Nocturne

Nocturne
Chapter 2
Dusk

“Ohmigoshohmigoshohmigosh!” Pinkie Pie squealed as she literally bounced off of the walls of Twilight’s hollowed out tree, knocking books to and fro.

“Pinkie!” Every pony yelled, trying to quell their dramatic friend.

“We’re tryin’ to figure out where to even start and you’re turnin’ Twilights house into a hog’s pen!” Apple Jack said, waiting for her ears to stop ringing.

“How can you all NOT be panicking? It’s Nightmare Moon!” said the exact way as she said on Nightmare Night.

“We are all nervous; we’re just trying to be reasonable about it.” Rarity said, fixing her mane after a flung book grazed her head.

“Pinkie, when you panic, you can’t think straight, you especially.” Twilight said as she levitated all of her misplaced books back into their correct shelving, “Come calm down and help us figure out where to start.” Twilight walked back to the circle of the more mellow ponies and they conversed on a plan, all are just shots in the dark, though.

“Oh! We could try the Everfree Forrest like we did the first time!” said Rainbow Dash confidently jumping up into the air.

“Why would Nightmare Moon send an Element to somewhere right next to Pony Ville, not to mention the place where we found them before?” Fluttershy spoke in a quiet voice.

“I’m not sure, because we wouldn’t think about it? I mean, it’s so obvious, but it’s too obvious for us not to check.” Rainbow said quick reply.

“That actually makes sense!” Twilight replied in a shocked and defined tone.

Smiling, Rainbow replied “Really?” turning to a confused look, “Really?”

“Of course it does,” said Rarity standing up, “it makes sense because she wouldn’t expect us to look twice in a place we have already looked. But I doubt that we will just be able to walk into the Everfree Forrest. She is likely to have put some surprises in place for us. She wouldn’t leave something so fundamental to her scheme unguarded; Even so, if there isn’t anything Nightmare Moon put, there are bound to be other”

“Yeah, because she knows how awesome we are!” Rainbow Dash said springing into the air, hovering with her wings.

“Yes, so if we do intend on checking there, whether they’re there or not, we should be ready. If we’ve seen her underestimate us, I would dread to see how she overestimates us.” Rarity said with a quick shudder racing down her spine.

“Twilight!” Spike yelled as he sped in from the other room. His familiar green flames which smelt of sulfur revealed not a letter not of Celestias golden seal, but a letter tied with a magnificent purple seal tied with ribbon as blue as the night sky and shimmered like the stars that danced through it.

“A letter from Princess Luna?” Twilight said in a befuddled manner not too dissimilar to that of her figuring an obvious, but hidden solution.

“What’s it say?” Fluttershy chimed curiously. Spike broke the seal with a short but sharp eagle-like talon and read off:

“Dear Twilight Sparkle and friends,

I’m sure you have many questions. I may not be able to answer them all, but fall asleep. I will be able to join you all in your dreams without leaving from Canterlot. My sister wishes that I stay here and assist her. She believes Nightmare Moon is even more powerful; even more than her.

~ Princess Luna”

Her writing was done in a deep purple ink, like the sky just before the dawn Sun cuts through the dark night sky.

“Well, she could answer some of our questions.” Twilight said hopefully.

“Wait a second,” Rainbow Dash said and after paused a second. “If Princess Luna can enter our dreams, do you think Nightmare Moon can?” a twinge of worry in her voice. Fluttershy uttered a silent and frightened squeal.

“What if Nightmare Moon gets to us before the Princess does?” Anxiety flowing off of her words likes a waterfall, her heart in her throat. Apple Jack came forward and put her hoof on the scared Pegasus’ shoulder.

“Don’t you worry sugar cube,” Apple Jack said in her soft, mother like tone, “I’m sure that the Princess’ll be sure that we’re ok.”

“I know, but if Celestia is right, and Nightmare Moon IS stronger, what could she do to the Princess? What could she do to US? Princess Celestia said only we can do this and…” her voice trailing off as she thought of the horrors of what could possibly happen. Fluttershy whimpered and laid down where she stood.

“Oh darling…” Rarity said as she walked over to Fluttershy hoping to make her feel better.

