The Unwanted One

A nightmare again… Luna splashed water on her face one last time and shut off the flow of water from the faucet. The fluffy towel slid reluctantly over her fur, and Princess looked up tiredly in the mirror. Disheveled from sleep blue mane, a little bit damp fur is slightly tossed, deep shadows lay under the eyes, that are red from the sleeplessness and the recent tears. She wished she didn’t sleep at all… or did not wake up. Princess sighed, put the towel back on, turned off the light crystal, and went back into her bedroom. Nothing worked. The dream realm has closed its gates to her. A thousand years ago, the spirits, who had feared her attention, who had nurtured fear in sleeping ponies and fed on them, now saw her as their prey. Finding vulnerabilities, they struck there, time after time, night after night… No wonder Nightmare, whom Luna had so carefully concealed her knowledge of the world of dreams from, had thought that it’s her, Luna’s tricks. Nightmare, again… One and only, which Luna has killed by leaving her alone. Her… No, not daughter. Of course not a daughter! But the faithful comrade, who had tried her best to help and protect… She died there. Died because of her, because of Luna. The Elements of Harmony brought her back, restored what is still possible to. But how much of old Nightmare Moon is still left in the current one?.. Alicorn clenched her jaw as hard as she could, rolling her cheeks and practically hearing her teeth creak as she tried to hold back the tears, that were coming and trying to not cry again. She has made a lot of mistakes in her life, but only this one has dragged her down so relentlessly and robbed her of the will to live. Because anything could be fixed, except… except death. Pulling out her dressing table drawer, Princess took out a piece of paper with a sloppy pencil inscription in the corner from under the brushes, tassels, and jars of various cosmetics: “Loneliness: the death of the mind” Pencil, paper Nightmare Moon 1000Y from N.M.B., Ponyville. She resisted the inexplicable urge to turn the sheet over to meet her eyes with the… drawing on the other side, and returned it to its place. She has discovered this creepiness almost by accident, when her feet, for some reason, had brought her to the guest quarters, where she and the black alicorn have last met, thinking about Nightmare and everything, that have happened recently. Why she opened the door and entered — Luna did not know. A month ago, when she had just returned, they would have seemed rich and worthy, and if not deserving a queen, then a Princess for sure. Now… One room, no shower. More a place to comfortably wait for an audience during the day, by modern standards, than suitable for permanent residence. An old wing of the castle, not often used… Nevertheless, it’s tidy. The bed was made up without a single crease, the window sill gleamed with still fresh paint, there was no dust…nowhere, except the small table beside the bed, on which a sheet of paper stood out. The tabletop was lightly brushed along the edge, but in the middle, including on the sheet itself, the alicorn’s keen eye easily spotted a layer of dust. The servants were clearly careful not to touch the paper, which seemed to have been left behind by a past inhabitant of these chambers. A message for Tia? Or… for her, Luna? She glanced at the sloppy, cursive pencil lines in Nightmare’s now somewhat familiar handwriting, understanding only a bit, and realized only seconds later, that she has seen such signatures on artwork in the gallery. But why was it a thousand years and from some “N.M.B”, if by current calculation it is one thousand two hundred and fifty-eighth from the Founding of Equestria?.. Then Luna just shrugged with her wings. And, for her own misfortune, turned the sheet over… Princess sighed and pushed the drawer into the table with a clatter. The “plot” of that drawing has been in her dreams almost every night since then. About Nightmare, slowly and terribly going mad, gradually losing herself… Dying in silence and loneliness. “Sorry…” Luna panted barely audibly, dashing away her tears. For what time already… And these nightmares… Let them torture her further. That’s… the right thing to do. Serves her right! She deserves this torment completely! After taking a few quick deep breaths to calm herself down, Princess hurriedly walked away from the mirror to the window and switched her thoughts. What good does it do to grieve now for something that cannot be changed, no matter how much we might want to?.. In these nightmares, she was able to remember at least some details — experience has not gone away, after all — and these details were disturbing. Dreams about the terrible fate of the black alicorn, betrayed by her own… creator were full of details. As if… as if the Nightmare, that clung to her… has taken them from somewhere? Could it really have been her memories? Unfortunately, Luna could not say anything specific about the capabilities of these parasites. During her active practice they were not so… cocky and strong. Alas, but dream-walking, which few have ever attempted to study before, now seemed to have been completely forgotten, and these spirits, meeting no resistance, were eating away at a