The True Nightmare

"That's her? I would have thought she'd be more monstrous." Celestia hid her face in her mane. "No matter, she's still a téras" Celestia knew that téras meant monster. I guess They use a different word so I might not know what they're saying. But I know. Celestia had only noticed the looks and stares two weeks ago. I don't know why... , She sat there, with the two speaking about her.

"She should be banished!"

"She isn't even a pony!"

"She's probably plotting right now"

"Plotting what? the destruction of the world!"

They scoffed and snickered, joking about how they could take her on with one hoof behind their back, at this, the two unicorns cared little for Celestia now that she was cursed. But what they were doing was far worse, Akikilr's whispered, Kill them, trust me you can hide their death, I will help . Celestia charged her horn with a spell. It was an arrow, made of a darkening light. Her eyes changed into that of a snake once more, "Celestia!" Levier quietly stopped Celestia, the unicorns looked back and Levier and Celestia froze in place, Celestia's body was half turned to try to get away while levier was leaning over Celestia and trying to push her jaw up. The unicorn's eyes widened and they walked off, Celestia pushing Levier off and glared at them as they left, her orange eyes glowing dimly. Levier pulled her away, but this would not be enough. Levier knew she would have to deal with the problem head on, but she couldn't upset Celestia, that could possibly make it worse. I need to calm Celestia without possibly upsetting her, doing that would most likely make things worse. Levier had a bit of a plan, but if it failed... No! That's not the Celestia I know! Levier held Celestia with her wing down the hallway into her and Luna's room. Celestia walked into the room, but only just because Luna was possibly the only one who she was comfortable with. Everyone else who attempted to comfort her just was shunned or ignored. Celestia did not want anyone but Luna or Levier, but fatigue filled her and she fell asleep easily.

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"Celestia . . . please I know you're in there" Luna looked gloomily at the Bright midnight Sun, this was the thirteenth in a row. It was getting hot, really hot. The weather pegasi had done their best to supply water and rain, often just blocking out the sun, but this was weakening Luna, who was growing thinner each day. My moon won't be able to help me if I cannot summon it. But as long as Celestia wasn't causing any trouble, Luna did not chase after her. She didn't know what to do. The elements  were located but LightMare Sun was not, even then what would they do? LightMare Sun would put up a fight before letting the elements take her.And none of the wielders were fighters, well except maybe Pinkie Pie, but she could not risk  losing an Element, but also she could not bare the thought of one of them dying a painful and charring death. A plan unfolded in her mind. While I distract her, the elements will move into action. For a brief period of time I must fall into LightMare Sun's insanity. This is the only way, I will discuss this with the elements immediately "Your going to become loco-cocoa like the what's-her-face!?" Pinkie Pie stretched her neck over the couch, Luna sipped her tea. "If I will become as strong as her for just a few moments then you will have enough time to use your elements." Luna calmly said as she glanced up, Twilight though still resented this, "How will you pull yourself out of it then?" the static waved through Twilight's head, after a brief shake she realized that Luna was right, there is no other way. "Ok, where shall we hide?"

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LightMare Sun walked through Ponyville, she walked gracefully and slowly, admiring many of the burnt market goers she just roasted. She looked down at a small filly trembling with it's now dead mother still down where she hid. "Pathetic" LightMare Sun hissed at the small Unicorn, who looked up with eyes full of terror, it said nothing but screamed, it's eyes teared with blood and the filly's eyes turned back into it's head. It was dead, still being comforted in it's mother's charred hooves. LightMare Sun rolled the body over, exposing a few feathers only sijed. Rarity watched this in horror along with the other elements hiding behind what was left of the market. Only moments earlier LightMare Sun shot a laser of fire down the market way, it did not stop for miles, the roar left behind could still be heard in the distance. There was no warning, except a few Pegasi who saw her silhouette in the sunlight. They were killed too though, she shot several thorn spells at them, each were powerful enough to kill a dragon, possibly even two. but then another silhouette came through the distance, it blurred in the hot evening sun, waving like the area was a dessert. It was NightMare Moon, LightMare Sun looked behind herself, well actually she turned only her head, almost a full three-hundred-sixty degrees. Her armor was quite flexible for how strong it was.

