The Unwanted One

The clatter of four pairs of hooves echoed through the empty corridor. Not particularly fancy, not particularly large and high, illuminated only by lamps underground corridor led to where rarely a foot of an aristocrat stepped: a dungeon, some technical rooms, one of the armory… Despite the presence of the latter, there were no guards on the way. Strange… “How did you and Shining only have enough power to even get everyone away from the arsenal?” I was immediately impressed by the massive doors, unguarded by anyone, with a sign that said so. Maybe it’s a standard of life here — ponies, damn them… “Princess Celestia ordered the gathering of everyone in the throne room. I suppose she wasn’t referring to those on duty, but Shining saw fit, in his current area of responsibility, to interpret that instruction as directly as possible.” Contrary to expectation, Cadence did not smile at the ingenuity of her future groom, but only turned even more sullen. “A good way to win some time for us…” I grinned, wondering how the desperate lieutenant was going to keep his position after that. No, if by the guards’ words their captain had gone away for some time, then there’s no one to stop Shining… But if he returns — it will be hell loose. “By the way Cadence… Why is this gathering happening?” “She…” My co-conspirator drooped for a moment. “The day before yesterday, my aunt summoned the Keepers of the Elements here. I don’t think it takes much guessing… There was some delay that made her extremely angry, but I’m guessing the meeting today is related to their arrival. Princess was going to meet them in person — perhaps soon or right now. I don’t know.” Holy shit… It looks like they wanted to execute me with pathos and in front of a big crowd… What a cocky bastard, ay!.. “I don’t think it threatened me much.” I chuckled. “I’m sure half of the Elements would refuse to participate. Or, at the very least, they would need a very good reason and proof. Or… Damn, how is Luna doing?” I stumbled at the thought, reflexively braking my companion with my telekinesis at the base of her tail, causing her to stop and turn to me with a cringy face. “She’s got a lot, Nightmare. Let’s go, I’ll tell you on the way, we don’t need to lose time.” She moved on again. “Yeah, of course…” I mumbled, moving like a stern wave. I don’t know why, but knowing that “got a lot” was not “Luna is dead” made me feel so much better. This blue idiot is still alive! That’s good. That’s good… “The poor dear has only recently regained consciousness and is still very weak. The medponies think she’ll be without magic for at least a month, due to severe exhaustion and severe damage to her magical channels, and… Admittedly, if I hadn’t visited her after I woke up, I would have taken my aunt’s word about you for sure.” Caddie sighed guiltily. “But the first thing I heard from Luna was that you were innocent, and only after making sure that the sudden loss of consciousness wouldn’t interrupt her now on the most important thing, she told me a little more. You’re real heroes, and I’m sorry that… that’s how it turned out.” “You mean, if the meeting wasn’t there, you and everyone would have left me behind bars until the end?” I asked with a kind of morbid, hysterical curiosity, wishing I could see her eyes. “Forgive me, Nightmare, but…” Cadence paused for a few seconds, hanging her head. “I’ve known aunt Tia personally for about thirty years, and she’s never once given a single reason to question her word or decision. Not a single one.” “Yeah, against that background…” I hummed sadly, feeling a painful prick somewhere deep inside. “And Luna then?..” “Even if you really are guilty and she was just protecting you, it’s a clear sign that she doesn’t hold a grudge and doesn’t wish it back on you. So to punish you so easily and harshly would not be quite fair. And she didn’t just hold a grudge — she clung to me and wouldn’t let me go until I promised to save you, Nightmare. I… I couldn’t say no to her.” “Really…” I mumbled, slowing my pace involuntarily. Luna, abyss, what are you?.. What do I have to do with you?!.. Thanks, I guess, but… Damned horse, fucking hell… “Nightmare, let’s hurry up, please!” The alicorn called me. I nodded mechanically and took a step forward, but then I cursed softly, tripping over the step and getting an indignant look in return for these words. Stairs. At last the basement was over… After scaring off a couple of maids who were chatting nicely behind a decorative column, we went up to the first floor, to a vast and high, ornate corridor. The Sun’s rays played merrily through the colored stained-glass windows on the smooth pinkish marble of the floor. At a quick pace, almost at a trot, we passed another group of servants who were watching us with anxious whispers, and we glided past three repairmen, stomping somewhere with a ladder and a set of bags and spatulas… The guards were still absent: unsupervised Armor with his free interpretation put it to a great use. As I followed the colorful tail of the Princess of love, I cast a thoughtful glance at the huge windows. In fact, here it was, an escape. I take out the window, jump out, and then the wings would do the job. Simple and reliable… I sighed, quickening my pace to catch up with the alicorn, that went forward during the time of my short thoughtfulness. I can’t walk away like that. I mean, I can, yeah… But what would happen to Tia? I could try to calm myself down with the hopes, that she’d “get over it,” but something hints me it wouldn’t go away by itself. If I’m right in my assumptions, and Daybreaker really was able to take over the body, she won’t give it back. I don’t know how or in what form she existed in Tia’s head, but remembering how reluctant she was to remember the bad old days, I doubt the arrogant, cocky pyromaniac was given