The Light Inside The Darkness

Chapter 1: My Recovery

It was the night after the summer sun celebration and i could still feel it. The sting and burn of the elements. The loss of my pathetic vessel, Luna. And the departure of all pure hatred and anger i once held. I am Nightmare Moon, and i no longer feel anything that created me. How is it possible? I have no idea. I opened my eyes and looked around the room quickly. I was alone in the same room the elements of harmony were used on me the night before. I was wounded mortally, and i was sure i would be dead soon. But then, i heard hoofsteps. I cringed at the thought of someone finding me here. What would they do? Would they tell Celestia? Who could it be? What are they doing out here in everfree? All these questions raced through my mind as a shadow appeared at the entrance of the room. I tried my best to blend in with the darkness around me, but my dark blue armor would not allow it as a mare walked in and looked around. It was Twilight Sparkle, the bearer of the element of magic. She appeared to be looking for something and gasped when she saw me bleeding out on the ground.

"N-N-N-Nightmare?!" She stuttered as i grinned slightly and tried to form words but could not and let my head fall limp against the ground. I faded in and out of vision, always remaining awake and alert for anything. Then i could hear footsteps and i opened my eyes and saw Twilight Sparkle kneeling next to me.

"W-What a-are you d-doing?...." I managed to say as her horn glowed. She remained silent for a minute and i felt a warm sensation over my side and sighed.

"Healing you..." She finally said and i looked up at her weakly.

"But... why?" I asked her as she began healing my other injuries.

"Because im not going to let someone die. No matter what they've done." She said and i laid my head down for a minute as she worked. I could feel the same warm sensation on all of my injuries as she healed them. After a few minutes she stopped and i looked up at her.

"Thank you....." I said and she looked at me. I sighed and tried to stand up but grunted in pain and just laid back down. "So... what is the real reason you helped me, miss Sparkle?" I asked her as she sat next to me.

"I told you, im not letting someone die because of something they did before." She said and smiled gently at me... What a foal...

"Thank you... You are truly too kind..." I said sarcastically and sighed as i leaned my head back. "This has been a strange night... First, i wake up here, injured and dying... Then the next thing i know, Twilight Sparkle of all ponies is healing my wounds..." I said and laughed weakly, then shook my head.

"Can you walk?" She asked me.

"I doubt it... I could barely even stand up..." I said and sighed. "You must think im weak." I said and looked down pitifully.

"Not at all, Your injuries were pretty serious." She said and i huffed.

"Do not pity me, girl..." I said and sighed.

"Im not, your injuries were really bad. Your not weak just because you cant stand because of getting hurt. Being hurt doesn't make you weak Nightmare." She said and i looked at her.

"I do not need your help...." I said and rolled my eyes. I tried to stand up again but grunted again in pain, then leaned back on the wall.

"Here, try not to move around too much." She said and her horn began to glow.

"What are you doing?.." I asked as she teleported us away from the castle. I opened my eyes again and i was inside a room in a bed. "Where are we?...." I asked her.

"Your in the guest room of my house." She said and i slowly began to panic.

"W-W-Why am i here?.." I asked, terror gripping me.

"Hey, hey, its alright. You can stay here until you get better. Your wounds were serious and you had some major bone fractures so you wont be able to walk for at least a few days at most. You'll be up and flying again by the end of the week as well." She said and i sighed before leaning my head back.

"This is so pitiful... I do not deserve such kindness for what i have done..." I said, then i wondered why i said it. Was i going soft? What happened to me?....

"Yes, you do. So long as your willing to accept it, Nightmare.." She said and i cringed slightly, then sighed.

"Fine... I'll accept your 'help' ....." I said and she smiled.

"Well im glad to hear that. Try and get some rest." She said and stood up to walk out. She shut the door behind her and i rolled onto my side and slowly fell asleep. The next morning i was met with something that both terrified me, and disturbed me. My eyes shot open to see those of a small, purple dragon staring at me.

"What are you doing....?" I asked and sat up as he just looked at me. I looked at him for a second before he started to speak.

"A-A-A-Are you N-Nightmare M-M-Moon?" He asked, terror in his eyes. I sighed and nodded.

"Yes, i suppose i am... The once greatly feared Nightmare Moon... And just who are you?.." I asked the dragon as he shifted his expression around the room.

"I... Uuh..... Im S-Spike.... Im Twilight's assistant... How did you get in here actually?.." He asked me, calming down a bit.

"Twilight found me in the castle last night and healed my wounds. She brought me here and said i could stat until my injuries are recovered." I said and he looked out the window.

"Does anyone else know your here?" He asked.

