384,392 Kilometers
Written by- Mr. Zero
Editor(s): SpikeTheDragon and SquampaPJ from the FJ Brony Group
Pre-Read By People of the FJ Brony Facebook Page
Chapter 1 - Moonwalk
[Before Equestria]
“Sister.... I’m not sure I can do this...” Two alicorn sisters were sitting at the top of a large mountain they had found in the wilderness. Both sisters were born with an important role to keep harmony in this land they called home.
“Don’t worry, it should be easy,” said the older sister. She was born with a beautiful white coat that contained a small hue of pink in it. Her mane was even more of a sight, as it was vibrant with colors of rainbows and rays of light. She had a mark near her flank, a symbol of a sun shining to the world. The younger sister had a deep velvety coat of blue. Her mane was just as majestic, as it flowed leaving a trail of beauty that could only be matched by the stars. Her flank sported a design of a beautiful moon shining in the night sky.
“You think everything is easy... You’ve always been better at your job than me...” The younger sister looked down in shame.
“Nonsense!” The older sister stood to help motivate her sister. “Were sisters, remember! It doesn’t matter if I’m older than you. If I can raise the Sun then you can raise the Moon!” The older sister proclaimed.
“I guess...” The younger sister began to test her magic. Her horn bursting with energy as she tried to move the Moon into its place in the sky.
“Look! You’re doing it!!” The sister cheered. Just as she said, the Moon was raising up towards the sky. The younger sister put even more pressure into her magic, concentrating as hard as she could before exhausting her power. By the time she finished her task, the blue mare was out of energy and fell to the ground. Looking up at the sky, she saw the moon floating firmly in place.
“Yeah.. I did do it...” the younger sister said breathlessly. Already, her horn was losing it’s glow brought on by her magical feat. The Sun and the Moon. Together, these two sisters would rule over a new land. They would oversee day and night, the two equal sides of life. Celestia and Luna. They would rule the land known as Equestria.
[1 Month Before Banishment]
“Sister... I don’t really want to do this...” Luna said as she sat atop the mountain next to Celestia.
“Why not? You’ve done it with great pride for thousands of years.” The peak of the mountain overlooked the capital city they had built below. Ponies rushed around quickly, trying to get home as soon as possible. “Is there something bothering you Luna?” Celestia asked.
“Well not really... It’s just...” Luna looked away from her sister’s eyes.
“It’s just what? Are you tired of lifting the moon? If it’s straining your magic, I’m sure I can help you.”
“No.. That’s not it.” Luna said looking even further away.
“Well just tell me what it is then. I can help you with it.” Celestia offered.
“No, its fine. Just forget I said anything.” Luna replied, beginning to get annoyed.
“Oh come on. I’m sure I can help you with whatever is making you feel upset.” Celestia continued. Luna turned and snapped at her persistent sister.
“Just stop it! I don’t need your help! I’m doing just fine! I don’t have to tell you everything all the time, and this isn’t all about you!” Luna yelled at Celestia. Only afterwords did she realize she had never raised her voice at her sister before. “I.. I’m sorry....” She said, once again breaking her sisters gaze and looking away.
“Will you just please tell me what the matter is?” Celestia was worried for her. She had never acted this way before. Luna tried looking back up, but made sure to avoid eye contact.
“I’m not struggling or anything... I can raise the Moon fine on my own.. I’m... I’m just...”
“Just what?” Celestia asked.
“I’m just jealous okay!” Luna yelled. tears forming in her eyes.
“What? Why would you ever be jealous?” Just the thought confused the elder sister.
“Why would I be jealous? Take a look down Celestia! All the ponies love to play in your day time. They use it to warm up and grow crops. You’re the one they respect...” The younger sister raised her voice as she continued. “And what about me? I come every night to raise the Moon and start the night time. All they do is run from the night to go inside to safety or to go sleep!” Hot tears began to roll down Luna’s face, as she continued to confess to her sister.
