Celestia loses sight of her sister for a few minutes. But those are enough for baby Luna to get into the Everfree Forest. Now Celestia has to find her sister again, while Nightmare Moon can play babysitter for a certain cub.
During one summer day, Celestia is asked to watch after her sister, while their mother is gone for certain duties. Celestia thinks, this task won't be diffcult at all, but she is completeley wrong. Especially because she loses her sister within the first few hours. Luna is walking into the Everfree Forest and bumps into a dark mare. This mare, Nightmare Moon, is searching for a host and she definitley had not looked for a cub. But because filly Luna does not want to leave her alone, "Moonie" has to play babysitter within the Everfree Forest.
It was summer. The sun shone in the crystalblue sky and the air fumed from life. Insects swirled around and birds chirped in the branches. The Everfree Forest was in full blossom. Dark green leaves wrapped themselves around the dark bark. A sea serpent was swimming through a river, its long, violet body glittered in the sun light. Every now and then the animal would come out of the water and eye itself in the reflection. The perfectly, cleaned scales, the combed mane and the beautiful mustarch. One could call it a Narcissus.
The river, in which the sea serpent lived, laid near a hill, on which stood a large castle. The red stones shone in the sun like strawberry jam. A banner danced in the air. It showed two winged unicorns, which circled a sun and a moon. This was the castle of the Royal Pony Sisters, Princess Celestia and Princess Luna.
At this very certain moment the young Princess Luna was standing in the kitchen. Her skyblue eyes were rested on a box on a shelf, which was too far to reach. Biscuits. I want the biscuits. Luna looked around. She did not want her older sister to catch her, trying to get the biscuits. She might not like it. After all, tea time was later.
Luna eyed her tiny stomach, which was rumbeling. Get the biscuits, it seemed to whisper, get them. They will be so tasty. The blue filly pictured the cookies. Brown with chocolate pieces in them, a few almonds here and there, their crispy scab, breaking under her white theet and the warm, soft flesh of the buscits.
„Mmmmhh, yummy.“ Luna's ears twitched amused and she licked her lips at the thought. The small filly again looked at the box. Maybe she could use her magic to get it. She was not sure. She was way younger then Celestia, her horn was a short, small butt and she had not used magic that often. But it would not be so difficult to get this cookie yar.
Luna directed her horn at the box. She furrowed her brow and concentrated herself. Come on, come on, come on! Sweat ran over her forehead and she bite her lips. Around her horn a blue aura appeared. It flickered as if it was about to get out. Come on, come on! Luna sticked her tongue out of her maw and chewed on it. She was trembling.
With an enormus effort of energy the blue filly was able to move the cookie jar just a bit. Now it was standing on the edge of the shelf. Come on just a bit. But just as Luna was about to cast the next spell, her aura vanished. Or moreover her own spell somehow backfired with a loud poof, which made her head jerk backwards and tossed her through the air.
„Uff!“, Luna moaned as she hit the floor with her chin, rolled around the floor, until she hit someone's legs.
„Well, well“, a familiar voice said, „And what are you trying here, Luna?“ The filly picked up her head. A white mare stood in front of her with a long, elegant horn and dawncoloured eyes. Her pink mane floated around her, thick as syrup. Princess Celestia was already a teenager, while Luna was merely a young child.
„Tia!“, squeaked Luna and made the most innocent face she could muster. Her eyes were bright and her smile seemed to go from one ear to the other. Celestia laughed and softly nuzzled her belly. „My sweet Lulu“, she said, „Now, what were you trying here?“ „The cookie jar“, Luna said and pointed at it, „It was about to fall down and I tried to rescue it.“
As if this phrase had been a secret signal, the jar tumbled and fell on the floor. Luna hopped to it and said: „Bad cookie jar! Thou need to get punished for that.“ And with these words she crabbed a biscuit and plugged it in her maw. Celestia trotted to her side. „Could it be that a little thief tried to get a cookie for herself?“, she asked.
Luna looked up fast, her maw covered in cookie crumbs. She made an adorable squee and smiled. „Come on, Tia“, she replied, „It was just one cookie.“ Her older sister's horn glowed golden as she used her magic to store the jar back, where it belonged. For a short moment she even seemed to think about taking the buscuit away from her. „And that one cookie is enough.“
Celestia softly pushed the still cookie eating pony out of the room. „Now let's go“, she added, „Mother wants to see us.“ Luna griped. She'd love to have more cookies. The little filly kept eating her biscuit, while she was sliding on her bottom through the castle halls.
Finalley they entered the throne room. Red carpet, a golden throne and two carpets, which again showed the banner. On the throne sat Creator, Luna's and Celestia's mother. Like her children she too was an alicorn, a unicorn with the wings of a pegasus. Her fur was as white as Celestia's, but her long mane red like strawberries. Her Cutie Mark looked like a quill and a bottle of ink.
„What is it, mother?“, asked Celestia, „You called for us.“ Luna simply sat in front of her big sister's hooves and smiled at her mother, while she tried to get rid of the last few busciut crumbs. Her sister may not have a problem with cookies, but maybe her mother did. Creator stood up. She slowly walked towards the two young fillies.
„Luna, Celestia“, she said, „I have to take a longer travle. While I am gone, I want you, Celestia, to watch out for Luna. You know, how curious she is.“ Celestia laughed. „I'll be able to look after her, Mother.“ „Good.“ Creator softly kissed Celestia's forehead, before she bent down and nuzzled Luna's cheek. „And you will be a good filly and do everything, what Celestia tells you.“ „Promise“, replied Luna.
Creator took a step back and sighted low. „Then I can put my mind with ease“, she said. Her horn started to glow. „Good by, my children. I see, you on the other side.“ And with a flash of light she was gone. (Actually Creator had teleported herself into the human world, where she was known as Lauren Faust and created a series with ponies for little girls. But that is another story.)
Celestia walked around Luna and asked softly: „So, what do you want to do know? Shall we play something, Lulu?“ „Oh, yes, yes, yes!“ The little filly hopped around and laughed. She finalley stopped in front of Celestia and begged: „Can we play Hide and Seek? Please!“ Her sister laughed and nuzzled her. „Sure.“
„You count“, commanded Luna, „But do not peek.“ Celestia laughed. „I promise.“ And she turned around and covered her face with her hooves. „One, two, three....“ The blue filly already was sprinting out of the throne room.
Now where should she hide? Inside the closet? Under the stairs? Underneath the bed? Behind a door? No, this all would be way to easy. Luna had entered the entrance of their castle. She looked around in the childlish hope of finding a good place. Finally the alicorn found one. A big, box, which had been placed by the guardener there.
Luna opened it and peeked inside. Several flowerpots stood there. This is the perfect hiding place! Rejoycing Luna leaned closer, until she accidentilly fell in the pot. The little mare rubbed her head. „Ouch...“, she whimpered. Luckly her forehead did not hurt that much. Luna made herself comfortable and waited for Celestia to begin her search.
