Nightmares from a Shattered World
It was a crystal clear day in the Everfree marketplace, and Luna was making her morning rounds when she, quite literally, ran into an apple farmer selling his crop. The apple seller became quite flustered upon realizing it had been her royal visage who he had bumped into, and immediately bowed apologetically to the Princess of the Night. "My apologies your highness! It was not my intention to get into your way. I wasn't watching where I was going and-"
Luna laughed, stopping the apple farmer's words in their tracks. "It's quite alright, citizen. We are not offended by a
simple bump from an obviously hard-working farmer." She nodded towards the apple farmer's stand, which was piled up with buckets filled with all different types of apples. When she started speaking again, there was a slight joking tone to her voice. "We will let you off the hook this time," she paused, leaning in close to the apple farmer, obviously making the poor work pony nervous "but only so long as you give us one of your delicious-looking apples" She winked at the apple farmer.
Once the farmer realized he wasn’t being blamed, he let out a deep sigh of relief. They both laughed for a moment as the farmer hoofed Luna a gloriously ripe apple.
"Thank you for this act of kindness, it will not be forgotten" Luna's expression showed nothing but joy and glee, as if she hadn’t a care in the world, free to rule as the Princess of the Night. But beneath the guise, she felt oh so very different. Luna was in charge of making bringing night upon Equestria. However, when night fell, she was all alone. Not a single pony was ever awake to appreciate the night she had brought for them all. Though she would never dream of showing it in public, the sadness would sometimes get the better of her. Some nights, she would cry until either her tears ran out or she was needed for some important matter.
Of course, during the day everyone was happy. It was a time where everyone was smiling, a world filled with happiness and laughter and fun. A completely different world from her own. Her sister's world. Under her and her sister Celestia’s rule, Equestria had been a land of peace. Luna was happy to be a part of that world, to be able protect Equestria and bring the night which was needed to maintain harmony and balance... but she had wondered if there would ever come a time when she would not be so lonely under her own night sky.
Little did Luna know, her wondering would soon come to an end. It was yet another lonely night, and as she strolled along a moonlit path on the outskirts of the city, she sighed. Once again her thoughts turned to how nopony truly enjoyed her night. Of course, there were the few that would stay up to gaze out at the stars, but that seemed to be the only thing that anyone ever wished to do during the sun’s absence. Luna was so caught up in her own thoughts, she almost hadn’t heard the flap of wings behind her. She turned around, expecting to see an owl or some other nocturnal creature flying in the night sky, but her breath caught in her throat as she witnessed not some wild animal, but a pegasus, touch down only just a few meters from her.
The pegasus must have noticed her surprise, for when he spoke, his voice was apologetic. "I'm sorry if I startled you m'lady, twas not my intention.” The pegasus began, “I was just enjoying the cool, crisp night air beneath my wings, but when I saw you walking along this path by yourself, I thought I might be able to meet the lady responsible for this beautiful night."
Finally over the initial shock of seeing somepony else around at night, Luna finally managed to get a good look at the pegasus now standing expectantly in front of her. The stallion in question had dark-blue fur with a black mane, and his cutie mark showed three blue feathers. Around his neck was some type of amulet, which had a strange midnight-blue stone embedded in it.
Luna bowed her head, finally realizing she hadn’t said a single word since the pegasus had landed. "Our apologies. Thou can stay, we were just startled to see another awake this late in the night. Normally ponies sleep through the night we have brought forth."
The pegasus slowly shook his head, his eyes shimmering with pity. "I can never truly understood why. Such a beautiful hour, and yet not a single equine is awake to bask in the grace of such a lovely darkness. Such a shame, really. They have no idea what they’re missing. Whenever I get time off I always love coming to Equestria to enjoy the night sky."
It caught Luna off guard the way he said ‘darkness’. Most people said it in a way of fear and loathing but he said it as if it were as important to him as the light of the sun. Then the true implications of what the stallion had just said dawned on her. "Thou are not from around here?"
The pegasus shook his head. "Not directly, no. My ancestors lived in this land, but I was raised in the Land of Departure."