“I work hard too, and what do I have to show for it? A bunch of stupid stars that no one even looks at!” Luna bent down into a ball and turned away from her sister. Celestia was shocked by the secrets her sister had been harboring. Never once did she think about how differently the ponies acted towards the night time compared to day time.
“Why, if I had only known!” Celestia rushed over to comfort her sister. “Now listen here! No sister of mine is going to think she is any less important!” Luna looked back at her sister. Her face beaming with embarrassment and shame. “Now listen, the ponies need to sleep sometime, and they certainly cant sleep in the bright day time. That is why your night time has such a peaceful beauty to it.” Celestia said. She took her head and began nudging Luna to stand. “Now come along sister. I don’t think the ponies in the city are the only ones who deserve a good rest.”
“O-okay...” Luna said as she stood up on wobbling legs. She quickly used her magic to lower the Sun and lift the Moon into the sky. Afterwords, the sisters took off into the night, flying back down to their castle. Luna felt better after her confession to her sister, but it still didn’t feel right. Something dark was still being kept inside her heart and growing from her sadness.
[Day of Banishment]
The citizens of Equestria were waking up after a good nights rest. Most of them were looking forward to a day of work and fun. Many felt like today would be different, almost as if something special would come of today. The working ponies began to get ready while the fillies got their things together for school. The ponies proceeded with their regular tasks until they noticed something was strange. Even though the Sun should had already risen, the Moon hung in the sky, still black with darkness.
The scene in the Royal Canterlot Palace was filled with even more chaos than the rest of Equestria. Dark clouds rapidly swirled around in a vortex, trapping many royal ponies inside, and keeping all help outside. Above the treacherous cloud cover stood none other than Princess Luna at the center of all the dark magic. Confronting her was Celestia, attempting to break the prison Luna had formed. Though no matter what spells she tried, they would just get lost in the darkness of the clouds.
“Luna! I don’t understand! Why wont you lower the Moon!”
“Oh of course you wouldn’t understand Celestia!” Luna’s eyes were now dark with anger and hatred. “You’re just too good to understand! You’re the helpful and grand Princess! How could YOU ever do anything wrong!”
“Luna... Can’t you see this is frightening the ponies!”
“Good!!” Celestia’s reasoning had no effect on Luna. She had been swallowed up in her own void of loath and jealousy for her sister’s power and attention. “I will make these ponies appreciate my night time whether they want to or not!” Luna gave out a dark and sickening laugh at the thought of her plan. Just the very sound was enough to make Celestia’s stomach churn.
“Please...” Celestia pleaded. “This isn’t the sister I know... Luna..”
“Don’t call me that!!!” Luna roared. Her dark magic began to fuel itself from the hatred inside her. It changed Luna’s features, almost creating an entire new pony. Her mane was now as dark as the sky, filled with sparks like stars. Her coat was pitch black and her eyes evil with a sickening glow. Her body had become covered in a royal armor crested with a symbol of the moon on her breastplate. Even her voice had changed into being cold and filled with hatred.
“My name is Nightmare Moon!” Celestia’s eyes were filled with tears. Her sister had gone over the edge, past the point of no return. Celestia tried using one last spell, this time, a spell to distract Luna for some time so she could get away. As the elder sister flew off, she knew there was only one way she could stop her younger sister.
Celestia turned downwards and began to pick up speed, tightening her body at be as streamline as possible. She closed her wings and continued to let gravity do the rest of the work. Her jaw clenched in fear as she braced for the wall of dark chaos that surrounded the palace to engulf her. As the clouds grew near, Celestia closed her eyes and hoped for the best as she dove through the cloud cover.
It only lasted a few seconds, yet the experience was dreadful. The same clouds that could deflect even the most powerful magic spells began to try and tear Celestia apart. The wind battered her coat with tremendous force and she felt the darkness eat at her soul. She tried as best she could to keep her position and ignore the attack. The dark magic was persistent and the pain was even more than Celestia could handle. She was about to give up when she saw a flash of light out of the darkness.
