The nightmare was always the same.
Princess Luna stood before the throne room from where she once ruled Equestria alongside her sister. It was exactly as she left it one thousand years before. The arched bridge that had symbolically joined the two raised thrones was smashed beyond recognition by her own hooves. The once-beautiful stained glass window depicting the Tree of Harmony was already no more. Only a gaping hole that allowed the soft moonlight to bathe the entire vaulted chamber in a pale, silvery light.
But it was the sight of the massive hole, where the ceiling had collapsed that gave Luna the most pause, every single time. For it was the most sobering reminder that, as Nightmare Moon, she had been trying to destroy her own sister in a blast of dark magic-- and nearly succeeded. Luna’s only solace from that Night, was that her dear sister Celestia made use of quick thinking, which enabled her to find a way to pacify her wayward sister without responding in kind to Nightmare Moon’s brutal assault. Luna shivered ever so slightly, knowing full well far worse consequences were avoided that fateful Night…
Even so, Luna could not help but remember what could have been, not just for Celestia, but for Twilight Sparkle and her friends, as well as all the fillies and colts that now looked to her for wisdom, and protection from the things that frighten them in the night. She remembered all the ponies she had failed one thousand years before, all because of the jealousy, and presumptuous thoughts that had once poisoned her mind. She remembered those that were close to her, other than her sister, that she would never see again. One thousand years is a long time, no matter who you are.
Such a foalish filly I was.
Luna sighed, and flew to the same place she had stood on that Night. Her sadness and remorse now giving way to a silent dread. She knew what was coming next.
The nightmare was always the same.
Twilight Sparkle, and her friends came charging in to stop her, as they had only recently done after her exile had ended. Just as she willed the dream into guiding their actions, she willed the creature into being that had become her closest ally.
… And her worst enemy.
A wisp of blue smoke, pulsing with dark magic appeared behind her. Already, Luna could feel its tendrils reaching out to her, simultaneously chilling and burning her. She wanted to scream, and run away. She wanted nothing more than to flee that awful castle, and never see herself become that… monster ever again. But she was Princess of the Night. She had been traversing across all of Equestria peering into the dreams of ponies, to convince them never to be afraid.
“Everypony has fears. And everypony chooses to face them in their own way.” She had once told a young orange pegasus filly. “But they must be faced, or the nightmares will continue.”
Luna took a deep breath. She kept her head held high, and her face resolute, never betraying a hint of fear. “The nightmares will continue…” Luna thought, “But it is what I deserve. It is how I choose to face fear.”
“Good Night, Tantibus.” Luna spoke evenly. “Do as you will.” There was no going back now.
A jolt of arcane energy, and the flames that symbolized her jealousy, sorrow, and malice towards all those that had turned their backsides to her beautiful nights now enveloped her in a glowing sphere. As always, Luna was now only able to watch helplessly as her Nightmare Moon form took over, and stare at the horror that had taken over Twilight Sparkle and her friends.
“She’s become Nightmare Moon again!” Twilight cried, with disbelief. Her voice was so loud, it echoed about the throne room, only to be quickly drowned out by the wicked cackle of Nightmare Moon.
“Then let’s blast her with the Elements and get Princess Luna back!” Rainbow Dash shouted, eagerly flying to and fro above the rest of her friends.
“Formation!” Twilight instructed her friends. Faithfully, they obeyed, and huddled in close. Their necklaces, and Twilight’s crown pulsing with energy.
Twilight’s friends… They listened to her. They trusted her. They would risk everything for her. Those poor, foalish ponies. This was not some sweet, innocent world, where the ending was always a happy one. They could not know the power they now faced. Luna tried to reach out to them. She tried to cry out to them.
“Stop!” she shouted. “I am too powerful for you alone! You will all perish!”
Always, she was reminded that they could not hear her warnings. They continued to stand there, bathed in a colorful light, unyielding before the creature that had haunted many a foal’s nightmares. The light now focused into a brilliant rainbow. Luna vaguely remembered the one that blasted her to the moon. She watched as it shot upwards. It was such a beautiful sight. That rainbow then arched back towards her with incredible speed. It slammed into her with devastating force, quickly enveloping her with blinding light.
But it was not enough.
Nightmare Moon had learned to protect herself with pure shadow energy. When the light faded, there she stood, unscathed.
“Oh no! She’s still Nightmare Moon!” Fluttershy cried.
“But… that’s not possible…” Twilight stammered, as she fell to her haunches in disbelief. “The Elements of Harmony are supposed to stop anything, once they are activated!”
“Well… Ah reckon we need to hit her again!” Applejack argued. The others nodded in agreement.
