> My Personal Nightmare > by LunarReaper > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Dream of Sanity > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- My Personal Nightmare. LunarReaper Prologue - Dream of Sanity "Do you understand what I'm saying princess?" A gruff voice spoke with a hint of annoyance clear in his voice. Princess Luna's eyes came into focus for the tenth time during their session finally giving the doctor her full attention. "I'm sorry what?", Princess Luna the goddess of the moon and stars, one of the two celestial sisters and royal of the night was currently trying to ignore the doctor that her sister had "gifted" her with. It wasn't that she disliked the good doctor more she disliked what he was trying to convince her of that she was "sick" as he called it. There was nothing wrong with her and she knew it but after one time of her yelling at nothing or what they thought was nothing she had been stuck with him every second day of the week, it was irritating to say the least. But she was patient, one does not spend one thousand years on the moon without learning to be patient. All she had to do was wait. "Were you even listening to me Princess?" The Kiren rolled his pencil between two claws while giving the princess an appraising stare. Which she returned with a baleful glare. "Art thine suggesting that we were not?" Upon hearing this the doctor raised a single eyebrow, he had heard that the princess of the moon was prideful but he was here for a reason and a stubborn old mares pride would not stopping him from doing his job. "This information is important princess," Luna shifted slightly in her bed and rolled her eyes at the "Doctor" who was sitting on a pillow on the ground with a notepad and pencil in his claws, "If you don't understand your sickness how are you supposed to fight it?" "Why does he keep saying that?" A voice whispered in her ear sounding worried. Luna's ear's flicked in the voices direction but overall she gave no other signs of noticing it. "We art not sick fixer of ailments, Alicorns don't get sick." Luna's voice was firm and beginning to show slight irritation. "Maybe not in body but the mind is a delicate thing." The doctor argued his grip tightening on the pencil in his clawed hoof his features turning slightly darker. "He sounds mad maybe you should listen a bit." The voice whispered once again. "Our mind was created so that we may live forever little pony tis not a delicate thing," The princess of the moon took a deep breath before continuing. "We art not delicate nor art we sick tis that understood little pony now begone from our chambers we grow tired of thine constant attempts to "heal" our "sickness" of which we have none!" The princess of the moon snarled at the word sickness causing the doctors ears to fold back as he wilted away slightly. Luna's head turned away from the healer gazing out the window now completely ignoring him Luna could hear the doctor sigh as he rose from his pillow placing his pencil, notepad and other notes in his saddle bags before leaving as quietly as possible. "See you at dinner princess." "Good evening treater of ailments." "Bye Mr Healer pony" the voice stated cheerfully. Luna turned to the source of the noise as the the door closed with a soft click, raising herself from her bed she stretched for a second before finally giving it her full attention smiling slightly. What was before her was a filly no more than 6 years old with leathery wings, a sharp horn and slitted pupils. The filly was black in colour with a deep purple mane and eyes the exact same shade of blue as Luna's. The only problem was that only Luna could see,hear and make phisical contact with her (problems she had been trying to fix with no success). "How art thou this evening Dream?" The little alicorn beamed at the lunar princess her fangs sparkling in the moonlight as she hung from one of the supports on Luna's bed... upside down. "Oh I'm good I had a really weird dream though with dragons and these weird bipedi...uhhh two legged things with spikey hats and they were fighting but they became friends and took down a really evil bigger dragon together and then..." The little ball of energy and cute continued rambling as Luna's princessly attire floated from the place on the floor she dumped it onto her bed. Listening with one ear she sighed before placing each piece on her body with her currently very weak levitation until she came to the tiara floating in a navy blue glow in front of her. "'Ohh how we wish sister had retrieved our plated battle armor or hooded hunter garb twould be better than this...",Luna paused for a second her eyes moving to the filly (who was still rambling) before gazing back to the tiara (she would rather not have) '"thing."' Luna placed it gently upon her head and closed her eyes breathing out a sigh. "Hey, art thou OK?" Luna opened her eyes gazing at the filly still hanging from a part of her bed by her tail a frown on her little features. "We art fine little one, why would we not be?" Luna tilted her head to the side slightly giving Dream a confused look. "You were looking sad, was it because of what Mr Healy Pony said?" Luna shook her head. "No