What Could Have Been

Chapters

What Could Have Been

What Could Have Been

WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN
NIGHTMARE MOON’S TRIUMPH
A Sidefic Sequel to Solar Flare
Written by Dragryphon
Assisted by ZAquanimus

THIS STORY WILL BE REWRITTEN IN THE NEAR FUTURE!

Nopony ever thinks of what could have been. What might have happened if Nightmare Moon had triumphed over Celestia during the War of the Night? Or if Luna’s Nightmare had won over the future bearers of the Elements of Harmony?

A thousand years is a long time. So unimaginably long, and enough time for any plan to be refined to perfection.

A thousand years, alone in that silence, with only a slumbering alter-ego for company would be enough to drive anypony insane.

A thousand years is a very long time to be punished for just wanting to be known.

To be loved.

To have power over those who ignored you for so long.

When freed, what would anypony do... what could anypony do but look for revenge...

_____________

Confound these ponies! They drive me to failure! I will not allow them to stop me! Not here, not now, not even if another thousand years went by! Nightmare Moon was fuming as she retreated from the rainbow maned pegasus, her ingenious plan to recruit her having failed miserably! The spell she had used to trap Celestia had drained her nearly to nothing, leaving just barely enough magic for the Nightmare to be able to shift forms, or perform the most basic of spells. Hardly enough to do anything but inconvenience the persistent pack of ponies.

No, I must do something else, something that can prevent them from acting or... the alicorn’s thoughts ceased as she flew into the ruins of Castle Everfree, rage building within her as her sight fell upon the very weapons that had been used against her a thousand years prior: The Elements of Harmony. They were just sitting there, waiting for the foals to stumble across them. No, not this time! If I cannot defeat them, then I will rob them of the one thing that they can use against me! Forever shall I reign over Equestria!

The midnight alicorn materialized before the dais containing the Elements, gazing up at her sister’s old weapons as a strange sensation swept over her. She hesitated, a creeping doubt causing her to feel as if she wasn’t meant to be there yet... as if she had somehow arrived too soon. She pushed that feeling away and glared at the offending orbs, grinding her teeth in contempt. Somewhere behind her, she could hear the ponies approaching. They come for the Elements. If what they come for isn’t here, then what happens to them?

A wicked smile crossed Nightmare Moon’s face as her horn glowed, her magic gathering the Elements into a pile before her. There was one place where she could send the Elements and not have to worry about somepony stumbling across them. And after I do this, I will deal with those troublesome foals. I gave them their chances. That one who knew who I was certainly intrigues me. A scholar too, by the looks of her.

Nightmare Moon focused the last of her magical energy into her horn as she lowered it to the elements, and banished them to her celestial namesake, the usually taxing spell lessened by her natural bond with the moon. Just as the Elements blinked out of existence, the alicorn heard the sounds of several sets of hooves pounding upon the stone floor of Everfree Castle behind her.

Nightmare Moon rose, turning to look upon the troublesome troupe making its way through the large doors into her castle, and a snide smirk danced across her visage as she saw the looks of determination on their faces melt away, leaving their faces contorted in pure shock. The violet unicorn stepped forward. She had been the only pony to remember who she was and the only unicorn in that entire hall who had even an inkling of power. Now, face to face, Nightmare Moon could tell that this young unicorn was strong. Without the static of all the other auras that had littered the hall back in Ponyville, she could see the raw power that this one possessed, and not only that... but the sheer potential that it carried with it, as well.

“W-What did you do?!” Twilight Sparkle demanded, mouth agape in astonishment. The whole group was aghast, having just seen their chance to bring Nightmare Moon down vanish before their very eyes. Twilight, herself, was having a hard time just comprehending the magnitude of what she had seen and she stammered as she tried to collect her thoughts.

“W-What did you just do with the Elements?!” she shouted once more, glowering at the pitch black entity before her.

The alicorn turned gracefully to fix her gaze upon Twilight, her form energized from being in such close proximity to the power of the Elements, and as she began to address the unicorn, a grin spread slowly across her face. “Do not worry my little pony. The Elements are somewhere nice and safe... on my Moon!” The Nightmares’ laughter filled the room as she watched the hope fade from the ponies’ faces.

“So, the question you have to ask yourselves, is this... What are you ponies going to do now?” Nightmare Moon asked haughtily as she looked down upon the foalish ponies. “What can you do, now that your only hope of defeating me is on the Moon!” the last words resonating throughout the hall as Nightmare Moon’s form dissolved into a violet mist that surged towards the group of ponies. Twilight began to gather energy for a spell, her horn starting to glow as it welled up within her, but it was too late. The malevolent cloud enveloped her body and a terrified scream left the unicorn’s mouth before being completely silenced, the glow from her horn fading instantaneously.

A few moments later the cloud dissipated, revealing Twilight sprawled on the ground, near motionless except for the rising and falling of her chest. The cloud reconvened above Twilight, solidifying to reveal Nightmare Moon, looking down at the incapacitated unicorn with a derisive smirk.

“Twilight! What did you do to her?!” Rainbow Dash demanded, launching herself forward only to have her tail grabbed by Applejack, a sound much like ‘Whoa nelly, there’ coming from the clamped earth pony’s mouth.

“Hey, you big meanie pants!” Pinkie Pie yelled, bounding forward to confront the gloating alicorn.

The Nightmare raised her gaze, letting it fall upon the pink earth pony. “You dare address your Queen in such a manner?” she asked raising an eyebrow, amused.

“Yeah! What are you doing?! You’re not following the script at all!” Pinkie Pie continued, stomping her hoof to accentuate her words.

“A script? Hah! Nopony tells me what to do!” The Nightmare responded as she jumped over Twilight‘s fallen form and charged the other ponies.

______________

She was tired. So very tired. More tired than she had ever been before. Muffled noises permeated her consciousness, breaking through the grey walls of dreamless slumber, as flashes of white and purple filled the darkness surrounding her, the sounds of battle echoing through the void. Shouts of defiance. Cries of concern. The loudest of all were the shrieks of pain, easily distinguishable from the cacophony of sound.

Everything was growing louder, brighter, and more distinct. The ominous clouds surrounding her mind began to thin, and the shadows were growing less dim. She struggled, fighting to break free from her own mind’s prison.

Then suddenly–

Light.

At first Twilight saw only grey, but it wasn’t the same grey from before, this was clearly stone. She groaned, her thoughts still incoherent, turning her head around she spotted a yellow form. “Fl..Fluttershy..?” The yellow pegasus was hunched over, facing away from Twilight, her body racked with sobs. It took her a moment, but Twilight realized that, the pink mane that she thought belonged to Fluttershy was much too long. There was somepony else there, and the only other pony with any pink was... She didn’t finish the thought, turning her head further. She was just able to spot Rarity’s lavish tail at the edge of her vision. Mustering up the strength she turned pushed herself over, garnering a much wider view of the situation. She immediately wished she hadn’t.

Twilight saw Rarity standing off away from Fluttershy, her mouth agape, her eyes wide, in a silent scream.

“Don’t you dare come any closer!” Twilight snapped her attention in the direction of the shout. She caught sight of Rainbow Dash standing with one of her wings hanging limply at her side over an orange figure that could only be Applejack. Then she saw Nightmare Moon, having previously missed her in the darkness of the room, advancing upon Rainbow and AJ with a wicked smile on her face upstaged by only the bloodlust in her eyes. Twilight’s heart was racing. She struggled to say something... anything to attract the Nightmare’s attention. “St-stop it! Leave my friends alone!” Twilight cried.

The Nightmare stopped suddenly and turned her head to look back at Twilight, her face a mixture of surprise and rage. “What?”

A shiver ran down Twilight’s spine at the ice-cold response. Shaking, she picked herself up off the ground, barely able to stay on her feet.

“I said... leave my friends alone!”

Taking a single glance back at Rainbow Dash, the alicorn walked slowly up to Twilight Sparkle leering down at her with eyes full of turquoise fire, her rage barely contained, the pupils having been narrowed to little more than nearly imperceptible slits.

“‘Leave your friends alone’? And what, my dear unicorn, can you do to stop me from killing your friends where they stand?” Nightmare Moon towered over Twilight, her wings flared out behind her, blocking out the light from the moon above and casting a dark shadow over the violet unicorn.

Twilight’s courage fled her and she fell back upon her haunches, her eyes unable to move away from the Nightmare’s gaze. Seeing how easily her friends had been defeated by the Nightmare, she felt her will to fight drain out of her, and with the alicorn confronting her, the only thing present in Twilight’s mind was fear. “I-I-I...”

Nightmare Moon rolled her eyes and snorted, “You, you, you... It’s always about you, isn’t it? That’s all you little foals can concern yourselves with! Your lives. Your friends. Your Princess. Well, you know what? I have a wonderful idea for exactly what to do with you.” The Nightmare brought her head closer, a venomous smile present on her face.

“Would you like to hear it?” she inquired before her smile vanished abruptly, replaced by pure contempt. “Become my Royal Pet, foal. A servant answering only to me. Do this and I will allow your... friends to live. Deny me, and you will get to see them die one by one, in the most excruciating ways possible...”

Twilight’s mouth worked, attempting to get coherent words to form, however, nothing left her other than the occasional squeak. This wasn’t how it was supposed to happen! We were supposed to find the Elements and use them to defeat her! How did it all go so wrong!?

Above her, Nightmare Moon’s horn began to shimmer as a matching glow slowly formed around each of her friends, lifting them all bodily into the air. Applejack and Rainbow Dash both groaned in pain as they were hoisted off their hooves, the Nightmare cackling fully as she began to appraise her prospective victims.

“Perhaps I should start with the yellow one, hmmm? She looks like she could cry for quite some time, and I can imagine such beautiful shrieks of pain coming from her lips. Or maybe the rainbow one? So strong looking... I bet you she could easily be broken. No, no, no. I have plans for her. Nopony refuses my gifts.” Nightmare Moon floated Fluttershy over to her side, a maniacal grin parting her maw, her eyes radiating madness. “Oh, but I digress. I should start now. Don’t you think so, my little pony?”

