If you've made it this far, thank you for taking time to read this story. I can't express how grateful I am people actually acknowledge what I've written. I'm far from a professional writer but I've dedicated myself to putting my imagination on paper/text.
And sorry for the deafening silence. I've had this chapter for the longest, but never put it up. I'll try and be more consistent with the chapters I release.
It's been so long, I feel like I've time traveled reading over the last chapter. It's almost nostalgic to remember the insane amount of ideas I had three years ago. It's even crazier that those ideas have never faded or disappeared.
I'm more motivated than ever to write again.
#73
Moon manifested and offered Celestia a dark cloud to land on, intrigued by this face to face conversation. Celestia landed on it with no hesitation, using her magic to convert the cloud into a golden cotton. It received a raised eyebrow from Moon as Celestia made the distance between them uncomfortably narrow.
A glowing confidence radiated from Celestia, leaving Moon to watch on unimpressed.
"I hate the idea of what's going to happen now." Celestia shared, her strict tone shrouded in ambiguity.
Moon hadn't expected something so direct from her, usually it's something a lot more dramatic: a plea, order, or threat. Her head rose slightly and her eyes sharpened.
"You tortured my sister for years with your existence, you attack my ponies, and now I don't even know what's become of my sister…" Celestia said, looking down at the victims of this plague. Moon was unable to respond to Celestia's attitude, she spoke like nothing would deter her from her decision.
It was an unexpected surprise.
"I've come to realize, Luna was right all along." Celestia said glaring at Moon, who seemed to take a slight offense to that, her glare only hardening.
"You shouldn't exist, you never deserved to share a body with my sister! A wretched, parasitic, burden to her soul!"
Moon got a twitch in her eye absorbing Celestia's damning.
K's eyes hanged, drawing his thoughts on the ground, as Celestia's words went through him. Words that were as harsh and honest as hers must hurt to hear, and he couldn't help but agree.
He looked up at Moon taking in the abuse from Celestia who was only a few feet in front of her.
Moon seemed steady in Celestia's presence, not showing signs of being greatly bothered by her words.
"What say you Moon!? What have you got to say in response!?" Celestia demanded an answer with all the spite she had built up. Moon gave Celestia a gentle smirk.
"By the sound of it, nothing should stop what's to come," Moon finally responded, exchanging the smirk to adopt the same level of spite Celestia gave her.
K suddenly appeared next to Celestia, levitating besides her. Moon's eyes wandered to him with the same spite, observing him closely.
K held his composure tightly, knowing well Moon could harm anyone she wanted if she was attacked. He lowered his head slightly as thoughts flooded into his head. The disbelief was making it hard for him to think, all that was left in him was the feeling of betrayal.
"What happened?" He asked in a low voice as his eyes refused meet her. Moon heard him well and suddenly found herself giving more attention than she had planned.
"What I've been waiting for, it should have been obvious," She smirked but only until K finally looked at her. His eyes were scarred with the pained confusion her betrayal had brought him.
K slowly shook his head.
"No, nothing was ever obvious Moon, when should it have been obvious? Tell me."
Moon silently stared at him, wondering where his intentions stood. K returned the look before looking down again in pity, swallowing the thoughts trying to escape through his mouth.
"I thought you and Luna could get along, and I thought you were…was I wrong?"
Moon didn't even spare a second of thought as she answered him directly.
"Very."
K closed his eyes tightly and nodded, agreeing with what she was telling him. He was hurt by that revelation, he had failed Luna and Moon, both.
"Then I messed up." K said his mouth trembling as he uttered it.
"I don't know when or where but somewhere I did; this…was never suppose to happen!"
Celestia looked over at K struggle to hold himself together.
"What about Ben? Did you not consider what he thinks of all this!?" K asked knowing there had to be reaction to that. Moon didn't immediately answer, her eyes looking into her thoughts for a second.
"I've already sacrificed it all, Ben too,"
Both K and Celestia raised their heads at that, each one asking their own questions and finding answers.
"It was true then, you did have feelings towards him," Celestia suddenly stated in even more disgust. She was struggling to hold herself together now as well. The ability to comprehend Moon had been thrown out the window, only creating a flame in Celestia.
"What goal of yours is worth throwing away the only redemption you would have ever had!?"
Moon closed the distance between them a little more.
"You wouldn't understand, just like Luna never did, I've been with her the longest and we're still as distant as can be?"
It was almost a bit alarming to Celestia that Moon had made sense with her remark. She didn't part her eyes from Moon, wondering if those words of hers were a smokescreen to justification for her actions.
Moon smirked suddenly, the easily audible discomfort in her chuckle not being picked up by either K or Celestia.
"Even now, I can see how hard it is for you to even attempt to hear these words of mine, let alone understand. But I've come to terms with it, I've been planning this for so long."
Moon turned to K who was visibly upset, he clenched his fists and his eyes showed conflict. She lost the smirk and neared him herself, his eyes slowly tracking her.
"This was far before you, and unfortunately, you've involved yourself."
K held his silence just like Celestia who was stumped on what to respond with. Moon waited for a response from either of them, almost giving them a count down with her silence. Celestia took in a small amount of air, looking at K and Moon.
Gradually, Celestia began glowing from all her being. Her eyes had an aura of suppressed rage. She was going implode.
"I've made my decision…" Celestia began with a low voice before it agonizingly erupted from her. Her body lighting up in a blaze as bright as day. Moon had finally distanced herself from Celestia and K.
"I don't know how but I'll free us all from this curse your existence brought upon us!"
Moon only returned the glare before feeling the rush of adrenaline.
"You don't know how? DON'T GIVE ME THAT!"
I brought the Princesses' stone closer as Celestia's side began burning slightly and Luna's was getting colder. The blue glowing dimly, the opposite for the red.
The time had neared and I lifted my two fingers to my face before stopping. I looked at my two fingers and at myself in the broken mirror. Teleportation was done through concentration, that was all it was, the fingers only helped with the focusing. It was completely possible to do without. I brought Bloom up to my side and closed my eyes.
