You Can't Just Vanquish Evilby Scriptz ErrorChaptersYOU DARE THINK SUCH FOOLISHNESS?!WhispersIn ShamblesThe Other SideNightmare In-betweenYOU DARE THINK SUCH FOOLISHNESS?!The light hit me and I yelled but the beam of harmony covered all that I could put out, I felt myself growing weak and my magic disappearing slowly, whittling away into nothing. I fell to the floor like a doll, all my energy and strength are now one-tenth of what it was before, I felt weak, more so than ever before. I closed my eyes to steady my breathing to grow back my strength little by little. The elements had somehow come back from the grips of time to laugh at me! To ridicule me! I was slowly dipping in and out of consciousness with the only thing keeping me steady was my breathing. The noise was blurred but I heard bits of conversation around me. "...but you couldn't unleash it until you let friendship into your heart" That voice, that horrendous, annoying, blood boiling, ARROGANT VOICE! "Now if only another will as well." Celestia spoke and if I could I would have spat at her statement. I was weak but determined to begin my rise from the floor with what little strength I had gained from the breathing technique. "F-friendship? You c-call imprisoning me to the moon for a MILLENIA! SOMETHING WORTHY OF FRIENDSHIP?" I barely held my weight but my voice was loud and clear, my blood boiling and anger seeping out of my words. She gave this pitiful look of shame towards me, "Sister-" "SILENCE!" I stomped my hooves on the ground at the mere thought of letting that TRAITOR, THAT PRETENDER THAT BROKEN JEWEL speak. "DO YOU KNOW WHAT IT IS LIKE TO BE IMPRISONED FOR A MILLENIA! YOU SPEAK AS IF I AM YOUR SISTER THOUGH YOU SENTENCE ME TO SPEND A ETERNITY IN STATUS!" I was disgusted with the pathetic image of that disgrace in front of me. "Sister please-" "Were you ever left in the dark left alone? Left to rot off the bleak void of the universe on a planet orbiting into nowhere while you watch your 'sister's light?" That shell of a sister had no words, "WELL? WERE YOU?" "No.." I wanted to see her fall, to see her kingdom crumble, it was meant for ME! AND ME ALONE! "You better step down Nightmare Moon, we have the elements of harmony and we're not afraid to use it to kick your butt again!" The element of loyalty spoke so boldly, I will enjoy crushing her spirit and planting her down at my hooves. I snarled at her but in truth, I was weak, far too weak to fight my 'sister' and stood no chance again the elements of harmony. They had shown their fighting spirit already and I became rash and prideful. I tried to keep my balance but it was a failing battle and that bitch of a princess noticed. "Sister!" "Silence! I will rip you all to shreds and reign an eternal night making ANY light of hope you may have shrouded in misery! You will all crumble under my hooves!" I spat at their looks, I had barely energy, in truth my ears were still ringing, blood slowly beginning to trickle down my forehead. My hooves were numb and eventually going to be sore and aching. "Hah! We'll take you down right here!" That element of loyalty was already getting on my nerves. "Rainbow, no!" The element of magic began but that pegasus flew towards me, I did like struggling prey but right now was not the time to fight. "Know this elements! I will return and when I do I will rip away your friendship like I will rip the wings off your back!" I had summoned all my power and strength into a simple teleporting spell but the distance was much more than just simple. However the effects were just as heavy, nausea, pain, aching, I felt my magic drain in an instant as soon as I had stood on my destination. A forest of somewhere but my head was heavy as my eyelids were. I couldn't keep concentration on where I was and felt like I was losing the battle of staying awake. I used one of my fangs to bite my bottom lip to produce blood, to keep me awake, I was awarded a quick response and enough adrenaline to last for an hour. My wings sore and my hooves heavy I kept to the ground to seek out more of a shelter for now. I'm alone once more... but I'm free now, I may roam wherever I please, but the loneliness was crippling. I tried to keep the focus on the task at hoove but it kept coming back to me. I spoke aloud to myself, "I come back to go destroy the elements and get defeated by common ponies! How had I not seen it before? Of course, harmony would choose a new set of ponies to bear the elements." I was in anger at my lapse in judgment. The nagging thought of loneliness crept again and I tried to shoo it off once more, let the darkness consume me, not these petty thoughts of affection and connection. I had to focus on the plan first, I must take time to begin restoring my magic, oddly enough it felt as though my darkness slipped away from me. I will wait for a few days but... if it truly has been lost I may need to find it once more. After the resting period, I must find magical artifacts to grow my magic in great volume. I require much magic if I hope to stand a chance against the element bearers and their skills. Everything is settled except for that bastard of a sister known as Celestia, the very name brings me to anger and rage, I will exact my revenge onto her and bring pain a thousandfold of what she has done to me! I will enjoy breaking her down from inside and out, destroying her kingdom, and make her watch as all bow to me! I will banish her to the moon as she did to me and then she will know what it was like to be alone for 10 centuries. There are no words to describe the feeling of it all and will be much sweeter to know she will take the same punishment for as long as I want. I laughed at the idea, she will kneel to me, crumble underneath me and I will enjoy every second of it. Author's Note There was some references to a nightmare moon song in the page, if you can name them in the comments I will give you a cookie and a boop. WhispersWhile walking through the unknown terrain the night seem to still envelope the sky, seeing the stars had disgusted me. I was the only wielder of them and they had not been touched during my absence, while I'm sure Celestia could not change them I still felt a sliver of respect for her respecting my domain. That didn't make me hold any less hatred towards her, however, but looking towards the stars gave another feeling inside me. One I haven't felt in a millennium; artistic vision, true I was upon the moon and saw the world from outside of the endless abyss of space but I never was able to see the stars. A feeling of want I haven't felt in centuries, a want for manipulating the stars into my art piece to create a beauty for all ponies that wished to see the night in its purest form. I shook my head away from these thoughts, they were pointless like nothing more than a distant dream you cling to. But I am no pleasant dream nor am I searching for one, I am Nightmare Moon and I seek to twist those pleasantries into nightmares. The forest was vast and it would be a long trek before I reach a civilization which was good actually, I was slow and soon growing tired. My first real priority is shelter, maybe something of a tree for high ground maybe a cave or tunnel to stay grounded for a bit. Whatever I find in this forest needs to be equipped with at least something to protect myself in, nothing could be worse than the freezing nights on the moon. I kept my direction wandering aimlessly through the forest, while I would be worried about the creatures lurking in the shadows, I was simply put; weak. After the elements used their ancient magic on me I was barely holding some, if any magic. The situation I was in truly dawned on me, I was alone, in some far-off chunk of the world with no food or refreshments and I had lost a sufficient amount of magic. I was growing weaker by the second, my magic failing and shrinking even more than I thought would be possible. Trees began to look similar to one another and close together with no real way out aside from the moonlight seeping through the leaves of the forest. I wasn't scared per say but I was worried how I would go on like this, I would survive, I WILL survive, but how? Even those thoughts betrayed me silently inside my head there was a whisper of doubt. All around me was a blur, trees alike to their kin with no differences but the markings of their wood surface. I thought by walking for about an hour suggesting by the moon's position that I would've found some kind of answer to my worries but they only grew. I was a princess and destined QUEEN so why? Why am I being defeated so pathetically and easily to the whims of nature? I was tired, sore, and just mainly exhausted. My