Nightmares are gripping Ponyville's denizens. It's up to Private and Twilight to find a way to free them of this dark power. But something evil is lurking behind the scenes, something very old, and very angry.
Something strange is going on in Ponyville. The other elements of harmony have all fallen into a deep slumber, trapped in Nightmares without end. Private and Twilight seek Luna to aid them, but find that she too is trapped in a Nightmare. Locked in a dark slumber. It's up to Private and Twilight to seek out the Bat Pony king Tenebros, an old flame of Luna, who is the only other pony with the knowledge to enter the dream realm. But just what dark secrets lie in the dreams and nightmares of their friends, just waiting for more victims to come to play?
All come and go as time moves ever forward. But you can always count one thing through it all. Where there are dreams. There are Nightmares. There are creatures that haunt one’s darkest visions. Luna was once master of dreams. Before Celestia locked her away...and I was born….
Oh how time has come and gone. I was defeated not once, but twice at the hands of the student and the detective. I was locked away again. This time in Luna’s own mind. But now, I will be free...I will end this all...and create a paradise for us…
Watch how she walks in her endless orchards. How she works and toils to see the fruits of her labor bloom. How she runs to buck a new batch of apples. Her dreams, ever simple, ever wholesome.
But let’s change that shall we?
Now watch, as she sees a darkness come over her beloved trees. A thousand bats, hungry for her precious apples coming at her labor.
She tries to stop them, oh she tries. But every bat she knocks down, four take it’s place. They swarm everywhere. They devour everything…
In the end, her fields are barren, her spirit in shambles. As the rain pours down, they find no leaves to break their fall. The Farmer is left with no money to help save her farm. Her family is cast out of their beloved land.
Oh, and what’s this? She tries to fight those who would take her land? The moneylenders, the con artists, the thieves...but it’s for naught…
She tries to run, they always do, from the horrible truth...the horrible nightmare….
Watch as she goes before...two orange colored ponies...watch her kneel and beg for money they have but she doesn’t...oh how rich…
To work so hard...for nothing….
They laugh at her plight, and leave her and her family to starve…
Watch how she sews. Singing happily as she works. Inspiration flows, as do dresses from her hooves. She has adoring fans, and ponies clamoring for her attention, and the love of a young drake keeps her going, in the face of all that work. Now… let’s change that.
Her fashions begin to fall flat, ponies begin to find her designs passee. High society snubs her, and she is brought down to the lowest of the low. Her aspirations destroyed, her high society connections severed.
Now she is a joke of the fashion world. Her fans have abandoned her. Even now she locks herself away from those who would mock her. Still unsure what she is supposed to wallow in, even though she is wallowing in self-pity. Her generosity is mocked for being selfish, underneath it all. They see that she expects something in return, whenever she shares her creations, and her gemstones.
And look, her dear dragon has come to visit...only to explain that now that it’s her begging to be with him, he’s seen through her.
Saw her for the shallow creature she can be...and he leaves her...for a dragoness….
Strange how she felt the most pain about that...but too little too late as they say….
Watch her soar in the sky. Watch her dance in the air as if she was but a leaf in the wind. She is a soaring bird with wings she takes such pride in. Her fans adore her, singing their praises as she flies.
She speeds up, moving so fast that even the great Spitfire is left in her dust. She zooms, and decides to fly. She flies higher! Higher than any creature in Equestria! She’s on top! She’s queen of the world!
Let’s change that…
Suddenly, her wings vanish...gravity takes control now…
She falls...she falls and the clouds zoom by her as she does.
But nobody comes to save her. She yells and screams but everybody is too busy cheering for another. A better flyer, who’s not falling.
A certain...oh this is rich...look it’s The Princess...see her fly with no effort. Just like everything she does…
How perfectly she flies! How perfectly she did something that The Flyer took pride in. Now, she has no wings...and she will fall...and fall...and fall…
The last thing she thinks of...a storm cloud…how odd…
Watch as she moves through the meadows. Ever enjoying her critters. She plays and takes care of their every need. They love and adore her, and she loves them in turn. She cares for them, making sure they are happy. How she wishes life could be ever so simple…
Let’s change that….
Watch as her critters move through the town of Ponyville on a rampage. They attack citizens and break things. Their animal instincts have taken over. Despite her attempts to calm them, the critters proved that deep down they are beasts.
Oh, and look at this, her proudest achievement, Discord...is leading them…
See him turn the once peaceful town he grew to love into his personal playground again. See as no matter what The Caregiver says, nothing gets to him. See her fail to reform him a second time. See her fail to give kindness…
Oh this part is ever so grand! Watch as she works her hardest to make sure everything is perfect! The cake is cooked to perfection. The decorations are all set up! The presents are there for everybody! Everything is perfect! Everything is ready for everybody to enjoy! Let’s party and have fun!
….
….
…
…
Two hours...nopony is coming….
….
…
…
Two hours...still nopony…
Why...why does nobody come to her parties? What changed…?
Why is it that they didn’t come? Were they sick? Were they busy? Did something really bad happen?
She runs outside to find out. She sees they are all at a different party. One run by a different party pony. One where they are all happy! One where they all have fun without her!
So much hard work she put into her party...so much effort…
And they don’t want to come…
They call her annoying…
They call her insane…
They mock her attempts to win them with parties...they call them stupid…
Oh how hard she worked to please them...and how hard they mock her…
She moves ever happily in the starlight...oh...you see me do you Luna...you can sense me clawing at your subconcious…
Your can feel my every breath on your neck...you know I am here…
Don’t you dare ignore me! I am always a part of you! Whether you are bathed in Misama or not! I am you! And you are me!
Watch as ponies continue to see you as what you were! Watch them yell in terror at your approach!
Oh, that doesn’t work? You are not deterred...you are not afraid…
But I know...what you crave…
Yes...I know you better than you ever will….I know what you desire…
Your dear sister, ever perfect, ever beautiful, ever wise, ever everything. She is the one you have been seeking to be closest to since day one. You craved her attention, you craved her affection.
You craved a lot of things…
You craved attention, when your night was ignored in favor of your sister’s beautiful day. It was not your fault, you were born of night. You were always destined to be second fiddle.
Don’t run away! Not from me! You know I am telling the truth! Twas your sister’s fault that everypony ignored you! You can try to deny it, but you will never be free of it!
But..no...you crave something else as well...a ghost of your past…
The Detective...you crave him...you long for him...you hunger for his affections...because he shares the face of Nocturne…
Our beloved Nocturne...so brave, so strong...so loyal….He was not afraid of you. He said your night was beautiful. He wanted your hapiness and little else. He spent those days with you. Those days when you sleapt he was right beside you. You loved him, adored his every affection, you wanted to spend every waking moment with him.
But your sister, oh your sister had to say…
He was mortal, he would die...he would grow old while we remained forever young…
Oh the things we tell those we are supposed to love!
How she ignored your pleas to make Nocturne immortal. How she ignored your attempts to get through to her. How she ignored you! How she ignored us! Ignored! Ignored! Ignored!
But he never ignored...he listened...we tried to make him immortal...we tried to give him eternity with our blood...so that we could always be together….
But he saw a monster...he turned away! Away! Away!
From us! His one true love! He is ours! He turned his back on you! Left us for a harlot! Betrayed our location to those fools! TO Celestia! Our night was destroyed! Our perfect night...but our heart was destroyed as well….
We were banished...locked away on that cold moon for a millennia...away from our love...away from our home…
Then we came back...and found...her…
The little student...a unicorn of great magical talent. A descendent of one of the first unicorns. She was the one Magic had chosen. She was the one who defeated us.
She was the one who freed you from me, for a time.
She was the one who reunited us with our dear, dear sister. How she stood over us, judging us, pitied us. We begged for forgiveness, and she gave it...but who knows if it was genuine?
Don’t look at me, you know there was always doubt in your heart! Watch as you see how much your sister spends with that brat! How much she has invested! You could’ve easily defeated any foe that threatened Equestria! With but a spark of your horn, Discord would’ve been turned to stone. With but a spark, you could’ve sent Sombra away. Or Chrysalis for that matter!
But no, it was all about your sister’s plan...her desire to have her sprout wings…
An inexperienced, newly crowned, and weak unicorn was chosen over you...always chosen over you…
And then...there’s the beloved Detective...a stallion of character, of intelligence and strength. So much like our precious Nocturne in both spirit and power. But, once again we are denied….
He gave his heart to another. Another who doesn’t appreciate everything he is. He lives in her shadow evermore, whilst he was willing and able to see into your heart. He loves her, a simple mare, when with just a few words he could have you...he could’ve chosen you. He should have chosen you….
Thrice she was pulled away from him. Once of her accord, once because of his own doing, but once...because she failed to come back.
Had she stayed...little Private could’ve been yours...she could’ve been gone forever…
You and he...could’ve been together...forever…
But now he’s married, she has everything, friends, your sister and ponies love, and your true beloved….
How much more will she take…?
How much more will she steal? Will she keep stealing what is yours…?
Perhaps Celestia plans to give the Night to her…
Imagine and watch...as she holds him, as she kisses and clings to him...as she keeps taking...and taking...and taking…
There’s the anger...there’s the hole I live in your heart…
Your love...your night...all will be taken from you…
But I will never leave...I will always be here...my Luna…
I blinked open my eyes in the light of morning. I was laying comfortably in my bed with Twilight. Her soft breathing caressed my neck while she slept. I let out a yawn, and gave her a loving kiss on the head. She was just so, cute, when she slept.
Seems that every moment I spend married to this mare I felt more and more happy.
I heard her groan slightly as she too blinked open her eyes. She groggily rubbed her eyes and yawned a little. She then looked up at me and smiled tiredly. “Morning, handsome.” She said.
“Morning, beautiful,” I replied with another kiss on her forehead. She giggled a little at that before I said. “A beautiful thing, the weekend.”
“Yep, sleeping in, letting Tailspin get some extra shut eye and absolutely no trouble whatso-”
We both stiffened as we heard the doorbell ring, and ring, and ring.
We sighed at the same time.
“You were saying?” I asked.
“Well, nopony ever said our lives were gonna be easy.” Twilight said as she got up out of bed, stretching her wings and legs a little. I followed suit, trying not to fall into the temptation to show off to her. Whoever was ringing that doorbell obviously wanted our attention badly.
Twilight and I walked down the stairs, leaving Tailspin in bed then we opened the front door to find Applebloom. The red haired filly was looking absolutely frantic.
“Bout time ya guys showed up! We got a real emergency ere!” She shouted, practically pulling on our legs.
“Whoa,” Twilight said, stopping Applebloom. “Just what’s going on Applebloom? Is there a monster attacking Ponyville?”
“Discord causing trouble?” I suggested.
“Changeling invasion?”
“Zombie pony outbreak?”
“Earthquake?”
“End of the world as we know it?”
“Vinyl rave gone horrible wrong?”
“Nun of that!” Applebloom implored. “It’s AJ! Ah was gonna help out with the chicken coop early this mornin. When she didn’t come by Ah thought she forgot, but then Ah went up to her room and found her…” She gulped. “Sound asleep.”
“You mean to tell me you panicked because AJ got some much needed shut eye?” I asked.
“AJ never sleeps in!” Applebloom implored. “She’s always up earlier than everypony! When Ah tried to wake her, she wouldn’t wake up! Ah tried everythin!”
“Wait, you mean to tell me she’s still asleep?” Twilight asked.
“Ya gotta hurry! She could be in real trouble or somethin’!” Bloom shouted.
Well, this is something new...AJ sleeping in, well I guess there could be worse crises I could wish on Ponyville…
But why do I get a nagging feeling something is very wrong….
I wasn’t far off. Applejack was asleep, all right, but the way she was tangled up in her covers, and the expression of terror and despair on her face evidenced she was having a really bad nightmare. Usually, though, I wake up from nightmares, whenever I’ve had one. This one seemed to have Applejack trapped inside it. The fact that her eyes were closed was the only indication she was asleep.
