Dream of a Nightmare (rewrite)

View Online

As the sun went down over the horizon, I see the last of the sunlight disappear. All that I can hear are a few cars driving, and the insects and animals making noises that can be heard from inside my house. I am at my desk doing some math homework that's due on the Friday of new week. Honestly, this math can be hard to understand. It's like taking calculus in college. I am in Discrete Math. This type of math can be very challenging to understand, but I've been successful in it.

I don't have any friends in school. However, the school that I'm in is somewhat good, although the teachers can be really vile and they hardly care about me wanting to have a good education.

My mom and dad hardly think about me. Ever since I was a kid, they hardly saw anything in me that they even cared about. I was like nobody to them. I suppose it is a bit explainable. My mom dropped out of high school, while my dad was able to graduate on time. At least he had some commitment in getting his high school diploma.

My father doesn't really think about my education either. He thinks it's a waste of time just being in school learning new things that could help a person out in the long run. He's.... I don't know. He's just messed up. Not to mention my dad is an alcoholic. One time he almost caused a huge accident on the interstate, because he was drinking WHILE driving. The police gave him about three years behind bars. Then he comes out like he is a brand new man. Yeah right, that was a complete lie for me.

Sometimes, they would just ignore me. Even when I have some hard times in school, they still wouldn't want to even help me with my problems. That's how a lot of teenagers at my high school feel about their parents. Good thing I'm one of the lucky few that has so far continued to pass the necessary classes to graduate high school.

I'm thinking of majoring in mathematics. Math is essential to be successful in life. Math comes into financial stuff; such as paying the bills for the house, buying food, construction, it’s basically used everywhere.

I turn my chair around to see that my alarm clock is showing 11:39 PM now. I seriously need to get some sleep to refresh myself for tomorrow morning.

As I change into my pajamas, I ponder the fact that I've been the one who's been paying for the cloths I wear during the day and night. My parents wouldn't care if I wore worn out cloths to go to sleep. I even bought the covers for my bed for me to be able to stay warm when it's cold. That's how bad my parents treat me. I have a job that helps me make money to buy the necessary things to keep me going. However, it’s not enjoyable.

I work at McDonald's. It's the only place that makes more business than the rest of the other establishments where I live, so it still helps me make money, I give it that much.

Sometimes I honestly just wish I could become something else. Not a human, but an animal.

On the Internet, I’ve read some theories about what happens when a person passes away from this world. Some theories point out people would just go to heaven or hell. But there was one theory that attracted my attention for quite awhile.

That theory was about reincarnation.

It's believed that when you die, you would be reborn into new form. Instead of being reborn as a human, you would be turned into an animal. I personally believe that reincarnation does exist. If it were true, I wouldn't mind leaving this world. My parents suck and my friends are hardly what I call "friends" for that matter.

Sure, education is important, but there are times where I wish I could just leave everything behind me and just enjoy being in a new life for myself. I think that's how a lot people feel now these days, wanting to escape from their everyday lives. Life can be unfair in many cases. Trust me, I've been there when it comes to getting my parents to actually look at me in the face. It never works in my favor.

Turning the light off, I get into my bed and wrap myself in my covers to keep me warm.

I just... want to have a different life for a change. I don't want to have to worry about what my parents may think of me. Simply put, I want to live in a different world.

If I can just come back as an animal, I would probably want to be a horse. Horses love to roam free in the wild, and they’re the most beautiful animals that I’ve seen. When I was a small child, during a field trip back in middle school, I saw a herd of horses. I loved every moment of it. It was something that I didn't forget after leaving junior high to go to high school. That memory is still strong in me, but that's just a dream that'll never come true. If it were possible, I think I'd be more than happy to leave this world for a world where there's nothing but peace and harmony. I wish that was true in this world, but it will NEVER be true, even when I'm old.

As I lay on my bed, I said one thing before falling asleep. "I wish I could become the animal that I have always wanted to become, and never have to think about being in a life where people see me as a shadow. God, please. I want to be happy for once in my life. Please..." I close my eyes and embrace the abyss of darkness.

Something feels strange. It didn't feel like I am in my bed anymore. Perhaps I may have fallen right out of the bed, and I am on the floor now. That rarely happens to me when falling asleep.

Leaves start to rustle around me. Getting on my feet, I can see more clearly to tell that I am in a rather dark forest. While my surroundings are quite foggy, I can still see a good distance from myself.

“Am I dreaming?” I tell myself. It feels rather odd, considering I never remember my dreams, most of the time.

Venturing off into the forest, it becomes clear to me that all the trees are dead. This place looks kind of creepy, for the most part. It reminds me of a movie I saw in the theater about two friends trying to find their way back to the car, but were suddenly killed by an unknown creature that lived in the forest.

As I proceed, I can hear faint voices residing deeper in the forest. The voices seem to be both feminine and masculine, indicating multiple voices. None of them sound angry, at least. I can not fully understand what they are saying, almost as if they are speaking in gibberish. It didn't sound like a language I have ever heard of.

Okay. If this is a dream, I should have already started to wake up by now.

Minutes start to feel like hours while trying to figure out how I can leave this forest. I'm scared, however. I've seen too many horror movies to even have any fear left in me.

I really should be starting to wake up at this rate. What's taking so long? So far, I'm still not finding any exit from this 'horrifying' forest that's not really scary. For kids, perhaps, but for me? Never.

I hear what sounds almost like weeping coming from my right. Turning my head, I notice a small pond just a few feet from where I am standing. Approaching the pond, I see that the water is pitch black. It's almost as if someone had dumped ink into the water. There is no sign of any ducks or any other wildlife swimming in it.

Kneeling down, I decide to put my hand in the water. I just hope I won’t regret doing this. It's just a dream. It's not like it's real or anything. However, I was starting to doubt my own thoughts.

Putting my hand in the water, I can feel pain coursing through it. The water is cold. Cold to where you could freeze to death in seconds. I jolt my hand out of the water to not have it freeze up.

“Phew. At least I was quick about it.”

I hear another sob.

It sounds like someone is in pain. It occurs to me that it is crying that I am hearing. Whatever, or whoever it is, is quite clearly in distress. Deciding to find the source of the wails, I get up on feet and wander around the pond.

I stop to notice a black figure that is lying on the ground. I am just about able to make out what it is. Strangely enough, it looks like a horse. However, this one horse seems to be... unique in its appearance.

Although it is black, its mane and tail are a blue-purplish color and are somehow flowing, as if the wind is propelling them, despite the lack of wind. Almost as if it is flowing magically. I notice it has some kind of marking on its flank; it looks like a splash of purple with what looks like a blue crescent moon on it. I can't see what it's eyes look like. They remain closed.

There is something else that is on the ground next to it, torn up armor. The color of what remains left of it is either blue or silver.

The horse doesn't pay any attention to me; it is still crying. Getting closer to it, I is what looks like bruises all over the horse. Who could do such a thing to an animal? Although this is just a dream, it isn't right to see such an animal be hurt this way.

I slowly walk towards it. I don't want to move too fast; otherwise it might try to run away from me. As I approach it, I notice that the horse has wings, and a horn! If I remember correctly, this would be an Alicorn horse. They are fictional creatures that an ancient civilization once thought to roam free in the world. I think it would be the Ancient Greeks who told of such a creature. Granted that, I remember they had pegasi as a more prominent figure, but I think the Alicorn is also part of Ancient Greek culture.

"Hey," I quietly say. The horse froze instantly. It opens its eyes to show them dilated upon me speaking to it, as it turn its head to look at me.

"It's okay. I'm not going to hurt you," I coo to it. It starts to shake, almost as if its thinking I am just lying to it to make it think I am going to hurt it more.

"W-who… who a-are you?"

It talks! Maybe introducing myself might make it easier to calm it down, I think. "My name is Ada. It would seem you are in my dream. What happened to you? You're injured." It looks down with a sad expression on its face.

"I… Some ponies killed me years ago. This is… where I live now. In… damnation." The horse sits upright. Ponies killed it? How's that even possible? Also, why would it mean that it is living in damnation?

"Wait, before I ask some other questions. What's your name?" The horse looks at me once again.

"My name is.... Nightmare Moon. I-I once lived in a world that is called Equuis, in the country known as Equestria. A.... a place where ponies live in peace and harmony." Nightmare Moon starts to sob once again, covering her face with her hooves.

I get closer to Nightmare and place my hand on her shoulder to comfort her. I can feel something in her. I don't how I am able to feel what she is feeling. There is nothing but pain and anger mixed together, just suffering in my dream.

"You don't need to cry anymore. I'm not leaving you here." I don't get a chance to even talk more due to her wrapping her arms around me, crying her eyeballs out. I sense more pain coming from within her.

I squirm to get an arm out to try and stroke her mane. It was a success. She starts to calm down a bit, which is good.

"W-why… do you care about me? I was once a demon that once tried to bring eternal darkness to Equestria! How can some..." She gives me a puzzled look, as if to figure out what I am.

"I'm a human, Nightmare Moon," I tell her.

"How can a human care about something that was created out of jealousy?!"

"I don't like seeing animals hurt like you are; no one deserves to suffer like this. I felt a lot of pain radiating off of you. I just want to help your plight." I reply.

"That's easier said than done. I'm forever ever trapped in this hellish place. I'll never get another chance to redeem myself from my.... from my past mistakes." She doesn't let go of me. Nightmare doesn't want me to leave her. Not that I would, I don't want her to think I would abandon her like she is of no importance to me.

"Maybe there's a way to escape this place," I say firmly, "Nothing's impossible. Are you able to get up?"

"N-No.... my body is hardly functioning to even stand on all hooves. You can't lift me up. I'm too heavy to even have somepony assist me." Her expression saddens more.

As I try to think of a way to get out of here, the water in front of us begins to swirl. Before our very eyes, the water starts glowing, changing its shade from a pitch black to a more calming blue. Foam starts bubbling to the top of the pond, forming entire sentences in a rather ominous fashion.

"Is this the animal you want to be reincarnated into?"

"Will you try to make things better for this poor soul?"

"The road ahead is far from over."

"Do you want to leave everything behind and start a new life in the where Nightmare Moon once lived in?"

"The choice remains for you to choose. We do not decide who gets this chance. You are the one who decides how you want to live your life, Ada."

It appears as if the writing isn't just a figment of my imagination, as Nightmare Moon sees the writing too. She isn't moving anymore. She is frozen in fear, her eyes frozen in place looking at the strange writing. Only I can decide whether I take her place.

She's committed crimes against her race in her world. Then again, she wants to have a second chance to redeem herself.

This is a difficult choice to make. Do I say 'no' or 'yes'? I don't want to leave her to suffer anymore.

I made my decision.

"I do."

"Your wish is granted, Ada. You will be turned into the creature that once tried to bring great pain to the ponies that inhabit the land in Equestria."

"You will not be a filly. You'll be a full grown mare."

"The adventures you will have will greatly change the way you look at life from a different perspective."

"Is there anything you wish to say before you enter Equestria, Ada?"

"I have nothing else to say." The world around me turns bright, as my vision is blinded before everything fades into nothingness.

"Ugh... My head. I don't feel so good." I groan. I can hardly move my body; I guess my wish came with a price. I try opening my eyes, but what felt like the sun's light causing me to shut my eyes tight like a drum. With all this, my temples are hurting.

I just wanted to help Nightmare Moon. I really hope I didn't develop the same physical injuries she had when I discovered her in my dream. If I'm really her now, would this also mean I would develop her personality, powers, and her memories? If that is the case, I would have to be careful in knowing how to get used to being an alicorn.

Suddenly, I no longer feel pain from both sides of my head.

Hopefully my eyes should get adjusted to the sun light. I open my eyes to notice that I am in a field. The field consists of flowers, grass, bunnies and butterflies. This place must've never been disturbed by anyone.

I inspect myself to notice that there are no signs of any physical injuries to my new body. It becomes apparent that I am wearing armor on my chest area, hooves, and I also have the helmet piece that Nightmare once had in her possession. I assume this is the armor I saw discarded next to Nightmare Moon.