adrenaline could only last me so long although my estimation was right it gave me no real pride to see it come to fruition. I was slowing down and soon came to a stop, I felt weary, I leaned towards a nameless and faceless tree. There was little that had worn me down as so, many centuries before my imprisonment me and Tia- Celestia; fought through countless wars and battles to bring together all ponies. Many fun and hard times through thick and thin whether exhausted or exhilarated we balanced each other's high spirits and low. I had no support now, however, no title, no kingdom, no helpers, no teacher, and no sister. I was truly alone, countless dreams I could view and watch throughout my imprisonment onto the lunar throne but now it was as if silence had truly taken over. I felt weak and crumbling slowly but surely into sleep until I heard a rustle, my head swiveled to the source where a bush was, I stood on my fours and gave a stance, creating the illusion of readiness and preparation to take on any foe. "Who goes there!" I had used my royal voice to give way to intimidation and slowly the creature began to move. Through the thick of leaves came a brown, oak-like wood material sticking out as they began to inch forward with green eyes glowing through the deep darkness; a timber wolf. Had at any other time I met one I would've scoffed at the idea of lowering myself to fighting one but my situation was much direr than my pride. I lifted myself to muster some kind of magic and focus it into my horn, a light spell to make my casting seem real but it was just a bluff hoping the intruder to buy it. But I was so tired I had left a lapse in my judgment of haste; timberwolves are feral and primarily basic on motives and instincts, lighting a simple horn will not do. I need to make myself bigger, seem like a much stronger foe. I ran my head of all possible solutions, perhaps use some leaves for a sort of cap to make my stance seem bigger? No, I don't have nearly the magic nor time to make something so elaborate let alone the tools. Break tree branches with my hooves to put them on my body to make myself seem sharper to touch? They do have fear of Ursa Majors, but again I have little strength and time for that. I was out of options and out of time, I prepared a stance to avoid any oncoming attacks from the beast but what happened was something I was not expecting; more came from the bushes behind the first timber wolf and two more came to join the fight. That did it for me, today was the worst day ever, I was expecting to take over Equestria after breaking the elements of harmony, take down my sister and imprison her. Become a Princess THE princess, the definitive one that would rule over with the moon high and destroy any neigh sayers. Yet here I was about to be taken advantage of in my weak state to be treated as some kind of animal's easy prey, I would die like any other commoner, weak, malnourished and soon to be dead. Would this truly be the ending of me? A princess forgotten to time that will die silently and pathetically like a weakling. I shut my eyes and felt the fear take a grip of me and the pity of myself but a fading second voice came along, 'Are We going to lie down and die in a place like this?' I opened my eyes to that question, that second voice- the darkness that had awakened in me so long ago still within me when I thought I felt it slipping away from me. "N-no," I whispered, I had taken a deep breath and reaffirmed my voice and stance. "NO!" I evened my eyesight to those damn timberwolves, "I WILL NOT DIE TO SOME PESTS! I AM NIGHTMARE MOON! AND I WILL NOT GO DOWN LIKE A WHIMPERING ANIMAL!" The timberwolves gave no care to my declaration however and charged straight towards me, I grit my teeth, held firm to the ground, and prepared for the fight. Author's Note Excited to see NightMare Moon beat the shit out of some timberwolves? I know I am! Also sorry for a short chapter I swear the next one will be much longer. In ShamblesThe timberwolves on my right and left lunged at me but due to their timing, they both clashed at each other, soon growling and butting heads. They were both in front of me so I took this moment to stomp my hooves at their heads to bury them into the ground. If I had more strength than those damn elements took away I would've smashed their heads. But I didn't get much of a moment to breathe however when the third timber wolf came to attack, avoiding the swipe of his claws by jumping back I took the moment to gain some distance. The rush on my hooves, the power of my attacks, it felt so good to be back in a fight. I kind of enjoyed it, I grinned at the prospect of getting some anger out with the power of my hooves. I cackled at the disadvantage the timber wolf was at, I grinned sadistically. "Tonight is going to be Tartarus for you," The two timber wolves stuck in the ground were still trying to get their heads out, but due to their discoordination, they just kept trying to move when the other did and kept their ongoing trap. The third timber wolf, however, was dead set on trying to kill me and snarled at me, I didn't care, however. "Come at me, cretin" It rushed forward towards me and I did the same, when we were centimeters away from each other I stopped my momentum, stood firm, lowered my neck down, and thrust up my horn to pierce the timber wolf's neck. It worked like a charm, it's whimpering vibrating through my magical conduit. I lifted my horn and whipped my head to throw the wooden body to a tree. Crack When it gained its grounding I saw a scar of sorts to the wood shell and it just ran away like a coward. Leaving the other two timber wolves stuck in the hole I put them in, they were still in the endless cycle of growling and fighting each other for dominance of who gets the first move. I laughed, it was pathetic, the legendary once feared timber wolves that roamed the ever-free forest reduced to pathetic dumb dogs barking away for supremacy. I saw their plight however and as a gracious soon-to-be queen of eternal darkness, I offered to help. I raised my front hooves to crush away whatever little brain functions they had within those thick dense wooden heads. Before I struck them I took out some frustration and yelled out my anger. "THIS IS FOR LOCKING ME AWAY FOR A MILLENNIA!" Smash I reared up my hooves again. "AND THIS IS FOR MAKING ME GO NEARLY INSANE!" Crack "AND THIS IS FOR LETTING ME BECOME NIGHTMARE MOON!" I let out one final stomp of my hooves, the most powerful and painful of them all. I was exhausted and lost strength in my hooves. I was tired, I sat at my haunches and slouched, my body sagging amid the battlefield, wasn't even a battle more like a one-sided massacre, I liked that and also hated it. Tonight went nothing like I wanted it to go, and I wanted to ball up and cry. I wanted nothing more than just to have some comfort from all these horrible feelings and bitterness. But I was given no breaks and like the cold wasteland of the moon, the forest was nowhere to cry and let myself sink to be a weakling I was before. The bushes rustled all around me, and soon the same-looking wood mutts came to me in a pack, surrounding me. I recognized one though, the one I impaled its throat and threw away like garbage. It called for help, and I was so careless I made so much noise with the power of my hooves and voice. I was not going to win this battle easily, I was drained of magic and strength and while I was recovering a bit of my magic it wasn't enough to take down a pack of timber wolves so effortlessly. I was 'screwed' as the foals called it. I prepared a stance and prepared my body for the worse, I have lots of battle experience so taking down timberwolves isn't impossible but it'll be very much hard and I'll be lying if I say I will leave this place without damage. I'm tired, slow, scared, and beaten in a lot of ways, but a voice crept from the back of my mind, like a coming fog seeking to suppress the sky. "You are Nightmare moon, destroyer of dreams, creater of nightmares, THE QUEEN OF EVERLASTING NIGHT, THE ONLY ONE THAT HAS THE POWER TO BECOME THE BEST PRINCESS AND COME FORTH TO BREAK DAWN" The voice declared loudly in my head, the voice that spoke to me so for longer than my banishment. The one that has accompanied me for so long in that dreadful wasteland of a moon where I was left to rot for so long. The same voice that kept me focused on taking down that solar-powered princess, the one that call me her sister but left me to die. The same voice that is what kept me going to become Nightmare moon, the same voice that is still driving me to this day. ...the only voice, that isn't my own, the one that is the only one I