Luna stopped for a moment, becoming lost in thought as a flash of recognition crossed her mind. Land of Departure... Land of Departure... Where do I know that from again? It was then that she remembered where exactly he was talking about. How could she forget? The Land of Departure was where the Keyblade Order began, commonly known as the home of the Keyblade Masters. Each Keyblade bearer would have to visit it at least once to take the Mark of Mastery exam, which would determine if they were worthy of being called a master. However, the exam was not simply a test of strength, it was a test of their judgement, seeing if they knew exactly when and how they should use their power. As such, only those who were both physically and mentally well-trained passed in the end.
Luna snapped back to reality, finding that the stallion was, once again, waiting for her to reply. "So, doth that mean thou hail from the Order?"
“Yes, I hear you and your sister helped us out a while back. I would love to hear more about-" Just then, the blue stone set into the pegasus’ amulet shone a brilliant purple. "Sorry that I have to cut this conversation short, but it looks like it’s time for me to get back to work. Thank you for allowing me to speak with you your highness, I trust this will not be our last encounter?" Before waiting for a response, he pressed in the midnight-blue stone into the amulet as if it were a button and armor formed around him from it.
It was only when the pegasus had already taken off that Luna remembered one last thing she needed to know about the stallion. "Wait! Thou did not tell us thy name."
He turned his head back and smiled at Luna, no doubt glad that their conversation had not been ignored by the princess. "Nightwing m'lady." And just like that, Luna’s one and only true admirer was gone, his dark mane disappearing into the night sky as he flew back from whence he came.
Although, just as Nightwing had predicted, that was certainly not Luna and Nightwing's last encounter. In time, they became close friends. Luna’s time together with Nightwing had proved to be the happiest moments in her life. Finally, after as long as she could remember, her life no longer felt as cold and lonely as the dark side of the moon. Now that they had each-other, not even the twinkling of the stars could outshine the light of the two lovers within the darkness.
The day started normally for Nightwing. He awoke, kissed his darling Princess of the night still sleeping next to him, and flew off to Binarius, a nearby world that held a Keyblade stronghold. Just as he was about to check in, an armor-clad human figure ran up to him, out of breath and obviously very panicked.
After a moments pause to catch his breath, the armored man finally spoke. "Nightwing, we’ve got trouble!"
As Bladewing turned to meet the man, he gave a curious look. "What happened ?"
"The seeker we were holding captive escaped, killing multiple guards in the process! We have pinpointed the world he is fleeing to, but he's far too powerful to take on alone. We'll have to wait for reinforcements before we attempt to recapture him."
A seeker... a being that destroyed worlds in the pursuit of darkness, escaped from its prison. This is what he had been trained for, what the entire Order was created to prevent. The rise of thirteen Seekers of Darkness. This being had to be stopped before things got out of Hoof.
"very well then, tell of this world he has fled to."
"I cannot"
"Why?"
"Look it might be better if you didn't know."
"WE HAVE NO TIME FOR THIS! A seeker of darkness is currently unrestrained and I must know of the world he has fled to if we are to prepare for his recapture!"
"we have sent messenger's Nightwing"
"the world"
"the world he's gone to is.... Equestria..."
"Luna..."
"Nightwing, we need backup be.."
"NO HIS WORLD WAS DEVOURED BY DARKNESS! I WILL NEVER ALLOW IT, EQUESTRIA SHALL NOT FALL!" Nightwing said as he smashed his hoof to the ground.
He opened a portal of darkness and ran through. As he exited he searched the sky for any indication of his target. This damn light of day was making it hard to spot what he was looking for, even with his heightened vision. Nightwing was at peace with his inner darkness he was taught so by The Order. But before his days with the order Nightwing's eyes were stained by the darkness giving him constant vision of dark being's. It was as if someone was constantly cloaked in black fire if they were a dark being. well to him it appeared this way. At times it would seem unbearable being in the presence of a person who was a "abyss" of darkness. normal people would go mad but Nightwing was different, his heart was so tolerant of the darkness that The Realm of Darkness felt as if a normal world of balance.
"There!"
He spotted it.
He flew after it, to anyone else it was naught but speck in the sky but to Nightwing it was a blood soaked beast falling out of the sky.
