Goodnight, Spike
I am recording these events to document the truth about that tragic and terrible battle upon the moon to reclaim the unicorn Rarity from the clutches of the remnant and dormant power of the nightmare, left behind after the defeat of Nightmare Moon one year ago. It all started when Twilight Sparkle and her friends began suffering terrible nightmares night after night, which we came to realize was the doing of the lingering power of the nightmare I had thought defeated upon the downfall of Nightmare Moon and the return of my sister Princess Luna. After the nightmares had kidnapped Rarity and taken her to the Nightmare Dreamscape, we decided to tell the truth to Twilight and the rest of her friends about everything and it was decided they would travel to the moon with my sister to once again vanquish the darkness and reclaim Rarity. Using my magic to make a bridge for them to travel across, they ascended to the moon but were too late in Rarity’s transformation into Nightmare Rarity. After this I cannot say what happened for I did not witness these events firsthand, this next passage describes Princess Luna’s personal account of the battle and its terrible outcome of a dear friend and loved one.
After ascending the magic rope given to us by my sister, Celestia and our most abrupt landing upon the moon, we were greeted by the now horrifyingly transformed creatures of the moon. My feelings are torn asunder upon viewing these once beautiful creatures turned and twisted by my very darkness and jealousy and now they descend upon us to halt our advancement to rescue Rarity. Now they taunt me in front of them all and use their now wicked tongues to abuse my past, it tortures me so and I crave for them to stop but I must face the truth now. But I am now surprised by Twilight and her friends as they come to my aid and defense by reassuring me that no matter what, we shall always be friends and that friends help each other no matter what. This must what the magic of friendship feels like, its power, its warmth, and its strength, but some doubt still lingers in my mind but for now it allows me to fight. But almost as soon as I regain myself, I am dealt another horrifying blow for what happens next. At first they offer me the chance to become Nightmare Moon once again and spare both the ponies and dragon of any future pain but with their support I am able to reject their offer but in return they show me the consequence of my action and that in fact they had already offered this same choice to Rarity. Before I have a chance to question whether or not she accepted the offer I begin to feel the ground shake and quiver beneath my hooves and from underneath the rock, through the newly formed cracks upon the surface of the moon I can feel and see a dark presence begin to rise in the form of black smoke and a chilling laughter that is both new and familiar to me echoes around us all. Soon after the smoke exploded into a giant plume of darkness as a shape began to form and the dreaded laughter volume rose and rose as the shape formed fully into a solid body and what I see is truly a nightmare and the answer to my unasked question. She accepted the nightmares offer and has become Nightmare Rarity.
With much surprise and sadness, we all view as Nightmare Rarity begins to strut and bolster her new form, power, and lies in front of her former friends. Though once again through the magic of friendship Twilight is able to compose herself and her friends and stand up to her but my heart breaks when I look into the eyes of Spike the dragon as he looks into the face of a true nightmare for him. Though my time in Ponyville has been small and through all the letters Twilight has sent, it is most obvious that Spike is very much in love with Rarity and to see him face his love who has fallen into darkness is a sight I would of never wished upon anyone. But he has a strong heart as he is able to muster the courage to try and talk Nightmare Rarity to revert back to her former self, unfortunately negotiations had failed to change her mind and on the outside she scoffed it off but I saw a momentary glimpse in her eyes as she recognized Spike which brought me new found hope that Rarity could still be saved and that the darkness had not rooted itself completely in her heart. Her sudden clarity had enraged the Nightmare inside and her anger exploded as she ordered her new army to attack us all and with that we began our fight with the darkness, a battle I fear that will not end in victory but must be fought nonetheless.