I didn't know how to approach Moon, but I knew I couldn't screw around, it was all out now. If Moon had taken Luna over, something must have happened to Luna.
And then there was Moon, who gave off all the warnings in my dreams. Even so, I had a hard time believing this was the plan she had, it seemed too drastic.
Either I'm missing something or I had Moon wrong all along. I'm worried of both.
I brought my other hand ahead of myself and began charging up as much magic as I could conjure, I was going to need it.
Moon held her silence as she closed her eyes for a few seconds, taking in the silence after that eruption from Celestia. She opened her eyes abruptly, fanning out her wings as her horn glowed.
"This won't be like last time, Celestia, let's see what's changed!"
"Plenty." Were Celestia's final words as she as well threw her own magic into the frame. Her body lighting up like the sun, illuminating the dark world.
K squinted his eyes. He thought on what was about to ensue as he tried to keep himself in control. The realization that he would see a tragedy was growing.
There was no doubt Moon would easily overpower Celestia, and in K's mind, he knew he was in for a struggle as well. But if that was so, he had to test it before Celestia. He gave one glance at Celestia before he launched himself at Moon, his hand engulfed in dark magic. He was ready to halt his attack if need be.
What seemed like the perfect surprise attack was immediately turned on him, as he found himself seeing darkness all over.
He floated around in complete darkness, wondering where he had disappeared too before he quickly brought his hand to his head.
K quickly reappeared next to Celestia making her stare at him curiously.
"You're back!"
K looked around as the pitch black was gone, but he was definitely disoriented. He placed a hand on his forehead as he tried to rid the sudden vertigo.
"What the hell was that!?" He asked glaring at Moon who closed off a void-like tear in front of her.
"She opened a portal right in front of you in the blink of an eye, but you came back just as quick," Celestia explained making K take in a deep breath.
"I teleported back,"
K tightened his glare as he quickly charged some magic again. Moon slowly grew annoyed, she knew he was going to be relentless.
Celestia looked at K before she also equipped herself with magic.
"I don't have a plan, Celestia, I thought if I striked her quick enough, she wouldn't have time to react and hurt our friends." K informed Celestia who simply agreed.
"That would make two of us."
K ran his eyes around before he spotted Flash and Hearts both watching from a safe distance. His eyes locked back onto Moon and he reattempted his earlier move.
"THAT AGAIN!?" Celestia asked before she followed behind him using her magic to flare up like an endless supply to light. Blinding everyone who was caught in the light, even Moon.
K quickly used the light to mask the sudden orb of magic he shot out. He backed away just as quick as he let himself land on the ground and tightly sheild his eyes.
Celestia also took the opportunity to lauch her own attack, hurling a beams of light that shot directly at Moon. Celestia quickly landed back on the ground as well, along side K as she quickly killed the light she emitted.
K slowly opened his eyes as the light dwindled and he looked up to the sky where Moon should be. Celestia joined K in looking up at the sky, both simply staring at what was emerging.
Moon appeared grinning uncontrollably as she manifested herself, leaving both K and Celestia in awe. K simply took a defensive stance along side Celestia, who seemed to recognize the magic they were up against.
"What!? You don't want to use your new puppets!?" K yelled making Moon laugh.
"Why don't you keep going and find out?!"
K growled in frustration. Celestia straightened herself out alongside him.
"Even if she does use them, all she does is transfer the pain; she is still vulnerable to the elements. She won't use them if she knows our attacks could be fatal to her, it would be a waste of a spell. And then alicorns can only cast so many spells simultaneously." Celestia let K know in a low voice.
"That so…" K returned the whisper, almost uplifted with that information, as if some shackles had been taken off.
Celestia gave him a nod.
"Making puppets of our friends is one of the many forbidden spells she can use." Celestia mentioned. "The most we can do is exhaust her magic, which she has a great reserve of."
"What about you?" K charged some magic again, bringing both his hands in front of him to create a force more powerful than the last. "Can't you used those spells as well?"
Celestia quickly turned to K before looking back at Moon. She didn't give him an answer.
Moon gave K a feirce glare she as she used her magic to open a rift in the space in front of her. She used her magic to extract something from the tear in space.
"W-what the…" K whispered before widening his eyes at the sight of Moon pulling our a sword, black as the night and pulsating with an evil coat of magic.
She extracted the sword almost like it was already in something or someone. The rift sealed and K was stuck wondering what Moon was going to do with such a weapon.
"Another one…" Celestia said under her breath. K slightly recoiled at the sight. Another forbidden spell?
"That sword, it's coated in a spell, endless nightmares to an already endless slumber." Celestia warned, demonstrating her knowledge of these spells. She wrapped K and herself in a magic that made both glow golden.
"This should ward off spells, fight K and I'll provide you with a defense against these spells."
For the first time since they started attacking Moon, K felt warm. He reinforced his magic with Celestia's making Moon watch closely, giving the sword a twirl with her magic.
K hardened his eyes on her as he sent the orb of sparks straight for her and he followed behind it. Moon opened a portal in front of the magic trying to make it go through, but Celestia quickly opened her own portal in front of hers. Celestia reopened her portal behind Moon quickly making her teleport, only to meet K who had already charged his hand with a new magic. He reached out a hand and managed to make an impact but only before she teleported once more.
She was quicker too.
K frantically searched before the sudden sound of air being sliced appeared behind him. Celestia quickly used her magic to put a trap K in a protective dome. His eyes widened as he quickly turned to see a blade of darkness and Moon for a split second. He quickly reached a hand out toward blade before a sudden light emerged above both of them.
Where Moon and the sword once were was nothing but a rushing streak of magic.
The magic impacted the ground and creating a dome that covered the entire area. Celestia and Hearts teleported away, Hearts bringing Flash with her as the ground of the castle was now destroyed.
Celestia stared from a safe distance as she looked up to the sky at K before looking at all the destruction. The castle's entrance was ruined.