She had not have to wait long. Hoofsteps could be heard. Luna grabbed the edge of the carton and pulled herself upwards to peek around. Celestia was walking through the palace garden and looked between the bushes and behind the trees. „Lulu“, she called, „Where are you, little sister? Luna?“
For a short moment Luna was attempt to call her, but she decided against it. Celestia should search on her own. Until she found her. The small filly let herself as quietly as possible dropp in the carton once again. She heard steps and imagined Celestia, walking past her carton. She waited for her sister to look into the carton and call „Found you!“. But that did not happen.
Once more Luna climbed out of the cartoon, just in time to see Celestia walk into the castle to search in there. You are not good at playing hide and seek! Luna sat there, crossed her arms and pouted her lips. She decided to stay in this position, until Celestia finally came and found her. I am making a sit-chocolate, eh I mean, sit-blockade. Luna was determinded to keep her blockade up, but sadly children have this ambition to get distracted way too easy. In the Moon Princess' case it just needed a big, exotic looking moth to remove her from her numbness. She looks so beautiful. The moth had long, feathered wings and was blue, red and green.
Luna curiously sneaked after the big animal, which flew in front of her. The little filly left the castle and passed a few bushes, that trembled as her little hip touched them. With her tongue sticked out and eyes narrowed in concentration, Luna followed the weird moth deep into the Everfree Forest.
Everfree was not the place, where a pony should go by itself. One should also not go in there, when it was dark. Sure, daylight granted you some safety, but there were parts of the Everfree that were really dark. Darker then a giant's backside. This darkness did not even brighted up, when it was day. And everypony, that only came near these parts of the forest, was caught by a state of fright and ran away, back into the light, back into the safety.
These dark parts were special. The plants grew more wildly and were more dangerous. There were plunderwhines, which could suck out the last bit of your magic, if you got entangled in them. There were trees, which seemed to have eyes and sharp theet in their bark. Their branches seemed to be hands. There were fields of Poison Joke, which could cause tragic changes on your appearence. There were Ursa Minors, one should not disturb in their sleep. There were Timber Wolves, who howled at the moon and longed for the apples, that gloomed in the night. But there was one certain creature, one should never ever meet. Unless you were tired of life.
Of course Luna knew nothing about this. She was just a small filly, which had had a few journeys with her big sister in the forest and only in sight of the castle. She had only seen nice flowers and cute bunnies and pretty butterflies. And therefore she believed that the whole Everfree Forest was like this.
Luna had already lost sight of the castle. The moth was slowly flapping its nice wings and made its way through the woods. It was looking ridicolous, how it danced in the air. So fragile and weary. Luna hopped over a few holes in the ground and climbed over broken branches. „Wait for us, mothy!“, she called and laughed. It was the chidlish laughter, someone has, when he is unaware of danger.
The moth flew over a field of flowers as reddish as blood. Their thick scent tasted like a strawberry mousse in Luna's maw and made her dizzy. She shook her head, her big ears flopped around. „A-a-achooo!“ She sneezed loudly as a flower got too close to her nose. The moth was still flying and about to disappear between a few dark, blackned tree trucks.
„Wait!“ Luna sprinted through the field, still slowed down from sneezing. She finally stumbled after the moth and landed into the dark, special part of the forest. Huh? Where are we? With huge eyes Luna looked around. It was as if the sun had disappeared behind a cloud. Grey light shone between leaves, that hang down the branches like wet hair.
The ground was dump and covered in moss. The roots seemed to lurk in the shadows like snakes. Scary faces with long sharp theet stared through the bark at her. It had become so quiet. Even the wind had stopped whispering. Luna thought, she could hear her own hearthbeat.
The little filly trotted through this dark part of the forest. We've never saw anything like it. Why did Tia never tell us, that this part also exists? The cool air made her shiver. A crow flew past her and Luna ducked shortly. The animal landed on a branch and cawed a few times. Its dark eyes eyed the Moon Princess. Luna smiled friendly and welcomingly.
„Hello, pretty bird“, she said. Oddly Luna was not scared, not at all. She was standing in the Forbidden Part of the Everfree Forest, but the sense that told every healthy pony to go and make a run for it did not activated by her. Maybe it was because Luna's duty would be to raise the moon and rule the night.
The crow eyed Luna curiously. It tilted its head to one side. Suddenley it said: „Do you know, that you should not be here?“ The blue filly blinked. I can understand, what he is saying. I...I can talk with animals. This new finding made her hop from one hoof to the other and humming. The bird opened its wings. „Haven't you listened? You shouldn't be here!“
Luna stopped dancing. She asked: „But why? We are a Princess. We can be whereever we want. And everyone seems to be so friendly to us.“ The crow laughed. It flew around the Moon Princess and eyed her. „Ah, now I see your fancy boots and the tiny crown. Is it real?“ Luna pouted and lifted her tiny nose. „Of course!“ As if she wanted to prove it, she picked her crown and waved with it in front of the crow's face. „See?“
„Yeah, yeah, I believe you“, the crow replied, „As I said, you should not be here. It is dangerous here. Someone lives in the forest, who is really frightening. You do not want to get in its way. It might gobble you up.“
Luna laughed. „You are so funny, crow“, she chattered cheerfully, „Do not worry about me. The moth will show me the way back home.“ „Which moth?“ After this question, Luna turned around and made a long face.
Her little moth was no longer here. She looked around and around, but there were only the trees, surrounding her. The crow chuckled sadly. „Bad luck, eh?“, it said and flew away. Luna's eyes started to fill with tears. She bumped herself before the tree and pressed her hooves on her watery eyes. „I lost the moth!“, she cried and started whining. Tia, where are you?
***
The gras trembled. But not because the wind was caressing it. No, it was, because a purple-bluish mist floated over it. This mist was Nightmare Moon. The dark mare was slowly flying over the gras, sliding around the trees. She was searching for a host. Sure, she could demonstrate herself, but then she still had not a real body. Her fur then was strangely mistlike. As if the shadows under the trees had given it to her. No, a host would be so much better.
As Nightmare Moon passed a valley, she suddenley heard a whining sound. What was that? The fog changed partly and formed into a dark head with sharp theeth and cyan eyes. Slowly the rest of her body followed the shape-shift and a dark alicorn with a floating mane stood there between the trees and stared at the unusual sight at the valley.
In front of a tree sat a small, adorable filly with blue fur and a small horn. Two tiny feathered wings blossomed between her shoulders. She had pressed her hooves on her face and cried in the highpitched tones. Nightmare Moon snorted and blinked. A filly in the middle of my woods! What is it doing here?
Nightmare carefully lifted a hoof and stepped on a branch, which shattered with a loud crack. The filly stopped crying and looked up. „Who is there?“, she asked. Her voice was thine from sobbing, but she had a nice melodic tone, full like a peppermint bonbon. „Tia? Is that you?“ The blue eyes looked at the dragon-like ones.
