Once upon a nightmare

“Twinkle, twinkle, little star..”

“How we wonder…”

“How I wonder, Luna. ”

“How I wonder what th..what..you are?”

“YES! YES! That’s correct, now try it again from the beginning once more."

The nervous alicorn cast a glance to her left and then to her right where she was greeted with more encouraging eyes. Inhaling a lung full of air, she resumed her lesson.

“Oh, twinkle, twinkle little star, How w..I wonder what you are. Up above the world so high, like a diamond in the sky!” Luna finished in a roar of applause and shouts of congratulations. Silver Cloud and the guards present in the Night Court turned Night time Speech Class held nothing back as their princess and friend demonstrated her progress.

Since her return and the reestablishment of her beloved court, the alicorn had wrestled on and off with the very notion with what she desired to what she held were likely to remain unchanged. A want to feel accepted than being told she was accepted were while not ideal was better than out right rejection. So, to be sitting here surrounded by ponies that honestly cared for her being and her for theirs vice versa felt more like a wish come true.

“Thank you, thank you. I want it to be known that these past weeks have been most fruitful and we are most grateful for thou..your patience. So let us declare that these classes of the night are a success!”

Silver Cloud was the more vocal of their little group as she shouted happily for the pony of her admiration turned friend with Night Watch a close second. The pair Stand Fast and Solid Wall were content to watch from afar at their assigned posts but from a distance it looked like they were quietly exchanging a few bits between the two. The other two guards present were much like the night, quiet and mysterious to everypony that saw them but for tonight only they gave their approval for their princess with simple smiles and tamed clapping.

“She has improved quite a bit over the last several weeks hasn’t she?” the noticeably poorer stallion said has he hoofed over whatever he had under his helmet.

The slightly richer stallion next to him accepted the new addition to his nest egg, placing them in a small pouch he kept under his armor. With a lazy glance to his partner and then one to the nosy group, he nodded.

“Yes boy, she certainly as. To think not but a few months ago we could have mistaken her for a historical actor!”

“ I’m older than you Wall.”

“It isn’t about age, but how you present yourself and you do so with the makings of a village idiot.”

“Unh-uh, momma’s boy!” Stand Fast retorted, eliciting a sarcastic chuckle from his partner.

Stand Fast recovered his gaze back onto the little party sitting around a small board with a three by three grid on it near the throne, with the guards taking turns explaining how the game worked. With attendance of court at an all time low(nopony besides Silver Cloud showing any real interest anyway) left the princess and her guard’s schedule open. With this free time, Luna was able to pull some strings(namely asking Celestia) and suddenly Silver Cloud was staying in one of the spare rooms next hers.

Since then, she had slowly became apart of their little circle and had even came up with the night class idea as a sort of pseudo payment for the room. The idea took off and soon every little get together became a sort of social gathering with the group ending the night with either a game or some sort of fun activity like they were doing tonight. Most times they were apart of it and other times they were here doing their job...sometimes.

As the guards wrapped up their explanation of the rules and Luna was in agreement on the rules was when Wall felt a gentle poking on his side.

“Hey Wall, how about another chance to win back your life savings?” Stand Fast ask as his head gestured to the group. “ Bet is Luna loses her temper and slips back into her ye old self before declaring the game a mockery of her intellect and destroys it.”

“She already did that last week.”

“ Well.. your bits say she’ll do it.” Solid Wall held his sight on Fast before moving to the group and back to his shifty cohort. “Add my guard shift for the week onto the bits and we’ll have a deal.”

Stand Fast grinned. “Deal. I took a couple of Night Watch’s shifts this next week so, there will be a couple double shifts.”

“What!”

The friends as usual were about to engage in one of their more infamous past times involving many creative uses of words, name calling, and sometimes fierce hoof to hoof engagements- otherwise know as debating. Shoulders squared, jaws flexed, and stances taken the pair locked eyes as they took one final breath before this test of skill and intellectual might began.

The defendant Solid Wall was first.

“I am calling you out on the grounds that you made a bet knowing it wasn’t as you worded it. I demand this contract be null and void under the liar liar clause.”

The opening argument could have been from the opening of a book or play: straight forward and to the point with enough meat leave somepony wanting more. Than again, how Wall had worded it left many openings ripe for twisting and exploitation to the highest caliber. Sometimes Solid Wall made it too easy.

The accused Stand Fast was next, and he relished it.

“I’m challenging your argument on the condition that while I didn’t inform you of the shift swap, it's still considered my shift. It wasn’t my wording but your very own assumptions that led you to make a deal you figured was already won. ”

Solid Wall was about to object when Stand Fast cut him off to hit the final nail in the coffin.

“Under these criteria and the binding, but still equally just playground law of our youth..there are no take backs!” the giant kid concluded his evidence, even going as far as to stick his tongue out.

The wronged stallion fidgeted as his muscles contracted and relaxed in vain to expel this raising tension. His ears flex and rotated to the sounds of their charge's little social gathering as they cheerfully chirped and gossiped like the magpies of his hometown. Wall tried his best to listen, observe and simple breed ignorance, but all of his attempts failed when the prodding hoof a certain child broke his nerve.

“Hey Wall. Are you pouting?”

He said nothing but this only earned him another poke.

“You're mad aren’t you?” Fast asked with the trailing shadow of wickedness in his words.

“No. Stop it.” Solid Wall lied in the hopes his friend would leave him be. This dream lasted two seconds before Stand Fast resumed poking his side, not to garner his attention but for the sole act to annoy ever living night out of him.

The pestered stallion was about to turn and bite his friend’s hoof when this idea was interrupted by a rapid clapping coming from behind them. The pair's quarrel abruptly ended as both sets of eyes turned to greet the imposing throne doors nestled between them. Princess Luna and her gathering didn’t hear it else they would have surely stopped to inquire, but Solid Wall and Stand Fast had heard something and weren't going to take any chances.

Two sets of puffed ears went to work. Fast’s ears were frantically moving as Wall’s ears lumbered from side to side but despite the difference in method, each were listening for the slightest disturbance to rear its ugly head once more.

“Found it.” they both whispered.

The guards listened intently as this rapid tapping became more distinguishable as the running hoofsteps of somepony growing louder by the second. The need for action was inevitable. An unspoken agreement between the two BFF's turned guards was sent and received with Solid Wall drawing his standard issue short sword and Stand Fast gripping his against regulations, Griffin serrated knife.

