Author's Note

This was written after the first chapter, very early on. So excuse the weirdness and the mary-sueness of some of the characters.

-Zeydaan

Chapter X: The Dream

Falling... Endless falling...

My wings didn’t work in this state, no-matter how much I tried to flap them, I would not stop myself from falling. There were no true signs of my falling, just the rushing wind in my mane and fur. I visualised winds rushing by my head, and the winds were soon heard.

A short thump on the ground followed by a short feeling of pain... I knew that the dreamstate I was in could not completely create physical pain at this time. But I knew I was too deep into this to pull out at this moment. Nightmare Moon was coming. Somehow, the meaning of my past would be revealed in her... No matter how fucking terrifying she is.

As I stood up and walked around, something eerie shook me this time... My senses weren’t working.

Normally now, I could easily tell of my surroundings using all three of my Earth, Pegasus and Unicorn senses. I could navigate a maze with my eyes closed! Now, in this zone, I couldn’t feel anything, leaving me uncertain and worried.

Thinking about labyrinths too much must have caused something, since now I was surrounded by dark walls of a giant labyrinth.

It was near-impossible to see most of the things in this dreamstate. So I tried a quick test.

I dug my hooves down into the ground, and tried to focus my energy up to my horn. Focusing on my power, trying to control my heart rate, focusing on billions of things at once and trying to think of the most bright things I could think of...

After a few minutes, I gave up hope on using magic in this dream... Even yelling out “Temporal Control!” In an attempt to see if my Temporal energies had come into play like Chrysalis once said. But it seemed that even in my dreams my magic couldn’t work yet.

Something then hit me, dead in the face...

How do I KNOW I’m dreaming?

Before I could find answers, something startled me. It wasn’t a sound or a sense, it was just a presence... I looked around for it, but I knew something was here... Something that shouldn’t normally be here. I ran for it, only to grind to a halt. I looked for the nearest wall for clarity.

A large crack formed, hurting my ears. I felt my heart beginning to race as I saw a wall behind me begin to crumble, and a large amount of dark smoke begin to surround my legs. The wall had been breaking in my previous dreams, and now it was on the brink of total collapse.

I began to walk back, trying to get away from the wall, but the fog was weighing me down. Whatever was on the other side of the mental wall, it was strong... And incredibly angry, due to the fact that it seemed to be using its own body to smash down that wall. With every hit, more rubble came down onto the ground, and more of this fog poured out and kept me locked onto the ground. I tried to move, but the more I tried to pull my hooves up, the more the fog forced me down to the ground.

With one final pull, my hooves were free and the wall came tumbling down. Darkness lay beyond the wall, and a ton of fog poured out. My ears flopped down as I looked up to the dark figure that emerged from the darkness. Two glaring blue eyes opened, and some of the fog colourised and turned to a familiar blue colour.

It was the body I had seen too often in the mirror to become one of my worst fears. I was looking at Nightmare Moon once again.

The ghostly figure emerged from the wall, snaked its spiritual head down and hissed its serpent-like tongue at me, before saying in a cruel twisting of my own voice; “You’re MINE!”

She launched herself at me. As she got close, I felt something terrifying in my own hooves, the same feeling that I had many times throughout my transformation. I wouldn’t let her take control of me again!

I started to run, trying to get away from the horrible creature. I got a head start with a quick burst, as the feeling in my hooves died down, but turning back; I realised that the creature was still chasing me quickly.

I picked up the pace, running with all my might and trying to flap my wings to give myself a speed boost.

I navigated the maze while having panicking breaths and a racing heart, Nightmare Moon followed behind closely.

Every turn and straight drew her closer and drew less energy from me. I didn’t care about the maze or anything else, I just wanted to escape Nightmare Moon!

But the universe seemed to hate me tonight, as the maze reached a dead end. A quick stop in surprise caused me to lose my balance, and fall to the ground...

I rose my head up, to see the ominous figure of Nightmare Moon filling the entire area of the maze behind me. I looked up to see her face emerge again from the smoke.

I had to defeat her, or drive her back so I could see her past, but it was no use.

I had let my mental guard down... Just as Elizabeth said... And now I’m going to have my mind taken away from me. I looked around, as some figures appeared around me.

Each one taunted me, first the familiar well-dressed figure of Darius Jem.

“You’re weak... You can’t even perform magic.”

A twisted form of Chrysalis appeared shortly.

“You even risked the lives of the ones you loved since you couldn’t even use your powers to kill that man...”

The pony of Cordelia.

“You’re in the body of someone you will NEVER BE... You make me ashamed you even have his cutie mark!”

I sank down onto the ground, as taunts and tortures were thrown at me, as my body felt heavier and more painful.

“Hypocrite!” “Faker!” “Wimp!” “Weakling!” “You don’t know true power!”

I broke down sobbing, and I held my head in my hooves while Nightmare Moon laughed mechanically. I felt her presence nearby as her voice gently greeted me.

“Don’t listen to them... Patrick... You do not deserve this...”

My face was stained with tears and Nightmare Moon held me with her magical mane... I was tired and painful, I don’t care any more... Those people were right...

I had all this power... And I didn’t have the force to give myself to use it... If I stopped Darius... If I stopped this entire thing from fucking happening. But Darius was too smart. And I was too weak. I am simply in the body of this strange pony... I am not the pony either.

I am a faker, I am nothing... I could disappear and no-one would know!

Nightmare Moon’s mane felt warm against my face, as now the feeling of the changes felt more comforting. I felt the warmth over every part of my body, and looked up to see Nightmare Moon even closer than before. My energy was draining, as I was rightly fading away.

“Close your eyes... Let the water flow to me. Forever...”

Cordelia's Story

Chrysalis and I watched in horror at the sight, since he was exposed to her pheromones, he had been twitching and softly whimpering.
Since his outburst, I had worried about this moment. This is the moment of truth, if we were able to find out any more about this, we would have to risk him falling to Nightmare Moon again.

“How long has he been out, Doctor?” I asked, having him check the time.

“30 minutes, he should have contact with Nightmare by now.”

I saw a quick jolt in Chronos' body as he whimpered in pain.

“Are you sure this is the best method?” I asked, leaning down and nuzzling his fur.

Elizabeth stood up from the sofa of the Thinking room, and walked forward after Josh threw her a cold beer. Josh then took her place on the white sofa.

“The dream sequence will allow him to dive into the deepest part of his psyche. When Nightmare finds him, he will have a brief moment where he can look into Nightmare's memories that's where he'll see... Oh shit.” She stopped, staring at Chronos with horrified eyes.

Everypony turned around and stared at Chronos. Leaving me to have a similar response to what I was seeing.

Chronos' eyes were glowing.

“Chrysalis! Put a shield up around him, and keep using your pheromones!” the Doctor ordered, so Elizabeth and Chrysalis surrounded Chronos with a olive-green shield.

There was a slight whimper from Elizabeth as she walked around nervously, shaking her head as she put one hoof up to the air.

“Stupid! I should have remembered, Chronos' got NO mental training, we've essentially put him right where Nightmare Moon wants him!”

I, panicking, ran up to the cream-coloured pony.

“Is there any other way we could help?” I yelled, showing some deliberate consideration in my voice, only to have Josh roll his eyes slightly.

“I don’t know!” Elizabeth continued, “a dreamwalker guide for his subconscious would help him both drive off Nightmare Moon and help him through his memories, but even with your powers, we couldn’t get in far enough to get him out in this time, we’d need...”

“I don’t care what we need, we have to save him! Dreanwalking's the only thing we've got, and none of us are skilled enough to help him” I felt myself tearing up as I said this, as I grew more concerned for him

She stopped dead, as we looked at each-other square in the eyes. It took me a moment, but I saw that look in her eyes.

“Wait. A. Moment,” she scowled, thinking harshly, and then jumping up with realisation. She trotted around thinking as Chronos had another twitch. “Dreamwalking professional! That's it!”

“Yes, what are you thinking?”

“This Five Score incantation is much more diverse than we know, there's no real reason why what I have theorised hasn't come true. Back in Darius' headquarters, they had files on all of us... But as well, they had files going to several places across the world, other ponies!”

It took me a moment, staring at Chronos to get where she was going.

“You mean, all his friends in America?”

“Yes... There was a file for Princess Luna.”

“Chronos mentioned an old pen friend was going pony- does this mean, he was telling the truth?”

“Yes.”

“That means... He’s turned into the REAL Princess Luna!”

“Yes!” Elizabeth replied, with a strong nod.

“We can get her to enter into his dreamscape and be his guide!”

Elizabeths smile receded, as something seemed to hit her, HARD.

“But there are three problems though... One: This version of Nightmare Moon is obviously a LOT stronger than the one we know from the show. Two: we don't know which Pen friend he could be talking about, and we can't read his mind since he's unconscious, and Three: even if we did know who it was, how could we get them here? We don't know how quickly he/she could get here in dream state, we don't know if they'll be available right now and any communication we make to the outside world could put us all in mortal danger from the hands of Mr Immortal!”