frightening level, which a few dreamers and she herself had been previously preventing… In such circumstances, passing her knowledge on, now almost a dead weight, to Nightmare Moon, who, as she believed, has acquired the part of the talent, that was responsible for dreaming, became not only and not so much a desire of Princess to redeem a tiny fraction of her guilt by this act, but her direct duty… “But if there’s even a way?..” She mumbled under her breath uncertainly. How to pass them on if Nightmare Moon spared not her… murderer, but only Luna’s sister? If the first and only reply letter, written in pencil with disdain, contained nothing but wishes to get lost and never write or remind of her “insignificant existence” again?.. Princess sighed frantically, trying to chase away the coming tears. No! No more regrets! With her lips firmly pressed together, Luna turned away from the window and, turning her horn on, summoned the servants with a slight magical manipulation. Awakening from her slumber, she should dress herself as a Princess and devote time to a morning meal, not to torment herself with gloomy thoughts! And maybe then, once she is calm, she would be able to think of something…

…

Princess Luna mechanically twisted the last flower from the morning bouquet in front of her eyes, that hasn’t been eaten yet. The thoughts in her head were again all gloomy and joyless… The idea of how to attract Nightmare here in Canterlot has, in fact, come up — although it did not stem from joyful factors either. The black alicorn, as far as Princess could tell, treated her sister, Tia, well. Otherwise she would have come out of the woods that dark night alone and without additional weight… Then she gave up her armor without objection, even if in many ways it was just to spite her, Luna… Finally, Cadence has recently mentioned, that Nightmare was clearly worried about Celestia in her letters. The idea stems from the fact, that by telling the bitter alicorn, that Tia needed help, she could hope to get her to come — and then, maybe, they could have some way to talk… The main problem here was that by saying “Tia needs help,” Luna would not lie at all. Celestia pretended everything was all right, dodging questions, smiling, laughing… And her little sister couldn’t shake the tingling feeling in her teeth of falsehood in all this. Something was wrong! Her sister was clearly sleep-deprived, and in her chambers, Luna has somehow come across an empty bottle of the strongest wine and some pills, something she has never seen before during her visits. No wonder, considering that Tia was more than skeptical about alcohol! She has also been trying her best lately to pay attention to her, Luna. At first it was a joy: finally, we could just be together! Hug her, talk about something, drink tea together, take a walk in the garden, take her mind off the loss of abilities, bad dreams and heavy thoughts… However, the further it went, the stranger and more intrusive Tia’s attention became, and it was beginning to worry. And sometimes, it even began to scare. Stopping the rotation of the flower, Princess brought it closer to her eyes, examining the bud and inhaling the pleasant, appetizing smell, reaching her nostrils. She chased the thoughts away, cursed herself for feeling some underlying resentment from her sister’s increased attention, called herself a vague, ungrateful fool… And then Tia was suddenly angry at another reminder of Nightmare’s invitation, which, like alcohol, Luna has not seen her sister does since her return to Equestria. A sincere and fervent apology followed, but… And then Cadence came in and complained in a low voice, that something was wrong with Celestia lately. And then the commander of her guards, at the weekly report to her Great Mother, gnashing her teeth and gleaming eyes, reported, that she has heard from the chattering Sun Guards, that no thestrals would be in the castle anytime soon… It would have been foolish to continue denying a reality, that was only at first glance calm and serene, but inwardly felt like a gathering storm cloud. “Why don’t you trust Us with your worries, sister?..” The Princess of the Night said thoughtfully into space and, returning the flower into the vase, got up from the table: there’s a history lesson soon, then a modern law lesson, and after that — a visit to the opera with Tia, and until the evening, there would be a lot — a lot — of attention from her side…

…

“…And Glitter Glory? She was just great as Starfall! Best performance in eighty years! And the production itself!.. Oh, pure delight! The play was marvelous, wasn’t it, sister? And Ice Breeze in the role!..” Her sister’s raptures, which have not faded since the end of the applauses, were distant to Luna. The Princess of the Night nodded and played along half-mechanically, her mind somewhere far away from the theater. Attempts to take advantage of Tia’s good spirits and try to draw out what was going on with her just before the start were once again unsuccessful. Again she joked, shrugged it off, and immersed herself in the action on stage… or just pretended to. “Luna? Is everything alright?” “Y-yes.” The junior Princess shivered, resurfacing into the real world. “Just… Worried about… About Cadence. Is