It then dawns upon me that my dream really did come true! No more human me now! Haha. This feels so great to have earth behind me and to be welcomed to a whole new world that might be better off than earth.

No longer will I have to deal with parents that don't really appreciate who I am. I certainly don't feel sorry for them now. They took the wrong path in life. I shouldn't be thinking about them anymore, they mean nothing to me now.

Now I need to get on all hooves. It is difficult to know that I have to walk on all fours and not on my standard bipedal form. I have to balance myself to not fall on my side.

Of course, I am not a human anymore. I'm an equine horse now, with wings and a horn.

I need to know more about this place. Now, where would I go that would help strengthen my knowledge of this world? If this place was what Nightmare had described to me with a little information, then I need to find the best place to read about Equestria. This would of course be a library, assuming the inhabitants are civilized and advanced enough.

"You will find the knowledge that you seek in the Royal Sisters' Palace, but be warned. Danger lies ahead of you, Nightmare Moon."

The sudden voice made me jump a little. It seemed to have come from inside my head, as if a second mind was living inside me.

"Are you one of the voices that I met in my dream?"

"Yes, I am. However, you mustn't worry about who I am. You could say that I will merely watch over you. Should you go to the former place where Equestria's rulers once reigned, or will you decide to pick an alternate plan to learn about this world?"

"What other places can I go to?"

"You may enter Ponyville, but that is your decision, not mine."

"Why are you wanting to even help me? I understand that I made the decision to take Nightmare Moon's place to redeem herself, but why is that you want to assist me? I can handle this all by myself. Not like I'm a kid or anything."

"If that is what you wish, then I will remain silent during your time living in Equestria."

"Thanks. Now, please leave me in peace. I have much to learn of this world and its inhabitants."

"Verily."

Finally... at least that voice is gone. Why does it feel like I can sense something is about to end badly for me? Or is that just a coincidence?

Shrugging off the thought, I decide to see what it feels like to be in a different body. It is kind of hard to know that you have to rely on trying to keep your balance while walking on all fours. This really reminds me of how when a child is welcomed to the world. It has to learn how to walk, talk, blah blah blah. I think I get the picture.

While getting myself to understand the ways of walking, I am curious to learn how to fly with these wings. Extending them seems completely natural. Looking to my left and right, I can tell that I look very intimidating with my wings stretched out.

I wonder what my horn is capable of doing? I suppose that's where mostly all the power would be stored in an alicorn. Naturally, the same would apply in a regular unicorn. Since I'm an alicorn, I would be superior over the unicorn race though… or any other race of this world.

Perhaps I should go this village the voice had told me about before I told it to shut up to let me focus in understanding this place thoroughly. It is then I realize that there would be a slight problem when doing so.

In our brief encounter, Nightmare Moon had said that she was a villain that had once tried to take over Equestria. The outcome of me going to Ponyville would likely result in my form’s recognition, and then to further chaos. So how hard is it to go and visit a village that's full of ponies? First, I know they would be scared of me. Second, they'll problem try to call the police or whoever is in charge of protecting them from certain disaster. Finally, they would take me to their so-called leader or leaders to interrogate me.

This would complicate things far more than I had anticipated.

“She will strike you upon no sympathy. She will kill you for taking her away from her beloved sister.”

What the what? Did that voice just say that I was going to be killed by somepony of these lands? Why did this voice sound… stranger than the previous one? Perhaps I'll have contact with this anonymous pony later...

Why is it that I can sense something wrong right now? It feels like.... darkness is rising from the ground. I can feel the dark taint all around me.

Maybe I should leave this place, for now.

Dark memories (rewrite)

View Online

A light breeze flows through my mane. The animals have not yet have fear in their souls when encountering me. The sun is still in the air, radiating warmth for the world. It’s quite enjoyable, the sun's promise of warmth. However, I can tell that this sun is far more different than the sun that keeps the Earth from freezing to an icicle. It feels almost graceful as if a powerful figure had the power to raise it and lower it every day.

At a brisk trot, I go to see where Ponyville is located. Climbing to the top of a hill, I notice small structures from afar. The buildings were made out of wood and what looked like hay acting as the roofs, while other buildings had wood. I can see ponies walking casually in the streets of the village; some are just talking to one another, few look like they are buying fruits and vegetables, and I can barely see a few colts and fillies enjoying their time hanging out with one another. All of them just moving colors from where I am standing in the distance.

Ponyville seems to be a peaceful place to live in. There is something else that I can feel that is mysterious in the village. Almost as if there is somepony that was involved in defeating Nightmare Moon. The name slowly coming to my mind: Twilight Sparkle.

Part of me says I should try to find her in the village. Then again, the other side of me says to not be so stupid to just walk into Ponyville and cause a mass panic to the ponies who live there.

Pondering for a while, I decide that I should venture into the Everfree Forest. If there are books in the palace, then it'll help me learn about my surrounds and even the history of this world. I do love history. So, this'll really make me want to understand the beings of this world. Maybe going to Ponyville will have to wait for some other time. Right now, I need to learn if I want to understand this world better than what I do now.

I start to go down the hill, feeling my heart pounding in my chest. It feels so breathtaking… now I can see why horses are always full of energy. With their muscles, they are able to run like the wind, and, of course fight against other animals that would try to kill them. With me as an alicorn, I will be far better off than any regular horse on earth.

Breathing in and out, catching my breath from suddenly sprinting down an incline, I can see the Everfree forest looming at me. This forest is far more different than the one I was in during my brief venture in my dream. The trees seem to show what looks like faces of pure horror, almost as if they are telling me "Don't try to pass, you'll fail while doing so." Or "You will die by the creatures of our forest, turn back while you still can."

Seriously? Trees aren't even the slightest bit alarming. I’ll give them credit, but that's not going to stop me from uncovering so many secrets about Equestria.

For some reason, I am curious to see what is in this forest. Trotting in, I sense the darkness move in around me. I am sure this place has more dark taint to it. When I was in the fields, there were bits of darkness, but this place has ten times more of the boundless gloom. The forest feels like it's a living, breathing creature.

It temps creatures to enter its domain, wanting to show itself to travelers who are lost as a peaceful guide, and to show those lost ponies a shortcut to get to their destination. I can feel it trying to talk to me. It hungers for blood. This is the place where anypony would want to end up dead. The smell of blood is what I am able smell a mile away.

The plants are something that caught my eye. Quite a few of them are orange, red, blue, yellow, purple, gold, or even green. Just by looking at them, I can tell that they are poisonous. I make a mental note to be careful when walking in these parts of the forest.

A shiver passes through me. Suddenly, I get a strange sense of dread, the kind you get when you’re being watched.

Turning around, I see six yellow eyes staring right at me through the bushes. Then, I start to hear growling from them, indicating hostility.

Something tells me these unknown animals want to kill me.

Very well. It will be a pleasure killing them without mercy. I need to concentrate, try to understand the power you possess, Nightmare.

I close my eyes and start breathing in and out. Focus is imperative. Just focus.

Something in me awakens from it slumber. Raw energy flows through my body, and I open my eyes to see the creatures slowly backing away from me.

"Get out of my way!!!"

My voice causes several branches to shatter, and the more frailer of the trees along with them. The entire ground shook upon me speaking.

The wolves, for that matter, are starting to shake like a bunch of spooked chickens. Not so confident now, are you?

I focus on their every movement. I start to see that they aren't thinking of charging at me. I can practically smell the fear coming off of them. Fear is something I'm starting to understand in this world. I see why Nightmare Moon was considered a pony that every last being was afraid of. Nopony would there try to strike her down, and now these "timberwolves" will now see that the nightmare has.... come back. Hehe... Wait, no! Don't think like that! That's not who you are!

Alright, I need to really start trying to concentrate my power to fire at the timberwolves. Try to learn how to use your horn. Again, focus… just focus.

I can feel a tingling at the base of my horn, and a white beam of magic goes straight for the timberwolves and they are subsequently ripped to pieces. Not only that, it has also caused a mass amount of smoke to billow from the ground. I can't see anything. My ears are ringing. Chances are I must've made a big enough of a explosion that it might have been heard from every part of Equestria.

I close my eyes shut due to dirt still swirling around me, holding my breath from inhaling the putrid air.

Minutes passed since I killed the timberwolves. As I reopen my eyes, I am in absolute shock to see what my powers did to the hostile animals.

I didn't just destroy the wolves, I just caused a giant hole to be formed where the bushes had once existed. Slowly trotting to see how far the blast went, I felt my jaw drop. It looks like the magic may have gone all the way through the end of the forest! The trees in this area were gone, and anyone who was in this part of the Everfree Forest was surely wiped from the face of Equestria. It looks like a nuclear bomb just came in and just vaporized everything in my direction.

The forest fell deadly quiet. The animals that inhabit the forest did not want to make a single sound that anypony would hear with their ears. Seriously, it feels like its population zero now.

Guess I should really learn how to not go so far in trying to practice magic in this world. Now it's the time I really get to the Royal Palace of the Two Sisters. I just hope that there is something worth reading in there, and I hope that it's easy to find the books, if there are any, in the building.

As the last of the sun's rays disappear behind the horizon, I begin to wonder if this palace is still around. Come to think of it. How old is the castle? Surely it would still be standing to the point of where you could still see parts of it towering over the trees.

Even after forty minutes have passed, the animals are still quiet as rocks. They must be paranoid from what I did to those timberwolves with my not-so-stable magic. I don't blame them. When you learn something new, it might cause people or, well, ponies to shun you a bit.

Continuing in my quest, I start to see a large superstructure just a mile away. I can see a tower that still stands strong with no signs of damage to its stone brick exterior. There, upon getting closer to the castle, two wooden doors that might be the front entrance to the building and accompanying it are two statues that are on opposing sides of the walkway boasting in imposing figures. The one on the left is a tall horse that shows great pride in its composure and the one on the left shows a smaller horse that is giving a more or less smile to the bigger horse. Both resemble two alicorns by their appearance, and based on it I'm thinking these two are representing the rulers of Equestria.

The door has a seal that has some writing on it. I am not able to fully verify what the words are saying to me. Dirt covers it from me reading it. I use my hoof to dust away the dirt to understand what the words that were on seal are trying to say to me.

Seal of the Royal Family of Equestria

Ah! So this is the Royal Sisters' palace. Finally, I can get a break from trying to find where it's located now.

As I opens the doors, the interior is not what I had imagined in my head. Dust litters everywhere of castle. Cracks can be seen from the floor to the walls. Most of the doors are no longer part of the entrances that kept ponies from seeing what was going on from the other side.

There are many banners of the sun and moon that had fallen from the wooden beams of the castle and were on the floor. I also found where the armory is located. Dozens of old armor uniforms remain intact after the many years of being forgotten. Getting closer to the uniforms, the material used for them appears to be gold! Amazing how a civilization would use gold for its troops, considering how malleable it is.

There are also wooden spears that are also attached to the manikins. I'm actually surprised termites haven’t eaten the wood. The spears must be protected by magic to prevent something like that from happening.

From behind me is a different type of armor for ponies to wear and protect themselves. The color of the armor is purple with a mix of black. Even more weird is the center of the chest piece. It looks like a reptilian eye is in the circle of the chest plate. Hmm. I think there were two different types of solders that once protected this place with their lives.

Venturing off again, I am in what I believe is the throne room. The roof is hardly intact. The carpets connecting to the staircases are no longer clean. The thrones that the rulers would sit in have suffered greatly from years of no protection over Mother Nature's time taking its toll and making this place unrecognizable. There happens to be a bridge that is uniting both thrones to make it easier for each ruler to talk to. Though it shows signs of needing massive repairs, it still fights for its survival.

Something happened here. It doesn't feel right to me. There was conflict in this room. Dark conflict.

I can hear a voice scream at the top of its lungs, echoing loudly against the countless corridors and rooms in the castle.

"There can only be one princess in Equestria! And that princess will be ME!"

I wince from the sudden high pitch screech. I use my hooves to keep anymore sound from trying to bust my eardrums.

