Dark memories

It feels like over an hour since I came to Equestria. The animals have not yet have fear in their souls when encountering me. The sun was still in the air, radiating warmth for the plants and animals to feel safe and warm. I seem to enjoy the Sun's promise of warmth. This sun was more different than the sun that keeps planet earth from freezing to an icicle. It felt....like something was controlling its every movement. Like a powerful figure has the power to raise it and lower it every day. Don't know why I was thinking like that.

I started to gallop to see where Ponyville was located. Getting on a hill, I noticed small structures from afar. The buildings were made out of wood and what looked like hay acting as the roofs, other buildings had wood for the roofs. I could see ponies walking casually in the streets of the village. Some were just talking to one another, few were buying fruits and vegetables from the stands that sold the said food, and I could see a few colts and fillies enjoying their time hanging out with one another. All of them just moving colors from where I was standing in the distance.

Ponyville seems to be a peaceful place to live in. There was something else that I could feel that was mysterious in the village. Almost as if there was somepony that was involved in defeating Nightmare Moon. The name slowing coming to my mind: Twilight Sparkle.

Part of me says I should try to find her in the village. Then again, the other side of me says to not be so stupid to just walk into Ponyville and cause a mass panic to the ponies who live there.

Pondering for a while, I decided that maybe I should venture into the Everfree Forest. If there are books in the palace, then it'll help me learn about my surrounds and even the history of this world. I do love history. So, this'll really make me want to understand the beings of this world. Maybe going to Ponyville will have to wait some other time. Right now, I need to learn if I want to understand this world more better than what I do now.

I started to go down the hill, feeling my heart pounding in my chest. It felt so awesome… now I can see why horses are always full of energy. Their muscles are able to help them run like the wind. And, of course, fight against other animals that would try to kill them. With me as an alicorn, I would be far better off than any regular horse on earth.

Breathing in and out, trying to catch my breath from suddenly sprinting down an incline, I could see what looked like a forest coming toward me. This must be the Everfree Forest. This forest was far more different than the one I was in. The trees seemed to show what looked like faces of pure horror. Almost like they were telling me "Don't try to pass, you'll fail while doing so." Or "You will die by the creatures of our forest. Turn back while you still can."

Seriously? Trees aren't even scary. I’ll give them credit, but that's not gonna stop me from uncovering so many secrets in Equestria.

For some reason, I felt curious to see what was in the forest, not feeling scared in any way. Trotting in the forest, I felt more darkness around me. I wasn't sure why this place had such dark taint to it. Being in the fields, there was bits of darkness I sensed, but this place has ten times more of the darkness. The forest feels like it's a living, breathing creature.

It temps creatures to enter its domain, wanting to show itself to travelers who are lost as a peaceful guide, and to show those lost ponies a shortcut to get to their destination. I could feel it trying to talk to me. It hungers for blood. This is the place where anypony would want to end up dead. The smell of blood is what I could smell a mile away.

The plants was something that caught my eye. A lot of them were orange, red, yellow, purple, gold, and even green. Just by looking at them, I could say were probably poisonous. I must be careful when walking in these parts of the forest.

It feels like I'm being watched by something.

Turning around, I saw six yellow eyes staring right at me in the bushes. Then, I could hear the sounds of growls coming from said bushes.

Something tells me these unknown animals are warning to kill me.

Very well. I will have a pleasure killing them without mercy. I need to concentrate. Try to understand the power you posses Nightmare.

I closed my eyes and started to breathing in and out. Focus. Just focus.

Something in me just sparked. Energy was what I was feeling. I opened my eyes to see the creatures slowly backing away from me.

"GET. OUT. OF. MY. WAY!"

My voice caused several branches and even caused some of the trees to fall down. The ground shook upon me speaking.

The wolves, for that matter, were starting to shake like a bunch of spooked chickens. Now they see I'm not so defenseless.

