A Nightmare's Reign: A quest for Harmony

Night Ends and Chaos Rises

Sitting on the throne was always a wonderful pass time for Nightmare Moon. Oh how she enjoyed being basked with praise by her royal court as she looked upon them with superiority. The rich and the best of brightest praised Nightmare Moon calling her "The greatest ruler Equestria had ever had." and "The Hero of the Kingdom."  .Captain Scared Eye also enjoyed the praise or what little Nightmare Moon would give him as he stood by his Queens side.

Nightmare Moon's joy would soon end as the massive doors opened and a small black bat entered the room much to the soared towards the throne much to the confusion of the entourage in the room. Landing near Nightmare Moon's ear she listened for a brief moment taking in the information, once dune her face turned to one of fear and anger.

"OUT! EVERYONE OUT!" She shouted shocking everyone in the room. Not wishing to incur her wrath. Even Captain Scared Eye was forced to leave the room along with the other Royal Guard stationed at the end of the hallway. Once the room was empty Nightmare Moon quickly began to pace back and a sense of fear starting to come over her.

"How did this happen. No! I can't let my fear get to me, I am the mistress of fear the ruler of Nightmares!"

"Some Ruler of Nightmares you turned out to me." Said a cold sarcastic voice appearing from out of nowhere.

Nightmare Moon turned around sharply looking for were the voice had come from. "Who's there! Show yourself!"

The voice started to laugh sounding as if he was enjoying her torment. "Oh come on now Mon Princess, you know who I am." Suddenly a bright ball of energy began to emerge illuminating into a flash of light. Emerging from it a strange looking creature appeared, he had the head of a normal pony but he had two strange antler horns sticking on his head, his body was long and snake like, he had two arms but one was the arm of a lion the other the claw of a eagle even his legs were miss matched one was the alligators foot and the other a goat hoof.

Glaring at the strange creature he eyes narrowing Nightmare Moon whispered his name in a tone of pure hatred. "Discord."

The moment his name was spoken he gave a respectful bow as he grinned sinisterly at her. "Why yes it is. Been some time Princess, I love what you've done with the place much  better then under Celestia." He started walking around the throne room observing all the decor with interest. Nightmare Moon continued to glare at him gritting her teeth.

"Why are you here!" She shouted.

Discord wagged his fingers condescendingly. "Manners, manners, a please won't go a miss. But to be honest I think you know why I'm here."

"You are supposed to be trapped in stone! My sister...."

"Your sister!" Discord interrupted. "Used the Elements of Harmony to trap me in stone. But thanks to you, there gone."

Nightmare Moon eyes narrowed as she continued to scowl at Discord.

Discord merely laughed at Nightmare Moon as she continued walking around the throne room relaxed and calm. "Oh come now Princess you knew this would happen, or has anger made you stupid to for that my dear is one deadly combination."

Nightmare Moon was getting tired of these games, she wasn't about to let Discord toy with her mind, this was her realm and she was going to remind him of that. "Listen, imp. I am not my sister I'm not going to let you roam around free and destroy my new kingdom."

"Oh are you." Discord said giggling with glee. "I'd like to see you try." As Nightmare Moon's horn began to glow about to let out a burst of magical energy Discord began to raise his eagle claw up into the air and then in a instant he snapped his fingers. Nothing happened.

Laughing Nightmare Moon fired the bolt of energy at Discord who dogged in by vanishing and then re appearing in another part of the room. "Looks like your magic is getting rusty Discord.

"Oh really." Discord said with a smirk on his face. "Call your royal guard."

"Very well. GUARDS! GET IN HERE." As ordered the doors to the throne room opened but instead of a legion of armored guardsponies storming small tiny black mice emerged swarming in shocking Nightmare Moon and causing Discord to laugh in joy.

"WHAT HAVE YOU DONE!" Nightmare Moon shouted.

Discord smiled. "I turned every one of the guards  you have across the entire Kingdom into a mouse. I don't think you be able to crush any resistance against you unless your enemies were made of cheese."

"Change them back!" She demanded trying to shake off one mouse who was attached to her leg.

"I will if you agree to my terms." Discord said enjoying every moment of the chaos that was around.

Nightmare Moon was hesitant at first, she didn't want to give into this imp. She still felt at first that her magic could defeat him but as she saw the mice swarming around her throne room who used to be her mighty royal guard and knowing that every single guard she had all over the real was turned into this small miserable creatures she realized she had no choice. "Very well. I'll listen."

Discord gave a small as he snapped his fingers again turning the mice back into the guardsponies they used to be.

The guardspony seemed dizzy and confused not quite sure what had to befallen them slowly they began to get back on their hooves and headed toward their Queen for orders. "Leave us." She commanded, obeying the guards once again left the throne room leaving Nightmare Moon and Discord to begin their "negations."

Nightmare Moon looked up at Discord who floated above her his bat wings constantly flapping.  "Alright Discord what are your terms, but if you think I will hand over the reigns of power to you I will..."

"No ,no ,no ,no." Discord said sounding reassuring. "Trust me my dear, I have no interest in ruling over these lands like I did in the days of old. Trust me governing is not what is quite cracked up to be., I realize this now. No! What I want is something more simple."

