(Chapter 2 The Dream and the Test of Survival)

“Who do you think she is?” Discord asked. The four God-like being huddled around the small little photo. Nightmare Moon was currently holding the photo. Sombra and Chrysalis we’re both peering over her shoulders. Discord was a few feet away having already memorized the photo.

“Sister.” Sombra blatantly said.

“Oh, really.” Chrysalis said with a smirk. “If they were siblings I’m sure he would be smiling more. I bet it’s a cousin, they always seem to be the most annoying.” Chrysalis stated.

Nightmare moon examined the photo and proceeded to bring all fruits of knowledge under the human tree. While humans were savage beings that turned in some kind of pet. Humans were far different.

“Perhaps, daughter?” Nightmare Moon said. The others stared at her.

“What? Humans only live 20 to 30 years. It’s quite possible to be his daughter. But honestly I believe who or what she is of little importance. Whoever she is, our human reacted violently when you!” She pointed at Discord.

Caught off guard Discord shrunk a little bit.

“Touched this dusty photo! How much of the room was covered in dust?” She asked him with serious eyes.

“I think there was a good two layers of dust on everything!” Discord said, giving his answer.

Nightmare let out a small grow. “Then it was Worse than I feared. Not only does he have amnesia. But Something else is also getting in the way.”

“What does that mean?” Sombra asked, genuinely confused.

“I don’t know!” says Nightmare Moon, A bit pissed off. “It could be a dozen different things, half of them include magic. And don’t give me started if there’s somepony who’s doing it.” She proceeded to pace back-and-forth to the confusion of the others. “Let’s see.” She said. “If there is no magic involved, the two biggest reasons why there is a second layer of dust is either out of fear or guilt.” She proceeded to close her eyes and place her right hand underneath her chin thinking very hardly on the situation at hand. The others watched her go back and forth, back and forth.

This went on for a few minutes until Discord let out a small chuckle preceded by Chrysalis. Nightmare stopped what she was doing and proceeded to look at her companions with a glare. “What’s so funny?”

Discord let out a few more chuckles before saying. “You! What are you doing?”

Nightmare looked at Discord offended but before she could speak Sombra said “What’s with the pacing? It’s making me dizzy…”

For a minute everything was silent, as the three God-like beings waited for their companions answer.

“...What…” The serious look on her face made Discord lose it with laughter.

“You’re pacing?” Chrysalis repeated.

Discord continued to laugh before speaking. “I honestly think she doesn’t have a clue what we are talking about. And I thought I didn’t make sense!” As he continues to laugh.

That got Sombra to chuckle a little bit. “You didn’t realize you were pacing?” Chrysalis joined in the small chuckles and laughs as well.

“I-I D-Don’t PACE!!!” She yelled, to more laughter.

“It’s true!” Chrysalis wheezed out.

All you could hear in the dark void was the laughter of the 3 God-like beings.

The red on Nightmare Moon cheeks were visible to everyone. “Well would you look at the time!” she said, trying to cut through their laughter. Unfortunately it didn’t work.

Their laughter was shortly cut off when the void itself grabbed them and lifted them up. “Don’t you three have a job to do. Discord unfortunately was the only one to bring me back with any knowledge of anything. So bring me back something else to help figure out this problem.”

Before they could argue the void through them out and back deeper into darkness.

Nightmare proceeded to look back to the spot where she would see out of the human eyes. Still the darkness covered it. “What is up with you, human? You’re nothing I've ever seen before…”

Nightmare slowly started pacing again, but caught herself in the middle of the act.

She proceeded to sit down and wait for her human to wake up.

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Darkness was all that I could see. But ever so slowly I could see something glowing bright. I looked above me, a Beautiful white sphere glowed in the sky. The darkness was replaced by a smooth purple as stars lit up the sky. Suddenly I could see rocks form around me as a red carpet appeared underneath my feet. Before my very eyes a structure was made. However it didn’t finish. The remains of a structure was all that littered around me.

But once I turned my head back to the Beautiful white sphere. I saw a huge pony figure standing in front of it, her horn piercing the Beautiful white sphere. At first I thought it was the white one by her size. But a second glance showed that she was literally darker. I could feel intense energy coming off of her. As her light blue eyes stared into my soul.

I thought she would attack me like the others but as she walked towards me with a calm demeanour. I felt my own worries disappear. I felt like I knew her.