Twilight looked her over, running her horn over the earth pony. “Whatever’s causing Aj to sleep, it isn’t natural. I’m getting some really strong magic keeping her in this state.”
“Ah toldja she wouldn’t wake up!” Applebloom implored.
“Can you break it?” I asked.
“I can try a wake up spell,” Twilight said, her horn glowing. “But I’ve never encountered magic like this before...here’s hoping…”
As Twilight’s horn glowed, AJ started moving in her sleep. She started waving her hooves violently, as if her vision had suddenly become more terrifying.
Twilight shook her head and canceled the spell, growling in frustration. “That doesn’t make any sense! I tried to use the spell and it only made it worse.”
“But, there have to have been cases of magic induced comas,” I observed.
“There have, and in most can be taken care of using that spell,” Twilight said. “This spell can wake up Spike from a Rarity-and-ice-cream dream, it’s that strong.”
Suddenly, the door behind us opened, Big Mac came in looking just as frantic as Bloom. “There ya two are!” He then saw AJ. “Aw no, not her too…”
“Too?” Twilight asked.
“Fluttershy!” Big Mac yelled, “Ah was workin’ early this mornin’ and came by ta wake her up fer our um…” He blushed a little, “Time in tha orchards, anyways Ah came by and found her sleepin’ jus’ like Aj here.”
“Applejack and Fluttershy?” I asked. “That can’t be a coincidence.”
Twilight blinked, and then looked frantic herself. “Come on, we gotta stop by Carousel Boutique.”
“How’s a dress shop gonna help?” Applebloom asked.
“Just get AJ and Fluttershy over to the library,” Twilight replied. “And also, get Zecora, she can probably do something if I can’t find anything!”
With that, Twilight and I ran out. This just wasn’t right...if AJ and Fluttershy got hit, who knows what will happen next?
We ran along, anxiously, sure that we were going to find Rarity trapped in a Nightmare, just like Applejack and Fluttershy. Suddenly somepony gasped, and sompony else shouted: “Somepony catch her!” Twilight and I looked around, worriedly, and saw Rainbow Dash on a cloud, thrashing about. It was obvious that she was trapped in a similar nightmare as the others, but right now she was about to fall off the cloud she had been sleeping on.
“I got her!” I said as Rainbow slipped from the cloud and started plummeting to earth. I lunged and caught her just in time, only to be hit in the face by her flailing violently in my grip. “Hold still Rainbow! It’s me!” I yelled.
She just kept flailing even more. I had to put her down before I got hit in the face again. I watched as Thunderlane and Cloudchaser came flying in.
“What’s up with the cap?” Thunderlane asked.
“She’s in some kind of nightmare sleep,” Twilight said. “Will you two get her to the library?”
“No prob,” Cloudchaser said, helping Thunderlane carry the cyan pegasus towards Golden Oaks.
I looked over at Twilight. “If this pattern is any indication,” I said, “then Pinkie and Rarity are probably affected too. I’ll go check out Sugarcube.”
“I’ll take Carousel then,” Twilight said, spreading her wings to fly out, a little clumsily but still quick.
I ran towards Sugarcube and opened the door. Inside I saw Carrot Cake at the foot of the stairs. He looked over and said worriedly, “Oh Private, Pinkie is upstairs, she’s been locked in some kind of weird nap all morning.”
I nodded and went upstairs. Swarm was hovering, literally hovering, over Pinkie in his normal state, the anxious buzz of his wings filling the room. He handed and looked over at me, worry obvious in even those multifaceted eyes. Pinkie lay in the bed with a stillness that was heart-stopping.
“Is… is she?” I asked, freezing.
“No. She lives. But she seems locked in despair, and anguish,” Swarm said. “Nasty tasting stuff. Despair is slimy and sticky… Anguish is like glass shards…” He blinked his green eyes, shaking his head. “Pinkie...should never taste like that…”
“Swarm,” I said putting a hoof on his shoulder. “Come on, let’s get her to the library…”
“Twilight is going to try and do something?” he asked.
“What we can, hopefully, we can figure out what the heck is going on…”
Around the library, there were beds holding the other Element Bearers. All but Pinkie were moving fitfully in their beds, all were still locked in their nightmares. Pinkie was unnaturally still, and that was frightening. From what we’ve heard, Pinkie was never that still, except for a story that Grapes told me. Now all we had to do was figure out what the hell was going on.
Twilight was pouring through her books, trying to find some cure. Meanwhile, our resident shaman, Zecora, was looking over Rarity. She shook her head and said: “A deep dark magic has them tight. I can not find a cure for their plight. There is more to this, than we have gleaned, but a cure is beyond my means.”
“Nothing in the books either,” Twilight said, tossing another one in the pile. “I’ve never seen magic like this before.”
“So, everypony here is in some kind of nightmare sleep,” I said, and then shook my head. “There’s gotta be something we can do to wake them up.”
Twilight blinked and then sprung as if a lightbulb just appeared over her head. “That’s it! Who do we know has the power over dreams!?”
“Luna!” I said, with a smile.
“Come on, let’s hit the train.” Twilight said.
“Stay here and look after them Zecora,” I told the Zebra.
“Do go forward with your plan. I will look after them the best I can,” Zecora stated.
Twilight and I ran out, hoping beyond hoping that this crisis would be over soon.
The throne room was its usual magnificent self, but the frantic ponies running around the place, the doctors chatting with each other, and with Princess Celestia showed that there was a problem. Celestia was looking frantically, and gazing in the direction of the private suits where the Princesses spent their off hours. When Princess Celestia spotted us, she looked even more worried.
“Are there more problems?” she asked anxiously.
“More problems?” I asked.
“What’s going on Celestia?” Twilight asked. “We just got here, after leaving our friends who are all in some kind of magic induced sleep!”
Celestia’s eyes closed. “It is as I feared…”
“What? You know what’s happening?” I asked.
Celestia gestured with her head towards the hallway. We walked a little ways towards the familiar Night section of the castle. A pair of Lunar Stallions somberly opened the door to Luna’s room for us.
Luna lay on the bed, deep asleep, not thrashing as our friends had been doing, but much more calm. She was, obviously, not suffering from the nightmares that our friends were plagued with, but she was still obviously gripped by a magical sleep.
“Luna..” I said, not liking what I was seeing.
Celestia nodded slowly. “I trust this happened to your friends as well?”
“Yeah,” Twilight said, “the other Elements of Harmony, they are all asleep too, as if they are all trapped in some kind of nightmare.”
Celestia looked somber, before going back to business. “This, is no accident. I have seen this kind of magic used before…”
“When?” I asked.
“It was during Nightmare’s era,” Celestia said. “She used Luna’s powers over dreams to trap some of our soldiers in their darkest nightmares. Dream magic is immensely complex and not something that can be easily taught beyond a hoof full of tricks.”
“So, they really are trapped in a Nightmare,” I said.
“But, you can cure it, right Celestia?” Twilight asked.
Celestia...shook her head. “I’m afraid my talents have never extended to dream magic. If I were to attempt it on anypony, I’m just as likely to get trapped myself, or worse I could permanently lose the pony I’m trying to save. I’ve seen soldiers trapped for years in this state, forced to sleep for so long before I was finally able to defeat Nightmare the first time…”
“Celestia, are you saying…?” I asked.
“I’m not saying Nightmare has returned although it is a possibility,” The Princess said.
“But how come she didn’t use her magic on me? If she wanted to take out the Elements she would’ve needed me.” Twilight pointed out.
“To trap an Alicorn in the dream realm is extremely difficult, and if it was within the perpetrator’s ability I think it would’ve been done already,” Celestia explained.
“But, there has to be something we can do.” I said firmly.
“There is, at one time I was able to drive away these nightmares by having ponies venture into these dream realms. Once they were able to convince the sleeper to fight against the nightmares rather than be afraid of them, they were able to awaken.”
“But you just said you don’t know how to get in,” Twilight said.
“I do know the theory, but if I were to send somepony in, an expert is needed,” Celestia replied.
“And Luna is out of commission,” I said. “Whoever did this was probably aware that Luna might interfere…”
“So, if we can get in, all we have to do is convince the pony to fight against their nightmare?” Twilight asked. “Well, how are we going to get in with Luna out of commission?”
Celestia looked, nervous. “Well, there is one method…”
“What?” Twilight and I asked.
“There is one expert in the dream arts that is powerful enough to allow us to venture into the dream realm. With his power, you two can be sent into the dream realm and fight against the nightmares within.” Celestia explained.
“Great,” Twilight said, “So, who is this expert?”
Celestia, gulped. “His name is, Tenebros.”
“Tenebros…” I said, “I thought I heard that name at the summit.”
“Is he some kind of sorcerer?” Twilight asked.
“Tenebros... was a member of the Night Court back when the Alicorns roamed the earth. He was Luna’s age when the cataclysm hit. He is the one in charge of the night on the other side of our world.”
“Like how it used to be with you and Soleil…?” Twilight asked, shuddering at the memory of that pompous windbag.
“Indeed, although Tenebros is far more secretive for one reason.” Celestia said. “He, is the father of the Bat Ponies.”
“Wait, what?!” Twilight yelled.
“You mean to tell me he’s the one who made them!?” I yelled.
“As a gift to Luna believe it or not,” Celestia said with a small chuckle. “He created them in order to guard ponies during the night from evil creatures. Nowadays, following Luna’s...downfall, he largely keeps to himself in the Stygian Cove.”
“He’s still there?” I asked. “Then he can help us.”
“There’s...a bit of a wrinkle…” Celestia said. “You see...him and Luna are not exactly on the...best of terms…”
“What were they?” Twilight asked. “Rivals?”
“Enemies?” I asked.
“Frenemies?”
“Poker players?”
“Online Video Game Rivals?”
Celestia just smiled nervously and said, “Lovers….”
Ooooh….So, we gotta go half way across the world, in search of the one alicorn who can help us. Who also happens to be Luna’s ex and belongs to an already pretty isolationist group of ponies….
Well, so much for a weekend working on the castle….
Twilight and I rode in the sky chariot together, two solar guards pulling us as fast as they could through the early morning sky. The Stygian Cove, according to Encyclopedia Twilight, is a collection of underground caverns where the Bat Ponies went after Nightmare’s fall. Years of persecution by the more zealous of Celestia’s followers have caused them to go into hiding.
Nowadays, with Luna back and the ponies of Equestria starting to become more accepting, you would start to see more Night Ponies moving around. But, in the end the Night Ponies were still relatively isolationist. They rarely ventured out of the cave and only ambassadors really showed themselves.
But as the closest Night Pony settlement, they’d know where exactly to find Tenebros. The cave was, of course, dark, and somewhat foreboding. It looked just like a dark scar on the side of the mountain. Even so, the Clopathian Mountains were old, and rugged, with snow-capped peaks that towered over us.
“Any ideas what we could be expecting?” I asked.
“Well, I’ve never actually been here myself,” Twilight said. “Only heard some things from Earshot, but, let’s just hope the Bat Ponies aren’t too cranky.”
“Take us down,” I told the guards.
We moved down towards the cave, Twilight and I hopped off the chariot and looked into the maw of the cave. Both of us lit our horns and we ventured deep into the dark of the cave. A rather rugged path led us down and down into the near pitch black cave. I knew Bat Ponies could see in the dark, but this was just ridiculous. There were some illumination crystals, here and there, but not enough for a daylight pony to see by.
Suddenly Twilight yelped. “Private, is this really the time for that sort of thing?” She said, glaring at me.
“What are you talking about?” I asked, looking over at her.
“Weren’t you just playing with my tail?” She exasperated.
“Playing with your tail?” I said, raising a brow “Now would I-hey!”
I felt something pull my tail too.
“What was that?” I said, turning around, only to find myself looking into bright yellow eyes. “AAAAH!” I yelled, falling back.
The eyes, giggled, well it sounded more like a collection of squeaks but it was kind of like giggling.
Twilight shown her light on the creature, revealing….