Piercing the pitch black clouds, Celestia appeared through the other side of the barriers. She slowed herself down and after a few moments of resting, she flew towards the royal greeting hall. As she soared, she noticed the fear of the ponies who were trapped inside the prison Luna had made. Many buildings and pillars of the city had crumbled from the storm, and a lot of ponies had been injured by the damage. The sight once again brought Celestia to tears, for she was now certain about what she had to do.
Up above the clouds, the younger sister stood. She was patiently waiting for Celestia’s return.
“What, are you a coward now?” She roared. “Is the glorious and beautiful Celestia not able to handle my power?!”
“Not just yet Luna.” Celestia spoke as she rose herself through the clouds. She had protected herself with a barrier of magic, due to how she had suddenly spiked in power. She was also wearing a beautiful tiara on her mane. The pure white finish was encrusted with silver and gold wrappings. In the center, it sported a Pink gem cut in the shape of a star. Some had rumored that this was known as the Element of Harmony. A powerful magic tool that could defeat all evil.
“Luna, please... I’m giving you one last chance...” Celestia’s eyes were cold now. The seriousness could not be overcome by the love for her sister anymore.
“Why? So you can rule again! So I can be outcast and imprisoned!? Never!!!” Nightmare Moon cried out. Celestia held back a cry as she began to put all her magic into the Element. The tiara began to glow with immense power and glowed with royal intensity. As soon as she braced herself Celestia let out a burst of magic streaming towards Luna.
The impact was brutal. Instantly the Element began to drain Luna’s power and envelop her in a veil of rainbow. Cries of agony came from Luna as the Element attacked her like cells destroying a virus.
“How dare you!!!” Luna cried as her power weakened. The dark clouds that were destroying the palace and Canterlot began to disappear even faster than Luna’s power. Although the Element was doing it’s job well, Luna wasn’t about to be beaten again by her sister. “You think you’re clever?! I’ll show everyone that you’re still nothing, even with that stupid Element!!” Out of the last bits of her dark magic, Luna sent a burst of power that shot directly at the crystal on the tiara, the heart of the Element’s power.
Celestia shrieked as shards of the Element flashed into her face. Taking advantage of the weakened power, Luna attempted to attack Celestia. At most, all Celestia could do was make a weak shield of magic that she could tell wouldn’t hold. Cracks formed in the solid magic as Luna continued to hammer it with dark spells.
“Give up dear sister!” Luna scoffed. “Even with the most powerful magic, you still can’t lay a scratch on me!” Celestia gave her younger sister one last look of pain.
“Then I guess I better try something different!” Celestia shouted. She then used the shards of the Element to launch one final spell at Luna. Flying through the air faster than lightning, it hit the younger sister before she could even tell what happened.
Luna felt as her body began to burn. Looking down at it, she noticed parts of her mane and side begin to turn bright white and flake away into nothingness.
“What.... What did you do to me!!!” Luna cried. She looked as the flaking spread further around her body. “What did you do to me!!!” Her pupils shrank in shock and fear. Celestia flapped her wings level with her sister who was disintegrating by the second.
“Goodbye dear sister...” Is all she could say.
“I’ll kill you!! You think you’re better than me!?” Her body was about halfway missing now. “I will never forgive you! You will never be my sister!!!” Luna shouted through gritted teeth as the rest of her body and head blew apart. The last she saw of her older sister was a tear rolling down her eye.
Celestia stayed looking at the spot her sister was a few seconds ago. The dark clouds were almost completely gone, and the Moon moved out of it’s place as the Sun took its rightful spot in the sky. The sunshine gleamed over Equestria, showing an end to the nightmare. Only now did Celestia realize how tired she was from using the Element. She flew down to open ground, making sure not to lose any loose shards from the tiara.
Only from the ground was Celestia able to see the damage Luna had caused. Houses and buildings were destroyed, and the Royal Palace was in ruins. Celestia attempted to try and fix the Element, but no matter how hard she tried, it wouldn’t fit back together on its own. All it did was reshape itself into 6 different gems.
