The Seventh Element

Memories

As Luna walked through the Everfree forest she found her thoughts returning to the events of the day before. Well, how couldn't they? Her sister had just made it incredibly clear that she was not the least bit excited to have her sister back and that having Luna around must be nothing more than a pain in the plot for her.

She didn't quite know where she was supposed to be going in the first place, it's not like "You know the place" actually works, this isn't some spy novel, how the heck was she supposed to know where "the place" was? Stewing in her own sour thoughts, Luna paid no attention to where her hooves were taking her.

Lost in thought she hadn't noticed the river until she started to get close and the its roar grew louder and louder. Stopping on the bank she looked up and down the raging river and quickly decided that the only way across was to swim, but that would be difficult and get her mane all wet and she could fly, so why not?

As she spread her wings, she noticed some odd looking thing on the ground. It was a dirty blonde tuft of hair from..... A mustache?

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Floating through the air

A serpent in the river

SLICE

A scream of terror

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Luna staggered backwards, the scene had ended just as suddenly as it began.

'What in Equestria was that?'

She stood there for a moment longer, examining what she now knew to be the serpents mustache.

'Did I...?'

She looked around for the serpent, but he was nowhere to be seen.

She flew over the river and kept walking as she tried to push the mustache from her mind.

Luna couldn't remember much of the last millennium or so, but she was fairly certain that had never happened before. But the more she thought about the flashback- Flashback? Is that what it was?

She already knew the answer: Yes. Something about the river had brought back a memory of her time as Nightmare Moon.

'But what does it mean? Why now?'

Still not knowing where she was or where she was going, Luna continued to let her hooves guide her as she became lost in thought once more.

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The sun was going down and clouds were gathering ahead. Luna had been wandering through this stupid forest for hours now and still had no idea where she was supposed to meet Trixie! There was one last path to take and then she was going to call it quits, what can Trixie do to help anyway and why does it have to be in the middle of this forest?!

'Last chance Trixie, if it's not down here I'm leaving!'

She began to walk down the path that seemed to lead towards a cliff. As she drew closer she realized that there was no way across it. Well she could fly, but Trixie can't, so there was no way she would be over there. On top of that the fog and clouds had rolled in and it began to sprinkle so she turned to leave.

'Guess that's it, time to head back. Darn it Trixie, why did-'

But then she saw it. A rickety rope bridge spanning the Chasm.

'A pony made bridge? I must be close, there can't be anywhere else we were supposed to meet. Unless she expects me to find her hiding in one of these trees.'

Luna smirked at her own little joke as she walked over the bridge.

Halfway across she stopped. Something wasn't quite right about this bridge, she quickly looked behind her. Nothing. Something was odd here, but she couldn't quite figure it out, it was almost like she was-

"Being watched?" The disembodied voice was almost a whisper, coming from seemingly nowhere.

"Who's there?!" Luna called in to the fog.

No response. She lifted her hoof to begin moving again when she noticed a shadow, a silhouette standing at the far end of the bridge. She squinted at the figure trying to bring it in to focus through the dense fog.

'You! Y-You look familiar, do I- Aghh!'

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She stood at the far end as the unnatural fog rolled over the bridge

She watches as they test the boldest of the group

Uncontrollable rage and hatred as they defeat her minions and advance on the castle

She flees inside, preparing

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She groaned as her mind returned to the present day.

"Not again! I don't think I can do another one of those..."

She looked around for the figure, a shadow of the creatures she had created to stop the wielders of the Elements of Harmony, but of course it was gone. Had she just imagined it, or was it really there?

'I'm losing my, mind'

It wasn't so much the flashbacks that were worrying her, she always expected that she would one day remember some of her misdeeds, no, she was prepared for that. What really bothered her was the emotions that came with them. How she was so mad at those six ponies for passing every obstacle she put in front of them, how much she wanted to... Hurt them. Of course everypony has those moments of rage and fury, but the difference with Luna is that she was okay with the thought, she felt justified, and even the thought of revenge didn't burden her conscious.

And that wasn't a good sign.

She sat back on her haunches and shook her head vigorously trying to clear her mind, her light blue mane floating gracefully in its wake.

'Why me? I was born a princess and I inherited control of the moon. All I wanted was a little recognition for my work, for somepony out there to enjoy my beautiful night. I mean... It's only fair right? I could do it. I have the magic to stop Celest- NO! I won't! I can't go back, this isn't me, I'm not that type of pony anymore! I won't let my thoughts go anywhere near that path! I won't, I won't '

"I WON'T!"

Crows flew from the trees before her as she yelled the last words out loud. A short distance away she could see a castle's ramparts poking above the tree line. The rain was picking up.

'That's the same castle I saw in that flashback...'

Trixie or not, Luna had to see how far these memories went, so she pushed open the door with her hoof and entered the castle.

She walked in to the entrance hall and had just enough time to take in the dingy scenery before collapsing to the floor.