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           The Quest for Everfree Enlightenment            
                   -by Amethyst_Crystal-                   
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                   The Ancient Guardian                    
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The Ancient Guardian
Twilight flew over the vast expanse of the Everfree Forest, its green canopy stretching out for millions of acres ahead! It occurred to her that she had never really tried to map out or calculate the size of the enormous forest, having only focused on the local region close to Ponyville.
“There must be so many secrets to uncover!” she exclaimed with glee, throwing her arms wide, enjoying this new thrill of exploration. “I bet I could find so many beautiful wonders within, with so many fascinating properties to analyze! Hmm, but I should remember my current target!”
Shaking her head, Twilight tried to focus. She had long passed over the most distinctive landmark in her home territory: the ruins of the Sun & Moon sisters' old castle. Now she strived to seek the mysterious place which Luna spoke of: a wide rounded hill with distinct vegetation the color of midnight, surely of high contrast to the mostly greenish plant-life around it!
From the corner of Twilight's eye, a glimmering red light shone through the canopy, drawing her towards it curiously. “Well, its not midnight black, but this place certainly stands out!” she giggled with glee, admiring the brilliant bold red leaves, as though this part of the forest were experiencing an early autumn.
A sudden glob of blue acid shot out from between the branches, sizzling in midair as it aimed for Twilight's face! The princess had been having more practice with aerial maneuvers recently, darting out of the way, though not fast enough, as it still splattered against her outstretched right wing, singeing and dissolving her feathers. The pain was unbearable, causing her to scream as she plummeted down into the bright red trees, crashing into dark twisted branches with a heavy thud.
Wheezing for breath, she struggled to rise, as fear crept into her heart. Before her crouched a brilliantly red shining creature, moving closer, blue ooze spilling from its jaws. The beast resembled a monstrous spider coated in the leaves of the nearby vegetation, but to make matters worse, it carried a heavy coiled stinger up above its back, as ominous as any scorpion's.
Even in this moment of terror, Twilight found herself hypothesizing that the beast would attack passing birds and bats in much the same manner. Still, such birds must have been big, or the beast's appetite dainty, for it was easily three times the size of Twilight, about as big as the Cutie Map table in her castle!
Crawling forward, the beast's deadly stinger unfurled like a leaf, as it rose high overhead, dripping more of the painful blue acid, its eight legs reaching out to hold Twilight down, while its eyes gleamed with hungry intent.
“I'm tired of this forest trying to kill me!” yelled the princess of Magic, thoroughly pissed about the pain in her wing and this most unpleasant start to her journey. Gritting her teeth, eyes glowing green, she blasted powerful negative shadow energy at the creature's stinger, causing it to burst open, blue acid splattering onto the nearby branches, the plants apparently immune.
The arachnid shrieked in a horrible high pitch, the sound ringing in Twilight's ears, the deadly predator crawling backwards up into the dense vegetation, camouflaged by the dark red leaves.
Twilight panted heavily as she struggled to rise back to her feet and ignore the stinging acid, yelping in dismay as she fell over backwards instead, hitting her back against the next branch down, arching and crying out as her spine jolted with the shock.
To make matters worse, the creature had crawled back down towards her, snatching up a pile of dark leaves in its flexible legs,dipping its stinger down, and then wrapping the vegetation around its hideous wound. Twilight stared slack-jawed , amazed as the plant material almost immediately seemed to harden and fuse around the wounded stinger, reforming into a new one!
“Well that's just great!” Twilight ranted, trembling as she got shakily up onto her hooves, glad the branches were so thick and heavy. “I guess it really is literally the forest trying to kill me, again!” she snarled, suddenly remembering previous flora she'd had to fight.
“Fusions and symbiotic relationships! It'd be fascinating if you weren't so vicious!” she turned and kicked out a leg resentfully, trying to keep up the bravado as she calculated her options, feeling as though the beast hesitated to finish the job... or perhaps it just patiently waited for its healing process, just out of reach of the injured alicorn.
Twilight craned her head to the side for but a moment, looking down over the edge, a heavy gulp in her throat. She couldn't tell for sure, but she appeared to be far above the forest floor, and wasn't eager to break her back upon so many more branches. Nor could she possibly fly with her wing in such a dreadful condition. The forest arachnid was edging forwards again, a deep hiss emitting from its bubbling blue jaws, its patience at an end.
Twilight dips her head down, glaring as she aims her glowing horn again, this time right for the beast's maw. At the same moment, the creature belched out its acid, aiming for her own face. Both combatants aim true, their magic and acid missiles crashing together, partially negated, though enough still connects with the intended targets, both deadly creatures screaming in pain as they fell off the branch, their faces stinging as they tumbled down to the ground bellow.
The monstrous tree arachnid crashed with a dull thud, but Twilight felt soft cool magic catch her in mid-air, and moments later warm hooves and gentle wings enveloped her.
“So my vision was true,” muttered a familiar voice, as Twilight reeled with agony, tears blurring her sight, the acid eating at her soft fur, and suddenly it was all better, shuddering as a dark coldness enveloped her face, a soft glow of moonlight tickling over her skin, a peaceful feeling of deep healing magic. “I am so sorry! I should've warned you. How could I have forgotten this place would lie directly in your flight path?” the voice shook with bitterness and self resentment.
Twilight heard the tinge of sadness and anxiety in that voice, her heart calming as her vision began to clear up, looking up into the deep green eyes she confided in not so many moons ago, the starry expanse of night twinkling before her, engulfed in that beautiful mane.
“Luna!” Twilight exclaimed with relief, “The moon is capable of healing magic too?” she questioned, Luna's worry mixed with apparent offence at that. “S-sorry!” Twilight apologized, squirming in Luna's grasp, before rambling on, “How did you find me? I thought we were meeting at the -”
“NO!” Luna blurted, kicking Twilight roughly aside, causing her to cry out in confusion. Luna screamed in agony, the horrible sound urging Twilight to rise to her feet, bearing witness to the huge tree arachnid impaling Luna's side with its completely healed stinger, venom coursing into her veins.
Several of the beast's eyes remained splattered apart by the magic Twilight inflicted upon it moments ago, but a few still glowed balefully as it reached out with several slender legs, pushing down upon Luna, choosing to have her as its meal instead.
“LUNA!” Twilight cried out, tears pouring anew from her eyes. “It's me you want, you disgusting monster!” she shouted angrily, blasting the side of the tree arachnid with her magic, scarring its heavy bloated abdomen. Releasing Luna, the monster turned and hissed with renewed intent at Twilight, judging her a more dangerous adversary still, skittering up towards Twilight with its stinger raised and its fangs exposed, intent on ending her once and for all.
Dark green flooded the eyes of the princess of Magic, her mouth etched in a savage snarl, energy glowing all around her body, wind picking up around her hooves as she unfurled her wings, levitating slightly off the ground, and as the monster's stinger plunged down for her chest, she released her pent up negative energy!
Crackling dark matter enshrouded the enormous arachnid, streaks of lightning and clouds of shadow blighting its body, shrieking for but a moment before its entire face and upper body exploded, the blue acidic bile turning to ash as it hit the air, along with its tail becoming utterly incinerated at the focal point of the magical onslaught.
The back half of the mighty arachnid slumped down onto the ground, its legs twitching erratically, the red leaves covering its body withering and falling away, breaking up like old dead leaves of autumn, revealing the sleek shiny blue skin beneath.
Luna bore witness to this display of raw power, tears in her eyes from the pain and the sudden emotion, breathing heavily as she fought against the acid coursing through her veins, swallowing and panting. “Twilight Sparkle... you must control yourself... don't resort so readily to such power!” she gasped heavily, reaching out with a wavering hoof.
“WHAT!” Twilight shouted, eyes still glowing with dark power. “HOW DARE YOU! I JUST SAVED YOUR LIFE!” she raged, levitating above the wounded night goddess now.
Luna laughed brokenly, coughing up blue bile, a shudder coursing through her body, smiling weakly up at the terrifying princess of Magic. “And now will you end it?” she questioned, fear and scorn in her voice.
The wretched condition of her beloved friend shook Twilight, trembling as she faded out of her passionate aura of negative energy, collapsing onto her rump. “Luna! Please, just stay calm! Don't worry, you're safe now!” she promised with a sniffle, leaning over and gently touching her horn to Luna's ribs, horn aglow as she slowly stitched up the wound, positive love coursing through her heart as she focused to knit together the torn flesh.
Still, the princess of the Night looked pale and weak. “Thank you, Twilight, but the venom still courses through my veins,” Luna coughed. “A pity that it should come to this.”
Twilight pouted, trying not to cry again. “D-don't be over-dramatic, you're not going to die,” she insisted, more for her own sake, reaching out to help Luna to her feet.
Luna nodded at that, smiling. “No, I believe I can recover. I have endured physical agonies far worse, I assure you. It's just, this is such a terrible way for us to meet,” she laughed, more blue bile spilling from her mouth. “Now I shall be in a bad state for awhile,” she confessed with a shudder.
Twilight shook her head resolutely. “Not if we find a healer! I know of a wise and powerful medicine zebra in these woods: Zecora! She can fix you up, I'm sure of it!”
Luna spook softly, eyes closed. “Perhaps so. But you've still made a grave mistake, Twilight Sparkle,” she warned. “You've killed one of the sacred Guardians of the forest.”
Twilight blinked twice, looking over at the horrifically ruptured corpse of the relentless tree arachnid. “Guardian? Guardian of what? I thought that was just another overly eager apex predator! You're telling me I've ruined the local ecosystem or something?” she raved in frustration.
“You must learn restraint, Twilight. We could've fled without your resorting to such violence,” Luna scolded quietly, breathing softly as she defended the creature that caused her such suffering. “Not only will these beautiful red trees wither and die, but the deadly flying monsters of this region will roam free, unchecked and uneaten by this ancient sentry. The magic of this region will be out of flux, for this guardian will no longer contain the wild energies surrounding it.”
Twilight fumed at this lecture, and prodded Luna heavily in the chest, making her wince. “That lousy monster almost killed you! How do you expect me to contain my emotions seeing it treat you like-”
“Do you want to become a Nightmare, Princess of Magic?” Luna snapped, glaring up at Twilight. “Do you want to kill and destroy as you please, anytime your emotions overwhelm you? You are usually more cautious and prudent, gathering intel and knowledge, not making such swift brutal choices!”
Twilight glared resentfully still, before finally averting her eyes, looking away with an angry huff. “I save your life, and this is how you thank me,” she muttered aloud. “By making me feel like a monster too!”
