With Tired Eyes We Dream

The two ponies pressed tight against the door as the knights advanced forward. “You ready for this Twilight?” Rainbow Dash shot Twilight a firm look as they stared down their attackers. The two mares stood tall as they planned their next move. The soldiers crept closer and closer as they slowly raised their swords.

Moments before the attack a small voice rang out over the grand hall. “Wait! Don't hurt them.” The knights fell into attention as they sheathed their blades. Twilight looked around the room searching for filly Celestia. She was a crafty mare, and her evil should not be underestimated.

Confused by the lack of a speaker Rainbow Dash gently lifted into the air cautious of the still waiting armor. “Umm hello?” Rainbow glided around the room closely listening for some response. “Anyone there?”

Twilight closely followed behind her ready to attack at a moment's notice. Out of the silence the small voice once again broke over the room. “Hello.” Slowly a midnight blue filly emerged from under a nearby chair. “You haven't seen my sister, have you? We are playing hide and seek, and I've got lost.” With sniffle the filly look toward the floor and then at the two approaching mares.

“Princess Luna?” In a unanimous voice Twilight and Rainbow Dash stared in confusion. Carefully they examined the princess knowing this could be just another trick. With a release of air Twilight nodded at Rainbow. Though she couldn't prove it she knew this was the real Luna. There was a special something about Luna that she had only seen in Rainbow Dash back at the academy.

Twilight lowered to the floor to get at eye level with the scared filly. “I know, but it is okay. I'm Twilight, and this is Rainbow Dash. We have been looking for you. You don't have to be afraid anymore.” Twilight gently raised her hoof in Luna's direction. “We can help, but you have to let us.”

“Really? Why would you do that for me?”

“Because we are your friends.” Rainbow Dash joined Twilight on the floor as they tried to comfort the mare.

“Who would want to be friends with me? I am just going to hurt you like I hurt my sister, like I hurt everyone.” Luna turned away from them as a tear dripped down her face. “I will just become Nightmare Moon again.”

“Wait. You remember Nightmare Moon?”

“Yes I remember all of it.” Luna stepped out from under the chair and returned to her true alicorn form. “I am sorry that you have come all of this way to find me, but I didn't want to be found.”

“Wait a second you were never in any danger at all! I died in your stupid dreamworld.” Rainbow Dash's anger grew as her rage hid her loss of words.

“Rainbow enough. What do you mean you don't want to be found?” Twilight turned red and took in a long deep breath trying to maintain her resolve.

“I haven't been happy for a long time. The way everyone stares at me like I am going to turn into a monster again. The look of sadness my sister gives me everyday for the suffering and damage I have caused. The nightmares can't be stopped. I have tried so hard, but I can't fight it. No one can.” Luna cowered into her wings as she turned away from the group. “You found me for nothing.” Slowly the world started to shimmer as she attempted to fade out of the room.

“Where do you think you are going?” Rainbow Dash grasped at Luna's tail with her teeth.

“Luna, the nightmare is seeking to destroy Equestria. We can't defeat it without you.” Twilight stood tall as her words filled the room.

“We also need you to get out of this place, if those dreams don't kill us first.” Rainbow released Luna tail and passed her hoof through her mane.

“Why do you think I have been hiding in this memory. It was the only place the nightmares couldn't find me. It was also a time in my life where my sister didn't see me as a disappointment. I can't help you in fighting it, but I can return you to your world.” Luna raised her head and looked at the two weary mares. “Leave this place, and tell my sister of the nightmares. She will know what to do. Just tell her I am sorry, and I will always love her.”

“You're not coming with us?” Rainbow Dash stomped her front hoof forcefully against the floor. “We are not going to just leave you here. We have come too far.”

“Rainbow is right Luna. We're not going to leave you.”

“You don't understand. I do not want to leave.” Steam exhaled from Luna's nostril as she hatefully turned toward the two mares. “Who are you to tell me whether I can stay in this realm? Here I am happy. Here I am free of my past.”

Bang, bang, bang. The door exploded with sound as the shadows attempted to find their way into the room. “There is no time to argue. If you want out of this world, now is your only chance.” Luna's wings spread wide as her horn grew a brilliant blue hue. A vortex swirled in the middle of the room as the door gave to the abuse raging outside. The smoke slowly filled the room as a army of shadows marched into the castle hall.

Luna's knights stood their ground as they drew their blades. With an explosion of metal and noise the two forces collided as the lunar princess opened the portal to the real world. Shadows and armor were tossed asunder as the nightmare stepped through the opened doorway. Its eyes were a dark red as her voice froze the three ponies in their tracks. “Olly olly oxen free. Hello Princess Luna. I have been looking for you. Now my victory is all but complete.” The portal slammed closed as the nightmare stalked toward her prey.

