Full Moon Fever: A MoonLight Prompt Collab

by TheLastBrunnenG

69 Ocean's End by Knight of Lycaeus

Ocean's End
by Knight of Lycaeus

---

Twilight opened her eyes to find herself standing on barren lands. As she looked around trying to find her bearings she realized the term barren was not quite accurate.

Barren meant that there was nothing around however as she looked and walked around she could see the last, faded remnants of civilizations long gone. All around her were rubble and burnt shells of what were likely once buildings. Even the earth itself bore signs of destruction, the lands were heavily cracked and here and there lava could be seen rising from beneath. There was no water, no life; everywhere she turned she could not find any flora or fauna. Truly she was alone here, the only living being.

She attempted to look upwards but the skies above were a blinding white, however briefly she could a glimpse of the Sun. Carefully she attempted to look upwards again. What she did see was that the Sun was huge, larger than she had ever seen it before. The Sun hung low in the sky burning orange instead of the usual yellow. The light was bright, even brief glances of the sky was painful; out of reflex she blinked as the light became difficult to bear.

---

Twilight opened her eyes to find herself in a lush meadow; the scenery was more akin to what she saw every day. Confused by the change of scenery she frantically looked around until she felt a hoof rest on her shoulder, and she turned to see Nightmare Moon behind her.

“Greetings Twilight,” Nightmare said.

Twilight turned herself around to look at the other Alicorn before firing off a rapid series of questions, “Nightmare? What happened? What did I just see? Where was that? Where are we?”

Nightmare leaned down to nuzzle Twilight briefly cutting off the rapid questioning, “Calm yourself Twilight, I am here. As to where we are, the answer is simple for this is the Realm of Dreams. Those are the simplest questions that I can answer. As for your other questions, that is something that will take sufficiently more time to explain.”

Twilight nodded, “I would like to know. So please, what happened? I saw this wasteland an-”

Nightmare wrapped a wing around Twilight, “Please calm yourself and I will explain what has happened. I am well aware of what you had seen Twilight for I see it often.”

“Wait, what?” Twilight asked.

Nightmare tightened her hug, “Please Twilight I can explain, but I need time.”

Twilight nodded and tried to settle down.

“You know of my past, more than most have learned of before.” Nightmare sighed, “I am ancient and you know this. I have been around since almost the dawn of Creation and for that reason I see that place often. As someone so closely tied to Creation, I am immortal in the truest sense and for that reason I will live to see this world die as the Sun destroys itself. In my long life I have seen many civilizations on this world and others rising up and burn away. While this world’s end is far away it does not mean I do not dream of it.”

“Then why did I see it too?” Twilight asked.

Nightmare sighed again, “My magic is powerful and even though I have taken on a physical form I still retain much of my power. Those who become close to me are over time affected by my powers, one of those side-effects is that these individuals sometimes glimpse something that there should not see. Even though you have ascended beyond most others, you are still affected by this. This is one of the reasons why those I have lent my power or allowed myself to become close to are often driven mad. A mortal, no matter how powerful should never see the mind of an immortal. Mortals perceive the world in a linear fashion; they do so because their minds cannot handle the stress of seeing or knowing beyond this.”

“But as an immortal you see more than that, much more.” Twilight added as started putting the puzzle together. “Where we see time and this world as being one way, almost like a stream; an immortal sees all of them together like an ocean.”

“You are close as there are some inaccuracies, but that knowledge remains the purview of immortals. But you could say that immortals perceive the world as more akin to an ocean, I have seen the ocean’s ends regardless of far they stretch in time or space. All immortals are capable of seeing what was and what may be, the difference is only in how we see it; for some of us this ability is more controlled, but mine is tied to Dreams and thus not something I can easily contain to myself.”

Nightmare removed her wing away from Twilight, “This is the reason why I have allowed so few to ever become close to me. Over the millenniums I have learnt how harsh my visions of what was and what may be are to mortals. So many have shunned me after learning of this truth, I doubt that this time should be any different. Farewell Twilight.” Nightmare turned away and began making her way to the edge of the Realm of Dreams where it would easiest to leave this world once more.

Nightmare however was stopped by a pair of hooves who tried their best to wrap around her barrel, “Nightmare, please you don’t need to go anywhere.”

Nightmare sighed deeply, “You would still follow me even though you know the risks of doing so?”

Twilight got off Nightmare’s back and walked around to look at her, “I would. The risks may be high, but I don’t want you to leave. You may have driven others, but it was during one of those incidents that I met you for the first time. You helped bring my friends and I together and without confronting Luna in the depths of her madness I would have never met you.”

Nightmare shook her head, “That should not be a reason for me to remain. I am dangerous to mortals, both through my power and the effect I have on mortals. I should not have returned to the mortal plane nor should I have allowed myself to become so close to one.”

“I think you should have. You told me before that there almost no immortals on the mortal plane. You have been alone for so long and I think maybe that’s why you find it difficult to remain here. The term ocean could refer to something that is vast, in a way you are in an ocean. Lost adrift in an ocean, far away from any close companionship over the fear of the risks that may come and from what you just told me is that you have been alone for a long time.”

“How could I allow myself close companionship when mortals are so fragile, unable to cope or understand the burdens an immortal carries?” Nightmare asked.

“That may be the case, but I have learned from Celestia and Luna is that one way they cope with their long lives is to maintain close companionship. It keeps them here, grounded in this world and not just lost alone because there is no one around to be there for them. I may not be here as long as you will be Nightmare, but I want to be here for you now. I have a theory and I may be wrong, but perhaps your negative influence over others in the Realm of Dreams occurs because you are closely tied to what you are, the force you were from the dawn of Creation.”

Twilight walked over to nuzzle Nightmare, “This is only theory as there are only two immortals that I know of, but if we went with analogy from earlier about you being adrift on an ocean then maybe the ocean is not only time and space, but also your powers. You’ve become lost among them without a solid, defined identity, but maybe I could help bring you to shore and be more grounded to this plane. You would be less tied to what you are and will be more able to express who you are. So please Nightmare, stay here with me.”

Nightmare returned the nuzzle with one of her own, “You know the risks, but if you truly wish to try then yes Twilight, I will stay.”

Comments

[KibaWR]

feels a little bit rushed but I really like this idea^^

[Toratchi888]

5359808 What he said.