> The Young Nightmare > by TimeLordStudios > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Chapter 1: The Beginning > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- "It is over, Nightmare Moon! Now with the power of the final element of harmony, we shall defeat you... again!" Twilight called out, the power of harmony surging around her, as she channeled it through her element. "No! You shall never defeat me, again! The night shall last forever!" Nightmare Moon called out, defiantly charging her horn with a spell she hoped would counter the elements. "What? No this can't be happening! I Nightmare Moon can not lose, not to the likes of you! Not again!" She yelled as her beam of magic was being pushed back. She desperately poured more and more of her magic into the spell but to no avail. "No NO NO! I will return and when I do I'll destroy you all!" She cursed and screamed as the magic overtook her enveloping her in a cocoon of light. "Save your breath, Nightmare Moon. There is no way you're gonna weasel your way out of this one. Not this time," Twilight called out as the cocoon imprisoning's Nightmare Moon vanished in a flash of light. "Hoo wee, did we do it Twi?" Applejack asked worriedly. "Is there a chance she can reappear just like she did this time? Or is she gone for good? I mean she returned without needing Princess Luna's body as a vessel for Petes sake." "One can hope Applejack, I mean how many times are we going to travel to the Castle Of The Two Sisters, to fight the same villain?" Replied Rarity as she checked the tapestry for any damages. "How many battles can this poor place take? It is hardly standing as it is." "That isn't even the worst part. She even removed the source of our Rainbow Power. I mean what is the point of the Rainbow Power, if it vanishes the moment elements are removed from the tree. That is so not cool." Replied Rainbow Dash. " I mean how are we suppose to protect Equestria, if we also have to babysit the tree to ensure no one steals the elements to take away our powers." "I'll speak to Celestia about getting some guard's stationed by the tree to prevent that from happening but for now lets head back to Ponyville to celebrate our second victory against Nightmare Moon." Twilight said already planning the letter out in her head. "Lets party!" Pinkie cried out with confetti flying everywhere. "Lets get back to Ponyville before we celebrate Pinkie." "Oh alright I just can't wait to plan the how did Nightmare Moon return party and we defeated Nightmare Moon again party and the-" "We get it Pinkie, we have a lot to look forward to when we get back." Twilight responded eager to report her victory To the Princesses. "Umm I agree with Twilight on this one we should get out of the Everfree before the monsters come back out of hiding." Fluttershy said meekly. "Alright lets go then." Rainbow responded flying out of the castle the others followed suit. {?????} first person Castle Of The Two Sisters "What... who... where am I? what am I doing here I don't remember anything. So why does thing place feel so familiar. like I belong here." I say as I gather my bearings, taking in the scenery. "Why is this place so damaged, did a battle occur here? Am I the only survivor?" Many questions floated around in my head but no answers to them. So I decided to risk it and explore the ruins to see if I could find any clues to what had happened here. Looking around I was able to locate a Throne room which showed signs of a recent battle but everything else looks like it has been untouched for centuries. "Just who am I? Who ruled here?" I questioned myself as I continued to explore the castle. finding a bunch of emptily rooms filled with booby traps. "Just who in there right mind, booby traps their own castle this is outrageous." I yell out loud as the frustration of getting caught in yet another trap gets to me. "I'm glad that there not deadly at least, but seriously." I say as I once again look for my way out of the trap. Each one seems to have a puzzle that needs to be solved to escape but I can't find the puzzle in this one. "Don't tell me I am actually stuck down here. There has to be a way out." I say as I rub my hoof against the wall searching for a clue when all of the sudden the way rotates and sends me flying in the other direction "That is one way to get out I guess. If I ever find the pony that build this damm thing I'll give them a peace of my mind." I say as I check my new surroundings. "A library this is exactly what I've been looking for." I say as I went to read the books only to find that I could hardly understand them. "Well that's just great. All that time to find something useful, only to find out I apparently can not read." I say as I continue searching the library. As I continued to search through the books, the symbols suddenly started making sense. "What? This is so weird. I wasn't able to read a moment ago, but now I am? Is it because I'm starting to remember more about myself?" I asked myself not expecting an answer. "What ever caused it I'm not going to complain." I said as I continued looking through the books in the library till the sun went down and I could no longer read the books. "Brrrrr it is so-so cold in here. I need to find a blanket or something, maybe I should of done that instead of reading till it was to dark to see." I said scolding myself for not plaining ahead. And as if it wanted to add to the list of problems my stomach growled as well. "Just great I am hungry and I'm cold what else is there to worry about." I say as wolfs started howling in the distance. "Me and my big mouth. It will be hard enough to fall asleep without worrying about being eaten in my sleep. World cut me some slack please, thank you." I say as I curl up in a ball on the most comfortable surface I could find and tried for sleep. > Chapter 2: The Forest > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- I stirred at first light. Food and comfort being a top priority for the day. "It was so cold last night, I need to find something to cover up with or I'll freeze to death in no time." I said as I begin to plan out my next move. "Let's see... I have worked out where I'll be sleeping. But I need to find a shorter path than I took yesterday, and quick way out of the castle... and I need to locate a source of water as well." The cards were stacked against my survival but I was willing to fight for it. I left the library and entered the throne room. "Are you telling me that if I went left instead of right I would of made it to the library from here. Why am I so unlucky." I said as I sighed out loud, I could of gotten a lot more done yesterday if I had known the shortcut. "Well at least I found the library and not stuck in one of the many traps that covers this place. It could have been worse." I say as I notice the tapestry hanging on the wall. "I could use those as a makeshift cover to keep warm at night." I say as I use my recently discovered magic to take them down, and move them into the library. I am glad that I had found that book about magic in the library. Without that knowledge it would have been close to impossible for me to take them down by myself. "That is one problem potentially solved. I will not know for