Author's Note

It's the probably last chapter. Why? Just take a look:

https://www.fimfiction.net/blog/848249/acta-2-is-coming-again
https://www.fimfiction.net/blog/848340/dear-eu
https://www.fimfiction.net/blog/848745/fuck-it-just-fuck-it

II. Chapter 18: You can count on me

Actually... I don't know what happened. After opening my eyes, I saw a long white corridor. Every few meters there was a steel door, and the floor was made of plain, white tiles, it was this one from my nightmares, but this time... Everything was normal. There were no screams and no lights were flashing. I looked around and I saw that I was wearing dark-gray shorts and a light gray shirt, and my feet were bare. It seemed to me that I was also much lower. I looked the corridor and decided to walk along it, when I walked, turned my head to the left and saw a glass window on which was written: "Government Genetic Laboratory in West Virginia" and behind it I saw some people dressed in lab gowns and sitting over some notes, sipping coffee. They were scientists, among them I noticed... My mother. Like the rest, she was dressed in a lab coat, and on the left side of her chest was a small plaque on which her name was written. I went to the window to read what was written on her plaque. When I was just a few meters from the glass, she raised her head, looked at me in surprise, then she immediately got up, went out of this strange room into the hallway, attracting the attention of other scientists and quickly pulled me away from the glass so that others they didn't see me.

"Colin, what are you doing here?" - She asked seriously, kneeling beside me - "How did you get out of your room?"

"Room? What?..." - I asked, looking at her somewhat surprised - "Where are we?"

"In the laboratory, you remember? I'm Dr. Elizabeth, and you... You're Object 013, but... I've given you a name. You're Colin"

Elizabeth... So that's her name, but... Where did she come from? And... What am I actually? It was a dream, but... Did it show what was happening earlier and is it real? I decided to empathize with my role.

"Yes... Colin, it's my name" - I said, a bit hesitant

"Well, now tell me how did you get out of your room?"

"I... The door was opened, so I went out through it"

"Listen... You shouldn't have done this, you know we can get in a lot of trouble because of it"

"I'm sorry, it will not happen again" - I said looking at the floor

Then she brought her lips closer to my ear and whispered to it - "Don't worry little one. I'll get us out of here and soon we'll be together. You have my word" - Then she stood up, and reach her hand to me - "Come on, I'll take you to your room "

"Okay..." - I said, giving her a hand

My mother, or actually... Doctor Elizabeth led me through the corridor of the facility. From time to time, other scientists passed by, guards armed with machine guns. We were passed the door with the numbers next to which there was a thick window, and I saw people behind it, but... They were different. Many of them were distorted, larger and more muscular than the average human, and one had even a few metal parts, instead of organic ones. I kept closer to Elizabeth, who led me to my room.

"Here we are" - She put some card to the reader and at that moment, the door on which was the number 013 was opened

"This is my room?" - I asked going inside and turning to her

"Yes, that's your room" - She said, kneeling beside me and putting her hand on my shoulder - "Listen, I'll come to you later. For now, I have many important things to do. Don't leave the room and be polite, okay?

"Okay..." - I nodded, then Elizabeth stood up, left the room and the door closed. Behind the door, I heard only the muffled sound of her footsteps, which was less and less audible

I looked around the room, which was illuminated with a standard light bulb. There was a bed by the wall, a small table and a chair, and a shelf with books on it. I went to the window and I looked behind it, the corridor was completely empty. I tried to get out of this strange room, but it was impossible because the door was slammed. I was afraid of this place, I wanted to escape from here. I was afraid that this dream could turn into another nightmare and... I wasn't wrong.

