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Note to self: Next time you pull something like that, make sure you land on something softer than stone.
I get to my feet, bruised and battered, but otherwise unhurt. I'm soaked by rain, and freezing cold, but I ignore the discomfort.
I've gotta help them... I have to get back there!
I run through the castle, speeding past side room after side room until I get to the balcony. I jump, catching on to the ledge and pulling myself up just in time to duck as a figure flies right over my head.
Startled, I let go and drop down to the balcony. I stand, looking at the poor person who got flung off the roof.
Nightmare Moon lies in the courtyard of the castle, even more bruised and battered than I am.
A bright light emanates from the roof. I climb up the balcony again, this time circling around to the side of the roof before I climb all the way onto it.
Octavia stands there, white fire streaming from her eyes, her body surrounded with a blinding white light.
What happened to her! How'd she get like-
I remember exactly what had happened.
This is all because of me, isn't it?
As I watch, Octavia creates a bow of light and holds out her hand. The white aura swirling around her shoots off a little tendril that forms into a white arrow, which she then nocks, turning to face the courtyard. The arrow grows brighter, filled with raw energy. Screaming with rage, she lets go, sending the arrow flying straight at Nightmare Moon.
Celestia appears, almost as if out of nowhere, and catches the arrow as if it was standing still.
"Octavia, listen! She may have killed Vinyl, but that is still my sister down there, and I will not lose her again!"
The white aura around Octavia flickers, swirling slower and slower.
"Please, calm down before you end up doing something everyone here will regret!"
The white aura slowly fades as Octavia lowers her head.
She turns and jumps down to the balcony, running into the castle. I can hear her sob as she fades from view.
I turn my attention back to Celestia as she confronts her sister. She extends an arm and a box of light appears, trapping Nightmare Moon. She tries to escape, but when she touches the box, electricity courses through her, knocking her back.
"Give up, Nightmare Moon. We have you outnumbered and outmatched." Celestia says.
"I may be outnumbered, but outmatched? Don't make me laugh! These Pathetic excuses for Element bearers have only managed to get themselves killed. Besides, you won't be able to banish me now. You have no Shadow, and good luck getting Light to fight against me now! Vinyl Scratch is dead, and as such, you can do nothing against me!"
I jump down to the balcony and run after Octavia, a grimace on my face.
Once I get Tavi back, you'll see exactly how much we can do to you, Nightmare Moon...
My mind flashes to the figure from my dreams; the white eyes, the laughing...
I concentrate, and I am standing in the forest, behind a tree.
This must be where she landed.
A glint of blue catches my eye, and I see The Needle stuck almost to the hilt in the ground. I dislodge it and hold it up, the rain washing away the dirt.
I concentrate, and I am in my room.
I go to the table by the door and pick up my shades from where I'd left them when I couldn't find Luna.
Soon you'll see just how 'dead' I am!
I create a clone, who immediately goes off to look for Tavi as I search the other end of the castle. I listen through my clone's ears until I hear sobbing coming from a side room.
I switch places with my clone, instantly where she was standing; a move that requires no concentration whatsoever, and enter the room.
I hear a sound in the corridor behind me, and quickly meld into the shadows as Time Turner enters the room.
"Octavia, come quick! The princess needs you! She's got Nightmare Moon trapped, but it won't hold long so you need to come wi-"
"Leave me alone!" Octavia yells, pushing him away. "What use is there now that... now that..."
"We can still try, Octavia. Come on!"
"I said no. Now leave me alone! It's no use fighting any more."
"Octavia, you have to understand-"
"You're one to talk! You don't understand! You didn't know her like I did! You didn't promise! You didn't let anyone down!"
Octavia starts crying again.
"You didn't have a sister."
Time Turner's face softens, and he wraps Octavia in a hug that makes her stiffen.
"You're right. I don't understand, and I'm sorry. I am so, so sorry."
He lets go and takes a step back.
"But I do understand this: Vinyl would want us to fight, even after her death. If it had been you that'd died, do you think she'd have hesitated before jumping back in to help take out your killer? The fact of the matter is we need you, Octavia. We need you to be strong. To help fight."
There is a long pause.
"I'm not going to force you to come, Tavi. But know tha-"
Octavia starts crying again, and an exasperated look crosses Time Turner's face.
"It's because I said 'Tavi', isn't it?"
Octavia starts crying harder, and Time Turner growls in frustration.
"You know what, Octavia? You can go ahead and mope all you want, but that's not going to bring back Vinyl!"
There is a pause. Octavia sniffles, before breaking into tears again. Time Turner facepalms and turns away.
"Octavia, she's gone. We need to face facts and move on no matter how much she meant to you..."
Time Turner walks away, a look of sadness on his face.
"How much she meant to all of us..."
After he leaves, I come out of the shadows, my eyes watery.
This is all my fault. If I-
I stop and give myself a mental slap in the face.
You're almost as bad as Tavi! If you hadn't switched places with your clone at the last second, you'd be the one dead and not the clone. Suck it up and deal with the consequences.
I look at my best friend, my sister in all but blood, and I grin to myself.
"Hey, Tavi!"
Octavia looks up, but I am still in the shadows, my face indistinct.
"Let's see you grit those teeth!"
With all the quiet dignity and grace that I can muster, I run up to Octavia and punch her in the face.
She flies across the room, skidding to a stop near a corner.
"Vi..."
She looks up at me in disbelief, eyes wide as platters.
"Yeah?"
I am suddenly thrown backwards as Octavia wraps me in a hug so tight I can't breathe.
"You're alive! I can't believe it! I thought you were dead and I got mad and I hurt Nightmare Moon but you're alive!"
She lets go and I stagger back, gasping for air. After catching my breath, I chuckle and hug her.
"I'm not quite ready to die yet." I say.
We break apart and Octavia wipes her eyes on her sleeve.
"Speaking of Nightmare Moon..." I say. "Shouldn't we be out fighting her?"
Octavia nods, and we start towards the roof.
"How did you escape anyway?" Octavia asks. "I saw you get stabbed. Nobody could survive that."
"I can switch places with my clones instantly. It's a bit faster than teleportation, which requires about a second of concentration before I actually teleport."
We climb up the balcony to the roof to find it deserted.
"Where'd everyone go?" Octavia asks. "They were all up here when I attacked Nightmare M- "
A loud explosion interrupts Octavia. We both turn in the direction of the blast to see Nightmare Moon standing, surrounded by the others, in the front courtyard. Octavia jumps down and looks up at me expectantly. I signal for her to go on ahead as I start to circle around, grinning.
Let's see if Nightmare Moon believes in ghosts...