Stormy and Luna exited the Royal Quarters, the silence seems like almost eternal, when Stormy asked the princess about her nightmares, she instantly has gone quiet, the Stallion opened the door leading towards the Royal Gardens, which connects to the Main Area of the Castle, Luna saw the state of her home right now, the sky was black, not a visible star at the horizon, the ground was sticky and the grass was withered, but no only that, below the dirt, in a hole on the ground, they where able to see a fence, as their only protection from a large and big bottomless pit, Luna by instinct started flapping her wings to keep herself floating, Stormy had to break the silence here, thankfully to them, the radio was not emitting static.
"Princess… what are you doing?" Stormy asked
"Can't you see we are standing on a fence?!" Luna Said, hovering herself
"Princess, there are worst things that worrying about falling to a bottomless pit, I will sound impolite by saying this, but stop flying unless is really necessary, as you can see " Stormy said preparing himself
Stormy started to jump several times on the floor, Luna covered her eyes with her hooves, not wanting to see him make a hole and fall, but the fence was sturdy enough to bear with his height, Luna saw this and calmed herself a little
"Don't scare me like that!" Luna said to her companion
"Sorry princess, but I had to show you" Stormy apologized "the fence is the least of our problems, we have to get out of the Castle" Stormy replied to her
"Do you have an idea of where to go? Or if there is any place that is safe from this….. This…"Luna was trying to find words
"Hell?" stormy interrupted, finding the only word possible to describe their current location
The Princess was right, they didn't have any leads if there was any place safe after what Stormy had encountered so far, but his recent travel on the Archives flashed on his head, he remembered that, when he was about to die, somepony gave him a first aid kit, only available at hospitals, Stormy took the map from Canterlot Capital, Luna looked at it, it had written down big X when the road outside the castle are down.
"I guess I found where to go next" Stormy replied
"Forgive me if I ask, but what are you doing?" Luna asked, seeing Stormy drawing a circle in a specific building.
"When I was on the archives, I was about to die from bleeding, and I lost consciousness, but suddenly I heard somepony give me a First aid Kit" Stormy told the princess his recent experience
"What?, there is somepony else alive?, but you said…" Luna was confused
"I know what I said Luna, but I just know it… and I think it could be my brother… Mistshine"
Stormy last words stroke a fear on his spine, as logic started to kick in, who else but his little bro could have give him the kit?, but why he is here?, what kind of sick torture was this?, his brotherly instincts kicked in, and if his bro was alive, he had to go to the Canterlot Hospital as quickly as possible, he was only hoping the princess will understand, Luna was seeing how this stallion was worrying for his bro
"Here, this is Canterlot Hospital, the best there is, my bro could be here" Stormy said to the princess, his face showed a huge concern
"We must pass the castle to get there, but if this X is on the way, that means I can get there flying" Luna suggested
"No Luna, we cannot go separate ways, that would be a bad idea in this situation" Stormy said "we must exit the castle and then find a way to get to the Hospital"
"Is your brother that important?, why didn't you have gone there, before coming here?" Luna questioned Stormy
Luna question froze Stormy in place… why he didn't have gone to Canterlot Hospital first?, it was not far from the Castle, but until that moment, he never think, that his bro will be on that kind of hell, Stormy could only stand up, storing the map on his saddlebags with his magic.
"Yes… is very important for me" Stormy replied to the princess "that's why I have to find him "
"If that is the case Stormy Brave, I will help you out" Luna said
"Princess…" Stormy said
"is more that clear you won't leave me alone here, and neither will you leave Canterlot without your brother, so either way, we will going to be together in this " Luna said, being a little optimist " perhaps we can even find a way out of this"
The princess words where more that enough to calm Stormy tormented mind a little, but his heart had to contain his joy of having the princess traveling with him, both ponies stand up from the ground and moved towards the inner part of the Castle, when they entered it, the aspect was not much different form the one of the Archives, Luna tried the front door but it was locked, Stormy approached the princess, he tried the Canterlot Castle Gate key as before, but the key turned into ash as soon as stormy tried it on the door.
