You might be starting to wonder just what in the hell was going on at this point. Then again, given who I'm talking to right now, maybe you're not and there's little reason for me to explain it. Still, for the sake of posterity, I'll do my best. My understanding of the workings of magic still isn't perfect, even with centuries of study under my belt, if you could even consider what I did under "Luna's" tutelage as studying. I'm from a world where magic is relegated to slight of hand and flights of fancy, so forgive me if this isn't the best of explanations. From what I understand, dark magic isn't something one should be casually flinging about, like I had been over the course of a decade's worth of practice.

Its influence is unsettling, corrupting the magic of any who carelessly practice it and warping their very self into a twisted caricature of who they once were. It seems to almost feed on negative emotions, especially those of fear and hatred, empowering the caster even as it seeks to subvert them. Granted, from what I've seen, while the mage does feel much stronger, unstoppable even, and spells they cast can gain potency from their emotional state, dark magic and regular magic do not seem to be all that different in terms of baseline levels of power. To sum up: while they may not be different in terms of applicable force, dark magic seems to be easier to use and quicker to master in comparison, while also being more seductive in nature. It's probably why our dear princess had me using it in the first place.

Allow me to elaborate. Do you have narcotics here? Drugs that are chemically addictive in nature?

(...)

Ah, I see. Well, that will certainly help you to understand what it was like for me then. While I had almost no experience with drugs in my previous life, and what I did was relatively mild in nature, I can just about say for certain that using dark magic is very much like being intoxicated. It was a rush, unlike anything I had ever felt previously, as if I were standing on top of the world and nothing would ever bring me down from the heights to which I had soared. Fear? Doubt? These were things for lesser beings, not for one such as I. Honestly, I can't even begin to imagine how insufferable I must have seemed to you.

Now, where was I before I went off on a tangent?

(...)

Oh, yes, of course. Artemis. Even in my magic induced high I recognized the name. It's interesting the parallels that exist between our two worlds, now that I think about it, but we can discuss those another time. In this case, Artemis, at least where I'm from, was the name of a mythical goddess, worshiped in ancient times, whose domains were the hunt, nature and the moon itself. Fitting, given the circumstances, though obviously the gender didn't really match in my case. It certainly sounded better to me than David did. David might have been a name that once belonged to a king from Earth's ancient history, but Artemis? Artemis would be a conqueror of this new world and I would embrace my new persona with my whole being.

So, tell me, Artemis: how do you feel? How did I feel? There were no words sufficient to describe how I felt then. I touched on the feeling of empowerment in my earlier ramblings, but even that didn't do it justice. I think that, given my earlier feelings of powerlessness, of dread, fear and doubt, this sudden, heady rush of strength was made all the more intense as a result.

"I feel...amazing," I purred in response, my gaze passing over the gathered creatures of shadow and mist, wondering at the purpose of their presence and how I had ended up on the dark side of the moon during my little...transformation. Again, I felt no fear at the sight of them. I knew they could not hurt me, not when I had been infused with such might the likes of which coursed through my veins at that moment. "But that's what you were hoping for, wasn't it?" I had to give her credit; she'd played me like a fiddle. Of course I was all too aware of her betrayal of my trust, even then, but what was I supposed to do? Getting pissy with her wouldn't do me any good, after all.

You're certainly taking this better than I had expected you to. Her words made me chuckle. I accepted what she had done, even understood it. What would I have done in her place, after all? An alien being invades my body, taking complete control of it and rendering me almost completely helpless. You're damned right I'd have done something to make things balance more in my favor. But did that mean I forgave her for it?

"Were you expecting me to scream at you?" I asked casually, walking through the crowd of monsters as I spoke, intent on getting back into the light. "To cry and rail against your betrayal of my trust?" I scoffed at the notion. "No, of course not. What would be the point?" I narrowed my eyes and let out a hiss. "But am I angry? Oh, you bet your moon bedecked ass I am."

