My Little Pony: The Human Chronicles

Episode 22: Under Her Moon

It was another calm afternoon in Ponyville and while the rest of the townspeople went about their usual everyday activities, such as walking around, talking, or playing with friends and relatives, or just hanging around a restaurant and or spa. While most of the ponies did those things most of the heroes of Equestria, such as Rarity, Pinkie, Rainbow, Fluttershy, Applejack and Spike were watching their two friends Toby and Twilight having what Toby called a sparring match.

Both exchange little light blows, not meaning to hurt the other but to push the other into making a better move. Toby managed to block most of the hoof jabs that were being thrown at him by Twilight and struck back with some of his one, which Twilight managed to dodge, albeit with some difficultly. But at least she was trying.

"Alright, good work, Twi!" Toby complimented. "In fact, it's been a very productive week."

"Thanks, that means a lot coming from you." Twilight Sparkle smiled gratefully.

Applejack approached the two of them. "Looking good out there, Twi! Pretty soon, you'll be able to wrangle up giant monsters just like the rest of us."

"Uh, one step at a time, okay?" Toby said. "You'll get there soon."

"Speaking of which, how far are you on your whole 'magic training' thing anyway?" Rainbow Dash questioned.

"Haven't done much in a while, been too busy teaching the karate pony here." Toby stated.

"I asked Princess Celestia what to do about it not too long ago." Twilight said.

"And?" Fluttershy asked, curiously.

"She hasn't said anything yet." Twilight replied. "She's been really quiet lately…"

"Maybe she's busy?" Spike shrugged.

"She does control the sun after all." Rarity reminded them.

"Ooh, maybe she's playing hide and seek again!" Pinkie Pie guessed enthusiastically. Everypony gave her a stern look. "Or not…"

"I'm gonna try to arrange a visit with her sometime today. Maybe we'll get somewhere on that." Twilight said.

"Good luck with that. You wouldn't believe what I had to go through the first time I tried to get to Luna." Toby told them. "I'm serious, it's hard enough just to get that pony to return a message."

"Why were you trying to see her anyway?" Spike asked.

"I was hoping she would be able to show me some of Equestria's coolest weapons." Toby replied. Everypony gave him a bit of an odd look. "What? I got to fight with something other than my fists."

Just then, Spike burped out a ball of flame that turned into a scroll and dropped into Toby's hands.

"Huh… for me?" Toby remarked.

"What's it say?" Rainbow inquired.

"Who's it from?" Applejack added.

"It is anything good? Like a party invitation?" Pinkie asked as they all crowded around Toby as he read the letter. "It's from Luna!"

"Princess Luna!?" Everypony exclaimed.

"What is there an echo around here? Toby questioned, in a deadpan tone. "It's odd though… usually she sends letters the old fashioned way…"

"So what's it say, anyway?" Rainbow impatiently asked.

"Chill, I'm reading!" Toby told her as he continued to read the scroll. "Hmm, it says she wants to meet with me at the castle."

"Does it say why?" Twilight inquired.

"Uh… nope, that's it." Toby concluded.

"I wonder what she wants…?" Fluttershy wondered.

"Well I hope she doesn't want to yell at me again…" Toby expressed. "She often does that with me whenever we're together."

"Aw, come on! She doesn't always…" Spike began before Toby gave him a look. "Never mind…"

"Well, what are we waiting for? Let's go see what she wants!" Rainbow Dash stated.

"Actually, it also says I'm suppose to come alone on this one." Toby told them.

"What?" Everypony exclaimed.

"Sorry, Princess' orders and while I'd love it if you guys ignored that and came with me, we all know you guys would never disobey an order from a Princess." Toby said. He turned to Twilight. "Especially since one of those Princess' is your boss."

"But you wouldn't, since you answer to nopony." Twilight Sparkle told him.

Toby nodded. "Pretty much, yeah," he said.

"You know, someday you might end up having to follow somepony's else orders you know." Twilight reminded him.

"Right…" Toby said, unconvinced.

"Well until then, I must be off! See you when I get back." The red head told them. "Oh and Rainbow? You got something there."

Toby pointed to her chest.

"Huh?" The Pegasus asked, before looking down allowing Toby to playfully flick her nose, much to her annoyance and anger

Pinkie giggled at this. "Good one!"

"Well, gotta go! See ya!" Toby waved before he zipped off towards Canterlot, resembling a bright blue and red blur.

Rainbow growled, annoyed as she flew forward a little bit. "Yeah, you better run!" she yelled, hotly as she shook her foreleg in anger.

"Ah, young love…" Rarity sighed.

"I do not 'love' him, I hate him!" Rainbow denied while blushing furiously. "Somewhat anyway…"

"At your age Rainbow, it is the same thing." Rarity informed her.

"Yeah… same thing…" Applejack said, slowly while hiding her own blushing face. The others looked at each other a bit confused but tried not to push the issue.

---

Meanwhile, in Canterlot, the aforementioned Princess of the Night was gazing out the window of her and her sister's castle, looking at her peaceful looking kingdom with a thoughtful look in her eye as a blue blur started to approach. She felt a presence behind her but did not turn around for she knew who it was; Princess Celestia, her elder sister.

"It seems that he has almost arrived," she observed, looking out the window also.

"I am aware." Princess Luna stated. She then began to feel a sharp pain in her head and flashes of somepony appeared in her head.

