In Darkness, a Light

by Pascoite

Rating: everyone
Tags: Princess Luna, Original Character, Drama, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Second Person
Length: 1002

When Princess Celestia had no student to thwart Nightmare Moon’s return, the Nightmare rose to power again. Centuries later, a relic of her reign remains, if ponies might learn from it.

When Princess Celestia had no student to thwart Nightmare Moon’s return, the Nightmare rose to power again. Centuries later, a relic of her reign remains, if ponies might learn from it.

Winner of an honorable mention in the A Thousand Words Contest III, in the Experimental category.

Published 2024-07-13 21:40:02 UTC
Last updated 2024-07-13 21:40:02 UTC

At the Staircase

It’s… difficult, isn’t it, ma’am? I’m sorry, I hate to break from the script. But it’s beautiful. There’s little in this field that brings me to tears. I just wish I knew who this Twilight Sparkle was and what made her such a prominent prisoner, but nopony alive knows. I’d assume it’s because of her unusually strong dedication to Princess Celestia. Maybe Nightmare Moon wanted to make an example of her, to break her? To our best reconstruction of events, she never succeeded. I… I don’t…

I’m sorry. Give me a minute, please.

Princess Celestia recently visited to inspect the site. She’d been imprisoned here as well, sealed away, not on the moon or sun as rumor had held. When rescued, she was so malnourished and feverish that she was delirious and barely responsive. But yesterday, when she read that inscription… she suddenly remembered being here. She heard—she said that if a pony made such a fervent entreaty, she’d sense it. But while trapped in her own cell, she couldn’t do anything about it, and it tore her apart.

Next thing I knew, she ran to the bottom levels we hadn’t started exploring, threw open a room far from even the tiniest light, and illuminated it as bright as the sun.

When I got there, I… Well, you should read it for yourself, ma’am. Just down here. Watch the stairs—there’s still rubble we haven’t cleared. Bear left—only door on the—oh, somepony must have told you the way? Then I’ll wait outside for you.

Introductions

Welcome, Director! I’m glad you came on such short notice, but I think what we found will interest you. We mailed the report to the Council of Antiquities this morning, so it’s likely passed you heading the other way. I’m Daring Do, and no, obviously not the fictional character my great-great-grandmother invented, though maybe it’s inevitable I’d work in this field.

Ahem. As the report states, we rediscovered this prison last week. Nearly two centuries ago, after the mysterious purple alicorn and young dragon briefly appeared by that map table in the forest, General Rainbow Dash left her post and started a rebellion that overthrew Nightmare Moon. From the records we found inside, it housed political prisoners, but most only stayed here briefly before being relocated or executed. Nightmare Moon carved it from the naturally magic-nullifying rock of the Changeling hive. If you’ll come with me, this way, ma’am.

Sorry if I lapse into docent mode, but we plan to open this to the public, and I want to make sure I’ve got my talk down. Though… I’ll ask you a bit later. There are parts that I’m not sure we should show. Like the interrogation room, or at least warn ponies ahead of time.

As with many prisons, ponies scratched things on the walls, though here, that could only be done on the wooden doors—watch your step, ma’am. The rock is similar to obsidian and fractures with very sharp edges. Note that the cells are arranged so the window slits would have all looked at the full moon. Despite the dry climate, it was fairly humid underground, and mushrooms grew well here, making the facility self-sustaining on feeding the prisoners. Some of the larger chambers we’re now passing were designed for that purpose.

We’ll look at this one. Since the door’s open, no archaeologists are inside. Go on in and swing the door closed behind you. Heh, don’t worry, it won’t lock. It’s typical of the kinds of scrawls in most of the cells. Take a moment, and when you’ve read them, come back outside.

Cell 1

I’m innocent!

I’ve done nothing wrong!
You can’t keep me here!

I was your faithful guard, my Queen!
Why don’t you believe me?

You can’t silence us forever
We are strong

I failed you, my Queen

the ███ will shine again someday

There is no justice

Down the Hallway

Finished? As you can see, Nightmare Moon’s paranoia led to her imprisoning a lot of her own loyal ponies. There really are only three types of messages we ever see: lamenting one’s fate, venting anger, or pleas for mercy.

However, if you’ll walk down to the last cell on the right, you’ll see something different, and honestly, it broke my heart. The prisoner was a young unicorn mare named Twilight Sparkle, and witnesses say she looked very much like that mysterious alicorn. No records state why she was here, and we don’t know her ultimate fate, but the detailed archive of executions doesn’t list her, so the liberating force presumably freed her. She must have occupied that cell the entire time the prison existed, because hers is the only inscription and no guard defaced her mention of the sun. And unlike the others, her first concern wasn’t for herself, but for those who loved her. That’s what struck me. She was so selfless, and who in her situation would be?

If you’ll step inside and read it, ma’am…

Cell 41

I’m sorry to cause you worry, Mother.
Please don’t fear for me.
If I am able, I will return home.
May the sun rise tomorrow.
Princess Celestia, wherever you are,
watch over me.

Author's Note

Inspired by the story of Helena Błażusiakówna.

Cell 0

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And What of Luna?

Are you alright? I have a tissue in my saddlebag somewhere… Um, Princess Celestia said I should ask you whether this room should be part of the public tour. During the… dark times, nopony even knew she had a sister. We’re all grateful Princess Celestia found her—you, Director—er, Princess Luna, ma’am. Wherever Nightmare Moon kept you, we’re all glad to have you back, and you obviously mean an awful lot to Princess Celestia. She’s been so happy since.

So about having this room on the tour… what do you think?