Get over it. I let out a snort. I need you to be able to go up against Celestia and there was no way you could match her given your previous mental state. Well, she certainly had a point. There was no way I'd have been able to fight a millennia old alicorn, well versed in combat and the use of magic, not with how damaged I'd been becoming. Of course now I was even more deranged, not that it even occurred to me at the time.

"Is that the name of your so called usurper?" I asked, no longer believing a word of her previous story. "If I'm to be your weapon against her then I should know more about her, wouldn't you agree?"

Humans are truly strange creatures. I rolled my eyes at this, having nothing more to say until she answered my questions. You are correct, she is no usurper, merely a weak spirited foal who does not deserve to wear the crown she bears upon her brow! There was real venom in her voice as she spoke of the mare that had imprisoned us both. Always she basks in their adoration and ever was I trapped in her shadow!

"So it's jealousy then?" Jealousy, such a human motivation. Wars have started on my world over less petty reasons than the ones she held, so I honestly wasn't all that surprised to hear it.

It isn't about jealousy, but what I deserve. I frowned slightly, noticing that I had no idea where I was amidst the grayscale picture my vision gave me of the darkness that enveloped me. I supposed just picking a direction and walking until I saw light would work, but it would be nice to be able to get my bearings regardless. Celestia is too soft to truly rule Equestria. I will bring order to their pathetic little lives and they will all come to appreciate my work as they always should have!

"How childish," I ridiculed her, able to sense her outrage over my dismissal. "And how narrow minded. Surely there is more to the world below us than just Equestria."

Are you...are you suggesting what it sounds like you are? I smirked, pleased to have so surprised her. Such ambition and to think all I had to do was give you the proper nudge in order to reveal it.

"Why shouldn't I be?" I asked her, having already considered my options many times during my incarceration. "What else is there for me to do? Return home?" I let out another snort at the notion. "It's already been hundreds of years since I first arrived here. What sort of homecoming could I possibly have after we finally escape?" Besides, the idea of returning to a life of soul crushing mundanity turned my stomach. "No, there is no such thing as home for me there. My future is here and I will take advantage of your machinations to the fullest extent possible."

I think I may actually come to like you, Artemis. My smirk returned, the name she'd given me only serving to cement my decision. This is so much better than listening to David's constant whining. She'd even separated my old self from who she now saw me as. Perfect. Still, there is much we have to do before our escape will be possible.

"Well, Luna, I'm ready to start whenever you are." I gazed upwards at the stars. "Where do we begin?"

You can start by not referring to me as Luna. I raised an eyebrow at this. I am...Nightmare Moon.

"And I have only one royal duty now...to destroy YOU!"

I staggered, pain lancing through my head as the world shifted and distorted, the sound of her voice echoing in my ears, Nightmare Moon trying to ask what was wrong with me, but all I could see was some off-white alicorn flying away as I tried to blast her with my magic.

Artemis! Her mental shout finally made it stop, my breath coming in short gasps and my heart pounding away against the inside of my rib cage. What in the name of Faust was that all about?

"You...you didn't hear that?" I asked, wondering just what it was I had experienced.

Hear what? Nightmare Moon clearly hadn't shared the experience with me, the mare sounding irritated yet again. We do not have time for any more of your delusions. Now, pull yourself together, Artemis. There is much to prepare and you must be focused in order to do it.

0o0o0o0o0o0

Nightmare Moon's preparations had to do with constructing a complex magical array that, in her words, would allow us to shatter Celestia's spell and escape using the power of the very stars themselves. She told me of their falling out, slanting it in a light that made her sound more favorable when compared to her sister, and how the older mare had used a sextet of artifacts called the Elements of Harmony to banish her. Elements of Harmony...I suddenly felt as if I were trapped in some Saturday morning cartoon serial or something. What? Nevermind, it's not important.