A foal. She… She was absolutely adorable. Younger than Earshot, which only amped up the cuteness factor by about ten. Her big gold eyes looked at us, with avid curiosity and a lack of fear that was typical of young things. Typically of the Night Ponies, her coat was gray, and she had leathery bat-like wings folded at her sides. Her mane and tail were a dark sable brown. Her ears were very distinguishable, huge and furry at the tips. She waved, and said something in Ethereal that we couldn’t hear, obviously.
“Ooooh!” Twilight gushed, picking the filly up. “You’re just so adorable! Did you just want attention you cutey?”
The Filly, not afraid of Twilight in the least bit, made that squeaky sound and reached her little hooves to feel this strange creature. Gotta love foals, always so adorable…
“She probably wandered off from the settlement,” I said, coming to the filly to rub her head a little.
“Oh don’t worry, we’ll find your mommy and daddy.” Twilight said to the filly in that cutesy voice you use when speaking foal.
The filly squealed a little nuzzling Twilight as she lifted the filly onto her back.
Twilight smiled. “Funny, for a total stranger she seems rather cozy around me.”
“That is weird,” I said. “Come on, let’s go try to-” I started walking forward in the cave, only to be tackled by a grey blur. I was on the ground, as another pair of yellow eyes glared down at me...huh?
“How DARE you try and kidnap my daughter, Klebstoffer!” he growled. The light revealed a face that had me feeling I was looking in a funhouse mirror. He looked like a Night Pony version of… me, except with a darker gray coat, bat wings, large tufted ears, and a darker brown mane.
“Wait, what?” I said, and suddenly watched as another shadow swooped on Twilight...and I saw...oh boy…
“You miststück! Wie kannst du es wagen meine Tochter zu nehmen!” a beautiful Night Pony version of Twilight yelled, glaring at her. I’d never seen a purple-gray, but whoever she was wore it well.
“Wait, hold on!” Twilight yelled at her counterpart. “I wasn’t trying to take her! She snuck up on us!”
“A likely story!” Bat Pony me said, “Dammerung, do you know zese dayvalkers at all?”
“Nein I do not, I haff not seen zem in zese lands before,” She said, glaring at Twilight. “Nasty foalnappers likely, maybe changelings vith really poor disguises!”
“We are not foalnappers!” Twilight said, firing her magic and flaring her wings. “We are visitors from Princess Celestia! Your daughter just happened to find us first!”
“Luna tränen! Ein alicorn!” Dammerung uttered in surprise.
The daughter, in case you were wondering, had leapt of Twilight just in time and was gleefully squeaking. She was probably thinking we were all wrestling or something.
”What? Oh… Really? You vere… Oh… Oh dear… Privat, we may haff jumped ze gun,” Dammerung said as she listened to her daughter’s cute little squeaks.
Privat? Seriously?
Privat stood and kept his eyes on me, “Just know, I’m vatching you, and do not lay a hoof on my daughter again.”
Hopefully I’m not this overprotective when I finally have kids…
I got up and dusted myself off, “We are just hoping to speak with your leader, Tenebros.”
Dammerung picked her daughter up and as she held her, she asked, “Why? What do you want with our leader?”
“We need his help…” Twilight then went on to explain our situation. Aside from the occasional question or dealing with the filly, the couple listened intently throughout.
“Princess Luna is in trouble?” Privat said. “Ja, that is not a gut thing to hear.”
“We are sorry for ze way we’ve attacked.” Dammerung said, politely. “We lost track of our filly, ve vere going to play today and she snuck out, got too curious for her own gute.” She nosed the filly a little at that last statement, eliciting a giggle.
“So, who are you two exactly?” I asked.
Privat spoke up, “I am Privat Auge, chief investigator for the Stygian Cove. I am in charge of keeping our home safe from danger. This is my beloved vife, Dammerung Blitzen, she is a scholar for our King, Tenebros.”
“Not his student?” Twilight asked.
“Vhy would he need a student?” Dammerung asked, “I am not going to become ze alicorn anytime soon.”
“Good point,” Twilight replied.
“So, can you lead us to him?” I asked.
Both Dammerung and Privat looked at each other. Privat spoke up, “Tenebros iz, how does ze say, not eager to meet outsiders.”
“But, Night Ponies have visited the outside, my friend Grapes has one working at a winery.” Twilight pointed out.
“Ah, Earshot,” Dammerung said with a smile, “He has written about his new home quite a bit.”
“True, while some of our brethren have visited ze outside, and stayed,” Privat said, “Tenebros only ever goes up to raise and lower ze moon, and then he returns to his castle. He doesn’t like outsiders, but lets us go to visit.”
“I wonder what kind of stallion is he.” I said.
Privat and Dammerung just gave this pained look at one another.
“He... how do you day ponies say,” Dammerung began. “Haz to be seen to be believed.”
The place… was not quite what I was expecting. The houses were tall, and somewhat ornate, and… well it looked like Ponyville, if it was reflected in a dark mirror. All around were buildings that seemed familiar, yet not. The bakery looked like it had been constructed of crackers, and was called “The Hardtack Cafe”. A circular building, with stained glass that was obviously scavenged, and interspaced with sliced crystals had a sign saying “Geode’s Clothsmithy.” It was homey, and… unsettling all at the same time.
All around, Night Ponies were actually retiring for the day, most of what looked like daily businesses were closing up shop. Guess things run in reverse in this society.
As we walked, we got no shortage of stares, some of them simply gave us odd looks. Others, glared while others just kindly stepped out of our way when we came by.
I would be bothered by it, if I wasn’t distracted by my wife being distracted by the filly.
“Yes you are so adorable yes you are.” Twilight gushed at little Glitzen, the filly giggled and booped her on the nose.
Privat gave me a nudge. “She iz your wife?”
“Yeah,” I said, “I’m glad to see she gets along with foals so well.”
“Ah,” He said smiling, “To think I almost didn’t have some.”
I looked over at Privat. “You, you weren’t the one who wanted kids?”
“Ja,” Privat replied. “Dammerung wanted Glitzen. I was reluctant but, looking at them now, I don’t regret a moment of it…”
Dammerung and Twilight were both gushing at Glitzen as we walked on. I can see a true mother’s love in Dammerung’s eyes…
I couldn’t wait...till the day I see that look in Twilight’s eyes.
“Ve are here.” Dammerung said, pointing to the path ahead.
Before us, built in black marble, with silver trim, was a smaller version of Canterlot Castle. The doors showed the Night Pony coat of arms of a bat, moon and stars. Guards stood attentively at the gate, looking at us, curiously. The castle would have blended in, but it was lit in such a way it seemed to glow in the cave. The moat was filled with thin sharp quartz crystals, and the wood of the drawbridge was of a strange, washed-out color. Nearby a guard troop practiced their agility by flying a course of stalactites. A night pony in ornate armor came flying across the moat, and landed near us.
“Little sister, who are these outsiders you bring?” he said. He had a very pale gray coat, and a two-tone blue colored tail.
“Visitors from ze outside, Glanzender, vith news of Princess Luna,” Dammerung replied. “Zhey wish to see Tenbreos.”
“Ah. I see. I vill escort zhem. Danke scoen for bringing zhem,” Glazender said with a nod.
“Thank you Glanzender, it is most kind of you.” Privat said.
Glazender glared at the Night Pony. “Just make sure my sister is happy you hear?”
“It’s like a crazy funhouse mirror verse…” I whispered to Twilight.
“No kidding…” She replied.
“Follow me,” Glanzender said, and we left the couple behind and entered the palace of the Bat Pony King. “Also… vhy do you say zis is like a crazy funhaus verse?”
“Well… you act like my brother,” Twilight said.
“You haff a good brother, zhen. He should alvays protect you, even if you are married,” Glanzender said with a nod.
Inside couldn’t be more different from the outside. Geometric shapes, and stern-looking profiles of Night Ponies decorated the halls. All in various colors of stone, some red, some gray, some black. Glowing geodes were set here and there, as decoration, as were crystals of various shapes. Servants scurried about, doing various tasks, guards stood at attention, occasionally calling Glazender “herr kapitan’, with a salute. The palace was, all in all, a very stern, and militarized area.
The guards opened the door into the throne room. Before us, sitting on a stone throne, was an alicorn. He was somewhere between Luna and Celestia in terms of size. Sporting a dark grey coat with a long raven black mane, two large bat like wings, a pair of yellowish slitted eyes and a cutie mark that resembles a cloud covered moon with eyes beside them. He wore almost crystal looking regalia, a black crown adorning his head as he looked down on us.
When he opened his mouth….I wish I had ear plugs…
“GLANDZANDER!” He yelled. “Dost thou ears find fault?!”
The guard captain was taken aback, “No sir, they are daywalkers from the-”
“Verily I can see they are one’s who walk on Celestia’s sun covered earth! I was inquiring as to the intentions of your bringing them here! You know my laws about outsiders! They are to be screened by me, and by my personal invitation! I will not tolerate any break in mine sanctuary!”
“Huh,” Twilight whispered to me, “no wonder him and Luna dated.”
“Mine king, zhey bring news of Princess Luna,” Glandazender said kneeling before him.
That stopped Tenebros in his tracks, he seemed to..wander off to a different place. “Luna…”
“Princess Celestia said you two used to... be together.” Twilight pointed out.
“Aye,” He said, his eyes still glazed over. “She was night incarnate. Whilst I simply through flew darkness’ warm embrace, she danced in it. She painted the very skies with her stars and planets. Love was in her every movement in her night sky. For she was the fairest of the fair, the most beautiful of all mares in all the lands in all the world!”
“Ah here he goes again…” Glandazender groaned.
Tenebros flew into the air, flying as if nopony else was there. “We met when we were but foals. I thought at first that she would be terrified by my appearance. But no, she found true beauty within the soul. She was my every being. She and I danced under her moon. We played, we laughed, we found joy in the warm embrace of darkness.”
“Geez, he sounds like me during my goth phase…” Twilight muttered.
“You had a goth phase?” I asked.
“Well, it was more Celestia’s thing but...ya know...gotta follow teacher…” Twilight said nervously.
“Ah but as we grew older, our duties drove us apart. Her night and duties as a princess kept her busy. Her every night was a toiled affair. I tried to help, but my own duties to my people became just as tiresome. We parted on such sweet sorrow. We argued for hours about what was right, we wanted to run away into the wild, just us...or that may have just been me but details.”
“Your majesty, I apologize for interrupting your story, but Luna needs your help.” I began...and then...Tenebros stared right at me...as if noticing me for the first…
And that was the second time I got tackled to the ground today. “Foul Phantom! You’ve come twice have you! Even beyond the grave you will not cease to torment me!”
“Wait hold on,” Twilight said. “Your majesty what are you talking about?”
I was suddenly lifted by Tenebros in his aura of silvery magic. “This foul unicorn shares the face of the thief to Luna’s heart! That foul Nocturne!”
“You know Nocturne?” I asked.
“Aye I know him!” Tenebros said, glaring at me. “You share his face, perhaps you share his villainy! My Luna would speak nothing but him whenever we were in each other’s presence! Nocturne is brave! Nocturne is valiant! Nocturne is every conceivable good adjective in the dictionary!”
Now I’m starting to see why they broke up…somepony has issues…
He dropped me like a sack of potatoes and went on. “So, you can imagine my reluctance to aid one who shares that villain’s face!”
“Your highness,” Twilight began, “Luna really needs your help. Private and I were here to seek your aid.”
Tenebros turned to Twilight, “The speak, say what is my love’s distress.”
“Well, it’s like this…” Twilight went on to explain everything Celestia told us. Tenebros listened intently, occasionally asking for a Daylighter term clarification. Also to cast the occasional glare at me.
Thanks Nocturne for the looks, they’ve been a real big help.
“So, we need your power over the dream realm to aid us.” Twilight finished. “Only you can help us stop whatever is putting my friends and Luna into a deep sleep.”
Tenebros stood stoically, and said, “And what is in it for mine children of the night? I will not do something out of the goodness of mine heart. I expect some level of compensation for my people.”
“You expect us to pay you for doing something good?” I asked, my mouth agape.