"Luna? Are you alright?" Princess Celestia asked her, a bit concerned.

"Yes… just… a headache." Luna assured her. "Now… what is it that you wanted to ask me?"

"Are you sure wish you wish to do this?" Celestia questioned.

"What pray tell do you mean?" Luna inquired, with a raised brow.

"Well, we both know that while he is of pure heart and a true friend to Twilight Sparkle and her friends, he can be… difficult to work with at times." Princess Celestia admitted.

"I am fully aware of that too, believe me, nopony knows that better than I." Luna firmly said, as she recalled all the times she and Toby didn't see eye to eye on certain things. "But whether he knows it or not, he needs me, especially with Twilight Sparkle's magic behaving so bizarrely as of late."

"Indeed… I am still searching for the cause but so far I have found nothing…" The sun goddess admitted.

"Well… you'll figure it out soon enough, sister." The princess of the night assured her older sister.

"And do you believe he is ready for the challenge that awaits him?" Celestia asked.

"I would not have called him here if I wasn't." Luna told her. "For you and I know that with proper training Toby Morrison could become a very powerful magical warrior, for even though he is human he has more magical potential than anypony I have ever encountered. Far stronger… than even ours. Makes me wonder if other humans are just as strong…"

"Well… I guess we'll… never know… I suppose." Princess Celestia said, slowly, and distantly.

"Yes, you are probably right." Luna said. "I am going to go greet him."

"Right, of course, please do…" Celestia said, slowly which Luna noticed.

"Everything alright, sister?" Luna inquired. "You seem… distant, and not just today.

"It's nothing." Celestia stated.

"Are you sure?" Luna questioned further.

"I said, it's nothing." Princess Celestia insisted.

"Alright then…" Princess Luna said, not wanting to press the issue anymore. "Till next time then…"

"Yes… farewell." Celestia said, distantly once more. Luna gave her sister one more sad look before leaving the room to go greet Toby.

---

She soon found herself near the front door where Toby was waiting for her, as well as trying as hard as he could to create a reaction from the guards by making silly faces at them, similar to what Rainbow Dash did.

Princess Luna rolled her eyes and proceeded forward. She then cleared her throat to get his attention. "Ahem! Tobias?"

"Oh, hey Luna." Toby said casually. "Check this out."

Toby took out a marker and drew a fancy looking mustache on one of them, much to his amusement.

"Yeah, no matter what you do, they don't move!" Toby remarked before making one more silly noise.

"Yes… it's very amusing…" Luna said. "Listen, I need to have a word with you."

"About what?" Toby asked, with a raised brow.

"Well… I assume that Twilight's magic is still… 'on the fritz,' as it were?" Princess Luna questioned.

"Yeah, she can levitate things and teleport short distances, but she's still unable to advanced spells without something going horribly wrong." Toby replied.

"Then it appears that you are without a magic teacher." Luna observed.

"I guess." Toby shrugged. "I've been so busy training Twilight how to fight that I've kind of forgotten all about it."

"Well, no need to worry about it." Princess Luna told him.

"What do you mean?" Toby inquired.

"Since you have no magical teacher to assist you, respectfully I would like to submit my candidacy." Princess Luna said to him. "If you are interested."

Toby raised both eye brows upon hearing this. "You want to train me?" he questioned.

Princess Luna nodded. "That is right. Is that a problem?"

"No, I'm just surprised because I was kind of under the assumption that you hated me." Toby told her.

"I do not hate you Tobias, we just simple have different ways of handling matters and occasionally have… disagreements." Luna said.

"Especially during the second Discord incident…" Toby pointed out.

"Indeed, but that is the past Tobias and you have grown much since then… mostly." Luna said, slowly while glancing towards the guard with the mustache drawn on his muzzle. Toby rubbed the back of his head and chuckled nervously. "And I believe that with the training I have in mind for you, you could become even more powerful then you already are."

"You mean like… stronger spells?" Toby questioned.

"Correct." Luna nodded.

"Well… in case Twilight didn't tell you… whenever I try to do a hard spell… bad things tend to happen." Toby admitted.

"That's because you cannot control it yet. It controls you and that is why I am here Tobias. That is why I want to train you." The Princess of Night told him. "So, what do you say?"

Toby turned to her. "When do we start?"

Princess Luna smiled, then began to feel a sharp pain inside her head that made her groan loudly.

"Whoa, Luna, are you okay?" he asked.

"Yes… it is just these… headaches I have been receiving…" Princess Luna said. "But it is fine, it is gone now."

"Okay then…" Toby said, slowly.

"Anyways, come. There is much I want to show you before we begin the training." Luna told him as she began to lead him out of the room.

"Show me? Show me what?" Toby inquired.

"If you are truly going to live here for all of time, then you will have to know many of the important facts about our world and the other heroes that lived here all those years ago." Luna explained.

This managed to piqué Toby's curiosity. "Other heroes?"

"Yes, heroes like Starswirl the Bearded, as well as others not many ponies know about." Luna said.

"Cool!" Toby smirked.

"Glad you agree. Now, follow me." Princess Luna told him as she lead him out of the room and out the door.

---

Later, Toby and Luna arrived in what appeared to be a giant cave deep below the mountain that sustained Canterlot.

