Lucid Nightmares

Chapter 5

“Do you know what you’ve done?”

“Of course. I am Rarity. I have made a name for myself across Equestria.” The unicorn replied. The mare sitting across from her did not seem impressed.

“Do you know what you’ve done?”

“Of course? I-I’ve shared my designs with the world, working with clients from Canterlot to Manehattan.” Rarity cracked, glancing away. This disgusting mare, so judgmental, not like she remembered her.

“Do you know what you’ve done?”

“O-of course I know. I-I became the Element of Generosity. I... I helped my friends save Equestria several times over.” Yet why does it hurt? Why does it feel so contradictory?

“Do you know what you’ve done?”

“Please, Twilight. Please, I-I don’t. I don’t know.” Rarity whispered. “If you could simply tell me...”

“Do you know what you’ve done?”

“I... I played an innocent mare and separated her from her sister for a thousand years. And then...” Rarity blanched. “I’ve hurt many, haven’t I? Ah... Haven't I?” But had she? It wasn’t her, but at the same time it was, maybe. Why was it so cold? Why did she feel so guilty?

The fog only grew thicker. The purple silhouette that may have been her friend, or may have been one of her sworn enemies at some point in time, only stood there, patient.

“Do you know what you’ve done?”

“I don’t. I really don’t, not anymore.” Nightmare shook, falling to the ground, legs feeling weak. Those long, black legs.

--

“How long ya reckon she been like this?” was the first words spoken out from the watching group of friends.

“I-I don’t know. For a few hours, maybe? She had a lot of things to do today so I tried to wake her up but she won’t move at all!” the tiny dragon yelled in a possibly too loud voice. Spike paced around the room. It was a tendency Twilight tended to do when she was worrying about something.

But Twilight was, for lack of a better word, unavailable at the moment.

Pinkie stepped over and poked at her sleeping friend. “Twiiiiilight. Wakey wakey eggs and bakey! Helloooooooo!” She shook the pony in her bed, getting but a small murmur in response.

“I don’t think that’s working, Pinkie...” Fluttershy offered, stopping the pink pony’s antics. Pinkie pouted, but relented, and soon went back to observing Twilight Sparkle as she mumbled in her sleep. “U-um, right. Spike, did you notice anything strange before, you know, Twilight went to sleep, maybe...?”

Spike shook his head. “Twilight left the library for some reason, and then the next time I saw her she was asleep in her room.” The dragon blinked and put a claw to his chin. “Well, now that you mention it, I didn’t even see her come in...”

“Well that don’t really help much. So we at least know that she went somewhere.” Applejack grimaced. They always tended to go into situations like this: annoyingly uninformed. But Twilight was, for the most part, always around to provide the necessary exposition.

“Maybe she’s just tired. All that studying and whatever.” Rainbow shrugged in the air.

“But then why would Discord have us run all the way here, Rainbow?” Fluttershy frowned.

“I dunno. Pranking? Maybe he just wanted you out of the house so he could flip it over or harass one of your animals again.” Rainbow crossed her forelegs.

“Oh, I’m sure he wouldn’t do that... um, again, anyway.” Fluttershy looked aside unsurely.

“Well, we can’t really take any chances.” Applejack bit her lip. “S’been a li’l strange around Ponyville lately, and ah can bet that this whole thing with Twi is jus’ another part of it.”

Rainbow sighed and flew close to Twilight, staring closely at her sleeping form. “WAKE UP!”

Nothing.

Rainbow felt something pat her back. She turned and saw Rarity. “Sleeping spell, darling.” Rarity’s horn was aglow with magic. “Not even the library falling over will wake Twilight up at the moment.”

“Whuh? Well why didn’t you say so?” Rainbow frowned.

“I am not an expert in these sorts of spells, darling.” Rarity retained her neutral expression, staring at Rainbow coldly. The pegasus shrunk a little as a sudden feeling of anxiety filled her. “Regardless, it appears Twilight has been struck by some sort of magic. Quite powerful, too, but not very harmful. Except for how ghastly her coat and mane will be when she wakes up.” The fashionista gave a shudder. “I imagine she will be unconscious for a few more hours. Perhaps less?”