"What is the meaning of this Stormy?" Luna asked
"I don't know… is the right key, unless…"Stormy replied
"Unless it is protected by a magic spell "Luna said, confirming Stormy thoughts
"Great. Now I lost the key to the exit, because it was not magically protected… I am open to suggestions" Stormy said
"Well… I heard there was a spare key to the castle front doors on the Throne room, and it was magically enchanted by my sister" Luna told Stormy
"Then, let's go and get it "Stormy got ready
Both of them galloped to the Throne Room in the 2F, but this door was also locked, it also required a key, Stormy grew frustrated, but the radio burst into static, by instinct Stormy placed himself in front of Luna, she was wondering where the static sound was coming from, but as she moved a little, a Ceiling filly hopped on her back, Luna screamed as she saw the creature ready to stab her, Stormy moved his steel pipe towards it, shaking it off from Luna's back, the creature throw it's knife towards her, she used her wing to protect herself from damage, but the knife trusted on her wing, she let a painful scream, Stormy raged as he shoot the creature with a magic bullet, the Ceiling filly hit the wall, stormy then beat the living daylight out of the monster with his steel pipe, Luna took a look to her wound, it was not serious, but she will have to avoid flying to high.
"Stormy Brave!, that thing attacked me!, what is this place?" Luna said a little scared "No pony had ever tried to hurt me" she said, finding out the reality of this place
"I know princess, I know" Stormy replied "that's why we need to keep moving, and I have to get my bro out of here, extend your wind Luna" Stormy asked the princess
"Beg your pardon?"
Luna was confused, why he asked her to extend her injured wing?, but right now, she don't want to question him, after all, he is a guard, Luna extended her wing, letting her wound very visible, it was on the base, so extending her wing for long periods of time could be hard from her, she heard a ripping sound, and saw how stormy was using a piece of his own raincoat, as a bandage, she was a little embarrassed, once stormy ended patching her up, he picked up his pipe, the radio was not emitting static.
"Thank you" Luna replied
"Don't mention it Luna" Stormy smiled as he answered "we have to find the Throne room key so we can get the Canterlot Gates spare key
"we can try the great hall where the Grand Galloping Gala was hold" Luna Suggested
Luna suggestion was not bad, before the castle turned into the Twisted version, he forgot to check the Great Hall, both of them moved towards the hall, stormy advised Luna to be prepared to attack, so she took out the Wooden table, it still had a nail, so she can use that for her advantage, when they opened the door, they found out 2 hopping ponies, Luna was scared, she had saw others ponies nightmares or dreams, but in this one, she was more than awake, a hopping pony jumped towards Stormy, he used the spell he learned on the magic scroll on Sinning Armor room, and charged the pipe, the blow was very strong, enough to send the creature across the room, the second creature attacked the princess, she used the wooden table as defense, the creature bit it, and the nail trusted on it's tongue, allowing Luna to counter attack, she swing the table, hitting the creature with the nail end, the creature received the blow, but it was not enough, she then prepared her horn and charged a magical blast, since she is a alicorn and the princess of the night, her magic skill is far more superior that normal unicorns, the creature not only was killed, the corpse was send flying away from a hole on the wall.
"Sweet Celestia!"Stormy exclaimed "What kind of magic spell was that one!?"
"Come on; is just a simple magic bullet spell, but what kind of creatures are these?" Luna said, as she saw the remaining hopping pony corpse
"Whatever they are, I don't want to be near them, come on, let's go Luna" Stormy said
Both of them started search for a key or something, but all they could find was broken glass and damaged instruments, as Luna was searching for the key on the stands and tables, Stormy was searching on the instruments stand, he found out something in the piano, it looked like a page, he read it, it was not a page from the Book of Harmony page, it looked more like a riddle, he looked at the piano, some keys had blood in them, Luna tied open the door that leads toward the Castle Garden, but it was locked, Stormy tried to follow the riddle on the page
"when the silent moon glows with grace, the path to heaven shall become visible" it was written on the page
"Stormy, this door is locked… but" Luna notices something strange on the door "this door don't have any visible lock" she said
"I bet my GameCube that we can unlock the door with this piano" Stormy said, ready to play it
"Wait!, you have a GameCube?!" Luna seems surprised
Stormy noticed that there was some keys on the piano that where not blood stained, he touched the ones without blood, and the piano didn't emit a sound, playing the keys in a specific order was already hard, since the riddle didn't mention any order, they where stuck there for a while, even Luna tried, but the door didn't open, Stormy frustration grew more, so he tried a random order, from right to left, and a soft click was heard, the door had unlocked, but ponies with a relief face, opened the door leading towards the castle gardens.