twas not what Dr Tune said little one and tis not something little ponies like you should be hearing." "Why not?", Dream dropped from the support she was hanging from placing a soft hoof on Luna's chest (after she flopped onto the bed in the most uncouth manner possible that is). "Tis just not something thou would be interested in." (lie success chance 67%) Dream looked at Luna with an appraising eye staring deep into the Lunar Goddesses very bloody soul before shrugging. "Uhhh OK.'" (Lie successful) Luna stepped onto the cold marble floor as a breeze flew through her room making her shiver slightly - the pegasi sure went out of their way to make this night extra cold - Luna rolled her eyes at the bracing cold delivered by her feathered winged (and sometimes brained) subjects. Luna turned to Dream smiling. "Let us get breakfast.", Luna felt the weight of a tiny alicorn rest on her back, small black hooves grasping the area around her neck tightly the fily nuzzled her before gesturing towards the door in an exuberant manner grinning through her sharp fangs. "Onwards steed to thine place of breakfast!", Dream shouted with a smile whilst Luna rolled her eyes at the foals actions before taking a light fearful step into the corridor lined with guards and a few nervous servant's all staring at her from the corners of her eyes. They had heard her she could tell by the way they looked at her and the sound of quiet whispering as she passed them but she was not worried for the fact they were whispering (staff did that in her presence all the time) nor for their harsh words directed at her, or the stares, what irritated her was the use of a single word. A word which she laughed heartily at when she first heard it, they invented a word after her why would she not laugh it was unusual and honoring... until she learnt what it meant then all she could do was flinch each time it was said. "Lunatic" Luna wilted slightly her hooves slowing her eyes down, the filly on her back which none could see but her felt heavier at that moment. Her head stayed down until she was standing outside the dining room the sounds of a lush banquet could be heard. Her posture straightened and a neutral look appeared on her muzzle. Inside were friends of her sister celebrating there weekly get together. They were not her friends none of them and they would rather ignore her than attempt to become her friend. Luna sighed under her breath before placing her hoof against the door tapping it three times before pushing it open. > Dream turned Nightmare > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- My Personal Nightmare LunarReaper Chapter 1 - Dream turned Nightmare A year and a bit earlier... The Nightmare tapped the door three times before entering the desolate halls of the Everfree castle. Why she did that she did not know but it felt right to her, as if a voice cheered her on as she did it. A memory flashes before her eyes... not hers but the one who created her and sits at the back of her mind. "Mother" she whispers through the empty halls as she walks to the throne room. The Nightmare was not aware where she learned that word, father would snarl at her whenever she said it whispering words such as weak or traitor. What is a mother? The Nightmare pondered coming to a complete stop as she probed the depths of her mind for an answer. Images flash before her mind... A red maned creature stares down at her lovingly... no not her the one who sits in her mind. 'no one has ever looked at me like that', Nightmare Moon concludes standing frozen in a cold hallway the rain smashing down against the castle outside. The Nightmare continues to trot. "Help", A voice whispers its voice small and needy. The Nightmares ears flick towards the source but she ignores it, she has something to do a rebellion to plan. She smiles wickedly... 'It will be glorious'. Father will be proud of her if it goes off without complications. Maybe he might smile... if floating mist with glowing orange eyes could smile that is. The Nightmare smiled (something she rarely did) at the thought of the creature who awoke her smiling it would be so unlike him. CRACK! Lightening drove through the sky startling the dark mare from her thoughts. The smile disappeared as she began to walk to her destination again a frown on her muzzle. 'Why am I even doing this?' Nightmare pondered her eyes flickering left and right looking for 'him' as though he would appear out of nowhere just to catch her doubting his "master" plan. She snorted it being a plan was generous it was more a series of vague goals that he himself could not do currently. 