Something is ahoof. It may very well be just me. It may be my paranoia. It may even be my own jealousy for my sister, but it cannot be dismissed. She is changing. For better, or for worse, I do not know yet, but it is something I can no longer ignore. I fear for her. Could it be her pride getting into the way, or could it be the very ponies we so dearly care for? It started out small. Her favourite food. She would always order a small cake after dinner. Something to wash down the meal and something to savour. She doesn’t, anymore. Now, she asks for the latest in developments for treaties and negotiations for more land. She asks for the status of new settlements and subjects under [i]her[/i] rule. She asks for the state of the nation. I ask for the state of the citizens. I love them so. They treasure the light they have in Celestia’s day, while they admire the stars I create at night. An equilibrium, of sorts. Though not everyone, yes, everyone, can withstand the travails and hardships of the waking hours, many still come out at night to watch the night sky. I especially love these beings the most. Ever so often, I would reward them with a beautiful shower of light, and I would relish their awe and wonder. My sister, however; I have noticed she is more and more reluctant to give up her hours in the sky as the sun. She does not yield as willingly as she once did. More often, now, than not, I must relay to her the responsibility she bears in lowering the sun, as much as I do in lowering the moon. Yea, she does brood like an owl in wait of prey. Could it be something I or one of our subjects had said that pesters her mind? She has grown more quiet than even I, and that sayeth something. The subjects I encounter seem to find me more and more amiable than the likes of Celestia, and that worries me greatly. For if we, if I am more approachable than my sister, what else has changed? What else could be so vastly different than what was before? For I do know that I am more direct and honest in my proceedings, while Celestia is kinder and more open. Has she drawn into herself so much that even the citizens of Equestria find it more difficult to talk to her than I? I do not know what this meaneth, but I do know something is coming, and I fear it may happen sometime soon. If it has anything to do with what is happening Celestia, I do not know either, but I do know I must tread carefully. If it does involve my sister, I have every reason to believe and act in a way that will ensure I do not incur what wrath she may be bottling up. I may not admit it here and especially now, but I care for my sister. More than she would lead herself to believe. More than our subjects would be led to believe. A deception, and unintentional at that, but it is for the best. She truly is a superior ruler to me. Wiser. Older. I would not be well in a position of power to lead. She has a heart of gold. But I fear that gold is tainting with every waking breath. I pray her pride does not hinder her duty and love for Equestria, for I fear something has taken ahold of her heart. A creeping darkness in the glory of her light. Whatever it may be, it must be eradicated. It is the only way. She comes. [center]~ ~ ~[/center] It ails her in her dreams. It is poisoning her mind. It is deteriorating her will. It disgusts me. I sensed it, at first. It was the smallest thing. The darkness. I had felt it brewing. I knew my sister was changing, but not to this extent. My greatest fears have been realised. It is as I said. Darkness. A nightmare. A nightmare, attacking the head of a powerful nation! And I, a co-ruler and sister to the one who needed me the most, walked on by as they were attacked night and day in my own realm! Indeed, I despiseth this creature that has taken hold of my sister. It’s trickery has moulded her thinking. How could I have been so foolish? I saw all the signs! The weariness in her eyes. The burden seemingly placed on her back. The increasing selfishness and mistrust in her subjects, and most of all, me! She looks at me with these eyes, she gazeth down upon me with, with… dare I say, [i]hatred[/i]. But she holds back. She belays her tongue. Her voice is restrained. I can see the turmoil brewing within her eyes. The evil glint. Yet I see a spark. The tiniest of hopes. It cries to me for help. It pleads to me for redemption. It calls to me for salvation. My sister is still there. What am I to do to save her? There is next to nothing, no experience, no weapon or tool I hold or know of that comes close to this magnitude. The only ability I could possibly think of using… but no, would it work? What are the odds I could destroy my sister and myself at the same time? Is it truly worth the risk? Verily, thou must thinketh, what of the Elements of Harmony? Are they not useful? Would they not purge my sister of this wicked entity? Nay, I cannot. If I were to try, my essence could very well be dispersed amongst the stars in an attempt to save my sister, and I gambleth everything here. I may not even be able to save my sister, and all hope for Equestria would be lost. My sister, however… she would be able to take the burden of all six. Even for a moment. Would it be enough? If I could… I- I would wish for this to end. I would tell my sister to snap out of it and the nightmare would be banished, but alas… It pains me to see my sister suffer. Mayhaps the stars will hold the answers. I shall consult them. The moon’s unblemished light waxes evermore. [center]~ ~ ~[/center] Princess Luna, arraigned in her purest regalia and armed with her dream magic, stood in the doorway of her elder’s chambers. Her sister studied the twilight sky, smirking softly to herself. Luna could guess as to why, of course. The sun was three minutes behind schedule, and it remained above the horizon, lingering. Luna knew it was time. It was here and now, or never. Either choice she made would decide the fate of Equestria, and she knew, both would change