Luna sighed heavily, tempted to point out she rescued Twilight first, but she was tired of bickering, self-consciously realizing how lacking in gratitude she was. Reaching out tentatively, she brushed up with a wing to hug around Twilight.
“I'm sorry, Twilight,” she mumbled. “I am too harsh, too eager to discipline, too blind to the love of those around me,” she admitted, Twilight drawing in her breath at that confession, feeling a guilty kinship. “I am truly grateful for you,” she whispered, as Twilight helped her up, hugging close, their horns drawn together, glowing softly.
The two dark goddesses held close together, sharing in their warmth, comforting one another. “There is much Everfree Forest lore I must explain for you, Twilight Sparkle, knowledge of the wilds that are too far away for pony scholars to have enlightened you with their scrolls. These ancient woods hold great power and legend. But, you are a legend too,” she acknowledged with a nod, looking back at the ruined tree guardian. “Indeed, I am not surprised you were capable of destroying her, even though she has ruled this region for many eons.”
Twilight bit her lip apprehensively. “So, would there be any other immediate consequences of its.. her death?” she wondered aloud, staring at the grisly remains.
“Despite what I've told you, there may not even be any, at least not anymore,” Luna confessed with a sigh, a tinge of bitterness in her words. “The world has changed so much since I was here last. Perhaps she is no more than a fallen shell of her former self,” she frowned, looking down at her own fur, pale from the venom.
“Well, that certainly doesn't apply to you though,” Twilight countered with a gentle nudge, startling Luna out of her reverie. “So, you best not be thinking that!”
Luna shook her head and smiled. “No, that's certainly not the case anymore, not since you began to guide my new life,” she reached out to give the smaller alicorn a squeeze around her shoulders.
Twilight giggled and squirmed about, embarrassed by the attention. “Okay, I get it, but shouldn't we be trying to find a cure for your venom?” she questioned with sudden seriousness.
“In due time,” Luna responded, letting go and looking around the small clearing. “It is not urgent. I am a shape-shifter, so I can control and contain the venom's flow. If it were a beast any less than a guardian, I could probably ignore the effects completely.”
Luna paused for a moment, hesitating. “The Tree of Harmony is one of the ancient forest guardians too, Twilight Sparkle. You are its champion, and so perhaps that is why you were able to lay low this ancient arachnid.”
Twilight startled in surprise. “This creature is akin to the Tree of Harmony? Why would it even attack me then? Couldn't such an ancient and perceptive creature detect my affinity?”
“The guardians are not under any binding or contract with one another. They serve their own purposes and ends. Some are more passive and indirect in their ways, like the tree, while others are more isolated and... and... aggressive,” she swallowed, staring over Twilight's shoulder.
Twilight slowly turned, curious and unnerved by Luna's reaction.
“No, how is this even possible,” Twilight mumbled in horror. Before her eyes, the carapace of the great tree arachnid began to shudder, as leaves from the surrounding red trees fell down towards it, blown by an invisible wind, or perhaps drawn to the body, slowly wrapping the beast in a cocoon of plant matter. The blue skin of the arachnid was glowing softly, as though urging the living trees to come and renew their master, to continue its timeless vigil.
Luna breathed a sigh of relief, the initial shock of the strange magic passing over her. “Good, this is reassuring. I was afraid other ancient guardians may have been destroyed by now too. Now, I am more hopeful that this is not the case.”
Twilight looked back at the Night princess, then shook her head. “Well, I don't understand how this is even happening, but,” she frowned, discontent. “I've learned I can't ever understand everything, even if I'd like to. But um, shouldn't we get going?”
Luna stared at the creature that caused the powerful venomous suffering in her veins, gritting her teeth for a moment. “Yes. Let us leave this place. I may respect the ancient one, but I do not want to have another confrontation,” she grunted, and with that she turned, walking slowly out of the clearing.
Twilight looked behind once, staring in awe and revulsion as the cocoon already began to squirm, the Guardian beast becoming steadily whole again with the symbiotic touch of the trees it dwelt in... and then she turned, never wishing to return, with the strange sense that she had just finished another test, or perhaps a ritual. But had she failed, or passed?

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                    The Mushroom Grotto                    
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The Mushroom Grotto
Twilight tried to relax as she trotted through the late afternoon forest, warm sunlight streaming down between the branches, diluted by the cool breeze and blustery leaves. She felt frustrated and confused about the ancient guardian incident, but part of her tried to reassure that she should just enjoy the calm and beauty of her deep green surroundings as they are, in the now.
The two alicorns walked across a rotting log, fallen above a small stream, their hooves thudding on the dead bark, the old wood wobbling only slightly, but holding strong. The melodies of birds and insects gradually became more vibrant and varied, competing for attention, as they moved away from the ominously quiet hill of the forest arachnid.
“I am sorry that our quest has begun with so much premature mishap,” Luna apologized, turning to share a frown with Twilight. “It is my fault for not warning you, for not remembering that the Arachnid Guardian's lair stood between Ponyville and the Plateau of Midnight.”
Twilight caught up alongside Luna, leaning over to nuzzle her gently on the cheek. “And I am sorry for using dark magic so... inappropriately,” she sighed softly. “It is not something I should draw upon at moments of negative emotional energy, I suppose.”
“Then our regrets are settled and discarded!” Luna beamed, embracing her travelling companion around the shoulder. “Let us forge a new path ahead!”
Luna pushed ahead, shoving past the bushy undergrowth on the other side of the stream, pushing into the darker woods of giant elder trees, twisted gnarled ancient tree limbs reaching overhead, often forcing the alicorn duo to duck their heads under grasping branches.
The setting sun crept down over the horizon, and the dusk already having been so short under the dense foliage, shrouding their view of the sky. Fireflies appeared as if by magic, hovering through the shrubs. Crickets creaked out their songs, while frogs called out across even smaller streams that ran alongside the journeying pair, the smell of cool mossy water in their nostrils.
“A moment of magic,” Luna declared with an eager grin, enticing a giggling blush from Twilight. “You are here to experience the forest itself, after all,” she reminded.
The moon princess halted her advance, lifting up a leg before Twilight's chest, blocking her path while staring straight ahead into a mysterious patch of flowers. “Shh. Look.”
The soft pink flowers glowed densely, petals closed to sleep for the night. Suddenly, one popped open, revealing a miniature serpent, bright orange and purple stripes criss-crossing over its finely scaled form. Springing upwards, the little reptile began to rise into air, spreading dainty little gossamer wings that shimmered in the twilight.
The little fairy serpent fluttered over towards the two alicorns. “Play?” it chirped sweetly, swaying to and fro in mid-air, hovering expectantly.
Luna nodded with enthusiasm, grinning widely like a child eager for her prize.
Swinging its tail, the flying serpent lashed out, swatting Luna squarely on the nose! “Tag!” it shrieked aloud, before darting quickly away into the trees, night already falling.
Luna winced and wriggled her nose, a fierce determination in the Moon Goddess' eyes. “We can't let it escape, Twilight! I want to win!” she laughed, folding up her wings and rearing back onto her hind-legs, kicking out at the air before darting forward into the thick undergrowth.
Twilight galloped after Luna, astonished but delighted by her friend's enthusiasm! To her amazement, she realized how strangely easy it was to maneuver between the roots and trunks now, the serpent taking wild twists and turns that always guided the alicorns along a safe path, allowing its pursuers to keep up.
What's more, a strange glittering green glow sprinkled down behind the serpent's coiling mid-air movements, leaving a bright obvious trail to keep track of, even as the faerie beast itself sometimes darted completely out of sight.
Luna's laughter filled Twilight's heart with joy, so happy to hear that ancient creature giddy as a foal, enjoying herself out in the wilds. But what of the venom? Did she not strain herself with so much effort? Again Twilight felt the struggle between contentment and anxiety, wishing she could just enjoy the magical chase!
And then it was over, the pursuers bursting out into a moonlit grotto, small pools of deep green liquid glowing before them. High above bulbous blue mushrooms rose from the earth, their spores wafting on the cool breeze, the moon shining down upon the strange fungi.
Dark purple moths flittered about, perching atop of the mushrooms. The large insects' eyes were aglitter with greed as they dipped their probosces down, sipping from the gooey green pools crowding against the towering squishy mushrooms.
Sure enough though, Luna shuddered before collapsing heavily down upon her haunches with a trembling sigh, pale and weak from the intense chase, the guardian's venom still pulsing through her veins.
Twilight moved to her side, reaching out to touch and comfort. “Don't worry, Twilight,” she urged, with a soft smile. “I can still contain this danger, this sudden renewed pain. It is worth the thrill of the hunt. I have not chased a Pixie Serpent for many, many centuries.”
“Hahaha! You lost! I reached sanctuary! Dumb silly slow ponies!” the serpent shrieked aloud while fluttering its wings rapidly, disrupting Twilight's admiration of the mystical beast, her giddy grin becoming a disapproving pout.
Twirling in midair just to show off, the pixie serpent dived for a strange cloaked figure, sitting cross-legged upon the highest mushroom in the center of the gooey grotto, a gnarled walking stick in its clutches. The serpent coiled up atop of the hood, sticking its silky tongue out at the night princesses. “Mistress, mistress! It is them! It is the fools! The ponies you wanted me to bring! Ha ha ha ha!” it chortles and sneers, glaring smugly at the newcomers.
Twilight tensed up, reluctantly ready to fight this new presence. Luna remained calm, though quite annoyed. “You are a sore winner, little pixie. I have to say, you are the rudest of your kind I've ever chased!” she scolded the serpent, giving a disapproving glare, emphasized all the more by the way her forelegs arched forward daintily together as she sat, regaining her strength.
The serpent blushed and fumed, squeaking in dismay. “H-h-hey!” it stammered. “M-mistress, she is being m-mean!” it whined, hiding its tiny face against the hood's fabric.
All the while the mysterious figure remained immobile, only adding to Twilight's tension and uncertainty. Two moths hovered up onto the large mushroom she sat upon, and finally she took action, reaching out to gently shoo one off with a sweep of her tail. The insect was half the size of the average pony, but extremely docile, willingly ducking out of the way.
The moth's presence seemed to trigger an awakening in the motionless figure, returning from a deep meditative trance. Bright yellow eyes opened up from within the hood, a catlike gaze of intense scrutiny and deep knowledge, the glow fading away, as the creature laughed softly.
“She is right, my little one,  
You must be sweet while having fun!  
Why crude jeers while you contort?  
You're acting just like a poor sport!”
Twilight gasped aloud, blurting out in excitement as she bounced up from her defensive stance with glee, knowing that speech pattern anywhere. “Zecora, it's you! I'm so glad we've found you! Thank you, little faerie creature!” she beamed at the serpent, swishing her tail and smiling in pure delight.