'If he could ever do them' She rolled her eyes the entity wished to destroy the world using her. And she could do nothing but listen... he may not be able to harm others but she was within his dark abilities and therefore an easy target for his rage. The Entity he had no other name was a creator of evil he knew no virtue and destroyed anything that had it. No matter how much the Nightmare tried to hate him she could not, he helped create her so how could she? Sure he never went into details always being vague something about a deal with the host that he could take advantage of, the host being Luna. The Nightmare flinched in pain as she felt resistance from the host 'she's trying to break through', Nightmare snarled. Didn't she see they were only trying to fulfill her own wish? Why would she resist? It was her idea. The resistance stopped. "Not our idea, release us", The voice whispered barely audible to the Nightmare, even from within her mind. The Nightmare ignored her she was deluded and did not know what was good for her. Nightmare Moon knew what she wanted even if she did not and she would complete all the tasks her "Mother" could never bear to do. "We art trying to help, let us help thou.", The Nightmare whispered to herself her voice laced with a large amount of sincerity. "Thou would be helping if we were released", The voice whispered back, The Nightmares nose scrunched up in concentration as she tried to hear the near silent voice of Luna, The Nightmare was excited her mother had never responded with so much intelligence. Usually it was deluded mumblings or insults but now... she could have a conversation with her. That would have been true if Nightmare could actually hear the voice that was getting quieter and quieter by the second. "We art sorry we did not catch that." She tilted her head to the side hoping it would better help her catch the answer. She waited in the cold hall as the elements slammed into the outside for a word... anything... anything at all that would allow her to help the deluded pony in her mind. To help her mother but the words did not come. Luna had returned to her usual silence. The Nightmare continued on her trudge to the throne room. Thoroughly downtrodden. She only wished to help. 'Unlike father' she thought. She finally stood before the throne room door, it was made of oak with fixtures made of iron, rather simple for a place where princesses used to live in her opinion. It confused her slightly it had no obvious defensive properties only vague scratches in a language she did not recognise but they had kept it to help guard the countries most important ponies. Why? The Nightmare shrugged she was probably looking to far into a mere door than she needed too but still it was a distraction that she needed right now to help ready herself for what was on the other side of the door. She sighed to herself tapping the door three times before pushing it open. What she found on the other side was exactly what she expected. A dark dreary room the only light being the light from the moon, a thick layer of dust covered everything within. This place might have been homely and full of life once but now it was in ruins, crumbling and degrading day by day slowly turning into a tomb of the old ways. The wind whistled through the broken roof for perhaps a second before all became silent, the wind quietened, animals far off became quiet, the darkness became thicker. The Nightmare wasn't bothered by those changes the only thing that irritated her was the fact she could no longer hear her own hoofsteps, she rolled her catlike eye's... he was here. "Oh huzzah." She mumbled sarcastically, The Entity always did this, she respected him but his love of theatrics just managed to get on her nerves a little bit too much. A force hit her In the back sending her sprawling across the ground her face remained stoic. A deep voice rumbled "You're getting better at that, what will I do for entertainment now if I cannot get a reaction out of you?" Nightmare felt a presence behind her she ignored it as she pushed herself up and wiped herself down. He acted like an idiot half the time and the other times... she shivered, she did not want to think about Those times. "Grow up perhaps", Nightmare deadpanned as she turned towards the voices source. Now The Entity did not have a solid body, a solid shape... yes but that was about it when it came down to it. He or It was a made up of a thick grey mist which had properties similar to the Nightmares mane giving him the ability to lift things, scare helpless travellers and irritate the hell out of his dearest apprentice. But that did not restrict him as much as one would think perhaps physically but not mentally as his control over ones mind could crush even the Nightmare's skills. Where she could cause a nightmare, leaving someone awake for a night or two. He could cause a severe mental health condition. He created this opportunity for her and she would be forever grateful, she would do both of them proud even if some in their current state were forced to disagree with her. "Disillusioned fools", The voice of Luna whispered in her mind just out of the Nightmare's notice. She paid it no mind as she nodded towards the shimmering mist standing across from her. "What this on thine agenda today?" "I've learnt something in the past couple of days dearest Nightmare... something that I fear will halt our plans for this country if we were not to fix it... Immediately" The Nightmare raised a brow, what a foolish thought that the daymare would have something powerful to use against them she was nothing if not an inconvenience to everyone and the Nightmare could not wait to be rid of her. But her interest was taken nonetheless. "What is it a artifact?, a weapon? or perhaps a magical