The Magic and the Night

Chapter 3: The Legend of Blackmirror

The castle was dark, the only illumination coming from candles and floating green orbs that bathed chosen rooms in a sickly emerald hue. Vials of herbs and blood sat on ancient shelves, bronze censers burning impious concoctions.

The Follower felt ready to burst with excitement. The heady, pungent scents in the room filled the Follower's nose, reminding the Follower of how the rituals had at first been utterly revolting. Now the Follower welcomed the rituals and the power they brought. There was no greater power than to harness the dreams and terrors of ponies, to bring to life the deepest fantasies. And what did ponies fear more than Nightmare Moon?

The Follower was glad to be back at the ancestral home, some distance from Canterlot. As useful as it was to be near the rich and powerful, it was too difficult to cast the most important rituals there. Certainly some of the idle rich looking for more exotic entertainment had aided in some of them, but the more...questionable ceremonies required the most extreme of personalities to carry out. The Follower had to admit that so many of the ceremonies really were distasteful, but it was a small price to pay for the power they brought.

A Unicorn filly lay strapped to the sacrificial altar, quivering and sobbing uselessly beside the wavy steel sacrificial knife. Above the altar was an elegant black iron reading stand carrying The Way of Blackmirror. Fixed to the wall was a large rectangular mirror, the surface as black as the bottom of the well. The Follower smiled at the filly, and rubbed her mane in mock affection. A scared sacrifice was the best kind; the Follower's mistress would be most pleased by the offering.

The ghostly face of Blackmirror rose up from the depths of the mirror, leering down at the quaking filly. “Ah...” she breathed. “Most delicious...”

Her shining violet eyes turned to the Follower. “Have you cast the backup spell yet?”

“I'm confident we need no such thing, Mistress,” the Follower bragged, sweeping a hoof out for emphasis. “I made sure that the evidence will keep Twilight Sparkle trapped. No pony can legally free her now!”

The eyes were cold and inscrutable, but the Follower had a sudden tinge of regret for bragging. “There is always time to be cautious,” she warned. “I would be disappointed if something went wrong due to a little overconfidence.”

The Follower scowled. Everything done so far had been perfect, and for Blackmirror to doubt the Follower's capabilities was galling. She was obsessed with finding the best, and the Follower was determined to be the best pony she would ever know.

“Please...let me go...” the filly begged, her voice quavering with fright.

Blackmirror cooed and tittered over the sacrifice, drinking in her fear. “Soon, all the little fillies and colts will be huddled in fear, just like this.”

A faint fluttering touched the air, and something brushed past the Follower. The filly's eyes bulged in terror as she watched a dark shadow circle over them, a shadow like a huge bat but with a whip-like tail and no face. A Nightgaunt.

“My pet is telling me,” Blackmirror said, “that Twilight Sparkle has escaped and Princess Luna is aiding her.”

The Follower paled. Princess Luna? The Follower hadn't foreseen her breaking the law to help Sparkle.

“Fear not, my faithful Follower,” Blackmirror assured. “Princess Luna will be simple to take care of once she sees who she's dealing with. I'll take care of her personally. You focus on retrieving Twilight.”

“Y-yes!” the Follower answered, grateful that the Mistress wasn't upset by the turn of events.

“Now then,” Blackmirror said, turning back to the filly, “I grow hungry...”

The Follower's horn lit up, raising the sacrificial knife to the filly. It was a distasteful business, but as long as the rewards kept coming the sacrifices were most certainly worth it. The filly could only give out a small, terrified squeak as the knife plunged down.

Twilight had been in the air before, pulled by Pegasus-drawn chariots, drifting in hot-air balloons, and once clinging to the back of Cadance. Nothing could have prepared her for the ride that night though. Her forelegs wrapped tightly Luna's neck, she could only stare in wonder as they zoomed higher and higher, Equestria laid out below like an illustration in a book. The winter air stung her face, Luna flying far faster than Cadance had. Chancing a look back, the prison cell was already out of sight.

“Are you all right, Twilight?” Luna asked.

“Yes, I think so,” she answered, bewildered. “I just need to get this ring off my horn...”

Luna's magnificent horn lit up, and her magic gripped the ring. “This will hurt,” the princess said. Twilight nodded, and Luna's magic pulled at the ring. Twilight gritted her teeth, squeezing her eyes shut. The ring resisted, creeping up little by little. It felt like her horn was being scraped with rusty blades. Luna gave a hard yank, and the ring tore away. In a purple flash, all of Twilight's magic came rushing back to her, exploding from her horn in chaotic arcs. A scream escaped Twilight's throat. Her body jerked about, flinging her head back.

“Twilight!” Luna cried. “I can't fly like this! Hold on!”

She didn't need to ask Twilight. Even with her death grip around Luna's neck, the princess' magic blanketed Twilight, holding her in place. Twilight couldn't see through the starry black mist, but she could sense they were plunging toward the ground. Her head pounded and her stomach heaved. The world spinning around her, Twilight sank into blackness.