The voice is gone, at least for now. As I put my forelegs back on the ground, I can tell that this place has a dark history. From the looks of this castle, a VERY dark history that shouldn't even be brought up to the next generation of children.

It dawns on me that my eyes are watering. Why was I crying? I… I didn't do anything!

A second voice booms throughout the caste. "Luna! I will not fight you. You must lower the moon, it is your duty!" This one spoke with authority. Authority that has more power over somepony; it sounds like it were in horror but was trying to keep its composure together.

I start to shake from all over. My legs feel like rubber and then, I collapse with a heavy sob.

Memories that aren't mine flood my brain, as I feel compelled to apologize for misdeeds. The Nightmare in me awakes, and I cry out with disdain.

"I'm sorry. I-I… forgive me dear sister. Please forgive me. I'm not evil! Just give me the chance... to redeem myself." Why am I talking to myself aloud? This isn't right. I don't even have a sister! I am an only child.

"Dearest sister. Have mercy on my soul. Please..... I didn't mean it. I never meant to fight you!" Now I am screaming to the top of my lungs. I cover my face with my forearms and just continue to sob in the middle of the throne room.

I felt nothing but pain, sorrow, and rage take over me. These foreign emotions are making me feel so different now. I feel like I am being tortured by these voices.

All this just makes me more confused now. Who are these voices? Why were they fighting against one another? And why am I crying because of said voices?

Raising my head to see if anything else might happen, the moon's rays penetrate through the holes of the throne room and were coming into contact with me, and me alone... The moon, its.... I don't know why it is focusing its time on me. "Why does the light shine upon me? For what purpose does it serve? Does the moon's light want me to be happy?" I ask while tears go down my face.

My heart starts to beat uncontrollably.

I need to leave. I can't stay in this room anymore. I need to find the library before the voices start to flood into my mind again. Getting up and rubbing away at what tears remain on my face, I gallop out of the throne room to find where the library would most likely to be located.

Just where is the library, though? As I rush through the hallways, peeking into rooms time and time again, I can't seem to find it.

After about half an hour of searching, I spot a symbol on a side of a door that resembles a book. That must be the library. Finally, I am now able to gain access to a variety of books that will tell me about the sisters and the history of Equestria.

I step into the room and shut it behind me with my hind legs.

"I'm sorry that you had to go through that, Ada." This voice is different. It doesn't sound like the voices that I heard in the throne room. Looking up ahead of me stood a sadden Nightmare Moon, in a more ethereal state than what I would have liked.

"Nightmare..." I slowly said. She looks at me with sympathy. She knew I had an unpleasant time in the throne room. I notice that her injuries from her body are all gone. She has all the armor that I have on my body. What looks different about her is her body. It glows light blue and I can see right through her like a window. Is she perhaps a spirit?

My question is answered for me. "I'm merely just a spirit now, Ada. No pony else will hear or see me. Only you are able to do that." Her voice, it sounded… motherly.

As I walk toward her, she doesn't move. She remains in the exact same position when I first got my eyes fixed on her.

"Nightmare, what... what were those voices that I was hearing in the throne room?" While giving my question for her to respond, her expression changs from being somewhat content to sad.

"The first voice you heard was my good sister. Her name would be Luna. She is Princess of the Night and one of the rulers of Equestria. The other was...." Nightmare seems to be having a hard time saying the other pony's name."...was Celestia. She is.... the Princess of the Sun, and the second of the diarchs." She states with a stone cold stare with the sound of callous in her voice when saying Celestia's name.

"What happened here?" She begins to explain to me the story about Luna’s downfall and her plan of eternal night. The ignorant ponies of Equestria, she claims, were not appreciating the night enough, and fueled by the neglect of her sister fell into a state of anger. Celestia, oblivious to the happenings, continued to neglect her sister and promote the day.

Luna saw this as a stab in the back by her elder sister. Celestia was getting all the attention for herself. Nightmare adds that one night, Princess Luna refused to lower the moon for Celestia to raise the sun. That’s the moment where everything changed. When Luna refused, her anger and rage had caused her to transform her into no other than Nightmare Moon herself. Nightmare Moon was winning the fight up until Celestia had used six gems that went by the name of 'The Elements of Harmony'. The Elements were powerful enough to blast Nightmare Moon to the moon for exactly a thousand years.

Long after that event was over, the dust had long settled and life continued as normal.

One day, there was going to be a festival called 'The Summer Sun Celebration'. This was the day in which ponies would see Celestia come to Ponyville to watch her raise the sun for her ponies to see. However, it took place on the same date that Nightmare was banished, and the Elements of Harmony’s spell wore off.

Needless to say, the celebration did not happen.

Nightmare Moon continues telling me how she was able to escape the moon to come back to Equestria to bring eternal darkness to the land. That plan clearly failed. There were six ponies that were able to defeat Nightmare Moon and reform her back to Princess Luna, with the help of the Elements of Harmony. Rainbow Dash; Element of Loyalty, Pinkie Pie; Element of Laughter, Fluttershy; Element of Kindness, Applejack; Element of Honesty, Rarity; Element of Generosity,
and Twilight Sparkle; the Element of Magic.

I can understand where Nightmare Moon is coming from. She was born from all that Celestia put Luna through. The anger, hate, sorrow and jealousy were the emotions that caused Nightmare Moon to be born from within Princess Luna. Now I understand why Nightmare Moon was in my dream. She believes she was in hell and I was probably like an angel from heaven that decided to give her a second chance at life.

It means that I would take her place of being Luna's inner-ego. Nightmare would still be here with me; just not physically, but spiritually.

"Y-You... brought me back to see what Equestria looks like after what had happened to me three years ago. It was you that ended my suffering in Tartarus." For a second I can see her gaze falter as she backs down onto her haunches.

A strong feeling starts to flow through me, something I would have never felt before. In that moment, a bond between us was formed, something unexplained.

"Hey, it's going to be okay, sister." She flinchs from me just saying that last word. That word must have rattled through her mind. Was it really hurtful just by saying that one word? She's probably having lost memories coming back to haunt her again. And I believe those memories will later be put into my mind.

“Uh, well. I just thought that considering our predicament--”

I am cut off as she hugs me; surprisingly, as I thought it would be impossible to touch a ghost, or a spirit that was technically not solid, but whatever.

Accepting the embrace, I wrap my wings around her to provide her with more comfort from me. She accepts it. I can almost hear her weeping silently, yet remaining stoic. She moves in closer to my chest, and we stay that way for a while. I have a feeling that she wouldn’t want me to leave.

I gently stroke her mane with my hoof. It seems to calm her down from her almost shuddering state, but not for long. She can't seem to keep much of a grip on her emotions, for an immortal being. All the pain she suffered from being in Tartarus was coming out of her, shaking her violently without much control of the agony that was stuck inside of her.

"I'm here, Nightmare." I coo in her ear, "I'm here." Now she is beginning loosen up. She lets go of me just a little bit to look at me directly in the eyes. In her eyes, I can see her saying sanctuary that is filled with love and compassion. Something that the Elements didn't give to her when she was ultimately erased from Equestria.

They made her look like she was a nobody. That she was nothing but a mere shadow to everypony. I am the only pony that seems to care for her and I am now her sister that wants to keep her from being hurt by anypony.

I'm her angel.

Her savior.

Her sister.

This is reminding me of my former parents, treating me like I was a shadow that would be ignored from time to time. And those ponies were…

No. Don't think like that, Ada. Don't give into vengeance. That will lead only to more pain and sorrow.

Think about your new sister; that's what's important now.

Keeping my sister safe.

It was only a nightmare (Rewrite)

View Online

The night has ended, and a new day has come to land of Equestria. Nightmare Moon has begun to look at me as somepony that cares about her, and all her sorrow seemed to have washed away from last night. I have yet to have any new memories come flying towards me, which is probably a good thing.

I am reading tremendous amounts of books from the library, and most of the knowledge I have found is quite useful for me to remember.

Alicorns have all three apparent races in them, the unicorns, the pegasi, and the earth ponies being the races mentioned. Unicorns get to use magic, pegasi are able to use their wings to fly, and as their namesake would suggest, earth ponies are more attune with the ground.

The alicorn, ruler of the land, seems to surpass all three races, making it the most powerful species known to Equestria.

A little further on, I find a book about how to safely use magic without causing massive damage to either my surroundings or myself. As luck would have it, an alicorn's magic is more unstable than that of a regular unicorn. It requires time and patience to even slowly understand the process of thinking of what magic an alicorn would possess. Heck, the book even speaks of teleportation and the complicated theories behind it. Now that does make things easier for me. I don't always want to walk to get where I want to go.

Nightmare Moon actually found and gave me a book that has what looks like pictures of Princess Celestia and Princess Luna along time ago. Almost every picture that is in the book shows them having a good time with one another, in complete harmony, with no sign of Luna acting mischievous or otherwise upset in the pictures.

Continuing to examine through the book, I notice there being one picture of Luna. She looks almost contempt, but at the same time saddened by something.

Her left eye seems to show signs of rage. The eye shape looks to be almost reptilian. Her coat color in this picture is a darker shade of blue, not the more common light shade that the pictures normally depict Luna wearing. It's perhaps two or three coats darker than the other pictures I have seen. She is trying to hide something when this picture was taken, and I believe this was almost near the time when she was turned into Nightmare Moon.

Turning my attention elsewhere, I decide that I probably shouldn't look at this anymore. It may give me an unpleasant memory of what had happened during that time period.

After a couple hours of learning new stuff in these old books, I start to tell Nightmare Moon more about who I was before I came to this world. I tell her about how my parents didn't appreciate in who I was as an eighteen year old teenager living in their house. I even tell her about how I wished to be reborn into a different form that was an escape from my life.

For the most part, she seems to understand what life was like for me in my world. Nightmare spoke of how Luna and I are alike. For Luna, she is just a shadow to everypony around her. Celestia only has pride for herself and for her subjects. I can see why Luna wasn't happy with how everypony, including her sister, were treating her. She only wanted ponies to appreciate her night. Next thing you know, her lust for power corrupted her and turned her into Nightmare Moon.

When Nightmare was on the moon, she said that she only felt regret of taking Luna away from her sister. However, her regret evaporated long before she escaped the moon. Her lust for vengeance only lead her down a path that got her sentenced to an eternal existence in a plane of oblivion. However, I have given her a chance to redeem herself with the only problem being is she is in spiritual form where nopony would be able to see her. I am the only one that can see and hear her, which is perhaps a blessing, and a curse.

Sisters… the word still echos in my head. How I am like a sister to her. I can only hope that she will begin to see me in the same way.

Sometimes I wish I had another sister on earth. Alas, I was an only child. Life can sometimes be unfair for many people. With how fickle and fleeting it is, life can be taken away in fraction of a second. So, a person or pony must enjoy what life lays before them..

One thing that is certain is that I'm an immortal being that lives forever. One of the books that I read said that alicorn ponies are possibly the only creatures that are able to live forever, but it also spoke of a creature that goes by the name 'Discord'. Supposedly, he's an immortal being too. He is known for his 'chaotic' behavior in this world, dubbed as the Spirit of Chaos. That does seem to fit his character. After all, his name is 'Discord’.

His history is very… strange. He committed some of the most chaotic evil that nopony had ever seen before. He did things differently than an average villain, forcing ponies to do things they would never do and tricking them, turning them into their mirror selves, even creating chocolate rain from cotton candy clouds. It was all nonsense, but still destructive.

It wasn't until Princess Luna and Celestia used the Elements of Harmony to turn him into stone that his reign of chaos ended. The book did say his body was placed in Canterlot's garden, only to be looked at as a chaotic looking statue that Celestia had hired a sculpture pony to make.

The more I am thinking about Discord, the more I think of him as little boy screwing things around with his parents. I give myself a chuckle just thinking about him. Guy must have some of the craziest ideas that I would never even fathom.

Another book spoke of different places all across Equestria. What I found interesting about it is how some of the cities names are almost identical to the ones that were on earth. Manehattan is the city they call "The city that never sleeps'. Of course, that's what the state of New York is like, even with the same name, just a different world. Even Fillydelphia is similar to the city of Philadelphia. There's a city called Stalliongrad. It just like saying Stalingrad, even though that city was later renamed. Nightmare seems interested to learn about human history as much as I am about Equestrian history.