can listen to, that doesn't make me feel alone... I grit my teeth ready to take on this pack of timber wolves. "Tonight, I WILL MAKE YOUR NIGHTMARES COME TRUE!" One of them tried to take me from my right but I smashed their face with my left hoof, another came from my left so I stomped on the ground to make them lose balance and I used my front hooves as leverage for my weight then use my back hooves to hit it square in the face. I believe from last I remember it was called 'bucking' But I wasn't done, another came to try to attack me while I was done bucking, I swiftly used whatever force that came back to me from the buck and moved both my front hooves in the same timing I carried my hind legs. I used my positioning by moving my front hooves and body to add extra momentum to my back legs to come like a train to hit its target. In concise language I used my front hooves to move myself for my back hooves to come from my side like a train coming from the cave, and moving from the momentum I've created by my position. The timber wolf being that target; Its face along with its body went down with a noticeable thud, as I was letting the momentum carry itself to the ground to recover I felt a searing pain one with force and ferocity. I screamed, it was like daggers being driven into my skin all around a bite-sized portion. I looked back to see the same wolf I impaled had dug in its teeth into my flank, I used some of my remaining bits of recovered magic to blast the creature but in my want of it being gone, I failed to realize its teeth merely trailed before being gone. With the trail of blood trickling from my right leg I held my tongue and screamed in my mouth over the pain, I was bleeding profusely. And then I felt another bite, one for the neck. I was in shock and pain but I couldn't scream due to the location of the bite, I looked to the timber wolf that took the opportunity and felt another bite and another. I looked back at my body to see a timber wolf biting my left hind leg and another biting the midsection of my body. I could see others about to join in as well. I mustered any left remaining magic to cause a push back all around me, like an explosion guarding away from the attackers. They all were pushed away to hit the ground, trees, or to the further ends of the forest-covered with darkness. I was bleeding, a lot from the wounds, I might die. I was tired, aching from the force I was putting out, I was bleeding out and to top it all off the wolves seemed like they still needed to get the job done. I just wanted to shut it all out, get back up, and fight but I was getting weaker by the second, strength slipping by and slowly dying out. I fell to the ground, my energy reaching its limit while I slowly got closer to death. For some reason, my attention was on a broken mirror slouching next to a tree. What I saw was an alicorn, her coat cornflower blue, drained away from what her nightmare counterpart was, blood running down the sides of the neck with marks showing where the teeth were. The light in her eyes slowly fading, her body slumped onto the ground with little resistance to the oncoming pack with little to care about. The armor she once wore as a nightmare was gone and shattered once the elements got rid of her magic- her freedom. The timberwolves slowly inching forward as I was drained, exhaustion was taking over, and slowly I was closing my eyes. Before I gave in to my fatigue I saw another figure, one that wasn't timber wolf-shaped, pony more like, but I was already falling out of the world of the living. ...I guess this is where I will die. Author's Note So I know I said I was going to make it much longer but I thought of the benefit of making this one shorter. Thus the plan is on making the next chapter longer and you'll see why. The Other SidePrincess Celestia had shunned her eyes away from the bright flash of her sister's teleportation spell. By the look of the more than usual intensified flash, it was a heavy demand by her sister. Likewise, the elements of newly made harmony shunned their eyes as well. Rainbow dash was already in the action to fight the now revived princess thus leading her to hit a wall when everything was cleared. "Ah!" Was the only sound to be made after the teleportation had succeeded and blinded Rainbow Dash hit the wall just to hit the ground afterward with a 'thud'. The rest of the element holders all gasped. "I'm okay!" Rainbow declared with one hoof in the air. Celestia however kept staring off to the spot her sister was before. Thoughts of worry, sadness, regret, and disappointment all seeped into her mind. "Princess?" Celestia had turned to find Twilight, her faithful student speaking out to her, laced with concern and worry. Celestia sighed, "it seems I...failed once more." She turned back to where her sister had been. "You didn't fail princess, Nightmare Moon-" "Luna." Celestia had cut in to correct Twilight. "L-Luna was obviously being controlled by something." "You may be wrong my faithful student, Luna's hatred did feel real, her anger has not subsided and I fear that I was too presumptuous to think she was some kind of monster to be expelled by the elements." "But princess-" "Twilight, please" Twilight was apprehensive but respected Celestia, "O-of course your majesty." Twilight had bowed and stayed off the subject. "Thank you." Celestia was grateful Twilight had respected the boundaries but she was mournful of her sister. She had lost the only family she truly had. Celestia had decades to work it all out but she was just as lost as when she had to banish Luna. She however did work on her solution to such moments of weakness, she steeled her resolve and focused on the main problem at hoof. She turned around to see the bearers of the elements make sure loyalty was okay. "Elements of harmony" Celestia had used her royal voice to gain the attention of her little ponies. "I'm so sorry to ask of this, but with Nightmare Moon on the loose-" she had hated that name for so long and it was still haunting her. "I must ask of all of you, to help me recapture her, with her goal in mind she creates a force to be reckoned with." All of them had looked at each other but they gave the same message on their faces; 'they were ready' "Will you help?" Celestia had known it was clear but she needed to make sure, presumptuous thinking was what got her in this situation in the first place. Twilight had stepped out with one hoof forward, "We will" she had puffed her chest out in a declaration of bravery and devotion. "Right girls?" She looked back at her newly made friends, they had the same kind of determination on their faces. "Yeah!" They all spoke in unison with their movement all copying Twilight with one hoof in step. Celestia was proud of them, even after the obstacles her sister had made for them they still steeled their resolute and were determined. 'Perhaps this generation of elements will fair better than me and you, Luna.' Celestia had spoken internally to herself. "Thank you, my little ponies." Celestia was eternally grateful to this new set. Twilight spoke up, "What do we do now, princess?" "I know this may come as a shock but you should all go back home and rest." Rainbow butt in the conversation, "What?! No way! Nightmare Moon-" Celestia gave Rainbow a look, "Luna" Rainbow was surprised with how sharp one word could be, "R-right, Luna is out there right now! We didn't know until now that another alicorn existed!" "I'm sad to say ponies but we must rest before we continue on a search. Going off on a goose chase would do us no good." Rainbow started "But-" Twilight stepped in, "I think she's right girls," she looked stepped out, and turned to look at her friends. "We should get some rest." Rainbow took one step to argue and open her mouth but Applejack spoke before she could. "As much as ah don't like the idea of Luna fussin' around, we ain't got much if we tire ourselves out." Celestia was thankful Applejack had put her piece in, "Good, please all of you, get some rest. I may ask much of you the following days until we get my sister back." They all went on, but Rainbow noticed Twilight wasn't going with them. "Twi? aren't you coming?" "Soon Rainbow, I just need to speak to the princess for a bit, you gals go on ahead." ... "Princess?" Celestia had stared off to the endless abyss of the night, the moon over the trees shining beyond the shadows. "Princess Celestia, will you be okay?" "I-...No, I don't think I will." "We'll get her princess." "That's not what worries me, Twilight. I- I failed, I failed as a sister when she needed me the most I failed her. I let my assumptions lead me to wander for a helpless little sister out in