GREEN
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3266 17.92 KB 314
3266 17.92 KB 314
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>Be Sepia, unicorn
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>Too scared to move from your spot
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>Too tired to try and stop the ill-fitting maid outfit from slipping further down
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>The small crowd of not-pony children are busy flailing around socks filled with marbles, knocking down towers of blocks and smashing clay figurines to pieces
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>You dare not move, lest they notice you and decide to try those flails on you
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>These children only see you as another toy
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>One that can move, talk in a strange language, even cry out in pain, but still just a toy that their head-nanny found wet and lost in the forest
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>How long ago was that?
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>At least a month, maybe, there is no calendar in this mansion
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>It has been at least several nights since Nightmare Moon appeared in your bouts of sleep
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>Nightmare Moon
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>You cannot understand why you are seeing her
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>Before you somehow ended up here, she was just a threat your parents used when you were a filly to keep you from misbehaving
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>Those simple times of staying awake in your bed, praying to Celestia that those aquamarine eyes never appear in the darkest corner of your room, seem blissful compared to now
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>Now these,
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>What?
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>Humans?
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>Yes, humans, that’s what those two aliens that looked like these ones called themselves
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>These cruel humans threaten to feed you to the monstrous parody of a griffon in their stables
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>You were getting nightmares of that beast, until suddenly that dreadful mare appeared before you
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>She did not speak, only observe the terrible dream around you
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>She watched you dream of the manor and its master that you were made a slave for
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>The next few nights had you trying to run away and hide from monsters throughout the whole house
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>Last night, that mare watched children thrice their normal size chase after you through the halls
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>You can sense her presence now, like she is watching you just out of sight
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>You have been looking over your shoulder all day today whenever your tormentors were not paying attention
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>The children remember you
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>You are too lost in thought to dodge the weighted sock
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>It hits you on the large silver ring locked at the base of your red-brown horn
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>One moment has you standing as still as a statue
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>The next has you writhing on the thick carpet, trying to stem the steady trickle of blood now staining the carpet
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>You can hear the children crowd around you, laughing
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>Some kick at your barrel while some grab at your horn
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>They might be trying to pull it off
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>You flail at the many stubby hands, but you cannot fend them all off
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>Then the head-nanny bursts into the demented playroom, her booming voice silencing all others
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>The blows cease for a wonderful instant, but then a massive hand engulfs your horn and lifts you back onto your hooves
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>Through the skull-splitting headache a single thought breaks through:
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>You want to die, because wherever you end up cannot be worse than this
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>The head-nanny, still yelling at you in her foreign language, shakes your head and forces you to open your eyes and look up
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>You do not care about her wrathful look anymore
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>The absurd makeup on her craggy face makes her look like a clown
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>She stops shaking you and looks around
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>It takes you another moment to notice that the room is losing light
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>The evening sunlight dims to nothing
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>The head-nanny loosens her grip and looks at your horn-ring
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>Despite being smeared in your blood, the thick silver band is undamaged
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>The darkening shadows that are appearing along the walls and ceiling are not your doing
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>The air itself seems to darken
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>As if shadows are deciding to form all around you
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>The children retreat to a corner, not daring to make a sound
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>The head-nanny lets go of your horn and backs away, staring at the now pitch-black shadows growing around the room
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>Your shaking legs just barely keep you upright
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>You are the first to see the mare of your nightmares open her aquamarine eyes
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>In front of you
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>Out of the floating shadow
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>Half-lidded, the pair eyes with slit pupils scan the room quickly before spotting you
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>They widen to the point of looking manic
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>Then more eyes appear besides the first, then along the walls, then on the ceiling
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>Hundreds of pairs of aquamarine eyes in the void, directed at you
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>Everypony in the room but you screams
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>Your eyes roll into the back of your head and your legs give out
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>You jerk awake when something in dark clothing picks you up
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>Her eyes are still there, wide and watching
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>In panic you try to break free, but the tall human holds your legs with one arm
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>You are desperate enough to try and stab him in the neck with your horn, but he pins your neck to his chest with his other arm
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>He then whispers gently to you in your own language,
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>”Sepia, we’re taking you back to Equestria.”