How he accumulated the bits to buy it, let alone managed to hide it in the barracks was a mystery perhaps best left to the unknown.

“Ready Fast?”

“Rawde.” He replied the best he could without sacrificing his grip over the knife's handle. While the moments were few and far in between, sometimes he secretly wished there was a sharp horn right between his eyes. So many of life’s little nuisances would be solved, but that would make things to easy.

Their preparations for this conflict didn’t go unnoticed, and while they readied themselves so to did Knight Night Watch and the other two guards. The best friends looked to the left and than to the right and then behind them as their commander arrived, drawing his sword as well. Against her personal desires to join them, Luna had retreated back to her throne along with Silver Cloud; the alicorn having thrown up a small barrier around them as she whispered something to her companion. From this distance the words were lost to all but their intended recipient but judging the silver mare’s widen eyes, and open jaw expression it must have held tremendous meaning.

Night Watch and his four guards had finally taken a defensive semi circle around the doors so whenever they opened, the threat would be dealt with as quickly as possible.

“At the ready colts, this isn’t a rub-n-tug convention. Give the pony next to you room to swing, and whatever you do, for the love Equestria, don’t start making those weird chirping noises again Results!”

“But sir, they're growls and war barks...”

“You sound like a damn cockatiel! Now defensive fortitudo, open ranks with two hoof steps between and for the love Luna and Celestia don’t let anything through! ” Night Watch ordered.

Amazing what twists and turns populate the plan of life.

Commander Watch, a slightly older stallion just entering his 'settle down years' while sporting a greying crown along the sides of his muzzle is perhaps the most recent effect by such plans. A soldier who joined the guard early in his life, just able to sign the paperwork without his parents help and hadn't looked back since; practically married to the job, a father in a way to the younger recruits(he even tutored the others by request of Shining Armor) just screamed ideal soldier and potential Knight Commander. His record like most just starting to venture out had a few details permanently splattered on the paper but unlike most Night Watch turned this disadvantaged into something to be admired.

By using his own life has a teaching aid for the recruits, most begin seeing him as somepony approachable and thus willing to take and ask for advice. It wasn't hard to see how familiar with his fellow guards Night Watch had become. He didn’t see them as fellow soldiers or brothers in arms but more along the lines of family, to the point Watch would even take lower ranking cadet’s guard shifts if they had a valid reason. This near selfless attitude not only made Night Watch the most well like senior guard, but it had also made him the unfortunate possible scapegoat for ponies with an agenda.

While his basic drilling and commands are all nearly textbook in nature, it severely clashed with the guard’s perception of this ‘rebel’ commander. Several of the higher ups in the most recent years have started pushing for a ‘thinner and meaner’ guard with their country’s war track being virtually nonexistent. Night Watch’s demeanor and leadership is unquestionable- good behavior, excellent sense of command, punctual. So, when the grapevine exploded with talk of his possible discharge it wasn’t surprising many of the younger guards stepped up to his defense.

Some appealed Celestia herself to block the motion but even she did nothing stating it wasn't her place to question how her knights ran the guard. Luckily, by chance Night Watch wasn’t a regular enlisted guard but a sub-attachment of the Celestia’s very own personal guard that operated at night. Princess Luna had not only encountered the stallion during her lone treks around the castle but found him approachable enough to ask questions. Once she had learned of his planned discharged, Luna waited until his final day before offering him a spot in her very guard unit. When asked about his potential brothers Luna bluntly told him it was just him until more could be recruited, but he would have near free reign on the guards operations. From recruitment all the way to how the armor should be worn and everything in between.

Needless to say, the offer was very tempting and the rest was history. If Princess Luna hadn’t returned and brought forth the reestablishment of her guard, than Watch wouldn’t be standing here tonight on the edge of conflict.

All five guardstallions braced: stances strengthen, muscles flex, weapons leveled, doubt and fear purged. All five guardstallions took one final breath as the unknown pony finally reached the only barrier between them and… knocked.

Silence.

Followed by more of a rhymed desperation than actual knocking. Night Watch waited..one..two.. before making a quick gesture toward the door with his wings and one stallion from each end of their half circle carefully advanced. Each grasping a separate door handle and paused to mutter a small prayer before yanking open the doors, to which their comrades tensed in anticipation.

The solid barriers split at the seam and revealed the somber void that lurked beyond, and besides the few sparsely scattered blue candles there was no other source of light except for what little beamed through the stained windows. A second pasted before the guards could distinguish the massive pony shaped blob ripping itself apart from the rest of the darkness. The trepidation that burst through (thankfully) wasn’t a monster or creature bent on causing them harm, but a distressed and tired Solar Guard who collapsed the very moment he crossed the divide.

"Celestia..." he uttered before hitting the floor.

Night Watch didn’t even have to give the order before the two that had opened the door responded and rushed to the stallion’s side. The two were fairly new, only having received their first few duty assignments a few weeks ago, and already they were some of the..

“By Celestia, I think he’s dead!”

“Quiet Dastardly! He’s not dead, but clearly not in the best of shape.”

… or another Stand Fast and Solid Wall. Oh well. At least they were dependable and did their jobs as told so he couldn’t complain too much. The others relaxed slightly and began moving up to assess and assist their comrade in arms, Fast and Wall had the right idea and head for the doors. The odd pair in a surprising display of tactics and professionalism found the walls on both sides and resumed their defensive stance from before; the bigger of the two, Solid Wall taking the right door and his more compact and thinner partner, Stand Fast opposite of him.

With that little detail in place Night Watch felt his wound muscles relaxing with each step he took.“What’s his condition Tri Salus?”

Tri Salus, or more known by his nickname Trinity for his love of the number three is an average built pony standing roughly a few hooves taller than Madam Silver Cloud, which isn’t very tall for a stallion. Keeping in touch with his love all things in three, the earth pony found himself sporting a rarity of a cutie mark; plastered right on his ocean blue coat were three winged staffs each colored differently depending on the ornament that decorated the staff. The staff on the left was colored red after the small cross that adorned the tip, while the center and right staffs were colored white, and black after the Celestia and Luna like figures on decorating their tops.