“Perhaps less, huh?” the farm mare questioned, looking Twilight over. “What does that mean?”

Rarity sighed. “Oh, how do I put it, Twilight is better at describing this sort of thing.” The unicorn paced a little, before nodding. “The sleep spell that hit Twilight has a... set timer, that allows nothing outside to wake her up. I cannot identify the length of the timer, but the, ahem, magic holding her in place is draining quickly, so either the pony who did this is very clumsy, or did not intend to trap her for long.”

“Oh, my, but then... why would somepony or someone go to the trouble of putting Twilight to sleep, and just bring her back here...?” Fluttershy spoke next.

The ponies + dragon stood there, thinking of possibilities as Twilight snored the day away. “Maaaaaaaaybe it was an accident?” Pinkie offered after a far too long moment of silence. The pink pony noted Rarity’s tiny little fidget.

“Now ah won’t pretend to know how magic works, but ah doubt somepony’d just up and shoot Twilight with some sorta sleep spell by accident.” Applejack shook her head, dismissing the idea.

“Yeah, what she said!” Rainbow nodded in affirmation. “This is some unfunny stuff, here!” She prodded Twilight. “I mean, no offense, Rarity, but who knows what other junk Twilight got hit with that we don’t know about out!”

“Mm, none taken, Rainbow. What do you suggest we do, then?” Rarity frowned, looking over her friends one by one, none of them seeming to have an answer. Her eyes eventually settled on Fluttershy.

“Um... well... we could write a letter to the princesses?” the yellow pegasus squeaked out, looking aside. “I-I mean, Luna does that... dream... thing, so...”

“The princesses! Yeah! They could get rid of the spell and Twilight could just tell us what happened!” Rainbow grinned and patted Fluttershy on the back. “Good thinking, ‘shy!”

Rarity bit her lip, turning away from her friends. “Well, let us do that, then.”

--

“You terrible thing, you. That’s what you are.” Rarity cursed, staring at her reflection. The lights in the boutique were out, and as far as she knew Sweetie Belle was off crusading with her friends. The unicorn shook, grimacing at her black form in the mirror. The other Rarity only grimaced back.

It wasn’t a good look for her.

It’s not our fault the voices demanded. It isn’t yours either they whispered in sympathy. Rarity simply held her head. Calm yourself, Rarity.

“I will be calm when you cease talking!” Rarity shrieked. She gasped and looked at the mirror. “Oh, goodness.” she stood up, wobbling on her long legs. Her magic grabbed the broken mirror and deposited all the shards in the trash. “I-I’m losing my mind, aren’t I? Yes, this is what it feels like to simply lose my mind.”

Calm yourself, Rarity.

“Y-yes, calm myself. Do not fret over anything. Twilight... Twilight will be fine. I will be fine. Yes.” She let go of the breath she was holding. “Really must stop talking to myself.”

You are talking to us.

“You are not real. Simply a stress related... something or other, yes.” Rarity wobbled over to her bed and collapsed, placing a slender, black hoof to her head.

That hurts, Rarity.

“As it should. Many things hurt in life, I’ve gathered.” Rarity growled. “Mm, no, Rarity, silence, if you acknowledge it then it just gets stronger.” the unicorn muttered, shutting her eyes.

Rarity.

...

Rarity.

...

Rarity, please.

“I am not listening to you.”

Please, it was an accident. We all know that. YOU know that.

“MMmg. I-I... I do know, but it’s easier to just... deny it...” Rarity breathed. “Oh, sweet Celestia.” she opened her eyes, tearing up. Her horn glowed, and she felt a blanket throw itself across her back. “I-I’m sorry. I... I ran away again.”

Don’t leave us, Rarity.

“I won’t.” Rarity grimaced, staring at her blackened body. “I won’t.”

