“Artemis?” A fillies voice rang out into the dark, uncertain and afraid. She could feel the darkness grip her coat, heavy and wet. The silence was so loud, it seemed to echo in the night’s chill. The filly stepped backwards, ears flattened, breathing heavily. Artemis was never late.
Missing the growing speck of light behind her, the little pony strained her eyes, looking for her tall mentor. A slight tug on her tail sent her sprawling. The filly jumped up in fear and spun around, only to be face-to-face with an amused, off-white pony with silver eyes and a full moon cutie mark. She shook out her silver and black hair, and stretched her wings. Artemis paused giving the frozen filly a concerned look.
“Lūn… art thou well?” The filly shook herself and glared at the older pony.
“We are not talking to thou right now.” She turned and stuck her chin in the air. Artemis didn’t miss the slight tremble in her voice. She stepped closer and nuzzled her students cheek.
“Oh really?”
“Well it shall depend on the lesson…” Luna said, hoping for a hint.
Artemis closed her eyes became sober. Luna gave her teacher a worried look. Ignoring it, Artemis set her jaw and took a breath.
“If so, then thou will miss an important lesson. One we would prefer to skip. However, it is an important situation thou must learn now. Tis vital for thy preparation to be our successor.” The mood had turned serious. The young alicorn looked up at her idol to see all traces of humor gone.
“What is it?” Luna asked, curiously.
The older pony paused. “Tis a less pleasant duty that comes with our position.” She hesitated, unsure how to explain it. “It will be easier to show thou.”
“Then do so,” came the fillies answer, surprisingly serious.
“Brace thyself Lun”, came the regretful reply.
A brief spasm shook the fillies body and she fell to the ground.
Pain. Hate. Loneliness.
Fear.
Darkness.
Artemis looked in pity at the still body. She cast a quick spell and the limp form took a breath.
She slowly got up and looked at her mentor in horror, with a tear streaked face.
“Why?”, came a hoarse whisper.
Artemis’ face became expressionless. A silence followed, the only sound the weeping of the filly.
“It is necessary thou know what this feeling is. It will be a part of thy job in the future.”
“But why would we need to know this?”
Artemis sighed and her horn lit up. Luna’s eyes widened “No! Not agai-”
They found themselves deep in the woods, hidden behind in a tree. A young filly, pink with straw colored fluffy hair, ran in from the sides. She was tired and struggling to continue. The filly glanced behind herself just as a Manticore jumped out. Yelping in surprise she stumbled and face planted. Scrambling the filly managed to turn and braced herself for the massacre that was about to occur.
Artemis floated down and cast a spell, evaporationg the monster into a puff of smoke. She turned to the filly and quietly inquired her name, soothing the hyperventilating child.
“A-a-apple Pie, miss.” The filly stuttered.
After the Apple Pie had calmed, she turned to the tall queen and hugged her leg, thanking her. Artemis with a burst of inspiration knelt down and whispered something into the fillies ear. The pony smiled and started laughing at the darkness of the woods.
“Where art we?” asked Luna watching the filly bounce off into the woods, more sure of herself.
“The Dreamscape, where ponies come and live their past, fears, loves, and anxieties every night.” She turned to Luna. “Thy job will be to come and help and comfort the lost, sooth the frightened, and protect the weak against nightmares and… Night Terrors,” Her voice stumbled,” We are sorry thou had to experience the hatred and such that thou did, but tis important that thou can connect and understand them. To give them hope.”
“Hope can brighten the darkest night. Do not give in to the nightmare.”
Luna sat in her bed, pondering the recurring memory. Wryly she thought over the last sentence. How much strife she would have avoided if only she had taken her teachers last words literally. The sun set, the room growing darker. Luna groaned and stretched her back, not wanting to get up. She waited a few minutes and, ignoring her protesting muscles, rolled off her bed and walked to the window.
Her horn lit up, and the moon rose, seemingly empty and bare… but there was still the deep crater right in the center. Banishment was definitely the worst time of her life. At least she hadn’t been alone, although Artemis’s banishment was much longer than hers. Starry Scythe, or how Artemis had been called in the years before she had disappeared, had given in to the Night Terror as well, caught unaware. Artemis’s however would last another million years.
Celestia still didn’t know, but how was she supposed to tell her? She didn’t know the hopelessness and pain that nightmares cause. How could she know of the misshapen Night Terror who stalks childrens dreams and drives them to suicide. How she know how the Night Terror possesses those who become accustomed to it? How could she know what had happened to their brother, supposedly dead? How could she know of the battle between siblings for young colts and fillies lives every night? Celestia couldn’t know. This was a burden of the night. The sun princess didn’t need to bother herself with the danger in the night.
Luna, after the moon was on it’s course, laid on the carpet, spreading her wings closing her eyes, and touching her horn to the ground. There came a flash of light and she was in the dreamscape once again. She had to fight him off tonight. There would be no suicides nor comas due to the hatred and jealousy of her brother. Not today. Not ever again.
Author's Note
So this is my first story ever. I'm a little nervous 
Tis story is based off of my wild theory that the Greek Olympians (or ponified versions of them) were in charge before Celestia and Luna. I'm not exactly sure if I'll continue this universe but who knows?
Anyway, thanks for reading!