„No“, the mare said and slowly stepped out of her hiding place. Clouds swirled above them and her fog-like mane and taile danced around her, making her look bigger then she was. Nightmare stopped in front of the filly. „I am not Tia“, she added and rested her cyan dragon-like eyes on the small foal.
The filly did not seemed to be really scared. „We are Princess Luna!“, she said and smiled. Luna stood up. She looked at this dark mare in front of her and her innocent eyes glittered. „What is your name?“ Nightmare lifted her head. Her mane swirled around and thunder cracked in the sky. A lightning played around her silhouette as she said as threatening she could muster: „I am....Nightmare Moon!“
Luna said something. It sounded as if she was stumbling over her name. „Nymphhhh Moon.....Moony!“ Her eyes were bright. „Hello Moony!“ What?! Poof! Nightmare Moon's wings shot open. This happened, when she was surprised or whirled by a strong emotion. In this case it was surprise and shock. Her maw went open.
Angrily Nightmare shook her head as if she was coming out of cold water. „What are you doing here anyway?“, she finally asked. Luna told her happily: „I followed a moth and now I am here. I lost the it. Tia will be angry, if she finds out, I got into the Everfree Forest without her premission.“
„Well, then you maybe should go home“, the dark mare growled, „After all this place is dangerous. And you happen to bump into the frightening thing that is me.“ She showed her fangs, salvia dropped from them. Luna made a weird face. „We do not understand“, the filly said, „You do not look frightening.“
„Aaaaahhhrrr! I could just scream!“, bellowed Nightmare Moon and her head jerked upwards. Her wings flapped in the air. „Forget what I said. Now go home like a good, little cub.“ She turned around and slowly walked away. The dark mare did not even found the mood to gobble this filly up.
Tiny hoofsteps could be heard behind her. „Where are you going?“, asked Luna eagerly. „This is not your business“, replied Nightmare Moon. „Can I come with you, Moony?“ „No. Go home!“
„No“, replied Luna spiky and lifted her nose. This is a joke. Nightmare angrily increased her speed. Luna's hopping steps became faster as well. Suddenley the dark mare stopped. „Stop running after me!“, shouted Nightmare and turned around. Her head touched Luna's forehead and they stared stright into each other's eyes.
„No“, replied Luna and smiled with innocent eyes. Nightmare pulled her lips back and showed her sharp theet, that were shaped like the one of a wolf. „Who do you think, you are?!“, she growled with a threatening roar.
Luna took a step back. She folded her small wings, lifted her head and said proudly: „We art a Princess. We can do whatever we want.“ Nightmare Moon laughed coldly. „A Princess“, she mocked, „Well what you have got here?“ With her hoof she lifted Luna's legs. „Fancy, silver boots.“ She tipped in the foal's belly. „Fluffy fur. And a small crown on your head.“
Then something weird and shocking happened. Luna wrapped her tiny arms around Nightmare Moon's leg and squeezed her thightly. Again Nightmare Moon's wings shot open and her jaw dropped. For a short moment she was speechless. W...what did just happened?
„Hey, what do you think, you are doing here?“, asked Nightmare Moon. „Cuddle you, Moony“, replied the small filly. „Alright, cub“, growled the dark mare, „If you do not want to go, then I'll get rid of you.“ And with these words her mane wrapped itself around Luna and picked her like a ripe fruit.
The darkblue mane flew higher and higher and dropped the Moon Princess on a branch. Luna chuckled and rolled on her back. „You look so tiny from here, Moony“, she said. Nightmare Moon looked up. „Oh, you consider this as funny? Well, how about that?“ It was now her long tail, that picked Luna up and sat her on an even higher branch. „Up there, you will end as a snack for a dragon.“
Luna did not really seem to bother. She just laid on her branch and smiled down at Nightmare Moon. The dark mare looked away. „I've got to admit, you are actually a brave cub“, she said slowly. Nightmare sighted. „Fine, cub. I will look after you, until your mommy or sister or whoever Tia is, comes back.“
„Yay!“, yelled Luna, jumped down from the branch and hit Nightmare Moon in her back. The dark mare groaned and her head jerked upwards. The little filly wrapped her arms around the small, snakelike neck. Nightmare Moon dropped her head and asked herself: „What did I got myself into?“
„Luna?“ Celestia sighted and stopped. She furrowed her brow. She was standing in her younger sister's bedroom. The blancet laid crunched on one side. The carpet was opened. The white mare had turned the room upside down. And not only the room. The castle also. Where is Luna hiding this time? Celestia knew her sister was good at playing hide and seek, but now she had searched for almost two hours and she could no longer find her sister.
„Alright“, Celestia shouted with her Royal Canterlot Voice, „This is no longer funny. Luna, you have won! Now come out!“ Her voice thundered through the castle, sending thousands of echos through the place, which came back to the mare's ears. „Come out!“ „Come out!“ „Come out!“ The words seemed to mock her ears.
Celestia stormed out of the room. Where are you? Her hearth started to race against her chest. This could not be true! She had been looking everywhere. Celestia had looked in every corner, in every cupboard, under every bed and sofa and behind every door. She even had looked into the boxes. And she had not found Luna!
The mare was racing to the top of the highest tower. Maybe Luna had not heard her. Celestia stopped. The Main Tower was so large one could see for miles. The forest and the city laid there, a green sea and in it an island, made out of houses. But Celestia ignored them. She took a deep breath and again her Canterlot Voice sounded over the landscape: „LUNA!“
She perked up her ears and begged for an answer. But her younger sister did not replied. No, no, no! Celestia hung her head. She had to admit it. She had lost Princess Luna somehow within the first few hours. And she had told Creator that she could take care of her sister with ease! Oh, Mother will kill me for this!
Celestia looked around in a hurry. Her dawncoloured mane floated around her. Her ears twitched. Where did Luna go? In the city maybe. She is probably in the city, sitting in Sugarcube Corner and eating a pile full of cookies. Celestia knew it was a desperate hope, but she had to start somewhere. The alicorn spread her wings and flew towards Ponyville.
***
Nightmare Moon was slowly walking through the Everfree Forest. Luna had jumped from her back and now was running around. This place is amazing! There were so many things to see. The trees were growing higher then anyone Luna had ever seen. Their dark bark felt smooth under her hooves. The leaves were whispering strange words, she could not really understand.
The gras was growing large and it danced under their steps like her own mane. Unlike Moonie's and Celestia's Luna's still looked like the one of every pony. Blue strands, that followed her movements. Her blue eyes looked around. Weird flowers were shading the gras like several patches of wet colour. Their smell filled the air.
Luna spotted animals, running around. Deers, rabbits and she even caught sight of a manticor, which climbed around the trees. Luna turned around. She laughed. „This place is amazing, Moonie!“, she called. The dark mare looked less impressive. She was slowly walking behind her and watched the young foal, exploring her surroundings.