Hearts and Flash both looked up as well at seeing Ben land in the rubble, both terrified and amazed by the destruction.
I clutched Bloom close to my body as I let my hand rest from that attack. I had charged so much it made my hand tremble. I got here just in time, it looked like K was about to be halved.
"You made it just in time!" K yelled landing right next to me making it sound like a miracle. I looked at him and back at the destruction I had created, I actually didn't expect so much of an explosion.
"What did I just hit her with…?"
I couldn't see much, there was so much dust from the broken structure. K quickly sent a charged palm out to the dust, clearing it. Both K and I became frozen for a bit as we observed what the dust had hidden from us.
The mess I had created was now more evident than before, jagged stone and broken architecture all around. I let a hand land on Bloom's head, petting her to calm myself before looking up. Celestia was on the other end of the rubble with Hearts and Flash next to her. They looked terrified.
I kept my eye on them for a few seconds before the rubble suddenly began shifting. My eyes quickly went down as a beam of magic shot up to the sky and Moon emerged breathing heavily, coughing from the dust.
She curiously looked around almost dazed before her eyes found me. We gave each other a stare before Moon's eyes tracked down to my side, at Bloom.
Everyone's eyes also tracked down to my side at Bloom but K, like most, quickly looked away, shaking his head, almost as if he had become dizzy. The only one able to look at her straight was Moon who took a moment to analyze the destruction.
"What did…?" She asked, loud enough for me to hear, before whispering something to herself.
"Did you try to…"
She must've thought I tried to kill her there. It might seem like it, but that would never be the idea. I tried to approach her amongst the rubble, making my way through a bit before she her horn glowed.
"I WARNED YOU NOT TO GET INVOLVED! YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE!"
I leaned away slightly, not trying to find myself at the end of her magic. She was definitely upset, about a lot more than the way I hurled her to the ground. I took my surroundings and held Bloom tightly.
She was the center of all this, Bloom and everyones' suffering were caused by her. This dark new world and Luna's absense, it was all her.
I was trying to hold back a lot of things I was thinking. The act I was putting to hide my anger and frustration was slowly falling apart.
"What have you done…" I slowly eased out, trying to mask the anger in my voice. I knew she didn't hear that, I placed my hand Bloom's head which fortified my thoughts.
"What have you done!?" I yelled out. It was impossible to hold in my frustration, it felt like I would suffocate. I clenched a fist and yelled the strongest I've yelled at someone.
"WHAT HAVE YOU DONE!?"
She wasn't at all moved, she expected this reaction from me.
"Why are wearing that?" K asked from behind me and I felt my eye twitch.
"You have to fix this all right now! I don't want to hurt you but-"
She deviously smiled behind my words. I held my breath for a second but my words broke through.
"But I'll do what I have to!"
Moon didn't make a move, in fact, it seemed like she invited it. She locked eyes with me and I felt an immediate connection.
She gave me an evil grin.
"You are not yourself; you would've attacked Luna if not for K stopping you. I know the thoughts that plagued your mind at that moment, everypony there seemed like the enemy, even your friends."
She spoke of the events before K hid me within him.
It took a great amount of strength to divert my attention from a goal, but she had me wondering how easily I was read. I've been wondering that this entire time as well.
"You are part of the reason Luna became so sickly in your absence. She felt that murderous intent radiate off you as you threatened her, it broke her mind and heart to think that monster you swore off still lingered."
I stared at her in silence as eyes slowly stuck onto me now. If I now knew something, Moon was a master manipulater. She wormed her way into my head. Any anger I had was replaced with this intense feeling of worry.
I couldn't force myself to focus back on her, my head was just suddenly full of questions.
"Luna…what happened to Luna?" I asked looking around at K. He seemed to grow worried, looking at me and Moon equally, almost as if both of us were now suspect to him.
"She became miserable, she was unmotivated and didn't care about anything, not even herself. It almost seemed like she was purposefully killing herself, very slowly." K mentioned through heavy thoughts. My mind quickly raced and my worry became cemented.
"You hurt her, Ben, quite harshly." Moon elaborated, my eyes quickly returning to her. I'd never hurt her by my own will.
"I wouldn't hurt her!" I said but it was a blank statement to her.
"You didn't-" K quickly tried to but in but Moon got ahead.
"And yet you did! You don't realize it but you're prone to hurting anypony, as much as you try to hide it behind this face of loyalty and being a changed human!"
"Moon! Stop with that bullshit!" K warned her.
Was this the first time my loyalty has ever been called out? It had to be because I can't ever recall being as unimaginably enraged in an instant.
"My loyalty is not an act-!"
"You've painted a false image of yourself and played into it, Ben! You're still that monster that cruelly took many lives and abandoned his principles for his own desires!"
I held my breath for a second, my intensity rose dramatically. She was using my past to hurt me, and I could only soak it in.
"Once a monster, always a monster: hide it but it'll always lurk, waiting for that moment of weakness where you have no choice but to become the monster again! It seemed Luna was your lastest victim."
She was calling me a monster.
"You've already hurt Luna, more than anypony ever could. Who else will be next? K, Celestia, Fluttershy, maybe more unknowns?"
My heart felt like it was beating slower than my mind racing with violence. My hands trembled as the urge to attack was becoming overbearing. But if I did, was I just playing into her mind games!?
"I WOULDN'T-
My voice cut off as she glared even harder into my eyes.
"I wouldn't…"
That day, I did try to attack Luna; I lifted my hand in anger against her. Fluttershy looked like an easy target as well, in my head I had "colliding" thoughts.
That couldn't be it, could it? My eyes slowly fell to stare at the broken ground I stood on.
"It'll hurt you, but you were never yourself from the start, I figured it when I analyzed your dreams. What made you act with such a kind act to us all? That is a mystery." She explained before smiling.
"That hatred within you will never die, the trauma won't cease, the nightmares will never end, you're a tragic case of a lost soul looking for redemption he will never find."