First, I heard a loud alarm sound, and then the message "Warning! Object 072 has breached the securities! I repeat! Object 072 has breached the securities!" Behind the window, I saw guards who were shooting at something, when suddenly... The lights just out and darkness prevailed everywhere. When the light caught fire, there were no more guards. On the walls behind the glass, I saw traces of blood and burns and a high shadow on the left, which was getting closer. I started to step backward until I leaned against the wall. Behind the glass, I saw a strange, three meters tall creature resembling a human being. Its skin looked as if it was made of some strange black gel. I couldn't see any eyes, mouth or nose on its head. Its legs and arms were unnaturally long, and there were long, sharp claws on its fingers. Then that the creature turned its head towards me, and slowly walked to the glass and put its hand on it. I got a little closer and it was at that time that the creature scratched the window with its claw, leaving marks on it. After a moment, it moved away from the glass and came to my door. It knocked a few times and then doors suddenly opened. I already wanted to go towards them when suddenly the creature entered my room. My breathing accelerated and my heart beat faster. The creature looked at me, it gestured with his hand and signaled me to leave this room.

I went to the door very slowly, all the while watching this strange creature. When I left the room, I felt the stench of blood and burning. On the walls, I saw the same marks that I saw behind the glass in my room. I turned back and I saw that this mysterious creature was gone. I took a few breaths, trying to calm down, then I turned to the left and began to walk down the hall of this strange facility. When I was walking, all the time I had the impression that someone is staring at me. I turned around nervously from time to time. All the time I saw a high shadow behind me that disappeared a fraction of a second after I saw it. I started to go a little faster, it was then that I heard a loud squeak behind me, something like... Scratching the metal door with claws. I started to run faster, I heard behind me that something is chasing me. When I was running, I turned my head and I saw a tall, black, horned creature who was chasing me. I stumbled over something and knocked over, I turned my head back and noticed the clawed hand that lifted me up and pressed me against the wall.

"Got you! You thought that you would run away from me?" - I looked at the face of my torturer. I felt my heart beat faster, it was a demon who was responsible for my mother's death. It pressed me to the wall, looked at me with hatred, grinning his sharp teeth.

"No... You're not here, you're not real!" - I shouted

"I wouldn't be so sure..." - The demon said, throwing me to the left side of the corridor

"No... Leave me alone, please... I don't want it!" I said, nervously stepping back and trying to get up

"I waited too long for it..." - At that moment, the claws at his right hand extended, and he began to approach me - "You thought that you would be able to escape from me?... Well... You were wrong..."

I tried to escape from him all the time, unfortunately in vain. The demon was getting closer, after a while he grabbed my throat with his left paw and lifted me up. I saw the claws on his right hand getting longer... I tried to break out all the time, but he was too strong.

"Sweet dreams..."

"I am begging you, no!" - I shouted, closing my eyes, from which tears flowed, when suddenly... The grip from my throat disappeared, and I just fell to the floor. I had my eyes closed all the time, I was afraid to open them. I didn't know what I could see.

"Colin, are you okay?" - I heard after a moment

When I opened my eyes, I saw hooves in front of me. When I looked up, I saw Nightmare Moon staring at me with a sad expression on my face, she was really tall. Moon just stood there and staring at me, then she just smiled at me calmly. I stood up, took a few steps back and looked into her eyes. A few tears flowed down my cheeks, I ran to her I wrapped my hands around her neck and I hugged her. Nightmare Moon returned my embrace, she bent slightly and she gently pressed me to herself.

"It's okay, Colin. I'm here"

"Nightmare Moon, please take me away from here... I'm scared..." - I said sobbing and hugging to her

"Don't be afraid, it'll be over soon. Close your eyes"

I closed my eyes without letting go of her. I felt Moon pick me up and wrap her wings around me. The wind began to blow, which was playing with my hair. After a short while, the wind weakened, I could hear the rustle of leaves and crickets around me and felt a breath of cool air.

"Okay, you can open up your eyes" - Moon said

When I opened my eyes, I looked around and I saw that I was in the castle in Everfree Forest, there was a night, there were hundreds of stars in the sky. I looked at the worried face of Nightmare Moon, who was holding me in the arms. I didn't know what to say, she just sat and held me... A little, scared boy. I closed my eyes, from which tears began to flow again and I laid my head on her left shoulder. Moon gently pressed me to herself, I hugged her, I had still closed eyes. I felt how she gently stroked my black hair.