NightMare Moon let her sister's insanity consume her, but only just. A cracked smile spread across NightMare Moon's face, she giggled, then she laughed, then she absolutely bursted with insane laughter, her eyes dilated and then undilated constantly. She movements were loose and very watery. She charged up a spell and LightMare Sun did the same, except stiffer. Then ran at break-neck speeds, becoming faster and faster. LightMare Sun's flaming tail exploded with furry, while NightMare Moon's whirred past her, these speed could possibly kill any other creature not up to the task. LightMare Sun's eyes glowed hot red and they streaked across the air. Then they hit. A massive explosion of magic and rocks flew through the air, the elements and their wielders though put in harm's way were protected by a small spell Twilight had earlier put on them. Then out of the cloud two shadowing figures were fighting aggressively. Hissed and shrieks muffled through the cloud of dust. Red and blue glows from separate horns constantly threw more dust into the air, making it difficult to breath. LightMare Sun's tail and wings glowed through with malice, it was still hard to tell which one was who. Then blood spattered out of the cloud, and a familiar scream came through. Then another one that was also familiar, both seemed monstrous though, part beast but also with pony mixed in, almost layered over. There was a bit of dragon, then the voices of NightMare Moon and what was most likely LightMare Sun, but then a cry from Luna and Celestia, this only lasted a second though, because before a pony could blink they the two dueled again, once again sending dust flying. Then they flew up, both NightMare Moon and LightMare Sun were injured. NightMare Moon had a deep gash on one side of her face, while LightMare had a gushing wound on her side, but rather than blood both had something else; NightMare Moon had a deep purple liquid while LightMare Sun had lava climb down from the wound. They stared at each other, well NightMare Moon looked unamused, LightMare still showed no emotion. NightMare Moon swiveled her head around cracking it and then looking up drowsily as her wings awkwardly flapped. She flew head on into LightMare Sun who blocked and then swooped down at hit NightMare in the side of the head, sending her flying., She chased after the black alicorn then kicked her into the ground, sending a shockwave through the ground. NightMare Moon landed on her hooves and pushed off, using the shock wave to her advantage, she flew faster than LightMare could dodge or block, and was sent upwards, but she recovered herself, but NightMare Moon kept of coming, hitting her and hitting her into a tighter and tighter ball until. . .

"ENOUGH"

LightMare let out a screech and exploded into a fireball, almost as if a second miniature sun had appeared for a brief moment. NightMare Moon's eyes widened and she went flying backwards, unable to recover quickly enough before LightMare once again slammed her into the ground and then dove into her before she could get up. LightMare was about to slam her hoof into the black alicorn again when she was blocked, the black alicorn laughed insanely again and pushed LightMare backwards, her silhouette standing out once more against the evening sun. NightMare sent out hundreds over pure black crystals as her body was covered in a dark sphere of violent energy. LightMare stood calmly, waiting for the black crystals to get close enough. Just as they were about to hit her, she opened up a large magic circle that swallowed up the shards. LightMare smirked under her helmet and remarked with "weak" but then it hit her. Thorn spell. Pitch black thorn markings covered LightMare, her armor, even her tail. Then the electricity sprang up her body, she screamed in pain, well more like screeched. This was the Element's wielders cue. Twilight, AppleJack,Rarity,Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy ran out while LightMare was immobile. Luna regained her sanity and returned to her normal form, and helped Twilight with magic, supplying even more to stop LightMare Sun. "You- FOOLS-GAH!- I AM CELESTIA" the creature angrily hissed and Luna's magic held LightMare where she stood. "Your not my mentor. You will never be!" Twilight yelled as her eyes glowed white. A rainbow shot towards LightMare Sun, it was not only filled with their friendship, but also deep sadness and malice, The wielder's were all either angry or depressed that this is what Celestia hid away, too ashamed to tell anypony about. This made it stronger, most likely one of the most powerful uses of the Elements since that of Luna was brought back. The creature hissed and screamed as the Rainbows wrapped around it. Another dust cloud flew out. "Is everypony alright?" AppleJack called out as Luna helped her out. Luna felt her strength coming back to her, while the others beamed. "We did it!" Fluttershy smiled warmly. "Now, let's go get Celestia and help out, I bet she is mighty tired from this" Luna smiled and walked over to the remaining dust cloud. She expected to see her sister passed out, "Tia? thou hast a lot to cleaning to do!" Luna joked, she was trying to get her sister to not feel as bad, she knew that every time Celestia went solar, she was always guilty, she should be, but; "sitting here feeling sorry for yourself won't help" as Levier always said. A silhouette stood in the shadows, half bent over. "Tia!" Luna excitingly explained, but something was wrong. A dim glow from a fire glowed through.

Luna screamed.

Luna went silent

  Luna screamed again

    Luna went silent again, but had a muffled scream behind this.

