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]

[that smile is replaced by a very ugly look]

No. I am no longer that sniveling disgrace of a filly.

[circleoflife]

[And his own surprised expression turns into a much sterner one upon hearing Nightmare's words. Those cold eyes were nothing like Luna's own, and yet, the scent was irreplaceable.

He's not sure what's going on, but the blatant slander of someone who had been so kind and patient to him upon his arrival immediately makes him sour.

Demanding, now:] What is the meaning of this?

[mareinblack]

[welp. Have a crazy laugh.]

Perhaps I've outgrown the shadows to which I've been confined. But would you really understand that, Mufasa, King of the Pridelands? [sardonic tone? Check.]

[circleoflife]

[His eyebrow gives a twitch at that. Is Luna still in there? He's not entirely sure...]

The princess that I knew had nothing she needed to prove. [The edge to his tone dies away a bit, not necessarily becoming gentle, but more neutral, at least.] She was gracious, kind, and patient, and I could not imagine anyone asking for anything more of her.

[mareinblack]

[uh. And she's angry again. You can blame the crazy.]

That's because nopony would bother. Who in Equestria would want - or even acknowledge the existence of - the sad little second-rate princess when they've got Celestia?

[circleoflife]

[Something flickers in his eyes, then, at that sentence, but there's no other reaction.]

Your value is not determined by the pedestal by which others put you on, Princess.

[mareinblack]

Platitudes are ever so boring - but I can agree. [man, she sounds almost sane]

I am not 'the lesser' because I'm younger. I am not the shadow just so she can shine more brilliantly. I am not some stupid little filly forever stumbling after her sister, hoping for whatever spare tidbits of praise they have leftover.

[she goes completely still, almost whispering to herself now] And I will prove it.

[insert crazy smile here]

[circleoflife]

[What an unnerving smile-- where has he seen that before? And his eyes narrow slightly.]

And how do you intend to do that?

[mareinblack]

[maybe you don't pay enough attention to your brother, Mufasa :\]

Everlasting night does have a certain ring to it. They'll learn to love me - or they'll die. A most elegant solution, hm?

[circleoflife]

[W O W RUDE]

Fear is not love, Princess. And you most certainly cannot hope to gain love through fear.

[He takes a step closer, unafraid.]

[mareinblack]

[it's a legit accusation!

She laughs, standing her ground.] Love, respect, or fear; those are tools I can use as long as they know their fate lies in mine hooves.

[circleoflife]

One who rules with fear only spells their own demise. [A pause, and then:] Luna, I know that you are still there. Envy is nothing to be ashamed of, [because he would totally know] but I assure you, I am positive that there are many who respect and adore you.

[mareinblack]

[those great black wings beat in agitation and she paws the ground with a hoof.]

There is no Luna; there is only the Nightmare.

[circleoflife]

I do not believe that. [His tone doesn't waver for a second, and the eyes looking at Nightmare are no longer so harsh.

He even offers a smile.]

I do not know of your sister, Princess, but even if she were to arrive, I could not so easily forget the one who first introduced me to Paradisa, and so generously spent their time with me so I that I was more comfortable, even in such a foreign and strange land.

[mareinblack]

[for the love of. This is supposed to be a nightmare, Mufasa.

She recoils at the smile with a hissing intake of breath. There's a moment or two before she recovers her crazy, though she starts pacing around him instead.]

Shows what you know. Who would want to be a broken pony, clinging to the false niceties of harmony and friendship? [she lets loose a laugh, though it's suddenly cut off]

They'll all betray you in the end anyway.

[circleoflife]

[NO HE IS TOO COOL FOR NIGHTMARES B(

There's a slight twitch to his eye this time at that last sentence. His eyes widen, however, when the eyes in front of him flicker for a moment, looking astonishingly like...]

Scar?

[It's nearly a whisper; he hadn't meant to say it at all. He should feel anger, if nothing else, but all he feels is uneasiness, seeing those eyes, the last eyes he saw before his death.

He takes a step back.]

[mareinblack]

[yup, she has absolutely no idea what you're talking about. She's got a lot of powers, but mindreading isn't one of them.

Conversationally:] And I thought I was the insane one here.

[circleoflife]

[Damnit. Now he's hearing his voice, too. A low growl rumbles in his throat as he shakes his head, as though that would help clear it.]

Cease with your hallucinations at once.

[mareinblack]

[chuckling now]

Oh no. You can't blame your problems on little old me. That would be rather irresponsible of you, hm?

[she's no stranger to illusions, however] Still, I suppose I could help.

[and quite suddenly, the dark nothingness is replaced by a savannah. It's at night of course, but it's unmistakable. There's no Pride Rock, but any zebra would be right at home here. And any lions too, she would assume.

And since Equestria's skies seem to be exactly like that of Earth's, those stars that stud the sky are completely accurate.]

[circleoflife]

[He lifts his head when the scenery changes around him, and he looks around. Another low growl.]

Luna! Where are you?

[mareinblack]

[there's a purple mist hovering above the ground that solidifies into a mare.]

Wrong name on both counts, Mufasa. Were you not looking for this 'Scar?'

[circleoflife]

He is not relevant; do not try to divert our conversation.

[mareinblack]

Conversation? Are we still speaking of love and friendship, balance and harmony? [ew]

It matters not in the end. Power matters. Strength matters. Claws and teeth, muscle and sinew. Would you not agree, lion?

[circleoflife]

[excuse me that is raci-- okay he can see where you're coming from]

No, I would not. I am no barbaric creature; and neither are you, Princess.

Cease with your power cravings at once.

[He's a king, so clearly just demanding something like this should work.]

[mareinblack]

[more riotous laughter] Power? I have enough power to bring the stars themselves crashing into the land. [though that would be more of a case of everything getting swallowed up by flames]

I am merely [smile] reasserting my rights.