The Unwanted One

There’s this feeling I have. It’s like I somehow got into a water tunnel, and am drowning, being carried away by this stream somewhere in depth. I’m concentrating, trying to force thoughts out of my head, abruptly shaking it, trying to get out of this flood of thought forms. I feel a sharp pain in my forehead and temples as a force of will finally gave a result, allowing me to emerge from someone else’s memories in reality. O-oh. That was… Something. Like I was there by myself. I won’t even guess what could have happened to me if I had decided to watch further. I could have dissolved and become Nightmare Moon? I could change myself? I don’t know. And what’s more — these memories, strangely, had given me an understanding, that all around me is a reality, even if it’s not native for me. Firstly, when I saw ponies, I had some brief thoughts, of course, that I somehow survived and now lie with a dropping tube in my vein, watching very colorful hallucinations, but after seeing the memories I couldn’t take it as hallucinations. Everything was so… Natural. The sounds, the smells, the feelings, and, most importantly, the emotions. Luna’s sadness and solitude, when she was left behind, indifference and annoyance of Celestia, who was overrun by her endless duty, Nightmare Moon’s boiling hate to Queen… Nightmare Moon. What is she? Why and during which moment did she become a person? Did she recognize herself or was just Luna’s reflection? Who are you, Nightmare Moon?… It seems that I should seek answers by myself in that stream of memories, where I almost drowned… However, I have to think about more urgent things. About ME asking myself “What to do next?” Try to contact and convince everyone in my own harmlessness? After all I’ve done? Yeah… If not that, then what? I’m, mildly speaking, not in a good condition, and there’s a savage forest around for many kilometers, being occupied by all kinds of rapacious beasts. Unless… I couldn’t figure this out. One of the Element’s shouts forced me out of pondering. “Umm… Your Highness, well…” Very capaciously Applejack exposed the problem and waved a hoof in my direction. The piece of art “Unexpected”, oil on canvas, Ilya Repin. I got eight pairs of eyes looking at me, in which different colors of emotions are splashing, from fear and alertness to disbelief and even interest. The only emotion that was common for them all was — astonishment on the edge of shock. Yeah, no one expected to see Nightmare Moon after using the Elements of Harmony, especially with unhurt and undamaged Luna. And I, in turn, relied on the rising stone, that was hiding me from their eyes, and I never expected, that before their leave someone would look behind, to look into the hall from the exit, where this rising stone is useless in covering, and spotted me! However, if I trust Luna’s memories, my “headlights” are very hard to miss in the darkness… And what I have to do right now? They will just shoot me down on the spot with their rainbow as a precaution! And Celestia with Luna will add some more! “Don’t shoot me; I’m not evil!” What am I supposed to shout? Yeah, sure, they’ll trust me… WHAT TO DO, GOD DAMN IT?! It’s still hard to think with my head, so when I demanded a quick solution, nothing more complicated than to stand up and to greet Princess was produced. I drew myself together and with a rush tried to stand up. And this rush was not without consequences for a mangled body. My whole right side and right hind leg were burning, as if in boiling oil. Because of the sudden and sharp pain, my breathing seized up, causing tears to flow out of my eyes, and I fell onto the floor with a moan. Oh, mother, help me! I was brokenly gasping for almost thickened air. No, the pain was a thing, but when I was calmly laying, it wasn’t a big deal, but now… I’m not the one to know lots about the anatomy, especially inhuman ones, but a broken leg is something I can recognize. Apparently, the blow of concentrated friendship had thrown my body right back at the remains of the massive throne that stood on the very dais to my right. And the very throne was covering me with a shadow, in which no one saw my black body over the rising stone. This had given me some time to gather my thoughts and watch deeds that were already water under the bridge. Surprising, but it seems that this “film” passed very quickly. I try to inhale brokenly, watching the approaching ponies. A piece of a joyful song has emerged in my brain: “We will be through this trouble!” That would be good… I read some funny stories, something like a compilation of portal-travelers, that didn’t have enough luck with the place or time. I was laughing. But now it’s not laughable at all! Painful and scary! Hectically trying to come up with something to do, what is better to say, but instead of this I got only one thought: “Now Celestia will command: ‘To the Moon! ’. And because of the lack of choice, I’ll go and inhabit an empty and lifeless rock for another thousand years! I shudder again. What if she wouldn’t hear me out? What if she is not so canonically good and she doesn’t need some strangers? What if… I can’t look away from approaching Celestia, who is walking with confidence, looking with concentration, cautiously and with a slight touch of surprise, her mane is fluttering on the invisible magic wind. Her horn is shining with light, breaking the surrounding penumbra and causing an unpleasant watering in my eyes. I start trying to creep away from her reflexively, but I couldn’t stop in time. My troubled right hind leg groped a bulge in the floor and lightening pain stroke spine, sticking somewhere in my nape. I can’t hold a moan; tears are running out of my eyes. However, it’s not a big deal for me, since my now beaten body with a worn-out brain mercifully extinguishes my mind, and I fall into the darkness.

