The Unwanted One

Princess Celestia looked at stone Discord tiredly and thoughtfully, on which runes of the hardest spell were slowly fading out, and she was surprised by the ups and downs of life inly. Sometimes it’s so sudden and remarkable when it’s set: if she hadn’t risk and hadn’t give a second chance for Nightmare, then, after a year at max — a more powerful enemy could have risen his head and threaten Equestria. The Princess of the Day has not been walking in the garden for a long time, and she doesn’t even relax — she has gone into her job with her head. If she hadn’t left Nightmare Moon in the castle — there wasn’t the recent walk in the park, when Nightmare Moon startled from fear because of the statue of the ghost of chaos. For Celestia, this has brought a keen interest to the event and allowed to find out that prison of Discord became obsolete. A few hours have passed during a difficult, exhaustive ritual, and Celestia has got a headache, her horn is moaning, but since now Equestria can rest calmly: the ghost of chaos is locked away for one hundred fifty — two hundred years minimally. But Mare in the Moon’s words during their unforgettable walk about terror that crawled into her heart because of some “memories from the Moon” are still an enigma. At the start Celestia thought, that tricky draconequus found a way to communicate with Nightmare on the Moon and this memories are tied with it, but a thorough check of the prison has shown that it’s not the case. Luna couldn’t say a word about that. It seems that it had happened after… their conflict with her sister. The Princess of the Day sighed and turned away from the statue, slowly moving into the castle. Poor Luna still hasn’t recover herself after realizing her fatal mistake. It was so bright in Tia’s memory: the savage, unbearable terror in her eyes during their well-remembered talk in the night garden. And she realized that she had left alone not an evil ghost, but an alive, intelligent creature on the Moon. Luna was fully depressed all the time yesterday, sometimes planning to go to Nightmare and… And it would be it. Tia succeeded in stopping her. It’s not the time… No matter what had happened with Nightmare on the Moon after Luna’s descent into sleep, but Mare in the Moon hated her with an all-out rage. Celestia with her long life, as she thinks, never saw such hate to someone that specific. She saw this hate in the Nightmare Moon’s alight snake-like eyes when Luna is mentioned. If they face each other in a hallway — a disaster won’t be stopped from unfolding. Princess moved with her wings chilly. It’s good that Mare in the Moon agreed so easily to be sent to Ponyville. Maybe, if she had stayed here instead, near Celestia, it could have been a lot more rightful way… But Celestia has no desire to risk with Luna-Nightmare conflict that surely would bring heavy results afterwards. Celestia stopped for a bit before yet another stairs, giving some rest to her legs. The most difficult ritual, as it seems for her, drained all the energy and there was hellish poorness in the body of the tired Princess. Thoughts of the pure white mare smoothly went to Nightmare Moon herself. What could had happened there on the Moon, when Luna had left her alone? Princess shrank reflexively when she remembered the words of the Mare in the Moon that were said in an apathetic tone. “If it would became boring for you to muck about with me — burn me alive. Even this would be more merciful than an exile to the Moon.” “No, no matter what happens with her — she won’t say it to anyone.” Celestia understood it. “Firstly — to not give herself even a fraction of that memory…” Tia distracted for a second to channel off with a brigade of builders: one wing of the castle is under reconstruction right now, specially for Luna. They greeted Celestia politely and bowed, continuing their way to exit. Another workday is coming to its end. Celestia turned back to the thoughts of her recent guest. Firm confidence of the Mare in the Moon consists of her words that someone will undoubtedly use her for something, while covering themselves with kind words, but distrust of Nightmare and her continuous awaiting of a pig hurts Princess, but after all the things that happened with her — it’s hard to blame her for such thoughts… And still, stiff lack of faith in Celestia’s ability to show kindness and friendship concerns and frustrates the Princess of the Sun. What did she say today? To treat a little, give a hundred bits and kick off like a ball — could it be right? Tia sighed. How depressed she is if she thinks so? But moreover, Nightmare Moon was shocked by any kind of attention! Medical examinations and treatment, short rundowns about some questions, heck, even visits of the Princess of the Sun herself! No, she was always quiet, but her gaze was all about that. Of course, Celestia has never spared that much of quantity of time and attention to someone, but giving things to deputies and a week-long vacation in honor of Luna returning home allow it, and the desire to keep the returning of Mare in the Moon obligates to contact with her only personally, without an extra pair of eyes. For some reason Tia remembered how embarrassed Nightmare Moon was when she asked for a new pillow. Tia giggled quietly. Generally, Nightmare looks very different from the character that Celestia drew in her head when she had only a try of talking with her. Yeah, they had to go through a talk only twice — both times in combat — but now, sometimes, there was a deep feeling that Nightmare was replaced by someone else. Well, she was pretty distinguish even in those combats. Self-assured and arrogant during the first, a thousand years ago, surely mad and inadequate during the second, during the Summer Sun Celebration, and wound up and distrustful now, after the Elements split her and Luna as separate ponies. Mad and inadequate… Celestia froze amid a step. Maybe that’s the answer? What could