That’s it, we win! Just one more second and I’ll be able to cast Remove Curse. That’s when I see the familiar sun shield that she’s been using everytime we get close, but we have a counter strategy now. Moonie use your concussion field again, if we shatter it this time, it’s over for sure.

Already done. Finish this now, Ignis!

Weird, why isn’t the shield pushing me away? It’s slowly forcing me backwards but I’m completely inside of it now. Moving feels like I’m dragging my limbs through wet concrete. Suddenly there’s a scream just a couple of feet away, I don’t understand how Nightmare could be in pain? Glancing over I see that being inside this field is burning her alive. It’s killing her, fast.

Move. Move damnit! If I can just…. reach her. I can teleport us out. Listening to those screams is making my chest hurt. “Nightmare! Reach for me! I can get us out!”

It hurts. Maker above, it hurts, please help…me.

I watch as her draconic eyes white out completely. Why is this killing her so fast?! Please just a few. more. INCHES!

Time seems to slow down.

I’m sorry Ignis. I’m sorry for making you worry when you woke up. I’m sorry for possessing you back in that hive. For being unable to help you grow your magic more. I wish I had been able to teach Elytra just a few more lessons… I’m sorry for succumbing to Discord's magic, for torturing you with your own healing. I only had my own thoughts and feelings for a little over two months, but thanks to you I didn’t have to spend them on the moon. I always wondered if this was something I was allowed to have, to enjoy.

What are you talking about? You’re allowed to have those things, you have more than two months, why… why are you…

Shh. There’s not much time left. More than apologies, I just wanted to thank you. The sparring, the flirts, the nights of idle comfort in your office while you did paperwork. I…. I was happy. Truly.

Nightmare’s signature starry mist pours out of Luna’s body and enshrouds it completely. Luna’s unconscious body is shot out of the miniature sun, and the starry mist starts to turn into smoke. Moonie, get back in my body. Please, you can have my body! Nightmare please… you’re just going back to the moon right? Why are you talking like this is goodbye?!

Because this probably is goodbye, Ignis. If I was going to go back to the moon, inside my seal…I think it would’ve happened as soon as I left Luna.

It's okay though, I only really have one small regret. It's selfish, but I was really looking forward to that date, hah... I had so much planned for the near future, I was going to wait and say this with my own body, but I’ve never said it back to you and now this is my last opportunity. I love you, Ignis.

All I can do is scream, “NIGHTMARE!” As the last bit of animated night sky releases a few tears that instantly turn to steam.

The only thing left are the few dimly glowing stars that were floating in her ethereal form. If that’s all that’s left then that counts as her body right? The small sun disappears and all of my spells wear off as I catch those dimly glowing stars. The light completely goes out once they reach my hand. I have a diamond in my pocket, I had gotten one so I could learn Contingency and place a contingent Revivify on myself. I can use that diamond here though.

Hang on, Moonie just give me a few seconds.

Revivify.

Invalid target.

Revivify.

Invalid target.

My vision goes bright red as some magical attack slams into my side and sends me careening into the dirt. Sitting up and moving to my knees, I spare a glance at Luna and confirm that she’s still breathing.

Revivify.

Invalid target.

Revivify. Revivify. Revivify. Revivify. Revivify. Revivify. Revivify.

You must touch a creature that has died within the last minute.

WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE I’M DOING?! Revivify.

Invalid target.

“That’s one mistake corrected. Step away from my sister so I can finish this.”

That’s the last thing I remember before everything went dark.

Author's Note

I was originally not going to post a chapter tonight. The chapter is around 2.8k works, well 2.1k now, but it wasn't really in a good spot to end on. So I was just going to wait and post the finished thing tomorrow, but I realized that maybe the beginning of the chapter, this section you just read, would be better off as it's own chapter.

Despite how short it is, I think if this was at the beginning of the next 5k word chapter, reading the 4.3k words after this might lessen the potential impact/weight this part has on its own, so I'm just going to release this small 700 word chapter and call it Part 10.5.

FWIW I 100% cried writing Moonies goodbye speech. Like it's the reason I didn't get to finish the entire chapter, like I straight up had to take a break. So, if this chapter upset you then I'm sorry for writing it, and as always,

Thanks for reading. :(