The gardens have a withered aspect, not only that, but the whole place looked like if it was not cared during 1000 years, Stormy and Luna walked forward, hoping that nothing will jump from the bushes and attack them, they have gone to a some sort of kiosk, it had blood inside of it, and a blood trail leading towards it, Stormy had a bad feeling about it, the forest was so dark that both, his illumination spell and Luna's only manage to let them see where they where going, the radio busted into static, and a monster was coming out of the kiosk… but this was different from the others, this was clearly a mare, they where sure of that, but that creature had scars all over her body, it had no mane or tail, it also didn't had a cutie mark, instead it looked that had the cutie mark taken out from its flank, it was crying blood tears, and had a brownish coat color, besides the scars, it also had like glass lunged into its side, but the hooves muscles where exposed on one of the hind legs and the front legs, on the others, part of the bone could be seen, the mouth seems to be stitched up, preventing the creature to scream, it had a horn and wings, indicating it was a alicorn, but its horn was broken in half, and the wings didn't had a single feather, one of it only had bones, the other had flesh falling from it. It was a pitiful display, Luna nearly jumped from the creature gaze, when it open its eyes, only darkness could be seen, it walked slowly towards Stormy and Luna, Luna fired a magic spell, but the creature seems to dodge it, Stormy attacked with the steel pipe, the creature was hit, making it move to a side, the creature tried to stab Stormy and Luna with its broken horn, Stormy dodge the blow, Luna used her wooden table as shield, making the creature get stuck, Stormy took advantage of this and charged another magic blow, the creature got hit making it get unstuck, stormy magic was running short, the creature jumped to trust its horn on him, Luna intervened, tackling the monster, the creature grew angry and turned around, hitting Luna table with it's sharp bones of its wing, Stormy attacked again with his steel pipe, until the creature no longer moved.
"Thanks Luna, this one I didn't see it before" Stormy replied " nice way to use the wooden table as shield "
"T-thanks…. I learn it from a game" Luna said a little blush appeared on her face " Anyway, if the creature came from that kiosk, maybe the key is in there " Luna affirmed
Stormy when to check the kiosk, as a matter of fact a bloodstained key was on there, next to a green apple, Stormy eat the red apple to recover a little amount of his magic and stored the key, it reads " Castle Dungeons ", so this was the key from the Dungeons, Stormy already wasn't liking the looks of this, Luna knew the castle more that him, so when he showed her the key, she took him to the dungeons entrance, the entrance to the dungeons was, from the Castle Garden, going to the Royal Main Hall, then the Guards Tower, and next to it, is the Armory with the Dungeons entrance, Stormy noticed that Luna did not wanted to proceed.
"Stormy…. Im sorry, but I will not go there" Luna said
"Why?" Stormy questioned "is due to the metallic echo in the Armory you heard earlier?" Stormy remember Luna's words when he came to the castle
"No…is not that… is just…"Luna was having problems in saying her reasons " the dungeons according to my sister are where the most evil and dangerous ponies face their fate, she told me to never go down there, only the guards are allow there "
She was right, even since he was a Lunar guard, he had access to the dungeons, but he never actually had to go down there, most of the time, Noirstar or Shinning Armor takes the ruffians he catch and take it from there, this was actually the first time he had to go to the dungeon, of all the worst places for a twisted castle to visit, this was going to be the worst of all experiences, Luna could enter the Armory with him, but she could not enter the dungeon, both ponies entered the Armory, most of the armors where damaged and rusted, they could not be used as weapons, but there was something to use, it was a rusted but solid steel pipe, around 1 meter long, the same long as Stormy's pipe, but unlike the other pipe, it looked more old, and it had a sharp end, Luna picked up, to use it as weapon, both ponies inspected the area, and there was no metallic echo… it was time to split up, much to the white stallion disapproval.
"I know Luna you won't go to the dungeons, so here is a suggestion, can you wait for me on the main Lobby?" Stormy asked the princess
"I will… but how will I detect the monsters?" Luna questioned
"Hmmm… here" Stormy said as he took out his radio from the saddlebag
"A radio? " Luna took it and stored it on her saddlebags
"it emit static if a monster get closer, I had confirm it, so you can use it to avoid monsters" Stormy said
"Ok… I will contact you if I find something "Luna finishes replying
The Alicorn quickly exited the Armory, seems she was really frightened of the dungeons… perhaps something happen down there?, Stormy also exited the Armory and used the Dungeons key to open the big metallic door. There was a big Staircase that goes down, by the looks of things it was better to use the lantern for now, whatever it was on the dungeon, he was going to use every last drop of magic, as he turned the lantern on with his magic, he picked up with his mouth and continue forward. The place looked really rusted, and most walls had a reddish color, some rocks where still attached to the walls, and metal form them where exposed.
