199: TO LOVE A PRINCESS
I saw it coming. I saw the signs, saw the slow but inexorable erosion of her mind. I saw the shadow of the Nightmare falling upon my love. I knew what was coming when the moon rose on that terrible night.
Celestia would have seen it, too — should have seen it — had she not been so blinded by her own glorious sun and the complacent adulation of her subjects. I hated her for it. I hated the way she would smile indulgently when her sister grumbled, not understanding why Luna was restless and unhappy. I hated the patronizing look in her eyes when she told me that Luna was just being foalish and temperamental. I hated her kindly, patient voice when she assured me that my fears were unfounded.
I wanted her to be right, though. I was terrified at the thought of what was happening to my love, and what it would mean for her and me and all of Equestria. I tried to stop it, since no one else would. I tried to be there for her, to support her when she felt nopony else cared about her. I tried to make her feel wanted, tried to make her see that, at least for one lucky pony, she would always and forever be the only princess in the world.
It was not enough. I could not save her from herself. I merely delayed the inevitable. I can still see her anguished face as she finally, finally lost herself in the Nightmare.
And I . . . I lost myself with her. I know the monster I knelt before and swore allegiance to is not the Luna I love, but I know she is in there, trapped, helpless, and terrified of what she has become. I will not abandon her. If serving my princess means serving the Nightmare, then so be it. I will do whatever I must to protect her, and may Tartarus have mercy on whomever stands in my way.
This is fantastic. The balance of mystery and intrigue is perfect for the tone, and the final sentence was chilling. I can't stop wondering who this mysterious pony is. Great job.
So I got here through seeing your very unf avatar.
Then I read this story out of curiosity. Very interesting, excellent use of mystery. Also, it sounds like TwiLuna, which is officially the snuggliest ship, as confirmed by science.
I will be keeping an eye on this.
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TwiLuna is indeed delightfully snuggly, but I'm afraid this isn't TwiLuna. A long while back, I was thinking about doing an angsty fic about pre-Nightmare Luna and her OC lover, and this little blurb was a sort of "test run" for that. Never really went anywhere.
And yes, unf avatar is very unf. I have a weakness for kinky Twilight.
You should continue this. It sounds like the start of a really good, tense dark fic.