The little serpent blushed all the more, whining irritably at it's mistress' scolding and its pursuer's positive glee, slithering under the hood and tucking in its wings. “Fine! Whatever! Fine!” it hissed petulantly. “I don't care!”
Zecora let down her hood, revealing the serpent to be coiled around her neck, a living necklace against her shoulders.
The medicine zebra stood to her feet, high above her friends, the large central mushroom easily 2 stories tall. The alicorns could see that she carried a bundle of potions and jars wrapped around her cloak, filled with assorted mysterious plants and herbs, tied together with vines.
Beside Zecora sat what appeared to be her heavy cauldron, no visible steam or heat wafting from the vessel of potion brewing. Twilight blinked at the cauldron, wondering how the zebra could've brought such a heavy object up there!
“Do not mind my little friend,  
This young one's safety I defend.  
He brought you to these sacred grounds,  
Alone this grotto can't be found!”
Luna peered intently up at Zecora, craning her neck back. “Tell me, wise seer: how did you know of our presence? Can you aid us in our journey?” she whispered, quite impressed by the herbalist hermit. “You brought us here for a reason, surely?” she coughed, becoming pale again, lowering her gaze with a sigh.
“You can heal Luna, can't you?” Twilight begged, apprehensive and fearful for her safety. “Please, Zecora! It's my fault she got hurt!”
Zecora leapt down from the mushroom, heavy hooves thudding into the soft ground, creating a deep indentation. The nearby moths paid no mind to this sudden descent, their lengthy proboscis still reaching over the edges of blue fungi to sip at green water.
“In the heat of battle there can be grief,  
Vengeance may claim instant relief.  
But truly only plants can bring,  
An end to poison lingering!”
Twilight turned her face away, frowning. Twice now she had felt scolded for her ferocious defence of a pony she loved, and it still didn't feel fair. Yet, she hated to admit, it felt logical, even within the cryptic rhyming pattern of the seer.
Zecora gently touched Twilight's chest, coaxing the alicorn princess to gaze into the zebra's beautiful serene eyes, tears nearly forming in her own.
“It is done, the blood was spilt,  
Do not hold your heart in guilt!  
What matters is we heal the moon,  
I'll give my fresh brew really soon!”
Twilight gave Zecora a big grateful hug, suddenly pulling away as a voice shrieked angrily. “Ahhh! Watch it! Move it!” the serpent threatened, sliding down around Zecora's lower foreleg now, coiling about her calf.
The princess of magic stares as the creature visibly hardens into a shiny metal, safe and secure, yet apparently still sensitive to touch! “Sorry!” squeaked Twilight in embarrassment, not sure if the pixie serpent could hear her though.
“I am in your debt for drawing us here, wise one. Do as you will,” Luna sighed heavily, her legs becoming wobbly, having difficulty even sitting upright now.
Zecora reached out and gently touched Luna on the flank and foreleg, guiding her along to the giant mushroom she was meditating upon, glowing spores drifting down in the moonlight.
“A regular pony would not survive,  
Due to your powers you are alive.  
Now spread your dark wings and ascend,  
Or do you need a lift, my friend?”
“I'll help her,” Twilight blurted out enthusiastically, already hovering in mid-air as she reached out to hug Luna around the waist. Grunting with the weight, she gasped as she struggled to lift the larger mare, surprised and wondering why Luna's mass felt so dense! Or were her wings just not used to this sort of thing?
Luna frowned and blushed heavily, despite the pale tone of the venom. She gave Twilight a gentle nudge aside with her muzzle, earning a grumpy pout from the princess of Friendship. “It's alright,” Luna assured quietly. “I think I can still make it.”
The other two equines stepped back a pace, resting their hooves onto the marshy muck on the edge of the pools, watching as the princess of the Night beat her wings, slowly rising upwards, wobbling and straining with the effort.
Twilight swept over to Luna's side again, smiling. “I can steer at least,” she suggested, gently nudging at Luna's flank, supporting her chest with the other arm.
“Fine,” Luna grumbled, humiliated and yet grateful all the same. Steadily she hovered upwards, finally lifting up over the side of the enormous blue toadstool, gasping as she slumped forward onto its surface with a groan.
The two dark fuzzy moths twitched their antennae towards this new intruder, before finally fluttering off to smaller toadstools nearby, intimidated by Luna's mere presence.
“Thank you,” Luna croaked in exhaustion, closing her eyes as she pressed her belly against the soft warm blue mushroom, its texture soothing and relaxing, somehow ebbing and drawing the pain away.
Twilight gently rubbed Luna's back with a smile, looking up and gasping in surprise, doing a double-take as she stared right at Zecora. “How did you-?” she began to question, when Zecora tilted her tall gnarled walking staff downwards, its wood shining in the moonlight. “Oh,” Twilight smiled, imagining what acrobatic feat the nimble medicine zebra may have performed while she wasn't looking!
“Now this fungus will ease your pains,  
Energy ebbing poison from your veins.  
Mushroom's crown is safe and secure,  
Rest with ease, while I apply a cure.”
Zecora pulled out a clear glass jug from her assortment of flasks along her waist, reaching over to the nearby cold cauldron, dipping the jug inside and pulling it back out, filled now with a potion of a familiar red color.
Twilight stared in surprise, pointing at the mixture. “That's the same color as the bright leaves the arachnid guardian was wearing! Don't tell me that's an anti-venom for its poison?”
Zecora gave a sly wink, a crafty grin on her face as she lifted up her potion, scooping out a chunk of blue mushroom flesh from one of her satchels, and pushing it into the flask, the mixture sizzling and steaming, as it dissolved into a deep purple color.
“The guardian absorbs most poison of red leaves,  
Yet traces remain for those who'd otherwise grieve!  
Blue mushroom's surface shall help her to bask,  
While flesh of the fungus shall fuse in this flask!”
Stooping over, she gently presses the bubbling flask against Luna's lips, nodding encouragingly as the moon princess tilted her head back and gulped down the bitter brew, shuddering as she pressed her belly against the soothing surface of the mysterious mushroom.
“This concoction tastes truly vile,” Luna gagged, sticking out her tongue. “That probably means it will work wonders for me.”
Zecora laughed aloud at that, giving Luna a firm pat on the back. The moths swooped back down upon the mushroom crown, apparently relaxed now that Luna had settled into her healing sprawl. The Moon goddess' breath heaved slowly in and out, steadily focusing on the strong magic energy around her, and the moonlight beaming down upon her backside.
Twilight finally began to relax, smiling as she sat watching the moths, giggling at their cute appearances, fascinated by their feeding habits. That green glop almost certainly would taste terrible for a pony, perhaps even worse poison than that of the tree arachnid. Yet the glowing arching fungi they rested upon gave even Twilight a bit of a relaxing sense of calm and rejuvenation. What caused this reaction?
“I love the magic of this forest, I truly do,” Twilight admitted aloud, as much to herself as to Luna and Zecora. Reaching out delicately, she tried to pet a moth, but it fluttered away from her, gripping at the mushroom's far surface. Twilight frowned in disappointment. “It's just too bad it doesn't seem to love me too...”
“The Arachnid Guardian still survives,  
She seems to have dozens of lives!  
Still I hope that you have learned,  
Of danger and risk and powers earned.”
Twilight turned to face Zecora, the medicine zebra's friendly demeanor suddenly serious, her face set in a frown, her cat-like gaze piercing Twilight. Twilight glared back at her, standing tall. “I have learned much today, yes. However, I refuse to let myself feel guilt over the circumstances,” she took a step forward. “Pain was traded for pain, two lives nearly lost. In the end, however, both parties have come out as survivors, stronger than before, and so have I.”
Luna's steady breathing suddenly halted, staring curiously at the younger alicorn princess, wonder in her eyes, reminded of her admiration for Twilight Sparkle.
Zecora's eyes remained locked with Twilight's for a few seconds more, before they finally closed for several moments. Then the familiar smile reappeared, as though a spell had been broken, the zebra nodding as her mood lightened.
“Much of life is a precarious path,  
Easy sometimes to invoke nature's wrath.  
I trust your judgement, Princess Twilight,  
And the guidance of your friend the Moonlight.”
Luna felt herself giggle a bit at that, enjoying the title bestowed upon her. “So, this mushroom: this is another Guardian isn't it?” the Moon goddess questioned, gently petting its smooth surface. “I have never found this place before, not in all my travels across the Everfree, and yet it feels like another sanctuary of these woods.”
Zecora nodded, tapping a hoof on the enormous mushroom, its crown wide enough to easily carry the rest of Elements of Harmony and their closest relations.
“Ancient magic has a strong embrace,   
I could not hope to find this place.  
Relying instead on the Pixie's wiles,  
Although his shrieks are sometimes vile!”
The little pixie serpent wailed again in frustration, “Hey! Hey! That's just so mean! Meanie! Meanie!” it shrieked and squirmed, glittering with embarrassment as it unfurled itself, whizzing about in midair in a rage, apparently having eavesdropped the whole time while coiled around Zecora's foreleg.
Zecora and her two friends laughed aloud, the medicine zebra lifting up her arm, a signal for the winged serpent to alight upon its surface and coil around, as she leaned forward to nuzzle its snout.
“There, there, my precious little friend,  
Your help I always recommend.  
Don't stress yourself, it's time to rest,  
So we may later rise and be our best.”
Twilight sighed in relief, glad to have found such a beautiful peaceful spot, vaguely listening as the princess of night and the wise mystic began to converse with one another, sharing forest lore. She was desperately eager to listen and learn, and yet at the same time, her mind wandered about, as it often did, calculating and contemplating so much all at once.
How many sacred forest sanctuaries were there, anyway? Would she find any as beautiful as this mushroom grotto or Tree of Harmony? Or would she encounter others as terrible as that Arachnid Guardian's red tree hill? Surely there was a pattern behind all these guardian locations, as well? Some greater purpose? Surely there were deeper secrets to unravel? But would it be too foolish or deadly to try?
Twilight decided to rest her anxious curiosity for now, exhausted after the busy day of flying, fighting, trekking, running. Lying down she gave a soft yawn, and closed her eyes, drifting off to sleep atop the glowing blue mushroom, while her friends watched over her, in the darkness of the night, and the shining moonlight.

//-------------------------------------------------------//
                 Old Friends, New Choices                  
//-------------------------------------------------------//
Old Friends, New Choices
Twilight Sparkle felt herself wrapped in the warm embrace of night, drifting in the deep soothing darkness, carried along a sea of stars. No concerns or complications shrouded her heart, a sense of peace and tranquilly washing over her mind, all being well within the world.