sure till night comes. Now to look for food." I say as I exit the castle. Looking around I saw an old swing bridge swinging over an wide chasm. I circled the castle grounds for a sustainable food source, I found a couple berry bushes but not enough to get full on. I sighed as I made my way to the bridge, I was hoping to never have to cross it. But it looks like I am left with no choice. Steeling my resolve I bravely made the first step onto the bridge. Noting that it seemed stable enough to cross. I crossed it with caution in case of if one of the ropes snaps or one of the boards I am walking on shatters. After making it to the other side safely, I began searching for a near by food and water source. after a couple minutes of searching close to the bridge I decided that if I want to survive I am going to have to go deeper into the woods to find food. {Twilight} In Twilight's Castle 3rd person "Good morning Starlight. How are you recovering from the Nightmare incident?" She asked concerned about her friends current condition. "Good morning to you too Twilight, I am still sore from trying to take her on by myself but good non the less." She replied. "I know I shouldn't have charged at her alone, but I did so anyway. I bought you some time to gather the bearers at least. But I was out of the fight for the rest of the day." She said to Twilight, her pride still as sore as her body. "Don't beat yourself up about it. You were going up against Nightmare Moon, who is said to be even stronger that Celestia. Just be glad that she didn't finish you off." Twilight said trying to cheer Starlight up. "Thanks Twilight, do you have anything planed for today." "Yes I am about to head into the Everfree. Are you up for visiting The Castle Of The Two Sisters with me, there is something I want to check." "Yeah I'll go with you give one moment to get ready." {?????} Everfree Forest 1st person "I've got to run!" I yelled as three wooden wolves chased after me. I have managed to find a river And some more berries to eat. I was on my way back when I heard growling behind me. My mind flashing back to the howls I had heard last night. The fear of being eaten. With adrenaline coursing though my veins I ran as fast as I could trying to lose them. My muscles screaming at me to stop but I couldn't because stopping meant certain death. In the distance I saw the swing bridge. I ran across it quickly not even bothering to slow down till I was safe. I rushed to the library and slammed my hoof against the secret rotating wall. The wall spun around concealing my presence from my would be attackers. I backed up the other wall and listened for anything that might alert me to potential danger if I where to leave too early. {Twilight} Everfree Forest 3rd person "Hhhhooowwwlllll." Timber wolves howled in the distance. "The timber wolves seem to be active today, so stay on your guard Starlight." Twilight said priming an attack spell just in case. "I know Twilight, I can hear them too. "Starlight replied priming her own spell. "But what do you think there after? Did somepony or something enter there hunting grounds?" She asked curiously. "Don't Know Starlight, If we we're lucky we won't need to find out. Right now my main priority is getting to the Castle Of The Two Sisters." "What are you hoping to find there Twilight? Nightmare Moon was defeated there right? Are you hoping to find a remnant of her?" "Something like that I just want to make sure she is gone for good. She isn't gonna fall for the same trick a third time." "Hhhhooowwwlllll" The howls were a lot closer now. "The timber wolves are here Twilight." She said as she released her spell on one of the wolves that appeared in front of her. "We need to move. Now!" Starlight yelled as they rushed to the castle. fending off any timber wolves that got too close. "We are almost there Starlight, we just got to cross the bridge. The timber wolves don't usually cross the bridge." Twilight called out as she ran for the bridge preparing another spell just in case. As they crossed the bridge they noticed that a few timber wolves were inside of the castle. they quickly taken out the timber wolves inside and set up a barrier to keep the rest out. "Phew that was a close one. What has gotten the timber wolves so upset that they will actually cross the bridge to go after them." "Don't know Starlight, but if that is the case then we are not alone. keep an eye out. I'll check the throne room, I want you to check the library for any signs of somepony being here." "Alright Twilight, will do." Starlight responded, walking towards the library. > Chapter 3: The Discovery > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- {Starlight} In The Castle Of The Two Sisters -library room- 3rd person "Let's see here... There are a bunch of books lying around. Tapestry that belongs in the throne room and skid marks along this wall." She noted as she walked towards the wall. She could of sworn she heard something whimpering behind the wall. She had put her hoof up against the wall to investigate, when the wall suddenly spun around forcing her into the secret room. It took her a few seconds to gather her bearings. And when she did she noticed her, Nightmare Moon, but as a filly. Her anger was rising, not too long ago Nightmare Moon had beaten and humiliated Starlight. That memory still fresh on her mind. "Nightmare Moon!" She growled angrily, as she looked at the filly in front of her charging her horn. The filly in question quickly rose up and used the rotating wall next to her to escape. The spell grazing her shoulder as the wall spun. She yelled in pain, but continued to run through the halls. Dodging all the traps, till she ran into a dead end. Starlight being not far behind her, gets caught in one of the traps but she immediately teleported out looking madder than before. She charged up her horn and blasted the filly into the wall before calling Twilight over. "Twilight, she is over here." She called out magically amplifying her voice so that Twilight would hear her. "Be right there." Twilight called out from the distance. {?????} Castle Of The Two Sisters. 1st person Why are they doing this to me? Who is this Nightmare Moon? Why did she mistake me for her? "Who- who are you? I asked my attacker. My fear clearly present. "What don't you recognize me or did you forget humiliating me and leaving me out cold." She said loudly, the venom in her tone sent a shiver down my spine. "I only remember waking up yesterday morning, nothing past that, I do not know who I am-" I tried explaining to her but she cut me off. "Do you honestly expect me to believe that!" She said as she hit me with another spell. Screaming out in pain, I begged her to stop but she wasn't listening. "That you have forgotten everything you did!" She said as she once again blasted me with her magic, each one stronger than the last. She is gonna kill me! I got to get away, I just have too. I struggled to my hooves but was immediately shot back down. "Please don't Kill me!" I yelled loudly tears flowing down my face. just as Twilight rounded the corner. Seeing what was happening Twilight came rushing in to stop Starlight. "Starlight! What are you doing to that filly!" She said as she used her magic