With great ferocity and swiftness, the dark creatures came down upon us all on all sides and we proceeded to fight back as best as we could, fortunately their bodies only traveled in smoke and shadow but they possessed solid forms when directly engaging us though it hardly makes up for the overwhelming odds against us. The battle against the Nightmare bodes surprisingly well, for each pony fighting had a unique strength that greatly aided our side, Twilight led the charge with her powerful magic that blasted multiple foes away. Applejack charged through the enemy lines with her great strength alongside Rainbow Dash who through her superior speed produced air blasts that both knocked away and disorient our foe. Though I fear that Fluttershy can only run, she provides a most excellent decoy as she distracts the creatures until they either give up or are beaten by another, like Pinkie Pie who provides an unusual method of fighting with what seems to be random yet effective moves that are unpredictable to anyone. Even our most smallest member fights with everything he has as Spike fights not only to gain back a friend, but to gain back his hearts desire with his magical fire breath, though I fear due to him being a baby dragon that his stamina might tire quickly but I suspect that no one will stop him with great ease. Though with some grief, I thank the fact that I have knowledge of the shadows and how to beat them with my own magic and I fight to ensure to one gets hurt for my past mistake and foolishness. Though we are achieving many a victory, I have dared a glance at Nightmare Rarity and she had yet to make a move, which frightens my resolve but I will continue to fight to protect everyone in Equestria from my past. I must.
With great annoyance in her tone, Nightmare Rarity finally takes action by scolding her forces and threatening them to achieve victory and soon we are all surrounded into a circle and their numbers almost make it seem that we have not done anything to weaken them. But our small group still fights on with good spirits, yet I notice that we all being to slow in our attacks as I had thought would happen eventually. While I am holding off a few members of their army, I notice one of them sneaking up behind Twilight Sparkle while her attention is focused on three shadows but I cannot deviate from my position as it would compromise our standing. But unexpectedly Spike leaps onto the creatures wispy tail and grabs hold of it to throw it off balance and save Twilight, but the creature yells at him to let go and try’s to shake him off but Spike refuses to let go. What happens next is truly saddening for the creature shoots a shadowy bolt out of his palm and into Spikes shoulder which loosens his grip and with a mighty whip of its tail launches Spike through the air and out of sight while he wails in great pain. We all stand in shock and Twilight tries to run to him but her sustained injury’s make her collapse and cry out to Spike and with this sudden shift allows the shadow creatures to capture them slowly one by one. I try to blast them away but their numbers outweigh my magic and though I wished to stay, Twilight and her friends urge me to return to Ponyville to warn everyone and prepare our defensive position. With great pain and reluctance I eventually make my leave of the moon and return to Ponyville to warn my sister. This ends my current account of the battle of the moon and turn over to Twilight to accurately archive the events to honor the sacrifice made.
This is Twilight Sparkle, continuing the events after Princess Luna left the moon to warn Princess Celestia of our failure to rescue Rarity and the incoming army. The shadow creatures overwhelmed us and began to drag us away to the dungeon as per Nightmare Raritys orders, I just dont understand how Rarity could become Nightmare Rarity and allow Spike to be hurt like that. Oh poor Spike, he got severely hurt trying to save me, but I believe in him and I know that he will be alright and come to save us as he always does. But I think Nightmare Rarity hurt him far worse than that shadow bolt hit him for, the look in his eyes when he saw her was unbearable. Was I wrong this whole time, can the magic of friendship really save us this time? It failed to save Rarity and it might of failed to save Spike, no I cant give up, I cant allow my thoughts to falter now for Princess Celestia taught me better than that. I know we can save them both, I just know we will. We have to.
Im glad that they decided to carry us off into the dungeon, we all needed the rest for we all got multiple injuries from throughout the fight. I just hope Spike landed safely and isnt hurt too badly, but for right now I need to think about how I can get us out of this situation and what in the world Pinkie Pie is doing, is she....wiggling? I love Pinkie Pie so much as my friend, she can always find the fun in everything and make me laugh which makes me feel better and think a little more clearly though I still cant figure out how to escape in our current condition. After some time floating across the surface of the moon and a lot more Pinkie Pie wiggling, we were finally brought to the dungeon and thrown into five small pockets in the wall with tightly locked bars blocking our way. As soon as they threw us in, they left us to prepare their attack on our home after gloating on their capture of us and beating Spike and simply laughed about it to which I replied with a small magical blast and warned them to never ever laugh at Spike like that. They simply grunted and left us alone but as soon as they were gone we all began to talk amongst ourselves on how to escape and get back home, though the conversation went sour when Fluttershy brought up Spike as she talked to a an untainted creature of the moon that had wandered into her bottom cell. Rainbow Dash hit the mark when she said that Spike would of done anything for Rarity, I wish for Spikes wellness with all my heart and with that we all began to argue on how to escape and the failure of the battle. I kept my silence for a while until I couldn’t stand it anymore but I wasn’t angry at them, I was simply happy that they continued to be their stupid, wonderful selves and I remembered everything I loved about them. Suddenly my horn began to glow and a warm light began to radiate from within me and lit up the room a little, it was the magic of friendship that filled my heart and mind and I told everypony else what was happening and soon enough each of us were glowing and the room was now brightly lit with our friendship and it brought new hope to all of us.