It's very strange to know that Equestria seems to have mimicked some of the names from earth. I wonder if both worlds are somehow connected to one another. What was it that scientist called it again? Parallel universe theory, or perhaps it was alternate universe theory? Seeing a world that's the same, just showing an alternate reality. No. That wouldn't make any sense. Then there's the multiverse theory. Maybe Equestria is one of the billion or trillion worlds that are in different universes that mankind has yet to even come close to finding.

"The books I have read so far are very helpful in my understanding of this universe, Nightmare Moon," I exclaim as I turn to look at her. "I seem to understand more about what Equestria is like now. Even more than I had expected."

"Glad that you understand, Ada." Nightmare gives a slight smile to me. She didn't even have any sign of anger in her words. I must've done an excellent job in helping her from last night. There is just something that I still want to know: what will happen if I were to meet Luna and Celestia personally? Okay, that does seem stupid to even think about now. They would probably try to kill me. I quietly ponder what would happen to Nightmare Moon should I be defeated in the future.

Maybe she would just feel everlasting pain to see somepony who is now her sister be killed by the ones she would also call sisters, since all of us would technically share the same blood.

I wouldn’t want that to happen to my sister. I'm not sure if I would be known as the big sister to Nightmare, since clearly she is older than I am. Or are we the same age as one another? Technically speaking, I wouldn't be eighteen anymore. Considering that I inherited her body, I'm guessing that we might be around the same age, physically at least.

I care about her. She's the pony that I want to protect with every fiber of my being, and I will not sit idly by to see her get hurt by another pony. I’ve taken a vow to refuse to let that happen to her. I'd sacrifice myself if it is to come to that point.

Getting on all fours, I stretch my wings out to get the blood flowing back through them. I seriously need to learn how to fly with these things, although that might need to wait for some other time, along with the inner workings of magic I can’t seem to grasp.

"Want to walk around for a bit, Nightmare?" She gives a quick nod to me as we walk in the castle. In the daylight, I can see that multiple rooms have unveil themselves to me. I see picture frames that contain some pictures of the princesses. One of the pictures has Royal Guard soldiers saluting Princess Celestia, while another picture shows Princess Luna flying up in the beautiful night sky she had spawned.

There are several statues that once resembled past government officials that served in Equestria's former government. Statues of high-ranking military leaders are present in the hallway we were walking in, ever omnipotent. Each one has stone-cold expressions on their carved faces, and I assume that these leaders must have showed great strength during their time protecting Equestria.

There isn't much to look at besides that. The castle seems to remain anything but presidential. I'm actually surprised that the ceiling hasn't decided to give in to crash right on top of me, but it seems the material that the builders made have passed the test of time. Few buildings on earth would've have already crashed back to earth for nature to swallow in one big gulp.

Nightmare seems to want to tell me something, but is stopping herself before she said anything. I can't be sure if I should be the one to speak and break the ice, as she seems to be quieter than what I had anticipated. Is she starting to be shy all of a sudden, or maybe these hallways are bringing back bad memories? I hope that's not the case.

We make our way to one of the exits of the castle, where the door has already been opened. I find it somewhat strange. Did somepony decide to venture off in the Everfree Forest and decide to come to the castle? I certainly didn't hear anypony coming in and I don't think it was any animals that made their way in here. Probably a gust of wind is what caused the door to open up.

My heart throbbed as I fell to my knees, my head pounding with a sharp and swift pain, almost unbearable to combat. I have no other choice but to sit on my haunches and wait for it to disappear. Nightmare came to my side, seeming to be concerned over my sudden collapse. Why am I getting a headache now? I broke out into a cold sweat as my heart continued to pound against my rib-cage.

"I don't... feel so good..." Everything is spinning all around me, and I can hardly remain stable. What's going on? Everything around me goes black as I can feel somepony shaking me in a vain attempt to get me to wake up. As I slipp out of consciousness, I can hear Nightmare one last time.

"Ada! Wake up!"

"Ugh." Gah... my head hurts... who's voice is it that I'm hearing?

"Don't keep your sister waiting, Ada. She's needs you more than ever."

"Wait a minute, you're that voice from the other day, correct?"

The voice did not respond.

Different voices flood my consciousness. In comparison to my earlier spell, these voices sound soft spoken and young, more like children. They are screaming for somepony to help them, but I can not see anyone.

"Mommy! Help me!"

"I don't want to be eating by the monster!"

"Somepony! Anypony! I want my mommy and daddy!!"

As I listen in, it becomes clear that these are fillies and colts screaming for their parents! What is the cause of them being in such a state?

"She is coming. Do not let her find you in the shadows of darkness."

I can see a dark blue dot from distance trying to get to me. Its not running, and I don't see it as a threat. I can see it has wings on the sides of its body and a horn sticking out of its head. Upon close inspection, I think this might be Princess Luna. She hasn't seen me yet, so better to find an exit before she spots me.

The area is completely dark. What is this place? Could I be in a dream once again, but how would Luna be here? Maybe I was reading way too much about her and looking at the pictures of when she was very young, and as a result am dreaming of her.

"She can feel the presence of shadows, but she does not know the reason as to why it has awoken from its great slumber."

"Run Ada!"

That sounds like Nightmare! Frantically running, I can see a pentagon door that has light coming from the other side of it. This must be my ticket to getting out of here, but before I could even get a chance to even set hoof on the door, the light from it start to grab onto my legs and eventually blinding me.

Everything goes black, and once again I’m stranded without my senses. Am I ever going to wake up?

My eyes slowly adjust, and I take the opportunity to look around. As the last of the dizzy spells dissipate, I’m finally able to see where I am, and for some reason I’m no longer in the hallway anymore. Turning my eyes to the left and right, I discover I am in a room of some sort, that I don’t recognize. The blinds are preventing the sunlight from penetrating in the room I am in. I can feel myself laying in silky sheets, embraced in the bliss of an elegant bed. I seem to have been tucked right into the covers to keep me warm. Nightmare Moon, is not here.

Where'd she go? She must've carried me and placed me on this bed to see if I were to wake up.

"Nightmare? You there?"

Nothing happened.

I call out again, "Nightmare? Hello? Sister?"

Still no response.

Getting out of to my bed, I approach the door to see if she were trying to perhaps scare the living daylight out of me. Oh yes, I’ll play along with her secret game...

Once I open the door, I check to see if Nightmare is going to try and do a jump scare on me. She isn't in the hallway. Where is she? It is like she just decided to disappear and never come... back.

Realization grips me as I gasp and dash out of the room and gallop through the castle with extreme haste.

"Nightmare! Where are you?” I look around, hoping for any sign of where she could have wandered off to, “Answer me Nightmare! This isn't funny the slightest!!" Shouting her name isn't effective enough to find her. There is simply no sign of her anywhere.

Oh god. Please. Tell me she didn't just disappear when I woke up.

Turning around, I try to see if maybe she was in the room I was in. Peaking in the room, there is no sign indicating she was there.

"Nightmare.... Come on, I'm right here!" It was no use. Nightmare is not here anymore.

Looking down to the floor, I feel like I want to scream to the top of my lungs. There is nothing to even think about. I feel magic building up in me. It is waiting to be released. It is calling for me to just give myself up to it. This magic depends on the pain and sorrow I am going through.

"GIVE ME BACK MY SISTER!" I let out a loud raging roar, it shattering any windows that managed to remain intact over the many years of it’s existence.

"None of this real. You are still dreaming, Nightmare. Allow me to remove the rage and sorrow that has been filled within your body."

I feel my emotions suddenly drained out of me. The rage and sorrow is replaced with warmth and comfort. I start feeling calm again. I take in deep breaths and exhale to calm myself a little more than expected.

"Why have you come to help me?" I ask.

"Because I'm the one who watches over you. I do not upon any circumstances want to see you go more into unleashing your rage while you're still sleeping. Try to understand in what you are, Nightmare. There's more to you than meets the eye."

I have a hard time figuring out whether the voice was male or female. Why is it hiding its real voice?

I feel myself starting to feel dizzy once again. Everything starts to fade into black, while my legs gave in and I fall to the floor

My eyes shot open to a cold breeze. No longer am I in the hallway where I had originally passed out, but neither was I in a bedroom. I am now in what looks akin to the living room area of the castle. The furniture itself is surprisingly clean with no dirt on it, the paint that is covering the walls has not lost any part of its color, and the walls are covered in a dark blue color, no longer fresh nor decaying.

It feels like I am sitting on something under my belly. Looking down, I realize that I am on a couch, feeling very comfortable while lying down on it, with two blankets draped over me to keep me warm.

This time, I am sure this is reality, the biting breeze too real to ignore.

Getting out from under the covers and getting off the couch, I try to see if can relieve my fear and find Nightmare Moon. However, I quickly notice something, or someone blocking the door.

As I creep forward, I get a better look at the assailant. Nightmare Moon herself is guarding the door. With her head leaning up back against the wall, she has a contempt look on her face as a small bit of drool leaks out her sleeping form. She looks almost... cute.

I put my hoof on my mouth to prevent her from possibly hearing me giggle at her. She looks so adorable the way she is sleeping! Maybe I shouldn't wake her up. She may need the rest to regain her energy.

Before thinking of going back to sleep to recover more, I see that there was another couch that is from the opposite side of the living room.

I decide to carefully lift Nightmare from the ground and tried to place her on my back. Surprisingly, she didn't even wake up. I am able to gently place her on the couch for her to be a bit more comfortable without rousing her even the slightest. Looking around to see if there are any other covers, I see at least two more that were in the center of the living room. Grabbing them with my hoofs, I place them on Nightmare Moon.

I notice that she is forming a smile on her mouth. She must be feeling the warmth from the covers I gave her to stay warm. Or, she could be feeling the love I am giving her. She's all I have, now that I think about it. Sisters stay together till death, maybe even beyond that. Though we are immortal, there might be a possibility that I or her could die, but I'm not going to let that happen to me or her.

Without compromising my plan, I trot over to the opposite side of the room where my couch is, slowly getting on it, and placing the covers back on me.

I'm not sure if it is day or night out. But, that isn't a problem for me. As I close my eyes, I whisper quietly, but just loud enough where Nightmare would be able to hear me.

"Goodnight, my dearest sister."

The Elder Wizard (Rewrite)

View Online

As the wind blew through the more broken halls, the library shows no signs of the frigid air in the weathered castle. Surprisingly, the centuries old books still maintain their form in the library, a sign of preservation spells long past.

Nightmare Moon has been trying to help me find a good spell book for me to better understand how to use magic. So far, we've been unsuccessful in finding a bookcase that would contain magic spells, as well as magical theories.

How many bookcases are even here? The bookshelves reach the top of the roof at different points while just walking in the library. Only a few bookcases have fallen; the books they contain are damaged unassumingly both by old age and when the bookcases fell over.

As I continue to look, it comes to my attention that there is a strange statue in front of me. I can tell it is a stallion just by looking at the muzzle, and it appears it has a long beard, a starry cape, and even a matching wizard hat on top of its head.

Getting a closer look, I see a gold plaque that is just underneath the statue:

'Starswirl the Bearded'.

The plaque stats that he was an immensely powerful wizard that changed the rules and limits of magic casting. His role in essence was to create spells that had good intentions, and he worked closely with the Royal Sisters. Unfortunately, most of the spells he created ended up becoming what is known as dark magic. As he continued to research the magic, the darker forms started to come to life.

In addition, the dark spells that he created were put into a book that still remains a mystery of where it is located, but it is rumored that it was placed here in the Royal Sisters' Palace.

Starswirl was never seen again after he finished his last spell. Some believe that he's not dead, that he might still be alive and is just waiting to return to make greater spells for future gifted unicorns like him to perfect. I wonder if this stallion did something that he regrets to this day? Maybe… but who am I to judge of what he did back then? I didn't come to this world when he was around.