"GIRLS RUN!" Twilight used the "Royal Canterlot voice" so it would be loud enough so they could hear her. But the dust them flew out and a barrier of crimson magic formed over the remnants of the marketplace. Luna, lay in LightMare Sun's hooves. Her armor was cracked in some places, but otherwise fine. AppleJack banged on the barrier, but it was no use. LightMare Sun grabbed all the wielders except Twilight, who grabbed Luna's limp body and set her down on a patch of dusty grass. LightMare Sun threw the wielders on the ground and they became unconscious. She let go and glared at Twilight, eyes brightly glowing red. Twilight could feel her magic. It was much stronger then when she was a unicorn, but she still didn't know how to use it, she never learned any fighting techniques. "You're not Celestia- you can't be" LightMare walked up to the frightened Mare. "Oh but I am. The Celestia you knew however is not me. I am different, but we are one in the same. We are both Celestia, but I go by LightMare Sun, but then again- like you said "A fancy title means nothing if there is no substance." "How- How do you know that." "It was in one of your letters, remember? or do I have to remind you me and Celestia are the same pony" Twilight felt her back hit a wall, but LightMare got closer until she was practically was on top of Twilight, but they made no contact. "YOUR NOT CELESTIA I WON'T BELIEVE THAT, NEVER NEVER NEVER!" "SILENCE FOOL!" LightMare slapped the purple alicorn, whose skin seemed to melt, she cried out in pain, LightMare turned around. "You don't get it, do you? I AM A MANIFESTATION OF CELESTIA'S FEARS" then Twilight opened her eyes, which were tightly closed as she expected another slap. But then it hit her.

"Your- Celestia's fear?"

LightMare looked back.

"So that means. . ."

LightMare froze as the Purple alicorn stepped around and in front of her

"Celestia was- You are afraid. . . of losing. . . ponies you loved? You use this form to protect them. . . Like you did when NightMare tricked you into thinking Luna was back. . . and then she made you angry, and sad because. . . you lost Luna. . . and many other ponies. . . that you cared about. . . LIke Levier and StarSwirled. You loved them, but you lost them just like another pony you loved and lost to NightMare Moon. but It goes back farther, Discord stole Luna from you, so you used this power you have. . . to get her back. . . but when you saved her. . . she yelled at you. . . for using this form. . . But also because after the incident. . . everypony thought you were a monster, and you lost a lot of friends too, and respect as well, ponies feared you, so you were afraid you'd lose everything and tried not to use this form again. Your Celestia's fears, I'm sorry I didn't see that. I feel like a fool. You were right"

Twilight fell into LightMare Sun's hooves. LightMare Sun was cooling off, her wings turned into ashes along with her tail. The cracks that once glowed bright orange became only dimly glowed. "Somepony finally got it" her insanity and heat had exhausted the little alicorn. But then something no pony expected, the elements got up, as well as Twilight, "Celestia?!- Why are you taking control of us?!? please let us help!" Twilight cried in between tears, her friends drowsily cried as well, Luna tried to get up and stop her sister, who had returned to her normal self. She smiled. It was not a genuine smile, it was a smile you'd give someone if you would not see them for a long, long time, it was wide as her eyes glowed a bit and her own horn lit up it's sunlight color, "I'm sorry, but I have to do this to you Twilight" Twilight, AppleJack,FlutterShy,Rarity, Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash unwillingly used the elements, Luna could only helplessly watch. Twilight's body glowed pure white, while her eyes shined purple, she sped towards Celestia, pushing her up into the air at supersonic speeds, several Rainbooms followed in her wake. Celestia did not struggle, only cry. Their feelings mixed between happiness and melancholy, she felt a numbing pain spread up her, she gladly felt it, she put Luna through the same pain over a thousand years ago. She closed her eyes as they neared to top of the atmosphere, still moving faster. They were heading towards the Sun. That is where Celestia wanted to go. They entered space but Twilight's body still glowed brightly like a star, her eyes still glistening, Her hooves still were pushing Celestia towards her own Star, who she shepherded for the longest time. The pain was numbed, and she grew warm as they neared the Sun, Twilight still pushing. They finally arrived and Twilight stopped, Celestia still rocketed into her Sun.She fell into her Sun, sleeping peacefully. Twilight's body dimmed and the purple alicorn saw Celestia fly into the Sun. "Celestia!" she tried to yell, but her voice could not be carried, she could not fly closer either. Twilight cried, sobbing uncontrollably, she drifted back to Equestria, and flew slowly down, her whole body ached. When she landed, she was greeted by Luna, who carried her back to the library, and tucked in by Spike. As he did with the rest of his friends.