to create a barrier between the filly and Starlight before teleporting in between them. "Get out of the way Twilight, that filly is Nightmare Moon." Starlight said as she pointed her hoof in the direction of the filly in question. "Please help me! I don't know who this Nightmare is. I just want this nightmare to end. I don't wanna die. Please I don't want to die here." I pleaded. Hoping that she would save me. "Don't you see she is just trying to trick you the moment you lower your guard she will attack. We need to deal with her before she gets the chance." Twilight took a moment to examine the filly. She did indeed look like Nightmare Moon but acted nothing like her. But her fear won out and she lowered the barrier joining Starlight's side. Seeing her side with my attacker broke me. Destroying the last of my resolve to continue fighting. "If your gonna kill me at least make it quick. I am unable to run away." I said as the life disappears from my voice. As I lost the will to fight... And the will to live. They are the only ponies I've met besides me and they want me dead. "Understood-" Starlight responded quickly charging up her horn. "Are you really going to kill her. Shouldn't we take her in for questioning." Twilight said trying to reason with Starlight. Feeling uncomfortable with taking the life of a filly even if she resembled Nightmare Moon. "If we give her the chance she will do it to us." she reasoned. Hoping Twilight would understand. "I can't let you kill a filly that isn't even fighting back take a look and tell me what you see." Twilight said once more trying to reason with her. "All I see a monster that needs to be exterminated." She said a she stepped closer to me. "Starlight stop this-" "I have excepted my fate, so you don't have to protect me. If killing me, a helpless filly with no memories will make her feel better why shouldn't she. I mean you sided with her didn't you. Don't you want the same thing to kill me based on my appearance alone. " I said to the winged unicorn in front of me. The winged unicorn held her head down in shame. "Step back and let her decide, because in a way whatever happens I will still die. This is my wish. My only regret is not being able to find out who I am or who I was." I said solemnly. "But that-" Twilight said trying to tell me something but I cut her off. "Then again seeing from your reactions of me I must have been a terrible pony. If killing me now will bring peace to this land I will except it with open hooves." Starlight started doubting her self but she shook it away as she charged her horn towards me and she fired... But she missed. The blast disintegrated the wall behind me. "Take her away Twilight, make sure to block her horn." she said as she looked away from me. "Why didn't you kill me! I had excepted that I was going to die. Why didn't you finish me off. I thought you hated me for who I represent." "I do but... I can't have killing you on my conscience. Especially how you are now." She said as she began to walk away. "...But you can live with attacking a filly based on her appearance alone, and then blasting said filly till she can no longer move, threating to kill her all the while. If you ask me the fact that your ok with doing that is bad enough. But braking me down to the point that I actually wanted to die. and then letting me live. You're... You are a monster." I cried out between sobs before blacking out. The last this I See is the worried expression on the pony closest to me and... The look of guilt of the one who attacked me. > Chapter 4: The Interrogation > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Where... where am I." I asked as I began to stir awake. Quickly I checked my new surroundings. I noticed that I was in a cell of some kind, but without a bed or anything else. it was completely bare. "Aaah." I winced in pain as a tried to get up. My hooves were chained, and ropes were binding my wings, and something was blocking my horn since my magic wasn't working either. I continued to attempt to stand until I heard a voice behind me. "Hello Nightmare Moon, struggling is useless you can not escape." Somepony said from behind me. "Who said I was trying to get away. I was just trying to stand up. The cuffs hardly have enough links to wiggle my hooves back and forth. Let alone stand up." I said as I slowly and painfully shifted my body around to see who I was talking to. When I finally got myself turned around I saw a pony wearing gold armor wielding a long pointed spear in his hooves. The guard winced for a split second when he saw my injuries. But said nothing about it. "Let me guess are you my executioner." I asked the guard. Somewhat hoping that he was. "No I am only here to watch, and stop you if you try to escape." He said stoically most likely wishing I'd try to escape so he can kill me. "Do you want me dead? Everypony else, that I've met so far did." I asked him. Once again his stoic mask fell for a moment before responding. "My job is to guard you so that is what I'm going to do." The guard responded, not moving from his position. "You didn't answer the question. but I guess I know the answer. When Is my execution, I assume that is why they brought me here. As you can see they didn't finish the job yet." I said making sure he could see my injuries. "As far as I know you are not going to be executed, that hasn't happened in over 1000 years." He responded back. "You say that, but the only reason I am still alive, is because the pony that tried to kill me chickened out before she could finish me off. Part of me wishes that she will come back to finish me off. I don't want to live anymore if this is what life is." The guards eyes went large as he dropped his spear clearly shocked by what I said. He quickly picked his spear up and got back in his stoic stance not saying a word to me. {Celestia} Canterlot Castle 3rd person "Are you sure the filly is Nightmare Moon? Twilight we have to be completely certain." Celestia asked, worried that they locked up an innocent filly. "Yes Celestia the filly resembles her and she was found in The Castle Of The Two Sisters." Twilight responded back. "But she acts nothing like her and she didn't even try to fight back when Starlight attacked her." Twilight responded back, feeling unsure about it as well. "Regardless if she is or not, we should try and keep this from Luna. I fear what she would do if she were to see the filly." "Let me guess, same reaction as Starlight but more deadly." Twilight asked already knowing the answer. "...Yes and that is why we should keep it from my sister for now. We should go see if she is awake now. It has been a whole day since you found her." She said as she made her way to the dungeons. {?????