Opening the eyes, the sight of a destroyed place invaded everything the eye could see. It wasn’t destroyed by age, like the old castle. It was rather destroyed by the impact of hard objects against the buildings. Most likely, all the beings who had once lived in there had died or had run away.

Suddenly, some beings in a rather strange clothes passed running, seemingly in a frenzy, trying to run from something. Harsh sounds of explosions filled the air while small fragments passed quicker than the beings. One of them suddenly yelled in pain as the fragments dug into its body. Moments later, the being fell limply to the ground.

It was the typical sight of War.

Nightmare couldn’t believe what she was seeing. Upon searching on the deepest corner of the Prince’s mind, he found two fears. One of the former soul, and the other one of the actual one. And what she was seeing was actually his worst fear.
“Erick!” Suddenly, another being invaded the field, holding closely something that Nightmare identified as a weapon. But what kind of, she didn’t know. “Erick, get up! We gotta get moving!” The being shook harshly the fallen one, trying to get him to get up. Yet, he didn’t move.
“Kyle!” Yet another being showed up, breathing shakily. “Kyle, leave him!”
“I’m not leaving him!”
“You have to! Do you think Erick would have liked if you stayed here, too, just to die like him!?”

After a few moments of thinking, a new wave of explosions sounded, causing the duo to quickly get up and run towards a group that was dressed just like them.
“Hey! Where’s Erick!?”
“... He didn’t make it.” “Kyle” answered with a heavy and sad voice.
“Ah, shit! Now, I’m really angry with those dudes!”

The one who helped Kyle started to do something with his weapon. After that, it took off the mask and helmet he was using, revealing a 20 year-old Mark.
“Anger never solves anything. It only makes things worse.”
“Fuck the anger, and fuck those dudes out there! We’ve already lost three of our friends for them an-” The speech of the man was interrupted when a small projectile passed through his head, killing him immediately.
“Ray, dammit!”
“Everyone take cover!”

Nightmare only stared in shock at the dead body in the ground while its blood started to spread all over the ground, while the remaining men all started to get nervous.
“... You decide, Mark.”
“... We have to get out of here. Now.”

The rest of them started to leave the room as fast as they could, not standing right, but in a crouched stance. Suddenly, a sound resembling that of a roar started to sound out of the building.
“Mark, you heard that?”

Everybody in there, even Nightmare, stood still, trying to hear better the sound. Suddenly, Mark’s eyes widened.
“EVERYBODY GET THE HELL OUTTA-” Before he could finish his command, a sudden explosion destroyed the wall, lifting a wall of smoke and dust that didn’t let Nightmare see the results.

As the cloud finally settled down, Nightmare gasped loudly as she gazed at the ground. Yes, she had been in a war in the past. Yes, she saw ponies dying during that war. Yes, she saw her dear bat-ponies dying for her will, their blood staining the very floor Equestria was founded into. But that place…

Nightmare almost threw out the contents of her stomach as she saw what once three humans were. On the back of the building, two humans started to get up. Nightmare saw mark’s expression turning from that of shock to horror. Horror and sadness.

The second human, who also survived, seemingly unharmed, started to get up. Upon seeing what had happened, he turned to Mark. It was at that moment when Nightmare noticed that there wasn’t exactly a sound in there.

The horror in Mark’s face didn’t disappear even as the second human started to drag him away from that place, shouting at him something that he couldn’t even hear.

The scene changed to that of the outside of the building, showing the two humans getting out of there, only to face multiple humans, pointing them with their weapons and shouting something at them in a language Nightmare didn’t understand.

Turning her head, Nightmare saw Mark looking to the ground with a defeated expression, sadness and anger revealed on his face as he dropped his weapon. Mark lifted his head to face them, but his eyes seemed focused on something else.

Following his sight, Nightmare noticed a group of flying… things that seemed to fly towards them. Both, Mark and Nightmare followed their sights as the flying things soared through the sky. When they were right above them, they dropped a couple of heavy-looking objects. When the objects started to fall, the seemingly enemy group of humans started to run scared towards any place that could hide them. It was then that the objects touched the ground, exploding.

Suddenly, everything was dark.