Turning slowly onto her side, she felt a soft thumping heartbeat against her ear, smiling to herself as she listened to this life in the darkness. Safe and secure, even as she was swept along towards the shore, and into the river, the reverse course for the natural flow of water, carried along in the woods, the deep vivid greenery passing by, bursting with magic.
Nothing could touch her, could take away her joy... until the water began to swirl and toss, rushing towards a waterfall!
Twilight jolted awake, looking around, panting for breath. The stars remained wrapped around her sight, twinkling in a blue haze, while a soft voice spoke up meekly from the side.
“My apologies, Twilight Sparkle! I had stumbled across an exposed root!” The stars drifted sideways across the purple alicorn's vision as Luna turned her deep blue muzzle, concerned. “Are you alright?”
Twilight Sparkle blushed heavily as she found herself staring into the compassionate sea-green ocean of Luna's eyes. “Y-yes of course! But what are you doing?” she demanded, squirming on Luna's backside, fidgeting in embarrassment!
Luna smiled with relief, her radiance gleaming with the glow of the moon overhead, peering between the tree branches. “You were more heavily affected by the mushroom guardian than Zecora had expected. While it healed my poisoned wounds, its energy and spores lulled you into restful slumber. You had been sleeping for nearly 12 hours before my decision to carry you along on my back.”
Luna spoke more softly, finally resting her hooves. “Zecora assured me that you simply needed to catch up on rest, and would only wake when your dreams had finally brought you peace.” The moon goddess sounded quite pleased, convincing Twilight that she had influenced the restful tranquillity of her dreams!
The goddess of magic was surprised at how easily Luna carried her. True, the elder alicorn was nearly twice her size, but still! “You could've waited, or forced me to wake up! You shouldn't have to carry my burden, literally!” Twilight objected, waving an arm frantically, the other one dangling off Luna's flank, along with her legs.
Luna laughed at this, giving Twilight a nip on the ear, earning a surprised squeak in return. “You deserved the rest, dear Twilight. You have been so stressed and exhausted as of late. Think of this as thanks for helping me fly up to reach the healing mushroom guardian. I am simply doing some of your walking for you.”
Twilight wished to protest more, to complain about missing some of the journey while asleep, or to suggest she was perfectly capable, but... maybe she really did need that rest, and Luna was being so very gentle. In truth, Twilight felt sheepish and shy from the whole situation. “D-do you mind if you let me down? I can walk find now... but thank you!” she rambled timidly, trying to hide her blush.
“As you wish!” Luna crouched down, still smiling as Twilight scrambled off her back. Twilight gently nosed at Luna's cheek, saying nothing more, turning around quickly to start trotting off ahead on the trail. Luna blushed heavily, most pleased indeed, getting back to her hooves to follow the younger alicorn princess. She felt she owed Twilight Sparkle much gratitude, and would enjoy any opportunity to repay her in return.
Twilight Sparkle took in the darkness of the night, surprised by its density, not having realized the constant glow of Luna's horn and mane had served as a peaceful night light during her slumbers. Focusing inwards, her horn faintly glowing, she watched all the eyes flickering in the dark, the snarls and rumbles of fantastical creatures all about her. They all kept their distance, well aware of the danger posed by the pair of alicorns. It did little to relieve the tension welling within Twilight's heart though.
The shadowy vegetation seemed to creep ever closer, their presence looming and reaching out for Twilight, driven by territorial confidence, having laid claim to this land for eons, long before the founding of Equestria. This was no place for a civilized pony, this was a land filled with untamed magic, of sentient cunning dangerous plant-life.
The forest was wide awake in this darkness, the teeming creatures' powerful scents and passionate sounds and shimmering distant lights filling the alicorns' acute senses, trying to focus on the path ahead. Their travel became slower, patiently pushing and tugging their way through vines, tearing with teeth if need be, ever vigilant for the next inevitable terror in their journey.
An enormous oak tree rose up before them, towering with age and power, gray as the deep earth, a low ominous hum emanating from its surface, its branches overwhelming the canopy in all directions, leaves covering all sight of the moon. The wretched vine-strewn path finally cleared around the trunk of this imposing tree, its heavy roots reaching out, untouched.
To the right side of the great oak, the forest seemed to grow more sparse, moonlight shining down through the canopy, will-o-wisps dancing in the faint light. To the left, the glowing eyes of the depths seemed more numerous, the trees more densely packed in, and the wild noises of the night more relentless.
Twilight trotted towards the right side of the tree without hesitation, dimming her glowing light of her horn as she approached more natural moonlight, eager to be away from the intimidating darkness, for once.
“Wait!” Luna cried out, urgency in her voice. Twilight turned back to look at her, puzzled. “You must not go that way. Follow me!” Luna insisted, moving over towards the left hand path, determination in her eyes.
“Why would that direction be a better choice?” Twilight demanded with a frown, disappointed and apprehensive. “I'm certain I needn't explain why this path seems far more safe!”
Luna shook her head, the stars in her mane brighter in the deeper darkness. “Senses can be deceiving and misleading, Twilight Sparkle. To seem is not always to be.” Twilight's frown remained, clearly desiring more concrete explanation. “There is less cover and safety that direction, an easier hunt for the night predators, more space to surround prey efficiently. You must go deeper into the darkness.”
Twilight sighed heavily, her heart in her throat as she stared at the baleful eyes hovering behind Luna, their presence always a bit out of reach. “What's to keep any of those... those things from snatching us up in that tightly cramped darkness?”
A deep boom echoed through Twilight's ears, squinting her eyes shut and instinctively collapsing to her knees, a harsh wind billowing through her mane and tail, a loud thud shuddering in the canopy of the ancient oak tree. Craning her head upwards, she looked upon one of the thick lowermost branches of the large humming tree. An enormous pair of glowing yellow eyes gazed down upon her, talons clutching deep into the bark.
“Book-keeper, tree-dweller, magic-seeker, fool!” declared the giant owl, its body a deep ash gray, blending in with the bark of the tree and the darkness all around it, though its eyes were horribly clear and piercing, and its breath was foul on the breeze.
The princess of magic took a step back, and spread her wings, intimidated by the massive aerial predator, moreso by his offhand knowledge of her past duties! “Who are you?” Twilight demanded, while Luna glared up at the enormous bird. “How is it you know about me? I've never met or even heard of you!”
“How little you know!” cackled the bird, its mocking laughter grating in Twilight's ears. “Go on, then, little alicorn. Take the gentle path,” he gestured with an outstretched wing towards the moonlit trail. “You shall know how far it will take you.”
“Enough!” demanded Luna, stomping her hoof on the ground, showing no fear of the great gray owl. “I expected more courtesy and respect from you, Valzenok. Why do you mock my fellow alicorn so?”
Valzenok ruffled up his feathers, sneering down at the Moon goddess. “She holds one of my own as a pet!” he emphasized with disgust. “It is an insult most despicable!”
“He's not simply a pet!” Twilight explained, nervously hoping to ease Valzenok's resentment. “Owlowiscious is my night-time assistant, he helps with the book-keeping!”
“You think that is his true name? Presumptuous!” The great gray owl clacked his beak and clenched his talons angrily, the gray tree seeming to hum a bit louder. “You are no more than a young fool in this world, after all!”
“I demand you to cease this at once!” Luna boomed, her stars becoming hazy in her mane and tail, dark energy building within. “The goddess of Magic is friends with that owl, and he assists her voluntarily in turn. Is that not enough for you, or have you forgotten our own friendship as well?”
Valzenok lept down another branch with a heavy thud, his shadow covering the smaller alicorns, eyes brimming with contempt. “An alliance at best, one that dissipated into the shadows the moment you gave in to your darkness, fallen one! Weak-willed fools, both of you!” scoffed the owl. “But you far moreso, oh pitiful savage: Nightmare Moon!”
Luna clenched her teeth, tears welling up, hurt from the rejection of this friend from millennia past, his fierce reminders of her inner turmoil. Her eyes began to glow balefully, her whole body becoming darker, feet rising slowly from the ground. “You are the fool, if you dare to scorn me so!” Luna whispered quietly, and the owl still heard, and simply laughed.
Twilight's heart seized up in her throat, aching for Luna's hurt feelings, yearning to sooth her, galloping up to her suddenly. Wrapping her soft purple wings gently around her shoulders, squeezing Luna close, pressing a hoof to her chest, Twilight held soft dark body tightly against her own.
The goddess of friendship cradled the moon goddess close, swaying gently side to side, cuddling her flanks and nuzzling her cheek, until the cold chill of Luna's gathering darkness faded away. Luna pressed her tear-stained cheek against Twilight's forehead, closing her eyes and letting out a deep sad sigh.
Valzenok, the great owl Guardian, stared balefully at the two weeping alicorns, cuddling up against one another. “Hmm,” he muttered, an odd single note of softness in his voice. “I am sorely tempted to ridicule you little fools more,” he snapped with his harsh ferocity again.
“Still,” the wizened predator reached out with a gnarled old talon, pointing at them both, his eyes glowing softly. “There is hope for each of you... but only if you help each other find it. Walk your paths together carefully, and maybe one day... you will truly be free, Luna. If you do not fail miserably, that is.”
Luna and Twilight looked up at the owl, tears in their eyes. “Are you happy now that you've hurt her?” accused Twilight bitterly, her concern for Luna still outweighing her fear of the great gray owl, covering Luna protectively with her wings. “You behave immaturely for one who claims to be so knowing!”
Valzenok snorted, clacking his beak and ruffling his feathers again, clearly irritated. “I have little use for happiness, little brat, nor do I care if you take offence at my blunt sincerity. I wonder what the tree of harmony sees in you sometimes,” he peered curiously down at Twilight, momentarily in awe of the young alicorn. “But its secrets run as deep as its roots.”
Twilight Sparkle huffed, tilting her head to one side, gazing back up at the bird with just one eye. “Then perhaps neither of us are as all knowing as we'd like to think!”
Valzenok said nothing, though he dug his talons deeper into the bark. He stared down at the little purple alicorn for a few moments, until she finally looked away, incapable of winning such a staring contest.
“Go then,” the gray owl gestured, spreading a wing towards the darkened path instead. “My appetite for your lives has disappeared,” he muttered darkly. “Know this, Luna: I will never forsake my vigil of the night. Find your peace, or keep your sorrow. It is your choice to make!”
“Wait!” Luna cried out, reaching out with a hoof, spreading her wings. But already Valzenok had lifted up off the tree, swooping away down the moonlit path, eager to hunt for less bittersweet prey, the thunder of his wings disappearing on the wind. The ancient gnarled oak's hum became more faint as the owl travelled away from his roost, an ever watchful sentinel of the everfree forest.
