NightShy

The royal alicorn just stood there, blinking in a mild paralysis as her mind desperately tried to compute the random theories."She...she totally did it...that was definitely her hoof...upon my flank...intentionally done to create some form of reaction. Was she, coming on to me. Wait, was it...a pity slap?" Luna blinked and sat slowly, clutching her head. "Wait...no...can't be...she wouldn't come on to me like that."

The midnight mare shook her head as she put on a forced smile. She figured that the mare had simply stretched her hoof upwards, and that it was simply an accident. Luna nodded, accepting her theory as truth. The alicorn made her way into the library, yawning again as her nose picked up the sweet tang of orange juice. Twilight and Celestia were busy, smiling as they floated daisy stalks into each other's mouths.

Luna's gaze flipped to Fluttershy, who hummed to herself as she grasped a carrot between her front hooves, nibbling on it softly as she looked towards the mare. She gave a soft, quiet sigh as she looked at Twilight, then a nervous gasp as blue magic slipped the carrot into the Pegasus' mouth. With a nervous blush, Shy accepted the vegetable as she smiled up at Luna.

The next few days uneventfully went on, except sunday. After dinner, when the younger two began asking the Princesses to tell them stories, Celestia volunteered her sister to begin first. Reluctantly, Luna trotted towards the large fireplace, biting her lip as she thought up a tale to tell. Shy had begun to warm up to the castle setting, and even thought she was still eager to return to her creatures the next day.

"Alright...time for me to tell the story of..." Luna began, but quickly stopped as she clutched her belly."

Her sister blinked softly, tiling her head."Something wrong, sister?"

"I...I feel...I'll something is...no....can't be." Luna whispered

"What?"

"You...l...locked Nightmare away...in my subconscious...yes?"

Celestia was confused Dan worried at the question."But of course...she was weak...and I locked her away after the Elements drove her back."

Without warning, Luna galloped off, her bedroom door slamming as tears made a breadcrumb-trail to the alicorn's chambers. Confused, Fluttershy rushed to catch up with Luna, smashing through the door shoulder-first."Luna!?"

The midnight mare clutched her head whimpering and panting as her tail flicked and twitched."N...no....n...not this....not again." Luna whined, pleading that what was happening wasn't what she thought.

"Princess...Luna....what is.....?" Fluttershy's ears drooped as she looked up, the ceiling breaking away to a hurricane of spinning storm clouds, lighting striking all around them. Red scorch marks cracked along the floor, gaps glowing with dark magic.

Luna looked at the mare, her eyes glowing bright white as her face was contorted into pure horror."G...get.....out!" she screamed, a royal hoof guard clanking as it dropped from Luna's leg.

Fluttershy was stricken paralyzed, unable to move as the door behind them shook. As the guards attempted to get in, black, wispy magic clung to the door. Celestia's Holy Light spell slowly chipped away at the demonic spirit blocking them, but it was slow.

Luna stopped struggling after a few seconds, turning her back on the Pegasus as her tears continued to drip onto the floor. No sobs...no crying...just tears dripping down her face, as if not of her control or concern. Fluttershy was shivering like never before as she looked at the mare from the back."L...L............Luna?" Another hoof guard slipped from the other leg, the clang making everything quiet.

A calm stillness draped over the room, time almost stopping. It wasn't just quiet, it was intentionally silent, the feeling you get when you sit in a pitch black room, knowing you're not alone. Little was heard apart from the beating of the Pegasus' heart, and the soft dripping of tears from the alicorn. Drip....drip....drip.....drip......drip. Fluttershy spoke again, more quietly."Princess?"

The alicorn quickly turned her head towards the Pegasus, making Shy almost scream out at the sight. Luna's eyes were pitch black, empty voids filled with nothing, full, but empty all the same. They continued to drip, but the tears were the same black color, a thick tar that left streaks down the mare's face. Her body shivered, as if motion and thought were going at a super-sonic level, a stomach-sickening speed that would make anypony shutter at the thought.

The alicorn's face was neutral, but long fangs poked through the skin of Luna's lower lip, obviously not meant for her bone structure. What were once front hooves were spikes, pointed sharp and digging into the hardwood paneling that made up the room's floor. The beautiful, soft coat was reduced to a sickly grey, patches of black poking thought the tattered figure.

Shy wanted to run, but didn't have the chance. Shy made one move, a step backwards, and the former alicorn bolted forward, her eyes deeper than the sky at midnight as she was nose-to-nose with the Pegasus. The form clutched Fluttershy by the waist with her magic, a wicked, twisted smile curling as a spiked leg was lifted and pressed against Shy's chest.