“The way I see it, this is a rare opportunity for Equestria to owe us a favor. I only look out for my people. Even if mine love is in danger, I wish to make sure my people benefit in some way.”
“We... could always set you up with a date with Luna.” I suggested.
Tenebros blinked...looked thoughtful then said…”Done.”
“Well… Luna as queen would be beneficial to us, methinks,” Glazender observed quietly. “Our king does need to settle down a bit…”
“Wait a minute, you just made this entire speech about us helping you and you getting something in return.” Twilight began. “But you toss that all aside for the prospect of a date with Luna?”
“What can we say? We Stallions are simple creatures,” I said with a smile. “I would toss everything out for a date with you, Twi.”
“I don’t know whether to hug you or smack you.” Twi uttered.
We flew back to Canterlot on the sky chariot as the sun began to make it’s dip towards the west. Tenebros flew beside us, his face determined as his leathery wings flapped occasionally. He wore goggles over his eyes, probably to protect them from the sun. I’ve seen Bat Ponies use them before, mostly due to their sensitive night vision.
Twilight looked at me anxiously as we flew towards Canterlot Castle. “Let’s just hope Tenebros can pull Luna from her slumber. Two Alicorns working on this problem is better than none.”
“I still wonder though,” I said, “The elements I get, take them out and Equestria is vulnerable. But Luna?”
“Didn’t Celestia say it was hard for Alicorns to have their dreams invaded?” Twilight pointed out.
“So either she was in the dream realm already and was caught…” I trailed off, not wanting to think about the alternative.
As we came to touch down on the landing platform, Celestia and Voidera were there to greet us. Celestia smiled as Tenebros touched down. “My, Tenebros it has been a long time hasn’t it?” She said.
“Several centuries Princess Celestia.” Tenebros said with a smile, “I...tried to keep a fairly low profile following...you know…”
“I see, but I am happy you managed to come so soon.” She replied.
“Luna was in trouble, I wasn’t about to turn away.” Tenebros replied.
Yeah you were, at least until we offered a date with her.
“We haven’t met,” Voidera said, coming over. “But I have heard that the last child of the House of Night had survived.”
“Voidera? I cannot believe you are still alive.” Tenebros said with a smile. “However did you surv-”
“A story for another time.” Celestia said, speaking urgently. “We need your talents to free Luna from her sleep.”
Tenebros nodded, “While I am not nearly as talented as Luna, I will do what I can.”
Tenebros entered Luna’s room like it was holy. He walked up to the sleeping midnight blue alicorn and gazed down at her in wonder and amazement. He saw her sleeping and said, “She’s still as beautiful as I remember her…”
“Can you help her?” Twilight asked, coming in alongside me. “We really need her help.”
He nodded, and his horn glowed as he ran it over Luna. He blinked, and shook his head, his horn sparking a little. “Something is, blocking my entrance…”
“You can’t get in?” I asked. “What’s wrong with her?”
Tenebros looked to us, “If I had to hazard a guess, I’d say whatever has caused her slumber has taken root in her mind, and refuses to leave.”
“Like a virus or something?” Twilight suggested.
“More like a weed,” Tenebros said. “This creature, has taken hold of her mind, forced it’s way into it, and rooted itself inside. I have encountered things like this before, whilst Luna and I were...together. Anyways, this being, like any plant, has spread it’s roots, possibly to the other victims.”
“So can’t we pull it out?” I asked. “Won’t that make the other roots come out?”
“It’s not that simple.” Tenebros explained. “If I were to attempt to forcefully remove the presence, I’d be taking bits and pieces of the victim’s subconscious with them. At best, the victims will become mentally insane, maddened by the sudden pull. At worst...it could lobotomize them….”
“But,” Twilight said, looking anxious. “There must be something we can do.”
“Fortunately, there is,” Tenebros replied, “Using my talents, I can bring your subconscious, into another pony’s dream realm. You will project into their mind, and you can manually sever the root. But the only way to do so, is to battle the victim’s personal demons, reach them, and convince them that the nightmare isn’t real. Once that is done, you can find the root and destroy it.”
“And that will safely free them?” I asked.
“Yes, they will be unconscious for a time as the severed root dies but, they will be unharmed by it’s effects.” He answered with a smile.
“Send me then,” Celestia said, coming in. “I will not let my ponies suffer when there is something I can do about it.”
“With all due respect your highness,” Tenebros replied, “If I were to send you in, the creature would naturally know who you are. It would know to block you, your sheer power is a detriment, it will alert the mind to your presence like moths to a flame.”
“Then send me,” Twilight said.
“Twilight…” Celestia said.
“I’m not nearly as powerful as you are,” My wife replied, “I can get in, stop this nightmare and free my friends.”
“It’s true, as a friend, the victim would not think twice about their inclusion.” Tenebros said.
“What about me?” I asked. “I’m not an alicorn at all, and they are my friends too.”
“Do you hear what you two are saying?” Celestia implored. “Once again you two fly into danger with no regard for whether ot not you will come back.”
Voidera suddenly appeared beside her, and put a foreleg on her shoulder, he smirked and said, “Hello pot, I’m kettle, I’m black.”
Celestia fumed before finally recomposing herself. “Very well, but do be careful you two.”
“We moved the other elements while you two were gone.” Voidera explained. “They are all resting in a spare bedroom.”
“Then we don’t have any time to lose.” Twilight said firmly.
Guards helped all of the girls get comfortable on the spare beds made available. Twilight and I laid sprawled on small cots, Tenebros between us. He looked over at us, “When you both get inside, do not do anything until you see me. I can project myself as a figment, but you’re on your own when facing the demons inside.”
“Alright,” Twilight said, and looked at me, reaching over a hoof. “Be careful Private…”
I took her hoof and said, “Don’t worry, we’ll be with each other again. We always seem to come back to one another.”
Twilight smiled, and then laid a kiss on my nose, smiled and said, “For Luck…”
Okay...she just got twenty times more sexy by quoting Galaxy Wars…
Tenebros’ horn began glowing and he said, “Alright, now relax, and fall into sleep, you will feel a slight...pull at first. But just relax, and let it take you.”
We did as he asked. I closed my eyes and laid back on the bed...at first I felt nothing and then...I felt...a BIG pull, like something just grabbed me and yanked me out of my body. Suddenly, I was floating in mid air, I saw my body below me, sound asleep. I then looked over as a light came from Pinkie’s body, and a tether wrapped itself around me, pulling me into Pinkie’s mind. I saw Twilight suffer a similar fate, being pulled into Aj’s mind.
That was the only way to describe this mad dream. I stood on a platform with nowhere to go. I fell onto what looked like an old ball pit. I swam up and looked around.
All around me, the place was filled with cruel smiles all over the walls. Smiling, smirking, laughing…
This was Pinkie’s nightmare? Was all I thought...
I took a step forward, and saw a path form ahead of me...didn’t have any time to waste. I kept going, and the path kept pushing, but I felt that cold feeling of being watched.
But I was comforted by a good sight, an old friend, floating before me. Blackbird, in all her original glory was there, ready to fight once again. I picked her up, and heard giggling…
Demons came out, all bearing cruel smiles...in fact, that was all they bore...they were simply walking smiles, horrible cruel smiles that laughed at every misery. Every pain, every death, every cruel torture...it was all a joke to them.
But not to me.
I took Blackbird and fired at them, blasted them right in that smug mouth. I kept blasting them, bucking, punching, occasionally headbutting. They all came, and they all perished by my hoof.
I cut them all down without mercy, these nightmares..they plagued Pinkie’s soul...they forced her into pain…
Endless fields, was what I saw when I came down. A familiar sight to anypony who lives near Ponyville. I’ve walked these trees at least a dozen times, I’ve always marveled at the time and effort Aj put into them. The final product was always nothing short of glorious.
But I came to a landing, and saw that the trees were not beautiful anymore. They were dead, barren, their fruit long since rotted or simply never grown. The farm was dead, that could not be ignored.
I looked up, and saw something ahead, a light, a light towards an object. I moved closer, and saw a strange thing. I was never one for weapons, magic was always my greatest defense against any adversity. But, this weapon…
It was a sword, it’s blade and hilt adorned in gold, like the Elements of Harmony. The blade itself gleamed in the light, but along it, were six slots. Each of them, bore our marks…
I took the blade in my magic, it felt...natural, like I was meant to have it...but I’ve never seen this weapon before...how could I…?
I then started hearing the voices….
“You failed Applejack…”
I turned..and saw to my horror, creatures that resembled Aj’s family. They however, were not the lively group of ponies I know them as. They were coming towards me...looking starved..and racked with sorrow…
“You failed us…”
“You couldn’t stop it…”
“You should never have come home…”
“It would have been better if you had stayed with the Oranges…”
“Where you were out of the way…”
“Where you couldn’t hurt anypony…”
“Where you could die….”
I watched as one of them suddenly leaped at me. I held the blade at it’s flat end and blocked it. The creature snarled and tried to bite me, like a zombie pony out of one of Spike’s movies. I knew what this is now...these creatures were Aj’s nightmares.
If there was one pony more scared of letting anypony down then I was, it was Aj. These had to be all her worst fears come to past…
She wasn’t being honest with herself…
I had to remedy that…
Starting by making sure this nightmare couldn’t bite anymore…
*SHINK!*
______________________________________________
Perspective: Private
I cut through them, slaughtered and ended their dark laughter. They were silenced by Blackbird or by my magic. I kept moving through the labyrinth of Pinkie’s dreams. The paths twisted and turned, gravity moved at it’s own will.
I kept moving, ever quickly, ever eager to find Pinkie. I moved forward, and came upon a door. A door with more smiles on it. A giant lock was placed on it. I looked back, and saw the path had fallen.
I looked up, and saw a massive nightmare, it’s cruel smile looking down on me. I held Blackbird, and kept firing at it. The bullets, like usual, just seemed to bounce off. It reached for me, with it’s ugly looking hands, trying to grab me. I dodged and weaved, firing what magic I could at it…
I had to finish this quickly, but how…?
Whenever I was faced with a dark challenge...I would…
Call on...hope…
Chanting…
The chanting began as I focused on trying to call hope. I saw two portals opening on either side of me. Through them, stepped two grey coated stallions. One of them was clad in futuristic armor, his head bare, showcasing messy black hair and blueish eyes. He held up some kind of laser rifle, and blasted at the creature.
The other, a tall, bearded stallion with a staff on his back, drew said staff and concentrated on his horn. His horn turned almost blood red and his hooves ventured into two portals, coming out as demonic hands on another two portals appearing before the creature. The demon hands held the nightmare as the soldier fired into him.
He looked at me and yelled, “Don’t stand there, fight back!”
“Who are you?” I asked.
“I’m Commander Comet Tail, and this is my least favorite spot to be in right now.” He said firmly. He looked to his partner, “Disarm that thing Falcon.”
“Aye!” The man yelled, spreading his forelegs. The demon hands ripped the creature’s arms off, blood pouring from the wounds. “Someday, I’d like to go one day without running into some crazy abomination, is that too much to ask?”
“Not in our line of work,” I said, reloading Blackbird.
I leaped, flying up to the creature, aiming my gun into it’s now screaming open mouth. Two shots, three, four, all to take this creature down for good…
It fell, and I landed safely, watching just in time to see my ancestors..or were they my descendents, vanish before my eyes…
Hope was still on my side, as the lock vanished, and I stepped into the door…
I fought my way through all of the nightmares. There was no way I was going to let them hurt Aj like this! They kept lurching toward me, moaning about Applejack’s failures. Applejack DIDN’T fail! She always came through, when it counted, and even went above and beyond when ponies asked it of her.
“Applejack isn’t a failure!” I yelled, as I kept turning horrific zombified ponies into giblets. “She is the loyalest of friends, and the most dependable of ponies! And calling her a failure so often that even she begins to believe it will NOT change MY mind!” Okay. I’m beginning to see why Private plays those zombie hoard games. There’s something empowering about hewwing your way through a mass of undead creatures to get to your goal. I finally found myself standing in front of a locked door.
