//------------------------------// // I am not Nightmare Moon // Story: I will protect you // by Questionable Brony //------------------------------// Twilight groaned as she slowly regained consciousness. "Did it...work?" she asked. "In a matter of speaking." Twilight jumped on her hooves, looking around frantically. She didn't recognize that voice, plus all of her friends were still unconscious from the magical overload. She found the source of the voice in the corner of a room and her eyes went wide. "What? No! Why didn't the elements work?!" she exclaimed. "They did work." Nightmare Moon replied, walking up to the unicorn. "Well actually that's not correct." she said, putting a hoof under her chin. "You see, the elements only work on those who are truly corrupted or creatures of chaos." "H-huh? B-but...you did something to the princess! You brought eternal night!" Nightmare Moon giggled. Giggled of all things. "Don't worry. I didn't banish Celestia to the sun or anything. Actually, she's still in Canterlot, only a little...immobile. As for me, let's just say, when I was a filly I was part of the drama club in my school." Nightmare's horn lit up and Twilight prepared herself to cast a shield around herself and her friends. But the magic beam of destruction never came. Instead the blue glow surrounded Nightmare Moon and then dispersed into a bright flash of light. Twilight's eyes took a few seconds to readjust themselves to the darkness and when they did, they found a slightly different mare in front of her. She had the same coat as nightmare moon and the same eyes, but her mane color was different. It was lilac and also it was ethereal, like Twilight had only seen by princess Celestia so far. The cutie mark was also different. Instead of a moon, there was a blue shield. "My true name is Nyx, Twilight." "Nyx" came even closer to Twilight, who instinctively took a few steps back from the large alicorn. Nyx' expression turned to one of sadness and hurt, confusing the unicorn even more than she already was. However that expression soon vanished leaving one that was filled with hope. "But you, I get it! You're trying to trick me, aren't you?" Twilight shouted with narrowed eyes, hoping to not give away that at the moment she was downright terrified. "And why would I do that?" Nyx asked. "The elements didn't work on me and I'm fairly certain that at the moment my magic is stronger than you. Listen to me, I am not here to bring eternal night." "Then what was that about earlier? In Ponyville, I mean...why hasn't the sun risen?!" Twilight exclaimed, frantically hoping she could buy enough time, so they would all wake up. Maybe they just had to try again? Maybe now that the elements were all reassembled, they could use their full potential. "Simple. I needed to lead you to the Elements of Harmony, so Equestria would be protected from foes that might want to destroy harmony." "What?" "As for the sun...(urrgh, why do I feel like a little filly again and am about to get grounded?) I...might or might not have put Celestia under a sleeping spell, when she was distracted." Nyx told the Element of Magic sheepishly. For Twilight that was enough evidence that Nightmare Moon or Nyx as she liked to call herself apparently was up to something bigger and just didn't reveal her entire hoof so far. Nyx took in a deep breath and looked determined down at the unicorn, causing said unicorn to gulp in fear. "There's not much time left." Nyx' horn lit up again and her magical aura surrounded Twilight. Letting out a shriek, Twilight tried to break free from Nyx' magic, but her own magic was suppressed by the dark alicorn, who levitated Celestia's student towards herself. "Wh-what are you doing?! Let go of me!!" Twilight panicked. Although she knew better, she still tried to break free by twisting and turning her body. However, a moment later she found herself not only magically restrained, but also physically, namely a bone crushing hug. Twilight's cheeks flushed, when she felt Nyx nuzzling her. "Don't worry." Nyx whispered. "I'm going to protect you, no matter what." And with those words, Nyx touched Twilight's horn with her own. The lavender colored unicorn feared the worst, when she felt Nyx soothing magic floating through her body. Th-this must be her plan! She's going to hypnotize me in order to get close to the princess and then...oh no! She probably wants the power of the Elements of Harmony for herself. She would be unstoppable if she- "Done." "Huh?" Nyx released Twilight from her hug, causing Twilight to land uncomfortably on her rump. she was surprised to see Nyx teary eyed, yet her lips formed a small smile. "W-what did you do?" Celestia's student asked more curious than scared by this point. She didn't feel any different and neither did her magic. Was it a trap? A spell that would activate itself later or worked over time? "Don't worry mom. I haven't done anything bad to you and neither will the spell do any bad to Equestria or any of its citizens. Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye." "...what." Twilight deadpanned to what was clearly a children's promise. She was beginning to suspect that she was dreaming or landed in the wrong story. Or both. "It's a Pinkie Promise. And you never break a Pinkie Promise or else you lose your friends." "FOREEEEVEEEEEEERRR!" *thud* Pinkie's head hit the floor again, leaving a downright terrified alicorn and a Twilight Sparkle, who experienced the biggest headache ever since her entrance exam. "I'm sure I was thorough with the sleeping spell." Nyx said carefully. Clearing her throat she turned her attention back to Twilight, but was distracted again, this time by the sun suddenly rising on the horizon. Hope filled Twilight's heart upon seeing the display, while Nyx frowned. "I guess this is it." she mumbled. "I hoped we would have more time to talk." Nyx gave Twilight a quick surprise hug, to which Twilight was too stunned to do anything against it. "Why are you doing this?" "Because I love you, mom."