} Canterlot Castle Dungeons 1st person "So what are we waiting for me to starve to death that sounds like fun I guess, but it guess that it would take too long and would be hard to enforce in somepony gave me food." "All you been talking about is ways that you could end up dead. Is there anything else you can talk about." The guard asked me. "No not really. They really broken me before they captured me. They made me give up on living, only for them to turn around and let me live just to torture me. Or at least that is how I see it." The guard was about to say something when the door to the dungeon opened up through it came two winged unicorns one tall and majestic with a flowing mane and the other I recognized from earlier. "At ease, tell me how is our prisoner. Has she attempted a breakout yet?" Celestia asked the guard that was watching over me. "No your highness she has not tried to escape, pardon my rudeness but I have to ask. Why haven't her injuries been tented to your highness." The guard said. "It's...it is complicated my guard I would have her treated, but we have to keep her secret for now. I would appreciate it if you keep quite about this admiral Shield Shine." "But she is-" "You don't have to pretend to care. I know you'd be better off with me dead." I said, interrupting him as I turned my head to the winged unicorns, I spoke. "What more do you want from me. You have already beaten me half to death with a magic barrage and shattered my mind by giving me false hopes of survival. I already wish to die what more do you want from me!" I screamed as I released my pent up emotions. "I was just minding my own business trying to survive. when they attacked me out of nowhere claiming I was this Nightmare pony!" I yelled out. tears pouring down my face. The white ones expression has not changed one bit but the other was showing obvious signs of guilt "Admiral can you step out for a moment." Celestia asked her guard so she the details of the interrogation would stay private. She then looked towards me as the guard left, and said. "That is why we are here to get to the bottom of this. Let me ask you this, and look into my eyes as you respond are you Nightmare Moon." "Yes... No... I don't know what to believe anymore. Everypony I've met so far claimed that I am her, but I just don't know." I say looking her straight in the eyes. "What were you doing in The Castle Of The Two Sisters." She asked without shortly after. "So that is what it was called. I didn't know that... I was trying to survive. I woke up in a room, without any memories of who I am or what I was doing before if anything. Do you want me to tell you everything I've been doing in general?" "Yes, explain your day to day process." She said wanting me to elaborate on my story. "Well I've only been there for Around two days. The day I woke up and the day I was attacked by her attack dog." I said as I shot the purple pony a glare. " Can I please get your names so I know what to call you." I asked "My name is Princess Celestia And this is Princess Twilight. Now can you continue explaining yourself." She said wanting to get the questioning done with. "Alright When I woke up I began exploring the castle going room to room constantly getting stuck in traps and hidden rooms till I eventually found the library. I began going through the books to hopefully find out where I was, but I wasn't able to get much information from them because of night fall. I remember that it was freezing cold and that I heard wolves howling in the distance. I was cold, scared and hungry. So the next day I found something to use as a cover, but I never got to test it because of Twilight and her attack dog.-" "Her name is Starlight. Not attack dog." Twilight said angrily. "Just because you give me her name, doesn't change what she is Twilight. She attacked me at first sight, she didn't even let me speak or try diplomacy. She just attacked me like a wild animal. And I'm the one being called the monster. So I don't want to hear you say she's not your attack dog. First impressions and all. But instead of judging her based on appearance like you did me, I'm judging her on her actions. You can see the result of her actions cant you. So who is the monster the one attacking or the one being attacked. Be lucky I'm only calling her your attack dog I could say much worse." I snapped back. "Alright that is enough answer my questions or face punishment."Celestia said intervening before things escalate even further. "What are you going to do kill me? That would be a mercy. I was answering your question, she was the one that interrupted by the way." I said trying to compose myself so I could continue. "Where was I? Oh I took down some tapestry to use as a blanket and left the castle grounds to find food and water. I ate the berries that I found and eventually spotted the river, which I drank some water from. I was on my way back when three wooden wolves attacked me.-" "Timber wolves they are called timber wolves." Twilight said correcting me yet again. "Thank you any thing else I need to know before I continue? No okay, I was being chased by three timber wolves. I ran to the castle as fast as I could, and once I arrived I ran into the library and hid in the secret room in the left wall. That is where Starlight found me. She attacked, you should know the rest. But I might as well explain that part as well." I said as I once more tried to center myself. "She must of heard me through the wall because see came right for me. And when the wall turned and she saw me... The look of anger and malice in her eyes. She called out the name Nightmare Moon before she immediately charged her horn to attack me. The first shot grazed me as a was exiting the secret room from the other side. She chased me through the halls till I ran into a dead in. She stepped on a trap not long after but she immediately escaped and blasted me into the wall. I tried telling her I wasn't her but that only made her madder. She kept blasting me till Twilight showed up and intervened. I was so happy... I was so hopeful... I thought you would save me, but no you took one look at me and you joined Starlight's side." I said looking Twilight in the eyes. "That... that broke me Twilight. That is when I gave up on living and when I asked you and Starlight to kill me you refused. It would had been a mercy kill, It was what I wanted. I guess that is why I'm still alive you just wanted me to suffer longer didn't you." I said as once again I broke down in tears. Celestia's once unbreakable mask now showing cracks. "Anything else you want to know from me? If not I'm just going to cry in the corner." I said as I already was slowing dragging myself to the dark corner of the cell. 3rd person shift Twilights eyes were watering as she could no longer hold back her tears. Knowing that she was the the one that helped put her in that position. "Lets go Twilight we got one more trip to make before we make a decision. We have to get both sides of the story so lets visit Starlight." She said to Twilight. "Admiral, Watch over her with care, don't let her do any harm to herself. It seems if she were to be left alone long enough she'd find away to kill herself." She said quietly as to not let anypony else hear what she said. "Lets be on are way." She said as she left the dungeon with Twilight following behind. > Chapter 5: The Confession > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Starlight, are you in there?" Twilight called out as she knocked on the door. But she didn't respond. "Starlight open up. Princess Celestia wants to speak with you." She kept knocking but she got no response. "If she won't come out then we will have to go in." Celestia says as she walks towards the door, unlocking