I focused on their every movement. They weren't thinking of charging at me. I could smell their fear coming off of them. Fear is something I'm starting understand in this world. I see why Nightmare Moon was considered a being that every last being was afraid of. Nopony would there try to strike her down. And now these "timberwolves" will now see that the nightmare has.... come back. Hehe... Wait, no! Don't think like that! That's not who you are!

Alright, I need to really start trying to concentrate my power to fire at the Timberwolves. Try to learn how to use your horn. Focus… just focus.

Suddenly, a white beam of magic went right at the Timberwolves and were ripped to pieces. Not only that; it also caused a mass amount of smoke to billow from the ground. I couldn't see anything. My ears were ringing. Chances are I must've made one big boom that could be heard from every part of Equestria.

I had to close my eyes due to dirt still swirling around me, holding my breath from inhaling the not so clean air.

Minutes have passed since I killed the timberwolves. As I opened my eyes, I was absolutely in shock to see what my powers did to the hostile animals.

I didn't just destroy the wolves, I also caused a giant hole to be formed where the bushes had once existed that hid the wolves. Slowly trotting to see how far the blast went, I felt my jaw just drop almost to the ground. It looks like the magic had gone all the way through the end of the forest! The trees in this area were gone. Anyone who was in this part of the Everfree Forest was surely wiped from the face of Equestria. It was like a nuclear bomb just came in and just vaporized everything in my direction.

The forest was silent, it felt quiet. It was like the animals that inhabit the forest did not want to make a single sound that anypony would hear with their ears. Seriously. It felt like it was population zero now.

Guess I should really learn how to not go so far in trying to practice magic in this world. Now it's the time I really get to the Royal Palace of the sisters. I just hope that there is something worth reading in their. And I hope that it's easy to just find maybe a library room in the building.

The sun has already gone down. I was beginning to wonder if this palace was still around. Come to think of it. How old was it? Surely it would still be standing to where you could possibly still see maybe parts of it towering over the trees.

Even after it's been forty minutes, the animals were still not making any sound. They must be paranoid from what I did to those timberwolves with my not-so-stable magic. I don't need to blame them. When you learn something new, it might cause people or, well, ponies to not look at you right.

Continuing in my quest, I could see a large superstructure just a mile away. I could see a tower that still stood strong with no signs of damage to its stone brick exterior. There was two wooden doors that might be the front entrance to the building. There was also two statues that were on sides of walkway. The one on the left was a tall horse that showed great pride in its composure. The one on the left showed a smaller horse that was giving a more or less smile to the bigger horse. Both were Alicorns by their appearance. I'm thinking these two are representing the rulers of Equestria.

The door had a seal that had written on it. I wasn't able to fully verify what the words meant. Dirt covered it from me reading it. I used my hoof to dust away the dirt to understand what the words that were on seal were trying to say to me.

Seal of the Royal Family of Equestria

Ah! So this is Royal Sisters' palace. Finally, I get a break from trying to find where it's located.

As I opened the doors, the interior was not what I had imagined in my head. Dust littered everywhere. Cracks could be seen from the floor to the walls. Most of the doors were no longer part of the entrances that kept ponies from seeing what was going on from the other side.

There were many banners of the sun and moon that had fallen from the wooden beams of the castle and were on the floor. I also found where the armory was located. Dozens of old armor uniforms remained intact after the many years of them being forgotten. Getting closer to the uniforms, the material used for them looked to be gold! Gold is considered an important metal in my world. Amazing how a civilization would use gold for its troops.

There was also wooden spears that were also attached to the manikins. I'm actually surprised the wood hasn't been eaten by termites. The spears must be protected by magic to prevent something like that from happen.

From behind me was a different type of armor for ponies to wear and protect themselves. The armor was the color of purple with a mix of black. Even more weird was the center of the chest piece.It looked like a reptilian eye was in the circle of the chest plate. Hmm. I think there were two different types of solders that once protected this place with their lives.