a word in there. And what she will do now, having finally got her hands on it, I can’t even guess. It’s possible that she’d do such a thing, that Celestia will remember even these times with a great reluctance. It’s dangerous to leave everything as it is. It shouldn’t be left as it is. And what would become of Tia, trapped in her own body in the far corner of her mind? In the long run, if she dies, so does Equestria. And if Daybreaker gets her hands on me, I don’t know what she’ll do to Luna… Damn it. That’s why we can’t leave it like this! It’s!.. Abyss, everyone’s gonna get hurt, and it’s not like they’re gonna survive it. Yes, Cadence had some kind of a plan. There seemed to be some kind of a safe place where she could, in theory, think of further actions, or perhaps try to influence Celestia — Daybreaker! — through the dream world. And if I can work with dreams as well as I have in the past days, maybe I can somehow negotiate through them with… Who? Daybreaker? Let’s not forget that Tia might not even be there, to some extent, right now! And if the fucking pyromaniac suddenly also knows some kind of cure for interfering with dreams, maybe that drink would work for liquidating me, too? Then it’s a lost cause… I won’t make that deal, I’ll just end up in the position of an underground terrorist. I’ll be chased by everyone and everywhere, with no way to influence the decision. And sooner or later they’ll get me and put me back in that cell. And the same goes for Cadence, but in the next one, just in case… And while I’m running around forests and stashes, Daybreaker is going to have a blast and she won’t accept any refuses. Abyss. And what should I do if I stay? Or I should leave?.. “Nightmare, don’t lag behind!” Caddie called me. “Yeah, coming.” I replied thoughtfully, hastening the pace, which became slow upon the sad thoughts. No, damn it, I can’t do like that! If Tia — when! — gets back and looks around at her second part’s doing… But, maybe… Am I imaging the things worse than they really are? I bit my lip tensely, and took another step in response to another call. No, damn it, I’m not and this is the worst thing! She was, in canon, a very arrogant and slightly inadequate version of Tia. By the way, the thestrals here unkindly called her the Fury of the Sun and called her queen — to which Celestia herself always reacted painfully. I had once asked Luna’s assistant what the story was, and that was why I had no illusions about Daybreaker. She would make a mess of things for sure! And no one is gonna like it… She has to be stopped, right now. But how, heroic hero? Daybe, if I remember correctly, in the canon was quite a match for canon Nightmare, and I… Well, what to do then? While thinking, I didn’t notice Cadence leading me in the famous corridor. The narrow lancet windows of the old Canterlot castle glowed brightly in the sunlight, making me squint after the artificial light of one of the inner corridors with the seemingly endless doors of some reception rooms. The Elements. It clicked in my head when I thought for a moment about the stained glass windows and remembered the one near the entrance to the throne room. Daybreaker had brought the Keepers of the Elements here, and if it wasn’t too late, and if Cadence wasn’t mistaken, she should be meeting them right now. And if I can convince them that there is nothing left of Celestia but a disguise, then… I stopped, not responding to my guide’s call at the fork that led us away from the places I knew, staring grimly at my feet. The presence of the Elements not only gave me some kind of chance, but it essentially deprived me of any choice. Now I simply had no right to leave. At all. Just go out and fight, and then, as luck would have it. For Tia, for Equestria, for my friends, for my own life. I remember the villains in canon liked to pressure the Elements through Fluttershy… And what can an alicorn, which lost all sense of humor, do with her? She can just refuse to go against me… I shook my head violently, but the image of the sweet, kind pegasus tortured with fire spells flashed in my mind. What about Rarity? Pinkie? What would become of them all? And what Daybreaker — and Tia with her! — will do with Equestria? With her idea, that’s been alive for centuries? And what will become of her when she comes to her senses and sees the deeds of her hooves? Tia, the kindest pony — she would… It would just kill her… No. I don’t want it to be like… That! For Celestia, my friend, how kind she is, how impossible not to love and want so much to trust, to disappear without a trace… No. I cannot let that happen. Even if it is risky, even if it is partly unreasonable, even if it is… scary, if we’re honest, but… “Nightmare, what is going on with you?!..” Cadence yanked me back into reality, shaking me so hard, that my teeth literally snapped. “Let’s go, please! There will be no other ways after!” “Go alone, Caddie.” I finally made my mind. “W… What?..” She stepped back perplexedly. “B-but Nightmare, you’re!.. What has happened, hey?.. Where are you going to? Wait!..” The last words were shouted into my back by the confused alicorn. “Just doing what I have to do, Cadence.” I said, pausing for a moment. “And you go do what you have to do. I… I can’t leave everyone behind, leave it like this and go away. Just in case — farewell. And thank you.” In the hovering silence, my hooves clattered lonely down the empty corridor, and a heartbeat echoed in rhythm. Infinity later, the feeling of staring into the back of my head was gone. Only a fractional staccato of almost galloping footsteps, heading in the opposite direction was behind me. Well… I hope I can catch Daybreaker and the Keepers on the landing pad — it’s not far. And I also hope, that my farewell will be of no use. And everyone who gathers there will watch the sunset tonight.