Dim light filled the underground cavern. A drop of water splashed from the ceiling into one of the dark, quiet pools that littered the cave. The sound of feet and hoofs echoed the roundish cave.

Both the Princess and the Warrior walked down the down the long and dark underground tunnel. Toby looked confused and anxious as they traveled further and further into the darkness.

"What is this place?" he asked Luna

"The grotto, a secret memorial of contemplation and peace that had been there since my sister's and I's first days as Princesses. It became a memorial after Starswirl's passing years ago." The Princess explained, before they entered a smaller and more peaceful looking part of the cave with an actual running fall nearby. "This is where memorials for all of Equestria's greatest heroes go."

Toby took a closer look inside. Aside from the waterfall, there was also stone effigies of several Unicorns, Pegasi, and Earth Ponies including one particular Unicorn who wore a fancy looking hat and had a beard.

"And… these guys?" Toby questioned.

"Heroes, much like yourself." Luna stated as they passed a few on their way in. "The one to the right is Hearth Fire, Air Zen, White Night, Shooting Star, and, the one who started it… Starswirl the Bearded."

Both Toby and Luna look up to the said bearded Unicorn wearing the hat.

"So that's Starswirl, huh?" Toby said, before smirking. "He sure wears a funny hat."

Luna glared at him for this.

"Hey, it's true!" he protested. "But at least they got the bells right."

This earned him a surprised look from Luna.

"Twilight… don't ask… say, how long do we have to look at these?"

"A little while, it would be disrespectful if we left early."

"To who? They're rocks." Toby pointed out. "Plus, who will know?"

Luna shrugged a bit. "Fair point."

They both shared a chuckle.

"So… why is all this here?" Toby asked, as he gazed around. "I mean, it's pretty and all, but like you said, these guys are heroes, down in the line of duty and everything. They should have big statues. Big stinking memorials back in… Canterlot or something."

"Yes, I asked that as well when I returned from my banishment." Luna admitted. "My sister told me Equestria doesn't want or need a public shrine to its fallen. But to me… it appears that she simply doesn't want to advertize that we're not truly immortal."

"Makes sense." Toby said.

"We've almost made one for you, after you… disappeared." Luna confessed. "But the girls, specifically Twilight Sparkle, Rainbow Dash and Fair Applejack were especially insistent that you were still alive so we did not, though the townspeople still made a statue of you in your honor anyways."

"Well… that's nice of them…" Toby mused.

"Twilight, Rainbow and Applejack… you love them don't you?" Luna asked, with a raised brow. Toby's eyes widened at this before he ran over to the falls, took a large drink of water and did a spit take.

"Come again…?" he spat out.

"I've seen the way they look at you, you know, and I've also seen how you look at them." Princess Luna told them.

"What? Oh, no, no, no! We're just friends! Friends! I swear!" Toby protested.

"Whatever helps you sleep at night, dear." The Night Goddess said to him, with a smile.

Toby then saw two alicorn's near the corner of the room. "Say, who are those guys?" he asked.

Luna turned to the effigies with a somber look. "Those… are my parents," she responded. "As you know, Celestia and I were too young to remember them, but we have heard tales about them - what they did, how they lost their lives - but most of Equestria will never know of their sacrifice."

"But you know, and your carrying on your family's traditions right?" Toby inquired.

"Oh how I wish…" Luna confessed. "For my sister, everything came easy for her - raising the sun, ruling a kingdom, everything - it was part of the reason why I was so jealous. She didn't even need a mentor to teach her magic like how our mother was taught, how she teaches Twilight, and how I now teach you, but me… I never even got a chance to meet the stallion who should have been my mentor on how to control the night…"

Toby put on a comforting smile. "Huh… I hear that. You know we have more in common than you think," he told her. "Our lack of parental love for example."

"Hmm, I suppose you are right." Luna commented, before she and Toby then began to experience intense headaches and see images that made them both groan a bit.

"And mind numbing headaches." Toby added. "Anyway… Of course I'm right Since when have I ever been wrong?"

"Well let's see here… pretty much every time you run ahead, try to fight alone and your plan on defeating Discord… which a very bad idea." Luna reminded him.

"Well everything sounds bad when you say it with that attitude." Toby remarked, with an amused smile.

Princess Luna chuckled. "Come, it's time for the real training to begin."

"Great!" Toby said, as they began to make their way out of the grotto. "So… what exactly is the training gonna be?"

"You'll find out…" she assured him before she shrugged off yet another throbbing headache and pressed onward.

---

Later, Toby was standing in the middle of an empty, yet grassy field, looking a bit stumped on what he was supposed to be doing. Far off, Luna was staring him down. She appeared to have something in mind for him.

"So… what are we doing again?" Toby called out.

"It's part of your training." Luna replied.

"And that being?" Toby inquired.

"The one thing you know best; combat." Princess Luna stated. "Only this time, it's going to become… combat sorcery."

"I beg your pardon?" Toby questioned.

"I want you to gather as much magic as you can into your hands…" Luna began.

"And?" The boy asked, raising a brow.

"Fire it at whatever I throw at you." The princess finished.

Toby was a bit taken aback by this. "…What?" he spat out.

Then, suddenly, Luna began to lift up dozens of objects using her magic. Some objects were small and while others were super large boulders, which freaked Toby out a little bit

Luna smiled. "Are you ready?" she called out.

"No…" Toby admitted.