“Applejack is one of my best friends,” I said bringing the sword up to slice the lock off. “She has never failed me. Sure we’ve had our disagreements and disappointments, but nopony is perfect. To expect her to be perfect is to dishonor her.”
I entered to find, Pinkie. She sat there, in the middle of a ruined party, looking down at her hooves. I walked cautiously towards her, ever aware of the fact her mane was flat.
Nothing good ever happens when Pinkie’s mane is deflated...ever.
“Pinkie?” I said.
Her blue eyes looked up at me, and she said sadly, “Parties over now...show’s over...I’m over…”
“Pinkie…” I said, “Come on, this is a dream, a nightmare, you have to fight it…”
“What’re you going on about?” She asked me. “I’m a failure, my parties aren’t fun anymore. Nopony wants to be my friend anymore...they all just laugh at me...they laugh...and laugh…”
Suddenly those same mouths appeared on the walls, laughing more and more at Pinkie’s misery.
“Loser!”
“Bout time you stopped being annoying!”
“What’re ya gonna do, cry?”
“STOP IT! NO MORE LAUGHING! NO MORE!!!” Pinkie screamed...and then it all calmed…
I had to get through to her…
“When I was a little colt and, the sun was going doooown.” I sang suddenly.
“Private?” Pinkie said to me, looking on me.
“The darkness and the shadow’s, they would always make me froooown…”
“Your…”
I had to get through to her, and I knew how...I started...bouncing…
Oh my gosh I channelled my inner Pinkie…
“I’d hide under my pillow, from what I thought I saw, but Grandma Eye said that isn’t the way, to deal with fears at alll!!!” I sang, “And what is you may ask?”
“Private…” Pinkie said, blinking.
“She said, Pinkie, you always gotta stand up tall! Learn to face your fears. You’ll see that they can’t hurt you, just laugh and make them disappear….”
I turned to the mouths and said, “Ha. Ha. Ha.”
Suddenly, they yelled in pain, their laughter was turned on them. Their weapon was turned against them.
I smiled and danced around, “SOOO, giggle at the ghostie, guffaw at the grossly. Crack up at the creepy. Whoop it up with the the weepy. Chortle at the kooky. Snortle at the spookie…”
Pinkie...smiled, and suddenly, her smile grew...and grew...until she suddenly joined in with, “And tell that big dumb scary face to take a hike and leave you alone and if he thinks he can scare you then he's got another thing coming and the very idea of such a thing just makes you wanna... hahahaha... heh…”
Both of us smiled and sang, “LAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAUUUUGH!!!”
Pinkie’s mane poofed back to it’s normal curliness, and she kept laughing as the walls started crumbling down...I looked up...and saw a blue root was in front of me...I imagined Silver wolf….
Applejack sat in the middle of the room, before what looked like a shrine. A pair of ponies in the pictures looked down on her with what looked like disgust and disappointment.
“You failed us,” the stallion said.
“You should have never become the head of the family,” the mare said.
“Ah know, Papa. I know, Mama,” Applejack said, her hat at the base of the shrine, her head hung low. “Ah’m so sorry.”
“Look at the devastation around you. Do you think ‘sorry’ will ever be enough?” the stallion demanded.
“She is a disappointment to everypony,” the mare on the shrine said, disapprovingly. “She can’t keep the farm alive, can’t keep her family together, can’t…”
“You’re wrong!” I declared, glaring at the false image. “Applejack has been the most loyal, and trustworthy friend I’ve ever had.” They hissed.
“It’s no wonder Applejack is such a failure. Just look at the types of ponies she hangs out with! Disrespectful to their elders,” the mare uttered with a frown.
“NO! It’s you that’s disrespecting HER! She’s a true friend, helps those who need it, and has not failed! All the while, she’s had integrity. She’s always been true to herself,” Twilight said glaring at the images, then turned to Applejack. “Fight it, AJ. I know you can. True you’ve had set-backs, and troubles, but you’ve always been true to yourself and the ponies who care about you.”
Applejack blinked, then shook her head. She picked up her hat, put it on her head, and stood up glaring at the false icons.
“One thing Ah’ve always hated,” Applejack said, angrily, “is a liar. An’ you two are tha biggest liars in this here place! Y’all ain’t my parents! My real parents were prouda me! They’d never say the pile a road apples y’all’ve been spewin’!”
Suddenly with a sound like breaking glass, the shrine shattered, revealing a dark blue root. I raised the Sword of Harmony, ready to cleave it in in twain! What? C’mon, leave it in!
Sure we’ll leave it in Twili! Wow it feels great to be able to break the laws of physics again! WEEEE!
I felt the floor as Twilight and I came out of the dreams. I groaned as I was helped up by Tenebros. “Did, we get them?” I asked.
Twilight was helped up by Celestia. “Well, I took care of Applejack’s” She said.
Tenebros turned to the two earth ponies. “They should awaken any minute now.”
“That was a surreal experience,” I said, a little wobbly on my hooves.
“It will take some time to get used to the real world again,” Celestia said. “But you two did an admiral job.”
“We’re not done yet Celestia,” Twilight said, “We still have four other ponies to cure.”
“Are you certain you two can handle going in a second time so soon?” Tenebros asked.
“Hey, just remember who you’re talking to,” I said with a smirk.
“Very well then,” Tenebros said, “I do insist on a little rest before you venture onwards however. I need to wait a little for my own magic to recharge.”
Twilight and I slumped on the floor beside one another. Twilight looked over at me. “So, how bad was Pinkie’s imagination?”
“Like Discord and her collaborated to create the most insane world ever. Yours?” I asked with a smile.
“Oh, you know, typical AJ,” Twilight said. “She’s got a lot of baggage she refuses to get help carrying. Like somepony I know.”
“Hey, I let you carry baggage, sometimes,” I replied.
“Maybe, but, I sometimes wish you would be just a little more open.” Twilight said, putting her head on my shoulder. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I really need a soft pillow for a second.
“Alright,” I said, leaning in to her. “Let’s rest up for a minute, and hope for the best.”
Tenebros and I stepped outside while the two of them were resting. To think, the last I saw of this young alicorn was so long ago. I was happy to see him back, he really made Luna such a joy to be around….
Yet…
“Tenebros,” I said to him as he sat in the hallway, “I have to ask, do you have any idea what caused all this?”
He shrugged. “I doubt I could even pinpoint an exact cause. Maybe some sort of wraith, or ghost?”
“Do you think…?” I began.
Tenebros looked away.
“Tenebros, what happened was not your fault. You had no way of knowing that Luna would fall as far as she did.” I said.
“Is that what you say to everypony who was there?” He asked, an edge to his voice. “If it wasn’t for that foul unicorn! That... that... MONGREL! She wouldn’t have been caught and-”
“Blaming Nocturn will not fix everything, Tenebros,” I said sternly. “Luna gave her heart to another, he did what he thought was right. Had he not interfered, Nightmare would’ve escaped and I would’ve had a much longer war with her.”
Tenebros looked away again. “And now here I am, helping his descendent fix everything. How cruel a fate is this?”
“You still care for her, don’t you?” I asked.
He looked up at me, his wings drooping a little. “I never stopped caring. There were no shortage of mares who wanted to be with me over these many centuries. But, none...none of them were Luna…”
I walked over to him, and laid my wing on his shoulder. “I understand that while it pains you to not be able to do much, you must keep on going for her sake. Even if Luna will never return your affections again, you must trust Private and Twilight to succeed.”
“We trust the fate of Equestria’s princess with a newly made alicorn and a half breed detective?” Tenebros asked.
“I have, on numerous occasions, and you’d be surprised what the smallest of us can do,” I said. “Now, is your magic ready?”
“It is. I just needed a moment’s rest,” He replied. “Will you be staying?”
“I will be here in support if necessary. Here’s hoping it doesn’t reach that point,” I said as Tenebros went back inside. I heard him converse with Private and Twilight, before the dream walking spell was put on them again…
This was Carousel Boutique, but it was dark. Almost scary. Scattered balls of paper littered the floor, scraps of fabric hung in ragged pieces. In various tints were scrawled various words. “NO NO NO! This is wrong wrong WRONG!” “WHY won’t the fabric COOPERATE?!” Rarity must have created, then shredded a multitude of different dresses. Several of them looked like they had… blood on them. What has been happening, in here? I walked on, searching for Rarity, in a boutique that seems to have expanded to… well… nightmarish proportions, marked with the remains of dresses that didn’t seem to make Rarity’s cut. I’ve never seen Rarity like this. Sure she had her little snits, and dramatic moments, but… I’ve got to find her!
“Why can’t I find my muse?!” I heard Rarity growl. “This one’s too plain, this one’s too fancy, this one has too many gems, this one not enough! It has to be perfect. PERFECT!” I galloped toward the voice to find Rarity spotlighted in the middle of a huge mess. Her figure was gaunt, her eyes were bloodshot, and wild, her hair uncombed, and unstyled. All over her body were raw red scars, and scabbed over wounds. Her face… I barely recognised it. Rarity what have you done to yourself? “It must be perfect… Why can’t you find it, Rarity?! You horrible horrible wench!” Rarity spun, grabbing a sharp pair of scissors, and aimed them at herself, ready to plunge them into her own flesh!
“Rarity, no!” I shouted, running to stop her, when I was grabbed and held down. I struggled with all my might to free myself from the grip of whatever had me. I looked up, and saw the discarded dresses had wrapped me in their fabric, and were stopping me from helping! Great. More opposition. Time to take out the trash.
Endless fields again. That’s what I saw as I entered Fluttershy’s dream. This had to be her, nopony else could dream up something so beautiful and nature filled among us elements.
But something was wrong, something very wrong. I walked a little ways in, I saw to my horror, the entire town of Ponyville was overrun with these creatures. Vicious looking, mutated animals all glowering and moving around. The plant life was just as worse, it was the Everfree Forest invasion all over again. Only this time with just vines instead of black and blue.
I soon caught sight of Fluttershy sitting in the center of the creatures. She said, rather distantly, “Nopony wants my critters...I’m the only one who’s kind to them...the only one who understands them...yet everypony fears them so…”
“Fluttershy!” I yelled, charging towards her, only to get blocked by two creatures, who bore their teeth at me. “Fluttershy you gotta wake up!” I kept yelling.
“No...no nopony can be so cruel to animals...so cruel...everypony is so cruel…” She said, and then slowly turned to me, “why must I be kind, when the world is so cruel…”
Suddenly the animals leaped at me, I tried reaching for blackbird, but it wasn’t there! Damnit! I must’ve left it in Pinkie’s dream somehow!
I turned and began to run, trying to find high ground. I moved and dodged my way around the creatures. Come on! Private! You can do this!
Or...if I can’t do it…
Hope’s chanting was heard….
Oh Please be somepony who’s good at hunting scary beasts!
A portal opened in front of me, all of the creatures behind me stopped. I looked into a portal as...a rugged looking unicorn began to step out. He was tall, well muscled but he bore a scarred face and a long silvery mane and tail. He was clad in leather armor and bore two swords on his back. His eyes were yellow, with slits like a Lunar stallion but...no, there was something far more feral about him…
He looked at me, then simply walked past me towards the monsters. He spoke no words, simply stared, and crouched down into a fighting stance. His horn glowed and his magic slowly pulled out one of the swords. It looked like it was made out of silver. It was covered with extravagant runes that seemed to glow on their own accord.
Just who was he…?
He strode forward, purposefully, his eyes flicking around at the group, his sword waving back and forth in a sinuous motion. Then in a flurry of surprising motion, he swung his sword in a circular arc around him, injuring the creatures that surrounded him. The blade seemed to cause great harm to the monsters, because upon it’s touch, the creatures screeched in pain. One of the larger ones, looking suspiciously like a giant bear, came rushing at him. The unicorn dodged, switching his sword stance, bringing the sword down on the giant bear, twice, seriously injuring the beast.
The creatures then started backing away from him, totally in fear of him. He then turned his yellow eyes to me, and said in a low, calm voice, “Silvered Steel…”
“Private Eye,” I said with a gulp.
