Return

Nightmare Moon lay on top of one of the trees in the Everfree forest.

She cried silently. How could she have been so foolish. She had ruined everything.

She heard a soft voice in the distance.

"Oh Angel I hope you'll like these carrots I got you. This is my last visit to the Everfree for a while..." Fluttershy's voice echoed throughout the forest.

Soon, Nightmare Moon could see her heading towards the dimly lit cottage, which was along the path next to her. She snuggled into the bushes so she could not be seen.

Suddenly, a pair of ruffians pounced on her. Both were unicorns and kept her pinned with their magic.

They grinned maliciously at each other. Fluttershy struggled and yelped, but did not succeed in her feeble attempts at escaping.

"What do you want!?" Fluttershy whimpered, on the verge of tears. One of the stallions answered.

"Oh, we just want you!" His horn flashed and Fluttershy stopped struggling.

In fact the other stallion had released her. She stood up quickly, not even making an attempt to escape.

"Ha! Now we can make one of the Elements of Harmony do our dirty work! Rob banks, murder. Alll the good stuff!" The first stallion said.

"Yeah, can't wait till the boss hears this!" They both started to laugh.

Nightmare Moon couldn't take anymore.

She flew at Fluttershy's attackers and shot a beam of light at them. They went flying deep into the Everfree Forest.

She had to get Fluttershy away. She picked up Fluttershy and flew towards her cottage.

She began to come too. She looked at Nightmare Moon and screamed.

"Shhhhh!" She hissed."Do you want them to come back!?" Fluttershy shook her head, but still stared at her in fear.

When they arrived at the cottage, Nightmare Moon entered the house and placed Fluttershy on her couch. All her animals crowded around her.

She began telling the story of what happened.

"... And then they did something and I was doing everything they said! I could see everything and tried to fight it, but I couldn't. Then

Nightmare Moon came and knocked them... Out...." She then remembered for the first time in about 15 minutes that she was still there, listening intently.

She wanted to scream, but Nightmare Moon shoved her hoof in her mouth. All of her animals growled at her.

She rolled her eyes.

"Look, no pony can know I'm here! It's still Luna, it's just... Something happened and now I'm like this. May I stay in your humble abode?" She removed the hoof from Fluttershy's mouth. She nodded slowly.

"So it is Luna, right? As long as you are actually Luna..." Nightmare Moon hugged her.

"Yep, I think it's definitely Luna." She said. She released Fluttershy from her hug and yawned.

She guessed she would not have to raise the moon for a while, but it may be reluctant to Celestia.

"So if you are like this again, then why don't we use the Elements of Harmony on you again?" She suggested.

"Um... Not yet though... I'd rather not go back to the castle for a while." Nightmare Moon replied. She shrugged.

"Well you can sleep here on the sofa, I don't have any spare beds that you can use. Let me get you a blanket, then I'm going to bed.

Tomorrow can you change into a different pony?" Nightmare Moon nodded."Ok, we can pass you off as my cousin, then you can leave the house." She lay down on the sofa and closed her eyes.

"Goodnight." She muttered.

"Goodnight." Fluttershy said from here room. But Nightmare Moon couldn't sleep. How do i fix this... She wanted to fly outside, but she knew night flying would be banned, since Celestia might already be looking for her.

She couldn't think any more; she was exhausted. She fell into a deep sleep.