From the plans she shared with me, the array would take decades of careful work to construct, every detail having to be precisely calculated to maximize the power output and bring the binding spell to an end. We had to work diligently at it, using every waking moment to the fullest in order to get it ready in time for the end of the longest day of the thousandth year following her banishment. Something about this date was important to the array's function, but she couldn't explain it to me in any way I could easily understand. Something about the celestial alignment or maybe it was orbital wobble. Either way, it had to be done perfectly, or we'd miss our chance and have to wait another thousand years. Definitely not a thrilling prospect, let me tell you.

Whenever I had to sleep, time would pass, usually decades at a time, and during these periods of rest she would drill me further in magical combat. I'd be facing someone with much more experience in such things than me, after all, so I needed all the prep work that I could get. As it turned out, Nightmare Moon proved to be a merciless taskmaster. My body hit the floor, for lack of a more apt term while inside the construct, and a groan passed my lips. That was the umpteenth time I was knocked down since the torture...excuse me, since the training initially began. Death being a none issue, Nightmare Moon didn't pull any punches. While I begrudged it at the time, and still do to an extent, I can understand why. You have to use intense heat to properly forge and temper a weapon, after all.

Get up. Cold, pitiless, but given my mental state at the time I would not have accepted mercy. I hated her just as much as I hated her sister, who I blamed for my incarceration, and even now my resentment lingers. Regardless, she offered me no quarter and it was just how I wanted it. Pain is nothing but a trick of your mind. If you let it conquer you now, then you will have no hope of ever defeating Celestia.

"Do you ever stop talking?" I hissed while pushing myself to my hooves, having taken equine form in the construct. Not much point in trying to shift back into a human body after all this time, when you think about it. For one thing, even though she's able to shapeshift almost at will, it takes a lot of energy to maintain an altered form for any length of time. And on top of that, with the human body being so very different from the quadrupedal form of a pony, the energy consumption would have been even higher. Since we were also working under a time constraint and, unlike the slight shift in gender, I didn't know how to actively change our shared body out in the real world anyway. It was obvious Nightmare Moon didn't really want to waste the time it would take for me to learn how to change into something more familiar to me, let alone how to regulate the flow of our magic in order to sustain it. And honestly, she didn't know how to teach a biped to fight, nor would I be any help in that regard myself, so it would have ultimately been a detriment. Besides, I was already fairly adjusted to this new body anyway. So I really got sidetracked there, forgive me.

"Or are you so enamored with the sound of your own voice that all you can do is carry on like some chattering fucking monkey?!" A spiral made up of millions of jagged shards of glass was her response, a scream ripping from throat as blood ran down my coat in rivulets from the myriad number of cuts her attack opened up in my flesh. Perhaps taunting the demigoddess intent on shaping me into the perfect killing machine wasn't the best of ideas, but it felt good to get under her skin after all the lies she'd fed to me. The spiral of glass swarmed around me, forming a dome of agony that I was helpless to stop.

While I do enjoy a good monologue as much as the next mare, I much prefer listening to the sound of your screams. Though I couldn't see it, I know she must have been wearing that insufferable smirk as she did her level best to flay me alive. Do you think Celestia will show you any mercy, you pathetic little foal? I couldn't see anymore, the glass having shredded my eyes. Get up! Fight back, you insufferable little insect! Hatred for her welled inside me, my magic rushing through my body as my desire to silence her became overwhelming.

"I HATE YOU!" I shouted through the pain, blood welling in my throat as glass leaped down it, though the attempt to ruin my insides was short lived. A burst of black energy turned the glass to dust, which was swiftly swept away by the rising tide of my power. I can only imagine what it must have looked like, but Nightmare Moon only appeared pleased, even as my magic turned her into so much red paste. Of course, in the construct, such things were as nothing. Only the pain was real and even that was fleeting.

Good. Her remains shifted into vapor the color of her mane before reforming into her once again intact body. My own injuries vanished soon after, my now working eyes glaring at her balefully. Use that hatred well, Artemis. You will need every ounce of it you can muster to defeat my sister. She met my gaze unflinchingly. Though she is sentimental at heart, she will not hesitate to kill you should you force her hoof. She was smirking again. But you will do more than that, my dear prince. You will drive her to the edge and send her screaming into the abyss. Her smirk became a grin. Then, all of Equestria and beyond will be ours to do with as we wish.