…

The gates rattled shut behind me. In the thick, molasses-like silence, my hooves clattered across the stone of the landing pad, towards my fate and the seven ponies watching me constantly. I made it in time. “Ni-i-ightmare Mo-o-on.” ‘Celestia’ prolonged with a barely hidden triumph, with such a uncharacteristic — impossible! — dangerous squint and maliciously anticipatory grin. Tia would never do that. I shuddered involuntarily at the distinct, painful sensation that the alicorn’s body in front of me was stretched tightly over someone else… There was something in her facial expression, movement, and gaze that was elusive, wrong, that frightened me into shivering. “Twilight!” The alicorn commanded, still looking at me. “Equestria needs your help! Use the Elements! End this horror once and for all! You shouldn’t have come, Nightmare. But no, it’s even good…” She lowered her voice, smiling creepy again. “Forgive my impertinence, Your Highness, but what you told me has little to do with what I saw with my own eyes when I spoke to Nightmare Moon in person. She is not a villain!” “That’s right, Your Fireness!” Rarity and Pinkie crossed the space between us in a few steps and stood next to me. “Thanks.” I whispered hardly — there was a lump in my throat. In the deafening silence that followed, as if stunned by what had happened, Flutty came over to me, just looking into the eyes of the snowy alicorn and hastily hiding her gaze, twitching on trembling and bending legs. Following the pegasus with a gaze, I lifted my eyes to meet the “Tia’s” ones. I saw ire, perplexity and… Something like a hurt. “How do you dare?!” She hissed, looking at the ones, who were standing next to her. “You lyin’, your ‘ness, lyin’ to beat the band — this is why you’re laughed at.” Applejack fixed her hat. “No truth behind ya words.” Earthpony shook her head reproachfully and crossed the invisible line as well, standing next to Fluttershy and giving the others on the other side a frown. “If even Applejack says so, then there’s no doubt.” Twilight sighed bitterly. “By your latest letters… I’ve studied with you for years, Princess Celestia, and you’ve never said or written anything like this before! I don’t understand what’s going on here and with you, but…” The unicorn looked down and sighed. “You know what? If you were Princess Celestia — I’d tear anyone for you!” Dash looked at the alicorn. “But you — whoever you are — are not her, since I don’t have this desire, and Jacky is in doubt as well! Let’s go, Twilight.” Rainbow nudged her suppressed friend with a wing. “We’ll find out what you’ve done to our Princess — and you’ll regret if you thought of hurting her! Am I right, girls?” The pegasus asked as she and Twilight joined the friendly row of ponies beside me. “You’re overreacting, darling! Just Her Highness… Is out of control a bit and should calm down!..” “Why everyone has left me again?!” The alicorn, alone, panted with frustration and anger as she slammed her front hooves down on the stone of the platform. I noted absently how sparks spattered from beneath the hooves. It was a hell of a blow… When I looked up, I couldn’t help but shudder: the gaze of the strange, broken, elongated pupils on the yellow-orange flame of the iris and the black-burgundy sclera was piercing to my bones. “E-e… “Again”?..” I didn’t understand who asked that, hurriedly counting the heat resisting shield for a group. Will blow us like it’s nothing!.. “No one ever wanted me!” “Celestia” was rapidly evaporating, revealing to the dazed and frightened exclamations of her friends the real appearance of our opponent. The mane and the tail flashed in flames, the fur took on an elusive orange hue, the cutie mark changed. And the impressive fangs became visible as soon as the mare opened her mouth. Daybreaker, in all her splendor, was impressive. The only thing that spoiled her appearance was Tia’s inappropriate-looking regalia. “O, Celestia!.. W-who is that?!..” “Fiery bearcat!” “It’s like me and Luna some time ago. The dark side of Princess Celestia.” I took a step towards the flaming alicorn, that was gnashing teeth. Her gaze was a wall of longing and doom. Yeah, we have the Elements… The gate swung open with a rumble, and the ground rapidly filled with the clatter of hooves. “Auntie!.. Oh no…” Cadence, which was about to rush forth, froze near me in fright. “What is going on here?!” Luna’s Canterlot voice swept around, even though the Princess of the Night was swaying in the wind from weakness. She was gently supported by Blueblood on her right and Dark Whisper on her left. “Tia…” She panted shockingly, coming closer. Daybreaker looked around at the crowd and retreated a few steps. “I don’t know who you are, but you shouldn’t have harmed and pretend to be our Princess!” Rainbow stomped with her hoof. “Girls, let’s smash this monster with the Elements!” The call had an effect: Twilight hesitantly stepped forward, and the others began to form a semicircle behind her. “Let’s smash with the Elements” — that’s like me then, right? To send to the Moon, preferably as long as possible?.. I looked in Daybreaker’s seemingly frightening but desperate eyes. What would become of her?.. Maybe the Elements would spare her, if it was up to them. And if the users decide? Those who are now staring with righteous anger at an absolute enemy? And she’s… like me?.. I’m not going to find out what would become of her. This world’s got my experience. “No one is going to be smashed.” I demonstratively stepped onto the line of fire. “Hey!..” “Nightmare, what are?!..” “Nighty, wait!..” “Disperse a little, don’t breathe down at my neck.” I waved away from the indignant, perplexed and frightened voices with a wing. A simple way is often a wrong one Tia said so. And I want to save her without the necessity of stepping over someone’s dead body. Especially over her sister in misfortune. One