It was going to crash into the Tower of the two Pony sisters. He had to do something, anything. Through a rush of emotion Nightwing charged the beast. Blood and Darkness clashed. On wings of night he fought the beast as if his heart were at stake. For if anything were to happen to ‘her’. NO! Never I WONT LET YOU DIE! he thought. For a moment it was as if he had the upper hand after all Nightwing was swifter and more agile than the beast. However in terms of power he was quickly overwhelmed. Claws took his gift of flight without hesitation. As keyblade shattered his armor like glass.
"No Lu-na" They were the only words he could say before the beast tore out his throat. The darkness instantaneously came to heal it's master but it was to late the damage far to severe for any form of healing to save him.
In his final moments as fell to the ground time seemed to slow to a crawl the only thing Nightwing could think of was "what will happen to Luna now" she will be all alone in the world. No one to care for her. No one to "love" her.
"My dearest Luna, In my final moments I wish to apologize for leaving you alone in the world. I hope that one day someone will love you as I once did. I hope that one day your world will be filled with joy not the sadness of the cold moon." Broken he fell to the ground. Tears cascaded down Nightwing's lifeless body as the light slowly faded from his eyes.
"My dearest Luna, In my final moments I wish to apologize for leaving you alone in the world. I hope that one day someone will love you as I once did." "I hope that one day your world will be filled with joy not the sadness of the cold moon."
"Nightwing?...."
"What is it our sister?"
Luna didn't respond instead she flew off to where she felt Nightwing's presence, it was fading. Luna landed in front of Nightwing's broken battered body.
"NIGHTWING, NO, you can't die." She cried as she tried and failed to resurrect him. "Nightwing, you can't die. Get up. Nightwing. NIGGGHHHHHHTTTTWWIIIIIIIIIIINNNGGGGGG!!!!!!!!"
(Music start)
The world around Luna seemed to turn white.She looked around and was all alone "again".
Out of the corner of her eye she saw something
"NIGHTWING!"
She ran to him with what seemed like hours.
And yet she made no progress of being closer to him.
he turned to her.
And smiled.
"Luna my love"
"I'm so glad I could see you one last time before I must go"
Luna's face was covered in tears.
"NO, PLEASE NO, DON'T LEAVE ME ALONE NIGHTWING!" Luna had not even noticed her lack of royal tongue. It did not matter nothing mattered without him. 'I have to..." He bit his bottom lip. "I don't care if I have to go I just want you to be happy."
"but I... could never be happy without you my love..."
"you must find a way Luna. You must do what is right for your heart. YOU MUST LIVE!"
"But how without you I-I-I CAN'T GO ON!"
He clasped her hooves.
"You will find a way in time."
"The one who felled me. He- you must not pursue him."
"But you must be avenged my love I could not go on without knowing your death was not in vain."
"Listen to my words Luna. Vengeance is a path of sorrow and hatred of Despair and anger. Those who follow it see nothing to live for but "Justice" At the end of there quest. when they achieve this "Justice". There is nothing left for them. They are hollow... without a purpose. And so....... their life ends in vengeance."
Please Luna allow The Order to capture him. Death shall not bring you happiness. Life will."
The white began to slowly fade as it did the image of Nightwing became transparent. he turned.
"Luna... I love you." He walked away from her as the light dispersed.
(Music end)
Her sister and keyblade Bearers of several worlds arrived, too late to do a thing. The warriors were various shapes and sizes. Some had wings, others tentacles, some made one wonder how they got this far on land, but they all had two things in common a mystical suit armor and a keyblade. Though if you didn't what kind of armor they were wearing or what a keyblade was it probably would look like they had nothing in common.
"By the Seven Lights, it killed Nightwing" Stated a bipedal warrior.
"Lun.." The solar sister started to say.
"WHERE WERE THOU?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HE'S DEAD!!!!!!" Her voice was such that it pushed everyone back a few feet. "Our Nightwing, gone."
"Luna, we were evacuating our people, we didn't even know where the monster was, We could not hath helped. We are very sorry."