she doing well? Our communication has become very rare since she became your assistant in the board. And when she does manage to find time to visit me, her appearance is usually depressing and disturbing…” “When I trained her, I expected her, given time, to replace me if necessary… Unfortunately, she still lacks experience and… wisdom. Admittedly, I thought her training would be more complete and finished, but unfortunately not all of my lessons, as it seems, have proved useful.” The words “I’m disappointed” did not come out, but hovered distinctly in the air above Celestia, a thoughtful frown glancing over the passersby and the streets of the capital from the chariot’s height. “Perhaps, you’ve loaded her with more than a young Princess can carry?” Luna couldn’t hold a tough phrase. She was having a hard time of it herself, of course, but has she even seen Cadence during evenings?.. And she, Luna, hasn’t been much of use yet! No matter how she wanted to help… The junior alicorn shamefully bit her tongue and drooped. The laws, the principles of management and business relations, etiquette — everything has changed, and the Princess of the Night, alas, was still sadly far away from mastering all this to even a little bit of degree, and she’s barely capable of even doing the easiest work. “May be.” Celestia panted dully. Luna’s ears perked tensely, unable to find anything to say. The pause lingered, playing on her nerves with increasing nervousness. “I can see something is troubling you, Lu.” Sweeping gaze upon the interlocutor, the senior sister shook her head, breaking the unbearable silence between them. “And I’m afraid I’ll have to leave you alone for most of the day tomorrow, my little moonbeam.” The big white wing gently enveloped the nervous Princess of the Night. “Please don’t blame Cadence for her inexperience, which is why I have to do this again, but if I don’t go to the coming meeting with… Delegates of big businesses — they will shake off a lot more from Equestria than is currently allowed.” “Don’t blame Cadence”?.. Luna looked at her sister with a loss. No, there was a certain logic to what she said… A very strange logic. Tia, saying this?.. She couldn’t believe, that she could say… Like that. “Y-you… send her to me, then. Let her, uh… brighten up my wait until you get back?” The unnaturalness of her own smile made Luna’s cheekbones ache. “Okay.” Surprisingly and quite sincerely, Celestia smiled back. “I’ll try to do it as soon as possible, so that you won’t get bored with my niece’s company.” The Princess of the Night nodded and hurried to look away: it seemed, that something slipped in the tired pink eyes of her sister with reddish, ripped capillaries inside.

***

“Fine… Get back to your work, Midnight.” Luna nodded to the pony, which ended her morning report. “Yes, Great Mother!” The mare bowed, but instead of leaving, remained hesitantly crumpled in place. “Does something bother you, my captain?” “Forgive me, Great Mother! What do I say to the others?” Luna glanced thoughtfully at the standing at attention night earthpony — a rarity even rarer than the thestrals-unicorns. There were fewer than a dozen of unicorns in her entire Night Guard, that includes eight dozens of soldiers. There is only one earthpony, and she’s had a hard time, fighting to go so far from the mountains, where her race’s talents were so highly valued. Alas, Midnight seemed to be an excellent deputy and a good manager — but the position of commander, which forced to be at the forefront of everything, seemed to weigh on her. Dark Whisper, on the other hand… Luna sighed softly. No matter how thestrals assured her, the power of the Princess of the Night over them was not so great. It was enough to save the former captain from death — but no more. And, more importantly, from what death!.. She was to be executed for obeying her, Luna’s, direct order!…and putting the Great Mother’s life in danger by not sending a squad to protect her then in the woods. They all understood and agreed, but no one dared to break the ancient laws, not even if she asked them to! And, finally, Whisper herself didn’t seem to quite agree with staying alive instead of a “deserved” death, which stained her honor and her wing’s honor with disgrace… Alicorn sighed again, put her foot to her forehead, wanting to feel the metal coolness of her shoe. Fortunately, that situation is now mostly successfully resolved. Princess did not let the unfortunate mare be killed by a personal order, making her aide-de-camp and now communicating with the guards mostly through her. Attempts to look at her as an empty space quickly ended after the failure to execute the orders, transmitted through her, and a grandiose reprimand for ignoring them with the shameful dismissal and sending home of especially “distinguished” ones. No longer did they dare to ignore Dark Whisper, and now they gradually and cautiously, but began to communicate, “remembering”, that she was their commander and friend to many of them. Princess took the shoe away from her forehead, smiled at her thoughts — then shuddered, finding, that she was not alone, but in the company of Midnight, still frozen in place. “What… What are you doing here?..” “What should I say to the others, Great