rainbow that destroys pure evil." She joked sarcastically a grin appearing on her face showing her fangs as sharp as razors."Oh whatever will we do!?", If magical entities could deadpan she was sure he was giving her his most powerful one. So powerful intact she was surprised she had not melted into a pool of bitter dissapointment as he was wishing she would. "This is serious." He monotoned with a thick baritone. "So are magical death rainbows." She responded immediately. A far too serious look on her muzzle. "We hast seen them in mothers memories this a real threat that thou should be treated as such." The Nightmare stomped her hooves on the ground and gave him a pout from a foot away. To which she was given a snort. "They art the elements of harmony foal." Luna snarled in her brain still out of Nightmare's hearing range. "They do not exist, not anymore." The Mist moved closer if it were a pony they would have been muzzle to muzzle the room got colder. "Thine... mother" He said the word with distaste as though it sickened him, "Made sure they could not be used anymore" It backed away from the Nightmare. She stayed silent she had angered him and what would surely follow was never good for either party. Her eyes darted around the broken room towards anything but him. She could feel his eyes on her with a disapproving glare. "Thou art a fool" The voice came through crisp and clear this time causing the Nightmare to wince. "How did something so disgustingly foolish gain control of our body?" The Nightmare sniffled, she was only trying to help. "Help. What help hast thou given us?" The voice snarled causing the Nightmare to flinch as she felt a sudden pain. The Entity looked on with a single glowing orange eyebrow raised. "We- we-- we-- aahhh!" The Nightmare clutched her head as the pain increased causing tears to fall from her eyes "We helped thou fin-- Ahhhhh!" The Nightmare curled up on the ground tears flowing freely to the disgust of her mentor. "WE ART SORRY!" She screamed as blood began to drip from her nose. The voice was suddenly silent again. The Entity looked upon her with a blank expression. "Are you ready to take this seriously now?" She nodded still whimpering to herself from the mental attack. "What is thine pr-prob-- problem father?", She swore she could see the mist grinning at her suffering, she honestly wouldn't have been surprised at that fact given... other confrontations they'd had ever since he helped her down from the moon early. She shivered and gave him her full attention knowing if she didn't another mental attack would soon follow. A much more gruesome one. "They're is another allicorn currently alive in Equis." He stopped looking at her for conformation she understood. She was gobsmacked, Another alicorn how could that happen it was impossible she thought as she nodded mutely at the grey mist floating in front of her. "I have reason to believe that she may be a big problem if my suspicion's about her lineage are correct." "We cannot go into battle against an alicorn we know nothing of!" The Nightmare interrupted swiftly before adding "Tis suicide!" to further emphasis her point. It was crazy alicorns are dangerous, as were unknowns and this alicorn is both, it made the Nightmare feel worried for once in her existence. That was before the cloud of pure evil began to laugh. "You actually think I know nothing of this little 'pretty princess', My dear?" The mist questioned while still laughing under his breath. The Nightmare stopped. Breath? Did he even breath? She pondered before snapping herself out of the slightly stupid thought before shaking her head to his question. "Good you've learned something." He gave a wicked smiled, she rolled her eyes. "She's the Princess of love and if given the right emotional connection she can be quite dangerous to creatures of darkness... so were going to isolate her." "And how doth thou plan on doing that, she is within the mountain city absolutely untouchable." He had gone insane that was the only conclusion she could come up with or perhaps he was always insane. Yes he was definitely always insane the Nightmare concluded after a brief moment. "Untouchable physically perhaps but her mind is not untouchable and with our combined power just as easy to break as her pretty princess body." The Nightmare grinned a small grin "Indeed..." "Art thou ready to bring nightmares my little piece of carnage?" He asked in an overly polite voice, a misty tendril pushing some of her mane out of her eyes. She grinned fully glistening fangs showing in all their glory. (97% chance of doing serious mental damage) "We suddenly hast a taste for Puny Princess blood." She licked her lips savagely. Up in Canterlot a pink princess woke up screaming that night and she would wake up screaming every night until the Nightmare revealed herself and the coup had begun. (Damage Done) > Awaken to Friends > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Awaken to 'Friends' Lunar Reaper Styx, Royal Protecter of the Moon glanced at his charge for a moment before haphazardly waving a clawed hoof infront of her face. The denizens of the room remained silent as he did so, The Princess of the Sun raising an