"T-thank you ..." - I stammered, all the time hugging her - "Thank you took me away from there"

"Don't cry, it's okay..." - She said, putting me on the floor. I felt a cold, dirty stone under my feet. Her hooves were still resting on my shoulders, and she was still looking. I sat down in front of her and I put my head on my knees and from time to time I looked at a black mare sitting in front of me, who approached me and embraced me with her wing. I calmed down a bit and leaned against her

"I managed to get into your dreams. You're really going through this every night, every night you have nightmares?" - She asked after a moment. I didn't say anything, I just nodded - "It's okay, you're safe, see?"

"Y-yes..."

"Don't worry, little one... The demon you saw was not real. It was just an illusion"

"I would like to think like that... I was too scared to do anything"

"I understand... You don't have to be afraid anymore, you're safe" - She said, wiping my tears

I nodded, looked at the face of Nightmare Moon, who was thinking about something. After a moment she smiled at me - "Hey if you want... I can show you most of my castle, what do you think?"

"Okay..." - I said, swallowing

"Don't worry, it will be fun, you'll see"

After a moment Moon stood up. She reach her hoof to me and helped me to get up, I noticed that she was still really tall. My head was more or less where her elbow was - "Moon... Why am I so little? Can you make me taller?"

"You know... I don't know why you are little and... No, I will not make you taller" - She said, smiling slightly playfully

"Why?"

"You know... You look really cute when you are little, so... No. I will not make you taller"

I sighed - "Okay, but it's my dream ..."

Nightmare Moon laughed, then replied - "I know, but tonight I control it, so I will decide how it will look like"

"Okay"

"Well, now come and stay close to me, and preferably... Hold me by the mane"

"But why?"

"You don't wanna to get lost, are you, little one?" - She said, laughing

I did what she said, and then she started to show me around the castle. She opened the double door and I went inside with her. A huge hall appeared in my eyes. On the left side of the wall, there were two huge gates that were several meters apart. At the very end of the hall, there were stairs to the left and right. On the right side of the wall, there were corridors that led to the library. I tried to keep up with Moon, holding her mane all the time.

"Actually... There is not much to see here, because a huge part of the castle is destroyed"

"What's there?" - I asked and released her mane, approaching the first gate on the left. There was a very long and dark corridor, there was a lot of doors to the left and right

Nightmare Moon blocked my path with her wing. I looked at her face and I saw that she looked a confused - "Nothing is there, okay? Just don't go in there..." - Then she frowned a bit

"Okay, I'm sorry..." - I said, stepping back

"Hey, relax, nothing's happened" - She said, calmly

"Moon, what's there?" I asked, pointing to the stairs

"Well... These stairs lead to the upstairs, but... They are destroyed, there is nothing than rubble" - She said as she went forward, "Come, I'll take you to the throne room, and then we'll go to my room where we'll talk calmly"

"You're rule here, my lady" - I said smiling. I was holding her mane again and tried to keep up with her

Nightmare Moon laughed and shook her head. We went to the second gate on the left. We walked along the corridor, on the left and right side was many doors.

"Moon, what's behind all these doors?"

"Well, they were once guest rooms. Today they are empty, dusty and dark" - She said, a bit sadly

"You feel lonely here, am I right?"

"A little bit, yes, but... I got accustomed to it. Don't worry, I'm fine" - She said, smiling

"I understand..."

When we reached the end of the corridor, we turned right and entered a huge room. Nightmare Moon and I stood in the middle, so I could look around more closely. On the left and right there were two large gates that were between two wooden doors. At the very end of the room, there were two stairs that led to two thrones. On the left was a navy blue throne over which hung a long tapestry. There were symbols of stars, planets and the moon on it. On the right side was a yellow throne, over which was also a yellow tapestry, but... This one was half-worn and in some places burnt. The only thing I could see on him was the symbol of the sun.

"Moon... This yellow tapestry, you destroyed it?" - I asked

Moon looked at the destroyed canvas, frowned furiously and replied - "I destroyed it because it just bothered me"

"I understand..." - I said, feeling a bit scared. I didn't want to talk to her about it, I knew the reason why Nightmare Moon had destroyed this tapestry. It must have reminded her of Celestia - "Moon, are you okay?"