who is created to support and love her maker — even if she doesn’t understand it for some reason. “I can kill you, Nightmare.” The fiery mare stepped back reflexively when I closed in. “I’m dangerous!” So familiar… “I know. In our first conversations, I told Tia pretty much the same thing, because when I realized myself, she was the enemy of Luna — and therefore of me. But believe me — I’m not your enemy. What’s your name?” “Why do you need it? What are you up to?!” “I want to understand with whom I’m dealing with.” “To get rid of afterwards?” Daybe chuckled wistfully. It was as if her mane became smaller and darkened a little, like dying out. “To try to help. And I hope without the extreme measures…” “To help… Of course! No one ever helped me — and now you will?” She sniffed distrustfully. I was silent. Just… If not me — then who? Who will understand and listen to you, Fiery one?.. “Daybreaker. Satisfied?” She whipped herself with her tail irritably. “Daybreaker…” I said as if tasting the name. “Why did you want to get rid of me?” “Because Celly wanted to!” The alicorn’s mane flamed for a moment. “That’s all she thought about after the nightmares! That you’d take away her Luna, who’s always with you, pouring her heart out to you, but she won’t talk to her and won’t even try to see her anymore! I don’t know what Celly sees in that wretched mare who’s always spoiling us and who she couldn’t stand herself before… Doesn’t matter now! You wanted to take it away, and for some reason Celly was afraid to defend it! She was doing some gibberish! I offered to help her, but she wouldn’t listen. As always… She pushed me into a corner like she didn’t need me, and just forgot about me…” The fiery mare stared down at her feet. Her mane, darkened to near red, shortened and swayed like a fading campfire in the wind. The hooves clattered unevenly, and Luna, supported by Cadence, stopped to my right. “She never needed me!” Daybreaker said through her teeth, not paying attention to the ones who came closer. “Though I know a lot of things better than she does! I helped her hold on to power when this.” The white alicorn nodded towards Luna anyway. “Ruined our country!” It’s still not the “I’m a better version of you, Celestia!”, but somewhere close… “I’ve been helping her! Advising her! Supporting her! And she!.. One day she just shoved me into the far corner of her mind, leaving me to exist in darkness and timelessness, and forgot about me… Why?! For what?!” Daybreaker’s gaze seemed to penetrate everyone in the room, including me. There was something about it… As if the alicorn wanted to cry, but just didn’t know how. Cadence was silent, burying her head in Luna’s neck. “While the nightmares were eating her up, she couldn’t make up her mind about anything, foolishly running from thought to thought. And then she luckily lost her lauded self-control! And when you struck your blow, I could strike mine and take her body away from her! Let her sit in the corner where you put me! I hoped that I could do all the things she wouldn’t dare do, and then she would see everything and understand!..” “Understand what?” “Understand, that I’m not useless and!.. And!..” Daybe moved her ears irritably not being able to find the words. “She needs me!” She finally said. “I’m strong! Determined! I could do what she had only had the courage to think and talk about all this time! Kill you!” A golden shoe was put on my chest furiously. “To make her.” Now it was the same, but with Luna, who almost lost her balance. “Belong to Celly and only Celly! Always! And drop the pink one in the dungeon for not being good enough in governing and taking too much time for herself!” Cadence sobbed dully. “And you think Tia would have liked this… eagerness?” I looked at the Princess of love and gave the fiery mare a hard look. She’s riding hard. “And how would she see all this if you locked her in the depths of your mind?” “Why does it matter?!” Daybreaker flamed angrily again. “I’d have told her!” “And she would have accepted you after a killing? After imprisoning her niece?” “She would have understand!.. But all this chatting doesn’t have any purpose at all.” Day ended with a cracked voice, drooping and losing her brightness as sharp. “Bring your Elements here, let’s get this over with. Celly would be only happy to know, that… That I’m… I’m no more.” What an unhappy and silly horse you are… “Day… Daybe, can you get Celestia’s body back?” “What for?!” The alicorn recoiled back. “So that she would put me back into the darkness and forget there?!.. No! No!!!” I sighed. Make you kick the bucket is easier, but… Tia didn’t do the same with me, did she? “I want to talk to her. About you. I… No, I can’t promise for her, but I’ll do whatever I can to make sure she doesn’t… leave you again.” “And I’ll do the same.” Luna closed her eyes. “I had once abandoned Nightmare, who was to me what you are to Celestia, and I can hardly forgive myself now for that monstrous mistake. But I can still keep my sister from making exactly the same one. And I will.” “And… And I…” Cadence panted, dashing the tears away with her wrist. “It shouldn’t be like that…” “You won’t make that!” In the eerie eyes splashed despair mixed with a kind of wild, distrustful hope. “We will. If not now, then after a few days. We will definitively.” I made a fast step forth and embraced the lost alicorn, that was left by everyone. “Hey, what are you doing?!” She tried to resist, but it was half-hearted. “Hug you for good luck, Day.” I chuckled wryly, feeling the tears come to my eyes. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed that everyone seemed to be gathered around, not being able to wait. “Give Tia back to us. Please.” I hugged her tighter for the last and stepped back. “But… I’m…” “Tia is kind. You would know.” “She’s silly, not kind. And if she agrees, then only because of that.” Daybe grumbled, looking at the floor. “I… You really won’t forget about me?” “Don’t worry, sugarcube. You are a boogie, sure, but didn’t make evil just 'cause wanted to, but 'cause ignorance and misunderstandin’ Princess will surely forgive ya! And we’ll ask her for you, that’s a fine.” It seems our “sideway, one-to-one” dialog was intensely listened to by all who were not lazy… That’s good. “Fine, I… I’m not needed anyone here, anyway. The words are nice, but you won’t accept me, anyway… If I’m lost, so be it!..” Daybreaker muffled, and she swayed and began to change rapidly. The elusive orange hue disappeared from her fur. Tia’s bright sun shone brightly on her thighs again, and her mane flowed with the gentle colors of dawn in the wind. Princess Celestia, having regained her balance, opened her bottomless pink eyes, framed by long beautiful lashes, and looked around in confused bewilderment. “N-nightmare?!.. Cadence?.. I!.. What?..” The alicorn glanced helplessly around the crowd. “Luna!!! You’re alive!!!” Alicorn rushed to her sister and froze, pulling blue one into her embrace with a squeak from Luna. “Luna… Lulu… I…” She sat up carefully, allowing the unbalanced Princess of the Night to lean and practically lie on top of her. Tears rolled from the corners of her closed eyes with trembling lashes. We all somehow involuntarily spread apart, leaving only obviously “blue-screened” Dark Whisper and simultaneously joyful and tense as a string Twilight. “Princess Celestia! Are you alright?” She decided to ask, hesitating a bit. “T-Tactfulness”. I rolled my eyes. “I’m… Yes, Twilight, I guess so…” Tia exhaled gently, clutching her pale-smiling sister firmly in her hooves and wings, without opening her eyes. “Luna, my moonbeam, is a live, and everything else… Thank you, my faithful student. If not the Elements, I would…” Opening her eyes and dashing the tears away from her eyelashes, Celestia smiled hesitatingly. “Sorry, but…” Twi hesitated. “It wasn’t us, Your ‘Ness.” Applejack shook her head. “That’s Nightmare’s and ya sister with Princess Cadence’s thing — they persuaded your flame-maned, this…” The farmer made an uncertain gesture. “But with a condition of you giving her a chance.” “Persuaded?.. A chance?!..” Celestia shook her head in disbelief and flicked her ears and stared at Luna, and then at me. “Imagine that, Princess.” I chuckled. “By the way, welcome back.” “I’m not… Fine…” She closed her eyes for a few moments. “How long… Have I been away? And what I… What has she done?” “Four-ish days?” I suggested uncertainly, glancing at silent Luna and Cadence. “What’s the last thing you remember?” “I…” Tia frowned thoughtfully, stroking her sister’s head reflexively. “I woke suddenly in the middle of the night. Trying to figure out what might have awakened me so untimely, I sensed some powerful ritual somewhere in the side of Luna’s chambers. I rushed there, thinking that she was in danger, but the night guards refused to tell me what was going on or let me in. And I… Oh…” Celestia drooped and sharply yanked her hoof away from her sister’s head. That’s how it was… Apparently, my brief encounter with the nightmare had disturbed the stability of the dream, causing Tia to wake up. And Tia, in her progressive paranoia, perceived it as a sense of danger — and found it. The spell rest, I realized, could be shielded if necessary, but why would we need it?.. So Princess raced to the lighthouse in the night, with guards and misgivings… “And I gathered my faithful guards, put on my armor, and… and entered by force, and I cast my wrath upon the ponies that protected you, and broke your injunction, sister… Forgive me…” Celestia finished quietly, turning away and not daring to raise her head. “Injunction?..” I voiced what appeared to be a common question from the crowd, who were crossing their perplexed eyes at Luna. “Well…” It was time for the blue one to try to hide her eyes. “I shouted in a fervor that my sister was no longer allowed to set foot in my house, and…” The Princess of the Night stumbled, automatically glaring at me with a guilty look. “And… I didn’t think you’d take it so literally.” She looked up at her sister pitifully now from the bottom upwards. “Then I wanted to tell you, but I forgot with all the business… That’s it: I went and tried to make peace, but the ban… I hadn’t decided to lift it. Blue idiot.” The blue idiot sighed, waving away aside hopelessly. “Nightmare.” Celestia gave me a gloomy gaze, squashing her precious Lulu even tighter. “Only you could call my sister such an unflattering name, as she has now said about herself!” “But what she said about me is sometimes sadly accurate.” Luna retorted before I could even open my mouth. I was tugged on my tail in a familiar way. When I turned around, I noticed a fiery look in Rarity’s eyes, who responded to my attention with a pout and a shake of her head. “Five hours of ballroom dancing in a dress with a corset and a huge pink bow on the back!” The unicorn promised me with her eyes — not words. “And you broke in and found Nightmare Moon full of power and magic and Luna barely alive.” Cadence continued half-questioningly, bringing the conversation back to the main topic. “Barely alive?..” Tia chuckled bitterly, starting to again stroke the pale blue mane. “When I came in and saw her, I thought that… That Luna is no more. And… And…” “I’m alive, I’m near, Ti.” Now it was Luna’s turn to tighten her grip on the barely holding elder sister. “Everything is good. The battle with your nightmare may have been very hard, but Nightmare did it. No one else will disturb your sleep.” “We did it, blue one.” I corrected with pressure, not finding the desire to be silent for some reason. “If you hadn’t come and taken that attack that was meant for me, then… I wouldn’t have woken up, I guess.” “Nightmare?” Tia looked at me in surprise, as if gauging and weighing