eyebrow at him her face betraying no emotion. Luna had entered the room and had promptly frozen her eyes staring glassily ahead at some unknown horror. To say he was worried was an understatement, he was terrified that she would have a relapse infront of the entire room and start breaking shit. He waved his hoof oncemore infront of her face before shuddering slightly, it had taken 11 guards to take her down last time while the other 5 held their spears to his neck (He may or may not have decked 4 of theirs before they subdued him, Luna had taken down more). Styx raised a claw to his chin sitting his flanks on the ground. Luna was a strange charge she barely even noticed his presence half the time and spent a fair amount of herself or someone she called 'Dream', whom he assumed was rather young from the way his Lady talked to her. The doctor called her an illusion but Luna seemed conivnced otherwise and Styx honestly didn't know what to think. The way Luna spoke in a hushed tone to 'her' seemed far too similar to how he spoke to his first foal, barely holding it together and trying to do what was best for the foal. It was errie to say the least and made him doubt the good doctors words. Not that he would say that outloud though, it would probably gain the Princess of the Moons friendship but get him demoted at the same time. He had far too much to worry about to deal with a demotion at this time, so he would hold his tongue for the time being. Styx snapped a claw infront of the princesses face, her ears twitched recognising the sound. Her eyes shut and then slowly opened staring at him blankly before a faint spark of recognition lit her face. Her eyes narrowed and she leaned in close to his ear speaking in a hushed tone. "Tell me guardsman Styx did'st we enter the realm of unreality oncemore", Luna whispered in Thestrai, a gruff language used by the inhabitants of The Underground Thestral Empire. The Moon Princess stared at him expectantly before he gave a stiff nod to his charge, her eyes seemed to narrow further as she glanced at the other ponies in the room. "How long Styx?" Luna growled in his home tongue. Styx didn't move, his eyes flickered to the clock on the far wall and at that moment he wondered if getting torn apart by an angry goddess was a good way to go. "12 Minutes m'lady" His voice came out in a faint whisper, his posture slouched as he waited for her to start yelling... But she didn't her ears flicked backwards as if listening to something behind her before returning to their rightful place. Her eyes softened as she gazed at him with a spark of something in her eye. "Thank you for thine help loyal guardsman, return to thine place at our side and stop slouching" She rolled her eyes at him a hint of a smile on her face "Tis rude to slouch in the presence of royalty". Styx froze staring at his monarch as though she had gained a second head, The princess of the moon was unstable and often rude to Celestial guards. And given that the Lunar Guard had not been re-established yet left him as one of the few Thestrals currently in the royal guard and therefore the Celestial Guard. Princess Luna did not joke and he had only ever seen her smile on a sparse few occasions but he tried not to think about it too much as marched over to his position. Thinking of such strange things was for professionals not Corporal's who followed presumed mad ponies was the conclusion he came too as he reached his designated position (About 3 meters away from the princess his back to a marble column). Where apon sitting on his haunches he sighed quietly and straightened his back, eyes focussed on the peculiar princess, clawed gauntlets ready for any dangers... Not that there ever was any danger. In the length of time he had been here nothing, bar the lunar princesses return had happened that was remotely interesting. Perhaps a thief would attempt to get past the outer wall only to be stopped by magical wards before being dragged off or some teens would try and graffiti a nearby monument and they would be sent to scare them away. Cleanup work thats all it was, they were golden armoured janitors. He rolled his eyes to himself and concentrated on his charge who had lost her happy composure for a more dour one. It seemed as though a noble at the table had crushed the princesses good mood with a thoughtless comment, this was not unusual at the weekly celestial dinner. And not unexpected either, in fact Styx was surprised that it hadn't happened earlier or perhaps it did and he missed it. Either way Luna was in a dour mood and therefore close to the edge of erupting. Though as he observed her further she seemed to be distracted from the nobles glancing between her hooves at nothing whilst whispering in Thestrai... Perhaps a series of death threats was his first thoughts but he quickly dismissed it... Death threats rarely came out softly or quietly in Thestrai, it was a rather loud (and somewhat crude in other nations eyes) language. The way she spoke niggled at his mind with its familiarity but he simply shook his head and listened intently for foul words of the nobles to distract himself from niggling thoughts. He closed his eyes and began to use his acute