The oddity of such a mark left many a pony lost to its meaning at first, and it's clear use of Princess Celestia and the recently returned Princess Luna. In a small way it may had predicted Luna’s return but more than a few scholars had suggested it represented the supposed good and evil in a pony; the little red cross was clearly related to the medical field and the if the white and black alicorns on the staffs did represent good and evil.. maybe it's a good thing Tri Salus joined the guards instead.

After all, the saying ‘ Take the love from a doctor and you’re only left with a pony that knows how to kill’ into context was chilling but to see a possible manifestation of the phrase was unsettling.

“Why are you askin’ me!” the small stallion aggressively questioned Night Watch. He may be a member of the guard and he was perhaps one of the most gifted medics most would ever meet if he were to publicly show it. Even without the formal training for it, Tri Salus had demonstrated twice his knowledge and by going under the red tape and regs became their unofficial medic for the unit.. to his great hatred.

Still, in true guard fashion he held his tongue( most of the time) and did what he was asked.

“Because its either you check his pulse or I check his pulse.” his fellow guard and friend Dastardly Results declared. This ended any objection right there and left only one grumpily mumbling under his breath.

There was no question the collapsed guard was still alive judging by his subtle breathing, but drawing of breath alone didn’t tell a pony everything. So, the pair waited as Trinity knelt before Solar guard and firmly placed a hoof near the base of the neck, just between the vertebrae. While he ‘searched’ for a pulse, Night Watch and Dastardly turned their attention to the booming steps of their princess coming to do her own inspection.

“Is he..”

“Negative. The jugular vein is still pumping blood at a rate one would expect after after endurance training. Even though his breathing isn’t labored or very noticeable, it's mostly do to his exhaustion and less than acceptable physique. “

“So then the young guardstallion is just resting due to his unhealthy way of storing food?”

“.. more or less my Princess.” Tri Salus said in agreement even though that’s not the how he would have said it. Still he couldn’t argue the fact with his princess and as long as everypony knew the stallion was fine then it didn’t really matter.

There was a slightly chuckle behind them before a sharp pop silenced it.

The three guards and one princess were quiet as neither knew how to properly proceed from here. By how the stallion was running and even mentioned Princess Celestia’s name made it sound important but from the lumbering quiet the castle was in it likely wasn’t an attack. Was it was an early summon so the princesses could dine and enjoy each others company? Maybe.

“The young guard is sleeping.” Luna injected this new information into the public knowledge. Her gathered guards shot her a questioning look hoping their princess would clarify why this information was worth knowing when Night Watch spoke up and did just that.

“Dreamwalking.. am I right Princess Luna?”

“Indeed Sir Knight, but it has been far too long since we.. since I tried to enter the realm so who would know the consequences of such an unknown? Besides to enter, let alone traverse its plane requires power and magic I have not felt since our.. I.. since we were freed from the Nightmare.” Dastardly, Tri Salus, Night Watch and even to the best friends watching the doors made it an effort to listen. The Latter of the two just rotating their ears to follow along and not miss anything juicy.

“If that’s the case than how do you plan on dreamwalking?” Night Watch questioned. A surprise to his peers not because of the question itself but how casually he just spoke to the princess. A few could pass it off as the familiarity and closeness they have been experiencing over the past months and was a simple mistake but a few could view this as maybe something more.. something more private.

Only adding more wood to the stoking fire, Luna didn’t seem bothered by the question or lack of respect, but instead proceeded on like it was the normalist thing. A topic of possible debate later or maybe if one of was dared, to even ask directly but at the moment only warranted a small place in the ‘get to later’ part of their mind.

What Princess Luna said next brought them all back to the present.

“We need to induce a deluge magi.”

“An induced what?” Solid Wall asked

“ Thou knows of it, no? Young Sparkle had one years prior to my return and we were told it was a deciding factor in her acceptance as my sisters student.”

There was a slight pause before the first of the guards understood what Luna meant.

“YOU WANT TO INDUCE A SURGE!” Tri Salus vocalized his displeasure over the idea, mentally slapping his fellow guards from their thoughts.

“ Princess Luna! Why in the celestial plane do you want to do something like?” Night Watch jumped on board with the quickly growing party against Luna’s idea.

“Protege Twilight Sparkle was a filly barely able to start school when her surge happened and if it weren’t for Princess Celestia than likely the entire school and bits of the castle itself could have been lost. What would happen to Equestria if not a filly but an alicorn went through a surge?” Salus warned as he trotted closer his princess, the straining frown plastered on his muzzle.

The alicorn said nothing. She had expected there would be mild resistance to her idea at first but it would be solely for her safety and after some reassurance would dissipate. This of course didn’t happen and Tri Salus had even summoned a point Luna had completely failed to address and to her shame didn’t even think about; what could she say to justify potentially destroying not only Canterlot but the surrounding area if this went wrong?

Better yet, why was she still justifying such a selfish action and not looking for an alternative?

“Please honored companions, enlighten me. How does thee expect to traverse the guard’s memories if not by the use of magic? How can we learn if I’m unable to cast the spell needed for the dreamwalking?”

That was the million bit question. How can one attempt dreamwalking without using magic, let alone enough to not erase Canterlot from existence?

“I..” Salus’ mouth was left agape as his and everypony’s eyes went nova.

“FORGIVE ME PRINCESS!” Luna had no time to react let alone turn around before the white of her eyes exposed themselves to the world. There wasn’t a single yelp of surprise or pain, no staggered movement or attempt to run before the alicorn mimicked a puppet without strings and collapsed.

Every set of owl eyes locked onto the lone pony standing by himself over the downed princess. Dastardly Results stood ghost-quiet as he dropped his dented helmet.. only to pick it back up and place it back on his head to avoid any more potential reg violations.

“She needed to sleep and that’s how we did it back home!”

_____________________________________________________________

The lack of light was the most noticeable difference. There were no governing laws that entrenched the waking world or bound the land here, instead there was simply nothing. No focus. No objective but the desire and the strength of will of whoever managed to stumble upon this sacred realm.

A separate plane outside the vision of most but in reach to all.

“Oh stars, how it feels to be back.” The alicorn chanted.

The numerous spiral nebulas spun as the mare hovered past them, frozen in place with no regard for the concept of time and reality as a single eye opened in the center to watch the returning pony with interest.