She eventually stood in front of me as she gently placed her hand on my shoulder. She gently walked around me as I could see her sharp white teeth smiling. I almost felt safe…

She eventually hugged my back and placed her head right next to mine as we both stared at the moon… Moon… nightmare moon…. She truly is a beautiful nightmare…

Unfortunately it didn’t last as a green flame engulfed everything. I felt Nightmare Moon’s grasp slip away. I tried to grab her. But as I turned around I noticed a different person there. She looks similar to Nightmare Moon. But her green eyes were full of hate. Her arms and legs were covered in holes and there didn’t seem to be any fur on her. Slowly blue eyes appeared into the flames around me... circling me. Like predators hunting prey.

This didn’t last too long a male laugh cut through the air. Suddenly it change into female, younger back to male and older. Sickly, evilly, joyfully. Laughter was now all I could hear from every possible voice imaginable. I didn’t even notice the world change around me as a pink chess board appeared onto the floor as it started raining chocolate putting out the green flames. I started remembering a few things such as chocolate. I remember I love chocolate. Much more memories of smaller things flooded in some I couldn’t even keep track of. Suddenly a brown figure appeared in front of me. I say figure because I couldn’t really tell what it was. It looked to be a mix match of different animals. It refused to keep one shape as it seemed to mould into different shapes and creatures. Sometimes it would grow extra mouths to laugh harder. Truly a mad abomination.

As I was on my knees covering my ears from the laughter. I felt the earth underneath me rise up. Literally a 5 m pillar of the earth flew up into the sky. The pink checkered board was replaced with red crystals. I was now kneeling on a red crystal pillar. I felt cuffs shackle themselves to my wrists and ankles as I could hear the cry of thousands of people. Looking around I saw thousands of ponies. All of them in handcuffs or being watched by Stoic guards with glowing green eyes. But the one that stood in front of me scared me the most. It seemed to be a gray male pony figure and this one was the only one that didn’t look at me. His red cape flowing behind him with his metal armour which I can only guess to be iron or steel. A similar metal crown on his head. Finally he looked at me in the corner of his eye before turning back forward to watch everyone suffer. A tyrant king.

Then back to Darkness.

I was glad everything was over…. Now I can sleep….

“NOT YET!!!” I felt something yank me up by my neck and look at me in my face. I was surprised to see my own yellow eyes staring back at me. I was almost certain I was staring at a mirror if it wasn’t the fact they were choking me. They started whispering words into my ear but I can’t remember what they said. The only word I can remember that they said was “Spirit!”

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I gasped myself awake. Trying to suck in as much air as I can.

“Take it easy, take it easy, you don’t need to shake things up in here. Everything’s all right, it was probably just a nightmare.” I could hear the voice of Nightmare Moon say.

I chuckled a bit. “That’s pretty ironic… since you were the only good thing about it.” I felt like I wanted to slap myself for saying that and I felt like Nightmare wanted to too. After all why would she be so quiet.

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‘Is he being an idiot or is he flirting with me!’ was all that nightmare moon could think. I can’t tell with his amnesia. ‘Why do the others have to be so useless and get me so little information!’

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Still nothing from Nightmare Moon. I looked up to the sky and noticed it was dark. Did I really miss a whole day? I slowly stood up. “you know Nightmare, in my dream I remember the moon.” I tried to explain what I previously said. “I was in a collapse structure. The only thing I could really notice was the beautiful white sphere in the sky. Eventually you showed up there and after you walked around me, I remembered your name and everything kind of clicked…” still no response from Nightmare. “So you want to check out my first time looking up at the real moon and see if I remember it as beautiful in my dream?”

“...I would love to…” she finally spoke. After getting out from under the tree. I looked up to the Moon lit sky.

We just stood there as my eyes adjusted to all of the stars and colours of the night. “I was wrong.” I said out loud. “I could never imagine something as beautiful as this.”

I felt a bit scared when Nightmare didn’t respond.

But after a little bit I heard her respond. “Yeah… you truly know how to appreciate my night sky…”

“Spirit!” I quickly responded. I could literally sent her confusion. “It’s my name.“ I stated

It took a second but she finally responded. “I’m only returning the favour… but you also have a beautiful name.” I felt myself smile as she said that.

We stood there for a little bit longer but of course something had to change. *growl* my stomach finally gave it’s opinion.

“You must be starving!” Nightmare yelled in my head. “We slept the entire day away. I was going to teach you to hunt but will have to hold that off for a little bit. You need some energy and luckily for you I know where to get some.”

Instantly she barked for me to go forward. Not wanting to upset the angry lady I followed her directions to the letter. The walk was long and luckily I didn’t have to go through the river because there was a nice little bridge beside A little earth house just on the outside of town. She immediately ordered me to start walking away from town. And towards a huge apple Field.

I can feel my taste buds begging to eat some apples. My stomach was Begging to eat anything. I quickly marched my way up to the orchard and hopped the small fence made to keep me out. As I made my way to one of the first trees I noticed a house. Then a barn. Finally I could in to where I was.

