Nightfall in Spring Valley
The night is very beautiful. But it can also be very terrifying.
It can deceive you. Lead you astray. It can conceal that which is most important to you in a shroud of darkness. Your heart, your mind, even your goals and dreams, there is nothing that the endless blanket of night can envelop in it's bleak, comforting embrace. And there is nopony in this land that understands this more than I.
I was...weak. Lonely. I thought myself to be the only one to truly understand and appreciate the night in all its splendor. I was so egotistical, so confident, so sure of myself...and yet so blind. So you see, I am not so perfect. I guard the night not because I am the only pony who is capable, but because it is my redemption. My lifelong penance. So, I must know...why have you come to see me again after all these years?
- Canterlot Castle Throne Room, Daybreak
Four years ago
“Sister...I do not wish to sleep. I am only ever at peace when I am by your side. The servants quiver in fear of me, the guards give sneers and speak hurtful things under their breath, and I cannot blame them. Not after what I have wrought. Please, let me...stay by your side...just a little longer?”
I watched my dear sister slowly grimace as she sat on the throne, my vision and balance failing me little by little. I could feel my body swaying to the left against my will, forcing me to stamp my left foreleg in place just to remain standing. It was becoming a painful struggle to stay awake, but I would do so regardless. Anything was better than being tormented in my slumber once again.
“Luna, it has been three days,” Celestia said to me, her voice filled with worry. “I know how hard it must be for you right now, but you must have your rest. I don't know what I'd do if something were to happen to you so soon after you've come back to me...”
Even in my disheveled state, I could visibly see her eyes quivering as she gazed at me. It was clear that she was trying to hold back her tears. I opened my mouth to speak, but a yawn came out instead.
(“Ohh...it is no use. Sleep will overtake me eventually, even if do not desire it...”)
My heavy eyelids fell closed as I hung my head in defeat, whimpering at my inevitability. The sounds of hoofsteps from my sister drew near, her wing pulling me close. The feeling of her gentle breath on my head and the warmth of her coat eased my angst, if only slightly. Sighing herself, she said, “Come along now. I will see you to your bedchambers.”
She was so kind. So unlike me. After everything I've done, she would still forgive me without a moment's hesitation. A small whimper escaped my lips as I pulled away from her embrace, forcing myself to reassert whatever alertness I had left.
“N-no, it is fine...I am aware of your conference with the delegates from Neighpon, and my selfishness has wasted enough of your time. I thank you for dealing with such an immature little sister, but I will see myself to my room...”
I turned myself around, trudging towards the entrance without opening my eyes. I do not deserve this. I do not deserve such kindness. It is no wonder that the ponies of Equestria love and adore her. She had long ago cemented her image as a kind and loving creator willing to do anything for her subjects, while I had proved myself nothing more than a hapless, jealous, pitiful destroyer. I walked about as far as the double doors before hearing her speak out, “Luna...time spent with my only sister is never time wasted. Please do not ever forget that I am here for you, always.”
Though it pained me to do so, I turned my head back to look into her eyes. Those worried, empathetic eyes. Thinking to myself, I realized they were the same eyes that looked at me all those years ago...when I first tried to usurp her. Even after all this time, she would still look at me with those same eyes, never changing, never yielding. I forced a smile for her as I pushed past the doors, if only to help quell the turmoil in her heart.
“What am I doing here...? Am I really capable of ruling this nation by her side once again? After being gone for one thousand years? After making myself an enemy of all ponies?”
I slumped against the left wall of the hallway, hanging my head and letting my eyelids fall again, the pent up sigh coming from me feeling like the weight of a mountain. Standing here in this hallway, so weak and helpless...it made me question everything. I don't know what I should do anymore. I feel as though I had lost myself somewhere, someplace in that empty, black abyss. Was I really needed anymore? In a world where a majestic, divine ruler was fully capable of performing in my stead for as long as she had, what purpose was there for a princess of the night?
“I...I just want...”
The words came so naturally, like they weren't even my own. What do I want?
“...simply don't understand what the Princess is thinking. How could she just forgive that...that creature after being kidnapped by her?”
My eyes snapped open whilst leaning against the wall. The voice I heard came from a room on the right side, the door cracked open just enough for me to peer inside. Pushing my body to move, I peeled myself away from my comfortable spot on the wall and trotted as silently as I could to the doorway. Peeking inside, I was able to see two of the pegasus guards speaking with one another.
“It's not a hard thought to entertain. Family ties are hard to break, even if your family is cold-hearted and tyrannical.”
“Indeed. It may be a mistake that we would all end up paying for. Can we really trust the Princess' judgement?”
“Only time will tell. I, for one, am fully prepared to fight if need be.”
I backed away from the door, my tiredness suddenly not as imposing as it once was. My cheeks quivered and I could feel my face heating up. I've been hearing these sorts of things from the ponies around me for days on end, but hearing it so clearly made it that much more painful to stomach. This was what all of Equestria thought of me, and will ever think of me. It was too late to make amends.
“...and just what is wrong with that? If darkness is the only fate laid out for you now, then you should simply embrace it.”
Another voice echoed inside of my head, causing me to bolt away from the doorway and jump to the center of the hall, setting my legs apart as my eyes darted about. This was a voice I knew all too well...for it belonged to me just a few days prior.
“Equestria hates you. Despises you. They will never comprehend your pain, nor will they ever try to. They should all just drown in the darkness, just like how you wanted. Like how WE wanted.”
I couldn't tell where it was coming from. The voice was booming, discordant. It drowned out my own heartbeat with it's magnitude, and yet it came from nowhere. Slamming one of my forelegs down, I shouted at nothing, “No! I no longer desire vengeance or suffering! All I want...all I want is...!”