Mother?” “About?.. Oh…” Princess remembered the purpose of her current commander’s visit, blushing embarrassedly. “You should have called me instead of just waiting for Our attention…” “I did not dare to interrupt your thoughts, Great Mother.” The earthpony bowed shortly. “Fine…” Luna muttered inappropriately, rising from the table and turning to the window to hide the treacherous blush of embarrassment on her cheeks. “It should be said… There are already murmurs and gossip going around the troops. Truly, a sharp object cannot be concealed in a sack of linen… If there are any questions for you, I allow you to tell me as it is without concealment.” “But Great Mother… All the sworn wings are certainly loyal to you, but… Even in your guard there are ponies with… different views. Some of them can leave and swear to her!” “As far as I know, Nightmare Moon will not accept their service. And if she does, she’s no less worthy of it than We are! Off you go, captain.” “Yes, Great Mother.” The guard bowed, hesitating for a moment, and then left the Princess’s office immediately, shutting the massive door quietly behind her. Princess exhaled, feeling her tension release, and, returning back to the table, with her gloom thoughtfulness, stopped to look at the front page of the latest issue of “The capital evening”, with a satisfied and slightly haughty smile, which showed Nightmare Moon’s fangs. A fashion show — who would have thought… Luna wiggled her ears thoughtfully. Demonstrating all sorts of outfits and not even to the nobles? Yes, of course, Princess has heard many times — and even personally observed evidence of it — that manners have become simpler, class differences were insignificant, and nobility does not play the role it was a while ago… But it was still hard to comprehend. But Nightmare didn’t seem to care. If the paper was to be believed, she came out to the huge crowd easily and calmly, answered questions confidently… And there were her friends nearby, who understood her, accepted her, and were trying to help and support her now. Luna, sighing, turned over the sheet. The front page with Nightmare in focus was replaced by a picture of her, standing on the stage in a gorgeous dress, side by side with a vaguely familiar unicorn. “Rarity (left) and Nightmare Moon give a press conference following the fashion show. Photographer: Nice Try”. Rarity… One of the Elements, yes… On one side, she wanted to be happy for her… for Nightmare. That she was doing well, had friends, and looked happy and satisfied on pictures. Nightmare Moon had nothing, but pain in her soul and terror in the eyes of those around her — and she managed to overcome this. That’s why it was both bitter and resentful at the same time, that she, Luna, living in the castle, has achieved nothing of this sort. She sat inside the walls, cramming for etiquette, law, history, while healing her own wounds… She failed miserably at the conference — unlike the black alicorn, who seemed to feel absolutely comfortable with the questions… Maybe it’s not a surprise to still see your servants and guards’ astonished and wary gazes in the castle and have no friends… No, of course there were Cadence, Dark Whisper, some teachers and nobles, physicians and such, who were amiable enough to have a few good conversations, but… Sighing again, Princess stopped her gaze, that was wandering senselessly over the paper. “NM: “Eternal night is… it has never been an end in itself for me. But the pony, for which it was needed, had demonstrated conclusively, that she did not deserve such an effort.” A line caught an eye. Abruptly rising, the alicorn stepped back to the window, trying to control the storm in her soul.

…

“I’m happy to see you, Cadence!” Luna grabbed the alicorn before she could even squeak in her embrace. “How are you?” “I’m happy to see you as well.” She smiled faintly in response. “I’m feeling an acute desire to escape from the castle to work as an orphanage educator somewhere in the provinces.” “Let’s go. Feel at home.” The Princess of the Night waved invitingly, humming to herself at her guest’s response. “An orphanage educator”… “Saw you on the flight deck today. How did you do?” The guest asked her right on the move. “Wait a little bit.” The blue alicorn smiled. “I’ll tell you about the flights and today’s history exam over tea…” “O-oa-a-ah!..” Cadence moaned absolutely in a non-aristocratic way as she collapsed onto the cushions on the living room floor as soon as they entered. “Maybe coffee?” The mistress of the chambers barely held her laughter. “And… Don’t you want to say hello first?” “What?.. Oops!!!” The pink Princess, who noticed, that they were not alone in the hall only after these words, was thrown from the cushions like a catapult. “Excuse my… My…” “Cadence, this is Dark Whisper, my adjutant and the closest assistant. I told you about her.” Luna introduced the unnoticed by the friend thestral with a chuckle, that she couldn’t hold this time. “Nice to meet yo-ou.” The alicorn nodded, crimson as a tomato. “Dark, this is my named niece, Her Excellency Princess Mi Amore Cadenza.” “I know her, Great Mother.” She nodded abruptly, glancing suspiciously at her guest. “Acquainted in absentia.” “You can just call me Cadence.” The Princess of love corrected almost simultaneously with her. “Well… Now that all the formalities have been taken care of… Who prefers what? From the drinks?” Desperately nervous about the slight pause, Luna still tried to be a good hostess. Today she was determined not only to discuss plans and problems, but also to try to make friends out of acquaintances. After all, even Nightmare has real friends…