Giving a shrug, I continue looking around to find at least one book about magic spells. There some other books about history, science, the Royal sisters of Equestria, really advanced-looking math, different animal species that live in Equestria, among some other miscellaneous literature.

How hard is it to find books that are just about magic? Based on the fact that a third of this world’s species uses it, the books should be abundant. It shouldn’t take a rocket scientist to find books filled with magic, that I might not even have a problem to learn to understand and take time to harness, especially spells that some of the most renowned wizards used.

I lost track as to where Nightmare Moon is. It feels like we're trying to find a needle in a haystack. Did the designers even organize this place? The library here is possibly one of the biggest libraries that was ever made in this world. I've been to libraries in my world, but this one is just too big for even the best of ponies to get around.

As the old saying goes, 'Knowledge is power', but I think there's far too much knowledge in here. This place could be used for multiple universities in my opinion, that's just how many books are in this library.

Continuing further down the aisles, I feel something faintly cracking underneath my hooves. Looking down, I notice that there is a crack encircling my left forehoof, continuing not just from there, but spreading out in all directions from where I am standing.

My blood goes cold; is the floor about to collapse?!

I froeeze in place. I don't think I'll be able to gallop away before it collapses.

The floor cracks. Once, then twice, before succumbing completely sending me plunging down into the darkness.

"AAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!! NIIIGGHHTTMAAARREE!!!"

"Ughh... My head...”

What... what just happened?

Darkness draws all around, encompassing me in its hold, rendering my sight useless.

As my memory returns, I remember that the floor I was on collapsed right under me and made me fall.

"N-Nightmare?” I cough out some of the dust that got in my lungs, “You- ugh..." I can hardly talk. I must've really hit the bottom hard. I try to move my body, but it is painful to even move my legs. My whole body is screaming to be released from all this rubble on top of me. My wings feel like they are crushed, generating pain I never knew I could feel. My bones ache, and I feel them, broken.

Great. That's just great! I'm at the bottom of this place and I'm not sure Nightmare even knows that I'm in this mess.

Is this how it's going to end for me? Am I going to die in the darkness? Nightmare won't even know until she finds a hole in the floor of the library, and I'm not even sure she heard me scream before falling down here.

"S-Somepony..." I cough out more dirt. "Anypony... h-help me."

I can hear hoof steps quietly coming from in front of me as bricks start shifting around the floor.

"N-Nightmare? Is... is t-that you?" I call out.

No answer, as the hoof steps stop completely. Am I just imagining things? I’m sure I heard something.

There it is again. I can hear the sound of bells shaking in unison as the steps start up again. It is getting louder and more prominent as it comes towards me. I know Nightmare Moon doesn't have any bells for her armor or for mine, and it wouldn't make any sense as to why you would need bells for yourself.

The assailant takes a few short breaths, just loud enough for me to hear.

Who is this pony, and why would he/she be under the castle? Could it be another spirit that's like Nightmare Moon? Perhaps it isn't acting in order to see if I’m a threat to it.

"Lost you are, it seems." The voice sounds wise and well spoken.

"Y-You could s-say that.” I slightly laugh out of nervousness, “I can s-sure use some h-help getting all the rubble off of me though..."

"You must be patient. Don't struggle, I shall help you get back on your hooves." I can feel some of the weight being lifted off me.

I try to move my body again, but I withdraw due to having a sharp sensation of pain all around me.

"You are injured. Stay still, it will be over in a minute or two."

I feel myself being levitated off the ground. The bruises I sustained are disappearing and I can feel my bones starting to reconnect to one another. There is no pain, only a slight sense of bliss.

The anonymous pony then gently places me back on the ground.

"Thee art most wondrous, for thou art powerful."

He's speaking Old English it seems...

"Who are you to help me in this place of darkness?" I respond in kind.

"Aren't thou Nightmare Moon, hmm?" he asks.

"My name is Nightmare Moon," I answer his question.

"My name is Starswirl, or Starswirl the Bearded as I have come to be known."

Wait, Starswirl the Bearded, the pony from the stature earlier? So it is true. He still lives to this day.

"Ah, thou art surprised? Surely thee must be, for thy eyes don't forswear." He gives a chuckle.

Well, he is right about that! I presume that he must have a spell that makes him live forever!

"Hehe. Yeah.” I respond as I drop into a more relaxed position, “For I am surprised that you are standing here before me. Why have you come to this place, Starswirl?"

He shows himself to be the wizard of mystery, at long last. The statue had every bit of detail on him just like I see him now. His eyes, for the most part, look golden. More like a darkish color of gold. Though old, he still shows that he can walk without needing a cane, if elderly ponies are even able to use them. His coat is dark gray. His mane and tail are light grey, almost white. His beard and hooves are a snow-white color.

For his appearance and magic, he is a unicorn, and a very powerful unicorn indeed.

There happens to be an old book strapped to his back, the cover a leathery blue with an elaborate golden border and lock on it. “What’s that book on your back?” I ask quizzically.

"I’m afraid I cannot say exactly… but it holds magic no-one should touch; it’s much too powerful for anyone.” Adopting a new mentality on me, he shifts to modern speech.

"You mean... That's the book that's been rumored to be in the Royal Sisters' palace?" I think that perhaps the book would have been destroyed to prevent power hungry ponies from using it for evil deeds. I wouldn't dare try to even think of having temptation to take Starswirl's book away from him.

Wait! I must tell him who I am. How will he react? He knows that I am NIghtmare Moon, so he wouldn't just give me his book like this.

Taking in a deep breath, I tell him who I am. "Although you see me as Nightmare Moon, I'm not really her. I've just been reincarnated in her image," I confess. "My real name is Ada.” His eyes are closed. He doesn't say anything. But I can tell he has listened to what I were saying. Then, without even thinking of what he might say next, he starts to… chuckle?

"I knew you were different when I saw you, Ada. I might be old, but I can sense who's who." Now I'm flabbergasted. Did he knew this whole time?

"Why, I know you are now a sister to Nightmare Moon, and you have changed her outlook greatly in the matter of just two days. Many would fail to try to change the Mare of the Moon for who she is. But you have been successful in ridding her of the hatred and sorrow that was deep inside her heart."

"How do you even know that?" How does he know this stuff? Does he read minds or something?

"Remember the voice you heard at the start of your journey, Ada? Did you not recognize it?" He smiles and looks at me.

"Wait, you mean you were the voice?"

"Yes, Ada. I was the voice you heard at the beginning of your new life here in Equestria. I listened to your wish, and I made it come true. The voices from the pond answered your wish to help Nightmare Moon redeem herself? That was also me."

My jaw drops to the ground.

"What? T-that was you, Starswirl the Bearded? " I sit down, and I can hear him laughing softly at my dumbfounded reaction.

“It is a bit of a surprise, and I see you have heard of me before.” He glances up at the hole that I fell through in thought. “You also fell through one of the traps I set up so long ago… at least you know where I am now.” Starswirl looks back at me.

"I do believe you were also wanting to find a book that contained magic spells, yes?" I merely nod to his question.

The book that he has on his back starts to levitate towards me. I slowly extend out a foreleg to grab onto it. The seal that is on the blue cover contains an alicorn that has a gold coat, a show of great power.

There is something that is written under the seal.

Umbra possidet, lux perstat

I look up to notice Starswirl giving me a smile. "That book is all that you need to learn about dark and light magic Ada, but be warned. The spells that are in my book are more powerful than any other spells that ponykind has seen before. I was the only one who tried to master these spells… but I made a grave mistake in trying to master them.” He holds his head down for a moment before his golden-yellow eyes glance back at me with the same smile as before.

“Aren’t you supposed to be a master of magic?” I ask. That last part that he said confuses me… How can I master something that one of the said greatest wizards of pony history wasn’t able to complete? "I'm merely new to magic that this world has to offer. How are you certain that I could master these spells, Starswirl?"

"I know you can do this, Ada. You just need to believe in who you are. My spells may be difficult for me to use, but I see great potential for you in both kinds of magic." He slowly backs away and starts disappearing into the dark. “I wish you good luck in your training, Ada. Use time to your advantage. Good luck, and may the night aid you in your quest to become what I could not." His voice echos in my head.

A light made itself present to my right.

"Go to the light. It is your exit, Ada. There you will meet up with Nightmare Moon. Don't keep her waiting," whispers Starswirl.

Nodding, I place carry the book in my left hoof and gallop over to the light. While doing so, I enter the throne room, and light shines through the windows. After a quick look around, wherever I was in has disappeared.

"Nightmare? Are you here?" I ask.

My ears perk up as the sound of a door creaking open from behind me. Turning around, I can see Nightmare Moon getting ready to tackle me to the ground, causing me to drop the book.

"Whoa, whoa. Easy there, Nightmare! I'm here. I'm not going anywhere."

"Where did you run off to?” She proclaims as we both got to our hooves, “It’s not like you to just disappear like that.”

"Relax, Nightmare. I got a book that I found in another part of the castle." I point my hoof at where the book is now on the floor. She turns her head to where I am pointing. As she did so, her pupils contract to where I can't see them.

She looks back at me and said, "Is that what I think it is?"

Nodding my head, I say, "Yes, it is. Starswirl the Bearded's spell book." I don't want to tell her about what really happened when we got separated. I might tell her that I met him in person.

I walk over to grab the book with my hoof, and now I just need to figure out how to open it. There seems to be no key to unlock it, but perhaps there is another way to open it: magic.

"Magic is a powerful tool, Ada. It's like an animal, but you must learn to control it. I had to resist dark magic many times back when I was young, but you should have an easier time with it. Concentration is most important to understand taming magic; just don't kid yourself. You were born from the night that was created out of jealousy, pain, and sorrow by Princess Luna. Those three emotions will keep you sane. Take my advice seriously, and I will continue to teach you over the course of your life in Equestria."

Smiling, I tell Nightmare that we should leave the castle for an hour or two. She seems to understand that it is time to learn magic outside. Wouldn't want to blow this castle off the face of Equestria, after all.

I'm going to need a saddlebag to keep the book from slipping off my back. Surely there would be a few in the armory room for me to take with me. I might also need to make a hoodie or cloak so that nopony could see my face. They would probably alert the Princesses and everypony in Ponyville, so I must be cautious in my surroundings.

"One more thing. Allow me to give you a temporary disguise, Ada. It's to ensure you are safe when walking into the fields where you were placed in before. This may cause you to black out, but you shouldn’t worry. Everything will go according to plan."

I feel a sudden headache hitting me all of a sudden. As I look down to look at my forelegs, I notice that the upper part of my legs are turning to dark blue, while the lower part fads into midnight black. The blue color is still spreading all around me. The armor has disappeared, replacing them with a black cloak that covers my wings. I also feel a sudden pain around my body where I can't bear it any longer.

Now feel my consciousness waning, a rather common occurrence lately. I don't even bother fighting, feeling too exhausted.

"Ada!" Nightmare shouts, but her voice is being tuned down while entering the void of darkness.

"You'll be fine, I promise. It's merely temporary. I am giving you an opportunity, and by the time your current appearance wears off, you will know magic and how to change back at will."

“I do believe a new name is in order, considering your new form. How about Nuray, yes? It fits you perfectly."

"Good luck."

The Stranger of the Everfree Forest (Rewrite)

View Online

Oh… Equestria. All my muscles feel exhausted. It feels like I was exercising for a marathon.

"You did not exercise, Nuray. I've just turned you into a different form. Though you are still an alicorn you are no longer in the form of Nightmare Moon," Starswirl informs me.

"Now I remember. Thanks for helping me once again, Starswirl."

"It's nothing, really. Wake up, you may be wondering as to how you look now."

His voice slowly fades as he talks to me. Hopefully he'll come back to me to talk again.

As I slowly crack my eyes open, the encompassing haze returns to blur my vision, and at least five minutes pass before my eyesight returns. I try to raise myself up, and feel dizzy for the most part.

I feel something off, as if I shrank a couple of feet. I could've sworn the throne room looked a lot smaller before. Did I shrink somehow?