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Luna looked up at the Sun the next morning, it had been a twenty days of mostly night to make up for the thirteen days, it was winter in Equestria and the time needed to balanced out. Luna stared out the window at the morning Sun, which rose on it's own it seemed, but she knew Celestia was doing it reflexively. Her face was bandaged and had a cast over her back hoof, which got sprained badly during the fight. The others were also recovering well but she could feel a great void in her heart. Celestia would be gone for a long, long time. Luna would wait for her, just as Celestia did.

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Celestia woke up in her Sun and looked down at herself, her body was fine, for all the things she just went through. She could not leave though, she didn't want to; Whats the point of being banished if you can just come right back?. Celestia closed her eyes and knew Akikilr would be there. "Akikilr? you here?" Celestia walked about the first plane, and found a small pile of ashes sitting close by along with a note.

"Dear Celestia,

I must inform you that as you know, I am dead. The Elements of Harmony stripped me fro your soul, but LightMare is still within you, please be careful of that. I know what you're thinking; "Wouldn't I die too if you were taken off?" but no. Actually I was merely stuck onto you, not inside of your soul case, certain parts of me are like insanity and anger. Yes, I know. This is probably the last epiphany i'll ever have, you though will live on. Thank you Celestia for everything, I appreciate it, but now I will return to my sister. Goodbye

Celestia had returned to her old soul case, a pony just like the others, but her soul shone brightly through. It hurt her to know Akikilr was dead, but she also no longer had to hear his whispers of destruction and death. She would miss him, but for now she was glad he died peacefully.

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Twilight woke up a month after her flight. Her body still ached but she needed to admire the Sunrise, no pony would stop her, her friends helped her up to her balcony, where she sat down and looked. "I think I'm just gonna sit here today." Twilight answered back as Spike set her down on a blanket. "Just call me if you need something" Spike called out as she walked down stairs. "I think I'll be fine, if you want you can go play or something" Spike nodded and ran out the door to meet Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo, who waited for him outside the library. Philomena joined Twilight, she was sad that her longtime friend and owner was gone, trapped in her own Sun, but Twilight comforted her a bit, telling her she never wanted Celestia to go either. News Ponies attempted to bother Twilight but it only took one answer to get them to leave

"Celestia isn't a monster, she was consumed by how badly you treated her but also to terrible things ponies have said behind her back. She tried so hard to make everypony at least content! But also many other things come into play. You cannot blame her, *she banished herself*. I did nothing but- you know what! I'm not speaking about this anymore. Go away and let me enjoy the Sunrise!"

The news ponies got this and left, but a familiar grey pegasus stood out, Twilight flew down to see it was the filly from weeks before. "Hello again, what are you doing here?" "My mommy wanted to come and say what you did took a lot of courage! I didn't see the fight with NightMare moon, but she said what you did was AWESOME- well she didn't say it like that, she said a lot of big words and such, I don't remember what she said" The little colt flushed red, "It's quite alright" She bent down a hugged the little colt, who embraced it. He left eventually but not without a bow. Twilight waved goodbye and that was it.