go wrong with a pony over a six hundred years on the Moon? She lost herself there — and that’s the thing Nightmare Moon fears even in her memory, and panicky afraid of happening again. Maybe, the pressure of the Elements didn’t only give her and Luna different bodies, but also returned the Nightmare Moon’s memory… With all the events that had happened on the Moon. And even then it seems that not all memory was restored. Nightmare lost a big chunk of her magic skills, she forgot even the basics, albeit she remembers quickly — you just have to give her a push. Even more, this banishment made a change even on the reflexes of the body somehow. Yes, she mentioned that didn’t fly all these years, but Celestia’s eyes saw that she moves cautiously in general — thinking about this move or those, like the body isn’t hers. Another unusual detail of the Mare in the Moon’s behavior was her way of talking. Besides eerily distrust, Tia was somehow shocked by the absence of usual piety before her. Even her sister, Luna, was talking with her in a ceremonial manner during the party in honor of her returning, addressing to her as “Your Majesty”! Naturally: a formal banquet… It cost a few efforts to urge her to change her vocabulary. Nightmare addressed to her as “you” right from the start, sometimes using the “Princess” title without addressing as “Your Majesty”, what was acceptable, though not for everyone, or just the title without name after it, that was mind-blowing for any pony of any rank and of any estate. “Hello, Princess!” Yeah… No one could create such an addressing for a thousand years except Nightmare Moon. However, you cannot say, that Celestia didn’t like it: etiquette was set into reflexes, and sometimes Celestia was so tired of this formalism… Such informal relations could bring a smile on Tia’s face just because of variety, no matter who was the other person. Dialog with Mare in the Moon, for Celestia’s fortune, was on the right track, even if they don’t understand each other every time… Tia blamed herself for a cold farewell with Nightmare fleetingly. She couldn’t hold it anymore. Yes, it hurts and it’s unpleasant to hear her suspicions, but… There’s no use crying over spilled milk. There’s a hope that time and new friends in Ponyville would heal her soul, would teach her trust and kindness. Now there’s a hope, but back in the days, in the castle of Two Sisters, she, Celestia, could make a different decision — and it’s over. Yeah, it’s a hard decision — to spare this distrustful black alicorn — but a simple one could be, most probably, a fatal mistake, like every other simple decision in general. Every life is a unique world. Nightmare’s one is poisoned and devastated, but alive, and that means that with time it can rise in something beautiful and wonderful. We just have to help her… When she entered and stopped after her study’s doorstep, Princess realized that her legs reflexively got her into a wrong place with a light vexation. Head still aches, horn has gotten pins and needles, there was poorness all over the body, so Celestia went into her chambers, wanting to rest… But while in her thoughts, she didn’t even notice that came here instead. “It’s good that there’s a small bedroom for such occasions just behind the next door.” the Princess of the Day smiled tiredly. But for a start… Alicorn came to a table and called a servant by pushing a button. She came not long after. “Come in!” Princess replied to a knock in the door, making her to look sprightly with a force of will. “Did you call me, Your Majesty?” A servant bowed as she entered the room. “Please, bring me tonic tea and something sweet to it. Oh, and please, another glass of energetic cocktail.” Princess smiled exhaustedly. “Got it, Your Majesty!” The mare darted off with a fast pace, but, while by door, looked back at Celestia. “Energetic cocktail? Maybe I should call a doctor?” She asked worryingly. “No-no, thanks, I’m fine.” Tia smiled again and shook her head. The servant nodded fitfully and slipped behind the door. Wondering exhaustedly about what type of tea she will have, the Princess of the Sun looked around the cabinet apathetically. Some detail nailed the Celestia’s eye and now she looked carefully at that thing. Here it is: a very distinctive scroll on the table — a letter from Twilight Sparkle. Usually, when Spike send her letters from her student, they would appear right in front of Princess, but today she needed to fully concentrate on the ritual, so she had created a spell to refer such messages here, to the cabinet’s table. Celestia mused for a second, remembering the details. Yeah, it was in the moment of drawing the second runic circle — she called off the spell on an edge of her mind. It was… Approximately three-four hours ago, almost in the very beginning of the ritual! And now — she looked at the clock — almost twenty minutes past seven in the evening. “Ooh. I hope nothing serious…” Princess babbled, unfolding the scroll before her eyes. Only a brief look at these curved letters, jumping lines and ink-spots on the paper was enough to understand — it was something serious. Something serious a few hours ago… Presaging a bad thing ahead, Celestia swiftly swept through the inaccurate lines and threw the scroll away, started to run to a window impetuously, opening its leafs with telekinesis. With a mournful ringing, a few glasses poured out and broke apart. Princess is pressing the shatters with a rustle with her shoes, then jumped on the window sill and threw herself into the air with a mighty leap forward, heading to Ponyville: there was no time for exhaustion… Entering the cabinet with a tray in her teeth, the servant saw falling papers from the table because of the wind, and an opened window under which, a broken glass shined on the floor. Coming closer with a dread, she looked outside and saw only a far tiny vanishing silhouette in the sky, which was followed by a barely seen multicolored trail.