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>You recognize his voice and you finally relent
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>It is one of the two humans who befriended the Royal Sisters
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>You forgot his name, it has been so long
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>”Now close your eyes and hold on.”
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>He bolts through Nightmare Moon’s eyes and towards the playroom’s only entrance
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>Before you are aware of what happens a man wearing a steel curiass runs through the open doorway, only to be knocked back into the hallway by a bone-jolting kick
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>More of her eyes are in the hallway, looking everywhere
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>You heed your rescuer’s advice and shut your eyes
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>You hear others screaming in terror throughout the mansion as your are carried swiftly down to the ground floor
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>Nopony tries to stop you
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>You do not want to imagine what waking nightmares are occupying their attention
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>When cold air whips around you, you open your eyes to see the evening sky
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>Your rescuer leans into a dead sprint towards the forest as shadows surround you
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>When you enter the woods they condense further beside you, taking the shape of an alicorn galloping
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>Black fur
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>And those aquamarine eyes that have tormented you for many-a-night
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>This dark character is with the man who had been friends with Luna years ago
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>And they are rescuing you
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>What has happened while you were away?
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>Nightmare Moon glances at you while darting through the ancient tress
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>”Sean, that ring on her horn.”
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>That was his name
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>The other was Jane, right?
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>Still running, Sean reaches up with one hand and tugs at the ring once, making you yelp in pain, but it stays
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>”Magic?” he asks
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>Nightmare Moon answers for you, her horn and the ring lighting up in an aqua glow
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>”Suppressor.”
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>”Can you get it off?”
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>”When we reach our equipment.”
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>Within a minute of running the two of them round a large oak with exposed roots and stop
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>Without a word Sean sets you down on the grass in front of Nightmare Moon, then ducks into a hole beneath the leaning trunk
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>The mare leans down, pointing her lighted horn towards you
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>”This may hurt, Sepia.”
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>Her magic engulfs your forehead
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>Your horn tingles at first, then the tingling turns into needles of pain
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>You grit your teeth, imagining hundreds of tiny pry-bars wedging between your horn and the ring
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>The sight of Sean walking over and hefting a leather saddle laden with bags and scabbards over Nightmare Moon’s back distracts you
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>Her eyes flash cyan and the pry-bars heave-
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>You wake up with your cheek mashed against the back of somepony's neck
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>You feel muscles work in a steady rhythm underneath you and the wind gusting around you
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>You can hear her breathing heavily with every cycle of her hooves
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>When you open your eyes, you can barely see the dark bark of trees blurring past, one almost scraping your nose
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>You jerk back, only to tip over the other side of the black-furred mare you were riding
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>A folded wing shoots up and stops you
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>Human hands grab you by your chest and rump and pull you back between the mare's neck and the saddle
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>Sean tells you over the rushing wind,
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>"Stay with us, ma'am. We don't want to leave you with these bastards."
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>You risk looking up at him, and he is looking behind himself and up past the canopy
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>Then you hear a piercing cry far above
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>It is that griffon
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>You cling to Nightmare Moon’s neck, glad of her speed
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>Sean reaches down to a long scabbard at his side
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>"Fast response, huh?"
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>He pulls out a long device with two black barrels, one over the other, and a middle section of dulled bronze capped with a stock of dark wood
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>It reminds you of the massive weapons he and his companion had brought with them
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>"Ring must’ve been a tracker, too."
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>With a swing of his legs, the man turns around in the saddle
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>He actions a lever forward and back underneath the brass, and the weapon utters two mechanical clicks
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>"Do you sense any spells?"
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>"Plenty," breaths Nightmare Moon, still darting through the trees at full speed
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>"Find a clearing; we'll deal with the master of the house now."
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>The alicorn of your nightmares leans into a sharp turn
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>You hang on for dear life, but Sean merely leans with her, not caring about the trunks or branches that could rip him off of her back
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>He focuses on the silhouette of a huge wingspan flying above the treetops
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>Another angry screech makes you bury your face into Nightmare Moon's neck
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>You do not want to see this monster diving on you
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>Sean announces, "Hold on, ma'am."