"Like what exactly?" Nightmare Moon asked sounding suspicious of the imps ambitions.

"First!" Discord shouted raising one his claws. "I want full and unrestricted access to all corners of your realm and to interact with whoever and whatever I want. Second" Discord held up another claw. "I want a large piece of real estate.

The second requested seemed to puzzle Nightmare Moon for her face looked confused and dazed. "Real estate?" she asked.

"Yes." Discord said bluntly. "I live a very interesting and bizarre lifestyle and I require a large piece of land to build a home to fit that lifestyle."

"Very well." Nightmare Moon responded so far the terms Discord had required seemed to be quite reasonable even for him, but that wouldn't mean she wouldn't put her guard down, she had known Discord for many centuries she knew that he would ask for something that she would have difficulty giving.

Discord must have realized this too for his evil grin widened as he put up his third claw. "And third... I want you to once again raise the sun."

This was it, this was the request she had to refuse. "NEVER!" she shouted sounding defiant. "I will never raise the sun not again. I would fight you to the death before I allow you to destroy my glorious night."

"Who said anything about destroying it." Discord responded sounding puzzled. "All I want is for the normal day and night cycle to continue once more."

"NEVER!" Nightmare Moon horn began to glow as she aimed it at Discord ready to strike.

Discord snapped his fingers removing the horn from Nightmare Moon's head causing her to go into a range.

"GIVE IT BACK" She demanded.

"I will, I will when you see  reason." Discord said trying to calm her down.

She merely smirked at him. "Since when have you been into reason."

"Well being turned to stone for a thousand years does give me a lot of time to think now does it." Discord responded. "Besides lets think of this way. When your sister ruled alone she raised both the day and night, she didn't impose internal day now did she."

"What is your point." Nightmare Moon snapped.

Discord wagged his finger in disapproval  "Patient please goods stories weren't told in a second. Now she raised both the day and night. So think about it she controlled your night, what better way to spite her then to control her day."

All of sudden a small smile began to appear on Nightmare Moon's face much to Discord's pleasure. "For once draconequest your actually right. Very well I will raise the sun again but this time it will be my sun the rises above the ponies of Equestria and they will bask in it's glory."

Discord smiled back. "Sure they will good luck." Discord then started to head out of the throne room but Nightmare Moon stopped her by blocking him with a blue force field that she had conjured. Noticing this Discord too a deep sighed. "It seems our conversation is not over. He slowly began to turn around and face Nightmare Moon his arms folded.

Nightmare Moon slowly walked up to him eyeing him with great interest. "I'm surprised at you Discord. You don't seem worried at all about what has recently happened."

"I have no idea what your talking about." Discord said trying to sound clueless

"Oh yes you do." Nightmare Moon said responded an evil grin appearing on her face. "You know everything and you know what those six little ponies are up to. And you know that if they succeed it will be quite unpleasant for the both of us."

Suddenly Discord expression turned to one of the great joy and glee. "Oh really. For the both of. I'm not the tyrannical ruler of the nation who allows their guards to rampage through the country side. I anything you are the only who's in trouble here."

"Bah! Your a fool then." Nightmare Moon scowled. "My subjects love me."

"Yes I'm sure they do." Discord said sarcastically. "They love you enough to let you hang the moment you become powerless."

Nightmare Moon face began to tighten as Discord started to get to her "Silence! You don't know my subjects."

"And I'm the fool" Discord smirked. "Now if you don't mind." He waved his claw causing the force field that blocked the exit  to melt away leaving a pile of magical ooze on the marble floor. "Were done for now." Discord turned around and headed out of the throne room. "If you wish for my assistance for anything in future I'll be more than happy to make a trade. Arrivederci" In a flash of light Discord vanished leaving Nightmare Moon alone knowing her reign had just become even more unstable now that Discord the Spirit of Chaos had  returned.

*****

It had been several hours since the ponies had returned back to Zecora's hut after their little escapade to the only ruins in the Everfree forest. Outside the darkness began to dissipate and a glowing yellow light emerged through the window causing Twilight to slowly wake up. As her eyes began open she noticed the light coming from outside. Getting a sudden burst of energy Twilight quickly went outside and to her joy she saw something she thought she though she would never see again. The sun.

"Guys. Wake up!" Twilight shouted walking her friends as they joined her outside and looked amazed the moment they saw the sun beaming above them.

"The sun its back! Hurray!" Pinkie Pie said jumping up and down.

"Thank goodness." Fluttershy said.

"I know, maybe Celestia back maybe she..."

"Um guys." Applejack interrupted. " I don't mean to burst anyone bubble but does anyone remember the sun having that strange marking before." Applejack pointed at the sun and revealed to them a strange marking that was in the shape of a unicorn head.

Suddenly everyone's face began to sulk.

"So that means." Twilight said having trouble finishing her sentance.

"This is Nightmare Moon work for sure, of this I do concur." Zecora stated as she came out from her hut looking up at the sky.

Everyone started to feel depressed for their one moment of hope was dashed in a second. Now Nightmare Moon was both the master of day and night and even and all they had to go on was one mysterious map.