"Too bad." Luna said before she began to throw each of the objects at him one by one at super speed. Toby yelped and quickly got to work on charging up his magical energy into a sphere.

"Come on… come on!" Toby practically pleaded but before he could fire the energy several little objects hit and bounce off his chest and head. He grunted with each hit and even grabbed one of them. It was a rubber deck. "A rubber duck? Really?"

"Too easy?" Luna asked with a sly smile. "Then allow me to make them bigger."

Luna then levitated several large boulders and prepared to throw them. Toby's face fell immediately after this.

"And… this is what immediate regret feels like…" Toby muttered before Luna magically tossed a boulder straight for him. Toby yelped and held out his hands, which immediately blasted it to smithereens as soon as a blue bolt of magical energy was fired from them. Luna smiled, pleased, while Toby looked at his hands, shocked. "Whoa… cool! I did it! I fired a magical blast of energy! That is so cool!"

"Do not get overconfident, boy… I still have plenty more where that one came from." The Princess told him as she prepared to toss the other boulders. "In the words of Twilight Sparkle: 'Look out! Here comes Tom!'!"

Luna promptly threw all the other giant rocks at Toby all at once. The boy yelped as he desperately blasted apart every rock that came his way as quickly as he possibly could until he shrieked when a bunch of them collapsed on him in a pile.

Blue energy glowed from the cracks in the large rock pile until they were all blown away by a magical blue wave of energy caused by Toby's thunderous shouting. They all rained down around him while he panted, exhausted.

"Ok… this is gonna be tougher than I thought…" Toby admitted.

"That, I can guarantee." Princess Luna told him. "Now…"

Before she could continue Princess Luna then began groaning with pain once more. It seemed her headache was back, only much stronger this time.

"Luna? What's happening? What's wrong?" Toby questioned, sounding a bit concerned.

The Princess then opened her now glowing eyes and released a furious and rage filled scream as her horn glowed which forced several rocks together and formed a giant pointed missile.

"Uh… Luna?" Toby asked, a bit nervous. The pointed rock hovered above his prone form as she prepared to aim it at him.

"Luna's… not here!" The princess said as she attempted to impale him with the rock, only for him to put up a large, round, and translucent blue force field around himself, blocking her attack. She pulled the stone back and started to hammer his personal magical bubble over and over again continuously.

"Luna, stop! Please! It's me!" Toby hollered.

Toby's words seemed to strike a chord in Luna as her eyes widen before she shook her head. Her eyes finally stopped glowing then, with a scream of supreme fury, she turned her head away from him. The projectile pivots to point in that direction, away from Toby, and rocketed directly towards the distance. She dropped to her knees with a weary little groan while Toby rushed to her aid.

"Yo, Luna, are you okay?" he asked.

"I… I do not know…" Princess Luna slowly said. "It felt like I was… possessed by something."

"Hmm, I've been getting that feeling lately too…" Toby admitted. "You think it has something to do with the headaches we've been getting?"

"I do not know that either… but we must both be vigilant… or else this might happen again. " Princess Luna stated, having a weary and serious look in her eyes.

"Fine by me. If you hadn't snapped out of it like you did this situation would have ended up worse than losing to Pinkie during our annual 'game night'." Toby said as he remembered back to a few days ago where Toby and Pinkie were throwing darts at a target board and Pinkie had just thrown yet another bullseye at the board while Toby couldn't land a signal hit.

He remembered the moment where Pinkie soundly trounced him and started dancing while he had a shocked expression on his face.

"Whee! I got you! It's my birthday! It's my birthday!" Pinkie sang as she danced around before remembering something important. "Oh! It really is my birthday! I'd better go tell everypony!"

After she zipped off, Toby lowered his head in shame.

He soon snapped out of his reminiscing and found himself at the edge of a cliff along with Luna as they stared down a raging stream below.

"So… what are you doing here again?" Toby asked.

"Survival testing." Princess Luna replied, before smirking. "See you soon…"

She then backed away from the edge of the cliff, a bit leaving Toby a bit stumped by what she had just said.

"Survival test?" Toby echoed before Luna gave him a magical push, sending Toby off the cliff and plummeting to the river below, screaming at the top of his lungs like a little girl all the way. He soon landed in the torrent below.

Toby popped his head up and gasped for air while the waves continued to brush against him constantly.

"Luna! Help!" he yelled.

"Don't worry… just make little circles with your arms and kick very hard." Luna said, with an amused smile.

"Why you… you're lucky I'm down here!" Toby exclaimed, annoyed. "Man… how weak is this? I'm gonna end up on the Equestria 'Wall of Shame' for dying ten minutes after learning under Princess Luna."

He then imagined his picture surrounded by several others with a plaque above them that read 'Wall of Shame'. His friends and Luna were all wiping her tears with tissues.

"I really thought he'd make it…" Luna cried.

Toby quickly ended his fantasy and went back to work on trying to stay alive in the current. He soon found himself being pushed down the torrent at a tremendous speed and didn't look like he was going to slow down at all. Then, he spotted some very nasty looking rapids ahead of him.

"Ooh… that's gonna hurt!" Toby remarked. He then magically charged up his palms and extended them downward. A magical blast from both of them sent him rocketing out of the raging waters and high into the air where he landed on the soft grass above. The red-head couched out some of the water that was in his windpipe as he tried to regain a composure.