Here in this pocket dimension any being capable and strong enough physically and mentally could traverse this separate plane and even shape it to their will and whims; the alicorn princess, being such a being and master of dark magic could and can achieve this. Thus the creation of an infinite expanding plane of her night sky and interpretations of the world beyond.

"It's smaller than I remembered." Luna thought as she took claim to a group of single stars. The alicorn collected and pressed them into a makeshift pillow, forcing them to carry her further into the endless void of sparkling stars and watching eyes.

To the left and to the right, Luna was met with familiar star clusters that would change and evolve the more she floated away until each took on a more alien appearance. Before her challenge of the dual thrones, she, as the keeper of the night and guardian of all that dwelled in it had to watch over every being..even those that dreamt.

‘We live in darkness to protect those in the light.’

A creed that had meant more to the alicorn than her own sister at one point, but now was a forgotten phrase that meant nothing to the general populace. Maybe one or two here and there will find it and ponder its meaning, but ultimately it was destined to remain a glass memory of what it meant to be a guardian.. to be a princess.

Back than this realm Luna called her own once was populated with many galaxies and star clusters of dreaming ponies and other magical beings that subconsciously linked themselves to this hub. Back then she would traverse it( like she was doing now) and just watch as numerous currents of foggy thoughts and desires flowed in the purest expression any deity, let alone any mortal could view.

It was here in this unending sea the alicorn found her island.

The flashing galaxy that marked her target was faint. Very faint, but it was bright enough to signal her star raft over and with no effort altered course for this beacon. As she neared, Luna drowned her horn with a simple spell that mimicked the spinning star system’s signal; she felt the corners of her mouth lift up as the galaxy spun more frequently until it moved so fast it was hard to distinguish it was moving at all. With this portal opened and stable for the moment, the night princess’s hooves tightened their grip on the starry pillow as she braced for collision...

______________________________________________________________

“BY THE OLD ONES AND MY OWN MOON!” the two realms had met for a second before catapulting the dream walking alicorn from its dimension and into the waking world.

Her worried but nervous companions jolted themselves alert, some launched themselves to the ready while a noticeable few almost out of their armour. The guards recovered and once more were by the air hungry alicorn as she worked to ease the contracted muscles plaguing her body.

Knight Night Watch, Dastardly Results, and Tri Salus had taken stance around Princess Luna with Watch at the front; Stone Wall and Stand Fast had capitulated their post by the doors to retrieve the still downed guard carefully dragging him out of the main path next to the others. Each knew their role and what was expected of them as was demanded of their training and duty. Not only were they five Guardstallions of Equestria and thus responsible for its continued legacy but as the first in an entirely new branch, they were also entrusted with carrying it to the stars so to speak.

Communication and understanding are the required pillars needed in order for a strong and independent group to continue functioning effectively; so when the shaking hoofsteps of Silver Cloud echoed in their ears it wasn’t a surprise to find all but Luna and Watch looking her way. Slowly advancing was the lame pegasus their lord and employer had slowly grown fond of, placing a single hoof down before moving another shaking hoof that resembled a foal learning how to walk.

The way this silver coat mare moved uneased the four. At first they were willing to chalk it up as shock and worry for her idol and newest friend and yet there was something else puppeteering her movements- an alternative motive than a deep concern. The four shuttered, stirring loose bits of armor causing them to bang against each other.. did it just get colder in here?

“Princess..what..what did you see?” asked the unnerving mare as she almost stumbled toward the makeshift heard.

Tri Salus, Dastardly Results, Stone Wall, and Stand Fast quickly moved to close the ranks while their commander broke from Luna’s side to take his spot behind the new defensive line. Princess Luna watched in wide eyed shock and teeth gritting anger as her guards would dare overstep their authority and treat her friend in such a manner; long past were the days of necessary herd ostracization and petty tribal conflicts, but clearly some remnants still needed to be stomped out.

“GUARDS ENOUGH! SHE IS MY GUEST AND FRIEND AND WILL NOT BE TREATED AS ANYTHING ELSE.” Luna roared as she staggered to her hooves. Creases littered her fur forcing them to part in a way that created the illusion of deliberate self ritualistic marking; spidered blood webs clouded her vision enough to prevent the stressed alicorn from targeting a single pony, but it mattered little for she could still sense them.

They tried opening their mouths to argue and even justify this.. behavior but Luna would not hear of it. The stressed alicorn’s muscles strained to keep her standing as she lifted one leg and swiftly brought it down like a judge’s gavel calling for order.

“Be silent. We will not hear whatever reasoning you may conjugate, but we will demand you restrain yourself!”

The five guards gave the Pegasus one last glare before turning back to meet Princess Luna’s unhealthy gaze and with much trepidation lowered their upper bodies, resting their muzzles on the winter cold marble.

Silver Cloud observed this unusual form of bowing since being taught just lowering your head down in respect was more than enough, but concluded it was just a guard thing. She stole a glance at her friend who looked down toward her and gave a quick nod signaling to her it was alright to proceed. Four quiet seconds went by with no movement by either pony until Luna summoned Silver Cloud using one of her wings in calling motion; click clack each hoof echoed in the silent room, each and every possible sound or noise that could be produce clamped their mouths shut. Even with the display of loyalty from the guards, the way the held themselves high above her showed just how close over the edge they really were and a simple poke would send them over.

Almost sensing this from reading the tension littering the air, the princess raised a hoof forward opening another option to the mare who eagerly took it and halted her advancement.

“We are deeply apologetic for the heinous display my guards have shown toward you, and thus offer...”

“What did you see princess?”

“I..we beg your pardon?” The question caught Luna off guard.

Silver Cloud instead of answering pointed a hoof to the still sleeping guard and then back at Luna. Her guards who were still suspicious of the mare’s odd behavior tensed but did nothing else to avoid angering their Princess. The alicorn followed the hoof to the downed guard and back to the silent Pegasus who had lowered her hoof and asked once more.

“What did you see princess? Was the kitchen staff refusing to bake those ‘peasant biscuits’ again or perhaps that prince sticking his nose where it doesn’t belong?”

“Neither.” Luna stated defensively. Where had this sudden outburst been hiding? Sure a mere few letters and weeks weren’t enough to fully know a pony but it was adequate for the alicorn to gauge this mare, but surely this wasn’t the real Silver Cloud?

