Did somepony say nightmare...?

[mareinblack]

Who: Luna and YOU
What: Nightmare plot
When: Right now?
Where: Her dream
Rating: PG???



[It's a meadow; a beautiful one, illuminated under the light of the full moon, large and low on the horizon. The coolness after the heat of the day is refreshing, as shyer creatures make themselves known. The fireflies dance, even as the stars above seem to hum their own stories.

It starts off with whispers. Kind ones, even. "Oh, there's no need to trouble yourself. We're just waiting for your sister." "What a magnificent job! You'll catch up to your sister in no time!"

It gets darker and it gets louder. Pity, chuckling little laughs. Hesitance. Questions about Celestia's approval or the lack thereof. Loudest of all are the silences. The silences broken only by whimpers and cries, the sharp scent of fear that only goes away with the rising of the sun.

It becomes impossible to see and there is nothing to hear, beyond the sound of your own breathing, magnified in this absolute nothing.

And then after an interminable amount of time, there are vividly green, slit-pupil eyes in front of you. The contours of the fully grown alicorn mare can barely be seen in the dark, if not for the glow of her mane and tail. That smile is nothing short of insane.]

"'Will you walk into my parlour?' said the Nightmare to the dreamer." [and her grin grows wider]

Comments

[mareinblack]

[there's a raucous laugh in response to that. And yup, that smile is back.]

Practicing? For that farce? [aaaand she lowers her head to Spike's eye-level] Perhaps I am feeling a bit peckish...

[huffythedragon]

[Spike gives a nervous laugh, reaching up to pat her on the nose]

Ahahahaha...ha. Good one, Princess. You'll knock 'em dead this year.

[mareinblack]

[he gets an arched look, and then she lunges, suddenly sharp teeth closing with a snap a hair's breadth (or scale's breadth) away from his face.]

My intentions exactly, foal.

[huffythedragon]

[Yeah no. This was not right. Spike yelps and jumps back. First Twilight and now this? What was next? Discord showing up?]

Luna! Aww man, don't tell me this castle turned you back. You don't have to do this any more.

[mareinblack]

[there's a hissing intake of breath and somehow, it gets darker. And possibly colder.]

Do not call me that.

[huffythedragon]

[Ohhhh snap where are the Elements of Harmony when you need them? Oh right. Back in freaking Equestria :| Well, except for Twilight's crown thingie, which is totally useless without the other Elements.

He raises his claws, trying to placate her]

Okay, okay, Nightmare Moon. But listen, okay...just listen. Everypony loves you now, for real. You don't have to do the rawr rawr nightmare doom deal any more.

[mareinblack]

[Spike. She's crazy. That shields her from things like logic and reasoning.]

Lies, all of it. [at least she's opting to pace now, instead of being all up in his personal space] Rather convenient, is it not? I would have never guessed that they would suddenly decide to care now that I've decided not to.

[huffythedragon]

[That's good. That means there's less chance she'll murder him]

But it's not a lie, I promise. You returned to normal and everypony was so glad to see you again. And Princess Celestia missed you so much.

[On hindsight, he realises, that was probably the worst name to bring up, OH WELL]

[mareinblack]

[She goes completely still at the mention of her sister. And suddenly, she's right in front of him. Again.]

Because she's tired of ruling both night and day? Or because I'm not there to be her shadow so she can get all the credit when I cared just as much as she did??

[huffythedragon]

[Oh Spike you moron why do you say things?!!]

No. No nothing like that! She missed you because she cares about you, Luna. You're sisters and that sort of thing is really important.

[Stop talking stop talking stop talking]

[mareinblack]

[and she's mad enough that she ignores the use of 'Luna.'

Snarling.] I hate her. She is no sister of mine.

[huffythedragon]

You know you don't mean that. Okay, so she trapped you on the moon for like a thousand years. But that doesn't mean she doesn't love you, and it doesn't mean you don't love her.

[It just means you're batshit insane and something had to be done]

[mareinblack]

[there's a flash of lightning overhead, followed by the loud rumble of thunder. Who knew that dark voids had weather?

Shouting now.] She never cared! And I. Do. Not. Care.

[at least whatever remains of Luna is keeping NMM from actually killing anypony (or anydragon).]

[huffythedragon]

[Spike jumps at the thunder. He will not pass out this time. He CAN'T pass out this time. He's one of the few residents in the castle who'll know what's going on]

Okay, okay, you tell yourself that, but it doesn't stop it being true. Just... just think for a moment, okay? Think really hard and try to remember.

[mareinblack]

[deep breaths. She cared so much it hurts and -




She shakes her head, as if dislodging a thought, and then. Well. There's that crazy smile again.]

Why yes! How could I ever forget how patronizing she is? How everypony would look at her with slavish adoration for the perfect, beautiful, kind, benevolent princess who would only ever have Equestria's best interests at heart?