"Yep… 'wall of shame' for sure…" The kid mumbled.

He then noticed somepony magically levitating a towel towards him.

"Here you are, Tobias."

Toby glanced up and saw Luna herself. "First… you throw things at me. Then stand there while I almost drown. Now you're offering me a towel!?" he growled.

"Correct." Princess Luna said with a bit of a smile. Toby gratefully took the towel and began drying himself off.

"Man… so much for the royal treatment." Toby muttered to himself quietly.

"Apologizes for the 'tough love', I figured putting you in life threatening situations would be when your ingenuity shines the brightest." Luna explained.

"I do think better when I'm fighting… like how I figured out that our headaches… yours in particular have something to do with this legendary 'Nightmare Moon' I've heard so much about." Toby stated. Luna looks a bit stunned. "Well, am I wrong?"

Princess Luna paused for a long while before she finally spoke. "Yes… I fear that would be the case."

"But I thought Twi and the others destroyed your evil half years ago." Toby pointed out.

"They destroyed her and returned me to normal, yes, but part of Nightmare Moon still exists within me and is getting stronger…" Luna said, solemnly.

"Why didn't you tell anypony? Or Celestia?" Toby questioned.

Luna lowered her head. "I was hoping… I could handle it. But it is becoming far more difficult to do so lately…" she said.

"Difficult?" Toby echoed.

"Yes, and I fear the time may be coming when Nightmare Moon will wreak havoc on the town once more…" Princess Luna told him solemnly.

"But… if that happens, that you'll be sealed up again!" Toby exclaimed.

"Exactly, which is why I have to keep fighting her within my mind." Luna stated.

"Wait… so you've been trying to fight back against her every time she tries to take over right?" Toby inquired.

The Princess of the Night nodded. "Yes."

"And every time you do, she comes back even stronger and tries to take over again, hence the headaches…" Toby mused.

"What are you getting at, boy?" Luna asked him.

"Listen Luna, if things up till now haven't been working… try the opposite." Toby told her.

"The opposite?" Princess Luna echoed, surprised.

'That's right, don't resist her." Toby stated.

"What!?" Luna exclaimed. "Are you mad?"

"Just hear me out. Look, the more your resist, the more she is going to try and fight back against you. You can't fight a cycle like that, ok?" Toby said. "You have to become one with her, understand?"

Princess Luna gasped. "Become one with her…?"

"Yeah, like you said, Nightmare Moon is a part of you. By separating, your only making it worse for the both you." Toby explained. "But if you come together… you'll achieve a new level of power and control. Not to mention… you'll be whole again and the headaches will go away."

"Uh… I am not sure, Tobias… your plan seems… unorthodox." Luna admitted.

"Do you have any better ideas?" Toby inquired.

"Every idea is better than that idea…" The dark pony stated, bluntly. "But since we don't have any other options… it seems that your idea will have to do."

"Gee, thanks. You're such a sweet heart…" Toby said, sounding a bit sarcastic.

"Tobias, I am concerned you are not taking this seriously." Luna told him with a serious tone of her own.

Toby glared at her for this. "You think I don't know? When I go out there and fight monsters I know if I mess up, somepony could die and if we don't keep our dark sides under control... everypony could die," he said.

"That's right." Luna nodded, solemnly.

"To me, that's too much to have on your plate when you know you have to win. I figure... if I treat everything like a big joke... I'll be able to do what I need to do." Toby explained.

"So that is why you are so arrogant at times... because you are scared." Luna realized.

"Standard coping mechanism, I guess." The boy shrugged.

"Well...I also think that your dark side is also fighting back and trying to control you as well, hence your recent headaches." Luna stated.

"So I guess I'll have to accept that part of me as well." The red-headed human shrugged.

"No. You shouldn't merge with your dark half… not yet." Luna told him. "You must find a way to tighten the seal that binds him to the moon that I was sealed in."

"Why?" Toby questioned.

"From what I observed, your evil side might be much more powerful than my own and if you were to merge with yours… you may become more powerful than you have ever been." Princess Luna explained.

"But let me guess… there's a downside to that." Toby guessed.

"Well… yes… because that dark side is so strong… there is a danger that if you do merge with it, you may become corrupted by the darkness and your awesome power as well." Luna continued. "Power does corrupt after all."

"And absolute power… corrupts entirely…" Toby finished with a serious tone.

"Correct." Luna nodded.

"Man… bummer." Toby said, before his tone changing to a more positive one. "Oh well, let's just focus on getting you better. Alright?"

"Very well… but I think I know of a way to make us both well again." Luna stated.

"Care to explain?" Toby inquired.

"Just follow me and I will explain when we arrive." Princess Luna stated as she began to walk away, looking like a pony on a mission, which technically she was. She turned to Toby, looking impatient. "Come along now, it is not polite to keep your teacher waiting."

Toby sighed. "Okay… this girl is out of control…" he muttered as he jogged after her. They were soon back on their way to Canterlot.

---

Princess Luna, followed by Toby, magically forced two large doors open as they entered the dark room. The appearance of the room proved beyond any doubt that Luna's tastes were about as dark as they come - shelves filled with old books, tragedy and comedy masks were set on a pedestal, oddly shaped mirror on the wall, chalices and braziers, ancient chests and lamps, a bed partly recessed into the far wall, a large globe in the near corner - he entire place was done in shades of midnight blue, gray and black. There was also a picture of the moon near the top of the room, unlit candles around them, and bottles of sand nearby.

