Hello darkness my old friend,
I've come to talk with you again,
Because a vision softly creeping,
Left it's seeds while I was sleeping,
And the vision... That was planted in my brain,
Still remains...
Luna walked along the river of black water, the grass wilted and dead under her hooves and the night sky above her. It was not her sky though... It was ominous and frightening, the sense of dread and hatred clinging to the air. The river poured off into a large lake and there, along the edge, stood a tall, black figure. It wore a dark blue helmet with matching shoes and chest plate with a pale blue, crescent moon symbol along it. It's large wings looked to have bat-like characteristics and it's horn tall with a sharp point that looked like it could impale even the thickest armor with ease. The figure's mane had a navy blue, ethereal glow that flowed with magic ability that could not be tamed. It had piercing, teal eyes with cat-like irises, insanity and hatred burning brightly within them. The figure let a toothy grin cross it's face, showing intimidating fangs, the tips so sharp that they gleamed. The cutie mark was an equally ominous blue-violet with a similar pale moon on it, matching that of the moon on it's chestplate.
"Nightmare Moon," Luna said curtly after a long moment of tense silence.
The black alicorn smirked, "dear Luna. Thou do not understand why thee think thy can fight my control... One day the Nightmare will take over." She said in a menacing voice.
The image shifted to one of a ruined city with dead bodies scattered through the streets and blood staining every wall and pouring into the streets. Screams could be heard and were cut short, followed by maniacal laughter. Luna watched in horror as the black alicorn demon flew above a group of terrified ponies and blasted a bolt of dark magic into them as they convulsed and let out grotesque and horrid screams of pure pain. The crimson liquid leaked from their eyes, making them appear to cry blood as their coats decayed and they eventually dropped to the ground dead. They were now nothing more than piles of blood and half decayed bodies.
Luna thought she was going to be sick. "No! Stop this! We shall not let thee win!" She yelled, whipping her head around.
Nightmare Moon appeared behind her and chuckled evilly, "oh stupid princess. There is no stopping me. Especially since there is nopony alive that actually cares enough to help thee." She whispered into the moon princess' ear.
Luna whipped around to face the nightmare but she was already gone along with everything else. She was standing alone in a black room. The nothingness overwhelming and claustrophobic as it seemed to close in on her.
Her eyes snapped open as she jerked up in bed, sweat beading on her forehead as she looked around with wild eyes. When Luna finally calmed down, she sighed. 'T'was just a dream... Another one of those dreams.' Luna told herself this every time that dream or a similar one would reveal itself to her, but every time she thought about it, the less true that statement would become in her eyes.
Within the sound... Of silence.
Luna's ears pinned back on her head as she reluctantly climbed out of bed to begin yet another long night of work.
In restless dreams I walked alone,
Narrow streets of cobblestone,
'Neath the halo of a street lamp,
I turned my collar to the cold and damp,
When my eyes were stead by the flash of a neon light,
It split the night...
It had been a few months, the dreams becoming more frequent as time passed. Luna was walking through the city wearing a simple, black cloak to conceal her identity. The only sound was that of her hooves clopping on the cobble pathway, the party being closer to the palace. She always did this on the night of the Summer Sun Celebration as it was the one night a year when ponies would be up celebrating during her night. It was a rare moment for her to get appreciation like this. Luna smiled as she trudged quietly through the streets, the only light being that of the oil lamps lining the streets.
The princess took a deep breath and let out a sigh as she looked up at the moon and stars, a small smile crossing her face. She would work extra hard to arrange them beautifully on the night of the Summer Sun Celebration so everypony could admire her art. 'Aww... Such a beautiful sky. To bad the ponies aren't up to admire the night, but simply to ensure they miss not a single moment of thou dearest sister's sunrise.' Luna's eyes widened in surprise at the voice speaking freely within her head.
"Nightmare Moon?!" Luna shouted in shock and confusion. She felt lucky that nopony was there to see her outburst, lest they think of her as more insane than they originally thought.
'We told thee that thou could not stop us from taking control, did we not? We have gained the power to speak and roam freely within your mind and soon your body as well.' The voice rang out once again.
Luna shut her eyes tight and shook her head as tears began to form. "No! No thou are wrong! We would never give thyself up to the likes of a demon!" She yelled, trying to muster the will to keep fighting. It was becoming an increasingly more difficult task as the days went on.