“We can take that risk!” I blurted out, “we can move if Darius finds us and as soon as we can find this Luna, you could open a tear to get them here immediately!”

“I cannot open a tear strong enough to let him, or her, through yet. Trying to open one with my new horn, i’d risk destroying the shield. And getting someone from America is hard in itself! And I’d need to know her precise location to let her through! Knowing an identity wouldn't be enough! It's like trying to pinpoint a needle in a haystack from thousands of miles away.”

I paused for a second, hearing Chronos' inner voice and mental screams. I turned away and cringed at the blood-curdling cries emitted from his scar, and the dark forces around it. Then I came to another realisation.

“We don't need to know where Luna is. We only need some way of getting her here!” I remarked strongly, before turning to Chrysalis. “Hannah, Elizabeth! Put down the shield and try to channel some of the dark energies into my head!”

Chrysalis turned to me, but still kept her focus on maintaining the shield.

“This shield is stopping those dark forces taking YOU over. Why would you-”

“Just DO IT!” I yelled, willing now to take the risk.

“What are you doing, Cordie?” Elizabeth mumbled loudly, obviously confused and angry.

“I’ve seen how she would get inside a dream! A large force is emitted from the body and put into the atmosphere... If I can broadcast HIS psychic energy, then it might be strong enough to get to HER quickly! Both bait and the fishing line, we can force her mentally to come here!”

Chrysalis shrugged, and with a quick worried chirp, disabled the bubble and started to pull on a force around him.

A large black smoke started to pour out of his head and move into mine, darkening the room around us until the only light was the glow from Chrysalis’ horn and aura. The smoke moved steadily and slowly, but when it hit my head, it rushed straight into my mind like rapid-flowing water!

A dense crushing sensation filled my head, showing me memories of my past-self again, but showing darker things too. I felt the dark forces trying to take control of me, like before, but I wasn't having any of it... Not today.

I managed to ignore the images long enough to move this energy into certain areas of my brain, and prepared to launch a psychic blast.

I tensed my muscles, as my past-self had taught me. I readied my wings and lowered my head, but the energy wasn’t having any of that. A sharp pain filled my body, making me lose focus and cringe in pain.

I couldn’t take it much longer, as I began to yell out in pain too. Elizabeth tried to come near me, but a force seemed to repel her. My head hurt so much! It was like someone had just smashed out my brain with a piece of lemon-

Wrapped around a large gold brick.

I once again looked at Chronos, whose mane became more and more ethereal by the moment.

A tear fell down my cheek, as I picked up what was left of my strength, readied my stance, channeled my energies. And with a harsh yell, I released the energy with a large, air-shattering pulse. Sending me and everypony else flying off and hitting a wall, there was a sharp pain; but not as strong as the one before, and then a moment of silence followed.

Elizabeth used her magic to clear out some dust in the air that had appeared before I saw the others begin to stand up.

“Did it work?” Elizabeth asked, expecting me to sense something, whilst having a small coughing fit.

I turned and stared at Chronos, and seeing no physical changes or reactions. Just the gradual changes of length on his mane. I was getting hot and sweaty, and nerves were kicking in.

“Come on. Come on. COME ON!”

A mental flash, so minute it could be so easily missed and travelling at such a speed it was hardly distinguishable. But it came from somewhere indirect, and lead to a definite source.

“She’s here!” I remarked.

Chronos' Story

“Get away from him!” A voice yelled, followed by a bright light.

I looked up, to see that light glaring in front of me. My eyes focused, as my body returned to normal. I saw a hard light shield separating me from Nightmare Moon. And the caster;

Princess Luna.

It was a strange and marvelous sight, Nightmare Moon continued to ram into the shield in an attempt to break it, hissing and growling as Luna kept her stance strong.

“Stay back Nightmare! You are but a mere illusion!” She took out a sword of magic, and began to slash at Nightmare Moon, causing her to begin to dissipate.

Nightmare growled at the addition to my mental state, "You? IT CAN'T BE YOU!" she said with a venom and anger.

Luna darted towards Nightmare Moon, only to be held in a vice-like grip as her energies were quickly drained by the dark force.

"How?" she spluttered, perhaps at the surprise in how realistic Nightmare seemed to be. She was struggling, so I jumped with my might and slammed into the mass of the Nightmare energies. This gave Luna a chance to regain a magical grip on her sword and wail away at her.

“You will not claim me or him, whoever you are! You will go back to the solemn grave you came from!” Another slash with a fierce battle cry.

“And Never,” Another slash, “Come,” Once more “BACK!”

And with the final blast, the image of Nightmare Moon turned into a cloud of the black smoke and disappeared into thin air.

It was strange and incredible, as the smoke began to rise, as did the darkness of the dream. Until the walls and atmosphere around me turned into comforting shades of white and grey. But the thing that interested me was Luna herself, as when I stood up, I noticed a few scars and wounds on her body.

“Hello?” I said as Luna turned to face me, with some more scars on her face, and a darn intimidating look in her eyes. “Are you... Another mental projection of myself?”

Luna trotted up to me, and tilted her head slightly. “No. Genuine article here!” She said, nodding slowly. So the truth then began to hit me.

“You’re dreamwalking?” I whispered in a frightened way, and keeping my gaze fixed on Luna. I found it a bit odd, and a bit of an invasion of privacy... But perhaps this is what Darius was talking about. “Why are you here?”

Luna rolled her eyes. “It was a bit difficult to miss, a large amount of dark energy pinpointing to you. Plus the addition of...” A shudder overcame her quickly “Nightmare Moon. And from what I could tell, a Nightmare Moon who is no illusion. I have some questions for you.”

I had some questions too, but we both took a deep breath and said near simultaneously-

“Who the FUCK are you? Wait, what?”

Luna started the discussion: “No, usually these dream states I have had have been with ponies I recognised. Those ponies would spark subconscious memories to appear, but for you...” She paused and stared at my cutie mark. “Absolutely nothing.”

“I know who you are mostly... But I could say the same for you.”

“Why do you have Nightmare moon in your head?”

“Why do you have scars?”

“Who are you?”

“Why can I not, for the life of me, use my magic AT ALL?” I shuddered in anger, as I felt a wave of Nightmare Moon’s power wash over me. I stood up again to the wide eyed expression of Luna.

“I’m... Sorry.” I murmured, lowering my head in shame.

“Should we start again? I’ve had a rough day.” She replied in a similar tone, also lowering her head. “I guess, that you weren’t like this six days ago?”

I jumped back in surprise, “Yes, you too?”

Luna nodded, but continued. “A lot of people I met also have been having this change, from humans into ponies... All with one thing in common.”

“May 1st... Cutie marks, gradual changes and then... Mental changes.”

“Yep, name changes and memories were first until I realised the truth about it all.”

“I’ve been holding off most of the mental changes... Who are, or were you?”

“You don’t know anything... Do you?” She replied, putting a hoof to her head, obviously touching a scar. “Ow,” but smiled slightly. “I was, or still am, a human named John.”

“JOHN? As in We Are The Meta?” I shouted, widening my eyes. As did he, or she.

“I suppose we’ve met online? And you are?”

“Patrick... I called myself Chronos Skein, or Lord Chronos.”

“Ah yes, I see some resemblance. And your pony name?”“Coincidentally... Chronos...”

John (or Luna) giggled as he (or she) started to walk forward, signalling me to follow. While also having a good stare at the red emblem for my cutie mark with a smug grin.

“Now I can see the resemblance in the cutie mark. The whole Alicorn thing is a little difficult to take seriously, I find your design a tad unoriginal. Give you credit for not going black and red, but points off for the Changeling Chitin and red eyes.”

I glared at her for making such a remark. “How I look is of no importance, it is my body, fair and square, my body and potential are just that... I am myself, and I am both Patrick and Chronos.”

She stopped for a moment, taking in that information, before continuing to walk. “Oh... Well I can tell you’ve taken these changes well Patrick-”

“Chronos now, I kinda prefer the name.”

“Ok, you mentioned a trouble with magic... And repressing mental changes?”

I stopped and sighed, and pointed at my horn.

“Even my friends, who turned into a pony named Elizabeth, and... Queen Chrysalis were having trouble with their horns... But they still managed to achieve magic in some forms...” Luna was baffled at this point from me mentioning Chrysalis.

“But I know there’s Chrysalis already, I wasn’t aware of any others existing!”

“The mystery thickens then... But... I literally cannot use any magic.”

Luna was still looking from side to side to piece together some of the things that I had just said. But I could tell she was having some trouble trying to work things out just from what I had given her.

“Do you mind if I... Scan your magical background forces?” She asked, stopping and approaching me.

“Is it possible to do that here?”

Luna nodded, so I sat down as her horn began to glow. It was odd, to have her doing this to me, let alone the fact I would be squeeing and bouncing around a few days ago if I ever met Luna. But I guess the novelty of ponies in real life kinda wore off after I had completed my transformation.