Luna sat down on all fours with a heavy sigh, shaking her head. “I should have expected this. Of course he would be like this. Neither of us are forgiving creatures. We respected one another, we were strong allies against the terrors of the night... until I became one myself.”
Twilight huffed and began to gesture frantically, indignant and outraged. “Well, that's hardly fair of him, though, is it? He certainly acted like such a know-it-all, surely he'd know you have changed, right?”
Luna looked away, trembling, wrapping her wings around herself in shame. “Twilight, I still have that potential within me. I could become Nightmare Moon if I let my emotions or my pride overwhelm me, if I let my grief or insecurity or resentment consume my heart. Valzenok sensed that dangerous possibility, so... is right to hold me in contempt still.”
Twilight leaned over and began to nuzzle Luna's cheek gently. “Hey, don't feel ashamed or afraid. I know you've become a good and wonderful pony again! Don't forget who you're talking to, either. I'm the other crazy unstable alicorn who's secretly nice, right?” she chuckled a bit nervously, blushing.
Luna giggled a little, pulling Twilight in closer, eager to snuggle. “Yes, I guess we're both the crazy dark sisters of the clan, aren't we?”
Twilight giggled too, as they suddenly began a tickle fight, wrestling together under the owl's tree. “Hey let go of my wing!” she demanded, grabbing at Luna's leg.
“Release me too, then!” Luna demanded, a loud meep as she found herself laid flat suddenly on her belly. “This is most undignified!”
Twilight laughed as she rolled around on Luna's back. “Hey you were fine carrying me earlier!”
The two alicorns of darkness laughed and tussled together, releasing their stress and tension from the unpleasant encounter, before stumbling into an awkward heap of fluffy pony. “Thank you for being there for me, Luna,” Twilight sighed, laying sideways across Luna's belly.
Luna licked Twilight's cheek, causing the skittish purple alicorn to jump back to her feet, as usual. “Thank you as well,” Luna laughed, getting back up as well. “We should be on our way. I wouldn't want to be caught having Valzenok watching us like that.”
Twilight gulped and nodded, reminded of how unpleasant and threatening the great owl guardian was. “I can see why its better to go the other way. I wouldn't want to risk him having a change of heart.” She wondered if she shouldn't try to have another talk with Owlowiscious about this ominous creature, but she supposed he would just ask who she was talking about...
Luna warned sternly, “the Timberwolves prowl that road too, picking off whatever Valzenok leaves behind. Between them, little survives that path of death.” She cast her gaze down the tranquil path of doom, frowning.
Twilight gasped, putting a hoof to her mouth, feeling unsettled in her guts. “Are you sure that owl is good? That seems pretty awful!”
Luna smiled. “All creatures must eat, Twilight Sparkle. I suppose it is difficult to describe the morality and alignment of any of the guardians, though. Their cares and concerns are not like those of the mortal races. Celestia and I are in-between that state of being, I suppose,” she contemplated, getting a far-off look in her eyes, while Twilight digested her words.
Luna hoped Celestia was doing alright. But Celestia assured her she'd be fine while they went on her quest. Luna in return promised to keep Twilight safe, and she wouldn't fail that promise now! “Follow me. There are many more dangers ahead, so be vigilant!”
Twilight nodded, moving close to the larger alicorn of the night. Luna's horn glowed brightly once more, stepping through the dense foliage into the darker, more ominous woods. Twilight crept beside her, wings held tightly to her sides, not at all comforted by the hissing and shrieking of the night life all around her, or the terribly slow pace of their deadly journey.
Luna wrapped a wing around Twilight side, both of them smiling, comforted by their bond. Whatever dangers awaited, they could face them together: the moon and her magic.

//-------------------------------------------------------//
              The Darkness and the Moonlight               
//-------------------------------------------------------//
The Darkness and the Moonlight
Luna stared into the endless expanse of the twisting, swirling forest, dark in the depths of the night, her horn glowing a dull blue. Surely they had been trotting through this particularly oppressive undergrowth for hours by now!
The scornful contempt of the guardian owl, Valzenok, still rang through Luna's head. It was infuriating to be held accountable still, the great bird of prey unforgiving of Nightmare Moon's transgressions, even after all these centuries. How much atonement did the owl expect? When would enough good deeds replace her bad ones?
“Princess Luna, please be careful!” came Twilight's warning, suddenly snapping the Moon Princess out of her reverie. “We have to stay focused!” The younger alicorn's horn glowed far more brightly, a deep raspberry purple tint of magical light.
This glow kept the mysterious snarling creatures at bay in the darkness, their angry multicolored eyes glaring, audible slobbering heard between the clack of hungry jaws. Loud whoops and shrieks echoed around the two alicorns, faint shadows of claws and great hairy bodies faintly seen time and again, just out of reach.
Not once could the disturbing creatures be seen clearly, always pulling quickly away from the light of the horns, creeping and hissing between the trees. The stench of the horrid beasts filled the alicorns' nostrils, like a pungent decay of flesh and plants, blurred together into a rancid compost odor.
Luna groaned as she placed a fore-hoof on her head, pausing for a moment, overwhelmed by the presence of the lurking hunters, as well as her own frustrated guilt. “We've been in here for hours!” she complained loudly, the light of her horn dimming more. “I don't recall this path being so long! Are we going in circles?”
Twilight quirked an eyebrow, frowning at Luna, becoming deeply concerned. “What are you talking about Luna? We've only been on this trail for 10 minutes, and I'm pretty sure the trees are dispersing further not too far ahead. We don't have to put up with these obnoxious monsters much longer!”
The Goddess of Magic did her best to speak calmly, not wanting to let the presence of the vague, mysterious predators get to her, though truly it was their stench she found the most unsettling. Still, Luna did say this path was the better choice, even with the owl claiming he wouldn't hunt them on the moonlit path. She told herself that if they had to, she and Luna could surely defeat these beasts in battle, couldn't they?
Luna sighed heavily, not moving at all now, the lurking monsters gathering more densely around the pair of ponies, their snarls and growls growing louder. “It seems to me that it is even darker still in that direction, in all directions. What is the point of going onwards, Twilight?” she muttered, casting her eyes down, melancholy even as the hissing and shrieking built up around them.
“Don't let that arrogant old owl's judgement get you down!” Twilight exclaimed, lifting Luna's chin. “He's the one that needs to learn forgiveness! You've already proven yourself to me!” Twilight blushed at her own convictions. She wrapped a wing around Luna's shoulder, trying to comfort her elder.
Luna muttered and shook off Twilight's coddling. “It's not the owl, it's me too. I haven't fully forgiven myself yet.” she admitted, her glow becoming ever more pale, almost gone now. “When I became Nightmare Moon, I had terrified and horrified all of Equestria with vivid nightmares, both real and dreamt.” Luna began to tremble, her eyes becoming filled with fear and self-loathing. “Nightmare Moon is legendary for good reason: I was the most horrible disaster to happen to our land!”
Twilight Sparkle grumbled, nudging Luna roughly in the flank, as more claws seemed to scratch visably at the edge of the circle of glowing magic light, the beasts growing impatient. “This isn't the best place to dwell on the past, Luna! Let's get out of here first, ok?”
“No!” Luna snapped angrily, glaring at Twilight, who took a step back in dismay. The goddess of moon suddenly pulled away, rearing back on her hind legs. “You place too much faith in me!” she shouted, charging forward, straight towards the opening of moonlight further ahead.
Twilight snorted in frustration, galloping after the moon goddess, glad she was at least rushing in the right direction. She suddenly realized she could no longer see or hear the monsters anymore, when she suddenly stumbled from the forest and out into a moonlit meadow.
Finally Twilight could relax, knowing the creatures dare not venture into this light. But where was Luna? She had come through the forest in the same direction. “This doesn't make sense! Luna, where are you?” Twilight called out, her relief becoming anxiety, as she looked back at the angry eyes in the woods lurking at the edge of the meadow, her heart sinking a little more.
Luna felt her legs racing forward, galloping deeper and deeper into the fearsome forest. The glow of her horn soon faded away entirely, now enveloped in the darkness. It was then she realized Twilight's own magical glow was gone too! Had she fallen behind? She thought she heard the younger alicorn's hoof-steps galloping right beside her only moments ago.
Twilight couldn't have been caught so silently by these creatures, not without a fight. There was a strange unsettling feeling in the air, as though Twilight was moving right alongside her, and then suddenly stopping. Was Twilight safe? Luna could not tell. Nothing made sense anymore.
Monstrous roars and hisses echoed around Luna, the creatures chasing at full speed. It had never been this way before, had it? She always kept them at bay with the glow of her moon magic. Why couldn't she do so now?
Luna had no choice but to run faster, and faster, somehow evading all the dense thick trees, instincts or magic guiding her way, even as the bark splintered or scratched at her body.
The Moon Princess heard the scrabbling skittering rush of many legs and many voices, the thick disgusting scent of the unknowable monsters filling her mind with contempt and fear, their slobbering, snarling, slurping jaws gnashing as they drove her deeper into the darkness, howling and shrieking with frenzy for the hunt, surely eager to kill the goddess of the moon.
Luna ran for eternity, her legs burning with exhaustion, as the trees and bushes and leaves battered at her body, bruised and bleeding as she fled for her life, for her sanity. She could feel the claws closing in, almost upon her, ready to tear her to pieces.
The tree branch got to Luna first, knocking her off her feet, sending her tumbling and sprawling, tripping over ancient roots, exhausted and agonized, lying in the darkness, face buried in dead leaves.
Luna panted heavily, struggling to get to her feet, trembling with exhaustion. “What happened? Where are those monsters?” she mumbled aloud, staring into the darkness, terrified more by the sudden absence of the relentless hunters, even their maddening multicolored eyes gone.
“So, you have returned,” came the soft voice, icy with contempt, dense with hatred.
The moon suddenly shone brightly from overhead, piercing between the tightly interwoven branches of the ancient trees, its light as fierce as a pale sun. Luna found herself in a small thicket, surrounded by twisted dead trees, far bigger than even the owl's living humming oak. The rotted bark left them indiscernible, warped beyond recognition, their twisted stretching limbs as though crying out from a nightmare.
Luna's attention was drawn to the center of the hollow, where the trees faced inwards, surrounding the small open space of piled dead leaves. The leaves billowed out, scattering as darkness crawled from the roots of the trees, meeting in the center.
A twisted mockery of Luna's sister Celestia suddenly faded into existence, a dark twin in shape and stature, yet with eyes of a pitiless serpent, jagged teeth like a shark, and her body as dark as the abyss of nightmares. The markings of the moon adorned her shining cold gray armor, her billowing mane of purple shadow twinkling with stars writhing in sorrow.