"And why do you think I will continue to work with you after we kill her?" I spat, not really inclined to share given the circumstances. "I hate her, as I hate you, so why should I just hand the world over to a childish narcissist like you?"

You shouldn't. She shrugged carelessly, not in the least concerned to be the target of my loathing. I am no foal, Artemis. You will be my equal once we are finished here and I am more than willing to share if I can avoid needless conflict with one who hates my sister just as much as I do. She gave me an appraising look. That is if we can even determine a way to separate ourselves from one another once all is said and done.

"Now there's a horrifying thought," I muttered darkly, my nebulous tail flicking like a whip in my agitation. "Being stuck with you for all eternity? I'd rather piss glass."

Charming. She rolled her eyes at me. That's enough training for now, I think. Let us rejoin the waking world and see just how long we have been detained within my construct this time.

0o0o0o0o0o0

The scratch of rock against rock made my ears twitch, my eyes staring blankly at the ground as I painstakingly etched a complex magical array into it. It was the tenth, each of the previous ones having taken hours upon hours to complete...and the one I worked on at that moment was barely a quarter done. They say hell is repetition. I can understand why. I paused in my etching, having noticed a mistake. All that meticulous, mind numbing work, wasted because of a single, stupid mistake. With a feral growl I wiped it away using a pulse of magic, my breath coming in harsh pants as my frustration made me see red. Even when I finished that one, there were thousands upon thousands more to complete.

"I can't stand this," I seethed, the rock I'd been using to carve with soon pulverized in the grasp of my telekinesis. "It's been days and I've hardly even begun to construct it." Decades? Of this? My mind reeled at the prospect. "Is there no way for us to share the work load?" I had to do everything and it was simply maddening.

You complain more than I care to listen to. I let out an indignant snort, deciding to take a break and stare up at the stars. What? No witty retort? I ground my teeth, wishing I could shut out her voice. Oh, I see. You are ignoring me now. She chuckled. And you call me childish.

"Christ, do you ever shut up?" My ears folded back against my helmet. "I'm trying to relax and listening to you is like having to sit through someone dragging nails across a chalkboard."

Ah, there's the snark. I let out a groan in response. What has you so fascinated, by the way? Her paltry attempts to mimic my work are not worthy of such rapt attention as the kind you were displaying just now.

"If you must know, I was marking out constellations," I replied, the parallels between our worlds even more apparent as I gazed upon the stars. "The Big and Little Dipper." I pointed them each out in turn. "Orion, Leo, Cancer, Pisces, Scorpio." I sighed, feeling homesick for the first time in decades. "Makes me curious what else our worlds share, I guess."

I was not expecting that. I quirked a brow at her words. Not many could so readily point them out as you just did. There was something odd about her tone, though I couldn't quite make out what it was. Were you a practitioner of astrology before you...arrived here?

"No, I'm just full of useless trivia," I replied dryly, having always had a good memory for unimportant facts. "Astrology isn't really practiced as science back where I come from anymore." Indeed, it's now been out of practice for over twelve hundred years, if the passage of time on our two separate worlds is in sync at least.

Tis a shame. This made me frown, Nightmare Moon almost having sounded melancholic. There is much wonder to be found amidst the canvas of my sky. I opened my mouth only to immediately close it, wondering where her sudden shift in mood had come from. Knowing what I do now, though, I can't say that it surprises me in the least. Well, if you are quite finished lazing about, we have more work to do.

"'We', she says," I groused, grabbing another rock and starting to work on the array again. "Just like a mare to let a stallion do all the hard work."

Excuse me? Ouch, open mouth insert foot...or hoof, rather.

"Nothing, dear," I replied, sarcasm lacing my tone heavily. "Just marveling at what a generous taskmistress you are."

And well you should. A brief pause. Oh, you missed a line there.