me again. “The mane? Honestly, I thought…” The Princess of the Sun became confused and looked away. Many have been thinking… “My congratulations, Nightmare.” Luna smiled with the edges of her lips, turning back. “But really — where from?” “From our nightmare.” I answered vaguely, not wishing to remember how I’d dug my fangs into the supple, cool ether of the panicking and twisting creature. Nor I was wishing to share the unnecessary nuances with others. Most were satisfied with the answer, but Tia’s slightly furrowed brow indicated that she suspected something. Luna’s rounded eyes reflected a complete understanding of the method. It was unclear whether there was more fear, astonishment, or respectful admiration. “I guess that fire mare that was in your place decided to do the same and arrested Nightmare, and today she was going to judge.” Cadence brought the conversation back to a constructive point. “Yes…” Tia sighed, drooping sharply. “When I saw Luna and decided, that she’s no more… I couldn’t, and… Daybreaker hadn’t missed her chance. All I remember is a strange sort of half-dream, with nothing but my thoughts, until my… waking up here. Thank you for stopping her — in this way or another. And I’m sorry you had to see that.” Tia finally hid her gaze from everyone. “That mad mad monster that slumbers deep inside me, waiting for a chance to break free, to bring fear to everyone around me in its endless rage and to destroy everything like wildfire…” I usually call Luna a hypocritical fool, but here, I’m sorry, Tia, I call you one. You’re a hypocritical, white fool… And, judging by the looks on her face, there wasn’t much of anyone who shared Tia’s position after meeting Daybreaker in person. Even Luna, looking at her sister in a dumbfounded way, began to try to get out of the embrace as much as her small forces allowed her to. “Celestia! You!.. Let me go!.. O-ouch!.. Thanks, Cadence…” The Princess of the Night got out of the embrace of stunned and visibly upset Tia, almost fell down, tangled in her shaky legs, but was caught and supported by the pink alicorn. “I… I can’t believe what I just heard! Is my kind and merciful sister, who had thought of Nightmare Moon as a monster, who spared and…” Luna looked at me, laying back her ears for a second. “And, m-m, gave her a second chance despite… All the quarrels and problems…” Luna, who was either tired or just not able to find the words, went silent and leaned wearily against Cadence. “The one who taught this very Nightmare Moon about kindness and friendship and convinced her that she was too bad about herself and deserved something good, too.” I picked up on. “And now you’re talking like that? You?!” I shook my head in some prostration. “You don’t understand!” The Princess of the Sun got on her feet and looked up reluctantly, rolling her jaw and tilting her ears stubbornly. “She’s insane and relentless! Coming then, when I was trying to hold the country together and restore order after Luna — and Nightmare — had been banished, she immediately began to advise the most radical methods and ways, the cruelest sentences, the most heartless solutions!..” The Keepers gave Tia disbelieving, dumbfounded, and pitying looks. Dark Whisper squinted unkindly, Blueblood stared gloomily at the floor. “I succumbed to her in many ways — and I bitterly regret it to this day.” Tia finished grimly, her voice lowered sharply. “But don’t think that after I realized what I had done and began to correct everything to the best of my ability, promising to do without extreme measures wherever there was any possibility, she calmed down and became silent! Her thoughts, her whispers were always there, silently sounding in my head, calling to evil and cruelty! Convincing me that this was the best and the right thing to do!” Tia shook her head, as if she couldn’t believe what had just come out of her own mouth. Luna stubbornly looked up from under the brows, and her aide, frowning, rolled her jaw angrily. “I managed, with difficulty, to drown out that whisper, to push it away, to forget about it, to learn not to listen to it… At one time I even hoped that it would fade forever, but… But after the nightmares, it always came back. Like this time as well…” Celestia sighed. “Her words grew louder every day, I even… I even caught myself listening to them sometimes! And then I saw Luna, and I believed that death had gotten to her, and… And she managed to take over. And now I can only hope that the monster hasn’t done something irreparable.” Tia sighed again, as if summing up her speech, and looked around at everyone with a stern and determined gaze, lingering on Luna and me. “I don’t think she’s done much wrong — well, except for my arrest, which wasn’t a happy emotion.” I said to break the silence, which was pierced on all sides by judgmental and uncomprehending glances back at Celestia. “If she had collected the Elements a couple of days earlier, of course, I could have gotten some…” “Not at all, darling!” Rarity clucked her hoof in indignation. “We wouldn’t use that kind of force against a pony we know as a good friend.” The unicorn glared at Dash, who was about to object. “Because of a made-up and ugly accusation!” “You do know that by behaving this way you call into question the security of the state, don’t you, mare?” Blueblood asked unfriendly, deliberately looking past Rarity. “In that case, there had to be a trial, and it had to be fair, so that I, with bitterness in my heart and tears in my eyes, still went along with it!” The milliner’s nose perked up, only to look at me with an apologetic look. “Thanks for the trust.” I mumbled under my breath, feeling a lump coming towards my throat. “Well… I any case, I think I’m lucky that you hadn’t been gathered here right off the bat.” I drew the line, overcoming the emotions. “Well, how to put it…” Applejack scratched her hat at the back