"I warned him not to come." One creature shook its head as it spoke. "That Seeker killed the prison warden and three of the guards while it was escaping"
"THOU HAD IT LOCKED UP AND LET IT ESCAPE!!!!!!!!!!!! WE'LL..."
"Luna, please calm down they did all they could."
"THOU... art right. We just need to be left alone. Leave us here to mourn."
"Captain Brightheart tell our people that it is safe to return to they're homes, and get somepony to fetch us the Elements of Harmony"
Brightheart saluted then flew off to fulfill Celestia's orders. His turquoise hoof touching some of his yellow hair.
"Luna if thou needs to talk to us thou knows where we'll be." Celestia and the otherworldly warriors left the Lunar sister to mourn. Occasionally looking back at the grieving mare.
(Music start)
"What a pity."
"Who's there?" Luna spoke.
"Someone who can right what's wrong." The figure wore a light brown robe with a hood. It appeared that it was bipedal, but that he had no face.
"What does thou mean?" Luna said turning toward him.
"She was jealous of his love for you. He realized the beauty of your night. She was worried that soon others would learn the truth too, and then she would no longer Reign as Goddess of the sun." That's why she let him die."
Luna's anger got the better of her. She raised her horn to the sky and caused a shower of falling stars to attack the mysterious figure. It had no effect The stars merely passed through it as if it was never there to begin with.
"How dare thou speak such lies about our sister."
"But do you really believe that, she said you'd have equal reign after the defeat of Discord, but do you really?"
"We rule over the night of course we have equal reign."
"You call that equal. HA. When no one is even out at night, face it your sister see you as a nuisance and having you "guard the night" is just an easy way to keep you in check. You should show them the glory of your night sky while they are awake to see it."
"but Celestia wouldn't let us do that."
"This is not about what she would let you do it is about what you can do. I'll even lend you my power."
"It wouldn't be right."
"Wouldn't be right, to overthrow an a tyrant?"
She thought of night wing's last word's.
"Nightwing we shall see to it that your soul is brought to peace. Without following the path of vengeance."
"..... We accept your offer."
Nightmares from a Shattered World
Chapter 1 What Darkness seeks
Shadowstep jumped off her Key-gilder landing in front of the doors to the Castle of Departure. As she landed her vehicle faded into darkness. Shadowstep was as an earth pony. Her fur was a dark blue while her mane and tail were both Light purple. She had been sent all the way to the Land of Departure as Princess Celestia's messenger. She paused for a moment quickly checking the time. Master Luke would probably be giving his pupils a history lesson right now.
Shadowstep grabbed the handle in her mouth and pulled the door open. She galloped up some stairs ignoring the stain glass windows that she would normally admire but now was not the time. As she galloped down a hallway to her left she found that she could her Master Luke's voice coming from the halls of history.
"And so after Xehanort's final defeat Riku decided to train three Apprentices of his own. He taught them how to wield both the power of light and the power of darkness. He took the up most care in teaching them how to properly wield the darkness, for those who try to channel its power without the proper training are doomed to become consumed by it, and on occasion becoming a Seeker of Darkness."
She picked up speed as the human's voice became more clear. With each step she left behind small black flames that would go out about a second after appearing. Passing windows with images of past battles on them. On either sides of the hall were statues of past Guardians of light, a title that could be held by only seven warriors at any one time. At the end of the hall was white double doors. It was called the doors of memory, they mimicked the effects of Castle Oblivion. Allowing one to travel through memories.
"Soon after Riku's fellow Guardians took on apprentices of their own. They eventually all came to the conclusion that they needed a new base of operations so they returned to Castle Oblivion and reverted it to its original state. and so the newly restored Castle of Departure became the first of the Order's strongholds. Ironic really, considering that this was also the where the Xeha.."
At that moment Shadowstep burst into the room. She appeared in room that resembled Luke's home planet. She skidded to halt in front Master Luke. As she skidded some of the flame from her hooves landed on Luke's pants. A couple of Luke students burst out laughing as Luke calmly put out the fire on his leg.
"I assume you have a good reason for interrupting my lesson."
"Uhh. yeah." she grabbed in her mouth a letter she had tucked in her tail. Luke took the letter an started to read it. "Its from Celestia. She said it was urgent. Sorry about setting you on fire." A few students snickered.
