Where it all comes crashing down
Midnight Star looked up. For the third time in the history of Equestria, the moon had eclipsed the sun. On Nightmare Moons creation, her return, and now... what? He didn't want to think the thought but... was this her second return?
It hit him like a punch to the stomach. "No." he whispered aloud to nopony in particular. It couldn't be. He had befriended her, he had shown her the magic of friendship... she couldn't just throw it all away.
'Oh Celestia, please let this be a mistake. Please, for all that is good, please let me find her as Princess Luna, as the Princess I have come to know and love.'
He spread his leather wings and took flight towards the castle. He wasn't the best flier, his cutie mark was that of an astronomer, showing a constellation among stars, but on this day he flew like the wind. Ponies were confused underneath him, pointing up at the eclipsed sun, some even panicking. He couldn't really fault them, the fear of Nightmare Moon had been ingrained in them from foalhood.
'Please... let her be herself.'
When he made it to the castle he saw ponies running away in panic. Rather, the staff was running, the guards were spread out across the courtyard, and Midnight sincerely hoped they were only unconscious. There wasn't any blood which eased Midnight a little.
'Oh stars... please. Just this once don't let life be cruel'
He landed in the courtyard and made his way to the throne-room against ponies running the other way. He knew the way well, and soon found himself in front of the large doors. He could hear crashes from the other side.
'No... please... Let this at least be a dream. A nightmare so terrifying that Luna will have come and save me.'
He put his hoof on the door, but hesitated again. Tears were already trying to make their way out, but he repressed them. His heart was galloping at a speed he hadn't felt since the night Princess Luna had put a wing around him when they were enjoying a night walk. Unlike that night, it didn't feel good. He had a terrible ache in his stomach, a feeling that everything he had worked for would crumble around him and there was nothing he could do about it.
'I'll give anything. Just don't take her away from me...'
He opened the door.
"Please... sister. I don't want to fight you. I don't want to lose you again. Please, it's still not too late!" Princess Celestia was laying on the floor, dirty but otherwise relatively unhurt, tears streaming down from her eyes. Over her stood the being he least want to see, the very thing he was told to prevent.
Nightmare Moon had returned.
A little part of him died right there and then. He had failed. It was going so well and he had still failed!
'Oh Luna... why?'
"You would like that wouldn't you Celestia? Let's just go back to the way things were, pretend nothing ever happened. That solves eeeeverything, doesn't it?" The last part was filled with sarcasm to the brim. Suddenly her face changed to anger. "It IS too late! It's been too late since-" Suddenly she turned toward him, standing stunned by the door. He finally found his voice.
"Luna... why? Things were going so well..." He almost whispered. He didn't have the strength to hold back the tears anymore, and just let them run down his muzzle.
"Ohh, if it isn't Midnight Star, my so called 'friend'" It felt like a blow to the stomach, the way she said it. He was her friend. Her face was distorted in anger was again. "Or should I call you betrayer!" She raised and let her hooves hit the floor on the last word, creating a small crater. Her words had the same effect on him, making him recoil.
"Luna, please let me expl-"
"I AM NIGHTMARE MOON! LUNA IS DEAD AND GONE!" She screamed with enough force to blow him out of the room and into the wall on the opposite side of the hallway. He quickly gathered his remaining strength and got up. He would need all the strength he could muster for this. He had failed. All he could do now was to pray... that there was still a way make things right.
He dried his eyes and went into the room again.
"I never meant to keep the truth from you. I just didn't know how to tell you." He tried again. Maybe if he explained the situation...
"Ohh, it was too much trouble for you to explain to poor, naive Luna how you were HIRED by HER" She pointed at Princess Celestia's still crying form. "To be her friend! How our whole friendship was a lie!" She levitated the throne and threw it into a wall in her rage and started pacing. "half a year of lies and deceit! How dare you show your muzzle to me again! How dare you?!"
His eyes widened at the sentence... 'our'... the simple inclusion of herself gave him a sudden surge of hope. His eyes quickly darted over to Princess Celestia to see that she had realized as well. They locked eyes for a moment. He quickly looked at the door behind him before looking back at her. She nodded her head in understanding.
No matter what else might happen, Princess Celestia had to escape.
He needed to distract her, maybe appease her somehow. She clearly didn't want to hear his excuses, so he wouldn't give any. Right there and then, he made his choice. He steeled himself for what was to come, and hoped with all he had that everything would work out somehow.
"If... " He whispered, before gathering more strength. "If you don't want me as a friend anymore, then let me be your servant."
Nightmare Moon paused in her pacing. "You? My servant? What would I need a worthless, betraying, backstabbing piece of filth for?"
The words stabbed deeply. He should have... he shouldn't have... Why did it turn out like this? Tears threatened to spill again at the memories that showed up uninvited. Evenings spent talking, nights spent walking, Luna's sweet laughter filling the night sky. He had fallen so deeply for her, and now she was calling him... He should have told her everything, he should have explained.
But he couldn't give up yet. There was still hope. He steeled himself again and bowed deeply before he spoke.
"You won't find a more willing servant. The others, they fear you, and they will obey you because of that fear. But I know of your beauty, and I will obey you because I revere you. I know the value of the night, I look at it in wonder. I will do whatever you say, I will go wherever you want to go. Just please... let me serve you." He had her full attention. He quickly made eye-contact with Princess Celestia again. It was almost time for her to go.
Nightmare Moon purred, obviously pleased with his plea. He knew she would be, he had told her what she wanted. "Fine, you will be my first servant. You will do everything I tell you to, do you understand?" He nodded, while still bowing. "Then here is my first order for-"
She was interrupted by the charging of a horn, and a flash of light. She whirled around, but Princess Celestia had already teleported away.
"NOOO!" She threw a nearby bench into the wall. Then a table. Then another bench. Midnight still bowed, trying to hide his relief. She had gotten away...
"Here's your first order!" She yelled at him, making him salute. "Find out where she went. Find out what the elements of harmony are doing. I'll go find more servants. Betray me again, and I will show you real pain, do you understand?" Midnight nodded, feeling cold dread from looking into her slitted eyes, until she turned around and flew away.
He collapsed on the floor amongst the splinters of various furniture, his entire body shaking, tears he had been holding back running freely. Regret and sorrow almost pulled his heart apart, and only a slight sliver of hope held it together. He had made a choice, and he was going to stand by it.
"I swear, by all that is holy, that I will never leave your side, Luna." He managed to whisper. "I will be there at your worst, even when the rest of the world sees you as a monster, I will be right there. I'm so sorry Luna... I'm so sorry I failed you, but I won't rest until I make it right. I'm gonna make sure that you become Luna again, and I will hear you laugh underneath your moon once more. Until then... I will hold on to the memories we have together, I will treasure them more than anything in this world... I will... I'm gonna..." His strength finally leaving him, he fell into a deep sleep.
Nightmare Moon slithered out from the shadows. She looked down at the tear-stained stallion that had meant so much to her. She let her hoof run down the length of his back, her expression softening. For a moment, her eyes transformed back into pony eyes, before they slit again.
She turned around and actually left through the door this time.
Author's Note
I should be writing on my other story A new Beginning in a new Land... well, what to do when you get inspired? XD It's fine since it's only one chapter right? Comment if you want, and seriously, watch this video :) it's sooo well made :D