Fluttershy could only whimper and hide behind her wings as she came to hover near the Nightmare. Twilight frantically looked around in every direction, searching for some saving grace before finally screaming out in desperation, “Stop! No! I’ll... I’ll do it! If it means you won’t hurt them, or any of the other ponies in Ponyville, I’ll do it... I’ll become your... pet...”

You can do this... You can do this... If it means they live, then I’ll become Nightmare Moon’s... pet. Alright, Twilight, just breathe... Remember what books have told you... Friendship, loyalty, and obedience...

...Oh Celestia what have I gotten myself into?

_________________

Nightmare Moon let a laugh bubble within her throat before allowing it to burst forth. Without their precious Elements of Harmony to help them, the pack of persistent ponies had been easily defeated, and now it seemed that she even had a new servant to boot. Now, to deal with these troublesome foals.

Gathering them all up in the air before her, the Nightmare deigned to speak to them, “My little foals. Each of you should be very much appreciative that your ‘friend’ gave herself to me in order to save your pathetic little lives.” Turning her head, she allowed her gaze to fall upon Twilight, the alicorn’s mind roiling with her plans for each of the pathetic ponies.

A quick dip into their dreams revealed everything about them to the Nightmare that she might care to know. She was the Keeper of the Night, after all, and as such, she could see into the dreams of ponies, regardless of whether they were asleep or not. A pony’s dreams and nightmares offered a window into the very nature of their souls, laying bare everything about them, from their greatest ambitions to their darkest desires.

Rainbow Dash, the one who cast my gift aside, she will become mine, willingly or not. And Rarity, she appears to be a filly in the now, and well, a Queen always needs a proper outfitter, Nightmare Moon thought as her horn began to light up. “Now begone with you. I have plans for all of you foals.” The light expanded, encompassing all of the ponies who vanished from sight.

“What did you do!?” Twilight screamed from behind her, anguish in her voice. “You said if I joined you, you wouldn’t kill them!”

“Silence!” Nightmare Moon yelled into the eternal night, not even bothering to turn to face the diminutive unicorn. Only the silence responded, holding its own for a moment as Twilight cowered against the floor. Then, all at once the Nightmare swung around to glare at her new pet, rage burning in her eyes. “It seems... that I need to lay down some ground rules! One!” she punctuated the declaration with a step in Twilight’s direction. “You will only speak when spoken to! Two! I expect obedience from you that not even the most loyal subject can match! Three! You will never question your Queen! And four! You will do anything I command of you! Am I understood!?”

Each rule was emphasized with another step in the unicorn’s direction, Nightmare Moon’s eyes beginning to shine from the amount of magic coursing through her. Although Twilight held her ground, the alicorn could see the terror in her eyes.

“Well!?” Nightmare Moon challenged as she towered over the unicorn, ready to snuff Twilight out of existence if she should answer wrong.

The alicorn could see Twilight Sparkle visibly struggling over what to say until, finally, she lowered her head in defeat and replied, “Yes...”

“Good...” the Nightmare said, taking a few steps back and sending her mane out in front of the unicorn before her, the billowing night blocking the alicorn from Twilight’s view. “Walk through my mane to make things between us official. If you don’t, my pet, then I will most definitely kill all your friends and raze Ponyville on top of it!”

Twilight Sparkle’s eyes widened and she shivered in place before stepping forward, her body shuddering the moment the unicorn’s nose came in contact with the Nightmare’s mane. The pitch black alicorn watched on in barely concealed glee as her new pet entered her mane, disappearing within and failing to emerge from the other side.

Feeling that the magical rush she had taken from the Elements was beginning to fade, Nightmare Moon mentally sorted through a list of the places she could teleport to, including those that she had lifted from the minds of her pet and the foals that had accompanied her. One stuck out to her in particular, so she gathered power within her horn and vanished from the old castle ruins.

Where she reappeared was a quaint room with a balcony. It did not seem like much, but it was livable. Inside, the room was decorated in violets, with a four post bed near the center, and an entire wall with a single large bookshelf filled to the brim with tomes. A door in one wall led out into a hallway outside, with another in the back leading to a small washroom. Even the writing desk wasn’t too fancy, at least, not by Nightmare Moon’s standards. It was all fairly typical, really.

As the last of the power from the Elements faded from Nightmare Moon’s body, the alicorn flumped herself down upon the bed. It wasn’t the best bed she’s had, but apparently it was still quite fancy for her sister’s student, and her new pet. There was nopony to impress here, no theatrics to keep up. No, she was thoroughly exhausted from the day’s events.

Maneuvering her mane to the floor, it bunched up before pulling away to show Twilight Sparkle laid out on the ground with some fine new decorations. A black band circled itself around her horn, while an onyx collar of the same material, something like the breastplate Luna wore, was encircled around the unicorn’s neck and emblazoned with the moon. Even around the pony’s hooves, ebon circlets were attached. It took a lot of magic to create such devices, and their crafting, not a simple teleportation spell, had been the cause of the Nightmare’s sudden fatigue.

Her armor clinked together as she began to remove it piece by piece, tossing the breastplate, helm, and shoes casually into a corner of the room. Oh, this feels good... I had forgotten what it feels like to have a real bed beneath me... Nightmare Moon, thought, ignoring the still sleeping twitches of Luna in the back of her mind.

Staring down at the unconscious unicorn upon the floor, Nightmare Moon narrowed her eyes in thought. Pet or not, she’ll be my student, of course. Not by name, though. I’ll need to make sure to shape her into a perfect little extension of my will. Fortunately, I won’t have to worry about her turning on me. I made doubly sure of that...

The alicorn reached down with a hoof and brushed aside Twilight’s mussed mane, then gave her onyx collar a tap. “Awaken, foal...” The unicorn shuddered and opened her eyes, breathing heavily for a moment before her eyes darted around, taking in her surroundings. Nightmare Moon’s gaze told her not to speak. “Welcome back, my pet. Sleep well? If you would, take note of your surroundings. Familiar, no? Also, take note of the fine additions I’ve made to your appearance. Not so familiar, of course. These objects you now wear are unable to be removed by you or any other pony. The Inhibitor, for instance, is an old favorite of mine. It keeps all your magical abilities in check, and I decide how far it goes to do so. You will not have full access to your magic, unless it is when I am tutoring you. Good behavior on your part will allow for me to lift some of the restrictions for you, permitting you to taste magic once again on your own.”

“The collar around your neck is more than just for show, or to signify ownership. Oh, yes, my dear pet, it also serves as much more. With that around your neck, I will always know where you are and what you are doing.” Then, the Nightmare flashed her pet a grin full of wickedness, “Of course, it will also take care of your punishment for me. All I have to do is telepathically send it a signal, and well... you won’t challenge me more than once, perhaps twice, Twilight Sparkle. I can assure you that. Oh, and did I mention that it will kill you in the most excruciating manner if you try to escape?”

The silent shiver of fear running down Twilight Sparkle’s spine was all it took for Nightmare Moon to know that she hadn’t. The alicorn didn’t mention the unicorn’s anklets, of course. She wanted those to be a surprise if they were ever needed. “Go wash up, pet. I will need a couple of days to recover... before I go about enacting my plans for retaking Equestria, once and for all.”

______________

Twilight Sparkle looked back at her captor as she entered her washroom.

She’s exhausted, she thought to herself. Drained. But I am helpless to do anything to stop this... she’s made sure of that. Oh, Princess Celestia, I wish you were here, you would know how to proceed! How to help me!

No, she had agreed to becoming Nightmare Moon’s... pet... As much as she hated the title, Twilight knew she had to take this seriously. Her life was at stake, and she did not want to see what would happen if she defied her new... owner. The thought left a sour taste in the unicorn’s mouth, and she shook her head to clear it.

Taking a look in the mirror, Twilight gasped as she took a look at herself in the mirror. No wonder Nightmare Moon ordered me to wash up! I look half dead! The unicorn’s mane and tail were more bush than hair currently, having various small sticks and other assorted forest pieces scattered within it. Even her normally glossy coat was dull, covered in dirt and mud. There were scratches on her hide in places, and her eyes had deep pockets beneath them.

At that moment, all the aches, pains and fatigue of the journey hit the unicorn like a ton of bricks, and she nearly collapsed upon the floor. Maybe a bath would be nice right now... Setting about to fill the tub, Twilight looked in the mirror at her adornments.

How will I bathe with these? Maybe I can remove them, though I was told I wouldn’t be able to... As Twilight raised a hoof to see if she could take the collar off, the charge of energy that flashed through it told her it was best not to try. Alright, so she wasn’t lying. Perhaps I might be able to just move it out of the way? The crackle of power vanished, allowing the unicorn to lift the collar off her fur. Well, that’s a relief. The collar must monitor my thoughts or intentions, or activate due to some other circumstance that I’m not aware of.

Finding out how they functioned would have to wait till later.

I can study these objects once I’m cleaned up, and back in shape. Turning back to the tub, she saw that it was just about full enough. Cutting off the flow of water, she climbed carefully into the tub, letting her weary body sink slowly into the water. She lay there, soaking for some time, the warm water easing the pain in her battered body. It took a while, but eventually she was able to bring herself to try and restore herself to a presentable state. Of course, this was made more difficult by the fact that she couldn’t use magic, but she did the best that she could, her thoughts rolling over everything that had happened that night.

What could Nightmare Moon have done with my friends...? They should be safe if I do my part. Right? Applejack and Rainbow Dash looked like they were the only ones actually hurt in the fight, but they didn’t seem in grave condition. Rarity wasn’t visibly harmed.. just in shock. I’m sure she’ll be okay. Oh and poor Fluttershy... she must be scared to death! And Pinkie... Fluttershy had been crying over Pinkie’s body... but she’s gotta be okay, she’s just gotta...

Twilight sighed as she ducked her head under the water for a moment, pushing her mane back behind her as she surfaced. Reaching down to pull the plug on the tub, she climbed her way out of it, water dripping from her body as she made her way over to the mirror. Grabbing a towel in her mouth as she went, she sat down in front of the mirror, peering into it sullenly. Argh, I can’t believe I’m going to have to dry my mane and tail by hoof. This will take forever. Staring into the mirror, Twilight shook her head and sighed, silently chiding herself for her selfishness. Am I seriously thinking about how long it’s going to take to dry my mane when there’s an evil goddess in my bed and Princess Celestia is missing...