Venturing off again, I was in what I believed was the throne room. The roof was hardly intact. The carpets that connected to the staircases were no longer clean. The thrones that the rulers would sit also suffered greatly from years of no protection over mother nature's time making this place unrecognisable. There was also a bridge that connected both thrones to make it more easier for each ruler to talk to. Though it showed signs of needing massive repairs, it still fights for its survival.

Something happened here. It didn't feel right to me. There was conflict in this room. Dark conflict.

I could hear a voice scream to the top of its lungs, loudly echoing against the countless corridors and rooms in the castle.

"There can only be one princess in Equestria! And that princess will be ME!"

I winced my head in the air from the sudden high pitch screech. I had to use my hooves to keep anymore sound from trying to bust my ear drums.

The voice was gone, at least for now. I put my forelegs back on the ground. This place has a dark history. A VERY dark history that shouldn't even be brought up to the next generation of children.

My eyes were watering for no reason. Why was I crying? I… I didn't do anything!

"Luna! I will not fight you. You must lower the moon, it is your duty!"

There goes a different voice. This one spoke with authority. Authority that had more power over somepony. It sounded like it were in horror but was trying to keep its composure together.

I started to shake from all over. My legs felt like rubber. Than, I collapsed in a heavy sob.

"I'm sorry. I-I… forgive me dear sister. Please forgive me. I'm not evil! Just give me the chance...to..redeem myself." Why was I talking to myself aloud? This wasn't right. I don't even have a sister! I was an only child.

"Dearest sister. Have mercy on my soul. Please.....sniff... I didn't mean it. I never meant to fight you!" Now I was screaming to the top of my lungs. I covered my face with my forearms and just continued to sob in the middle of the throne room.

I felt nothing but pain, sorrow, and rage take over me. These emotions are making me feel so different now. I felt like I was being tortured by these voices.

Who are these voices?? Why were they fighting against one another? And why am I crying because of said voices?

Raising my head to see if anything else might happen, the moon's rays penetrated through the holes of the throne room and were coming in contact with me only. The moon. It was.... I don't know why it was focusing its time on me. Why does thou light shine upon me? For what purpose does it serve? Does thou want thee to be happy?

Why am I speaking in Old English?

My heart started to beat uncontrollably.

I need to leave. I can't stay in this room anymore. I need to find another room before the voices start to flood into my mind. Getting up and rubbing what tears remained on my face, I galloped out of the throne room to find where the library was probable located.

Where is the library? Rushing from room to room, I couldn't be able to find where it would be.

A couple hours after searching, I could see what looked like a symbol on a side of a door that looked like a book. That must be the library. I could be able to gain access to a variety of books that tells me about the sisters and the history of Equestria.

I got into the door and shut it behind me with my hind legs.

"I'm sorry that you went through in what you heard, Ada." This voice was different. It didn't sound like the voices that I heard the throne room. Looking up ahead of me stood a saddened Nightmare Moon.

"Nightmare..." I slowly said. She looked at me with sympathy. She knew I had an unpleasant time in the throne room. I noticed that her injuries from her body were all gone. She had the same armor I had on my body. What looked different about her was her body. It glowed light blue and I could see right through her like a window. Was she...

"I'm merely just a spirit now, Ada. Nopony else would hear or see me. Only you are able to do that." Her voice, it sounded… motherly.

I walked toward her. She didn't move. She remained in the same position when I first got my eyes fixed on her.

"Nightmare, what....what were those voices that I was hearing in the throne room?" While giving my question for her to respond, her expression changed from being somewhat happy to sad.

"The first voice you heard was my good sister. Her name would be Luna. She is Princess of the Night and one of the rulers of Equestria. The other was  Celestia. She is....the Princess of the Sun. She too is the second ruler of Equestria." She said with no emotion in her voice.

"What happened here?" She began to explain to me about how a thousand years ago her younger sister Luna was seeing ponies not appreciate her night. All they would do is stay indoors and never think of just stepping outside in the middle of the night. Celestia who was the elder sister of Luna would be one who was very much appreciated by having the sun give warmth to her ponies in her land.