the cold in danger. I- I failed being there when she needed me the most, in the most important moment of her life, showing that vulnerability I never sought to help her." "Celestia you could never have-" "I could've, every day I rewind that battle, every living moment I want it to be undone. I was her only family left and vice versa, and I did nothing to help her. I failed as a sister, a friend, and even a ruler. I covered her history in hope of never having to resurface all those mistakes. I was a coward then and now, even here, a thousand years later I expected her to make that leap." Celestia sighed, "perhaps I failed in every way possible, I wish I knew what to do Twilight. I truly do, even with thousands of years of experience, I failed to help the one piece of me I so desperately wish back. Maybe I am a fool to want that piece back but without it...without it, I feel hopeless. I miss her, more so than anything else, but maybe I am not deserving of that piece." "Princess-" "Twilight I think it's best you go with your friends." Celestia turned back to Twilight, "they do still need you and you deserve it." Twilight was unsure whether to leave Celestia alone after all this happened. The princess looked fine but she couldn't make out what was wrong. "But princess-" Celestia closed her eyes and breathed slowly. "Please Twilight, just go...I- 'm not in the best state to argue..." Twilight was still unsure but saw Celestia was still keeping her composure. "O-okay..." she walked away from Celestia's view ... Then there was Celestia, alone in the dark veil of the cosmos- a dying star in its inevitable end, its breaking point. She had stifled her cries for so long, she had held her position and composure for so long... and yet she was here, buckling under all the weight of it all. She had kept thinking why is this any different? Why now could she not hold herself? She was breaking apart more than ever before. She stood there with all her might not to cry, she breathed through her nostrils to keep air coming in, keep in check of herself to make sure she didn't cry this time. ... A tear, a single tear trickled on her cheek. One tear - then another and another, she felt the overwhelming build-up in her eyes, the emotions poured, she held as much as she could but this was her breaking point. She tried her breathing exercises but it was failing. She slowly sat herself down on the ground and cried. "W-why? Why now? W-why... "I- I'm sorry Luna, I failed again..." she had whispered oh so softly. She kept telling herself she was a ruler now, without her mentor she couldn't allow herself to fail to uphold herself now. But through it all she kept crying, it tore her apart. "I...I wish I could've done so much more lulu, you were everything to me...and I failed you, I couldn't help you, and for what to show for it? A small glimpse of hope for something better for you. I wish... that we could've worked it out here and now. But now, I'm worried we may have to" she shook her head violently to throw away the thoughts. "I don't even want to entertain the thought. I- I don't want to choose my- our kingdom over you..." she was a mess and she knew it. ... Celestia closed her eyes and kept sobbing with a whisper into the night, a wish. "...I just want everything back to normal..." Twilight was nearby, she knew listening in on a pony was horrible and never was good. But she was worried about Celestia, she knew the princess was strong but she couldn't know for sure if she was okay. She just wanted to hear her see if she was going to be okay, but after hearing it all. The guilt, the pain, and the tragedy she knew she had to do something. Something to make it all right for Celestia, otherwise, everything the princess sacrificed was for nothing. Twilight couldn't go on with that line of thinking, Celestia was a bastion of light, she had carried Equestria and even Equus to peace. If Twilight could help her out in any way she would. And in that in mind Twilight slowly slinked away, with a new objective in mind. "Girls!" Twilight had yelled out to the others when they were out of the forest. Applejack questioned. "What got your pig in a tussle?" "It's the princess!" Rarity gasped, "Oh, dear!" Rainbow flew over Twilight. "What happened?!" "Nothing happened yet but I was uh, well I was eavesdropping on the princess and-." Rarity was the first to speak out. "Twilight! I could not believe you!" Applejack came to second it. "Twi, that just ain't right, she's coping with this whole darn mess." Rainbow flew in front of them before they could all uproar. "Woah, guys chill -maybe Twilight has a reason behind it." Twilight stepped forward. "Thank you Rainbow and I know it's wrong but I had to make sure the princess was fine and..." Twilight looked away, even knowing being honest with the whole situation was...hard. Hearing Celestia herself in such a rut, she knew she had to keep some of it out. Applejack now intrigued, came to ask with a raised eyebrow. "And?" "A-and she needs our help! She just wants Luna back and wanted to find her to help and protect her. I know she's a villain but I just-" Twilight tried so hard to form her feelings and thoughts, villains were bad weren't they? Rotten to the core was what she learned in history. Sombra, Discord, and Grogar but this situation felt different to her- like there was a reason and maybe even justified reason to it all. 'But then why hurt innocent ponies?' Twilight was so frustrated with the thought and the internal conflict in her head she failed to notice her friend's expressions ranging from worry to determination. Applejack stepped up to put her hoof on Twilight's shoulder with eye contact. "We understand Twi', Ain't nothing wrong with trying to help a pony. Nopony deserves to be separated from their family, Ah know it'd be wrong if Applebloom did the same but ah- ah couldn't help myself wanting to help her." Twilight knew what she was speaking was honest, she embraced Applejack with sincerity, "Thank you Applejack." Rarity came forward, "I- can't say with honesty, that I wouldn't want to help Sweetie bell either." she went in for the hug. Rainbow Dash slowly descended onto the ground. "I was already in but I sorta understand, If I lost scootalo... well I wouldn't be the best I could be." She hugged back to the three other ponies, and without hesitation, Fluttershy joined in. Twilight felt that even with these conflicting ideas and feelings she felt the true love of friendship. "Thank you all, girls." "Wait- where's Pinkie?" Fluttershy whispered, "O-oh s-she said she had to plan a party." Twilight giggled, "I'm glad to know even with this crazy night she still found the time." And then the others all joined in on the laugh. Author's Note Sorry for such a long wait, I wanted to convey a little more emotion. So yeah, a little duality YOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO FEATURED ON 12/17/2021 8:52 PM PST THANK YOU! Truly from the bottom of my heart I thank you all once more. Somedays I think of what I could do to make this series better, I won't lie I've been slacking. I never realized how many of you truly did like this little story I've been making in my bedroom alone. Thank you all Nightmare In-betweenThe world felt, disorienting. With hesitancy and anxiety, I dared let slips of light flood my eyes. And then I was back. Cold shivers ran up my spine, even the slightest touch of a breeze would make my body shake. It would feel like the lonely nights on the moon. The bleak darkness around me was a stark comparison as well, but this time I couldn't even see Equestria, not even the stars. It was my worst nightmare. Again stuck into an immovable object forced to watch the void of space. My heart began to race, anxiety and doubts clawing at my mind. I left the moon right? I appeared in front of my sister and we fought right? I- What if it was all a dream? Now I can't even see my home. What If I was sentenced too long? No, they have to be alive, they have to still be there right? I looked down to see myself shaking. "Ridiculous!" The very notion I was still stuck here was absolute lunacy. I was there! I was! Right? It wasn't a dream again was it? It felt like I couldn't breathe I- Was I hyperventilating? No! I was a fortress of evil! Of revenge and made of nightmares! ...Why don't I feel like a nightmare anymore? I was there, right? Didn't I gain freedom? So why. WHY AM I STUCK IN THIS DAMN PRISON! I slammed my hoof into the moon, and cracks formed. My vision became blurry, and my body felt so tired. I was there... right? It wasn't a dream? Please don't let it be a dream. Author's Note Just a small in-between before a real chapter comes in and I wanted some more spotlight on how far Luna has deteriorated mentally.
