The Conjuration Wizard

Four weeks.

In such little time, I found myself settled into a nocturnal routine of losing at sparring and studying both the magical and the mundane. The library had become a nightly sanctuary when I wasn’t getting the snot beat out of me in the sparring grounds. Each time I slept, the same nightmares of the vrock demon and bloody slaughter awaited me, but I couldn’t bring myself to burden Luna with that knowledge.

She already has enough to deal with. Adjusting to being freed after millennia of isolated banishment to the moon, guilt from crimes from many lifetimes ago, her duties as Princess of the Night, and training me.

What kind of asshole would I be to lump more issues onto her? Besides, I can handle a terrifying nightmare or two a week. Me and that demon bird get to throwing hands, and sometimes I even get to land a punch that doesn’t even phase the thing. Easy-peezy!

Tonight, the library was bathed in the soft glow of candle light. The silence was broken occasionally by the rustling of pages or Aldin’s soft hoots from his perch in the bookshelves.

Luna sat across from me, her usually vibrant eyes seemed duller tonight with bags of shadows under them, her movements more subdued and sluggish. A poor imitation of her usual self. She stared at her book but hadn’t turned the pages in some time. I watched her out of the corner of my eye, concern gnawing at me.

I closed the book I was studying — a tome on the various creatures of Equis — the gentle thud filled the stillness. Luna looked up, her eyes reflecting the moonlight, but the spark of enthusiasm I had come to admire since arriving was dim.

"Luna,” I began, before promptly stopping. I had prepared a whole speech for this moment, but under her attention I found myself unable to manifest my thoughts into words. So instead I dragged the words out painfully, slowly, "I’ve noticed you’ve been... different lately. Is everything alright?”

She gave a small smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. "I’m fine. Just tired.”

I pursed my lips, mulling over her words. I wanted to believe her. I wanted her to simply be ‘just tired’, but her eyes looked far too distant, far too hollow.

Resting my palms on the table, I leaned forward. "I don’t believe you. I may not the best at reading people, but even I can see through ‘just tired’. Something is bothering you. Please, let me help you.”

Her expression hardened for a moment, and in that moment I considered the possibility that I might have overstepped. Mentally, I prepared myself to be thrown out the window.

After a long pause, she sighed deeply, her shoulders slumping. "You are perceptive, Sebastian. More than I give you credit for.”

“I think i’ll take that as a compliment.”

There was a lengthy pause. Finally, Luna matched my gaze, her’s holding a mixture of sorrow and resolve. "I did terrible things, Sebastian. I led my little ponies to war, caused immense suffering, and took countless lives. The lives I've taken. The destruction I've caused. I can't escape that, no matter how much time has passed."

Feeling the need to occupy my hands, I found myself idly tracing circles into the table as I spoke. "I won’t pretend to understand what you went through or the pain you carry. But that was a thousand years ago. You were consumed by darkness, not acting of your own free will. You've changed. You're not the same person you were a thousand years ago.”

Luna's eyes flashed with a mixture of sadness and frustration. "Sebastian, you misunderstand. Nightmare Moon isn't some separate entity or parasite possessing me. It was still me, my desires, my anger, my jealousy — just with all my inhibitions stripped away. I did those terrible things because I wanted to. Because I believed I deserved more. Nothing forced me, it was simply me freed from regret and remorse."

I blinked, momentarily stunned. The idea of Luna’s actions being her own choices, her own desires, was quite the bitter pill to swallow. The books I’ve read that covered Nightmare Moon and the war implied my incorrect understanding of how Nightmare Moon functioned — as a separate entity of sorts.

Lies or simple historical inaccuracies? A move made by Celestia to cover up the past? How much of the books in the Castle Library could be trusted?

So many questions and no way to find a trustworthy answer without showing my hand.

Was the pursuit of the truth worth even pursuing in this case?

I know what I would do in Celestia’s place: twist history to make it easier for my sister’s return. It’s far easier to accept that one of your rulers was taken over by some kind of evil entity than… this.

As the shock subsided, I found myself glancing at the shelves of books nearby. "So you're saying Nightmare Moon was you, just without restraint? That it was your own darkness brought to the surface?"

She nodded, tears glistening her eyes threatening to spill over. "Yes. That is what makes this so hard to bear. I can't blame some external force; I have to live with the knowledge that those were my choices, my actions."