The voice continued on. 'This could be easier if thou would just let thee have control... The power to ensure that thou nights will be admired for years to come is within reach. Let thee take control and we will send the world into everlasting night! The sun would no longer be there to compare it with and everypony will finally see the true beauty of thou's night sky for they could never see another sunrise ever again!' Luna heard the maniacal laughter in the back of her head and sighed as she tried desperately to ignore it.
"I must get to the stage... The rising of the sun is about to begin." Luna spread her large, feathery wings and took off into the sky, quickly reaching the castle. She landed next to the alabaster white alicorn princess who smiled and embraced her in a loving, sisterly hug. "How was your walk, Luna?"
Luna returned the embrace, pondering whether or not to tell her sister when Nightmare Moon's words from a few months echoed in the back of her mind. '... Nopony alive that actually cares enough to help thee...' She forced a small smile, "it was fine, dear sister. Now... Thou must raise the sun."
Celestia nodded and released her sister as the two took their places on the stage. Celestia cleared her throat as the two sisters lit their horns, Luna's shining in a soft, teal glow that shone like the gentle light of the moon and Celestia's a bright, yellow color that stood, challenged only by the color and intensity of the bright sun it mimicked. "Welcome, everypony, to the raising of the sun ceremony in honor of the longest day in the year!"
... And touched the sound... Of silence...
Ponies everywhere cheered as they watched Luna lower the moon below the horizon and let the stars fade as Celestia began to raise the sun.
And in the naked light I saw,
Ten thousand people maybe more,
People talking without speaking,
People hearing without listening,
People writing songs... That voices never share,
No one dared...
Luna looked around at the large crowd of ponies bowing in awe and respect as Celestia's sun poured it's rays of bright light out from the horizon and her stars slowly faded away. Tears began to form in her eyes as she shut them tight and looked away. 'Hurts doesn't it? Knowing that while thee suffers, thou's sister is getting all the praise and love... All because of the sun.' Nightmare moon spoke up.
The moon princess shook her head, "n-no..." She muttered. Luna looked out over the crowd. 'Thou's subjects do this on purpose to show you how much they truly care... Thus, they care not for you or your work.' Luna shook her head, trying to get the voice to go away.
Nightmare Moon continued on, paying it no mind. 'They say all kinds of things about you and your precious work of art. Strange, dangerous, evil... I can stop this. Together, we can rule Equestria with an iron hoof and make them know what it truly means to fear the night!'
"N-no... No!" She muttered again with more force behind it.
'oh, yes... It isn't like anypony will help you. Thou's sister and subjects will only call thee a crazy halfling.' The voice continued on, doing everything in it's power to break down Luna's walls. She closed her eyes as the sun was now high in the sky and listened to the sounds of shuffling hooves as everypony left to go about their day. The image of blood splattering against a plain white wall with a sun on it flashed behind her closed eyelids. 'This is what will become of your dearest sister... No more sun princess. No more day. No more. Just thou's night to be admired.'
Luna's eyes snapped open as she felt a hoof on her shoulder, "thou should rest, dear sister. The night will not protect itself without it's princess." She heard Celestia say. Luna nodded silently and left the room, walking down the large corridors to her room. She listened for anything, only to once again be greeted by nothing... Nothing except...
'One day, we will take control of thee.'
Luna shook her head to clear it of the voice. "No... Thy shall remain strong."
disturb the sound... Of silence...
The lunar alicorn reached her room and trotted inside, closing the door as she stepped over to her bed. She removed her royal regalia and crawled into bed, closing her eyes and drifting off to sleep.
Fools said 'I you do not know',
Silence like a cancer grows,
Hear my words that I might teach you,
Take my arms that I might reach you,
But my words... Like silent raindrops fell,
And echoed... In the wells... Of silence...
Over the past year, Luna's control over the Nightmare only grew weaker. Every time she thought things would end up for the better, Nightmare Moon was always there to beat her back into the ground. Luna had fallen into a deep depression and was now very easily angered. Her already strong habit to avoid social gatherings only grew to the point of not even letting her maid enter the room unless she wasn't present. The few times anypony saw Luna, she was muttering to herself or they could hear her screaming and throwing things around in her room. The first time that happened, the guards panicked and rushed in, only to find books strewn everywhere and often a broken vase. Ink would be spread across the wall in a language that nopony understood and this made even Celestia herself develop a fear for her younger sister.
There were no more sisterly embraces or meals shared together. No little chats during the moments that they were awake at the same time. Celestia missed it. Her ears pinned back on her head as she scanned the letter in her hooves, sitting on her yellow throne. "Get thy sister now. She must know of this."