„I suppose, it is, if you are seeing it the first time“, she said thoughtfully. Luna climbed on a rock and looked around. The wind howled and made her mane and tail dance. The mare closed her eyes. „Moonie, show me something special“, she begged, „Please! Something, I have never seen before. I want to explore this world.“ She jumped down from the rock and rolled over the ground. „It is just so beautiful here.“
Nightmare Moon trotted by her side. She looked down at the filly and seemed rather thoughtfully. „Something special...“, she repeated. The mare lifted her head and seemed to scan the area. „Have you ever seen ice, cub?“, she asked all of a sudden. Luna stood up. Flowers stuck in her coat and she shook herself to get rid of them.
„Sure. During the winter“, Luna replied, „That is not something special.“ The dark mare smirked. „Then you have not seen the Ice Cave. The ice, that grows in it, is magical. It does not melt. So the cave is filled with ice even in summer.“ The filly jumped around. „I wanna see it! I wanna see it!“
Nightmare Moon softly pushed Luna into a direction. „Then follow me, cub.“ The mare slowly started to trot. Her speed was so fast, that the Moon Princess was forced to run after her. Curiousity seemed to follow Luna's hearthbeats. She felt so free. Although Tia had not played with her, she had given her the chance to explore a world, she had never seen before.
Nightmare Moon was following the river, which made its way through the Everfree Forest. Luna knew, if she was walking in the opposite direction, she would reach her castle again. Good to know. But now Luna did not really thought about getting home.
Nightmare Moon finally stopped by a few mountains, that towered in the depths of the Everfree Forest. The grey stone was lanced of silver. Luna sniffed. The air here smelled cool and clean. The dark mare carefully pushed some grass aside and the filly spotted a large hole behind that.
„You go first“, Nightmare said. Luna eyed the entrance of the cave with curiousity. It was so dark one could hardly see anything. Hmm, I need a light. It took her again some efforts to bright her horn up. The light, which shone upon her tip, was barley enough to enlighten the cave.
Slowly and carefully she etered the cave. Luna made a soft „Oh!“ as she looked around. Ice everywhere. Crystalled walls, frozen water falls. Snow seemed to cover the ground and as she whipped over it with her hoof, she could see the clean, hard surface. Crystal flowers blossomed in the darkness. Due to her magic the whole place shimmered in white, fair blue and violet light.
Nightmare Moon stepped by her side. Her darkblue mane danced around her neck and shoulder. „So?“, she asked calmly, „What do you think, cub?“ The Moon Princess first did not replied. She just stood there and looked around. Finalley the filly stammered: „It...it is beautiful, Moonie. We never saw anything like it.“
The little foal turned around. She had spotted a huge sims, covered in thick snow. Her eyes narrowed and she smiled playfully. „Can we make a race?“, Luna asked wickedly, „Who is the first one in the middle of the cave?“ Nightmare Moon snorted. „I do not play little foal games“, she said coldly.
Luna pouted with huge eyes. „You promised to watch after me, Moonie“, she responded, „And we wanna play with thou. As thy Princess we command thou to play with us!“ Nightmare tried to look away, but the blue eyes seemed to keep her in the spot. Finalley the dark mare sighted. „Alright“, she responded slowly.
„Yay!“, Luna shouted. She got into a charging position. Nightmare Moon followed her example more or less. „Ready?“, asked the blue filly, „Set, go!“ And Luna started to ran. She heard Nightmare's hooves thundering behind her. Of course the dark mare was not really trying to win this race. She just let Luna have her fun.
Luna climbed on the sims, full of snow. It was so large, she could easily ran on it. „Look, Nightmare, look!“, called the young mare. Luna's hooves were leaving prints in the thick, white mass. The wind played with her mane. Flying? Her wings were still too small for it, but in this cave, there were times, where she believed she could.
Luna turned her head while running. She laughed at Nightmare Moon, who ran beside her. The dark mare seemed to increase her speed. Oh, no! I will still win. The blue filly turned her head and faced the sims in front of her. The center of the cave came closer and closer. Almost there! Luna chuckled with joy. Her eyes twinkled like two stars.
The filly made one reckless jump. She started to slide down the sims, a huge smile on her face. Nightmare Moon stopped and called a warning as if she was worried. „Yahooo!“, yelled Luna and rushed beside her. The snow, which had followed her movement, flew through the air and turned Nightmare into a Whitemare.
Luna turned around. She spotted her dark companion and roared with laughter. „Looks like we made a Snowmare, Moonie“, she chuckled and pressed a hoof on her snout. Nightmare Moon snorted and shook herself like a dog, which came out of water. The snow fell off her like dead leafs.
Luna rolled on the ground and kept laughing. This is so much fun! Nightmare Moon stepped to her and looked down on the filly. She pouted her lips. „Happy, cub?“, she asked. Luna nodded and said: „Yes. This is one of the best days, we can even imagine.“
The little filly came to her feeth. She explained: „But now we are thirsty. Can we drink something?“ Luna stared at Nightmare Moon's hips. The dark mare blushed. She angrily covered her private parts with her long, darkblue tail. „I do not give milk!“, she snapped, „Cub, you will need to drink water.“
„But where?“, whined Luna. Nightmare Moon rolled her eyes. She walked to the icicled celling. The dark mare's horn flashed cyan and she touched one of the frozen traingles. It melted just enough for her to lick the water. Ooohh! Luna's eyes widened in amazement and she hopped by Nightmare Moon's side.
While the mare kept allaying her thirst, Luna carefully rose to her hindlegs. She stuck her tongue out and tried to catch the drops, that rained down on her face. It was not as easy as it looked by Moony. In fact Luna had to try it several times. The water had a cold, fresh taste.
Wait! I've got a better idea. Luna walked around the Ice Cave, until she found a very large icicle. Her reflection answered her glance. It looked so weird. The filly chuckled. Then Luna carefully licked over the frozen surface. Suddenly she realized something. She could no longer move her tongue. What? I am stuck. Help!
Luna made a protesting, whinnying sound. She angrily tried to pull herself free. Come on! Luna kept struggeling with the icicle. Her hooves were sliding over the snowy ground. Suddenley there was a loud crack.
Nightmare Moon turned her head around. Luna slowly walked passed her. She was lurching from one side to the other, because she was holding a large, white icicle in her mouth. The filly had closed her eyes proudly and mumbled: „Anf nau a pafrade for the Pimfess. Omph, too, thee.“ Nightmare Moon rolled her eyes and laughed quietly, while the small filly walked out of the cave.
***
The sun already stood deep. Stars blossomed on the sky and the moon shone upon Everfree like a dead eye. Nightmare Moon slowly was making her way through the woods. Many animals were running past them. A bagger in the bushes, a fox near the shore. They even spotted a stag, who stood there, his majestic head impressiv in the dull light. But Luna did not really seem to be that concentrated anymore.
Where is she now? Nightmare Moon turned her head around. The foal was walking very uneasy on her hooves. Her head was down and she kept yawning. „Come on, cub“, said Nightmare, „We soon have reached my sleeping place. Keep walking.“ Luna dropped herself on the ground. „No“, she said and shook her head. No seemed to be one of Luna's favourite words. She always said it after an order.