I hesitated, right now my concerns about the integrity of the library, historical accuracy, and the truth did not rank high on my tiers of importance.

Man, I hate seeing anyone sad.

I reached out and took a hold of one of her hooves. "It changes nothing. The fact that you recognize what you did and are tormented by it means you’re not that person anymore. You want to be better, and that desire is what makes you deserving of redemption."

Luna looked at me, a mix of disbelief and hope in her eyes. "Even knowing the truth, you still want to help me?"

"Yes," I replied without hesitation. "Everyone has some form of a dark side to them. It’s life, everyone makes mistakes in life. What matters the most to me is that you want to be better, that you're working towards making amends and being better. What matters to me the most is what you do now. That is what defines who you are, not what you did some thousand years or so ago."

Her breath hitched, and I could see the tension in her shoulders beginning to ease. A fragile smile touched her lips, relief shone amidst the crushing weight of her guilt.

"Your faith in me is more than I deserve," her voice carried centuries worth of guilt and shame.

“Nah,” I said with a firm shake of my head. "It’s exactly what you deserve. You’re working to make up for the past, and that effort counts for something. That being said, you shouldn’t carry this burden of yours alone. No man is an island! Or in this case: No pony is an island!"

Luna studied my face intently, her gaze searching for any hint of insincerity or doubt. The silence stretched between us, heavy and contemplative. I held her gaze, allowing her the time she needed to process, hopefully to see the sincerity in my words.

She exhaled slowly, a tension lifted from her. "Perhaps you are right," she muttered with resignation tinging her voice. “I've carried this alone for too long."

"If there's anything I can do to help," I offered. “Please, don't hesitate to ask.”

She nodded, a faint smile of gratitude touching her lips. "Perhaps... it would be best to be more open about my struggles," she admitted quietly, almost to herself.

At her smile, a wave of relief washed over me.

"I'm here for you," I reassured her, squeezing her hoof once more. “As you were and are for me.”

The gesture seemed to lift her spirits. Her smile grew, and the shine I had come to admire began to return in her eyes. I couldn’t help but match her smile with my own.

“You have nice hands,” she stated matter-of-factly.

Her words took me by surprise and I found myself unable to stop the full-bellied laugh that escaped me and brought me to tears. Once my laughter subsided, I let go of her hoof and relaxed back into my chair.

“I have manly hands!”

“Sure you do.”

“Oh? So you have jokes now?”

We sat in comfortable silence for a moment, the weight of our conversation settling around us. The airs of the library had lightened considerably. A sense of contentment filled me.

As the silence stretched, I couldn't help but reflect upon my own problems. The nightmares had become a torment every time I attempted to sleep more than a few hours, the same horrific scenes replaying in my mind. Much like Luna, I tried to shoulder the burden alone. I had convinced myself that it was my battle to fight alone. However, seeing Luna's willingness to open up about her own struggles, forced me to come to the realization of how hypocritical it would be for me to say nothing of my own struggles. How could I preach of sharing her burdens with me, when I hide away my own?

One of the few people I truly hate are hypocrites.

"Luna," I began hesitantly, breaking the silence. "There's something I need to tell you."

Her eyes met mine, concern etched on her features. "What is it, Sebastian?"

Taking a deep breath, I once again began tracing circles in the wood of the table as I spoke. "I've been having nightmares. Ever since I arrived in Equis. It’s always the same... the circle breaks, a demon butchers cultists, and then it kills my… Meridin’s parents before it turns its attention to me."

I could see her eyes widened in shock from the corner of my vision, and I continued before she could respond. "Every time I sleep, I relive those moments. It's like the nightmare is taunting me. Trying to break me down. I’m sorry. I didn't want to add to your problems, especially with everything you're going through, but I figured it would be pretty hypocritical of me to say nothing. You know… after saying all that stuff about ‘no one should handle stuff alone’."

Luna's expression softened, her empathy shining through. "Sebastian, you should have told me sooner. As I’ve told you before: one of my duties is to watch over the dreams of our subjects."

"I know," I admitted, feeling very much the fool. "I guess I was just trying to be strong, I didn’t want to add to your troubles."

"Your well-being is important to me," she said firmly. "As your mentor it is my duty to help you through this. We will face this nightmare together."