“No,” Luna gulped, stepping back a pace, tears already spilling down her cheeks, her breath becoming erratic again. “This is not possible.” she insisted, gulping. “You cannot be Nightmare Moon.”
The Mare of Fear stared at Luna. “Frightened little fool,” she scolded, her voice perfectly like Luna's, only cold and hateful. “Do you remember this place? The darkest, most wicked corner of the Everfree Forest? This is where you brought your broken heart, a dark sanctuary where you brooded and festered, simmering in your righteous indignation, your fury for justice, of what should and must be!”
Nightmare Moon lifted her wing, hiding one half of her face under the jagged obsidian feathers, her dainty mouth etched into a wicked smile, laughing, glaring with her visible eye, her horn covered in a hazy mist of shadow. “This is where you found your true self. This is where you found me.”
The Mare of Shadows ever so slowly paced forward, the moonlight gradually fading away again, darkness closing in. “My Nightmare Hunters did well in herding you here, didn't they? Did you miss their terrible stench, their insane eyes, their howls of hunger?” she laughed. “They are gone for now. Perhaps I will send them to torment the ponies of Equestria, hmm? Just like before!”
Luna rose to her feet, staring up at the taller moon goddess, the other side of her own soul. She did not understand how this was happening. Did this dead hollow of trees ensnare her own shadow a millennia ago, when she would wallow in her negative energy here in this dark sanctuary, over the course of decades? Or had she somehow torn her spirit in two, during the frantic, burdened rush through these wild woods that no sane pony would ever venture through?
The Moon Goddess resolved to face Nightmare Moon with dignity and courage. She wouldn't back down. “You are in my past now. You cannot bring sorrow upon Equestria ever again. I will not allow it!”
“Can't I?” sneered the Mare of Fear and Jealousy. “You are weak, Luna. You've returned in a pitiful state, fleeing from your own creations. You've returned to the very place where you first became your true Nightmare self! I can see the sorrow in your heart, little one, like I saw it all those centuries ago. You are no better than before!”
Nightmare Moon spread her wings wide, covering what remained of the moonlight from Luna's eyes, enshrouding her in deep darkness. “All I see is the same sad little filly who needs the strength of hate and vengeance in her soul!”
Luna felt her body shrinking, her feathers and fur growing more pale, her hair losing the luster of its moonlight, her energy being drawn into the nightmare, fear and shame overwhelming her heart. “I'm not afraid of you anymore,” she bleated pitifully. “You have no power over me!”
Nightmare Moon laughed with contempt. “You continue to delude yourself, child. I am the deep, true darkness! I am the great power of moon unleashed! You can no longer escape me in your dreams. I will rule over your soul, once and for all!”
The Nightmare Queen rushed at the small young Luna, the filly screaming at the top of her lungs while the monster howled in fury, Luna's deepest nightmare diving right into her body, dissolving into purple shadowy mist, pouring into the young filly's mouth and eyes. Luna fell to the ground, writhing on the dead leaves, as she felt a millennia of madness filling her heart.
Faces flashed before Luna's darkened eyes, ponies screaming in fear and horror, every single innocent she had ever terrified out of spite. Sobbing fillies, weeping mares, crying stallions, she had lashed out at them all, punished as many as possible, for daring not to love her enough.
Then came the vision of Celestia, her elder sister, the focus of all her hate and contempt, seeing Luna become Nightmare for the first time, her eyes filling with tears and guilt, Celestia's scream rattling through Luna's heart, shaken to the core.
“Enough! I have had enough! Stop this!” Luna cried out, all the screaming ringing in her ears, twitching and rolling on the ground.
The Nightmare Hunters crawled from the dead bark of the ancient withered trees, swarming together once more, the roaring snarling slobbering hungering predators closing in, fear incarnate, reaching out for Luna, their stench overwhelming, and their wild angry eyes glowing and shifting in colors of hate and fear, drawn to the misery and terror of their creator.
Luna suddenly jumped back to her feet, her body shifting back to her older, darker form, and then further, becoming the Nightmare itself, her mouth twisted in a smile of cruelty, before warping back to Luna, then young sweet Luna, physically twisting back and forth between her three personae, stumbling deliriously on her feet, nearly collapsing again with the overwhelming pain.
“This ends now!” declared the Goddess of Night, as the moon shone overhead again, piercing between the branches, instantly forcing the monsters to dive into the darkness before their shapes could be seen, basking Luna in radiant light.
Luna spread her wings wide open, her form stabilizing as her dark elder body once more, gazing up into the moon, the desolate prison of a thousand years, the always carried burden on her soul, the manifestation of her destiny.
“I am the keeper of the Moon! And I shall always rise!” Luna cried out, suddenly leaping up, shooting straight up into the sky, shadows spilling from her mouth and eyes, as she burst from the canopy of dead trees, into the shimmering moonlight.
Twilight had only been in the meadow for a minute, just about to go back into the nightmare-infested woods, when she saw Luna sweeping up from trees, bearing witness to the ritualistic containment of her negative energy. The goddess of Magic felt a gnawing urge to aid her beloved Moon, but she dared not. She could make the difference, perhaps, but chose not to.
“This is Luna's battle, I can feel it,” Twilight muttered anxiously to herself. “I will only step in if.. if I absolutely must.” She remembered her own intense magical struggle within her own mind, back when she confronted the Sun, Moon, and Love alicorns in her castle, in the Hall of Friendship. None of them had stepped in, and now she thought she understood why.
Luna hovered over the dead trees, the hollow where she always dwelt in her most bitter moments from eons past, where she had nurtured Nightmare Moon. She felt that Nightmare surging through her mind and soul, a hunger for power and malice, to do as she pleased, regardless of consequence or morals!
Luna beat her wings together, spreading her legs wide, basking in the glory of her moon, drawing in its mystery and magic, the glowing energy of the watcher of the night. “Your reign is done, nightmare! BEGONE!” she shouted, an echoing boom across the forest.
The moon goddess' body was enveloped with the shadows, crawling all over her body. But she did not fight. The moon danced within the shadows, twisting her arms and legs in the air, swaying her hips and spreading her wings, spiralling and twirling in midair, jabbing out hooves, channelling all her pent up angst and frustration, pushing it from her soul, generating a rhythm of energetic self-actualization, attuned to the moon's power all around her.
“I am Darkness,” she intoned, speaking to the negative nightmare within her mind, as she felt the shadows swirling about, hypnotized by the energy of her dance. “You are nothing!” with a cry she clapped her wings together, her horn deepened with darkness, the swirling shadows shooting forth from her body in a concentrated beam of negativity, surrounded by the light of the moon, condensing and squeezing together, until it formed a dark purple sphere of swirling madness.
“Now you are in my power. Never again will I let you roam free,” she condemned the swirling seething orb, levitating above her fore-hoof, its surface whispering vague angry hasty mutterings, no proper speech at all. “Begone now, to the nightmare realm, where you belong!”
With that, the sphere of nightmare faded away with a hissing shriek, the moonlight shining through until it had dissolved away entirely. A heavy burden lifted from Luna's shoulders. “It is done.” she sighed heavily, floating in mid-air, smiling up at the moon. “It is done.”
Twilight Sparkle watched with tense admiration, as Luna gradually defeated her inner nightmare, seeing it disappear into a pocket of void, Luna's body language slumping with exhausted relief as she hovered mid-air, basking in the glow of the moon. She had won her own battle!
The Goddess of Magic could not contain her joy any longer, leaping into the air and flapping her wings rapidly, quickly rising up to Luna's side. “You did it! You did it!” she laughed happily, tackling Luna in mid-air. “Woohooo!”
The Goddess of Moon was lost in reflection, relieved but contemplative of what had transpired, when she suddenly found herself burdened by the enthusiastic weight of Twilight, losing altitude fast, beating her wings faster to not go into free-fall. “Twilight!” she cried out, relieved and delighted. “Yes! Yes, I suppose so. The Nightmare is banished to the realm of dreams, where she belongs,” she sighed in relief.
Twilight hugged Luna close, nuzzling at her throat. “I'm so proud of you!” she gave Luna a big kiss on the cheek, as the moonlight glowed down upon the pair of alicorns, Magic embracing the Moon.
Luna felt her face flush with shyness, overwhelmed by this sudden adoration. “Oh, th-thank you Twilight. Um.” suddenly Luna pulled away, flying straight for the moonlit meadow, now able to enter its sanctuary.
Twilight blushed as she flew down after her elder, rubbing her fore-hooves together in embarrassment. “Sorry! I was just so happy to watch you heal yourself!”
Luna folded up her wings as she landed down on a bed of flowers, smiling serenely up at Twilight, who managed to land gracefully alongside her. “Yes, thank you. It's just, I wanted to settle on the ground first. I'm quite tired from that ritual.” she admitted.
There were faint twittering of birds, the chirping of many insects and the scurrying of rodents, all still awake somehow, behaving as though caught in a perpetual dusk. Yet there was no sun, only the moon shining down upon this meadow, its glow more intense and beautiful than Twilight had ever seen, giving as much energy and life to the creatures here as the sun, but without its intense heat or glare, a peaceful sanctuary of perpetual twilight.
Dense thick bushes dotted the landscape, dark smooth leaves patterned across their surfaces. Most of the deep green dewy grasses were crowded and shrouded by tall flowers, some displaying orange petals, others rather purple, and even more being quite yellow, red as well, even blue, all possible colors on display, and all of them faintly glowing with the light.
Luna sighed, relieved to be out of that unbearable wood of light-hating monsters. She sat on her haunches and sighed in relief, the mysterious creatures not daring to step out, and she cast a wry smirk in their direction, the eyes glaring hatefully back at her. “This is the meadow of serenity. It is a safe haven no matter the time of day, a place of peace.”
“Yes, this is certainly the most relaxing place we've visited so far,” Twilight nodded in agreement, admiring the soft flowing stream, which rushed from the edge of the nightmare woods, winding its way through the meadow, clean and fresh and cool, fish darting along its surface, shimmering in the light, dragonflies hovering alongside it.
Twilight Sparkle let out a squeak of surprise, finding Luna's wings wrapping around her torso, pulling her down with her to the ground, wrapping arms around her hips, both mares giggling with delight as the cuddled together, feeling content and happy.
Luna held Twilight nestled in the fluff of her wings, snuggling her close as they laid atop of the glowing flowers. “Thank you Twilight Sparkle,” Luna mumbled sweetly. “You really make the difference. You give me so much courage. Maybe I can be a true protector of Equestria now, as you've always been.”
