartfelt. You are one of the kindest ponies we... No, one of the kindest ponies that I know of.” With that, the yellow pegasus took his leave. Luna knew she still couldn’t get to sleep, this time because of talking to another pony. The younger princess stood and walked around her room, stopping at the large, full-body mirror in the corner of her bed chamber. The reflection, to Luna’s glee, was still the same small, happy filly she knew she was. The lunar princess turned and walked back to her bed to fest; however, the reflection didn’t move an in. It smiled wide as it began to morph magically, taking the form of Nightmare Moon once more.
Nightmare Moon chuckled and closed her eyes, “Soon, my master...”
“Yes Nightmare,” the voice from Luna’s dream replied, “I shall be free...”