She was smiling through it all but I felt every needle she was sticking through my head. Now I definitely felt it, the distant feeling of thoughts trying to reach me but I was too far.
"I wouldn't hurt anyone…"
Every thought in my head was in murmurs, almost like they weren't mine, or for me to hear. It felt like I was dying in my thoughts, was that even possible?
I stood my ground, locking my legs and holding my breath, trying to make sense of these thoughts that made no sense. I wanted to think clearly but it was all blurry.
"You're no longer able to understand the thoughts the false image of you would have, give into who you really are, and it will all be clear."
I had a headache again. The ones I always get when I can't understand something no matter how hard I try. I felt my eyes grow heavy with confusion, it felt like I was going to pass out.
"I already am myself…"
I tried to think clearer but it felt like I being pulled apart. I was losing something, a part of me I didn't want to let go. I closed my eyes tightly and grit my teeth.
My mind was going numb.
K stared in silence, horrified by Moon's ability to break into Ben's head like she did. He turned to her before noticing Celestia on the other side of it all.
Celestia was torn, the damage had already been done to her. It seemed she understood everything Moon had said.
K nervously looked around before looking at Ben standing weakly and breathing quick and heavily, lost in his own mind. He had dropped Bloom in his panic.
He moved around Ben to Bloom and picked her up, putting her to a side. Ben looked like he was on the verge of losing his mind if he stayed locked within his head.
"Moon," K ominously spoke up getting her attention.
"I can only wonder the things you must've told Luna in her weakest moments."
Moon almost seemed to get a rise from hearing K say it.
"Ben is full of regret, apologies that will never be heard, and the desire to be better. And the truth is, those three will lead to the downfall of anypony!" Moon explained, taking pride in the way she knew how to hit Ben where it hurt.
K landed his hands on Ben's shoulder's and firmly gripped them, his eyes piercing through Moon's. An evil intent growing within him.
"You can worm around all you want, I won't let Ben be told who he is and isn't; you want a hate-filled monster…you won't get that out of him."
K's hands glowed as his aura surrounded Ben who was suddenly frozen, his eyes glued to the ground. Moon lifted an eyebrow as Celestia, Hearts and Flash quickly jumped at the magic.
"K, what are you doing!?" Celestia yelled from across and behind Moon. K only gripped tighter, not letting Ben go.
K took a deep breath of air as he quickly flew back, yanking something out of Ben's body through his aura. K absorbed what he stole from Ben before narrowing his eyes at him. Ben glared at the ground completely still, his breathing slowing down.
There was silence from everyone, even Moon as they patiently waited for Ben to do anything. K slowly backed away a few steps.
Ben slowly reanimated, he looked shellshocked and still inside his own head.
His eyes analyzed all around him before locking onto Moon. That shellshock left almost immediately and he straightened his back, his movements incredibly gentle and cautious.
Moon stared at Ben, wondering what K had done. Ben acted like he was getting ready to attack but the confusion in his eyes said otherwise. He even spoke but it was all directed at someone who wasn't even there.
With everyone's attention distracted, K sighed as he closed his eyes and spaced his legs out slightly. He focused as he tried to channel something within him, taking in a gentle breath, one after another.
"I like her…she has a way with words."
Yuson had broken into my head again. The last voice I expected. He added to the uncomfortable factor. I didn't know how but I could feel his gaze burning onto me.
"L-leave! I've got enough to deal with!" I yelled back at him.
K was suddenly distracted, he couldn't help to listen to Ben spout random insults. Had he messed up somewhere?
Moon laughed at hearing Ben's comments, taking them in response to her actions, admiring how well she had burrowed herself into his fragile mind.
Celestia and her party watched on as Ben was only growing more agitated.
Within seconds, I had it with his voice being my new conscious, it would drive me over an edge if I had to acknowledge it again.
He kept going. On and on, he had no end to the taunts he could spout. Threats of never letting me sleep again and burrowing himself ever deeper into my body.
How was I going to do anything!? His voice was overriding everything. I can't fight, argue, or even think!
"I CAN'T THINK! LET ME THINK!"
Yuson laughed within me.
"This is just perfect! Your body and thoughts are mine! The things I could do…"
"I HELPED YOU KILL ATHENA! JUST GIVE ME BACK MY THOUGHTS!" I fell to my knees as I begged him to let me use my own head for once. He actually gave me a brief period of silence.
"And I freed your friends from her entrapment, I'd say where on an even ground,"
His tone had gone back to being serious. I wheezed as I shook my head.
"PLEASE, MY FIGHT ISN'T WITH YOU! I CAN'T TAKE THIS!"
He went dead silent after that. He was silent for so long that I could finally open my eyes and drop my hands from my head. I looked up to see Moon glaring at me with a sudden seriousness on her.
"I have stop her-
"Your weakness is easy to exploit." Yuson cut me off with such a mellow voice compared to the voice he was just using. My mouth trembled to utter anything that would make him irritate me again.
"I know." I simply agreed, slowly getting back on my feet. I suppose he heard what he wanted; he held onto his words for a moment but his gaze remained. Looking up, Moon was also giving me her hardest glare.
I felt Yusons gaze abandon me but his presence remained close.
"For all your mental resilience towards everything, you're insecure about yourself, and everyone knows it, it's the first thing they'll notice when you start talking."
I remained silent, what could he gain from pointing something like that out?
"All you've built towards your new self, was easily taken apart by Moon there, have you bothered to wonder why? Because you've building it on your insecurities, all she had to do target the base."
Now he was making sense too. Not only that, he was definitely giving me a lesson. What he could gain from helping me was next to nothing, so why was he trying anything?
Although, I much rather this than his taunts.
"Your insecurities must be accepted, not mended, for them to become sturdy. Ironically, Moon seems to think accepting them will break you, but you've already built on these insecurities-"
"Meaning accepting it all will only strengthen who I am now." He didn't need to continue, I understood every word he said. But how could it have been him to tell me all this? It almost seemed impossible to think out my next move.
I was going to agree with Yuson.