She resonated curiosity, and anxiousness as she scanned me. But at the same time, one of my senses kicked in.

I opened my eyes, to see Luna struggling and sweating, obviously having trouble with her magic scanning. I could feel the magic like before, but this time I was beginning to sense something else now. A strange force surrounding her... It wasn’t visible to me, but it FELT blue... Just feeling, and nothing else.

Luna finally released me, and jumped back slightly with a small gasp, and some sweat.

“What did you see?” I asked.

“You’re...” She started, before having to take a few breaths. Obviously something happened earlier must have taken most of her strength. She must have been REALLY curious to want to look into this stuff. “Incredible...”

“Thanks? I guess...”

“Your magical forces are complicated and... Broken.”

“Meaning?”

“Your mind is shadowed by something dark. And something deep inside you.” She walked up slowly and touched me on my head with her hoof. “Something must have happened with your past...”

She turned away with a look of anger and sighed heavily. “Now I see why you needed me here urgently. You have problems...”

I scoffed, rather taken back by this.

“John, or Luna! I don’t understand what you mean.”

Luna turned back to me, with some reddening of the eyes.

“Not only do you have Nightmare Moon in your head, your magical background is similar... No, EXACTLY THE SAME as mine.”

I jumped back.

“What?”

“Don’t act so surprised, something is going on and you need to tell me about this-”

“I DON’T KNOW! I tried to find out about all of this, but whenever I do, I am blocked off by Nightmare Moon or even the fucking prime minister!”

We both stood our ground with angry glares at one another, before Luna sighed.

“Then, I guess it’s time for a little walk... To find out the truth for the both of us...”

She instructed me to follow again, and we began to walk down a slightly more narrow part of the labyrinth. At first, it seemed like Luna was leading me. But as we walked on in silence, I began to lead with a strange sense of where I was supposed to be going.

Even though she used to be someone I knew, I didn’t completely trust Luna at the moment. Heck, with the information that she’d just given me; I didn’t know what to think any more...

But if she could make any sense of this stupidity, I would have to trust her.

Eventually, there was a bright flash, and the scenery changed around us dramatically. Large screens passed by us, showing images of my life... And images of another... Closely resembling the images Twilight saw in the finale of series 3. But none of that really concerned me, as my interest was turned directly to a white screen.

I reached out a hoof to touch it, but stopped just before as a shiver came down my spine.

“I don’t know what we’ll see here, Chronos. But just know that I have no control over the images that we will see.”

“I understand.”

“Good...”

A gentle touch with my hoof was enough to make the picture explode into white light. Engulfing the both of us.

An image formed slowly from the white light. One of a dimly lit night sky, shortly followed by many thousands of stars and lights, then a large eclipse in the center of the sky burst into view. And finally a few dark walls formed around us, leaving the two of us ethereally looking down upon the castle of the two sisters.

“Why would you remember this place?” Luna asked. “This is 1000 years into the past, I never remember you on this day!”

I glared at her slightly as something else came into view. This being the image of Princess Celestia, badly wounded as she lies on the ground in the ruins of the castle of two sisters. A sound is quickly brought to our attention, along with the bright moonlight and the screams of citizens as bat ponies brought down fear.

Nightmare Moon laughed triumphantly, silhouetted by the moon behind her. Luna and I looked upon her with disdain and fear, she had left a bad taste in both of our mouths.

Below, we could see the fugue of Celestia, groaning as she returned to consciousnesses.

She stumbled up slightly, and to an unseeing eye, she said with sadness, "I'm sorry sister, but you leave me no choice" as she said this, a panel on the floor opened, revealing 6 familiar objects, the Elements of Harmony.

It was clear to me that this was near the end of this conflict. Luna looked upon them with a clenched mouth.

“You remember this... Don’t you?” I asked, as Luna lowered her head in shame.

“I sometimes wish I didn’t...” She paused. “Do you... Too?”

“Yes.”

Celestia levitated the elements around her, creating a spectrum of light as it shielded her. She ascended to the level of her sister, with the moon behind them both.

Celestia then began to channel the elements through her horn. Crying as she did it.

“I’m sorry...” She whispered. “I will fix this!” And with a tear, she released the elements’ magic with a strong burst from her horn. The short clash they held was short before Nightmare was engulfed by the light.

Luna closed her eyes and lowered her head even further down.

“Are you ok?”

There was a small pause as the light continued to blare.

“The image is still very clear in my memory... The banishment of the horrible Nightmare Moon. It is not something I would look back upon... But somehow you-”

She was interrupted by a loud scream, causing us both to turn to the images unfolding in my memories. What we saw tore down to the very foundations of my body. As Nightmare Moon was recoiling in pain as the light tore away at her.

“No...” Luna yelled quietly, shocked by the images. “NO! This isn’t what happened! This-”

She was interrupted again by an even more gruesome sight, as Nightmare Moon screamed in pure agony. Suddenly, the light was distorted and blood shot out from her chest, only to be thrown back with the power of the light. The amount of blood became stronger as Celestia could only watch in horror as the power of the elements tore away at her sister's body...

The wounds on Nightmare Moon became larger and more frequent, as her screams became more blood-curdling. With every pulse of the magic, she would flinch away as a large portion of flesh and bone would be torn away from her helpless body.

Time seemed to draw to a complete stop as we all witnessed in horror at the last moment Celestia gazed upon her sister, even through the excruciation light, we saw Nightmare Moon’s eyes switch back for a brief moment.

And then silence... As if my mind was stopping the image to capture the sheer emotion that Celestia felt at that very moment.

The image spiralled around as the light blared from Celestia’s crown and horn, as she looked up to her sister. It was difficult, but we all could make out what the image Luna was mouthing.

“Thank you...”

The body of Nightmare Moon exploded in a shower of blood, leaving red stains scattered on the walls and a large pool of the crimson liquid on the ground, as some chunks of flesh and light fell gently onto the ground.

Celestia’s mouth twitched as her eyes teared up again. Before breaking down in tears and hiding her head in her hooves. She yelled out loud to herself, showing sheer despair and desperation in her voice.

Luna, meanwhile, was shocked and bewildered by this sight. And then turned back to me with spite.

“You dared to show me this? WHY SHOW ME THIS?” She came close to me.

“I don’t know!”

“Was this some kind of cruel joke? Did you send out that beacon just to play with my mind?”

“I’m sorry!” I yelled, “I don’t know... Why we are both seeing-”

“Oh... my my, Celestia... We’ve made the wrong move... HAVEN’T WE?” An ominous voice said from the memories, causing our attentions to be drawn once again to the images.

“It’s still going...” I whispered, as another disturbing image appeared before us.

The figure flashed into view, in direct eye contact with Celestia, who was still sobbing from the moments beforehand. It also wasn’t normal, he was stained with blood, and there were open scars and his eyes were bloodshot and tainted black. It was a moment of shock, as we all said simultaneously.

“Discord.”

Normally we would expect Discord to break out into maniacal laughter at this moment. But this, new Discord instead lowered down to Celestia’s level, and looked down upon the elements of harmony too. He embraced her in his arms, as she attempted to push him away spitefully.

“There there now, Celestia. Hussssh, it’s alright.”

“YOU DID THIS DISCORD, YOU DID THIS!” Celestia sobbed. Only leading to Discord tutting.

“Now now, there’s no need to be like that, I have no control over the elements, and killing,” He looked at his claws for a moment. “Just. not. my. style.”

“I don’t want your nonsense now Discord... I can’t live with myself knowing what I have just done.”

“Celestia.” Luna whispered, obviously taken back by Lunas response.

“Well if it makes you feel better, I know that you made a more wise choice in another dimension.” He looked upon the blood-stained white alicorn. “But seeing this horrific sight, I’ve had a change of heart.”

Celestia looked up and spat into Discord’s face, “What could you do, to ever be a change of heart.”

Discord leant down towards Celestias face, and whispered in her ear, just barely audible to both me and Luna.

“I can help fix your mistakes.”

Celestia flinched and tried to back away from Discord.

“You dare say you could FIX this?”

“Oh yes... With a snap of my fingers, I can bring your sister back, I can bring back all those that you banished... And I can leave and never again enter Equestria under the rule of Princess Celestia!”

Celestia twitched, as a tear dropped down her cheek.

“You’re lying... You’re lying! You could never do that, and even if you EVER did, there’d always be a drawback. There always IS!”

Discord looked taken back; from what I could tell.

“At this moment of time, why would I lie to you Celestia? But yes, there is some form of a drawback, but more of a promise.”

“What... Promise?”

Discord leant in and said;

“I have something very special planned... When the time comes, you cannot have any part of it.”

Celestia stood up and began to back away from the draconequus, with a slight twitch in her eyes.

“What do you mean? Nothing you do is ‘special’, what makes this so special then? If it is, then I will have to stop you Discord!”