YOU DARE THINK SUCH FOOLISHNESS?!The light hit me and I yelled but the beam of harmony covered all that I could put out, I felt myself growing weak and my magic disappearing slowly, whittling away into nothing. I fell to the floor like a doll, all my energy and strength are now one-tenth of what it was before, I felt weak, more so than ever before. I closed my eyes to steady my breathing to grow back my strength little by little. The elements had somehow come back from the grips of time to laugh at me! To ridicule me! I was slowly dipping in and out of consciousness with the only thing keeping me steady was my breathing. The noise was blurred but I heard bits of conversation around me. "...but you couldn't unleash it until you let friendship into your heart" That voice, that horrendous, annoying, blood boiling, ARROGANT VOICE! "Now if only another will as well." Celestia spoke and if I could I would have spat at her statement. I was weak but determined to begin my rise from the floor with what little strength I had gained from the breathing technique. "F-friendship? You c-call imprisoning me to the moon for a MILLENIA! SOMETHING WORTHY OF FRIENDSHIP?" I barely held my weight but my voice was loud and clear, my blood boiling and anger seeping out of my words. She gave this pitiful look of shame towards me, "Sister-" "SILENCE!" I stomped my hooves on the ground at the mere thought of letting that TRAITOR, THAT PRETENDER THAT BROKEN JEWEL speak. "DO YOU KNOW WHAT IT IS LIKE TO BE IMPRISONED FOR A MILLENIA! YOU SPEAK AS IF I AM YOUR SISTER THOUGH YOU SENTENCE ME TO SPEND A ETERNITY IN STATUS!" I was disgusted with the pathetic image of that disgrace in front of me. "Sister please-" "Were you ever left in the dark left alone? Left to rot off the bleak void of the universe on a planet orbiting into nowhere while you watch your 'sister's light?" That shell of a sister had no words, "WELL? WERE YOU?" "No.." I wanted to see her fall, to see her kingdom crumble, it was meant for ME! AND ME ALONE! "You better step down Nightmare Moon, we have the elements of harmony and we're not afraid to use it to kick your butt again!" The element of loyalty spoke so boldly, I will enjoy crushing her spirit and planting her down at my hooves. I snarled at her but in truth, I was weak, far too weak to fight my 'sister' and stood no chance again the elements of harmony. They had shown their fighting spirit already and I became rash and prideful. I tried to keep my balance but it was a failing battle and that bitch of a princess noticed. "Sister!" "Silence! I will rip you all to shreds and reign an eternal night making ANY light of hope you may have shrouded in misery! You will all crumble under my hooves!" I spat at their looks, I had barely energy, in truth my ears were still ringing, blood slowly beginning to trickle down my forehead. My hooves were numb and eventually going to be sore and aching. "Hah! We'll take you down right here!" That element of loyalty was already getting on my nerves. "Rainbow, no!" The element of magic began but that pegasus flew towards me, I did like struggling prey but right now was not the time to fight. "Know this elements! I will return and when I do I will rip away your friendship like I will rip the wings off your back!" I had summoned all my power and strength into a simple teleporting spell but the distance was much more than just simple. However the effects were just as heavy, nausea, pain, aching, I felt my magic drain in an instant as soon as I had stood on my destination. A forest of somewhere but my head was heavy as my eyelids were. I couldn't keep concentration on where I was and felt like I was losing the battle of staying awake. I used one of my fangs to bite my bottom lip to produce blood, to keep me awake, I was awarded a quick response and enough adrenaline to last for an hour. My wings sore and my hooves heavy I kept to the ground to seek out more of a shelter for now. I'm alone once more... but I'm free now, I may roam wherever I please, but the loneliness was crippling. I tried to keep the focus on the task at hoove but it kept coming back to me. I spoke aloud to myself, "I come back to go destroy the elements and get defeated by common ponies! How had I not seen it before? Of course, harmony would choose a new set of ponies to bear the elements." I was in anger at my lapse in judgment. The nagging thought of loneliness crept again and I tried to shoo it off once more, let the darkness consume me, not these petty thoughts of affection and connection. I had to focus on the plan first, I must take time to begin restoring my magic, oddly enough it felt as though my darkness slipped away from me. I will wait for a few days but... if it truly has been lost I may need to find it once more. After the resting period, I must find magical artifacts to grow my magic in great volume. I require much magic if I hope to stand a chance against the element bearers and their skills. Everything is settled except for that bastard of a sister known as Celestia, the very name brings me to anger and rage, I will exact my revenge onto her and bring pain a thousandfold of what she has done to me! I will enjoy breaking her down from inside and out, destroying her kingdom, and make her watch as all bow to me! I will banish her to the moon as she did to me and then she will know what it was like to be alone for 10 centuries. There are no words to describe the feeling of it all and will be much sweeter to know she will take the same punishment for as long as I want. I laughed at the idea, she will kneel to me, crumble underneath me and I will enjoy every second of it. Author's Note There was some references to a nightmare moon song in the page, if you can name them in the comments I will give you a cookie and a boop.
WhispersWhile walking through the unknown terrain the night seem to still envelope the sky, seeing the stars had disgusted me. I was the only wielder of them and they had not been touched during my absence, while I'm sure Celestia could not change them I still felt a sliver of respect for her respecting my domain. That didn't make me hold any less hatred towards her, however, but looking towards the stars gave another feeling inside me. One I haven't felt in a millennium; artistic vision, true I was upon the moon and saw the world from outside of the endless abyss of space but I never was able to see the stars. A feeling of want I haven't felt in centuries, a want for manipulating the stars into my art piece to create a beauty for all ponies that wished to see the night in its purest form. I shook my head away from these thoughts, they were pointless like nothing more than a distant dream you cling to. But I am no pleasant dream nor am I searching for one, I am Nightmare Moon and I seek to twist those pleasantries into nightmares. The forest was vast and it would be a long trek before I reach a civilization which was good actually, I was slow and soon growing tired. My first real priority is shelter, maybe something of a tree for high ground maybe a cave or tunnel to stay grounded for a bit. Whatever I find in this forest needs to be equipped with at least something to protect myself in, nothing could be worse than the freezing nights on the moon. I kept my direction wandering aimlessly through the forest, while I would be worried about the creatures lurking in the shadows, I was simply put; weak. After the elements used their ancient magic on me I was barely holding some, if any magic. The situation I was in truly dawned on me, I was alone, in some far-off chunk of the world with no food or refreshments and I had lost a sufficient amount of magic. I was growing weaker by the second, my magic failing and shrinking even more than I thought would be possible. Trees began to look similar to one another and close together with no real way out aside from the moonlight seeping through the leaves of the forest. I wasn't scared per say but I was worried how I would go on like this, I would survive, I WILL survive, but how? Even those thoughts betrayed me silently inside my head there was a whisper of doubt. All around me was a blur, trees alike to their kin with no differences but the markings of their wood surface. I thought by walking for about an hour suggesting by the moon's position that I would've found some kind of answer to my worries but they only grew. I was a princess and destined QUEEN so why? Why am I being defeated so pathetically and easily to the whims of nature? I was tired, sore, and just mainly exhausted. My adrenaline could only last me so long although my estimation was right