of her head, blushing her cheeks awkwardly. “We got a letter the day before yesterday, sayin’ it was urgent, it was a matter of state… But we wasn’t in a position… to do it.” “Hey, Jackie! Don’t you tell it, please?!” Rainbow Dash pushed her indignantly. “Well, we followed that strange zebra, and got into a poison joke… Oh…” Now the pegasus, blushing awkwardly, scratched the back of her head. “Pinkie! You’ve got the details.” I winked at the pink earthpony and chuckled. “I don’t want to talk about it.” She made a sad expression on her face and answered with a surprisingly deep bass. Fluttershy hid behind her wings, the others chuckled. “And you, Princess, are smiling for nothing.” I warned her, poking her with my hoof, noticing the inappropriately happy expression on Celestia’s face. “We haven’t forgotten about Daybreaker.” The fun faded away as if it had never existed. It even seemed as if the Sun was dimmer at the same moment, making the world a little grayer. “I don’t understand what there’s to discuss, Nightmare.” Tia looked at me with a frown. “Or my arguments were so unconvincing for you?” “So unconvincing, sister.” Luna replied instead of me. “We’ve talked to her, and she agreed voluntarily to give the body back to you! And even though the Elements of Harmony were behind us, it was not their power that made Daybreaker do this! I’m sorry, but… you’re wrong to call her a monster.” “It’s like you weren’t listening!” The Princess of the Sun became indignant. “She!..” “She’s ready to fight any enemies in any quantities if they get in your way to get your admiration, to get your kind gaze!” I raised my voice and moved towards Celestia, who seemed to be in a loss after such a turn. “Some Nightmare is trying to take your sister away? Execute Nightmare! Sister doesn’t pay enough attention? Lock her up in the tower — let her belong only to you!” “And you’re talking like there’s something good in this!” The snowy alicorn pierced me with a reproachful gaze. “She!..” “Not “she”! You!” I put the tip of my hoof on the edge of the Princess’s nose, silencing her either with surprise or outrage. “You, Tia! And I, while being a creature of the same origin as Daybreaker, can surely say that!” “Say what?..” She became lost. “She is absolutely dependent on your opinion and your desires.” I explained with a sigh to the silly Princess. “What you put into her, that’s what she will become. Like a foal.” “But how’s?.. But how could I?..” Celestia looked around hopelessly, being under pressure. And sharply drooped, when her gaze fell on Dark Whisper. “You told me yourself.” Luna quietly confirmed something only the two of them knew, looking at her sister sympathetically. “It’s… I made her like this…” Tia’s whisper was so quiet that even I, standing at arm’s length, could barely make out the words. “Give her a chance. Like you did with me.” I tried to look in the Princess’ eyes. “I… I can’t.” She looked at me with a look of confusion and fear that was so strange to her, and retreated a step back. “If… Then she… I… No!” “You’re afraid, sister.” Luna nailed her. “And you’re making the same mistake that I made with Nightmare, out of misunderstanding and fear of her. A mistake you won’t forgive yourself for later. And she won’t forgive you, either.” The Princess of the Night looked at me briefly. “Can she forgive me now? When I’ve been trying to forget her for almost a thousand years? If it was as much for her as it was for me, these few days…” Tia shivered, wrapping her wings around herself for a second. “No one said it’s gonna be easy, Princess. But it’s not too late to fix something yet. Not too late yet.” “She’s so-o-o-o sad out there all by herself.” Pinkie said with her ears hanging down, and looked at Tia with a pleading look. “P-please, don’t… Well… Don’t push her away. If… If it’s possible, of course…” Flutty’s whisper followed, hiding her gaze. The white alicorn stared up at the Sun in intense thought. The silence was broken only by gusts of wind. The eyes of everyone present crossed over to Celestia. Some looked hopeful, some encouraging, some smiling. The thestral continued to frown warily, Blueblood bit his lip grimly, also thinking about something. Luna had a slight, calm smile on her face, as if she knew in advance that her sister would agree. “I…” Tia finally unfroze. “I have to try. Even if I’m right about her, but… You were right to rebuke me for hypocrisy. I shouldn’t deny anyone the chance to make amends. What should I do?” The alicorn looked at me. “Teach your… Neighbor with all sorts of things.” I shrugged with my wings. “Listening, hearing, explaining what’s wrong, and how it’s really right. Give your body control for good behavior, I don’t know… And then one day you’ll put the Elements back together — and we’ll all mentally ask Harmony to give Daybe her own body, like I once did. That’s all.” “That’s all.” Celestia chuckled uncertainly. “As if it’s so easy…” “Any way starts with a first step, auntie.” Cadence nodded cheerfully. “Princess Celestia! You are always successful — and you will be even now!” Twilight shook her mane convincingly. “Yeah! We’ll always have the time to get rid of! It’s not that hard to gather up, is it?” Dash chuckled carelessly, but melted away under reproachful gazes. “Hey, what bad did I say?..” “Come on, Princess. Talk to her.” I smiled at Tia with the edges of my lips. “Okay, I… I’ll try. Thank you for the support.” Her smile was a bit forced and she looked at everyone around. “M-m… Day… Daybreaker?..” The alicorn froze, as if looking somewhere inside herself with glazed eyes. With my head down, I smiled. Tia had once given me a chance and tried to tell me about friendship, and now I’d talked her into giving someone a chance. And, I think, not in vain. It’s nice to do good, after all. It’s easy and peaceful. And it just feels good to help someone. It’s a nice day today.