“Celestia! I guarantee, that if nothing occurs from your side, all your loyal, sweet little Ponies will not be harmed. But this is the life of your sibling! To fix all those mistakes! And besides, I swear on my life that not a single hair on your head will be harmed by myself.”

There was an eerie moment of silence between the angry glare of Celestia, and the more nonchalant stare of Discord. But there was a absolutely miniscule sign inside Celestias eyes, as something inside me made me whisper to myself.

“Don’t do it... Don’t Do It!”

But I had no interaction. As the dream-like memory continued without any recognition of my input.

“The life of Luna. For a promise...”

“No...”

“You agree to my terms then Celestia?”

“No.”

“Yes...”

“Then, you’ll accept the responsibilities of this reborn being?”

“Yes...”

“NO.”

“And you will remain in the shadows, when I carry out my plans... To rid the world of vile corruption?”

“Yes...”

“NO!”

“You would be willing. To endanger the lives of ALL your subjects, just for the life of your sister?”

Celestia’s response made her lower her body down as a tear also fell, giving one final:

“Yes.”

I sank down, as did Celestia. How could this version be so unTHINKING? Why would she give up such a strong position of moral authority, just for her sister? Was it love? I wouldn’t be that stupid for my own siblings, I would take revenge on what Discord did!

But Luna however, was slightly taken by Celestia’s loyalty. While Discord made a cunning smile at the helpless Alicorn, alerting us both to attention once more.

“That’s just what I needed to hear!” Hissed Discord, causing him to snap his fingers loudly, holding up Celestia in a magical field. Obviously causing some form of pain, but somehow... I could feel it TOO!

“What are you doing?”

“What are you doing?” We both said simultaneously.

Discord laughed again as he seemed to take some dark magic, scooped up from Luna’s blood. “You really ARE gullible, aren’t you Celestia? You really thought I would hold up my side of the deal? I’m the god of CHAOS!”

Celestia broke out into tears again, as I started to breath heavily in anger.

“But... Luna... You said...” Celestia whimpered.

“Oh, don’t worry... I will bring your sibling back. I just need to make some changes.”

Celestia’s eyes widened as her body shook slightly. “To what?” She whispered in terror.

“You”

The dark energy flung out of Discord’s paw, and impacted the Elements Of Harmony, before quickly slamming into Celestia.

“AAGH!” Celestia screamed, while Discord grinned maniacally as his evil deed was made.

I tried to stop him, but nothing I could do would stop the tormenting images.

“Make it stop!” I yelled, trying to shield my eyes from the sight. But my hooves weren’t responding. It seemed that both Luna and Nightmare Moon wanted me to see this.

Celestia’s coat started to burn away, revealing red-burnt flesh underneath. Some parts of her flesh burnt off, revealing some organs and the inside of her jaw, making it even more unbearable to watch as she screamed in agony. Her eyes narrowed as the corruption sunk into her body.

Her horn began to light up, while the elements kept pouring the rest of their magic into her, then she began to blast the blood on the ground. The magical transfer continued for a short time, just as Celestia’s screams started to change to laughter. She burst out into laughter, as her mane burst into huge flames, flaring brightly in the air, before she fell to the ground. The magic stream was cut off, and the Elements Of Harmony shattered in their place.

The Elements Of Harmony were gone.

“And now... Here. We. Go.” Discord mocked, staring at the blood on the ground.

The rest of us, who were still conscious, stared wondrously at the pool as it gently swayed and moved around. But those gentle movements soon became a torrent, as the blood rushed upward, creating a crimson tornado, glowing strongly with magic.

“Yes. Yes. YES!”

The blood-nado came together in a concentrated ball with a blinding light, before a quick snap of Discord’s fingers caused the ball to expand and explode with a long flash. Knocking back Discord and the unconscious body of the mutated Celestia.

The flash faded away, to reveal that all the blood had been cleared from the room. Discord stood up to see the new, white-glowing figure floating in the middle of the room.

It appeared that the light was emanating from the creatures eyes. The eyes closed, revealing the true form of the newborn figure appeared. Making me absolutely terrified as the two others in my images grinned at it.

It was me...

"The archetype has risen, I do not doubt that you are pleased for your actions?” The new Celestia remarked with a new accent.

“I’m glad that it turned out so perfectly. Any more delays and we would have had pony macaroni!”

Discord laughed, but Celestia did not return the laughter, she looked upon me, allowing me to note the lack of both Changeling Saddle and Scar of Time. “What do you plan to do with it, Lord Discord?”

“Ooh... Lord Discord? I like that. But I have plans of my own. And he will be very important to me... Thought of a good name, Solar Flare?”

Solar Flare laughed, showing the fangs inside her cheek, before looking with a tilted head at the younger... me...

“Chronos... A name befitting a god, as we are.”

“Then you will raise it as your own, until the day when I will need him.” He then stroked the mane of the pony on the ground with strange affection, the kind of effect ion Darius would have given to me. “I have excellent plans for you... Chronos.”

The images faded out, revealing just strange black and starry surroundings. I turned to Luna, with now teary eyes, she was now piecing some things together. But now also she seemed to have an even stronger glare of terror towards my very image.

“Well?” I yelled, bitterly, expecting her to make some sense of my twisted imagery that I had just seen inside my own head.

She coughed and cleared her throat, before rolling her eyes and sighing.

“You have turned into a being from a parallel version of Equestria. Discord created him using the remains of Nightmare Moon. You were meant to help him in some way.”

“But... Celestia there-” I interrupted, reminiscing on the images I had just seen.

“What she did there was beyond either of our control Chronos! Celestia would never have done such a thing in my Equestria...”

“If he saw what she did-” I said, hoping for the best, but with absolute fury in the back of my voice. “I’m in the body... Of Luna... From another dimension...”

“No.” She said, glaring at me. “You aren’t me... You are Nightmare Moon.”

We both looked around as other images flashed past us, showing things like the birth of the Scar Of Time, the grouping of The League Of Darkness and Tirek's death by my hoof.

A new image of Chronos appeared, now near identical to my current appearance bar his hairstyle, snapping back from one of Elizabeth’s tears. This Chronos looked up to the image of Elizabeth with the same look of anger I had at that moment.

“Why have you shown these horrible images to YOUR KING, Lutece Tear?” He barked, with a crisp undertone showing his apparent state of authority.

Elizabeth’s pony form emerged after closing the tear that we all had supposedly been looking into. Without even a moment of worry, she even stepped up to Chronos and pressed her hoof on his chest.

“It is a warning, Chronos. Of your past-” She stopped for a moment. “And your future.”

“What do you mean... Elizabeth?”

“In a few hours, the pact that Solar Flare made on that day will be complete. She will perish, and you will murder the elements of harmony.”

“WHAT?”

“WHAT?” Me and the image of Chronos simultaneously blurted.

“We both know about that 'universal code'. A curse that is one of the darkest I have ever sensed. Now Discord, I believe, has found it's whereabouts. He will think it will destroy his enemies. But soon he will realise the truth. That’s where you come in.”

“How do I come into that creatures plans?” Chronos said, with his eye twitching on one side.

“As you could see in those images, he plans to use you. He will tear away at everything you love. And then trick you to travel into another dimension, and murder the bearers of the Elements Of Harmony.”

“NO! But I saw... The Elements were DESTROYED! Didn’t you see? They shattered into pieces when Flare and Discord created... Me.”

“Another world. Where Celestia didn’t make that choice, the Elements Of Harmony exist. Discord has attempted to destroy them multiple times by now... And if he is to use you... He will win.”

Chronos shook his head, and then stood up to walk around a bit, cursing and swearing at himself, repeating “NO” loudly too. He finally said something completely audible using his royal Canterlot voice

“I will NOT murder innocents to please some Chaos god!”

“YOU WILL! You have been destined to do so, and Flare has fated that to you ever since she gave into Discord. He will try to get Nightmare Moon first, and then to your normal side. I’m not sure how he will try-”

“STOP! You’re mad, Tear.” He shouted, with his eyes burning for a moment. And began to walk out of the room he was in. “I think I can handle my problems MYSELF!”

Elizabeth ran up to him, halting him before he reached the door.

“Just... Be careful-” She whispered. “Stop Discord before his plans come to fruit. I worry for the future. Don't trust Flare.”

“Don’t! I control the future... And whatever happens after this point, I will make sure that whomever is responsible pays at the hooves of their god.”

I never thought someone like me would say anything as uptight or egotistical. But even though I had never seen these things before: I remembered them as if I had lived them.

The images spiralled out, flashing forward past some form of battle scene. And Luna and myself arrived at the throne room I had seen in my first dream. Just a bit more bashed up than normal.

Luna wondered about these images; and then turned back to me.

“The more I see these images, the more I understand, Chronos. You have some grim past sins... But from what I can tell... This is the last that we shall see.”

“What do you mean?”

“Because, seeing your face now...” She started, having a good stare. “You are more terrified than I have ever seen you before.”

A loud bang stopped us from talking, as we turned to see King Sombra and the image of Chronos run into the room.