“I agree.” Rarity said. “After all, sometimes even the most elegant gowns need to be washed vigorously to rid them of horrid juice stains.”
Nightmare Moon only chuckled. “What good will that do? I have already fallen for that twice. But still I return to your precious little sun-loving land!”
Rainbow Dash zipped forwards until she hovered only inches away from Nightmare Moon’s face. “Yeah?! Well we’ll send you back to… wherever it is you came from every time!”
Nightmare Moon’s wispy mane easily batted her away, sending Rainbow Dash skidding across the floor towards the rest of her friends. “Ho-hum… my little ponies. You were amusing… for a moment. But you--”
She was cut short, when Pinkie Pie suddenly appeared behind her, and crowded close to her helmeted head. “OOH! HOW ABOUT I TELL YOU JOKES?! OR MAYBE I COULD SING YOU A ROUSING MUSICAL NUMBER ABOUT FRIENDSHIP?!”
She took a deep breath. “THEEEERE’S NOTHING LIKE A GOOD FRIEND—“
“ENOUGH!” Nightmare Moon levitated Pinkie Pie, and tossed her hard towards Twilight Sparkle. Fortunately, for Pinkie, Twilight caught her in her own levitation field, and gently set her down at beside her. Pinkie stared at Nightmare Moon. “Well, that was rude.”
“Quickly girls!” Twilight shouted. “Form up, and let’s try again!”
Luna cringed. She had seen this too many times. Even as they stood together, once again aglow with the warm light of Harmony emanating from their bodies, she sensed her horn glowing with dark magic. A counterattack.
She wanted to close her eyes. But she couldn’t. Nightmare Moon wanted to watch. Her eyes saw what Nightmare Moon saw, because she is Nightmare Moon.
Just as those brave, sweet little ponies were about to unleash the elements a second time, a lance of magical energy tore through their formation. Even made of shadow, she saw it before she heard it. A loud zap, followed by a howling hum, and a terrible roar from the resulting explosion, as Nightmare Moon hit the Element Bearers directly with her most powerful attack.
Then there was only silence.
The attack had filled the room with dust, and debris. The castle was already unstable, and falling apart. This exchange had only hastened its inevitable collapse. Nightmare Moon looked all around the room, but could not make out anything visible. She could only hear the occasional plinks, and clatters of falling stone.
Finally the dust settled enough to where Nightmare Moon could make out a shape that stood out from the rubble. Then another. Then another…
The nightmare was always the same.
Try as she may, Nightmare Moon could not even find it in herself to laugh at the sight of her vanquished foes, because Luna would never have wanted this. Instead, Nightmare Moon silently walked to where those six wonderful ponies had fallen, the only sounds heard were her hoof-clops, and falling, clattering stone.
Applejack. Rainbow Dash. Rarity. Fluttershy. Pinkie Pie.
… Twilight Sparkle.
All lay there strewn about silent and motionless, as though asleep, and dreaming peacefully. But the truth was obvious. There would be no more applebucking, cloudbusting, dress-making, animal caring, party planning, or friendship lessons.
“No… What have I… done…?” Nightmare Moon gasped, recoiling in horror at the sound of her unfamiliar, deeper voice, and of the sight of her most cherished friends lying at her hooves. She hunkered down, next to Twilight Sparkle, and rested her head upon Twilight’s body.
Then, Princess Luna began to weep. “Forgive me, my friends… I have failed… you all.”
The Tantibus left her body, and Luna felt the dark form of Nightmare Moon lift away from her along with that creature. Before she could be left to her grief, a loud crash filled her mind, and the castle came tumbling down around her.
The nightmare always ended the same.
Princess Luna awoke with a start as she came to her senses. There came a knock on her door. It took her a moment to become lucid and aware of her reality.
“Yes? You may enter.” Luna called out.
The door opened slightly, and one of her guards entered, stopping to bow, when he saw her.
“Forgive the intrusion, Your Highness, but it is time to raise the moon. And I have been informed that Princess Celestia wishes for you to join her for dinner this evening.”
Luna nodded. “Thank you. I will be out shortly. And tell my sister that I will happily accept her invitation.”
The guard bowed a second time, and exited, closing the door behind him. Luna sighed, and fell back against her pillow. It was only a dream. It was her dream. It was her punishment for what she had done, and what could have been. Now, as with any time she chose to punish herself, she could feel a little more relaxed. Trotting over to her vanity mirror, she stared at her reflection, looking deep into her pale silvery eyes.
It was only a dream. But it is my dream. The dream I desire. The dream I deserve.
