Luna and the ten Spirit Sigils

dreamscape=an hour before dawn-princess luna's pov

"that seems to be it for tonight." I sighed in relief. just then three doors slid into existence. now this was nothing new to me. what was odd was that there was a locking device with no keyhole only a slot big enough for a playing card and ten bizarre symbols printed on ten buttons. one door, in particular, drew me to it the dreamer's cutie mark was a white crescent moon  encircled by eight golden triangles the black backdrop gave me chills. I have seen what becomes of those who lock themselves and I'll have my crown as breakfast if one pony steps down the path to darkness!

i stood in front of the strange black door. and I lit my horn. that seemed to be my first folly, my second, trying to break my ever increasing drop speed. the more I try to slow my descent the faster I fell. a trap? I don't know whether to be awed by its simplicity or be annoyed by its thoroughness. I tucked in my wings and started to freefall wheels slowly floated up and slowed my fall by breaking through them.  Did I stop in the black pit? then an arch magus class sleep spell.

when I awoke I was in a small antechamber. there was one door and several pedestals each with an object standing upon them a plumed  feathered quill, a textbook, a single shoe, a samurai sword, an old grungy hat, a tall candle.

the door was a solid block of mental bedrock. so were the walls, ceiling, and floors. solid, unbreakable.

in inspecting the collection revealed the objects were, in fact, keys and each was booby trapped. in my navy aura, I picked up the quill. I immediately regretted it. the door opened and a great flood of reverse thought entered the room. it swept me off my hooves and into a large room. in the room was a grand but simple table and on this table was a tri-mirror that one could see into from the seat far from the device.

the quill was gone or rather everywhere! I was inside it! determined not to be afraid I strode to the negotiator's chair. what I saw next can be summed up in two words: utter disbelief or nightmare moon.

"my, my, mmyyyy! the fates must be drinking to weave this turn of events, it's been far too long , ehh friend Lulu?"

"Thou are no friend of thine nightmare!! now tell us how thee live? the elements destroyed thee, I know it!"

"funny, mirth was your way, so was caring and honor."

"quite monster!!" I shouted. I felt my temper rise. but nightmare raised a minotaur-like Hand to quell me.

"who was it who came with fear, jealousy and bitter rage asking for help? who set the terms? who failed to split me off so my soul could return to whence it came? and I'm the Foul and oh so devious monster? oh, lulu I had no idea you were so heartless!" nightmare's face looked generally hurt. "besides I only wish now is to fulfill the talks that the pen token started. as the mind's master says 'the pen is mightier than any sword'."

"do thy swear it on the moon above?" I asked not knowing what answer I truly wanted, no meant she was she was some form of illusion. but a yes, a yes means she facing her dark alter ego!!!

"will do thee?" moon answered a twinkle burning in her turquoise slits the mare had for eyes.

"will I do. as long as you do too."

"then I see no reason we are not of accord, keeper of my sigil rune."

"if'n thou wishest to speak then you have my ear."

"I will speak plainest, I was your darkest want, I am now what you hide under your many masks. what you are beneath the lies and pretenses. I am your sigil beast. a guardian spirit forged from your own essence. though I was tainted I am now pure as dear friend snowdrop's winter blessing. or at least as pure as you'll let me be. as I said before my power springs from the darkness itself.

"and why should I grant you favor hmm? it was because of you I was banished for 1000 years. it was your birth that tainted my name."

`"why? why not admit that we are the same and different at once. I did my own penance. flaming honesty, bubbling laughter, gusty loyalty, earthen kindness, purist generosity, divine magic. they saved me from myself and shown me my error-est ways and for that, i thank them with all my missing heart."

"so you admit your heartlessness and thus making you a liar..."

"all born from the soul are heartless, that is just the way my kind are. I am no liar less YOU bare that twisted, twisted monitor." I  in the mirror scolded.

"okay let us say I believe you miss Moon. you paid penance that begs the 100,000 bit question; WHAT.THE. HAY. DO. YOU. WANT?

"hmmm, good question."I mused a wide grin on her face's muzzle showing a row of pearly white daggers which were in truth the midnight mare's teeth that would make an orthodontist proud, and a great white green with envy.

"WHAT YOU DON'T KNOW?!!" an irate lulu.

"oh, poo-poo on you luna! I know. but after being dunked in laughter's spring I see the wonders of games! I'll give you three guesses. find out what I want. BUT be for the games begin I'll give you a hint for the price of a boon by your hoof. no boon no clue. fail to guess we start again, this time, tomorrow night. a fate I'm sure you wish to avoid. and the weaker you get the same goes for me. and before you blame old nighty nightmare moon for this my hoof...er hand as it was turned then tied."

"I love games but the stakes are rather high tell me first how do thou like being held as the puppet of another? instead of the one who pulls the strings?" luna quipped.

owch!! well, the truth will set you free. but if'n it doesn't hurt like a mother bucking flank shot! but still I deserve it my first actions were utterly deplorable.but that was then and this is now I'm a different mare. few as misguided as me get a second chance. this blessing I shan't squander.