"Why did you tell me this?" I asked.
He didn't say anything in response but I had the feeling it wasn't for lack of an answer. He held back on giving me a reason-
"If you die here, I believe that would be the end of me as well."
An obvious lie: he'd love nothing more than to drag me to hell with him.
K had fully focused on Ben staring in horror as he realized who he was more than likely speaking to.
Despite his assault on my thoughts, Yuson had thrown me a lifeline. I can't just ignore what Moon is saying, she makes sense as much as I want to be deaf to it. In response, I have to be stronger, and to do that I have to open myself to my past.
Unlike earlier, I didn't feel as overwhelmed by what she had said. It was as if a weight had been taken off my back, not entirely but enough to get me thinking straight.
K had done something to me in that regard. I couldn't say exactly what but the murmers of my thoughts disappeared and my anxiety ceased. The relief of being able to think clearly was alleviating.
What Moon had said about me, it still resonated. There was truth in it. I'm a monster and forever unforgiven, but I let that take my mind over. That self-doubt was heavy, enough to stop me from moving forward.
I thought I had accepted it a while back, that I wouldn't let it bother me, but as of late, and like Moon had said, I haven't been myself.
Now I was believing it too.
My eyes had been stuck on Moon this entire time. She mentioned she had seen something in me, something that revealed that all I had been doing up to now has been nothing but a fake personality.
I know I'm not fake. My loyalty is not fake. The respect I give others is not fake. And anyone telling me otherwise is not able to see me for who I am. Maybe I wasn't honest enough for her? Now is a good time as any for honesty.
My hands clenched into fists and my head was now up straight.
"MOON!" I suddenly yelled. Her head rose up high.
"You're not wrong: about me that is! I can see it! And admit it too…"
Her head slowly tilted over to one side, her eyes narrowing and an arousing anger suddenly growing in her. I fanned out my arms, letting myself be exposed.
"I am a monster, and I can't deny it, and if I do, I'm lying! It's an injustice that I'm still alive!"
"What are you getting at!?" Moon suddenly yelled back, confused by this approach.
"You're also right about Luna. I did hurt her, maybe not physically but emotionally. And that doesn't mean I didn't want to hurt her, because I did, I wanted to hurt everyone there, even Fluttershy."
Off the corner of my eyes I could see the shock in Celestia, Flash, Hearts, and the one right in front of me. Moon was definitely wondering what the hell all this was, and it was obvious.
"I saw red, Moon. I won't look for excuses, and I'll accept any punishment that comes my way!"
I lowered my arms and aimed a finger towards her.
"But don't you ever call my attempts to be better an act. I'd bleed for anyone I care for! All I want is to be better!"
She growled as she closed her eyes tightly, her aura growing more menacing. It seemed I was touching a nerve. It bothered me how such a thing could upset her.
"So I'll accept it Moon, just like you want me to, it might take a while to fully accept but this is just the start!"
I held my silence, wondering how much more enraged she could become on her own. Definitely a lot more. Her magic was almost wanting to pop off on its own, she was getting unstable.
"Does it not bother you!? The permanent scars and stains you've left on the world!? You must be delusional!" She tried to argue back and I could see a point emerging. There was again truth behind her words, it seems there was clear intent on everything she was doing after all.
I gripped the vest I wore, firmly holding it to show her.
"I still carry this guilt that I placed on myself, Moon. I carry all the mistakes and injustices I've done, it does bother me…relentlessly. But-"
The more I spoke, the more I could feel Moon's magic grow immensely, the time to act was just over the horizon. Her eyes cut right through me as I cracked a small and hard smile to pull off.
"It bothers me whenever I look back. My whole time being here, in a world where everything is a fresh start, I've done my best to move forward." I said before laughing to myself and shaking my head.
"But I've constantly looked back. I just figured it's inevitable; It's in my nature to do so."
"And what exactly makes you look back and act like you've done nothing wrong!?"
"It's not what I see looking back, it's what I see ahead of me." I simply said stunning her for a second.
"I can see what the future ahead of me holds, and I want to be a part of that. It motivates me to try to be better!"
"And what if the future doesn't want you!? You're left all alone to rot while others leave you behind! Have you thought of that!?"
My eyes widened at the beam fired at me, my instincts immediately launching my body to the side. K also dodged but it seemed almost like he didn't read it in time, he held his arm as it grew a dark patch from where her magic grazed him. He looked down at his arm and back at Moon with an anger that had been growing before I was even here.
I slowly turned to Moon, trying to remain on neutral grounds.
I didn't hear her anger as much as I heard her concern in that last outburst. There was a shift in her attitude and she was venting something to me. All she was arguing had led up to this final answer I was going to give her. I steadily prepared myself as I wondered what her reaction would be.
"No, I haven't, but I had friends who saw a future and gave it up to keep me going as far as I could go, and it's got me here now!" I explained making her slightly weaken her glare. If she's truly seen my dreams, then she would know who I spoke of.
"I want to be a part of the future and fight for it, but if it were to leave me behind…I'd have to accept it with all the pain it brings me!"
Moon almost panicked at my answer and I quickly reinforced my defensive stance. The thought of not being part of the future with everyone close to me was painful to imagine. My friends who gave me this opportunity to live on made that same decision, but they were far more mature than I was.
I'm always there to put my life on the line to save someone, but that doesn't mean I do it with consideration of others' thoughts or my own. It's an irrational attempt to protect someone, it's only later that I imagine the consequences.
And one of those consequences would be seeing a future where I'm not in it. Did my friends see that future for me without themselves? That selflessness had to come from somewhere. Maybe I couldn't see it because I'm not as mature as they were or maybe I was too afraid to understand genuine sacrifice.
Moon seemed to think to herself for a bit before she lit up the world with the moon's glow, making it just as bright as the day would be. My eyes widened at the sight of Moon unleashing most her aura.
"You don't understand, Ben…" She softly said before she suddenly appeared before me. There was no warning or anything that could give away she was about to teleport. My body jumped at her sudden approach, her horn aimed down at me.