it with her master key. After which she opened it slowly. "Starlight are you in here?" Twilight asked as she enters the room. "Oh my Celestia! Starlight are you alright!" She yelled out as she saw Starlight laying on the floor surrounded by bottles of fine wine and hard cider. {Starlight} Canterlot Royal Hospital 3rd person "Uuuah my head." She groaned as she came to. Looking around she noticed a glass of water on the bed side table. Using her magic, she brought the glass of water to her lips and drank the water. Slowly she began to remember what happened. "I started drinking and I couldn't stop that has never happened before." She said to herself, as Twilight and Celestia entered the room. "How are you feeling Starlight? Do you remember what happened?" Twilight asked worriedly. "I drank and I drank till I passed out... I tried to forget but I couldn't." She said as fresh tears flowed down her face. "Does it have anything to do with the filly?" Celestia asked inquisitively. "It has everything to do with her, or more importantly what I did to her!" She quickly replied back. "And that is why we are here. To get your side of the story. We were going to ask you earlier but you know what happened." She said with a knowing look. "Why! You already know what I did. Why have me say it out loud." Starlight pleaded not wanting to relive what she did. "I'm afraid it is par for the course Starlight. I've already gotten Twilight's and the filly's side of the story, but I need yours to finish the investigation." "your really going to make me say it aren't you... Alright fine! What do you want to Know." She said finally relenting. "I Want you to look me in the eye when you respond. Where did you find her?" Celestia asked "I've found her hiding in a secret room, behind the wall in the library. I saw skid marks against the ground, and I heard whimpering from behind it. So I went over to investigate the wall. And when I placed my hoof against the wall, it suddenly spun around knocking me into the secret room... That is where I found her." "Did you attack her on sight?" "Yeah...yes I did. I... I was just so mad. When I looked at her, all I could see was Nightmare Moon standing over me laughing. The memory of her defeating and mocking me overtook me and I snapped. I chased her down through the halls till she made a mistake and ran into a dead end. I ended up springing a trap but I managed to escape it quickly. But the trap only made me madder I... I blasted her into the wall and continued blasting her. She tried pleading to me, but I wasn't really listening." She said as she tries to compose her thoughts. "I really could use a drink right about now." She said with a sad laugh. "Sorry, no alcohol for you. You would have died if we didn't find you in time. Your alcohol concentration was just barely under point four percent." "Oh well, it worth a shot at least..." She said with another sad laugh. "Auuh."She sighed. "You still want to to tell you everything, don't you?" "Yes please do. After which you can talk to her yourself." Starlight gulped loudly at the thought of seeing her again so soon. "Twilight showed up and defended her from me. But I was able to convince her to drop the shield...After which things took a turn. It was like she just gave up, she looked and sounded so defeated. She even asked me to kill her, and snapped at Twilight when she tried to intervene. Telling her it was my choice to make. In the end I was starting to doubt if I was making the right decision, but part of me still thought that she was Nightmare Moon." She paused for a moment to gather her thoughts. "So I went through with charging the attack to see how see would react. All she did was raise her head up, and closed her eyes. Not a single sign of struggle... She was really ready to die, but still for some reason I was still unsure so I fired the blast into the wall to see how she would react... I wasn't excepting her to be so mad at me for not killing her. I told her that I couldn't have killing her on my conscience... It escalated from there. She went off on me, saying that I was fine with with attacking her. And she called me a monster for not finishing her off when she asked me to... Especially after destroying her will to live." Starlight said, noticing a look of guilt on Twilights face. Why was she feeling guilty? "Starlight, you may have been the one to attack her. But according to her, I was the one that destroyed her will. By giving her hope, and then crushing it right in front of her. It was a team effort Starlight, both of us had a part in it, so you do not have to hold all the blame." Twilight said as she hugged Starlight. "Now that I have the full story it is time for us to visit her once again." {?????} Canterlot Dungeon 1st person. "Hello, guard? May I have a bucket? I have to use the bathroom." I asked hopefully. Sorry but I don't have a bucket you are just going to have to hold it." He responded back. "What you think I've been doing for the past few hours? I will not be able to hold it for another hour, I know that much at least. So do I lie in a puddle of urine and feces, or do we work something else out?" I explained to the guard. "How about you escort me to a cell with a toilet, let me do my business then escort me back. Nopony will have to know, and it would help us both in the long run. After all, you are trying to keep me alive and all. I've been demoralized enough as it is. Don't need to add...that to my list of problems." Thinking about the guard looked around, and said as he unlocked the cell. "Alright but we need to be quick. Do you need help standing up?" "Yes that would be very helpful, as I am unable to so on my own." I say as I continued to struggle trying get up, to prove my point. "Alright I am going to use my magic to lift you up. Are you ok with that?" He asked. "Yeah that is fine." I responded. Shortly after he uses his magic to upright me so I could move around on my hooves, albeit slowly do to the chains. "Ah It hurts to walk. Sorry I can't really go fast walking like this." "Do you want me to carry you?" He asked, wanting to go as fast as possible. "No this is the most I've been able to move around in a while, it is somewhat refreshing even if it hurts." I say as we slowly move towards the other cells. Here we are, use this one here. Just let me know if you need help, or you are ready to head back. I'll be waiting over here." he said giving me privacy. "Are you sure this is a good idea? Me seeing her again, what if I attack her again, or she doesn't listen to me or-" Starlight said freaking out. "Calm yourself Starlight, we will deal with that when and if it arises. If you stress yourself out now, it will only make things worse." Celestia said to Starlight as they were walking to the dungeons. "We are almost there, so steel yourself." She said as she rounded the corner. Twilight being a few steps ahead. "She's gone!" Twilight called out, from around the corner. "gone? What do you mean twilight? How can she be gone?" Celestia asked Trying to figure out how she escaped. "She is not in her cell, and the Guard is gone too. Did he take her, or did she take him?" Twilight said starting to theorize what could of happened. "let us start searching the dungeon