Nightmare put her ears back. „It is not far. Now get moving, cub!“ Her eyes glittered. Luna whined: „I am tired, Moony. I want to sleep! I do not want to walk anymore. My hooves are hurting.“ She looked at the dark mare with pleading eyes. „Can't you carry me? Pleeeeaaaaasssseeeee!“
Oh my goodness! Watching after this cub is exhausting. The dark mare looked upwards and rolled her eyes. Ennerved Nightmare Moon walked to Luna. She then grabbed the filly by her neck with the sharp fangs and picked her up like a cougar did it with her kittens. Luna squealed in surprise as Nightmare Moon started to walk with the foal in her maw.
The place, where she slept, really was not far away. In fact, it was a large rock near the waterfall. Nightmare climbed on it. The moon shone on her and embraced them with its light. The dark mare dropped Luna on the smooth stone, before she walked a few steps aside and settled down.
Luna yawned and stretched herself, which made her look like some weird teddy bear. „Night, Moonie.“ The dark mare mumbled a respond, before she nestled her head on her front legs. She closed her eyes. Her breath came slowly and soft. Nightmare was about to drift off to sleep, when a shy voice could be heard: „Moonie, are you sleeping?“
„Not anymore.“ Her cyan eye opened and she starred at Luna, who stood there, tired and sad. „Can you take me under your wing?“, asked the Moon Princess, „It is cold.“ Nightmare Moon grumbled: „If that is all, fine.“ Her dragon-like, ravenfeathered wing shot open. Luna's eyes widened in joy and she snuggled against the mare's flank. The wing softly went over her shoulder.
Nightmare Moon yawned and placed her head again on her legs. She closed her eyes. Can I sleep now? The dark mare hardly had finished her thought, when Luna's voice again could be heard: „Moonie?“
„What?“ Her head shot upwards and she looked down at the filly. Luna flinched and mumbled: „Tia always sings me a lullaby, when I cannot sleep. Can you sing me one, please?“ Nightmare Moon growled: „I cannot sing!“ Luna hugged the snake-like neck. „Please!“, she begged, „Just this one night.“
Nightmare sighted. Fine! Her glance rested on the moon. The mare swallowed. When Nightmare Moon started to sing, it was as if she was catching the words from the darkness, which creeped around them:
„Hush now, now quiet now, it is time to lay your sleepy head.
The darkness comes, but do not fret.
I am here, my pet.
Do not wheep.
Just go back to sleep.
Lay your head down, child.
I won't let the nightmares come.
Count the fears like the sheep
to the rythm of your hearth's drum.
Head down, go to sleep
to the rythm of your hearth's drum.
Darkness rose and swallow everywhere's light
Enter your realm of dreams
Embrace my night.
But learn, the things aren't always what they seem.
Lay your head down, child
I won't let the nightmares come.
Count the fears like the sheep
to the rythm of your hearth's drum.
Head down, go to sleep
to the rythm of your hearth's drum.
Do not listen to the dark bets
just lay your sleepy head
Do not fret.
For I will protect you from the other one's
the evil one's
They don't like you, child.
Now go back to sleep!“
Nightmare Moon turned her head. Luna had curled herself up beside the dark force. Her eyes were closed shut and she was breathing softly and slowly. The dark mare smiled and yawned. Now finally I can go sleeping. Nightmare Moon placed her head once more on her front legs. Her eyes closed, while her darkblue tail wrapped itself around Luna, who snuggled against her wing in her sleep.
At the next morning Luna yawned, stretched herself and formed a small U with her tiny body. The little filly blinked and looked around. For a short moment, she was not sure, where she was. But then she recogniced the dark flank, against which she was leaning. Luna looked up and spotted the dark ravenfeathers of Nightmare Moon's wing.
I am in the Everfree Forest and Moonie is looking after me. She was wondering, if Celestia actually had realized she was gone. Probably. Had her big sister started to search for her? Probably as well. But now Moonie was there to watch her so Luna did not need to worry that much.
She yawned again and crawled out of the wing. Luna stood up. From the rock, on which Nightmare Moon slept, the filly could see almost the whole Everfree Forest. A giantic sea of green trees. Their leaves danced in the wind, forming waves. The sun shone and clouds were slowly moving over the blue sky. Luna knew, that in the Everfree another physic was working. The animals looked after themselves, the plants grow on themselves and the clouds moved on their own. They did not needed the wind caused by the wings of the pegasus.
Luna turned around and walked back to Nightmare Moon. The dark mare was still sleeping. The little filly stopped and looked at the long, small muzzle. She carefully lifted a hoof and moved the lips apart to see the theet. She did not knew, what fascinated her so much about Nightmare Moon's fangs. Luna had never seen a horse with such sharp theet.
They were as white as bone's, paled by the sun. Salvia danced between the sharp edges and her flesh shimmered darkred. Luna's eyes were wide in amazement. How does it happen, she has such theet? What is she eating? Cakes, bred, cookies and fruits like me? Or meat? Luna did not knew the answer.
But she felt something hurting inside of her. A sharp pain in the stomach. As if her organs were twisting and forming knots. Luna whimpered and pressed her hoof against her belly. Ouch! The pain did not stopped. Instead a new sound came to it. A gurgling and grumbling. I am hungry. It hurt so much. Where was the kleinmaid, who always brought the meals? Where was she, when one needed her?
Luna started to pat against Nightmare Moon's neck. „Moony“, she whined, „Moony, wake up!“ The dark mare grumbled and turned her head away. Luna pouted and climbed on her back. „Moony, wake up!“, she begged, howling. The filly snatched her babysitter's ear and started to pull. „Wake up.“
Nightmare Moon's head suddenley yerked upwards. She let out a shout of pain. Luna laughed happily and fall of her back. „Yay, you are awoken!“, she called. Nightmare Moon whirled around. Her mane and tail danced around her like the mist in a storm. Her eyes were narrowed. „Don't you dare to wake me like this again, cub!“, she roared, which caused Luna to flinch, „What were you thinking?“
Luna sat down and made a half shocked, half angry face. „I am hungry!“, she brusted out, „I want to eat something.“ Tears filled her eyes. „I have not eaten anything since I came to the forest.“ By instinct the filly stumbled to Nightmare Moon's hindlegs and snapped after the tits. She was a filly after all and the simplest source of energy for a foal was the milk of its mother.
Nightmare Moon gasped in shock. „How dare you?`“ Her hoof went forwards and she pushed Luna aside. The blue mare stumbled backwards and started to cry. Her high-pitched whimpers and whines filled the air. That is not fair! She was hungry. Now not only her stomach hurt, but her side as well. Why had Moonie threaten her that way? All she wanted was milk. Thick, sweet milk, that tasted like honey.
