CHAPTER SEVENTEEN: Lies

"Let her reveal herself. He must know the truth."

"This soon? I can tell he still has it."

"Yes."

"But..."

"We've lost, it's too late. Might as well give up, we might as well show him."

"He'll be heart broken."

"I am aware of the consequences."

I had been chasing the mysterious figure for almost an hour, I felt tired. I stopped flying, and sat on the ground.

"Fine!" I yelled out, panting.

"You win this round of cat and mouse!"

I continued to pant, man, I was out of it. I looked up, the mysterious figured had come back and was approaching me. Now that I saw it, it looked... familiar. It was tall.

"What? Are you finally going to face me?" I asked.

The figure cocked it's head to the side and took off it's hat. Revealing a horn, and shook of it's robe, revealing... long... wings. I wasn't too surprised. I jumped up, ready for a fight. The mysterious pony just put up a hoof, beckoning me to stop.

"I've got my eye on you." I said as the figure began to slowly take off it's mask. Under the mask was Luna, this confused me... a lot.

"Wha... what?" I asked, I heard hoof steps behind me, I swirled around, prepared for an assault. Two other alicorns had shown up, they looked like Truth and Reason... a lot like them.

What the hell is going on?

I don't know, but I don't like this.

"Ryan... Dorchester, I think it's time you knew the truth."

I was transported to Princess Celestia's throne room, when she took notice of me and the others, she didn't seem phased at all, but just looked at me sympatheticly.

"It hurts me to say this, Truth, Reason, you must stay."

Those two others were Truth and Reason! If they are them... is the other Luna I am facing... actually Luna? I began to develop a slight headache.

"Whats going on?" I asked nervously.

"The Luna you knew, wasn't truly her... The Luna before you, is the real Luna."

I took a step back in shock, the real Luna looked at me with tears in her eyes.

"Then... who is..." I stammered.

"An exact copy of Luna, they both share the same thoughts." Celestia said.

"We knew you would be heart broken Ryan, but it's the truth." Truth said.

"Find it in your heart to forgive us." Reason spoke.

"Just like in The Banishment... a copy of Luna... yet both are connected..." I whispered to myself.

This isn't happening...

Oh god! I can't believe it!

Celestia walked over to me and tried to put her hoof on my shoulder, I backed away.

"You tricked me... WHAT WAS THE POINT OF ALL THIS?" I began to weep.

"It's hard to explain, but everything around you... was in league." Celestia said, the door opened to reveal everypony I had met, Lance, Spark, Fawn, Greg, David, Peter, Frederic, even Bleak and Starch. All with sorry looks on their faces.

"We knew it was you who turned Richard against me." Frederic said.

"Who broke my guitar, and turned Rarity green." Peter spoke quietly. I had to strain my ears to, wait... what was that?

Dorchester... I have a feeling this is all fake. It's a dream! An illusion! Wake up Dorchester! Wake up!

My eyes blasted open, it was all a dream... I was in Canterlot Castle, on the ground of Princess Celestia's throne room. Everpony stood around me, including Luna and her two foals. I couldn't move.

"What's going on?" I asked.

"You passed out in The Underground." Lance said.

"Don't worry, you'll be fine." Fawn said, looking nervous.

"Frederic... Luna... what happened?" I asked, Frederic looked at me.

"Me and Lance heard screaming, we head down The Underground and saw you on the ground crying, we tried to get you up, but it was no use. Mr. Bleak and Starch came to help us, you had some sort of nightmare."

"How long have I been out?"

"A few hours, everything's fine." Luna said to me reassuringly.

Thank god, I nearly had a heart attack!

Don't you mean WE?

I sighed out in relief.

"You'll be in the hospital wing for a few days to recover. Don't worry, we'll come and visit you!" Frederic said with a nod to Luna and his two foals.

"What happens when I'm out?" I asked.

"Just live your life like you would." Princess Celestia said to me. I was levitated into the air, I looked out of the corner of my eye to see Luna, her horn glowing.

"I want to talk to Ryan for a bit, alone." Luna said, looking down. She transported us into an empty hospital room, she set me down on a recovery bed and put the sheets over my body. The only thing I could move was my lips, and part of my head.

"What really happened?" I said demandingly. Luna looked at me, eyes filled with guilt.

"It wasn't a dream, or an illusion. It was all real... I'm the real Luna."

"Then what about Frederic's foals?" I asked.

"Since we both share the same soul, it was though I actually gave birth to them." Luna looked down again at the ground.

"Look at me." I hissed angrily.

"Tell me what happened."

Luna shuffled her hooves.

"Before the Lunar Events, my fake self went out of control and went searching for something she called a Lost Love, when she found you... she took you... I never knew about you until recently.

"Then where were you all this time?" I said, my breath was taken away.

Luna sighed and looked at me, her eyes red and bloodshot with tears.

"The Moon."

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