Another difference that I feel about my appearance is that my mane covers the right part of my face. I use my hoof to get my mane to stop blocking my view for my right eye. My mane did not seem to flow anymore. It is just a regular mane, the color of my mane having changed to be a simple dark blue, without any stars in it.

Looking down at my forelegs, I can see that my hooves remain black along with the lower part of my legs, the upper part having turned into dark blue and reached the upper part of my body. Even the armor I wear is no longer present, instead are replaced by a black cloak that conceal my wings. This would be useful in the future, especially when meeting others, such as Twilight Sparkle.

It seems that Starswirl’s spell worked, as I no longer look like Nightmare Moon.

I need a mirror to look at myself. Surely a mirror would help me get a better look at myself.

However before I can think of leaving the throne room, I look around. I can't see Nightmare anywhere.

“Starswirl,” I start. “Where's Nightmare?”

“When I created the spell to change your form, it resulted in Nightmare Moon to be turned into a necklace,” he explains. “The necklace is around your chest.”

Looking down, I can see what looks like a silver crescent moon that also has a blue gem encrusted in the center, which sparkles like that of the stars at night.

“You're telling me her spirit is locked away in this necklace?” I question.

“I wouldn't say ‘locked away’. You can still talk to Nightmare Moon. However, she's currently resting. So, it will take time for her to reawaken for both of you to talk to each other,” he ends.

“I see. Thank you for telling me, Starswirl.”

That reminds me, I need to pick up the book Starswirl gave me.

The book, thankfully remains unopened and undamaged. I pick it up and place it on my back. I seriously need to practice magic. It's getting annoying having to pick things up with my hooves… or my mouth, as things often slipe out of my hooves.

Walking into the armory, I see the armor that I noticed as I entered the castle. Along with providing protection in the long run, the black and blue armor fit me quite well. Beside it, a saddlebag was situated for storing the armor, which I could later re-purpose.

Well, this is great!

Carefully taking all the armor off the mannequin, I put the saddlebags on my back. It wasn't that hard to secure it. Okay, perhaps if you try to make sure that the cloak does not fall off when placing the saddlebags on my back, it may prove a little more difficult than expected. Still, I am successful in making sure that both my cloak and the saddlebags do not fall to the ground pathetically.

I wonder if I should take the armor with me? There are dangerous animals that still remain in the Everfree Forest, and the Timberwolves would surely try to rip me into pieces like the ones that tried to kill me when I was still in Nightmare's body.

There would be a drawback if I were to come to wearing the armor in Ponyville. They would probably think I was a guard that came from Canterlot Castle, but it would be more suspicious if they saw me continuing to wear the armor in the village.

This is a hard decision to make, as I don't want to cause any trouble. However, extra protection would definitely help while venturing in the Everfree Forest. Would Twilight understand as to why I would be wearing armor? After all, I could just store the armor in one of my bags later. That could work, and I would put the spell book in the other bag.

Alright, I'm in charge. I'll do it for my safety.

Using my hooves to grab the armor on the floor, I made sure that I got ready to go back outside to visit Ponyville. Once I'm out of the Everfree Forest, I'll just take the armor off and put it in my saddlebags. Taking one last look at the armory to grab Starswirl's book, I quickly made my way towards the exit, hoping to get more answers than questions.

The forest seems to be changing drastically, and in a short span of time, too. The environment changed wholly from the last time I was here. Even if the sun was still out, the forest seems to be planning on doing something mischievous.

It must have something in store for me. Just like I remember: this place is like a living animal. It's watching my every movement. The wind is blowing, making the trees sound like they’re breathing. I don’t think many ponies would want to be here for any period of time, and I'm positive when it's dark here, that the creatures from the deepest part of the forest will come out and kill anything they see as a source of food.

A chill goes down my spine. If these creeps want to play a game with me, then it's a game they'll get. I'll be the one who towers over them, and I'll be the one who shows them who's the most powerful figure they'll ever mess with in Equestria!

Wow. Did I really just go that far in trying to send a mental message like that?

Despite my big talk, not one animal has been roused so far by my tromp through the forest, which is a bit unsettling.

Suddenly I hear something from the left. There is a small, audible crunch that comes from the trees. At first I thought it sounded like a squirrel that climbed into a tree.

Before thinking of walking again, a large figure from the tree came down to face me with the eyes of what I could imagine were death itself.

I recognize the animal as a manticore from my earlier studies, and is definitely more dangerous than the other animals I have fought before. It has saliva coming out of its mouth, licking its lips with its tongue and showing me its canine teeth. It's teeth could probably rip the flesh off my bones in seconds. Reminds me of a great white shark's teeth, only sharper and deadlier.

Come on, Nuray. You can do this.

I close my eyes and try to manifest as much magic as possible to attack the manicore. I charge my volatile spell, and the manticore gives a ferocious roar as it begins charging at me.

I feel a surge of power, as magic flows through my entire body. My body shakes as my horn charges itself, and I try to focus on the wild manticore.

The beam of raw magic strikes the manticore, ripping a hole straight through the beast, stopping it in its tracks. It fumbles an extra foot towards me before coughing a final breath and dying.

"Ugh..." I groan while rubbing my temple. I think I used too much magic this time. No wonder that book said alicorn magic is unstable. I can't even cast a spell without feeling exhausted.

I need to get out of here before something else tries to stand in my way. Need to get to Ponyville.

I get back on my hooves, and slowly walking out of the Everfree Forest. It's easy to get in, but exceedingly hard to trace your steps to exit one of the most dangerous places in Equestria.

At least I still have the armor to keep me safe for the time being.

My horn picks up a rigorous ache as it throbbed, making me exclaim in a bout of pain. I wish I could go back in time and stop myself from using up so much energy to fight that no good manicore.

If I don't g-get outta this place, I'm going to... c-collapse or worse," I stutter in my speech.

"You need to find a good place to rest. Leaving can wait." Starswirl's voice shows concern over my health.

"Alright, f-fine." Before I cab even think of continuing, my ears start twitching on both sides. I hear the sound of hoofsteps against the ground. I can't quite make out if it is just one or more "ponies" that have decided walk in the Everfree Forest, however.

I feel my head throb again as I am reminded of my headache. Determined to find the source of the hoofsteps, I set out in a brisk trot.

“Hello? Anypony there?" I say.

No answer. I continue to walk in the approximate direction of where I assume the hoofsteps might be coming from, a rustle from behind reminds me of the dangers of this forest, and I pick up the pace into a canter.

Right behind that bush is where I hear the noise. I burst into a clearing, only to make the acquaintance of a rather thick locking branch that seems to have a rather large grudge from when I blasted it’s tree apart two nights ago.

Thunk.

A pleasure to meet you too, Mr. Branch.

The throbbing in my head has finally disappeared, although I am left with a rather dull pain from the impact from the branch. Placing a hoof to my head, I notice my helmet has been removed.

Raising my head up once again, I also notice that my chest plate, saddlebags, and my cloak that I wore have also removed from my body. They are placed on a table just to my left, the spell book on top of my saddlebags, unopened.

Looking around, I see from my rather soft bed that I’m in some kind of cave, that is furnished with only the basics, and a small carpet as a centerpiece under the table. Guess whoever found me at least had some sense of hospitality.

My mane is all messed up. Using my hooves, I fix my mane back to its original state. Though my mane covers my right eye, I decide it isn't a problem. I can still see perfectly fine.

Hoofsteps come from the other room, attracting my attention. Turning my head to the right at the door, which are actually curtains acting like double doors, revealed an earth pony. She has thin, blue jewelry on her bright white body, and a warm light yellow mane. Her long mane is wavy, but is tied together on her neck to where it falls to the right.

"Who are you?"

She doesn't say anything, instead just looking down at me, smiling. “Cursed Charm. Heard of me?”

"No, never heard of you.”

“I’m surprised. You must be new, everypony in these parts know me,” She tells me with a cocky tone in her voice. “What’s your name?”

"I go by two names. You can call me either Ada or Nuray, but I prefer Nuray," I answer. “Are you the one who knocked me out?”

“Err, no! O-of course not! I uh, just found you like that.” I have my doubts, but I don't press the issue.

Charm looks at me and I can sense her looking at my neck. She points at it with her forehoof, shaking her head slightly, “I don’t think so. Why do you have the necklace of Nightmare Moon?” She looks back at me with a smile, “Know her?”

Her voice is curious yet inquisitive. How in the world could she know?

Looking back at Charm, I have to make sure I don't fully release my secrets to her.

“I honestly don't know why I have this necklace on me. I was venturing in the Everforest and stumbled upon the old castle where the Royal sisters once lived in. While I was inside of the castle for about a couple of minutes, I felt sick to my stomach and passed out in the throne room. After waking up, I left the castle, but I didn't know that I had this necklace on me since that happened.” Is she going to believe in what I have just told her?

She continues to look at me, listening. I give a nervous chuckle to break the silence.

“Riiiight.” Charm smiles warmly at me with a slightly disbelieving smile, then tilts her head to the side slightly. “However...”

Uh oh.

“Why Nightmare Moon’s necklace?”

She gets off from her chair and goes to one of the bookshelves to grab a book for me to look at. The book she takes from one of the shelves has a stitched picture, a circle that has half the moon and the sun on the other half. Charm promptly sat down with the book on an armchair, seemingly ready to show me something.

“Nightmare Moon is just a spirit. She only took form after the Princess of Night after her sanity vanished. However, another spirit exists, but currently only in legend,” She turns the page near the beginning, depicting a pink-maned white mare on one side and a dark-blue mare with a lighter, fading blue mane on the other side. Below them, like a mirror, are two others. Charm flipps the book over to where the mirrored mares are right side up, facing me.

One I immediately recognize as Nightmare Moon, and she is under the blue mare’s reflection. The other side is the same pony, except larger and having raging flames as her mane and tail, even sparks of fire coming from her burning, red-orange eyes.

Turning the book around again, she continues with the tale. “‘When the new dawn arises, a new era is brought to us to shroud the night in the Sun’s glorious rays.’” The way she says it is making it sound like she definitely knows what she is talking about. She places her hoof right above the flaming mare’s picture, “Solar Flare, alternate Princess of Sun, like Nightmare Moon is to Princess of Night. Many believe they don’t exist or are gone forever.”

"You don’t believe me? I don’t blame you, many didn’t believe in Nightmare Moon at first.”

"Well, I... this is just new to me," I manage to say, trying to avoid revealing my obvious bluff.

“I think you know more than you’re letting on,” A coy smile forms on her face. “Oh yes, I believe you know quite a bit more, Nightmare Moon’s puppet.”

“I’m not her puppet! We’re rather fond of each other!” I defend, only realizing my blunder shortly after. “Err... oops?”

“So I’m right! You do know her!”

“Yes. How did you know?”

“Well you’re not exactly doing a good job of hiding it, miss alicorn. You’ve got wings and everything!” Realization struck me, as I look at my wings to remember my cloak had been removed before I woke up. “So, what do you know about this, Nuray?”

“In truth, I only known a little about the Princesses. I only know about Luna being turned into Nightmare Moon and being banished to the moon for a thousand years, and it goes on from there. Never have I heard about Solar Flare.” I may have read a few books in the castle, but there was no information that told me of another demon that was different from Nightmare.

That's something that is making me worry. How will this solar demon come to Equestria? Luna was turned into Nightmare Moon due to Celestia's negligence for her, and the fact she was given more recognition than Luna from the commoners.

Charm nodds slightly, "Alright. Anyways, she’s new to many, and then just a legend. Elder's tale, foal's play-fantasy. She is essentially the same as Nightmare Moon, until recently. Not much is known, about her, as Solar Flare exists in myth only currently. However if Nightmare Moon is real..." She pauses. "Then it wouldn’t be too much of a stretch to say she is, too."

Oh god. Oh this is not good! If Celestia sees me in Nightmare's form, then... there's going to be unprecedented destruction occurring in Equestria!! It'll be my fault if this occurs, so I should probably try to avoid Celestia at all costs.

A chill goes down my spine. I gulp slowly, just processing all the new information. Now I'm worried! This is bad.