…

“Nightmare, Luna… Cadence! Everypony! I’m sorry… I… I couldn’t cope with my own fear and almost ruined… everything.” Tia sighed and died out. “And thank you for not letting me make more mistakes. The moment is finally ripe for me to do it.” Stepping towards some jaded Princess of the Sun, I unabashedly embraced her, enjoying the warmth and the sensation of her beating heart. “I must feel sorry. If I hadn’t gone to make Luna pay…” I sighed, not knowing what else to say, but I still felt surprisingly at ease. After holding Sunny in my hooves for a few more moments and pulling her close, I reluctantly pulled away. Tia followed me with a bit awkward, but sincere smile. I glanced at the Elementals, too, and found massive happiness and amusement. Except Dash looked like she obviously didn’t know where to put herself. Pinkie was smiling ear to ear, and Rarity was carefully wiping the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief. “Nightmare…” Luna stepped to me, being supported by a Cadence’s wing. “Will you also accept my plea for forgiveness?” You like to put nice questions on the table, blue one… I looked thoughtfully in her eyes — Luna responded with a firm, determined gaze — I drifted my eyes to my hooves… I… I don’t know. I just don’t know. “You know, I…” I looked again at my traitor, tormentor, mentor, partner, and savior, just in time to break the silence, which was about to turn from prolonged to awkward. “I could’ve said right now: “Yeah, okay, no problem, forget it”, but… It won’t be what I really feel and think.” I sighed, not knowing how to put the storm that was raging in my soul into words. Luna drooped. “But also, if I’ll be honest with you.” Rarity, after getting my short gaze, blushed a bit. “I can’t say, that it is absolutely impossible and unthinkable. Maybe one day, when this wound is healed a bit… Not today, Luna. And… Thanks for taking that hit.” “You’re welcome, Nightmare. Your words are already giving me more than I dared to expect: hope.” Luna closed her eyes and smiled peacefully. “Thank you for you readiness to give me a chance. I’ll prove, that you’re not mistaken. I’ll tell everyone what had happened there without lies. Who you had been to me and what I had done. And it is your words that will give me the strength to do it.” “Luna, but!..” Celestia leaned forward, looking at her sister with pity. “This lie must be ended.” Luna stepped back a bit, lifting her foreleg in a stopping gesture. “My daughter deserves better than to be a scary and grim legend.” “D-daught-ter?!..” “Oh, hay…” “Luna?!..” Great job, blue one. Thanks, damn it. “Oh, I’m sorry, Nightmare.” The poor mare, apparently noticing my gaze, covered her mouth with the tip of her wing. “You’re…” “Of course you can talk like that, if you really want to.” I waved away, rolling my eyes. “Just don’t forget that I don’t think so, even though it’s partially right from the factual point of view.” “Of course, as you say.” Luna agreed in a hurry, and, getting a stunned gaze from her sister, asked pitifully: “Can I tell you everything afterwards?..” Tia, slowing a bit, nodded. In the pause, it was unusual to feel the gradual release of tension. “Well, everything ended well, didn’t it?” Pinkie came between us, causing the four alicorns to recoil in surprise. “We need a goodending party!” “Yeah, won’t be bad to have one.” I chuckled as I straightened my ears and remembered my plans: “Tia, Cadence, girls — everyone is invited to the spa in Ponyville. We can go to the party too… Luna, you can come too, if the doctors let us go. Daybreaker… Well, you ain’t got much choice. And Tia would have to go through it twice for everyone to get some!” Someone snickered. Tia’s face changed for a moment, and she seemed to be immersed in an inner dialog. “It seems that something horrible has happened with our Nighty.” Meanwhile, Rarity eyed me with a satirical gaze. “She doesn’t desperately fight me and the spa off, only to give up and go and have a lot of fun anyway, but offers herself, first! Are you all right, darling?” “Nope. I’m very tired.” I chuckled in reply at the question and the massive amount of smiles. “I think we could all use a rest and a little celebration.” Celestia smiled, causing an animated chatter. “Thank you everybody once again.” Tia stepped back and stood in front of everyone and suddenly, elegantly bowed. “Today you have saved Equestria and me. And you saved the pony that even wasn’t given a chance for a life by me in my fear and hypocrisy. Saved her from… From me.” Tia sighed, shutting her eyes for a few long seconds. “This day has taught me a lot of important lessons. From now forth, I’ll try to be more courageous and wiser. Thank you everyone.” While everyone was in a slight stupor, digesting her words, Tia’s silhouette floated, and a moment later, from under her torch-like mane, wary orange eyes stared at us. “Nightmare, Luna… It’s hard to believe that you… That Celly… Thank you, yes?..” Daybreaker drooped and, judging by the “sharp” return of Celestia, retreated hastily. “You’re always welcome, Daybe.” I chuckled. “And you, Tia… Just don’t ever cheat on yourself, okay? If it weren’t for your kindness to me and all…” I made an indefinite gesture. “If you hadn’t stood so fiercely on your ideal of kindness and friendship, including every conversation with me, I’m afraid things would have been much worse now. For everyone. Keep it that way, ay?” “I’ll try to, Nightmare. Thank you.” “You’re welcome… Well… Let’s finally have a cup of tea?” “Surely.” Tia smiled and came closer to us. “But before that, we have to finish one thing: Daybreaker has gathered many ponies for… some significant occasion, and they’ve been waiting there for some time. Come, we must think of something to say to them on the way.” “Let’s draw a plan!..” “I think!..” “What if?..” I took a step back and chuckled at the disappearing horde of multicolored ponies, discussing their options as they went. They’ll figure it out without me, I suppose. And besides… Wait, where’s Tia? “Will you tag along at this spontaneous performance, Nightmare?” “As you say.” I shuddered in surprise a bit and moved aside, letting Celestia come to my side. “Thank you, Nightmare Moon.” “You’re welcome.” We were silent, walking side by side at a distance from the others, who didn’t even seem to notice our absence. In fact… there was something else we needed to talk about… “M-m… Ti?” “Yes, Nightmare?” “Remember that time you offered me your friendship? Is the offer still on the table?” I chuckled awkwardly, turning my gaze away. “Even if it was not, I can always make a new one.” Celestia smiled, judging by the voice. “Will you become my friend, Nightmare Moon?” My soul felt light and joyful. “Of course, Princess.” Not finding the other words instead, I gently slowed Tia down and hugged her. “I’m glad to call you a friend too, Nightmare. Whatever happened between us before and in the future, I believe: we will always find a way out. Together.” I missed that smile. “Thank you for saving me from making such a grave mistake. M?.. And a big thanks from Daybreaker, too.” “Thank you, Ti. For… For damned everything.” I was confused. “Let’s go? Before they lose us?” We cut our embrace and went on. As friends, and with the feeling that, if anything happens, we can always rely on each other. To that bright tomorrow, where everything will be all right for all of us.