“FLARE!” Chronos yelled at the top of his lungs. His voice held a tone of tiresome and he seemed to be using a volume spell. “Come out you bitch, FACE ME!”

The regal and disfigured form of Solar Flare appeared from behind the throne. I would have expected her to have the same look of regal and vein superiority. But she now had a strange look of disappointment and sadness.

“So you know... Don’t you? What I’ve done...” She murmured. Only to have Chronos crouch down and scrape his hoof in anger.

“Two of my friends are dead, at the hands of Discord, because of your cowardice! And you have doomed me to serve under that monsters hand! So Sombra and I are going to make you pay for your crimes!”

“You wish to end my life... To repay the life of Luna.”

Chronos winced, pausing only for a moment as his eyes turned to the all-too-familiar shade of cyan.

“It is justice... For your cowardice.”

Solar Flare shrunk in posture, before having her mane and tail flare up with her magical fire. And spoke words with a powerful voice, and a drained, tearful look in her eyes.

“Then, my student... Fight me!” She yelled, causing me and Luna to briefly look at eachother, before the two side engaged each-other suddenly.

Sombra’s horn flared up with his dark magic, causing several pillars of dark crystals to rise up quickly from the advancing Solar Flare, who had drawn out a magical battleaxe to cut down the black obstacles in her way. Chronos' mane was now waving like Nightmare Moon’s as he started to blast out large energy beams from his horn as he took to the air.

Flare started to throw large fireballs from her mane and slash away with her weapon, creating large lights as the blade literally cut the air. Sombra now drew out his own magical melee weapon and engaged her in bladed combat, while Chronos continuously fired magical projectiles at her from a height. Flare saw a weakness in Sombra’s defense and simultaneously slashed at him and fired a magical projectile at Chronos. Impacting both violently, yet they all continued to fight.

Fast movements ensued from the duelling monarchs as Chronos began to gather some strength for a powerful attack. With every slash of Solar Flare’s deadly blade, Sombra managed to dodge them, turning into his ethereal form briefly to avoid the more ranged attacks.

“Sombra! Use your enchantments, get up close!” Chronos yelled, as some projectiles narrowly missed his wing.

“She’s too fast, Chronos! The window of opportunity is too small!”

Sombra’s talking was a mistake, as a glance away for a mere moment allowed Solar Flare to block his attack in such a way that his swing turned against him, knocking him back slightly, only to receive the blunt end of Flare’s staff upon his head.

“Yield Sombra!” Flare yelled, as the king fell to the ground for a moment. Only to have Chronos begin to fly quickly towards the pair with his horn charged with magic. But his speed was not enough compared to Flare’s swing of her axe, embedding deep into Sombra’s skull with a deep crack. Yet the shadow king remained alive for the moment, as his last ounce of strength allowed him to retaliate slightly with some swings of a dark greatsword, while Chronos himself violently blasted Flare with light magic. “This is between me and my student, Sombra!” She yelled, drawing up her battleaxe from Sombra’s skull.

Sombra stumbled around slightly for a moment, as the axe had gone in slightly to the side, leaving a part of his head hanging off. But I saw at the last moments, he winked at Chronos with his other eye, before he was sliced in half by Flare’s battleaxe, creating a pool of black blood.

“SOMBRA!” Chronos yelled, before being knocked to the side brutally, only to hit a pillar and almost immediately get back up. “You murdered my FRIEND, Flare! If you wanted to make this personal, well guess what?” He then flashed with energy as his eyes started to glow like Sombra’s would, but he got out a large sword, in the shape of a more jagged and crewed Galaxia. And then with all the anger and spite he could muster, he yelled; “It was already FUCKING PERSONAL!”

The two engaged as Flare and Sombra did, but much MUCH faster. WIth every swing created a large spark as they clashed, using techniques I had never seen in my life to get at each other. Only a small moment of brief rest could I see tears in the eyes of both the ponies fighting. They did not want to fight, but destiny had other plans.

Eventually they changed tactics, having both their wings flare up and attempt to slash at each other using the movement of flight as an added bonus. This was where it became difficult to see the two fighters, as their fast flight and attacks meant that all we could really see were just random flashes around the room. It was the sort of chaotic fighting that you would expect to see in an episode of ‘Dragon Ball Z’, except without the quips or cheesy setting: this hurt me inside, as I couldn’t bare to watch these two fight.

The flying came to a sudden stop as the two became engaged in a clash. Flare used this to taunt Chronos.

“Do it! Don’t think of me as your mentor Chronos! I was the one who told Discord where Chrysalis and the Doctor were! I was the one who murdered Luna. DO IT!”

No, she wasn’t taunting him, she was encouraging him to kill her! It must have worked, as Chronos drew back his blade and made a blood-curdling scream as he gave one powerful slash at his mentor’s sword. The force used was enough to knock the alicorn queen into the throne, shattering it to pieces.

Chronos breathed heavily, as he emitted another scream, causing his body to erupt with black energy, and his eyes to glow white. Solar Flare then rushed towards the flying alicorn with her battleaxe poised for a deadly blow.

“TEMPORAL CONTROL!” Chronos screamed, creating a large pulse of energy and causing Flare to be stopped in her flight, as all colour seemed to drain out of the room around us. He narrowed his eyes once more until they were blaring with his magical light and raised up his sword again. But this time, there was no other blade to stop his attacks, he relentlessly slashed away at the frozen queen, screaming in hatred all the time.

The Chaos Control ended, as one more blow knocked Flare onto the ground with a loud crack. Chronos pinned her back to the ground using his sword. She was obviously weak now, and bleeding fatally from every tiny wound. Flare then attempted to stop him from further actions, but one quick blow to her horn prevented any further of her OWN actions.

Solar Flare looked in horror as she saw her own horn drop to the ground next to her. The sheer look of terror and horror on her wasted face was not something I would ever want to think about again.

Chronos paused as he swung his sword up. I saw another tear in his eye as he gritted his teeth.

Flare’s reaction was much different, but interesting, since as she talked... Her fur began to grow back onto her body...

“Well... Do it!” She ordered her student, since she knew that they were both suffering. “End... Me...”

Chronos was now shivering as his eye turned cyan again. With every passing second, his wings became more metallic and his mane more ethereal.

“END ME!” She screamed, with every part of her body changing back to a more familiar form.

Silence.

As Nightmare Moon cut off her head.

It was the most frightening and terrifying thing I had seen in my dreams, EVER. How could any of those ponies be so... HEARTLESS. I just witnessed a being, whose body I am in, murder his teacher without any control over his body. But at the last moment, it seemed like she WANTED death... That is what hurt most.

The image of Chronos had reverted to normal, as he stared at the body of his mentor fall limp. As the last amount of strength left the head, he saw her look at him and whisper her final words.

“Thank you, brother. For helping me back... To the light.”

The last ounce of fur covered her skin, before her head became limp. And Princess Celestia became lifeless.

“She...” Luna began. “She turned back... In the end.”

I felt horrible, as emotions had welled up inside me for crimes I never thought I could ever commit. But this body has cursed me with the guilt of murder it had committed. I felt myself sinking down. This was why I couldn’t use magic... Who would ever want to do that again, after knowing what harm your power could cause.

“Chronos... I’m-”

Another figure flashed into view, exactly like he did before. Discord.

His tail swished around as the Chronos image looked up to the draconequus with absolute hatred and lunged at him. But Discord wasn’t having any of it.

“Sit DOWN!” He ordered, as his own chaotic magic forced Chronos onto the ground. Chronos stumbled, but was unable to move, so he attempted to shout.

“TEMPORAL- Mmph!” He yelled, before having ice freeze over his mouth before he could use his magic on Discord.

“Now now, Chronos. We don’t want any of that today... There’s been enough violence!”

Chronos glared at Discord, and began to talk with reddened eyes. I guess he must have been using telepathy like I would to speak even with the ice.

“Enough games Discord, you are the cause of this! I might have fallen for your silver tongue. But you forced. My. Hoof. With. BLOOD!”

Discord chuckled and wiped a tear from his eye.

“Did you REALLY think I killed your friends?” Discord mocked, to have Chronos widen his eyes and loosen his stance.

“What? What did you do to them?” Discord grinned, and slivered around Chronos with murderous intent and burning chaos in his eyes.

“The better question is... What did YOU do to them?”

“What?”

“A simple enchantment, I think you’ll remember it. Goes along the lines of... Five Score Divided By Four?”

That was something I had been hearing from all the others, that strange rhyme... Was Discord the cause of it? But from what I could tell, Luna was the one more shocked than me at the moment. What did she know?

“The...” Chronos began. “Dimentia Code... How did you ever perfect it... Let alone... GET it?”

Discord leaned in, showing some of his fanged teeth to the Alicorn King. But the next thing Discord said caused Luna to lose her shit.

“You tell me, Chronos. I have eyes EVERYWHERE. And besides, YOU were the one who created it!”

