Nightmare Moon, Finale

Chains stared at the one armed man, almost as if he hadn’t heard him. He had never seen a human stand or speak with so much authority, it was an alien sight and he wasn’t sure how to act.

The steel eyes of the man narrowed as he repeated his demand, “who are you?” he asked again, slower, his tone more stern than before.

The younger human, without even a fraction of the same conviction as the older human spoke with, replied, “M-my name is Chains,” he stuttered out.

The stranger seemed partially satisfied, “now, the other half of my question, why are you here?” he ask, looking Chains over, “I doubt you came to be a snack for the timber wolves.” His tone was the same, but his stance seemed to relax somewhat, before his eyes landed on the metal collar around Chains’ neck.

He grabbed it with his one hand and pulled the boy gently closer to him as he looked it over, “a runaway, maybe?” he wondered aloud.

Chains shook his head, feeling the strength of the man as he held him by the collar, “n-no, I didn’t run away,” he said quickly, “I came here to look for my Mistress,” he admitted, hoping he hadn’t said the wrong thing accidently.

The one armed man just tilted his head, his expression becoming thoughtful as he let go of the younger human. “You’d chase after your owner in a dark and violent forest?” he asked him.

Chains slowly nodded, “I, she might need me,” he answered quietly.

He taller man chuckled while shaking his head, “you’re either a fool or whipped so into submission you couldn’t live without somepony tugging at your leash,” he mocked, his eyes narrowing. “Which is it, boy?” he asked. “Are you a fool, or a dog?”

Chains’ fear was gone for a moment, and he snapped back, “Call me a fool if you wish, but my Mistress is worth following, whether she wants me out here or not,” he said, before remembering that this one armed man had fought off creatures that were planning to make a meal out of him just moments ago.

The human rose an eyebrow, not paying the snap of anger much mind, but rather what he said, “whether she wants you here or not?” he repeated.

Chains slowly nodded, “s-she ordered me to remain home and wait for her.”

The stranger blinked, “interesting,” he said. “Answer me this,” he started. “Why is it that you would disobey your Mistress, and of all things you do, you chase after her?” he asked.

The younger human looked down at his feet, “I, I want to help her if I can,” he said quietly, though loud enough to hear, if only barely.

“It doesn’t sound like she wanted your help,” was the observation of the one armed man. “You’ll likely be punished when you catch up to her, help her or not,” he warned.

Chains stayed quiet for a moment, “I, don’t mind,” he said. “For disobeying her I deserve whatever punishment she’ll give, but I feel compelled to help her regardless.” He looked up at the taller man, and he finally said the words which he held inside for years, “I love her, and if I must be punished for being by her side, then I will gladly suffer through it.”

The other human was silent, and looked down at Chains, before a soft smile appeared and with a shake of his head he turned around and began to walk away, “truly a great fool,” he muttered to himself, “best of luck to you,” he called back behind him, “a fool’s path is difficult.”

“Wait!” Chains called after him, causing the other human to stop and look back. The smaller human looked down shyly before looking back up, “I’m lost,” he admitted, “I’m not sure where I am, but….. my Mistress was looking for a castle in this forest,” he said, “do you know where one would be?”

The stranger looked at Chains with a raised eyebrow, “I know of one,” he answered.

“Can, can you take me there?” Chains asked, a pleading look in his eye.

The older human only sighed, “All that tough talk and now you have to ask for help,” His expression changed to a weary smile, as he turned and continued on his way.

Chains took this to mean the answer was ‘no,’ and he looked down, when he heard the man call to him.

“Keep up.”

The young human’s eyes widened as he looked up to the walking form of the armed human, and hesitantly, he began to rush to his side to get into step with him.

………..

Following his guide through the forest, Chains’ was a few steps behind the older human, “do you have a name?” he asked him.

“I did,” was the reply he got.

“Not anymore?” was Chains’ next question, growing curious.

“I left it behind,” the stranger said, not even looking back.

Chains frowned, ‘why would someone leave their name behind?’ he wondered to himself. He was going to ask, but decided against it, as it maybe a sensitive subject. “Then, what should I call you?” he asked.

“Whatever you please,” his guide replied, not seeming to pay his full attention to the younger human.