…

“Don’t worry so much, Luna.” Cadence looked sympathetically at the clearly distraught Princess of the Night. “Someday they will definitely get over old grudges and become our friends!” “Grudges…” The black alicorn chuckled sadly. If only this young mare knew how many lives were ruined by these “grudges”… And good thing she doesn’t. And it wasn’t just them. No matter how hard she tried, Luna could not break the ice between Cadence and Dark. Maybe it was because the thestral herself, despite random moments of revelation, tried to keep a distance — it seems she cannot imagine a friend relationship between herself and the Great Mother… Princess sighed softly, glancing at the bowl with apple juice in it, having more than a half of its capacity filled. The faithful helper was as inconspicuous as possible, looking suspiciously at Cadence and with pitiful perplexity at Luna, and was clearly out of place, when she worked up the courage and decided to ask permission to leave, citing business reasons. “It would be great if so.” Said the dark alicorn quietly, breaking the pause. “Tea?” She noticed the empty bowl before her interlocutor. “No, thanks. I’ve already drunk more of it than I weigh, I think.” She chuckled in reply, making Luna smile, too. “Honestly — I’d rather sleep than have tea.” The Princess of love tiredly exhaled. “Is the burden of governance heavy?” Luna tensed, feeling her worry for her friend and her wish, that she wouldn’t go anywhere. Not now… “Well, that’s what I was trained for, I think.” Cadence smiled faintly. “I understand how to act, what to do, but this responsibility… It’s hard when so much depends on you. And it’s even harder when something happens that doesn’t depend on you.” She finished with grim thoughtfulness. The Princess of love took a sip from the bowl, hiding a bitter chuckle behind it. It’s so familiar… For a while, only the ticking of the clock and the curtain, flapping in the draught, disturbed the silence. “Luna… Do You… Do you talk with your sister… What’s the matter with her? She’s been… almost scaring me lately.” The young alicorn broke the silence, lowering her voice reflexively. Luna chuckled sadly again. She wanted to know… “I assume she doesn’t say any more to me than she says to you. “Everything is fine, there is nothing to worry about”.” “But… But why?!..” “I don’t wit.” The Princess of the Night shook her head gloomily. “And it is not only you, who are afraid of her appearance and her words in the recent times… Many things have happened to her in these days that in the days of yore We could not even think of!” “Princess…” Cadence pressed her ears against the head pitifully. “Can you be not so loud, please?..” “Sorry.” Frightened, Luna pressed her hoof to her lips. She almost switched to the Canterlot Voice in the heat of the moment… “Just… I’m worried. It’s as if Tia is afraid to move away from me: she’s always trying to be near me, spending time with me… I love her and would also like to be together more often, but… but not to make it seem like… obsessive mania!” She ended with emotions. “Maybe she needs some help?..” “She definitely does. I… In all the time I’ve spent with her side by side, I don’t remember my sister ever consumed alcohol other than when tradition or good manners demanded it. She can’t stand the taste or the intoxication that follows, with its obnubilation and loss of control over yourself! And then I noticed a bottle of strong wine and some pills of medicine in her bedroom…” With a sigh, Luna returned the empty bowl to the low table — she was twisting this bowl mechanically in front of her after taking her last sip. “Wine and pills…” The Princess of love rubbed her forehead thoughtfully. “A familiar combination.” “A familiar one?!..” “The recipe is widely known in narrow circles.” Cadence chuckled sadly. “I’ve seen wine and pills on my aunt’s bedroom dressing table before, about two decades ago, in the middle of my studies and mastering my alicorn abilities, when she was just very… worried about… Nightmare Moon’s return.” The pink alicorn glanced apologetically at her interlocutor. “In some combination, it, with pain and misery, helps to get a good night’s sleep, if you are suddenly haunted by nightmares every night.” Luna pursed her lips. No, it didn’t take much to guess that Tia was having nightmares, but every night? And the kind that made her have to get drunk in order to get “some” sleep?.. And the next second, a thought rushed into her head, making her freeze, staring into nothing. It seemed to be the same thing with Nightmare! The words of the black alicorn’s accusations about the constant nightmares also came to mind. It had come to the point, where she had met her, Luna, hoping… for a fight… that she would not survive?.. And yet… Nightmare was angry, that she met no resistance from her, and then she tossed the glaive to her, offering to “make things right”!.. The glaive… How could Nightmare Moon understand such a gift as anything other than a challenge in that situation, knowing that Luna was a sleepwalker? “Do you dread my nightmares? Come and die in battle, if you don’t want to surrender!” She needed another gift — but what, when the weapon she had once loved was the only thing that fully belonged to her, Luna, here in the changed world?