--

Rarity sat boredly, staring out the window, as the group waited for the princesses. She had returned from her ‘walk’ without incident. Applejack, the doll, of course noticed right away that she seemed a bit downcast, but the unicorn assured her friend that it was simply her worry showing.

She did not want to be there. She did not have to be there, she told herself. Really, she just did not feel emotionally prepared to confront Princess Luna, who unfortunately was also coming. like this.

She did not feel emotionally prepared for a lot of things she felt was coming. It was beginning to build up in her mind. What was it Discord said? Oh well.

“What time is it?” she heard herself say.

“Iiiiiiiiiit’s seven-and-twenty!” she heard Pinkie say.

“Ah.”

And so it went on. Her mind was in slow motion. Only a few seconds, only a few minutes, it did not matter. Her head hurt. She put a hoof to it, and then another. She was pretty sure she saw a pony trip outside and stay on the dirt, lying limp, yet steady in breath.

Ponyville was such a tired town.

Rarity only noticed that the Princesses had arrived, five minutes after, when she felt a cold piece of metal on her side. “Oh, heavens, Princess Celestia! Do forgive me, I must have zoned out a tad!” The unicorn smiled, bowing to the princess.

The white princess chanced a small smile. “It’s fine. I understand your concern, Rarity, this seems to be taking quite a bit out of you.”

“Oh, is it?” her hooves fidgeted. “P-perhaps. I may just be worrying myself sick, hah.” The unicorn avoided eye contact with the alicorn, but her eyes only settled on everypony else.

They were all watching her. Including Luna.

“But we should be working towards helping poor Twilight! Who knows what may have caused this dilemma!”

Celestia nodded in affirmation, concerned smile turning into an affirmed frown. “Let us not delay any longer.”

--

“As I thought, sister. I feel dark magic in the air around us.” Luna spoke in a cool tone, hiding her worry.

Celestia, of course, noticed it anyway. “Yes. It has taken root all throughout Ponyville.” Her horn ceased glowing as she gazed down at the sleeping form of her student.

“Yet other than the sleep spells I do not see any ill intent. They are not even particularly strong. What could it mean, sister?”

“Perhaps it is connected to the land of dreams?” Celestia offered.

“Could this magic be what is blocking me from entering the dreams of Ponyville?” Luna frowned, gazing towards Twilight.

“U-um, excuse me, but, d-dark magic?” Fluttershy squeaked.

“Erm, beg pardon, princesses, but Twi’s usually the one that explains what’s goin’ on, so we’re kinda in the dark here.” Applejack cleared her throat, patting Fluttershy.

Celestia smiled as Luna seemed to focus back on Twilight. “Of course. Yes, the spell that was casted on Twilight has traces of some sort of dark magic.”

Pinkie gasped loudly right behind Fluttershy, causing the pegasus’ wings to snap up in fright.

Celestia chuckled. “The magic seems relatively harmless, however. We are trying to trace the culprit through the residue magic.”

“Aha! So we can chase ‘em down an’ knock ‘em around a little for messing with Twilight, right?!” Rainbow smirked, punching at the air. “Yep. Same old same old! Just tell us who we gotta hit and we’ll get this all done before bedtime!”

Celestia chuckled. “While I appreciate your enthusiasm, Rainbow Dash, we still have a bit of process to go through before we get to the part where you ‘hit the bad guy.’”

Everypony except for Luna and Rainbow laughed at the latter's’ expense at that. The former, on the other hoof, suddenly gasped and reeled back, horn flickering. “Th-this magic! Tia! I-it’s her! She has returned again...!”

“That doesn’t sound good.” Spike mumbled, clinging to Fluttershy’s leg.

“Very not good.” Pinkie nodded.

“Luna, by she, you don’t mean...” Celestia grimaced.

“Th-the Nightmare. The nightmare! It has returned!” Luna shook, in a spiral of many emotions. Anger, fear, loathing, confusion.

...

“Hey. Where’s Rarity?”

Everypony and dragon looked around, and yet there was no unicorn in sight.