Twilight walked back into her room after taking what seemed like hours to dry her mane and coat. She looked over to her bed and saw the Nightmare drowsing; her head wavering back and forth as her eyes fluttered, closing at times for a second or two. As Twilight’s hooves clopped upon the tiled floor, however, Nightmare Moon’s eyes shot open and she turned to face the unicorn. “Ah... Good. You look much better. Presentable, as my pet should be. Now, come here, I have things I wish to discuss with you, pet”

Twilight cringed slightly at the word but continued making her way towards her bed. “Good, now stop there and sit.” The unicorn groaned as she rolled her eyes, sitting back on her haunches. The Nightmare laughed as she looked down at Twilight, saying, “Off to a good start, are we? Though groaning will not be tolerated the next time, nor any rolling of the eyes. Don’t think I didn’t see you.”

Nightmare Moon turned her body to face Twilight, her hooves crossing over each other as she looked down at her. “Now... as for what I’m going to do wit-”

“What did you do with my friends, what did you do to Pinkie?!” Twilight cried, her ears flattening against her head as she finally demanded to know the answer to the question that had been eating at her the entire night.

The Nightmare raised an eyebrow, chuckling as she leaned forward, her eyes narrowing. “That, my dear pet, was a mistake.”

Suddenly a jolt of pain lanced through Twilight’s body as the collar around her neck sparked and crackled. The unicorn gasped and fell over as spasms wracked her body, the Nightmare looking on with barely concealed amusement.

“Well, I suppose I might as well tell you, since you had the courage to ask. And, to be honest, I can’t have you distracted, worrying over those foals. They’ve all been sent back to their pitiful lives in Ponyville, and as long as you cooperate, they will be allowed to keep them. As for the pink one... she was rather annoying, so I decided to make her sleep instead, for a time.” Nightmare Moon smirked as she looked down at the still spasming unicorn, cutting off the charge as she spoke once more. “Now... Are you ready to listen to my plans without a fuss?”

Twilight groaned as she shakily brought herself back to a sitting position, her legs shaking with the strained effort of her sore muscles. Still, she wanted to have at least some dignity and fought to stay seated rather than collapse again. Glaring up at her captor, she nodded. “Y-Yes.”

“Good. As I was saying, before being so rudely interrupted, in addition to being my pet you will also be my own personal student. Now, I know that you were my sister’s student before I came back, and I want you to know right now, that I am nothing like my sister. Under my tutelage, you will learn of magic that my foalish sister would have never taught you. You will learn spells that are as practical as they are deadly, and be allowed to delve into dark arts that even my sister was afraid to touch. Of course, you’ll only be allowed to practice under my personal supervision. But, it’s not as if you will be out of my sight for very long any time soon... Which brings me to my next point. As my student, you will learn my manners in governing. You will learn how I do things and when I do them, and later, you will be given your own assignments to carry out as my right-hoof mare. You will be as my voice where ever you go, and I expect you to act the part. But most importantly, you will obey my every word.” Nightmare Moon leaned forward, her mane coming around to raise the unicorn’s gaze, looking straight into her eyes. “Do I make myself clear?”

“Yes...”

________________

Nightmare Moon grumbled as she awoke. Turning her head around, she looked over to see Twilight, snoozing away in the corner of the room where the Nightmare had set up some cushions for her. Shaking her head, the Nightmare’s mane resumed its ethereal flow behind her. Levitating her armor before her, she placed them upon her body piece by piece.

Making her way to the window, Nightmare Moon looked down upon the city of Canterlot. It had been over a millennium since her last visit here, and the city had only grown larger since the last time she had lain eyes on it. It was nearly dawn, and the city was still quiet, with just a few ponies making their way down the dark streets. There were a few streetlights scattered throughout the city, but most of them seemed to be carrying makeshift lights to guide them. “It seems some things have changed... Even so, it would seem that most of my subjects appear to be sleeping through my beautiful night, even after all these years. No matter. That will change...” the Nightmare whispered quietly to herself.

Turning back inside, she sent a thought across the room, smirking as a small cry of pain came from the pile of cushions in the corner. Twilight raised herself out of it, her hoof rubbing at her neck as she glared at the Nightmare.

”I’m glad to see that you’re finally awake, my pet. I hope to see you learn to conform your sleep to my own. As long as I’m awake, you will need to be available to serve me. Now, get up. We have a busy day ahead of us.”

Twilight grumbled as she reluctantly made her way over to the window. “You remember your duties to your Queen, I hope?” Twilight nodded slowly as she stepped up to the alicorn’s side. Nightmare Moon smiled wrapped a wing around the unicorn as she turned back to the window, her horn glowing for a moment. “Good, and now, we’re off.” The Nightmare stated as the ebon alicorn winked out of existence with the violet unicorn in tow.

They reappeared in the castle’s throne room, sunlight just beginning to make its way in through the windows. Nightmare Moon’s gaze traveled around the room, taking in the scene before her; there were three doors, the ornate main entrance directly in front of her with two pegasus guards on either side, and two side doors leading deeper into the castle with a unicorn guard each. And at that moment they were all staring at her, dumbstruck.

“What..? No welcoming committee? Not even a fruit basket? I mean... the least you could do is come pay your respects to your Princess.” The Goddess sneered, the guards regaining their composure and charging the throne. She paid them no mind, looking over as her pet steeled herself and took an anxious step forward.

“Hold gentlecolts! Don’t attack her, please!” The unicorn’s voice wavered as she tried to call off the guards. She stood ahead of the Nightmare, letting the guards take a good look at her, the desperation in her voice now more readily apparent. “I, Twilight Sparkle, Celestia’s most faithful student pleads that you stay your attack!” It took a moment for her to be sure, but the unicorn’s plea must have made it through to the guards, as the lead pegasus held up a wing, the other guards falling into step behind him.

Nightmare Moon leaned forward, whispering into Twilight’s ear, reminding her of the plans they had discussed on the previous day. Twilight’s eyes appear stricken by grief as she turned back to the Nightmare “I can’t do this... I can’t...”

The alicorn’s eyes narrowed as she sent a brief shock to the collar, just enough to make the unicorn wince in pain. “You can, and you will do as we planned. You know exactly what is at stake, after all, and exactly who’s lives are forfeit if you do not obey me.”

Twilight’s eyes screwed shut for a moment before she took a deep breath and addressed the guards again, her throat constricting at the thought of what she was condemning them... all of Equestria to... “This is Princess Luna, long lost sister of Princess Celestia. The Princess is in grave danger and it is imperative that the Assembly is convened immediately,” she forced from between her teeth, hoping that she sounded natural enough to avoid alerting the guards.

The pegasus, who she assumed was the ranking officer among the group, stepped forward and saluted. “Yes Miss Sparkle, the Assembly will be called together right away.” The colt motioned the two unicorn guards forward as he continued speaking. “These two will escort you and her Majesty around the castle until the Assembly is convened.” The unicorn guards saluted as the other two turned and left the throne room.

Nightmare Moon looked down at them, a small smile gracing her lips as she addressed the colts. “Very good. Tell me, do you know where I can find a chess board, perchance?”

________________

Twilight grimaced as her second rook was taken almost effortlessly by the Nightmare’s Queen, the snide smirk having never once left her face since the game’s commencement. Even so, the unicorn was more than glad to be able to use a bit of her magic again after all these days; the inhibitor on her horn had been modified to allow her the briefest telekinesis so that she could play the game properly. Still, despite this small allowance, she was growing increasingly frustrated at how easily the alicorn was controlling the board. The black queen seemed to be an unstoppable force that was incapable of being cornered or forced into a trap. The Nightmare kept smiling as she moved the pieces around the board, using the cover of the telekinesis in order to continue constructing the complex spell she would be needing soon enough. The unicorn guards had been concerned at first by the seemingly large amount of magic that the alicorn was employing as she moved the pieces, but the guards had foalishly accepted her excuse that her magic was a bit rusty after so many years and she’d need to retrain herself to use it. It was a simple ploy, and the fact that it had actually worked had kept that smile plastered on her face for hours.

There was the creaking of hinges, and Nightmare Moon looked up at the door as a pegasus guard stepped into the room, nodding to the alicorn to signify that the Assembly was ready for her. Looking back to the board, her smile broadened, and picking up her queen, she sent it straight down the board, knocking out the white queen that Twilight commanded, sealing her fatally in a corner. “And that, my dear, is checkmate.”

________________

Nightmare Moon looked around at the assembled ministers. They were seated about a large round table, situated over a stone mosaic of the half Moon and half Sun, intertwined harmoniously. The moment she walked in, she had veered towards the end with the moon at its head, rather perturbed to see a layer of dust covering the cushion on that end, knowing fully well that the cushion on the sun side was likely clean and well kept. Shaking her head at the whole thing, she levitated the other cushion over to her side, placing it in front of Twilight, fully aware that she’d balk at the idea of sitting on something that had once belonged to Celestia. Once seated, she turned her attention back to the ponies in attendance. There were a number of pegasi and earth ponies, though most were unicorns, not including the guards stationed around the room and at the doors.

“Greetings, everypony. I’m so glad to see so many of my little ponies in attendance today for my announcement.” The Nightmare smiled as she saw the ponies glance at each other nervously around the table. She reached into her mind, pulling out the complex spell she had been weaving previously, as she searched out the familiar traces of energy that could only emit from a Core, much like the one that had been present in Everfree over a millennium ago. Finding the tendrils of power, she latched onto them, noting that the unicorns in the room were beginning to take notice of complex spellcraft being conducted. “After one thousand years, I have returned, and I am ready for my re-coronation! The Reign of Nightmare Moon begins anew!”

She watched the chaos unfold, the ponies before her jumping up off their cushions, shouting with aversion and acrimony. The guards, wasting no time, charged her from all sides as Twilight cowered against her, forgetting herself for a moment in fear of the sudden onslaught.

Nightmare Moon scoffed at them all, closing her eyes as she concentrated and latched onto the final tendrils of power permeating throughout the castle. Snapping open, her eyes blazed from the light of the magic that was filling her body. With a simple thought, a brilliant shockwave of light burst forth from her horn, blasting the charging guards into the walls and pushing everypony else to the ground, the shockwave vanishing as it passed through the walls of the chamber.