Luna slowly made her way to the throne room as Nightmare Moon made her presence known. 'Why is thou headed to the throne room?'
"Because thy sister has something she wishes to inform thee of." She said, not going into further details. She walked up to the grand doors of the throne room and the unicorn guards lit their horns up and opened the large wooden doors. When they did, Luna walked through, paying the terrified gazes no mind as she stepped up to Celestia's throne. "There is something thou wished to speaketh about?"
Celestia looked at her with sadness and sympathy as she passed the letter on to Luna. "I'm afraid Snowdrop has passed on... Her heart was weaker than the doctors had intended."
Luna's eyes widened and she began to tear up as she read through the letter. "No..." She shut her eyes tight as she threw the letter to the ground. "No! It can't be!" She stormed out of the throne room, galloping down the halls at full speed. She didn't stop until she reached her room and threw the doors open as she walked in. Luna slammed them and threw herself onto her bed as she began to cry. "No! No it's not true! She can't be dead! She was the only one to truly understand my night... To truly understand me!..." She continued to sob until the voice showed up again.
'I understand you perfectly fine. I am a part of you after all.'
Luna sniffled, she had someone who understood her... And they were here the entire time. "r-really?"
Nightmare Moon grinned, she had done it. She was about to gain control. 'yes... All you have to do is let me have control and I can show you the true meaning of power... Then, from there nothing can stand in thy way!' Luna looked down as she pondered the statement for a moment. Snowdrop's death was the last straw. The love and appreciation her one true friend had given her was now gone. Her friend was gone... Nopony understood or cared for her anymore... Except this Nightmare.
A week later the Summer Sun Celebration was upon them and Luna had something very special planned for it. She stepped up to the center of the stage, insanity shining bright in her eyes. "Dear sister... Tis a shame thou could not see it sooner. The pain and abandonment I suffered while you! Were to busy paying attention to your precious subjects!" Luna spat angrily.
Celestia looked at her. "Luna?! What is this madness? Lower the moon!"
"No! Thy patience has been tested to it's limit! Everypony shuns thy night while they frolic and play in thou's day! You have more friends than you can even keep track of while I had only one! Only one to ever truly understand! She's dead! You couldn't see the pain I was in though. No... You kept on living in your perfect life without me. Without even bothering to try and help."
"Luna, if I have to, I will lower the moon thyself!" Celestia shot back, hurt shining in her eyes.
"Never! THE NIGHT!!! WILL LAST!!! FOREVER!!!!!!" She let out a maniacal cackle that would've made even the bravest soldiers wet themselves and run in fear.
And the people bowed and prayed,
To a neon god they made,
And the sign flashed out it's warning,
In the words that it was forming,
And the signs said the words of the prophets are written on the subway walls,
And tenement halls
Celestia gazed up at the moon, the image of her sister printed upon it's surface. Her ears pinned back on her head and tears welled up in her eyes. "Luna..... Luna!!!" She began sobbing greatly, not really caring who saw as thoughts of her sister passed through her mind. 'If I had tried to notice and help sooner this wouldn't be a problem... It's all thy's fault... Thy sister... Dearest sister... Thou should still be here.' Her sobs intensified, "sorry! This is all thy's fault! We should have tried to help thee sooner..." 'but we didn't... We just let thee suffer... I could've stopped this... It could have been stopped...'
A pony appeared beside her in the mist.'no... It couldn't have.' it spoke with a soft and gentle voice through Celestia's mind.
She sniffled, "w-what do you mean..."
The mare let a piecpe of paper flutter to the ground at Celestia's hooves. She lifted her head just enough to look at what was written on it and her eyes widened in surprise. "Those are the marks on Luna's wall..."
She nodded, "it was a prophecy written in ancient times... A prophecy that said that the Nightmare shall awaken inside the soul of the damned... Only when the demon is defeated will her damned soul be purged. Tis not thou who will do so though. A thousand years... One thousand years until her inevitable escape. That is when the true saviors will reveal themselves to you..." With that, the mare in the mist faded away.
Luna gazed out at the planet below, a sorrowful look on her face as tears streamed down her eyes. Her sister had banished her to the moon, all because of her demon. She would be alone for a thousand years...
And whispered in the sound... Of silence...
Author's Note
Hey guys! Little one-shot that's been sitting on my mind for a while now. What did you think? I left this raw because I wanted to see how much I have improved from my first fic. Please, I want the constructive criticism and if you really enjoyed the story well... Thats even better!
Sound of Silence by Simon and Garfunkle, 1964 original version. (The song used in the fic.)