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>There are several seconds of nothing happening
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>Then Nightmare Moon unfurls her wings
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>A single beat launches her into the suddenly-open air
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>You are no stranger to flying with Princess Celestia in a pulled chariot
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>But this is insane
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>It is when two simultaneous blasts thump through your chest that you start screaming
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>Another beat of the alicorn's wings jinks you aside and another blast slaps your chest
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>You cannot hear anything but ringing in your ears now
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>You can feel boom after boom
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>Your head spins as you invert in the air again and again
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>One last time, you are pressed into Nightmare Moon's neck as she rises into a split-s
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>Upside-down, you feel Nightmare Moon get pushed up and a presence leaves you
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>She spins back upright and-
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>Flies straight
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>When you stop screaming, she dips into a gentle downward spiral
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>You risk opening your eyes
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>The foreign sun is still above the distant mountains, but already it is turning the sky to gold
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>You realize how high you are and, against all judgment, look down
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>Way down below, in the darkening clearing of trees you had flown out of, the griffon lays sprawled in the grass
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>As the two of you descend, you see a human figure step on and over the bleeding body of the beast
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>Another tries to stand, but the first moves to him quickly and kicks him in the hip
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>Nightmare Moon's neck rumbles against you, but your ears are still ringing so you cannot hear what she is yelling
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>The standing figure looks up at you, then back down at his opponent
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>He kicks him onto his back, then kneels down and lifts him up by the steel breastplate he’s wearing under a leather coat
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>You look away when your pursuer receives a fist to his nose
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>Nightmare Moon stops descending
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>You look up to ask her why, but the massive craft of green and silver metal answers you
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>With the ringing in your ear, you cannot hear it or hear yourself yelp in surprise
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>Your rescuer yells something at the sleek and curvy flying machine
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>It reminds you of the many airships that came and went around Canterlot, though the top of this thing cannot possibly hold any gas
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>Yet here it is, presenting its broadside to you
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>The silver side under the curved top hinges down, revealing a large cabin that takes up most of the craft
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>You see several ponies crowded inside
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>Nightmare Moon flies into the middle of the dark space without hesitation, landing in the midst of them
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>Before your eyes adjust, the open side closes up again
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>Now instead of the golden sky, there are several dim blots of blue light refracting all throughout the dark cabin
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>The craft immediately turns in the air before stopping again
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>Nightmare Moon braces herself, then lowers herself onto her stomach
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>Other ponies help you off of her and onto your own shaking hooves
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>In the back of the cabin’s floor, a large ring opens up, bathing the space in white-blue light
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>Sean floats in, as if a unicorn had brought him in from the ground
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>The ring closes, dimming the cabin back to almost-nothing
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>”Sepia?”
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>You know that voice, muffled as it is
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>You turn to the unicorn doctor who’s holding you steady
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>He is wearing a mask and full-body disposable suit, but you know that is Doctor Decon’s preferred outfit
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>You’ve known him long enough to know he’s smiling
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>”Sepia. You’re safe now, Sepia. We’re going home.”