Once he reached the cells from the dungeons, a nasty smell kick In, it was almost the same as the one from the kitchen dishes, but more stronger, most of the cells had the locks destroyed and could not be opened, inside of the cells, seems there was bodies of ponies, most of them showed several wounds, indicating torture by stabbing or electrical shocks, also, there was a old fashioned guillotine, a whip and a butcher's knife?, what kind of dungeon is that one?, there was one cell however that catch Stormy Attention, it was a very big one, one out of 3 empty cells, on the section, it had a plate that reads "Maximum Security - Tyrants against Equestria - ", inside of it a Statue was placed, it was a draconequus statue…the Stallion was already not looking good at that Statue, it had two notes attached
"This is Discord, Spirit of Chaos as Disharmony, due to some problems, we had to place him in the dungeons until further notice, if you need more information, ask the princess Celestia " said one of the notes
"That's a note from Shinning Armor, so he did carried Discord over the castle dungeons meanwhile Celestia put him back on the Royal Garden…. Wait… holds your horses, why she keeps him here?" Stormy questioned Celestia decision "wait, there is another page here "
The other page, reads "Elegy of Chaos" and just by the name of the song, Stormy was not liking it one bit, it was a page from the book of harmony, the song description says that could control other ponies or even create copies of yourself to do different task, including attacking others, but the longer the effect is used, the more the user gets corrupted, it was a double edge song and the amount of magic was huge, Stormy stored it on the book and place them on his saddlebags, there was no way he will be playing that song, he continue searching on the dungeon, there was a passage that leads to another cells block, but it reads " Thieves ", but next to the word it was written " your section " in bloody letters, Stormy swallowed a little scared and walked on the block, most of the cells had the doors busted, but from one, a Ceiling filly hopped on his back, it had the Cyan suit again, the Stallion shake it off, making the creature lose its grip on him, Stormy prepared a magic blast and hit the monster, it took 2 shots to kill it, as Stormy was drawing closer to the end of the hallway, he manage to see 3 cells open, one had a energy drink and what it looks like a drawing, in the drawing, there where 2 sad ponies in front of a grave, could Mistshine have draw this?, he took the drawing on his saddlebags, the other cell contained bandages, so he could treat his wounds or Luna's if need it, and the last one had the Key to the Throne Room, he found the key, what in Equestria was doing there?, as soon as Stormy placed the key on his saddlebags, a loud metallic clack was heard, like when you close a gate really strong, the Stallion turned around, only to find the door to the cell locked, he tried to open it, but it was surrounded by barbed wire, he could not open it, Stormy moved the lantern to see more deeper in the cell, the was a message on a plate, it read " Reserved for - The Thief of The Night " the name of the criminal could not be read, Stormy tried to call Luna with his ocarina, but that is when he noticed… the cell itself was magically enchanted to prevent magic usage, he picked up his steel pipe and place it on his back….