it gave me no real pride to see it come to fruition. I was slowing down and soon came to a stop, I felt weary, I leaned towards a nameless and faceless tree. There was little that had worn me down as so, many centuries before my imprisonment me and Tia- Celestia; fought through countless wars and battles to bring together all ponies. Many fun and hard times through thick and thin whether exhausted or exhilarated we balanced each other's high spirits and low. I had no support now, however, no title, no kingdom, no helpers, no teacher, and no sister. I was truly alone, countless dreams I could view and watch throughout my imprisonment onto the lunar throne but now it was as if silence had truly taken over. I felt weak and crumbling slowly but surely into sleep until I heard a rustle, my head swiveled to the source where a bush was, I stood on my fours and gave a stance, creating the illusion of readiness and preparation to take on any foe. "Who goes there!" I had used my royal voice to give way to intimidation and slowly the creature began to move. Through the thick of leaves came a brown, oak-like wood material sticking out as they began to inch forward with green eyes glowing through the deep darkness; a timber wolf. Had at any other time I met one I would've scoffed at the idea of lowering myself to fighting one but my situation was much direr than my pride. I lifted myself to muster some kind of magic and focus it into my horn, a light spell to make my casting seem real but it was just a bluff hoping the intruder to buy it. But I was so tired I had left a lapse in my judgment of haste; timberwolves are feral and primarily basic on motives and instincts, lighting a simple horn will not do. I need to make myself bigger, seem like a much stronger foe. I ran my head of all possible solutions, perhaps use some leaves for a sort of cap to make my stance seem bigger? No, I don't have nearly the magic nor time to make something so elaborate let alone the tools. Break tree branches with my hooves to put them on my body to make myself seem sharper to touch? They do have fear of Ursa Majors, but again I have little strength and time for that. I was out of options and out of time, I prepared a stance to avoid any oncoming attacks from the beast but what happened was something I was not expecting; more came from the bushes behind the first timber wolf and two more came to join the fight. That did it for me, today was the worst day ever, I was expecting to take over Equestria after breaking the elements of harmony, take down my sister and imprison her. Become a Princess THE princess, the definitive one that would rule over with the moon high and destroy any neigh sayers. Yet here I was about to be taken advantage of in my weak state to be treated as some kind of animal's easy prey, I would die like any other commoner, weak, malnourished and soon to be dead. Would this truly be the ending of me? A princess forgotten to time that will die silently and pathetically like a weakling. I shut my eyes and felt the fear take a grip of me and the pity of myself but a fading second voice came along, 'Are We going to lie down and die in a place like this?' I opened my eyes to that question, that second voice- the darkness that had awakened in me so long ago still within me when I thought I felt it slipping away from me. "N-no," I whispered, I had taken a deep breath and reaffirmed my voice and stance. "NO!" I evened my eyesight to those damn timberwolves, "I WILL NOT DIE TO SOME PESTS! I AM NIGHTMARE MOON! AND I WILL NOT GO DOWN LIKE A WHIMPERING ANIMAL!" The timberwolves gave no care to my declaration however and charged straight towards me, I grit my teeth, held firm to the ground, and prepared for the fight. Author's Note Excited to see NightMare Moon beat the shit out of some timberwolves? I know I am! Also sorry for a short chapter I swear the next one will be much longer.
In ShamblesThe timberwolves on my right and left lunged at me but due to their timing, they both clashed at each other, soon growling and butting heads. They were both in front of me so I took this moment to stomp my hooves at their heads to bury them into the ground. If I had more strength than those damn elements took away I would've smashed their heads. But I didn't get much of a moment to breathe however when the third timber wolf came to attack, avoiding the swipe of his claws by jumping back I took the moment to gain some distance. The rush on my hooves, the power of my attacks, it felt so good to be back in a fight. I kind of enjoyed it, I grinned at the prospect of getting some anger out with the power of my hooves. I cackled at the disadvantage the timber wolf was at, I grinned sadistically. "Tonight is going to be Tartarus for you," The two timber wolves stuck in the ground were still trying to get their heads out, but due to their discoordination, they just kept trying to move when the other did and kept their ongoing trap. The third timber wolf, however, was dead set on trying to kill me and snarled at me, I didn't care, however. "Come at me, cretin" It rushed forward towards me and I did the same, when we were centimeters away from each other I stopped my momentum, stood firm, lowered my neck down, and thrust up my horn to pierce the timber wolf's neck. It worked like a charm, it's whimpering vibrating through my magical conduit. I lifted my horn and whipped my head to throw the wooden body to a tree. Crack When it gained its grounding I saw a scar of sorts to the wood shell and it just ran away like a coward. Leaving the other two timber wolves stuck in the hole I put them in, they were still in the endless cycle of growling and fighting each other for dominance of who gets the first move. I laughed, it was pathetic, the legendary once feared timber wolves that roamed the ever-free forest reduced to pathetic dumb dogs barking away for supremacy. I saw their plight however and as a gracious soon-to-be queen of eternal darkness, I offered to help. I raised my front hooves to crush away whatever little brain functions they had within those thick dense wooden heads. Before I struck them I took out some frustration and yelled out my anger. "THIS IS FOR LOCKING ME AWAY FOR A MILLENNIA!" Smash I reared up my hooves again. "AND THIS IS FOR MAKING ME GO NEARLY INSANE!" Crack "AND THIS IS FOR LETTING ME BECOME NIGHTMARE MOON!" I let out one final stomp of my hooves, the most powerful and painful of them all. I was exhausted and lost strength in my hooves. I was tired, I sat at my haunches and slouched, my body sagging amid the battlefield, wasn't even a battle more like a one-sided massacre, I liked that and also hated it. Tonight went nothing like I wanted it to go, and I wanted to ball up and cry. I wanted nothing more than just to have some comfort from all these horrible feelings and bitterness. But I was given no breaks and like the cold wasteland of the moon, the forest was nowhere to cry and let myself sink to be a weakling I was before. The bushes rustled all around me, and soon the same-looking wood mutts came to me in a pack, surrounding me. I recognized one though, the one I impaled its throat and threw away like garbage. It called for help, and I was so careless I made so much noise with the power of my hooves and voice. I was not going to win this battle easily, I was drained of magic and strength and while I was recovering a bit of my magic it wasn't enough to take down a pack of timber wolves so effortlessly. I was 'screwed' as the foals called it. I prepared a stance and prepared my body for the worse, I have lots of battle experience so taking down timberwolves isn't impossible but it'll be very much hard and I'll be lying if I say I will leave this place without damage. I'm tired, slow, scared, and beaten in a lot of ways, but a voice crept from the back of my mind, like a coming fog seeking to suppress the sky. "You are Nightmare moon, destroyer of dreams, creater of nightmares, THE QUEEN OF EVERLASTING NIGHT, THE ONLY ONE THAT HAS THE POWER TO BECOME THE BEST PRINCESS AND COME FORTH TO BREAK DAWN" The voice declared loudly in my head, the voice that spoke to me so for longer than my banishment. The one that has accompanied me for so long in that dreadful wasteland of a moon where I was left to rot for so long. The same voice that kept me focused on taking down that solar-powered princess, the one that call me her sister but left me to die. The same voice that is what kept me going to become Nightmare moon, the same voice that is still driving me to this day. ...the only voice, that isn't my own, the one that is the only one I can listen to, that doesn't make me feel alone... I grit my teeth