… It doesn’t matter now. What does matter, is that the nightmares had driven the unfortunate alicorn to the point of wanting to end them at all costs. “She saw me as the cause of these nightmares — and she came to fight it, not even hoping to win, but only wanting to… to end it?.. What was her despair?..” Luna spoke softly out loud, without even noticing it and making her companion wince in surprise. “And where might these nightmares lead Celestia to?..” “Do you think that everything can be so bad?..” Concerned Cadence carefully touched the frozen in thoughts interlocutor. “I’m alright.” She answered a little bit slowly and inappropriately, blinking and staring at the friend with an anxious gaze. “We have to help Celestia. It will only get worse, and… I dread the end to which it is about to come. Answer me! Did Nightmare Moon mention in her messages the terrors of the night, that troubled her?” “No.” The guest’s reflexively pressed ears made Luna wince with embarrassment. “She even mentioned, that she hasn’t had any trouble sleeping lately… It’s you, who helped her, didn’t you?” Luna rose to her feet with a sigh. She walked, feeling the nap of the carpet caressing the pads of her feet, and froze, looking somewhere through her own reflection in the mirror on the wall. Cadence followed her with a gaze, full of wary concern. “Alack, I didn’t.” The Princess of the Night finally dropped the word. “I’ve been showed to feel the difference between skill and true talent, which I am no longer worthy of, and am therefore deprived of. Strength and knowledge are now insufficient to protect even myself from the horrors of the night… to the fullest extent.” She finished, stumbling. The young Princess doesn’t need to know, that the damned alicorn has not really even thought about defending herself… “Do you have nightmares, too?!” Cadence still clung to the words. “Now and then. But doesn’t matter it now! The important thing is that Nightmare inherited talent of mine, as my sister and I thought. But… There’s no one, except me, to teach her that, even if she agrees to bring help to everyone. But I’m disgust to her to the bottom of her heorte…” Luna drew the line, drooping. “I tried to write about You… About you, really!” The Princess of love said. “But she just doesn’t reply on this…” “And will not respond to my invitation to come here either. But maybe she will respond to yours?” Luna turned back to the guest with hope. “Is it mandatory? Well, I mean, you said yourself, that auntie seemed to shy away from the idea of inviting her here…” She fastened her speech in response to the blue alicorn’s frown at her first words. “The same way sister will be in disgust if I go to Nightmare myself.” The Princess of the Night walked around the hall, whipping herself with her tail. “I know of no other way to teach other than in person, therefore it mōste be done as soon as possible.” “I’m sorry if I don’t understand something.” The pink pony also got to her feet, watching Luna, nervously pacing back and forth. “But… Maybe your worries are groundless? Yes, this time the nightmares clearly went further and lasted longer than I remembered then, but they can’t last long enough to…” “They can!” The Princess of the Night turned to her friend sharply, stopping her pace. “I… I have a feeling that this nightmare will not leave itself. It torments my sister, finding the footprint of a mighty alicorn in the world of dreams, broken in spirit and therefore vulnerable to its insatiable tentacles… It has found Nightmare, and through dreams and memory it was able to reach Celestia by finding her imprint in the world of dreams. It will not leave so easily — it will continue to gorge, until We bring Our spirit to rest, as Nightmare managed, having met me…” “We bring?” Cadence narrowed her eyes, forcing Luna to bite her tongue belatedly. “Do you have the same degree of the problem?” “It doesn’t matere!” “It does!” The Princess of love looked sternly up at her from below. “Don’t mention it during asking Nightmare for help. You will only anger her.” Turning back, the junior alicorn grumbled. “And… I’m overcoming this. My skills are still with me…” “You just said you don’t even have enough for yourself.” Alicorn frowned. “I’ll think of something… Come to an agreement, maybe…” Cadence gave her friend, that was clearly hiding something, a long glance and shook her head incredulously. “For now it is necessary to help Celestia, and I see no other way, than to invite Nightmare Moon here and persuade her to accept my teachings to master her gift and our immaterial enemy to overcome. “ Luna hurried to summarize, before the conversation again went somewhere wrong. “And thou art the only hope in this. My sister will oppose it, and my words will only make Nightmare angry…” “I… I’ll think of how to persuade her. I promise.”

