Sometimes, toward the end of a day's twilight, I walk alone upon my castle's rooftop, watching the moon rise and the shadows grow. Once, I would have thought about the mathematics of it—how the moonlight strikes the landscape to form stretched-out shapes across the land. Older now, I just want to stand and gaze, forgetting about tomorrow as the Earth is slowly made a veiled beauty. Princess Luna would appreciate this, but I hope she does not decide to drop in right now. As great as friendship is, some things are better appreciated when you are by yourself. Nopony can abide lonesomeness for too long, but just a little on an evening like this brings out that elusive sense of wonder the poets write about. Luna—her namesake has risen now, as close, clear, and bright as I have seen in years. I let its brilliance fill my vision, taking in every detail—the dark craters at its north and west, the milky halo around its edge, the nearest starry neighbors twinkling as they appear... I blink once, twice. Four bright stars, forming a square around the moon—I've seen this before. That night all those years ago, I was in no mood to stargaze, for something evil was coming, and those stars were the keys to its prison. The movements of the stars really are fascinating. It has only been ten years since that night, and though I have done plenty of gazing, I do not remember seeing those four since then. I never got around to looking them up on a chart, either. I will have to tomorrow. It's really unusual how they pulse brighter, and... Well, that's even weirder. Now they pulse one by one. I hold my breath and stare. Yes—one goes off, then another, then the next. I watch for a minute, then two just to be sure. The stars are pulsing in a pattern that goes counterclockwise around the moon. In a burst of excitement, I gallop to my telescope and fix it upon their location. My heart is now going so fast that I have to hold my breath to keep from shaking. Again I wait. The four stars are still, just as any others. Whatever was happening to them, I've missed the end of it. Trying not to let annoyance get to me, I move to return to the edge of the parapet, looking up again with naked eyes. [i]Pulse... Pulse...[/i] They're doing it again! Back to the telescope! And now they're still. Why does the telescope make such a difference? And how is this even possible? Distant stars are far apart, so no natural link could form between them. The odds of them all turning to supernovas at once are just too much against. Now a feeling comes over me—that indescribable sense that makes you turn around just in time to see somepony quickly turn away, for you have just caught her looking at you. I look around now, but see no one. The feeling is still with me. [i]Pulse... Pulse...[/i] I want to be indoors—now. I walk toward the castle keep's rooftop entrance with measured steps. There is no need to hurry. Of course not. It is late, and my mind is playing tricks. I am soon in bed and dozing, breathing gently, sleep overtaking me... No. When I close my eyes, I see them pulsing, as clear as if I'm looking through the castle walls. Those walls are no defense against the feeling of a glare upon me. The bedside table is not big enough for all the books I keep for reference, so there is a small bookcase against the near wall. I hurry to it, pull the volume of star charts, and look for a pattern of four that form up every ten years. But they are not there. [hr] It is day. They are gone. But they will be back. I spent the night under their glare. They are angry—angry because I stopped the Nightmare. They waited a millennium to release it. They waited ten years to get close enough to reveal themselves again. They can spend millennia coming back to torment me. They want another vessel for the Nightmare, and if I break, their plans and their revenge will be complete. I sensed their suggestion to tell everypony I know, so my friends would think I'm mad. But I'm too smart. I'll keep this secret, and fight them forever. They'll never have me. Never. Never.