“I’m not sure what we will do, but I’m sure that before we do anything, we are going to have talk to Princess Luna. She may know things that Celestia doesn’t know. She likely knows Nightmare Moon better than anyone else.” Twilight said in an assured and definite tone.

Blindly pacing the vast halls dressed in centuries old tapestries, and many older than Celestia herself, she is nearly overwhelmed with worry.

“Twilight can do this. She has done it before…” saying in hopes to reassure herself. Yes, she knows that Twilight can. The only problem is if she would be able to. Last time Nightmare Moon struck, she was only as strong as Luna could be at top power. Though not sounding like much, she still gave Celestia no choice but to use the Elements of Harmony. The Elements being stronger than anything Celestia has even encountered, herself included, it doesn’t sound like much problem. The only problem is that they are almost useless alone; just pieces of jewelry.

Not being connected to the Elements any longer, Celestia can no longer feel any bond between her and the Elements. She used to be able to sense where they were. This is a bond that needs time to forge between them, much like friendship itself.

Looking out of the window, the sun was almost setting. This is one of her favorite parts of the day; the transitioning from Night into Day; the meeting Night and Day. She feels close to her sister at this time of day.

Celestia eventually found herself standing at her younger sisters’ door. Feeling the need to talk to someone, she quietly opened the door and walked in.

After walking to the middle of the room, she saw Luna standing on the balcony, watching the Moon rising, bringing on the night, almost chasing the Sun.

“Many fear it.” Luna said quietly.

“What was that?” Celestia replied walking onto the balcony, looking at the near childlike stature of her sister; her power waning as the Moon does.

“The Night; many beings fear it. The Moon, Night, darkness. Fear the mystery; comparing it with death, an end, sadness, full of creatures too evil to face the Sun. That isn't what night is. They do not realize what Night really is.” The Mistress of the Night said in a melancholy tone.

“That’s not how I see it.” Her sister said with warmth and comfort in her voice. “I see it as beauty. The stars in the sky can only be seen at night. They’re my favorite part of the sky.”

“If only others else thought it as you did. Now that Nightmare Moon is back, it will only reinforce their fear, wondering if she is there, plotting to take them away to who knows where…” Her voice filling with sadness, “And they’ll think it’s me that allowed it…” tears now flowing from her eyes, followed by soft sobs.

Luna was much like a child when the Moon waned; she drew her power from the Moon, much like how Celestia draws power from the Sun. Her body weakened, her magic weakened, she often couldn't control her emotions, and she became smaller. To make it worse, it got progressively worse as the Moon waned; only being as powerful as Twilight at new Moon; strong for a mortal, weak for her kind.

Looking at her trembling sister, Celestia placed her wing over Luna.

“Don’t worry, I’m sure that Twilight and her friends will stop--"

“What if they don’t?!” Luna cut her sister off almost as if she was angry at her.

Luna’s sadness turning into anger, frantic sadness filled her voice.

“What if they fail, and Nightmare Moon succeeds and the world is plunged into darkness? Darkness so thick not even a thousand Suns can't cut through it? The creatures of the day forced to hide and look over their shoulder at every step, every turn, and every breath of their life?” Anger reverting to sadness, Luna began to cry more forcibly, her fallen tears shimmered like stars before hitting the marble floor.

“Luna,” Celestia said with motherly firmness, “You need to have faith. Twilight and her friends can do this.”

Celestia brought her sister closer to her side; she could feel Luna almost squirm uncomfortably.

“I’m sure Nightmare Moon will be beaten. You know better than anyone it is darkest before dawn.”

“Yes, But I’m the only one that knows how dark it can get…” Luna split away from her sisters’ grasp to her bed adorned with sheets and blankets of deep purples and blues with silver dust to simulate the stars in the sky in the night sky. She just simply lay down silently, not pulling the covers over, not intending on sleeping.

“It’s not that I don’t have faith in them,” Luna started quietly, “It’s just that faith won’t end a Nightmare.”

Luna was right; faith and hope alone cannot end this. As much as she would like to try, the Elements were the only thing that could stop Nightmare Moon. It isn't the Night you need to fear, it’s the Nightmare that lives within it.