…

Princess Luna walked wearily along the barely marked paths of the castle garden, accompanied by the crackling of insects, the whistling and trilling of birds, and the dense scents of flowers. Although the Sun was still on its throne, at the zenith, nature, as if anticipating the imminent sunset, has already reorganized itself for the evening mood: cicadas were ringing, which could not be heard during the day, and the flowers smelled especially long and sweet in the almost immovable windlessness, that reigned among the trees and bushes of the garden. Alas, the peace of this place, in search of which Princess has arrived, was now alien to her own soul, and despite the quiet comfort of the garden, something was still gnawing at her heart, forcing to press her lips together or whip her sides by her own tail in time with her thoughts now and then. The conversation with Cadence went well, her ability to persuade Nightmare to come and maybe even talk to her, Luna, was quite believable, but… What’s next? The most minimal training, according to the initial estimates, would take at least three months. There was, however, one idea… But it implied a certain contact of minds, which required a great deal of trust, which Nightmare has none at all. Even if she agreed to learn at first, wouldn’t a categorical refusal follow when she learned of the training methods?.. And then there was her sister, who has clearly seen things in her bad dreams, that made her reluctant to see Nightmare Moon in the castle, against even her own words earlier… It didn’t seem like a serious problem for a few days — after all, Luna owned an entire self-sufficient wing of the castle, which, thanks to her guards, has very limited access — but she would have to hide her… guest for weeks, at least. And she would have to do this during daily and very long visits from Celestia, as well as the teachers of Luna herself, the doctors, who monitor her health, some servants… However, there was a shy hope, that the sister, put before fait accompli, could be persuaded… “Greetings, Your Highness. I… Could you give me a few minutes of your attention?” “Prince Blueblood?..” Luna shuddered at the sudden frowning voice behind her in the silence of the evening garden. “Greetings, Your Grace…” She said a crumpled hello, turning to the unicorn. Another pony, who has suffered because of her fault… She was even a little relieved, when the intrusive Prince stopped paying attention to her and pestering her with unpleasant questions until Cadence told her how he felt about her emotional confession. “How may I help you?” Princess said with a barely audible sigh, lowering her gaze. What, besides her words, could the unicorn, that respected her so much and was crushed by the bitter truth, want to discuss? “I want to know the truth! Why, Your Highness?!..” Blueblood, despite not rising his voice, was clearly not in control of his emotions. “Why did I oppose my sister?” Luna asked, still looking at the grass beneath her feet without seeing the Prince’s uncertain nod. But she didn’t need to — there was only one thing he could ask about. How out of time it is now… Should she say? “It’s between me and her, Your Grace.” — and he’s out of the way… A seducing thought. Unfair one. An attempt to escape the responsibility. “You never gave a heck about anybody but yourself!” The bitter words from tonight’s dream, thrown to her by the fake Nightmare, came to mind. The echo of what was read between the lines in the words of real Nightmare, who suffered so cruelly… Dead because of her, Luna, her selfishness, her, as it happened, avoidance of responsibility!.. No. She would not run again! “Egoism.” Princess looked up and spoke, when it started to seem to Blueblood, that she was not going to answer at all. “Celestia was drowning in work, and all I cared about was that I was lonely. That her work was more appreciated than mine. That her day was enjoyed more than my night, and…” “Blueblood, leave us, please. I want to be alone with my sister.” The unicorn and the alicorn shuddered at the sudden tone of the voice, from which a chill went down their spines, turning their heads towards risen Celestia on the porch as neither of them noticed her appearance. “Yes, auntie.” The Prince, frowning, replied almost through gritted teeth, and casted a gloomy glance at Luna, which blended so weirdly with his curly golden mane and large blue eyes, and reluctantly left the garden, walking past the older alicorn and carefully closing the door from the inside. “Explain yourself!” Luna demanded as her sister came down and approached her. “I can’t see you dishing on yourself.” Celestia nudged the younger alicorn with a wing as she walked past and stopped, stepping out of the shade of the trees and exposing her face to the Sun. “You have no reason to worry and be given to self-torture at all!” “Dishing on yourself…” Luna mumbled sadly as she glanced at Tia, and then, frowning, turned resolutely to follow her when the last phrase came out: “And whether I have reasons or not — let me decide for myself! And if I wished to reveal the truth about my miserable and lost life to a deceived and poor pony, then it is my