“Neither?” Luna noted how she didn’t sound too relived. “Or was it something more serious like the sun never rising again due to a comatose Celestia?”

That got everypony’s attention.

“Pray tell.. what did you just say?”

“I’m right aren’t I? Oh goodness, I can’t believe it's finally here Princess!”

“Clearly, I fail to see how any of this could be good.” Luna

“ Don’t you see how perfect this is? Not only can we enjoy each others company more frequently, but we can present your night to the masses in all of its splendid glory.” Silver Cloud paused to inhale a deep breath. “I can now gaze at the night sky every minute, every hour for the rest of time! “ she stated excitedly, ignoring the one questioning gaze, and many outright glares from the other ponies.

“How can you say such a thing!?” Night Watch turned to face Luna. “No offence Princess. The night is truly a wonder, and beauty to behold, but it can’t last forever. We need the day just as much as we do the night, else we’ll forever forget the joy of looking forward to it.” he concluded, and found Princess Luna nodding in firm agreement.

“Indeed Knight Night Watch. Tis is not a matter we can simply ignore.” Luna turned to address the excitable silver mare. “I’m aware of your love of thy night and it fills me body greatly with warmth, but your words are a shock. We.. I have experienced much from taking such a trail and do not wish for another to follow thy path.”

Her little declaration was met with several claps and words of support as she turned around. All of her guards were looking to her with a plethora of emotions but the biggest was their eagerness for action. She won’t let their faith in her crumble.

“Guards, alert the rest of the Watch, and summon Captain Shin…” Luna abruptly stopped. The look of sheer surprise and slight panic that crossed their face now signaled that something was terribly wrong and with a decisive spin, brought herself face to face with the object of their anxiety.

The silver coated Pegasus’ eyes had changed. Not in the ‘are you feeling well’ look, but changed in its essence entirely, taking on one of the most beautiful, and yet sinister golden, amber toned colors the princess had ever seen. Each piercing blink could only be described as a step being taken, closer and closer to the innards of her very being. The beauty … and power it radiated locked not only her, but everypony in place plunging the room into silence. Such a combination was only comparable to the Princesses, but unlike the calm, inspiring aura they radiated this did the opposite, inspiring only fear, and hopelessness. Truly, those eyes looked and felt…chaotic in origin.

“It’s perfect.” The mare whispered.

“Wha..what are you? Night Watch found the resolve to speak. His years of training, and discipline took effect as the situation played out before his very hooves. The stallion’s fellow guards, though good and properly trained lacked the experience when dealing with anything more than a disgruntled pony. Princess Luna in her own right is a princess and has dealt with her own share of horrors but though the dark alicorn ruled, and fought along Princess Celestia in the day, this was a new year and a new world the alicorn was still adjusting too. Added to that was the possible mental trauma she must be dealing with.

The other ponies, Princess Luna included spared Night Watch a glance before turning back to the mare in question. One thing Guardsponies learned during their training was a pony’s fear of the unknown was nearly matched by their curiosity. Night Watch’s question broke the others from their fear induced chains, and gave their minds something else to think about other than the eyes. But the question was a double edge plan from the beginning, thought they weren’t worried about the eyes anymore, now they were starting to fear the mare herself. Only clouding their minds even more with numerous questions. Out of the herd here, only Luna seemed to be the only one not locked in fear, but she still held that dark and grim look. It gave Night Watch the chills. If the night alicorn held that air around her, then the situation was possibly much worse than he first thought.

The tone that the Knight used popped Silver Clouds's bubble, bring her back to Equestria. The mare gave them an honest to Celestia look of confusion!

“What? Oh! You mean who am I?” she hovered off the ground, using her hooves to gesture herself. “Why I’m Silver Cloud. The Pegasus mare from the Islands off the VanHoover coast that loves stargazing but can’t because of work. And I also love nice, calming flights over the beach, during the sunsets.” She mockingly added, giving them a heart stopping, chill of a smile before continuing. “I mean, it’s not as if I managed to somehow subdue Princess Celestia in the hope of keeping the stars out all night, so I can gaze at them at my luxury.” She mutely noted the raising anger clearly radiating from the group, particularly the dark coated mare but continued with her speech. “Oh no that would be silly and illogical…”

“TELL US WHAT THO HAST DONE TO OUR SISTER AND WE MAY BE ‘LENIENT’ WITH THY’S RETRIBUTION!” The night alicorn flawlessly demonstrating how the ROYAL Canterlot voice acquired its well-deserved named.

The mare was blown from the sky onto the ground from the force of the shout, but surprisingly managed recover quickly enough to perk right back up. Her mane being comically blown back in the shape of a cone before the mare shook quickly; regaining some of her senses while fixing her mane at the same time.

“Wow, you really do have some attitude! What she said was right after all!” Silver Cloud expressed this revelation too calmly, possibly even forgetting what happen not even a minute ago. The cheerful outburst momentarily confused the royal entourage… only for a moment before the group found its composure again. Luna had calmed enough so such an outburst wouldn’t happen so suddenly again. She certainly was not in the mood for more of this jousting, but the quick and subtle glances she had made around the room showed that her guards were the only ones with any visible effects from her outburst.

“Who is this “she” thou speaks of? An accomplice to this heinous crime thou hast committed?” Luna asked already developing some theories around this new tidbit of information. The addressed mare gave a puzzled look before her mouth and eyes widen at the realization of her slip up.

“OH! You weren’t supposed to know yet! Horseapples, she’ll not going to like that.” The last part strangely felt more for the mare than for Luna’s knowledge. The mare began started mumbling short and fast bits of non-coherent phrases, while walking back and forth in a distort fashion. The alicorn snorted in frustration at the rapidly declining scene before her. She had enough and was ending this now so she could attend to crisis at hoof.

“Night Watch.” The night princess turned her head back to address the Knight and his fellow guards. “Take this mare into your custody and bring her to the holding cells until further notice. Watch her has a dragon watches its horde.” With an understanding nod, the guards left the princess’ side, quickly subduing the now delirious, and shouting mare. She struggled briefly before being overpowered by the combined strength of the Lunar Guards and dragged out of the courtroom.

