Where Loyalty Lies

Chapter 2
Nightmares

Ghost spread her wings as she plummeted into the depths of the deep chasm, following the narrow passage until it reached a jagged cliff side climbing to the top of the mountain. A swoop of her wings quickly lead her straight up the cliff side, hugging close to the rough ridge, her speed increasing with each flap of her wings. Ghost folded her wings to her sides as she whisked over the crest of the mountain and dropped onto her hooves looking out upon Equestria. Just meters away lay the unfinished Canterlot castle; the site was abundant with workers moving frantically to complete the large structure.

Shortly after Ghost was accompanied on the crest of the hill by a dark figure, the young Princess Luna herself stood next to her. “Greetings Ghost, why art thou up here?”

The Pegasus filly giggled a bit looking at Luna with a bow. “I am just curious is all Princess. To think when you are older, Celestia and you will rule it together.”

Luna would nod as she looked at her friend with a smile. “It will be the most peaceful nation when we do. Together we will watch after every pony day and night.”

Slowly the day turned to night before Ghost, the unconstructed building turning into destroyed ruins of fire under the moon light. Ponies fled from Canterlot with cries of terror and suffering. Ghost dropped to kneel as a ripping pain shot through her shoulder, a spear clipping her and drawing blood from the location. She cried out in pain and anger as her body shook awake. Ghost’s Eyes opened to the sight of the underside of the bed and frantically feeling for her wounds, though none were to be found.

Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy heard the cry from outside Rarity’s home, and would head in with Rarity to check on Ghost. There would be knock on the door and Ghost would shake as she was startled by the noise, quickly slipping out from under the bed and regaining her composure. “Thou may enter,” she said with as calm of voice as possible.

The three ponies entered the room; concerned looks on their faces as they did “What is wrong?” inquired Rarity “We heard you screaming.”

Ghost would shake her head a she offered a smile to them, “Nothing is wrong; I had a startle is all.” She would say standing tall before them to assure them that nothing had happened. After so long had the horrors of the past come to haunt her? Her mind was in conflict, she had no problems justifying her actions; but now it seemed regret lurked around every corner of her mind. Had the years of imprisonment weakened her? This was all she could think of.

Each of the three mares had questionable looks upon their faces, “Alright, if you say so..” Rainbow Dash said with a pause “Anyway, if you would like Fluttershy and I will fly with you to Canterlot. Twilight is already there as well.”

“I uh.. yeah, that would be most kind of thee.. uh.. yeah let us fly,” Ghost replied pausing a moment as she rubbed the back of her head with a hoof.

Ghost was afraid, not of Celestia or of the guards, but of the truth. The images of horror filled her mind and she wasn’t sure if she wanted to know the truth behind all that had happened and if it had been for nothing in the end. She was determined to find out; shortly she would be in the presence of both princesses. Ghost flapped her wings as she took off for Canterlot with Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy by her side.

Two hours had passed before they finally arrived at the gates of the royal town. The group was met by the royal guards at the gate; they knew to stop Ghost right then. “Halt! We must escort Ghost Wing to Princess Celestia immediately, it is of upmost importance,” Spoke the guard.

Rainbow Dash spread her wings standing in front of Ghost, but was interrupted by the white Pegasus bumping into her side. “It is okay Rainbow Dash, I shall meet thee after.”

The guards pushed Rainbow Dash aside as they moved to either side of Ghost and escorted her to the main chambers of the castle. Once they reached the throne room they halted short of the towering throne. Shortly after they were joined by the Princess of the Sun herself, Celestia took a seat at the throne and the group bowed before her. “Guards you are dismissed, I wish to be alone with Ghost Wing.”

In moments the room was empty of all guards and Ghost would lower her head, “I accept any punishment that thou seekith to give thee princess.”

Celestia would wave her hoof, “I do not wish to punish you Ghost, you took care of my sister in the darkest times and you as many of the night’s royal guards stood in honor of your Princess. Loyalty is not a characteristic to be punished and you were foaled as much as any other pony. The only thing I ask you is that before returning to your duty as head of the Night Guard is that you return to ponyville with Twilight Sparkle and learn what you have missed after so many years.”

Ghost would bow once more, “As you wish Princess. Is this with Princess Luna’s consent as well?” She would ask looking up at the dazzling Princess.

“Luna and I spoke much about this day and it is what we both wish to see happen. You should know that she wishes only the best for her friend.” Spoke Celestia, “Any questions?”

“Yes princess, why did thou seekith thee in the night?” Ghost questioned still holding her guard expecting worse than she was receiving.

“I sought to ensure that you were safe. There are many who still seek and fear those of the old Lunar Republic and shadows sometimes follow prisoners of the ever free forest.” Replied Celestia as she would rise from the throne.

“Prisoner?” questioned the Pegasus “What do thou mean? Thou knowith what happened to thee?”

“You do not remember? When we sought to sign the treaty in the neutral clouds over the Everfree forest, we were attacked by the dwellers of the forsaken forest. You were hit by a spear guarding Luna’s life and fell into the dreaded land. Somehow Luna and I had known you would not allow yourself to die in such a manner. What had happened after the fact we do not know nor did we expect your return.”

The Pegasus would nod “Then I shall seek what hath happened to thee, for I know something is awry Princess, there is something that hath been hidden from me.”

“Very well, I shall help you how ever I may and shall send Luna to meet thee in Ponyville for she will be very excited to hear you live. Now go and be with your new friends. They are the best friends a pony could ask for.” Princess Celestia spoke “They will help you find the answer you seek.”

Ghost bowed once more to the Princess “Thou art most pleased by thy decision Princess, I will report to you all that I may know about the subject.”