ready to take on this pack of timber wolves. "Tonight, I WILL MAKE YOUR NIGHTMARES COME TRUE!" One of them tried to take me from my right but I smashed their face with my left hoof, another came from my left so I stomped on the ground to make them lose balance and I used my front hooves as leverage for my weight then use my back hooves to hit it square in the face. I believe from last I remember it was called 'bucking' But I wasn't done, another came to try to attack me while I was done bucking, I swiftly used whatever force that came back to me from the buck and moved both my front hooves in the same timing I carried my hind legs. I used my positioning by moving my front hooves and body to add extra momentum to my back legs to come like a train to hit its target. In concise language I used my front hooves to move myself for my back hooves to come from my side like a train coming from the cave, and moving from the momentum I've created by my position. The timber wolf being that target; Its face along with its body went down with a noticeable thud, as I was letting the momentum carry itself to the ground to recover I felt a searing pain one with force and ferocity. I screamed, it was like daggers being driven into my skin all around a bite-sized portion. I looked back to see the same wolf I impaled had dug in its teeth into my flank, I used some of my remaining bits of recovered magic to blast the creature but in my want of it being gone, I failed to realize its teeth merely trailed before being gone. With the trail of blood trickling from my right leg I held my tongue and screamed in my mouth over the pain, I was bleeding profusely. And then I felt another bite, one for the neck. I was in shock and pain but I couldn't scream due to the location of the bite, I looked to the timber wolf that took the opportunity and felt another bite and another. I looked back at my body to see a timber wolf biting my left hind leg and another biting the midsection of my body. I could see others about to join in as well. I mustered any left remaining magic to cause a push back all around me, like an explosion guarding away from the attackers. They all were pushed away to hit the ground, trees, or to the further ends of the forest-covered with darkness. I was bleeding, a lot from the wounds, I might die. I was tired, aching from the force I was putting out, I was bleeding out and to top it all off the wolves seemed like they still needed to get the job done. I just wanted to shut it all out, get back up, and fight but I was getting weaker by the second, strength slipping by and slowly dying out. I fell to the ground, my energy reaching its limit while I slowly got closer to death. For some reason, my attention was on a broken mirror slouching next to a tree. What I saw was an alicorn, her coat cornflower blue, drained away from what her nightmare counterpart was, blood running down the sides of the neck with marks showing where the teeth were. The light in her eyes slowly fading, her body slumped onto the ground with little resistance to the oncoming pack with little to care about. The armor she once wore as a nightmare was gone and shattered once the elements got rid of her magic- her freedom. The timberwolves slowly inching forward as I was drained, exhaustion was taking over, and slowly I was closing my eyes. Before I gave in to my fatigue I saw another figure, one that wasn't timber wolf-shaped, pony more like, but I was already falling out of the world of the living. ...I guess this is where I will die. Author's Note So I know I said I was going to make it much longer but I thought of the benefit of making this one shorter. Thus the plan is on making the next chapter longer and you'll see why.
The Other SidePrincess Celestia had shunned her eyes away from the bright flash of her sister's teleportation spell. By the look of the more than usual intensified flash, it was a heavy demand by her sister. Likewise, the elements of newly made harmony shunned their eyes as well. Rainbow dash was already in the action to fight the now revived princess thus leading her to hit a wall when everything was cleared. "Ah!" Was the only sound to be made after the teleportation had succeeded and blinded Rainbow Dash hit the wall just to hit the ground afterward with a 'thud'. The rest of the element holders all gasped. "I'm okay!" Rainbow declared with one hoof in the air. Celestia however kept staring off to the spot her sister was before. Thoughts of worry, sadness, regret, and disappointment all seeped into her mind. "Princess?" Celestia had turned to find Twilight, her faithful student speaking out to her, laced with concern and worry. Celestia sighed, "it seems I...failed once more." She turned back to where her sister had been. "You didn't fail princess, Nightmare Moon-" "Luna." Celestia had cut in to correct Twilight. "L-Luna was obviously being controlled by something." "You may be wrong my faithful student, Luna's hatred did feel real, her anger has not subsided and I fear that I was too presumptuous to think she was some kind of monster to be expelled by the elements." "But princess-" "Twilight, please" Twilight was apprehensive but respected Celestia, "O-of course your majesty." Twilight had bowed and stayed off the subject. "Thank you." Celestia was grateful Twilight had respected the boundaries but she was mournful of her sister. She had lost the only family she truly had. Celestia had decades to work it all out but she was just as lost as when she had to banish Luna. She however did work on her solution to such moments of weakness, she steeled her resolve and focused on the main problem at hoof. She turned around to see the bearers of the elements make sure loyalty was okay. "Elements of harmony" Celestia had used her royal voice to gain the attention of her little ponies. "I'm so sorry to ask of this, but with Nightmare Moon on the loose-" she had hated that name for so long and it was still haunting her. "I must ask of all of you, to help me recapture her, with her goal in mind she creates a force to be reckoned with." All of them had looked at each other but they gave the same message on their faces; 'they were ready' "Will you help?" Celestia had known it was clear but she needed to make sure, presumptuous thinking was what got her in this situation in the first place. Twilight had stepped out with one hoof forward, "We will" she had puffed her chest out in a declaration of bravery and devotion. "Right girls?" She looked back at her newly made friends, they had the same kind of determination on their faces. "Yeah!" They all spoke in unison with their movement all copying Twilight with one hoof in step. Celestia was proud of them, even after the obstacles her sister had made for them they still steeled their resolute and were determined. 'Perhaps this generation of elements will fair better than me and you, Luna.' Celestia had spoken internally to herself. "Thank you, my little ponies." Celestia was eternally grateful to this new set. Twilight spoke up, "What do we do now, princess?" "I know this may come as a shock but you should all go back home and rest." Rainbow butt in the conversation, "What?! No way! Nightmare Moon-" Celestia gave Rainbow a look, "Luna" Rainbow was surprised with how sharp one word could be, "R-right, Luna is out there right now! We didn't know until now that another alicorn existed!" "I'm sad to say ponies but we must rest before we continue on a search. Going off on a goose chase would do us no good." Rainbow started "But-" Twilight stepped in, "I think she's right girls," she looked stepped out, and turned to look at her friends. "We should get some rest." Rainbow took one step to argue and open her mouth but Applejack spoke before she could. "As much as ah don't like the idea of Luna fussin' around, we ain't got much if we tire ourselves out." Celestia was thankful Applejack had put her piece in, "Good, please all of you, get some rest. I may ask much of you the following days until we get my sister back." They all went on, but Rainbow noticed Twilight wasn't going with them. "Twi? aren't you coming?" "Soon Rainbow, I just need to speak to the princess for a bit, you gals go on ahead." ... "Princess?" Celestia had stared off to the endless abyss of the night, the moon over the trees shining beyond the shadows. "Princess Celestia, will you be okay?" "I-...No, I don't think I will." "We'll get her princess." "That's not what worries me, Twilight. I- I failed, I failed as a sister when she needed me the most I failed her. I let my assumptions lead me to wander for a helpless little sister out in the cold in danger. I- I failed being there when she needed me the