"Welcome to my personal study, Tobias." The princess said. Candles lit themselves right after the door opened and she stands in the middle of the room, surveying the area.

Toby looked around the dark room. "Man… what is it with you and dark things?"

"I am the Princess of the Night. What did you expect?" Luna questioned, flatly.

"Touché." Toby admitted. "So when do we start?"

"We just did." Princess Luna said. She raised her horn, let it glow, and then caused two flasks filled with sand, which were both set on a nearby bookshelf, to pop their corks and float over to her. The contents poured out in a circle. Candles then arranged themselves around the ring.

"Now… with this spell I should be able to create a portal within my own mind and enter it. That way I will be able to confront my inner demon face to face." Princess Luna stated.

"Great!" Toby said, smiling.

"Unfortunately… there is but one small set back to it…" she continued.

Toby's face then fell. "Great. What's the cost?"

"While I enter my mind I will be connected to every mind in Equestria." The princess said.

"Don't you usually do that when you come into other pony's dreams?" Toby questioned. "Which, by the way, is kinda creepy. No offense."

"None taken. And while it is similar to that, the main difference is that my connection will be doubled, I will be able to enter their minds, even when ponies are wide wake, as well as gain all their memories and thoughts and that is a problem." Princess Luna said.

"Why?" The human inquired.

"It's a problem because all those connections might in fact overwhelm me and having all their memories poured into me might be too much…" Luna replied, solemnly.

"If that's the case then uh… are you sure you want to do it?" Toby asked, concerned. "I mean you… you sure you know what you're doing?"

"Worried about me?" Princess Luna questioned with a small smile. "I'm touched. Do not worry, I shall be fine, besides… I have to do this, to protect my sister, my friends, and all of Equestria."

"Ditto." Toby nodded. "Just promise me you won't go into my brain. My brain is not a nice place to be sometimes."

"No need. Your mind is the only one I cannot enter, due to you being human. That is why I can never enter your dreams when you sleep at night." Luna explained.

"Ah, that makes sense." Toby said. "Just watch yourself out there."

"And you as well. Oh and just a suggestion, but do you think you are able to make solid magical constructs with your mind?" Luna questioned.

"I can do that?" Toby asked, surprised.

"Yes, you can. That is how you are going to tighten the seal on your evil half." Luna told him. "Just concentrate, is that understood?

Toby gave her a two finger wave and a nod.

"Good. Now go… and do your best."

"Right." Toby nodded before Princess Luna fired a beam of magic at him that turned him into a ball of light that zoomed upwards through the sky and towards the moon.

"Excellent and now that that's done…" The Princess of the Night began before she started to get to work.

Luna closed her eyes and concentrated as her horn started glowing. During said process, flecks of bluish light began to pop from the ring of sand and form into a cylindrical barrier that reached all the way to the ceiling

Luna then opened her eyes, which now glowed a brilliant white, and a newly opened, swirling vortex appeared over her head. A few loose scraps of paper then flew past as Luna was pulled up into the portal with her eyes closed again and, with a blinding flash the sheet of light, disintegrated into flickering shreds at the floor and ceiling before the portal sealed itself.

---

When Luna finally reopened her eyes, she found herself in an entirely different place. It appeared to be outer space, except this version of outer space was filled with red stars and a few large asteroids, as well as a giant moon. She gazed around thoughtfully and saw that she was one of the giant asteroids as well.

"Hmm, very interesting…" Luna remarked. "So this is the form my mind takes… now where is…"

A malicious laugh was then heard from afar, catching Luna's attention. Something big and with wings then dropped from behind her on a asteroid close by and from the look on Luna's face she knew exactly who and what it was.

She then turned around to face the shadowy being. "You…" Luna said, venomously.

The shadowy figure then revealed herself to be the tall, black coated, translucent blue maned and evil version of herself, also known as Nightmare Moon.

"Hello Luna, pleased to see me again?" Nightmare Moon questioned.

"No. Not especially." Luna stated, firmly.

"Well I hate to be the bearer of bad news but coming here was the mistake of your life." Nightmare Moon evilly told her, eyes flashed brightly. Black ravens then began to gather around them. The asteroids cleared out and then moon went dark "You knew better than to come here, little pony. Did you not learn anything from our last encounter?"

"Oh I have learned Nightmare Moon." Luna said, firmly before gazing around. "And it seems my new student was right… the more I resist you, the stronger you get."

"Correct! And soon I will be strong enough to take your mind, body, and soul… permanently." Nightmare Moon informed her.

"Sorry to disappoint you, but I will not let that happen." Luna stated. "And you are going back where you belong!"

"Never!" Nightmare Moon hissed as she charged up her horn for an attack. Luna did also and pretty soon, the two parts of Luna were battling it out once more.

---

Meanwhile, Toby was just waking up after being sent to the moon. Toby stirred from after what happened to him, until she gasped awake, "Princess, Wha…?" But then he realized he was completely alone. "Where am… oh."

Toby saw that the ground he was on was rocky, dusty, and full of little craters and, just above him was a watery, green-and-blue blue planet similar to Earth, but he knew that it was Equestria. This only meant one thing…

"I'm on the moon…" Toby said to himself, a bit stunned.