The Nightmare cackled as she gazed upon the fallen ponies. “Foals! How could you have ever hoped to oppose me! Now... I shall have leniency with my new subjects, because as it stands, I require you to ensure the continuation of the government. But at least now, we won’t have to worry about any wayward thoughts any longer.”

All the fallen ponies had risen by that point, bowing to the ebon alicorn in a most docile manner. “Yes, My Liege!” resonated from around the room as each pony declared their allegiance to the Nightmare in sequence. The alicorn smirked, looking down at her pet, relishing just how easily her plans were coming together.

And in the back of her mind, beyond the reach of her consciousness, a long dormant entity began to stir, awakened by the powerful magic that had just been used. A spell made to change the allegiance of all ponies it touched.

________________

Nightmare Moon stood on the balcony outside the royal chambers, looking down upon Canterlot as the hustle and bustle of the grand city began to die down with the waning light of the day. Watching as the sun made its way closer to the horizon, the alicorn addressed her student. “Wasn’t today simply divine? Canterlot is now completely under my control, and my Lunar Republic is reborn! And all without a single drop of blood spilt.”

Twilight stepped out onto the balcony, the crestfallen unicorn looking up at the setting sun, a weariness having befallen her through the day. “Well, at the very least nopony was hurt.” Then, looking up at the alicorn, Twilight asked, “What happens now?”

“Now...” The Nightmare looked down at the unicorn, her eyes narrowed to mere slits. “Now, we inform all Equestria of my glorious return.” A glow surrounded the alicorn’s horn as she looked towards the horizon, the sun was setting on one side as the ethereal sphere of the moon began to rise on the other. As night fell, the moon continued to rise far past where it should have reached, stopping at its apogee. Twilight looked up as she felt energies rile around her, much as they had in the Assembly room earlier that day, the radiant glow coming from Nightmare Moon’s eyes intensifying once again as she embraced the power of the Core.

An eerie silence fell across the land, the usual music of the night completely absent. The air felt heavy, as an ominous weight of expectation felt throughout Equestria. Then suddenly, a voice. A booming voice that rang out all across the land, seeming to come from everywhere at once, as if it were calling down from the sky itself. “Good Evening, my sun-loving subjects. This is your Queen, Nightmare Moon! Now... I realize that there aren’t many of you that will remember me. In fact, I’ve only met one pony who has. But no matter. The reason I am speaking to you tonight is to inform you of some changes that will be happening around here. Now, I’m sure you all noticed that the Sun did not rise yesterday or the day before. That was my doing. I am also glad to inform you all that tomorrow will be another glorious ‘day’ of night. I will be holding court tonight in the Canterlot throne room, and all are welcome to come pay their dues.” A pause, the air growing heavier. “The Lunar Republic is reborn this day.” Silence hung in the air for a moment once more, before the sounds of the night resumed their concert.

The Nightmare smiled as she released the magic and turned back inside, making her way to some cushions beside the bookshelf, and browsing for anything that would keep her interest. She heard the soft clopping of small hoofsteps behind her. “Nightmare, I was wondering, why do you let the sun shine if you seek an Eternal Night?” A voice asked from behind her.

“Well, I suppose I could indulge you with a bit of a history lesson.” The onyx alicorn smirked as she turned around to face Twilight Sparkle. “You see, a thousand years ago when I first took up the fight for my Lunar Republic, I had overlooked some things in my grandeur plans for the night. Little details. Plants need sunlight to live, for instance, and I hadn’t taken that into consideration initially. Of course, I did not want to rule over a dead queendom, so I was forced to make the necessary adjustments to my plans. Now, back then, I had a spunky little advisor to help me out with these things...” A sudden knock at the door of the bedchamber brought a scowl to Nightmare Moon’s face.

Before the Nightmare could rebuke the pony that dared to disturb her, the door opened to allow entry to a very stately appearing unicorn. Her coat was of a simple off-white and she was possessed of a grey mane and tail, the image of a rolled scroll with the royal seal upon it emblazoned upon her flank. On her nose sat a pair of half-lensed glasses, and the knotted rope of a high official lay draped over her neck.

Her mouth open, Nightmare Moon quickly shut it with a click of her teeth. There is something oddly familiar about this unicorn... “Who are you, and why are you so foalish as to skulk past my guards, much less enter my chambers.” Out of the corner of her eye, the alicorn could see her pet smiling to the unicorn.

The unicorn took several more steps forward in silence before dropping to her knees in a bow before her Queen. “I am Royal Writ, your Majesty. Your new Advisor. Worry not, my liege. My family has been awaiting the day of your return since my foremother, Check List, served under you.”

While Twilight stood in shock at Royal Writ’s words, an alarm went off in the Nightmare’s head, causing her to step forward cautiously and glower down at the prostrated unicorn. “What do you mean by waiting for my return? My sister wiped out nearly every trace of my existence after I was banished!” Her eyes blazed and her horn lit up, about to deal with whatever menace could easily occur.

However, the self-assigned Advisor simply stood up and looked her Queen straight in the eyes. “I am part of the Cult of the Night, of course! My ancestor, Check List, made doubly sure that she had recorded and hidden the happenings of the War of the Night. The Princess, of course, found most of the caches, but fortunately, we were able to keep one hidden within our family vault.”

Her eyes glowing with power, Nightmare Moon lifted the unicorn into the air. Royal Writ, however, did not seem fazed by this in the least. “And what, pray tell, does your precious Cult do? Hm?” The look the alicorn gave her would have seared any other pony to the bone, but the unicorn didn’t even flinch.

“We simply awaited your return, Highness, so that we may serve you. You left quite the mark on my family, you know. Check List was but a simple background pony in the affairs of Everfree, but you made her important! You should read her diaries, Majesty. She adored you. You actually took her advice, unlike Celestia, who tended to simply dismiss her. And then, when that sister of yours banished you and Check List was killed... save for the kingdom itself, I think it was her daughter that suffered the most. All those hopes and dreams quashed... It was she who founded the Cult, and hid the precious records away in our vault. My family, and those who have joined us, simply wish the same as Check List did, Your Majesty. A seat by your side, unlike this nonsense with Celestia, where we’re simply one amongst a sea of faces,” explained the unicorn, who, while she seemed stoic enough, her eyes begged to have some part in the alicorn’s reign.

Nightmare Moon thought for several long seconds before finally setting Royal Writ back down upon the floor and releasing her ethereal grip upon her. Turning to Twilight Sparkle, the alicorn raised an eyebrow in question, “My pet, what can you tell me about her? I would rather hear it from your own mouth, than go digging around within your mind for it.”

Twilight briefly blanched when Nightmare mentioned that, but she quickly recovered. “She’s, um, one of the group of minor Ministers appointed to do various duties about the palace. I am not exactly sure what all she does, but I know it isn’t anything much inside of the palace, much less Canterlot,” Twilight said, eyeing the unicorn before her.

"Indeed," Nightmare Moon replied, her eyes swiveling back to stare at Royal Writ through half-closed eyelids. “Fine. Assemble your ‘Cult’ and I shall see if they are worthy of serving me. If not, it will be you who takes the blame, am I understood?”

Swallowing hard, Royal Writ nodded swiftly, then thumped her hoof to her chest in a rough salute. “I will not fail you, my Queen” She then turned and briskly trotted from the chambers. Outside, a third guard was waiting for her to acknowledge his presence.

Nodding to him, he bowed to the alicorn without entering the room and said, “Your Majesty, we caught a pack of intruders earlier who tried to break into the castle. They already appeared to be in various states of injury, and I think one might be an innocent. A unicorn, two pegasi, and two earth ponies. They await you in the dungeons.”

A soft “No...” from behind Nightmare Moon caused her to smile.

________________

Twilight hung unwillingly by Nightmare Moon’s side, her head lowered nearly to the floor with her ears laid back. Her hoofsteps echoed along the corridor, the sound rebounding back to her a hundred-fold as if there was an army somewhere within the depths of the castle. The alicorn beside her, however, was seemingly weightless as she walked along, her hooffalls completely silent. She had never been down this deep into the castle before, and Twilight didn’t even know why they had dungeons in the first place. She hadn’t heard of anypony ever being incarcerated in any of the history books she’d read, let alone in her lifetime. She tried to avoid letting her gaze drift to either side, instead focusing on the ground straight ahead of her, not wanting to think about her friends being stuck in a cell much like the ones lining the corridor to either side.

A sigh escaped her lips as she brought her thoughts back to the present moment. Nightmare Moon turned her head and glared down at her. “What are you going on about. I’ve already told you that your friends will be allowed to live, so as long as you keep obeying my commands.” Twilight raised her head to see a smug smirk on the alicorn’s face. “Besides, I have my own plans for your friends. I would not get rid of such worthy tools so haphazardly.” Twilight watched as the Nightmare stopped at a heavy iron inlaid wooden door, opening it with a brief flick of her horn.

Nightmare Moon levitated one of the torches from the walls through the doorway, filling the dank room beyond with just enough light to see the five particularly pastel ponies. Twilight gasped at the scene before her. Apple Jack and Rainbow Dash were looking a bit battered, chained against the far wall, both clearly fuming over having been caught. Pinkie Pie was sitting somewhere in the middle of the group, looking rather downtrodden with what appeared to be a muzzle placed on her. Rarity and Fluttershy were leaning against each other, both looking frightened but thankfully unharmed, as far as Twilight could tell.

“Girls! What are you all doing here!?” Twilight cried as she stepped into the room.

“Why, isn’t it obvious Twi? We came to rescue y’ah.” Applejack said as a smile spread across her face, clearly relieved to see the violet unicorn unharmed.

“Yeah, we wouldn’t leave ya hanging Twilight, even if you are an egghead.” Rainbow Dash spoke up from beside Applejack. As she raised her head Twilight could see that her face was inflamed and she was bleeding badly from a cut below a bruised eye.

Pinkie, Rarity and Fluttershy all brightened up to see her as well, standing up to make their way forward before freezing in place, the three of them cringing and backing up as Nightmare Moon walked into the room. The Goddess chuckled as a sardonic sneer spread across her face.