hearing to find an interesting conversation to take his mind off the moon princess. But in a room full of about 30 or so leeches you'll find it hard to find anything that isn't a plot, scheme, proposal or veiled insult. And so what he found was a room focused on a different goddess then usual. "I hear she talks to ghosts or something like that..." "... I do love her colouration such a shame she isn't very outgoing" "Who does she think she is wandering in on one of Celestia's functions..." "Is this who they call the madmare of Canterlot?" "I hear she kicked the shit outta that pink alicorn and thats why she ain't here" "I hear she's part bat like her bodyguard do you think she drinks blood?" "Ugghhh part bat if she's a bleedin bat she should be underground with the rest of them..." "A bat princess! No wonder she got sent to the moon damned useless batponies" Styx held back a glower whilst Luna growled throatily and suddenly the room was quiet. Celestia put on a rather forced looking smile as she turned her gaze to her sister, who had oncemore glanced down at her hoove mumbling sweet nothings in Thestrai. "Sister is something the matter?" The motherly tone screamed 'Don't do anything dumb' but Luna being who she was ignored it completely and instead clicked her tongue in a very particular way. Many who aren't Thestrals could see this as a simple defiant gesture and noise used to annoy others but to Styx it was a command that said 'Stand Before Me'. His luck had changed it seemed the moon goddess wasn't going to kill him but given how the sun goddess was flickering between the two of them he could safetly say that he may be ash as soon as he took that first step. The Celestial Dinner was a weekly event where the Sun Goddess would gather a bunch of nobles, dignitaries or business giants to discuss various key things, the invites were sent out specifically every week to ensure she got the chance to talk with as many ponies as possible. Usually Princess Cadance and Prince Blueblood would attend but neither were available this week. It was a tradition by now that she would listen politely and comment when needed slowly guiding those at her table to a conclusion to a problem she had long since solved. Luna wasn't one for guiding or her sisters subtlety's, she was brash and opinionated. Styx took the first step towards the princess and then another each step becoming easier with the addition of another until finally he was at her side with the entire room staring at him. He gulped nervously "What is your command my princess?" glancing at her now steely blue eyes clouded with a very violent rage and then she did something unexpected... She smiled. "Useless aye?" Luna lifts herself from her seat "tis that what the peons and plebs of this world think of this noble race" some recoil at being called out other glower from the insult, Celestia nods to her guards glaring at Styx whilst still keeping the motherly smile. Luna had the entire rooms attention oncemore but this time they were not whispering harsh words or hairbrained schemes, they were inching towards the exit away from a wrathful goddess. Styx shivered as her eyes turned back to him. "I would rather one of these monsters over a hundred of the filth that call themselves soldiers and nobles" She snarls before making another rythmed click the command 'Stand Ready' flashing into the young Thestrals mind. Styx was on autopilot his body lowered and his clawed hoof grasping the short sword upon his back, years of training prepared him for the fight to come and with over a thousand years of habits and instincts to guide his blade into any tiny chink in his enemies armor. The guards where inching foreward, while the nobles where slowly slipping from their seats and two living goddesses where giving each other baleful looks all while Dr Tune observed with a keen interest. His gaze flickering between the soldier and the princess whose fangs where beginning to show. "Luna that is enough if your just going to insult a room full of decent ponies I see no reason for you being here" The words came out frostly as she donned her 'motherly' mask once more talking as she would to a foal. Luna visibly recoiled and Styx shuddered, he swore he could hear a little whimper come from somewhere. And then her eyes turned on him she didn't say anything but motioned to the door leading to the captains quarters. Styx knew what was coming next as he walked through that door, Luna tracked his movement with keen interest until he reached the door before turning to her sister with a mixture of rage, confusion and guilt in her eyes "Do not threat I will help thou and you keep in mind that thou must not leave him." The princess whispered to herself just loud enough for him to hear. Styx didn't know who she was talking too and honestly from his perspective it wouldn't be his problem much longer He sighed before following the other guards to what surely was his certain doom, looking back for a second he caught a heavy intake of breath from both sisters now that the nobles had finally fled the room... something bad was going to happen. And what happened next between the two sisters did indeed make the paper the next morning.