I can’t help but feel this may have been a little overkill…
_________________________________________
Perspective Twilight
Why must Rarity make things so durable? These dresses are hard to take down, even with my magic. I finally shredded my way out of the dresses.
“Rarity! Stop!” I cried, rushing toward her.
“I can’t! I can’t stop, until I find the perfect design… I’ve got to show everypony… show everypony I’m not shallow, and self-centered… Show my darling Spikey Wikey that I’m not as horrible as he thinks I am,” Rarity said, tears streaming from her eyes, and blood streaming from the cut she made. “My vanity… Nopony knows that there’s more to me than...”
“Oh Rarity…” I said, wrapping up her cut. “I know there’s more to you than your pretty face, and love of fashion…”
“Twilight? Somepony… somepony came to check on me?” Rarity uttered, looking at me with such profound gratitude.
“Yes, Rarity, I came to check on you. You’re one of my best friends,” I said with a warm smile. “I’m sorry I didn’t get here, sooner.”
“Oh, pish tosh,” Rarity said, some of her old accent coming back. “What matters is that you’re here, now.”
“C’mon. Let’s see about these cuts. Then we can clean up this place,” I said laying a wing on her.
I then looked up, as the dresses parted, revealing the root before me. I smiled.
Well, time to test that blow torch spell I’ve been working on.
Silvered Steel cut his way through the monsters whilst I tried to help by using what little magic I could use in this realm.
When it was over, all of the animals laid on the ground. Fluttershy wailed in grief. She looked to us, her eyes filled with a rage you rarely see in the yellow pegasus. “How could you! How could you slaughter them! They were only trying to live! I was right! Everypony is just cruel!”
Silvered Steel turned his yellow eyes to her and said, “They aren’t dead...I didn’t cause any fatal damage.”
“You... didn’t?” I asked.
He shook his head and simply said, “Sometimes cruelty, is the greatest kindness you can give…” With that, he sheathed his blade, and a portal opened for him.
I walked towards Fluttershy as she backed away from me. “Stop it! I cannot accept such cruelty! Such slaughter! Kindness should be kind! Not cruel! Ever!”
I shook my head and simply said, “The world is not black and white Fluttershy, I should know, I was born into it grey…”
“Private…” She said.
“You can’t just give everypony what they want. That isn’t kindness that’s pandering. You gave these animals Ponyville at the cost of everypony’s homes. The animals belong in their own habitat, and you should’ve known that.”
“But I...I don’t want to force them…” Fluttershy said, tears streaming down her eyes. “It’s cruel…”
I simply walked to her, and pulled her into a warm hug. “It’s the best decisions that are always the hardest to achieve.”
She hugged me back, crying, “You, you were right. I was being immature and naive. I shouldn’t just give them what they want. I should...do what’s right, no matter the inconvenience or cruelty…”
“But never lose sight of kindness in the first place.” I said with a smile, rubbing her head affectionately.
She laughed, her musical laugh and said, “Thanks Private...I feel, like I can get up now…”
I looked on as the root appeared behind her. My horn sparked and a metal fence was reforged into a blade. I took a swung at the root, slashing it in half.
Like before the dream became distorted, and I could hear a far off screaming...now all that was left was Rainb-
Something grabbed me! One of the roots had ensnared my leg! Oh no! TWILIGHT!!!
I awoke in… a palace… It was dark, and very ornate. Stars dotted the ceiling, and sculptures representing nocturnal animals decorated alcoves. The floor depicted a lunar eclipse, the moon covering the sun. Pillars supported the ceiling, and banners displaying a crescent moon were hung all around the area in which I found myself.
Why did this place feel familier...and why was a feeling comfort...and dread….?
Wait...no I’ve been here once before...not me...but…
Nocturne…
I heard the door open behind me, I turned to see, Luna was standing there, clad in...an ornate wedding dress…
Wait...just what was going on?!
“Luna?!” I said in shock.
Luna just smiled…”We are together at last...my Nocturne…there are none standing between us...all is as it should be...all is perfect...all is as I imagined it...let us be together...in true harmony...forever...”
I awoke, shaking my head, glad to be out of that rather horrible nightmare. Rarity had some issues she needs to work out. Seriously. I slowly got up, stretching and looked around. All of my friends, save Rainbow were relaxing, as if they were sleeping on clouds. Our work really helped them…
I can’t wait for Private to come….Private?
I looked over at my husband’s resting place. He was tossing and turning. It can’t be! Could he be having a nightmare?!
“Private!” I said, running over to him.
Princess Celestia stood in my way. “Twilight, please calm yourself.” she said urgently.
She was right, I had to be calm about what was going on...did something happen in Fluttershy’s dream?
Celestia looked to Tenebros, who was over at Luna’s spot on the beds. “What happened?” She demanded.
“I’m not sure.” Tenebros replied. “The root was removed, but somehow, something pulled Private into Luna’s mind.”
“Luna’s dream?” I asked. “So, is he okay?”
“Frankly, I’m not sure.” He replied. “Who knows what horrors he could be facing in my love’s nightmares…”
“Oh Nocturne...you do not have to worry about my position anymore.” Luna said with a happy smile. “we will be together forever! Bound in love for all eternity!”
“Luna as poetic as that is, I can’t believe I’m saying this again, I’m not Nocturne!” I yelled.
“But, you most certainly are.” Luna said, “My love what do you fear? We are together, none can interfere, we can be happy.” “But Luna! I’m Private! P-r-i-v-a-t-e!” I exasperated.
Luna, blinked at that, but...kept her smile…
“We will still be happy…” She said…
Something was most certainly off about Luna...it had to be…
“Luna...please I’m not Nocturne, I never was!” I yelled. “You’ve been alive for centuries! There are plenty of stallions out there!”
“NO!” Luna yelled, going straight into royal canterlot levels of volume.
“Luna…” I meeped.
“There was none like Nocturne..none can replace him…” She said, sounding rather unbalanced. “It’s not fair...I should be happy...everypony else is…”
“Luna…” I said nervously.
“Why must everypony I try to love push me away…” Luna said, her dress becoming...black…”I just...want to be happy...I want to be loved...and she...she takes everything…”
“Luna…” I started backing away.
“No longer...no longer no longer…” Luna said, bowing her head. “She won’t take you...nopony will...I’ll have you...have my Nocturne...have my happiness...forever...I will never let her take you away…”
“Who…?” I asked…
She looked up…”Twilight Sparkle…” She said, with slitted teal eyes…
“You have to get me in there!” I yelled at Tenebros. “If something is happening to my husband I want to be there for him!”
“I already told you half a dozen times, I can’t access Luna until the final root is severed. There’s nothing I can do!”
“I’m sure if Luna was the one in danger you’d do anything to save her wouldn’t you?!” I screamed.
Tenebros, blinked, and looked away.
I stopped, and let my wings fall flat. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean…”
“It isn’t your fault, you’re right…” Tenebros said, looking out the window. “If it were Luna...I would dive in myself to save her if I knew how…”
“You really do love her.” I pointed out.
“I always have…” He said solemnly.
“Why did you two split? I mean, really? If you two were so close?” I asked.
He let out a sigh and said, “The truth, was that although we were very much in love...I felt...that Luna needed my love more than I needed hers.”
I looked over at Celestia, she was stone faced…
“She was damaged, so was I.” He said. “Luna...demanded too much, she wanted everything a certain way…”
“And when it got too hard you bailed right?” I asked.
“You don’t k-”
“I do know.” I said firmly. “Love isn’t supposed to be easy, that stuff is in fairy tales. If you really care about somepony, you put everything you have on the line for them. It doesn’t matter who needs who more, or who’s dominate. If you care about somepony, it shouldn’t matter. You love her, so when all this is over, you face what you did to her.”
Tenebros looked to me, and simply nodded. “I...see the reason to your argument…”
“While this is all very thought fulfilling.” Celestia said. “We need to release Rainbow from her nightmare. If we can do that, the path to Luna’s mind will be open.”
I looked to Tenebros and said, “Send me in...the sooner I find my husband...the better.”
“Very well...let’s begin…” Tenebros said, his horn glowing…
An… arena? What the hay? I looked around, wildly, trying to find Rainbow. She was nowhere above. Wait. Twilight this is a nightmare. If you were Rainbow in a nightmare, where would you… Oh… I found her. Wingless, sitting alone, staring up into the sky of the arena, where other fliers… Wait! Is that… That’s ME?! Huh. I’ve never flown that well… Ever. I galloped over to Rainbow, who gave me a rather comical double-take. Looking from me, then back to the sky, then to me, then back to the sky. Oh look, here the other me comes.
“Well well well. You find a fake princess to help you feel better, Rainbow CRASH?” she said, snottily. “She’ll see just how worthless you are, without your wings. What good is a pegasus, who doesn’t have feathers? None.”
Really? Really?! I’ve NEVER sounded like that. Like, ever. Rainbow should know I would never say such things. Oh look, the fake me’s saying more.
“We’ve outgrown you, Rainbow Crash. So continue to mope, and wish you had your wings back. We’ll be over here. Without YOU.”
“Good,” I said. “The last thing she needs is a fake, like you, bringing her down. A real friend wouldn’t abandon her, when she needs friends most.” The fake me growled.
“You obviously don’t know your place,” she said, aiming a blast at me, which I deflected.
“You obviously don’t know me that well,” I replied, and turned to Rainbow. “This is a nightmare. None of this is real. I’m here to get you out, because unlike Twilifake, here, I don’t abandon my friends!”
“Sure. Come to my rescue, like the big hero you are,” Rainbow yelled bitterly. “Like you don’t have the perfect life! Ponies love you, you married the stallion you fell in love with, and you became a princess! Me? Sure I’m in the academy, and the best student there, but… I’ll probably never get to be an actual Wonderbolt! My coltfriend walked out on me because...”
“He didn’t understand loyalty,” Twilight finished. “That you give your loyalty, and you expect it of others. Especially the stallion who claims he wants to be with you. But I am the real Twilight. I do understand loyalty. That’s why I’m here to rescue my friend from her nightmares, because that’s what a friend does. And for the record, I’ll NEVER be able to fly as well as you can, because I have too much pulling at me to put in the dedicated training you do.” Rainbow slowly got up, straightened up, the fire I know so well coming back into her eyes.
“Let’s kick nightmare flank!” she said, getting ready to pounce.
“Yes my dear?” Luna said, her eyes blinking and returning normal..along with her dress becoming white and pristine again.
“Luna...I can’t be with you…” I said firmly...I can’t believe I have to do this...to Luna..my friend…
“But...Nocturne what are you saying?” She asked. “I love you, and you love me is that not true?”
“No it’s not true.” I said firmly. “I’m not in love with you Luna. I never was. I love Twilight more than anypony I’ve ever met! She’s the most beautiful, sweetest and most amazing pony I know. I’m crazy about her, and would never ever cheat on her! I can’t marry you!”
“But...Nocturne you aren’t well...you’re saying such...horrid things…” Luna said.
Some...part of me just….snapped…
“I’m NOT BLOODY NOCTURNE!!!” I screamed.
She flinched at that.
“You know! I don’t think you even loved Nocturne! You just loved how loyal he was to you! How attentive he was! When he turned his back on you when you fell into Nightmare you were devastated! But the truth was you were destroying yourself long before Nocturne’s betrayal! It was always his so called approval you sought! The truth is you weren’t looking for a mate, you were looking for a robot to tell you that you were special and matter more than anything! You were looking for a toy! Not a pony!”
She started crying before me...but I didn’t stop…
“The only reason you brought me here was to bring on some sick fantasy of me taking Nocturne’s place! I may share his blood and armor medallion, but I will never be him! Because I love Twilight Sparkle!
“SILENCE!!!!” She screamed. And the stained glass shattered at the force of her scream...then...a dark aura began forming around her. “You...you were supposed to be mine...all mine...forever...why must you always turn from me Nocturne...why….?”