„Moony!“, Luna cried, „You promised to look after me. I am hungry. I want something to eat. I want it now.“ Nightmare Moon pressed her ears on her head. She looked away. Her brow furrowed and twitched. „Fine!“, she shouted in frustration, „I am going to find you some food.“ Nightmare Moon flapped her wings and pushed her snout against Luna's flank. „But you will go on your own.“
Luna nodded. Although her hunger made her stomach hurt and twist, she decided to walk in front of the dark mare. She did not dare to mention it, but this short outbrust of anger had scared her. Celestia was so different from Nightmare Moon. Her big sister sure got angry from time to time, but she never let her emotion got the best of her.
***
Nightmare Moon looked around from something, that might be a good meal to fill a little filly's stomach. She did not want to search for food twice. The dark mare was not hungry. She sure could eat everyday food, even meat, but she usually just took what she needed from souls of ponies. Not that she would tell this Luna.
The little filly was walking around and spotted a bush. A few berries hang there. Luna's eyes widened happily. Yummy! She walked to it and opened her mouth to take a bite. Nightmare Moon's eyes widened. She dashed forwards and grabbed Luna by her neck. What?! The filly squeezed and struggled.
Nightmare dropped Luna in the gras. „Listen, cub. Not everything in this forest is healthy. Those berries are so toxic, that someponies call the Deathberries. Even one of them could kill you already“, the mare growled, „Has your big sister never told you to never eat something you do not know?“
Luna looked down and rubbed her shoulder nervously. „I am sorry, Moonie“, she said, „I was not thinking.“ Behind her she heard the crack of a branch. Huh? Curiously the little filly turned around. An apple had just fall from his tree. It was a strange apple. Rather colourful like a rainbow. He looks so tasty.
Luna was about to rush to this fruit, but then she remembered Nightmare's sharp outbrust. A quick glance towards the dark mare, who simply nodded. „Yahoo!“ Happily Luna bounced towards the apple to take it. Oh, how much she would enjoy the juicy and aromatic flesh! This fruit would stop her rumbling stomach.
Suddenley the leaves rustled. Luna gasped in shock, when a big, ugly thing came out of the bushes. It looked like a dog, but it had long legs, big paws and dirty claws. Its snout was short and wrinkled. „Oh, what a nice threat.“ And with these words the dog took the apple and made a run for it.
„Hey, my apple!“, shouted Luna. It was amazing, how fast one could run, if your motivation (or hunger) was big enough. The filly sprinted after the dog. She ducked beneath deep hanging branches and jumped over roots. Her legs moved fast. And although Luna did her best and ran, until the air burnt in her throath, the dog had been faster.
Their crazy chase stopped all of a sudden as the dog jumped into a deep hole. Luna had so much speech, she almost fall into the hole as well. She yelled in shock as her hooves left the save ground. Again Nightmare Moon saved her neck. Literally. The mare digged her theet into the blue, fuzzy mane and hold Luna's neck carefully, while her wings kept her in the air.
The dark mare slowly landed on the dry, muddy gras in front of the hole. She softly dropped Luna. The filly turned around. „No apple?“, she asked sadly and her ears went back. The filly flinched and ducked down as Nightmare Moon rested her eyes on her. She looked so mad. Did I do something wrong again? Luna whimpered a sorry.
But Nightmare Moon simply replied: „This ruffian won't get away with this! I am not in the mood for searching for another apple. But I am in the mood to get your apple back and give this Diamond Dog a nice state of fright.“ She chuckled darkly. Salvia dropped from her yaws, dancing between her fangs. She licked her lips and caught some wet drops.
Luna asked: „You want to punish the dogs?“ Her ears went up. She sat upwards and looked at Moonie curiously. Nightmare Moon hissed: „Oh, yes.“ She softly nuzzled the blue filly. „Cub, do you want to play a bad prank on those dogs and in return get the apple back?“ Luna smiled and nodded eagerly. This sounds like a funny game! „Yes!“, she called.
***
The Diamond Dog was slowly climbing down the steps, that were hammering in the walls. He was surrounded by the darkness, one could only find deep down in the earth's womb. Black stones, dry ground and the air was thick and dusty. It scratched his lounges. But the dog was used to it. He had been living in the earth's deepths, scince he had been a little puppy.
The Diamond Dog reached the last rung. He jumped on the ground. The dog stood up. He looked at the apple in his paw. The colours of a rainbow. The zap apples were a really rare fruit and they only grew in the Everfree Forest. The diamond dog was happy to get one of the these fruits. Digging after diamonds all the time could be exhausting! But it was worth it. All the wonderful, shimmering, colourful, precious gems!
The Diamond Dog slowly walked deeper into the caves. They were not just natural ones, but also tunnles, which had been digged by his kind, to connected them. A huge system under earth, so they could reach every spot.
As he entered the main cave, he spotted several other dogs. Two of them were standing there and watched the others, who sniffed and digged. Often they did not found a thing. But every now and then a pair of dogs got lucky and they found some gems. Mostly they were pretty small, but still beautiful.
The work was hard and exhausting. The fur of the dogs was smelly or even stank, but the animals were used to the sharp, disgusting, strong scent. They inhered it with every breath, scince their birth.
„Where have you been, Lupus?“, snapped one of the dogs, who just stood there. He was pretty small, had brown fur and long ears. Lupus cleaned the apple on his smelly coat. He explained: „I had been hungry and I tried to find something to eat. I found this zap apple. It looks nice and...“
A loud shout made them look around. One of the dogs had found something. Heh? Lupus lifted his head. He came closer. Also the other dogs followed. They formed a circle around the hole. The dog had found a big, blue diamond. „How beautiful“, Lupus whispered. The gem could be nice in his pocket. He stuffed the apple into his bag.
As the dogs looked again at the gem stone, something weird happened. A blue aura surrounded the precious object, which slowly started to raise from the ground. All Diamond Dogs stared at it. The gem swang from one side to the other, all eyes following it. The faces of the animals looked weird, almost dull, as if they were in a trance.
Slowly the stone started to move. It flew out of its hole and the cave. The dogs looked at one another. „I want it!“, shouted Lupus and he started sprinting. Behind him the others howled. „We want it as well!“ The thunder of paws. Lupus caught a glance backwards. The other Diamond Dogs were following him. Their greedy eyes were narrowed and salvia dropped from their hanging lips.
„My stone, my stone, my stone!“, barked Lupus. The gem made a drive around the next corner. Lupus whirled around, gasped in surprise and stopped. Behind him one could her crashing and whimpering sounds as the other Diamond Dogs ran into one another and formed a ridicolous high pile.
In the small alley in front of them sat a small, blue filly. It had a unicorn horn and two pegasus wings, with which it flapped joyfully. But more important: It's hooves were holding the gemstone. Alright! I've got it now. Lupus hit his fist in his paw and growled low and dangerously silent. The filly looked upwards. Its blue eyes went wide and it put its ears back in shock.
„Hello, little pony“, grumbled Lupus as he and his comerads came closer. He picked the apple and lifted his paws. With bared fangs and dirty claws the dogs barked and howled. The filly placed the stone behind itself and walked backwards. The dogs grinned as they came closer. Taking this gemstone will be as easy as taking rattles from a baby.