"Nightmare, why didn't you tell me any of this?" I put my hooves on both sides of my head. "You're my sister. Please, Nightmare, answer me. Say anything! Something that I can do to prevent something like this from happening!"

There is no answer coming from her.

"I need you Nightmare.”

"Are you afraid of Solar Flare?" Charm asks curiously, probably waiting for me to speak, but I find that it is weird of how she knows what is going on.

“I should go tell Twilight Sparkle about this-"

Her head perks up slightly to look at me after I said Twilight's name. "Twilight... Sparkle? The Princess of Friendship? You know her, too?"

"I merely heard of her from Nightmare Moon. Nightmare said Twilight and her friends were the ones that helped Luna be free from her grasp, but that was three years ago. I don't know much about what Twilight does now since then," I explain.

"She’s the Princess of Friendship, ascended. Lives in the Crystal Palace in Ponyville, and she’s the Leader of the Friendship Council with five others, the Elements of Harmony." Her voice dips into a sadder tone, trailing off as she looks away from me, staying quiet for a moment.

"Hey," I start. "Is something wrong, Charm?" I feel concern as her voice just turned sadd after her last words about Twilight’s group of friends.

She looks back at me and shook her head. "I’m fine." Charm says reassuringly.

"Do you... maybe want to talk about it?" I ask her. "Sometimes it's better to tell others about what happened back in the past to feel better. I listened to Nightmare's darkest secrets about her regretting taking away Luna from Celestia all those moons ago." I'm starting to think I'm learning more and more about how to speak differently in this world than the world I left behind.

“I’m fine, trust me. It’s nothing too bad. So, you’re going to be visiting Ponyville soon then?" she changs the question, again her curiosity peeking through.

"That's correct, Charm." I nodd. "I'm probably going to stay there for a couple of days. I'll probably go to Twilight first and maybe even talk with her friends while doing so. In addition, talk to other ponies in Ponyville,” I reply with a smile.

Her smile grows, "I can escort you to Twilight. We... have a bit of a history." She slightly perks up, but I can tell whatever she is thinking about earlier is tied to Twilight.

"Let's go then, Charm." Smiling more, I go to where all my belongs are located. Getting my cloak on, putting my book and armor in my saddlebags and putting the saddlebags on my back, I go back to Charm. "Want to go now?" I ask her.

Charm nodds happily, "Sure! One moment," She quickly made her way to a coat rack and puts on a dark black cloak, similar to mine and starts walking towards me, grabbing the book she shows me and balancing it on her back.

"I can carry your book if you want, I have plenty of space in my saddlebags. If it's alright with you. You seem to be having a hard time trying to balance it on your back." I tell her.

She nods her head, “Sure. Go ahead.” After she hands me her book, I watch her go to a wall behind me, which seems to have no door. She looks up at it, then raise her fore hooves and hits hard against the wall.

All of a sudden, part of the wall in front of her falls down, revealing a hidden door that leads straight up to the surface. There is a platform in front of us, the sunlight filling the room from a rather large hole.

"Come on!" Charm jumps up and hurries to the center of the platform, and the way this is set up makes me wonder if this is some sort of underground elevator.

Hurrying up, I run up to Charm and get on the platform. It must've taken a long time for her to make something like this.

She looks at me and then stands up straight, her ears twitching. Charm might trying to here is there is anyone from above. She then looks at the ground. She stomps her left foreleg twice, "All clear!" She looks back at me, "Stay still, follow me."

Not even a few seconds later, the platform launches like a rocket, the walls going from compact dirt and rocks to... wood? I glance at Charm, who is looking up, focusing. The sky is coming closer as we zoom up. "Now jump!"

Nodding my head, I jump off the platform right as it reaches it’s apex. I notice that we are still in the Everfree Forest, but it would seem that we are not in the deepest parts of the forest. This area seems to be a lot calmer, as I don't need to fight against another manticore again anytime soon. The sky is all I can see above me, as I look out in the distance. A sea of treetops floods the horizon, mostly around me, as behind me stood Ponville.

The platform stops at the top, and Charm presses her hoof on it, pushing down. The platform clicks and goes down slightly, as the hole where it used to be is replaced by leaves and twigs. She looks at me and promptly declares, "My secret lab. Pretty great, isn’t it?”

“Well, yes.”

Charm has a lot of secrets, it seems. I give a small chuckle. "Let's keep on moving, Charm. I hope Twilight is still available," I inform her. She nods.

I proceed to follow her over the field to the road to Ponyville. Looks like I will finally going to be making some progress.

The Meeting with Twilight Sparkle (Rewrite)

View Online

"We’re at the edge of the forest now. Ponyville is this way."

As we advance towards Ponyville, I recall a conversation about Twilight that Charm and I had. While it was not overly detailed, it was reassuring that Twilight was described to be almost as nice as literally the most reclusive pony in town.

We begin to carefully make our way through the outskirts of Ponyville, me following in Charm's step. We have mostly stayed in the shadows of the buildings, until I start seeing a towering castle up ahead. A magnificent structure, made completely out of crystals.

"Here’s the princess’ home. Pretty impressive, right?” Charm points to the castle as we make our way around to the front. The castle is massive, towering above any other structure in the town.

“Yeah, this isn’t what I expected at all.” Charm sharply moves her head back to get the hood off, and approaches the large double doors. Knocking three times on it, she steps back and waited.

"Hope she's still here, Charm," I said. "Are you certain that she's not busy with any royal duties as of right now? If she is, we can come back another time when she’s free." Running a kingdom can be difficult for a new ruler. It probably takes tremendous amounts of energy to keep everything in order.

I hear the sound of two feet coming toward the double doors. One of the doors opens, and out stepped a small purple dragon.

"Oh, hello Charm," he said with a smile, "Twilight is up in her study room if you need her." He then took notice of me. "And who's she?"

Charm looks at the book for a moment, then back at the dragon. "Uh, thank you Spike," She gestures to me with her hoof, "This is Ada, she’s new to Ponyville."

"Hello, Spike," I smiled. He looked familiar... I remember that in the old books, and one of them seemed to be newer than the others as the ink had less signs of wear. It was about a young unicorn that passed a test, and was given a pet dragon as her reward to raise... Spike. "I go by Nuray.”

I remember Starswirl giving me this new name when he gave me this disguise to. I know I can control whether I stay in this form or go back into Nightmare’s form, but I am going to make sure I do not go back into that form until I think it is right for me to do so. I know my name is technically Ada, but I think I should stick with this name for the time being.

Spike looked at me, confused for a moment, then understood what was happening. "Nice to meet you Nuray.”

Once I stepped inside, Spike closes the door, and it echos throughout the hallways. My jaw drops at the colossal size of the place.

"Huge, isn't it?" Charm's confusing-at-first question echos in vast space.

"I'll say." I can't find the right words to say about the inside of Twilight's castle. I'm still wondering how it's able to stand with all the weight of the crystals.

“Well, come along then!” Charm calls, her cloak now hanging on a coat rack near the door. I opt to keep my cloak, instead just lowering my hood to preserve the disguise.

As we walk in the hallway with Charm and Spike chatting behind me, it seems to stretch for quite a while, it leading to a large throne room. If it was only medieval-looking, I could easily mistake this place for something from a King Arthur story, just because of the round table.

Charm seems to notice me staring in awe at the thrones and table in front of us as we stopped near it. “I think the friendship council meets here once in awhile. The table is a map of Equestria, shown by Twilight’s magic. She then points up, and I don’t know how much farther my jaw could drop… was that…?

“They’re old tree roots, from the old home of the young princess. It was destroyed by Lord Tirek. It now shares the memories of Princess Twilight Sparkle and her friends inside the jewels.”

I want to fly up there and touch the jewels, just to see what they would look like up close… but by doing so, I would be exposing my alicorn-hood.

“If I remember correctly, the study hall is this way,” Charm called as I found that I have been standing there for a few seconds. Spike must have run off somewhere, because I didn’t see him with us anymore, and Charm is at the foot of a curved staircase. “Up here!”

Hearing Charm's voice from the staircase, I get myself up the stairs without any problems… surprisingly, as the stairs look like shiny colored glass and could easily be slippery if one was not careful.

It didn't take long to actually make it to the second floor of the palace. In addition, I able to see different types of artwork that were in their picture frames. The frames are made of gold and a few silver. This place must have really cost a lot to build… then again, it was then I noticed the study room was at the other end of the new hallway we are both both walking in.

"Spike said she’s in here." I nod as I casually walk to the door. Pushing the door slowly, I can see a lavender pony that didn't stir when we walked in. Due to her head being lowered to read the book, it was difficult for me to see what her eye color is.

I couldn't tell what the title of the book she was reading. Whatever was in that book, she was was glued to it.

I walk up to the table she was reading her book.

“Princess?” I ask.

My talking causes Twilight to almost jump in her seat, but not to an extent to where she would have flown up in the air.

She looks at me with a surprise expression to know I successfully walked into the library without her being alerted that the door had been opened by me and Charm.

“Whoops. I didn't mean to cause you to react like that, Princess.” I said.

“You're not the first one to cause me to jump,” she said. “One of my friends has done this to me multiple times. It's alright.” She ends.

Her attention went back to Charm, “Hello Charm! Nice to see you’re back!” She gives a smile to Charm.

“I… I have something to show you something, Princess. Hang on for a just a moment.” Charm walks over to me where she grabs her book from my saddlebag and places it on the floor once she closed the door.

Charm turned to the page with the reflections of Celestia and Luna from before, then places her hoof slightly below Nightmare’s picture. “I have a reason to believe Nightmare Moon has returned...” She then points at me. I think my heart just skipped a beat when she pointed at me. Charm noticed my reaction after she said Nightmare had returned to Equestria.

Twilight, was now looking dead at me.

"Ummm... hehehe..." I give her a sheepish smile.

Twilight looks at her in disbelief, and before I had a chance to explain, said “I’m sorry, but what do you mean returned?”

“Nightmare Moon returned in a new form. She is still a spirit, but is using Nuray as a disguise.” Charm looked around until she saw my necklace.

“She has a necklace resembling Nightmare Moon, and this,” she gestures a hoof for me to come towards the mirror. As soon as I get to where Charm wants me to be, Twilight follows and watches, confused and curious of what is going on. Charm looks at me, then gestures at the mirror. “Touch the mirror, see for yourself.”

"How are you certain Twilight won't try to hurt me at that point?" I whisper. "If she sees this, I don't know what I'm gonna do." I'm not even sure how this would play out. Will she understand? Or will she try to knock me out right after I place my hoof against the mirror?

Sighing, I decide to press my hoof against the mirror to see if anything might happen while looking straight at it.

Nothing happened.

"Charm. Are you sure this is supposed to ev-" I notice the reflection from the mirror was starting to change drastically, myself swirling and morphing into another shape. My reflection started to shape shift into Nightmare Moon. I raise my hoof, and the reflection follows my every movement.

It's working. I point to the left and right. Up and down. Even putting my hoof on the side of my face seems to match exactly what is going on in the reflection. I could hear Charm whispering saying “I told you so”.

"Please. Don't leave me, Ada," Nightmare spoke in a horrified tone.

"Nightmare…..” I said. “I’m here.” I spoke calmly.

The reflection morphs and changes back to who I am. I put one hoof against the mirror in hope to see her again. “Nightmare?”

Charm lightly nudges me, gesturing for me to see a very surprised and shocked Twilight. “WHAT?!” Charm's smile grew at Twilight’s reaction. “But how?! How can she be back?! Spike!” She turns towards the door as she called him, and a moment later Spike walked in, apparently knowing that tone of urgency.

“Yes?” he asks, very concerned.

“I need you to write a letter and send it to Luna.”

Spike goes over to a desk and grabs a parchment and a quill, “All set!”

Twilight sighs and starts to dictate for Spike to record.

“Dear Princess Luna,” she starts, observing every detail of me from afar, “I need to inform you of something very important, I have discovered something that is imperative you take a look at. One of my friends, Cursed Charm, has discovered someone called Nuray.”