No, I definitely understood something now. That fear that was driving her. The irrational actions and concern in her voice, I've seen and heard it all before.
I wasnt ready for a sudden attack and quickly put out my hands, only feeling the piercing of something go through my body. My eyes widened as I hunched over slightly and placed my hand to my the area above my stomach.
Before I could even think about recovering, I felt the ground below my feet disappear as a dark void opened beneath me. I quickly let out all the air I had held back and allowed the pain to flow through me, seeing the void begin to close above me.
"I won't have you get in my way-
I didn't even let her get her words out as I quickly flew out of the void, a fist meeting the underside of jaw as I narrowly escaped an entrapment in the void. She had been lifted off the ground by the shear force of the uppercut.
I quickly traded my fist for a kick, sending her back into the rubble of the castle. I landed right next to her on the ground, a variety of thoughts rushing through my mind as my hand rose, charged and ready for a potent strike.
She looked up at me from the ground, her eyes narrow in anger and desperation as she charged up her magic against mine.
I should've known it would be hard, seeing her fight back against what I was about to do. I never made contact, instead I joined K, getting away from Moon in the blink of an eye. All I saw was a massive beam of magic shoot out of Moon in the direction I once was. It definitely looked like it would have not made it out of that one.
"What was that!? You were going to hit her first!" K yelled, watching me in disbelief. My eyes glanced once at him and then towards Moon. My shoulder twitched slightly, the idea I didn't go through with it bothering me.
I didn't want to hurt Moon more than I wanted to, I suppose this was always going to be a problem. K seemed to have a problem with it as well.
I charged my magic up, both my hands lighting up with magic. I didn't know what she was capable of but she nearly had K if I hadn't showed up, I wasn't going to go easy. Moon almost seemed to smile as she realized what was about happen, her magic still growing immensely. Just how much could she produce!?
I took in as much air as I could, calming my nerves but the air quickly left my lungs as something emerged from behind. I noticed a massive aura arise over my head, darker than Moon's. My body quickly reacted and turned to face K who had seemed to unleash some impressive aura.
"K!?"
He had nothing but a cold look in his eyes.
"She has them Ben; Chryalis, Flutters, Dash Pinkie, and everyone else. She will use them as shields if she has to. She already has. SO STOP GIVING UP ANY CHANCE YOU HAVE AT TAKING HER DOWN!"
That was news to me. I shifted over to look at Moon once more. My reaction seemed easy to read off my face.
"Hostages…" I asked myself, wondering whether this was another planned or desperate move by Moon. All she has done up to now has been a mystery but with hostages, maybe there was a chance at seeing straight.
"Are you that desperate, Moon!?" I asked, her eyes attaching to my hands suddenly dropping all magic. K was quick to mention why I was backing off but I had no plans of doing so.
Celestia teleported next to K, and Hearts with Flash next to me. It seemed there was about to be a scene, as much as I wanted to avoid it. Celestia called my name from K's side.
"Ben, whatever feelings you've reserved for Moon, forget them and do away with her once and for all! I can already hear the mercy in your voice!"
My face must've expressed all I felt upon hearing that, confusion on top of worry. Moon looked beyond me at Celestia and I slowly turned behind me to look as well.
That tone of voice was not one I expected from her. No, I straight up didn't recognize her. She knew I was well capable of showing no mercy, and by the sounds of it, she's trying to get that out of me.
"Kill her…?" I asked softly, afraid of Moon overhearing.
She glared at me, angered by my confusion. I remained silent as I studied everyone else.
K seemed to almost want the same, his aggression and silence agreeing with Celestia.
Hearts and Flash couldn't agree more with Celestia, both turning towards me, hoping I'd react to the order.
I stared in wonder for a moment before turning back to Moon, my head drowning in even more thoughts. Hearing the calls for violence all around me, it seemed strange and out of place. It's something I expected out of…me, not those around.
It made sense they'd be enraged by what Moon has done, but I don't see her in the same vein as those who I've killed. Yet, everyone around me did.
"Ben!" Celestia called me and not for the first time.
That was not Celestia.
"BEN!"
I took in a deep breath as my hands closed into fists. The growl in her voice, her growing anger was boiling over. I felt her magic grab my shoulder, it felt like someone was digging their fingers into my skin.
"That hurts, Celestia," I warned in a low voice, which wasn't aggressive enough for Celestia.
"I want my sister back, my friends and my ponies…not her,"
My body twitched harshly, and it seemed everyone had noticed this time. I moved away from Celestia's magic and towards Moon. Walking closer to Moon and further to the company now behind me. I braced myself to speed up the time I had.
"What happened, Moon?! If you and Luna didn't get along, then tell me that was the reason for all this! Don't leave me guessing!" I asked, knowing the reception of those behind me wouldn't go down well.
Moon had her eyes locked to mine and through the conflict, I could see there was someone who was losing something.
"When Dash was under that spell, you helped her break free! You were there when Yuson appeared in my dreams, alongside Luna! Both of you worried but still not able to see eye-to-eye!"
She didn't want that information out as seen by her intense glare. Of course, it painted her in a light she never wanted to be seen in.
She threatened me with her magic, charging it up, against what I was hoping for. I shivered a bit at the sudden drop in temperature around me.
"This problem you have, I know it's between you and Luna, but I can't have either of you killing one or the other!" I made my position clear and I could hear the immediate resentment from behind which Moon was easily distracted by. My hand immediately waved in front of her line of sight to get her attention.
"Ignore them and tell me what you want! I'll listen!"
I felt Celestia spawn right next to me, my body becoming tense in anticipation of what was about to be yelled right into my ear.
"Have you looked around yourself, Ben!? You're trying to negotiate with this monster while others are hurt and prone to even more suffering!?"
My eyes moved away from Moon and to Celestia, my response about to be as harsh as it was in my mind. It never left my mouth though. I ended up watching Celestia who was now staring at Moon, confused by her. The sound of nothing but the wind swirling was heard.
