//------------------------------//
// Arc II - Interlude: 4 - Been Diggin' 
// Story: A DJ in the Night 
// by dj_neon_lights 
//------------------------------//


A DJ in the Night
By: Michael A
Interlude: 4 - Been Diggin'
[Romance][Slice-Of-Life]


Celestia sighed as she sat at her desk, looking over the papers that lay at her hooves. She had read them already, three times, actually, but she didn't like what they said. With another sigh, she pushed them aside, figuring that a fourth time wouldn't do anything.

The door to her study creaked open, heavy steps instantly clopping against the hardwood flow. Celestial looked up, greeting her visitor with a fake smile. "Thank you for coming, sister," she muttered, sitting up and trotting over to her company. 

Luna smiled in response, meeting her sister halfway and embracing her in a hug. "Well, as much as we would have loved that extra hour of sleep, we feel that something deemed important enough for our sister to wake us seems like it'd be pretty important."

Celestia nodded, ending the embrace and motioning for her sister to take a seat beside her desk. The smaller alicorn nodded, sitting on a plush cushion in front of her sister's desk. 

Once Luna sat, celestia's false smile fell and she lowered her head, shaking it side to side. "I have concerning news to tell you," she began, pushing the papers that were previously in front of her towards her sister. "The reports from the investigative team came back from your encounter in the Everfree."

The midnight alicorn's eyes went wide, grabbing the papers and quickly reading them over.

"Apparently, the group you encountered was a Cult based on the rule of Nightmare Moon, and, from what we can gather, had managed to come up with a way to bring her back..." The solar alicorn paused, lowering her head even more. "We've known about them for a while now, but... Never thought of them as a threat..."

Luna didn't immediately look up at her sister, instead reading thru the entire report. She get every detail, every point, and every speculation that was written in those few papers. After seemingly hours for the older alicorn, Luna finally lowered the paper's and placing them back on her sister's desk. "Although we are not angered by your actions, dear sister, we are angered by the fact that we were never told of this group." Luna sat up, staring at her sister with impassive eyes. "We were informed about all other known threats to our nation, at least we were told that we were, and are curious to know if you are hiding anything else from us?" Luna didn't seem mad, not even raising her voice.

Celestia bit her lip, not wanting to answer. After some time of internal conflict, and almost entertaining the idea of fleeing out the window, Celestia sighed, giving up. "There are several cults that wish to return you to... to that thing, but I didn't want to bother you with it. I didn't... think that... I didn't want you to know..."

Luna stared at her sister, looking like she was about to yell... before she sighed and her expression softened. "We guess we can't blame you. All you wanted to do was for the best." She paused, "But make sure it doesn't happen again."

"We will make sure of it, sister," Celestia replied. "But, back to the point, I also think we should give Neon a proper look-over. I have a theory that the spell may have a delayed reaction since it hit the wrong target... Neon could be growing a Nightmare inside of him as we speak."

Luna's eyes went wide, fear to radiate from her features. She knew what it was like... she knew what would happen. She didn't want it to happen again, and she definitely didn't want it to happen to someone she cared about. She turned to her sister, eyes wide. "Sister, we can't let this happen!" She screamed. "What could we do if it's true?!"

The solar alicorn put a comforting hoof on her concerned sister's shoulder. "We have thought about this at great length, sister. We believe, since he is not one of us, an alicorn, the elements of harmony may be too much for his mortal body to handle... If we use it, we believe he will die."

Luna visually paled, her face falling and tears beginning to build in her eyes. "W-what are we gonna–"

She was cut off when her sister pulled her into a hug. Luna began to cry, letting her fears drain onto her shoulder. Celestia had more to say but decided to let her sister cry out her pain. After a while, the tears died down, and Luna lets out only a soft whimper.

"Sister, I have thought about this at great length and... Well, I think I have found a solution," Celestia began, gaining her younger sister's attention. "All we have to do is find out where his rage stems from, and then get him to make peace with it. After all, the Nightmare is fueled by anger, and if we can stop that anger before the transformation, there is a chance we may be able to stop it from happening."

Luna wiped her tears dry, and looked up at her sister. "Well, it is worth a shot. And, who knows, maybe it isn't even happening. If we are lucky, the spell was a dud... But, if it isn't, then we must do our best to make sure that he doesn't become the monster that we have become."

Celestia nods. "Sounds like a plan..." She began, before biting her lip. "But... If it doesn't work, we shall send in the elements. We do not want a repeat of what happened to you, dear sister, and he wouldn't survive a banishment..."

Luna nodded, a solemn yet determined look in her eyes. "We shall make sure of it."

The solar princess nodded. "I have faith in you," she paused. "Where is Neon, anyways?"

Luna's eyes suddenly went wide. "He's at the party..."