for her she couldn't have gotten too far." Celestia ordered. "No need they are on there way back now." Starlight pointed out, showing the others that they were coming down the hall. "what is she doing out of her cell, admiral?" Celestia asked the approaching guard. "Hey! Ah princess you see! She ah... she needed to use the bathroom so I... I escorted her to the closest cell with one, and was on the way back princess... please don't fire me." He said clearly panicking. Meanwhile I slowly making my way back to my cell. "It was my fault, I had to use the potty. So if anyone gets punished it'd be me." I said as I clumsily dropped to the floor of my cell, due to my lack of mobility. "Oww, I would like it if you could add at least one more link to this thing. It is hard enough as it is." I say as I pull on my chains. "Don't worry I will not fire you, but you will be flagged." Celestia warned her guard. "thank you your highness." He said wiping sweat from his brow. Not daring to say another word to raise her ire. "That doesn't seem fair, why must he be punished? If anything the ones that put me in this cell are in the wrong. For failing to take into account that I have the same needs as everypony else. They could of at least left a bucket or something, but they didn't. So please don't punish this guard for their lack of insight... Or would you rather have came by to see me in a puddle of urine?" "No, no your right it isn't fair to punish him for doing the right thing. I am going to fix this now, follow me I am transferring you to a new cell that you will stay in, for the time being." Celestia said. "...You are going have to help me up, I can't even stand up because of these chains. Or if I can, I haven't figured out how yet." She quickly lifted me up in her magic and set me outside the cell. There I noticed the others "Oh hello Twilight, Starlight what honor do I owe this visit to? If you want to talk we can do it after I'm in my new cell. It hurts to stand." I say as I follow Celestia to my new cell. > Chapter 6: The Problem > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Now that I am situated in my new cell, I am ready for the second wave of questions." I said as fell on to the bed roll provided. Letting out a pained grunt as usual, but this time it felt different... "Isn't that the reason for your visit? To ask me more questions? That is the only reason I'm still alive after all." I said as they failed to respond the first time. Twilight looked to Starlight for confirmation before speaking. "...No, we are here to apologize for attacking you, without trying diplomacy. We judged you based on who you looked like, instead of how you acted. We are now willing to try to get to know you, the real you." "So that is how it is then?" I said with rising anger. "You came to ask for forgiveness? What a load of bull! The only act of forgiveness you can give me, is to end my life. Only in death will I finally forgive you." I winced in pain after speaking. Feeling a sharp pain in my chest, but they didn't seem to notice. "There has to be something else we can do, anything?" She begged hoping to find away to gain my forgiveness and trust. "You could add a couple links to my chains, so I can at least get up on my own. You could take it upon yourselves to fix what you broke, of my body and my mind. There are a lot of things you can do to make things better for me, but gaining my forgiveness is not one of them." I say as I notice Starlight hiding behind Twilight. "Starlight you seem to like hiding behind Twilight all of the sudden. What happened to you, do I frighten you? Do you still honestly believe that I am out to get you." I say as the pain starts to become unbearable, but for some reason I refused to let my pain show. "No... no I do not, if anything I fear myself more than ever. I fear owning up to my actions." "Why? it must feel good being able to get off scot free, just because your buddies with the Princesses. Chances are, you'll end up with a slap on the hoof at most. While I sit in a, albeit more comfortable cell for the foreseeable future. If you came here searching for forgiveness then why am I in a cell, and your not. I am not the one who attacked anypony. I am the victim. If you are really sorry, you'd leave me in the ruins you found me in." At this point I starting coughing lightly. The taste of blood present in my mouth. You know we can't do that-" "Why not? It was where I was found, it is where I belong. If I die in those woods then I'll die in peace. It is hard to explain but I feel as if I'm connected to it. *cough cough*" I say as I start coughing harder, Blood dripping from my mouth. I felt cold, like death himself was laying on top of me, freezing me to death. "Are you alright? Your coughing up blood." She said worryingly, as she looked to celestia for advice. "Yeah I'm fine *cough cough* it is not like you cared about my health beforehoof." I starting coughing harder and harder. Blood now pouring from my mouth. "We need to get her to the hospital now!" I heard one of them say before I passed out. Canterlot Royal Hospital Doctor Gentle Hooves, how much do you like your job and what is you job?" Celestia asked. The doctor quickly noted that she looked worried and pained. But for who? it didn't matter. he would help her no matter what. "My job is to help all creatures in their medical needs. Why do you ask princess?" He said quickly with pride. "Would you help them, even if they look like Nightmare Moon? I have a filly in a serous condition but nopony else will treat her, because of who she looks like... In case it matters she is an alicorn." After a moment of hesitation he said. "Bring her in I will do what I can." "Thank you Doctor Gentle Hooves, if you can save her you will be rewarded." Waiting Room "Celestia what do you think of her? Do you really think she is The Nightmare? Or is she something else?" "I believe that she is Nightmare Moon. Or at least what is left of her, after she was hit by the elements. I believe that the elements are responsible for her appearance. It must of wiped her memory and gave her another chance at live, but that is only a theory I have. The truth could be completely different." "That is a possibility though, What do you think the chances are, of Luna finding her in the dream realm?" "Not likely, she governs over countless dreams it would be like finding a needle in a haystack." "Yes but usually, she only visits those that are having a nightmare. And we know that the chances of her having a nightmare is pretty high, given what has happened to her. I fear it is only a matter of time till Luna finds her." "You do have a point there Twilight." {dream realm} "Where am I? Am I dead? Is this death?" I say as I floated around in the starry void, With no direction in mind. "No I am still alive, if I was dead I wouldn't be able to feel anything. But I still feel pain," I say as I pinched myself. "I must of finally entered a deep sleep." I say as I continued floating aimlessly. "They must have me in a drug induced sleep, if I weren't my stress would of insured that any sleep I would get, would be restless." I said as I tried recalling what has happened to me. "Wait, what is happening?" I ask as the landscape changes