“YOU!” Luna yelled, “You were the one responsible for ALL OF THIS?”

“Responsible for what?” I asked.

Luna’s eye twitched. “The suffering of hundreds of people AND ponies alike. Thanks to that curse, the Discord from the true dimension managed to take over ALL OF IT. Murdered Celestia and banished EVERYPONY to the human world!”

Those words hit me on the head like a bullet. I felt confused and heartbroken at the same time. Did I do all of that? If so, WHY? Had I caused so much suffering to my fellow ponies?

I don’t like to think I could ever do such a thing. But the image seemed to explain.

“That ‘curse’ was made that only I could understand this world and the source of all worlds. And I intended to use what I would find there as a means to truly usurp Celestia until. YOU happened”

“A selfish way out? That abomination was going to be used, JUST TO RISE TO FUCKING POWER?” Luna yelled, with much more harsh anger in her voice. I sank further to the ground hearing this. I felt awful.

“Well, passing by the ears of a certain Chaos God would probably change the meaning now, wouldn’t it?” He leant into Chronos' ear and whispered “You will not believe the fun I’ve had in another world with your fancy little rhyme!”

Chronos angrily attempted to wriggle out of his position, his eyes burned with anger and rage and hate towards the Chaos god. Discord gripped his beard and flew to an upright position.

“Anyway, to business. The reason that I’m here- and in a way, YOU’RE here. Is that I now realise, even with the perks of this curse. I do not believe that it is entirely foolproof, and I blame the fool of the creator.”

Chronos grunted angrily, taking very little offence in the comment though.

“Even though my counter believes there is no chance of their return, or the curses effects having 'rubber band slingshot'. I have got something planned for some enemies of mine as a secondary procedure: You. Even with your… Condition, we can work things out.”

“Let me guess. You want me to become your personal hitpony. Killing off all the ones you have banished to prevent any chance of your usurping.”

Discord clapped to himself.

“Very good Chronos. I see Elizabeth’s had a good word with you.”

“I will NEVER serve you, Discord! Your fucking trickery will not win against me! And wasn't it you who said 'killing isn't your style.'?”

“Then you know nothing! Rule one of Discord: You never talk about Discord, but that’s beside the point. Rule two: I ALWAYS win.”

Chronos glared and attempted to move again. But yet again there was no effect.

“No deal. Let me go and we can fight like true Gods! Let the best pony win!” Discord did not reply to Chronos' comment, but turned and tutted before grinning to himself.

“THIS is how it’s going to work, Chronos. I have a specially designed form of my ‘Five Score’ enchantment, that will allow you to assume the form you like permanently when you get to... There. All I would need is your sworn allegiance to me, and me alone, and I would even make it so you would see your little ‘pony’ friends again. I could even make it so that you could work together on my little... Termination. You see, there’s something that Nightmare-”

Chronos (smartly) barked out in response: “And when I refuse and powderize your fucking behind?”

But Discord expected this response and grinned again.

“If... You refuse...” He snapped his fingers; and what appeared in his claws caused my heart to stop. And the Chronos in front of us to widen his eyes. “You will never see your little friends again!”

“Cordie.”

“Cordie.” We both whispered.

I collapsed to the floor as a wave of guilt and hatred washed over me. I hated myself, I hated Discord. I hated everything! The power he had, the power I could have. And the ultimatum he had put him into. And yet, like before. I could feel the internal conflict he was put into. It was the single most painful thing I had ever experienced.

“Well then Chronos, time to make your choice... Your friends. Or NOTHING!”

Chronos looked even more depressed than before, as he had lowered his head to the ground with terror and sadness.

“If... I agree...” He whimpered, to have Discord grin with delight, and Cordelia cower in terror too. “You will spare them, all of them.”

Discord glared at his captive, and before she could say anything, he removed her muzzle in a similar way to that which Trixie used early in Series 3.

“Yes... I will. I swear that they will remain alive, Trixie, Chrysalis, Cordie, and everyone else safe and sound. I'll return them to you gift-wrapped.”

Cordelia whimpered and tried to shout something.

“Cordelia!” Chronos begged. “I can’t... Lose you... I care too much for you, and I have lost too many comrades. And I care too much about them! Letting them die would be a disgrace to their memories!”

Discord sighed, he knew he had conquered and defeated him. He knew that all of the violence today would get to him, and that the wearing down would make him defenseless.

“But I care too much about my subjects-” He yelled through telepathy, to have Discord’s face turn to terror, annoyance and surprise. Chronos, on the other hand, was glaring with glowing eyes. His rage seemed to burn out of him like wildfire. The magical locks on his hooves broke as he forced himself off the ground. And finally, the ice over his mouth shattered violently. “-To ever outweigh THEIR NEEDS!”

Discord growled as his body snaked and dropped Cordelia onto the ground with a thump. I couldn’t help but smile at Discord’s anger at this moment. I could feel it in me, all that planning and cunning. Gone to waste due to one Kings simple Loyalty! It was exhilarating. Me and the image had that tick that now, shit was going down!

“Temporal SPEAR!” Chronos screamed, as his attack blared out. But as it was forced out of his body, I oddly seemed to describe the attack.

“Temporal Spear: Temporal forces create a beam of solid energy taken from the dawn of the universe that can be used as a projectile from close to medium distances. Electrical discharge upon impact can make it a stunning implement, whereas charged attacks can overload target with electricity with hostile-harmful effects. Under the influence of energy bursts; up to seven Temporal Spears can be made. Under the effects of the Ambiguity Trigon, electrical energy within the spear is transferred to nuclear energy, breaching zeta-waves of the electromagnetic spectrum. The harmful effects of this Spear can even create small explosive effects upon successful impact. The longer range of this projectile gives the attack the name of Temporal Lance. Moderate threat: use wisely.”

How did I know all of that? That was odd.

But as my monologue suggested, the Temporal Spear hit Discord hard, discharging its electricity, holding him still for a couple of moments. Allowing Chronos to attack again.

“Temporal PULSE!”

“Temporal Pulse: Temporal forces collect surrounding potential energies and convert them quickly into thermal and nuclear energies, when critical mass is obtained, energies are released in short powerful bursts which discharge for purely harmful bursts upon short range targets. Under the effects of the Ambiguity Trigon, creating Temporal Force allows for more energy to to collected and burst, leading to more harmful effects. Strong threat: use only for hazardous foes”

The impact was hard upon Discord, enough to both make him groan with pain and knock him out of his stunned state. Discord did not hesitate to attack, since he knew that both of them had an equal amount of opportunity to defeat each other. He blasted out a few energy projectiles to slow down the speeding Alicorn flying around him. He even used a quick pulse attack to harm him, but he was ready for his next move.

“Hypermode!”

Chronos began to glow green and fly forward at an extraordinarily fast speed as my own internal encyclopaedia blurted out some more helpful facts.

“Hypermode: the combination of temporal energies and Alicorn magic forces combine momentum and kinetic energy to create a powerful blast on a nuclear scale. Energy is built us as velocity increases, a sonic boom can be created to increase flight speed, discharge of energy is created to protect user and increase effect by ignition of the nuclear energies surrounding them. Speeds can reach up to Mach 77 if enough energy is provided. Effects of initial explosion will be contained to target alone, but causing mass fallout after use if not contained properly. Intense threat: use only in desperate situations.”

“Um, mr Fact Sphere?” Luna asked, unnerved by my outbursts.

“I don’t know!” I whimpered. “I literally CANNOT help it!”

Chronos rammed into Discord with a harsh green light. Creating a powerful explosion from the two, it didn’t seem that powerful. But it was strong enough to make the creature bleed.

“Ugh! You test my patience Chronos. If only you could use your powers for something more substantial! You have no idea of the power that Nightmare Moon holds! You waste yourselves on these stupid little sensations! You DISGUST me!”

This was enough to get Chronos well and truly pissed, he’d had enough. The mere image of him screamed rage. He attacked Discord ferociously with bites and scratches, teleporting from place to place as he did. Knocking the creature around like a ragdoll as it feebly attempted to fight back.

“Time Break: A non-conventional channelling the Time Vortex for transportation, that allows the user to teleport quickly in a similar matter to Temporal Control. Phasing them in-and-out of the visible and physical dimension and moving to a nearby place for quickly arranged attacks. The Ambiguity Trigon allows for longer distance of teleport and more rapid fluxes of teleportation. Varying Threat, depending on the attacks used during the phases.”

Discord was still fighting as Chronos' strength was beginning to fall slightly. Chronos continued to attack in a feral manor compared to Discord’s more laid back attempts at defending himself. One hard blow sent them both flying in opposite directions.

“You can’t win Discord!” Chronos yelled, with a small distortion in his voice. “Even though you made me, you made me with the elements of harmony, they're destroyed and you are guilty! YOU CAN’T DEFEAT ME!”

Discord stood up with a smug grin. Facing his opponent with a disturbing amount of calm in his eyes. “I don’t need to defeat you.” He mocked. “You will defeat yourself, Chronos.”