They two of them moved through the forest while Chains thought deeply, almost stumbling on a root before he looked up at the older human again, “Bandage?” he said aloud.

The one armed man stopped on the trail and turned to look at Chains with a raised eyebrow, “that’s what you came up with?” he questioned.

Chains shrugged, “well, you’re covered in bandages,” he reasoned.

“I won’t have bandages forever you know,” was the newly named Bandage’s reply.

Chains looked down, “well, I don’t have any idea what else to call you,” he said.

Bandage sighed, “fine, it will do,” he said, once again moving on the trail.

Chains followed and looked around as they went along, “is it much further now?” he asked.

“No, we should be seeing it in a couple minutes,” Bandage answered.

Chains nodded to himself, and then he asked, “Why do you live out here by yourself?” he asked him.

“Because this is where I ran to,” was the reply he got.

The younger human began to view his guide with caution again. He wondered if maybe Bandage was an escaped slave, and we was also worried if he might be dangerous to his Mistress.

His next question was asked carefully, “do, do you hate Ponies?”

Bandage stopped again, but didn’t turn to face Chains. He seemed deep in thought, before long he glanced back and said, “No,” and continued to walk again.

Chains resisted from sighing in relief, “what happened that you ran out here?” he asked.

“Is it important to you?” Bandage asked.

Chains was silent before shaking his head, more to himself than his guide, “No.”

“Then you don’t need to know, and I don’t want to talk about it,” Bandage said with a calm tone, though it was clear it was a sensitive subject.

“I’m sorry,” Chains said quickly, “I didn’t mean to….”

“You didn’t,” Bandage said, assuring Chains that he hadn’t offended him.

There was a silence after that as the only sounds were their footsteps on the dirt path and noises from the wilds around them.

Chains still wondered what happened to this man, and he didn’t just mean the missing arm and the bandages. This lone human living out in the wilderness seemed to be carrying something on his shoulders, a heavy burden.

But Chains stayed silent about it, even if he asked, he was sure Bandage was not ready or willing to talk about it.

It was, surprisingly enough, Bandage who broke the silence, “why is it your Mistress came to this forest anyways?” he asked.

Chains snapped himself from his own thoughts, before answering, “She needs these things called the Elements of Harmony to defeat Nightmare Moon,” he said.

Bandage thought on this, “Can’t say I know what any of those are, but I don’t know if she’d find them in that castle,” he said, “Nothing in there but some old rocks.”

Chains was silent. He hoped that Bandage was wrong, that Twilight really would find the Elements and be able to stop Nightmare Moon.

He hoped she was alright.

“We’re here,” Bandage said suddenly as they came out of the tree line to reveal to their sight the ruins of what must have been a mighty castle at some point.

The humans had come to a side of the castle, some crumbled walls leading into the courtyard and one of the walls had fallen near a staircase leading to a high central tower.

On the far side of the castle that they could see, there was a deep ravine with a rope bridge connecting the sides.

“That’s strange,” Bandage spoke, getting Chains’ attention. “That bridge wasn’t up the last time I was here.”

Chains looked at the bridge once more, and he smiled, “It must have been my Mistress and her friends, they made it,” he said happily.

Bandage nods, and turns back to head to the forest.

Chains sees him, “w-wait,” he said, “you’re not coming?” he asked.

The older human looked back at him, “I helped get you here, I don’t have any reason to involve myself in the business of your Mistress or her Friends,” he said.

Chains gave him a sad look, but nodded, understanding that it was more than just that, “thank you for getting me here, and for saving me earlier,” he said, gratefully.

Bandage nodded, “if you ever come into this forest again, try to avoid being eaten,” he said, turning and leaving.

Chains watched him leave, and then suddenly he noticed a bright light coming from the central tower. He felt a fear in his heart once more.

He hoped his Mistress was alright as he climbed onto the collapsed wall and to the stairs, rushing to hopefully be of some aide.

…………..

Chains ran up the staircase as fast as he could, his shoes sounding loudly as he finally reached the top. He came out through an archway into what was the remains of a once regal throne room.

He was just in time to see his Mistress thrown back by the power of Nightmare Moon, landing on her back.

“Mistress!” he called, rushing to her side, kneeling down and looking her over to make sure she was alright.