The light of our friendship did bring us new hope for not even a minute or two later we all saw Spike come running to us! We all were so happy to see that he was alright and as soon as he got to us I saw that he now had a bag on his back which I asked about and was saddened to hear that it was the heart shaped fire ruby that he had given to Rarity now all smashed up, I feel so bad for Spike to have to suffer like this, he loves Rarity so much and this meant so much to them. Although we all felt much better knowing Spike was better, he did not have the key to our cells but neither did the guard. Right after we had learned this, we found out that Pinkie Pie during all her wiggling had incidentally gotten the key from the guard herself! She threw down the key to Spike and before we knew it we had all escaped from our cells, as soon as I had gotten down and gave Spike a hug only did I notice the wound on his shoulder and asked Spike if he was alright and he told us that it stung a little but that he was a tough dragon and could handle it if it meant saving Rarity to which we all smiled to. But before we could figure out how to escape the now awakened guard charged in but before it could try and capture us again, his body shimmered as soon as it touched our light from our friendship and he said it felt funny but good and we had decided to direct our light at him. When it did, the shadows melted away from his body and revealed his true form as a creature of the moon and when he realized that he was no longer possessed by the nightmare he instantly offered his apologies to us all but mostly to Spike as he was the one who wounded him. Spike was a little reluctant to accept the apology but eventually he accepted it and the creature of the moon, who introduced himself as Larry, told us that we could fly ourselves from the moon and down to Ponyville to help save our home and stop Nightmare Rarity. Larry would carry Spike and we would use our new found magic of friendship to fly ourselves, we all agreed to the new plan and off we went.
We all made our way out of the dungeon and to the outside to get ourselves ready for the flight back down to Ponyville, but before we got going I walked over to Spike because he was slumped over a bit and looked down so I decided to ask if he was going to be alright. He told me that right before he came to rescue us he got caught in a dream created by Nightmare Rarity to lure him to join her by instead of making a Nightmare, she showed him his hearts inner most desire but he realized that the dream Rarity was not the Rarity he loved and broke out but as punishment she ordered one of her minions to break the fire ruby right in front of him. Spike was shattered by this and went into a deep shock, feeling that she accomplished in making sure that Spike could not stop her anymore she left him there and went down to Ponyville. After she left him, Spike slowly gathered up the shattered pieces and collected them in a bag that he found lying around and proceeded to find us and try to set us free. After he told me this, I almost broke into tears but I wanted to know how he had the courage to continue and he told me that he loved Rarity no matter what and he will go through any pain to save her. I finally began to shed tears and gave Spike a big hug and behind us every other pony also gave him a hug and cried for him. Spike thanked us but told us that now was not the time for tears and that we needed to save Rarity first and we all wiped our eyes and got ourselves ready for the flight down while Larry picked up Spike and changed into his shadow form. We all gathered our thoughts and before we knew it the warm of our friendship had enveloped us all and we willed our bodies to fly down to Ponyville to save our friends and to get Rarity back from the darkness.