Chronos flared up again, glowing once more with the red light. This time energy was being sucked into him at a devastating level. His pure anger and hate was almost unbearable to look at the scar I now saw clearly that matched the one on my face glowed and phased with energy. Discord had pushed this pony over the line. And I guess now it was time for the finisher.

But my brain had another dose of information for me.

“Scar of Time: One of the most devastating and lethal objects in the known universe created through the use of a self-inflicted temporal paradox. Pure nuclear energy is created and combined within users body, compressing and adding to the radioactivity by physically lowering the electromagnetic waves. Under the constant use of temporal energy, the scar of time will dispel a lethal force. Red discharge is created as energy seeps out before large energy wave is created. Contact with wave is lethal to even the most powerful of creatures due to the sheer amounts of energy contained within and it's ability to strip the both potential and previous life force away from living creatures. A scar of time can have an intense radius and can cause as much damage to a single cm-cubed volume of land to an atomic bomb. Range is unknown due to the variety of this attack. The effects of the ambiguity Trigon have weaponized this scar, and a higher risk than it would usually present. Threat level: ABSOLUTE. This is an absolute last resort on a universal scale, this attack should never be induced."

I looked around the room and terror washed over me.

“NO!”

It was too late. Time seemed to slow down as the events unfolded. Chronos released the energy directly from the scar, ripping apart the ground below him as the slow-moving wave made it across the floor. Vaporizing everything that it came into contact with. When it touched Discord, even he was stripped of his flesh leaving him standing and screaming with his muscles and blood exposed.

And then it touched Cordelia.

It did not vaporise her, let alone strip her of her skin. But I could tell that it hurt. As the very life in her breath was forced out of her body. She fell to the ground as us, the observers, could only again look and observe.

The wave passed through the walls, turning them to dust and rubble and ashes, and continued to grow and spread, reducing the land around it to fire and rock, while a white afterglow took place of our field of vision.

Chronos fell to the ground, weary after the outburst and the scar bleeding and eye bloodshot, and dragged himself to the corpse of Cordelia. Discord was somehow recovering, but Cordelia wasn’t looking like any form of recovery was going to come to her.

“Chronos.” She whispered. As her lover held her tightly in his hooves.

“I’m here.” He spluttered in response. “Don’t leave me! I’m so sorry!”

Cordelia whimpered as something became more audible in the distance. Screaming.

“Can you hear them Chronos?” Chronos looked up into the distance, only to have his vision obscured by the thick fog. “Millions of lives, silenced and destroyed.”

“Stay with me! Just hold on!”

Cordelia’s eyes changed to a red colour.

“I can hear them Chronos. The screams...” Chronos' breathing increased.

Cordelia looked at Chronos and smiled. Seeing her prince and her friend once more.

“Can you hear it? Can you hear how time screams? It... Hurts...” Her body tensed for a moment, before falling limp.

Chronos gripped her tight, sobbing gently with every breath. Screaming ‘no’ with his muzzle buried into her fur. I could feel his very suffering.

“You just couldn’t hold it in... Could you?” Mocked Discord, with most of his skin still limply hanging off his corpse-like body. He observed the new scenery unfolding around us, as a barren wasteland littered with only the light of fire. “You have beautiful Chaos within you. It’s a pity that you had to go for the other side. You had great potential.”

“Why. Are you doing this, Discord?” Sobbed Chronos.

“I didn’t do anything, my dark friend. You just grew impatient. Like you said, you were made from harmony. But we both know that you have no idea how to use it! So you became reckless, and chose to do the only other thing that you were meant for;” He raised his arms up and spun slowly, addressing to the destruction around them. “Absolute desolation!”

“I’ll make you pay for what you’ve done! I’ll kill you!”

“What will that solve, eh? Look around you! Genocide! You murdered everypony on this planet due to your power! Killing me won’t solve anything! What will you be fighting for? You will be alone on this wasteland while another me continues my work elsewhere!”

Chronos looked down at the corpse of his wife and shed another tear.

“But I could make you forget.” Discord stated in a whisper. “Your regrets I could wipe away... Only if you just... Give. Up.”

Chronos stopped, and whispered.

“Mercy... I give up... I have caused so much bloodshed. I don’t even want to live.”

Discord held his chin, pondering for a moment. And looking slightly moved at the scene of the two lovers lying on the ground.

“That’s good, Chronos. But this little scene has touched my heart. I think I will add my own little twist to this deal.”

Chronos looked up, eyes marked with sadness and anger. “DO IT!” He yelled.

“No... There will be no more death in this place...” Discord smiled in a sinister way, before talking to himself. “You’ve got to remember these things better Discord. How. Did. It. Go... Oh yes. Hold still, Chronos. You might experience some momentary discomfort.”

“For Five Score! Divided by Four!

Your memories removed, your body confused!

For your insolence you must pay,

Cast off to a land far far away!

To scatter the six, just the start of my tricks!

Your mind shall be weak, your outlooks bleak!

Forgetting everything and living like a fool,

You have all lost, now no one can stop my rule!”

And just like that. Cordelia and Chronos were gone. Leaving nothing else.

There was a fleeting moment, an epiphany that I had been holding back. I understood everything Elizabeth had been saying, I knew how we ended up in this way, I knew how I knew so much about this Chronos and his power.

I knew now what I was. I wasn’t just in Chronos' body. Somehow I AM Chronos. Banished into the human world due to my own curse.

But that meant. I did all those things. I killed Celestia. I killed Cordelia. I committed mass genocide on everypony in Equestria! And I gave Discord the curse that allowed him to do all of this.

I was a monster. An abomination.

But my Nightmare wasn’t over.

“You can come out Elizabeth! You can’t hide forever!”

And just as he said that, a large tear opened. And Elizabeth jumped out in front of Discord.

“Where were you hiding then?”

“Just warning everypony in other dimensions of this curse. And telling them of ways to prevent it.” Mocked Elizabeth, causing Discord to jump back in shock.

“Well, that’s no fun at all! Yet still, I’ve caused enough Chaos already without your help!” Elizabeth circled round Discord slowly. “What are you doing?”

“Just giving you a warning.”

“A warning? How could I ever be afraid now?”

“You have no means of stopping the elements now, you’ve lost!”

“There are other Chronos' in other dimensions, Dimentia will soon wallow away both him and his pesky other side.”

“That won’t stop him you know. Each Chronos would be different, you blew your chance on this one. And if he understood himself, he could be unbeatable. If you had another Chronos, maybe even an entire army of them, what makes you so sure that this Chronos won’t just destroy them all?”

“I could pull a couple of strings, that's my promise, dear tear. He will never find out the truth, and will not break the cycle of Dimentia.”

Every instinct in my body was telling me otherwise, but I had no doubt now if my transformation was possible, but it was not a transformation… It was a healing and restoration.

Elizabeth paused and glared at the Draconequus. “THAT, was not my warning.”

“What do you mean?”

“I have the ability to see all dimensions, Discord. And have the ability to predict decisions people will make by disturbances in these dimensions. But in one... I see hope. And now, I can see him.”

And at that moment, nearly everyone replied “What?”

“Something of my own design. Don’t bother searching for it. It’s already gone. Chronos did make the code, yes. But I had the failsafe. Incase he were to ever have it used against himself. A blessing of the Original One himself.”

“What is this? What did you do?” yelled Discord. He didn’t like it when someone got something past him. And he knew that this would be something like that.

“A object of pure energy and mental storage. Not much, but enough that the mere touch of it will boost his powers to accelerate the Dimentia effect to the point where everything breaks. I’m not just talking about him- EVERYPONY that you ever used this curse upon! He will return here, he will defeat you, and there’s nothing you can do to stop it!”

“I can destroy that object, pony, I am the god of Chaos!”

“I have a friend… You can destroy me, and be away with me and my meddlings. But I doubt that you have any chance against the God of Order.”

“You’ve,” Discord spasmed slightly, and went into a fit of rage. “YOU’VE RUINED EVERYTHING! DO YOU KNOW WHAT YOU’VE DONE? YOU’VE RELEASED A GOD WORSE THAN MYSELF AND NIGHTMARE COMBINED!”

Elizabeth leaned in and smiled. “Chronos will pull through. You could kill me now, it would do nothing. No matter what you do now, he will recover from what he’s done. And there’s nothing YOU can do about it!”

Discord huffed and twitched, before pointing at Elizabeth.

“FOR FIVE SCORE DIVIDED BY FOUR!”

Discord finished the chant, and my vision ended. But the images still remained in my head. As they would forever now.

“You know now, don’t you?” Luna asked. Gasping gently after these things ended.

I sighed in sorrow as everything sunk in.

“I was created through the murder of Luna. I am the living incarnation of Nightmare Moon. I killed everyone I loved and more. The very reason I am standing here is through Discords sense of humor. I had all of this power, and I used it to commit genocide. No wonder why my powers don’t work, I could see why my subconsciousness would block it off... I’m a monster.”