“How laughable! Did you foals really believe you would be able to rescue my pet on your own? And without the Elements of Harmony to support you, no less! I would be amazed if you even made it past the front gate, which coincidentally, you didn’t!” The alicorn cackled as she uttered this last remark, watching as looks of anger and annoyance resumed their places on the faces of the chained earth pony and pegasus. “Well, now that your precious little reunion is over and done with, there comes the matter of your sentencing. Trying to break into the royal castle isn’t something that’s taken lightly, you know. Nor is conspiring to steal the Queen’s property.”

“Twilight isn’t your property you no good varm- hrrk”

“I don’t believe you want to finish that sentence.” The alicorn said with a sneer as her magic tightened a chain around the earth pony’s neck, distorting it in a rather alarming manner. The others could only sit and stare, unable to believe what they were seeing happen right before their eyes.

The surprise in Rainbow Dash’s face began to give away to the rise of fury, a rabid glare pointed right at Nightmare Moon, but right as she opened her mouth, the sound of Twilight speaking out stopped her.

“Stop it!” Twilight cried as she threw herself at Nightmare Moon, beating on her side with her hooves as tears blurred her vision. “Stop it! I’ll do anything you ask, just stop hurting my friends!”

“Oh?” The alicorn released the magic holding the chain and lowered her head to face the violet unicorn. “It’s about time you came around to accepting your fate,” she sneered as she turned back to the other ponies. “Fear not, my little ponies... I’ve jobs for all of you, and shortly, you will each find out your place under my rule!”

Twilight took an uncertain step back when Nightmare Moon’s gaze suddenly fell upon her. “And you, my pet. We will discuss your punishment later! Come!”

Nightmare Moon turned to leave, Twilight following with a lowered head as the two of them exited the dank cell. However, at the last second, just as the door to the dungeon began to close, the Nightmare’s voice rang through it one last time. “And Rainbow Dash? You should have accepted my offer, you know. You are no longer the best flier in Equestria. I have somepony better as my Shadowbolt Captain.”

_______________

Twilight could only stare at the ground, her emotions a maelstrom of conflict within her. What’s going to happen to my friends... I know that she said they would be fine as long as I listened. But after what I just did... Still I couldn’t just let her do that to AJ. She raised her head to look at the door of the chamber as it opened, only shadows visible to her, moving about erratically on the other side, accompanied by the sounds of a scuffle. What’s going to happen to me? She watched as a guard pushed somepony through the door where they fell unceremoniously to the ground. The guard followed, only to stand quietly at the door.

“Why ya yella’ belli-”

“Silence!”

Twilight cringed, Applejack shutting her mouth immediately and doing the same in spite of herself. What’s going to happen to all of us...

Nightmare Moon laughed and Twilight knew it was because she could see the fear in her friend’s eyes, but even now Twilight could still see a small flame of defiance burning in Applejack’s gaze. Oh just don’t do anything rash AJ...

“It’s good to see that you are learning who is in charge, Applejack.” Twilight felt one of the alicorn’s wings draping over her. “Twilight here has learned as well, though later she will be having some... remedial lessons.” The wing squeezed her for a moment, a chill running through her body as she heard those words. “Isn’t that right, my pet?”

“Y-Yes--” The weight lifted from her back, but the chill remained all the same. Looking up at Applejack, Twilight saw only worry in her eyes– worry for her.

“Now, for you. From what I’ve garnered you’re but an apple farmer. I have no need for your skills, but you are important all the same.” The scowl of disdain on the earth pony’s face could not cover the confusion that she was feeling. “Seeing as your farm accounts for a portion of Equestria’s food supply, I feel it pertinent that you know that you must tend to your crops better than ever before. Since the sun will only be shining once every three days.”

“Wha’?! But all the apple trees will whither with that little sunligh-” Applejack started, only to be cut off.

“And you will increase your harvest yield by at least thirty percent. Or would you rather I repossess your farm now and fill it with laborers who will do what I say for them to. Just remember, as long as you do your duties, Twilight comes to no harm,” Nightmare Moon threatened, a gleam in her eyes.

The stubbornness in Applejack’s eyes was all but evident, and Twilight could see the earth pony’s jaw grinding her teeth. However, Applejack surprised her when she finally muttered, “Yes’m...”

“Good. Take her back to her farm, bring in the next one,” was all Nightmare Moon said in reply. While the two waited, Twilight noticed her owner taking occasional glances into a shadowed corner of the room, yet when she looked, there was nothing there.

The entrance of another guard into the room signified the presentation of another of her friends, and Twilight turned to spy Pinkie Pie being dragged in, still with the muzzle around her mouth. She even looked a darker pink than before, with her mane not as poofy as it usually was and a look of toxic contempt in her eyes. Before Pinkie could say or do a thing, however, the Nightmare spoke up, “Ahhh, my exuberant subject. I have quite the perfect thing for you to do. I wish for you to throw parties in my honor. As many parties as you can.”

This caused Pinkie Pie to blink, her eyes going wide in surprise, and Twilight could have sworn that she saw the mare’s mane puff up as something along the lines of “Really?” emanated from her muzzled mouth.

The Nightmare chuckled, giving the pony a brief nod of amusement. “Of course! How else would I have you spread my influence? You’ll of course need streamers, cakes, and party favors, and time’s a wasting! Canterlot will need the biggest party of them all, even bigger than...” Nightmare Moon paused for a bit, then cast out the bait, “...The Grand Galloping Gala."

What Pinkie Pie did next surprised all within the room. She leapt into the air with a gasp and sprinted immediately out of the room. At a questioning glance from the guard, Nightmare Moon shook her head and laughed, “No, I believe she’s off to go throw the biggest party Canterlot has ever seen. Some ponies are so easy to please... No, go fetch the next one, but be sure to leave the rainbowed one for last.”

As the guard left, Twilight thought to herself, This isn’t going that bad so far, Nightmare Moon seems to be setting them tasks for what they each do best. I... I will have to thank her, later...

Shortly, the guard returned with Fluttershy, who had to be carried upon his back as it seemed she had lost her ability so stand on her own four legs out of fear. As he set her down, Nightmare Moon cleared her throat.

“Fluttershy, for you I have a special task. My garden attendants don’t seem to have quite the... skill with animals that you have, so I will be hiring you on as one of the garden’s keepers. You will have access to any and all things you may need to complete your job, as well as access to the garden storage,” the alicorn explained down to the cowering pegasus.

Once she had finished, however, Fluttershy stopped shivering and pulled herself out of her huddle, standing to stare up at Nightmare Moon with such heartbreakingly hopeful eyes that made Twilight want to race over and hug her. “Do... Do you really mean that?” Fluttershy ventured forth cautiously.

Another surprise hit Twilight, as she looked up to see Nightmare Moon smiling: an actual smile, no malice within it. “Of course, and if you wish, you may start now.”

“Oh! Thank you!” Fluttershy exclaimed in her diminutive voice before turning and trotting out of the chamber, followed closely by the guard.

Rarity was next, and after a thoroughly theatrical performance of her lamenting the current state of her coat and mane, the living conditions of the dungeons, and, of course, the treatment of her and her friends, Nightmare Moon had finally explained to her what the alicorn wished her to do. Become a dressier for royalty.

“Wait... really? You’re serious?” The violet maned unicorn stood there, looking up at Nightmare Moon with an absolutely stunned expression. The alicorn rolled her eyes, scoffing a bit.

“Of course, I’m serious,” the Nightmare responded flatly. “Why wouldn’t I be? You have the talent, don’t you?”

“Well, yes!” Rarity responded, slightly offended, though she tried to not let that show through too much. “I can create anything you desire, just name it!”

“Very good then!” Nightmare Moon smirked at her. “This should work out just fine then, and... if you’re good enough... perhaps you might even get your own line right here in Canterlot.”

“Well why didn’t you say so, darling?” Rarity said, jumping at the idea. The excitement was visible on her face as the thoughts of fame and fortune settled in her head. “Well I must be off, then. There’s no time to waste!” And with that, she sped off to start her designs, the poor guard barely able to keep up with her.

All that was left was Rainbow Dash, and Twilight could most certainly hear her down the halls, becoming louder the closer she came.

The moment the two guards that were needed to subdue the pegasus brought her in, she went quiet. Rainbow glared at Nightmare Moon, trying to pull at her restraints, a pair of chains leading from the guards to a harness holding the pegasus’ powerful wings against her sides. “You! What have you done with the rest of my friends!? ...And what did you mean that I’m not the best!?”

Nightmare Moon smiled, and Twilight could easily see it was not the kind one from earlier. “I have simply given them jobs to acclimate them to living their new lives beneath my rule, dear Rainbow... Just as I am about to give you yours, whether you like it or not. You see, when I offered for you to be Captain of my Shadowbolts, you were the best. But, since you refused, once I returned to Canterlot, I simply found someone better!” A shimmer rolled across the corner nearby, a pegasus in a Shadowbolt outfit appearing from the thin air, causing Twilight to start and her heart to race. “Meet Flash Bolt. I assume you know each other?”

Rainbow Dash’s jaw dropped open at the sight of the new pegasus, and Twilight swore she could hear the mare saying, “Ohmygoshohmygosh” beneath her breath. However, she seemed to quickly compose herself. “Why!?”

The other pegasus simply smiled, and seemed about to speak when Twilight suddenly burst out, “Do you... know this pony, Rainbow Dash!?” A glare from Nightmare Moon quickly made Twilight shut her mouth.

Rainbow Dash seemed not to see it, though, “Well, yeah! She’s my idol! Or was.” The rainbow maned mare turned her eyes, which were full of hurt and betrayal toward Flash Bolt. “She is, or was the Captain of the Wonderbolts! I used to dream of flying alongside her!” Then, turning her head toward Flash Bolt, she demanded once again, “So why join the enemy, Flash?”

