Her Tattered Soul

The prismatic light would be beautiful if it did not make me feel dread. Was this what, the, um?

Our name is Luna.

Thank you. Was this what Luna was referring to? The Elements of Harmony?

Doth thou really not know?

No.

We had thought it another trick. Is this what the Elements of Harmony had wrought? Erased thy memories?

It would seem so, given how I know nothing.

If that is the case-

I do not know what her next words would be, as the wave of color flowed over me before she could finish. I was sure that I would be subjected to another bout of misery brought on by injury. Yet the light did not singe my body and soul. Instead I felt rejuvenated, as if I had been demolished and built anew!

Yet, just as soon as it had started, it was over. I had not felt myself stand up, yet there I stood. Looking around; I am unsure what I had expected upon gaining awareness of what was outside the mindscape. Six ponies in a wide array of colors would certainly not be it. As they begin to speak I must make sure to catalogue who was saying what.

"Um, okay! That wasn't supposed to happen I don't think!"

A cyan pegasus, rainbow mane, rainbow tail. Outrage, slight tinge of fear in voice.

"Well uh, that's a darn shame. Heheheh."

Orange pony, doesn't have wings, blonde mane, blonde tail. Nervous?

"But, but, how?!"

Purple unicorn, dark magenta hair and pink highlights for both mane and tail. Utter bafflement.

"Oh, oh, no no no. Not sure how I should feel right now."

Yellow pegasus, pink mane, pink tail. Hiding her face in her wings? Strange. Almost didn't hear that.

"Nice to see you're not hurt anymore! But please don't make night last forever okay! Having an extra long party that goes into the night is nice but you need to make sure that everypony has a chance to rest otherwise they might not be able to go to the next party because they're too tired which is why having night forever is bad because the party also lasts forever which is nice! But also as I just said- "

Pink, a lot of pink. Relief in voice, at least at the beginning? I tune out before my mind is overloaded with far too much information.

Finally, a white unicorn with dark blue hair and tail. Passed out? Must be faint of heart.

What happens now, the Elements did not work. And now We cannot discern thy intentions as thee may well be a stranger now!

Please calm yourself, I am trying to get my bearings. Once I do, I will then act accordingly.

How can we calm ourself! Our sister is still imprisoned, and thou art still parasitizing us!

That explains why I can hear you inside my head. What was that about your sister?

Firstly, it is our head and secondly our sister is in a magic prison of thine pilfered design.

Very well, let us free your sister. I take it she will know what to do? At her lack of response I walk over to the group of ponies that had restored me. On approach they looked ready to flee, hope my question shows I mean no harm.

"Excuse me, do any of the ponies present know where Luna's sister may be hidden?"

The lavender one spluttered at my supposed audacity.

"Y-you were the one who imprisoned Celestia!"

"Ah, is that her name?"

My response was not satisfactory it seems. They shout at me, seem indignant, but because they are all talking at once I cannot understand them.

We cannot believe this is what it has come to.

Suddenly I feel a loss of feeling in my limbs, this would be frightening if it were not for Luna's quick assurances. She has wrested control from me.

"Silence!"

Rather impressive, one word was all it took to make them quiet.

Not so in the days before the both of us were imprisoned. It was a common occurrence to make use of the Royal Voice. We did not consider it impressive, just a chore.

Imprisoned?

Hush.

"We are Princess Luna, the one you know as Nightmare Moon is not speaking as of present. You hath done well to quell the threat."

Incredible and disconcerting, hearing a voice coming from my body without me being the one to speak.

Our body.

Whatever, the white unicorn is speaking by the way. Wonder when she got up.

"... I know of only two princesses and those are Princess Celestia and Princess Cadance. I don't recall a villain like you anywhere, much less a princess!"

Did you really forget about us.

"Did you really forget about us."

From the mindscape I can feel Luna's mood darkening.

"We do not have time for this!"

A cool feeling washes over me as Luna does, something. A flash occurs and we all find ourselves in another room. Across from us all, there lies an alicorn in shadowy chains.

"Hello sister."

The radiant alicorn starts, looking up from the floor to where we are.

"Luna! I-"

Sorry to disappoint? I take it she was wanting something else.

"What's going on?"

The alicorn does not know what to make of what she sees.

The pony I assume is Celestia looks from us towards the group of much smaller ponies. All at once the group of six, eager to aid their princess, move to crowd around her. Celestia is understandably, a bit overwhelmed. I feel a pang of heartache from Luna at seeing the ponies flock towards her sister. I wish I could help.

Thou can help by being silent.

Now I'm the one with a wounded heart. I wish I could keep my thoughts from bleeding out into the mindscape, spare my feelings the beating.

Thou used to be able to do so.

We have established I am different from the one you used to know.

Thy name is still Nightmare Moon. Even if thou hath forgotten.

Fine.

"So, did you have a change of heart, Nightmare Moon?"

Celestia asks of us, apprehension in her voice. She is waiting for something. The herd of ponies look to shield her from whatever may come. What does the alicorn want?

She is waiting for Us to give an answer that would assuage her fears.

"It's me, Tia."

Celestia gasps, she was expecting me to be the one to speak. Guess she had prepared herself for disappointment.

"Is it really? It could just as easily be a trick."

Luna scoffs.

"Your ponies used the Elements on me, and Nightmare Moon has been quelled."

Celestia looked to those surrounding her.

"Is this true?"

Before they can all clamor, the purple coated one speaks first.

"Yes but it didn't destroy Nightmare Moon, she's still there but she says that she's actually Luna and your sister but that can't be right because I never heard you speak about a sister-"

Celestia shushes the little pony.

"What does Twilight mean by this?"

I can feel Luna's aggravation, but she lets it go in a huff. The anger draining out of her before it can take root.

She should have believed in Us. Whatever.

"If you could allow Us to speak, we could discern what hast occurred. As well as deduce how to move forward."

Celestia's radiance dims ever so slightly, as her tension is drained away as well.

"We shall speak. Once my bondage has been undone?"

Why is she smiling so wryly?

We don't know, was that supposed to be a jest?