“Because I’m not him…” I said, closing my eyes and then glaring at Luna. “Come out...Nightmare…” The dark aura grew and solidified, changing Luna from a pony somewhat shorter than Princess Celestia to a pony her equal in size. Her coat became black, her eyes became teal slits, and fangs grew in her mouth.
“How did you figure me out?” she growled.
“Nightmares, the dark aesthetic, the trying to get me away from Twilight...it all screamed you…” I growled. “I knew from the moment I saw Luna locked in her dreams that you would be a possibility…”
“Oh of course. Naturally, you would suspect me. I should have been expecting that,” Nightmare said, trotting around me. “Even so, I do have a different tack to take, since you found me out. I have an offer for you, Preventus Eye.”
I opened my mouth to refuse the offer outright.
“Ah ah ah! Don’t refuse until you hear me out. After all it’s an offer that lets you keep your precious Twilight,” Nightmare said, then with a flash of her horn the scene… changed. I had changed. My coat was darker, my body bigger, and more muscular. I had wings. WINGS?! And beside me, looking at me adoringly, was Twilight, on the other side, looking at me with equal adoration was… Luna? Arranged around the rather sumptuous throne room were the other girls. Fluttershy was curled up at my hooves, Applejack sat by a table laden with treats, Rainbow lounged on a nearby beanbag chair, Rarity was at a ponyquin sewing on some rather spectacular royal clothing, and Pinkie was bouncing around juggling some multicolored balls.
WHAT THE FLYING FLIP IS GOING ON HERE?!
I moved back, trying to compensate for my new body’s structure. I almost ended up falling on my back.
“Master?” came Fluttershy’s sweet voice, her aqua eyes looking at me. “Did… Did I displease you? I didn’t mean to…”
“Master?” I said in utter confusion. What the hell was going on here?
“I offer you power,” Nightmare said, materializing beside me. “The power to overthrow Celestia, and rule Equestria as you see fit, bringing your brand of justice to the country. Twilight and Luna as your queens, the rest of them as your consorts.”
I shook my head. “This isn’t what I want at all! I won’t accept this offer!”
“You don’t want the power to make sure that the arrogant nobles get punished for making ponies suffer? The power to make sure that the mighty do not prey on the weak? They all gave themselves willingly to you, when you became Equestria’s savior, Preventus, overthrowing the lax Celestia, and creating a meritocracy, overseen by yourself, ruled by you and your queens equally,” Nightmare whispered. “Because you recognise their intelligence, and their merits.”
“I...I…” I said, shaking my head.
“You will still have your beloved Twilight, of course. But then you will be able to make Luna happier than she’s been in centuries,” Nightmare continued. “Nevermind all of the other mares, waiting on you willingly, because I know, deep within, you were tempted by each of them, at least once.”
“NO! I could never turn my back on Twilight! Never!” I shouted. “I would never betray her…I can’t break her heart…”
“But you’re not. She is your queen, first in your heart. Following her is our dear Luna,” Nightmare said earnestly. “The others are here, for when your beloved queens are out helping you govern Equestria.”
“I…” I said...my head was feeling...fuzzy...Twilight….help…
I could see Nightmare grinning.
“Just say ‘yes’, Preventus,” Nightmare said enticingly. “You will change Equestria for the better, still have your beloved, and gain one more. All you have to do is accept… Wait…” Nightmare paused, looking around.Then she screamed as if somepony had attacked her from somewhere I couldn’t see.
I fell through the portal and came out in...huh, it looks like Luna’s night court. I looked ahead and saw, to my horror, Private, on the ground. Nightmare Moon was holding him...what did she do to him!?
“NIGHTMARE!” I yelled, my horn aglow.
She turned, and smirked upon seeing me. “Oh, well I figured you’d end up here sooner or later.” She said in a mocking tone. “It’s been quite some time since we faced each other Twilight Sparkle.”
“So you’re behind all this, I should’ve known.” I growled with narrow eyes. “What are you doing with my husband?!”
“Oh, your dear beloved is dreaming himself right now...dreaming of a world where he is the one on top…” She said.
“What? Come on what kind of nonsense is that?” I asked.
“You don’t know?” She said in mock shock. “Oh there are so many things you don’t know about the stallion you married is there? So many things he’s kept from you, hidden away because he was in love with you.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Oh how many times has he looked on you in awe of your magic? How many times have you did more than he ever could? How many times does he fall while you ascend?” Nightmare said, moving closer. “With him under my control, he can become so much more. He can become more than he ever will be when he’s shackled to you!”
“Is that what you told Luna before you stole everything from her?! That you’d make everything all better!” I screamed. “I won’t let you do the same to Private! He’s a better stallion
“I don’t intend to steal anything, Twilight Sparkle. Private will still be himself. Still the better stallion, but he’ll have the power to bring down those who would hurt others,” Nightmare said with a grin. “And of course, he would still have you. Ruling equally at his side, but you would have to share him with Luna, but that would make Luna happier than she has been in eons. Private would have a world filled with Justice, you could make Equestria a center of learning, and magical advancement, and Luna would have ponies who love her.”
I closed my eyes, and...smiled. “Funny, how everypony seems to be happy once you’re involved.”
“What are you grinning about?” Nightmare growled. “I will make everypony better!”
“Let’s look at your track record, you separated Luna not only from her sister but from the love of her life for a thousand years, all because you made her so short sighted she couldn’t see the repercussions of having eternal night. The world would’ve gotten cold without the heat of the sun. Crops would’ve died without photosynthesis to support them. So what if you say you can make everything better, but you just make everypony only see what you want them to see.”
“Insolent little…” Nightmare grumbled.
“If you think for a minute that Private or I are in some crazy competition, you don’t know the first thing about love. If you knew the first thing about love, Nocturne wouldn’t have been driven away..and neither would Tenebros…”
Nightmare’s eyes became pin pricks...she wasn’t expecting that.
“Nocturne was a pet wasn’t he? A robot to tell you that he loved you. But what you don’t realize, is that love and respect are earned. They are forged through fire and turmoil. Real love takes work, Private and I have made many sacrifices getting to where we are today...and I’m not going to let anypony take him again, not Lunard, not you, not ANYPONY!!”
I unfurled my wings and charged at her, my horn alight and ready to fight with every fiber of my being.
Almost four years ago, Nightmare and I faced each other for the first time. Back then, I was just doing everything in my power to help Equestria. I was trying to save my mentor and what would become my future home. It was simply duty…
Now, she made it personal.
Our magic bolts rang around in the throne room as we clashed with one another. I summoned some magic missiles to throw at her. She conjured up a barrier and launched some of her own. I barely managed to dodge and weave my way around the missiles. Private laid there on the ground, unconscious, but safe from the fighting.
Nightmare soon stood and smiled smugly, “Why do you struggle so hard Twilight? Simply surrender and everypony will be happy.”
“I’m not falling for your games Nightmare!” I yelled, firing another bolt of magic at her.
She dodged it and went on, “You fight so hard for him, is it really so worth it?”
“Of course he’s worth it,” I growled. “He’s my husband, and my friend, I’d do anything to keep him safe.”
“Oh I’m sure you feel that way, but does he feel the same way about you?” She said with a grin. “You really have no idea about the true darkness within him…”
“What’re you talking about?” I asked. “I know that Private used to use Dark magic for a while.”
“Oh, hahaha” She laughed at me. “You really think that will be the end of it?”
“Just spit it out!” I yelled.
“You want to know the truth? Your dearly beloved here is one death away from falling completely into darkness. Much like dear Luna, no wonder they found… Common ground with one another…”
“What’re you talking about!?”
“Your dear Private may hold affections for dear Luna…”
What...no...no Private would never… ”NO!” I yelled, firing a blast of magic. “Private wouldn’t cheat on me! Especially with Luna!”
“Oh, really now?” She said, sidestepping my blast. “You really believe that in all of his exertions, he’s never been...tempted by her?”
“Of course, he’s a stallion he’s bound to be tempted.”
She raised a brow at that.
“Was a stallion, long story.” I said, and then glared at her. “I’m not going to let you spout out this nonsense! Luna! Tell her she’s lying! Tell her that you don’t have feelings for Private!”
Nightmare blinked an eye, for a moment, that eye belonged to Luna as she said…”I’m sorry Twilight Sparkle...Nocturne is mine…”
“Luna…” I said, putting a hoof to my mouth. “You…”
“You stole everything Twilight...my sister’s love..the love of the ponies...a great destiny that will come about...it should be MINE! All mine! I was the one at Tia’s side for millennia before you were even born!” Luna screamed, before Nightmare took over.
“Luna...she…” I said, totally shocked. I had...no idea she felt for Private like that….
My Private…
With her...all this time…
He...did leave on some cases...all by himself...he could easily…
How could he….how could he….?
How….
“Yes...that’s it Twilight...see the truth with your very eyes...he was never meant for you. Besides, you became enamored with another...what’s to say he couldn’t either?”
Flash...no, no it wasn’t cheating, I was brainwashed and…
He...he… THAT BASTARD!!!
How dare he betray me! After all I’ve done for him! All that we’ve been through! He just turns around and goes to see Luna! All to fulfill her sick fantasy of being with a thousand year dead lover!
I woke up inside some violet lit cave. The ground was strangely soft, and there were little crystal formations that provided the light. This… this was kind of neat. I wonder who made those? I groaned as I got to my hooves. Where am I? This didn’t make any...wait! Where’s Nightmare?!
“Hello Twilight…” I said, hearing a...strangely familiar voice…
I turned and saw… Wow….
Standing before me was a unicorn. She had a beautiful purple coat, slightly darker purple hair, and wore a dark blue kimono decorated with Neighponese characters and runes. Her green eyes looked into mine, wisdom and compassion shining from them.
Wow, she was gorgeous...wait...I’ve seen her before…
“You’re…” I began.
“Izanami. A pleasure to meet face to face, Twilight…” She said with a smile.
“OH MY GOSH!” I squealed. “I’m meeting one of the first unicorns ever to come into existence! I have a billion questions to ask you! I should’ve brought my-”
She held up a hoof to quiet me down. “There will be plenty of time for that on other days, Twilight.”
“You, know who I am…” I said.
“Yes I do, we share the same blood after all,” She said with a smile.
“Huh, guess that makes me an actual princess then, being descended from a Unicorn Queen,” I replied. The I remembered what happened. “Private! And Nightmare she-”
“Yes, your mate is in dire straights. Nightmare is closing in on his heart, and if you do not intervene, he will fall to her dark power.” She warned.
I looked away, still feeling bitter. “Maybe I shouldn’t…”
“Do not speak in such a fashion,” She said sternly.
“Well, why shouldn’t I?! After all! He knew about Luna having feelings for him and never told me! He keeps going off alone and getting hurt! He act like one of the most stubborn idiots I’ve ever known, and now I learn he could-”
“SILENCE!!!” She shouted, her eyes glowing white and a powerful wind pulled me out of my rant.
Wow… She’s kinda scary when mad.
She calmed down and spoke “Twilight, you cannot listen to Nightmare. She wants to sow this doubt in you.”
“Well what if she’s right?!” I said, trying to keep from yelling.
“Did you think going into this marriage it would be easy?” She yelled.
“What? No I-”
“Did you think it would always be flowers and fairy tales? Loving passionate kisses every day?” She moved ever closer to me. “Did you think it would always be easy to know whether you loved your spouse or not?”
I...just bowed my head at that…
“No, because love that’s easy, isn’t true love at all. True love does not come about from one kiss, but from trials and tribulations. That’s why the vows say ‘for better or for worse’. Your beloved was tempted certainly. But can you say you were never tempted?”
“That’s different-”
“No it’s not.” She said. “The one unifying thing is that you are both ponies. You both are damaged in some way. You both have to make the commitment. But you both also need to learn to trust...you almost fell into darkness because you gave into your fear of losing Private…”
“What are you saying?” I asked.
“One very simple thing,” She said, coming to me, and putting a gentle hoof on my shoulder. “That no matter how dangerous it gets true love is worth the work you put into it.”