She stood up, her resolve evident. "You shall sleep now, so I may accompany you through this nightmare. Together, we will confront this nightmare and put an end to it."

"Now?" I asked with a mixture of relief and apprehension suddenly coursing through me. "B-but it’s so early in the night.”

"Yes, right now," she replied, her tone leaving no room for argument. "Quality sleep is essential for your well-being, and I need to see this nightmare for myself."

We left the library, making our way through the dimly lit halls to my room. The castle was quiet, the only sound was our footsteps echoing off the stone walls.

When we reached my room, Luna gently urged me towards the bed. "Lie down and try to relax. I'll be right by your side.”

I nodded, feeling a strange sense of comfort knowing she would be there. As I lay down, Luna sat beside me, her presence a reassuring anchor.

"Close your eyes,” she instructed softly. "Focus on your breathing. I will join you in the dream soon.”

I did as she said, closing my eyes and taking deep breaths. I surprised myself with how quickly I slipped into sleep. My last thought before sleep claimed me was simple: I hope this is the last time I dream of asshole demons ever again.

_~_~_~_~_~_~_

I found myself back in that familiar nightmare, the twisted echo of when Meridin's childhood met its end. The darkness of the room was punctuated by the faint glow of the magic circle, silver-gray powder lining its edges. The dissonant abyssal chanting of the red-robed cultists cut short at the claws of a wrathful demon.

The vrock demon loomed over me, its eyes burning with malevolent glee. Its beaked face smiled down at me and with a casual stomp of its taloned foot, it cut through the links of my chains with ease. Grabbing me, it lifted me up so that I could be at its eye level, holding me aloft like a ragdoll.

"You are the last, little worm. I hear that humans your age enjoy games, so let us play one! If you survive this, I will even let you crawl away like the worm you are," it hissed into my mind, its telepathic voice oozed malice.

I nodded, too terrified to respond.

The demon laughed, a horrible, grating sound, "I like your spirit, worm! Now hold still, I do not want you to bleed out too fast!”

It raised its clawed hand and sank its claws into my chest. The now familiar pain of laceration blossomed shoulder to hip. I somehow managed to keep my screams to a pitiful whimper.

The demon dropped me. I hit the floor with a wet thud, my vision swimming from the pain. As I lay there, disoriented and gasping out for breath, a voice broke through the haze of agony.

"Sebastian! To me!"

It was Luna. Her voice was a beacon in the darkness, and I forced myself to move. I pushed myself up to my feet, ignoring the searing pain of my fresh wounds, and stumbled towards the sound of her voice. The demon roared behind me, enraged.

"You dare? Here I am showing you mercy — I was going to bring you with me as my pet! But now, I will hang you by your entrails!" the vrock bellowed, its heavy footsteps pounding the floor as it gave chase.

I hauled ass through the winding corridors of the nightmare. I was moving as fast as my younger legs could carry me. Luna's voice acted as my guide, leading me through the labyrinthine hallways of Meridin’s childhood home.

"Keep going, Sebastian! You're almost there!"

I rounded a corner and skidded to a halt. Before me, hovering in the air, was a sword. Its blade gleamed with an otherworldly light, and the pommel was pointed towards me. Engraved into the pommel was a crescent moon.

Instinctively, I reached out and took a hold of the sword.

The demon was upon me. It was leaping through the air with its claws and talons outstretched. In a panic, I placed the sword between myself and the demon, bracing for impact. The vrock's momentum carried it forward. The blade met its neck, severing its head in a single motion.

The demon's body fell to the floor with a heavy thud. The vulture like head putting some distance from its body. I stood there, shaking and panting, the sword still clutched in my trembling hands. The nightmare and the sword began to dissolve around me. The darkness around me lifted to reveal Luna standing beside me.

"It is done," she said with pride and relief filling her voice in equal measure.

The pain from the wound the demon had inflicted quickly began to fade. In its place came a warm, comforting sensation. I turned to Luna, the overwhelming stress of the ordeal still pressing down upon me. The demon’s dealings of death and desecration still fresh in my mind.

I threw my arms around her, holding her tightly. She stiffened for a moment before relaxing into the embrace, her wings wrapping around me like a comforting cocoon.

"Thank you."

"Anytime, Sebastian.”