“Nightmare... we can’t be here…” I protested. I might be hungry but I can’t steal from this family.”

“What!” She yelled louder than before. Are you a dumb ass. “You are on the brink of starving and you need the energy to survive. These people won’t help you as soon as they learn what you are, they'll try to turn you to stone permanently! Is that what you want! To be put on a show for the rest of your life! Begin for Freedom!”

The way she yelled it shocked me to my core. I felt petrified, unknowing what to do.

…

…

…

We stood there in silence. I felt my heart racing and my head full of thoughts of what to do. I felt scared… “S-Spirit…” she finally said deflated. “I’m sorry for snapping at you. I’m just trying to look after you. You can’t trust anyone out here, all you have is us now. You didn’t choose to be in this position but it’s too late for you to turn back. After killing one of the Celestia‘s guards you’ll be public enemy number one. And these ponies will bring you to her. You and I are stuck together and we have to work together to survive. Do you understand?”

I felt myself slightly nod. “Exactly I don’t want to stock the flame. I’m already in enough trouble I don’t want them to track me down.”

…

It took a few seconds but she finally responded. *Sigh*. “Are you really going to be this stubborn?” I didn’t really respond but I stood firm.

“Fine… you do raise a few good points… however do you still need the energy… I promise you, I know how you can repay them back. But we can’t do it now we need to eat an run. Now stop standing in the open, you look sketchy!”

I didn’t move. “You promise?” I asked one last time.

*Sigh* “I promise you, Spirit.” I slightly nodded my head and proceeded to pick a few apples.

I went a little deeper into the orchard and tried to only pick a couple apples from each tree. However, on my fifth tree I noticed one light turn on in the house. Nightmare hurried me to grab as much apples as I can and run. I agreed and started grabbing as many apples as I can and ran. I used my shirt as a pouch as I stuffed a good seven apples in there before it got tricky to run. With nine extra apples I continued to run when I heard the door open. Suddenly I could hear barking but thankfully I got a good head start. I felt my legs run faster as trees rushed by me.

“I’m giving you as much energy as I can.” I heard Nightmares say. “We can’t let them see you. I underestimated how protective they would be about the orchard. Just head over to the dark scary forest. They won’t follow you in there and They’ll Think that you’re just a beast that came out of it.” I did as Nightmare ordered. Soon the sound of the barking grew further and further away to the point my feet made more sound then it.

I quickly ran into the dark scary forest as nightmare put it and proceeded to continue to run. I have a feeling I lost one of the apples but seven or eight is still good enough for me. At least for a little bit.

“Continue running!” Nightmare said. “I’ll lead you to a secret place.” I did and she said and continued to run and run. It kind of reminded me of the first night but I was much faster. But eventually I had to give in and stop to catch a breath.

“This isn’t a place to rest…” Nightmare Moon said. If we aren’t careful we make it caught in between a fight between a hydra and a manticore.

*Huff**Puff* “What the hell are those things?”

“You don’t want to find out here. Don’t worry about it until you face it. I’ll tell you more once we're in a safe spot but you have to keep running.

Slowly nodding my head I tried to start off with a light jog. But I felt like my adrenaline was already spent. That was until my body glowed a bit blueish purple. And I felt myself takeoff in a sprint again, full of energy.

I don’t know how long I ran in this forest. It had to be at least a couple of hours. But I finally made it!

I noticed the old structure laying on top of the hill, surrounded by a bottomless pit. The old structure reminded me of my dream. But I don’t remember it from the outside.

I made my way over to a wooden bridge. It looked very unstable. But a tired sounding Nightmare told me that I would be fine. With some hesitation across the wooden bridge.

Once I had made it over to the other side I rushed to the door.

I quickly opened it and shut it behind me. I feel my body given from all the stress of the day. I sat right in front of the doors with my back leaning against them. I feel my eyes wanting to close. I looked at my apples right now and noticed that I still had online and that one almost got away. Devouring two more apples eventually set them aside.

“Not a bad night...” I heard a tired nightmare say. Tomorrow we hunt and pay back our debt… sound fair…” all I could really do was not in my head as I felt my eyes close. I looked around the room one last time taking in everything I could. A small smile was stuck on my face as I slowly breathe in and out and finally went to sleep…

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Discord still alone in the memory house. Having recently washed the bathroom and was currently taking a bath. He felt the back of his hairs left up as he looked around. “Oh so now you want to write about me… Well too bad you have to wait for the next chapter of what I found. Tootles!!!”

Author's Note

Ha... 3069 words... Nice