“You damned, Holier than thou wench!” was screamed. “How could you do this? You bucking bitch!” Tha-that rainbow. Nightmare Moon reared back on her hind legs snorting and kicked out her front legs in anger. Her wings fluttered around her uselessly.
She had tried to fly away already, multiple times, and each time she hit an invisible barrier just thirty meters above the surface.
“A barrier, A barrier over my moon. You trapped me on my moon. Damn you, Celestia!” She snarled as the name echoed throughout the dark wastelands.
“Damn you...” After a few more moments of declaring her hate, Nightmare Moon fell back to all fours. She had to stop all of that screaming. It was beginning to make her throat ache.
Alright, fine. I’m on my moon, I can’t fly away, and I can’t teleport home because of that stupid barrier. But, there is no way that villain sent me here just to die! She is too stupidly kind to do that. Nightmare Moon glanced around the desolate waste and couldn’t stop I hope, from coming into her mind.
At that desperate thought, a crystal goblet of red wine and a large salad consisting of lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers and rose leaves appeared in front of her. A large bowl of sweet potato bisque followed a moment later. Nightmare couldn’t help but lick her lips at the sight before her. One of her favorite meals had simply appeared in front of her at a single thought of hunger.
Nightmare reached out with her magic to grasp the fork and paused, cocking her head. Did she send this to me? Did she create a spell to give me what I need to survive? Do-does Tia really still care abou- Just as quickly as they had come, the good feelings about her sister vanished beneath the overwhelming hate and anger that maintained Nightmare.
“What does it matter if this boon came from that oppressor? It is because of her that we are even here!”
Nightmare felt her stomach gurgle as she glanced back down at her food. The smell of the bisque had wafted into her nose, despite the vacuum. She took the the fork in her magic once again while cursing the powerful enchantments that must be in the stupid, delectable food and dug in. The salad was fresh and crisp with a sight vinaigrette which she savored while licking the bits that remained on her lips. Once the last petal had vanished the dish shimmered and vanished to be replaced with a roast cockatrice leg.
Nightmare’s ears perked. Meat… Tia rem- No! Nightmare quickly shook her head. She was not going to allow Celestia to win her favor with just one meal! She gulped down the bisque before sinking her sharp teeth into the roasted meat and tearing off a chunk, chewing slowly to savor the taste. She sipped at the goblet, the fruity taste tingling against her taste buds, to wash it all down. Once finished, the plate and goblet vanished.
“Ha! It seems we have escaped dish duty again, sister!” Nightmare let out a polite burp before she laid down; rolling onto her back to stare up at the stars. Even though she had enjoyed stargazing in the past, it was going to be quite difficult to enjoy it over the next few centuries . At least it is beautiful night tonight. Oh, a shooting star! She let out a heavy sigh before a shimmer of magic caught her attention. She turned onto her belly as a silver scroll appeared right in front of her muzzle. “What is this?” With a tilt of her head, she broke the seal and watched as the scroll unrolled.
To Nightmare Moon/Her Royal Highness Princess Luna,
We, the Elements of Harmony, after having assisted in your exile to the moon have come to the conclusion that we must also assist with your rehabilitation so that you may someday vacate your Celestial prison, and return back to your home of Equestria. There, you can reclaim your duties as its Co-regent. However, this cannot occur until your sister, Her Royal Highness Princess Celestia, and yourself are able to at very least be civil to one another. Therefore we grant you this boon. Once you have concluded reading this letter the following will appear before you.
One quill, phoenix
One roll of parchment
One jar of ink, black
With those supplies you will write a yearly letter to Her Royal Highness Princess Celestia, and you will receive one in kind from her. This is not an option Your Royal highness. You will write and she will respond.
The Elements of Harmony.
After reading the final word, Nightmare watched as the silver scroll folded itself back up and vanished in a plume of rainbow smoke. Now in front of her were the supplies the letter had promised. Nightmare grimaced and turned her head away from them. The last thing, the very last thing she wished to do, was write to her sister. Not while she is still celebrating my banishment! She got up to walk away, but paused, her ears pinned back.
They said it wasn’t an option. I imagine the punishment for trying to get out of it would not be pleasant. She cocked her head then grinned They didn’t say I had to be nice though, the ability to torture and frighten Celestia once a year? How could I say no? She took the quill in her dark blue aura and dipped it into the inkpot.