"to be frank with you, my dear luna, ti's like sucking on a large steaming horseapple loaded with maggots. and I seem to be getting my just desserts. fitting, no? I had you in nearly unbreakable bonds. after all, it took the elements to sever yours. I'm afraid I am in similar  straights and you keep the key in your very soul! boon if'n you please luna."

"the "forced game ploy"? very well played Moon, very well played indeed. I see you and raise you an agreement t all terms of said game as your boon." luna deadpanned wearing the royal poker face.

did I ever pull such a cute face? queeee! ahem, must control myself. if not for my own sake then hers. oh, she is just sooo scrumptious when lulu's serious. ah well back to my captor's game. "thank you keeper. now lets cut to the carrot in the cake. guess one, shoot."

"t'is the obvious option my magick? do you want my magic?" said a luna with a grin that mocked the Cheshire cat.

"I'm sorry 'your magicks' is not what I want. jolly good try, though. that leaves you with two chances to find out what I want do you wish another hint?" I laughed.

"no, nightmare save your false charity. my next guess is a form in the waking world. is it? yes, it is! it has to be. well your not going to be getting one!..."

"want not for a body. as you can see that has been provided me. this is my free clue it has to do with the heart something the monster discord earned. i only wish to gain the same courtesy.

"you.... you just want to be forgiven? that all by meee of all ponies?!! to pass this test i must forgive the evil mare i once was?? oh how ironic. oh, this dreamer has some balls and a load of gawl! tell me is that the answer?

"YES!!!YES!! YES! For if you forgive me my purpose will awaken in me. it will awaken with the power of 13,000 lunar cycles. the only reason I exist it to serve you princess luna, mistress of the night, goddess of the moon.

" IF what you say is true. I will test you with a sunlight spell 'dawn's breaking'." lulu's mock sun glowed with a golden light but I a mare born from the dark stood in the light for the first time in ages and I felt no need to quench it. "you are forgiven moon."

princess luna's pov

this makes as much sense as discord!! my spell meant to purge an evil heart. and what do I find but MY heart was being judged by my heart. but eh I've been fooled once so I sifted through the feelings all match my moon phase precisely. none before and avoid after than now. no deceptions were present.

then with a grin that can only be described as joyous. "I am forgiven and all that entails. oh, thank you!!! thank you!! thank you!"  nightmare moon squealed like a foal who had been told hearts warming had come early.

just the mirror holding the image of the mare of shadows dissolved leaving the mare in the flesh.

"this room has served it's intended purpose. it would be foalharty to stay longer than is needed, my keeper. shall we be going?"

"take me on the safest path to the dream master,"I command. and she pulled a key without a single tooth out of her expansive bosom and tapped the key three times and the room itself rearranged into two halls a marble monkey's head rested above one hall. an Onix ram's head the other.

"curious, moon what do you know of this?" I asked moon after all more is safer, right?

a sad little smile crosses her face. "more than I can say to you. i'm afraid."

"what do you mean? come moon don't be that way! you can tell me." I chidded.

nightmare moon frowned almost a scowl. and sighed heavily. "I may be free form your prison of slumber. but our hooves stand on soil faaar different form what either of us knows of though I may nt have earned the monicker of 'friend' but until that day comes, may I call you ally and me in kind. and it is the land that does hold my tongue " the she got on one knee and bowwed in front of me in a minos's gargoyle's fashion managing to be regal, attractive and intimidating all at once.

"oaky 'ally' what may I know without tipping the pie cart?"**MMMMNNnn pie.* my sister likes her cake, but just give me some custard in a shell. danm it too hell i need answers, now not pie. but pie!*

"we can ask just two queries and only ask twice. I beg you luna by your moon trust me with this task. after all though we stand apart we'll always both fall together. "

"we'll alway both fall" eh? i best watch my new ally. should there be a stumble the outcome could be castrophic! for both our sakes."you may. my trust is in you. pray you don't give me reason for regret."

"head of marble i pose to you the question: if you were we and you were to ask the other if your path was the unsafest what would he say?"

"Diablo's was safest and mine most quickest." said not- deablo.

"are you Diablo oh, marble one?" nightmare crooned, no she was practically purring!

"yes." the white stone monkey.

"then you are the Liar! last answer you were not Diablo! come luna before they reset themselves." grabbing luna under her right wing nightmare moon halled  luna bodily though the onix passageway.

"how you know?" was all I could say to moon.

"these are the traps tia had mix with some of our's and the fact I'm in here can mean only one thing they have a clam on both spirits of the shining sun and the darkest moon.we'll need to link in a new way if there is to be a chance."

soon we came to the end of the hall. ready to meet whet could strike fear into a nightmare goddess.