Luna landed as gracefully as she could, her hooves sinking into a snowy hill. Stars danced before her eyes, even when she closed them. Under ordinary circumstances Twilight's display would have been breathtaking, but not while she was carrying the young Unicorn.

“Are you all right?” she asked her passenger. When there was no response she turned to look. Twilight had slumped forward, sliding off Luna's back. Before she could fall off entirely Luna caught her with her wing. Twilight groaned, her horn still sparking small purple flames. She looked so small and vulnerable that Luna had to smile. Would there one day be dolls of the ones that had taken up the Elements of Harmony that foals would play with and be inspired by? Luna thought there should be.

Her amusement was short-lived. Luna couldn't see them, but she felt them well enough, flying overhead, circling around like vultures. Exactly like the minions she had conjured as Nightmare. She—no, Nightmare Moon—had not been unwilling to unleash a parade of horrors upon Celestia and her forces during that awful time. A coldness squeezed her heart; this was definitely the work of Nightmare Moon.

Surrounding them on all sides were towering old trees. They had landed in the clearing of a forest, the one at the foot of Foal Mountain by her estimation since she had flown east of Canterlot. She couldn't remember the trees being so foreboding though, nor had there been such a heavy feeling of dread in the air.

Luna hunkered down in the snow, her wings wrapping protectively around Twilight.With a thought, a shimmering blue barrier of magic formed over them like a bubble. Nothing would be getting through, even if she fell asleep. “Stay strong, Twilight Sparkle,” she whispered. She knew she would be needing the young scholar.

Celestia listened to the news, her face grim but her mind a churning mix of relief and horror. “I want this information suppressed until further notice,” she told her guards. “I don't want anypony except Twilight Sparkle's friends knowing my sister is behaving this way. Bring them here so that I may tell them. They have a right to know about this.”

They nodded and promptly left. Celestia was glad for the privacy. She trotted to a window and peered out sadly. Luna had been afraid of Nightmare Moon returning. Was she acting to prevent that, to simply take the law into her own hooves, or was she going mad?

No, she thought. I would have detected something more if Luna was truly becoming Nightmare Moon again. Luna must simply want to help Twilight.

Celestia was certain Twilight was innocent and evidence would prove it eventually, but she understood Luna's rash desire to help her immediately. Other ponies still afraid of her might not see it that way though; the last thing Luna needed was bad press.

“This place again,” Twilight muttered as she passed through the tilted alleys and leaning buildings. She didn't think it was a coincidence that she would dream of the same place twice in a row, especially since the first time she woke up to find something cold and misty holding her down.

“Twilight Sparkle!”

Startled, Twilight whirled around to find Luna standing behind her, her eyes blazing with white light. Twilight let out a small yelp and trotted back, horrified.

“Luna!” she gasped. “What—”

“Fear not,” the princess uttered, her eyes fading back to normal. “I just entered your dream.” She grimaced as she took in her surroundings. “This is an evil place! I'll take you to my dreams instead. I want you to see.”

“See your dreams?” Twilight was flabbergasted. To be invited into the princess of the night's dreams was both thrilling and terrifying. What kind of dreams did Luna have?

Luna's wings and mane furled around Twilight's body. “Come, I need to remember what happened,” the princess said to her.

“Remember what?” Twilight nervously asked as darkness enveloped her, pressing her up against Luna's slender body. The close contact with Luna was a bit much for her, and she was sure that her blush could light up the close space. Yet there was a sense of peace there too; Luna was strong and powerful. She wouldn't let any harm come to Twilight.

“What changed me into Nightmare Moon,” came Luna's voice. The darkness tore away and Twilight found herself in Princess Celestia's library once more. Beside her stood Luna, her horn glowing fiercely.

Standing across from them were Princess Celestia and Luna. The other Luna's head was lowered, looking terribly sad. Princess Celestia was smiling, but it didn't look convincing to Twilight. Princess Celestia was clearly distraught as well.

“Cheer up, Luna. I know there are astronomers and star-gazers who love the night and wish you could make it longer for them to admire!” Princess Celestia told the other Luna in an enthusiastic tone.

“It's only a few ponies with strange tastes!” the other Luna pouted. “Ponies sleep through it and foals are afraid of it! It's not fair!”

“They can't help it,” Princess Celestia gently argued. “Most ponies need the Sun for their daily activities.”

“The dark and night are associated with evil!” countered the other Luna. “They called King Sombra's power 'dark magic', as if I were his patron!”

“Nopony's saying that,” Princess Celestia told her soothingly. “I couldn't have succeeded without you. Why don't you rest? It was a difficult battle for both of us.”

The other Luna glared at her older sister. “Stop treating me like a filly!” she hissed. “I'll do what I want!”

Her patience finally worn out, Princess Celestia rolled her eyes and turned away. “If you say so, Sister, although I'll stop treating you like a filly when you learn to act like a mare!”