“Oh well...” Celestia mumbled to herself. “I guess we will have to do with Elements of Harmony now.” As she stayed on the ground, many ponies ran to her. Some asked about what happened to Luna, some were injured, some couldn’t find family members. Celestia stood up and watched as a large crowd made by the citizens of Canterlot gathered to get some answers.
“Listen everypony,” Celestia began as she addressed the crowd. “What has happened today has been tragic. We’ve lost our grand capital city, and we’ve lost one of the greatest tools in magic.” Trying to keep her voice as steady as possible, she continued. “We even lost one of our great royal companions... But today also marks an opportunity for a new beginning. Look over there!” She directed the crowd’s attention to a mountain a bit far off to the east. “Just a little off in the distance, over there. We can re-build Canterlot! A disaster does not always have to have a bad ending. Together, we can rebuild our capital better and stronger than ever!”
The crowd roared in excitement at the hopes of a better tomorrow. Many more questions were asked about things like where to put the injured, or what happened to Luna. Celestia told the guards to help out uncover hurt or lost ponies in Canterlot. As she thought about the new situation, it was obvious to Celestia that she would now need to take up the additional role of raising the moon every night. Another issue was where to keep the new Elements of Harmony. Celestia figured that if her sister ever came back, the last place she would look would be in the ruins of the very city she destroyed.
As for Luna. Celestia, in a last minute thought, sent her to the only place she saw fitting.
[Day 1]
The ground was snow white and lacked any sort of color whatsoever. The air was thin, almost as if it wasn’t there at all. The night sky was endless. Stars shone through even the blackest shadows, and there were even some times when you could see far of galaxies. The terrain seemed to be full of mountains and large craters for miles. There was no food, no water, no shelter. This land was like an endless white desert, and it’s where Luna woke up after her fight against Celestia.
She no longer had her dark and evil power. The pony had returned back to her normal self. Even next to her lay the broken symbol of the moon that was once on her armor. Now the only thing that still showed she was that dark pony was her cutie mark. Other than that, all other traits of the power she had seemed to have simply vanished.
The pony had observed her situation for quite some time after awakening. The first crucial task was breathing, for when she woke up the air was very thin. This could easily be solved by magic, but it still limited her powers greatly. After solving that issue, the pony still didn’t want to do anything. She was still shocked from the thought that her sister had banished her to who knows where. She became so frustrated just from the thought of it that she began to whine to herself..
“Stupid sister! Who needs you and your dumb kingdom anyways!” Luna shouted. Her voice echoed through the canyons of the blank desert. Only now did she realize her big mistake. All of this was caused by her desire for attention and power. Now in this world of nothing, there was no one who would acknowledge her. She was all alone in a god forsaken wasteland.
Luna decided to take a walk around and explore her new surroundings even further. She made her way through a large open area towards a mountain range. As she walked, she noticed there was no wind blowing her footsteps away. At least it would make finding her way back easier than she had thought. The open desert gave her a bit of a strange feeling. It seemed like something she should know about, something close to her. Either way, if she didn’t find shelter soon she would never be able to last a night out here. After a while, she arrived at her goal with satisfaction in her head.
“See Celestia, I don’t need your help with anything. I’m fine all on my own.” After patting herself on the back, Luna spread her wings and jumped up into the air. Only now did she notice something else was wrong. Gravity seemed so much less than anywhere she had been, but she simply shrugged it off.
“It’s probably just more magic tricks from Celestia. First she tries to suffocate me, and now she wants me to crash land when I fly. Hmph! I’ll show her!” Luna spent some time in the air practicing her movements as she flew up the side of the mountain. After some getting used to, Luna was able to get a bit of a grasp on the momentum and physics of the strange new place. Once she reached the top of the mountain, the pony felt even more pride.
As she sat along the mountainside, Luna looked around at a large scale view of this desert. She noticed that there were many more mountains and craters than she had first seen from the bottom. If she could find a canyon, she knew she could possibly use it as shelter. There didn’t seem to be any on this side of the mountain, so Luna began to climb to the other side when she noticed a problem, no, an answer.