Equestria forever. There could be no hesitation. “Why doth the sun remain, Sister?” Luna asked softy, not startling Celestia in the slightest. “Thou art always on time, even when we argue.” “Argue?” Celestia said. “I always win.” Luna pursed her lips. “You delay the inevitable. You must lower the sun.” Celestia glanced back at her. “Who art thou to order thine elder around, Luna?” “I do not. It is thine duty. I merely remind thee of this.” “Hm, yes, a reminder, that your night is much more brilliant than my singular star in the sky.” “We have our parts to play, Celestia,” Luna said. “Thine task, to warm and give light for life on the world, it is most important, but thou knowest the rules.” “Why can’t my sun stay up a little longer, give it’s light a little more, then?” Celestia murmured. “Or art thou selfish enough to deny me this?” “My pride means nothing in this conversation, Celestia. We must act our parts.” At that, Celestia suddenly sneered and turned around, her eyes flickering dangerously. “Then act [i]your[/i] part and obey your older sister.” Blinking back a sudden wave of tears as she stared at her sister’s face, Luna locked her jaw. “Obeisance is only ever as good as the one who wields power.” Celestia’s horn lit up. “Then thou must understand who is truly in charge.” Yet Luna was ready, and before Celestia had her spell charged, Luna had shot a volley of spells into the chest of Celestia. “Yield, sister!” Luna cried. “I come in peace! I only wish to heal thee-!” “Lies!” Celestia cried, strapping her own regalia on and growling. “Thou wishest to overthrow me and take this land for thine own!” And before Luna could react, she found herself barrelling through several walls, getting buried under a pile of rubble. The pile of rubble shifted as Celestia drew near, another spell at the ready. “And thus, we see who is truly superior.” The rubble shifted, and Luna blasted the debris away from her. With a quick flash, Luna teleported behind Celestia and shot her in the back with a stunning spell. Celestia was quick to retaliate, however, even angrier than before. Luna pleaded with Celestia. “Sister!” she cried. “Please! Thou art being used! Deceived! Manipulated-” “By you, thou fiend!” Celestia yelled, throwing spell after spell, Luna fluttering quickly and dodging as many as she could. “Steal the throne! Traitor! Heretic! Thou wouldst have slain me in my chambers when thou hadst the chance!” “If I were, I would’ve done so weeks ago!” Luna cried, and charged her horn. “I see now, I should’ve done more to help you. I ask you that you can forgive me, Celestia!” “Forgive you?” Celestia laughed darkly, her own horn glowing madly. “Thine delusions are getting out of hoof, this ends now!” “And so it does,” Luna whispered, sweat beading down her head. “Stars above, mother, help me, forgive me.” Their two magics met, and a brilliant white light flashed, visible for miles upon miles with no end. They struggled against each other, furiously focusing as hard as they could to best the other in this duel of mana. But Luna’s cause was nobler and purer. Her love for her sister was enough. With tears in her eyes, Luna pushed with all of her might, and with a shout she delved into the mind of Celestia. There, Luna could see, the true extent of what was ailing Celestia. The walls that Luna perceived were black, dark as the deepest abyss, and solid. The path was overgrown cobblestone, where weeds and thorns flourished. And at the end of the path, Celestia lay in chains, tattered. “Celestia?” Luna asked tentatively. Shaking her head, the Celestia in chains shook with a sob before going limp again. “Celestia!” Luna ran up to the dream realm version of her sister, holding her head up as she noticed how broken she seemed to be. “By the gods, Celestia, what happened to thee?” “L-Luna,” she pleaded. “Leave me. Destroy me. Don’t let me take power! I-I was not strong s-strong enough to fight it back. If you do not leave now, sh-she will come, and both of us will be lost!” “The Nightmare?” “D-Daybreaker.” “It shall not come to that.” Celestia, confused, looked up at her younger sister. “Luna, what art thou planning?” “Thine rule has always been kinder than mine, Celestia,” Luna murmured. “Thou art wise beyond thy years. I, however, am yet but a younger sibling. And thou shouldst not worry about me anymore. Thou must attend to the heart of the ponies. To the people. Promise me thou will not fail to remember them first.” “Luna, this is preposterous! The ponies, the people love you! Thou art adored! Do not mean to tell me-” “Forgive me, Celestia.” “Luna? Luna?! Luna! Don’t do it! I beg of thee! Please, please, sister! I would not be strong enough-” “Let this be a reminder of your strength, and my love,” Luna whispered, and she lit her horn. Immediately, the shadows shrieked. The darkness howled and they swirled around Luna, attacking her, biting at her, yelling at her. Luna growled and shouted, but did nothing to them. She kept calling upon the Nightmare, and the Nightmare came. Soon enough, Celestia’s shackles broke, their essence joining the storm brewing above Luna. Celestia tried to run up to Luna but her magic failed and the storm threw her like a ragdoll to the side, her dreamscape falling apart as Luna took in everything. “Luna, no!” Celestia weeped. “Don’t take my sins! Don’t become her! Don’t let my failures be your downfall!” “U-use the Elements!” Luna cried, “This N-Nightmare must be banished, o-only you have the strength to wield-” “[b]No![/b]” Sadly, Luna smiled at Celestia. “Hey,” she whispered painfully, as if a joke was being passed between them. “You win. Now, go save Equestria.” And Luna disappeared, leaving Celestia alone. Celestia couldn’t tell if she was crying or laughing, or maybe at the same time. It didn’t matter. Celestia knew that when she woke up, Luna would be waiting. And somehow, she knew, when the light would rest upon her… she would be beautiful. Regal. Powerful. A Nightmare.