"GOD FUCKING DAMN IT!"

0o0o0o0o0o0

So, have I mentioned how much I dislike heights? Well, we were back to flight training, which somehow worked with no atmosphere. Magic; destroyer of physics and wrecker of your shit!

(...)

Sorry, I felt my retelling of events was becoming a little too dark, though my sense of humor isn't exactly for everyone.

(...)

Yes, yes, I know, back to the story it is then. It took awhile and many unfortunately intimate encounters with the ground, but I was finally truly flying. I've been on planes before, but there's no comparison between that and actually taking to the air. Clumsy as it was, my first real flight was a truly liberating experience. I forgot my troubles, Nightmare Moon's plans and even my hatred for those few blissful minutes it lasted.

"This is amazing!" I cheered, the physics breaking nature of my flight forgotten as I let myself enjoy the heady rush of speed. "Why didn't you tell me flying could be so much fun?"

You are not learning to fly for "fun", Artemis. Ah, that was why. Nightmare Moon was a complete stick in the mud. How could I forget? You will be fighting somepony who will seek every advantage against you that she can get. Now, stop acting like such a colt and focus. And my feelings of elation went plummeting downwards, my face twisted into a scowl as a result. This is not something you can truly learn in the construct, as it requires the development of muscle memory and the strengthening of key muscle groups essential to flight.

"You are such a pain in my ass," I grumbled, irritation causing my stomach to churn in a distinctly uncomfortable manner. I couldn't even have a few minutes to myself without her dragging my mood back into the muck. But that was what she wanted, I suppose. Feeding my negative emotions was key to her plans for me, after all.

I was not aware that you were in possession of a donkey. I let out a groan at this particular jab. She was learning how to best push my buttons, a fact that still vexes me to this day. Wait, you are flying too high! Dive, you foal, now!

"What?" My confusion was soon replaced by pain, my flight carrying me headlong into a prismatic shield of light that crackled upon my impromptu meeting with it. Moments after impact, chains of equally multi-hued light shot from the moon below me, entangling themselves around all four of my legs, the base of my wings, my barrel and my neck before wrenching me violently downwards. My sudden reunion with the ground was spectacular, the crash echoing loudly in my ears even as fresh agony rippled through my body. My legs were twisted at odd angles and I think several ribs had fractured as well, but all I could focus on then was how much it hurt.

Stop writhing, you will only make it worse for yourself! But I couldn't help it, unable to hold still as my body slowly repaired itself. I was able to feel the bones sliding back into place. Not the most pleasant of sensations to say the very least. Just breathe through it, Artemis, it will be over soon.

"Damn it," I hissed, eyes rolling upwards to glare at the planet we orbited even as my wrath festered like a loathsome cancer within my breast. If my irritation with Nightmare Moon over spoiling the mood wasn't clue enough, then let me say my feelings for her sister only grew worse still by comparison. "Why can't I just have this one thing?" I had believed that I could escape my worries, if only briefly, only for that illusion to be violently shattered. "I won't give up, Celestia!" I cried, pushing myself up even as my bones finished knitting themselves back together again. "Do you hear me?! I will kill you, you goddamn useless coward!"

Nightmare Moon remained silent as I continued to scream out my frustrations, my pain fading to be replaced by unyielding rage and a heady dose of euphoria as I imagined all the tortures I would visit upon my jailer once I finally escaped. I suppose my fellow captive wanted this reaction, even if she had tried to warn me about flying too high. It's also likely that she let me vent because she realized I needed to, otherwise it would be difficult for me to focus on the still lengthy task ahead of completing the preparations required for our escape. Eventually I tired myself out, my breath coming in ragged gasps.

We will have retribution, Artemis. Nightmare Moon's promise helped to calm me, if only slightly. She will not evade our vengeance, no matter what plan she enacts or strategy she attempts. I bared my teeth, greatly looking forward to the day when Celestia would lay broken at my hooves. Catch your breath and find your center, my prince. We still have much more to do for our wishes to be realized.