Luna’s jaw dropped in fear and amazement. She now understood that she was no longer anywhere near home. There was no way it could be possible. Creeping over the horizon was in fact Earth, the planet that had the home she so desperately wanted to return to. Unfortunately she now knew there was no way she would be able to return. No pony ever had the magic or energy to fly to the Moon. Luna stood still, and then began to laugh at the irony. She suddenly thought of a perfect plan. How stupid of Celestia! Banishing her sister to the very land she ruled! Luna tried to use her magic, but something wasn’t right. It was like she had lost the power to move the Moon in and out of place.
“What?” Luna was confused. “Why isn’t it working?!” She tried activating her magic even more. As she attempted to try the spell, she felt the air she was breathing become thinner. Luna noticed what was happening and quickly stopped the spell. She had already forgotten that she needed most of her magic to keep breathing. The pony sat back down in failure. In her mind, Luna guessed that this must have been Celestia’s plan all along. Keeping her trapped in a place she could easily escape from if only she had more power. It was like an insult that she didn’t have enough magic to survive. That she was a failure.
“Well played dear sister. Well played...” Luna spat at the thought of loosing again.
[Day 3]
It had been 72 hours since Luna had first woken up on the surface of the Moon. Since that time, all the goals she had set for herself hadn’t been achieved. She had failed at finding a shelter and was forced to sleep out in the open. Even worse, she had not been able to find any form of food or water. She figured she wouldn’t find it any time soon, but she never expected that not eating for only such little time would hurt so much. In the Royal Palace, the sisters had gotten fed three meals a day fit for gods. She had lived in her own slice of Heaven, and now the consequences had to ring true. As she lay starving to death, Luna thought to herself.
This place is Hell...
All the energy she had to continue was lost in the wake of her malnutrition. Her body had started to shrink down, thus beginning to expose her ribcage through her slowly tightening skin. Her mouth and eyes were dry and crusted almost near a point of zero hydration. She was trapped inside herself, as if Celestia had intended to make her own body the true prison. The pony was no longer thinking straight. Hopelessly, she began to imagine various foods rising out of the moon sand. Many assorted snacks and prepared foods began to rise in surplus before her.
She jumped towards the hallucinations and began to eat them as fast as she could. Very soon did she realize her mistake, as the bitter taste of grainy sand in her mouth snapped her back into reality.
“How disgusting!” Luna yelped as she spat out the sand. “I’m so stupid... Why would food even come out of the ground...” Luna became upset at her failure, until she came up with what she thought to be a master idea. “Then again, who says it cant!” As she attempted to stand up, she tried thinking of a few spells that could help her. After coming to a conclusion, Luna envisioned a sweet daisy sandwich in front of her where the sand was. She pointed her horn as she began to try out a transformation spell. Her horn glowed with a dim light and so did the pile of sand.
“Ha!” Luna said as she saw the pile slowly turn into the sandwich. She continued to try even more when she noticed her power flicker and suddenly die out. “What? No!” The pony cried as her magic wouldn’t work anymore. “I... I don’t understand...” The pony fell back down staring at her failure of a small piece of sandwich covered in moon sand. She looked at it with disgust, but immediately dove to eat it, as if someone were about to take it away from her. She shoved the sandy mixture into her mouth and noticed her terrible mistake.
Her mouth was filled with the most painful sensation she had even felt. It was like the inside was burning or being filled with sharp barbed needles in every corner. She tried spitting out the food but it only partially came out, the rest was frozen to the inside of her right cheek. The pony tried to remove it yet never even dared to touch the freezing mixture. She tried shaking her head, but even that swayed the food dangerously close to her face. Cringing at the thought of what she had to do, Luna used a small burst of magic to pull the food off.
Luna screamed in anguish as the food tore a chunk of skin out with it. She now wished she had done studies about the Moon like Celestia had told her. She had forgotten that the Moon didn’t have an atmosphere like Earth did. Anything unprotected would simply freeze in the vacuum of space. This was also why she didn’t find water. The pain in her mouth began to feel worse, and moving her tongue over the wound to try and help it, she figured out the problem. Blood.