Luna watched the scene for a moment before losing interest in the crazed mare. Her desperate words of “The end is here” and “She’s already here” were taken as serious as AppleJack would to the thought of growing oranges instead of apples. Not a heretical thought was given, and was chalked up as the ramblings of a madmare. Following the group's quick departure and with a flick of magic, Luna summoned a quill and two pieces of parchment to begin drafting a letter to Miss Sparkle and the other elements.

The princess paused mid action, giving some thought as to how she would deliver the news to the young ponies. They had accomplished so much in their personal and public lives in such a short amount of time. To manage and successfully run an orchard of that size with little to no help was an undertaking in itself and yet the Mare of Apples’ could do it no problem. To be a successful, and upcoming designer in the fashion world with nothing more than a vision and strive to succeed? A baker that could rival top chefs from around the world? A talented, and almost guaranteed candidate for the Wonderbolts and maybe even Head Manager for the Cloudesdale Weather factory and weather teams?

A local “wildlife” and caretaker that can even move dragons, and the personal student of the Sun Princess who could rival if not surpass Starswirl the beard himself? Barely able to be considered adults and yet have done so much with their lives and still managed to save herself from the darkness in her heart… or so it seemed.

Luna sighed softly in understanding to what she had to say. No, she would not deceive them or coat the news with sugary delights much to her (and possible Pinkie Pies’) dismay. They deserved to be treated like the adults they were and with a sense of renewed duty began to pen two letters. One to be written and sent to Miss Sparkle(Celestia’s student and perhaps Luna’s only friend) unedited details and all about the night’s calamity and the urgency of the elements immediate arrival to Canterlot.

The second letter being more personal in nature. A plea from the Night Princess wishing for a private meeting with the lavender scribe; any further details about this meeting were left unpenned, only meant to be spoken muzzle to muzzle.

Luna watched as her dark magic set fire to letters just as she was shown. The dark flames enveloping the two parchments with the speed of wet paint drying. She huffed angrily as it dragged the entire process further out, wasting time she just didn’t have. Luna’s eyes slitted with anger, and her fanged mouth barked her displeasure twice before the letters finally turned to ash, letting the wind take them to their new owner. She blinked once, and then twice before her mind caught up; her tongue ran over her teeth to confirm what she thought and was somewhat relieved to learn there were no fangs.

The confirmation was a boost to her psyche but it wasn’t enough to lessen the affair any. Having to deal with these “mild” changes for the past few days on top of having to now deal with a madmare declaring the return of an eternal night certainly wasn’t improving her shattered public image any. For now(though she hated to admit it) she was unable to take any action other than to wait for a response from Twilight Sparkle and hope they arrive in time to figure out what's wrong with her sister. Else the public conference she’d have to host to explain the lack of a certain fireball in the sky wouldn’t be the most exceptional(or approved) in history.

Luna turned her gaze to darken sky that was her charge and way of life. She needed to know exactly how long she had until the sun was to rise. Her conscious briskly touching the cooling orb she called the moon, coating it with her presence as she called out to it. The moon reacted as she had expected, releasing a small display of its enchanting moonlight into the night; the rays from it flickering with some radiant power as it revealed its secrets and what the princess wanted to know.

Four and a half hours.

Upon arrival Twilight and the others were immediately taken to Celestia’s personal quarters, where she had remained since she was first discovered. Since then Princess Luna and the Elements were the only ponies in the room, with only a small guard detail remaining outside. Other than that the room had remained undisturbed. So far all of their efforts in the past couple of hours having been in vain with no visible improvement. It was nearing the end of her night and with that the raising of the sun. Princess Celestia was still nowhere near any better, still ill by whatever ails her. The Elements of Harmony(much the groups dismay) were of no use either, leaving an even more disappointed Luna present.

If such an event would have befallen Luna instead, Celestia would have likely figured out a cause and corrected it before it could of escalated any further. At the very least she could continue creating the day and night until a solution could be discovered but herself? No. She was still too weak in power to attempt such a thing, even after being freed from Nightmare Moon several months ago. The redemption, and imprisonment had taken its toll on her and would require decades to fully recover, and even if she were at full power there was just now way Luna could raise the sun; she never was as strong as her sister and once more it was proving to be her major weakness.

“Has there been any change in her condition?” Twilight asked once more, still trying to hide the hopelessness in her tone. The other Elements were still experiencing their own feelings of apprehension and fatigue of the situation. Their thoughts and concerns all being directed to the sleeping and unresponsive princess that slept before them. After the first two hours of unsuccessful testing and procedures, the elements had started taking small breaks to try and ease their worry over Celestia’s condition. Twilight and Luna stayed to continue trying different methods in hopes of finding the one that’ll wake Celestia up. None had worked so far.

“Na Twilight Sparkle. Celestia’s condition remains constant.” the Night Alicorn spoke weakly. Her voice having lost its commanding volume and energy over the remainder of the night. Her head hanged just a bit lower at the confession, matching the unicorn’s pose next to her. The pair sighed in unison, both in defeat and exhaustion.

“Perhaps young Sparkle, you should join your friends in main dining hall for an early breakfast.” Luna said out of the blue. “ It is getting very late… early in your case and maybe an early meal and couple of hours of relaxation would do you wonders. We can continue our work at a later time.”

Twilight raised her head slightly, enough to give Luna a mildly shocked look. Did she just say they should just leave Princess Celestia to her fate? She opened her mouth to rebut the suggestion but was cut off from a raised hoof from Luna.

“Hold thine tongue Miss. Sparkle. We mean not an abandoning of our work, but merely a pause to recoup and think clearly before we continue in earnest. Besides, we have preparations to attend before the nobles mob our throne room with their pointless bickering and questions about the sun. Good nig… Good day Miss Sparkle.” Luna ended her pleasantries with a partial bow of respect for her scholarly friend. An action the Princess of Tradition didn’t freely perform all the time, which only added to the meaning behind it.

Twilight for all of her intelligence and mannerisms in royal etiquette simply froze dumbfounded before realizing her mistake and dropping into a bow of her own. “ Thank you Princess Luna for the concern and hospitality. I’ll make sure to get some rest before we continue our work.”