"Trapped like a rat…. I never thought I will see THIS side of the dungeon " Stormy said to himself " oh well… even here, there must be a way out, I just going to have to find it "
Stormy started to search the cell, there was some drawings made on the walls, looked like the fillies, but normal, there was a hole in the wall, not enough big to escape, he tried to see in it, only a big empty space where inside, something shinned on there… the hole was big enough to bear his hoof, so Stormy extended it, and tried to reach a object it was there, once he got it, he quickly pulled it out… his shock was huge when he saw the object… it was a Fluttershy doll…
"Wait… this is Mistshine doll! " Stormy panicked, as he saw on one of the doll hooves Mistshine signature
A metallic echo started to sound, drawing closer to him… Stormy slowly turned around, holding the doll tightly, it was kind of hard to see, but he manage to see a silhouette of a big pony… each step made the metal of the floor sound loud…and its weapon was leaving a bloody trail, Stormy freaked out, it was the Iron Mask Pony, he didn't had anything to defend himself besides his steel pipe, but there was no way he could move or dodge by the narrow cell, as the silhouette raised its weapon, Stormy jumped to the rusty bed, the pony weapon broke the cell door with the wire, Stormy started to scream as the creature grabbed him, and took him out, Stormy closed his eyes, waiting for his ultimate death, when he just felt a slap in his face, as the lantern felt from his mouth, he could see the pony holding him… it was the Princess Luna, much to her disappointed, to see his guard being scared to death
"Stormy, pull yourself together!" The Princess raised her voice
"P-princess?!, what in the name of Equestria are you doing here?" Stormy seems confused that Luna actually had gone down to the dungeon
"You took too long to retrieve the key that I came down here… besides…. I encounter some….unpleasant things" Luna voice sounded quiet at the last part
"You almost gave me a heart attack, I thought you where the Iron Mask Pony…."Stormy replied
"Iron Mask Pony?, what kind of pony is that one?" Luna questioned his companion
" I don't have a idea, as far as I have seen him, he is invulnerable to magic, he doesn't feel any pain, I hit him several times with a pipe and it didn't work, and….." Stormy remembered the pony the iron mask had killed as he was telling Luna it's description" it killed the Archives receptionist"
"….. And he is after you…. Is it not?" Luna understood perfectly
"Yeah… I still don't know why, anyway, I found the key, we better get out" Stormy replied to Luna
"Ok, here, thanks for the radio" said Luna, returning Stormy's radio.
The two ponies returned quickly to the main lobby, on the way there, Luna looked at Discord Statue, like if she was making sure he wasn't going to break free, thank Celestia he didn't, Stormy still was trying to figure out how Luna knew that the Iron Mask Pony was following him, once Stormy and the Princess reached the second floor of the Castle Main Lobby, as Stormy used the key on the door, it opened without any problem, and both ponies entered… The Throne Room looked really dark… the stained glass that told the travels of the Elements of Harmony where covered in blood, and most of them where switched, the one showing Spike victory on the Cristal Empire, was replaced by the little dragon unconscious and King Sombra with the Blood-soaked Crystal heart on his mouth, and the one with the Mane 6 Defeating Discord, was changed… and it was the most perturbing one… it had both, Stormy and Luna in it, behind them was Twilight Sparkle, and Discord floated above while he held some puppet threads, that lead towards the remaining elements of harmony, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Applejack, Even Rainbow Dash showed a grey color, while only Twilight was with color… Luna felt like she was seeing a bad dream
"That glass…. That… is…"Luna could not find words
"That would have happened to Twilight if Celestia haven't send her, the old friendship reports" Stormy answered
"How did you know that?" Luna asked
"Pinkie Pie told me" the stallion replied
"Well done… Stormy…." A voice spoke
Both ponies heard a voice coming from the Throne, Stormy turned off the lamp, store it away and used the illumination spell, on Celestia´s Throne, a Lunar Guard was sitting, it was a white coat guard with a silver and green armor, indicating being high rank, also had a sword with blue moon designs, only reserved for the biggest of the Princess Luna Royal Guard, but what it was more perturbing however, what that he didn't had his helmet on, revealing his horn and Upward mane, a greenish color with some dark cyan in it, it was his friend….and superior officer…. Noirstar, Stormy already knew he was a changeling, but he wanted to believe in his friendship, so Stormy placed himself in front of the princess, Noirstar was sitting on a bloody throne.
"Stormy Brave…. My good buddy… thanks for taking Luna to here, Dismiss" Noirstar ordered
"Sorry buddy, not this time… what happened to Celestia?"
"hmph…. She is around" Noirstar replied
"Really?!, she is alive?" Luna said happily
"Not… when I say around…. "Said Noirstar taking a bloody horn " I mean, literally… around"
Luna covered her hooves, as Stormy just stood there in shock… a quick focus on the parts of the throne made Luna cry to no end…. Her sister wings are on each side of the throne, they still had some flesh and blood, and her armor was used as a decorative item on top of the throne…. Luna's tears turned into anger as she shoot him with a magical blast, much to the princess surprise, Noirstar rejected that magical blast.
As he launched a spell, Stormy used himself as shield to protect her, receiving the blast, he hit the wall, Luna demand him to stop.
"WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS GUARD?! " Luna yelled using her royal Canterlot voice
"Simple your highness, I never was on your side" he replied, crying some tears, tears ignored by the princess
"Princes…. He is a changeling" Stormy told the princess as he was getting up
"A Changeling?!" Luna reacted surprised
"How did you figure it out?" Noirstar asked
"By your journal… I understand why you are confused, your memories of the last 4 months and all you have experienced are way too powerful to ignore" Stormy talked, trying to convince his friend " I don't care if you are a changeling, you are still my friend"
"you are a good pony Stormy… sadly for you… I can't disobey my Queen orders…. Give me Princess Luna, and I will spare your life" Noirstar replied, decided to fight
"you will have to kill me first to hurt the princess, Luna Step back" Stormy demanded Luna
"Are you crazy?!, I will not let you fight alone, he killed my sister!" Luna's words where filled with anger
"I don't have time for this" Noirstar said, charging his horn
Noirstar using his changeling magic created a green fire barrier that prevented Luna to interfere, every magic attack she launched was automatically returned to her, Stormy was alone in this fight, against his friend and superior, Luna could only watch…
"Once you are out of the way, Luna will follow and then my Queen can take Equestria" Noirstar said drawing his sword
"Not if I can help it, what happened to you Noirstar?" Stormy defended himself with the pipe
Being Noirstar his superior, Stormy was in great disadvantage, each time his pipe hit his friend sword, memories of their time together as teammates started to flow in Stormy mind, making it harder for him to attack him, Noirstar on the other hoof, seems that didn't had any problem, he continue to attack Stormy with everything he had, but he was fighting still in his pony form, kind strange for a changeling, to fight another not in his original form, Stormy blocked again
"What's the matter guard?, I though you said you will fight" Noirstar laugh
"I can't fight my friend!" Stormy hesitated to battle
"You still don't get it do you?, I am not your friend!, I am a changeling" Noirstar attacked
"Stormy you must fight!" Luna tried to convince the Stallion
"Luna I can't, he is still my friend!, there must be another way, THERE IS ALWAYS ANOTHER CHOISE!" Stormy screamed
As hard as it sounds, Noirstar took advantage of this opportunity to stab Stormy with his sword on his chest, as Stormy coughed blood, he could see his superior Eyes…they where filled with regret, but only one of them, the other side of his face had already turned into his Changeling form, seems he was trying to contain his own original form… but it was a little too late… as Noirstar draw the sword out of Stormy body, he collapsed on the floor, the green fire ring disappeared, Stormy could not move… Noirstar walked near the Princess, she fired her magic blast as well attacked him with her pipe, Noirstar took the hit, and Luna noticed the same state of his face… one filled with regret and other with hate and bloodlust
"How…. How could you kill my sister?" Luna asked… not fearing the foe in front of her
"Equestria has more love, remember?, the love for you was strong enough to feed me… and Stormy's too…" Noirstar almost felt bad for saying
"He what?" Luna could only look at Stormy body
"never mind that princess… you can ask Celestia later on the other side
Noirstar tried to cut Luna's head, as the Sword almost touched her neck, a white barrier appeared on her, Noirstar not surprised continue to attack telling her, that it wont hold for long, but she told him it was not her barrier, Noirstar locked behind and noticed Stormy again, but there was something strange on him… his horn was emitting magic… Stormy could hear some voices in his mind, a fragment of his past, he remembered himself as a little colt always watching the moon from his window, he could see it for hours on end, he remembered something that her big Sister Sunnybreeze told him, he was still on a black word, where he could only see her.
"You know bro…. when you where born, there was a beautiful full moon on the sky" Said the big mare " and you giggle very cutely when dad showed you the moon"
"for real?, does that mean I can became a Luna Knight?" Said a little colt voice
"yes brother…you will, you maybe even met Luna… that is… if she is still the Princess" Sunnybreeze seems to remember Nightmare Moon old tale
"She is still the princess!, and I will become her knight!" said the little white colt very enthusiastic
"I….I remember now…. Thanks…..Big Sister…" Stormy smiled as he got up… his horn was glowing with a more pure white aura
Stormy slowly got himself up, despise of his wound, the glow on his horn started to flash like a little star… or more precise… Moondust, a very special kind of magic, that only unicorns born under the full moon can perform, that dust started to make stormy to ignore the pain the wound was causing him or even heal him for a short time, his eyes where still white, like if his mind was not on his body, Noirstar noticed the same dust on the shield that protected Luna, Stormy was casting that protective spell, he quickly ran towards him to kill him for good, when Stormy pupils appeared again, he reacted in time enough to dodge the attack, Noirstar was almost joyful that his foe was still alive.