"Shadowstep if I were to scold everpony that sets foot in my academy I wouldn't be a master now would I?" he waved off her apology, while reading the scroll. "Accidents hap...." He reread the scroll.
"Whats wrong?."
"Oh no...." Luke's blood chilled. "but... how?.. SHADOWSTEP ALERT THE OTHER MASTERS!!! IXEN IS BACK."
"Who's Ixen?"
"NO TIME TO EXPLAIN THEY'LL KNOW WHAT I MEAN!!!" He quickly made his keyblade take the form of a gilder and flew out the doors, and then through one of the glass windows, shattering the two thousand year old window in the process.
Deciding that it was okay to fly through the window if Luke did it, Shadowstep summoned her glider and flew out the door, through the window, and then off to another world.
"..........................................."
"So does that mean our Social Studies class is over?" one of the students asked aloud. Every other student facepalmed, facehoofed, or what ever variations of such action that they're species were able to do.
______________
BEEP "how.."
BEEP "how..."
BEEP "HOW DARE YOU!..."
Shining Armor captain of the Royal Guard awoke in a forest of brambles and withered trees.He looked about for a moment wondering how he came to be here.
"My love" Shining turned. he saw before him his love Princess Mi Amoree Cadenza. Although he refereed to her as "Cadence"
"My love be still. You are injured"
Shining quickly noticed his front right leg was lacerated. His eyes widened in horror
"Be still my knight. I can help you"
He smiled at the sight of her. Her words calmed him greatly.
"I'm lucky you found me I guess huh?"
She said nothing in return. Instead her expression turned to one of glee. She pierced his chest with her hoof. Blood spurting on her elegant mane.
Shining armor looked at her with the horror of betrayel. "Cadence... but why... are you" "ARAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHH"
Shining lay dead on the ground before Cadence. Cadence used her unicorn magic to remove his heart from his chest. "Thank you my love... this gift you have bestowed upon me is beautiful. It's almost as fair as myself..." To remove the beating heart from his chest.
*************************
BEEP
BEEP
BEEP
BEEP
Where am I?
BEEP
BEEP
BEEP
"Am... Am I dead...?"
The captain of the royal guard opened his eyes. The first thing he noticed was his little sister Twilight standing in front of him looking worried. What was wrong? Next he realized he was in bed. A heart monitor, that's what was making the noise. He then realized where he was.
Shining Armor awoke from a horrific nightmare.
"Twi...light?"
She sighed. "Thank goodness your awake. For a moment I thought. I thought you were having a heart attack or going into Cardiac Arrest!"
It took him only a moment to realize his little sister was crying. How long had he been here? How many hours? Days? What had left him in the state he currently found himself in?
A surge of pain shot through his front right leg.
"NEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH" The pain had passed him as soon as it had come.
"wait, Wait NO! Cadence. WHERE IS CADENCE!"
"I don't know I haven't seen her all day."
"She's in trouble!"
He had to Inform the Royal Guard. Shining brought himself up, attempting to leap out of his hospital bed. But to no avail the pain was far too great for him to move.
"Spike" he said to his little sister."Is Spike here?"
A small purple figure covered in scales walked from behind the bed's curtain. "I'm here Shining what's wrong?"
"Send a letter to the Princess." Spike took out some parchment and a feather. "The demon is after Cadence. It says she's one of Seven."
Spike wrote it down. Then using his dragon breath he sent the letter. It vanished in a puff of smoke.
"Demon?" Twilight and spike exclaimed aloud.
"That... that's why we found you covered in blood isn't it?"
He nodded.
"Yes, though I'll spare you the most of the details." He said glancing at Spike. "It tried to attack Candace. We attacked it and it used a portal to escape. I chased it through a portal, then it told me that Cadence is "One of the Seven. The demon attacked me, leaving my right leg a bloody mess I see. It was far too powerful to stand against. When I was on the verge on death an the demon was about to give me the killing blow A strange light saved me.Well I assume that at least since I'm still alive."
Shining looked down towards his chest and saw a lustrous white Pendant with a dark sapphire gem carved in the shape of a shield. Shining could feel his front right leg once again. He winced as the nerve connected with his torso but it was merely a slight pain now.