around me matching what I was trying to remember... but somehow seeing from an outside perspective. "This is weird, but cool at the same time." I say as I replay my memories trying to find something I could use to identify myself. "Why can't I remember anything before waking up in the castle? Was I placed there by something, what is my purpose?" I asked myself, as I continued to loop through my memories. My anger, growing each time I watched myself getting beaten half to death, over and over again I watched. But that anger soon turned into sorrow and fear, as I got more and more drawn into it. No longer able to discern if it was a dream or reality... I was the one being attacked now not my dream double. "Somepony help me!" I cried out as I ran from the dream Starlight. Reaching the same dead end each time I went through it. I waited for her to attack me but it never came. "It is ok young one, it is only a dream. You have nothing to be afraid of." I heard a voice say in front of me. as a tall black figure walked towards me. > Chapter 7: The Dream > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Sigh, If only this were a dream. Everything would be so much easier if it was...If only it was." I sighed sadly. hanging my head up high. As if to cry. "What do you mean by that? Of course this is a dream. You do know your dreaming right?" She asks as she steps closer towards me. Finally stepping out from behind the shadows. "I say that because, that wasn't just a dream. That was a memory... How much of it did you see?" I asked. "Why would Starlight attack you, and what where you doing in the castle in the first place?" She asked not telling me how much she saw. "It is were I first woke up and lived." I answered. "And as for why she attacked me...just look at me, and tell me what you see." I say as I stand tall. I see a troubled filly, in need of help." She said perplexed by what I said. Unable to find what I wanted her to see. I sighed, taking a few seconds to consider what I was about to do, before opening my wings. "How about now." many emotions went across her face as she processed what she was looking at. A filly alicorn of unknown origins. "Your... Your an alicorn? How is that possible?" the look of shock clear on her face. "Is that what we're called? I didn't know that... as for why I am one, I don't know why I am. Only That I am one... though many seem to to believe that I am Nightmare Moon." as I said that, anger flashed over her face. She started moving closer to me. "Are you Nightmare Moon? Answer carefully if you want to live." She says as she gets into a combat stance. Her horn glowing brightly with the intent to kill. "Why ask? You are already in my mind You should know the answer. If you want to go through my memories go right ahead, I will not fight you." I said as I summoned my first memory. "Earlier, before you showed up. I was going through my memories trying to find out who I am. But instead I was pulled into the dream memory and had to relive it." "And why should I trust you." "You don't have to do it, if you don't want to. You could just out right kill me, and be done with it. Which ever you prefer to do, is fine with me. It is not like anypony will miss me or anything." I say truthfully. She thought about for a moment before gradually powering down her horn. "Start the memory and don't stop it till I tell you to. Do you understand?" She ordered me. As her horn slowly dimmed into nothing. "Yes mam." I say out of respect. "Call me Princess Luna nothing more." "Yes Princess Luna." I say as I start from the beginning. "Is that all? Where are the rest of your memories?" She asks skeptically. "I don't have anything else to show. What I showed, is all I know." I said truthfully. "I have nothing to hide." "Don't lie to me I know your hiding something from me." She said in rising anger. "Hiding what? I showed you my whole life up to this point. Every thought I had, every thing i've ever done, is now known to you. So what is it that I am supposedly hiding?" I asked. Baffled by what she said. "I just know your hiding something from me and I intend to find out what." She said as she charged her horn. "Do whatever you deem necessary as long as it doesn't wake me up this is my first time I have actually entered the dream realm my body could use the rest." I requested hopefully. "I am going to use my magic to peer into your mind. It will not be comfortable." "Do what ever you deam best." I said as she walked up towards me. Her horn glowing brightly as she touched my head with her horn. "Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah! Aaaaah!" I screamed out in pain. The pain waking me almost immediately. I was wildly thrashing around writhing in pain while a pony dressed in white frantically tried to restrain me. I felt him inject something into by hoof. After which I slowly drifted back to sleep. Perpective shift "Docter gentle hooves, is everything alright in there? I heard screaming." Celestia asked worryingly. Peeking her head through the door. "Come in Princess Celestia, I need some assistance." Doctor Gentle Hooves replied quickly. "She suddenly woke up thrashing around while I was operating on her. She is asleep now, but I fear I need an extra set of hooves in case she wakes again. I was barely able to restrain her the last time." "Do you know what caused it doctor?" Celestia asks as she puts on a the appropriate medical garbs. magicly enhancing its size to make it fit. "No... No I do not. She must have seen something in her dreams that terrified her badly." Upon hearing that, Celestia froze. Had Luna found her? If she had, being in the dream realm would be dangerous for her. "You alright princess?" "Yes, sorry I was just thinking about something." She replied with a smile. "How much longer is the operation? I see that her condition is stable at the moment." " I am still in the process of realigning her bones and repairing the fractures. Her ribbs were shattered and her hooves were cracked. I've found bone fragments in many of her internal organs. it's a miracle that she is still alive after injurys like this. Especially with how long you waited for treatment. It was quite obvious that she had these injurys for at least two days before she arrived for treatment. Why was that your highness pardon my rudeness but as a doctor I have to know." "Other than bad bruises she seemed fine up untill recently she shown no signs of a live threatening condition." "And that is why it is imperative that she should of been checked out immediately. They can appear fine on the outside, but can be dieing from something on the inside. And we wouldn't know till its to late." He said as he removed yet another fragment from her internal organs, while healing them with his magic. "What would you have done if she died because of your carelessness?" "I understand that what I did was careless." She admitted "But as a ruler I have to be able to make sacrifices to protect my little ponies. I know it was wrong, but I was left with little choice. I couldn't risk the life of a doctor till I was sure she was harmless... And I completely over looked the fact that she wants to to die." "Why would she want to die and what does this have to do with your lack of