Luna nodded before turning to make her leave. “ Please Miss. Sparkle, there’s no need to call us by our title but nevertheless we welcome your politeness.” The moment her back was turned Twilight dropped the act as she critically watched Luna shut the door behind her and the echoing of her hoofsteps growing fainter. It was quick and startling but Twilight was sure of what she felt; the same magical aura that had afflicted Princess Celestia coming from Luna.

It didn’t make sense. Many strange thoughts and scenarios began formulating and coursing through her mind as she tried to understand what it was. There was no mistake that the traces of magic residue were without a doubt Luna’s but what truly unsettled her was how familiar it felt to another certain alicron.

“Twilight dear, we understand how much Princess Celestia means to you. And while we can’t fully claim to understand what you’re going through, we just want you to know we’ll be with you all the way.”

“Its not Princess Celestia, but Princess Luna that I’m worried about Rarity.”

“Uhm… pardon us sugercube?” Applejack tilted her head questioningly. Sure she and the girls had expected some sort of strange or abnormal behavior from Twilight but to see her completely ill effect by her teacher's current state was to put it lightly… untwilight?

“I’m fine Applejack. I’m not that sleep deprived but that’s besides the point! Rarity did you feel anything familiar coming from Luna? Her magical aura to be specific.”

“What are you getting at Twilight?” Rainbow Dash inserted herself into the conversation.

“Yea Twilight! Why are you accusing Princess Luna of being a meanie pants!”

“Oh my…”

Twilight flared her horn brightly to get their attention, illuminating the room for one second before cutting off the magic to the flare. She need their complete attention for what she was about to suggest and with that needed their trust.

“Girls before I say anything else I need you all to pinkie promise me none of this will be repeated to anypony. My BBBFF is the only exception to this promise alright?” Her friends to their credit tried to keep their looks from completely showing their scepticism, but nonetheless nodded to the terms.

“Alright Twi, I don’t know what’s flying around in your head but alright. Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye.” Rainbow came forth enacting the Pinkie Promise. The rest gave each other looks of uncertainty before following Rainbow’s lead. With all sworn to secrecy Twilight relaxed just a bit.

“Girls what I was referring to earlier was Princess Luna’s magic.” Her eyes darted between each friend, gazing their reactions; which now only showed intense curiosity.” Now, I say this mildly since it was only for a moment I felt it but it was enough. I didn’t mention this to Luna but I did detect something; a lingering entity or..or I don't know but it reminded me of Luna but not Luna.”

“Darling you're not suggestion…”

“Indeed that is exactly what I’m suggestion Rarity. What I felt reminded me of ********* M**n…

Ni*****re M**n…

N**h*m*re M**n...

“You’re Nightmare Moon, Luna.”
_____________________________________________________________________

By now a good morning’s rest was nothing but a long lost foal's tell the dark blue alicorn once knew and reflected on the numerous times she would lay awake- which was quite often now. Another nightmare and this time it was about the betrayal of one of her closest and only friends, but to wake up now without a nightmare would feel rather weird.

Even with the night replicating enchantments woven into the very wool fabric of her curtains, Luna could not only sense the arrogant golden rays reaching for her but also another.. something that she couldn’t classify lurking in her very room. The shadows of her personal cave were also still but once in a fleeting moment a flash of movement just out of her view would catch her eyes; every time she turned to confront this anomaly something again would graze the outer limits of her vision and the process would repeat.

“Another night of forged lies, and an another restless day.” Luna mumbled as she angrily balled her bed sheets and threw them at the bedroom door. She didn’t watch this time but knew they had found their mark when a soft audible thump met her lazy ears but like before waited for her guards to respond.

This, like many things since her return no more than six months ago had become the protocol of her daily routine. During the first week of integration and recovery, the princess had found herself unable to use her Royal Voice and thus unable to summon her guards when she needed them and in a fit of mild rage threw her pillow at the door. The act had surprisingly worked in both parties favor and it quickly became a sort of inside joke whenever she needed them.

So, unlike last time when the reaction was immediate, several minutes of waiting had failed to enact a response and the longer the seconds clawed forward, their little joke ceased being funny.

The urge to stay bedridden and the desire to leave conflicted but the dread of remaining in this eternal hallucination won over; rising from the lonely bastion stranded in this forsaken room, the alicorn hurriedly galloped the distance until she was standing just below the massive gates. One second… two seconds… Luna collected her breathe and with as much grace as a flustered gazel grasped the two fridged handles and opened the doors to the outside.

What golden rays laid beyond stirred the very embers of her darkened soul until it clad not only her scarred conscious but every dark secretion...

“Good afternoon, Princess Luna.”

“We are surprised, but honored to see you at this hour.”

A hammer colliding against a mirror couldn't have ruined the mood anymore than to leave your chambers and “express” yourself in front of would be strangers. Flenching back, Luna almost threw herself back into the void from which she came from, but thought better to save what public image she had.

“Tho..We..I mean.. you aren’t my guards.” Luna struggled to find the right word before she felt comfortable enough to continue.

To her left and right were not the two unusually bulky but loveable adult foals she had come to know and call comrade. Instead, their appointed place was now occupied by not one, but two nearly identical stallions of the Solar Guard. The only difference besides their speech tone was one sported a horn while the other a pair of wings, but all other differences ceased.

“We’re sorry about the sudden..”

“ and rudeness of not informing you prior.”

“but we were instructed to relieve your guards a bit early so they may have some rest.”

The alicorn shivered once the two were finished. She had tried following them but once they had switched to finishing the other’s sentence, Luna gave up trying to keep eye contact and opted to just wait until it was over. Forbid anypony to find out but little examples such as that left her uneasy since it felt more like one being instead of two.

Discipline was fine and all but the moment the individual is lost, than one is left with a blank slate.. and a reminder of what Luna had done centuries before.

“Well, you should have asked but we forgive thee. Next time we recommend you awake and inform us before taking such action. Given I’m awake now, we.. I shall be off to join my sister for our meal.”

“Princess Celestia is in the middle of her court. The time right now is barely past the conclusion of breakfast but if you hurry princess, I’m sure the chefs wouldn’t mind making you some.”

“Yes.. breakfast at the time it was created for does sound intriguing. Perhaps we do just that, and if you should see Stand Fast and Solid Wall, the guards you relived, please ask them to meet me at the normal spot. They’ll know what you’re talking about.” Princess Luna requested which to her delight the substitutes nodded.

