//------------------------------// // The Elements of Harmony // Story: The Element of Common Sense: The Nightmare // by TheGradualGhost //------------------------------// From the Desk of Twilight Sparkle Yesterday I was assigned to oversee the preparations for the Summer Sun Celebration in Ponyville. Initially I was unhappy with this decision but it turned out to be all for the best. Nightmare Moon had returned from one thousand years of imprisonment and Princess Celestia was nowhere to be found. Thanks to my quick thinking I already knew the secret which could save all of Equestria from a world of eternal night. But I was a fool to think that I could do it all alone. Thankfully there were those who saw the need to accompany me on this quest. If they hadn’t been there I would never have been able to find or use the Elements of Harmony and Princess Luna would forever be lost to the nightmare. Also, a human named David appeared and offered his assistance in exchange for finding some means to send him home. I want nothing more than to see him return to where he belongs but it seems like it won’t be that easy… ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Floating in a void is very peaceful. Boring but peaceful. I miss home. Slowly my apartment appears around me. My feet find solid ground. This raises more questions. “Am I still dreaming?” I ask aloud. “Yes Mr. Starr.” I know that voice. “Rick?” I turn around and he’s sitting in that ugly brown chair. I’ve been transported back to Rick’s office. “Then you’re not really there.” Rick starts scribbling. “I am a projection,” Rick offers nonchalantly. “You’re only saying that because my subconscious is assuming that,” I counter. “Can I take anything you say seriously?” “It comes straight from your own head,” he takes a moment to adjust his glasses. “Can you trust yourself?” “Considering that my dreams are getting more and more bat-shit insane, I don’t think so.” Rick looks concerned. “So how did we get here?” “Simple, you’re dreaming,” Rick smugly offers. “But did I just fall into a deeper dream or did something weird happen?” I ask. “I don’t know,” Rick answers. “Do you suppose the alicorn had something to do with it?” “Alicorn?” the question threw me off guard. The office became darker. I turn around and there she is. “Hello again Mr. Starr,” she greets me regally. “So are you another projection?” I ask. “No,” she responds. “We are here because the night and dreams are our domain.” “Dreams,” I sigh and stare at her. “Hold still for a moment.” I casually approach and make my way next to her flank. Then I kick her in it. “What is that for?!” she shouts at me. Wings flared, she looks like a bird trying to fight. “Because you abandoned me in a world that I don’t know,” I begin. “And dreams are your domain? Is that all you’re willing to tell me? Why waste time talking to me in my dreams when you have ponies to dispose of?” “The Dreamscape is useful,” she counters, “for instance time is inconsequential here. We have all the time needed to strategize.” She looks over to me almost apologetically. “We were hasty earlier, it appears that the Elements no longer react to our presence.” “I told you so,” I say. “And why do they no longer react?” I’m going to enjoy making her admit she’s wrong. “We are no longer an agent of Harmony,” she offers in resignation. “This is troubling indeed. Without the Elements, Equestria is doomed.” “Why?” Now I’m curious. “Discord’s prison is weakening.” “Discord?” “Must you keep asking questions?” she asks exasperatedly. “Do you have to keep bringing up stuff that I don’t understand?” I counter. That made her pause. “Discord is a being with unfathomable power who revels in chaos,” she explains. “The Elements were needed to render him powerless and nothing else will suffice.” “What does that have to do with me?” I ask. “Those six ponies you came here with need to be the Element Bearers for this world to survive.” “Listen Moonie, I just want to go home,” I say with a sigh. She stares at me for a moment. She is obviously thinking about how to continue. “Only the Elements have the power necessary for that spell,” she offered, “but they will need time to work it out.” “Can you tell them the spell?” I offer. “Do you honestly think they will listen?” Moonie counters. “Point taken,” I sigh. “So how do I fit in here?” “The lavender one is smart,” Moonie begins, “she should be able to work out the Elements. Put her back on track if she falters. All six are necessary as each of those ponies is tied to an Element.” “And what about you?” I ask. “Giving up on night eternal?” “Yes, but there is a problem,” she begins and I can see that her mask is dropping. “We—I am unwell. I can not overcome this on my own and I fear that the only way is through the Elements.” She sits silent for a moment before resolve returns to her features. “They must use the Elements on me. It is the only way to be free of the Nightmare.” “But what’ll happen to you?” I ask. “You told me that they would harm non-harmonious creatures. Will you be alright?” “The Elements will attempt to purify,” she begins. “If the target is unable to be purified then they will pacify.” “That was incredibly vague.” She blinks at my frank response. “Discord was turned into a statue and I was sent to the moon,” she responds dryly. “The Elements do not use