Nightmare stared in shock as Mark’s eyes opened and the world around him seemed to be a chaos. More humans dressed like Mark started to invade the zone, shooting at the enemy group. Mark got up and took his weapon again, ready to, if not fight, the get out of there alive.

Suddenly, a shout was heard behind him. Turning around, Mark saw another human with a dagger running against him. Much like with Nightmare, Mark got in a fighting stance.

When the human started to try and stab him, Mark took the opportunity and drove a knee at his stomach. When the enemy fell, Mark turned around, trying to see something. What he saw seemed to snap something inside of him. There, on the ground, lay dead the last member of his team. The enemy got up again and tried to stab him again. However, he got surprised as Mark quickly took his hand and twisted it painfully, taking away his knife.

Nightmare turned to see the enemy in the ground, suddenly seeming afraid of the one before him. Turning at Mark, Nightmare also became slightly afraid as his eyes, once shining with life and hope, now seemed to be off, almost pouring out hate and anger.

The poor human didn’t seem to realize his mistake of not running away until suddenly, Mark took him by the neck. With one single stab to the stomach, the man let out a scream of pain. However, it wasn’t finished, while Mark suddenly threw him to the ground and started to stab him repeatedly over and over again.

Once again, Nightmare gasped in shock as Mark got up, revealing the body of the man bleeding from many spots. The knife on Mark’s hand fell to the ground, catching Nightmare’s attention. This time, she was surprised and saddened, as she saw Mark’s eyes turning back to normal, while the hate and anger were replaced with shock and horror. He lifted his hands to his head, seeing the blood staining them.

The last thing the fear showed was Mark shouting at full voice as he looked once again at the body on the ground.

Nightmare found herself confused as she started to feel something wet on her muzzle. Taking a hand to it, she wiped out the tear that had formed there. She merely looked over at the tear for a few moments before she realized something. She was crying.
“... I assume wars aren’t that bloody and brutal here in Equestria, right?” A voice sounded behind her.

Nightmare turned around, still with tears on her eyes as she looked at the Prince, who seemed to be lost in thought, looking at nothing in particular. As she started to walk towards him, she suddenly noticed his eyes with no shine, almost as if they were dead. Yet, the regret was evident on them.
“Not a single day passes without me grieving about that moment. Not for killing that man, but for how I did it.”

Upon seeing confusion upon Nightmare’s face, he merely rolled his eyes.
“The work was done. The mission was simple: get in, rescue the prisoners and take them away. However…”
“They found you.” Nightmare completed the phrase, already knowing what happened.
“… Yes. Most of the prisoners we found were shot down, while another part were taken away, I suppose either back to prison, or they were killed in another part. And as for us… Well, you’ve already saw that.”

Upon saying this, Mark walked away to a couple feet away, still looking to the ground.
“They hunted us. They killed my friends… my brothers… And that caused me to snap at the end.”

Finally, Mark turned fully towards Nightmare, with determination shining on them.
“I hope you actually get what is my fear.” Nightmare simply nodded slowly.
“… To transform into a Monster… somepony else who isn’t you.” Nightmare said as she suddenly started to feel something weird within her.
“…What about you?” Nightmare’s feelings were suddenly put to a sudden stop as she tried to process what he had asked. Upon seeing this, Mark went ahead.
“What are your fears?”
“… I…” For the first time in her life, Nightmare didn’t know what to answer. Even when there was a slight feeling of uneasiness growing inside of her, she couldn’t help but think about it.
“… Your worst enemy is yourself.” Nightmare turned her head as she noticed Mark standing at her side. “Those words take a new significance when you ponder about yourself.”

Nightmare, even when she started to get concerned about the fact he was so close to her, couldn’t help but think about it. After a few minutes, she found herself confused and concerned. She knew almost nothing about herself.

Upon realizing this, she blinked a couple times as she tried to think of anything. Yet, she never found anything inside her mind denying what the prince said. She never found anything like deciding what flavor was her favorite one, what color she appreciated the most, what kind of things she liked to do.

In all her short existence, the pure hate and anger always occupied her life. While looking for his fears, Nightmare happened to come across some other memories of him. Many of them were happy moments. Moments where was happy making others happy.