"Not that im aware of, no... Why are you asking me this?" I asked and sat up. He shrugged and walked out the door and down the stairs. I could hear voices and Twilight saying a few things and then silence, save for a few books moving around. Then the door opened and Twilight walked in with a medium sized tray on her back.

"Oh, your awake. I brought you breakfast." She said and smiled as she levitated the tray down in front of me. I looked at it and then up at her with a frown.

"Why are you doing all this?...." I asked her.

"Because you deserve-" I cut her off there.

"I don't deserve anything, Sparkle..." I said and sighed.

"Enough. You deserve help, and im going to give it, weather you like it or not." Twilight said firmly. I was in no position to argue. I may not have wanted her help, but i needed it. Badly.

"Fine..." I said and began eating. She walked out of the room and came back seven minutes later to take the empty tray.

"Did you you enjoy it?" She said as she picked up the tray.

"It was... Different, to say the least..... Better than what im used to having, that's for sure..." I said. She smiled.

"Well, im glad to hear that." She said and walked back out. I rolled onto my side and sighed. A few minutes later, i heard the door downstairs open and a happy voice, then Twilight's. I recognized the new voice. The Pink one, the element of laughter... I shuddered at the thought of her element.

"Hello Pinkie, how come your stopping by so early?" Twilight asked her.

"Well, my Pinkie sense was going off and it was telling me there was somebody new in Ponyville! I followed it here and so i came to see you!" Pinkie exclaimed happily.

"Well, i do have someone here with me. But you have to promise not to tell anyone. Pinkie Promise." Twilight said.

"Pinkie Promise" Pinkie replied as i heard the soft sound of hoofsteps against the stairs. Then my door opened slowly as Twilight and her friend walked in. I looked over at them and Pinkie gasped at the sight of me. "Uuh, Twilight? Do you see what im seeing?" Pinkie asked and looked at me.

"That all depends on what your seeing Pinkie." Twilight responded.

"Well, i think im seeing Nightmare Moon in a bed inside your house. But thats crazy!" Pinkie exclaimed as i sighed.

"Im not a figment of your imagination Pinkie..." I said and she just stared at me.

"Twilight, the imaginary person just talked to me." Pinkie said and pointed at me.

"Pinkie she's not imaginary. She's real." Twilight said and they both looked at me. Pinkie's eyes shrank down for a moment and i cringed slightly at what she might say.

"Well hi!" She finally said and it confused me incredibly.

"Excuse me?" I said and raised an eyebrow.

"Hi im-" She began but i cut her off.

"Yes, your Pinkie Pie... The ecstatic party girl who lives in this town and is one of Twilight's many friends... You love making new friends and you know everyone in Ponyville... You also love throwing incredible parties for everyone for random things... Does that sound about right?" I asked and Twilight's jaw dropped.

"Yeah! That sounds exactly like me!" Pinkie shouted and i rolled my eyes.

"I suppose i should be happy to meet you, or something..." I said and rolled back over.

"What's with her?" Pinkie asked Twilight as they walked downstairs. I heard them talk for a minute or so before the front door opened and I could hear Pinkie leave. Twilight walked up into my room a moment later.

"Hey, sorry about that. She can be a little spastic at times." Twilight said and i shrugged.

"Yes, i know Twilight... I have seen her once before so i know how she can be." I said and she smiled.

"So do you think you can try and stand?" She asked me and i shrugged.

"I dont see the harm in trying..." I said and lifted my legs over the side of the bed. I inhaled and exhaled slowly before trying to stand up. I cringed as i stood upright and a shooting pain jolted through my legs. I stood for a second and then my legs gave out and i began falling towards the floor. But then i suddenly stopped, i looked around and saw that Twilight had caught me and was holding me up. Wait..... Twilight Sparkle broke my fall?....

"You did great, your injuries are healing nicely." She said with a smile as she laid me back in bed.

"Uh..... T-Thank you, Twilight..." I said as she smiled and walked out of the room. Over the course of the rest of the day i didn't do much other than read the books that lay on the shelves in my room. Some of them were quite interesting, some of them were boring and some were somewhere in between. Before i knew it, nightfall came around so i put the book i was reading away and laid my head down to get some rest.

The next morning, i woke up and began reading again for a short while before Twilight brought breakfast up to me. I ate the food and set the tray on the side table when i was done. A few minutes later Twilight came in with a smile and took it downstairs as i began reading again. I read the book for a little while before i heard a knock at the downstairs door. I heard Twilight open it, followed by two or three other voices.

"Hey girls, what are you doing here so early?" Twilight asked as the ponies came in and sat down. I could tell they were some of her other friends as they talked. I had heard their voices before on the summer sun celebration.

"Hey Twi, we were jus' comin' by to say good mornin' to ya." I heard someone say with a thick farm accent. The farm pony... Wonderful...