Twilight Sparkle hummed softly, laying her head against Luna's chest, her usual anxiety and shyness gone. “I can say the same for you though, Luna. Every time I've felt unsure on this journey, you reminded me of what I can do, what I can be. Nothing is impossible when I feel your determination.”
Luna brushed feathers across Twilight's cheek, leaning over to gently lick the younger alicorn's nose. “I do believe the most stressful part of the journey is finally over, my dear. We are very far away from Equestria now, and the wild woods continues for a long while yet.”
Twilight contemplated their travels thus far. How long had they been going now? They sought the very ends of the wilderness, the farthest reaches of the Everfree. She felt that the Magic and the Moon had both proven themselves here in the uncontrolled magical wilderness. Yet there were still strange secrets to unravel, and wonders of nature to learn about. “What more is there to do?” she questioned aloud.
Luna smiled. “For now? Let us just rest,” she sighed, squeezing Twilight closer, while frogs chirped nearby and dragonflies buzzed overhead. “I think we've both earned a good night's sleep.”
Twilight sighed with relief. She couldn't agree more, burying her muzzle against Luna's fluff, wrapping her tightly in her own wings, the magic and moon dreaming together, their hearts at peace.

//-------------------------------------------------------//
                     Valley of Dreams                      
//-------------------------------------------------------//
Author's Note
The short story Soulful Soliloquies (https://www.fimfiction.net/story/306110/soulful-soliloquies-and-vague-visitations) is a 'mid-quel' dream of Twilight Sparkle, taking place before this chapter.  
Reading this story is optional!
Valley of Dreams
Twilight lay sprawled out on her side, resting comfortably and cozy against the soft tall grasses in the lush meadows.
Luna had risen from her sleep after mere minutes, restless to move on. She felt strangely rejuvenated, elated. It was as though she had regained strength lost long ago, in the dead tainted woods of Nightmare's Birth.
The battle should have drained her to exhaustion, yet here she stood, pacing, filled with energy, certainty, contentment.
The Goddess of Night kept vigil over the sleeping Goddess of Magic, breathing a soft sigh. She must exercise patience, for Twilight Sparkle may be asleep for quite some time... at least a full day, possibly more. This was her first time in the Valley of Dreams, after all.
The Guardian of Dreams would bring any creature that entered its domain into a deep powerful slumber, drifting into powerful dreams of intense enlightenment and vivid epiphanies.
But Luna had been here before, long ago. It was through her own dreams that she learned the art of dream-walking, and so became Sentinel of Dreams for ponykind.
No, she would stand vigil, and she had to. For even in the waking world, the shape and patterns of these meadows kept altering.
From cozy glowing full-moon slumber, to a wild haze of spring color, the grasses around Twilight growing, then curling, then changing species entirely, gradually alternating between every form of grass. The process was hazy, blurry, only happening whenever Luna blinked, suddenly not in the same place again.
The meadow was filled with chirping frogs in the streams, and then loud shrieks of migratory birds, and then there were deer, and then there were bear, and winter and summer...
Luna simply let it be. A walker of dreams did not become confused by such magic so easily. She arched out her wing, serving as a canopy over Twilight Sparkle, as rain poured down from above, then snow, then a torrent of leaves...
Twilight dozed for an eternity in her mind, drifting amongst the stars. There were thousands of possible paths to take, so many possible lives to lead... but each one led back to the path of stars. To continue to drift in the dreams...
It seemed impossible to wake. The dream was too beautiful, too intricate. Or at least, too compelling.
Twilight Sparkle strode through an endless library, simultaneously. She scanned and researched each and every tome. Her knowledge grew and grew, until she felt she knew all things. Yet still there were more books that opened up into new worlds...
The Goddess of Magic felt a pained longing. A lonely wistfulness. There had to be a way. To make it all okay.  
There was one piece of the puzzle, still missing...
The blockage of conceptualization, of comprehension, the shroud slowly lifted. Suddenly, everything fell into place.
Twilight found herself standing at the crux of realities, a star brighter than the rest, and from this vantage point, she peered out into the dark woods of dreams. Was that Luna? Or more shadows?
Twilight sought her path through those darkened woods, avoiding all the paths of sorrow and despair this time.
She stumbled upon a small grotto, with a ray of sunlight shining down, upon a book adorned with a big red heart, held aloft by thick gnarled roots. A shiver ran down Twilight's spine, a sudden epiphany, as she reached out for this final book, perceiving herself surrounded by the Eternal Library at the same instant, one and the same with the Everfree Forest around her.
Twilight Sparkle opened the last book, a window into Luna's heart...
“Even when I returned, even when I was physically reformed into Luna... I was still Nightmare Moon, in my heart,” Twilight heard her voice, pained with shame.  
Twilight turned, and saw the Mare of the Moon beside her, eyes filled with tears and sorrow, appearing in the smaller paler form she took after her initial defeat as Nightmare Moon. Her body spoke of youth and innocence, yet her voice and tears were filled with sorrow of many years.
“My intent was to sabotage and desecrate your friendships,” Luna confessed, “To wreck havoc upon Equestria with unleashed beasts. I hated you all for what you did. For taking my power and my pride. I glowered and I steamed in my chambers, for days, weeks, pouring my passive contempt into the very air of Equestria.”
Luna knelt down before Twilight, the tears spilling from her eyes.  
“Still a monster, deep inside, too selfish. Celestia must have felt my contempt, for she kept her distance, with a watchful eye, for many weeks. All that time, she was patient. Patient and perhaps afraid. I was not even trying to be the Princess I should be, the Goddess I must be. Not until shortly before my first Nightmare Night... a holiday befitting my monstrous nature. My shame is unbearable.”
Twilight suddenly reached out, squeezing Luna tight in her wings, nuzzling against her mane. “Luna, oh Luna! Of course I forgive you! I am not always a good pony myself either, you know. I've thought and done many terrible things. But we cannot keep clinging to guilt! You did no wrong once you returned to us, you resisted the temptation, and then you finally emerged a beautiful princess on Nightmare Night, your true self plain for me to see, to understand!”
Twilight softly licked Luna's cheek, reaching down to pet her soft pale mane, suddenly becoming darker, filling up with stars, twinkling and glowing brightly now. Had she been travelling amongst Luna's galaxies?
“We just have to learn our lessons and try our best,” Twilight continued. “Nopony is perfect, but everypony deserves love, and I will always love you, Luna. Because I understand you.”
Luna seemed overwhelmed with joy, growing back into her adult form, spreading wings wide, hugging close, nuzzling against Twilight's bosom. “Thank you, Twilight Sparkle. Your compassion gives me hope and strength.”
“I can say the same for you, Luna. Thank you. For your light, and your dark.”
Darkness and Light engulfed Twilight's mind then.
It was over.
Twilight Sparkle suddenly woke with a jolt, gasping for breath, eyes roving around the deliriously shifting landscape. It looked like a dream, and yet, somehow, she knew, this was a real place. The memories came crashing down. The tree spider, the mushroom bog, the great owl, the nightmare woods, and then, this place. The valley of dreams. The Everfree Forest. The Quest!
How long had she lingered in this place? It felt like eons...
“Ugh, I'm having trouble comprehending all that has transpired. It's simply aggravating!” she sighed heavily, shaking her head, her memories of reality and dream blurring together. “Luna, where are you? Are you alright?”
Twilight suddenly realized that Luna stood right beside her, the Goddess of the Night gazing up at the Moon. It glowed with a serene nurturing light, beyond the hazy glow of the meadow's dream aura. It seemed distant, unsure, because the sun was up there too, shining brightly. Was it sunrise or sunset?
“You are awake at last, Twilight Sparkle,” Luna whispered softly, casting her eyes downward. “I was afraid it would be some time yet before we spoke again." She breathed a soft sigh of relief. "Shortly before you awoke, I felt another weight lifting off my heart. I have defeated Nightmare Moon in waking life, to heal myself. Then you granted me forgiveness in dreams, to mend any lingering self-doubts. Perhaps I exaggerated how long I felt truly bitter about my defeat... but perhaps the memory of feelings can long outlast the actual feeling."
Twilight leaned against Luna's legs, happy to have her elder Alicorn as a watchful sentinel. “You forgive me too, right?” she asked suddenly, biting her lip. "For, well... my darker acts."
Luna leaned down and brushed a wing tip across Twilight's mouth. “Shh. You need not even ask. You have grown much since we began our Everfree journey.”
Twilight felt a glow of happiness and relief welling up inside... but then a pressing question popped up in its place. “We only just arrived in this meadow a few hours ago, didn't we?”
Luna shook her head. “Far longer than that...”
Twilight Sparkle felt herself tensing. “Oh no! We've wasted so much time here, how can we possib-”
Luna pressed a forehoof gently against Twilight's chest, calming the freshly agitated mare immediately. “Don't let yourself get worked up, Twilight Sparkle. You were asleep for exactly as long as you needed to be.”
Twilight breathed softly, closing her eyes, dizzy with the sleeping memories. “My dreams. They felt so vivid, so real... so painful.”
Luna nodded quietly. “In this sanctuary, even I cannot enter your dreams, not until you are ready to wake. Here, they are private, for only you.” She cocked her head to one side, staring down curiously. “I cannot help but wonder, what did you dream of?”
Twilight felt a sudden rush of many lifetimes that had transpired and faded away....
“I was... in a library... in the sky... above the Everfree Forest.” She looked up, beyond the haze of twilight. “I have no idea how it appeared on the outside, I was never able to get out. I was trapped... for hundreds of years.”
Luna, felt her breath slow, averting her eyes. “And did you find what you were looking for?”
Twilight laughed, looking at her own hooves, oblivious to the crickets and birds and whistling wind swirling around her, the constantly twisting landscape of relaxed tranquillity, a new cozy napping place with every blink.
“I became so tired levitating books that I would resort to holding them in my hooves. I became so alone, so sad. I felt vague visitations from you, from Cadance, from Celestia.”
Twilight closed her eyes, sitting down, a weight on her shoulders, momentarily. “I had an intense affair with one of my friends, that ended in a trail of poetic letters, and finally, a tragic acceptance. Honestly, I may have had every conceivable relationship with everyone I know... But it was all within the confines of the library. I would experience stories within that dream, dreams within dream...”
The Alicorn of Magic shuddered, wrapping herself up in her wings. “Yet each story would end, and then I would be so alone once again, amongst those endless corridors of bookcases, thousands of rows going in all directions... I kept wanting to know why I was trapped. I became convinced I had self-banished myself to that library. I couldn't figure out why...”
Luna reached out to gently pet a nearby bird, dozing in its nest in the grasses, perhaps experiencing a thousand dreams too. “Did you ever find out the reason you were trapped there?”