lethal force and I’m hoping that my desire to change will aid the process.” She thinks for a few moments before making up her mind. “They cannot know about this desire of mine. They may not use the Elements otherwise. Equestria needs its Element Bearers.” “So don’t let on that you’re switching sides and keep them going for the Elements?” I ask. “That honestly seems like something that a dream conversation wasn’t necessary for. What aren’t you telling me?” I received no answer from Moonie, but in a brief moment her aura shifted just enough for me to make out two entities. One black as night and the other more subdued. I knew in my mind that this creature was fighting a battle of identity and losing. Her horn glowed as the dreamscape began to fade. I realized that we also might not have the luxury of her going easy on us. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ “...and then the horsebeast made the door glow and disappeared but this weird cloud still smelled like her so I bit it except that I couldn’t bite it when I tried and I heard Alpha from the trees but I couldn’t smell him and he also sounded angry like he gets when I try to claim the couch as mine with my scent so I decided to wait here and Alpha came back only to fall asleep.” Yogi? “My aren’t you just so energetic.” That sounded like Fluttershy. “Yes, I’m cute now where’s the bacon?” Definitely Yogi. “I’m sorry but I don’t have any,” she paused for a moment before practically squeaking the reply, “bacon.” She can understand him? “You said bacon!” I hear claws on stone. I open my eyes to see Yogi romping about excitedly. “No Yogi,” I say causing him to turn in my direction. “No bacon.” This doesn’t stop him from running straight to my face. “Alpha!” Why do I feel uneasy? “Horsebeast was very scary but then she disappeared after you disappeared and I—” I put my hand on his head. That shut him up. “Do you know where the horsebeast is?” I ask. He looks confused. “I didn’t think so. If you see her let us know.” “Bark as loud as possible!” he answered. I wonder when he made that connection. Twilight makes her way to me. She looks worried. “It’s obvious that there was a trap on the door,” she offers. “I’m fine by the way,” I snark. She blinks. “I cast a diagnostic spell while you were out,” Twilight flicks an ear. “I only detected normal sleep patterns.” “Nothing about Moonie having a conversation in my head?” I ask. “Nothing of the—” pause while brain processes information. “What?!” “Nightmare Moon has the ability to hop into dreams,” I see six pairs of eyes staring at me. “Did I forget to mention that?” Six pony heads nodded. Yogi decided to nod too after a beat, he probably felt left out. “Sorry, well she was there in my head.” “Did she say anything?” Twilight asked. I could tell them the truth but they need to be Element Bearers. “Only that we’ll never stop her,” I offer. Everyone except for Applejack nods, even Yogi. “We just need to find the Elements and then I can figure out how to use them,” Twilight regurgitates the plan. I take a glance around and immediately spot the Elements on the same strange structure behind Twilight. I casually point and she slowly turns around. “The Elements of Harmony!” Twilight exclaims. Fluttershy and Rainbow proceed to grab the stones from the weird structure. “One, two, three, four…” Pinkie counted aloud. “There’s only five!” “Isn’t there supposed to be six?” Rainbow asked. “The book said when the five are present, a spark will cause the sixth Element to be revealed,” Twilight replied. “What in the hay is that supposed ta mean?” Applejack interjected. “Apples is right,” I began, “do you even know what that means?” “I’m not sure,” Twilight responded, “but I have an idea.” Ideas are good. “Everypony stand back. I don’t know what will happen.” With that her horn began glowing. “Come on now y’all,” Applejack said quietly from the door, “she needs ta concentrate.” “Whoa, hold on a minute,” I chase after the departing ponies, I manage to catch up to them just outside the door. “You guys should really stay close.” “But Twilight needs ta figure those Elements out,” Applejack responds. “She does seem to work better without us distracting her,” Rainbow offered. “Do you really want to leave her all alone in a castle that Nightmare Moon knows we’re in?” I ask. Blank stares greet me from all five ponies, wait a minute. “Where’s Yogi?” “Back off horsebeast!” I hear behind me. I turn around to realize that I’d already screwed up. The Elements were spinning in a tornado with Yogi in the middle. A blur of blue while Twilight looked on in horror. Before I knew it I was running. Then I was airborne diving through the swirling stones, desperately trying to reach Yogi. Then my vision turned bright white and I swear I can see my bedroom as I lose consciousness... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I’m holding on to Yogi. He’s unconscious but otherwise unharmed. I take a look around and notice that this room is different. It’s like some sort of castle tower bedroom, probably for a princess. There’s even a raised dais for a throne or a bed. Nightmare Moon looks absolutely at home standing on it amongst the Elements— Shit! She’s got the Elements! I jump to my feet to see Twilight challenging her to a duel? Huh. “You’re kidding,” Moonie responds. “You’re kidding, right?” Nope, Twilight charges and Moonie charges right in. Just before colliding I notice Twilight’s horn is glowing and she disappears. “Just one spark,” I hear from the dais. “Come on.” She seems focused on completing some spell. Moonie seems to have noticed though as she envelops herself in darkness just before disappearing. Shit! “Watch out Twilight!” I shout. Twilight keeps concentrating, gotta give her credit for that one. “Come on,” she grunts again. A spark releases from her horn just as Moonie launches her from the dais. But the spark remains. It jumps between the Elements and Moonie looks concerned. “No,” she says before raising her voice. “No!” We all brace for impact. I’m still bracing. Why hasn’t anything happened yet? I open my eyes to be greeted by the gloating grin of Nightmare Moon. “But,” Twilight gasps, “where’s the sixth Element?!” Moonie is laughing. Moonie rears up on and bring her hooves down with a crash. The Elements shatter around her. “You little foal!” she gloats. I make my way toward her. “Thinking you could defeat me? Now you will never see your princess or your sun! The night will last forever!” Laughter echoes through the room but I’m already climbing onto the dais. Thud! My foot collides with flank to a satisfying sound. Instantly Moonie stops laughing and turns to face me. “What is your obsession with kicking my flank?” she asked. Her wings flared again make her look ready for a fight but I don’t care. I keep walking around her. “You’re a moron!” I shout and deliver another kick to her flank. “Without the Elements Equestria is doomed you told me.” I try to kick again but she steps out of my reach. “You can’t wield them anymore because you’re not a creature of harmony! And they were my ONE TICKET HOME!” I’m done holding back as I throw a right cross to her jaw. She actually seems taken aback for a moment, but then she turns her head my way and narrows her eyes. “I should have just destroyed you,” she said softly. “Would have saved me the trouble of your annoyance.” “Were you even going to try to send me home?!” I shout in her ear before punching her jaw again. What? I should fight fair? Fuck that she’s got magic horse lasers. After taking the blow she immediately lowered her glowing horn directly to my face. “Die!” she shouts. “Fuck you!” I shout back as I impulsively smack the horn. I don’t know what I expected to happen from that but I definitely didn’t expect to be thrown backward and have an intimate moment with the stone wall. The wall wasn't in a friendly mood. Groggily I get to my feet only for my legs to give out on me. I may have broken something. I know that Nightmare Moon is standing over me ready to finish the job. I don't even have the energy to attempt sass anymore but at least I went down fighting. “Any last words David Starr?” I can feel Moonie’s smirk. My rage has subsided though. “Bring Yogi to a good home,” I sigh and lay there waiting for the hammer to fall. “I didn't want to do this,” Moonie whispers. I sense regret in her voice. “You thought you could destroy the Elements of Harmony just like that?” Twilight’s voice cuts through the room. “Well you’re wrong because the spirits of the Elements of Harmony are right here!” “What?!” Moonie and I shout together. Sure enough Twilight is standing there surrounded by the rest of the ponies. “Applejack,” Twilight begins, “who reassured me when I was in doubt, represents the spirit of honesty!” Some shards from the broken Elements begin to rise and encircle Applejack. “Fluttershy, who tamed the manticore with her compassion, represents the spirit of kindness!” And the shards begin encircling the pegasus. I think I see where this is going. “Pinkie Pie, who banished fear by giggling in the face of danger, represents the spirit of laughter! Rarity, who calmed a sorrowful serpent with a meaningful gift, represents the spirit of generosity! And Rainbow Dash, who could not abandon her friends for her own heart’s desire, represents the spirit of loyalty!” Shards encircled every pony as she listed them off. It was all just as she said but something was still missing. “You still don’t have the sixth Element!” Moonie desperately said. “The spark didn't work!” “But it did!” Twilight begins. “A different kind of spark. The spark ignited inside of me when I realized how happy I was to hear you, to see you, how much I cared about you. You are all my friends!” Just then a light shone above and another stone appeared. “You see Nightmare Moon, when those Elements are ignited by the spark that resides in the heart of us all,” the Element slowly descended toward Twilight, “it creates the sixth Element: the Element of magic!” The Elements all began to glow. They focused around Twilight’s head and everyone else’s necks before colors began launching out toward the Nightmare. Before she even knew how to react she was caught in a swirling rainbow of power and I was stuck right in there with her. My vision went pure white before I blacked out. Funny this time it feels like I'm laying in my bed. Hello darkness my old friend... