The Elements’ glow increased, their radiance burning yet soothing, as they pulled in power from beyond. The magic suffused the ponies wielding them, the vessels raising them in the air. Bringing them together. One point reached to the other, their interconnections giving them strength, making the whole far, far stronger than the one.

The power was there. Raw, undiluted, and pure. Uncontested, terrible, and wonderful.

It existed without guidance.

‘Give me a reason’, it whispered to the subconscious of the six minds in control. ‘Give me a purpose’.

Six pairs of eyes opened as one, their movements identical. They all breathed in sync. They all felt and heard in unison. They all saw the enemy stand in front of them, a mare as black as the darkest night, with fear and unknown weaved into her ethereal mane. A fear that was mirrored into her own eyes, and pleads of mercy on her lips for the unknown was known to her.

But the six minds were not as one. Not entirely. Almost.

Almost would have to be enough.

‘We want her to stop’, said Loyalty.

‘We don’t want her hurt’, spoke Kindness.

‘We want her to no longer be a threat’, cried Honesty.

‘We don’t want to fear her anymore’, pleaded Laughter.

‘We want her to not be able to hurt ponies as she did before’, beseeched Generosity.

‘We want this Nightmare to end’, announced Friendship.

And thus Magic Translated…

I put the last of the cloth-covered dynamite sticks in the backpack just as Luna opens her eyes and gasps, her legs kicking the blankets over her as if they are a net that traps her. I’m at her side instantly, helping her sit and breathe. She didn’t scream. She’s gotten that under control at least. Either that or it wasn’t the moon again.

“Are you alright?” I ask after she has calmed back to normal breathing after catching her breath. “Do you want me to get you some water?”

She shakes her head and leans back to the cot. “No. I’m… I’m fine. It wasn’t that bad.”

“No moon?”

“No. The Elements. Again. Preferable though. Maybe telling Twilight was an unforeseen blessing,” She rubs her eyes with her hoof, and as she pulls it away she notices the backpack on the floor behind me.

“You’re going tonight?” she asks, and she is honestly surprised. Maybe I should have told her, but I kind of wanted it to be a surprise.

“Yep. I figured we could finally take this worry off your head for good. Better to go straight for the source, right?”

Luna half-pushes the covers off her. She doesn’t actually get up though. “I… I should come with you.” She doesn’t want to come in reality. She’s too scared. Too much fear of what will happen and too many memories yet not enough. She isn’t too much certain of what is there anymore either. Not after the moon. Fantasy has been mixed with reality.

And who’s to say whatever’s in that cave won’t remember her in some way or will try to stop her?

“We already agreed I’m on my own,” I remind her, remembering as ever not to show her that I know she doesn’t wish to get anywhere near it. And she knows that. “Magic immunity, remember? Go back to sleep. I’ll be late. I want to make sure I get it all down.”

She obeys and lies back down. She doesn’t go back to sleep though. She just looks at me. She’ll probably stay up worrying until she falls asleep. I pick up the pack on one hand, the hammer on another. Armor is already on—

Almost forgot the helmet. Oops.

“I’ll bring you back a piece. It will make a nice paperweight.”