“What? That isn't something you know anymore,” the voice taunted. “On the other hoof, I know what it is you want...I mean, who else could know you better than me? After all, I AM you.”
A cold, silvery hoof caressed my cheek, sending a jolt through my nerves. I instinctively swatted the appendage away from my face and spun around, standing face to arrogant face with the one thing that I feared most. I wanted to run...to get far away from this monster. I even found myself taking a step backwards without my knowing. Never in my life had I been so terrified. Every sound other than my beating heart was deadened, my throat had gone dry, and even the world around me felt like it was shaking. But I had to do this. I had to face her, to face myself...Nightmare Moon.
“Aha hahahaha! That look on your face is simply adorable! You actually think your life is worth saving! That you even CAN be saved! No, really, I think I have a tear in my eye...”
An unknown force suddenly blew into my face, knocking me flat on my back in an instant. The skies outside the windows faded to a pitch black, and the temperature dropped to an icy chill. That pony...myself...lazily trotted over my collapsed form with an open-jawed smiled, showing off her sharp teeth. She lowered her head into my ear, whispering haughtily, “...face it. In all of your years, there was only one fleeting moment where you were truly happy. One moment where everything was in your hooves. We both know this. It was that night you raised the moon to block out the sun...to assert your dominance over those who would shun you and your glorious work. THAT is what you are searching for so desperately.”
“No...no! You are lying!” I pushed my hooves against her face with a strength I never thought I had, flinging her off me and sending her onto her own back. I jumped to my hooves as fast as I could, outstretching my wings and looking down on her, the anger in my heart seething. “The only dominance I wish to assert now is over YOU! One thousand years of darkness and isolation has taught me a valuable lesson, Nightmare Moon! In the end, I am NOTHING like you!”
The monster sneered at me while lying on the ground, gritting her razor teeth. “How do you even know that?! How do you even know who or what you are now?!”
“I...I...”
I hated her. I wanted to lash out at this pale image of myself, to stamp her out under my hooves, but no words would come to me. All I could do was stand there, screwing my eyes shut, fumbling and muttering to myself to find something to say. As much I abhorred the very sound of her voice, I could not help but give pause to her question. What was it that truly set us apart? What could I call my own that could never be her's?
(“Luna...time spent with my only sister is never time wasted. Please do not ever forget that I am here for you, always.”)
My heart calmed itself. My breathing returned to normal, and the air around me became warm. I opened my eyes and looked into her's, not with fear or hate, but with pity. “...it is love, Nightmare Moon. I love my sister, and she loves me just the same, no matter my failings. That is what sets us apart!”
“Hah! How utterly mortifying! Do you really believe that ONE pony alone is enough in an entire country that HATES you?!”
“...it is one pony enough. Though it is something that you could never understand.”
She stomped her hooves down as she stood, her horn sparking with a cerulean energy. Glaring at me with her head lowered, she announced, “I've heard enough! If you will not listen to reason, then I'm SURE you'll listen to – GUHHH!!!”
I was not sure what happened next. All I knew was that a blazing flash of light overtook my eyes, making me put a foreleg over my face. Though before I was blinded, I was certain I could see a purple spiral shoot out of the floor and collide with Nightmare Moon, making the wraith cry out in agony.
The ground beneath my hooves felt different...as was the scent of the air. Lowering my foreleg away from my eyes, I was greeted by a sight that I am certain I had vaguely seen in my dreams once before. Somehow, I had been transported to green, forest valley. Hills crested and dropped in pastel waves that looked like an ocean, while a mirror image of the land I stood on was reflected overhead. Trees and plants I'd never seen before dotted the earth intermittently, while unusual and almost alien structures could be viewed around them. The night sky shone it's brilliance in the distance, yet I did not recognize any of the stars or formations. Gently flapping my wings, I decided to fly to the nearest hill I could find.
“This place is so strange...how did I get here...?”
It was sheer, whimsical nonsense, what with the upside down land above me and unrecognizable buildings at every step, and yet it was somehow comforting. Much like the world that I now was in, I could not explain it...but for whatever reason, my heart was at peace. I came to a stop at a blue, ceremonial altar, one with four pillars for supports and an ornate dome floating above. I had intended to get a better look at the land before me, but something at the center of the altar stopped me. Someone, to be precise.
“Wait...who are you?”
He...she...it, smiled warmly at me while floating in mid air. It's arms and legs were spindly and delicate, and it's large purple eyes were shining with a calm, gentle wisdom. It wore unusual purple garments, close to that of a court jester. It had a pinkish vest adorned with yellow stars, and it's large sleeves were colored white and tapered off into yellow and purple at its cuffs. On its head was a strange, nearly impossible cloth helm – two ends of it in the rear jutted out like horns, but fell halfway at an angle. I shuddered when it tilted it's head. Somehow, this being didn't have a neck.
“...”
The being said nothing, choosing to simply smile at me. I was in so much of a stupor that I failed to notice it was holding something behind its back. Spinning around once, it flew towards me and brought out what it was hiding – a red, oval jewel the size of an apple. My eyes widened at the gift this...jester was giving me. I had never seen this jewel before, but I knew...somehow I knew it belonged to me. A giggle welled up from beneath my belly, eventually becoming a full, hearty laugh. The jester joined in my silly little reverie, floating around me and leaving a sparkling trail of magic in it's wake.
“Heh heh...what a strange fellow you are. I have only met you now, and yet you've already warmed my heart. I feel as though I could share anything with you. Who are you, and what is this place?”
Author's Note
3/28/14 - I really like what I've got down here this time. I've had this idea percolating in mah head for a little while, so it was nice to get it down. Also, there is a very high chance that I'll be continuing this particular WTG entry, just because I can't NOT do a crossover this obvious ~
Now listen to this.