judgement?" "The reason she wants to die is because of what happened to her. She was attacked and almost killed. Just because she looked like Nightmare moon. The experience most likely scared her... And the reason I brought it up is because she would of purposely concealed any signs of a life threatening condition in order to end her own life." "..." "Sister! There you are, I want a word with you!" Luna boomed loudly, as she entered the room. "Luna lower your voice! Your in a hospital. If you want to talk lets take it outside." "No sister, especially when the topic of the conversation is right behind you." "Can you at least let the doctor finish her treatment before you do anything rash. If you can promise me that. I'll let you watch the operation. If not I'll have no choice but to kick you out." "I promise I will not do anything rash...What will I be watching I can't see much of anything behind you." as she said this celestia moved out of the way so luna could see her. "She had many broken bones that I got inloged in her internal organs. I am currently in the process of piecing her bones back together after which I'll stitch her up and wrap her in a cast. She won't be able to move much but it will prevent further injuries." The doctor informed. "Starlight did that..." Luna said quietly but Celestia still heard her. "Seeing that you know who did it. You must of entered her mind and were the reason she woke up screaming in pain. What did you do to her Luna." "Nothing she didn't concent to... I used a mind reading spell to peer into her mind, but she woke up before it was completed." "No not again no no no." She mumbled in her sleep, as she started thrashing about. "Celestia help me hold her down!" the doctor ordered panicky as he struggled to prevent her from injury. Celestia quickly pressed down on her holding her down. "Sister I know what your going to say. That I should reenter her mind to fight of the nightmare. But I don't know if I'll be able to restrain myself from causing further harm..." Luna said as she watched the filly in front of her thrash around her chest cut open... If I don't act she will die. "I'll do it make sure she doesn't move around to much." She said as she activated her magic. Dream realm Luna looked around. She was in the ruins of her old castle. She heard screams of pain coming from down the hall. Quickly she ran down the hall reaching the source of the agonizing screams as she reached the end, she froze. There stood Nightmare Moon attacking her look alike... "How dare you. To be so weak but resembling me so." She said as her hoof lashed across the fillies face knocking her into the wall. Turning around she noticed Luna coming down the hall.. "Ooh Luna nice of you to pay us a visit. I just finished disciplining my daughter, as you could call her."Nightmare Moon said as she walked towards Luna. "Once again the elements failed to take me out completely seems to be a design flaw if you ask me. hahahahah!" She laughed with her iconic laugh, but it seemed different... Seemed sadder. "Now Luna I think it is time we became one. Just like old times eyy mother." The Nightmare asked menacingly, but it also sounded like she was begging her to take her back. "If you do I'll spare her life she is nothing but a shell created by the elements but she still houses a soul a part of my soul that is. Ahahaha!" But as she said that her body began to fall apart. "No mother please save me. I'm sorry for betraying you please take me back I don't want to fade away again." "If that's the case then why attack her and act all high and mighty. Why should I trust you?" "You can't trust me I know that all too well... As for why I act the way I do... You know that I'm a megalomaniac mother I just can't help it...I was angry at her. She houses the majority of my soul. I am nothing but a remenent of our former self. yet she seems intent of throwing her life away. Am I the only part of her that wants to stay alive... is that why I was left behind to fade away." She looked towards her doppelganger and makes her way to her when she arrived her hooves collapsed beneath her. Fading into the abyss. "I name you, the new holder of my soul Crescent moon. May you be better than the original, my daughter." She said before fading away completely. "Luna are you there I'm ready to wake up now I don't want to be alone again... I guess they were right about me I am Nightmare Moon. I'm nothing but a monster right? Then why... Why did she want me to live why name me different I am Nightmare Moon. Aren't I?" "From what I've see she didn't want you to live she was attacking you." "She only attacked me because I didn't want to live. she was calling me weak for giving up on life when I still had a chance of having a normal life... She called you mother and me her offspring does this technicly make you my grandmother Princess Luna?" "..." "Sorry... Just I wanted to know if I can have at least one pony... Nevermind its not important. Why haven't you attacked me yet you have visual proof that I am her. You hated her right? Back in the dream were I mentioned her you looked ready to attack at a moments notice. So why not now." "..." "... Why are you ignoring me?" "..." Looking around I noticed that she was gone."Fine then, I get the message just leaving me without saying a word. Ahhh I hate being alone please don't leave me... Mother." picking myself of the ground I began looking around for her but I didn't see her anywhere. She left me all alone. "I know you were a bad pony but everypony can change. Please come back." I say as I started crying were she had vanished. " please come back i need you." as I say this a faint cloudy mist rose around me. comforting me and wiping away my tears before fading away. "Thank you mother. I now know that a part of you is still with me." I say as my first smile came across my face. "Luna are you alright? Why are you crying? What did you see?" She asked pulling her sister aside so the doctor wouldn't be able to hear what's being said. "I saw Nightmare Moons last moment of life. Before she faded away she called me her mother. And her, her daughter." she said as she pointed her hoof towards creasent moon. "Her daughter? How is this possible?" "I'm not really sure. She claimed that The Elements created her to be a vessle for Nighmare moons soul but a part of her was left behind. She faded away hoping that her daughter would be better than her... It seems that even though she was evil there was a bit of good hiden within her." "Death is known to humble all. What do want to do with her luna. Now that we know the truth we can't just let her leave." "Why not? She wasn't the one that committed the acts. she is innocent." "You said it yourself she is Nightmare Moon. When she is treated she will be sent back to her cell where she will stay for the rest of her life." "Celestia listen to yourself do you really want to punish her for the crimes of her mother if you ask me she been punished enough with what Starlight put her through... By the way I forgot to mention her name. Nightmare moon named her daughter Creasent moon, so that should be what we call her from now on." "Creasent moon..." It would be easier to just show you." luna said as she charged her horn.