***

Celestia came closer to the unconscious Nightmare Moon. It was very obvious, that she was almost obliterated. The fur with clouds of dust in it, the ragged blood-soaked skin on the right side, and the right hind leg, which was twisted at an unnatural angle. To finish the impression, her mane and tail lost their ability to be a piece of the night sky to soar in the air, and now lay everywhere on the floor like purple spikes. A sparkle of diagnostic spell went off towards Nightmare from Celestia’s horn. “She passed out due to a hole in the ribs and a broken right hind leg.” Princess diagnosed as she turned to the others. “Princess Celestia!” But how is it possible? In the legend it was said, that Luna TURNED into Nightmare Moon! And now… And here…” Princess’ student was looking back and forth from the blue-darkened alicorn to the black one, without a single word in her mouth. “Hey, what are we gonna do with her?” Applejack asked perplexedly. All eyes locked on the Princess of the Sun, awaiting her decision. “I have to understand what to do now myself.” Thought Celestia dully. On the one hand, it’s obvious that Nightmare Moon is dangerous: her power and skills were enough to roughly but repeat the “Exile” by which the Elements of Harmony sent the black alicorn to imprisonment on the Moon! She managed to send Celestia to the Sun! Yeah, The Mare in the Moon could do so for like five or seven years, her defense was not impenetrable, but the fact itself! On the other one, instead of a menacing and powerful master of magic, there now was lying a mangled, exhausted filly by Celestia’s feet, she just felt sorry. Celestia was on a crossroad: the safety of the country and subjects demands extreme measures, but sending defeated Nightmare to the Moon… It was wrong. Rush for the ideals of Harmony for so many years, and just get rid of a defeated enemy in cold blood? “But what is right then?” Celestia was piercing the black alicorn with her eyes, like she was trying to find an answer in her. “Take a risk, leaving her untouched here, in Equestria? And by doing that, create a danger for my little ponies?” “But is there really a threat? What do I even know about Nightmare Moon?” Thought Princess suddenly for herself. The answer on this thought was simple and short — nothing. “Who is she, what she thinks, what she dreams about, why does she behave exactly like that?” Tia’s sight swept over the Mare in the Moon. “No. I’m afraid that I don’t have no authority to risk ponies’ lives just because of personal sympathy and interest.” “P-princess Celestia!” A silent, uncertain voice echoed in the silence of the hall, like a firework explosion. “Do not banish her! P-please. If it’s possible, of course…” A yellow pegasus with a pink mane ended her speech with a voice, that was dying away, almost inaudible, and closing her eyes, she tried to shrink herself under the stunned and anxious glances of others. “My little pony!” Celestia stroked the pegasus, who has curled into a ball with her wing, while sadly smiling. Fluttershy mustered all her courage, cracked her eyes open and shyly looked at Princess. “The decision is not made yet. Why did you think, that I was going to banish her?” “Well, the way you were looking at her gave me a feeling…But she’s injured, she needs help, not banishment! If it’s allowed, of course…” Fluttershy fell silent again. “Help… Help means giving a second chance. But… Really… This creature was a whole with my little Luna. If my sister deserves a second chance — why can’t Nightmare get one? Extreme measures are extreme because of the lack of other variants when the time comes. If she is hostile — I’ll do what I have to. If she is not, then…” “We will not banish Nightmare Moon, at least not until we’re sure she’s unconditionally hostile to us.” “I hope you know what you’re doing, sister.” Luna said with a plain tone, clearly unhappy with this conclusion. She wanted to add something more, but after looking at the keepers of Elements, changed her mind. “Once upon a time I thought, that my decisions can only be made of solely rationality and effectiveness.” Celestia looked at her younger sister descriptively. “And it turned out to be one of my worst mistakes. You know it more than anypony else, Luna.” The blue alicorn looked at her sister with a lost glance. For the Princess of the Sun, it seemed, that she wanted to argue, but couldn’t gather the words for it. “Why is everypony so sad?” Pinkie’s ringing voice broke the uncomfortable silence. “It all ended well! And when it’s well, you have to PARTY! Also, today we have a super-duper welcoming party in the honor of Princess Luna!” Pinkie started to excite others by jumping around. Celestia couldn’t hold a smile on her face as she was looking at the pink pony of chaos. She was thankful for Pinkie’s turn from the gloomy subject to something more positive. “EVERYPONY IS INVITED!!!” The earth pony with the curly mane looked hopefully at Celestia. “I’ll gladly join you, but a little bit later as I have to deliver Nightmare Moon to Canterlot and make sure that everything will be smooth…” The Princess of the Day said with a little bit of guilt. “Luna, you can rest and have fun without your strict sister behind your back!” Tia gave a wink to the Princess of the Night, who answered by smiling shyly. Celestia then said. “Thank you all, my little ponies! Do not lose me; I’ll accompany you soon. I’m sorry Pinkie Pie, because I’m unable to come at the start of the party.” “Don’t sweat it, it’s okay, all is good!” The Element of Laughter grinned from ear to ear. “I understand, duty! Very important duty! We will wait for you, Princess Celestia!” Her words were supported by the others. The magic of Princess wrapped herself and unconscious Nightmare for a moment, after this they both vanished in a golden spark. “Oops, almost forgot! We’ll have to do a party for the Black Snooty, when she’s alright!” Pinkie jumped and started to bounce to the exit, but after she didn’t hear the others coming, she turned around. “Hey, what’s wrong with you all?” She awkwardly asked her friends and Princess Luna, who were stunned. “But Pinkie! It’s… It’s the Mare in the Moon! She…” The lavender unicorn was unable to finish her sentence. “She is a villain, who wanted to make endless night! She wanted the Sun to never rise again! She made lots of traps for us! And we were fighting with her!” The rainbow maned pegasus said. “And now you suggest to throw a party for her?!” “Twilight, Rainbow, calm yourself, please.” The party pony raised her hoof in a stopping gesture as she didn’t want to hear the others’ complaints. “She has changed. She’s changed greatly.” The pink pony ended with a very serious, not typical for her mood. “And now she will be very-very happy, when I’ll organize a party for her! But for now — a party in the honor of Princess Luna! Let’s go, we have to prepare a lot of things!” Pinkie swiftly returned to her common mood and started to sing something simple as she turned to exit and ran out of the hall with jumps. The others looked at each other perplexedly and followed her.