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>You stare at him for a moment, then collapse into him
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>He and several other ponies hold onto you as you begin to cry
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()()()
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>You are Spartan B094
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>The multi-panel door slides shut behind you
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>You pivot to the terminal beside it and navigate through the jury-rigged user interface
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>Checking twice, you make sure the door is locked
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>Only the biometrics of certain people--or ponies--can bypass the lock now
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>It is only then you lean forward and rest your forehead against the purple alien metal
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>You take several, slow, deep breaths
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>In
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>Out
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>You can rest your mind and body for a while, before the next mission comes
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>Even though this is an ex-Covenant ship, you can simply relax
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>This is a feeling you haven't felt in a long time
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>You wait for Nightmare Moon to respond to all of your thoughts and feelings, but she doesn't
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>Right, you're not sharing your body with her anymore
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>You push away from the wall and look at the black alicorn who has walked in with you
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>She stands there in the soft light of the small room
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>You watch her barrel expand and contract with her steady breathing
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>Her eyes are closed and her nebulous mane droops down towards the floor, like a sparkling blue-violet flag that has lost the wind
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>Slowly, she lowers her head and her back sags
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>It is a look of fatigue that you have never seen before
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>Then again, it has been only a couple of weeks since she "gained" this corporeal body
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>This mission was the first real test of her physical strength
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>You take silent steps over to her side
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>Despite being taller than her, her presence has your back tingling
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>You ignore the urge to look over your shoulder and check the far corner
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>Instead you kneel down beside her and lay a gentle hand on the base of her neck
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>She sighs and leans toward you
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>Her wings open with a shudder
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>One brushes soft black feathers against the back of your head
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>You respond by massaging taut muscles up and down her neck
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>She allows it for one long minute, each exhale from her a quiet sigh, before she tells you,
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>"We must confess, we-"
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>She stops herself
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>Ever since she half-possesed you years ago, she had been trying to stop using "The Royal We"
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>Now it is in vulnerable times like these that it slips out
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>"I was jealous of Sepia; seeing you spirit her away in your arms. It is unbecoming of me, yet-"
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>She stops when, gently, you let go of her relaxed neck
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>You stoop down and wrap your arms around her legs, just under her chest and rump, and lift her up without difficulty
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>Despite herself, you hear a small 'eep' catch in her throat
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>You make sure to keep your stride as smooth as possible as you walk over to the king-sized bed
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>Its low wooden frame is a rush job from Canterlot
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>The sheets are new and devoid of color or embroidery, just simple white
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>You turn and sit on the firm mattress, sliding off the flimsy sandals given to you for the improvised showers
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>With a push of your feet, you jump back onto the bed with Nightmare Moon on top of you
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>The both of you kick some more so that you can prop your head onto one of the two pillows
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>A little more shuffling around to straighten out the sheets and you stop
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>Silence
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>Well, not total silence, there is some subsonic humming that may be the alien circuitry behind the walls
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>Peace, that is a better word
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>You have not used it in a long time
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>You almost fall asleep right then and there, but Nightmare Moon whispers,
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>"Peace."
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>The weight on top of you shifts
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>You lift your head up to watch as she twists herself so straddles you
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>Her nose is centimeters from yours
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>Her half-lidded gaze warns that she is close to slumber herself
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>When she speaks, it is less you hearing her and more feeling her throat rumble against your chest
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>"Is this peace?"
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>You breath silently, then answer
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"A moment's peace."
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>And the two of you spend a moment staring at each other
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>"We never knew peace."
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>There she goes again with 'we'
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>Unless she meant-
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>"Luna and I."
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>Your heart aches suddenly
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>She lowers her gaze, remembering the horrible sight the two of you shared
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>You feel her exhale shakily in an effort to keep her composure
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>Her eyes still water up
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>You follow instinct and raise your hands
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>Slowly, you cup her jaw with both hands
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>She closes her eyes and tears run down your hands
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>Without thinking you start stroking your thumbs under her eyes and across her cheeks, feeling her soft black fur
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>As softly as you can, you tell her,
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"We will find her, Moon."
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>She hums, uncertain
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"We /will/ find her. We'll bring her back."
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>Nightmare Moon, her head tilting to one side, replies,
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>"I hope she has found peace. Wherever she may be."
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>She takes a relaxed, deep breath
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>"If she dreams, then I can find her."
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"Like how she did for me for all of those years?"
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>"Yes."
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"Then we better sleep."
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>You continue stroking Moon's cheeks
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>Eventually, she opens her eyes to look at you, one last time
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>An urge strikes you, but you resist
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>Nightmare Moon opens her eyes a bit more, curious
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>You resist a moment longer
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>You have been training each other in your dreams for so long
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>You have been pushing each other, and have become strong together
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>You both trust each other
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>You take the plunge and lift your head up
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>With delicate slowness, you lean forward and kiss her on the tip of her nose
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>It was a quick kiss
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>Chaste
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>You rest back on the pillow and wait
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>Nightmare Moon smiles, then leans forward and kisses you on your forehead
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>Quick, chaste
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>She then shifts back so she can rest her head on your chest
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>Still smiling, she closes her eyes
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>Shortly after you close your eyes too
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>You feel both of your heartbeats slow down as you drift of into a well-earned slumber
by Durr0694
by Durr0694
by Durr0694
by Durr0694
by Durr0694