Tiny parts of blood were coming out of the tear and freezing. Due to the low gravity on the Moon, the small shards of frozen blood spread inside Luna’s mouth. Luna tried to cry out as the constant bleeding began to clench her mouth closed and the shards started to make their way down her throat.
“Help me!” She tried calling out. She wasn’t even able to speak properly due to most of her mouth being frozen shut. The frozen blood began to make its way down her throat, sending stabs of freezing pain whenever they stuck onto a part of her insides.
“Help me!!!” Luna tried calling out again. At this point, her mouth was completely shut and she couldn’t get any words out. The blood was travelling fast as the wound refused to stop bleeding. The blood continued to block off many parts of Luna’s breathing until it began to completely close off her throat. Luna’s body was squirming and contorting in almost un-natural ways as she tried to get help from somewhere. The blood sent some final sharp pain until she could no longer breathe.
Luna began to run out of oxygen fast and quickly lost the energy to keep struggling. She fell to her side crying frozen tears from her eyes. The burning sensation in her mouth and throat made her head dizzy and she began to vomit, only for it to be blocked by a wall of ice and choke the pony even further. Luna’s vision became hazy as her body cried for air. She didn’t even want to try to move anymore. She had been stupid, and she was all alone. This was a punishment fit for a pony as ignorant as her. No one was going to help her, but it was okay. She would be dead soon. She didn’t know what death was like, but she had one thought in her mind. It couldn’t be worse than living in the hell her world had turned into.
[Day 5]
Luna awoke on the sand of the Moon. The bright dust flew across her face as she had somehow simply slept through another night on the Moon. As she began to get up, she noticed that her wounds inside her mouth and throat were gone, and that wasn’t the only thing. In front of her lie 3 perfect sweet daisy sandwiches on pure white plates. Confused, the pony avoided the food as she remembered what happened before she blacked out. Next to the three plates was a strange note. Just reading it made Luna question everything that had happened so far.
[It’s been 2 days. I hope you don’t mind that I helped you out. Enjoy the food.]
“What is this...” Luna leaned in closer to the letter and then to the food. For some reason she felt as if she could trust it. Slowly, she leaned over one of the sandwiches until her face was above it perfectly. She raised a hoof and quickly tapped the sandwich, expecting it to freeze on her and begin even more tormenting pain.
But to her surprise, the food didn’t hurt her. As she bent in for a closer look, she noticed a thin layer of magic protecting the food. She looked around her body and noticed the same layer of magic was making oxygen for her to breathe, and never did she notice that it was also keeping her from freezing to death. Luna also now saw that her state of malnutrition and dehydration was gone. No longer was the pony dying for thirst or food. Luna felt afraid because she knew there was only one way this could be happening. The protective magic was not her own, so there was only one explanation.
She wasn’t alone. The thought brought Luna both comfort and fear. Whoever was here obviously wanted to keep her alive. They fed her and gave her protection so she wouldn’t die. They also gave her food and somehow replenished her health. Not to mention they somehow healed the frozen wounds she had inside her.
Then again though, there was something strange about whoever this was. They didn’t show themselves so they must be hiding, but there is nowhere to hide for miles. Another issue was how powerful they must be. Somehow the pony is keeping a constant hold of magic strong enough to keep Luna’s body from being torn apart. The amount of power needed to preform that kind of magic for that long was way more than even Celestia could preform. Just the thought of how powerful a pony that might not be a friend could be was scary for Luna. Her eyes stared off into the sky until she fell back into the moment and stood up.
“As if! I’m not going to let myself be scared by some other pony!” Luna said flipping her mane over her head. As if someone was listening, the food immediately began to freeze before Luna’s eyes. The barrier’s around the food slowly weakened and the sandwiches floated into the air and became large chunks of ice in the air. Luna was shocked at the sight. She had insulted the mystery pony and the gifts she was given had become useless. This proved her fear that someone was watching her, and they might not be as friendly as she thought.