Twilight looked up at him, her eyes wide and filled with a mixture of emotions, “Chains?! What are you doing here?!”

Chains didn’t answer her, perhaps out of shame, before he looked to Nightmare Moon who glared at the both of them and narrowed her eyes.

Swallowing hard, Chains stood up, and placed himself between the Nightmare and his Mistress, body trembling with fear.

The Nightmare growled, “Pitiful creature!” she exclaimed with as much malice in her voice as her eyes, her horn began to glow with malevolent energy. “I could have freed you, but you seem to insist on dying!”

Twilight’s eyes widened further, “C-Chains, get out of here! Now!”

Even if Chains wished to abandon his Mistress, it would have been too late.

Nightmare Moon let loose a powerful bolt of magic straight at the human, who crossed his arms in a vain attempt to shield himself from the blast.

His left arm took the full brunt of the energy, the same arm which was so long ago scarred when his Mistress lost control of her own power so many years ago.

What he knew next was pain, and it was all he knew. Pure, seemingly limitless pain shot from his shoulder to his fingertips, as it felt like the bone itself was trying to expand and escape the flesh of his arm.

The young human let out a horrible scream of pain.

Then he blacked out.

…………

Darkness.

Somehow it seemed significant to him that the first thing he became aware of, was that he wasn’t aware of anything.

Just an inky black darkness which came with its own unique feel, sound, taste as well as appearance.

It smelled as Nothing would smell, feel like Nothing, and carried the sound of Nothing. If Nothing could be given any of these attributes, he was sure these would be them.

He slowly started to recollect the events that had transpired.

He was in front of Nightmare Moon, and she shot magic at him, that much he knew.

Then he remembered the pain.

And now this Nothing.

Perhaps he had died, or would soon be dead.

He dwelled on this thought. Being dead.

He hoped it wasn’t in vain, he hoped he had saved his Mistress. Allowed her to escape, allowed her to somehow win. So long as she was alive by the end of it all, he would be content with what happened.

As these thoughts passed, he started becoming aware of something other than the Nothing.

It sounded like a distant drum beat, or muffled shouting, if that made since.

Slowly the world began to return to him, and the Nothing faded, and the drum beat became words.

And he was soon able to make out those words.

Please, they said.

“Please wake up, Chains.”

Something wet fell onto his face.

And something holding his head up.

His eyes slowly opened, and he found himself looking into the face of his Mistress, her facial fur matted down from tears, eyes closed.

He suddenly felt a stab of pain in his heart.

How could he even consider dying and letting her be sad?

“Mistress? Are you alright?” He asked her.

Twilight’s eyes shot open, as she looked down at her human, tears threatening to spill anew, for completely different reasons, “Chains?”

Suddenly, he felt her fully embrace him with her forelimbs as she hugged him tightly, as if scared to let him go.

“Thank Celestia you’re okay,” she sobbed lightly. After a moment she calmed down, and eased up, “you are alright, right?” she asked, concerned.

Chains smiled to her and nodded, “Yes Mistress, I think I’m okay,” he said.

“Good,” was her relieved reply.

He then felt a hoof connect hard with his head.

“That’s for scaring me like that!” Twilight yelled, suddenly angry. “What would I have done, Chains?!” She asked, glaring him in his dual colored eyes. “What would I have done if you died?!”

Chains rubbed his head and looked down sadly, “I’m sorry, Mistress,” he said. “I disobeyed your orders as well,” he said.

He felt her wrap her hooves around him again. “Just shut up for now,” she said, letting go after a moment, “I’m too happy that you’re okay to be too mad at you,” she said, though she still carried a frown on her face, “but I’m still angry that you made me worry like that.”

“Sheesh, Twi, cut him some slack,” came the voice of a certain rainbow maned Pegasus, “He came through the Everfree Forest on his own just to make sure you were okay after all,” she said.

“Honestly Darling, you must admit, he did make quite the dashing effort,” Rarity spoke up, also coming to his defense. “Like a true hero, running to the rescue of the fair maiden.”

“Shucks, it takes real guts to do what he did,” Applejack said, putting forth her two bits.

“Wowie, he’s lucky too, he doesn’t look like he has a scratch on him,” Pinkie Pie said, looking the human over.