Luna saw this as a stab in the back by her elder sister. Celestia was getting all the attention for herself. Nightmare added that one night, Princess Luna refused to lower the moon for Celestia to raise the sun. That's where everything change from there on. When Luna refused, her anger and rage had caused her to transform her into no other than Nightmare Moon herself. Nightmare Moon was winning the fight up until Celestia had used six gems that went by the name of 'The Elements of Harmony'. The Elements were powerful enough to blast Nightmare Moon to the moon for over a thousand years.

Long after that event was over, everything was perfectly fine.

One day, there was going to be a festival called 'The Summer Sun Celebration'. This was the day in which ponies would see Celestia come to Ponyville to watch her raise the sun for her ponies to see.

It did not happen.

Nightmare Moon was telling me how she was able to escape the moon to come back to Equestria to bring eternal darkness to the land. Unfortunately, that plan clearly failed. There were six ponies that were able to defeat Nightmare Moon and reform her back to Princess Luna.

Rainbow Dash: Element of Loyalty,

Pinkie Pie: Element of Laughter,

Fluttershy: Element of Kindness,

Applejack: Element of Honesty,

Rarity: Element of Generosity,

Twilight Sparkle: Element of Magic.

I wasn't turning my head the other way. I was absolutely paying full attention to Nightmare Moon. She was born from all that Celestia put Luna through. The anger, hate, sorrow and jealousy were the emotions that caused Nightmare Moon to be born from within Princess Luna. Now I understand why Nightmare Moon was in my dream. She believes she was in hell and I was probably like an angel from heaven that decided to give her a second chance at life.

It meant that I would take her place of being Luna's inner-ego. Nightmare would still be here with me. Just not in physical form, only in spiritual form.

"Y-You.....brought me back to see what Equestria looks like after what had happened to me three years ago. It was you that ended my suffering in Tartarus." she started sobbing and then sat on her haunches.

I felt something from her… something I never felt from being an only child on earth: Sisterhood.

If we're biologically related to one another. Then this would mean… I'm now her sister! And so would Celestia and Luna!

"Hey, it's going to be okay, sister." She flinched from me just saying that last word. That word must have rattled through her mind. Was it really hurtful just by saying that one word? She's probably having lost memories coming back to haunt her again. And I believe those memories will later be put into my mind.

I had the sudden urge to hug her in my embrace. Which, incidentally, was what I did. I was surprised that I was actually able to hug her. I thought it was impossible to actually touch a spirit that was not solid, but whatever.

I wrapped my wings around her to provide her with more comfort from me. She accepted my comfort and latched onto me. Now she was crying in my chest. She kept crying for over the next couple minutes. Nightmare didn't want to let go. She didn't want me to leave her alone in this castle.

I gently stroked her mane with my hoof. It seemed to calm her down temporarily, but it was short lived. She was over emotional. She couldn't get a grip of herself. All the pain she suffered from being in Tartarus was coming out of her, shaking violently without much control of the agony that was stuck inside of her.

"I'm here, Nightmare." I cooed in her ear, "I'm here." Now she was beginning loosen up. She let go of me just a little bit to look at me directly in the eyes. In her eyes, I could see her saying sanctuary that was filled with love and compassion. Something that the Elements didn't give to her when she was ultimately erased from Equestria.

They made her look like she was a nobody. That she was nothing but a mere shadow to everypony. I was the only pony that cared for her and I was now her sister that wants to keep her from being hurt by anypony.

I'm her angel.

Her savior.

Her sister.

This was reminding me of my former parents. Treated me like I was a shadow that would be ignored from time to time. And those ponies were…

No. Don't think like that, Ada. Don't give into vengeance. That will lead only to more pain and sorrow.

Think about your sister.. that's what's important now.

Keeping my sister safe.