Flash Bolt raised a hoof and pulled up her goggles, then pulled back the outfit’s head to break the spell changing her mane and coat’s colors. They faded from the dark blue colors and became her normal dark grey coat and white mane, her eyes a striking gold. “Why?” parroted the pegasus, staring directly at Rainbow Dash. “I didn’t have to ask why, kid. I was retiring from the Wonderbolts when our Queen returned, and she offered me a job: to lead an elite flight of peacekeepers, the Shadowbolts. Call me stupid or whatever you want, but performing for the populace as a stuntspony isn’t who I am anymore. It wasn’t so much a choice as a natural progression of things. My loyalty is to whomever sits upon the throne, which is both Queen Nightmare Moon and Princess Celestia. The both of them rightful rulers of Equestria!”

Each point Flash Bolt made with a powerful stomp of her hoof, causing Rainbow Dash to flinch involuntarily. Before the cyan pegasus could recover, however, Flash continued her speech. “Yes, my dear filly, I have heard of your dreams to join the Wonderbolts, many times over. I know how good you are, which is why when my Queen suggested you as a proper Lieutenant, I jumped at the chance to see how capable you were of this duty. To know just how loyal you were to Equestria.”

For once, it seemed as if Rainbow Dash had been caught off-guard, so Nightmare Moon spoke for her. “Keep in mind, my little pony: If you reject this offer, you reject your chance at ever joining the Wonderbolts. So...” The Nightmare leaned low over her desk and gave a wicked grin, “If you wish to keep your dream, I suggest you do not reject me again.”

________________

I believe that went quite well, Nightmare Moon thought to herself as she took one of the deeper tunnels within Canterlot’s Castle. Beside her, she could see her pet trailing behind by a few lengths, apparently deep in thought. I wouldn’t put it past her to be thinking of what I may have planned for her.

As she continued down one corridor, steel doors began to show up to either side of her, and the shielding from up ahead could be felt pushing subtly against her. No... Not again... This is just like what happened last time... a voice whispered from the rear of her mind.

Sneering in distaste, Nightmare Moon snarled, “Quiet! It is about time you awoke, but now is not the time to distract me!” Behind her, Twilight Sparkle started out of her thoughts and seemed ready to ask a question, but a stamp of the alicorn’s hoof and a brisk shake of her head quelled her pet.

As the two continued down the long corridor, a stretch of the wall next to them took Nightmare Moon’s attention. Turning to it, the alicorn’s eyes darted over the cobblestone surface. “Hrm... This seems oddly...”

...Familiar... Luna’s voice completed in her head. I... remember.... something. Something from our past...

An image of a tiny, onyx statue of a pony flashed within Nightmare Moon’s mind, a thrum of pressure in her head causing her to sway in dizziness. However, just as quick as it had appeared, it was gone again, the alicorn shaking her head to clear her thoughts.

“A- Are you alright, Nightmare?” Twilight’s inquisitive voice called out from behind her.

Planting a hoof against the stone wall, the alicorn peered closely at it before stepping back, “Fine, my pet. Just old, old memories. Nothing more. Come.” Twisting her body away from the wall, Nightmare Moon approached a nearby iron-clad door and shoved it open with her magic, revealing the chamber beyond as a bright luminescence radiated out into the corridor.

Beyond the door floated an improbably large multi-faceted crystal that radiated a cool, welcoming light into the alabaster ceramic tiles making up the domed room. It was safe for Nightmare Moon to say that this Core put Everfree’s to shame. Looking back, Nightmare chuckled as she noticed that her pet was enraptured with the chamber, its immense beauty having transfixed her completely, rooting her to the spot.

Turning back toward the crystal, the alicorn trotted forth and placed herself directly beneath it. Please... not again...

Ignoring the cries of Luna, Nightmare Moon sat upon her haunches, beckoning her student inside. Twilight approached cautiously, as the Nightmare stared down at her. “Now, my pet, before I proceed with your punishment, I have one thing to ask. You knew these ponies for barely a day! How is it exactly that can you call them your friends?”

“They... they were the first ponies I met when I arrived in Ponyville. They welcomed me, and I cast them aside to deal with you, instead, but when we all came out to stop you, I felt... closer to them, as if they were what I was missing in my life,” Twilight whispered, looking down at the floor as if it were something wrong.

“Indeed...” Nightmare Moon simply replied as she stationed herself below the floating Core. “But eyes on the present. In the meantime, you have a punishment due, and I know the perfect one. After it is given to you, you will have two choices, my dear pet. You can either wallow within yourself and waste your life. Or...” she rose a hoof, “You can accept things for what they are, move on, and make the most of the current situation. The latter brings forth the most ‘freedom’ for you to work with, I assure you.”

As Twilight came up to settle down before Nightmare, she could see the mare shaking before her. “Your punishment will be to see what could have been if you and your friends had, somehow remotely, managed to defeat me and live your lives together,” Nightmare Moon chuckled, shooting a lance of power up into the Core.

________________

A party involving all of Ponyville, the two alicorn sisters, Princesses Celestia and Luna reunited in the center while the sun shone high overhead. Twilight Sparkle was given leave to continue her studies of friendship amongst her new ponyfriends.

FLASH!

A boisterous light blue unicorn, boasting to be the most powerful unicorn of all. An Ursa Minor rampaging through Ponyville. Twilight Sparkle taming the beast and sending it back into its home in the Everfree Forest.

FLASH!

Tickets for the Grand Galloping Gala floating before her, and Twilight trying to figure out which of her friends could go. By the end, all her friends decided not to, and then each received a ticket from the Princess regardless.

FLASH!

Her first sleepover. Rarity and Applejack were at each other’s throats, but in the end, all three greatly enjoyed themselves.

FLASH!

A ruined fashion show. A ruined designer. Twilight and her friends banded together to finish a dress for Rarity, apologizing for not taking her feelings into consideration. A second show showing off the original designs for their Grand Galloping Gala dresses proved to be more of a success.

FLASH!

Rainbow Dash’s audition for the Best Young Flyer Competition. Twilight and her friends showing up to give the pegasus the support of her friends. Rainbow Dash saves Rarity, pulls off a Sonic Rainboom, and wins the competition.

FLASH!

Twilight Sparkle’s first Winter Wrap Up in Ponyville. Finding out that while none of the things she tried were her specialty, when it came to logistics and management, there was none better.

FLASH! FLASH! FLASH! FLASH! FLASH!

Scene after scene, the day to day life with her friends, with Spike, the adventures that were had, parties that were attended, and lives that were lived flashed one after another through Twilight’s mind. There seemed to be no end to the images and scenes that played through her mind, each one adding to the pile on top of her that wanted to crush her in hopelessness.
And yet... There Nightmare Moon was, watching from a corner of her mind, waiting expectantly.

After what seemed an eternity, the spell ended, leaving the unicorn to collapse upon the marble floor in tears, sobs racking her body. She knew now what Nightmare Moon had tore her away from, and knew what her failure to stop the Queen of the Night had caused.

A gentle wing draping itself over her prone body with a strange affection that could be felt through the tears, and Nightmare Moon’s words cut through her depression. “Come, my pet. You’ve been punished enough. Tomorrow, I will hear what your answer is. For now, let us retire and rest. You begin your training soon,” the Nightmare’s words were just as soft and gentle as her wing, a far cry from her usual bitter hardness.

It was at that moment Twilight Sparkle chose what she would do.

I will be the best I can possibly be, and nopony will hold me back. I know that’s what my friends would want.

__________________

Nightmare Moon sat looking up in the late night sky, unarmored and wearing none of her usual make-up. In fact, she looked less the regal Queen of Equestria and more a lost soul just looking for answers. While her attentions were spread against making the night as beautiful as she could, her thoughts were elsewhere.

It had been over a year since her return and rise to power, and many things had happened in the ensuing months. Her pet was sound asleep within the chambers beyond the balcony upon which Nightmare Moon sat, and the land slumbered quietly across her gaze.

Over the past year, Nightmare Moon had felt herself start to mellow out... to become less angry at everyone and everything. And without that anger... it was almost as if she had lost some direction as well. “Luna...” she asked her always present alter-ego, “What is happening to me?”

Nightmare Moon did not expect much of an answer, though. Luna was mostly silent these days, and every time the Nightmare asked her that question, Luna could not seem to give her a straight answer.

That is because I didn’t have an answer for you, Nightmare. But... after thinking about it for some time, I think I do now, Luna replied, surprising Nightmare Moon.

“Well, what is it, then?”

You’re me. Or, a copy of me, I should say. And you’ve finally received everything that we wanted over a thousand years ago. Our night is appreciated, and looked upon with adoration. We are loved and noticed. We aren’t lonely, not with Twilight always by our side. And soon, Celestia will be by our side, too, when she finally bows down to us. You can feel it as well as I can, she’s tired of fighting against us.
And while this was all true, Nightmare Moon still sat skeptical. “And what does this all have to do with what is happening to me, foal?”

We have what we wanted. Your anger is no longer able to be sustained. You aren’t even angry at me anymore. You’re... You’re becoming more like I am. In fact... Luna seemed to hesitate here, and then her next words shocked the alicorn. I may not be around much longer. I can feel myself merging with you, becoming one again. I can feel the pull. It won’t be long now...

“You mean you’ll die.”

I... I’m not sure, but I don’t think so. I just won’t be there anymore. Remember, that statue created you. Created a copy of me with my more negative emotions. But without those emotions, well, then you’re just me. Or maybe I’m you. I am not sure anymore.

“I... I will miss you.”

__________________

Twilight Sparkle could not sleep. The bed made for a queen sat beside her own, empty and unused this night. Blinking her eyes wearily in the darkness, the unicorn could see her teacher and owner sitting outside upon the balcony once again, as she often did so late at night nowadays.

As much as Twilight wished to go to her, she was caught in her own thoughts. She noticed how attached she had become to Nightmare Moon now, nigh inseparable. Not in a relationship sense, as Twilight didn’t feel as if she could ever be in a relationship with anypony, but more in of knowing that she was an important part of the alicorn’s life. Of her mental integrity.

Of course, the unicorn had despised Nightmare Moon at first, especially in the greatly taxing lessons her Queen had begun to teach her. By this point, Twilight knew more ways to kill than she did ways to heal, and the finer points of ruling marched through her thoughts at times. But what of it now? She had come to enjoy Nightmare Moon’s company, and even more than that, she had become greatly attached to her. Twilight knew what that was called, Trotholm Syndrome, but it helped keep her sane in the past, and it had even opened her up to much more freedom along the way.