“I should trust Private...but...Nightmare…”
“There is one simple way to release Nightmare.” She said, “Make her realize what you just did.”
“Wait...hold on….” I said, putting a hoof on my chin and then smiling. “I know how to beat her…”
I opened my eyes to find Nightmare before me once again. She smirked. “So, come to give into darkness at last? After hearing of your beloved’s betrayal?”
“Private would never betray me, and I would never really betray him,” I said, without hesitation.
“Do you not have ears, child?!” She yelled. “I already told you of Luna’s feelings!”
“And now I’m about to tell you about Luna’s feelings as well…” I said firmly...and then...my horn glowed...and before Nightmare’s eyes...an image of Tenebros appeared… The night pony alicorn stood there in all his glory, proud and strong, and looking wistfully in the distance.
Luna’s eyes appeared on the black alicorn. “No...no... Take that away!” She yelled.
“Is this what you were really running from?!” I yelled. “The truth is there’s a reason Nocturne was a pet to you!”
“Silence!” She screamed. “Nocturne is my beloved! He is ever loyal! Ever true!”
I shook my head. “Real love doesn’t work one way, Luna. I heard about your break up. He came here to help you. He’s the reason I’m here. Tenebros was the real reason you clung to Nocturne. You were afraid of getting hurt again. You wanted a pet, not a stallion. If you truly loved Nocturne...you would let him go and face what’s really destroying you…”
There was a...rumbling…. There seemed to be… cracks? What’s going on? This place is coming apart! The visions of Luna and the others were just poofing into nothingness... Columns crumbling, floor breaking into huge chunks, and that rumbling…
I smirked. “Twilight…”
Only she could be so amazing…
With the world coming down...I woke up for real this time….
I groaned as I heard Twilight’s voice. I opened my eyes to see her looking down at me with a smile. I returned it saying, “Hey..”
“Hey, you feeling alright?” She asked.
“Course, you’re here, I’m happy…” I said, and reached up a hoof to pull her into the most eww inducing kiss I could muster. Boy was she happy to return it.
I then heard Nightmare yell. “NO! No this was perfect! You two have ruined everything, again!”
I stood, and looked to Nightmare. “You ruined yourself…”
“I will destroy you both! Then Equestria shall be mine!!” She screamed, and fired a magical beam at us.
Twilight blocked it with a shield spell. “Not gonna work this time, Nightmare. You don’t have full control over Luna now.”
“You think you two can beat me alone?” She yelled.
“Don’t you ever read the memo?” I said, and looked at my chest. Hope started to appear, I looked to Twilight, and saw Magic on her head…”We’re never alone…”
I closed my eyes and began floating in the air. The sound of Chanting could be heard, the sound of a battle cry. A cord of light went to Twilight, and five others went into small portals. Before my very eyes, AJ, Rainbow, Pinkie, Flutters, and Rarity all came in, adorned with their own Elements of Harmony. They all turned to Nightmare.
“No! No you were all supposed to be locked away!” Nightmare yelled. “MY nightmares should’ve kept you away from this!”
“Ya think we were jus’ gonna wallow in self pity ferever?” Aj asked.
“Your meany pants days are over, Nightmarey!” Pinkie said, and then stuck her tongue out, giving Nightmare a raspberry.
“You mess with one of us, you get the full package,” Rainbow boasted.
“No matter how far we are,” Fluttershy added.
“All of us shall stand as one…” Rarity said with a smile.
“Now listen up, Nightmare,” I yelled. “Last time, I wasn’t here to help. But now, I’m thinking I’m gonna make up for lost time, by making sure Hope is front and center in taking you down!”
“NO! I SHALL END ALL OF YOU!!!” She screamed, firing a torrent of magic.
Hope….give all we have to Twilight...let her end this…
As if hearing my plea, the cords of light caused the Elements to glow brightly. My diamond Element soon glowed with all five gemstones, I then raised my arms to a flying Twilight, and poured all the power I had into her…
Her horn glowed with the light of a rainbow...and she fired it with all her might at Nightmare’s, the beam pierced straight through the darkness and hit Nightmare straight on. She screamed as before our very eyes….she began to...split from Luna….
Nightmare came off Luna like a costume….she screamed the whole way as Luna finally fell to the floor, the rainbow encircling Nightmare.
“No! What is this magic!?” She yelled.
Didn’t she learn this the last time?
FRIENDSHIP IS MAGIC!!!
The rainbow circled faster and faster, until...a bright light came…
My eyes blinked open after that dream. I felt, liberated, as if a great weight was off my chest for a while. She was gone, Nightmare truly was gone I felt it. It was…
Wait...surely I must still be dreaming because…
“TENEBROS!” I yelled, nearly falling out of my bed at the sight of my old flame. What is that filthy loving and leaving flying rodent loving stallion doing in mine chamber!? Where is my scythe!?
“Aye, most luminous Luna? Thou hast awoken, and thou art free of thine nightmarish curse!” Tenebros said beaming.
“I should’ve known they’d get you to aid,” I said coldly as I got up, my room seemed relatively deserted save one stallion. I then turned coldly toward him, “So, you are the reason Private and Twilight Sparkle were able to free me.”
“Aye, most beauteous Luna. I set aside my selfish wish for isolation to come to thy aid. How could I not? Thou art the night. Without thee, the nights are dull, and lackluster,” Tenebros said, passionately.
“I see that thou hast changed little in my time away from thee. Thou are just the same blowhard I remember from my fillyhood days,” I replied with a very unprincess-like snort.
“Thou used to like mine eloquent speech, and dramatic manner. Then thou met that… that… stallion...” Tenebros uttered.
“I was a filly back when thou was spouting out flattery and artistic nonsense.” I said with a shake my head.
“Tis it nonsense to tell thee how I feel for thee? Tis it nonsense to complement thee upon thine artistry that thou does with thine night sky?” Tenebros asked. “No mortal dauber coulst match thine skill, no mortal shaper of stone could capture thine beauty.”
“Tis nonsense coming from a stallion who refused to hold true to the flattery you spout.”
“I realize that I wert a great fool. Love tis not easy. One shoulst work to make it true. I wert o’oerwelmed by silly tales of easy romance, and thought it couldst be so with thee. I shouldst have been willing to work to keep thine affections, instead of taking thee for granted,” Tenebros said, hanging his head.
“Words and words Tenebros, thou hasn’t changed!” I yelled. “While I will forever appreciate thine efforts to rescue me and my subjects from my darker side, you will not win me over with flattery and flowerly words alone.” I moved closer to him, tapping his chest with my hoof. “If thou hopes to change, then SHOW me thou hast changed! Show me that thou is worthy of m-”
Tenebros simply pressed his lips to mine, kissing me with as much passion as he could muster…..
He...has…
NO! NONONONONONO! Do not give in to his...his….just like...all that time ago…
I blinked open my eyes to find him looking back at me. His lips felt so familiar...so many feelings flooded back into me in that one action. All of the loneliness, the fear, and the longing...it was gone…
Tene was here…
I...I was so blind, so blind to all of my feelings…
I let Nocturne go...to find a stallion I still loved waiting for me…
“Tenebros…” I said, quietly.
“Luna…” He replied with a smile. “I missed thee…”
“I missed thee as well...I was a fool Tenebros…” I admitted.
“I was a fool as well,” He replied. “To think I could have this immortal life without you…”
“Tene…”
“Luna…”
I turned my head, and kissed him back...oh Tenebros...may I never fall again...may I live...to…
“Geez, it sounds like a fourth grade Shakespony play going on in there.” One guard said to another.
“You think this is bad?” Said guard said to the first, “You should see Lord Voidera and Princess Celestia in the same room. I swear it’s like two animals are wrestling.”
“No wonder the night guards keep complaining about lack of sleep…”
By the time Twilight and I got out of Luna’s head everypony was starting to wake up. Luckily the doctors managed to conclude that no lasting damage would be done to them. They just would feel a little sore for a couple of hours thanks to sitting in one spot for way too long.
Twilight and I were advised to rest in one of the guest rooms, supposedly dream diving can cause some stiffness. I barely felt it to be honest but, doctor’s orders.
Now, I’m sitting in total awkward silence, Twilight sitting behind me on the bed. I finally sighed and spoke, “Twi, talk to me…”
“How long did you know?” She asked.
“What do you mean?” I replied.
She turned and walked over to me, “There is no way in the nine circles of Tartarus that you couldn’t have known Luna had feelings for you!” She yelled. “How the heck am I supposed to look Luna in the eye at meetings?! You almost gave into her!”
“I didn’t alright!” I yelled. “I didn’t give into her! She was the one who was coming on me! I would never betray you Twilight! Ever!”
“How can you expect me to trust you after knowing, all that?!” She yelled. “How can you just, expect me to ignore all that happened!?”
“Oh, like you were never tempted befo-”
“Don’t you DARE mention Flash!” Twilight yelled. “That was different, I was brainwashed and a teenager! I broke up with him at least!”
“Well, how the hell do I know you aren’t looking to get with Flash in this world!?” I yelled back. “You can’t yell at me for being tempted and just ignoring the fact that you are probably tempted to!”
“Like I would ever even think of cheating on you!” She yelled loudly.
That stopped me in my tracks.
“You DIED fighting alongside me! I held you in my hooves as you turned cold and nearly lifeless...I thought...I thought I’d lose you forever...the thought, it terrified me…”
I simply, closed my mouth.
“I would never cheat, sure everypony is tempted, but don’t you ever dare accuse me of being tempted to leave you...after all we’ve been through…”
I, closed my eyes...and took the hat off my head….
She got quiet at that...I rarely took the fedora off…
“Twi...Twi I’m so sorry…” I said, looking down. “I had... no idea that Luna felt that strongly. I was stupid not to tell you. I was stupid not to think it could hurt you...I was, I was an idiot…”
Suddenly, she took her forehooves in mine and said softly, “Yes...but you’re my idiot…” After she said that, Twilight kissed me, passionately. A kiss I was only too happy to return.
“What say we retire to our room?” she asked, giving me a come-hither look.
“You can’t be tired, considering all the time we spent asleep,” I said, obviously clueless.
“Who said anything about sleeping?” Twilight asked, pulling me along.
Sorry folks! We can’t show this content here because of the teen rating! Gosh, there’s a lot of things we have to restrict viewers to see! Those two just can’t keep their hooves off one another, it’s like one of those clop fics I he-
PINKIE! What did I say?!
Stop breaking the fabric of the universe?
The other thing!
That cherrys wouldn’t be good with chimichangas because it’d be all messy?
The OTHER other thing.
OOOOOh, don’t give the pervy bronies ideas! Man, I keep forgetting that one.
Keep this up and we’ll have five of them by morning….
All, don’t be saddy waddy! Be happy like Swarmy after I cover him in frosting an-
DAMNIT PINKIE!
BWHAHAHAHAAH! *snerk* Okay… You two have got to stop that. Seriously.
Just get with the scene transition while I fix the fourth wall...again…
I took a deep breath as I made my way up to Tia’s room. I had to speak with her. She, deserved to know all that happened. Once again, I have caused her so much pain and grief…
It seems no matter what I do, it always causes pain for somepony. I am faced with this melancholy feeling as I come up to her door. I expect the Celestia of yore, the one who scolded me all the time. The one who insisted I try to open up and be like her. But, I’m not like her, I never will be…
But, now that she is gone...I can, truly face her...Tia…
I... knocked on the door…
It opened with a golden aura, to reveal, Tia sitting there in the center of her room.
She lay on the cushion, gazing into her fireplace with a thoughtful expression. Her walls had their usual cloud motif, and immediately behind her was a beautiful mosaic of the night sky. I had forgotten about that. How could I have thought that she hated the night, when she had it depicted so artistically in her private quarters?
She turned to me and said, “So, is she truly gone now?”
I nodded, “By, all accounts. I do not feel her in me anymore. I feel, liberated and free.” I then walked over to her. “Tia...forgive me, I was such a fool, I should never ha-
She...hugged me...held me like so many years ago...I looked up at her smiling, tear soaked face as she said…