0o0o0o0o0o0

"Get out of my way," I snapped as I stepped into the darkness of the moon, the misty shadow creatures having been waiting for me. At my harsh command they cleared a path for me, though they watched me intently. How, I wondered, was I ever afraid of these creatures? They were nothing compared to me. My upper lip curled in disgust at my former fears, though even then I had to admit, however silently, that their staring was proving to be mildly unsettling. "What even are these things, Nightmare?"

Entities from outside the physical realms of reality. I glanced over their shifting forms as she explained. They drift through the spaces between, feasting on the fears of those who live in the material world, though their influence in these ethereal places is limited at best.

"So how are they here then?" If they came from some sort of astral plane, or something like that, how could they be manifested out in the physical world?

Because, at the center of this darkness, there is a tear in the fabric of reality. My eyes widened upon hearing that. They use it to slip into our world and have done so for centuries now.

"How did it happen?" I asked carefully, wondering if this tear had anything to do with my arrival into this world.

As I once explained, a being of pure chaos once ruled Equestria, using it as his own personal playground. There was genuine disgust in her voice as she recalled the time when Discord, spirit of chaos and disharmony, once terrorized Equestria for sport. His powers warped reality in unnatural ways. I have a theory that his actions weakened the walls that separate our reality from that of the immaterial, which allowed these shadows to open a hole through which they could escape.

"It...could that be how I came here as well?" I decided to ask, wondering if Celestia truly was at fault in that case.

It is certainly a possibility. Nightmare Moon sounded doubtful, however. But I feel that it is merely one of the factors that led to your arrival. Otherwise you would have been here before my banishment and not immediately following it. She did have a point, my doubts swiftly erased by her logic.

"Okay, but why are we out here then?" From what she had said regarding her plans, we wouldn't be carving any part of the array out here, so the purpose behind our little expedition eluded me for the moment.

The immaterial is a place of power, Artemis. I felt a sudden chill as I walked further on, not liking where her words were taking the conversation. A realm of raw energy based on emotion and instinct rather than reason and logic. We will be utilizing it to energize the array. That brought my trek to an immediate halt. What is it? Why have you stopped?

"Because this sounds like a terrible idea," I replied, frowning severely as I gazed further ahead into the grayscale world that was the dark side of her moon. "Drawing power from a place where things sound like this Discord guy would love to hang out?" I shook my head. "Is that really something we should be doing?"

I will not deny that there are risks involved. That sounded like she was putting it mildly. But if we wish to be absolutely certain of our escape, we will need more than just the aid of the stars.

"I just want you to know that I really don't like this plan," I told her, though I did proceed onward once more. "So if we end up blowing the moon apart or unleashing a Bloodthirster, I reserve the right to say I told you so."

What in Faust's name is a Bloodthirster? I couldn't help letting out a snort, deciding to mess with my fellow captive a bit.

"Big, angry, likes to rip people to bloody ribbons," I replied casually, not mentioning that they're also works of complete fiction. "Not something you want to ever meet, really, not unless you plan on sacrificing a metric ton of virgins to it."

(...)

Stop giving me that look. It's not like I invented the concept of it, after all. "Even then it'll probably end up murder-fucking you anyway."

(...)

Oh for Christ's sake, it's fiction! Stop looking at me like that already!

A truly disturbing creature. This from the mare who wished to plunge the world into eternal night and planned to use me to commit sororicide. While a concerning prospect, we will not be doing anything that would allow such a beast to enter our world. Still, perhaps this will require more caution than I had initially thought. A snicker escaped my muzzle before I could even think of stopping it. This is no laughing matter. I do not need some foul demon from the beyond ruining my plans. That did it. The snickering turned into full blown laughter. Please, take this more seriously, Artemis! A creature the likes of which you described would be next to impossible to contain! That only made it worse. Oh, for Faust's sake, you are such a colt!