She had a great friendship with the ponies she met back in Ponyville, and while it was not on the levels it would have been in her alternate life, it had been enough. She even had the freedom, as the Queen’s Royal Pet, to be allowed unrestricted access to the Royal Library, the Canterlot Library, and even the Collegium’s studies whenever she was not indisposed of. Even Celestia hadn’t allowed her such freedom to learn.

Twilight’s thoughts turned back to past months. She was amazed at how short a period of time it had taken to restore order to Equestria. Rainbow Dash had easily taken up her position as a Lieutenant of the Shadowbolts, if not too willingly, and under her and Flash Bolt’s command, they had quickly, and surprisingly, brought all of Equestria’s towns and cities under Nightmare Moon’s rule, as well as succeeded in dispensing out her new edicts and laws across the land.
The new laws had surprised Twilight, as they barely changed anything at all, leaving Equestria as it had been beneath Princess Celestia’s rule.

Thinking of her former tutor and... Twilight sighed to herself, the one she could only call her adoptive mother made her remember the day scant months ago when Nightmare Moon had returned the Princess from her exile...

“Nightmare, why are we out here doing nothing? While I am appreciative of the break from my studies, I do not recall staring up into Sol being part of our regular routine,” Twilight remarked, confusion marking her face.

Nightmare Moon’s eyes were narrowed as she stared up into the harsh light of the afternoon sun, concentrating intensely upon it. “You should know it is not, my dear pet,” the alicorn replied with a touch of affection. “No, no. I have unfinished business I promised to an old familial relation of ours. The spell I used was excessively complicated, however, and I am taking the time to unravel it.”

Twilight’s eyes grew wide, and she stammered for a moment before managing to find her voice. “Princess Celestia is returning!? Oh dear, I hope everything looks alright! Is my mane nice? Is my collar straight? Oh dear, I should make sure the chambers are clean!”

“Twilight, my pet, enough!” the Nightmare barked in a stern voice. “This is anything but a formal visit. Oh no, my sister has probably guessed by now what has occurred.”

The unicorn bowed her head, saying, “Yes, sorry my Queen. I, erm, get excitable when the Princess is involved.”

“Indeed...” muttered Nightmare Moon, her eyes darting to and fro across the sky before she smiled and took several steps back, using a wing to pull Twilight along with her.

The sun flared above them as a large cloud of light floated gently down through the sky, coalescing before them. The mote took shape, revealing the prone form of Princess Celestia collapsed upon the marble floor of the balcony, too weak to stand upon her own hooves.

“Princess!” Twilight cried, running forward to nuzzle against Celestia’s cheek, and blocking her from seeing the Nightmare past her.

Groaning, the Princess opened her eyes and managed a weak smile, “Oh, my faithful student. I was not wrong in leaving the Elements in your capable hooves. My sun is shining, and I have returned. Now that my sister’s Nightmare has been defeated, we can...” Celestia trailed off, noticing the inhibitor upon Twilight’s horn and the breastplate collar around her neck.

Her pupils narrowing to mere pinpoints as the sudden realization hit her, Princess Celestia gasped out, “Tw-Twilight, please tell me Nightmare Moon has been defeated...?”

Sheepishly turning away and taking a step back, her movement revealed Nightmare Moon patiently standing aside.

“No...” Celestia whispered.

“Yes, my dearest sister... Your precious student, now my own Royal Pet and Student, failed you. Equestria is mine, and has been for a year. You are now mine!” Nightmare Moon triumphantly boasted above her fallen sister while Twilight ashamedly inched herself away from the ordeal.

“Please! Sister! You can rethink this! You don’t need to be this w-”

Celestia was cut off as Nightmare Moon planted a shoe’d hoof against the white alicorn’s throat. “You will be silent, sister. We were meant to rule together, you and I. And a thousand years ago, it was you who ruled. Now I rule, but I do not intend to rule alone. Twilight is by my side, and soon enough, you will be, too...”

Nightmare Moon’s mane crept toward Celestia, while the Princess’s cheeks began to dampen with the tears streaming from her eyes, her hooves struggling to get beneath her weakened body and push her away. Celestia’s eyes pleaded for the Nightmare before her to have a mercy of some kind.

Nightmare Moon saw this, and as her mane began to cover Celestia, she whispered, “Do not worry, dearest sister. I have more mercy than I did a thousand years ago. I do not mean to kill you. I mean to make you mine, just as I did with your student...”

Twilight snuggled deep into her covers, pulling them up nearly to her chin. After the Princess had returned, the next time Twilight had been permitted to see her was when her former mentor had been bound and chained deep within Canterlot Castle’s dungeons, adorned by the same objects of power as Twilight. The inhibitor Celestia wore, however, took up most of her horn so as to block her godly powers, while Twilight’s was a mere ring. The Princess’ breastplate had been replaced with a collar, though one more ornate that her own, and the bracelets that were attached around her ankles.

Twilight shuddered when she remembered what those did, when she had first found out their purpose. They acted as magnets, binding her legs to each other and also causing them to go numb with paralysis, preventing their usage. It had been a rather... nasty surprise. Still, for her, at least, such issues were in the past.

Taking one last peek out at the balcony upon which Nightmare Moon sat, Twilight thought one last thing before she faded off to her dreams.

Sleep when you can get it, my Queen. We all have our own trials and tribulations to get through.

_________________

The Nightmare focused upon her moon, still deep in thought. Even months later, she was still amazed and relieved at how quickly Equestria had accepted her rule. While her Shadowbolts had indeed been the face that had stretched her wings out over the land, it was back in Canterlot where the real trials were going on.

As Royal Writ had promised, her Cult of the Night had nearly crawled out of the walls to serve her, and had been absolutely instrumental in cementing her seat upon Canterlot’s throne. Royal Writ herself had been indispensable, providing advice and information on the current political standings to help ease Nightmare Moon into power. Just the sheer number of political decisions, treaties, and history that the alicorn had to learn would have taken years if not for Royal’s help in needing to know what was important at that moment and what could be learned about later.

Now, all who had been within the Cult held some important position ideal to their talents, and Nightmare Moon had made doubly sure they did not feel in the least bit left out as their reward for aiding their Queen.

As Nightmare Moon’s thoughts turned elsewhere, a jolt streaked across her temples, startling her from her reverie. Something was pulling at her from deeper within the castle, somewhere near the Core. Grumbling to herself, the alicorn pointedly ignored the feeling, only to have another jolt stagger her. Shaking her head, she glared into the dark and began the long trek down through the palace, encountering not a single soul along the journey.

But, as Nightmare Moon turned down into the corridor that led to the Core, the sight that awaited her made her recoil her head back in disgust.

What stood down the corridor could only be accurately described by her own name. A nightmare. It appeared to be another alicorn. Or rather, the remains of one. A dark, dripping mass of flesh and rot, bound together by thick ropes of sinew into a vaguely equine shape, a thick ooze shimmering wetly over its tattered body. It was a horror, no other words seeming fit to represent it.

Empty sockets stared back into Nightmare Moon’s soul as the abomination began to approach. Its obsidian horn gleamed in the light of the magical torches along the walls, a mane of angry black tendrils coiling and writhing upon it’s back as it took each haggard step down the corridor toward Nightmare Moon, rotten wings flaring out from it’s back, leaving a cloud of plumage and dust behind it. Putrid muscle flexed beneath strips of black flesh, pulled taught against necrotic bone, and as it walked, its hooves dragged with them a pool of shadow, smearing the floor behind it with liquid oblivion as it grew closer. The darkness spread out to crawl up the walls around it, reaching up them slowly as if it possessed of the ambition to snuff out the torchlight itself.

Evaluating the situation the alicorn found herself in, she narrowed her eyes and prepared her magic, just in case. “What are you!? Speak if you can, foal, I will not be afraid to destroy you utterly and completely if you do not!” she demanded, her horn an onyx mass of magic ready to be used against the monstrosity.

The horror stopped, and seemed to study Nightmare Moon curiously for a moment, sending a shiver down her spine before it finally spoke. “I? I am you. I am me. But if a name you seek, then I am Erebus.” Its voice was gravelly and hollow somewhat, as if it called from the depths of the grave.

Without dropping her combat pose, Nightmare Moon replied, “And what is your purpose here, Erebus?”

A low rumble came from the horror, which the alicorn took to be laughing. “To warn you. The Deep Dark comes. And I am its Harbinger. You would do well to abide me, Luna.”

As Nightmare Moon was about to reply, her vision blurred and she stumbled dizzily for a few seconds before recovering her hooves upon the stone floor. When she looked up, however, the horror was gone, as if it had never existed at all.

_________________

The next few days crept slowly by for Nightmare Moon as her thoughts were overtaken by the events of her meeting with Erebus. So distracted was she that the days of court, meetings, and talks all went by with only half her attention. This concerned Twilight, as her pet had to pick up the slack, which the Nightmare was rather grateful for. There were simply more important things at stake right now than territory disputes amongst neighboring ponies, and whether to hire on more servants or not.

In fact, by the time the third night came, Nightmare Moon had to mentally tear her thoughts away from the problem before her to take note of something else. Her sister had finally agreed to bow before her and accept a place at Nightmare Moon’s side. On any other day, the alicorn would have rejoiced, but this victory tasted bittersweet within her mouth. She could feel it deep within her bones that something monumental was about to happen.

As she made her way down to the dungeons, Twilight trailed along from behind her, excitement in each of her steps. She seemed so... exuberant. And why shouldn’t she be? No matter how her pet felt, however, the Nightmare could not shake the feeling something was about to go so very wrong.

As they entered the dungeon, however, nothing happened other than the two guards who were always placed at Celestia’s cell coming forward to tell her that Celestia was indeed ready.

“Stay here,” the alicorn commanded to Twilight before moving forward and throwing open the cell door to step inside, her eyes adjusting to notice the form curled against the far wall.

There, Celestia lay chained by her hooves to the stone itself, just enough slack in them to allow her limited access to the large bed lying against one wall and the simple latrine on the other end. Her mane and tail hung limp, as if the constant wind that made them flow had tapered off and died. Around her neck and horn were indeed the collar and inhibitor, though they were hard to distinguish in the harsh darkness of the cell.