"Was it this thing that saved me?"
At that moment Spike belched and from the smoke appeared a letter. He handed the letter to Shining Armor. "For Shining Armor's eye's only it says."
Shining levitated the letter in front of his face and read.
Shining Armor
I'm relieved to know your alive my Captain of the Royal Guard but I fear you may not be safe just yet. I command you to stay where you are it is likely the demon has done something to you to ensure you die with the knowledge of him and what he has done. If my faithful apprentice is with you now tell her to leave the room and cast a sealing spell on it. You may be safe for now but who knows what he could have done. It might have been poison or a curse or... I dare not imagine what could happen if he attempted to possess your body.
*************
Twilight rushed over to the Princess the moment she entered the quarantined wing of the hospitable. Following her were several Ponies Twilight had never seen before, none them were even dressed like Royal guards. Despite that fact almost all of their cutie marks screamed warriors. Some had strange blades as their marks, others had hearts or locks, one had an image of cards attached to chains.
"Princess, what's going on? What's wrong with my brother?"
"My Faithful Student. It is time I told you the true story of how my sister became Nightmare Moon, but first bring down your barrier spell so that we can check that your brother has not fallen to the darkness."
"Who are these Ponies?" Twilight asked as she brought down the barrier.
"That ties into my story. Dream Walker, Masters Luke and Bob, please go check on my Captain. Oh, and Shadowstep can you take Spike to visit one of Twilight's friends."
"Wait why do I have to leave?" Spike complained.
"Its not safe here for a child right now, besides wouldn't you like to see Rarity?" Shadowstep told Spike. Immediately after Spike followed Shadowstep out the door.
Princess Celestia turned toward Twilight "Now that story I was going to tell you. To understand it I will have to tell the story of the Keyblade bearers. Long ago the Universe was nearly consumed by the darkness. Seven warriors wielding key shaped blades fought to prevent this. They traveled from world to world forcing back the legions of darkness. Afterwards they're created a group of warriors that fought in secret to stop such an event from happening again. The group called themselves the Keyblade Order. They would search for other keyblade bearers and stop the misuse of keyblades."
"Eventually they came to our world. They stopped a group of Heartless almost before anypony noticed them. The Heartless would take ponies hearts and use the darkness inside them to create more heartless. Only keyblades can stop heartless because only keyblades have the power to free the heart trapped within a heartless. After the Order helped me and Luna fight them off they made us Keyblade bearers. They had us swear not to tell any of subjects about the keyblade unless the entire world was in danger of being taken by the darkness, and even then we are only allowed to tell a few of our most trusted subjects."
"Wait so your saying that the world might end?" Celestia nodded. "but what does this have to do with Shining?"
"I was getting to that. A little over a thousand years ago the Order found someone who misused his keyblade. This man Ixen had slaughtered his entire world. The Order tried to interrogate him but he escaped. He landed in Equestria, attacked Luna, and killed one of my subjects. It was a pony Luna had fallen in love with. At the time I thought he had spared Luna's life because he knew we were coming for him, but not even an hour afterward I learned the truth. He had put part of his heart in my sister's body. The fragment convinced her to attack me."
"Shortly before my sister returned Ixen returned and went berserk. With the help of the Order I thought he had been vanquished. But now he has returned, stolen the Elements, and attacked Shining Armor. What I fear is that he spared your brother for the same reason he spared my sister."
______________
Ixen held up the Element of laughter to his face.The scent was familiar. He sniffed it again to check if he had been mistaken. He closed his eyes as a smile stretched across his face.
She was alive.
The man bit down hard on his hand causing it to bleed. Then he waved his bleeding hand around. The blood formed into a dripping red portal. Out of it walked a long dead stallion. All over it was cut and gashes. Some of the wounds that had caused its death were still bleeding as if it were alive.
"YESss, MASssTER?"
"You said Shining survived and was rescued, right?"
"YESsss."
"Take me to him."
"ASss YOU WISssH."
As Ixen followed the corpse he whispered to the air. "I'm coming for you, Pinkie Pie."