0o0o0o0o0o0

It was another hour maybe before we reached the center, though you wouldn't know it just by looking. Like every other part of our prison, it was simply a flat area of dull gray dust and rock. My less tangible senses, however, were alight with this high pitched droning that set my teeth on edge.

"So, this is it, right?" I asked for confirmation, wondering what exactly I wasn't seeing. Then again, given those shadow creatures, I'm kind of glad it remained hidden from my sight. I have enough terrible memories as it is.

Yes, this is the rift. I nodded, having figured as much. It felt like someone was taking a belt sander to my horn or something, just this constant buzzing sensation in my skull. We will be setting up a conduction matrix, a type of array that transmits energy across great distances. It will allow us to tap into the tear and safely siphon the power of the immaterial through it.

"And you're sure of that?" Knowing my luck we were just as likely to summon the flying spaghetti monster or do something equally idiotic by mistake. Don't ask.

Don't tell me you're afraid. I felt my hackles raise at the taunt. Relax, my dear prince, I know what I am doing. That wasn't exactly comforting. Now, begin with the standard thaumic induction circle. And so it went, until the conduction matrix was complete. Once we finish the array, and the proper time arrives, we will return here to activate it. And then we would finally be free.

"I'm looking forward to it."

0o0o0o0o0o0

At this point you might be wondering about the clarity with which I have been able to recall these events. Honestly, I haven't been sharing every single detail of the time I spent with Nightmare during our shared incarceration. Much of it tends to blur together and there are large segments of memory that are missing entirely, likely due to mental trauma and the passage of time simply taking its toll upon my mind. Human beings were never meant to live for such lengthy periods as I have, magical pony body or not. So, naturally, what I have been sharing with you are the events I can remember most distinctly, and even then my ability to do so may be inaccurate in some fashion or another due to emotions and/or my mindset at the time coloring the true nature of those events.

The time spent constructing the array in particular is a jumbled mess, mostly due to the repetitious nature of the work and my own sense of extreme boredom. There is something that happened during this period of time that may interest you, but I will warn you that it is mildly disturbing to hear. I know, you wouldn't have asked otherwise, but I feel that I should still preface what I am about to say with a warning. You won't like it. Why should you, when even thinking about it turns my stomach? As you wish, there will be no more delays. I had decided to get in some practice on real world targets, shaping rock into facsimiles of alicorns that I blew apart in a myriad of ways. Yet it felt unsatisfying. Destroying rock, no matter its shape, was doing nothing to sate my cravings for the rush using my magic usually brought me.

"It's not enough," I growled in frustration after destroying my twentieth sculpture. "Why isn't it enough?" I remembered feeling the same rush during similar exercises before, so what was different? The answer was a relatively simple one. I was well and truly addicted but now the drug wasn't working at the same dose as it had before. I needed more, but how was I supposed to get it? There was nothing else for me to destroy, nothing except the shadow creatures. Would they suffice, I wondered? "Only one way to find out~" I then took to the air, though I remembered to remain low to the lunar surface. It didn't take me long to reach my destination, touching down just outside the dark zone. I waited in silence, eyes scanning the darkness for signs of movement.

They eventually began to gather, their amorphous masses shifting in the dark and their glowing eyes watching me with what might have been wariness. Did they feel the emotion they supposedly fed upon? Did they know why I had come? The idea that I struck fear into the same beings that once did the same to me was satisfying to me, a desire for vengeance fueling my magic as fear became unadulterated hate. They shrank back as black lightning arced from my horn, the energy coalescing into a mighty bolt a split second later. I felt a heady rush of savage glee as it ripped through their ranks, the dying ones screeching even as the survivors scattered. I made a game of chasing them down, relentless in my hunt and eager to feed my addiction through their pain.