Princess Luna gathered her thoughts. It was now time to return to the public eye, and be the Princess she was expected to be. The Princess Luna she knew, was always meant to be. It was the least she could do for her subjects. And to her faithful sister, Celestia.
Besides, supping on lemon cakes with her sister sounded most delightful.
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Several moons earlier…
As Princess Luna stood before the ponies of Ponyville all gathered in the town square to bid her farewell, she could barely contain her joy at the sight of their smiles, and adoring stares.
Nightmare Night had been far from what she had imagined it to be, once she had first heard of it, in the days after her exile had ended. Even though it had, at first, appeared to be a mockery of herself, it was far less cruel than that. It was an opportunity for ponies to dress up in amusing disguises, gift each other sweets, play inventive carnival-style games, dance to stage music, and laugh and party well into the night. It was a far cry from how ponies once regarded the night. Now they celebrated it. At least… they celebrate it if but for one night.
“FARE THEE WELL VILLAGERS!” Princess Luna’s magically augmented voice shouted, only to stop herself, once she saw Twilight cringing and making strange, frantic gestures with her hooves.
“I-I mean… ‘Fare thee well villagers!’” She said, almost sheepishly. “You have all taught me much about your customs and ways of merriment! Your Princess hopes that thy Royal Visit has taught you as well! Thank you all! And Happy Nightmare Night!”
A loud cheer erupted from the crowd, as Princess Luna spread her wings, and took to the skies. As the sound of the cheers became faint, and the peaceful town of Ponyville gradually became more distant, Luna felt herself relax. It was as if a great burden had been lifted off of her back, and leaving her feeling less encumbered.
“You’re my favorite Princess ever!” That adorable little Earth Pony colt, with his distinct Trottingham accent, had gushed. The words hung in Luna’s thoughts. Her realization that Twilight Sparkle had been telling the truth about Nightmare Night all along, and seeing that truth being candidly spoken by this “Pipsqueak” was enough to declare Nightmare Night be reinstated. It was such a pleasant surprise to see that decree make the young fillies and colts so happy. Luna could hardly wait to return to Canterlot, so she could tell her sister, Princess Celestia, about this enlightening experience.
Yet, as the sun was raised to start a new day, and the experiences shared with her closest confidante, Princess Luna began to feel strange…
She could not understand why she felt so burdened. The feeling of elation from the night before had already faded. As she returned to her darkened Royal Bedchamber, to begin her slumber, Luna began to reflect on all those ponies in Ponyville. Even though much had changed over the last one thousand years, the ponies seemed to carry the same spirit and demeanor that they had once exhibited a millennia before. They shunned her. They shook in fear of her. They celebrated a holiday that made mockery of her as Nightmare Moon. And then she stopped short before reaching her bed, as she began to understand the feelings. Twilight Sparkle took it upon herself to prove to her that the ponies never intended ill-will towards Princess Luna, and that Nightmare Moon was somepony else entirely.
Twilight Sparkle was proven correct, as Luna opened herself up, and joined in the celebrations along with the rest of Ponyville.
Twilight Sparkle. It was her, along with her new friends that revived the Elements of Harmony-- last wielded between Celestia and Luna, and finally broke her free of Nightmare Moon. Now she and her friends had broken her free of the assumption that ponies still hated and feared her for becoming Nightmare Moon, when in truth, they hated Nightmare Moon alone. All this time, Princess Luna had believed that Equestria cared nothing for her, when all she needed was a little time and patience to gain the wisdom and understanding of their true intentions.
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Luna found herself in the old castle one thousand years earlier. Craning her head, and taking in her surroundings, it was obvious that this was a dream. Before she could take a single step, the room began to spin faster and faster, until it came to an abrupt halt. Luna found herself still in the room, but now it was populated by a large crowd of ponies. It was so crowded, in fact, that Luna found herself unable to move, lest she tread upon one. Studying the new additions to the room, the ponies appeared motionless, and frozen in place. Upon closer inspection, Luna discovered that they were locked in various poses that were unmistakeable to panic and fear. The sounds of screams, cries of young foals, and pleas for mercy in varying manners filled Luna’s mind. It was an unbearable chorus of terror which forced Luna to cover her ears, but it was to no avail. These sounds were all in her head, and one cannot escape one’s own thoughts.
As Luna tried to find a way to escape the dream, she looked up, and saw Nightmare Moon standing atop a pillar at the far end of the throne room, where the two thrones of that castle should have been. Like the ponies in this court of horror, she too, was frozen in a pose that frightened even Luna. Nightmare Moon was rearing up, her front hooves appeared ready to strike down those that dared approach, her wicked fangs bared to intimidate those sun-lovers, and that terrible cackle reverberating throughout the castle. Luna remembered that it was the statue of Nightmare Moon just outside of Ponyville, at the border of the Everfree Forest, where the young fillies and colts presented an offering in hopes of keeping her away. Was this how ponies saw Nightmare Moon over the course of a thousand years? Was this what awaited her, if she had stood victorious over Princess Celestia?