The elder princess stormed off, and the other Luna began to growl, knocking random books off the shelves. Twilight winced. She felt almost dirty for spying on the memories, like a voyeur.

Luna blushed and lowered her head in shame. “I'm sorry you have to see this, Twilight. I had forgotten my mistreatment of those books.”

“It's all right, Princess,” Twilight answered numbly, watching the tantrum with shock. It was downright surreal seeing the princess standing so elegantly beside her also assaulting bookshelves with foalish rage.

The other Luna finally seemed satisfied with the chaotic jumble of books and scrolls sprawled all over the floor. She panted, her eyes dangerous slits. Behind her a broken bookshelf tottered, a single black tome at the top wobbling. It slid out of place, landing right behind the other Luna with a heavy thump. The other Luna turned around and peered at the unmarked book. It looked like it was bound in fine leather. The other Luna frowned, using her magic to lift the book up and open it, idly breezing through crisp white pages.

Twilight nodded appreciatively. She wouldn't have been able to resist a book like that either. “It's beautiful,” she said. “Do you remember what that was?”

Luna closed her eyes, a pained look creeping over her face. “I believe so, Twilight,” she said. “It's coming back to me now. That was The Way of Blackmirror!”

“'The Way of Blackmirror?” the other Luna read aloud. The book suddenly quivered, startling the other Luna into releasing it, but a black mist oozed from the pages, the book floating in place without Luna's magic. Twilight gasped, a cold feeling gripping her heart.

The pages flew until reaching the center of the book, and three violet lights drifted out, one rising above the other two to form a triangle shape. “Greetings, my friend,” a deep, feminine voice spoke, motherly yet seductive as well.

That voice! Twilight recalled the vast black Alicorn in her previous dream. It was undoubtedly the same mare.

“Who are you?” the other Luna asked suspiciously.

“I have many names,” the voice said, the mist caressing the other Luna like a lover. “Lilisi, Lilith, Lamashtu, the Dark Mother, but in Equestria I am Blackmirror, for my cutie mark is a mirror full of the purest darkness.”

“Your cutie mark is darkness?” the other Luna asked. “Are you like me, one with the night?”

“Oh yes! Have I found a kindred spirit? But I sense so much sorrow in your heart? Please tell me what's wrong.”

The other Luna bared her teeth and looked away. “Nopony likes my night!” she complained. “Everypony loves Celestia instead of me! Why can't they love me too?”

“I'll love you if you let me,” Blackmirror giggled, her mist swirling around the other Luna. “Read my book; you'll learn many secrets long forgotten in Equestria, secrets even King Sombra refused to let me tell. He was no fun at all. Then we can be best friends forever!”

The other Luna smiled gratefully. “Best friends forever...I would like that very much, Blackmirror. I'm Princess Luna, by the way.”

“Such a beautiful name,” Blackmirror cooed. “Let's hurry! My power is fading from the book. Cast the mirror ritual so I can talk to you from your favorite mirror. It can be like a slumber party every day!”

“This can't be good,” Twilight observed. Luna nodded in response.

“What do you mean by that, Twilight Sparkle?” Blackmirror asked.

Twilight cried out, jumping back a step. Luna gasped. “No...” she whispered.

The other Luna whipped her head around to face the real ones so fast her neck made a cracking sound, her eyes glowing violet and her mouth twisted into a feral grin. Blood began to drip from her mouth, her head hanging at an awkward angle.

“Really now, Luna,” Blackmirror chastised, "I'm disappointed in you. I thought such a smart pony would remember that I'm the queen of all nightmares. Few actions are more futile than hiding from me in a dream, especially if you're dreaming about me in the first place.”

Luna glared, her eyes igniting with white flame. “It's your fault, isn't it!” she demanded. “You created Nightmare Moon!”

“Only because you wanted it,” Blackmirror pointed out. “Really, I forgive you Luna. Now that you remember me you can come back any time, but I'm interested in Twilight now. A new friend of mine will take care of her for the time being.”

The other Luna's mouth ripped out, letting out a shriek like a hoof dragged down a chalkboard. Before Twilight could react, the ghastly creature changed at her, forelegs thrust out. It tackled her with such force that she was flung back. Instead of hitting a wall, they just kept going, the library vanishing into a murky grey distance. Twilight reached out to Luna, but it was a futile gesture.

“Twilight!” Luna screamed, echoing to Twilight's ears. The Luna-shaped nightmare giggled stupidly and slobbered blood right into Twilight's face. To her horror, the mouth tore open further and further, impossibly larger than Luna's head would allow, until she was staring into a raw, red abyss. Then she was falling into it, screaming and waving her legs.

Author's Note

Hello everypony. I had wanted to make this chapter longer and have it released earlier, but event prevented me from doing so, and I will have to work hard to finish this story by Christmas. Luna's dream was going to go on far longer, but I will explore that in the next chapter, which may be the final one. It certainly will reveal the mysteries of what is really going on. I hope to see you there!