EPILOGUE

Luna paced back and forth between the astronomy area. The sun had not rose as it did for the past 800 years, Celestia had been doing it for those many years. Twilight though, was in the library below, speaking with her friends. Rarity started off with, "It's been awhile hasn't it? I can imagine why, I mean after all, The White valley is treacherous." Pinkie Pie returned from a meeting with the Royal court, she walked in but bumped her head on the door. "Man, 700 years like this and I'm still not used to being so tall!" Rarity and Twilight laughed. Rarity's horn lit up and a cup of cocoa levitated up into the air and flew over to Pinkie, who grabbed it a sipped. This is one of the few moments they had time to themselves. But as they chatted about random things, AppleJack burst through the door, she panted and her face was red. "AppleJack what's wrong?" Rarity ran over, while Twilight flew over head. Pinkie Pie stretched her neck up. "Second- sun!" "AppleJack, slow down, what are you talking about!?" Twilight helped the tired mare up. "Well, I was walking outside and all the sudden, this big flash appeared out of the sky! and the I heard it, almost like a million thunderstorms! but even brighter!" "So a meteor?" "No! not a meteor- like a second Sun! but it was moving real fast , like when Rainbow Dash pulled off a Rainboom!- but less rainbow" Twilight gave a peculiar stare, but ran outside. She saw it. A large bright object struck through the sky, it was loud, Very loud. TWilight held her wings over her ears while the others tried to cover theirs with their hooves; unlike Twilight they did not gain additional horns or wings. They stayed the same, except height wise. The object thundered across the sky, a trail of fire and light was in it's wake. It shone brightly against the cold winter evening. It headed east, towards Ponyville. "It's headin' straight towards Ponyville!" Twilight charged up a barrier spell and deflected the meteor, but it flew up again, still glowing brightly. Then it attempted to fly back up again, but Luna flew up towards it. She sped up, going faster and faster. The orb flashed brightly then stopped. A silhouette stood out against the last bit of light. An Alicorn. It charged up it's horn and lowered the Sun, then it flew off. "Celestia?" Luna tried to fly after the mare, but instead got sped away from, after a sharp glow of orange eyes, that of a snakes. A small explosion followed and a figure known as LightMare Sun appeared. "No- Celestia!" Luna cried out, then flew over to the creature. But instead of it hurting her, it embraced her. "Luna, I was so worried about you." Luna looked up, and The helmet did have eyes in it. They were Celestia's. Her skin though was not what Luna remembered. It was still dark red with cracks of orange lava peering through, a scar appeared where NightMare Moon struck her, it glistened black. Celestia's flaming tail calmed, and she flew down with her sister. Who she sat with and cried with, they hugged each other for a few minutes, but then as the snow began to drift, Celestia limped with her sister. Her wings kept Luna warm, and Luna comforted her older sister, while also letting her lean on, the flames did not hurt, in fact were more kind than harmful. Celestia hurt her front hoof while speeding towards Ponyville. She didn't know how long she'd been gone, so she figured that Twilight would have been in Ponyville, but went too fast. She couldn't change her direction very well, so by the time she realized she would not been able to stop, she already attempted to change course. She'd rather smash into the ground below than hurt innocent ponies, but then she slammed into a purple force-field, her speed had launched her back off though. So she had to limp. Celestia walked back into the castle (with Luna's help) and admired how much had changed. The main hall had been redone, it was creamy colored with a soft rug underneath, it had blue and purple designs of swirls and stars. Stained glass told her storied since she left. A whole wall was NightMare Moon's while it was mirrored by her own before she was banished, She almost cried but straightened up and walked past. Luna noticed this and looked forward as well. Celestia walked into the throne room, which still had her throne reserved. It had not collected dust at all, but it did have a paque under it saying "Princess Celestia of Equestria, dearly missed." Celestia watched a whole crowd of eyes glance her way, then they stared at her. Her exterior was quite threatening. A quick mental message from Luna told her to play along. "This is Soare, she is not from here." Celestia used her "scary voice" which is the one that her darker counterpart sounded like. "Hello". The officials looked at each other, either utterly confused or frightened. Celestia took a bow and then walked over to one of the ponies, who was giving her an angry look, Celestia, joking with Luna, lifted up her helmet and a black glossy tongue stuck out, it curled around, extremely long, and kissed one of the mares, who fainted. Celestia laughed with Luna and they walked on. The mares and stallions who helped the unconscious mare stared at Celestia and Luna as they walked down the hallway. "who. . . was that?" "Maybe it was one of those 'old friends' Luna talked about" "I doubt Princess Luna would be friends with that... thing" Celestia looked back, and hissed at them, her black tongue almost touching the ground whilst her short rainbow mane sat on her shoulders. Luna and Celestia turned back and laughed at the freaked out mares. "Did you see their faces!" Luna jokingly toiled. "Yes, they were absolutely frightened!" Celestia liked to tease others occasionally, but would not test her limits. "Anyhow, so where are my little ponies?" Celestia took off the rest of her armor and her mane turned red at her will as well as her tail. She became a kirin like figure, but her wings became that much like a dragon's. Celestia was not ashamed of her true form, but she'd rather not be in it all the time. Her snake-like eyes shone dimly in the darkened room. But she didn't know what lay inside... A flash of horns and a few grunts later and Celestia was tied up and upside down. "what the-?!?" Apple Jack let go of the rope and Celestia fell down. "Your not LightMare, but yous sure do look like er'" "AppleJack, Rarity, Twilight, Pinkie Pie, this is Soare, as you can tell she isn't from here." Luna helped her sister up "er- well sorry miss Soare- we thought you looked like..." "It's quite alright" her glossy black tongue stayed in her mouth this time, but not without dragging in attention from a certain Rainbow maned pegasus. "GET DOWN!" Rainbow Dash tackled her friends into the floor. "GAH- Rainbow, this is Soare" "Oh... sorry" Rainbow Dash got off her friends  and then shook hooved with the strange kirin. "Sorry about that." Celestia smiled and they walked out. "So miss Soare, where'd you come from?" "Hielos" "You mean where the Phoenix ponies live!" Celestia nodded, but then she realized she had not eaten in over  800 years. "May we get something to eat? I'm famished."