It was all too much for her. Between the screams, and panic. Between the evil laughter, and the sight of the moon perpetually veiling the sun, Luna’s scream was enough to drown out all the noise, before finding herself enveloped in a familiar shadow. She could feel the pain, and fear taking hold of her directly, as she suddenly found herself once again in her Nightmare Moon form.
“NOOO!” She cried. “Twilight! Help me!” Those words stuck to her at once. But she could not give it another thought, as she looked ahead to the far end of the room to see Twilight and her friends galloping to the rescue. Luna felt relieved. They were each wearing their respective Elements. They would bring them to bear upon Nightmare Moon, and save her.
Wordlessly, and without hesitation, they lined up, and began to glow. Luna watched as the Rainbow rose from their formation, and homed in on Nightmare Moon. As Luna felt herself become engulfed by the Elements, she could finally relax…
… Except she was still trapped in her Nightmare Moon form when the light had faded.
“No… No! This isn’t how it is supposed to be!” Luna shouted, her voice a full octave lower than normal. Nightmare Moon’s voice. “You are all friends! The Elements of Harmony can only be wielded by friends!” Her anger grew, and the room began to rumble ominously. “YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO SAVE ME!” she roared.
“Live the Nightmare.” The six Element Bearers spoke in a low, monotonous unison.
Luna stared at them, unsure of what to make of it. “Explain yourselves!”
“Live the Nightmare.” The Element Bearers repeated.
Luna was unable to contain her rage. “FOALS! I COMMAND THAT YOU ANSWER ME!” She could feel her horn powering up with magical energy. “ANSWER AT ONCE, FOR I AM NIGHTMARE MOON! YOUR NEMESIS, AND BRINGER OF ETERNAL NIGHT!” She felt herself gasp, as she stared at her own reflection in a mirror that had appeared from nowhere. Her eyes blinking, and her heaving chest from her breathing matched the reflection’s actions. Was she still Nightmare Moon after all?
“Live the Nightmare, and you will be free.” The Element Bearers spoke.
Luna was not satisfied. “I WISH TO BE NIGHTMARE MOON NO LONGER! FREE ME, OR I WILL DESTROY YOU!” She shouted.
“Oh Nightmare Moon. But you were so blind to the truth by your own jealous rage.”
Luna looked over at the mirror, where the new voice had originated, and saw herself as Princess Luna instead.
“Twilight and her friends are only trying to help you.” Her reflection spoke. “It is, after all, what you asked for.”
“Who are you? Why do you mock me with my own reflection?” Luna growled.
The reflection neither smiled, nor grimaced in reaction. “I am what you see. As for your other question, I am not mocking you, but helping you understand.”
“Understand what?” Luna asked. The reflection shook her head.
“That Nightmare Moon will always be part of you. Everything you did-- or would have done will never go away.”
“YOU LIE! THE PONIES HAVE FORGIVEN ME! EVEN NOW, THEY SPEAK PRAISES IN MY NAME! MY TRUE NAME: PRINCESS LUNA!” Luna shouted. “AWAY WITH THIS ILLUSION! I AM NIGHTMARE MOON NO LONGER!”
The Luna-reflection cracked an almost sly, yet sinister grin. “Prove it, then.”
Luna stared hard at her reflection. “PROVE WHAT?”
“Prove that you stand apart from Nightmare Moon, and destroy the Element Bearers.”
Luna reviled the thought. “HOW WOULD THAT PROVE I STAND APART FROM HER?!”
The reflection stared at her, coldly. “It is to remind you of your own failure. You let everypony down when you tried to rob them of their sun and the Princess that held sway over it. They all loved you, and you failed to pay heed.” It bowed her head. “That is why you will never be at peace, even when you wake. You must remind yourself of what was, what is, and what could have been, so that you will never be Nightmare Moon again.”
She began to fade from the mirror. “Time runs short. Destroy Twilight and her friends, and prove that you are Princess Luna, and not Nightmare Moon.” As the image faded from sight, her voice could still be heard. “If you wish to know peace, face your fears, and live the nightmare for as long as it takes…”
Princess Luna sighed, as the image on the mirror was replaced by her own, still very much in the form of Nightmare Moon. Destroying Twilight and her friends would not be an easy sight to bear, even if this was a dream; nay, a nightmare. But at least she knew she would not enjoy something Nightmare Moon would take pleasure in doing.