"Good guess."

The new voice alerted the human that he wasn't as alone as anyone thought. Hee whipped around, as somepony strode from the darkness and entered the soft light area of the moon. That person stood on a tall rock in front of Toby. Safe to say, Toby was stunned to see who it was. It was is evil half; Anti-Toby.

Anti-Toby looked about the same age as he was now, but still had red eyes and wore an inverse of Toby's clothing, which consisted of a puffy black sleeveless vest over a long sleeved pale red shirt, baggy gray pants with pockets near the end, and white running shoes. He also wore his blue and red cap.

Toby then went from stunned to angry. "Anti-Me!"

Anti-Toby smiled evilly. "Nice to see you have not lost your talent for stating the obvious," he said. "I was afraid I had been forgotten. You know I spent almost four years on this dusty rock after you made Princess Luna send me here and left me to rot!"

"You did that to yourself!" Toby retorted.

"Oh, don't be so dramatic, Tobias." Anti-Toby said. "Now why don't you just rejoin with me? We both need each other. We were meant to be one, ruling the world together. With our combined might, we will remake this world! You can never be whole without me!"

His evil counterpart held out his hand. "Join me," he said.

"Oh, give me a break!" Toby exclaimed, making Anti-Toby gasp. "You're nothing but a pale imitation of me!"

Anti-Toby growled, frustrated.

"Besides, you're too late, I'm already whole!" Toby told him. "By bonding with Luna and my friends I'm complete and I know just what will happen if I rejoin with the likes of you!"

"Sounds like someone's been doing their homework, given to them by Princess Luna." Anti-Toby stated. Toby was a bit surprised by his knowledge. "Oh, don't act so surprised, I have a all your memories, remember? After all… I am you!"

"No! You're not me!" Toby denied.

"Yes! I am you, and don't you forget it. In fact, I'm more you than you will ever admit." Anti-Toby pointed out, as he smirked evilly. He jumped down off the rock and walked towards Toby. "I am every bad emotion that boiled within you and I will teach you to be ruthless Toby, even if I have to beat that lesson into your skull!"

Anti-Toby lunged for the good Toby as they prepared to fight.

---

At the same time, Luna was still battling her evil self from within in her mind. At the moment, the Princess of the Night had put up a shield around herself to protect herself.

"Give it up, little foal! You cannot protect yourself from me forever!" Nightmare Moon bellowed.

"This battle is pointless. You sought to take me over before I knew what you were planning to do… but you are too late." Princess Luna stated.

"Silence, you brat!" Nightmare Moon yelled as she magically tried to crush Luna by slamming two rocks into her but Luna flew up and dodged them both.

"Witch!" Luna hissed as she fired a magic beam at Nightmare Moon, but she teleported away, dodged it, and reappeared behind her before blasting her with her magical lightning. Luna screamed before crashing into the ground.

Nightmare Moon landed back on the ground to gloat. "Ha! You really are a little foal, and you always will be."

"I am not so little anymore!" Luna growled, sounding absolutely fed up. She fired a monstrous magical beam and did not miss. The big, bad alicorn ended up flat on her back, then looked up, only to find Luna flying straight for her. She then copied her and they both collided.

Meanwhile, Toby was engaged in a fist fight with his double. Toby lunged a fist forward, but Anti-Toby grabbed it and punched him upside the jaw. He then attempted to give his evil half a left cross but Anti-Toby punched him in the gut and then in the side of the face before kicking him back.

"Ha! Like I told you before, I have all your moves but none of the sap!" Anti-Toby told him.

"Yeah? Well at least I have something worth living for!" Toby countered as he revealed his wing and flew straight for Ant-Toby. His evil counterpart then revealed his black and red devil wings but before he could do anything, Toby slammed him into a rock.

---

Elsewhere, Nightmare Moon was rapidly and magically tossing little bits of pebbles at Luna, which she tried to block with her shield, but it soon ended up breaking and knocking her back then Nightmare Moon then magically lifted her upward before slamming her into the ground again.

"You're out of practice, Luna!" Nightmare Moon said. "And besides… I always was the better fighter."

Luna then surprised Nightmare Moon by getting back up. "Not anymore!" she said, fiercely. She then lowered her head. "But it seems… I have little choice."

Nightmare Moon cackled, "AAHAHAHAHAHAHA! I knew you would come around."

Then Luna stood relaxed, almost meditating as her horn began to glow with magic. Suddenly, the area around them began to blow winds towards Luna. It was almost as if Luna was becoming a living vacuum, sucking everything within her. Nightmare Moon couldn't understand what was going on, but then felt herself being drawn to the vacuum.

"Wait! What are you doing!" Nightmare Moon shouted out, confused as to what was going on.

"Tobias told me that one should not try to banish or kill the darkness within us," Luna explained. "He explained that being evil is a choice; a choice I choose never to make again."

"Then you'll have to kill me then." Nightmare Moon cried out.

"No. I choose not to kill you. Killing you will only mean that I must die myself," Luna explained what she was doing. "Tobias explained that even though we cannot kill the evil within us, we can recognize it, control it, and channel its energy." Her eyes then opened, as they glowed white, "Which is why… I am taking you back."