Something was said that I didn't hear, I turned to Moon giving us both a deadly stare. That magic she had been charging up having died.
"My problem isn't with Luna, it involves her…"
Celestia was silenced for the time being, I had to take my lead.
"Tell me, what is your problem?" I asked being direct as I could be, trying to get an answer out of her before her mood changes. I took a step in her direction and she looked around cautiously. She was feeling exposed and insecure, and it was preventing her from saying it.
There was still some resistance left in her. I couldn't think of any reason she would hold back at this point apart from it foiling what she truly wants.
She has already failed maintaining her firm grip on us. Hostages and the whole town being turned into hollow creatures, she had us where she wanted us. She may have them still but she won't use them now. She gave it up when we showed up, maybe she saw a way out.
"If all you've done up to now hasn't changed the way I see you, why do you hesitate?" I asked and she met my eyes again. A painful look of confusion being shared.
"Then let me ask," Her eyes seemed to finally grow a diffrent intent, putting me off slightly. I firmed my stance. Those eyes were dark as can be, voids of fear and confusion.
"How do you live with yourself?"
"Myself-?"
I became silent. That question carried a lot of weight, and I think I knew exactly what she was getting at. She wasn't asking that question for my sake.
Knowing that, it made everything I was thinking a lot more disturbing.
Suddenly, staring into her eyes was not a problem. I could feel my face undoing the straight face I had approached her with.
I stood there in silence as my head played that question repeatedly, each time getting louder and closer. All the confusion I had felt was all gone, replaced with sympathy.
This was the question that would shatter everything. I knew it would.
"Living with regrets, being the embodiment of the suffering of many…Moon, I…" I began slowly approaching her, a sickening feeling emerging from within. She was not the first to ponder that question to themselves.
I finally understood something.
"I know what it's like to want to justify the pain. To be the bad guy just to make it all make sense: that should stop the pain, right?" I asked, my throat becoming stiff. I slowly took a step in her direction.
Her eyes widened and she became frozen in place. It seems everything that was said up to now was for something. All those things she said, it seemed all along she's been looking for an answer.
Unfortunately, I knew about the amount of denial I was about to hear.
"I'm so sorry, Moon, but justifying the pain doesn't get rid of it-
"THEN WHAT DOES!?" She yelled through the most spiteful expression she given me yet. She was going break before me, and I don't know how dangerous she would be when she does.
I wasn't pushed away by the aggression. it only pulled me closer. It was obvious she would be agitated by the confusion, I was too and am now. She was hearing me out but only through a miracle.
Back on Earth, the pain and regret existing brought on me was unbearable. Somedays less than others but pushing through was a task. Ironically, it was when I finally got here that it became the most unbearable, but then right after the peak of it all, I felt it all gently fade away, the void of pain was disappearing.
I knew who to thank for that.
I hardened myself and gave the silence a second to linger.
"If you tell me what's been hurting you, I'll tell you." I offered her knowing I was teetering on the edge of her sanity. She stared into my soul with her eyes, trying to find a reason to not trust me. That was one of her problems, not trusting anyone.
She looked around, even at those behind me who were no doubt still spiteful but attentive. They would be a problem.
"Moon, I can see the scars they can't; complete exposed but invisible. I know." I said and this time she looked up to my face. In all our talking, I had made the distance between us nothing but a foot. I didn't tower her by much but she must've felt small, she recoiled slightly and gazed at me.
She seemed stunned at how I had made myself come so close to her. She bowed her head, almost in submission, surprising me.
"I-
The struggle in her voice was clouding my head.
"I…
I held my breath wondering if she was going to actually give in. She shuttered, trembling from the head down.
"I can't live like this…"
I withheld any reaction but my face was weakened. Everything I was fearing seemed about confirmed. I let her words combine with the silence and she slowly lifted her head to look at me.
"I live within this prison that is Luna…bound and unwanted…"
I unclenched my fists, and dropped all my guard. She's finally broken through.
"I'm the parasite…"
My eyes stared intensely as she hunched over. I heard Celestia from behind distance herself slightly, the tapping of her hooves becoming lighter.
"For centuries upon centuries, I've seen the world through a glass prison that no pony could see into! And when I finally come out…"
She looked around and clenched her teeth as she held herself together but just by a thread.
"The world doesn't want me…for I am a monster."
"What made you a monster?" I asked her, gently pushing her with that question. She looked up at me, her eyes showing off an innocence I never expected to ever see.
"When Luna was angered or weak, I was able to come out…I could greatly influence her anger or depression and force myself out…and to remain in control, I needed more of that anger."
It took a moment for my head to understand the severity of Luna's conditions.
"You forced Luna-
"She was already spiteful, I just amplified that anger." She said before depressingly looking down.
"It was because of me that Luna was imprisoned on the Moon. For a thousand years, I watched Luna suffer for what I had done…and for a thousand years, I learned and accepted what I was: a curse."
Celestia, K, Hearts and Flash all slowly crept up, and posted themselves slightly behind me.
"I took so much from Luna and to this day my existence is killing her, she hates herself because of me…"
The way she spoke her thoughts, her souless tone and aimless gaze: she was in shock.
She didn't hate Luna at all…did she?
My breathing accelerated and my heart raced. I couldn't believe it and neither could Celestia who had the courage to step up right next to me.
Our eyes couldn't move away from Moon.
"Luna hasn't failed to remind me daily of what I've done and her desire to rid me from existence…"
Moon smiled for once, a genuine smile which kept us all paralyzed.
"That made two of us." She ended off with.
K stepped up next to me this time, his mouth hanging slightly as his thought process was flipped, his aura dead.
"Was this all an attempt to get us to…kill you…" K asked, his voice trembling. Celestia became lost within her own mind, wondering what to even do.
I figured it out soon enough after she began asking about it. To think she was so troubled. I would've never have known, I always thought Luna was the only one of the two…but it's both.
"She had you in the right mindset to do so, it seems she had a plan going." I said turning to K who turned away, ashamed. I turned to Moon who seemed to be thinking to herself.