"L...Luna...n...no, please...GAH..." Fluttershy's voice caught in her throat as she felt the spike press into her hard, neither bone nor muscle resisting the action as the spike pierced her right lung, coming out of her back as it dripped with blood and ichor."Luna....p...." Shy stopped to cough, red slowly drippings down her chin.

Shy wasn't crying, she was simply, surprised. As she looked at the demon that would mean her end, she knew what was underneath, and, without thought, leaned forward and pressed her lips to the monster's. A frightened shriek erupted from the creature, a white flash bursting from the demon's eyes. Within seconds, the spikes had recessed, as well as everything else that made the demon, demonic. The fangs went away, the coat brightened and became puffy, and only the tar-like drippings from the alicorn's formerly black eyes remained.

Two thuds echoed, one of Luna dropping to all four knees, and the other of Fluttershy's limp body dropping to the floor. The alicorn opened her mouth to scream, but being sore from the demonic possession, Luna could only whine as she crawled over, pulling the Pegasus to her."No....nononono!" Luna repeated, the spell on the door disolving as two guards rushed in. Luna had Shy lifted into a tight hug, tears staining the yellow pony's coat as the Pegasus' hooves dangled lifelessly.

Celestia and Twilight rushed in after them, the guards quickly rushing for a nurse. With another drop, Twilight galloped to Shy, tears welling in her eyes as she pet the mare's limp hoof, sniffling.

"Twilight...go...to...Z....Zecora." Luna choked out."She's the only one....unicorn magic can't fix this...." She was right, demonic spells and effects were resilient against the conventional magic, but a zebra's brew could repair the damage done, even of such devastating levels.

Celestia was still, her mouth agap as Twilight teleported away."Luna....I thought..."

"W...what? You thought Nightmare was the worst demon I possessed?" Luna's eyes shimmered with tears,"Nightmare was a conduit...it let other demons...rent space...when it was absent. Now that you've locked it away...I had feared others could take me over. It seems..." Luna looked back down, her voice becoming choked up,"I was right."

Fluttershy had lost alot of blood when Twilight had rushed back in, applying a large, shimmering cloth to the yellow mare's chest. With a bright spark, the fabric bound to the pony, her body still quiet and unresponsive.

"Zecora said she needs at least a week...she needs to rest while the demonic damage is sealed." Twilight explained, a nurse levitating Shy towards the medical wing."She said it was good that she only had one mark...usually...um...demons...shred their targets."

Luna's heart sunk deeper."A week?" the alicorn repeated,"thank you Twilight."

Celestia slowly trotted forward, cautiously looking her sister over."Luna...this....this isn't normal...there has to be something I can do to repel the dark spirits trying to get to you..."

"YOU THINK I HAVEN'T CHECKED?!" Luna interrupted, tears trailing down her face still."Everything is wrong...Nightmare left a gap in my mind...let others like it in and twist me...change me. Fluttershy's love for me may have delayed one of the demons' grasp on me, but others...I wont be safe...you won't be safe...I can't stay."

Luna slowly stood on all fours, her front hooves cracking at the joint as she trotted slowly forward, hastily packing all other possessions into a magic bag. Celestia hurried after her,"Wait, you can't just leave...you're a princess...you can't...I...I won't allow it!"

"You don't own me, sister. You and I both know that neither marriage, nor blood bonds us together. You can have full control of Equestria and rule over it's people yourself...as always..." Luna softly added, trotting forward and placing more bobbles into the sack, magically holding it all with room to spare.

"Please Luna....don't do this...you can't last on your own. I...I need you."

Luna trotted over towards the balcony, flapping so that she stood with her hind legs on the railing, eyes fixed on Celestia."Tell Fluttershy that I'm sorry." The alicorn extended her hooves, falling backwards and free-falling towards the ground. Celestia hurried to the railing, her sister growing an aura of magic as she disappeared mere inches from the grass of the courtyard.

A guard slowly trotted towards the alabaster mare, standing at attention."Orders...Princess Celestia?"

"At ease, Red Alert..." She spoke, addressing the guard by name,"...there is nothing we can do."

"Ma'am...permission to speak freely?"

"Hmm?"

"You are a powerful mare...why not stop her?"

Celestia let out a brief, singular snicker, her face remaining stoic, hiding the powerful guilt that struck her every second."I can't...she's a grown alicorn...I can't tell her what to do. All I can do is...look at the moon, and hope she is safe..."

"That's depressing...ma'am" the female guard admitted, her pale, violet tone glowing in the moonlight.

"Isn't it always?"

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Currents change without reason,
It isn't always their fault;
The sun and the moon and the winds,
Can call the water to go or come to a halt.