"Twilight, I don't think it would be a good idea to write to Luna as of right now," I interrupt after she finishes speaking.

Twilight shakes her head, "I'm sorry, but we need to let Luna know about this... if we don't, all of Equestria could be at stake!"

“Look, Twilight. If Luna were to see that letter,” I stop to think about what the outcome would be if it were to come to this. “She might attack me. How do you know Luna isn't going to just end me where I stand right before you?” I could only imagine the face of Luna looking right at me with a face full of fury. Nightmare probably doesn't want to see Luna at this point.

Twilight begins to talk once again. “I’ve known her for years, and I haven’t seen her do anything that I would indicate she would attack you.” Twilight states. “I just want to be sure that Nightmare Moon isn’t a threat to me, my friends, and to Equestria, Nuray. Please understand that is important that I tell Princess Luna about it.” Twilight then continues to talk to Spike to write to Luna.

Charm, who puts her hoof on my shoulder gives me a reassuring smile that everything is going to be okay.

“Well, I should have expected that,” said Charm. “I’m sure everything will turn out fine.”

“Well, alright.” I am sort of nervous wondering how this might all go down. I don’t want anything bad to happen to me or to Nightmare. We’ve only known each other a few days. Which is really a short time to then leave the Everfree Forest and to then meet with Princess Twilight to discuss the matter at hand. I mean, at hoof.

“Nightmare Moon has returned to Equestria,” Twilight continues. “I don’t know how it is possible for Nightmare to have come back and to also get inside a pony. Despite her being present, Nuray is somehow able to control herself. I do not know how this is possible, but Nightmare might possibly be locked inside of her and might not have any control of Nuray physically or mentally. So far, there are no signs of Nightmare Moon having any sort of control.”

From your friend, Twilight Sparkle.”

“Twi-light….Spar-kle.” Spike finishes the letter as he then wraps it up and then... breathes fire on it? Why would he even need to do that?

Twilight looked at me to see confusion in my eyes.

“Spike sends letters via fire to be sent either to the Princesses or to anypony anywhere.” Twilight informs me.

“Oh.”

I am just hoping that by the time Luna gets the message, she won’t do anything brash. If Charm and Twilight are right about this, then there is no point for me to argue to both of them. On the other hand, it could be harrowing if Luna does turn out to be trouble.

“Hey, Twilight, is it possible for me to wait outside the library while you and Charm talk to Luna?” I asked. “If that’s alright.”

She gave a nod to me. “Of course. I understand.”

“Thank you Twilig--”

A bright flash of light obscures my vision, followed by a sharp distortion of sound.

I use my hoof to cover my eyes to regain my sight. A dreadful few seconds went by as the light dimming down enough to see again. As my eyes finish adjusting, my heart freezes to an icy stop. The silence is deafening.

Princess Luna, in all her majestic fury, is staring right at me.

I have a feeling this isn’t going to end well.

Escape from the Castle

View Online

“Princess?”

Anger has consumed Luna's face. She looks as if a thousand deaths could be shattered with a single glance, yet remain stoic and focused.

Whole seconds feel like an eternity, Luna’s rage swallowing the room. Quickly, I realize that the single letter Twilight sent seems to have had evicted such emotion from Luna that she feels compelled to evict me from the continent.

Gathering the courage to speak I open my mouth, yet no words came out. It takes me what feels like an eternity before I realize that Luna herself is stopping my speech.

Not only is it now impossible for me to talk, but also I can’t even move most of my body. My heart feels like it would explode as anxiety overtakes me.

I can feel myself being levitated into the air to only see Twilight and Charm looking petrified waiting to see what Luna was going to do.

My body smashes into the wall of the library, straight through a bookshelf as I violently accelerate. A sharp blast of pain courses through my body.

I give a small groan as I slowly got up from the high impact from Luna throwing me across the room, only to see Luna walking towards me, her piercing eyes still locked onto mine.

“NURAY! RUN!” Charm shouted.

Dogging a blast of magic, I vault over the railing of the library, letting my wings catch the air to slow my fall. As I run towards the exit, I look up for a split second to see Luna firing a beam of magic at me, and I duck under it as the magic made contact with one of the bookcases, flinging debris everywhere.

Using the smoke as a cover, I sweep through searching for an exit. Finding my way through the smoke and burned papers floating down to the floor, I get to the door Charm and I used to meet with Twilight earlier.

Pushing the door open, I began galloping down through the hallway. Hoofsteps echo behind me, Luna pursuing her prey. She is not going to give up.

I can't allow myself to stop now. Luna wants me dead and there is nothing that I can do to explain to her about Nightmare and me.

I make a left turn into a new hallway. It is only a matter of time before I felt another blast of magic hit a crystal wall in front of me.

Pushing myself more, I turned to make a right in another hallway. Quickly, I opened one of the doors in the hallway to then close it and pray that Luna did not see me.

I started to hear Luna talking while galloping in the hallway.

“When I get my hoof on you Nightmare, I will make sure you regret coming back!” The room shook from her scream. Luna wants me dead. She wants to kill Nightmare, and I’m right in her way.

I didn’t hear her shouting anymore, nor did I hear the sound of her hoofsteps coming to me. I let out a premature breath. How long can I keep this up without Luna finding me?

She didn’t even let me explain at all! It was like she only read maybe a few lines then hastily jumped to a conclusion.

My ears perked up as hoofsteps echoed through the hallway.

“Princess Twilight,” Charm said in an urgent tone. “You have to calm Princess Luna down!”

“I know, I know!” Twilight replied with a sign of fear in her voice. “I didn’t expect Princess Luna to just go crazy like that.”

“This is my fault, Twilight. I brought her here, so I’m responsible for Luna’s outbreak. I just wanted you to know about Nightmare’s return,” Charm told Twilight.

“Hey,” Twilight spoke up. “I know you just wanted to help out, but we both need to remain calm. We need to find Nuray to keep her away from Luna.”

I desperately wanted to show a sign that I was alright, but I knew that it wouldn’t end up well in the long run. Even if Twilight was successful in calming down Luna, it would be useless to do so.

When Luna was staring at me there was no sympathy toward me. There was only hate, anger, and rage.

The only thing I can think of is to leave the castle and try to find somewhere away from Luna. I could go back to the Royal Castle of the Two Sisters, but that would be the first place where Luna would look.

Perhaps going somewhere else would be best to stay low for a while. But where would I go? It’s not like I have map to tell me where I could go. The Everfree forest for one, is a no go. Too dangerous and likely to get killed by the wild animals that inhabit the area.

Thinking for a moment, I took my cloak off and untied my saddlebag to see if there might be something that may be of use to me. Putting my hoof inside of it, I only felt my armor I took in the old castle along with the book Starswirl gave me.

Grabbing the spell book in my hooves, I opened it up for a desperate attempt at clairvoyance.

Flipping through the pages, I still couldn’t find anything that could help me. Closing the book, I put it back in the saddlebag for safekeeping. After that, I put both the saddlebag on myself and then the cloak on to cover my wings.

I then scan the room to see if maybe there might be a map somewhere for me to take. As I look around I do it quietly, not give my position away to Twilight, Charm, or to Luna. I didn’t hear Twilight or Charm in the hallway anymore, so at least they’re not nearby. However, I am not taking any chances while doing so. I am now in uncharted territory and I need to survive, I promised Nightmare that I’d protect her.

I did not find anything in the dresser. Then I went to the two chests that were accompanied by a bed that is separating them from each other.

No luck. Buck.

I can’t stay here any longer. I have to get out of here, for my sake and Nightmare’s, too.

Wait. Nightmare!

Going back to the dresser, I placed one hoof to touch the mirror. My reflection started to morph into Nightmare’s.

“Nightmare…” I spoke softly, almost in a whisper. “Talk to me, sister. I need to know if there is some way of getting through Luna.”

“Ada,” She spoke in a sad tone. “I’m sorry. I don’t want to see you get hurt from Luna.” She gives me a sad expression. “I should have told you Luna may not have yet recovered from what had happened all those moons ago.”

“Nightmare, please. Don’t beat yourself over it.”

“You don’t understand. I am the sole reason that Luna hates you,” She turned her head to look the other way. “I took her away from... Celestia. I turned Luna, and left Celestia no choice but to banish us both. A thousand years Luna and I were the only ones to talk to one another on the moon. Locked away to where I lost my sanity long before Luna could lose hers.”

“Nightmare, I-”

“Don't you see? SHE WANTS US DEAD!”

I jumped from her sudden outburst.

Nightmare looked at me with regret painted on her face.

“I’m sorry, Ada... I didn’t mean to scream at you.”

“Sister, I forgive you,” I spoke in a soft tone. “I don’t like seeing you this way. I care about you and I would do everything in my power to make you happy.”

While I was wanting to talk more, the reflection of her was swirling back to my form.

“Oh Nightmare,” I put a hoof against the mirror. “Stop hitting yourself like this. I know you still feel pain from what happened all those moons ago, but I am here for you, sister.

Sighing, I then proceeded to head towards the door. I put my head close to it to hear any sounds of anypony coming in the hallway. Luckily, there was no sound of from the other side.

Good.

Opening the door, I went to the left to see if I can exit out of the castle and to avoid Twilight, Charm, and Princess Luna.

I know that Charm didn't mean for this to happen. She just wanted to be on the safe side. I'm not sure where those three are now. I'm guessing Twilight and Charm might be trying to calm Luna down.

Cautiously walking, I found the stairs that leads to the bottom of the castle. Walking down, I kept myself trying to hear any voices or the sound of hoof steps. So far so good.

Now that I was back on the floor, I approached the double doors that leads to outside. Turning my head, there was no pony behind me. Well, at least this part was easier than expected.

Opening the doors, I made it outside.

However, I didn't get off easy like I wanted.

“NIGHTMARE!!”

Turning my head around, I could see the enraged Princess galloping her way while outside Twilight’s castle.

No! I didn't come this far to die!

Galloping through the village, I was trying my best to not get hit by Luna’s beam of magic, dipping and weaving where necessary. One false move and I'll be dead.

Going from street to street, and trying to not let civilians be in the crossfire of Luna’s magic, I ducked into an alley. I could hear the sounds of ponies panicking from what they were witnessing. Some of Luna’s magic had hit various objects, scattering debris and dust. Luckily, no pony was injured when I was galloping from her.

I expected Luna to be mad, but I never imagined this kind of a reaction. I’m dealing with an insane blue alicorn wanting to kill me, trying to help Nightmare the best way I can, and to stop Solar Flare from coming out of Celestia to bring eternal light to Equestria.

Talk about a stressful life.

Now that I think of it, I feel like I am exiled from Equestria, and all because of a simple letter to Princess Luna.

Shaking my head, I peeked my head out to see if there was any sign of Luna. I didn't see anypony in the streets. It was a ghost town. Everypony must've gotten into their homes to avoid the crossfire.

With the short breather I was able to take, I realized the repercussions of Luna’s actions

The ponies are going to be wondering why Luna acted the way she did. I'm pretty sure there were some who saw her attacking me and are either going to label me as a criminal, or at the very least question me due to the circumstances.

I feel like I am a bad luck charm.

Charm…. Curse Charm.

No. Don't think like that Nuray. You can't curse a pony who has the word ‘curse’ in their name. It would be ironic. Besides, spite is clearly not the solution here. It's just not.

Breaking from my thoughts, I slowly walked out of the alley, and to my surprise there was nopony anywhere to be seen. Princess Luna was also thankfully absent.

“Sorry Twilight and Charm, but it's probably in my best interest to not come back.” I galloped away, not bothering to look back.

I don't know where I will go, but what I do know is I have to stay strong and not allow myself to falter. If Charm’s warnings about Solar Flare had any merit, I’m going to need a plan.

Rebirth of a Nightmare

by Raven Blackwood

Dream of a Nightmare (rewrite)

Dark memories (rewrite)

It was only a nightmare (Rewrite)

The Elder Wizard (Rewrite)

The Stranger of the Everfree Forest (Rewrite)

The Meeting with Twilight Sparkle (Rewrite)

Escape from the Castle