Dear Imperious Bitch,
The Elements of Harmony have informed me that I am to pen a letter to you yearly. I despise the very idea of this. However they have made it quite clear that I have no choice in the matter. Therefore, I have decided to use this order wisely. I will be back you, cow. I’m coming back someday and when I do, eternal night will be the least of your worries! You and your little ponies will learn the very meaning of a nightmare!
With all my hate.
Empress Nightmare Moon
Nightmare smirked, her lips curling up as she rolled the parchment and sealed it. Well, now I have the chance to torment the tyrant once a year! Really, how could I even have thought to say no to that?
The scroll vanished in a shimmer of silver sparkles which she followed with her eyes until they vanished into the sky. With a stretch, she got to her hooves—ready to survey her temporary home when a scroll dropped to the ground.
A chuckle escaped her lips as she sat back down. “My, that did not take long at all!” She tore open the seal and read the contents.
Dearest Luna,
When you return I will be overjoyed to see you once more, and when that time comes, I will be prepared to save you. I promise.
All of my love,
Celestia
Nightmare cocked her head “Blood?" She shook her head and rubbed her temple before turning to walk away from the scroll. She started walking away but stopped. Her eyes drifted back at the scroll for a moment before turning back and picking it up in her mouth. Maybe I’ll keep it so I can watch the descent of my enemy. Yes there has to be somewhere I can keep these.
She turned and walked away, starting the first day of her long imprisonment.
Celestia, the undying sun as she was now known as by her followers, stared out the window of her castle at the full moon. Her ears pinned back against her head as she spoke softly to herself, “Oh, Luna, they’ve made this horrible day into one of celebration.” She stared at the moon, and felt the tears start to gather. “When all I wish to do is mourn for you, I am forced to paste a false smile upon my muzzle and be merry and gay as they sing songs and tell stories of the battle and defeat of the dread Nightmare Moon. If any even came close to the truth, I wouldn’t have so much pain in my heart.”
She sat on her haunches, looking at the visage of a mare on the moon. “Some days, I hate them... Help me, Luna, but I do. Those are the times I wish our roles were reversed.” A soft sigh escaped through her nose. “Only one thing is getting me through this day, and that is the fact that sometime tonight I will receive a letter from you.”
Celestia turned her gaze away from the window—the fires and singing she just couldn’t take. Their joy was like the twisting of a knife in her gut. “It took all of this for ponies to appreciate the night. What a joke, what a horrible cruel joke,” She spat out bitterly as there was a small popping sound and a scroll dropped down in front of her. She quickly opened the seal and allowed the parchment to fall open—hopeful that this year’s letter may have been written by her dear Luna.
Tyrant,
One year has passed since our last correspondence, and I wonder if my hate for you has lessened at all? Do you celebrate this day? Is there a huge party that lasts all day until the ponies once more ignore and reject the night? Do you celebrate with them? Gayly laughing and drinking your fill? Or, is it possible you in fact do care I am no longer there?
Nightmare Moon
Celestia ran a hoof softly over the signature. It might have said Nightmare Moon but she could see glimpses of Luna in the letter. It had been short…. shorter than Celestia had hoped, but it was something she could touch.
She took out a scroll and quill, dipping the latter into the ink pot. She stopped and closed her eyes. What could she write? Could she tell her about the loss she felt with her gone? Tell her about the anger that boiled in her soul at the celebration?…She choked back a sob, her hoof over her muzzle. As she looked back at the scroll, she knew she should speak her heart.
My dear Luna,
it has been a year since I last saw you, and I miss you no less than at the moment I became aware it would be one thousand years until I glimpsed you again. You may be unaware but your profile is now etched into the face of the moon. It has become difficult for me to go outside at night to see that. You were incorrect about the ponies celebrating during this day. Instead they celebrate through the night. It makes me so angry to know this. That it took this to get the ponies outside and enjoy your night. I fear at times I hate them for it. I do not celebrate this day, I could never celebrate it. All that has gotten me through this day is knowing that your letter was coming. Please, know that I miss you so much, and I love you, little sister. Until next year, my beloved Luna.
Love,
Celest Tia
The moment her quill left the parchment the scroll rolled up and vanished.
“Nine hundred and ninety-nine years to go, Lulu,” she said, even as she tried to drown out the sounds of revelry outside.