[she stomps a hoof in anger] How could I ever forget that?

[huffythedragon]

[Uh oh. He really thought he was getting through to her for a minute there]

But Luna, you know it's not like that at all. We love you, too. After all, the night is good for uh...

Well parties for one! And fireworks! And meteor showers, everypony loves those.

[mareinblack]

[yeah, well. Gathered Elements of Harmony? Uncheck.]

Why, I do love it when somepony compliments mine night. [heh] You'll be able to enjoy it forever - or until everything dies.

[huffythedragon]

[...Yeah good job Spike, you moron]

I...no. I didn't mean it like that! I mean, it should be a shared thing. You and Celestia ruling together.

[mareinblack]

[nasty laugh] Yes, because that worked out so wonderfully, did it not?

[huffythedragon]

But it works now, you just don't get it.

[mareinblack]

[there's a very ugly look on her face. Inhale, exhale.

She lies down gracefully, wings flapping once or twice before settling snugly against her sides. Forelegs are tucked underneath her. The nebulous cloud of mane and tail settles down a bit and now bears a closer resemblance to the steady flow of her usual mane. And that look is replaced by a solemn expression that wouldn't have been out of place on Luna's face - if not for the malicious glint in her eyes. ]

Shall I tell thee a story, young Spike?

[...]

[huffythedragon]

[That malicious glint sure is worrying. Still, Spike sees this as some sort of progress and moves to sit nearby. Not as close as he normally would, no. He keeps his distance]

Sure. I like stories.

[mareinblack]

[she makes no effort to close the distance between them]

Very good. Thou wilt enjoy this one, methinks.

Once 'pon a time, a dragon egg was taken. Whether 'twas an act of outright thievery or a careless extension of grace to a child abandoned by his parents, I cannot say. Whatever the situation, it suited the ponies' purpose, for they - or should I say 'she' - used the child in an aptitude test for a young filly.

Despite these inauspicious beginnings, the young dragon was received with an open heart. He was raised as a pony, with love and care, with friendship and warmth. He could ask for no better family.

Years passed. The young dragon grew larger and larger as his family grew older and weaker. He was ever caring of their needs and helped in every way possible. However, whispers followed him wherever he went.

Ponies are primarily motivated by fear, as thou dost know. Fear prompteth them to react with hostility and unkindness when otherwise, they would ne'er even dream of such things. When they looked 'pon their dragon, they saw not the immeasurably sad little brother who put on a brave smile for his aging sister. Instead, they saw a wide awning cavern of sharp fangs. When they looked 'pon their dragon, they saw not the measured, slightly exasperated way he placed library books back in their proper places. Instead, they saw only the gleam of sharp claws that can bisect a pony without a second thought.

He endured. He endured the sudden silences, the sharp smell of fear in the air, the way ponies would slowly edge in front of their foals, the way doors and shutters would slam shut as he passed. He endured them all for the sake of distant memories, when he could once traverse the town carried on a pony's back.

He finally succumbed to his Hundred Years' Sleep, taking care to sequester himself away so that his smoke cannot harm any others. [a sad shake of her head] Solicitous 'till the end. And when he awoke? Well, few ponies can e'er hope to live that long. And their memories are even shorter. Who would be willing to see beyond tooth and claw, fang and fire?

[she looks bluer at the end of it. But then again, what else are illusions good for?]

[huffythedragon]

[He starts out enjoying the story, maybe Luna knew something about his past he didn't. Perhaps Celestia had spoken to her about it, and this is another piece of the largely missing jigsaw of his life he can put into place.

...But as it progresses, his heart sinks more and more. She's right, of course. He may be young but he's not stupid. He's well aware as a dragon, he will exist for thousands of years, much longer than any pony lifespan, bar the sun and moon sisters. But just because he knows it's a fact, doesn't mean he wants to face it. He avoids it as much as he can, and it hurts, to have it laid so bare in front of him.

But what she says next hurts him even more. He remembers when he let his greed get the better of him. How the ponies ran and screamed in terror. How, even afterwards, they watched him with a little more caution than they had before. He's from a race of monsters, plain and simple. He can learn to control his base instincts as much as he likes, it still won't change the fact he's a dragon. One of the monsters.

...Maybe one day they really will stop seeing him as one of their own, and see him for what he came from.

He sinks a little to the ground, curling his tail around himself protectively. Not wanting to believe it, but knowing it to be a very likely scenario for him anyway]

I'll find a way to make them remember. I will.

[mareinblack]

[a whisper, all silk and darkness.]

It is almost selfish of them, is it not? The ones left behind are the ones who have to suffer the hurt. How many times will you be able to stand it? Abandoned, again and again, across thousands of pony lifespans? Will they start blurring into each other? Faces and manes, likes and dislikes, stories and dreams?