Almost as if he knew what she was thinking about, Mark suddenly stepped in front of her.
“Do you actually think that ponies will know you, respect you, and love you if you destroy them?” Nightmare looked at him with shock as she heard the harsh tone in his voice. But what caught her attention the most was what he said.
“Just think about it. What will happen if you bring eternal night? Plants needs the sun to produce their food, the water can’t evaporate and form clouds without the sun. There are animals out there that need the sun.” The more Nightmare heard, the more doubts started to grow on her mind. Yes, granted, even she considered herself evil. And there had to arrive that stupid prince.

What he told her turned her mind, once filled with determination of getting revenge at any cost and by any means necessary, to that of a doubtful and, surprisingly, afraid mare. It almost felt like if she weren’t Nightmare Moon anymore.

Suddenly, a strand of mane fell in front of her face. To her surprise, as she started to see it better, she suddenly noticed her mane in another color. It didn’t show the night sky as before, but it was of a lighter blue. That wasn’t the only thing that changed. Her fur, once as dark like the darkest night, now had the dark blue tone that Luna had. Yet, her eyes remained the same.

Mark merely stared in awe as he observed while Nightmare, quite literally, suddenly shrunk while a tear started to slide down her muzzle. Her mane suddenly flattened while it lost its magical hint, transforming itself into that of a normal mane. The shards of armor once attached to her body fell to the ground with solid metallic sounds. The only thing covering her was her mane, which was larger than her.

As she turned slowly towards him, Mark finally saw her true self. It was exactly the same filly he saw in Death’s mirror: A filly crying on the ground, surrounded by darkness, totally alone. But there was one slight difference: she wasn’t alone.

Seeing as she was completely naked, Mark took off his jacket, which he hadn’t noticed yet. Walking slowly towards her, he slowly put it on her, trying to cover her as much as he could. Yet, as he finished it, taking a couple steps back, he observed as Nightmare simply sat in there, sobbing quietly.

Nightmare’s mind was a true mess. For the first time on her life, she didn’t know what to do. Worse of all was the fact that she knew exactly what had happened. She lost her motivation. She lost her main goal. Even worse, she had lost herself. The prince had done it. He had beaten her. For once in her life, she truly saw herself like everypony else had to that moment: a monster. What had she been thinking the whole time!? Plunging the world into eternal night and causing genocide, killing almost every sentient being in the world. How could she have been so blind the whole time? What caused her blindness to vanish?

Suddenly, her thoughts were interrupted as she felt something warm on her shoulder. Turning her head slowly at what was touching her; she saw the white hand of the prince. Turning then to look at his face, she was expecting to see him with at least anger. But all she could see on his eyes was concern.

Mark, upon seeing that she was more calmed, opted to sit down at her side.
“… It’s… difficult, you know? To accept the truth once you know it. Right?” Nightmare simply nodded while her face turned once more to the ground.
“… Why are you doing this?” She asked, in a surprisingly more young and sweet voice, almost resembling that of Luna.
“… Everybody deserves a second chance.” He said as he turned to see his own hands. “I really don’t know what HE saw in me or why he chose me and the other guy just to give us a second chance… I like to think that it’s with a bigger purpose than just his ‘amusing’ as he says. Yet, I’m not the only one who was given a second chance, and I’m not talking about you, only. From where I come from, there are many people who have seen Death. Yet, they somehow manage to survive to anything that happens to them. Most of them seem to get the things right after they’ve had their experience with that guy.”
“… I wonder why he chose me, too.” Nightmare said in a quiet tone after thinking for a short while. “… I’m not exactly the best kind of pony to give a second chance. Now that I see it… He should have chosen somepony else.”
“Maybe…” Nightmare turned to him, feeling a little insulted. However, upon seeing his sight, looking at nothing in particular. “… But that way, we wouldn’t have gotten the opportunity to find our destinies, right?”

Nightmare suddenly remembered what Death said. It was exactly what Mark had said. A second chance to find her destiny. But what kind of future had destiny in store for her?

As she glanced once again to the prince, who was looking at her with a serene expression, her mind lit up with a possibility.

Mark could swear he’d seen Nightmare’s eyes sparkle at the same time they widened. Nightmare suddenly stood up, trying to cover herself as much as she could. A purple dress Mark didn’t notice before thanks to the armor shone in the dark, hanging from her small body. It looked more like a tunic than a dress.
“I’ve made my decision.” Nightmare declared loudly while walking away a few steps. Suddenly, she stopped and turned around, looking at the prince with determination. “You beat me fairly. Therefore, I give myself fully to you, to be your protégé and for you to help me find my destiny.”