“Are you sure you’re okay Chains?” came Fluttershy’s voice, full of concern.

The young human looked at the ponies who were all around him, feeling a bit awkward with so many fussing over him, he merely nodded, “I’m okay, honest,” he said.

They seemed to leave it at that.

Chains tries sitting up, though his body felt stiff, and his left arm felt somewhat numb, but there was no trace of the pain that ripped through it before.

After one more look of concern from Twilight, she turned her attention elsewhere.

Chains followed her gaze to see Princess Celestia speaking with another, smaller, Alicorn which he didn’t recognize. Though the remains of what appeared to be Nightmare Moon’s armor was all around her.

Was this Nightmare Moon? He wondered.

After a moment, the two Alicorns looked in their direction, and Celestia nodded to the smaller Alicorn, and they both made their way towards the group.

When they arrived the smaller Alicorn looked Chains in the eye and bowed her head, “We are…. I,” she corrected herself mid sentence. “I am most sorry for causing you such harm,” she said sincerely.

Chains looked up, a bit of color filling in his cheeks as he raised his hands, “n-no, you don’t need to be sorry to me,” he said.

“But I must,” she argued. “I wasn’t in my right mind, but that is no excuse if I were to have killed anypony.”

Chains, was going to argue, but instead he nodded, “o-okay,” was all he could reply with.

Twilight seemed a little perturbed, but still didn’t seem too upset.

Celestia looked to her fellow Alicorn, “now, Luna, we must go, we have much to discuss.

Luna looked to Celestia, and nodded, his eyes narrowing somewhat, “yes, we do.”

Before either of them could go, however, Pinkie Pie chimed in, “Hey, we need to throw a party,” she said gleefully. “A ‘we just saved the world and reunited sisters party’” she said with a grin that seemed like it was threatening to take complete dominance of the Pink Party Pony’s face.

Celestia smiled, and nodded, “alright, let us return to Ponyville for a time,” she said, looking to Luna, who after a moment only gave a slight nod.

Chains looked between the two Alicorns, and could see that they did indeed have much to discuss with each other, but of what, he couldn’t tell.

……………

The journey back to Ponyville was leisurely, and though it was barely noticeable through the thick treetops, it was clear that the sun had risen again, and the ‘Eternal’ Night was over.

After they had gotten along the trail, Twilight had walked ahead of Chains, and was in stride with Princess Celestia.

The human looked at his Mistress, still feeling bad that he had made her worry about him.

He then became aware that Applejack was by his side.

“Ya look troubled, Partner,” she greeted with a friendly smile.

“I’m fine, really,” he tried to argue.

“Yer about as bad at lying as me,” he chuckled lightly. “You know, we all heard your scream right before we got to where ya’ll was,” she explained. “When we got there, you were on the ground, and Twilight, well, I never thought I could see a purple pony turn so pale,” she said, her voice becoming somewhat sad. “She really cares about ya.”

“I didn’t mean to make her worry so much,” he said guiltily.

Applejack merely shook her head, “stop feeling so sorry about things,” she told him. “She worries because she cares.”

Chains looked at his feet as they walked along the path. “I never like making my Mistress sad.”

“She’s more than just a Mistress to you, even ah can see that,” Applejack said. “And you are much more than just a slave to her.”

Chains tensed up, “It’s…… not like that,” he said.

Applejack sighed, “Like ah said Partner,” she smirked, “yer a terrible liar.”

Chains’ face flushed as he looked away.

Just a short distance away, Twilight was having her own conversation with her Mentor.

“You seem deep in thought my Student,” Celestia observed.

“I’m….. not thinking about anything important,” she lied.

“Oh?” Celestia pried. “Because you seem worried, you had quite a scare not long ago,” she said.

“Well he’s fine now, so its nothing to worry about,” she quickly said, hoping to move on to a different subject.

“Twilight Sparkle,” Celestia’s tone was gentle and almost motherly, in that it sounded somewhat like playful scolding, “you seemed to have forgotten the very first lesson I ever taught you,” she said.

Twilight looked up, confused, and a little flustered, “no, honest, I recite the basic magical table to myself twice a week,” she argued.

The Princess smiled gently down to her, “no, not that lesson,” she said. “I’m talking about my advice, the first time you came to me with a problem.”