[Day 6]
Luna was curled in a ball rocking back and forth on the floor. She had been in this state since the day before. Near the end of the day, she noticed that she was starting to feel a little cold. When she woke up this morning, she noticed how much colder it had gotten. She had also seen frost on her nose, and writing on the ground. Next to where she had woken up, there were ridges in the ground that would have been dug by a strong slash of magic. The words read out one sentence that made Luna even more certain that her unknown companion was not friendly.
[I’m Closer Than You Think]
Ever since then, all day Luna had been in her personal fetal position whispering a message over and over. She hoped her sister would hear her plea and forgive her for her actions.
“I’m sorry dear sister, I’m sorry dear sister, I’m sorry..…” She had been continuing the same chant for so long that saying anything else seemed to break her imaginary protection from the stranger. Not only that, she had been crouched for so long she thought she was hearing things. Earlier, Luna heard a soft yet dark voice laughing when she began to ask forgiveness of her sister. About an hour later she heard the same voice again.
“She can’t hear you. No one can.” The more Luna heard the voice, the more she questioned her own sanity. As the protective shield of magic began to disappear, more frost covered the frightened pony. There seemed to be a spike in the decrease of magic. Luna began to get colder much faster than the usual rate. The colder she got, the faster she chanted for help.
“I’m sorry dear sister, I’m sorry dear sister, I’m sorry dear sister!” The barrier continued to weaken much further than Luna thought it would. She felt herself become colder and colder as she began to loose feeling in her legs. The chill began to eat away at her, as deep as in her bones. Ice began to form on her limbs and the freezing pain she had felt inside her began to attack her legs. Luna could no longer take the pain. Se let out screams of fear and terror.
“Someone save me!!” Luna’s will was broken. “I’m sorry! I swear I’ve learned my lesson! Please just help me!...” Luna bent forward and cried from the intense pain. Little did she notice that the freezing had stopped.
“If you needed help, then all you had to do was ask.” The dark voice returned with a sickening harshness.
“Who are you!! Don’t screw with me!” Luna cried out. She looked all around but could not find anypony in sight.
“Why do you keep looking far away?” The voice laughed. “Remember, I’m closer than you think.” The voice whispered into Luna’s ear making a cold shiver go down her spine. Luna couldn’t take it anymore. The fear engulfed her body as she had no escape from this torture.
“Who are you!?” Luna screamed. She looked around as no one came into sight. All she heard was a sickening laugh from the adversary.
“Calm down! Do you really think I’m going to hurt you!” The voice defied all logic. It sounded to Luna as if it was coming from different directions around her. Yet every time she looked, there was nopony in sight. “If I wanted you dead, then we wouldn’t be talking right now.” Luna sat down in shock and looked blankly at the ground.
“W-were... T-t-talking?..” She stuttered.
“Yes. Lets have a nice little talk right now.” The voice was cunning and evil. Just hearing it made Luna feel colder than she ever had. “Why don’t we start by getting rid of all this useless ice.” Luna looked down as she saw the layer of warm magic return and the ice melt off her fur and hooves.
“I-I don’t understand... Why are you helping me...” Luna was confused by the constant change in the actions of the mystery pony.
“Oh please. I need you just as much as you need me. I just had to scare you a bit so you could listen to me.” The words were followed by another grim chuckle.
“What... You needed to scare me?”
“Yes. I needed to get all those awful thoughts about your sister out of your head!” The voice shouted. “Even in the prison she put you in, you still thought she would help you! HA! For all you know she could have been watching your demise from the start!”
“No! Celestia wouldn’t do that to me!” Luna cried.
“Wouldn’t she?? I needed you to see that there is no one here to help you. No one except for me.” The voice spoke.
“Please...” Luna cried. “Who are you... Where are you?... Why do you keep doing this to me!”
“It’s funny that you ask my name.” The voice said. “I mean, you ARE the one who named me... Nightmare Moon!” The voice let out another cold song of laughter as it began to become quieter and quieter. As it left, the voice gave one last whisper into Luna’s ear.
“Remember... I’m always watching.”
[End of Chapter 1]