Nightmare Moon tried her best to fight off the vacuum, but it was becoming much stronger. And as it did, Nightmare realized she was losing this. As the vacuum became stronger, Nightmare Moon screamed out, "NOOOOOOOOOO!" and was pulled directly towards Princess Luna. Her body disintegrated into a bolt of energy.

Nightmare Moon's energy body flew directly toward Luna. And once they made contact, the energy bolt crackled into Luna's body, making her gasp sharply and throwing her into an unbearable rictus. Once Nightmare fully merged with Luna, the white light shrunk into her, and exploded, illuminating the area all around her.

One final flash left the area filled with smoke, which cleared to show only the Princess standing on a rock and bowed as if she has just taken the beating of a lifetime. As she straightened up, a peaceful smile appeared on her face, indicating that she was in control.

"Didn't suck," she remarked.

---

At the same, Toby was still running around the moon and trading shots with his opposite. Anti-Toby threw a bolt at a rock he stood on and just missed Toby, who just flew upward. The rock received a big hole blown through it. Toby then performed a U-turn and swooped down on him with magical bolts blazing. Anti-Toby then started running down the moon, Toby does likewise, and they run on these parallel paths and trade shots. The firefight continued for about several dozen yards until Anti-Toby gets in a lucky hit that knocked him back.

"Ha! You really think you can beat me! I've faced every monster you have, remember? So beating my stupid good twin should be no trouble!" Anti-Toby said, smugly.

Toby then got up. "Yeah? Well you've never trained with the likes of Princess Luna!" he boasted as his eyes glowed, which surprised. "Nor have you learned how to do this!"

Bluish-white energy appeared around Toby's palms as his eyes glowed the same color. Electrical blue magical aura emitted from his hands, then quickly took the form of a golf club, made up of pure magical energy. He pulled it up and, before his double could make a move Toby smacked him hard with it and sent him flying far to the right only to be knocked back to left thanks to an energy construct bat Toby created and swung at him.

Toby then super speeded over and kicked his clone upward before zipping up and smacking him down to the ground hard and fast, thanks to his giant fist. Anti-Toby left a huge crater in the ground after he hit it. He groaned as he got up and Toby hovered above him.

The good Toby then created a large amount of magical energy chains, which float over and encircle his evil half from his shoulders to his waist then bound themselves tightly to the ground thanks to several energy nails bolting them down.

"Game over." Toby said, firmly.

Anti-Toby scowled. "Chains? You're funny. But you know that this won't keep me bound forever!" he told him.

"Maybe. It should keep you still for a long time." Toby retorted. "And that I don't mind happening. Ta-ta!"

Toby then began to walk away from his evil half.

"Hey! Get back here! You can't leave me here like this! You need me!" Anti-Toby hollered. "One day… there will come a time when you will have choice… but to join with me in order to gain more power… and win."

Toby gave Anti-Toby a scowl. "We shall see," he said before he disappeared.

---

Later, back in Equestria, a swirling vortex appeared in Luna's study and dropped the two of them off, back where they started.

Luna turned to him. "Tobias! Are you alright?" she asked.

"Yeah… I'm good." Toby confirmed, dusting himself off. "You?"

"Also… good." Luna smiled.

"Good to know." Toby smiled back. "By the way, I tried that magical energy construct idea you mentioned and if I must say…"

"You must…" Luna rolled her eyes slightly.

"It worked perfectly!" Toby smiled, before a suddenly jolt of pain surged through his body causing him to cry out in pain and hold his side as magical electricity crackled around him. Princess Luna rushed to him.

"Tobias! Are you alright?" she asked concerned.

"Yeah… but I feel like every muscle in my body has been torn." Toby groaned. "I'm thinking it's because of those constructs I created…"

"It would seem using those constructs is more dangerous than we had previously thought." Princess Luna observed. "I would advise you as your teacher not to use them too much, is that not clear?"

"Crystal…" Toby nodded.

"Hold on, I will use a healing spell." Luna said as she began to concentrate on healing his body. "Again I apologize for all the 'tough love' I have given you… I'm afraid I am not like my sister when it comes to teaching."

"Ah, it's cool… and don't worry, you're just as good a teacher as she is, plus… you're my friend." Toby smiled her. She smiled back and nuzzled him affectionately. As she continued healing him somepony with a horn watched them from the shadows with eerily yellow eyes.

---

Later, Luna was back in her sister's throne room, looking through the window with her older sister as they watched the human leave.

"So… how did the training go?" Princess Celestia asked her.

"Very good. He may be young and rough around the edges… but he's had great potential and is progressing very nicely." Princess Luna stated.

"Excellent and I'm glad you were finally able to conquer your own personal demons, little sister." Princess Celestia smiled.

"As am I." Luna smiled also. Her smile slowly faded though. "However… when I entered the realm of my mind, I was connected to every mind in Equestria… including yours."

This information made Celestia's eyes widen a bit.

"In your mind I saw something… hidden… and it was about Toby." The Princess of the Night told her older sister. "Sister… you know something about him that you haven't told me yet have you?"

Celestia paused before sighing deeply and answering. "Yes… sister, I have," she confirmed. "But understand that he can never know…"

Luna looked at her sister seriously. "He's not a boy anymore, Celestia."

"Please, you have to understand… if he knew this information… it could end up destroying everything he knows about himself… forever." Celestia said, solemnly. This made Luna gulp and turn to the windows where she continued to watch Toby leave the castle and then lowered her head sadly.