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ When I awoke there was something different. A smaller and bluer alicorn was laying on top of me. She looked familiar… “Ugh, my head,” Rainbow groaned from across the room. This was chorused by the rest of the group. A noise next to my head reminds me of someone. “Alpha,” Yogi gasps, “horsebeast is gone?” “Horsebeast is gone,” I tell him. He starts licking me. The alicorn begins to stir in my lap. "Feeling better Moonie?" "I feel drained..." the blue alicorn responds. "And my name is actually Luna." I let out a small chuckle at that. "It's a better name than Nightmare Moon," I offer. My next response is cut off by a small commotion from the rest of the ponies and the sun rising. Through a window flies a white alicorn emanating with power, a similar feeling to when I first noticed the black alicorn is in my mind except for some reason I feel safe now that she’s here. It's hard to describe but she gives this aura of benevolence. After greeting Twilight she makes her way toward me. Or perhaps she’s after the alicorn who is waking up in my lap. “It has been a thousand years since I have seen you like this,” the white alicorn begins. “Time to put our differences behind us. We were meant to rule together, little sister.” “Sister?” the six ponies chorused. Seriously? In an instant Luna is off my lap and running to nuzzle the alicorn. “These reunions are nice and all,” I say, “but I think I need a hospital.” ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ “So then Twilight teleports me here,” I finish recapping my story. I was surprised at how adept the hospital was at mending my wounds, only a few fractured ribs and a broken femur. Nurse Redheart looks unamused. “Well,” she begins, “it all sounds too far-fetched for me.” She goes over my vitals one more time. “But I suppose it is good that Princess Luna has returned from her banishment.” “I guess I can start ruling out the possibility of this being a dream now,” I muse. “I don’t think I’ve ever broken a femur in a dream without waking up before.” “Does that make you happy or sad?” she asked. “Uneasy mostly,” I answer. “Maybe there will be a happy ending for you in this,” the nurse retorts as she trots toward the door. “Well now what?” I ask no one in particular. “I suppose we need to find you a place to stay,” came a voice by the door. In walks Moonie—I mean Luna. “Done with night eternal?” I ask smirking. “Yes,” Luna looks nervous. “I am sorry about the things I put you through. I wish I could send you home but my powers will take a few moons to return.” “I guess I should just get comfortable,” I sigh. “So you were mentioning lodging?” “Yes,” Luna answered. “I filled Twilight Sparkle in on the nature of your capture and she was very interested.” A small smile began forming on her face. “It appears that she will be staying in Ponyville’s library and the old treehouse has plenty of rooms. Plus it would give Twilight Sparkle ample time to study the strange alien creature who helped her find the Elements of Harmony.” So I would be living with Twilight, I guess it could be worse. “So Equestria isn’t doomed then?” I ask. “Hopefully those six will be able to handle whatever comes,” Luna responded. “Although I fear they may need some guidance.” “If only there existed a seventh Element,” I muse. “Actually I think it may be out there.” It took all of my effort to hide my smile. “There is no seventh Element,” Luna looks concerned. “I hope that I didn’t damage your brain in our scuffle.” “The seventh Element brought the other Elements to the right place at the right time,” I begin my grandiose tale. “The seventh Element doesn’t come with a regalia, it lies within everyone. Only a strong voice of reason could manifest its power. I am its spirit incarnate as I fully represent the Element of Common Sense!” ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ...as his home is indeed very far away. The amount of magical energy it would take just to produce a teleport in the region would take years to build up. Even then that wouldn’t guarantee him a safe journey. There must be another way but after talking with Princess Luna it is as I feared. She harvested the negative energy from nightmares for a thousand years to complete the teleport. David wasn’t her only victim as his entire family line was being used by her so she could find freedom. Research will be necessary but hopefully David will cooperate. I have arranged for him to stay in the library treehouse with myself and Spike. I just have to wait until he is released from Ponyville General to see if he approves. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ “By the way, where's Yogi?” I ask. Luna looks confused and then concerned. “In our haste to leave I fear we left him in the castle,” she responds sheepishly. At that moment I was overcome with a desire to shout very unpleasant things but I was interrupted by a noise outside. “ALPHA!” came a voice through the window. “I CAN SMELL YOU!” ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ We may just be the best of roommates. Only time will tell. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Well the pain seems to have subsided. I suppose all I needed was a little rest... Wait, am I back in my room? That has to have been the craziest dream I have ever had. I put my feet on the floor and begin walking. "Come along Yogi," I call before opening my bedroom door. We're going to have breakfast before doing anything else. I stop when I realize that the room is silent. I look down at Yogi's bed and it is empty. Yogi has disappeared.