That moment the Pegasus would turn and trot over to the exit “Wait.. there is one thing you must know. Whatever has kept you captive for so long in the forest is not happy that you left so watch yourself.”

Without a word Ghost nodded and spread her wings showing acknowledgement as she parted from the chamber. Outside the door she was greeted by none other than Twilight Sparkle. “Hey, hope everything is okay, it is good to hear that you are going to be staying in Ponyville though. I am excited, I have so many things I want to ask you, and we can be the best of friends.” Twilight said with a bit of a bounce in her step as they headed back to the castle gates soon to be joined by Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash.

There was a bit of a pause on Ghost’s end but she smiled and nodded a bit “I do not know if I have many answers for thou Twilight, but will help as thy can.”

Twilight nodded a bit as she was lifted into the air by Ghost and Rainbow Dash. The flapped their wings as they flew back towards Ponyville. Rainbow Dash looked over at Ghost as their wings beat in the same rhythm. Ghost tilted her head looking at Rainbow dash “Thou remindith me of some pony I used to know.” Ghost would say with a bit of a smile, “She hath a similar mane.”

Just before Rainbow Dash could respond, shadowed figure swooped down both figures grabbing onto Ghost Wing’s legs and pulling her out of the sky. Fluttershy aided Rainbow Dash by catching Twilight, and they followed after Ghost. The figures disappeared into the forest below just as swiftly as they had appeared. The three halted at the top of the tree line for a moment as the peered down into the depths of the forest, all they could see was darkness. “We have to go after Ghost, we can’t lose them,” Twilight cried out looking up at the two pegasai.

They both looked at twilight with a nod in agreement, before diving into the depths of the darkness without a second thought. It had been too late, even had they been on the tail of the figures it was too dark to see anything in the depths of the forest. Twilight’s horn would glow enough to see a few feet in front of them but any further would be a guess on what lurked in the abyss. As the three progressed screeches and howls could be heard from every corner of the forest, sounds even Fluttershy has not heard. As the group approached an opening in the dense woods there was a crack and Rainbow Dash felt a tug on her leg before she was instantly hoisted into the air hanging by a rope that snagged one of her hooves. “Whoa, it’s a trap!” screamed Rainbow.

Suddenly spears dropped from the over head foliage and impaled into the ground in a straight row in front of the two ponies cutting them off from running to their friend’s aid. “What’s going on?” Twilight would question looking around the gloomy opening.

Four armored guards would drop from the trees; the armor metal coat and a dark purple paint with lunar crests carved into the steel. Could it be the Nightmare moon’s guard themselves? Fluttershy attempted to back away slowly but was stopped by Twilight who held her ground. One of the guards would approach the spear wall, the expression on his face rather angry. “Why do you chase our Captain?” The guard would speak up as he glared at the two in front of him.

“Chase? Are you crazy, she is our friend. Let her go or you will pay!” Rainbow Dash would yell with a flap of her wings to try to pull herself free of the rope.

“We saw you leaving the castle, Celestia probably hired you three to eliminate our leader!” The guard replied with in a growl.

“Eliminate your leader? Yeah like..” Rainbow Dash was cut off by a yell from the darkness.

“Halt!” echoed the voice through the silent forest. “They art not here to harm thee, they art here to help thee.”

Shortly after Ghost Wing would emerge into the illuminated part of the opening looking over at her friends, she would trot over to the rope and cut it with one of the guard’s blades. “The war with Celestia hath long been finished. I may not have been around for many a year but thou do know; this is a time of peace, not vengeance. My friends and I must be on our way Lieutenant.”

“Captain, the guard has waited a long time for your return and you deny us that?” the lieutenant would question her. “We are here to follow you, not Luna. We read your notes and strategy books. We know that there are questions only you can answer, you must lead us. It even says you seek to lead your own forces Ghost.”

“Thou knows not what thy speaks of, I wrote those in a time of evil. This is not who thy Lunar Guard hath been destine for. Thou dishonor the name of thy guard.” Ghost would speak firmly as she motioned for Rainbow Dash to help her lift Twilight.

Swiftly Rainbow Dash swooped over and they lifted Twilight quickly into the air with Fluttershy closely following them. “What was that all about?” Twilight would question as the returned on their path home.

“Tis’ a long story Twilight, one day thy shall know what I speakith of.” Ghost replied as they quickly headed back to Ponyville to escape from the shadows of the dark forest.

Upon landing back at Ponyville they were met with a warm reception from Rarity, Pinkie Pie, and Applejack who were glad to see their friends return safely. Ghost would start to head off into the town in search of food, shortly accompanied by Rainbow Dash. “So Ghost, what was this nightmare about this morning?” Rainbow would ask trotting up next to her.

“What does thou mean?” inquired Ghost looking at the colorful Pegasus.

“I know what nightmare looks like Ghost. I haven’t seen a pony that inwardly frightened in a while Ghost, we are both Pegasus you can tell me anything.” Rainbow said with a smile over to the white Pegasus.

“Thou must promise thou shall say nothing to no pony else,” Ghost said with a sigh.

“Nothing will go beyond the two of us Ghost.” Rainbow would reassure with a smile to her.

“I hath done many horrible deeds Dash. I was Captain of Nightmare moon’s guard. I don’t remember all that happened, we fought for what we believed in, so much we had not noticed our princess fall to the darkness as we all did. I hath had the most horrible nightmares.” Ghost said with a regretting sigh and lowering her head.

“It’s been over a thousand years, and clearly you aren’t who you were then. We will all do things we are not proud of but we make it through with friends. What matters is who you are now. You have us as friends now so you can talk to us about anything.” Rainbow replied “I will gladly listen especially if we go for an awesome flight too.”