"When it all became unbearable for me, there seemed to be only one way out as well. I was alone, I had the will and means to do so." I admited to her and she turned to me, silent for a few seconds.
"I didn't go through with it…I couldn't," I answered before she could ask.
"In my loneliest and darkest hour, there was a hesitation. I don't know where it came from but it gave a few more seconds of time, and within that time I got up and kept moving. And I keep moving to this day."
She found something in that, some sort of support to lean on as she struggled to clear her mind. K placed his hand on his chin in thought.
"Is that why Luna was so ill? In the days leading up to all this?" K asked suddenly making Moon grow anxious. Celestia being attentive to the answer.
"After Ben threatened her, her sorrow grew and I did…what I had to, to take her over."
K hid a frown behind disappointment.
"She was killing herself because of you…" K mentioned, only reinforcing the pain Moon was suffering. Moon seem to murmer some curses as K looked over towards me.
"That's why you refused to answer me when I asked about Luna, in that dream." I mentioned trying not harden that pain.
"You planned to finally end Luna's suffering as well as your own." Celestia came up from our side, she was worried above all else now.
K sighed in a bit frustration as he focused hard on Moon.
"But how exactly would you have killed yourself without taking Luna with you!? You two are bound to one another!"
A bright flash appeared from behind us, causing us all to raise our heads quickly.
"WE'RE HERE!" I heard Twilight's voice emerge as we all quickly turned to find quite the group of ponies. The likes of Twilight, Shining, Cadence, Sting, Jade, and The Queen herself. All the same desire in their eyes to put an end to all this choas.
"We've come to stop you Moon!" Twilight yelled.
Hearts and Flash were the first to quickly jump up and rush towards then demanding they not do anything before Celestia and K followed.
My heart immediately accelerated. There was a pressure building in my chest, someone was emitting an irregular amount of magic, immensely greater than Moon's. Between everyone here, I only imagined one culprit.
I felt her presence spawn next to me, it was hard to not notice the enormity of her power. I let go of the air I was holding in as looked at her standing next to me. I've never felt the Queen's magic be this strong, it didn't feel natural.
That look on her face was no warning, it was a threat. She had all the motivation in the world to destroy Moon where she stood. My words couldn't come out, defying her felt like suicide.
"Moon," The Queen called with a low voice, as intimidating as ever. Moon's face seemed to harden, she expected this from her. The Queen didn't take that look from Moon well.
"Ben,"
My eyes latched onto the Queen, she said my name with the same tone she did with Moon's. Her magic even grew more, forcing my body to recoil slightly. Even Moon suddenly glanced over at me, wondering the same thing I was.
Everyone, even the ponies the Queen came with had been stunned into silence. The magic that the Queen was dealing in was almost impossible to comprehend. How could it still be rising?!
"Do not resist…"
A magic quickly swirled around my body before attaching, preventing me from moving.
"WHAT ARE YOU D-!?" I yelled before I felt magic wrap around my mouth. My eyes attached to the Queen who's glare became unforgiving and evil. She turned to Moon who was no match for her magic, she froze her hooves in place giving her a more mobility than what she gave me.
"My terms are simple Moon, release who you hold as captives, or Ben doesn't live to see the end of this nightmare,"
"WHAT!?" Was the shared response from everyone around, my own thoughts seemed to yell loud enough to be heard. I couldn't get anything but grunts and muffled yells out as Moon looked over at me.
Of every possible outcome I could've imagined, this one never occured to me. Moon seemed to test the Queen's honesty, and the fear settled in me. I panicked and started yelling through the restraints, hoping she'd realize the Queen was not fucking around this time.
"Mother!? Have you lost your mind!? This isn't-! Ben doesn't deserve this!" Celestia yelled, rushing up to her side but only to be teleported next to K and restrained by an extension of the her magic.
"Stay back! All of you!" The Queen made sure they all heard, even stopping K with her glare. She turned back to Moon who had done nothing in regards to her request.
"Moon, you've got one chance left," The Queen warned as I felt my knee snap in the wrong direction. My eyes trembled as they ran down to my leg and there was silence all around. The sound was loud enough to have an echo as the sudden pain rushed straight to my head. I yelled my head off as tried desperately to break free, but it was overwhelming.
"M-MOTHER!?"
Moon flinched at the sudden violent use of the Queen's magic. My yelling wouldn't cease as suddenly my arm rose against my will and stiffened. I whimpered as I felt the pressure build on my elbow, my arm was going to break.
I closed my eyes tightly as I waited for the sound and eruption of pain.
"I GIVE IN! DON'T HURT HIM ANYMORE!" Moon yelled as she suddenly made most of who she had captured appear. Dash, Pinkie, Flutters, Applejack, Rarity, and Chrysalis all suddenly appeared all around us, asleep too.
The Queen quickly teleported them away next to Celestia, and every other pony here. Shining, Candace, and Twilight quickly checking on them with everyone else.
K, Jade, and Sting all stood tensely watching the situation I had been forced into.
My head grew light as I was starting to feel myself fade away. The Queen shook me with her magic, keeping me awake. I lazily met her eyes with mine before she turned to Moon who was looking submissive for once.
"Why would you do that to him!?" Moon suddenly asked, overwhelmed with confusion and outrage. The Queen wasn't moved by her tone, instead reinforcing that look in her eyes.
"He trusted you…" Moon said making the Queen glare harder.
"He trusted you as well, and look at the situation you've put him in. You may apologize to him now if you wish; I will do so as well but-"
The Queen was ruthless and unimaginably powerful. The ability to manipulate anyone she wants to her will, no one to stop her.
I won't forget that.
The Queen turned to me, my eyes looking right into hers.
"-I'm not done with him or you. For my daughter and for the safety of this land…"
Both Moon and I listened anxiously to what sounded like ones final rites being read out. The Queen's horn lit up and the pressure was on.
"…this is the only time I will abuse my power."
I doubt it.