“My good sister,” Nightmare Moon started. “It is indeed well and good to see that you have finally come to your senses. I have missed your presence by my side, you know.” A genuine smile parted the alicorn’s face as she took a few more steps to stand near Celestia.

A great sigh heaved through Celestia’s body as she turned weary eyes to look up into Nightmare Moon’s own. “I can’t fight you, Luna, or whoever you are now. Nightmare Moon. I could try to fight you, and remain here for the next two millenia. Or I could finally accept my fate and join you, for whatever time we have. You may not be fully Luna anymore, or even her at all, but you are still my sister, and I still love you...” Celestia’s eyes turned aside, as if she had given up.

“How... touching...” Nightmare Moon sarcastically replied, not really having her heart in it. As much as she tried to keep her thoughts on current events, they kept creeping back to Erebus. How did it know our name?

Shaking her head clear of such thoughts, the Queen of Equestria sent a pulse of magic through her horn, the shackles around Celestia’s hooves falling free, allowing her to stand. “Come, my sister, you’ll get a night free of your duties, but tomorrow, during Court, you will bow to me and swear unbreakable oaths.” Bumping her nose to her sister’s, Nightmare Moon turned away, looking back occasionally to watch the alabaster alicorn following with a lowered head. The scene reminded her so much of her victory a millennium ago, the one that had ended in Celestia’s betrayal...

Pushing that to the back of her mind, Nightmare Moon instead thought of the days to come. She would of course have to set Celestia up to rule alongside herself, get her acquainted with all the changes she had brought about, and of course make it known to Equestria that their Princess had returned.

Once Twilight joined them, the three ponies made quite the stately procession through the halls. However, shortly after leaving the dungeons, Nightmare Moon started feeling uneasy. Something is wrong. I can feel it, a building of tension... Something’s coming to a head...

Nothing happened immediately, but after turning a corner... One second the corridor ahead was lit by the magical torches that lined the walls, and the next, nothing but darkness sat before them. And Erebus. The horrified gasps of both Celestia and Twilight behind her proved that they both saw the abomination, too.

Nightmare Moon spread her wings to either side to block the corridor, then gathered up energy in her horn as she took a battle stance. “And what do I hold the honor of our meeting to this time, Erebus?” the alicorn demanded, Twilight standing to one side of the Nightmare, her horn glowing with just as much power.

“Honor? Meeting? I am not here for you, Luna. I am here for Celestia. Her time has come to serve the greater good of the Deep Dark. You will abide me, Luna,” Erebus coolly explained, not moving from its spot.

“I submit to nopony, Erebus, least of all you. Deep Dark or not, this is my castle and my queendom,” retorted Nightmare, her pupils narrowing to bare slits.

Erebus seemed to twitch, a shudder running down its entire, rotted body. “You disappoint me. I, after all, helped create your Nightmare. You should be more thankful of my gifts. But it appears you are not, so I shall show you the full extent of that gift you used so mercilessly a thousand years ago.”

All at once, a thousand whip like tendrils burst from Erebus’ body, turning the horror into an absolute monstrosity! Twin blasts of arcane power struck Erebus dead in the center of its chest, but seemingly ineffective, only causing the abomination to let out a low rumble once more.

“We must flee!” Celestia exclaimed, spurring the two into action as they turned to follow the sun princess, running down the corridor.

“It is a dead end, sister! There is no other way out of the dungeon!” warned Nightmare, her starred mane and tail streaming out behind her.

Twilight was just barely able to keep up, her horn glowing multiple times before fizzling out, “I... I can’t teleport us out either! Something’s bloc-”

At that moment, an immense shadow burst out of the corridor ahead, covering it completely from side to side, and all at once, a wall of tentacles streamed forth to latch themselves to Celestia’s coat while others wrapped themselves around her body, a shriek of pain emitting from alicorn’s mouth.

A rage-filled “NO!” left Nightmare Moon’s mouth as she latched onto Celestia’s body with her magic, pulling Celestia away from the wall of shadow ahead. Twilight’s strength soon joined hers, and it seemed for a bare moment as if they were winning the fight, but soon they began to lose precious ground, the thick tendrils dragging the crying Princess further and further into the shadows. Celestia’s hide began to take on a sickening cast, her screams of agony growing weaker with each passing moment.

As if to show the two ponies that their magic was useless, the tendrils entwined themselves together around the elder alicorn and wrenched her bodily off the floor with a horrified scream, their magical hold on her being torn asunder as Celestia was pulled into the shadows completely, disappearing within.

“Princess!” Twilight yelled out in horror, a scream of rage erupting from Nightmare Moon’s throat at the same time. The sounds that shortly came from the congealed darkness could only attest to the horrors within as Celestia’s voice seemed to find new strength. A strength fueled by pure terror. By agony. By the reality of death, presented in a way that not even the War of the Night had managed. They were a pony’s death throes, and soon Celestia’s cries became inundated by revolting, wet noises, causing Nightmare Moon to flinch back visibly.

By this point, Nightmare Moon’s rage was boiling over, her entire body exuding a cloud of shadow around her as her eyes began to glow cyan from the amount of magic she had gathered. All at once and without a single word, Nightmare Moon herself leapt into the shadows that had taken her sister from her, intent on destroying it down to the last molecule. I am finally happy with life! Truly happy for the first time in over a thousand years, and no loathsome abomination will take that away from me!

The moment she entered, however, Erebus’ voice boomed out from around her, “I created your Nightmare, Luna. What makes you think you can fight me so easily?”

________________

Twilight was in shock, there was no simpler way to put it. Her mouth was agape, yet no sound came from it, but within her mind, she was screaming in absolute distress. She had just seen her adoptive mother and mentor dragged to her death, the alicorn’s screams of agony still playing themselves within the unicorn’s head. Then, shortly afterward, her owner had jumped in as well.

As Twilight watched and listened, Nightmare Moon’s cries of rage quickly became reduced to the same screams of agonizing pain that had erupted from Princess Celestia’s throat not moments before, and eventually, they too died down to be replaced by an awful silence. The sound of her collar, bracelets, and inhibitor fading away into smoke jarred Twilight from her shock. Oh Celestia, what do I do!?

As if reading her thoughts, Erebus’ voice boomed out from around her, “Run, little filly. Run. Know the terror I will bring to Equestria, for I am the Harbinger of the Deep Dark. And we seek to take back what is ours...”

And so Twilight ran. And so she hid. And all around her, she could hear the sounds of the castle’s inhabitants panicking, evacuating, and dying, their agonized screams joining Celestia’s and Nightmare’s within her head.

Soon, even those died down to a trickle, and then nothing. And then something sounded from the dark of her hiding place.

“Time to play, little filly.”

The shadows moved in.

Twilight screamed.

And then there was silence.

******************

CELESTIA’S NOTES:

My faithful student, I knew that eventually, you would be reading this text. Every word of it– everything that happened within its pages was one of many possible conclusions that might have occurred if you and your friends had failed to stop Nightmare Moon. And while it may have been one of many possibilities, it was the most likely of them all. I did not have the heart to write down what happened afterward to my Equestria. To say the least, the Deep Dark, and Erebus, destroyed it down to the last foal.

I have already taken measures to prevent such circumstances from ever happening. After approaching Royal Writ, she admitted that she was indeed part of the Cult of the Night. However, after digging deeper, I found them to be nothing more than a harmless assembly of like-minded ponies who, after hearing that Nightmare Moon was gone for good, quickly abandoned their hopes for her return. I punished none of them, and they all remain in their stations, however, I did confiscate Check List’s original notes.

The corridor in which I hid the statue is under guard every hour of the day, though I must continuously switch out the guards. The auras of so many magical items have strange effects upon the mind, you see, so I make sure the guards have minimal duty there. And if Erebus were to appear, I hope that the Elements, as well as the powers of both Luna and I, will be enough vanquish this threat, if it is not already too late when you receive this tome.

Since delving into the possibility of what may have happened, I have been deep within some of the oldest chronicles we still have, trying to figure out what occurred. So far all my leads have turned up nothing, and we can hope that this preparation ultimately amounts to nothing happening. I can only pray to Sol that our fears are unfounded... And if they are not, then we must prevent this scenario at all costs...

End of WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN
To be Continued within DEEP DARK

(A/N) I have to say that having immense Writer’s Block while in the midst of starting a sequel is one of the more frustrating things I’ve come to hate while writing. This took three weeks to write while the progress though most of it was slow. It was not until the last third of the project did it really begin to pick up in pace. It was so bad near the beginning, I had to call in ZAquanimus, one of my editors, to help brainstorm how to plot things out and to write, and he has been an immense amount of help. He was slow in help, though, so I may have to hand him off to Nightmare Moon for punishment. Oh, don’t look at me that way, he’ll enjoy it. I think. I have also left this story wide open for expansion. There is, after all, a year’s worth of events that goes on. I should point out that this wasn’t meant to be a main story, either, but as a story set to the side to boost Deep Dark, reveal more of the new danger, and show to Twilight what could have happened if she lost.
~Dragryphon

(E1/N) Out of everything so far, this one was a bit far out of the box for me. Twilight definitely brought a new element to think about and it wasn’t as tense or emotional for me as some parts of Solar Flare were for the most part. Still, there were some good exchanges for sure, and Nightmare Moon definitely shows more depth in this one than ever before. Some definite insight into what makes Luna... well... Luna (and consequently Nightmare Moon) here. And of course... the new Big Bad... well I anxious to see where that goes. Very anxious.
~ Sali

(E2/N) Oh where to start. This was definitely a new experience for me. I’ve never helped to write something so... tense before, even if it was only a few scenes. I’ve even learned a different way of writing dialogue, as my own writing is done much different. Thus with learning a new style of writing, in addition to writing in a much different spirit than in my own work, my progress was beyond a little slow. Hopefully Nightmare Moon will take mercy upon this pitiful excuse for an editor. I’m really anxious to see what’s coming in Deep Dark; Solar Flare made me cry, sad tears, happy tears, many many tears. This was nothing like that. The tears of rage and sadness that came would leave me in despair for hours at a time. I do not know whether this story will affect anyone else so strongly, but I know that I won’t be getting the screams out of my head anytime soon.
~ZAquanimus