Luna looked at me with concern, but something was worrying her.

“After seeing your past, I cannot see why I’m not mashing your mind into a pulp. You are of another world, your crimes are great. But I know that you did not intend to do those actions! And that you of now are ”

I couldn’t feel any more annoyed with her for those statements.

“My. Life. Is... A LIE! All of this time, I’ve been just a murderous dictator in denial for the horrible acts he had caused in his past life. There's no justification! I cannot be innocent for what I have done, I was rewarded with a life of guilt and punishment. There’s no way I can ever turn back into a human! SINCE I WAS THE PONY TO BEGIN WITH!”

Luna switched different emotions upon her face, reverting to an angry glare. “NO, Chronos!” Luna yelled. “Your life isn’t a lie! Listen to me. This life is a continuation of your past one! You can fix those mistakes. You can protect the elements!”

I felt awful, Luna didn’t have a point. I felt awful as my body began to quiver.

“Chronos, what are you doing?” Luna asked.

“The elements. Do not DESERVE TO BE SAVED.” No, did I say that? Something was wrong, I felt myself say that. But I didn’t want to! I was moving my hooves and legs, without my control.

“No... Nightmare Moon!” Luna yelled, as I began to tower over her. I had no control over my eyes, but I could still see the armor on my body. I had let my guard down! I tried to force myself to do other things, but my body was resisting!

“This is only a mental incarnation. The boy's strong enough to hold me off a bit, it won't last long. I’ll soon take control physically if I keep this up. But I need to thank YOU first Lulu. Without you, he wouldn’t have found out about his little incidents of the past. And given me so much to feed on.” I used my magical illusions. Forming images of Discord and Darius behind me, the evils of both my past and present. Ready to attack.

The images struck at Luna, but she seemed to be holding them back with her magical attacks. "How?" she asked angrily, "I thought I drove you away!"

The images dissipated one after the other as Luna landed fatal blows to them, only to be replaced by more.

"We were born together, Luna. He is as much a part of me as I am of him. You cannot only get rid of one. Surprised? Nevertheless, you've given me an opportunity to have a go at my old 'plaything'."

Luna was poised to attack. But seemed to be resisting. She still saw ME behind Nightmare Moon and Chronos. I wanted to beg her to kill me; but Nightmare Moon had other ideas.

“Now. How did his spell go? Oh yes, Temporal SPEAR!”

A bolt of energy blasted out of my horn, barely missing Luna by her skin. Yet still grazing the cuts already on her body. Luna attacked using a powerful magical laser. Oh how I wanted it to hit me. But Nightmare Moon held it for a moment using her own magic. Before firing it back at her with a large blast.

Luna landed on the ground in front of me, and before she could get up. I placed my hoof on her ribs and pressed hard down. But not enough to break anything.

“Those won’t work against me, Luna.” I blurted with an evil tone. “Remember, you use MY powers, Luna. Yet I use that and more! And besides. This realm is mine! And in my realm I am queen!”

Luna coughed and spluttered. “You want revenge? That’ll do nothing here!”

I tutted softly. “Didn’t you ever see the Matrix? The body can’t exist without the mind."

Luna's eyes widened, I had not thought of that, neither had Luna. Luna struggled slightly, she could not do anything with the weight of Nightmare Moon on her ribs and I guess, mental determination. I had to stop this, but what would happen? Would more die if I awoke my magic? "I thought about breaking you. But I think Chronos already did that. Yet I can still beat your mind until there is NOTHING LEFT!”

I summoned a magical sword above Luna’s head. I knew what was to come next. So I tried harder than ever to break from her control. But she continued.

“Such a shame that you never kept my power. So now this... Will be your TOMB!”

“NO!” I yelled, gaining control of my body once more. Having spasms as I forced her control out of my body. Yelling out as I finally fell to the ground. And the illusions disappeared.

My body shrank back down and reverted to its original colours as the armour disappeared. But the thought was still in my mind: I nearly killed Luna. I nearly killed my friend! I guess the killer instinct still runs through the dimensions. I’m still a bloodthirsty murderer! I broke down in a fit of tears, with a pain that I could not bare! I caused disaster in my past. And I could still do it! And this was proof.

Luna stood in front of me, looking down upon me with a harsh scowl mixed with fear and worry. She panted with her every breath, slowing in rate as mine increased.

“End me...” I whispered. Imagining myself as Solar Flare at her own last moments. Pushing the magical sword towards the older Alicorn. “I have caused so much bloodshed. I have broken the hearts of millions. And I have YOUR greatest regret inside my own head; that will stop at nothing to cause destruction!”

I knew that this was should be done, I had a thirst that could not be quenched. If what Nightmare had said was true, ending my life here would kill me in the physical world, hopefully taking Nightmare with me, as the curse had done, and preventing the deaths of those on earth.

Luna picked up the sword Nightmare had summoned and hovered it over my head. And stopped for a moment.

“What. Are. You. Waiting for? END ME!” I yelled before breaking down once more.

I looked down and awaited the short sensation of cold steel slice my neck. But it didn’t come.

“No... Even with someone with a past as black as yours. You deserve redemption. My Friend.”

I sighed, I felt horrible that Luna could not go through with it, but Luna helped me up, we were both now shedding some tears as she embraced me in a hug.

“I understand your life was built around deceit and anger. It wasn’t your fault that you did those things. And YOU only can prevent those things from happening again. You may have created that curse. But that doesn’t mean that you can’t help those in need. You may have enough power to wipe out worlds. But you can be a hero! It isn’t sheer power that you need to use. It’s the responsibilities you have to use them! Like you said to me, you might be a black Alicorn... But YOU ARE STILL YOU.”

“But I can’t use my powers! Didn’t you see? Why would anyone want to use that again?”

Luna stopped and touched me on my heart. “Your magic is clouded by guilt and darkness. This is the chance to reawaken your magic. Didn’t you see? You were at your most powerful when Cordelia was in peril. You couldn’t imagine seeing her suffer.”

“But she still ended up dead.”

“Chronos! You’ve had this magic in you all the time! It is the love you have for your friends and the harmony that you share with them!” Luna took her hoof off me and smiled. “You have potential to save this world and everyone on it! But don’t think about what you have done in your dark past! As Arthur Conan Doyle said: ‘learn not to fear the fruits of the past, but rather to be circumspect in the future, that those foul passions whereby we both have suffered so grievously may not again be loosed to our undoing!’ I can see that in you, not even that primeminister can lay a finger on you, not in fear of power, in fear of YOU.”

Something stuck in my mind with that statement. And I began to feel happy again, for some reason.

“Even that Chronos himself. He decided to Never Turn Back to his past, and look to the future, he was willing to dismiss his origins to be loyal to his subjects. Maybe even he had a point. The best person you can trust is yourself. And with the help of your... VERY loyal friends, who by the way are very good at getting my attention. I’m sure you will do great things.”

Luna stepped back, we were both smiling now.

“You are Nightmare Moon, Patrick Taylor and the GREAT King Chronos! The magic you have been searching for is right in front of you, as Friendship Is MAGIC!”

Luna lit up her horn with a warm glow, the same colour Twilight's was in Return of Harmony. When she touched the horn to my head, my mind filled and surged with emotions and images of the ones I loved. All around me. Having fun. As amazing friends.

My horn lit up bright red as I felt my eyes surge with this amazing sensation. One that I had never felt personally. A warm feeling, but feeling powerful. My horn suddenly surrounded with an aura as I felt my mane and tail wave by the wind behind me. The blue I had felt before had returned, intermingling with Luna's blue, becoming strong and vibrant.

“Magic.” I whispered, cracking a teary smile.

I felt my magic take control, as great forces surrounded me. The ground erupted causing mountains to form below us, the wind surged around me in a gigantic hurricane, fire blazed around us in a swirling storm and water surged up in tremendous waves. These elements combined together inside me. Pure energy coursed through my body, exploding outwards as I could see something different than before. But a sight that I had been unable to control before. But now, I could!

The cosmos stretched out before me, expanding until I could see time itself! It was incredible. Earth, Air, Fire, Water, Chaos and Time. All in my hooves! I was KING Chronos and I was going to MAKE THINGS RIGHT!

I settled back onto the ground as a new sensation came over me after the magical burst. A pulling sensation came over both me and Luna. Our time was at its end.

“Thank you... For everything.” I said, hugging the Princess tightly. “I understand the power we both possess.”

Luna smiled back at me, looking thankful that I didn’t blow us both up in that outburst.

“You made a good point though. With the power we possess, we need to take responsibility or the ones we love could get hurt.”

I let go of her and began to walk away from her. “But all you have done for me. I couldn’t thank you enough. Thank you, Luna. For everything. But if you excuse me. I have a prime minister to sort out.”

A portal of light appeared as I saw Luna bow and fly away. My dream ended with me simply saying; “I will fulfill my destiny, the one that I write for myself!”