"Moondust…I heard that unicorns capable of that special kind of magic where almost gone" Noirstar stated
"it seems that not… and maybe, that could be the reason I could perform the old songs… is a very old magic… right Luna?" Stormy replied, looking at the princess, he was hopping that she would now something
"Seems you have a few surprises" She stated "yes… that is a old magic, before I was banished it was still In use "Luna replied
"It doesn't matter, you will still die" Noirstar launched to another attack
"Not if I can help it "Stormy replied
This time, Stormy, with still regret in his heart, he knew this time, he would have to attack him, and most likely kill him, he still did not wanted, but will have too, he cant keep the shield barrier up and his healing spell at the same time, since the moon dust consumes too much magic, he attacked Noirstar with every move he knew, his foe, blocked every hit, until Stormy found a opening, he attacked Noirstar legs when he was raising his sword, that was enough to making him lost balance and hit the floor, Stormy then hit him several times with the pipe, Noirstar made a magic repulsion, making the stallion to back away, Stormy noticed the damage on his face… his changeling features started to show, like his wings full of holes and one of his legs, with black color and holes in them, seems the longer the fight, the longer Noirstar was transforming, he launched several magic fireballs to the Throne Room roof and pieces of concrete fall on Stormy, he dodged the failing pieces, Noirstar took advantage of this and he has moved towards Luna, Stormy saw his chance when Noirstar raised his sword to try to break the barrier, Stormy put all his remaining magic on the Spell and the barrier changed to spikes, those spikes stabbed Noirstar on his torso, Stormy quickly moved towards him and hit him with the steel pipe, Noirstar was loosing too much blood, since the barrier that Stormy made, was no longer up, Luna took advantage of the situation and hit also Noirstar with the pipe, the changeling lost his sword, Stormy picked up and quickly give Noirstar one final attack, this time the sword got stained on his blood, making him fall on the floor… a siren was heard of the distance, as Stormy was already starting to loose grip on his Moondust magic… the healing spell did not work fully, so his wound just started to spit blood out of his body, he collapsed on the floor, something that took a while for Luna to notices, since she was only looking at the defeated traitor, once she noticed Stormy, she tried to keep him awake, Noirstar spoke one final time…
"He…. So…. The student beat the master… thank you….Stormy…. and Princess" Noirstar spoke very weakened
"Thanks for what?" Luna replied
"For… stopping me… I can die in peace now….." Those where Noirstar last words
"…" Luna said nothing as she looked again to Stormy "Guard!, get up, there must be something I can do! " Luna was trying to keep Stormy from closing his eyes
"L-Luna" Stormy was trying to say something "Stormy was loosing too much blood to talk
"Please, don't say more… try to stay awake" Luna didn't know what to do
"My…saddlebag…. i…. Luna….. I" Stormy tried Luna something
"Yes?...Stormy?" Luna noticed, that the stallion temperature was starting to drop, and fast
"… I…. always….. " Stormy took with his hooves out his ocarina… but then, he closed his eyes, fainting
"No!, please, for the love of Equestria!, open your eyes!" Those where Luna plea to Stormy to wake up, everything was loosing its twisted version and it was returning to the " normal " version of the castle, but Stormy was just laying there, fainted, Luna was starting to cry, why she was crying for a stallion?, is that he is the only one alive on that hell?, that he gave his live to save hers?, no, it was more than that, Luna was trying her best to stop crying, but she couldn't, she remembered something with Stormy last words, Luna had the skill to see other ponies dreams, and Stormy ones where no exception, she knew what Stormy tried to say to her, as she remember seeing the dreams of a young colt when she was still exiled on the moon, during her exile, those dreams where her only way to see Equestria, and to still keep hope that when she returns back to normal, no pony will fear her, on those dreams, the young colt always was near her when she was needed him, she took interest on this and every week or so, she saw Stormy dreams, how she could be so blind?, each of Stormy dreams where not filled for desires for him only, like rule the word, or being super powerful, instead of that, they where filled with the best of wishes for her, trying to convince that she was still loved in Equestria, once those memories came to her head, she curse for the first time, she cursed her ability to see other ponies dreams, one of the few ponies that knew about her and didn't fear her, even if she was Nightmare Moon, was dying in front of her
"Please!, don't die!, don't leave me alone!, I don't want to be alone again! "
Luna started to cry as she said those words. The ocarina was lying on the floor