Mark’s eyes widened as she said that while getting on her knee, almost like a knight would do.
“Waitwaitwaitwait! What the hell did you say?” He shouted as he got on his hooves.

Nightmare merely stood up and walked towards him. Much to his surprise and fear, she hooked an arm between his own.
“That means that I will be your shadow, so you teach me in order to find my destiny.”
“…” Mark merely blinked in confusion as he stared at the filly, almost like if she were crazy. Nightmare started to giggle upon seeing his face. “I’ll see you later, handsome one.” She said as she bopped him on the nose.

She then turned around and walked away. Well, more like jumped away like an excited filly (which she was).

Luna, still sobbing and in her Nightmare form, simply laid curled on the floor while the thousands of voice kept shouting at her. Suddenly, the voices started to die out. Daring to open her eyes, she observed as all the ponies surrounding her started to vanish. At last, “Celestia” suddenly vanished, too.

As she started to get up, still perturbed about what had happened, she suddenly noticed her armor gone, and her fur had returned to its former dark blue color. Suddenly, a bright light started to shine around her. She knew that. It was the dream vanishing.

Celestia wasn’t crying anymore. She just stood there, wondering why she couldn’t take off the sword from the ground. She felt completely useless. All the ponies around her were dead, and it was her fault. She didn’t know how she knew it, but she knew it.

Suddenly, something seemed to click on her mind. It wasn’t her fault at all! She suddenly started to see all around her clearly. That wasn’t real.

With a mighty flap, her wings opened, instantly wiping away all the shadows around her. She started to grow up, and both, her mane and tail started to shine again with the rainbow colors. The place was invaded by a bright light as she suddenly noticed the magic on the place stopping.

Mark opened his eyes as darkness invaded his sight. The weak yet beautiful light the moon reflected upon the planted started to make the room slightly more visible. Visible enough so he could detect a group of ponies on his room.

Upon normal conditions, he might have started to freak out at the fact that two of the most beautiful and desirable mares in Equestria were on the bed with him. Yet, his mind remembered vividly what had happened inside of his dreams just a few minutes ago. At his side, both sisters started to move.
“Celestia, Luna. Are you two alright?” He asked as he turned to them.

To his surprise, Luna yawned as she stretched on the bed.
“T’was certainly tiring.”
“Indeed, it was.” Celestia answered as she stretched, too.
“Oh, well… We art relieved that it hast finished.”
“… Maybe not.”

Both mares turned to the Prince, who had a scared face while his eyes turned to the bed. They soon noticed the objective of his eyes as they realized there was a fourth lump on his bed. The prince, using one of his arms, lifted slowly the covers of his bed, revealing another pony laying on top of him. More precisely, a filly.

Both sisters started to wonder what a filly was doing on his bed. Looking for answers, both of them turned to him.
“… ah, hell no.” The prince muttered quietly, confusing the two sisters even more. Suddenly, the filly started to move, yawning cutely before opening her eyes.

The two sisters gasped loudly as they finally saw the filly’s eyes at the same time a pair of dark blue wings popped out from the back of the filly.
“… Nightmare… Moon?” Luna asked slowly, almost as if she were afraid.
“Hello… But, I don’t like that name anymore. May I search for another one?” ‘Nightmare’ asked in the voice of a cute little filly.

The room was suddenly filled with a heavy and intense silence. Said silence was broken abruptly as three voices shouted in panic.

“What was that?” A maid suddenly got up, alarmed by the shouts sounding in the manor.
“… It sounded like a mare… ssurely, Mazzter is up with another mare on his bedroom.” The maid in the bed next to her answered groggily, not bothering to even open her eyes.
“… I suppose you’re right. Good night, Pink Blossom.”
“g’night, Frighty.”

Author's Note

You know... it's amazing the endless torrent of ideas that flow through your head when you're secluded to your bed with a Flu that makes you feel like if you were about to die. Crazy, huh?
Once again, I thank all of you people for sticking to this story. Like and comment, please. (I really like to read your comments, by the way)