It brings me only shame to speak of now, but I laughed as they cowered before me, ruthlessly butchering the shadowy creatures for the sake of nothing but my own pleasure. A few tried to fight back, I think, but they were unable to so much as lay a scratch me. Their bodies crumbled like ash when they died, the air soon choked with it. In the end there was but a single shadow left. I had it backed into the wall of a crater, where it trembled at my approach. I let it see its death, my horn pulsing with light as I gathered the energy to obliterate the creature entirely. I took a moment to sneer before unleashing my attack. The rock beneath the shadow creature shattered, all that remained of it a black stain and a scorch mark.

You are finally ready, my prince. I only vaguely heard what Nightmare Moon said, too busy reveling in the sensation of having ended their existences to truly pay attention. Celestia will not stand a chance.

I told you that you wouldn't like it. I don't know what else to say. I slaughtered the shadow creatures without even a shred of mercy. And why? To get my fix. I'm sorry, I need a moment.

0o0o0o0o0o0

Again, sorry about that, I'm just feeling a little rattled. Thank you for the tea, by the way, it helped settle my nerves a bit.

(...)

No, I can continue, but thanks for your concern. Now, where was I?

(...)

Oh, yes, I had just finished brutally murdering a group of sapient entities just to secure my next buzz. I strode out of the dark zone, skipping along like some giddy little school girl. I felt energized and ready to take on the whole world, riding high on the rush of power that unleashing my frustrations upon the parasites had given me.

"That was amazing," I purred, taking a moment to stretch languidly. "I've never felt so alive!"

I imagine you've never been so filthy, either. This made me pause, as I had no idea what Nightmare was talking about. Look at yourself, Artemis, you're caked with ash.

"Ash?" I lifted a foreleg to inspect it, noting that I was indeed covered in gray ash that only smeared into my coat when I tried to rub it off. "Ugh, it won't come off." I tried scrubbing harder, but it only made it worse. "What is this stuff?"

Don't tell me you've forgotten what you just did so quickly as that. I blinked in confusion. You only spent the last few hours hunting down those parasites, remember? Her words brought me back into focus and allowed me to shake off the euphoria that had been clouding my senses. I'll have to teach you a cleansing spell in order to get it off. It is no substitute for a bath, but it will do well enough in this case.

I didn't reply as I looked myself over, the memory of the last shadow I had killed playing through my mind on a loop. I recalled how scared its eyes had looked and the way it had burst into ash when my magic annihilated it. it made me feel just as filthy on the inside as I had become on the outside, my stomach twisting into painful, nauseating knots. What was wrong with me?

Are you even paying any attention to what I am saying? Nightmare Moon's annoyed voice cut through the shock, causing me to nearly jump out of my fancy metal boots in surprise. I was trying to talk you through how to execute the cleansing spell. I shook my head, feeling shaken and still quite sick to my stomach. Are you well? I gave a nod, shaky as it was. Are you certain? Experiencing any dizziness or weakness in your limbs? Perhaps you should-

"No," I cut her off abruptly, trying to shake the inexplicable feeling that gnawed at me with such unsettling persistence. "No, thank you, I'm fine." Why was I feeling so disturbed? The shadows were nothing, mere parasites, and just weren't worthy of consideration, let alone the turmoil that raged inside of me over their deaths at my hooves. But those eyes haunted me, terrified and pleading even as I snuffed them out. "I'm just a little tired." Liar.

Very well then, Artemis. She sounded like she didn't really believe me but to let it pass without any further objections. In any case, take a few moments of rest and we will continue work on the array once you are ready. She had likely passed it off as exhaustion, or something equally trivial, given how much magic I had just finished throwing around, but I knew better. Even if I couldn't admit it to myself, I knew what was wrong. I had crossed the line, becoming a monster as a result, and there was no way to take it back.

0o0o0o0o0o0

Excuse me, but can we take a recess or something? I'm not feeling very well after all that and I'd like some time to recover.

(...)

Thank you, Your Highness.

Author's Note

The way things are going to work as far as scheduling goes, since several people have asked, is that I'm going to alternate writing chapters for my two stories. So just keep that in mind should you get worried about what's taking so long

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this installment of To Know Hell and, as always, let me know what you think in the comments below. Have a nice day