Luna's fear grew inside as she cowered behind the others when out of the corner of her eyes she saw the strength that both Twilight and Rainbow showed. Their courage reminded Luna of her own power. For too long she had been haunted by the nightmares, but no more. Swiftly she rocketed to the front of the group and spread her wings shielding her friends from the darkness. “I am here. You can not scare me anymore nor will you harm my friends. This realm belongs to me. Today you will be stopped.”

Before they could react the nightmare and Luna had collided. Bolts of energy exploded from the clash as the two beings fought with their all. Twilight and Rainbow Dash watched as the the room turned to black, and the walls and floors slipped away into nothing. Flying through the void Luna took to the offensive as beam after beam of her magic ripped through the emptiness of this place. The nightmares moved unscathed against Luna's attack as it land a powerful blow to her chest.

Spiraling into the darkness Luna quickly recovered. Shaking off the pain pulsing from her chest she spearheaded toward her enemy. Her eyes shined white with power as her spirit soared. With a commanding scream an orb of light blasted off of her horn engulfing the nightmare in its path. Like a blink of an eye the nightmares were crushed into oblivion. The vacuum was silent as Luna hovered in place. “Ha ha. I have done it. The nightmares are defeated.”

Menacingly a large seven headed hydra emerged up behind the unaware princess. “Luna look out!”

“Did you see how I faced the nightmares? I haven't fought like that in so long.” Before Luna could finish her speech the hydra's head came lunging toward her. Its teeth were razor sharp as its breath was heavy on the lunar princess's neck. Almost like she was going about her daily activities Luna looped around the large ravenous head and fired off another beam of magic. Luna had regained her confidence and her ability to dream. Twisting and turning through the air each head closely followed the moon princess. Soon the hydra found itself wrapped in knots as it struggled to be free. A grin crept over Luna's face as she pierced through the hydra's soft underbelly causing it to dissipate into a puff of smoke.

The smoke of the hydra began to funnel into the distance as a faint voice echoed from the unknown. Distant at first it then grew into castrophany so immense it could be heard in the dreams of everypony in Equestria. “You dare deny me! I was the one who led you to power! I was the one who loved you when everypony else shunned your precious night. I was the one who stood by you on the moon. No more! Today your nightmares become reality!”

With a flash of light the void filled with life as what appeared to be the moon formed in the empty space. The three mares circled up as the stars slowly blinked into existence. The moon rumbled and shook as the nightmares emerged beyond the horizon. Blocking out the sun a gigantic Nightmare Moon towered over the three mares. Luna watched in horror as her fear took a physical form. “If you will not join me willingly then I will replace you as the ruler of the night.”

The stars in space rocketed above Nightmare Moon's horn as the three mares felt themselves being pulled toward the monstrous being. The world turned silent as a massive beam scanned the landscape destroying everything in its path. Running from the blast the three mares could feel the heat pulsating off of the column of power. Taking to the skies Luna and Twilight provided cover fire while Rainbow Dash took to the offensive. Narrowly dodging blast after blast Rainbow gained speed for her final assault. With grace and passion Rainbow exploded with light and color as a sonic rainboom canvassed Nightmare Moon. Distracted by the shock wave Nightmare Moon was unaware of Twilight's and Luna's swooping attack. Two rays of energy passed over the nightmare creature as the princesses rushed by.

Leading a rainbow streak in her wake Dash sped away from the growing battle. Though she was fast she could not out run the massive ball of energy sent after her. Engulfed in light, Rainbow found herself colliding against the cold dirt of the moon as she fainted from the intense pain.

“Rainbow!” Twilight watched in horror as Rainbow passed out. Unable to move, Twilight started toward her fallen friend only to be stopped by Luna's strong words.

“Twilight, she is fine. You have to stay focus on this battle.” Luna fired off another beam of magic only maddening the vengeful dream.

Nightmare Moon exploded into the sky crashing down on top of Twilight's small alicorn frame. Luna watched as her friend's battered bodies laid on the cold lunar landscape. Her eyes filled with tears as her anger grew. Luna's heart screamed with pain as a single word broke from her lips. “Enough!”

Luna's body shimmered with energy as she jettisoned toward the nightmare that had haunted her for so long, Fueled with passion she let out a powerful scream. Gaining speed Luna ripped across the moon's surface colliding into Nightmare Moon. The world flexed as the two mares were sent shattering through the walls of the dreamworld. Twilight's eyes widened as the very fabric of the dreamworld splintered around her. Quickly she ran toward Rainbow Dash grasping her in a scared embrace. Taking in a deep breath she awaited their fate as the world gave out a loud release. Suddenly everypony in Equestria awoke in a cold sweat as they were force back into reality.

And then there was nothing.