With nothing more to say she bid each of them a good morning and off for the kitchens. It wasn’t far down the hall when mouth watering thoughts of the strange egg covered toast dish struck her with the intensity to rival the pink creature’s need to consume vast amounts of candy.

“Covered in maple delight, won't this toast be the envy of many!” Luna sang as the butterflies in her stomach carried the alicorn to her destination.

Despite the ever increasing distance, her singing could still be faintly heard for nearly two minutes until finally the distance proved to vast and no more was heard. It was once the silence resumed did the senior most guard moved. To the left and then to the right his eyes scanned, looking for potential threats, but nothing was seen or heard since most ponies still carried the belief this wing was cursed.

Good.

“Private.”

“Yes Sergeant?”

“Make note. Subject left her chambers in a mild panic early this morning near the end of breakfast. There is no obvious reason except a lack of sleep or a lot on the mind. We will continue our watch and will report any new revelations as they surface. Praise the Sun.”

___________________________________________________________________

“Oh why do I have to get up?” Celestia asked herself as she casually fell onto her side.

The motions of getting up and starting the day has always been a personal battle for the alicorn between the self imposed duties to her selfish desires of sleeping just a few minutes longer, but ooh that blissful sensation a pony gets when tighten muscles are finally allowed their moment in the sun so to speak.

Celestia never really understood where that saying originated from and had always felt a bit strange referencing herself like that but there can be no denying that an early morning stretch is the best sensation next to simply blowing off your responsibilities for a day.. not that she would ever claim to have done so. Yet, sadly this sort of logic didn’t run a country and because of that conditioning the alicorn found herself rising early every day in order to make sure her little ponies had something to look forward to.

Just as she found the threshold that walked along the flimsy line of fiction and reality suddenly came a light rapping on the bedroom door. At first Celestia did nothing as was customary when treading such a fine line but when the knocking became constant, she found herself sighing in defeat.

“Come in.” the lazy alicorn asked more in the hopes of ending that constant knocking than from general curiosity.

With permission given, one of the doors creaked as its messenger forced it open to noisily announce their presence. Celestia heard him first, if the heavier hoofsteps were any indication before she saw him but from each metallic clank his hooves gave off singled it was likely Solar Wing or his new partner sent to wake her. Their dedication and sense of duty is something to be admired but to take it upon themselves to monitor how long she sleep left the alicorn wanting to give them the famous “I’m disappointed look.”

“Solar Wing, I’m up. You don’t have to check on me, so please feel free to return to duty.” Celestia made a simple flex of her wings to reinforce the point she was indeed awake and ready to get up.. at least until he left.

So when her assurance failed to elect a response, the alicron froze in thought. That sort of thing had always worked before so why not now? Were they becoming wiser to her tactics and are now waiting until they physically saw her leaving the bed? Oh bollocks.

In order to cease these train of thoughts from continuing, Celestia had no choice but to give into demand and wake up. So imagine the alicorn’s surprise when she arose to find NOT Solar Wing standing there but one of her sister’s guards waiting patiently for orders.

“Oh! I’m sorry dear guardstallion, but I thought you were my normal guard Solar Wing.” The stallion gave the princess a deep bow before standing back at attention to speak.

“I am sorry for the unannounced visit Princess Celestia but its too important to wait for.”

That got her attention. It is strange enough being awoken by anypony other than her own guard and even stranger for them to seek an audience this early. Lifting her gaze from said guard Celestia glanced at the two barriers to her room, and noted there wasn’t any other except for the two them.

“I am to believe what is discussed is only between the two to us?”

“I’m afraid so. This matter is already conflicting with my service oath but its important enough that I’m more than willing to break it if it means the right thing is done.”

“A noble motive but you are aware that breaking such an oath no matter how justified is punishable at the very least a dishonorable discharge? And that’s if the Court Martial is lenient in punishment. ”

The stallion held his posture better than he did with his emotions. A lifetime of dealing with face to face meetings had crafted a finely capable mare able to take but a second to read them like an open book; and it only took the exile of her sister for the alicorn to adopt and harness this gift which even now isn’t bring Celestia closer to solving her sister’s plight. She was about to continue her questioning when the guard spoke up.

“I’m well aware that I would lose the very life I’ve wanted, but this is too important to ignore. I couldn’t live with myself knowing she was rotting away i..”

“What did you just say?” That woke Celestia up in a hurry. Her tired wings stretched to match the entire length of the bed and in one great flap propelled the alicorn onto her hooves. The guard with great credit to this training and courage did not backpedal but instead held his ground and bowed again. Neither said anything as the smaller pony waited for his liege to finish correcting her image, which only consisted of her dawning her regalia.

“I said I couldn’t live with the guilt of leaving that young mare to rot in the dungeon.” He answered with his muzzle pressed shamefully into the ground as his heated breath polished the pristine marble.

The act itself wasn’t too uncommon to see, being royalty, but the discipline in which it was executed made the gesture even more distinguished. In accordance to the pleasantries associated with royal greetings, the bow was used more closely to that of a courteous hello, and an acknowledgement of Celestia’s position-this held none of that. No. When the alicorn put in context the guard before her and the ancient teachings likely instilled throughout the generations than the simple gesture could rival their classic epics.

“What did you do?” Celestia asked once more with her restraint eroding the longer he remained.

“Please your majesty, just follow me so we could end this matter quickly.” he pleaded until a sharp stump of Celestia’s hoof singled he may raise.

Before he could fully stand up, he felt a sudden tingle grouping his body before consuming his eyes. He blinked once and found the lights had went out. This mattered not as his vision adapted to the darkness, a trait that made his kind the envy of most and once his eyes had fully adjusted to the surrounding darkness, he nearly flinched when he found Celestia.

Standing not even ten hooves in front of him was his other princess, who held the eyes of a Minotaur gazing down not at the red eyed silver mare behind bars but directly at him. His breath hitched at the back of his throat as his body began experiencing the onset of a massive panic attack; his legs rooted in place not to keep him from falling but out of fright. All over he could feel the constricting muscles working in agitation as they spasmed and crushed his chest, his heart desperately pounding his inner ribs with enough pressure crack them.

In his final moments, he managed to raise his head just enough to see a wide eyed and opened jawed Celestia making for him just as he did his impression of a fallen tree and collapsed.