"What?... Oh, uhmm... It's okay, little one" - She said, then a smile appeared on her face again - "So... Now we're going to my room. Come on"

Moon turned to the right and started walking toward the big gate. When we reached the end, I saw a branching of the corridors, I looked to the left and... I saw another corridor, at the end of which there were bookshelves.

"Wait... Is that a library?" I asked, pointing to the bookshelves in that room, and Moon turned her head in that direction

"Yes, it's a library. Look there" - She said, pointing to the right

I released her mane and took a few steps in the direction she was pointing to - "Wait... You want to tell me that we've been going around all the time?" - I asked, noticing the stairs I had seen in the great hall

Nightmare Moon laughed - "Yes, as you can see... The corridors are interconnected"

"Hah, all roads lead to Rome" - I said, coming up to her

"Rome?... What is this?" - She asked, a bit confused

"Rome is a city in my world. In the past, it was the huge, powerful empire commanded by Julius Caesar "

"Who was Julius Caesar?" - She asked

"He was the commander of this empire... I would need more time to tell you about it"

"I understand" - She said, then she looked at the door that was next to it - "Here is my room" - Her horn shone and the door opened. Moon came in, and I followed her

When I was inside, I looked around. The room was clean and tidy, there was a huge bed, which was on the right corner of the room. On this bed, there was a black quilt, with a white crescent and a few black pillows. I looked left and I saw the fireplace in which the fire burned. On unfolded blanket Nightmare Moon was lay and looked at the fire.

"It's cuddly here" - I said and I sat next to her

"Yes it's true"

I put my head on her shoulder and I gently hugged her. She smiled and covered me with her wing, I stared at the fire in the fireplace, which gave us a pleasant warmth.

"Well, now let's talk about your bad dream. Tell me what exactly happened in it"

"Do I have to talk about it?"

"I just want to help you. Tell me about it"

I told Nightmare Moon about everything, not omitting any details. I told her about my mother, the name of this strange facility and about this strange, high creature who helped me escape from my room. I told her about meeting this demon, and finally about how she found me. She listened, asked questions and gave advice. I was glad that I could confide her. I was glad that she is here with me, thanks to her I felt much better and safer. A few minutes passed and we were still sitting by the fireplace and we were enjoying the heat that emitted the fire.

"Colin, I have a question for you"

"I understand what is it?" I asked, looking at her face

"Tell me... Do I remind your mother?" - She asked, looking into my eyes

"You mean Elizabeth?"

"Luna, do I remind you her?"

"You know... You are very similar to her, you have a mane that resembles a starry sky, you have a similar cutie mark and... You like the night"

Nightmare Moon smiled at me - "Listen... If something will happen, if you lost your loved ones again if you lost your mom again... You can count on me"

"Wait... Really?... If you could, you'd be my..."

"Of course I do. You really mean a lot to me, I'll help when you'll need it" - She said, then she turned her eyes to the fireplace

I couldn't believe what I heard, she would really do it for me? I was moved by what she said. I decided to tell her what I was thinking about. I wanted to tell her what I really felt for her.

"Nightmare Moon, I..."

"Yes?"

"I-I love you" - When I uttered these words, she looked at me surprised

"You... You love me?" - She asked smiling and tears appeared in her eyes

"Yes..."

At this point Nightmare Moon rose to a sitting position and hugged me tightly, wrapping her wings around my little body. I hugged to the warm fur on her breast, she began to sob softly and stroke my head. Those were not tears of sadness, it was tears of the joy. I was probably the first person who told her something like that.

"Colin..." - She said after a while, still hugging me - "I love you too..."

After hearing these words, I looked at her face. Tears flowed from my eyes too - "R-really?" I asked, staring at her

"Yes..." - She said, sniffling - "I love you very much, little one, I will never let anything bad happen to you"

"Thank you, Moon, I... Thank you very much..." - I said, then I hugged her again and from my eyes flowed even more tears

"You're welcome, little one... You're welcome..." - She said, kissing me on the cheek