decision! And it is not appropriate for you to interfere, especially in so rude and arrogant way!.. “ The Princess of the Night shamefully cut herself off as she realized, that she had suddenly snapped in the most pathetic way, even to herself, and instead of trying to make a remark only, she practically yelled at her sister. “I realize, that Blueblood’s deceived, exalted imaginary figure is in some ways the result of my decision, and I’m sorry that he took it so personally, but it doesn’t seem to me a good enough reason for such concern.” Celestia said, finally turning around as Luna cursed her long tongue, ready to fall through the ground in shame. “My nephew should be able to cope with the frustrations of life on his own, without your sacrifices! Because I’d like to see my little sister happy and content with life, not constantly frowning and immersed in self-torturing thoughts.” Celestia, turning around, smiled at despondent Luna, coming closer to her and stroking her mane. The smile, which for some reason suddenly seemed like a patronizing smirk, almost made Luna recoil. What things can be seen because of constant lack of sleep… The chill, that ran down her spine, was sobering, though, and it made her remember the reason for her breakdown, on which — even if sister’s words are disregarded — Tia reacted… so unexpected and strange. The words themselves… What are these disgusting nightmares doing to her?.. “Happy?” The Princess of the Night sniffed, recoiling back. “There can be no place of joy for any normal pony, that bears the burden of as many mistakes, lies, blood, and betrayals as I do! And how can I find peace and joy otherwise than by atoning for my guilt, and making amends for what can still be made right?” “Luna!..” “… And if you really want to help me in this — do your word and call Nightmare Moon to your court, so that!..” “No!” The Canterlot voice practically knocked the air out of the younger Princess’s chest, stopping her mid-word. Celestia, squinting eyes sternly, seemed to smell of heat. “And you should not raise your tone at me!” “As thou shouldest!” The Princess of the Night shook her mane stubbornly — almost angrily, getting rid of the blue strand, that has fallen out of her disheveled hair and trying to get rid of the ringing in her ears at the same time. “Explain yourself now, and don’t try to dodge it: what is the very good reason why Nightmare Moon has no place in the town of yours?” “She’s dangerous, Luna! And first of all for you! Or do you really think she’ll calm down and you won’t be in any more danger?!” Celestia spoke quietly, frozen in a tense pose and drilling her younger sister with a heavy, tired look from under her brows. “You spoke differently about her earlier!” The Princess of the Night lowered her voice reflexively as well. “Earlier I’ve never had to mourn my sister’s death, never expecting to see her alive in the morning! Luna, I…” The snowy alicorn paused, staring down at her feet in somber thoughtfulness. “No. No, and I don’t want to hear anything about Nightmare! My unreserved mercy nearly cost you your life once, and it won’t happen again! No one dares to take you away from me!” Steel glared in the raised stare towards the younger Princess. “Then I’ll invite her myself.” Luna dropped gloomily, passing by sister to the entrance. There’s nothing more to talk about. “You can’t!..” Tia gasped in indignation as she turned around to see her. “I forbid you to do this!” This is how it goes, huh?.. “Wasn’t it you, who assured me in this very garden a little over a month ago, that I could do anything here, even demand your throne, so that I could rule myself? So that was only a sweet geligre, wasn’t it?..” The Princess of the Night’s voice rang like a string, ready to break, her eyes shined suspiciously. “But!.. “I…” Celestia, frowning for a moment as she remembered, clamped her ears in fright as the right memory finally came to mind. “Wait!…” “I am still your equal and can do what I think necessary without your permission, even if your promises are false!” The Princess of the Night turned around as she opened the door. “And if you think you have the right to frighten me with bans and lie to my face, I forbid you to come into my chambers, and I do not wish to communicate with you from now on, until I hear your apologies!” Without waiting for a reaction, Luna turned away and hurriedly crossed the threshold and slammed the doors. The sigh, that escaped from her chest into the cool air of the high castle corridor after a few endless seconds was more like a sob: the outburst of anger was fading rapidly, replaced by shame and anger at herself. Yes, her sister is guilty before her, but… But did it really have to be that way?.. “Stars!.. What have I done?..” Hurriedly brushing the moisture from her eyelashes, Luna, slipping on the polished marble floor, practically ran to her chambers. …And on the other side of the door, slumped limply on the grass, Celestia was silently swallowing her tears, and despite all her efforts and desperate attempts to always be there for her, she — her sister — has just chosen the company of a monster… into hooves of which she pushed her by her own doings.