I shall be taking over for the final part of this record as it is too painful a memory for Twilight and my sister Luna to remember again. I had originally thought that Luna had become Nightmare Moon again but when I saw my sister fly back from the moon I was confused and horrified that now some pony else had taken in the darkness and my fears were correct when Luna confirmed my theory by informing me that Rarity had accepted the lies of the nightmare and had become Nightmare Rarity. She also informed me of the resulting battle on the moon and my heart shivered when she told me of Spikes injuries and how hurt he looked after seeing Rarity in her current form. I closed my eyes and shed a tear for Spike and his plight but for the time being I must protect every pony in my kingdom and I began to organize for the defense of Ponyville against Nightmare Rarity and her army. The battle was soon upon us as a great shadow descended upon the city and surrounded us all to begin their attack on the citizens while I battled alongside my sister against Nightmare Rarity. My heart feels torn as I once again fight against this nightmare and against a dear friend. Her power feeds off of Raritys inner thoughts and doubts and her strength is powerful enough to match us both and her words sting like poison as she gloats about the capture of my student Twilight Sparkle and her friends and even more poisonous is the fact that she gladly admits to breaking Spikes heart so he could not revive Rarity. But hope arises as my eyes fall upon Twilight and her friends flying toward us with Spike and a creature of the moon carrying him and with my magic I can feel that the glow around them all is through the magic of friendship and it brings me joy to see that Spike is still strong enough to fight for his love. The six of them surround Nightmare Rarity as they focus their light down on her and demand for Rarity to talk to them. The shadow and darkness enveloping her slowly peels back and Raritys spirit comes forth to apologize for giving into her doubts and it seems that their friendship is slowly pulling through, I tell them all to bring forth all their best and loving memories of Rarity to pull her out. Finally Spike slowly walks up holding the shattered pieces of the fire ruby he gave her and through his love for her allowed the pieces to reform again and through it he expressed his loving thoughts of her to try and finally bring her back. But it brought something else instead.
Spikes love had broken through to Rarity but the last of Nightmare Raritys power broke through and its terrible anger and hatred shone brightly and before any could react Nightmare Raritys last act was to shoot a magic beam of pure darkness right through Spike and it blasted him away. The horror of what happened was too big a shock for us all and we were all frozen but my eyes drifted back to Rarity as I saw the Nightmares darkness slither from her body and reformed into its own entity. I am fortunate that I foresaw to bring the elements of harmony with me in case of emergency and I cast them forth to the six of them in hope that the power within them could focus them enough to defeat the true nightmare but I was wrong. Twilight was the first to move as she ran to where Spikes body lie and only silence came forth in response as she gazed upon Spike limb body but a small spark of light arose when Spike gasped and moved slightly and with it the rest of them sprang to his side but I quickly hastened to Rarity. Rarity did not know what happened in those last moments and when she asked for the details, I knew she had to know and when she learned the truth the whole world seemed to stop for a moment as the pain in her eyes and voice echoed within me as she rushed to Spikes side. I am grateful that my sister took it upon her to distract the Nightmare while we expressed our grief but the shock of everything was only greeted with silent tears, but something amazing happened. Spike was the only one to speak as he smiled and gave all his strength to convince the girls to defeat the Nightmare first as he did not want anyone else to suffer as he had because of the true power of the nightmare. He reassured them he was a tough little dragon and he would be fine but before they left to defeat this terrible darkness once and for all, Spike said three little words to Rarity “I love you” before he slumped back down.
Leaving Spike behind Rarity lead the charge in the final battle against the Nightmare as we all joined Luna in the fray, one by one they surrounded it and with their friendship in mind and love for Spike in their hearts they charged up their elements of harmony to finish it off once and for all. But before the final blow was struck the Nightmare spat terrible curses and its final words of malice before the the elements shot out and pierced directly into the heart of darkness and from within beams of light erupted and with a last horrible scream the darkness was defeated but the nightmare was not truly over for as soon as everything was calm another terrible scream of agony filled the air, I turned around to see Rarity coddling Spike in her hooves with tears streaming her face. A new fear filled my heart as I rushed over to their side along with the rest and without hesitation I gently placed my horn upon Spike to check for life only to find none. It was at that moment did I realize that Spike gave the ultimate sacrifice to save Rarity, the girl he loved with all his heart but he did not want his friends to see his pain. With the truth dawned upon all of us, we all sat in silence as we mourned for our small hero who had the biggest heart. Before we departed to prepare a proper funeral Rarity had asked for a few minutes alone to speak to Spike one last time to which we all agreed. These are the last words I have to report, I leave the rest to Rarity herself who is willing to share her last words.
“Oh my dear, precious Spikey-Wikey I am so sorry that I did this to you by not believing in my friends and most importantly you. I was so happy to hear you say that you loved me and you brought the fire ruby to remind me of our love. The only regret I have is that I never got to say that I loved you too. But now its too late and I am sorry but with you being the best little dragon there is, you probably already knew that I loved you as well. I am going to miss you so much, you are my hero. Goodnight, Spike.”