Suddenley a calm, clear, cold voice could be heard. It sang to a threatening melodie. „Nightmare Night.....“ The dogs stopped. „Eh, Lupus?“, one of them said sheepish and gulped. The other dogs looked around as well, furs bristled. They clung to one another as the phrase continued: „....what a fright....“
Lupus narrowed his eyes. He tried to figure out what was going one. Something was moving behind the filly. Something large. Lupus barked in the hope to scare whatever was there away. The other dogs were shuddering. They too watched in horror as the creature approached.
„Give me something sweet to BITE!“ All Diamond Dogs yelled in terror and ran away, as a dark mare in a silvery armour jumped out of the shadows. She was rising to her hindlegs, her fog-like mane and tail, swirled around her. Lightning danced around her body and with a evil laugh she bared sharp fangs. The sight was threathening.
Lupus shrieked: „By Canis Dirus!“ He dropped the zap apple and ran away, his long arms over his head. „Aaaaaahhhhhhhhh!“ Faster then a dirty moul confronted with shampoo, he was around the corner and disappeared somewhere in the tunnles.
Nightmare Moon landed on her front legs and laughed quietly and gleefully. Her head danced from side to side like the one of a snake and she sneekered. Now that was really amusing. The dark mare liked to make a prank every now and then. It gave her some enjoyment in life.
Nightmare turned her head to Luna. The filly laid on her back, roaring with laughter. Her hindlegs kicked the air and she pressed her hooves on her mouth and belly. „I've never seen a dog, running that fast“, she stammered. Nightmare Moon nodded and added: „I doubt, they will ever try to steal an apple again.“
„You are right.“ Luna sat up. The zap apple still laid there, untouched. Its colourful shell glowed in the darkness. Luna bunced towards the apple. The blue filly picked up the fruit and took a huge bite. A loud crack could be heard. Way too loud for an ordinary bite. Besides, was that a roar?
Nightmare Moon looked around nervously. Her wings flapped. The mane and tail danced around. „Tell me, that has been you, cub!“, she impressed her caution unto Luna. The filly slowly lowered her hoof, which was holding the apple. „No“, she answered quietly.
Another growl could be heard right behind them. Startled Nightmare Moon whirled around. Two big, yellow eyes stared at them. Slowly the giantic lizard creeped out of the shadows. It opened its maw and roared. And as it did so, a big pair of wings opened. Nightmare panted in shock. By the crime that born me! They stared straight at a fully-grown dragon.
Luna stared at the dragon in front her. Her maw was wide just like her eyes. Her ears went back. Oh my god! She had never seen a dragon before. The beast was huge. It seemed to fill the whole cave. Claws, scales, wings, tails. It was hard to figure out where one body part ended and the other began. Apart from the obvious.
The dragon's head slowly danced around. Luna could fit in his large maw with ease. The big reptil stared down at the filly in front of him with huge, yellow, greedy eyes. Smoke came out of his nostrils. He growled and more smoke escaped between his sharp fangs.
Luna gulped. Celestia had always read her some bedtime stories. In some of these stories the hero had been „rooted to the spot“ with fear. Luna had never understood what this phrase meant. Now she had a good image, what it could mean. Her own fear clung to her and made her legs rather useless. She could not run, even if she wanted to.
The dragon growled louder and opened his maw. It started to glow orange from the inside. Then hot, burning flames shot out of the snout. They ran towards the filly, hungry to embrace her with their hot tongues. Luna shrieked in terror and shock. But before the deadly fire could reach her a purple-bluish mist shot past her and took her.
Luna screamed once again. Suddenly she felt a familiar numb pain in her neck, caused by a very certain pair of fangs. Nightmare Moon yerked her head backwards and dropped Luna on her back. „This is the thirth time this day, I've got to safe your neck, cub!“, she shouted angrily, „How can you survive with such naivety?“
Luna did not replied. She just wrapped her small arms around the snake-like neck. Her body shivered by the air, caused by Nightmare Moon's flapping wings. Behind them a thundering roar could be heard. Luna turned her head backwards. The dragon slowly came after them. It rampaged through the tunnle, hit the walls with his claws and tail, while it roared and snapped after the fleeing alicorn.
Nightmare Moon cursed and ducked away. Her wings shot through the air, fast and furious. Her mane and tail traveled behind her, caressing Luna, who hang on thight to the slender mare's neck. We have to get out of here. “He is coming closer!“, shrieked Luna as the beast used his tail to slap after them. The spikes at the end of his tail shattered some rocks and made the stones rain down on them.
The dark mare gasped and made a sharp curve. Luna heard the stones shatter on the ground. „Faster, Moonie, faster!“, she shouted. Her eyes were wide with fear. Nightmare Moon kept flying away from the dragon, but he came after them, unrelenting, unstoppable. Their fast and crazy race was now going upwards.
Nightmare Moon kept flying spirals and loopings. She did every possible trick to distract the dragon and get more space between the two of them. But for the dragon it was like he was trying to catch a sparrow. Fast maybe, but also pretty ennerving.
Luna shrieked: „He is coming closer, Moonie! Do something!“ Nightmare swirled around and again escaped the snapping yaws. While flying circles around the dragon, she spotted several stalacites. Good. This is very good. Nightmare Moon crunched her teeth and salvia ran out of the corner of her maw, sucking into her black coat. Her horn started to glow. A cyan beam shot out of the top and crashed into the celling.
The stalacites fell down on the dragon. They were not really large, but still sharp enough to wound him. The beast roared and trampled on the ground. Nightmare flew higher to avoid its tail, trashing everything. Finally the dragon stared back at the dark mare. Its maw became orange again, preparing another shot of fire.
Nightmare Moon did not waited for him to get finished. She fired another beam and cracked a hole into the celling. Her wings bashing, Nightmare stormed out of the cave, Luna on her back. Behind them a large shot of fire flew into the air in bright daylight.
***
Princess Celestia was walking through the streets of Ponyville. She had looking for Luna everywhere. She had asked all ponies, she had met, if they had seen the small, blue filly. She had looked into every shop and every house, searched the park twice. No trace of her. Nothing at all.
When dawn creeped over the sky, Celestia stopped and lowered her head. Her worries clouded her view. Where are you, little sister? Oh, Creator won't forgive me. I cannot even forgive me. Luna was just a young foal. She knew nothing about this world. And she was probably alone and frightened. What if she was trapped somewhere? In a dark cage? In a cave? In an abyss? She must have screamed her voice hoarse after her big sister.
Celestia carefully scanned the area. Maybe there was a place, she had not looked yet. The forest. Why hadn't she consider this before? Was she scared of admitting that Luna could be there? Celestia stared in the direction of the dark trees. Their leaves rustled in the wind. Then suddenley orange flames shot into the sky. And Princess Celestia forget all her doubt. „LUNA!“, she shouted and flew towards the Everfree Forest.