As she powered up her horn, she stared into the eyes of each of those six ponies, and closed her eyes.
“Luna!” Twilight cried. “Think of what you’re doing! Think of your sister! Think of Pipsqueak! You will condemn them all if you continue!”
Luna stopped short of casting the spell. Suddenly Twilight and her friends appeared fearful, and their eyes welling up with tears. Even the upbeat and positive Pinkie Pie was unable to laugh her way through this moment.
“Please don’t hurt us!” Fluttershy pleaded.
“I’ll never be a Wonderbolt…” Rainbow Dash whispered, in a wavering voice.
“I never wanted it to be this way…” Rarity wailed.
“This’ll be hard on muh brother, muh granny, and especially mah litte sis. But at least ah’ll be seein’ mah folks again...” Applejack sighed, removing her hat, and held it to her chest.
“Just remember to laugh eeeevily when you’re done… Hehe… Hahaha… Uhn…. ahhhhhh!” Pinkie Pie broke down sobbing.
Luna could not do this. She could not hurt the same ponies that had freed her to begin with. But the words came to her once again.
Live the Nightmare, and you will be free.
Nightmare Moon powered up her horn, and loosed a bolt of arcane energy upon the greatest heroes Equestria had seen in a thousand years.
“The nightmare must continue…” Twilight groaned, as the blast began to consume her. “You must find… a way… to remind yourself… please don’t forget why you must do this… and don’t forget about us… Luna.”
The spell faded away, and Luna stared at the scorched stone, where her friends had stood moments before. Breaking down, at last, she barely noticed that she was still Nightmare Moon, but she no longer cared. She had just destroyed her saviors. But even so, she knew that Nightmare Moon would feel nothing for them. She was feeling it. The castle began to collapse, and with a great roar, came crashing down upon her.
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Luna awoke from her dream at last. It was only a dream. But the tears in her eyes were real. Luna sat in her bed for the longest time, barely able to cope. She reflected upon this dream, and remembered what the dream-image of Twilight Sparkle had told her: She was to find a way to continue this nightmare. But how? Even for the Princess of the Night, the same dream could not be had, by any means. Any means, except, perhaps…
Luna trotted over to her vanity table, and opened a drawer kept hidden by her magic. If anypony were to know about what she possessed, it may send the wrong impression to them about her. Reaching in to the drawer, she pulled out a box. Opening it with the necessary magic, Luna floated out its contents: a fragment of her Nightmare Moon armor. The glow from her horn grew more intense, and the fragment became incorporeal, and shapeless. Luna recognized it taking the wispy form of Nightmare Moon’s mane. Or, at least a small piece of it. Floating it before her, Luna stared at it, willing it to life.
Before it could do anything, Luna seized it with her magic, and then dragging it back to her bed, Luna laid down and returned to her own dream world. Standing on a starry plain between all worlds, Luna stood before this new creation with a sense of determination.
“I have given you form so that you can return me to being Nightmare Moon,” Luna addressed the wisp. “But I will only allow you to exist inside my dreams! You will take me to the place exactly as I instruct you, and create the dream as I deem fit. From there, I will let you do what you will to me.”
The wisp made no sound, but pulsed in a manner that Luna could assume was an agreement.
“Then it is settled. But make no mistake: You are no more Nightmare Moon, than I am now. As I have kept you as a crude reminder before, so now will you be a Nightmare to me, so that I will always know why I will never choose to be that monster in the waking world ever again!”
The wisp flashed, and pulsed, as it floated in place.
“Then, let this be the beginning of a mutual alliance… ‘Tantibus.’”
Thus a symbiotic relationship was formed. Luna fashioned the dream, so that the Tantibus could recreate it exactly the same way each and every time. Luna felt as though she was doing exactly what was necessary. She had failed the ponies of Equestria once already. She was not going to let herself fail them again. Now, she had a means to dispense justice upon herself for her foolish decisions one thousand years ago. Doing so, made her ability to face her subjects, as well as her sister, and Twilight Sparkle that much easier.
But even as she began to involve herself more in her duties as Princess, and even as she began to take on the role of guarding ponies’ dreams in the night, every so often, Luna had to remind herself of her failing. And only through the Tantibus could she feel liberated from her guilt. Though only a subconscious projection, Twilight Sparkle in that first nightmare spoke truth once again: The nightmare must continue, and Luna’s worst fears must be faced. It is a lesson she passed on to other ponies as well. At least she knew for certain that they did not have to face the same nightmare over and over as she was doing.
After all… the nightmare will always be the same.