Twilight sighed thoughtfully. “Maybe, but I've forgotten it if I did. I'd rather think that I simply never found the answer, than lost it. In the end, I suppose it wasn't something in my control, since it was a dream here.. in this valley of dreams.”
Luna nodded quietly, scanning the horizon, watching the sun set and moon rise, ten times in a row.
Twilight closed her eyes. “A thousand lifetimes in that place. I lived in so many worlds, accessing them through the books... and some of the books were written by me too.”
Luna tilted her head to one side, her eyes glowing. “Seems you have gained enough knowledge to satisfy even you.” Twilight looked up at Luna, her face a mask of shock.
The Goddess of Night could not help but laugh. “So, do you now feel you have no need of this quest?”
Twilight Sparkle frowned at that. “I feel exhausted from knowledge-gleaning, for once, but... it was all self-contained knowledge, wasn't it? Things I already felt aware of, playing out in different patterns...”
Luna hummed softly. “Perhaps. And perhaps not. This sanctuary, this entire meadow... it is the guardian of dreams. It is here that I first learned how to walk among dreams. I slept for what felt like... well, possibly as long as being on the moon felt...”
Twilight Sparkle stared at Luna. “You learned how to dream-walk here? Then, why could you not enter my dream.”
Luna leaned close, whispering gently in Twilight's ear. “I said I couldn't do so until the end. That's because in this place, you must face your dreams alone. Just as I had to face my Nightmare alone.”
Twilight smiled, returning Luna's earlier gesture, gently touching the larger Alicorn's chest with her hoof. “Perhaps it was for the best then. But I do not know if I have really learned anything...”
Luna gazed across the fields of magical darkness and light, contemplating the possibilities. “The power I procured from sleeping here, it did not manifest all at once. It was a gradual learning process. Training seemed to continue for several dreams beyond those here. Thankfully never feeling like too many lifetimes though, unlike here.”
Twilight sighed heavily. “I suppose that makes sense. Even after that life-long dreaming, it seems I must still learn patience.”
“Do you wish for us to continue our journey? Or shall we return?” Luna questioned, turning to look back towards Equestria, so far away now... at least, she thought she was looking in the right direction.
Twilight laughed softly, staring up at the sunlit sky. Tall arching trees of an abstract nature reached overhead, its scent and sight alternating between various species of towering plants, as she breathed in the lovely scents.
“No,” she decided. “We should continue. I always want to push myself. To go further. There are two things I have learned in my dreams, or perhaps, been strongly reminded of...”
Luna looked out towards the blurry edges of the meadows. “Pray tell, what would that be?” she demanded, deeply curious.
Twilight just smiled and kissed Luna on the mouth.
Luna pulled back with a start. “Thou art not usually so direct!”
Twilight Sparkle laughed. So much joy billowed forth from her heart, tears streaming down her face.
Luna reached out with a wing, gently petting her friend. “Rush of feelings?”
Twilight nodded. “I am happy to be alive. I am happy to have you by my side. I know we can do this still. We can still take everything the depths of Everfree throw at us. Because you are here.”
The two Alicorns of darkness gently touched their horns together, eyes closed, as they stood in the ever shifting landscape of the valley of dreams.
Luna opened her eyes first, after perhaps an hour of blissful silence.
“We should leave now. Or we may dream awhile again,” warned the elder Alicorn. “Follow me, quickly.”
Luna's body blossomed into a dazzling glow of deep blue, a night light in the rapidly rustling landscape of half-realities.
The Goddess of Moon ran as fast as she could, her magical aura trailing behind. Twilight felt a powerful sense of déjà vu... how many times had she followed Luna's lead in the Everfree? Chasing after magical sprites, rushing through the nightmare woods, and now trying to find sure footing in this tranquil yet hypnotizing meadow of endless existence.
Twilight Sparkle felt a sudden urge, staring up at the moon. “I hope it is just an old pony's tale,” she remembered herself saying once, speaking it aloud again.
Without warning, Twilight spread her wings and leapt upwards, soaring up towards the moon, beating her wings as she rushed towards that distant, immense celestial body.
Luna stopped in her tracks, startled and surprised, and mildly irritated. “What are you doing? That's not the way out! I've tried flying before.”
{ Oh, but it is! }
This voice seemed to come from the moon itself... until Twilight splashed into its surface, a rippling pool of water in the sky, the moon fading into its depths.
This new voice, this old voice. Luna knew this being, too.
Suddenly, the blurring shifting landscape settled, a true dawn of rising sun appearing on the horizon. Luna found herself upside down... no, rightside up, standing on the true meadow, wondering if she flew down there to the sky, or if she fell, it all happened so quickly.
Luna stood on the shore of the pond, staring at the hazy blurry fading imagery of the moon. Slowly rising up out of the pool, she beheld Princess Twilight Sparkle, the younger Alicorn's eyes filled with swirling blue waters, her feet elegantly tiptoe upon a rising rippling column of water.
{ Your disciple has done well. She has found the seal, and broken it before you. Perhaps she can be a dream walker too. }
Twilight levitated aloft above the pond, her wings slowly floating in mid-air. Never had Luna seen the Princess of Friendship so tranquil... so possessed.
“Release her at once, Keeper of Dreams, or I forfeit my duty as Sentinel of Dreams!” Luna threatened, eyes glowing in anger. She would not tolerate this!
A melodious laugh echoed across her ears, Twilight gesturing graciously to cover her mouth, unable to hide the powerful mirth.
{ Twilight Sparkle is here of her own will. I speak through her of her own will. She has allowed it. Do you trust our word, daughter of moon? }
Luna folded her wings, the glow in her eyes fading, sighing heavily. “You are not capable of lying, at least not when you speak directly. Very well then.”
{ We trust you as well. It is good we have this mutual understanding. Your journey grows stranger and wilder, more potent and absurd. Magic is at the heart of this forest. You both will find it, at last. }
Luna took a step forward, a gleam in her eye. “Truly, Oracle of Dreams? We will find the deep secrets of the forest guardians, at last? The great power of Everfree?”
Twilight shifted in midair, putting a hoof against her cheek, smirking, even as her wings steadily beat, too slowly to support without the whirlpool's updraft from bellow.
{ You have defeated your dark half, not long ago, on the outskirts of my domain. You have freed the nearby woods of the darkness you cursed them with. For that alone I would grant you safe passage, but you have also brought this beautiful, amazing enigma into my presence. I have not been so delighted with a mortal for some time!}
Twilight Sparkle spread her wings wide, twirling in midair, bliss and joy in her smile. Luna could not help but blush at the naked delight. “So long as she is enjoying herself too.”
{ Do not be overprotective, daughter of moon. You know my possession comes with mutual acceptance and understanding. }
“So we may pass.”
Twilight bowed graciously in mid-air, then pressed her fore-hooves together and crossed her legs, a meditative pose.
{ Yes. It was lovely to feel your presence again, daughter of moon. You have grown more mature and more adorable over these centuries. I thank you for bringing the daughter of stars. I enjoy her powerful mind and spirit, immensely. But I cannot keep her, I dare not.}
Suddenly, the swirling waters faded from Twilight's eyes, catching herself for a moment as she levitated in midair, turning to stare down into the center of the whirlpool. She could not comprehend what she saw... but she knew it was the being that possessed her moments ago, that entrapped her here in this valley of dreams.
“You are a fascinating and beautiful being, and this merging of our spirits was quite intriguing I must admit!” Twilight gestured enthusiastically, and the rippling whirlpool seemed to churn in delight to Luna, unable to hear any reply now, no voice to carry it forth, speaking directly into Twilight's mind now.
{ That is one way to describe what has just transpired, and you are most certainly welcome for it! }
“Still," Twilight continued, grimacing in annoyance. "I'm still not sure I appreciate all that stressful dreaming I have done under your spell!"
{ Your dreams consisted of beauty and love too. Of knowledge and power. Enlightenment. There is potential pain and pleasure in all things. }
“Yes. That is true. Tell me, were my dreams entirely of my own creation, or did you meddle directly, beyond merely encouraging and enhancing the dreaming process?”
{ The very heart of this world moved in your mind, child of stars. You are a worthy guardian too. Both of you. }
Twilight began to get ahold of the difficult swirling air currents, levitating in much the same manner as when she was under possession, staring down into the sinkhole of the dream oracle. "Is there really any point in continuing this journey? This almost feels like an end to my quest for Everfree knowledge. After all, you seem capable of tapping into any and all dreams. Why wouldn't I just stay here, and learn from you?"
The waters swirled bellow, crashing against the shores of the pond, a mini monsoon generating, as giddy multifaceted laughter filled the air. Luna crept back, shielding herself from the spray of dream water.
{ The Valley of Dreams is but one step on the path of Everfree Enlightenment, young daughter of stars. You have learned all you can here, and there is much for you to discover still. You must continue forward, and find what else the stars hold for you! Farewell! }
A rushing geyser billowed forth, catching the two Alicorns in its clutches, gently setting them at the very edge of the endless meadows, before disappearing into thin air, the faint glow of the pond at the center, seemingly far far away.
Suddenly, it felt as though they were in true reality once more.
Twilight and Luna looked into each other's eyes for a time, deep in contemplation. “That guardian. I have never experienced or seen anything like that. It's power is absurd,” Twilight suddenly declared.
Luna laughed. “Oh, I suppose that was one of the more powerful Everfree guardians, yes.”
Twilight blinked. Only one of them? She wished to ask. She didn't feel in the mood to stress out just yet, though. “Were we just pawns, or did that... entity... just nudge us along?”
“You entered its pool, Twilight Sparkle. You broke its spell. To do that, you must have earned its complete acceptance and trust.”
Twilight looked out into the woods, sunlight beginning to creep between the branches. “Oh, I guess day is breaking, not falling. It was hard to tell before...” she gave a deep sigh, smiling ruefully. “It seems that I'm quite happy to be back in the dense claustrophobic forest, after all that endless dreaming.”
Luna leaned over and brushed her wing across Twilight's back. “Do you want to rest before we continue?”
Twilight laughed. “I've rested plenty. Let's continue our journey, please!”
Luna kissed Twilight on the nose. “Gladly. But this time...” she gently nudged Twilight forward, pushing her flank. “You lead the way.”
Twilight blushed heavily, her chest puffing with pride. “Thank you. I think I am ready now, for anything and everything these ancient woods can throw at me.”
Luna gave Twilight a pearly white grin, emboldening the younger Alicorn further. “Go forth then!”
Twilight Sparkle took off at a brisk trot, finding her footing easier than ever through the dense undergrowth, pressing on deep layers of leaves and fungi, of endless worlds deep underneath, and spreading high throughout the canopy above.