Twilight wracked her mind for what the Princess could possibly be talking about. And when she realized what it was, her face flushed, “B-but…”

“Follow your heart, Twilight Sparkle.”

Luna, who was on Celestia’s other side, looked up at her elder sister with confused eyes.

……………….

The rest of the trip to Ponyville was mostly quiet, with the exception of Applejack explaining to Chains what happened while he was unconscious, how Twilight and the others activated the Elements of Harmony, and used them against Nightmare Moon, which somehow turned her back into the Princess she used to be, Princess Luna, who was Celestia’s sister.

That and Pinkie Pie making her plans for the party out loud, though some of her ideas seemed outlandish at the very least.

But she made good on every plan, even somehow getting a Piñata in the shape of The Moon on short notice.

Spike was happy to see Twilight and Chains safe and sound and eagerly greeted them both with a hug before helping Pinkie set up the party.

Twilight expressed her worry to the Princess about having to leave so suddenly, after making so many new friends.
Celestia seemed to take great joy in having spike write down a royal document to give Twilight a new study assignment and place of residence, much to the joy of apparently the whole town, and which gave Pinkie Pie all the more reason to party as far as she saw it.

It was a fun party, and it lasted until mid afternoon, when everypony suddenly realized how exhausted they all were.

Chains was now in the Library, sweeping up and cleaning the mess that was left over from both the party, and the rushed search for evidence of the Elements of Harmony. As tired as he was, he was enjoying the quiet after such a long day and nearly eternal night.

He heard the door open and looked to it as he saw Twilight walk in.

She looked to him as she closed the door, her cheeks somewhat pink, and she smiled gently, “quite the long day, huh Chains?” she said.

Her human smiled back, and nodded, “it’s been a long time since I’ve seen you this happy,” he commented.

Twilight giggled, and came closer to him. Looking down, her smile faded. “Chains,” she started. “I’m sorry.”

He looked at her, somewhat confused, “M-Mistress, I’m the one who should be sorry, I disobeyed you, and made you worry,” he said.

“I’m not talking about that,” Twilight looked up at him, “these last few years, I’ve been unfair, to both of us, just because I was afraid.”

Chains’ heart pounded in his chest, as he knew exactly what she meant.

“I know we can’t be like that in public, no matter how much we want to, but, in private, in our home, here in Ponyville, I’d like to be what we almost were back in Canterlot,” she said, her eyes staring into his.

Chains wasn’t sure how to act, his heart was beating so hard he could feel his pulse in his toes.

Twilight’s blush seemed to grow, as Chains seemed to take too long to answer, and she stood on her hind hooves and pushed him to the wall with her front hooves, her face inches from his, as his face lit up red just as much as hers was through her facial fur.

All the feelings came rushing back at once, the love they’d both been holding back for the last two years, as they finally kissed once more, Chains embracing her.

The world seemed to disappear to them as his chest pressed to hers, and their hearts beat together.

When they finally broke the kiss, they gazed into each other’s eyes for a long time, and Twilight finally spoke up, “I don’t think I’m scared anymore,” she said, resting her head against his chest, he placed his head atop hers. They then went to Twilight’s room, and lay together as they both feel into a deep and long overdue sleep.

Author's Note

Wow, made it, just barely, but I got it done before season 4 started.
Finally done with the Nightmare Moon arc too, I hope this chapter sates your thirsts for a while, because it maybe a while before I put out anything more that’s Chains related, I have a big project in mind that I want to focus on.
It’s going to be a prequel of sorts, focusing on Star Shield Sparkle, who I mentioned briefly before. He’s Shining Armor and Twilight’s uncle who fought in the Changeling wars shortly before Twilight was born. It’s going to be a relatively small story compared to what Chains will be in the future, but it’s sizable for the story it’s going to tell, and I want to make sure it’s good before I even start posting it. That means I’ll have written out the whole story, had it proofread and edited by a couple other people and either do a daily posting or just give it all at once. We’ll see.
I may post in other things as well if I find the time and drive, most likely it will be Dark Pony Brotherhood, or a miniseries I’m thinking of doing that concerns Chains.
However it works out, this story is far from done.
Also, those who are wondering about Bandage, don’t worry, he’s definitely going to have a major role in future events.