"Well that was sweet of you." Twilight replied after a second.

"I was coming by to ask if you wanted to come to the spa with me and Rarity later today." I heard a very soft voice say. the shy one... Fluttershy, i remember her being called... The quietest of the six...

"Oh, sorry Fluttershy i can't today." Twilight said.

"How come?" I heard a third voice ask. It was a bit tomboyish... Like a racer..... Rainbow Dash... The element of loyalty... Splendid..... Sparkle must be calling all her friends to finish me..... But... Something in my gut tells me otherwise...

"I've kinda got someone im taking care of right now, and i cant leave her alone with her injuries." Twilight said and i sighed.

"Really? Who is it?" Fluttershy asked.

"Alright, fine. Come on upstairs and i'll show you, but not before you Pinkie Promise you wont tell anyone yet." Twilight said sternly.

"Pinkie Promise." I heard the three of them say.

"Good. Now, come on. Shes right in here." I heard Twilight say as they approached my room. I laid my head down and faced the door with a book in front of my face. The door opened and they all walked in.

"Who is it?" Fluttershy asked as i peered over the book then sat up and set it down on the table.

"Hello..." I said as all their faces became filled with horror.

"Everyone, you remember Nightmare right?" Twilight asked with a smile as the rainbow haired one turned towards her.

"Twilight, are you nuts?!" She asked her.

"No Rainbow Dash, im not crazy." Twilight said as the farm girl looked at her.

"Then why is she here?" She asked Twilight.

"Because Applejack, i found her in the castle in everfree dying from really bad injuries. I couldn't just leave her there. You three would have done the same thing. Yes, probably with a bit more hesitation than i did but you still would have done it." Twilight said and they all looked down.

"Your right Twilight. I wouldn't leave someone alone if they were hurt that badly." Fluttershy said.

"Yeah, i guess your right Twilight." Dash said.

"I s'pose i wouldn't leave someone who was hurt bad enough." Applejack said.

"Alright then, but yes, you remember her right?" Twilight asked them.

"Yeah, we remember her." Dash said and glared at me. I cringed slightly and glared back.

"Don't push your luck, girl..." I said and her expression changed.. Dash replaced the look of anger on her face with a look of fear this time.

"Seems like she hasn't changed..." Dash said.

"Because she still doesn't trust us. Were the ones who nearly killed her, after all.." Twilight explained.

"So what your sayin' is, that when we used the elements it freed Luna, but almost killed Nightmare?" Applejack asked.

"Thats it." Twilight said.

"So, does that mean she's not evil anymore?" Fluttershy asked.

"Well... Of that, im not certain..." Twilight said.

"Well... Now what?" Applejack asked and they all turned to me. "Howdy there, my name's Applejack but my friends call me AJ." Applejack said and held her hand out.

"I know who you are..." I said and rolled my eyes..

"You could at least act like your grateful. Twilight saved your life." Dash said angrily.

"I said not to push your luck..." My horn sparked and she stepped back. Fluttershy didm't give an introduction after that.

"I... guess we'll be head'n out now." AJ said as they walked back downstairs. I heard the door open and the three said their goodbye's then left.

"Bye girls!" Twilight said to them before shutting the door. I heard her walking back up the stairs and then she walked into my room with a frown.

"What?" I said.

"Couldn't you at least try to act nice?" Twilight asked.

"What would be the point....? Your probably just going to finish me off anyway..." I said and she sighed.

"Nightmare... I know that you think we don't like you, and that we don't want you around anymore... And t be honest, im a little scared of having you here because of what would happen to us both if Celestia found out..." She said.

"You mean what would happen to you..." I said.

"No, i mean hat would happen to you, mostly. No one deserves the pain you've had inflicted on you over the millennia. If i could go back in time with my friends and help you and save you and Luna from living in the moon for a thousand years, i would do it without question." Twilight said and i turned to face her.

"You..... You really mean that... Don't you?" I asked her. It was the tone in her voice that was telling the truth...

"Of course i do Nightmare... I care about you... I-I mean, like... I care about what happens to you, and i care that you get better." She stuttered a bit, so i could tell something was up... Did Twilight...... Have... Feelings for me?..... No, that's ridiculous! How could anyone have feelings for someone as horrible as me?..... But........ I can't help but feel as though she does...

"Well..... Thank you, i suppose..... You've been nicer to me in the last day and a half than anyone has in over a thousand years... Thank you, Twilight..." I said sincrely, earning a smile from her. She nodded and stood up.

"Good night, Nightmare." Twilight said from the next room over. I rolled over. and sighed deeply.

"Good night... Twilight." I said and closed my eyes. I had much to think about...