***
Air. It was such a refreshing experience after those tunnles, full of dust and ashes. The breaze crushed against Nightmare Moon's nostrils, which inherted them greedy. Her wings flapped furiously and she was shooting through the air. Luna had digged her hooves deep into the fog-like, darkblue mane.
The little filly turned her head around. Her ears were trembeling from the strong wind. The dragon was still very close. Luna could see her face reflected in his angry, yellow eyes. Her tiny maw opened as the dragon once again breathed fire after them.
Nightmare Moon performed a roll sideways. The ground made a dizzying turn around Luna. The small filly gulped and looked at her own tiny, feathered wings. She may not could fly yet, but she knew, she would like to fly just as good, reckless and brave as Moony did. For Tia would never dare to fly like this.
The dragon angrily turned around and almost hit a few trees. Nightmare Moon dived under a few leaves. She crunched her teeth. Then suddenley the mare headed towards a valley. „What are you gonna do, Moony?“, asked Luna, who watched her dark companion, flying on one spot, while her horn glowed cyan.
It took a few seconds for Luna to understand the spell, she was casting. Something was growing out of the earth. Whines. Long, slender, thorny whines, which twisted and enlaced as they grew. Nightmare Moon grabbed Luna at her neck and pulled her from her back. She softly dropped the filly on the ground. „Take cover, cub“, she ordered, „You will be safe beneath those Plunderwhines.“
Anxiously Luna creeped under the whines. She digged a basin underneath the bush (if one could consider it as such) and turned around. Nightmare Moon had turned around to face the dragon, which was making it's way down the way, roaring and trashing trees and bushes.
Her mane and tail slowly started to flew around her, grow longer and longer, until a giantic, blue tornado was above her head. Lightning crashed down around her and tickled her mane. Nightmare Moon spread her wings and laughed maniacally and darkly. She looked frightening, even more dangerous then the moment, she had scared the Diamond Dogs with a simple roar.
The dragon slowly came closer and stopped. He stretched his long neck, until their snouts were inches away from one another. Nightmare Moon showed her fangs and growled: „Do your worst, dragon.“ The dragon roared sharply, opened his maw and coughed out several clouds of smoke with a sick sounding squee.
„Ha!“ Nightmare Moon sounded satisfied. „I knew it. No dragon can breath fire endlessly. You need enough gas on your stomachs. Sadly you wasted your fire on our crazy chase.“ She smirked. „My magic can go endlessly.“ And as if she wanted to prove this, a few thunderclouds fromed themselves above the dragon, thunder cracked and a giantic bolt of lightning crashed down on the dragon's neck.
It howled in pain and agony. Nightmare Moon laughed. Angrily the dragon tried to slap after the winged mare, who quickly duck away. Outrageous, the dragon snapped, slapped and hit after Nightmare Moon, who avoided every single attack. Until the beast suddenley swirled around and the dark mare made contact with its massive tail. And learned on the hard way, how it feels, when a ten pound snake crushes in your side.
„Uuuhhh....“ Nightmare Moon slingered around and hit the floor, coughing. The dragon made a rumbeling sound, which could be translated as laughter. „Moony?“, asked Luna worried. She tried to peek between the Plunderwhines, but as the ground trembled, she quickly stumbled backwards, until the sharp thornes caught her.
The dragon stood in front of her hiding place. Luna shuddered in fear. „Please“, she whimpered, „Don't hurt me.“ The big reptil smirked meanly as if it had understood what the little filly said and as if it was not caring at all. It rose one paw. At that moment an enermous, bright bust of pure sunlight crushed down on the dragon's but.
It howled in pain and buckled over. Luna looked up and could have screamed in joy. „Don't you dare to hurt my little sister!“ Celestia was flying above the dragon, her mane and tail danced and her brows were furrowed. While Nightmare Moon's fury was sharp and wild like her lightnings, Celestia had her feelings still under controll. Therefore her rage was cold and precise.
The dragon turned around and snorted. It eyed the Sun Princess as if it was not sure, what to do with this new opponent. Celestia stared into the yellow eye and furrowed her brow even more. Her glance stayed calm and strict, while her horn started to glow golden, preparing the next spell.
Luna looked around and spotted Nightmare Moon behind her hiding place. She too was flying on one spot and her horn gleemed cyan in the purpose of a new spell. Then as if there had been a silent signal both alicorns unleashed their magic. Solar energy and dark lightnings formed an enermous blast. It was as if the universe had decided to repeat the big bang and crashed it down on the dragon.
The reptil flew through the air by the force of the spell and landed with a dull Bump! on the other side. It moaned and stood up. The dragon looked back at the two winged unicorns. It learned one thing this day: It was hard to defeat one alicorn, but it was impossible to stand against two. With one last, low growl the dragon disappeared between the bushes and walked away.
***
Celestia landed on the gras of the valley and folded her wings. Luna climbed out of the embrace of the branches. „Tia!“, she shouted happily and sprinted towards her big sister. One jump and the small filly hang around the long, swan-like neck and drowned her face into the white fur. „Luna.“ Celestia responded the embrace for a couple of seconds, before she pushed her away.
Luna met with Celestia's calm, but strict and angry look. „What were you thinking?“, asked her older sister, „Running into the forest without telling me. I was sick with worry. You could have been anywhere. You could have get hurt.“ Luna dropped her head and hung her ears. She could understand Celestia's anger or at least parts of it.
The small filly caressed her shoulder and looked away, while she explained: „When we played hide and seek and you didn't found me, I got bored. I spotted a moth and followed into the forest. I did not knew it was dangerous. Besides, I was not alone. Moony had watched after me.“
„Moony?“ Celestia lifted a brow. „Who is Moony?“ Luna explained with a bright smile: „I met her in the forest. She is an alicorn just like you and she has some super amazing tricks up her sleeve. She is still here.“ Luna pointed to the point, where she had seen Nightmare Moon and her smile faded.
The space near the Plunderwhines was empty. Luna narrowed her eyes and scanned the area, hoping to find the dark mare, standing between the trees like she had done it during their first meeting, but she could not find anyone. Celestia too looked around. „Luna“, she explained, „I don't see anything. You cannot let your imagination get so carried away.“
Luna opened her maw to protest, but her big sister softly patted her head with her wings. „I guess, you are just a bit tired and exhausted“, Celestia said, smiling kindly, „After all it has been a long day. Come. Let us return home.“ She turned around and slowly started to walk off the valley.
Luna once again looked to the spot, where Nightmare Moon has been standing. Sadly she could not see her new friend. But maybe she could hear her after all. „Goodby, Moony“, Luna said and her smile was too big for her face, „Thank you for everything.“ Then the filly turned around and hopped behind Celestia to get home.
Between the leaves a dark mare moved and stood behind some trees. Her cyan, dragon-like eyes rested on the tiny, blue filly, which stumbled behind the large, white mare, its but bumping from side to side like the one of a little dog. A fair smile caressed her lips and Nightmare Moon whispered: „Goodby...Luna.“