most, in the most important moment of her life, showing that vulnerability I never sought to help her." "Celestia you could never have-" "I could've, every day I rewind that battle, every living moment I want it to be undone. I was her only family left and vice versa, and I did nothing to help her. I failed as a sister, a friend, and even a ruler. I covered her history in hope of never having to resurface all those mistakes. I was a coward then and now, even here, a thousand years later I expected her to make that leap." Celestia sighed, "perhaps I failed in every way possible, I wish I knew what to do Twilight. I truly do, even with thousands of years of experience, I failed to help the one piece of me I so desperately wish back. Maybe I am a fool to want that piece back but without it...without it, I feel hopeless. I miss her, more so than anything else, but maybe I am not deserving of that piece." "Princess-" "Twilight I think it's best you go with your friends." Celestia turned back to Twilight, "they do still need you and you deserve it." Twilight was unsure whether to leave Celestia alone after all this happened. The princess looked fine but she couldn't make out what was wrong. "But princess-" Celestia closed her eyes and breathed slowly. "Please Twilight, just go...I- 'm not in the best state to argue..." Twilight was still unsure but saw Celestia was still keeping her composure. "O-okay..." she walked away from Celestia's view ... Then there was Celestia, alone in the dark veil of the cosmos- a dying star in its inevitable end, its breaking point. She had stifled her cries for so long, she had held her position and composure for so long... and yet she was here, buckling under all the weight of it all. She had kept thinking why is this any different? Why now could she not hold herself? She was breaking apart more than ever before. She stood there with all her might not to cry, she breathed through her nostrils to keep air coming in, keep in check of herself to make sure she didn't cry this time. ... A tear, a single tear trickled on her cheek. One tear - then another and another, she felt the overwhelming build-up in her eyes, the emotions poured, she held as much as she could but this was her breaking point. She tried her breathing exercises but it was failing. She slowly sat herself down on the ground and cried. "W-why? Why now? W-why... "I- I'm sorry Luna, I failed again..." she had whispered oh so softly. She kept telling herself she was a ruler now, without her mentor she couldn't allow herself to fail to uphold herself now. But through it all she kept crying, it tore her apart. "I...I wish I could've done so much more lulu, you were everything to me...and I failed you, I couldn't help you, and for what to show for it? A small glimpse of hope for something better for you. I wish... that we could've worked it out here and now. But now, I'm worried we may have to" she shook her head violently to throw away the thoughts. "I don't even want to entertain the thought. I- I don't want to choose my- our kingdom over you..." she was a mess and she knew it. ... Celestia closed her eyes and kept sobbing with a whisper into the night, a wish. "...I just want everything back to normal..." Twilight was nearby, she knew listening in on a pony was horrible and never was good. But she was worried about Celestia, she knew the princess was strong but she couldn't know for sure if she was okay. She just wanted to hear her see if she was going to be okay, but after hearing it all. The guilt, the pain, and the tragedy she knew she had to do something. Something to make it all right for Celestia, otherwise, everything the princess sacrificed was for nothing. Twilight couldn't go on with that line of thinking, Celestia was a bastion of light, she had carried Equestria and even Equus to peace. If Twilight could help her out in any way she would. And in that in mind Twilight slowly slinked away, with a new objective in mind. "Girls!" Twilight had yelled out to the others when they were out of the forest. Applejack questioned. "What got your pig in a tussle?" "It's the princess!" Rarity gasped, "Oh, dear!" Rainbow flew over Twilight. "What happened?!" "Nothing happened yet but I was uh, well I was eavesdropping on the princess and-." Rarity was the first to speak out. "Twilight! I could not believe you!" Applejack came to second it. "Twi, that just ain't right, she's coping with this whole darn mess." Rainbow flew in front of them before they could all uproar. "Woah, guys chill -maybe Twilight has a reason behind it." Twilight stepped forward. "Thank you Rainbow and I know it's wrong but I had to make sure the princess was fine and..." Twilight looked away, even knowing being honest with the whole situation was...hard. Hearing Celestia herself in such a rut, she knew she had to keep some of it out. Applejack now intrigued, came to ask with a raised eyebrow. "And?" "A-and she needs our help! She just wants Luna back and wanted to find her to help and protect her. I know she's a villain but I just-" Twilight tried so hard to form her feelings and thoughts, villains were bad weren't they? Rotten to the core was what she learned in history. Sombra, Discord, and Grogar but this situation felt different to her- like there was a reason and maybe even justified reason to it all. 'But then why hurt innocent ponies?' Twilight was so frustrated with the thought and the internal conflict in her head she failed to notice her friend's expressions ranging from worry to determination. Applejack stepped up to put her hoof on Twilight's shoulder with eye contact. "We understand Twi', Ain't nothing wrong with trying to help a pony. Nopony deserves to be separated from their family, Ah know it'd be wrong if Applebloom did the same but ah- ah couldn't help myself wanting to help her." Twilight knew what she was speaking was honest, she embraced Applejack with sincerity, "Thank you Applejack." Rarity came forward, "I- can't say with honesty, that I wouldn't want to help Sweetie bell either." she went in for the hug. Rainbow Dash slowly descended onto the ground. "I was already in but I sorta understand, If I lost scootalo... well I wouldn't be the best I could be." She hugged back to the three other ponies, and without hesitation, Fluttershy joined in. Twilight felt that even with these conflicting ideas and feelings she felt the true love of friendship. "Thank you all, girls." "Wait- where's Pinkie?" Fluttershy whispered, "O-oh s-she said she had to plan a party." Twilight giggled, "I'm glad to know even with this crazy night she still found the time." And then the others all joined in on the laugh. Author's Note Sorry for such a long wait, I wanted to convey a little more emotion. So yeah, a little duality YOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO FEATURED ON 12/17/2021 8:52 PM PST THANK YOU! Truly from the bottom of my heart I thank you all once more. Somedays I think of what I could do to make this series better, I won't lie I've been slacking. I never realized how many of you truly did like this little story I've been making in my bedroom alone. Thank you all
Nightmare In-betweenThe world felt, disorienting. With hesitancy and anxiety, I dared let slips of light flood my eyes. And then I was back. Cold shivers ran up my spine, even the slightest touch of a breeze would make my body shake. It would feel like the lonely nights on the moon. The bleak darkness around me was a stark comparison as well, but this time I couldn't even see Equestria, not even the stars. It was my worst nightmare. Again stuck into an immovable object forced to watch the void of space. My heart began to race, anxiety and doubts clawing at my mind. I left the moon right? I appeared in front of my sister and we fought right? I- What if it was all a dream? Now I can't even see my home. What If I was sentenced too long? No, they have to be alive, they have to still be there right? I looked down to see myself shaking. "Ridiculous!" The very notion I was still stuck here was absolute lunacy. I was there! I was! Right? It wasn't a dream again was it? It felt like I couldn't breathe I- Was I hyperventilating? No! I was a fortress of evil! Of revenge and made of nightmares! ...Why don't I feel like a nightmare anymore? I was there, right? Didn't I gain freedom? So why. WHY AM I STUCK IN THIS DAMN PRISON! I slammed my hoof into the moon, and cracks formed. My vision became blurry, and my body felt so tired. I was there... right? It wasn't a dream? Please don't let it be a dream. Author's Note Just a small in-between before a real chapter comes in and I wanted some more spotlight on how far Luna has deteriorated mentally.
